'Good news, comrades!' he cried. 'His heart still beats!'

Then some brandy was poured down my throat; it put vigour into me, and I
was able to open my eyes fully and look around. Lights and shadows were
moving among the trees, and I heard men call to one another. They drew
together, uttering frightened exclamations; and the lights flashed as
the others came pouring out of the cemetery pell-mell, like men
possessed. When the further ones came close to us, those who were around
me asked them eagerly:

'Well, have you found him?'

The reply rang out hurriedly:

'No! no! Come away quick--quick! This is no place to stay, and on this
of all nights!'

'What was it?' was the question, asked in all manner of keys. The answer
came variously and all indefinitely as though the men were moved by some
common impulse to speak, yet were restrained by some common fear from
giving their thoughts.

'It--it--indeed!' gibbered one, whose wits had plainly given out for the
moment.

'A wolf--and yet not a wolf!' another put in shudderingly.

'No use trying for him without the sacred bullet,' a third remarked in a
more ordinary manner.