mytrail,andwasclosinginuponmeeveryminute.
Istoodlikeamanparalyzed,stillstaringatthegroundwhichIhadtraversed.ThensuddenlyIsawit.TherewasmovementamongthebushesatthefarendoftheclearingwhichIhadjusttraversed.Agreatdarkshadowdisengageditselfandhoppedoutintotheclearmoonlight.Isay"hopped"advisedly,forthebeastmovedlikeakangaroo,springingalonginanerectpositionuponitspowerfulhindlegs,whileitsfrontoneswereheldbentinfrontofit.Itwasofenormoussizeandpower,likeanerectelephant,butitsmovements,inspiteofitsbulk,wereexceedinglyalert.Foramoment,asIsawitsshape,Ihopedthatitwasaniguanodon,whichIknewtobeharmless,but,ignorantasIwas,Isoonsawthatthiswasaverydifferentcreature.Insteadofthegentle,deer-shapedheadofthegreatthree-toedleaf-eater,thisbeasthadabroad,squat,toad-likefacelikethatwhichhadalarmedusinourcamp.Hisferociouscryandthehorribleenergyofhispursuitbothassuredmethatthiswassurelyoneofthegreatflesh-eatingdinosaurs,themostterriblebeastswhichhaveeverwalkedthisearth.Asthehugebrutelopedalongitdroppedforwarduponitsfore-pawsandbroughtitsnosetothegroundeverytwentyyardsorso.Itwassmellingoutmytrail.Sometimes,foraninstant,itwasatfault.ThenitwouldcatchitupagainandcomeboundingswiftlyalongthepathIhadtaken.
EvennowwhenIthinkofthatnightmarethesweatbreaksoutuponmybrow.WhatcouldIdo?Myuselessfowling-piecewasinmyhand.WhathelpcouldIgetfromthat?Ilookeddesperatelyroundforsomerockortree,butIwasinabushyjunglewithnothinghigherthanasaplingwithinsight,whileIknewthatthecreaturebehindmecouldteardownanordinarytreeasthoughitwereareed.Myonlypossiblechancelayinflight.Icouldnotmoveswiftlyovertherough,brokenground,butasIlookedroundmeindespairIsawawell-marked,hard-beatenpathwhichranacrossinfrontofme.Wehadseenseveralofthesort,therunsofvariouswildbeasts,duringourexpeditions.AlongthisIcouldperhapsholdmyown,forIwasafastrunner,andinexcellentcondition.Flingingawaymyuselessgun,Isetmyselftodosuchahalf-mileasIhaveneverdonebeforeorsince.Mylimbsached,mychestheaved,Ifeltthatmythroatwouldburstforwantofair,andyetwiththathorrorbehindmeIranandIranandran.AtlastIpaused,hardlyabletomove.ForamomentIthoughtthatIhadthrownhimoff.Thepathlaystillbehindme.Andthensuddenly,withacrashingandarending,athuddingofgiantfeetandapantingofmonsterlungsthebeastwasuponmeoncemore.Hewasatmyveryheels.Iwaslost.
MadmanthatIwastolingersolongbeforeIfled!Uptothenhehadhuntedbyscent,andhismovementwasslow.ButhehadactuallyseenmeasIstartedtorun.Fromthenonwardshehadhuntedbysight,forthepathshowedhimwhereIhadgone.Now,ashecameroundthecurve,hewasspringingingreatb