for all along these birds of the night had followed me through the
darkness as well as though it was broad daylight. How I blamed myself
for coming out in my light-coloured tourist suit of tweed. The silence,
and my not being able to see my enemies, whilst I felt that they were
watching me, grew appalling, and in the hope of some one not of this
ghastly crew hearing me I raised my voice and shouted several times.
There was not the slightest response; not even an echo rewarded my
efforts. For a while I stood stock still and kept my eyes in one
direction. On one of the rising places around me I saw something dark
move along, then another, and another. This was to my left, and
seemingly moving to head me off.

I thought that again I might with my skill as a runner elude my enemies
at this game, and so with all my speed darted forward.

Splash!

My feet had given way in a mass of slimy rubbish, and I had fallen
headlong into a reeking, stagnant pool. The water and the mud in which
my arms sank up to the elbows was filthy and nauseous beyond
description, and in the suddenness of my fall I had actually swallowed
some of the filthy stuff, which nearly choked me, and made me gasp for
breath. Never shall I forget the moments during which I stood trying to
recover myself almost fainting from the foetid odour of the filthy pool,
whose white mist rose ghostlike around. Worst of all, with the acute
despair of the hunted animal when be sees the pursuing pack closing on
him, I saw before my eyes whilst I stood helpless the dark forms of my
pursuers moving swiftly to surround me.

It is curious how our minds work on odd matters even when the energies