My time was come! I sprang to my feet .-- Alas, I had not even a stick! They came in a rush, their eyes flashing with fury of greed, their black throats agape to devour me.

I stood hopelessly waiting them.

One moment they halted over the horse--then came at me.
With a sound of swiftness all but silence, a cloud of green eyes came down on their flank.

The heads that bore them flew at the wolves with a cry feebler yet fiercer than their howling snarl, and by the cry I knew them: they were cats, led by a huge gray one.

I could see nothing of him but his eyes, yet I knew him--and so knew his colour and bigness.