“I caught the vile thing,” said a feeble voice, in my mother-tongue; “I caught it in the very act!”
She was alive! she spoke! I dared not yield to my transport lest I should terrify her.
“What creature?” I breathed, rather than said.
“The creature,” she answered, “that was biting you.”
“What was it?”
“A great white leech.”
“How big?” I pursued, forcing myself to be calm.
“Not far from six feet long, I should think,” she answered.
“You have saved my life, perhaps!—But how could you touch the horrid thing! How brave of you!” I cried.
“I did!” was all her answer, and I thought she shuddered.