IhadjustgonesofarwhenIwasbroughtupshortbyatremendousoathbehindme。Atthesameinstantamatchflared。
Iturnedtofaceastrangerholdingthelittlelightabovehishead，andpeeringwithfieryintentnessoverthegroupsprawledaboutthefloor。
Hewasevidentlyjustinfromthestorm。Hisdrippinghatlayathisfeet。Ashockofstraight，close-clippedvigoroushairstoodupgreyabovehisseamedforehead。Bushyiron-greyeyebrowsdrawnclosetogetherthatchedapairofburning，unquenchableeyes。Asquare，deepjaw，lightlystubbledwithgrey，wasclampedsotightthatthecheekmusclesaboveitstoodoutinknotsandwelts。
Thenthematchburnedhisthick，squarefingers，andhedroppeditintothedarknessthatascendedtoswallowit。
\"Whowassingingthatsong？\"hecriedharshly。Nobodyanswered。