I overtook Josie , caught her hand , and stumbled along in her wake , for she went with the speed and recklessness of a distraught woman . We moved in the little flitting circle of light shed by the lantern . All around us and above us was a horrible , voiceless darkness , held , as it were , at bay by the friendly light . `` If I could only overtake him once , '' moaned Josie . `` If I could just kiss him once , and hold him close against my aching heart . This pain , that never leaves me , would leave me than . Oh , my pretty boy , wait for mother ! I am coming to you . Listen , David ; he cries -- he cries so pitifully ; listen ! Ca n't you hear it ? '' I DID hear it ! Clear and distinct , out of the deadly still darkness before us , came a faint , wailing cry . What was it ? Was I , too , going mad , or WAS there something out there -- something that cried and moaned -- longing for human love , yet ever retreating from human footsteps ? I am not a superstitious man ; but my nerve had been shaken by my long trial , and I was weaker than I thought . Terror took possession of me -- terror unnameable . I trembled in every limb ; clammy perspiration oozed from my forehead ; I was possessed by a wild impulse to turn and flee -- anywhere , away from that unearthly cry . But Josephine 's cold hand gripped mine firmly , and led me on . That strange cry still rang in my ears . But it did not recede ; it sounded clearer and stronger ; it was a wail ; but a loud , insistent wail ; it was nearer -- nearer ; it was in the darkness just beyond us .
Then we came XXXXX it ; a little dory had been beached on the pebbles and left there by the receding tide .
above against as beyond by from nearer on than to