You see, I had not heard him come, and imagine now that I thought I was dreaming and was afraid to wake and find my hope of help had gone.

After a few moments, he stepped back very quietly into the shadow, and I called out.

There was no answer and I got up.

It took a little time--the blanket was round my legs and my foot hurt--and when I stumbled away from the fire he had vanished and there was no sound in the bush.

Soon afterwards I fell down in the snow, and lay until the cold roused me to an effort and I crawled back to the fire.