ankatthatominousstillness.Iquickenedmypaceintoarun.Thezarebarosebeforeme,evenasIhadleftit,butthegatewasopen.Irushedin.Inthecold,morninglightitwasafearfulsightwhichmetmyeyes.Oureffectswerescatteredinwildconfusionoverthegroundmycomradeshaddisappeared,andclosetothesmoulderingashesofourfirethegrasswasstainedcrimsonwithahideouspoolofblood.
IwassostunnedbythissuddenshockthatforatimeImusthavenearlylostmyreason.Ihaveavaguerecollection,asoneremembersabaddream,ofrushingaboutthroughthewoodsallroundtheemptycamp,callingwildlyformycompanions.Noanswercamebackfromthesilentshadows.ThehorriblethoughtthatImightneverseethemagain,thatImightfindmyselfabandonedallaloneinthatdreadfulplace,withnopossiblewayofdescendingintotheworldbelow,thatImightliveanddieinthatnightmarecountry,drovemetodesperation.Icouldhavetornmyhairandbeatenmyheadinmydespair.OnlynowdidIrealizehowIhadlearnedtoleanuponmycompanions,uponthesereneself-confidenceofChallenger,anduponthemasterful,humorouscoolnessofLordJohnRoxton.WithoutthemIwaslikeachildinthedark,helplessandpowerless.IdidnotknowwhichwaytoturnorwhatIshoulddofirst.
Afteraperiod,duringwhichIsatinbewilderment,Isetmyselftotryanddiscoverwhatsuddenmisfortunecouldhavebefallenmycompanions.Thewholedisorderedappearanceofthecampshowedthattherehadbeensomesortofattack,andtherifle-shotnodoubtmarkedthetimewhenithadoccurred.Thatthereshouldhavebeenonlyoneshotshowedthatithadbeenalloverinaninstant.Theriflesstilllayupontheground,andoneofthem—LordJohn's—hadtheemptycartridgeinthebreech.TheblanketsofChallengerandofSummerleebesidethefiresuggestedthattheyhadbeenasleepatthetime.Thecasesofammunitionandoffoodwerescatteredaboutinawildlitter,togetherwithourunfortunatecamerasandplate-carriers,butnoneofthemweremissing.Ontheotherhand,alltheexposedprovisions—andIrememberedthattherewereaconsiderablequantityofthem—weregone.Theywereanimals,then,andnotnatives,whohadmadetheinroad,forsurelythelatterwouldhaveleftnothingbehind.
Butifanimals,orsomesingleterribleanimal,thenwhathadbecomeofmycomrades?Aferociousbeastwouldsurelyhavedestroyedthemandlefttheirremains.Itistruethattherewasthatonehideouspoolofblood,whichtoldofviolence.Suchamonsterashadpursuedmeduringthenightcouldhavecarriedawayavictimaseasilyasacatwouldamouse.Inthatcasetheotherswouldhavefollowedinpursuit.Butthentheywouldassuredlyhavetakentheirrifleswiththem.ThemoreItriedtothinkitoutwithmyconfusedandwearybrainthelesscouldIfindanyplausibleexplanation.Isearchedroundintheforest,butcouldseenotrackswhichcouldhelpmetoaconclusion.OnceIlostmy