With a conclusive bound he sprang to his feet, and laid bare his horrible teeth.

In another instant there burst from his red throat a roar like the thunder of the firmament, and I fell impetuously to the earth.
Stifling in a paroxysm of terror, I at last found myself partially awake.

My dream, then, was not all a dream.

Now, at least, I was in possession of my senses.

The paws of some huge and real monster were pressing heavily upon my bosom--his hot breath was in my ear--and his white and ghastly fangs were gleaming upon me through the gloom.
Had a thousand lives hung upon the movement of a limb or the utterance of a syllable, I could have neither stirred nor spoken.