Peg 's voice rose almost to a shriek . We were dreadfully frightened , for we knew there were times when she was quite crazy and we feared one of her `` spells '' was coming on her . But with a swift movement she turned the man 's coat she wore up over her shoulders and head like a hood , completely hiding her face . Then she crouched forward , elbows on knees , and relapsed into silence . None of us dared speak or move . We sat thus for half an hour . Then Peg jumped up and said briskly in her usual tone , `` Well , I guess yez are all sleepy and ready for bed . You girls can sleep in my bed over there , and I 'll take the sofy . Yez can put the cat off if yez like , though he wo n't hurt yez . You boys can go downstairs . There 's a big pile of straw there that 'll do yez for a bed , if yez put your coats on . I 'll light yez down , but I ai n't going to leave yez a light for fear yez 'd set fire to the place . '' Saying good-night to the girls , who looked as if they thought their last hour was come , we went to the lower room . It was quite empty , save for a pile of fire wood and another of clean straw . Casting a stealthy glance around , ere Peg withdrew the light , I was relieved to see that there were no skulls in sight . We four boys snuggled down in the straw . We did not expect to sleep , but we were very tired and before we knew it our eyes were shut , to open no more till morning . The poor girls were not so fortunate . They always averred they never closed an eye . Four things prevented them from sleeping .
In the first place Peg snored loudly ; in the second place the fitful gleams of firelight kept flickering over the skull for half the night and making gruesome effects on it ; in the third place XXXXX 's pillows and bedclothes smelled rankly of tobacco smoke ; and in the fourth place they were afraid the rat Peg had spoken of might come out to make their acquaintance .
Peg eyes fire head hood hour morning sofy spells yez