fright, my ardour increased and lent wings to my speed. I was
evidently gaining on the shadow--I came nearer and nearer--I was
within reach of it, when it suddenly stopped and turned towards me.
Like a lion darting on its prey, I made a powerful spring and fell
unexpectedly upon a hard substance. Then followed, from an
invisible hand, the most terrible blows in the ribs that anyone ever
received. The effect of my terror made me endeavour convulsively to
strike and grasp at the unseen object before me. The rapidity of my
motions brought me to the ground, where I lay stretched out with a
man under me, whom I held tight, and who now became visible.

The whole affair was now explained. The man had undoubtedly
possessed the bird's nest which communicates its charm of
invisibility to its possessor, though not equally so to his shadow;
and this nest he had now thrown away. I looked all round, and soon
discovered the shadow of this invisible nest. I sprang towards it,
and was fortunate enough to seize the precious booty, and
immediately became invisible and shadowless.

The moment the man regained his feet he looked all round over the
wide sunny plain to discover his fortunate vanquisher, but could see
neither him nor his shadow, the latter seeming particularly to be
the object of his search: for previous to our encounter he had not
had leisure to observe that I was shadowless, and he could not be
aware of it. Becoming convinced that all traces of me were lost, he
began to tear his hair, and give himself up to all the frenzy of
despair. In the meantime, this newly acquired treasure communicated
to me both the ability and the desire to mix again among mankind.

I was at a loss for a pretext to vindicate this unjust robbery--or,