The Man of the Island

           Fromthesideofthehill,whichwasheresteepandstony,aspoutofgravelwasdislodgedandfellrattlingandboundingthroughthetrees.Myeyesturnedinstinctivelyinthatdirection,andIsawafigureleapwithgreatrapiditybehindthetrunkofapine.Whatitwas,whetherbearormanormonkey,Icouldinnowisetell.Itseemeddarkandshaggy;moreIknewnot.Buttheterrorofthisnewapparitionbroughtmetoastand.

           Iwasnow,itseemed,cutoffuponbothsides;behindmethemurderers,beforemethislurkingnondescript.AndimmediatelyIbegantopreferthedangersthatIknewtothoseIknewnot.Silverhimselfappearedlessterribleincontrastwiththiscreatureofthewoods,andIturnedonmyheel,andlookingsharplybehindmeovermyshoulder,begantoretracemystepsinthedirectionoftheboats.

           Instantlythefigurereappeared,andmakingawidecircuit,begantoheadmeoff.Iwastired,atanyrate;buthadIbeenasfreshaswhenIrose,Icouldseeitwasinvainformetocontendinspeedwithsuchanadversary.Fromtrunktotrunkthecreatureflittedlikeadeer,runningmanlikeontwolegs,butunlikeanymanthatIhadeverseen,stoopingalmostdoubleasitran.Yetamanitwas,Icouldnolongerbeindoubtaboutthat.

           IbegantorecallwhatIhadheardofcannibals.Iwaswithinanaceofcallingforhelp.Butthemerefactthathewasaman,howeverwild,hadsomewhatreassuredme,andmyfearofSilverbegantoreviveinproportion.Istoodstill,therefore,andcastaboutforsomemethodofescape;andasIwassothinking,therecollectionofmypistolflashedintomymind.AssoonasIrememberedIwasnotdefenceless,courageglowedagaininmyheartandIsetmyfaceresolutelyforthismanoftheislandandwalkedbrisklytowardshim.