ps, had they known the
service which the intruder had done for them, they might have felt
gratitude towards it, instead of the suspicion and dread that for some
moments kept them, as if spell-bound, in their places. It did not occur
to any of the party that that strange summons from sleep, more effective
than the half-whispered invitation of a _valet-de-chambre_, or the
ringing of a breakfast-bell, had, in all probability, rescued them from
a silent but certain death.

They stood, as I have said, listening. There were several distinct
sounds that saluted their ears. There was the "sough" of the sea, as it
came swelling up the gorge; the "whish" of the wind, as it impinged upon
the crests of the ridges; and the "swish" of the sand as it settled
round them.

All these were voices of inanimate objects, phenomena of nature, easily
understood. But, rising above them, were heard sounds of a different
character; which, though they might be equally natural, were not equally
familiar to those who listened to them.

There was a sort of dull battering, as if some gigantic creature was
performing a Terpsichorean feat upon the sand-bank above them; but
sharper sounds were heard at intervals, screams commingled with short
snortings, both proclaiming something of the nature of a struggle.

Neither in the screams nor in the snortings was there anything that the
listeners could identify as sounds they had ever heard before. They
were alike perplexing to the ears of English, Irish, and Scotch. Even
Old Bill, who had heard, some time or other, nearly every sound known in
creation, could not classify them.

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

"Hark!" ejaculated Harry Blount.

"Hish!" ejaculated 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