"I can't—oh!"
He started up in bed and gripped his brother's hand. He thrust his head forward, his eyeballs straining.
"Take it away! take it away!" he screamed.
"Wot?" cried Reuben, sick with the new-born terror.
"That black stuff in front of my eyes. Take it away! Take it away!"
He tore his hand free, and began clawing and beating at his face.
Reuben's teeth were chattering.
"Kip calm, lad—kip calm. There's naun there, naun, I tell you."
"Oh, oh!"—screamed Harry—"Oh, oh, oh!"
The outcry brought Mrs. Backfield from the next room, Naomi shivering in her wake. Reuben was trying to hold Harry down in bed.