on he thrashed , on towards the copse , the safety of the cottage , cursing his rashness as he almost fell to his knees , managing to stagger on , like a fool , over the windswept barren wastes of the moor , as it was almost upon him , as he screamed and held his arms above his head as if by doing so he would be able to protect himself from the menace which was about to pounce , as the wall of torrential rain eventually engulfed him , sweeping across the plain towards the copse .