I was trembling. but I was angry. Fear left menow. I turned and slowly felt my way down again.
The wind was stronger. Rain was falling when Ireached the bottom.
I put my head out into the storm and lookedtowards the kitchen. The door was open，and a littlelight came out . I saw my uncle standing in the rain.
He was listening. Then there was a bright flash of
我手腳並用，十分小心地朝前爬去。一隻隻蝙蝠飛來飛去，撲打在我的臉部和身上，我害怕極了，但還是一個勁兒地朝前爬去。
塔樓呈正方形，四角各有一塊形狀不同的大石頭與垂直的樓梯相連接。我一邊繞著一個角的大石頭往過爬，一邊伸出手一探，手從那塊石塊邊上滑了下去。原來前麵什麼也沒有，是個斷缺！樓梯到此為止，懸在空裏。
結實的樓梯原來如此！伯父是想坑害我，讓我從五層上掉下去摔死，多虧閃電救了我的命。
我渾身發抖，但很生氣，不再感到害怕了。我轉過身，慢慢摸著朝下走去。風刮得更緊了。我走到樓底時，下起雨來。
我冒著暴風雨，伸頭朝廚房看了一眼。廚房門開著，透出微弱的亮光。伯父站在瓢潑大雨中側耳細聽著。接著是一道耀眼的閃電和一
lightning and a loud crash of thunder.
My uncle ran into the kitchen. Perhaps hethought the crash was the sound of my fall. Perhapshe heard God’s voice forbidding murder.
聲震耳欲聾的雷鳴。
伯父跑進廚房，或許他以為那聲巨響是我掉下樓的聲音，或許是他聽見了上帝禁止謀殺的吼聲。
I followed him quietly in. He had opened thecupboard and was drinking from a great brandy bottle.
He was shaking with fear.
His back was towards me and I crept behindhim silently. Suddenly I put my hands down on hisshoulders.
“Ah！”I cried.
My uncle gave a sharp cry of horror and threwup his arms. He dropped the brandy bottle and fellon the floor.
This made me anxious，but I left him there. Imust act quickly. I must find a gun or some otherweapon to defend myself.
The keys were hanging in the open cupboard.
I took them and opened the chests. The first containedbig money bags and a lot of papers. In anotherI found clothes and an old Highland dirk. It wasnot a very sharp weapon，but I needed something.
I hid the dirk under my waistcoat and turnedto my uncle. His face was a strange blue colour. He