Just as they reached a very gloomy and deserted part, they suddenly observed a dark object in the middle of the road some distance in front of them.
It seemed to be a large animal of some kind and was coming slowly and stealthily towards them.
They stopped, peering in a half-frightened way through the darkness.
The animal continued to approach.

Bundy stooped down to the ground, groping about in search of a stone, and--with the exception of Crass, who was too frightened to move--the others followed his example.

They found several large stones and stood waiting for the creature--whatever it was--to come a little nearer so as to get a fair shot at it.

They were about to let fly when the creature fell over on its side and moaned as if in pain.

Observing this, the four men advanced cautiously towards it.