Along the floor it crawled toward the settle, going very slow.

Yet more slowly it crept up on it, and laid itself, as unwilling to go further, at the feet of the princess.

I rose and stole nearer.

Mara stood motionless, as one that waits an event foreknown.

The shining thing crawled on to a bare bony foot: it showed no suffering, neither was the settle scorched where the worm had lain.