In the very centre of this there was a huge
mark—an ill-defined blotch, deep, broad and
irregular, as if a great boulder had fallen upon
it. No loose stone lay near, however, nor was
there anything to account for the impression.
It was far too large to be caused by any possible
animal, and besides, there was only the one,
and the patch of mud was of such a size that
no reasonable stride could have covered it. As
I rose from the examination of that singular
mark and then looked round into the black
shadows which hemmed me in, I must con-
fess that I felt for a moment a most unpleasant
sinking of my heart, and that, do what I could,
the candle trembled in my outstretched hand.
I soon recovered my nerve, however,
when I reflected how absurd it was to associate
so huge and shapeless a mark with the track
of any known animal. Even an elephant could
not have produced

Chapter 2