Yet all three animals were keyed to a tenseness of living that was almost painful, and scarcely ever would it come to them to be more alive than they were then in their seeming petrifaction.
One Eye moved slightly and peered forth with increased eagerness.
Something was happening.

The porcupine had at last decided that its enemy had gone away.

Slowly, cautiously, it was unrolling its ball of impregnable armour.

It was agitated by no tremor of anticipation.
Slowly, slowly, the bristling ball straightened out and lengthened.

One Eye watching, felt a sudden moistness in his mouth and a drooling of saliva, involuntary, excited by the living meat that was spreading itself like a repast before him.
Not quite entirely had the porcupine unrolled when it discovered its enemy.