It was more beast than man that finally crept forward on all-fours, the eyes gleaming cruel as a cat's in the night.

It was not far he was compelled to go, his movements squirming and noiseless.

Within a yard of the peacefully slumbering man he rose up, crouching on his toes and bending stealthily forward to gloat over his victim.

Hampton stirred uneasily, possibly feeling the close proximity of that horrible presence.

Then the maniac took one more stealthy, slouching step nearer, and flung himself at the exposed throat, uttering a fierce snarl as his fingers clutched the soft flesh.
Hampton awoke, gasping and choking, to find those mad eyes glaring into his own, those murderous hands throttling him with the strength of madness.
At first the stupefied, half-awakened man struggled as if in delirium, scarcely realizing the danger.