Hepaused，asatlengthheapproachedthemouthofthecavern，torecoverbreath；andthen，withhiswontedcollectedandstatelymien，hecrossedtheunhallowedthreshold。
Thefoxsprangupattheingressofthisnewcomer，andbyalonghowlannouncedanothervisitortohismistress。
Thewitchhadresumedherseat，andheraspectofgravelikeandgrimrepose。
Byherfeet，uponabedofdryweedswhichhalfcoveredit，laythewoundedsnake；butthequickeyeoftheEgyptiancaughtitsscalesglitteringinthereflectedlightoftheoppositefire，asitwrithed——nowcontracting，nowlengthening，itsfolds，inpainandunsatedanger。
’Down，slave！’saidthewitch，asbefore，tothefox；and，asbefore，theanimaldroppedtotheground——mute，butvigilant。