Scarcely had he disappeared in
the mist before, panting after him, with open mouth and glaring
eyes, there darted a huge beast. I could not be mistaken in its
character. It was a hyena.
"The sight of this monster rather relieved than heightened my
terrors- for I now made sure that I dreamed, and endeavored to
arouse myself to waking consciousness. I stepped boldly and briskly
forward. I rubbed my eyes. I called aloud. I pinched my limbs. A small
spring of water presented itself to my view, and here, stooping, I
bathed my hands and my head and neck. This seemed to dissipate the
equivocal sensations which had hitherto annoyed me. I arose, as I
thought, a new man, and proceeded steadily and complacently on my
unknown way.
"At length, quite overcome by exertion, and by a certain
oppressive closeness of the atmosphere, I seated myself beneath a
tree. Presently there came a feeble gleam of sunshine, and the
shadow of the leaves of the tree fell faintly but definitely upon
the grass. At this shadow I gazed wonderingly for many minutes. Its
character stupefied me with astonishment. I looked upward. The tree
was a palm.
"I now arose hurriedly, and in a state of fearful agitation- for the
fancy that I dreamed would serve me no longer.
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