If he stirred, the thing might claw or bite, and the merest
scratch was said, in some kinds of these venomous species, to be fatal.
He dared not move, but lay there in a sort of physical coma, though
with every nerve strung to the point of agonized apprehension.
After feeling first with one claw, then another, the creature began to
descend. The first touch upon his face was indescribably loathsome to
Ralph, and as its round, egg-like body came in view, he closed his eyes
and held his breath.
Down to his breast the thing crawled, while the skin of his face
prickled sharply under an imaginary pain. Then he opened his eyes and
beheld a gigantic spider slowly making its way down his clothing.
With a body quite as large as the egg of a hen, and legs in proportion,
it moved slowly, in a groping manner, as if uncertain of its
whereabouts. Ralph fancied he could see its dull, cruel eyes. He lay
as if dead, until the thing had left his person, then recovered his
breath and courage by a vigorous inhalation.
But upon his first move the creature ran along the bottom of the boat
with extraordinary rapidity, and thence along Ben's blanket and body,
pausing only as it reached the sailor's now uncovered head.
There it seemed to look back at Ralph, who did not dare attempt to kill
it, lest it should attack Ben. To his horror the sailor stirred and
opened his eyes drowsily.
"Ben," whispered Ralph, "for goodness sake don't move, as you value
your life.
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