ly be
counteracted by the heat of my body, but even so, I knew that I could
not hope to get a light for many hours. Meanwhile there was nothing for
it but to wait.

By good luck I had slipped several biscuits into my pocket before I
left the farm-house. These I now devoured, and washed them down with
a draught from that wretched stream which had been the cause of all my
misfortunes. Then I felt about for a comfortable seat among the rocks,
and, having discovered a place where I could get a support for my
back, I stretched out my legs and settled myself down to wait. I
was wretchedly damp and cold, but I tried to cheer myself with the
reflection that modern science prescribed open windows and walks in all
weather for my disease. Gradually, lulled by the monotonous gurgle of
the stream, and by the absolute darkness, I sank into an uneasy slumber.

How long this lasted I cannot say. It may have been for an hour, it may
have been for several. Suddenly I sat up on my rock couch, with every
nerve thrilling and every sense acutely on the alert. Beyond all doubt
I had heard a sound--some sound very distinct from the gurgling of the
waters. It had passed, but the reverberation of it still lingered in my
ear. Was it a search party? They would most certainly have shouted, and
vague as this sound was which had wakened me, it was very distinct from
the human voice. I sat palpitating and hardly daring to breathe.
There it was again! And again! Now it had become continuous. It was a
tread--yes, surely it was the tread of some living creature. But what a
tread it was! It gave one the impression of enormous weight carried upon
sponge-like feet, which gave forth a muffled but ear-filling sound.
The darkness was as complete as ever, but the tread was regular and
decisive. And it was coming beyond all question in my direction.

My skin grew cold, and my hair stood on end as I listened to that steady
and ponderous footfall. There was some creature there, and surely by the
speed of its advance, it was one which could see in the dark. I crouched
low on my rock and tried to blend myself into it. The steps grew nearer
still, then stopped, and presently I was aware of a loud lapping and
gurgling. The creature was drinking at the stream. Then again there was
silence, broken by a succession of long sniffs and snorts of tremendous
volume and energy. Had it caught the scent of me? My own nostrils were
filled by a low fetid odour, mephitic and abom