He sat still for a time, scarcely breathing.

There was no sound, save the beating of his own heart.

Then there came another, almost unheard at first, faint, thrilling, maddening.
Tick--tick--tick! It was the beating of his watch.

A spasm of horror seized him.
What time was it?
The coyote was to be fired at nine o'clock.

It was four when he left his cabin.