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241
I
turned
suddenly
,
and
stared
at
the
uncertain
trees
behind
me
.
One
black
shadow
seemed
to
leap
into
another
.
I
listened
,
rigid
,
and
heard
nothing
but
the
creep
of
the
blood
in
my
ears
.
I
thought
that
my
nerves
were
unstrung
,
and
that
my
imagination
was
tricking
me
,
and
turned
resolutely
towards
the
sound
of
the
sea
again
.
242
In
a
minute
or
so
the
trees
grew
thinner
,
and
I
emerged
upon
a
bare
,
low
headland
running
out
into
the
sombre
water
.
The
night
was
calm
and
clear
,
and
the
reflection
of
the
growing
multitude
of
the
stars
shivered
in
the
tranquil
heaving
of
the
sea
.
Some
way
out
,
the
wash
upon
an
irregular
band
of
reef
shone
with
a
pallid
light
of
its
own
.
Westward
I
saw
the
zodiacal
light
mingling
with
the
yellow
brilliance
of
the
evening
star
.
The
coast
fell
away
from
me
to
the
east
,
and
westward
it
was
hidden
by
the
shoulder
of
the
cape
.
Then
I
recalled
the
fact
that
Moreau
's
beach
lay
to
the
west
.
243
A
twig
snapped
behind
me
,
and
there
was
a
rustle
.
I
turned
,
and
stood
facing
the
dark
trees
.
I
could
see
nothing
--
or
else
I
could
see
too
much
.
Every
dark
form
in
the
dimness
had
its
ominous
quality
,
its
peculiar
suggestion
of
alert
watchfulness
.
So
I
stood
for
perhaps
a
minute
,
and
then
,
with
an
eye
to
the
trees
still
,
turned
westward
to
cross
the
headland
;
and
as
I
moved
,
one
among
the
lurking
shadows
moved
to
follow
me
.
Отключить рекламу
244
My
heart
beat
quickly
.
Presently
the
broad
sweep
of
a
bay
to
the
westward
became
visible
,
and
I
halted
again
.
The
noiseless
shadow
halted
a
dozen
yards
from
me
.
245
A
little
point
of
light
shone
on
the
further
bend
of
the
curve
,
and
the
grey
sweep
of
the
sandy
beach
lay
faint
under
the
starlight
.
Perhaps
two
miles
away
was
that
little
point
of
light
.
To
get
to
the
beach
I
should
have
to
go
through
the
trees
where
the
shadows
lurked
,
and
down
a
bushy
slope
.
246
I
could
see
the
Thing
rather
more
distinctly
now
.
It
was
no
animal
,
for
it
stood
erect
.
At
that
I
opened
my
mouth
to
speak
,
and
found
a
hoarse
phlegm
choked
my
voice
.
I
tried
again
,
and
shouted
,
"
Who
is
there
?
"
There
was
no
answer
.
I
advanced
a
step
.
The
Thing
did
not
move
,
only
gathered
itself
together
.
My
foot
struck
a
stone
.
That
gave
me
an
idea
.
Without
taking
my
eyes
off
the
black
form
before
me
,
I
stooped
and
picked
up
this
lump
of
rock
;
but
at
my
motion
the
Thing
turned
abruptly
as
a
dog
might
have
done
,
and
slunk
obliquely
into
the
further
darkness
.
Then
I
recalled
a
schoolboy
expedient
against
big
dogs
,
and
twisted
the
rock
into
my
handkerchief
,
and
gave
this
a
turn
round
my
wrist
.
I
heard
a
movement
further
off
among
the
shadows
,
as
if
the
Thing
was
in
retreat
.
Then
suddenly
my
tense
excitement
gave
way
;
I
broke
into
a
profuse
perspiration
and
fell
a-trembling
,
with
my
adversary
routed
and
this
weapon
in
my
hand
.
247
It
was
some
time
before
I
could
summon
resolution
to
go
down
through
the
trees
and
bushes
upon
the
flank
of
the
headland
to
the
beach
.
At
last
I
did
it
at
a
run
;
and
as
I
emerged
from
the
thicket
upon
the
sand
,
I
heard
some
other
body
come
crashing
after
me
.
Отключить рекламу
248
At
that
I
completely
lost
my
head
with
fear
,
and
began
running
along
the
sand
.
Forthwith
there
came
the
swift
patter
of
soft
feet
in
pursuit
.
I
gave
a
wild
cry
,
and
redoubled
my
pace
.
Some
dim
,
black
things
about
three
or
four
times
the
size
of
rabbits
went
running
or
hopping
up
from
the
beach
towards
the
bushes
as
I
passed
.
249
So
long
as
I
live
,
I
shall
remember
the
terror
of
that
chase
.
I
ran
near
the
water
's
edge
,
and
heard
every
now
and
then
the
splash
of
the
feet
that
gained
upon
me
.
Far
away
,
hopelessly
far
,
was
the
yellow
light
.
All
the
night
about
us
was
black
and
still
.
Splash
,
splash
,
came
the
pursuing
feet
,
nearer
and
nearer
.
I
felt
my
breath
going
,
for
I
was
quite
out
of
training
;
it
whooped
as
I
drew
it
,
and
I
felt
a
pain
like
a
knife
at
my
side
.
I
perceived
the
Thing
would
come
up
with
me
long
before
I
reached
the
enclosure
,
and
,
desperate
and
sobbing
for
my
breath
,
I
wheeled
round
upon
it
and
struck
at
it
as
it
came
up
to
me
,
--
struck
with
all
my
strength
.
The
stone
came
out
of
the
sling
of
the
handkerchief
as
I
did
so
.
As
I
turned
,
the
Thing
,
which
had
been
running
on
all-fours
,
rose
to
its
feet
,
and
the
missile
fell
fair
on
its
left
temple
.
The
skull
rang
loud
,
and
the
animal-man
blundered
into
me
,
thrust
me
back
with
its
hands
,
and
went
staggering
past
me
to
fall
headlong
upon
the
sand
with
its
face
in
the
water
;
and
there
it
lay
still
.
250
I
could
not
bring
myself
to
approach
that
black
heap