"Then I awake. Never yet have I seen the foul monster. But that is the dream that haunts me, and from which I have wakened, in my childhood screaming, in my manhood in cold sweat. At irregular intervals I dream it, and each time, lately"--he hesitated and then went on--"each time lately, the thing has been getting closer--closer--the waving of the grass marks his progress and he nears me with each dream; and when he reaches me, then----"

He stopped short, then without a word rose abruptly and entered the house. The rest of us sat silent for awhile, then followed him, for it was late.

How long I slept I do not know, but I woke suddenly with the impression that somewhere in the house someone had laughed, long, loud and hideously, as a maniac laughs. Starting up, wondering if I had been dreaming, I rushed from my room, just as a truly horrible shriek echoed through the house. The place was now alive with other people who had been awakened, and all of us rushed to Faming's room, whence the sounds had seemed to come.

Faming lay dead upon the floor, where it seemed he had fallen in some terrific struggle. There was no mark upon him, but his face was terribly distorted; as the face of a man who had been crushed by some superhuman force--such as some gigantic snake.Section 2

The trembling was not caused by fear, but by the excitement of the forest. The sound of the leaves, the soft breeze, and the sense of freedom all worked together to create a sense of elation. Nara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing the energy of the forest to seep into her very being.

As she opened her eyes, she caught a glimpse of movement to her left. Instinctively, she crouched down, her heart racing with anticipation. Through the dense underbrush, she could make out the form of a magnificent stag, its antlers reaching towards the sky.

Nara held her breath, not wanting to make a sound and break the spell of this magical moment. The stag turned its head, its eyes meeting hers for a brief moment before it bounded away, disappearing into the depths of the forest.

With a sigh, Nara rose to her feet, a smile playing on her lips. The encounter with the stag was a reminder of the wild beauty that surrounded her, a beauty that she was grateful to be a part of. As she continued on her journey through the forest, she carried with her the memory of the stag, a symbol of grace and strength in the wilderness.If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or 

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