The shadow now fled towards a distant wood, among whose shades I must necessarily have lost it.  Seeing this, my heart beat wild with fright, my ardour increased and lent wings to my speed.  I was evidently gaining on the shadow—­I came nearer and nearer—­I was within reach of it, when it suddenly stopped and turned towards me.  Like a lion darting on its prey, I made a powerful spring and fell unexpectedly upon a hard substance.  Then followed, from an invisible hand, the most terrible blows in the ribs that anyone ever received.  The effect of my terror made me endeavour convulsively to strike and grasp at the unseen object before me.  The rapidity of my motions brought me to the ground, where I lay stretched out with a man under me, whom I held tight, and who now became visible.

The whole affair was now explained.  The man had undoubtedly possessed the bird’s nest which communicates its charm of invisibility to its possessor, though not equally so to his shadow; and this nest he had now thrown away.  I looked all round, and soon discovered the shadow of this invisible nest.  I sprang towards it, and was fortunate enough to seize the precious booty, and immediately became invisible and shadowless.

The moment the man regained his feet he looked all round over the wide sunny plain to discover his fortunate vanquisher, but could see neither him nor his shadow, the latter seeming particularly to be the object of his search:  for previous to our encounter he had not had leisure to observe that I was shadowless, and he could not be aware of it.  Becoming convinced that all traces of me were lost, he began to tear his hair, and give himself up to all the frenzy of despair.  In the meantime, this newly acquired treasure communicated to me both the ability and the desire to mix again among mankind.

I was at a loss for a pretext to vindicate this unjust robbery—­or, rather, so deadened had I become, I felt no need of a pretext; and in order to dissipate every idea of the kind, I hastened on, regardless of the unhappy man, whose fearful lamentations long resounded in my ears.  Such, at the time, were my impressions of all the circumstances of this affair.

I now ardently desired to return to the ranger’s garden, in order to ascertain in person the truth of the information communicated by the odious unknown; but I knew not where I was, until, ascending an eminence to take a survey of the surrounding country, I perceived, from its summit, the little town and the gardens almost at my feet.  My heart beat violently, and tears of a nature very different from those I had lately shed filled my eyes.  I should, then, once more behold her!

Anxiety now hastened my steps.  Unseen I met some peasants coming from the town; they were talking of me, of Rascal, and of the ranger.  I would not stay to listen to their conversation, but proceeded on.  My bosom thrilled with expectation as I entered the garden.  At this moment I heard something like a hollow laugh which caused me involuntarily to shudder.  I cast a rapid glance around, but could see no one.  I passed on; presently I fancied I heard the sound of footsteps close to me, but no one was within sight.  My ears must have deceived me.