I shut my eyes and began to see all sorts of queer things that I had forgotten for years and years.

My brain swam and seemed to melt into a kind of confusion.

Through the intense silence I thought I heard the sound of some animal running heavily, much as a fat bull eland does when it is suddenly disturbed.

Someone uttered a startled exclamation, which caused me to open my eyes again.

The first thing I saw was the squad of savage archers lifting their bows--evidently that first arrow had been a kind of trial shot.