As it came nearer it separated itself into a labored, monotonous panting, continuous, but distinct from an equally monotonous but fainter beating of the waters, as if the whole track of the river were being coursed and trodden by a multitude of swiftly trampling feet.

A strange feeling took possession of him--half of fear, half of curious expectation.

It was coming nearer.
He rose, leaped hurriedly from the wagon, and ran to the bank.

The night was dark; at first he saw nothing before him but the steel-black sky pierced with far-spaced, irregularly scattered stars.

Then there seemed to be approaching him, from the left, another and more symmetrical constellation--a few red and blue stars high above the river, with three compact lines of larger planetary lights flashing towards him and apparently on his own level.