He held the loaded musket in his hand, ready at a moment's notice to raise it to the level and fire into the face of the red-haired satyr.
They waited in breathless silence, though each could hear the beating of the other's heart.
It was torture to stand thus uncertain; and, as if to continue it, the animal was a long time in getting to the tree.

Had it stopped, or turned off some other way?
Henry was tempted to peep round the trunk and satisfy himself.

He was about to do this, when a scratching on the other side fell upon their ears.

It was the claws of the mias rasping against the bark.

The next moment the sound seemed higher up, and they were made aware that the creature was ascending the tree.
Henry was already congratulating himself on this event.