It seemed in the darkness as though he did clasp her and did not, for she gave a low terrible cry and fled from him--a cry such as a spirit might give who, having ascended to Heaven's gate with toil and prayer, falls backward into Hell; and she ran from him--it seemed that with only her human strength she could not have fled so fast.

He followed her, dashing with all his strength into the darkness.

They went towards the village, and in the mud their footfalls were almost silent.
The listener came out of his hiding and went back on the road by which he had come..