this recess he
noticed, above the level of the water, and within reach of his hand, a
horizontal fissure. It seemed to him probable that the crab had taken
refuge there, and he plunged his hand in as far as he was able, and
groped about in that dusky aperture.

Suddenly he felt himself seized by the arm. A strange indescribable
horror thrilled through him.

Some living thing, thin, rough, flat, cold, slimy, had twisted itself
round his naked arm, in the dark depth below. It crept upward towards
his chest. Its pressure was like a tightening cord, its steady
persistence like that of a screw. In less than a moment some mysterious
spiral form had passed round his wrist and elbow, and had reached his
shoulder. A sharp point penetrated beneath the armpit.

Gilliatt recoiled; but he had scarcely power to move! He was, as it
were, nailed to the place. With his left hand, which was disengaged, he
seized his knife, which he still held between his teeth, and with that
hand, holding the knife, he supported himself against the rocks, while
he made a desperate effort to withdraw his arm. He succeeded only in
disturbing his persecutor, which wound itself still tighter. It was
supple as leather, strong as steel, cold as night.

A second form, sharp, elongated, and narrow, issued out of the crevice,
like a tongue out of monstrous jaws. It seemed to lick his naked body.
Then suddenly stretching out, it became longer and thinner, as it crept
over his skin, and wound itself round him. At the same time a terrible
sense of pain, comparable to nothing he had ever known, compelled all
his muscles to contract. He felt upon his skin a number of flat rounded
points. It seemed as if innumerable suckers had fastened to his flesh
and were about to drink his blood.

A third long undulating shape issued from the hole in the rock; seemed
to feel its way about his body; lashed round his ribs like a cord, and
fixed itself there.

Agony when at its height is mute. Gilliatt uttered no cry. There was
sufficient light for him to see the repulsive forms which had entangled
themselves about him. A fourth ligature, but this one swift as an arrow,
darted towards his stomach, and wound around him there.

It was impossible to sever or tear away the slimy bands which were
twisted tightly round his body, and were adhering by a number of points.
Each of the points was the focus of frightful and singular pangs. It was
as if numberless small mouths were devouri