rattling within his arms

[Mher]

Could anybody explain what the author is trying to say?
"As its portals swung outwardly back, some white-apparelled object fell rattling within his arms." (http://poestories.com/read/premature)

 

[Raymott]

I would assume he means that "the object fell rattling into his arms". It's a skeleton - rattling is one thing they do, and falling into peoples' arms also happens in horror stories sometimes.

 

[Mher]

I would assume he means that "the object fell rattling into his arms". It's a skeleton - rattling is one thing they do, and falling into peoples' arms also happens in horror stories sometimes.

Does "rattling" means uttering some kind voice?

 

[Raymott]

No. Skeletons don't talk. A pile of bones will rattle though if it falls over.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/rattle

Bear in mind that I find Poe obscure. If it had said 'prattling', that might be a form of speech.

 

[Mher]

No. Skeletons don't talk. A pile of bones will rattle though if it falls over.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/rattle

Hence, a pile of bones will utter a rattling sound if it falls over. Is it about sound or not?

 

[Raymott]

It's about sound. But non-living objects don't utter sounds. They might make/emit/produce sounds.
Get some dry bones, put them in a bag, and shake the bag. What you hear is called a rattle.
Cars that get old rattle. Rattlesnakes rattle. But they don't utter a rattle.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/utter