The Signalman by Charles Dickens Essay Example

it had vanished. Many hours later, while the train continued its journey, screams unexpectedly erupted from one of the compartments. I urgently motioned for the driver to halt and though he applied brakes, it was too late to prevent a catastrophe.

Upon reaching the train 150 yards away, I found that a stunning young woman had passed away. This subsequent occurrence has deeply provoked my thoughts. The two eerie events cannot be logically explained. I have deduced that whenever the apparition materializes, it foreshadows an impending death on the railway.

Day 259

The specter has been appearing for a week now, causing me great distress. It has returned to its usual spot, but this time it has regained its voice and urgently shouts, "For God's sake, clear the way!" I have been unable to sleep or rest for the past week, constantly vigilant for any imminent danger. I wonder why the specter cannot communicate the exact timing and details of these events. If it could, I could potentially save another innocent life. Sadly, I cannot transmit warnings through telegraph.

What evidence do I have that an accident will occur? They will simply deem me crazy and I will be fired from my job. I am left with no alternative but to wait for a death to occur. The specter, just standing there and yelling Danger! Danger!, how I curse it...

Day 261

Today, a representative from the Company paid me a visit. Initially, I mistook him for the specter, as he shouted "Halloa! Below there!" which is precisely what the specter says.

But he turned out not to be a specter. We had a talk about my job in which I

let my conscience take the better of me. I admitted that I was troubled. Instantly, he seized upon my statement and promised to pay me a visit tomorrow to discuss it. During the entire meeting, I heard the specter down at the danger light. He must have noticed my fear as I repeatedly looked down the track. My worry is growing and I contemplate whether or not I should tell the truth to the man from the Company tomorrow.

Day 262

The man arrived as he had promised. I shared my fears and recounted the coincidences to him. However, being a rational man, he did not trust my account. He relied on his logical reasoning and left without accepting my interpretation of the coincidences. Oh...

I hope the specter will reveal the forthcoming events - whether it is a train crash or another sudden passenger death. Currently, I am feeling nervous and uneasy. As the night draws to a close, I conclude with a melancholic remark. Perhaps nothing will transpire, and the specter will vanish by tomorrow.