ly their teeth, but their knees knocked together,
as they staggered towards the beach.

Just before reaching it, an incident arose that filled them with fresh
forebodings. The strange beast that had threatened to intercept their
retreat over the ridge, once more appeared before their eyes. It was
either the same or one of the same kind, equally ugly, and, to all
appearance, equally determined to dispute their passage.

It was now patrolling the strand close by the water's edge; going
backwards and forwards, precisely as it had done along the saddle-shaped
sand-wreath; all the while keeping its hideous face turned towards them.
With the moon behind their backs, they had a better view of it than
before; but this, though enabling them to perceive that it was some
strange quadruped, did not in any way improve their opinion of it. They
could see that it was covered with a coat of long shaggy hair, of a
brindled brown colour; and that from a pair of large orbs, set obliquely
in its head, gleamed forth a fierce sullen light.

How it had come there they knew not; but there it was. Judging from the
experience of their former encounter with it they presumed it would
again retreat at their approach; and, once more drawing their dirks,
they advanced boldly towards it.

They were not deceived. Long before they were near, the uncouth
creature turned tail; and, again giving utterance to its unearthly cry,
scampered off towards the ravine, in whose shadowy depths it soon
disappeared from their view.

Supposing they had nothing further to fear, our adventures stepped out
upon the strand, and commenced consultation as to their future course.

To keep on down the coast and get as far as possible from the Arab
encampment was the thought of all three; and as they were unanimous in
this, scarce a moment was wasted in coming to a determination. Once
resolved, they faced southward; and started off as briskly as their
shivering frames and saturated garments would allow them.

There was not much to cheer them on their way, only the thought that
they had so adroitly extricated themselves from a dread danger. But
even this proved only a fanciful consolation: for scarce had they made a
score of steps along the strand, when they were brought to a sudden
halt, by hearing a noise that appeared to proceed from the ravine behind
them.

It was a slight noise, something like a snort, apparently made by some
animal; and for a moment, they s