All this time, as I went through the wood, I was haunted with the
feeling that other shapes, more like my own size and mien, were moving
about at a little distance on all sides of me. But as yet I could
discern none of them, although the moon was high enough to send a great
many of her rays down between the trees, and these rays were unusually
bright, and sight-giving, notwithstanding she was only a half-moon. I
constantly imagined, however, that forms were visible in all directions
except that to which my gaze was turned; and that they only became
invisible, or resolved themselves into other woodland shapes, the moment
my looks were directed towards them. However this may have been, except
for this feeling of presence, the woods seemed utterly bare of anything
like human companionship, although my glance often fell on some object
which I fancied to be a human form; for I soon found that I was quite
deceived; as, the moment I fixed my regard on it, it showed plainly that
it was a bush, or a tree, or a rock.
Soon a vague sense of discomfort possessed me. With variations of
relief, this gradually increased; as if some evil thing were wandering
about in my neighbourhood, sometimes nearer and sometimes further off,
but still approaching. The feeling continued and deepened, until all my
pleasure in the shows of various kinds that everywhere betokened the
presence of the merry fairies vanished by degrees, and left me full
of anxiety and fear, which I was unable to associate with any definite
object whatever. At length the thought crossed my mind with horror: "Can
it be possible that the Ash is looking for me? or that, in his nightly
wanderings, his path is gradually verging towards mine?" I comforted
myself, however, by remembering that he had started quite in another
direction; one that would lead him, if he kept it, far apart from me;
especially as, for the last two or three hours, I had been diligently
journeying eastward.
I kept on my way, therefore, striving by direct
effort of the will against the encroaching fear; and to this end
occupying my mind, as much as I could, with other thoughts. I was so far
successful that, although I was conscious, if I yielded for a moment, I
should be almost overwhelmed with horror, I was yet able to walk right
on for an hour or more. What I feared I could not tell. Indeed, I was
left in a state of the vaguest uncertainty as regarded the nature of my
enemy, and knew not the mode or object of his attacks; for, somehow or
other, none of my questions had succeeded in drawing a definite answer
from the dame in the cottage. How then to defend myself I knew not; nor
even by what sign I might with certainty recognise the presence of my
foe; for as yet this vague though powerful fear was all the indication
of danger I had. To add to my distress, the clouds in the west had risen
nearly to the top of the skies, and they and the moon were travelling
slowly towards each other. Indeed, some of their advanced guard had
already met her, and she had begun to wade through a filmy vapour that
gradually deepened.