sound known to
creation, could not classify them.

"Divil take thim!" whispered he to his companions, "I dinna know what to
make av it. It be hawful to 'ear 'em!"

"Hark!" ejaculated Harry Blount.

"Hish!" exclaimed Terence.

"Wheesh!" muttered Colin. "It's coming nearer, whatever it may be.
Wheesh!"

There could be no doubt about the truth of this conjecture; for as the
caution passed from the lips of the young Scotchman, the dull hammering,
the snorts, and the unearthly screams were evidently drawing
nearer,--though the creature that was causing them was unseen through
the thick sand-mist still surrounding the listeners. These, however,
heard enough to know that some heavy body was making a rapid descent
down the sloping gorge, and with an impetuosity that rendered it prudent
for them to get out of its way.

More by an instinct, than from any correct appreciation of the danger,
all four fell back from the narrow trench in which they had been
standing,--each, as he best could, retreating up the declivity of the
sand-hill.

Scarce were they able to obtain footing in their new position, when the
sounds they had heard not only became louder and nearer, but the
creature that had been causing them paused close to their feet,--so
close that most of them could have touched it with their toes.

For all that, not one of the party could tell what it was; and after it
had passed,--on its way down the ravine,--and was once more lost to
their view amid the swirling sand, they were not a bit further advanced
in their knowledge of the strange creature that had come so near
crushing out their existence with its ponderous weight!

All that they had been able to see was a conglomeration of dark
objects,--resembling the head, neck, body, and limbs of some uncouth
animal,--while the sounds that proceeded from it were like utterances
that might have come from some other world; for certainly they had but
slight resemblance to anything the castaways had ever heard in
this--either upon sea, or land!

CHAPTER XIII.

THE MAHERRY.

For some length of time they stood conjecturing,--the boys with clasped
hands,--Old Bill near, but apart.

During this time, at intervals, they continued to hear the sounds that
had so astonished them--the stamping, the snorts, and the screaming,
though they no longer saw the creature that caused them.

The sand gully opened towards the sea, in a diagonal direction. It could
not be many yar