AN ANXIOUS MOftlENT. 35 



became again still. Listening attentively, 

 nothing could now be heard, and after a 

 little while, concluding the animal had gone 

 away altogether, I began speaking to my 

 companion, regretting our bad fortune. I 

 now felt much annoyed with myself for not 

 having fired a random shot before the 

 carcase was carried away, right at the place 

 where I could judge it was laid ; for fancy 

 whispered that it might have been a lucky 

 one and hit the animal. All hope now 

 seemed to be over, and we were discussing 

 the advisability of going home, although still 

 reluctant to leave, when I was startled by 

 the deep-drawn breath of some animal 

 snuffing within a few feet of my face. So 

 strong and powerful, and so different from 

 anything I had ever heard, that it struck me 

 at once what it was ; and so sudden and 

 unexpected was it, that it sent a cold shiver 

 through my body, and I thought I felt my 

 heart jump almost into my mouth. I cannot 

 describe the sensation. It was not exactly 

 fear, but a painfully intense feeling of 



D 2 



