As he rode the mirk of the smoke became denser, until his eyes were smarting and his lungs choking.

I'm meat for your mistress now; I am the master of Mirk; or at least I shall be in a day or two.

I couldna, for the life o' me, keep twa human creatures pleading for shelter, wha kendna whar to gang in a mirk nicht like this.

Is there not some fabulous animal which does the same, thereby to escape in the mirk it has itself created?