d in the direction from which the
sound had come. I saw nothing; but, when I stopped and listened, I
could hear the footsteps going round about me at just the same
distance away. I determined to pursue them; at any rate such an
occupation would keep me in motion and prevent me from perishing from
cold and dampness. But it's difficult to hunt the thing by which you
are hunted. Towards daybreak a slight breeze got up which, coming in
little gusts, cleared alleys in the heavy atmosphere as it forced a
passage. The footsteps had ceased by this time, but I could hear the
creature's panting breath; for some reason it had ceased to follow. I
waited until I heard the breeze coming and then made a rush in the
direction from which the breathing came. There, straight before me,
sitting on its haunches, I saw the shadow of what appeared to be a
gigantic timber-wolf; the only part of it which I could discern
plainly was its eyes, which, to my terrified imagination, blazed out
dazzling and huge through the gloom like carriage lamps.

"And another thing I noticed, that it was sitting beside the cache for
which I was searching. Then the breeze died down, the mist closed in
again, and I could detect nothing of the creature's presence but the
sound of its breath.

"With my revolver in my right hand and my knife in my left, I crept
slowly forward. Just ahead of me I could see something stirring, and
I fired. There was a scramble of hurrying feet, and then silence.

"When I came to the cache, it was deserted. I should have delayed till
daylight, but my hunger was so great that I could not wait. Breaking
it open, I sat down to gorge myself on the first thing that came
handy--some raw fish which had been buried there. Something moved
behind me; before I had time to turn properly round, it had leapt on
my back. I could not draw my revolver, there was no time; my only
weapon was my knife. I saw the great face and eyes peering over my
left shoulder and made a downward stab, gashing open a deep wound from
the ear to the lower fangs. With a cry that was almost human, the
beast jumped back and vanished.

"When day had come, I took as much of the provisions as I could carry,
and made good my escape. I was surprised at the old man's absence, and
fearful lest at any moment he might turn up. I did not cross the river
at the mouth, but worked my way along the right-hand bank, intending
to cross higher up and nearer the hut, where it was more narrow