The beast, whatever it was, retained his position without attempting any immediate violence, while I lay in an utterly helpless, and, I fancied, a dying condition beneath him.

I felt that my powers of body and mind were fast leaving me--in a word, that I was perishing, and perishing of sheer fright.

My brain swam--I grew deadly sick--my vision failed--even the glaring eyeballs above me grew dim.

Making a last strong effort, I at length breathed a faint ejaculation to God, and resigned myself to die.

The sound of my voice seemed to arouse all the latent fury of the animal.