I ran back into the house, and, getting my gun, sallied out to search through the gardens.  As I went, I asked myself whether the thing I had just seen was likely to be the same of which I had caught a glimpse in the morning.  I inclined to think it was.

I would have taken Pepper with me; but judged it better to give his wound a chance to heal.  Besides, if the creature I had just seen was, as I imagined, his antagonist of the morning, it was not likely that he would be of much use.

I began my search, systematically.  I was determined, if it were possible, to find and put an end to that swine-thing.  This was, at least, a material Horror!

At first, I searched, cautiously; with the thought of Pepper’s wound in my mind; but, as the hours passed, and not a sign of anything living, showed in the great, lonely gardens, I became less apprehensive.  I felt almost as though I would welcome the sight of it.  Anything seemed better than this silence, with the ever-present feeling that the creature might be lurking in every bush I passed.  Later, I grew careless of danger, to the extent of plunging right through the bushes, probing with my gun barrel as I went.

At times, I shouted; but only the echoes answered back.  I thought thus perhaps to frighten or stir the creature to showing itself; but only succeeded in bringing my sister Mary out, to know what was the matter.  I told her, that I had seen the wildcat that had wounded Pepper, and that I was trying to hunt it out of the bushes.  She seemed only half satisfied, and went back into the house, with an expression of doubt upon her face.  I wondered whether she had seen or guessed anything.  For the rest of the afternoon, I prosecuted the search anxiously.  I felt that I should be unable to sleep, with that bestial thing haunting the shrubberies, and yet, when evening fell, I had seen nothing.  Then, as I turned homeward, I heard a short, unintelligible noise, among the bushes to my right.  Instantly, I turned, and, aiming quickly, fired in the direction of the sound.  Immediately afterward, I heard something scuttling away among the bushes.  It moved rapidly, and in a minute had gone out of hearing.  After a few steps I ceased my pursuit, realizing how futile it must be in the fast gathering gloom; and so, with a curious feeling of depression, I entered the house.

That night, after my sister had gone to bed, I went ’round to all the windows and doors on the ground floor; and saw to it that they were securely fastened.  This precaution was scarcely necessary as regards the windows, as all of those on the lower storey are strongly barred; but with the doors—­of which there are five—­it was wisely thought, as not one was locked.

Having secured these, I went to my study, yet, somehow, for once, the place jarred upon me; it seemed so huge and echoey.  For some time I tried to read; but at last finding it impossible I carried my book down to the kitchen where a large fire was burning, and sat there.