The brute lay on its side, with its body slightly bent.

Its rodent teeth overhanging its receding lower jaw gave its face a look of colossal feebleness, of weak avidity.

It seemed not in the least ferocious or terrible.

Its fore-paws reminded him of lank emaciated hands.

Except for one neat round hole with a scorched rim on either side of its neck, the creature was absolutely intact.