Meantime Dorothy had reached the same door in the wall of the stableyard, and peeping in saw nothing but the dogs raging and RUGGING at their chains as if they would drag the earth itself after them to reach the enemy.  She was one of those on whose wits, usually sedate in their motions, all sorts of excitement, danger amongst the rest, operate favourably.  When she specially noticed the fury of Marquis, the same moment she perceived the danger in which he, that was, all the dogs, would be, if the panther should attack them one by one on the chain; not one of them had a chance.  With the thought, she sped across the space between her and Marquis, who—­I really cannot say which concerning such a dog—­was fortunately not very far from the door.  Feeling him a little safer now that she stood by his side, she resumed her ocular search for the panther, or any further sign of his proximity, but with one hand on the dog’s collar, ready in an instant to seize it with both, and unclasp it.

Nor had she to look long, for all the dogs were straining their chains in one direction, and all their lines converged upon a little dark shed, where stood a cart:  under the cart, between its lower shafts, she caught a doubtful luminousness, as if the dark while yet dark had begun to throb with coming light.  This presently seemed to resolve itself, and she saw, vaguely but with conviction, two huge lamping cat-eyes.  I will not say she felt no fear, but she was not terrified, for she had great confidence in Marquis.  One moment she stood bethinking herself, and one glance she threw at the spot where her mastiff’s chain was attached to his collar:  she would fain have had him keep the latter to defend his neck and throat:  but alas! it was as she knew well enough before—­the one was riveted to the other, and the two must go together.

And now first, as she raised her head from the momentary inspection, she saw the groom lying on the ground within a few yards of the shed.  Her first thought was that the panther had killed him, but ere a second had time to rise in her mind, she saw the terrible animal creeping out from under the cart, with his chin on the ground, like the great cat he was, and making for the man.

The brute had got the better of his fall, and finding he was not pursued, the barking of the dogs, to which in moderation he was sufficiently accustomed, had ceased to confuse him, he had recovered his awful self, and was now scenting prey.  Had the man made a single movement he would have been upon him like lightning; but the few moments he took in creeping towards him, gave Dorothy all the time she needed.  With resolute, though trembling hands, she undid Marquis’s collar.