I reflected in a moment, that if this were indeed a shadow, it was useless to look for the object that cast it in any other direction than between the shadow and the moon.

I looked, and peered, and intensified my vision, all to no purpose.

I could see nothing of that kind, not even an ash-tree in the neighbourhood.

Still the shadow remained; not steady, but moving to and fro, and once I saw the fingers close, and grind themselves close, like the claws of a wild animal, as if in uncontrollable longing for some anticipated prey.

There seemed but one mode left of discovering the substance of this shadow.