He came smartly to the very edge of the bank as though he meant to step on board, stretched his muzzle right over my boat, blew heavily once, and walked off contemptuously into the darkness from which he had come.

I had not expected a call from a bullock, though a moment's thought would have shown me that there must be lots of cattle and sheep on that marsh.

Then everything became still as before.

I might have imagined myself arrived on a desert island.

In fact, as I reclined smoking a sense of absolute loneliness grew on me.