We had not gone far when we caught sight of an animal making its way along the trunk of a fallen tree.  I soon recognised it to be a marten, and was just going to fire, when I perceived another creature coming out of a hole hard by.  The former animal was evidently bent on attacking the latter.  The marten immediately stopped, and carefully eyed the hermit, the character of which I could not at first make out on account of the distance it was from us.  Quambo would probably have known, but he and Mike were some way behind us.  Of the marten I had no doubt; I recognised it by its agile and graceful movements, by its length, which was about a foot and a half, with a bushy tail somewhat under a foot long, and by its dark tawny coat and white throat, its pointed muzzle, and bright and lively eyes.  We stopped to watch what would take place, keeping back the dogs, which were about to rush forward and seize the animals.