I ran the faster, though I could not but fear it must already be too late.
In a minute or two I spied a low white shape approaching me through the vapour-dusted moonlight.

It must be another beast, I thought at first, for it came slowly, almost crawling, with strange, floundering leaps, as of a creature in agony! I drew aside from its path, and waited.

As it neared me, I saw it was going on three legs, carrying its left fore-paw high from the ground.

It had many dark, oval spots on a shining white skin, and was attended by a low rushing sound, as of water falling upon grass.

As it went by me, I saw something streaming from the lifted paw.
"It is blood!" I said to myself, "some readier champion than I has wounded the beast!" But, strange to tell, such a pity seized me at sight of the suffering creature, that, though an axe had been in my hand I could not have struck at it.