A cold perspiration broke out all over my body--my heart beat so loudly that I could hear it thumping against my ribs.

Again--again--that weird shriek, followed by a whir and flap of wings.

I breathed again.
"It is an owl," I said to myself, ashamed of my fears; "a poor innocent bird--a companion and watcher of the dead, and therefore its voice is full of sorrowful lamentation--but it is harmless," and I crept on with increased caution.

Suddenly out of the dense darkness there stared two large yellow eyes, glittering with fiendish hunger and cruelty.

For a moment I was startled, and stepped back; the creature flew at me with the ferocity of a tiger-cat! I fought with the horrible thing in all directions; it wheeled round my head, it pounced toward my face, it beat me with its large wings--wings that I could feel but not see; the yellow eyes alone shone in the thick gloom like the eyes of some vindictive demon! I struck at it right and left--the revolting combat lasted some moments--I grew sick and dizzy, yet I battled on recklessly.