again, still laughing--laughing horribly.

It crawled toward Bradley. "Food! Food!" it screamed.
"There is a way out! There is a way out!"

Dragging itself to his side the creature slumped upon the
Englishman's breast. "Food!" it shrilled as with its bony
fingers and its teeth, it sought the man's bare throat.

"Food! There is a way out!" Bradley felt teeth upon his jugular.
He turned and twisted, shaking himself free for an instant; but
once more with hideous persistence the thing fastened itself
upon him. The weak jaws were unable to send the dull teeth through
the victim's flesh; but Bradley felt it pawing, pawing, pawing,
like a monstrous rat, seeking his life's blood.

The skinny arms now embraced his neck, holding the teeth to his
throat against all his efforts to dislodge the thing. Weak as it
was it had strength enough for this in its mad efforts to eat.
Mumbling as it worked, it repeated again and again, "Food! Food!
There is a way out!" until Bradley thought those two expressions
alone would drive him mad.

And all but mad he was as with a final effort backed by almost
maniacal strength he tore his wrists from the confining bonds and
grasping the repulsive thing upon his breast hurled it halfway
across the room. Panting like a spent hound Bradley worked at
the thongs about his ankles while the maniac lay quivering and
mumbling where it had fallen. Presently the Englishman leaped to
his feet--freer than he had ever before felt in all his life,