the midday sun
Ah , I knew him on the instant . The beast ! The terrible one ! And on my inner vision flashed the memories of my dreams , -- the midday sun shining on tall grass , the wild bull grazing quietly , the sudden parting of the grass before the swift rush of the tawny one , his leap to the bull 's back , the crashing and the bellowing , and the crunch crunch of bones ; or again , the cool quiet of the water-hole , the wild horse up to his knees and drinking softly , and then the tawny one -- always the tawny one ! -- the leap , the screaming and the splashing of the horse , and the crunch crunch of bones ; and yet again , the sombre twilight and the sad silence of the end of day , and then the great full-throated roar , sudden , like a trump of doom , and swift upon it the insane shrieking and chattering among the trees , and I , too , am trembling with fear and am one of the many shrieking and chattering among the trees . At the sight of him , helpless , within the bars of his cage , I became enraged . I gritted my teeth at him , danced up and down , screaming an incoherent mockery and making antic faces .