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retreating daylight； while beyond these rose the black bosses of what
looked like a forest。 Thither I made my way； plunging uncomfortably
through shallows； and tripping over blackened branches which； lying just
below the surface； quivered like snakes as the evening breeze ruffled each
surface； until the ground hardened under foot； and presently I was standing；
hungry and faint but safe； on dry land again。
The forest was so close to the sea； one could not advance without
entering it； and once within its dark arcades every way looked equally
gloomy and hopeless。 I struggled through tangles night made more and
more impenetrable each min… ute； until presently I could go no further； and
where a dense canopy of trees overhead gave out for a minute on the edge
of a swampy hollow； I determined to wait for daylight。
Never was there a more wet or weary traveller； or one more
desperately lonely than he who wrapped himself up in the miserable
insufficiency of his wet rags； and without fire or supper crept amongst the
exposed roots of a tree growing out of a bank； and prepared to hope grimly
for morning。
Round and round meanwhile was drawn the close screen of night； till
the clearing in front was blotted out； and only the tree…tops； black as
rugged hills one behind the other； stood out against the heavy purple of the
circlet of sky above。 As the evening deepened the quaintest noises began
on every handnoises so strange and bewildering that as I cowered down
with my teeth chattering； and stared hard into the impenetrable； they could
be likened to nothing but the crying of all the souls of dead things since
the beginning。 Never was there such an infernal chorus as that which
played up the Martian stars。 Down there in front； where hummock grass
was growing； some beast squeaked contin… uously； till I shouted at him；
then he stopped a minute； and began again in entirely another note。
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Away on the hills two rival monsters were calling to each other in tones so
hollow they seemed as I listened to penetrate through me； and echo out of
my heart again。 Far overhead； gigantic bats were flitting； the shadow of
their wings dimming a dozen universes at once； and crying to each other in
shrill tones that rent the air like tearing silk。
As I listened to those vampires discussing their infernal loves under
the stars； from a branch right overhead broke such a deathly howl from the
throat of a wandering forest cat that everything else was hushed for a
moment。 All about a myriad insects were making night giddy with their
ghostly fires； while underground and from the labyrinths of mat… ted roots
came quaint sounds of rustling snakes and forest pigs； and all the lesser
things that dig and scratch and growl。
Yet I was desperately sleepy； my sword hung heavy as lead at my side；
my eyelids drooped； and so at last I dozed uneasily for an hour or two。
Then； all on a sudden； I came wide awake with a shock。 The night was
quieter now； away in the forest depth strange noises still arose； but close at
hand was a strange hush； like the hush of expecta… tion； and； listening
wonderingly； I was aware of slow； heavy footsteps coming up from the
river； now two or three steps together； then a pause； then another step or
two； and as I bent towards the approaching thing； staring into the dark…
ness； my strained senses were conscious of another approach； as like as
could be； coming from behind me。 On they came； making the very
ground quake with their weight； till I judged that both were about on the
edge of the clearing； two vast rat…like shadows； but as big as elephants；
and bringing a most intolerable smell of sour slime with them。 There； on
the edge of the amphitheatre； each for the first time ap… peared to become
aware of the other's presencethe foot… steps stopped dead。 I could hear
the water dripping from the fur of those giant brutes amongst the shadows
and the deep breathing of the one nearest me； a scanty ten paces off； but
not another sound in the stillness。
Minute after minute passed； yet neither moved。 A half… hour grew to
a full hour； and that hour lengthened amid the keenest tension till my ears
ached with listening； and my eyes were sore with straining into the
blackness。 At last I began to wonder whether those earth…shaking beasts
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had not been an evil dream； and was just venturing to stretch out a
cramped leg； and rally myself upon my cowardice； when； without warning；
at my elbow rose the most ear… piercing scream of rage that ever came
from a living throat。 There was a sweeping rush in the darkness which I
could feel but not see； and with a shock the two gladiators met in the midst
of the arena。 Over and over they went screaming and struggling； and
slipping and plunging。 I could hear them tearing at each other； and the
sharp cries of pain； first one and then another gave as claw or tooth got
home； and all the time； though the ground was quaking under their
struggles and the air full of horrible uproar； not a thing was to be seen。 I
did not even know what manner of beasts they were who rocked and
rolled and tore at each other's throats； but I heard their teeth snapping； and
their fierce breath in the pauses of the struggle； and could but wait in a
huddle amongst the roots until it was over。 To and fro they went； now at
the far side of the dark clearing； now so close that hot drops of blood from
their jaws fell on my face like rain in the darkness。 It seemed as though
the fight would never end； but presently there was more of worrying in it
and less of snapping； it was clear one or the other had had enough and as I
marked this those black shad… ows came gasping and struggling towards
me。 There was a sudden sharp cry； a desperate final tusslebefore which
strong trees snapped and bushes were flattened out like grass； not twenty
yards awayand then for a minute all was silent。
One of them had killed； and as I sat rooted to the spot I was forced to
listen while his enemy tore him up and ate him。 Many a banquet have I
been at； but never an uglier one than that。 I sat in the darkness while the
unknown thing at my feet ripped the flesh from his half…dead rival in strips；
and across the damp night wind came the reek of that abominable feast
the reek of blood and spilt en… trailsuntil I turned away my face in
loathing； and was nearly starting to my feet to venture a rush into the
forest shadows。 But I was spellbound； and remained listening to the
heavy munch of blood…stained jaws until presently I was aware other and
lesser feasters were coming。 There was a twinkle of hungry eyes all
about the limits of the area； the shine of green points of envious fire that
circled round in decreasing orbits； as the little foxes and jackals came
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crowding in。 One fellow took me for a rock； so still I sat； putting his hot；
soft paws upon my knee for a space； and others passed me so near I could
all but touch them。
The big beast had taken himself off by this time； and there must have
been several hundreds of these newcomers。 A merry time they had of it；
the whole place was full of the green； hurrying eyes； and amidst the snap
of teeth and yapping and quarrelling I could hear the flesh being torn from
the red bones in every direction。 One wolf…like individual brought a
mass of hot liver to eat between my feet； but I gave him a kick； and sent
him away much to his surprise。 Gradually； however； the sound of this
unholy feast died away； and； though you may hardly believe it； I fell off