"FRANCE WINS, MONSIEUR!" For the moment, every muscle of my body seemed paralyzed.

I distinctly heard the creature moving in my direction, and I backed away violently, actuated only by the thought of instant escape into the open air.

But Burns blocked the solitary passage.
"Back out of here, for God's sake!" I managed to exclaim through parched lips.

"That devil-thing is coming this way!" He struggled desperately in the darkness, tugging madly at some obstacle, an oath smothered on his lips.

I waited and listened, every nerve on edge.
"Dern it all, but I can't!" he groaned at last.