a no
a one
a would
a have
a believed
a in
a the
a last
a years
a of
a the
a -
a nineteenth
a century
a that
a this
a world
a was
a being
a watched
a keenly
a -
a and
a closely
a by
a intelligences
a greater
a than
a man's
a and
a yet
a as
a -
a mortal
a as
a his
a own
a that
a as
a men
a busied
a themselves
a about
a their
a -
a various
a concerns
a they
a were
a scrutinised
a and
a studied
a perhaps
a -
a almost
a as
a narrowly
a as
a a
a man
a with
a a
a microscope
a might
a -
a scrutinise
a the
a transient
a creatures
a that
a swarm
a and
a multiply
a -
a in
a a
a drop
a of
a water
a with
a infinite
a complacency
a men
a went
a to
a -
a and
a fro
a over
a this
a globe
a about
a their
a little
a affairs
a serene
a -
a in
a their
a assurance
a of
a their
a empire
a over
a matter
a it
a is
a -
a possible
a that
a the
a infusoria
a under
a the
a microscope
a do
a the
a -
a same
a no
a one
a gave
a a
a thought
a to
a the
a older
a worlds
a of
a space
a as
a -
a sources
a of
a human
a danger
a or
a thought
a of
a them
a only
a to
a dismiss
a -
a the
a idea
a of
a life
a upon
a them
a as
a impossible
a or
a improbable
a it
a -
a is
a curious
a to
a recall
a some
a of
a the
a mental
a habits
a of
a those
a -
a departed
a days
a at
a most
a terrestrial
a men
a fancied
a there
a might
a -
a be
a other
a men
a upon
a mars
a perhaps
a inferior
a to
a themselves
a and
a -
a ready
a to
a welcome
a a
a missionary
a enterprise
a yet
a across
a the
a -
a gulf
a of
a space
a minds
a that
a are
a to
a our
a minds
a as
a ours
a are
a to
a -
a those
a of
a the
a beasts
a that
a perish
a intellects
a vast
a and
a cool
a -
a and
a unsympathetic
a regarded
a this
a earth
a with
a envious
a eyes
a -
a and
a slowly
a and
a surely
a drew
a their
a plans
a against
a us
a and
a early
a -
a in
a the
a twentieth
a century
a came
a the
a great
a disillusionment
a =
a the
a planet
a mars
a i
a scarcely
a need
a remind
a the
a reader
a revolves
a -
a about
a the
a sun
a at
a a
a mean
a distance
a of
a miles
a and
a -
a the
a light
a and
a heat
a it
a receives
a from
a the
a sun
a is
a barely
a half
a -
a of
a that
a received
a by
a this
a world
a it
a must
a be
a if
a the
a nebular
a -
a hypothesis
a has
a any
a truth
a older
a than
a our
a world
a and
a long
a -
a before
a this
a earth
a ceased
a to
a be
a molten
a life
a upon
a its
a surface
a -
a must
a have
a begun
a its
a course
a the
a fact
a that
a it
a is
a scarcely
a one
a -
a seventh
a of
a the
a volume
a of
a the
a earth
a must
a have
a accelerated
a its
a -
a cooling
a to
a the
a temperature
a at
a which
a life
a could
a begin
a it
a has
a -
a air
a and
a water
a and
a all
a that
a is
a necessary
a for
a the
a support
a of
a -
a animated
a existence
a =
a yet
a so
a vain
a is
a man
a and
a so
a blinded
a by
a his
a vanity
a that
a no
a -
a writer
a up
a to
a the
a very
a end
a of
a the
a nineteenth
a century
a -
a expressed
a any
a idea
a that
a intelligent
a life
a might
a have
a -
a developed
a there
a far
a or
a indeed
a at
a all
a beyond
a its
a earthly
a -
a level
a nor
a was
a it
a generally
a understood
a that
a since
a mars
a is
a -
a older
a than
a our
a earth
a with
a scarcely
a a
a quarter
a of
a the
a -
a superficial
a area
a and
a remoter
a from
a the
a sun
a it
a necessarily
a -
a follows
a that
a it
a is
a not
a only
a more
a distant
a from
a time's
a -
a beginning
a but
a nearer
a its
a end
a =
a the
a secular
a cooling
a that
a must
a someday
a overtake
a our
a planet
a -
a has
a already
a gone
a far
a indeed
a with
a our
a neighbour
a its
a physical
a -
a condition
is
still
largely
a
mystery
but
we
know
now
that
-
even
in
its
equatorial
region
the
midday
temperature
barely
-
approaches
that
of
our
coldest
winter
its
air
is
much
more
-
attenuated
than
ours
its
oceans
have
shrunk
until
they
-
cover
but
a
third
of
its
surface
and
as
its
slow
seasons
-
change
huge
snowcaps
gather
and
melt
about
either
pole
and
-
periodically
inundate
its
temperate
zones
that
last
stage
-
of
exhaustion
which
to
us
is
still
incredibly
remote
has
-
become
a
present~day
problem
for
the
inhabitants
of
mars
-
the
immediate
pressure
of
necessity
has
brightened
their
-
intellects
enlarged
their
powers
and
hardened
their
-
hearts
and
looking
across
space
with
instruments
and
-
intelligences
such
as
we
have
scarcely
dreamed
of
they
see
-
at
its
nearest
distance
only
of
miles
sunward
of
-
them
a
morning
star
of
hope
our
own
warmer
planet
green
-
with
vegetation
and
grey
with
water
with
a
cloudy
-
atmosphere
eloquent
of
fertility
with
glimpses
through
its
-
drifting
cloud
wisps
of
broad
stretches
of
populous
country
-
and
narrow
navy~crowded
seas
=
and
we
men
the
creatures
who
inhabit
this
earth
must
be
to
-
them
at
least
as
alien
and
lowly
as
are
the
monkeys
and
-
lemurs
to
us
the
intellectual
side
of
man
already
admits
-
that
life
is
an
incessant
struggle
for
existence
and
it
-
would
seem
that
this
too
is
the
belief
of
the
minds
upon
-
mars
their
world
is
far
gone
in
its
cooling
and
this
world
-
is
still
crowded
with
life
but
crowded
only
with
what
they
-
regard
as
inferior
animals
to
carry
warfare
sunward
is
-
indeed
their
only
escape
from
the
destruction
that
-
generation
after
generation
creeps
upon
them
=
and
before
we
judge
of
them
too
harshly
we
must
remember
-
what
ruthless
and
utter
destruction
our
own
species
has
-
wrought
not
only
upon
animals
such
as
the
vanished
bison
-
and
the
dodo
but
upon
its
inferior
races
the
tasmanians
-
in
spite
of
their
human
likeness
were
entirely
swept
out
of
-
existence
in
a
war
of
extermination
waged
by
european
-
immigrants
in
the
space
of
fifty
years
are
we
such
-
apostles
of
mercy
as
to
complain
if
the
martians
warred
in
-
the
same
spirit
=
the
martians
seem
to
have
calculated
their
descent
with
-
amazing
subtlety
-
their
mathematical
learning
is
evidently
-
far
in
excess
of
ours
-
and
to
have
carried
out
their
-
preparations
with
a
well~nigh
perfect
unanimity
had
our
-
instruments
permitted
it
we
might
have
seen
the
gathering
-
trouble
far
back
in
the
nineteenth
century
men
like
-
schiaparelli
watched
the
red
planet
-
it
is
odd
by~the~bye
-
that
for
countless
centuries
mars
has
been
the
star
of
-
war
-
but
failed
to
interpret
the
fluctuating
appearances
of
-
the
markings
they
mapped
so
well
all
that
time
the
martians
-
must
have
been
getting
ready
=
during
the
opposition
of
a
great
light
was
seen
on
the
-
illuminated
part
of
the
disk
first
at
the
lick
observatory
-
then
by
perrotin
of
nice
and
then
by
other
observers
-
english
readers
heard
of
it
first
in
the
issue
of
nature
-
dated
august
i
am
inclined
to
think
that
this
blaze
may
-
have
been
the
casting
of
the
huge
gun
in
the
vast
pit
sunk
-
into
their
planet
from
which
their
shots
were
fired
at
us
-
peculiar
markings
as
yet
unexplained
were
seen
near
the
-
site
of
that
outbreak
during
the
next
two
oppositions
=
the
storm
burst
upon
us
six
years
ago
now
as
mars
-
approached
opposition
lavelle
of
java
set
the
wires
of
the
-
astronomical
exchange
palpitating
with
the
amazing
-
intelligence
of
a
huge
outbreak
of
incandescent
gas
upon
the
-
planet
it
had
occurred
towards
midnight
of
the
twelfth
and
-
the
spectroscope
to
which
he
had
at
once
resorted
-
indicated
a
mass
of
flaming
gas
chiefly
hydrogen
moving
-
with
an
enormous
velocity
towards
this
earth
this
jet
of
-
fire
had
become
invisible
about
a
quarter
past
twelve
he
-
compared
it
to
a
colossal
puff
of
flame
suddenly
and
-
violently
squirted
out
of
the
planet
as
flaming
gases
-
rushed
out
of
a
gun
=
a
singularly
appropriate
phrase
it
proved
yet
the
next
day
-
there
was
nothing
of
this
in
the
papers
except
a
little
note
-
in
the
daily
telegraph
and
the
world
went
in
ignorance
of
-
one
of
the
gravest
dangers
that
ever
threatened
the
human
-
race
i
might
not
have
heard
of
the
eruption
at
all
had
i
-
not
met
ogilvy
the
well~known
astronomer
at
ottershaw
he
-
was
immensely
excited
at
the
news
and
in
the
excess
of
his
-
feelings
invited
me
up
to
take
a
turn
with
him
that
night
in
-
a
scrutiny
of
the
red
planet
=
in
spite
of
all
that
has
happened
since
i
still
remember
-
that
vigil
very
distinctly
the
black
and
silent
-
observatory
the
shadowed
lantern
throwing
a
feeble
glow
-
upon
the
floor
in
the
corner
the
steady
ticking
of
the
-
clockwork
of
the
telescope
the
little
slit
in
the
roof
-
an
-
oblong
profundity
with
the
stardust
streaked
across
it
-
ogilvy
moved
about
invisible
but
audible
looking
through
-
the
telescope
one
saw
a
circle
of
deep
blue
and
the
little
-
round
planet
swimming
in
the
field
it
seemed
such
a
little
-
thing
so
bright
and
small
and
still
faintly
marked
with
-
transverse
stripes
and
slightly
flattened
from
the
perfect
-
round
but
so
little
it
was
so
silvery
warm
-
a
pin's~head
-
of
light
it
was
as
if
it
quivered
but
really
this
was
the
-
telescope
vibrating
with
the
activity
of
the
clockwork
that
-
kept
the
planet
in
view
=
as
i
watched
the
planet
seemed
to
grow
larger
and
smaller
-
and
to
advance
and
recede
but
that
was
simply
that
my
eye
-
was
tired
forty
millions
of
miles
it
was
from
us
-
more
than
-
forty
millions
of
miles
of
void
few
people
realise
the
-
immensity
of
vacancy
in
which
the
dust
of
the
material
-
universe
swims
=
near
it
in
the
field
i
remember
were
three
faint
points
of
-
light
three
telescopic
stars
infinitely
remote
and
all
-
around
it
was
the
unfathomable
darkness
of
empty
space
you
-
know
how
that
blackness
looks
on
a
frosty
starlight
night
-
in
a
telescope
it
seems
far
profounder
and
invisible
to
me
-
because
it
was
so
remote
and
small
flying
swiftly
and
-
steadily
towards
me
across
that
incredible
distance
drawing
-
nearer
every
minute
by
so
many
thousands
of
miles
came
the
-
thing
they
were
sending
us
the
thing
that
was
to
bring
so
-
much
struggle
and
calamity
and
death
to
the
earth
i
never
-
dreamed
of
it
then
as
i
watched
no
one
on
earth
dreamed
of
-
that
unerring
missile
=
that
night
too
there
was
another
jetting
out
of
gas
from
-
the
distant
planet
i
saw
it
a
reddish
flash
at
the
edge
-
the
slightest
projection
of
the
outline
just
as
the
-
chronometer
struck
midnight
and
at
that
i
told
ogilvy
and
-
he
took
my
place
the
night
was
warm
and
i
was
thirsty
and
-
i
went
stretching
my
legs
clumsily
and
feeling
my
way
in
the
-
darkness
to
the
little
table
where
the
siphon
stood
while
-
ogilvy
exclaimed
at
the
streamer
of
gas
that
came
out
-
towards
us
=
that
night
another
invisible
missile
started
on
its
way
to
-
the
earth
from
mars
just
a
second
or
so
under
twenty~four
-
hours
after
the
first
one
i
remember
how
i
sat
on
the
table
-
there
in
the
blackness
with
patches
of
green
and
crimson
-
swimming
before
my
eyes
i
wished
i
had
a
light
to
smoke
by
-
little
suspecting
the
meaning
of
the
minute
gleam
i
had
seen
-
and
all
that
it
would
presently
bring
me
ogilvy
watched
-
till
one
and
then
gave
it
up
and
we
lit
the
lantern
and
-
walked
over
to
his
house
down
below
in
the
darkness
were
-
ottershaw
and
chertsey
and
all
their
hundreds
of
people
-
sleeping
in
peace
=
he
was
full
of
speculation
that
night
about
the
condition
of
-
mars
and
scoffed
at
the
vulgar
idea
of
its
having
-
inhabitants
who
were
signalling
us
his
idea
was
that
-
meteorites
might
be
falling
in
a
heavy
shower
upon
the
-
planet
or
that
a
huge
volcanic
explosion
was
in
progress
-
he
pointed
out
to
me
how
unlikely
it
was
that
organic
-
evolution
had
taken
the
same
direction
in
the
two
adjacent
-
planets
=
the
chances
against
anything
manlike
on
mars
are
a
million
-
to
one
he
said
=
hundreds
of
observers
saw
the
flame
that
night
and
the
night
-
after
about
midnight
and
again
the
night
after
and
so
for
-
ten
nights
a
flame
each
night
why
the
shots
ceased
after
-
the
tenth
no
one
on
earth
has
attempted
to
explain
it
may
-
be
the
gases
of
the
firing
caused
the
martians
-
inconvenience
dense
clouds
of
smoke
or
dust
visible
-
through
a
powerful
telescope
on
earth
as
little
grey
-
fluctuating
patches
spread
through
the
clearness
of
the
-
planet's
atmosphere
and
obscured
its
more
familiar
features
=
even
the
daily
papers
woke
up
to
the
disturbances
at
last
-
and
popular
notes
appeared
here
there
and
everywhere
-
concerning
the
volcanoes
upon
mars
the
seriocomic
-
periodical
punch
i
remember
made
a
happy
use
of
it
in
the
-
political
cartoon
and
all
unsuspected
those
missiles
the
-
martians
had
fired
at
us
drew
earthward
rushing
now
at
a
-
pace
of
many
miles
a
second
through
the
empty
gulf
of
space
-
hour
by
hour
and
day
by
day
nearer
and
nearer
it
seems
to
-
me
now
almost
incredibly
wonderful
that
with
that
swift
-
fate
hanging
over
us
men
could
go
about
their
petty
-
concerns
as
they
did
i
remember
how
jubilant
markham
was
at
-
securing
a
new
photograph
of
the
planet
for
the
illustrated
-
paper
he
edited
in
those
days
people
in
these
latter
times
-
scarcely
realise
the
abundance
and
enterprise
of
our
-
nineteenth~century
papers
for
my
own
part
i
was
much
-
occupied
in
learning
to
ride
the
bicycle
and
busy
upon
a
-
series
of
papers
discussing
the
probable
developments
of
-
moral
ideas
as
civilisation
progressed
=
one
night
the
first
missile
then
could
scarcely
have
been
-
miles
away
i
went
for
a
walk
with
my
wife
it
-
was
starlight
and
i
explained
the
signs
of
the
zodiac
to
-
her
and
pointed
out
mars
a
bright
dot
of
light
creeping
-
zenithward
towards
which
so
many
telescopes
were
pointed
-
it
was
a
warm
night
coming
home
a
party
of
excursionists
-
from
chertsey
or
isleworth
passed
us
singing
and
playing
-
music
there
were
lights
in
the
upper
windows
of
the
houses
-
as
the
people
went
to
bed
from
the
railway
station
in
the
-
distance
came
the
sound
of
shunting
trains
ringing
and
-
rumbling
softened
almost
into
melody
by
the
distance
my
-
wife
pointed
out
to
me
the
brightness
of
the
red
green
and
-
yellow
signal
lights
hanging
in
a
framework
against
the
sky
-
it
seemed
so
safe
and
tranquil
=
then
came
the
night
of
the
first
falling
star
it
was
seen
-
early
in
the
morning
rushing
over
winchester
eastward
a
-
line
of
flame
high
in
the
atmosphere
hundreds
must
have
-
seen
it
and
taken
it
for
an
ordinary
falling
star
albin
-
described
it
as
leaving
a
greenish
streak
behind
it
that
-
glowed
for
some
seconds
denning
our
greatest
authority
on
-
meteorites
stated
that
the
height
of
its
first
appearance
-
was
about
ninety
or
one
hundred
miles
it
seemed
to
him
that
-
it
fell
to
earth
about
one
hundred
miles
east
of
him
=
i
was
at
home
at
that
hour
and
writing
in
my
study
and
-
although
my
french
windows
face
towards
ottershaw
and
the
-
blind
was
up
for
i
loved
in
those
days
to
look
up
at
the
-
night
sky
i
saw
nothing
of
it
yet
this
strangest
of
all
-
things
that
ever
came
to
earth
from
outer
space
must
have
-
fallen
while
i
was
sitting
there
visible
to
me
had
i
only
-
looked
up
as
it
passed
some
of
those
who
saw
its
flight
say
-
it
travelled
with
a
hissing
sound
i
myself
heard
nothing
of
-
that
many
people
in
berkshire
surrey
and
middlesex
must
-
have
seen
the
fall
of
it
and
at
most
have
thought
that
-
another
meteorite
had
descended
no
one
seems
to
have
-
troubled
to
look
for
the
fallen
mass
that
night
=
but
very
early
in
the
morning
poor
ogilvy
who
had
seen
the
-
shooting
star
and
who
was
persuaded
that
a
meteorite
lay
-
somewhere
on
the
common
between
horsell
ottershaw
and
-
woking
rose
early
with
the
idea
of
finding
it
find
it
he
-
did
soon
after
dawn
and
not
far
from
the
sand
pits
an
-
enormous
hole
had
been
made
by
the
impact
of
the
projectile
-
and
the
sand
and
gravel
had
been
flung
violently
in
every
-
direction
over
the
heath
forming
heaps
visible
a
mile
and
a
-
half
away
the
heather
was
on
fire
eastward
and
a
thin
blue
-
smoke
rose
against
the
dawn
=
the
thing
itself
lay
almost
entirely
buried
in
sand
amidst
-
the
scattered
splinters
of
a
fir
tree
it
had
shivered
to
-
fragments
in
its
descent
the
uncovered
part
had
the
-
appearance
of
a
huge
cylinder
caked
over
and
its
outline
-
softened
by
a
thick
scaly
dun~coloured
incrustation
it
had
-
a
diameter
of
about
thirty
yards
he
approached
the
mass
-
surprised
at
the
size
and
more
so
at
the
shape
since
most
-
meteorites
are
rounded
more
or
less
completely
it
was
-
however
still
so
hot
from
its
flight
through
the
air
as
to
-
forbid
his
near
approach
a
stirring
noise
within
its
-
cylinder
he
ascribed
to
the
unequal
cooling
of
its
surface
-
for
at
that
time
it
had
not
occurred
to
him
that
it
might
be
-
hollow
=
he
remained
standing
at
the
edge
of
the
pit
that
the
thing
-
had
made
for
itself
staring
at
its
strange
appearance
-
astonished
chiefly
at
its
unusual
shape
and
colour
and
-
dimly
perceiving
even
then
some
evidence
of
design
in
its
-
arrival
the
early
morning
was
wonderfully
still
and
the
-
sun
just
clearing
the
pine
trees
towards
weybridge
was
-
already
warm
he
did
not
remember
hearing
any
birds
that
-
morning
there
was
certainly
no
breeze
stirring
and
the
-
only
sounds
were
the
faint
movements
from
within
the
cindery
-
cylinder
he
was
all
alone
on
the
common
=
then
suddenly
he
noticed
with
a
start
that
some
of
the
grey
-
clinker
the
ashy
incrustation
that
covered
the
meteorite
-
was
falling
off
the
circular
edge
of
the
end
it
was
-
dropping
off
in
flakes
and
raining
down
upon
the
sand
a
-
large
piece
suddenly
came
off
and
fell
with
a
sharp
noise
-
that
brought
his
heart
into
his
mouth
=
for
a
minute
he
scarcely
realised
what
this
meant
and
-
although
the
heat
was
excessive
he
clambered
down
into
the
-
pit
close
to
the
bulk
to
see
the
thing
more
clearly
he
-
fancied
even
then
that
the
cooling
of
the
body
might
account
-
for
this
but
what
disturbed
that
idea
was
the
fact
that
the
-
ash
was
falling
only
from
the
end
of
the
cylinder
=
and
then
he
perceived
that
very
slowly
the
circular
top
of
-
the
cylinder
was
rotating
on
its
body
it
was
such
a
gradual
-
movement
that
he
discovered
it
only
through
noticing
that
a
-
black
mark
that
had
been
near
him
five
minutes
ago
was
now
-
at
the
other
side
of
the
circumference
even
then
he
-
scarcely
understood
what
this
indicated
until
he
heard
a
-
muffled
grating
sound
and
saw
the
black
mark
jerk
forward
an
-
inch
or
so
then
the
thing
came
upon
him
in
a
flash
the
-
cylinder
was
artificial
-
hollow
-
with
an
end
that
screwed
-
out
something
within
the
cylinder
was
unscrewing
the
top
=
good
heavens
said
ogilvy
there's
a
man
in
it
-
men
in
-
it
half
roasted
to
death
trying
to
escape
=
at
once
with
a
quick
mental
leap
he
linked
the
thing
with
-
the
flash
upon
mars
=
the
thought
of
the
confined
creature
was
so
dreadful
to
him
-
that
he
forgot
the
heat
and
went
forward
to
the
cylinder
to
-
help
turn
but
luckily
the
dull
radiation
arrested
him
-
before
he
could
burn
his
hands
on
the
still~glowing
metal
-
at
that
he
stood
irresolute
for
a
moment
then
turned
-
scrambled
out
of
the
pit
and
set
off
running
wildly
into
-
woking
the
time
then
must
have
been
somewhere
about
six
-
o'clock
he
met
a
waggoner
and
tried
to
make
him
understand
-
but
the
tale
he
told
and
his
appearance
were
so
wild
-
his
-
hat
had
fallen
off
in
the
pit
-
that
the
man
simply
drove
on
-
he
was
equally
unsuccessful
with
the
potman
who
was
just
-
unlocking
the
doors
of
the
public~house
by
horsell
bridge
-
the
fellow
thought
he
was
a
lunatic
at
large
and
made
an
-
unsuccessful
attempt
to
shut
him
into
the
taproom
that
-
sobered
him
a
little
and
when
he
saw
henderson
the
london
-
journalist
in
his
garden
he
called
over
the
palings
and
-
made
himself
understood
=
henderson
he
called
you
saw
that
shooting
star
last
-
night
=
well
said
henderson
=
it's
out
on
horsell
common
now
=
good
lord
said
henderson
fallen
meteorite
that's
-
good
=
but
it's
something
more
than
a
meteorite
it's
a
cylinder
-
an
artificial
cylinder
man
and
there's
something
-
inside
=
henderson
stood
up
with
his
spade
in
his
hand
=
what's
that
he
said
he
was
deaf
in
one
ear
=
ogilvy
told
him
all
that
he
had
seen
henderson
was
a
minute
-
or
so
taking
it
in
then
he
dropped
his
spade
snatched
up
-
his
jacket
and
came
out
into
the
road
the
two
men
hurried
-
back
at
once
to
the
common
and
found
the
cylinder
still
-
lying
in
the
same
position
but
now
the
sounds
inside
had
-
ceased
and
a
thin
circle
of
bright
metal
showed
between
the
-
top
and
the
body
of
the
cylinder
air
was
either
entering
or
-
escaping
at
the
rim
with
a
thin
sizzling
sound
=
they
listened
rapped
on
the
scaly
burnt
metal
with
a
stick
-
and
meeting
with
no
response
they
both
concluded
the
man
-
or
men
inside
must
be
insensible
or
dead
=
of
course
the
two
were
quite
unable
to
do
anything
they
-
shouted
consolation
and
promises
and
went
off
back
to
the
-
town
again
to
get
help
one
can
imagine
them
covered
with
-
sand
excited
and
disordered
running
up
the
little
street
-
in
the
bright
sunlight
just
as
the
shop
folks
were
taking
-
down
their
shutters
and
people
were
opening
their
bedroom
-
windows
henderson
went
into
the
railway
station
at
once
in
-
order
to
telegraph
the
news
to
london
the
newspaper
-
articles
had
prepared
men's
minds
for
the
reception
of
the
-
idea
=
by
eight
o'clock
a
number
of
boys
and
unemployed
men
had
-
already
started
for
the
common
to
see
the
dead
men
from
-
mars
that
was
the
form
the
story
took
i
heard
of
it
first
-
from
my
newspaper
boy
about
a
quarter
to
nine
when
i
went
-
out
to
get
my
daily
chronicle
i
was
naturally
startled
and
-
lost
no
time
in
going
out
and
across
the
ottershaw
bridge
to
-
the
sand
pits
=
i
found
a
little
crowd
of
perhaps
twenty
people
surrounding
-
the
huge
hole
in
which
the
cylinder
lay
i
have
already
-
described
the
appearance
of
that
colossal
bulk
embedded
in
-
the
ground
the
turf
and
gravel
about
it
seemed
charred
as
-
if
by
a
sudden
explosion
no
doubt
its
impact
had
caused
a
-
flash
of
fire
henderson
and
ogilvy
were
not
there
i
think
-
they
perceived
that
nothing
was
to
be
done
for
the
present
-
and
had
gone
away
to
breakfast
at
henderson's
house
=
there
were
four
or
five
boys
sitting
on
the
edge
of
the
pit
-
with
their
feet
dangling
and
amusing
themselves
-
until
i
-
stopped
them
-
by
throwing
stones
at
the
giant
mass
after
i
-
had
spoken
to
them
about
it
they
began
playing
at
touch
-
in
and
out
of
the
group
of
bystanders
=
among
these
were
a
couple
of
cyclists
a
jobbing
gardener
i
-
employed
sometimes
a
girl
carrying
a
baby
gregg
the
-
butcher
and
his
little
boy
and
two
or
three
loafers
and
-
golf
caddies
who
were
accustomed
to
hang
about
the
railway
-
station
there
was
very
little
talking
few
of
the
common
-
people
in
england
had
anything
but
the
vaguest
astronomical
-
ideas
in
those
days
most
of
them
were
staring
quietly
at
-
the
big
tablelike
end
of
the
cylinder
which
was
still
as
-
ogilvy
and
henderson
had
left
it
i
fancy
the
popular
-
expectation
of
a
heap
of
charred
corpses
was
disappointed
at
-
this
inanimate
bulk
some
went
away
while
i
was
there
and
-
other
people
came
i
clambered
into
the
pit
and
fancied
i
-
heard
a
faint
movement
under
my
feet
the
top
had
certainly
-
ceased
to
rotate
=
it
was
only
when
i
got
thus
close
to
it
that
the
strangeness
-
of
this
object
was
at
all
evident
to
me
at
the
first
glance
-
it
was
really
no
more
exciting
than
an
overturned
carriage
-
or
a
tree
blown
across
the
road
not
so
much
so
indeed
it
-
looked
like
a
rusty
gas
float
it
required
a
certain
amount
-
of
scientific
education
to
perceive
that
the
grey
scale
of
-
the
thing
was
no
common
oxide
that
the
yellowish~white
-
metal
that
gleamed
in
the
crack
between
the
lid
and
the
-
cylinder
had
an
unfamiliar
hue
extra~terrestrial
had
no
-
meaning
for
most
of
the
onlookers
=
at
that
time
it
was
quite
clear
in
my
own
mind
that
the
-
thing
had
come
from
the
planet
mars
but
i
judged
it
-
improbable
that
it
contained
any
living
creature
i
thought
-
the
unscrewing
might
be
automatic
in
spite
of
ogilvy
i
-
still
believed
that
there
were
men
in
mars
my
mind
ran
-
fancifully
on
the
possibilities
of
its
containing
-
manuscript
on
the
difficulties
in
translation
that
might
-
arise
whether
we
should
find
coins
and
models
in
it
and
so
-
forth
yet
it
was
a
little
too
large
for
assurance
on
this
-
idea
i
felt
an
impatience
to
see
it
opened
about
eleven
-
as
nothing
seemed
happening
i
walked
back
full
of
such
-
thought
to
my
home
in
maybury
but
i
found
it
difficult
to
-
get
to
work
upon
my
abstract
investigations
=
in
the
afternoon
the
appearance
of
the
common
had
altered
-
very
much
the
early
editions
of
the
evening
papers
had
-
startled
london
with
enormous
headlines
=
a
message
received
from
mars
=
remarkable
story
from
woking
=
and
so
forth
in
addition
ogilvy's
wire
to
the
astronomical
-
exchange
had
roused
every
observatory
in
the
three
kingdoms
=
there
were
half
a
dozen
flies
or
more
from
the
woking
-
station
standing
in
the
road
by
the
sand
pits
a
-
basket~chaise
from
chobham
and
a
rather
lordly
carriage
-
besides
that
there
was
quite
a
heap
of
bicycles
in
-
addition
a
large
number
of
people
must
have
walked
in
-
spite
of
the
heat
of
the
day
from
woking
and
chertsey
so
-
that
there
was
altogether
quite
a
considerable
crowd
-
one
or
-
two
gaily
dressed
ladies
among
the
others
it
was
glaringly
-
hot
not
a
cloud
in
the
sky
nor
a
breath
of
wind
and
the
-
only
shadow
was
that
of
the
few
scattered
pine
trees
the
-
burning
heather
had
been
extinguished
but
the
level
ground
-
towards
ottershaw
was
blackened
as
far
as
one
could
see
and
-
still
giving
off
vertical
streamers
of
smoke
an
-
enterprising
sweet~stuff
dealer
in
the
chobham
road
had
sent
-
up
his
son
with
a
barrow~load
of
green
apples
and
ginger
-
beer
=
going
to
the
edge
of
the
pit
i
found
it
occupied
by
a
group
-
of
about
half
a
dozen
men
-
henderson
ogilvy
and
a
tall
-
fair~haired
man
that
i
afterwards
learned
was
stent
the
-
astronomer
royal
with
several
workmen
wielding
spades
and
-
pickaxes
stent
was
giving
directions
in
a
clear
-
high~pitched
voice
he
was
standing
on
the
cylinder
which
-
was
now
evidently
much
cooler
his
face
was
crimson
and
-
streaming
with
perspiration
and
something
seemed
to
have
-
irritated
him
=
a
large
portion
of
the
cylinder
had
been
uncovered
though
-
its
lower
end
was
still
embedded
as
soon
as
ogilvy
saw
me
-
among
the
staring
crowd
on
the
edge
of
the
pit
he
called
to
-
me
to
come
down
and
asked
me
if
i
would
mind
going
over
to
-
see
lord
hilton
the
lord
of
the
manor
=
the
growing
crowd
he
said
was
becoming
a
serious
-
impediment
to
their
excavations
especially
the
boys
they
-
wanted
a
light
railing
put
up
and
help
to
keep
the
people
-
back
he
told
me
that
a
faint
stirring
was
occasionally
-
still
audible
within
the
case
but
that
the
workmen
had
-
failed
to
unscrew
the
top
as
it
afforded
no
grip
to
them
-
the
case
appeared
to
be
enormously
thick
and
it
was
-
possible
that
the
faint
sounds
we
heard
represented
a
noisy
-
tumult
in
the
interior
=
i
was
very
glad
to
do
as
he
asked
and
so
become
one
of
the
-
privileged
spectators
within
the
contemplated
enclosure
i
-
failed
to
find
lord
hilton
at
his
house
but
i
was
told
he
-
was
expected
from
london
by
the
six
o'clock
train
from
-
waterloo
and
as
it
was
then
about
a
quarter
past
five
i
-
went
home
had
some
tea
and
walked
up
to
the
station
to
-
waylay
him
=
when
i
returned
to
the
common
the
sun
was
setting
scattered
-
groups
were
hurrying
from
the
direction
of
woking
and
one
-
or
two
persons
were
returning
the
crowd
about
the
pit
had
-
increased
and
stood
out
black
against
the
lemon
yellow
of
-
the
sky
-
a
couple
of
hundred
people
perhaps
there
were
-
raised
voices
and
some
sort
of
struggle
appeared
to
be
-
going
on
about
the
pit
strange
imaginings
passed
through
my
-
mind
as
i
drew
nearer
i
heard
stent's
voice
=
keep
back
keep
back
=
a
boy
came
running
towards
me
=
it's
a~movin'
he
said
to
me
as
he
passed
a~screwin'
and
-
a~screwin'
out
i
don't
like
it
i'm
a~goin'
'ome
i
am
=
i
went
on
to
the
crowd
there
were
really
i
should
think
-
two
or
three
hundred
people
elbowing
and
jostling
one
-
another
the
one
or
two
ladies
there
being
by
no
means
the
-
least
active
=
he's
fallen
in
the
pit
cried
some
one
=
keep
back
said
several
=
the
crowd
swayed
a
little
and
i
elbowed
my
way
through
-
every
one
seemed
greatly
excited
i
heard
a
peculiar
humming
-
sound
from
the
pit
=
i
say
said
ogilvy
help
keep
these
idiots
back
we
don't
-
know
what's
in
the
confounded
thing
you
know
=
i
saw
a
young
man
a
shop
assistant
in
woking
i
believe
he
-
was
standing
on
the
cylinder
and
trying
to
scramble
out
of
-
the
hole
again
the
crowd
had
pushed
him
in
=
the
end
of
the
cylinder
was
being
screwed
out
from
within
-
nearly
two
feet
of
shining
screw
projected
somebody
-
blundered
against
me
and
i
narrowly
missed
being
pitched
-
onto
the
top
of
the
screw
i
turned
and
as
i
did
so
the
-
screw
must
have
come
out
for
the
lid
of
the
cylinder
fell
-
upon
the
gravel
with
a
ringing
concussion
i
stuck
my
elbow
-
into
the
person
behind
me
and
turned
my
head
towards
the
-
thing
again
for
a
moment
that
circular
cavity
seemed
-
perfectly
black
i
had
the
sunset
in
my
eyes
=
i
think
everyone
expected
to
see
a
man
emerge
-
possibly
-
something
a
little
unlike
us
terrestrial
men
but
in
all
-
essentials
a
man
i
know
i
did
but
looking
i
presently
-
saw
something
stirring
within
the
shadow
greyish
billowy
-
movements
one
above
another
and
then
two
luminous
-
disks
-
like
eyes
then
something
resembling
a
little
grey
-
snake
about
the
thickness
of
a
walking
stick
coiled
up
out
-
of
the
writhing
middle
and
wriggled
in
the
air
towards
-
me
-
and
then
another
=
a
sudden
chill
came
over
me
there
was
a
loud
shriek
from
a
-
woman
behind
i
half
turned
keeping
my
eyes
fixed
upon
the
-
cylinder
still
from
which
other
tentacles
were
now
-
projecting
and
began
pushing
my
way
back
from
the
edge
of
-
the
pit
i
saw
astonishment
giving
place
to
horror
on
the
-
faces
of
the
people
about
me
i
heard
inarticulate
-
exclamations
on
all
sides
there
was
a
general
movement
-
backwards
i
saw
the
shopman
struggling
still
on
the
edge
of
-
the
pit
i
found
myself
alone
and
saw
the
people
on
the
-
other
side
of
the
pit
running
off
stent
among
them
i
-
looked
again
at
the
cylinder
and
ungovernable
terror
-
gripped
me
i
stood
petrified
and
staring
=
a
big
greyish
rounded
bulk
the
size
perhaps
of
a
bear
-
was
rising
slowly
and
painfully
out
of
the
cylinder
as
it
-
bulged
up
and
caught
the
light
it
glistened
like
wet
-
leather
=
two
large
dark~coloured
eyes
were
regarding
me
steadfastly
-
the
mass
that
framed
them
the
head
of
the
thing
was
-
rounded
and
had
one
might
say
a
face
there
was
a
mouth
-
under
the
eyes
the
lipless
brim
of
which
quivered
and
-
panted
and
dropped
saliva
the
whole
creature
heaved
and
-
pulsated
convulsively
a
lank
tentacular
appendage
gripped
-
the
edge
of
the
cylinder
another
swayed
in
the
air
=
those
who
have
never
seen
a
living
martian
can
scarcely
-
imagine
the
strange
horror
of
its
appearance
the
peculiar
-
v~shaped
mouth
with
its
pointed
upper
lip
the
absence
of
-
brow
ridges
the
absence
of
a
chin
beneath
the
wedgelike
-
lower
lip
the
incessant
quivering
of
this
mouth
the
gorgon
-
groups
of
tentacles
the
tumultuous
breathing
of
the
lungs
-
in
a
strange
atmosphere
the
evident
heaviness
and
-
painfulness
of
movement
due
to
the
greater
gravitational
-
energy
of
the
earth
-
above
all
the
extraordinary
intensity
-
of
the
immense
eyes
-
were
at
once
vital
intense
inhuman
-
crippled
and
monstrous
there
was
something
fungoid
in
the
-
oily
brown
skin
something
in
the
clumsy
deliberation
of
the
-
tedious
movements
unspeakably
nasty
even
at
this
first
-
encounter
this
first
glimpse
i
was
overcome
with
disgust
-
and
dread
=
suddenly
the
monster
vanished
it
had
toppled
over
the
brim
-
of
the
cylinder
and
fallen
into
the
pit
with
a
thud
like
-
the
fall
of
a
great
mass
of
leather
i
heard
it
give
a
-
peculiar
thick
cry
and
forthwith
another
of
these
creatures
-
appeared
darkly
in
the
deep
shadow
of
the
aperture
=
i
turned
and
running
madly
made
for
the
first
group
of
-
trees
perhaps
a
hundred
yards
away
but
i
ran
slantingly
-
and
stumbling
for
i
could
not
avert
my
face
from
these
-
things
=
there
among
some
young
pine
trees
and
furze
bushes
i
-
stopped
panting
and
waited
further
developments
the
-
common
round
the
sand
pits
was
dotted
with
people
standing
-
like
myself
in
a
half~fascinated
terror
staring
at
these
-
creatures
or
rather
at
the
heaped
gravel
at
the
edge
of
the
-
pit
in
which
they
lay
and
then
with
a
renewed
horror
i
-
saw
a
round
black
object
bobbing
up
and
down
on
the
edge
of
-
the
pit
it
was
the
head
of
the
shopman
who
had
fallen
in
-
but
showing
as
a
little
black
object
against
the
hot
western
-
sun
now
he
got
his
shoulder
and
knee
up
and
again
he
-
seemed
to
slip
back
until
only
his
head
was
visible
-
suddenly
he
vanished
and
i
could
have
fancied
a
faint
-
shriek
had
reached
me
i
had
a
momentary
impulse
to
go
back
-
and
help
him
that
my
fears
overruled
=
everything
was
then
quite
invisible
hidden
by
the
deep
pit
-
and
the
heap
of
sand
that
the
fall
of
the
cylinder
had
made
-
anyone
coming
along
the
road
from
chobham
or
woking
would
-
have
been
amazed
at
the
sight
-
a
dwindling
multitude
of
-
perhaps
a
hundred
people
or
more
standing
in
a
great
-
irregular
circle
in
ditches
behind
bushes
behind
gates
-
and
hedges
saying
little
to
one
another
and
that
in
short
-
excited
shouts
and
staring
staring
hard
at
a
few
heaps
of
-
sand
the
barrow
of
ginger
beer
stood
a
queer
derelict
-
black
against
the
burning
sky
and
in
the
sand
pits
was
a
-
row
of
deserted
vehicles
with
their
horses
feeding
out
of
-
nosebags
or
pawing
the
ground
=
after
the
glimpse
i
had
had
of
the
martians
emerging
from
-
the
cylinder
in
which
they
had
come
to
the
earth
from
their
-
planet
a
kind
of
fascination
paralysed
my
actions
i
-
remained
standing
knee~deep
in
the
heather
staring
at
the
-
mound
that
hid
them
i
was
a
battleground
of
fear
and
-
curiosity
=
i
did
not
dare
to
go
back
towards
the
pit
but
i
felt
a
-
passionate
longing
to
peer
into
it
i
began
walking
-
therefore
in
a
big
curve
seeking
some
point
of
vantage
and
-
continually
looking
at
the
sand
heaps
that
hid
these
-
new~comers
to
our
earth
once
a
leash
of
thin
black
whips
-
like
the
arms
of
an
octopus
flashed
across
the
sunset
and
-
was
immediately
withdrawn
and
afterwards
a
thin
rod
rose
-
up
joint
by
joint
bearing
at
its
apex
a
circular
disk
that
-
spun
with
a
wobbling
motion
what
could
be
going
on
there
=
most
of
the
spectators
had
gathered
in
one
or
two
groups
-
one
a
little
crowd
towards
woking
the
other
a
knot
of
-
people
in
the
direction
of
chobham
evidently
they
shared
my
-
mental
conflict
there
were
few
near
me
one
man
i
-
approached
-
he
was
i
perceived
a
neighbour
of
mine
though
-
i
did
not
know
his
name
-
and
accosted
but
it
was
scarcely
a
-
time
for
articulate
conversation
=
what
ugly
brutes
he
said
good
god
what
ugly
brutes
-
he
repeated
this
over
and
over
again
=
did
you
see
a
man
in
the
pit
i
said
but
he
made
no
-
answer
to
that
we
became
silent
and
stood
watching
for
a
-
time
side
by
side
deriving
i
fancy
a
certain
comfort
in
-
one
another's
company
then
i
shifted
my
position
to
a
-
little
knoll
that
gave
me
the
advantage
of
a
yard
or
more
of
-
elevation
and
when
i
looked
for
him
presently
he
was
walking
-
towards
woking
=
the
sunset
faded
to
twilight
before
anything
further
-
happened
the
crowd
far
away
on
the
left
towards
woking
-
seemed
to
grow
and
i
heard
now
a
faint
murmur
from
it
the
-
little
knot
of
people
towards
chobham
dispersed
there
was
-
scarcely
an
intimation
of
movement
from
the
pit
=
it
was
this
as
much
as
anything
that
gave
people
courage
-
and
i
suppose
the
new
arrivals
from
woking
also
helped
to
-
restore
confidence
at
any
rate
as
the
dusk
came
on
a
slow
-
intermittent
movement
upon
the
sand
pits
began
a
movement
-
that
seemed
to
gather
force
as
the
stillness
of
the
evening
-
about
the
cylinder
remained
unbroken
vertical
black
figures
-
in
twos
and
threes
would
advance
stop
watch
and
advance
-
again
spreading
out
as
they
did
so
in
a
thin
irregular
-
crescent
that
promised
to
enclose
the
pit
in
its
attenuated
-
horns
i
too
on
my
side
began
to
move
towards
the
pit
=
then
i
saw
some
cabmen
and
others
had
walked
boldly
into
the
-
sand
pits
and
heard
the
clatter
of
hoofs
and
the
gride
of
-
wheels
i
saw
a
lad
trundling
off
the
barrow
of
apples
and
-
then
within
thirty
yards
of
the
pit
advancing
from
the
-
direction
of
horsell
i
noted
a
little
black
knot
of
men
-
the
foremost
of
whom
was
waving
a
white
flag
=
this
was
the
deputation
there
had
been
a
hasty
-
consultation
and
since
the
martians
were
evidently
in
-
spite
of
their
repulsive
forms
intelligent
creatures
it
-
had
been
resolved
to
show
them
by
approaching
them
with
-
signals
that
we
too
were
intelligent
=
flutter
flutter
went
the
flag
first
to
the
right
then
to
-
the
left
it
was
too
far
for
me
to
recognise
anyone
there
-
but
afterwards
i
learned
that
ogilvy
stent
and
henderson
-
were
with
others
in
this
attempt
at
communication
this
-
little
group
had
in
its
advance
dragged
inward
so
to
speak
-
the
circumference
of
the
now
almost
complete
circle
of
-
people
and
a
number
of
dim
black
figures
followed
it
at
-
discreet
distances
=
suddenly
there
was
a
flash
of
light
and
a
quantity
of
-
luminous
greenish
smoke
came
out
of
the
pit
in
three
-
distinct
puffs
which
drove
up
one
after
the
other
-
straight
into
the
still
air
=
this
smoke
or
flame
perhaps
would
be
the
better
word
for
-
it
was
so
bright
that
the
deep
blue
sky
overhead
and
the
-
hazy
stretches
of
brown
common
towards
chertsey
set
with
-
black
pine
trees
seemed
to
darken
abruptly
as
these
puffs
-
arose
and
to
remain
the
darker
after
their
dispersal
at
-
the
same
time
a
faint
hissing
sound
became
audible
=
beyond
the
pit
stood
the
little
wedge
of
people
with
the
-
white
flag
at
its
apex
arrested
by
these
phenomena
a
-
little
knot
of
small
vertical
black
shapes
upon
the
black
-
ground
as
the
green
smoke
arose
their
faces
flashed
out
-
pallid
green
and
faded
again
as
it
vanished
then
slowly
-
the
hissing
passed
into
a
humming
into
a
long
loud
-
droning
noise
slowly
a
humped
shape
rose
out
of
the
pit
-
and
the
ghost
of
a
beam
of
light
seemed
to
flicker
out
from
-
it
=
forthwith
flashes
of
actual
flame
a
bright
glare
leaping
-
from
one
to
another
sprang
from
the
scattered
group
of
men
-
it
was
as
if
some
invisible
jet
impinged
upon
them
and
-
flashed
into
white
flame
it
was
as
if
each
man
were
-
suddenly
and
momentarily
turned
to
fire
=
then
by
the
light
of
their
own
destruction
i
saw
them
-
staggering
and
falling
and
their
supporters
turning
to
run
=
i
stood
staring
not
as
yet
realising
that
this
was
death
-
leaping
from
man
to
man
in
that
little
distant
crowd
all
i
-
felt
was
that
it
was
something
very
strange
an
almost
-
noiseless
and
blinding
flash
of
light
and
a
man
fell
-
headlong
and
lay
still
and
as
the
unseen
shaft
of
heat
-
passed
over
them
pine
trees
burst
into
fire
and
every
dry
-
furze
bush
became
with
one
dull
thud
a
mass
of
flames
and
-
far
away
towards
knaphill
i
saw
the
flashes
of
trees
and
-
hedges
and
wooden
buildings
suddenly
set
alight
=
it
was
sweeping
round
swiftly
and
steadily
this
flaming
-
death
this
invisible
inevitable
sword
of
heat
i
perceived
-
it
coming
towards
me
by
the
flashing
bushes
it
touched
and
-
was
too
astounded
and
stupefied
to
stir
i
heard
the
crackle
-
of
fire
in
the
sand
pits
and
the
sudden
squeal
of
a
horse
-
that
was
as
suddenly
stilled
then
it
was
as
if
an
invisible
-
yet
intensely
heated
finger
were
drawn
through
the
heather
-
between
me
and
the
martians
and
all
along
a
curving
line
-
beyond
the
sand
pits
the
dark
ground
smoked
and
crackled
-
something
fell
with
a
crash
far
away
to
the
left
where
the
-
road
from
woking
station
opens
out
on
the
common
forthwith
-
the
hissing
and
humming
ceased
and
the
black
dome~like
-
object
sank
slowly
out
of
sight
into
the
pit
=
all
this
had
happened
with
such
swiftness
that
i
had
stood
-
motionless
dumbfounded
and
dazzled
by
the
flashes
of
light
-
had
that
death
swept
through
a
full
circle
it
must
-
inevitably
have
slain
me
in
my
surprise
but
it
passed
and
-
spared
me
and
left
the
night
about
me
suddenly
dark
and
-
unfamiliar
=
the
undulating
common
seemed
now
dark
almost
to
blackness
-
except
where
its
roadways
lay
grey
and
pale
under
the
deep
-
blue
sky
of
the
early
night
it
was
dark
and
suddenly
void
-
of
men
overhead
the
stars
were
mustering
and
in
the
west
-
the
sky
was
still
a
pale
bright
almost
greenish
blue
the
-
tops
of
the
pine
trees
and
the
roofs
of
horsell
came
out
-
sharp
and
black
against
the
western
afterglow
the
martians
-
and
their
appliances
were
altogether
invisible
save
for
-
that
thin
mast
upon
which
their
restless
mirror
wobbled
-
patches
of
bush
and
isolated
trees
here
and
there
smoked
and
-
glowed
still
and
the
houses
towards
woking
station
were
-
sending
up
spires
of
flame
into
the
stillness
of
the
evening
-
air
=
nothing
was
changed
save
for
that
and
a
terrible
-
astonishment
the
little
group
of
black
specks
with
the
flag
-
of
white
had
been
swept
out
of
existence
and
the
stillness
-
of
the
evening
so
it
seemed
to
me
had
scarcely
been
-
broken
=
it
came
to
me
that
i
was
upon
this
dark
common
helpless
-
unprotected
and
alone
suddenly
like
a
thing
falling
upon
-
me
from
without
came
-
fear
=
with
an
effort
i
turned
and
began
a
stumbling
run
through
-
the
heather
=
the
fear
i
felt
was
no
rational
fear
but
a
panic
terror
not
-
only
of
the
martians
but
of
the
dusk
and
stillness
all
-
about
me
such
an
extraordinary
effect
in
unmanning
me
it
-
had
that
i
ran
weeping
silently
as
a
child
might
do
once
i
-
had
turned
i
did
not
dare
to
look
back
=
i
remember
i
felt
an
extraordinary
persuasion
that
i
was
-
being
played
with
that
presently
when
i
was
upon
the
very
-
verge
of
safety
this
mysterious
death
-
as
swift
as
the
-
passage
of
light
-
would
leap
after
me
from
the
pit
about
the
-
cylinder
and
strike
me
down
=
it
is
still
a
matter
of
wonder
how
the
martians
are
able
to
-
slay
men
so
swiftly
and
so
silently
many
think
that
in
some
-
way
they
are
able
to
generate
an
intense
heat
in
a
chamber
-
of
practically
absolute
non~conductivity
this
intense
heat
-
they
project
in
a
parallel
beam
against
any
object
they
-
choose
by
means
of
a
polished
parabolic
mirror
of
unknown
-
composition
much
as
the
parabolic
mirror
of
a
lighthouse
-
projects
a
beam
of
light
but
no
one
has
absolutely
proved
-
these
details
however
it
is
done
it
is
certain
that
a
beam
-
of
heat
is
the
essence
of
the
matter
heat
and
invisible
-
instead
of
visible
light
whatever
is
combustible
flashes
-
into
flame
at
its
touch
lead
runs
like
water
it
softens
-
iron
cracks
and
melts
glass
and
when
it
falls
upon
water
-
incontinently
that
explodes
into
steam
=
that
night
nearly
forty
people
lay
under
the
starlight
about
-
the
pit
charred
and
distorted
beyond
recognition
and
all
-
night
long
the
common
from
horsell
to
maybury
was
deserted
-
and
brightly
ablaze
=
the
news
of
the
massacre
probably
reached
chobham
woking
-
and
ottershaw
about
the
same
time
in
woking
the
shops
had
-
closed
when
the
tragedy
happened
and
a
number
of
people
-
shop
people
and
so
forth
attracted
by
the
stories
they
had
-
heard
were
walking
over
the
horsell
bridge
and
along
the
-
road
between
the
hedges
that
runs
out
at
last
upon
the
-
common
you
may
imagine
the
young
people
brushed
up
after
-
the
labours
of
the
day
and
making
this
novelty
as
they
-
would
make
any
novelty
the
excuse
for
walking
together
and
-
enjoying
a
trivial
flirtation
you
may
figure
to
yourself
-
the
hum
of
voices
along
the
road
in
the
gloaming
=
as
yet
of
course
few
people
in
woking
even
knew
that
the
-
cylinder
had
opened
though
poor
henderson
had
sent
a
-
messenger
on
a
bicycle
to
the
post
office
with
a
special
-
wire
to
an
evening
paper
=
as
these
folks
came
out
by
twos
and
threes
upon
the
open
-
they
found
little
knots
of
people
talking
excitedly
and
-
peering
at
the
spinning
mirror
over
the
sand
pits
and
the
-
new~comers
were
no
doubt
soon
infected
by
the
excitement
-
of
the
occasion
=
by
half
past
eight
when
the
deputation
was
destroyed
there
-
may
have
been
a
crowd
of
three
hundred
people
or
more
at
-
this
place
besides
those
who
had
left
the
road
to
approach
-
the
martians
nearer
there
were
three
policemen
too
one
of
-
whom
was
mounted
doing
their
best
under
instructions
from
-
stent
to
keep
the
people
back
and
deter
them
from
-
approaching
the
cylinder
there
was
some
booing
from
those
-
more
thoughtless
and
excitable
souls
to
whom
a
crowd
is
-
always
an
occasion
for
noise
and
horse~play
=
stent
and
ogilvy
anticipating
some
possibilities
of
a
-
collision
had
telegraphed
from
horsell
to
the
barracks
as
-
soon
as
the
martians
emerged
for
the
help
of
a
company
of
-
soldiers
to
protect
these
strange
creatures
from
violence
-
after
that
they
returned
to
lead
that
ill~fated
advance
the
-
description
of
their
death
as
it
was
seen
by
the
crowd
-
tallies
very
closely
with
my
own
impressions
the
three
-
puffs
of
green
smoke
the
deep
humming
note
and
the
flashes
-
of
flame
=
but
that
crowd
of
people
had
a
far
narrower
escape
than
-
mine
only
the
fact
that
a
hummock
of
heathery
sand
-
intercepted
the
lower
part
of
the
heat~ray
saved
them
had
-
the
elevation
of
the
parabolic
mirror
been
a
few
yards
-
higher
none
could
have
lived
to
tell
the
tale
they
saw
the
-
flashes
and
the
men
falling
and
an
invisible
hand
as
it
-
were
lit
the
bushes
as
it
hurried
towards
them
through
the
-
twilight
then
with
a
whistling
note
that
rose
above
the
-
droning
of
the
pit
the
beam
swung
close
over
their
heads
-
lighting
the
tops
of
the
beech
trees
that
line
the
road
and
-
splitting
the
bricks
smashing
the
windows
firing
the
-
window
frames
and
bringing
down
in
crumbling
ruin
a
portion
-
of
the
gable
of
the
house
nearest
the
corner
=
in
the
sudden
thud
hiss
and
glare
of
the
igniting
trees
-
the
panic~stricken
crowd
seems
to
have
swayed
hesitatingly
-
for
some
moments
sparks
and
burning
twigs
began
to
fall
-
into
the
road
and
single
leaves
like
puffs
of
flame
hats
-
and
dresses
caught
fire
then
came
a
crying
from
the
common
-
there
were
shrieks
and
shouts
and
suddenly
a
mounted
-
policeman
came
galloping
through
the
confusion
with
his
-
hands
clasped
over
his
head
screaming
=
they're
coming
a
woman
shrieked
and
incontinently
-
everyone
was
turning
and
pushing
at
those
behind
in
order
-
to
clear
their
way
to
woking
again
they
must
have
bolted
as
-
blindly
as
a
flock
of
sheep
where
the
road
grows
narrow
and
-
black
between
the
high
banks
the
crowd
jammed
and
a
-
desperate
struggle
occurred
all
that
crowd
did
not
escape
-
three
persons
at
least
two
women
and
a
little
boy
were
-
crushed
and
trampled
there
and
left
to
die
amid
the
terror
-
and
the
darkness
=
for
my
own
part
i
remember
nothing
of
my
flight
except
the
-
stress
of
blundering
against
trees
and
stumbling
through
the
-
heather
all
about
me
gathered
the
invisible
terrors
of
the
-
martians
that
pitiless
sword
of
heat
seemed
whirling
to
and
-
fro
flourishing
overhead
before
it
descended
and
smote
me
-
out
of
life
i
came
into
the
road
between
the
crossroads
and
-
horsell
and
ran
along
this
to
the
crossroads
=
at
last
i
could
go
no
further
i
was
exhausted
with
the
-
violence
of
my
emotion
and
of
my
flight
and
i
staggered
and
-
fell
by
the
wayside
that
was
near
the
bridge
that
crosses
-
the
canal
by
the
gasworks
i
fell
and
lay
still
=
i
must
have
remained
there
some
time
=
i
sat
up
strangely
perplexed
for
a
moment
perhaps
i
-
could
not
clearly
understand
how
i
came
there
my
terror
had
-
fallen
from
me
like
a
garment
my
hat
had
gone
and
my
-
collar
had
burst
away
from
its
fastener
a
few
minutes
-
before
there
had
only
been
three
real
things
before
me
-
the
-
immensity
of
the
night
and
space
and
nature
my
own
-
feebleness
and
anguish
and
the
near
approach
of
death
now
-
it
was
as
if
something
turned
over
and
the
point
of
view
-
altered
abruptly
there
was
no
sensible
transition
from
one
-
state
of
mind
to
the
other
i
was
immediately
the
self
of
-
every
day
again
-
a
decent
ordinary
citizen
the
silent
-
common
the
impulse
of
my
flight
the
starting
flames
were
-
as
if
they
had
been
in
a
dream
i
asked
myself
had
these
-
latter
things
indeed
happened
i
could
not
credit
it
=
i
rose
and
walked
unsteadily
up
the
steep
incline
of
the
-
bridge
my
mind
was
blank
wonder
my
muscles
and
nerves
-
seemed
drained
of
their
strength
i
dare
say
i
staggered
-
drunkenly
a
head
rose
over
the
arch
and
the
figure
of
a
-
workman
carrying
a
basket
appeared
beside
him
ran
a
little
-
boy
he
passed
me
wishing
me
good
night
i
was
minded
to
-
speak
to
him
but
did
not
i
answered
his
greeting
with
a
-
meaningless
mumble
and
went
on
over
the
bridge
=
over
the
maybury
arch
a
train
a
billowing
tumult
of
white
-
firelit
smoke
and
a
long
caterpillar
of
lighted
windows
-
went
flying
south
-
clatter
clatter
clap
rap
and
it
had
-
gone
a
dim
group
of
people
talked
in
the
gate
of
one
of
the
-
houses
in
the
pretty
little
row
of
gables
that
was
called
-
oriental
terrace
it
was
all
so
real
and
so
familiar
and
-
that
behind
me
it
was
frantic
fantastic
such
things
i
-
told
myself
could
not
be
=
perhaps
i
am
a
man
of
exceptional
moods
i
do
not
know
how
-
far
my
experience
is
common
at
times
i
suffer
from
the
-
strangest
sense
of
detachment
from
myself
and
the
world
-
about
me
i
seem
to
watch
it
all
from
the
outside
from
-
somewhere
inconceivably
remote
out
of
time
out
of
space
-
out
of
the
stress
and
tragedy
of
it
all
this
feeling
was
-
very
strong
upon
me
that
night
here
was
another
side
to
my
-
dream
=
but
the
trouble
was
the
blank
incongruity
of
this
serenity
-
and
the
swift
death
flying
yonder
not
two
miles
away
there
-
was
a
noise
of
business
from
the
gasworks
and
the
electric
-
lamps
were
all
alight
i
stopped
at
the
group
of
people
=
what
news
from
the
common
said
i
=
there
were
two
men
and
a
woman
at
the
gate
=
eh
said
one
of
the
men
turning
=
what
news
from
the
common
i
said
=
'ain't
yer
just
been
there
asked
the
men
=
people
seem
fair
silly
about
the
common
said
the
woman
-
over
the
gate
what's
it
all
abart
=
haven't
you
heard
of
the
men
from
mars
said
i
the
-
creatures
from
mars
=
quite
enough
said
the
woman
over
the
gate
thenks
and
-
all
three
of
them
laughed
=
i
felt
foolish
and
angry
i
tried
and
found
i
could
not
tell
-
them
what
i
had
seen
they
laughed
again
at
my
broken
-
sentences
=
you'll
hear
more
yet
i
said
and
went
on
to
my
home
=
i
startled
my
wife
at
the
doorway
so
haggard
was
i
i
went
-
into
the
dining
room
sat
down
drank
some
wine
and
so
soon
-
as
i
could
collect
myself
sufficiently
i
told
her
the
things
-
i
had
seen
the
dinner
which
was
a
cold
one
had
already
-
been
served
and
remained
neglected
on
the
table
while
i
-
told
my
story
=
there
is
one
thing
i
said
to
allay
the
fears
i
had
-
aroused
they
are
the
most
sluggish
things
i
ever
saw
-
crawl
they
may
keep
the
pit
and
kill
people
who
come
near
-
them
but
they
cannot
get
out
of
it
but
the
horror
of
-
them
=
don't
dear
said
my
wife
knitting
her
brows
and
putting
-
her
hand
on
mine
=
poor
ogilvy
i
said
to
think
he
may
be
lying
dead
-
there
=
my
wife
at
least
did
not
find
my
experience
incredible
when
-
i
saw
how
deadly
white
her
face
was
i
ceased
abruptly
=
they
may
come
here
she
said
again
and
again
=
i
pressed
her
to
take
wine
and
tried
to
reassure
her
=
they
can
scarcely
move
i
said
=
i
began
to
comfort
her
and
myself
by
repeating
all
that
-
ogilvy
had
told
me
of
the
impossibility
of
the
martians
-
establishing
themselves
on
the
earth
in
particular
i
laid
-
stress
on
the
gravitational
difficulty
on
the
surface
of
-
the
earth
the
force
of
gravity
is
three
times
what
it
is
on
-
the
surface
of
mars
a
martian
therefore
would
weigh
three
-
times
more
than
on
mars
albeit
his
muscular
strength
would
-
be
the
same
his
own
body
would
be
a
cope
of
lead
to
him
-
that
indeed
was
the
general
opinion
both
the
times
and
-
the
daily
telegraph
for
instance
insisted
on
it
the
next
-
morning
and
both
overlooked
just
as
i
did
two
obvious
-
modifying
influences
=
the
atmosphere
of
the
earth
we
now
know
contains
far
more
-
oxygen
or
far
less
argon
whichever
way
one
likes
to
put
it
-
than
does
mars
the
invigorating
influences
of
this
excess
-
of
oxygen
upon
the
martians
indisputably
did
much
to
-
counterbalance
the
increased
weight
of
their
bodies
and
in
-
the
second
place
we
all
overlooked
the
fact
that
such
-
mechanical
intelligence
as
the
martian
possessed
was
quite
-
able
to
dispense
with
muscular
exertion
at
a
pinch
=
but
i
did
not
consider
these
points
at
the
time
and
so
my
-
reasoning
was
dead
against
the
chances
of
the
invaders
with
-
wine
and
food
the
confidence
of
my
own
table
and
the
-
necessity
of
reassuring
my
wife
i
grew
by
insensible
-
degrees
courageous
and
secure
=
they
have
done
a
foolish
thing
said
i
fingering
my
-
wineglass
they
are
dangerous
because
no
doubt
they
are
-
mad
with
terror
perhaps
they
expected
to
find
no
living
-
things
-
certainly
no
intelligent
living
things
=
a
shell
in
the
pit
said
i
if
the
worst
comes
to
the
-
worst
will
kill
them
all
=
the
intense
excitement
of
the
events
had
no
doubt
left
my
-
perceptive
powers
in
a
state
of
erethism
i
remember
that
-
dinner
table
with
extraordinary
vividness
even
now
my
dear
-
wife's
sweet
anxious
face
peering
at
me
from
under
the
pink
-
lamp
shade
the
white
cloth
with
its
silver
and
glass
table
-
furniture
-
for
in
those
days
even
philosophical
writers
had
-
many
little
luxuries
-
the
crimson~purple
wine
in
my
glass
-
are
photographically
distinct
at
the
end
of
it
i
sat
-
tempering
nuts
with
a
cigarette
regretting
ogilvy's
-
rashness
and
denouncing
the
shortsighted
timidity
of
the
-
martians
=
so
some
respectable
dodo
in
the
mauritius
might
have
lorded
-
it
in
his
nest
and
discussed
the
arrival
of
that
shipful
of
-
pitiless
sailors
in
want
of
animal
food
we
will
peck
them
-
to
death
tomorrow
my
dear
=
i
did
not
know
it
but
that
was
the
last
civilised
dinner
i
-
was
to
eat
for
very
many
strange
and
terrible
days
=
the
most
extraordinary
thing
to
my
mind
of
all
the
strange
-
and
wonderful
things
that
happened
upon
that
friday
was
the
-
dovetailing
of
the
commonplace
habits
of
our
social
order
-
with
the
first
beginnings
of
the
series
of
events
that
was
-
to
topple
that
social
order
headlong
if
on
friday
night
you
-
had
taken
a
pair
of
compasses
and
drawn
a
circle
with
a
-
radius
of
five
miles
round
the
woking
sand
pits
i
doubt
if
-
you
would
have
had
one
human
being
outside
it
unless
it
-
were
some
relation
of
stent
or
of
the
three
or
four
cyclists
-
or
london
people
lying
dead
on
the
common
whose
emotions
or
-
habits
were
at
all
affected
by
the
new~comers
many
people
-
had
heard
of
the
cylinder
of
course
and
talked
about
it
in
-
their
leisure
but
it
certainly
did
not
make
the
sensation
-
that
an
ultimatum
to
germany
would
have
done
=
in
london
that
night
poor
henderson's
telegram
describing
-
the
gradual
unscrewing
of
the
shot
was
judged
to
be
a
-
canard
and
his
evening
paper
after
wiring
for
-
authentication
from
him
and
receiving
no
reply
-
the
man
was
-
killed
-
decided
not
to
print
a
special
edition
=
even
within
the
five~mile
circle
the
great
majority
of
-
people
were
inert
i
have
already
described
the
behaviour
of
-
the
men
and
women
to
whom
i
spoke
all
over
the
district
-
people
were
dining
and
supping
working
men
were
gardening
-
after
the
labours
of
the
day
children
were
being
put
to
-
bed
young
people
were
wandering
through
the
lanes
-
love~making
students
sat
over
their
books
=
maybe
there
was
a
murmur
in
the
village
streets
a
novel
and
-
dominant
topic
in
the
public~houses
and
here
and
there
a
-
messenger
or
even
an
eye~witness
of
the
later
occurrences
-
caused
a
whirl
of
excitement
a
shouting
and
a
running
to
-
and
fro
but
for
the
most
part
the
daily
routine
of
working
-
eating
drinking
sleeping
went
on
as
it
had
done
for
-
countless
years
-
as
though
no
planet
mars
existed
in
the
-
sky
even
at
woking
station
and
horsell
and
chobham
that
was
-
the
case
=
in
woking
junction
until
a
late
hour
trains
were
stopping
-
and
going
on
others
were
shunting
on
the
sidings
-
passengers
were
alighting
and
waiting
and
everything
was
-
proceeding
in
the
most
ordinary
way
a
boy
from
the
town
-
trenching
on
smith's
monopoly
was
selling
papers
with
the
-
afternoon's
news
the
ringing
impact
of
trucks
the
sharp
-
whistle
of
the
engines
from
the
junction
mingled
with
their
-
shouts
of
men
from
mars
excited
men
came
into
the
station
-
about
nine
o'clock
with
incredible
tidings
and
caused
no
-
more
disturbance
than
drunkards
might
have
done
people
-
rattling
londonwards
peered
into
the
darkness
outside
the
-
carriage
windows
and
saw
only
a
rare
flickering
vanishing
-
spark
dance
up
from
the
direction
of
horsell
a
red
glow
and
-
a
thin
veil
of
smoke
driving
across
the
stars
and
thought
-
that
nothing
more
serious
than
a
heath
fire
was
happening
-
it
was
only
round
the
edge
of
the
common
that
any
-
disturbance
was
perceptible
there
were
half
a
dozen
villas
-
burning
on
the
woking
border
there
were
lights
in
all
the
-
houses
on
the
common
side
of
the
three
villages
and
the
-
people
there
kept
awake
till
dawn
=
a
curious
crowd
lingered
restlessly
people
coming
and
going
-
but
the
crowd
remaining
both
on
the
chobham
and
horsell
-
bridges
one
or
two
adventurous
souls
it
was
afterwards
-
found
went
into
the
darkness
and
crawled
quite
near
the
-
martians
but
they
never
returned
for
now
and
again
a
-
light~ray
like
the
beam
of
a
warship's
searchlight
swept
-
the
common
and
the
heat~ray
was
ready
to
follow
save
for
-
such
that
big
area
of
common
was
silent
and
desolate
and
-
the
charred
bodies
lay
about
on
it
all
night
under
the
-
stars
and
all
the
next
day
a
noise
of
hammering
from
the
-
pit
was
heard
by
many
people
=
so
you
have
the
state
of
things
on
friday
night
in
the
-
centre
sticking
into
the
skin
of
our
old
planet
earth
like
-
a
poisoned
dart
was
this
cylinder
but
the
poison
was
-
scarcely
working
yet
around
it
was
a
patch
of
silent
-
common
smouldering
in
places
and
with
a
few
dark
dimly
-
seen
objects
lying
in
contorted
attitudes
here
and
there
-
here
and
there
was
a
burning
bush
or
tree
beyond
was
a
-
fringe
of
excitement
and
farther
than
that
fringe
the
-
inflammation
had
not
crept
as
yet
in
the
rest
of
the
world
-
the
stream
of
life
still
flowed
as
it
had
flowed
for
-
immemorial
years
the
fever
of
war
that
would
presently
clog
-
vein
and
artery
deaden
nerve
and
destroy
brain
had
still
-
to
develop
=
all
night
long
the
martians
were
hammering
and
stirring
-
sleepless
indefatigable
at
work
upon
the
machines
they
-
were
making
ready
and
ever
and
again
a
puff
of
-
greenish~white
smoke
whirled
up
to
the
starlit
sky
=
about
eleven
a
company
of
soldiers
came
through
horsell
and
-
deployed
along
the
edge
of
the
common
to
form
a
cordon
-
later
a
second
company
marched
through
chobham
to
deploy
on
-
the
north
side
of
the
common
several
officers
from
the
-
inkerman
barracks
had
been
on
the
common
earlier
in
the
day
-
and
one
major
eden
was
reported
to
be
missing
the
colonel
-
of
the
regiment
came
to
the
chobham
bridge
and
was
busy
-
questioning
the
crowd
at
midnight
the
military
authorities
-
were
certainly
alive
to
the
seriousness
of
the
business
-
about
eleven
the
next
morning's
papers
were
able
to
say
a
-
squadron
of
hussars
two
maxims
and
about
four
hundred
men
-
of
the
cardigan
regiment
started
from
aldershot
=
a
few
seconds
after
midnight
the
crowd
in
the
chertsey
road
-
woking
saw
a
star
fall
from
heaven
into
the
pine
woods
to
-
the
northwest
it
had
a
greenish
colour
and
caused
a
silent
-
brightness
like
summer
lightning
this
was
the
second
-
cylinder
=
saturday
lives
in
my
memory
as
a
day
of
suspense
it
was
a
-
day
of
lassitude
too
hot
and
close
with
i
am
told
a
-
rapidly
fluctuating
barometer
i
had
slept
but
little
-
though
my
wife
had
succeeded
in
sleeping
and
i
rose
early
-
i
went
into
my
garden
before
breakfast
and
stood
listening
-
but
towards
the
common
there
was
nothing
stirring
but
a
-
lark
=
the
milkman
came
as
usual
i
heard
the
rattle
of
his
chariot
-
and
i
went
round
to
the
side
gate
to
ask
the
latest
news
he
-
told
me
that
during
the
night
the
martians
had
been
-
surrounded
by
troops
and
that
guns
were
expected
then
-
a
-
familiar
reassuring
note
-
i
heard
a
train
running
towards
-
woking
=
they
aren't
to
be
killed
said
the
milkman
if
that
can
-
possibly
be
avoided
=
i
saw
my
neighbour
gardening
chatted
with
him
for
a
time
-
and
then
strolled
in
to
breakfast
it
was
a
most
-
unexceptional
morning
my
neighbour
was
of
opinion
that
the
-
troops
would
be
able
to
capture
or
to
destroy
the
martians
-
during
the
day
=
it's
a
pity
they
make
themselves
so
unapproachable
he
-
said
it
would
be
curious
to
know
how
they
live
on
another
-
planet
we
might
learn
a
thing
or
two
=
he
came
up
to
the
fence
and
extended
a
handful
of
-
strawberries
for
his
gardening
was
as
generous
as
it
was
-
enthusiastic
at
the
same
time
he
told
me
of
the
burning
of
-
the
pine
woods
about
the
byfleet
golf
links
=
they
say
said
he
that
there's
another
of
those
blessed
-
things
fallen
there
-
number
two
but
one's
enough
surely
-
this
lot'll
cost
the
insurance
people
a
pretty
penny
before
-
everything's
settled
he
laughed
with
an
air
of
the
-
greatest
good
humour
as
he
said
this
the
woods
he
said
-
were
still
burning
and
pointed
out
a
haze
of
smoke
to
me
-
they
will
be
hot
under
foot
for
days
on
account
of
the
-
thick
soil
of
pine
needles
and
turf
he
said
and
then
grew
-
serious
over
poor
ogilvy
=
after
breakfast
instead
of
working
i
decided
to
walk
down
-
towards
the
common
under
the
railway
bridge
i
found
a
group
-
of
soldiers
-
sappers
i
think
men
in
small
round
caps
-
dirty
red
jackets
unbuttoned
and
showing
their
blue
shirts
-
dark
trousers
and
boots
coming
to
the
calf
they
told
me
no
-
one
was
allowed
over
the
canal
and
looking
along
the
road
-
towards
the
bridge
i
saw
one
of
the
cardigan
men
standing
-
sentinel
there
i
talked
with
these
soldiers
for
a
time
i
-
told
them
of
my
sight
of
the
martians
on
the
previous
-
evening
none
of
them
had
seen
the
martians
and
they
had
-
but
the
vaguest
ideas
of
them
so
that
they
plied
me
with
-
questions
they
said
that
they
did
not
know
who
had
-
authorised
the
movements
of
the
troops
their
idea
was
that
-
a
dispute
had
arisen
at
the
horse
guards
the
ordinary
-
sapper
is
a
great
deal
better
educated
than
the
common
-
soldier
and
they
discussed
the
peculiar
conditions
of
the
-
possible
fight
with
some
acuteness
i
described
the
heat~ray
-
to
them
and
they
began
to
argue
among
themselves
=
crawl
up
under
cover
and
rush
'em
say
i
said
one
=
get
aht
said
another
what's
cover
against
this
'ere
-
'eat
sticks
to
cook
yer
what
we
got
to
do
is
to
go
as
near
-
as
the
ground'll
let
us
and
then
drive
a
trench
=
blow
yer
trenches
you
always
want
trenches
you
ought
to
-
ha
been
born
a
rabbit
snippy
=
'ain't
they
got
any
necks
then
said
a
third
abruptly
-
a
-
little
contemplative
dark
man
smoking
a
pipe
=
i
repeated
my
description
=
octopuses
said
he
that's
what
i
calls
'em
talk
about
-
fishers
of
men
-
fighters
of
fish
it
is
this
time
=
it
ain't
no
murder
killing
beasts
like
that
said
the
-
first
speaker
=
why
not
shell
the
darned
things
strite
off
and
finish
'em
-
said
the
little
dark
man
you
carn
tell
what
they
might
-
do
=
where's
your
shells
said
the
first
speaker
there
ain't
-
no
time
do
it
in
a
rush
that's
my
tip
and
do
it
at
once
=
so
they
discussed
it
after
a
while
i
left
them
and
went
on
-
to
the
railway
station
to
get
as
many
morning
papers
as
i
-
could
=
but
i
will
not
weary
the
reader
with
a
description
of
that
-
long
morning
and
of
the
longer
afternoon
i
did
not
succeed
-
in
getting
a
glimpse
of
the
common
for
even
horsell
and
-
chobham
church
towers
were
in
the
hands
of
the
military
-
authorities
the
soldiers
i
addressed
didn't
know
anything
-
the
officers
were
mysterious
as
well
as
busy
i
found
people
-
in
the
town
quite
secure
again
in
the
presence
of
the
-
military
and
i
heard
for
the
first
time
from
marshall
the
-
tobacconist
that
his
son
was
among
the
dead
on
the
common
-
the
soldiers
had
made
the
people
on
the
outskirts
of
horsell
-
lock
up
and
leave
their
houses
=
i
got
back
to
lunch
about
two
very
tired
for
as
i
have
-
said
the
day
was
extremely
hot
and
dull
and
in
order
to
-
refresh
myself
i
took
a
cold
bath
in
the
afternoon
about
-
half
past
four
i
went
up
to
the
railway
station
to
get
an
-
evening
paper
for
the
morning
papers
had
contained
only
a
-
very
inaccurate
description
of
the
killing
of
stent
-
henderson
ogilvy
and
the
others
but
there
was
little
i
-
didn't
know
the
martians
did
not
show
an
inch
of
-
themselves
they
seemed
busy
in
their
pit
and
there
was
a
-
sound
of
hammering
and
an
almost
continuous
streamer
of
-
smoke
apparently
they
were
busy
getting
ready
for
a
-
struggle
fresh
attempts
have
been
made
to
signal
but
-
without
success
was
the
stereotyped
formula
of
the
papers
-
a
sapper
told
me
it
was
done
by
a
man
in
a
ditch
with
a
flag
-
on
a
long
pole
the
martians
took
as
much
notice
of
such
-
advances
as
we
should
of
the
lowing
of
a
cow
=
i
must
confess
the
sight
of
all
this
armament
all
this
-
preparation
greatly
excited
me
my
imagination
became
-
belligerent
and
defeated
the
invaders
in
a
dozen
striking
-
ways
something
of
my
schoolboy
dreams
of
battle
and
heroism
-
came
back
it
hardly
seemed
a
fair
fight
to
me
at
that
time
-
they
seemed
very
helpless
in
that
pit
of
theirs
=
about
three
o'clock
there
began
the
thud
of
a
gun
at
-
measured
intervals
from
chertsey
or
addlestone
i
learned
-
that
the
smouldering
pine
wood
into
which
the
second
-
cylinder
had
fallen
was
being
shelled
in
the
hope
of
-
destroying
that
object
before
it
opened
it
was
only
about
-
five
however
that
a
field
gun
reached
chobham
for
use
-
against
the
first
body
of
martians
=
about
six
in
the
evening
as
i
sat
at
tea
with
my
wife
in
-
the
summerhouse
talking
vigorously
about
the
battle
that
was
-
lowering
upon
us
i
heard
a
muffled
detonation
from
the
-
common
and
immediately
after
a
gust
of
firing
close
on
the
-
heels
of
that
came
a
violent
rattling
crash
quite
close
to
-
us
that
shook
the
ground
and
starting
out
upon
the
lawn
-
i
saw
the
tops
of
the
trees
about
the
oriental
college
burst
-
into
smoky
red
flame
and
the
tower
of
the
little
church
-
beside
it
slide
down
into
ruin
the
pinnacle
of
the
mosque
-
had
vanished
and
the
roof
line
of
the
college
itself
looked
-
as
if
a
hundred~ton
gun
had
been
at
work
upon
it
one
of
our
-
chimneys
cracked
as
if
a
shot
had
hit
it
flew
and
a
piece
-
of
it
came
clattering
down
the
tiles
and
made
a
heap
of
-
broken
red
fragments
upon
the
flower
bed
by
my
study
window
=
i
and
my
wife
stood
amazed
then
i
realised
that
the
crest
-
of
maybury
hill
must
be
within
range
of
the
martians
-
heat~ray
now
that
the
college
was
cleared
out
of
the
way
=
at
that
i
gripped
my
wife's
arm
and
without
ceremony
ran
-
her
out
into
the
road
then
i
fetched
out
the
servant
-
telling
her
i
would
go
upstairs
myself
for
the
box
she
was
-
clamouring
for
=
we
can't
possibly
stay
here
i
said
and
as
i
spoke
the
-
firing
reopened
for
a
moment
upon
the
common
=
but
where
are
we
to
go
said
my
wife
in
terror
=
i
thought
perplexed
then
i
remembered
her
cousins
at
-
leatherhead
=
leatherhead
i
shouted
above
the
sudden
noise
=
she
looked
away
from
me
downhill
the
people
were
coming
out
-
of
their
houses
astonished
=
how
are
we
to
get
to
leatherhead
she
said
=
down
the
hill
i
saw
a
bevy
of
hussars
ride
under
the
railway
-
bridge
three
galloped
through
the
open
gates
of
the
-
oriental
college
two
others
dismounted
and
began
running
-
from
house
to
house
the
sun
shining
through
the
smoke
that
-
drove
up
from
the
tops
of
the
trees
seemed
blood
red
and
-
threw
an
unfamiliar
lurid
light
upon
everything
=
stop
here
said
i
you
are
safe
here
and
i
started
off
-
at
once
for
the
spotted
dog
for
i
knew
the
landlord
had
a
-
horse
and
dog
cart
i
ran
for
i
perceived
that
in
a
moment
-
everyone
upon
this
side
of
the
hill
would
be
moving
i
found
-
him
in
his
bar
quite
unaware
of
what
was
going
on
behind
-
his
house
a
man
stood
with
his
back
to
me
talking
to
him
=
i
must
have
a
pound
said
the
landlord
and
i've
no
one
-
to
drive
it
=
i'll
give
you
two
said
i
over
the
stranger's
shoulder
=
what
for
=
and
i'll
bring
it
back
by
midnight
i
said
=
lord
said
the
landlord
what's
the
hurry
i'm
selling
my
-
bit
of
a
pig
two
pounds
and
you
bring
it
back
what's
-
going
on
now
=
i
explained
hastily
that
i
had
to
leave
my
home
and
so
-
secured
the
dog
cart
at
the
time
it
did
not
seem
to
me
-
nearly
so
urgent
that
the
landlord
should
leave
his
i
took
-
care
to
have
the
cart
there
and
then
drove
it
off
down
the
-
road
and
leaving
it
in
charge
of
my
wife
and
servant
-
rushed
into
my
house
and
packed
a
few
valuables
such
plate
-
as
we
had
and
so
forth
the
beech
trees
below
the
house
-
were
burning
while
i
did
this
and
the
palings
up
the
road
-
glowed
red
while
i
was
occupied
in
this
way
one
of
the
-
dismounted
hussars
came
running
up
he
was
going
from
house
-
to
house
warning
people
to
leave
he
was
going
on
as
i
came
-
out
of
my
front
door
lugging
my
treasures
done
up
in
a
-
tablecloth
i
shouted
after
him
=
what
news
=
he
turned
stared
bawled
something
about
crawling
out
in
a
-
thing
like
a
dish
cover
and
ran
on
to
the
gate
of
the
-
house
at
the
crest
a
sudden
whirl
of
black
smoke
driving
-
across
the
road
hid
him
for
a
moment
i
ran
to
my
-
neighbour's
door
and
rapped
to
satisfy
myself
of
what
i
-
already
knew
that
his
wife
had
gone
to
london
with
him
and
-
had
locked
up
their
house
i
went
in
again
according
to
my
-
promise
to
get
my
servant's
box
lugged
it
out
clapped
it
-
beside
her
on
the
tail
of
the
dog
cart
and
then
caught
the
-
reins
and
jumped
up
into
the
driver's
seat
beside
my
wife
-
in
another
moment
we
were
clear
of
the
smoke
and
noise
and
-
spanking
down
the
opposite
slope
of
maybury
hill
towards
old
-
woking
=
in
front
was
a
quiet
sunny
landscape
a
wheat
field
ahead
on
-
either
side
of
the
road
and
the
maybury
inn
with
its
-
swinging
sign
i
saw
the
doctor's
cart
ahead
of
me
at
the
-
bottom
of
the
hill
i
turned
my
head
to
look
at
the
hillside
-
i
was
leaving
thick
streamers
of
black
smoke
shot
with
-
threads
of
red
fire
were
driving
up
into
the
still
air
and
-
throwing
dark
shadows
upon
the
green
treetops
eastward
the
-
smoke
already
extended
far
away
to
the
east
and
west
-
to
the
-
byfleet
pine
woods
eastward
and
to
woking
on
the
west
the
-
road
was
dotted
with
people
running
towards
us
and
very
-
faint
now
but
very
distinct
through
the
hot
quiet
air
one
-
heard
the
whirr
of
a
machine~gun
that
was
presently
stilled
-
and
an
intermittent
cracking
of
rifles
apparently
the
-
martians
were
setting
fire
to
everything
within
range
of
-
their
heat~ray
=
i
am
not
an
expert
driver
and
i
had
immediately
to
turn
my
-
attention
to
the
horse
when
i
looked
back
again
the
second
-
hill
had
hidden
the
black
smoke
i
slashed
the
horse
with
-
the
whip
and
gave
him
a
loose
rein
until
woking
and
send
-
lay
between
us
and
that
quivering
tumult
i
overtook
and
-
passed
the
doctor
between
woking
and
send
=
leatherhead
is
about
twelve
miles
from
maybury
hill
the
-
scent
of
hay
was
in
the
air
through
the
lush
meadows
beyond
-
pyrford
and
the
hedges
on
either
side
were
sweet
and
gay
-
with
multitudes
of
dog~roses
the
heavy
firing
that
had
-
broken
out
while
we
were
driving
down
maybury
hill
ceased
as
-
abruptly
as
it
began
leaving
the
evening
very
peaceful
and
-
still
we
got
to
leatherhead
without
misadventure
about
nine
-
o'clock
and
the
horse
had
an
hour's
rest
while
i
took
-
supper
with
my
cousins
and
commended
my
wife
to
their
care
=
my
wife
was
curiously
silent
throughout
the
drive
and
-
seemed
oppressed
with
forebodings
of
evil
i
talked
to
her
-
reassuringly
pointing
out
that
the
martians
were
tied
to
-
the
pit
by
sheer
heaviness
and
at
the
utmost
could
but
-
crawl
a
little
out
of
it
but
she
answered
only
in
-
monosyllables
had
it
not
been
for
my
promise
to
the
-
innkeeper
she
would
i
think
have
urged
me
to
stay
in
-
leatherhead
that
night
would
that
i
had
her
face
i
-
remember
was
very
white
as
we
parted
=
for
my
own
part
i
had
been
feverishly
excited
all
day
-
something
very
like
the
war
fever
that
occasionally
runs
-
through
a
civilised
community
had
got
into
my
blood
and
in
-
my
heart
i
was
not
so
very
sorry
that
i
had
to
return
to
-
maybury
that
night
i
was
even
afraid
that
that
last
-
fusillade
i
had
heard
might
mean
the
extermination
of
our
-
invaders
from
mars
i
can
best
express
my
state
of
mind
by
-
saying
that
i
wanted
to
be
in
at
the
death
=
it
was
nearly
eleven
when
i
started
to
return
the
night
was
-
unexpectedly
dark
to
me
walking
out
of
the
lighted
passage
-
of
my
cousins'
house
it
seemed
indeed
black
and
it
was
as
-
hot
and
close
as
the
day
overhead
the
clouds
were
driving
-
fast
albeit
not
a
breath
stirred
the
shrubs
about
us
my
-
cousins'
man
lit
both
lamps
happily
i
knew
the
road
-
intimately
my
wife
stood
in
the
light
of
the
doorway
and
-
watched
me
until
i
jumped
up
into
the
dog
cart
then
-
abruptly
she
turned
and
went
in
leaving
my
cousins
side
by
-
side
wishing
me
good
hap
=
i
was
a
little
depressed
at
first
with
the
contagion
of
my
-
wife's
fears
but
very
soon
my
thoughts
reverted
to
the
-
martians
at
that
time
i
was
absolutely
in
the
dark
as
to
-
the
course
of
the
evening's
fighting
i
did
not
know
even
-
the
circumstances
that
had
precipitated
the
conflict
as
i
-
came
through
ockham
for
that
was
the
way
i
returned
and
-
not
through
send
and
old
woking
i
saw
along
the
western
-
horizon
a
blood~red
glow
which
as
i
drew
nearer
crept
-
slowly
up
the
sky
the
driving
clouds
of
the
gathering
-
thunderstorm
mingled
there
with
masses
of
black
and
red
-
smoke
=
ripley
street
was
deserted
and
except
for
a
lighted
window
-
or
so
the
village
showed
not
a
sign
of
life
but
i
narrowly
-
escaped
an
accident
at
the
corner
of
the
road
to
pyrford
-
where
a
knot
of
people
stood
with
their
backs
to
me
they
-
said
nothing
to
me
as
i
passed
i
do
not
know
what
they
knew
-
of
the
things
happening
beyond
the
hill
nor
do
i
know
if
-
the
silent
houses
i
passed
on
my
way
were
sleeping
securely
-
or
deserted
and
empty
or
harassed
and
watching
against
the
-
terror
of
the
night
=
from
ripley
until
i
came
through
pyrford
i
was
in
the
valley
-
of
the
wey
and
the
red
glare
was
hidden
from
me
as
i
-
ascended
the
little
hill
beyond
pyrford
church
the
glare
-
came
into
view
again
and
the
trees
about
me
shivered
with
-
the
first
intimation
of
the
storm
that
was
upon
me
then
i
-
heard
midnight
pealing
out
from
pyrford
church
behind
me
-
and
then
came
the
silhouette
of
maybury
hill
with
its
-
treetops
and
roofs
black
and
sharp
against
the
red
=
even
as
i
beheld
this
a
lurid
green
glare
lit
the
road
about
-
me
and
showed
the
distant
woods
towards
addlestone
i
felt
a
-
tug
at
the
reins
i
saw
that
the
driving
clouds
had
been
-
pierced
as
it
were
by
a
thread
of
green
fire
suddenly
-
lighting
their
confusion
and
falling
into
the
field
to
my
-
left
it
was
the
third
falling
star
=
close
on
its
apparition
and
blindingly
violet
by
contrast
-
danced
out
the
first
lightning
of
the
gathering
storm
and
-
the
thunder
burst
like
a
rocket
overhead
the
horse
took
the
-
bit
between
his
teeth
and
bolted
=
a
moderate
incline
runs
towards
the
foot
of
maybury
hill
-
and
down
this
we
clattered
once
the
lightning
had
begun
it
-
went
on
in
as
rapid
a
succession
of
flashes
as
i
have
ever
-
seen
the
thunderclaps
treading
one
on
the
heels
of
another
-
and
with
a
strange
crackling
accompaniment
sounded
more
-
like
the
working
of
a
gigantic
electric
machine
than
the
-
usual
detonating
reverberations
the
flickering
light
was
-
blinding
and
confusing
and
a
thin
hail
smote
gustily
at
my
-
face
as
i
drove
down
the
slope
=
at
first
i
regarded
little
but
the
road
before
me
and
then
-
abruptly
my
attention
was
arrested
by
something
that
was
-
moving
rapidly
down
the
opposite
slope
of
maybury
hill
at
-
first
i
took
it
for
the
wet
roof
of
a
house
but
one
flash
-
following
another
showed
it
to
be
in
swift
rolling
movement
-
it
was
an
elusive
vision
-
a
moment
of
bewildering
darkness
-
and
then
in
a
flash
like
daylight
the
red
masses
of
the
-
orphanage
near
the
crest
of
the
hill
the
green
tops
of
the
-
pine
trees
and
this
problematical
object
came
out
clear
and
-
sharp
and
bright
=
and
this
thing
i
saw
how
can
i
describe
it
a
monstrous
-
tripod
higher
than
many
houses
striding
over
the
young
-
pine
trees
and
smashing
them
aside
in
its
career
a
walking
-
engine
of
glittering
metal
striding
now
across
the
heather
-
articulate
ropes
of
steel
dangling
from
it
and
the
-
clattering
tumult
of
its
passage
mingling
with
the
riot
of
-
the
thunder
a
flash
and
it
came
out
vividly
heeling
over
-
one
way
with
two
feet
in
the
air
to
vanish
and
reappear
-
almost
instantly
as
it
seemed
with
the
next
flash
a
-
hundred
yards
nearer
can
you
imagine
a
milking
stool
tilted
-
and
bowled
violently
along
the
ground
that
was
the
-
impression
those
instant
flashes
gave
but
instead
of
a
-
milking
stool
imagine
it
a
great
body
of
machinery
on
a
-
tripod
stand
=
then
suddenly
the
trees
in
the
pine
wood
ahead
of
me
were
-
parted
as
brittle
reeds
are
parted
by
a
man
thrusting
-
through
them
they
were
snapped
off
and
driven
headlong
and
-
a
second
huge
tripod
appeared
rushing
as
it
seemed
-
headlong
towards
me
and
i
was
galloping
hard
to
meet
it
at
-
the
sight
of
the
second
monster
my
nerve
went
altogether
-
not
stopping
to
look
again
i
wrenched
the
horse's
head
hard
-
round
to
the
right
and
in
another
moment
the
dog
cart
had
-
heeled
over
upon
the
horse
the
shafts
smashed
noisily
and
-
i
was
flung
sideways
and
fell
heavily
into
a
shallow
pool
of
-
water
=
i
crawled
out
almost
immediately
and
crouched
my
feet
-
still
in
the
water
under
a
clump
of
furze
the
horse
lay
-
motionless
his
neck
was
broken
poor
brute
and
by
the
-
lightning
flashes
i
saw
the
black
bulk
of
the
overturned
dog
-
cart
and
the
silhouette
of
the
wheel
still
spinning
slowly
-
in
another
moment
the
colossal
mechanism
went
striding
by
-
me
and
passed
uphill
towards
pyrford
=
seen
nearer
the
thing
was
incredibly
strange
for
it
was
no
-
mere
insensate
machine
driving
on
its
way
machine
it
was
-
with
a
ringing
metallic
pace
and
long
flexible
glittering
-
tentacles
one
of
which
gripped
a
young
pine
tree
swinging
-
and
rattling
about
its
strange
body
it
picked
its
road
as
-
it
went
striding
along
and
the
brazen
hood
that
surmounted
-
it
moved
to
and
fro
with
the
inevitable
suggestion
of
a
head
-
looking
about
behind
the
main
body
was
a
huge
mass
of
white
-
metal
like
a
gigantic
fisherman's
basket
and
puffs
of
green
-
smoke
squirted
out
from
the
joints
of
the
limbs
as
the
-
monster
swept
by
me
and
in
an
instant
it
was
gone
=
so
much
i
saw
then
all
vaguely
for
the
flickering
of
the
-
lightning
in
blinding
highlights
and
dense
black
shadows
=
as
it
passed
it
set
up
an
exultant
deafening
howl
that
-
drowned
the
thunder
-
aloo
aloo
-
and
in
another
minute
it
-
was
with
its
companion
half
a
mile
away
stooping
over
-
something
in
the
field
i
have
no
doubt
this
thing
in
the
-
field
was
the
third
of
the
ten
cylinders
they
had
fired
at
-
us
from
mars
=
for
some
minutes
i
lay
there
in
the
rain
and
darkness
-
watching
by
the
intermittent
light
these
monstrous
beings
-
of
metal
moving
about
in
the
distance
over
the
hedge
tops
a
-
thin
hail
was
now
beginning
and
as
it
came
and
went
their
-
figures
grew
misty
and
then
flashed
into
clearness
again
-
now
and
then
came
a
gap
in
the
lightning
and
the
night
-
swallowed
them
up
=
i
was
soaked
with
hail
above
and
puddle
water
below
it
was
-
some
time
before
my
blank
astonishment
would
let
me
struggle
-
up
the
bank
to
a
drier
position
or
think
at
all
of
my
-
imminent
peril
=
not
far
from
me
was
a
little
one~roomed
squatter's
hut
of
-
wood
surrounded
by
a
patch
of
potato
garden
i
struggled
to
-
my
feet
at
last
and
crouching
and
making
use
of
every
-
chance
of
cover
i
made
a
run
for
this
i
hammered
at
the
-
door
but
i
could
not
make
the
people
hear
if
there
were
-
any
people
inside
and
after
a
time
i
desisted
and
-
availing
myself
of
a
ditch
for
the
greater
part
of
the
way
-
succeeded
in
crawling
unobserved
by
these
monstrous
-
machines
into
the
pine
woods
towards
maybury
=
under
cover
of
this
i
pushed
on
wet
and
shivering
now
-
towards
my
own
house
i
walked
among
the
trees
trying
to
-
find
the
footpath
it
was
very
dark
indeed
in
the
wood
for
-
the
lightning
was
now
becoming
infrequent
and
the
hail
-
which
was
pouring
down
in
a
torrent
fell
in
columns
through
-
the
gaps
in
the
heavy
foliage
=
if
i
had
fully
realised
the
meaning
of
all
the
things
i
had
-
seen
i
should
have
immediately
worked
my
way
round
through
-
byfleet
to
street
cobham
and
so
gone
back
to
rejoin
my
wife
-
at
leatherhead
but
that
night
the
strangeness
of
things
-
about
me
and
my
physical
wretchedness
prevented
me
for
i
-
was
bruised
weary
wet
to
the
skin
deafened
and
blinded
by
-
the
storm
=
i
had
a
vague
idea
of
going
on
to
my
own
house
and
that
was
-
as
much
motive
as
i
had
i
staggered
through
the
trees
fell
-
into
a
ditch
and
bruised
my
knees
against
a
plank
and
-
finally
splashed
out
into
the
lane
that
ran
down
from
the
-
college
arms
i
say
splashed
for
the
storm
water
was
-
sweeping
the
sand
down
the
hill
in
a
muddy
torrent
there
in
-
the
darkness
a
man
blundered
into
me
and
sent
me
reeling
-
back
=
he
gave
a
cry
of
terror
sprang
sideways
and
rushed
on
-
before
i
could
gather
my
wits
sufficiently
to
speak
to
him
-
so
heavy
was
the
stress
of
the
storm
just
at
this
place
that
-
i
had
the
hardest
task
to
win
my
way
up
the
hill
i
went
-
close
up
to
the
fence
on
the
left
and
worked
my
way
along
-
its
palings
=
near
the
top
i
stumbled
upon
something
soft
and
by
a
flash
-
of
lightning
saw
between
my
feet
a
heap
of
black
broadcloth
-
and
a
pair
of
boots
before
i
could
distinguish
clearly
how
-
the
man
lay
the
flicker
of
light
had
passed
i
stood
over
-
him
waiting
for
the
next
flash
when
it
came
i
saw
that
he
-
was
a
sturdy
man
cheaply
but
not
shabbily
dressed
his
head
-
was
bent
under
his
body
and
he
lay
crumpled
up
close
to
the
-
fence
as
though
he
had
been
flung
violently
against
it
=
overcoming
the
repugnance
natural
to
one
who
had
never
-
before
touched
a
dead
body
i
stooped
and
turned
him
over
to
-
feel
for
his
heart
he
was
quite
dead
apparently
his
neck
-
had
been
broken
the
lightning
flashed
for
a
third
time
and
-
his
face
leaped
upon
me
i
sprang
to
my
feet
it
was
the
-
landlord
of
the
spotted
dog
whose
conveyance
i
had
taken
=
i
stepped
over
him
gingerly
and
pushed
on
up
the
hill
i
-
made
my
way
by
the
police
station
and
the
college
arms
-
towards
my
own
house
nothing
was
burning
on
the
hillside
-
though
from
the
common
there
still
came
a
red
glare
and
a
-
rolling
tumult
of
ruddy
smoke
beating
up
against
the
-
drenching
hail
so
far
as
i
could
see
by
the
flashes
the
-
houses
about
me
were
mostly
uninjured
by
the
college
arms
a
-
dark
heap
lay
in
the
road
=
down
the
road
towards
maybury
bridge
there
were
voices
and
-
the
sound
of
feet
but
i
had
not
the
courage
to
shout
or
to
-
go
to
them
i
let
myself
in
with
my
latchkey
closed
locked
-
and
bolted
the
door
staggered
to
the
foot
of
the
staircase
-
and
sat
down
my
imagination
was
full
of
those
striding
-
metallic
monsters
and
of
the
dead
body
smashed
against
the
-
fence
=
i
crouched
at
the
foot
of
the
staircase
with
my
back
to
the
-
wall
shivering
violently
=
i
have
already
said
that
my
storms
of
emotion
have
a
trick
-
of
exhausting
themselves
after
a
time
i
discovered
that
i
-
was
cold
and
wet
and
with
little
pools
of
water
about
me
on
-
the
stair
carpet
i
got
up
almost
mechanically
went
into
-
the
dining
room
and
drank
some
whiskey
and
then
i
was
moved
-
to
change
my
clothes
=
after
i
had
done
that
i
went
upstairs
to
my
study
but
why
i
-
did
so
i
do
not
know
the
window
of
my
study
looks
over
the
-
trees
and
the
railway
towards
horsell
common
in
the
hurry
-
of
our
departure
this
window
had
been
left
open
the
passage
-
was
dark
and
by
contrast
with
the
picture
the
window
frame
-
enclosed
the
side
of
the
room
seemed
impenetrably
dark
i
-
stopped
short
in
the
doorway
=
the
thunderstorm
had
passed
the
towers
of
the
oriental
-
college
and
the
pine
trees
about
it
had
gone
and
very
far
-
away
lit
by
a
vivid
red
glare
the
common
about
the
sand
-
pits
was
visible
across
the
light
huge
black
shapes
-
grotesque
and
strange
moved
busily
to
and
fro
=
it
seemed
indeed
as
if
the
whole
country
in
that
direction
-
was
on
fire
-
a
broad
hillside
set
with
minute
tongues
of
-
flame
swaying
and
writhing
with
the
gusts
of
the
dying
-
storm
and
throwing
a
red
reflection
upon
the
cloud
scud
-
above
every
now
and
then
a
haze
of
smoke
from
some
nearer
-
conflagration
drove
across
the
window
and
hid
the
martian
-
shapes
i
could
not
see
what
they
were
doing
nor
the
clear
-
form
of
them
nor
recognise
the
black
objects
they
were
-
busied
upon
neither
could
i
see
the
nearer
fire
though
the
-
reflections
of
it
danced
on
the
wall
and
ceiling
of
the
-
study
a
sharp
resinous
tang
of
burning
was
in
the
air
=
i
closed
the
door
noiselessly
and
crept
towards
the
window
-
as
i
did
so
the
view
opened
out
until
on
the
one
hand
it
-
reached
to
the
houses
about
woking
station
and
on
the
other
-
to
the
charred
and
blackened
pine
woods
of
byfleet
there
-
was
a
light
down
below
the
hill
on
the
railway
near
the
-
arch
and
several
of
the
houses
along
the
maybury
road
and
-
the
streets
near
the
station
were
glowing
ruins
the
light
-
upon
the
railway
puzzled
me
at
first
there
were
a
black
-
heap
and
a
vivid
glare
and
to
the
right
of
that
a
row
of
-
yellow
oblongs
then
i
perceived
this
was
a
wrecked
train
-
the
fore
part
smashed
and
on
fire
the
hinder
carriages
-
still
upon
the
rails
=
between
these
three
main
centres
of
light
-
the
houses
the
-
train
and
the
burning
county
towards
chobham
-
stretched
-
irregular
patches
of
dark
country
broken
here
and
there
by
-
intervals
of
dimly
glowing
and
smoking
ground
it
was
the
-
strangest
spectacle
that
black
expanse
set
with
fire
it
-
reminded
me
more
than
anything
else
of
the
potteries
at
-
night
at
first
i
could
distinguish
no
people
at
all
though
-
i
peered
intently
for
them
later
i
saw
against
the
light
of
-
woking
station
a
number
of
black
figures
hurrying
one
after
-
the
other
across
the
line
=
and
this
was
the
little
world
in
which
i
had
been
living
-
securely
for
years
this
fiery
chaos
what
had
happened
in
-
the
last
seven
hours
i
still
did
not
know
nor
did
i
know
-
though
i
was
beginning
to
guess
the
relation
between
these
-
mechanical
colossi
and
the
sluggish
lumps
i
had
seen
-
disgorged
from
the
cylinder
with
a
queer
feeling
of
-
impersonal
interest
i
turned
my
desk
chair
to
the
window
-
sat
down
and
stared
at
the
blackened
country
and
-
particularly
at
the
three
gigantic
black
things
that
were
-
going
to
and
fro
in
the
glare
about
the
sand
pits
=
they
seemed
amazingly
busy
i
began
to
ask
myself
what
they
-
could
be
were
they
intelligent
mechanisms
such
a
thing
i
-
felt
was
impossible
or
did
a
martian
sit
within
each
-
ruling
directing
using
much
as
a
man's
brain
sits
and
-
rules
in
his
body
i
began
to
compare
the
things
to
human
-
machines
to
ask
myself
for
the
first
time
in
my
life
how
an
-
ironclad
or
a
steam
engine
would
seem
to
an
intelligent
-
lower
animal
=
the
storm
had
left
the
sky
clear
and
over
the
smoke
of
the
-
burning
land
the
little
fading
pinpoint
of
mars
was
dropping
-
into
the
west
when
a
soldier
came
into
my
garden
i
heard
a
-
slight
scraping
at
the
fence
and
rousing
myself
from
the
-
lethargy
that
had
fallen
upon
me
i
looked
down
and
saw
him
-
dimly
clambering
over
the
palings
at
the
sight
of
another
-
human
being
my
torpor
passed
and
i
leaned
out
of
the
window
-
eagerly
=
hist
said
i
in
a
whisper
=
he
stopped
astride
of
the
fence
in
doubt
then
he
came
over
-
and
across
the
lawn
to
the
corner
of
the
house
he
bent
down
-
and
stepped
softly
=
who's
there
he
said
also
whispering
standing
under
the
-
window
and
peering
up
=
where
are
you
going
i
asked
=
god
knows
=
are
you
trying
to
hide
=
that's
it
=
come
into
the
house
i
said
=
i
went
down
unfastened
the
door
and
let
him
in
and
locked
-
the
door
again
i
could
not
see
his
face
he
was
hatless
-
and
his
coat
was
unbuttoned
=
my
god
he
said
as
i
drew
him
in
=
what
has
happened
i
asked
=
what
hasn't
in
the
obscurity
i
could
see
he
made
a
-
gesture
of
despair
they
wiped
us
out
-
simply
wiped
us
-
out
he
repeated
again
and
again
=
he
followed
me
almost
mechanically
into
the
dining
room
=
take
some
whiskey
i
said
pouring
out
a
stiff
dose
=
he
drank
it
then
abruptly
he
sat
down
before
the
table
put
-
his
head
on
his
arms
and
began
to
sob
and
weep
like
a
-
little
boy
in
a
perfect
passion
of
emotion
while
i
with
a
-
curious
forgetfulness
of
my
own
recent
despair
stood
beside
-
him
wondering
=
it
was
a
long
time
before
he
could
steady
his
nerves
to
-
answer
my
questions
and
then
he
answered
perplexingly
and
-
brokenly
he
was
a
driver
in
the
artillery
and
had
only
-
come
into
action
about
seven
at
that
time
firing
was
going
-
on
across
the
common
and
it
was
said
the
first
party
of
-
martians
were
crawling
slowly
towards
their
second
cylinder
-
under
cover
of
a
metal
shield
=
later
this
shield
staggered
up
on
tripod
legs
and
became
the
-
first
of
the
fighting~machines
i
had
seen
the
gun
he
drove
-
had
been
unlimbered
near
horsell
in
order
to
command
the
-
sand
pits
and
its
arrival
it
was
that
had
precipitated
the
-
action
as
the
limber
gunners
went
to
the
rear
his
horse
-
trod
in
a
rabbit
hole
and
came
down
throwing
him
into
a
-
depression
of
the
ground
at
the
same
moment
the
gun
-
exploded
behind
him
the
ammunition
blew
up
there
was
fire
-
all
about
him
and
he
found
himself
lying
under
a
heap
of
-
charred
dead
men
and
dead
horses
=
i
lay
still
he
said
scared
out
of
my
wits
with
the
-
fore
quarter
of
a
horse
atop
of
me
we'd
been
wiped
out
and
-
the
smell
-
good
god
like
burnt
meat
i
was
hurt
across
the
-
back
by
the
fall
of
the
horse
and
there
i
had
to
lie
until
-
i
felt
better
just
like
parade
it
had
been
a
minute
-
before
-
then
stumble
bang
swish
=
wiped
out
he
said
=
he
had
hid
under
the
dead
horse
for
a
long
time
peeping
out
-
furtively
across
the
common
the
cardigan
men
had
tried
a
-
rush
in
skirmishing
order
at
the
pit
simply
to
be
swept
-
out
of
existence
then
the
monster
had
risen
to
its
feet
and
-
had
begun
to
walk
leisurely
to
and
fro
across
the
common
-
among
the
few
fugitives
with
its
headlike
hood
turning
-
about
exactly
like
the
head
of
a
cowled
human
being
a
kind
-
of
arm
carried
a
complicated
metallic
case
about
which
-
green
flashes
scintillated
and
out
of
the
funnel
of
this
-
there
smoked
the
heat~ray
=
in
a
few
minutes
there
was
so
far
as
the
soldier
could
see
-
not
a
living
thing
left
upon
the
common
and
every
bush
and
-
tree
upon
it
that
was
not
already
a
blackened
skeleton
was
-
burning
the
hussars
had
been
on
the
road
beyond
the
-
curvature
of
the
ground
and
he
saw
nothing
of
them
he
-
heard
the
martians
rattle
for
a
time
and
then
become
still
-
the
giant
saved
woking
station
and
its
cluster
of
houses
-
until
the
last
then
in
a
moment
the
heat~ray
was
brought
to
-
bear
and
the
town
became
a
heap
of
fiery
ruins
then
the
-
thing
shut
off
the
heat~ray
and
turning
its
back
upon
the
-
artilleryman
began
to
waddle
away
towards
the
smouldering
-
pine
woods
that
sheltered
the
second
cylinder
as
it
did
so
-
a
second
glittering
titan
built
itself
up
out
of
the
pit
=
the
second
monster
followed
the
first
and
at
that
the
-
artilleryman
began
to
crawl
very
cautiously
across
the
hot
-
heather
ash
towards
horsell
he
managed
to
get
alive
into
-
the
ditch
by
the
side
of
the
road
and
so
escaped
to
woking
-
there
his
story
became
ejaculatory
the
place
was
-
impassable
it
seems
there
were
a
few
people
alive
there
-
frantic
for
the
most
part
and
many
burned
and
scalded
he
-
was
turned
aside
by
the
fire
and
hid
among
some
almost
-
scorching
heaps
of
broken
wall
as
one
of
the
martian
giants
-
returned
he
saw
this
one
pursue
a
man
catch
him
up
in
one
-
of
its
steely
tentacles
and
knock
his
head
against
the
-
trunk
of
a
pine
tree
at
last
after
nightfall
the
-
artilleryman
made
a
rush
for
it
and
got
over
the
railway
-
embankment
=
since
then
he
had
been
skulking
along
towards
maybury
in
-
the
hope
of
getting
out
of
danger
londonward
people
were
-
hiding
in
trenches
and
cellars
and
many
of
the
survivors
-
had
made
off
towards
woking
village
and
send
he
had
been
-
consumed
with
thirst
until
he
found
one
of
the
water
mains
-
near
the
railway
arch
smashed
and
the
water
bubbling
out
-
like
a
spring
upon
the
road
=
that
was
the
story
i
got
from
him
bit
by
bit
he
grew
-
calmer
telling
me
and
trying
to
make
me
see
the
things
he
-
had
seen
he
had
eaten
no
food
since
midday
he
told
me
-
early
in
his
narrative
and
i
found
some
mutton
and
bread
in
-
the
pantry
and
brought
it
into
the
room
we
lit
no
lamp
for
-
fear
of
attracting
the
martians
and
ever
and
again
our
-
hands
would
touch
upon
bread
or
meat
as
he
talked
things
-
about
us
came
darkly
out
of
the
darkness
and
the
trampled
-
bushes
and
broken
rose
trees
outside
the
window
grew
-
distinct
it
would
seem
that
a
number
of
men
or
animals
had
-
rushed
across
the
lawn
i
began
to
see
his
face
blackened
-
and
haggard
as
no
doubt
mine
was
also
=
when
we
had
finished
eating
we
went
softly
upstairs
to
my
-
study
and
i
looked
again
out
of
the
open
window
in
one
-
night
the
valley
had
become
a
valley
of
ashes
the
fires
had
-
dwindled
now
where
flames
had
been
there
were
now
streamers
-
of
smoke
but
the
countless
ruins
of
shattered
and
gutted
-
houses
and
blasted
and
blackened
trees
that
the
night
had
-
hidden
stood
out
now
gaunt
and
terrible
in
the
pitiless
-
light
of
dawn
yet
here
and
there
some
object
had
had
the
-
luck
to
escape
-
a
white
railway
signal
here
the
end
of
a
-
greenhouse
there
white
and
fresh
amid
the
wreckage
never
-
before
in
the
history
of
warfare
had
destruction
been
so
-
indiscriminate
and
so
universal
and
shining
with
the
-
growing
light
of
the
east
three
of
the
metallic
giants
-
stood
about
the
pit
their
cowls
rotating
as
though
they
-
were
surveying
the
desolation
they
had
made
=
it
seemed
to
me
that
the
pit
had
been
enlarged
and
ever
and
-
again
puffs
of
vivid
green
vapour
streamed
up
and
out
of
it
-
towards
the
brightening
dawn
-
streamed
up
whirled
broke
-
and
vanished
=
beyond
were
the
pillars
of
fire
about
chobham
they
became
-
pillars
of
bloodshot
smoke
at
the
first
touch
of
day
=
of
weybridge
and
shepperton
=
as
the
dawn
grew
brighter
we
withdrew
from
the
window
from
-
which
we
had
watched
the
martians
and
went
very
quietly
-
downstairs
=
the
artilleryman
agreed
with
me
that
the
house
was
no
place
-
to
stay
in
he
proposed
he
said
to
make
his
way
-
londonward
and
thence
rejoin
his
battery
-
no
of
the
-
horse
artillery
my
plan
was
to
return
at
once
to
-
leatherhead
and
so
greatly
had
the
strength
of
the
martians
-
impressed
me
that
i
had
determined
to
take
my
wife
to
-
newhaven
and
go
with
her
out
of
the
country
forthwith
for
-
i
already
perceived
clearly
that
the
country
about
london
-
must
inevitably
be
the
scene
of
a
disastrous
struggle
before
-
such
creatures
as
these
could
be
destroyed
=
between
us
and
leatherhead
however
lay
the
third
cylinder
-
with
its
guarding
giants
had
i
been
alone
i
think
i
should
-
have
taken
my
chance
and
struck
across
country
but
the
-
artilleryman
dissuaded
me
it's
no
kindness
to
the
right
-
sort
of
wife
he
said
to
make
her
a
widow
and
in
the
-
end
i
agreed
to
go
with
him
under
cover
of
the
woods
-
northward
as
far
as
street
cobham
before
i
parted
with
him
-
thence
i
would
make
a
big
detour
by
epsom
to
reach
-
leatherhead
=
i
should
have
started
at
once
but
my
companion
had
been
in
-
active
service
and
he
knew
better
than
that
he
made
me
-
ransack
the
house
for
a
flask
which
he
filled
with
whiskey
-
and
we
lined
every
available
pocket
with
packets
of
biscuits
-
and
slices
of
meat
then
we
crept
out
of
the
house
and
ran
-
as
quickly
as
we
could
down
the
ill~made
road
by
which
i
had
-
come
overnight
the
houses
seemed
deserted
in
the
road
lay
-
a
group
of
three
charred
bodies
close
together
struck
dead
-
by
the
heat~ray
and
here
and
there
were
things
that
people
-
had
dropped
-
a
clock
a
slipper
a
silver
spoon
and
the
-
like
poor
valuables
at
the
corner
turning
up
towards
the
-
post
office
a
little
cart
filled
with
boxes
and
furniture
-
and
horseless
heeled
over
on
a
broken
wheel
a
cash
box
had
-
been
hastily
smashed
open
and
thrown
under
the
debris
=
except
the
lodge
at
the
orphanage
which
was
still
on
fire
-
none
of
the
houses
had
suffered
very
greatly
here
the
-
heat~ray
had
shaved
the
chimney
tops
and
passed
yet
save
-
ourselves
there
did
not
seem
to
be
a
living
soul
on
maybury
-
hill
the
majority
of
the
inhabitants
had
escaped
i
-
suppose
by
way
of
the
old
woking
road
-
the
road
i
had
taken
-
when
i
drove
to
leatherhead
-
or
they
had
hidden
=
we
went
down
the
lane
by
the
body
of
the
man
in
black
-
sodden
now
from
the
overnight
hail
and
broke
into
the
woods
-
at
the
foot
of
the
hill
we
pushed
through
these
towards
the
-
railway
without
meeting
a
soul
the
woods
across
the
line
-
were
but
the
scarred
and
blackened
ruins
of
woods
for
the
-
most
part
the
trees
had
fallen
but
a
certain
proportion
-
still
stood
dismal
grey
stems
with
dark
brown
foliage
-
instead
of
green
=
on
our
side
the
fire
had
done
no
more
than
scorch
the
nearer
-
trees
it
had
failed
to
secure
its
footing
in
one
place
the
-
woodmen
had
been
at
work
on
saturday
trees
felled
and
-
freshly
trimmed
lay
in
a
clearing
with
heaps
of
sawdust
by
-
the
sawing~machine
and
its
engine
hard
by
was
a
temporary
-
hut
deserted
there
was
not
a
breath
of
wind
this
morning
-
and
everything
was
strangely
still
even
the
birds
were
-
hushed
and
as
we
hurried
along
i
and
the
artilleryman
-
talked
in
whispers
and
looked
now
and
again
over
our
-
shoulders
once
or
twice
we
stopped
to
listen
=
after
a
time
we
drew
near
the
road
and
as
we
did
so
we
-
heard
the
clatter
of
hoofs
and
saw
through
the
tree
stems
-
three
cavalry
soldiers
riding
slowly
towards
woking
we
-
hailed
them
and
they
halted
while
we
hurried
towards
them
-
it
was
a
lieutenant
and
a
couple
of
privates
of
the
-
hussars
with
a
stand
like
a
theodolite
which
the
-
artilleryman
told
me
was
a
heliograph
=
you
are
the
first
men
i've
seen
coming
this
way
this
-
morning
said
the
lieutenant
what's
brewing
=
his
voice
and
face
were
eager
the
men
behind
him
stared
-
curiously
the
artilleryman
jumped
down
the
bank
into
the
-
road
and
saluted
=
gun
destroyed
last
night
sir
have
been
hiding
trying
to
-
rejoin
battery
sir
you'll
come
in
sight
of
the
martians
i
-
expect
about
half
a
mile
along
this
road
=
what
the
dickens
are
they
like
asked
the
lieutenant
=
giants
in
armour
sir
hundred
feet
high
three
legs
and
a
-
body
like
'luminium
with
a
mighty
great
head
in
a
hood
-
sir
=
get
out
said
the
lieutenant
what
confounded
nonsense
=
you'll
see
sir
they
carry
a
kind
of
box
sir
that
shoots
-
fire
and
strikes
you
dead
=
what
d'ye
mean
-
a
gun
=
no
sir
and
the
artilleryman
began
a
vivid
account
of
the
-
heat~ray
halfway
through
the
lieutenant
interrupted
him
-
and
looked
up
at
me
i
was
still
standing
on
the
bank
by
the
-
side
of
the
road
=
it's
perfectly
true
i
said
=
well
said
the
lieutenant
i
suppose
it's
my
business
to
-
see
it
too
look
here
-
to
the
artilleryman
-
we're
detailed
-
here
clearing
people
out
of
their
houses
you'd
better
go
-
along
and
report
yourself
to
brigadier~general
marvin
and
-
tell
him
all
you
know
he's
at
weybridge
know
the
way
=
i
do
i
said
and
he
turned
his
horse
southward
again
=
half
a
mile
you
say
said
he
=
at
most
i
answered
and
pointed
over
the
treetops
-
southward
he
thanked
me
and
rode
on
and
we
saw
them
no
-
more
=
farther
along
we
came
upon
a
group
of
three
women
and
two
-
children
in
the
road
busy
clearing
out
a
labourer's
-
cottage
they
had
got
hold
of
a
little
hand
truck
and
were
-
piling
it
up
with
unclean~looking
bundles
and
shabby
-
furniture
they
were
all
too
assiduously
engaged
to
talk
to
-
us
as
we
passed
=
by
byfleet
station
we
emerged
from
the
pine
trees
and
found
-
the
country
calm
and
peaceful
under
the
morning
sunlight
we
-
were
far
beyond
the
range
of
the
heat~ray
there
and
had
it
-
not
been
for
the
silent
desertion
of
some
of
the
houses
the
-
stirring
movement
of
packing
in
others
and
the
knot
of
-
soldiers
standing
on
the
bridge
over
the
railway
and
staring
-
down
the
line
towards
woking
the
day
would
have
seemed
very
-
like
any
other
sunday
=
several
farm
waggons
and
carts
were
moving
creakily
along
-
the
road
to
addlestone
and
suddenly
through
the
gate
of
a
-
field
we
saw
across
a
stretch
of
flat
meadow
six
-
twelve~pounders
standing
neatly
at
equal
distances
pointing
-
towards
woking
the
gunners
stood
by
the
guns
waiting
and
-
the
ammunition
waggons
were
at
a
business~like
distance
the
-
men
stood
almost
as
if
under
inspection
=
that's
good
said
i
they
will
get
one
fair
shot
at
any
-
rate
=
the
artilleryman
hesitated
at
the
gate
=
i
shall
go
on
he
said
=
farther
on
towards
weybridge
just
over
the
bridge
there
-
were
a
number
of
men
in
white
fatigue
jackets
throwing
up
a
-
long
rampart
and
more
guns
behind
=
it's
bows
and
arrows
against
the
lightning
anyhow
said
-
the
artilleryman
they
'aven't
seen
that
fire~beam
yet
=
the
officers
who
were
not
actively
engaged
stood
and
stared
-
over
the
treetops
southwestward
and
the
men
digging
would
-
stop
every
now
and
again
to
stare
in
the
same
direction
=
byfleet
was
in
a
tumult
people
packing
and
a
score
of
-
hussars
some
of
them
dismounted
some
on
horseback
were
-
hunting
them
about
three
or
four
black
government
waggons
-
with
crosses
in
white
circles
and
an
old
omnibus
among
-
other
vehicles
were
being
loaded
in
the
village
street
-
there
were
scores
of
people
most
of
them
sufficiently
-
sabbatical
to
have
assumed
their
best
clothes
the
soldiers
-
were
having
the
greatest
difficulty
in
making
them
realise
-
the
gravity
of
their
position
we
saw
one
shrivelled
old
-
fellow
with
a
huge
box
and
a
score
or
more
of
flower
pots
-
containing
orchids
angrily
expostulating
with
the
corporal
-
who
would
leave
them
behind
i
stopped
and
gripped
his
arm
=
do
you
know
what's
over
there
i
said
pointing
at
the
-
pine
tops
that
hid
the
martians
=
eh
said
he
turning
i
was
explainin
these
is
-
vallyble
=
death
i
shouted
death
is
coming
death
and
leaving
-
him
to
digest
that
if
he
could
i
hurried
on
after
the
-
artilleryman
at
the
corner
i
looked
back
the
soldier
had
-
left
him
and
he
was
still
standing
by
his
box
with
the
-
pots
of
orchids
on
the
lid
of
it
and
staring
vaguely
over
-
the
trees
=
no
one
in
weybridge
could
tell
us
where
the
headquarters
-
were
established
the
whole
place
was
in
such
confusion
as
i
-
had
never
seen
in
any
town
before
carts
carriages
-
everywhere
the
most
astonishing
miscellany
of
conveyances
-
and
horseflesh
the
respectable
inhabitants
of
the
place
-
men
in
golf
and
boating
costumes
wives
prettily
dressed
-
were
packing
river~side
loafers
energetically
helping
-
children
excited
and
for
the
most
part
highly
delighted
-
at
this
astonishing
variation
of
their
sunday
experiences
-
in
the
midst
of
it
all
the
worthy
vicar
was
very
pluckily
-
holding
an
early
celebration
and
his
bell
was
jangling
out
-
above
the
excitement
=
i
and
the
artilleryman
seated
on
the
step
of
the
drinking
-
fountain
made
a
very
passable
meal
upon
what
we
had
brought
-
with
us
patrols
of
soldiers
-
here
no
longer
hussars
but
-
grenadiers
in
white
-
were
warning
people
to
move
now
or
to
-
take
refuge
in
their
cellars
as
soon
as
the
firing
began
we
-
saw
as
we
crossed
the
railway
bridge
that
a
growing
crowd
of
-
people
had
assembled
in
and
about
the
railway
station
and
-
the
swarming
platform
was
piled
with
boxes
and
packages
the
-
ordinary
traffic
had
been
stopped
i
believe
in
order
to
-
allow
of
the
passage
of
troops
and
guns
to
chertsey
and
i
-
have
heard
since
that
a
savage
struggle
occurred
for
places
-
in
the
special
trains
that
were
put
on
at
a
later
hour
=
we
remained
at
weybridge
until
midday
and
at
that
hour
we
-
found
ourselves
at
the
place
near
shepperton
lock
where
the
-
wey
and
thames
join
part
of
the
time
we
spent
helping
two
-
old
women
to
pack
a
little
cart
the
wey
has
a
treble
mouth
-
and
at
this
point
boats
are
to
be
hired
and
there
was
a
-
ferry
across
the
river
on
the
shepperton
side
was
an
inn
-
with
a
lawn
and
beyond
that
the
tower
of
shepperton
church
-
it
has
been
replaced
by
a
spire
-
rose
above
the
trees
=
here
we
found
an
excited
and
noisy
crowd
of
fugitives
as
-
yet
the
flight
had
not
grown
to
a
panic
but
there
were
-
already
far
more
people
than
all
the
boats
going
to
and
fro
-
could
enable
to
cross
people
came
panting
along
under
heavy
-
burdens
one
husband
and
wife
were
even
carrying
a
small
-
outhouse
door
between
them
with
some
of
their
household
-
goods
piled
thereon
one
man
told
us
he
meant
to
try
to
get
-
away
from
shepperton
station
=
there
was
a
lot
of
shouting
and
one
man
was
even
jesting
-
the
idea
people
seemed
to
have
here
was
that
the
martians
-
were
simply
formidable
human
beings
who
might
attack
and
-
sack
the
town
to
be
certainly
destroyed
in
the
end
every
-
now
and
then
people
would
glance
nervously
across
the
wey
-
at
the
meadows
towards
chertsey
but
everything
over
there
-
was
still
=
across
the
thames
except
just
where
the
boats
landed
-
everything
was
quiet
in
vivid
contrast
with
the
surrey
-
side
the
people
who
landed
there
from
the
boats
went
-
tramping
off
down
the
lane
the
big
ferryboat
had
just
made
-
a
journey
three
or
four
soldiers
stood
on
the
lawn
of
the
-
inn
staring
and
jesting
at
the
fugitives
without
offering
-
to
help
the
inn
was
closed
as
it
was
now
within
prohibited
-
hours
=
what's
that
cried
a
boatman
and
shut
up
you
fool
-
said
a
man
near
me
to
a
yelping
dog
then
the
sound
came
-
again
this
time
from
the
direction
of
chertsey
a
muffled
-
thud
-
the
sound
of
a
gun
=
the
fighting
was
beginning
almost
immediately
unseen
-
batteries
across
the
river
to
our
right
unseen
because
of
-
the
trees
took
up
the
chorus
firing
heavily
one
after
the
-
other
a
woman
screamed
everyone
stood
arrested
by
the
-
sudden
stir
of
battle
near
us
and
yet
invisible
to
us
-
nothing
was
to
be
seen
save
flat
meadows
cows
feeding
-
unconcernedly
for
the
most
part
and
silvery
pollard
willows
-
motionless
in
the
warm
sunlight
=
the
sojers'll
stop
'em
said
a
woman
beside
me
-
doubtfully
a
haziness
rose
over
the
treetops
=
then
suddenly
we
saw
a
rush
of
smoke
far
away
up
the
river
-
a
puff
of
smoke
that
jerked
up
into
the
air
and
hung
and
-
forthwith
the
ground
heaved
under
foot
and
a
heavy
explosion
-
shook
the
air
smashing
two
or
three
windows
in
the
houses
-
near
and
leaving
us
astonished
=
here
they
are
shouted
a
man
in
a
blue
jersey
yonder
-
d'yer
see
them
yonder
=
quickly
one
after
the
other
one
two
three
four
of
the
-
armoured
martians
appeared
far
away
over
the
little
trees
-
across
the
flat
meadows
that
stretched
towards
chertsey
and
-
striding
hurriedly
towards
the
river
little
cowled
figures
-
they
seemed
at
first
going
with
a
rolling
motion
and
as
-
fast
as
flying
birds
=
then
advancing
obliquely
towards
us
came
a
fifth
their
-
armoured
bodies
glittered
in
the
sun
as
they
swept
swiftly
-
forward
upon
the
guns
growing
rapidly
larger
as
they
drew
-
nearer
one
on
the
extreme
left
the
remotest
that
is
-
flourished
a
huge
case
high
in
the
air
and
the
ghostly
-
terrible
heat~ray
i
had
already
seen
on
friday
night
smote
-
towards
chertsey
and
struck
the
town
=
at
sight
of
these
strange
swift
and
terrible
creatures
the
-
crowd
near
the
water's
edge
seemed
to
me
to
be
for
a
moment
-
horror~struck
there
was
no
screaming
or
shouting
but
a
-
silence
then
a
hoarse
murmur
and
a
movement
of
feet
-
a
-
splashing
from
the
water
a
man
too
frightened
to
drop
the
-
portmanteau
he
carried
on
his
shoulder
swung
round
and
sent
-
me
staggering
with
a
blow
from
the
corner
of
his
burden
a
-
woman
thrust
at
me
with
her
hand
and
rushed
past
me
i
-
turned
with
the
rush
of
the
people
but
i
was
not
too
-
terrified
for
thought
the
terrible
heat~ray
was
in
my
mind
-
to
get
under
water
that
was
it
=
get
under
water
i
shouted
unheeded
=
i
faced
about
again
and
rushed
towards
the
approaching
-
martian
rushed
right
down
the
gravelly
beach
and
headlong
-
into
the
water
others
did
the
same
a
boatload
of
people
-
putting
back
came
leaping
out
as
i
rushed
past
the
stones
-
under
my
feet
were
muddy
and
slippery
and
the
river
was
so
-
low
that
i
ran
perhaps
twenty
feet
scarcely
waist~deep
-
then
as
the
martian
towered
overhead
scarcely
a
couple
of
-
hundred
yards
away
i
flung
myself
forward
under
the
-
surface
the
splashes
of
the
people
in
the
boats
leaping
-
into
the
river
sounded
like
thunderclaps
in
my
ears
people
-
were
landing
hastily
on
both
sides
of
the
river
but
the
-
martian
machine
took
no
more
notice
for
the
moment
of
the
-
people
running
this
way
and
that
than
a
man
would
of
the
-
confusion
of
ants
in
a
nest
against
which
his
foot
has
-
kicked
when
half
suffocated
i
raised
my
head
above
water
-
the
martian's
hood
pointed
at
the
batteries
that
were
still
-
firing
across
the
river
and
as
it
advanced
it
swung
loose
-
what
must
have
been
the
generator
of
the
heat~ray
=
in
another
moment
it
was
on
the
bank
and
in
a
stride
wading
-
halfway
across
the
knees
of
its
foremost
legs
bent
at
the
-
farther
bank
and
in
another
moment
it
had
raised
itself
to
-
its
full
height
again
close
to
the
village
of
shepperton
-
forthwith
the
six
guns
which
unknown
to
anyone
on
the
right
-
bank
had
been
hidden
behind
the
outskirts
of
that
village
-
fired
simultaneously
the
sudden
near
concussion
the
last
-
close
upon
the
first
made
my
heart
jump
the
monster
was
-
already
raising
the
case
generating
the
heat~ray
as
the
-
first
shell
burst
six
yards
above
the
hood
=
i
gave
a
cry
of
astonishment
i
saw
and
thought
nothing
of
-
the
other
four
martian
monsters
my
attention
was
riveted
-
upon
the
nearer
incident
simultaneously
two
other
shells
-
burst
in
the
air
near
the
body
as
the
hood
twisted
round
in
-
time
to
receive
but
not
in
time
to
dodge
the
fourth
shell
=
the
shell
burst
clean
in
the
face
of
the
thing
the
hood
-
bulged
flashed
was
whirled
off
in
a
dozen
tattered
-
fragments
of
red
flesh
and
glittering
metal
=
hit
shouted
i
with
something
between
a
scream
and
a
-
cheer
=
i
heard
answering
shouts
from
the
people
in
the
water
about
-
me
i
could
have
leaped
out
of
the
water
with
that
momentary
-
exultation
=
the
decapitated
colossus
reeled
like
a
drunken
giant
but
it
-
did
not
fall
over
it
recovered
its
balance
by
a
miracle
-
and
no
longer
heeding
its
steps
and
with
the
camera
that
-
fired
the
heat~ray
now
rigidly
upheld
it
reeled
swiftly
-
upon
shepperton
the
living
intelligence
the
martian
within
-
the
hood
was
slain
and
splashed
to
the
four
winds
of
-
heaven
and
the
thing
was
now
but
a
mere
intricate
device
of
-
metal
whirling
to
destruction
it
drove
along
in
a
straight
-
line
incapable
of
guidance
it
struck
the
tower
of
-
shepperton
church
smashing
it
down
as
the
impact
of
a
-
battering
ram
might
have
done
swerved
aside
blundered
on
-
and
collapsed
with
tremendous
force
into
the
river
out
of
my
-
sight
=
a
violent
explosion
shook
the
air
and
a
spout
of
water
-
steam
mud
and
shattered
metal
shot
far
up
into
the
sky
as
-
the
camera
of
the
heat~ray
hit
the
water
the
latter
had
-
immediately
flashed
into
steam
in
another
moment
a
huge
-
wave
like
a
muddy
tidal
bore
but
almost
scaldingly
hot
-
came
sweeping
round
the
bend
upstream
i
saw
people
-
struggling
shorewards
and
heard
their
screaming
and
-
shouting
faintly
above
the
seething
and
roar
of
the
-
martian's
collapse
=
for
a
moment
i
heeded
nothing
of
the
heat
forgot
the
patent
-
need
of
self~preservation
i
splashed
through
the
tumultuous
-
water
pushing
aside
a
man
in
black
to
do
so
until
i
could
-
see
round
the
bend
half
a
dozen
deserted
boats
pitched
-
aimlessly
upon
the
confusion
of
the
waves
the
fallen
-
martian
came
into
sight
downstream
lying
across
the
river
-
and
for
the
most
part
submerged
=
thick
clouds
of
steam
were
pouring
off
the
wreckage
and
-
through
the
tumultuously
whirling
wisps
i
could
see
-
intermittently
and
vaguely
the
gigantic
limbs
churning
the
-
water
and
flinging
a
splash
and
spray
of
mud
and
froth
into
-
the
air
the
tentacles
swayed
and
struck
like
living
arms
-
and
save
for
the
helpless
purposelessness
of
these
-
movements
it
was
as
if
some
wounded
thing
were
struggling
-
for
its
life
amid
the
waves
enormous
quantities
of
a
-
ruddy~brown
fluid
were
spurting
up
in
noisy
jets
out
of
the
-
machine
=
my
attention
was
diverted
from
this
death
flurry
by
a
-
furious
yelling
like
that
of
the
thing
called
a
siren
in
-
our
manufacturing
towns
a
man
knee~deep
near
the
towing
-
path
shouted
inaudibly
to
me
and
pointed
looking
back
i
-
saw
the
other
martians
advancing
with
gigantic
strides
down
-
the
riverbank
from
the
direction
of
chertsey
the
shepperton
-
guns
spoke
this
time
unavailingly
=
at
that
i
ducked
at
once
under
water
and
holding
my
breath
-
until
movement
was
an
agony
blundered
painfully
ahead
under
-
the
surface
as
long
as
i
could
the
water
was
in
a
tumult
-
about
me
and
rapidly
growing
hotter
=
when
for
a
moment
i
raised
my
head
to
take
breath
and
throw
-
the
hair
and
water
from
my
eyes
the
steam
was
rising
in
a
-
whirling
white
fog
that
at
first
hid
the
martians
-
altogether
the
noise
was
deafening
then
i
saw
them
dimly
-
colossal
figures
of
grey
magnified
by
the
mist
they
had
-
passed
by
me
and
two
were
stooping
over
the
frothing
-
tumultuous
ruins
of
their
comrade
=
the
third
and
fourth
stood
beside
him
in
the
water
one
-
perhaps
two
hundred
yards
from
me
the
other
towards
-
laleham
the
generators
of
the
heat~rays
waved
high
and
the
-
hissing
beams
smote
down
this
way
and
that
=
the
air
was
full
of
sound
a
deafening
and
confusing
-
conflict
of
noises
-
the
clangorous
din
of
the
martians
the
-
crash
of
falling
houses
the
thud
of
trees
fences
sheds
-
flashing
into
flame
and
the
crackling
and
roaring
of
fire
-
dense
black
smoke
was
leaping
up
to
mingle
with
the
steam
-
from
the
river
and
as
the
heat~ray
went
to
and
fro
over
-
weybridge
its
impact
was
marked
by
flashes
of
incandescent
-
white
that
gave
place
at
once
to
a
smoky
dance
of
lurid
-
flames
the
nearer
houses
still
stood
intact
awaiting
their
-
fate
shadowy
faint
and
pallid
in
the
steam
with
the
fire
-
behind
them
going
to
and
fro
=
for
a
moment
perhaps
i
stood
there
breast~high
in
the
-
almost
boiling
water
dumbfounded
at
my
position
hopeless
-
of
escape
through
the
reek
i
could
see
the
people
who
had
-
been
with
me
in
the
river
scrambling
out
of
the
water
-
through
the
reeds
like
little
frogs
hurrying
through
grass
-
from
the
advance
of
a
man
or
running
to
and
fro
in
utter
-
dismay
on
the
towing
path
=
then
suddenly
the
white
flashes
of
the
heat~ray
came
leaping
-
towards
me
the
houses
caved
in
as
they
dissolved
at
its
-
touch
and
darted
out
flames
the
trees
changed
to
fire
with
-
a
roar
the
ray
flickered
up
and
down
the
towing
path
-
licking
off
the
people
who
ran
this
way
and
that
and
came
-
down
to
the
water's
edge
not
fifty
yards
from
where
i
stood
-
it
swept
across
the
river
to
shepperton
and
the
water
in
-
its
track
rose
in
a
boiling
weal
crested
with
steam
i
-
turned
shoreward
=
in
another
moment
the
huge
wave
well~nigh
at
the
-
boiling~point
had
rushed
upon
me
i
screamed
aloud
and
-
scalded
half
blinded
agonised
i
staggered
through
the
-
leaping
hissing
water
towards
the
shore
had
my
foot
-
stumbled
it
would
have
been
the
end
i
fell
helplessly
in
-
full
sight
of
the
martians
upon
the
broad
bare
gravelly
-
spit
that
runs
down
to
mark
the
angle
of
the
wey
and
thames
-
i
expected
nothing
but
death
=
i
have
a
dim
memory
of
the
foot
of
a
martian
coming
down
-
within
a
score
of
yards
of
my
head
driving
straight
into
-
the
loose
gravel
whirling
it
this
way
and
that
and
lifting
-
again
of
a
long
suspense
and
then
of
the
four
carrying
the
-
debris
of
their
comrade
between
them
now
clear
and
then
-
presently
faint
through
a
veil
of
smoke
receding
-
interminably
as
it
seemed
to
me
across
a
vast
space
of
-
river
and
meadow
and
then
very
slowly
i
realised
that
by
-
a
miracle
i
had
escaped
=
after
getting
this
sudden
lesson
in
the
power
of
terrestrial
-
weapons
the
martians
retreated
to
their
original
position
-
upon
horsell
common
and
in
their
haste
and
encumbered
with
-
the
debris
of
their
smashed
companion
they
no
doubt
-
overlooked
many
such
a
stray
and
negligible
victim
as
-
myself
had
they
left
their
comrade
and
pushed
on
forthwith
-
there
was
nothing
at
that
time
between
them
and
london
but
-
batteries
of
twelve~pounder
guns
and
they
would
certainly
-
have
reached
the
capital
in
advance
of
the
tidings
of
their
-
approach
as
sudden
dreadful
and
destructive
their
advent
-
would
have
been
as
the
earthquake
that
destroyed
lisbon
a
-
century
ago
=
but
they
were
in
no
hurry
cylinder
followed
cylinder
on
its
-
interplanetary
flight
every
twenty~four
hours
brought
them
-
reinforcement
and
meanwhile
the
military
and
naval
-
authorities
now
fully
alive
to
the
tremendous
power
of
-
their
antagonists
worked
with
furious
energy
every
minute
-
a
fresh
gun
came
into
position
until
before
twilight
every
-
copse
every
row
of
suburban
villas
on
the
hilly
slopes
-
about
kingston
and
richmond
masked
an
expectant
black
-
muzzle
and
through
the
charred
and
desolated
area
-
perhaps
-
twenty
square
miles
altogether
-
that
encircled
the
martian
-
encampment
on
horsell
common
through
charred
and
ruined
-
villages
among
the
green
trees
through
the
blackened
and
-
smoking
arcades
that
had
been
but
a
day
ago
pine
spinneys
-
crawled
the
devoted
scouts
with
the
heliographs
that
were
-
presently
to
warn
the
gunners
of
the
martian
approach
but
-
the
martians
now
understood
our
command
of
artillery
and
the
-
danger
of
human
proximity
and
not
a
man
ventured
within
a
-
mile
of
either
cylinder
save
at
the
price
of
his
life
=
it
would
seem
that
these
giants
spent
the
earlier
part
of
-
the
afternoon
in
going
to
and
fro
transferring
everything
-
from
the
second
and
third
cylinders
-
the
second
in
-
addlestone
golf
links
and
the
third
at
pyrford
-
to
their
-
original
pit
on
horsell
common
over
that
above
the
-
blackened
heather
and
ruined
buildings
that
stretched
far
-
and
wide
stood
one
as
sentinel
while
the
rest
abandoned
-
their
vast
fighting~machines
and
descended
into
the
pit
-
they
were
hard
at
work
there
far
into
the
night
and
the
-
towering
pillar
of
dense
green
smoke
that
rose
therefrom
-
could
be
seen
from
the
hills
about
merrow
and
even
it
is
-
said
from
banstead
and
epsom
downs
=
and
while
the
martians
behind
me
were
thus
preparing
for
-
their
next
sally
and
in
front
of
me
humanity
gathered
for
-
the
battle
i
made
my
way
with
infinite
pains
and
labour
-
from
the
fire
and
smoke
of
burning
weybridge
towards
london
=
i
saw
an
abandoned
boat
very
small
and
remote
drifting
-
down~stream
and
throwing
off
the
most
of
my
sodden
clothes
-
i
went
after
it
gained
it
and
so
escaped
out
of
that
-
destruction
there
were
no
oars
in
the
boat
but
i
contrived
-
to
paddle
as
well
as
my
parboiled
hands
would
allow
down
-
the
river
towards
halliford
and
walton
going
very
tediously
-
and
continually
looking
behind
me
as
you
may
well
-
understand
i
followed
the
river
because
i
considered
that
-
the
water
gave
me
my
best
chance
of
escape
should
these
-
giants
return
=
the
hot
water
from
the
martian's
overthrow
drifted
-
downstream
with
me
so
that
for
the
best
part
of
a
mile
i
-
could
see
little
of
either
bank
once
however
i
made
out
a
-
string
of
black
figures
hurrying
across
the
meadows
from
the
-
direction
of
weybridge
halliford
it
seemed
was
deserted
-
and
several
of
the
houses
facing
the
river
were
on
fire
it
-
was
strange
to
see
the
place
quite
tranquil
quite
desolate
-
under
the
hot
blue
sky
with
the
smoke
and
little
threads
of
-
flame
going
straight
up
into
the
heat
of
the
afternoon
-
never
before
had
i
seen
houses
burning
without
the
-
accompaniment
of
an
obstructive
crowd
a
little
farther
on
-
the
dry
reeds
up
the
bank
were
smoking
and
glowing
and
a
-
line
of
fire
inland
was
marching
steadily
across
a
late
-
field
of
hay
=
for
a
long
time
i
drifted
so
painful
and
weary
was
i
after
-
the
violence
i
had
been
through
and
so
intense
the
heat
-
upon
the
water
then
my
fears
got
the
better
of
me
again
-
and
i
resumed
my
paddling
the
sun
scorched
my
bare
back
at
-
last
as
the
bridge
at
walton
was
coming
into
sight
round
-
the
bend
my
fever
and
faintness
overcame
my
fears
and
i
-
landed
on
the
middlesex
bank
and
lay
down
deadly
sick
amid
-
the
long
grass
i
suppose
the
time
was
then
about
four
or
-
five
o'clock
i
got
up
presently
walked
perhaps
half
a
mile
-
without
meeting
a
soul
and
then
lay
down
again
in
the
-
shadow
of
a
hedge
i
seem
to
remember
talking
wanderingly
-
to
myself
during
that
last
spurt
i
was
also
very
thirsty
-
and
bitterly
regretful
i
had
drunk
no
more
water
it
is
a
-
curious
thing
that
i
felt
angry
with
my
wife
i
cannot
-
account
for
it
but
my
impotent
desire
to
reach
leatherhead
-
worried
me
excessively
=
i
do
not
clearly
remember
the
arrival
of
the
curate
so
that
-
probably
i
dozed
i
became
aware
of
him
as
a
seated
figure
-
in
soot~smudged
shirt
sleeves
and
with
his
upturned
-
clean~shaven
face
staring
at
a
faint
flickering
that
danced
-
over
the
sky
the
sky
was
what
is
called
a
mackerel
-
sky
-
rows
and
rows
of
faint
down~plumes
of
cloud
just
-
tinted
with
the
midsummer
sunset
=
i
sat
up
and
at
the
rustle
of
my
motion
he
looked
at
me
-
quickly
=
have
you
any
water
i
asked
abruptly
=
he
shook
his
head
=
you
have
been
asking
for
water
for
the
last
hour
he
said
=
for
a
moment
we
were
silent
taking
stock
of
each
other
i
-
dare
say
he
found
me
a
strange
enough
figure
naked
save
-
for
my
water~soaked
trousers
and
socks
scalded
and
my
face
-
and
shoulders
blackened
by
the
smoke
his
face
was
a
fair
-
weakness
his
chin
retreated
and
his
hair
lay
in
crisp
-
almost
flaxen
curls
on
his
low
forehead
his
eyes
were
-
rather
large
pale
blue
and
blankly
staring
he
spoke
-
abruptly
looking
vacantly
away
from
me
=
what
does
it
mean
he
said
what
do
these
things
mean
=
i
stared
at
him
and
made
no
answer
=
he
extended
a
thin
white
hand
and
spoke
in
almost
a
-
complaining
tone
=
why
are
these
things
permitted
what
sins
have
we
done
the
-
morning
service
was
over
i
was
walking
through
the
roads
to
-
clear
my
brain
for
the
afternoon
and
then
-
fire
-
earthquake
death
as
if
it
were
sodom
and
gomorrah
all
our
-
work
undone
all
the
work
-
what
are
these
martians
=
what
are
we
i
answered
clearing
my
throat
=
he
gripped
his
knees
and
turned
to
look
at
me
again
for
-
half
a
minute
perhaps
he
stared
silently
=
i
was
walking
through
the
roads
to
clear
my
brain
he
-
said
and
suddenly
-
fire
earthquake
death
=
he
relapsed
into
silence
with
his
chin
now
sunken
almost
to
-
his
knees
=
presently
he
began
waving
his
hand
=
all
the
work
-
all
the
sunday
schools
-
what
have
we
-
done
-
what
has
weybridge
done
everything
gone
-
everything
-
destroyed
the
church
we
rebuilt
it
only
three
years
ago
-
gone
swept
out
of
existence
why
=
another
pause
and
he
broke
out
again
like
one
demented
=
the
smoke
of
her
burning
goeth
up
for
ever
and
ever
he
-
shouted
=
his
eyes
flamed
and
he
pointed
a
lean
finger
in
the
-
direction
of
weybridge
=
by
this
time
i
was
beginning
to
take
his
measure
the
-
tremendous
tragedy
in
which
he
had
been
involved
-
it
was
-
evident
he
was
a
fugitive
from
weybridge
-
had
driven
him
to
-
the
very
verge
of
his
reason
=
are
we
far
from
sunbury
i
said
in
a
matter~of~fact
tone
=
what
are
we
to
do
he
asked
are
these
creatures
-
everywhere
has
the
earth
been
given
over
to
them
=
are
we
far
from
sunbury
=
only
this
morning
i
officiated
at
early
celebration
=
things
have
changed
i
said
quietly
you
must
keep
your
-
head
there
is
still
hope
=
hope
=
yes
plentiful
hope
-
for
all
this
destruction
=
i
began
to
explain
my
view
of
our
position
he
listened
at
-
first
but
as
i
went
on
the
interest
dawning
in
his
eyes
-
gave
place
to
their
former
stare
and
his
regard
wandered
-
from
me
=
this
must
be
the
beginning
of
the
end
he
said
-
interrupting
me
the
end
the
great
and
terrible
day
of
the
-
lord
when
men
shall
call
upon
the
mountains
and
the
rocks
-
to
fall
upon
them
and
hide
them
-
hide
them
from
the
face
of
-
him
that
sitteth
upon
the
throne
=
i
began
to
understand
the
position
i
ceased
my
laboured
-
reasoning
struggled
to
my
feet
and
standing
over
him
-
laid
my
hand
on
his
shoulder
=
be
a
man
said
i
you
are
scared
out
of
your
wits
what
-
good
is
religion
if
it
collapses
under
calamity
think
of
-
what
earthquakes
and
floods
wars
and
volcanoes
have
done
-
before
to
men
did
you
think
god
had
exempted
weybridge
he
-
is
not
an
insurance
agent
=
for
a
time
he
sat
in
blank
silence
=
but
how
can
we
escape
he
asked
suddenly
they
are
-
invulnerable
they
are
pitiless
=
neither
the
one
nor
perhaps
the
other
i
answered
and
-
the
mightier
they
are
the
more
sane
and
wary
should
we
be
-
one
of
them
was
killed
yonder
not
three
hours
ago
=
killed
he
said
staring
about
him
how
can
god's
-
ministers
be
killed
=
i
saw
it
happen
i
proceeded
to
tell
him
we
have
chanced
-
to
come
in
for
the
thick
of
it
said
i
and
that
is
all
=
what
is
that
flicker
in
the
sky
he
asked
abruptly
=
i
told
him
it
was
the
heliograph
signalling
-
that
it
was
the
-
sign
of
human
help
and
effort
in
the
sky
=
we
are
in
the
midst
of
it
i
said
quiet
as
it
is
that
-
flicker
in
the
sky
tells
of
the
gathering
storm
yonder
i
-
take
it
are
the
martians
and
londonward
where
those
hills
-
rise
about
richmond
and
kingston
and
the
trees
give
cover
-
earthworks
are
being
thrown
up
and
guns
are
being
placed
-
presently
the
martians
will
be
coming
this
way
again
=
and
even
as
i
spoke
he
sprang
to
his
feet
and
stopped
me
by
-
a
gesture
=
listen
he
said
=
from
beyond
the
low
hills
across
the
water
came
the
dull
-
resonance
of
distant
guns
and
a
remote
weird
crying
then
-
everything
was
still
a
cockchafer
came
droning
over
the
-
hedge
and
past
us
high
in
the
west
the
crescent
moon
hung
-
faint
and
pale
above
the
smoke
of
weybridge
and
shepperton
-
and
the
hot
still
splendour
of
the
sunset
=
we
had
better
follow
this
path
i
said
northward
=
my
younger
brother
was
in
london
when
the
martians
fell
at
-
woking
he
was
a
medical
student
working
for
an
imminent
-
examination
and
he
heard
nothing
of
the
arrival
until
-
saturday
morning
the
morning
papers
on
saturday
contained
-
in
addition
to
lengthy
special
articles
on
the
planet
mars
-
on
life
in
the
planets
and
so
forth
a
brief
and
vaguely
-
worded
telegram
all
the
more
striking
for
its
brevity
=
the
martians
alarmed
by
the
approach
of
a
crowd
had
killed
-
a
number
of
people
with
a
quick~firing
gun
so
the
story
-
ran
the
telegram
concluded
with
the
words
formidable
as
-
they
seem
to
be
the
martians
have
not
moved
from
the
pit
-
into
which
they
have
fallen
and
indeed
seem
incapable
of
-
doing
so
probably
this
is
due
to
the
relative
strength
of
-
the
earth's
gravitational
energy
on
that
last
text
their
-
leader~writer
expanded
very
comfortingly
=
of
course
all
the
students
in
the
crammer's
biology
class
-
to
which
my
brother
went
that
day
were
intensely
-
interested
but
there
were
no
signs
of
any
unusual
-
excitement
in
the
streets
the
afternoon
papers
puffed
-
scraps
of
news
under
big
headlines
they
had
nothing
to
tell
-
beyond
the
movements
of
troops
about
the
common
and
the
-
burning
of
the
pine
woods
between
woking
and
weybridge
-
until
eight
then
the
st
james's
gazette
in
an
-
extra~special
edition
announced
the
bare
fact
of
the
-
interruption
of
telegraphic
communication
this
was
thought
-
to
be
due
to
the
falling
of
burning
pine
trees
across
the
-
line
nothing
more
of
the
fighting
was
known
that
night
the
-
night
of
my
drive
to
leatherhead
and
back
=
my
brother
felt
no
anxiety
about
us
as
he
knew
from
the
-
description
in
the
papers
that
the
cylinder
was
a
good
two
-
miles
from
my
house
he
made
up
his
mind
to
run
down
that
-
night
to
me
in
order
as
he
says
to
see
the
things
before
-
they
were
killed
he
despatched
a
telegram
which
never
-
reached
me
about
four
o'clock
and
spent
the
evening
at
a
-
music
hall
=
in
london
also
on
saturday
night
there
was
a
thunderstorm
-
and
my
brother
reached
waterloo
in
a
cab
on
the
platform
-
from
which
the
midnight
train
usually
starts
he
learned
-
after
some
waiting
that
an
accident
prevented
trains
from
-
reaching
woking
that
night
the
nature
of
the
accident
he
-
could
not
ascertain
indeed
the
railway
authorities
did
not
-
clearly
know
at
that
time
there
was
very
little
excitement
-
in
the
station
as
the
officials
failing
to
realise
that
-
anything
further
than
a
breakdown
between
byfleet
and
woking
-
junction
had
occurred
were
running
the
theatre
trains
which
-
usually
passed
through
woking
round
by
virginia
water
or
-
guildford
they
were
busy
making
the
necessary
arrangements
-
to
alter
the
route
of
the
southampton
and
portsmouth
sunday
-
league
excursions
a
nocturnal
newspaper
reporter
mistaking
-
my
brother
for
the
traffic
manager
to
whom
he
bears
a
-
slight
resemblance
waylaid
and
tried
to
interview
him
few
-
people
excepting
the
railway
officials
connected
the
-
breakdown
with
the
martians
=
i
have
read
in
another
account
of
these
events
that
on
-
sunday
morning
all
london
was
electrified
by
the
news
from
-
woking
as
a
matter
of
fact
there
was
nothing
to
justify
-
that
very
extravagant
phrase
plenty
of
londoners
did
not
-
hear
of
the
martians
until
the
panic
of
monday
morning
-
those
who
did
took
some
time
to
realise
all
that
the
hastily
-
worded
telegrams
in
the
sunday
papers
conveyed
the
majority
-
of
people
in
london
do
not
read
sunday
papers
=
the
habit
of
personal
security
moreover
is
so
deeply
fixed
-
in
the
londoner's
mind
and
startling
intelligence
so
much
a
-
matter
of
course
in
the
papers
that
they
could
read
without
-
any
personal
tremors
about
seven
o'clock
last
night
the
-
martians
came
out
of
the
cylinder
and
moving
about
under
-
an
armour
of
metallic
shields
have
completely
wrecked
-
woking
station
with
the
adjacent
houses
and
massacred
an
-
entire
battalion
of
the
cardigan
regiment
no
details
are
-
known
maxims
have
been
absolutely
useless
against
their
-
armour
the
field
guns
have
been
disabled
by
them
flying
-
hussars
have
been
galloping
into
chertsey
the
martians
-
appear
to
be
moving
slowly
towards
chertsey
or
windsor
-
great
anxiety
prevails
in
west
surrey
and
earthworks
are
-
being
thrown
up
to
check
the
advance
londonward
that
was
-
how
the
sunday
sun
put
it
and
a
clever
and
remarkably
-
prompt
handbook
article
in
the
referee
compared
the
affair
-
to
a
menagerie
suddenly
let
loose
in
a
village
=
no
one
in
london
knew
positively
of
the
nature
of
the
-
armoured
martians
and
there
was
still
a
fixed
idea
that
-
these
monsters
must
be
sluggish
crawling
creeping
-
painfully
-
such
expressions
occurred
in
almost
all
the
-
earlier
reports
none
of
the
telegrams
could
have
been
-
written
by
an
eyewitness
of
their
advance
the
sunday
papers
-
printed
separate
editions
as
further
news
came
to
hand
some
-
even
in
default
of
it
but
there
was
practically
nothing
-
more
to
tell
people
until
late
in
the
afternoon
when
the
-
authorities
gave
the
press
agencies
the
news
in
their
-
possession
it
was
stated
that
the
people
of
walton
and
-
weybridge
and
all
the
district
were
pouring
along
the
roads
-
londonward
and
that
was
all
=
my
brother
went
to
church
at
the
foundling
hospital
in
the
-
morning
still
in
ignorance
of
what
had
happened
on
the
-
previous
night
there
he
heard
allusions
made
to
the
-
invasion
and
a
special
prayer
for
peace
coming
out
he
-
bought
a
referee
he
became
alarmed
at
the
news
in
this
and
-
went
again
to
waterloo
station
to
find
out
if
communication
-
were
restored
the
omnibuses
carriages
cyclists
and
-
innumerable
people
walking
in
their
best
clothes
seemed
-
scarcely
affected
by
the
strange
intelligence
that
the
news
-
venders
were
disseminating
people
were
interested
or
if
-
alarmed
alarmed
only
on
account
of
the
local
residents
at
-
the
station
he
heard
for
the
first
time
that
the
windsor
and
-
chertsey
lines
were
now
interrupted
the
porters
told
him
-
that
several
remarkable
telegrams
had
been
received
in
the
-
morning
from
byfleet
and
chertsey
stations
but
that
these
-
had
abruptly
ceased
my
brother
could
get
very
little
-
precise
detail
out
of
them
=
there's
fighting
going
on
about
weybridge
was
the
extent
-
of
their
information
=
the
train
service
was
now
very
much
disorganised
quite
a
-
number
of
people
who
had
been
expecting
friends
from
places
-
on
the
south~western
network
were
standing
about
the
-
station
one
grey~headed
old
gentleman
came
and
abused
the
-
south~western
company
bitterly
to
my
brother
it
wants
-
showing
up
he
said
=
one
or
two
trains
came
in
from
richmond
putney
and
-
kingston
containing
people
who
had
gone
out
for
a
day's
-
boating
and
found
the
locks
closed
and
a
feeling
of
panic
in
-
the
air
a
man
in
a
blue
and
white
blazer
addressed
my
-
brother
full
of
strange
tidings
=
there's
hosts
of
people
driving
into
kingston
in
traps
and
-
carts
and
things
with
boxes
of
valuables
and
all
that
he
-
said
they
come
from
molesey
and
weybridge
and
walton
and
-
they
say
there's
been
guns
heard
at
chertsey
heavy
firing
-
and
that
mounted
soldiers
have
told
them
to
get
off
at
once
-
because
the
martians
are
coming
we
heard
guns
firing
at
-
hampton
court
station
but
we
thought
it
was
thunder
what
-
the
dickens
does
it
all
mean
the
martians
can't
get
out
of
-
their
pit
can
they
=
my
brother
could
not
tell
him
=
afterwards
he
found
that
the
vague
feeling
of
alarm
had
-
spread
to
the
clients
of
the
underground
railway
and
that
-
the
sunday
excursionists
began
to
return
from
all
over
the
-
south~western
lung
-
barnes
wimbledon
richmond
park
kew
-
and
so
forth
-
at
unnaturally
early
hours
but
not
a
soul
had
-
anything
more
than
vague
hearsay
to
tell
of
everyone
-
connected
with
the
terminus
seemed
ill~tempered
=
about
five
o'clock
the
gathering
crowd
in
the
station
was
-
immensely
excited
by
the
opening
of
the
line
of
-
communication
which
is
almost
invariably
closed
between
-
the
south~eastern
and
the
south~western
stations
and
the
-
passage
of
carriage
trucks
bearing
huge
guns
and
carriages
-
crammed
with
soldiers
these
were
the
guns
that
were
brought
-
up
from
woolwich
and
chatham
to
cover
kingston
there
was
an
-
exchange
of
pleasantries
you'll
get
eaten
we're
the
-
beast~tamers
and
so
forth
a
little
while
after
that
a
-
squad
of
police
came
into
the
station
and
began
to
clear
the
-
public
off
the
platforms
and
my
brother
went
out
into
the
-
street
again
=
the
church
bells
were
ringing
for
evensong
and
a
squad
of
-
salvation
army
lassies
came
singing
down
waterloo
road
on
-
the
bridge
a
number
of
loafers
were
watching
a
curious
brown
-
scum
that
came
drifting
down
the
stream
in
patches
the
sun
-
was
just
setting
and
the
clock
tower
and
the
houses
of
-
parliament
rose
against
one
of
the
most
peaceful
skies
it
is
-
possible
to
imagine
a
sky
of
gold
barred
with
long
-
transverse
stripes
of
reddish~purple
cloud
there
was
talk
-
of
a
floating
body
one
of
the
men
there
a
reservist
he
-
said
he
was
told
my
brother
he
had
seen
the
heliograph
-
flickering
in
the
west
=
in
wellington
street
my
brother
met
a
couple
of
sturdy
-
roughs
who
had
just
been
rushed
out
of
fleet
street
with
-
still~wet
newspapers
and
staring
placards
dreadful
-
catastrophe
they
bawled
one
to
the
other
down
wellington
-
street
fight
ing
at
weybridge
full
description
repulse
-
of
the
martians
london
in
danger
he
had
to
give
-
threepence
for
a
copy
of
that
paper
=
then
it
was
and
then
only
that
he
realised
something
of
-
the
full
power
and
terror
of
these
monsters
he
learned
that
-
they
were
not
merely
a
handful
of
small
sluggish
creatures
-
but
that
they
were
minds
swaying
vast
mechanical
bodies
and
-
that
they
could
move
swiftly
and
smite
with
such
power
that
-
even
the
mightiest
guns
could
not
stand
against
them
=
they
were
described
as
vast
spiderlike
machines
nearly
a
-
hundred
feet
high
capable
of
the
speed
of
an
express
train
-
and
able
to
shoot
out
a
beam
of
intense
heat
masked
-
batteries
chiefly
of
field
guns
had
been
planted
in
the
-
country
about
horsell
common
and
especially
between
the
-
woking
district
and
london
five
of
the
machines
had
been
-
seen
moving
towards
the
thames
and
one
by
a
happy
chance
-
had
been
destroyed
in
the
other
cases
the
shells
had
-
missed
and
the
batteries
had
been
at
once
annihilated
by
-
the
heat~rays
heavy
losses
of
soldiers
were
mentioned
but
-
the
tone
of
the
despatch
was
optimistic
=
the
martians
had
been
repulsed
they
were
not
invulnerable
-
they
had
retreated
to
their
triangle
of
cylinders
again
in
-
the
circle
about
woking
signallers
with
heliographs
were
-
pushing
forward
upon
them
from
all
sides
guns
were
in
rapid
-
transit
from
windsor
portsmouth
aldershot
woolwich
-
even
-
from
the
north
among
others
long
wire~guns
of
ninety~five
-
tons
from
woolwich
altogether
one
hundred
and
sixteen
were
-
in
position
or
being
hastily
placed
chiefly
covering
-
london
never
before
in
england
had
there
been
such
a
vast
-
or
rapid
concentration
of
military
material
=
any
further
cylinders
that
fell
it
was
hoped
could
be
-
destroyed
at
once
by
high
explosives
which
were
being
-
rapidly
manufactured
and
distributed
no
doubt
ran
the
-
report
the
situation
was
of
the
strangest
and
gravest
-
description
but
the
public
was
exhorted
to
avoid
and
-
discourage
panic
no
doubt
the
martians
were
strange
and
-
terrible
in
the
extreme
but
at
the
outside
there
could
not
-
be
more
than
twenty
of
them
against
our
millions
=
the
authorities
had
reason
to
suppose
from
the
size
of
the
-
cylinders
that
at
the
outside
there
could
not
be
more
than
-
five
in
each
cylinder
-
fifteen
altogether
and
one
at
least
-
was
disposed
of
-
perhaps
more
the
public
would
be
fairly
-
warned
of
the
approach
of
danger
and
elaborate
measures
-
were
being
taken
for
the
protection
of
the
people
in
the
-
threatened
southwestern
suburbs
and
so
with
reiterated
-
assurances
of
the
safety
of
london
and
the
ability
of
the
-
authorities
to
cope
with
the
difficulty
this
-
quasi~proclamation
closed
=
this
was
printed
in
enormous
type
on
paper
so
fresh
that
it
-
was
still
wet
and
there
had
been
no
time
to
add
a
word
of
-
comment
it
was
curious
my
brother
said
to
see
how
-
ruthlessly
the
usual
contents
of
the
paper
had
been
hacked
-
and
taken
out
to
give
this
place
=
all
down
wellington
street
people
could
be
seen
fluttering
-
out
the
pink
sheets
and
reading
and
the
strand
was
suddenly
-
noisy
with
the
voices
of
an
army
of
hawkers
following
these
-
pioneers
men
came
scrambling
off
buses
to
secure
copies
-
certainly
this
news
excited
people
intensely
whatever
their
-
previous
apathy
the
shutters
of
a
map
shop
in
the
strand
-
were
being
taken
down
my
brother
said
and
a
man
in
his
-
sunday
raiment
lemon~yellow
gloves
even
was
visible
inside
-
the
window
hastily
fastening
maps
of
surrey
to
the
glass
=
going
on
along
the
strand
to
trafalgar
square
the
paper
in
-
his
hand
my
brother
saw
some
of
the
fugitives
from
west
-
surrey
there
was
a
man
with
his
wife
and
two
boys
and
some
-
articles
of
furniture
in
a
cart
such
as
greengrocers
use
he
-
was
driving
from
the
direction
of
westminster
bridge
and
-
close
behind
him
came
a
hay
waggon
with
five
or
six
-
respectable~looking
people
in
it
and
some
boxes
and
-
bundles
the
faces
of
these
people
were
haggard
and
their
-
entire
appearance
contrasted
conspicuously
with
the
-
sabbath~best
appearance
of
the
people
on
the
omnibuses
-
people
in
fashionable
clothing
peeped
at
them
out
of
cabs
-
they
stopped
at
the
square
as
if
undecided
which
way
to
-
take
and
finally
turned
eastward
along
the
strand
some
way
-
behind
these
came
a
man
in
workday
clothes
riding
one
of
-
those
old~fashioned
tricycles
with
a
small
front
wheel
he
-
was
dirty
and
white
in
the
face
=
my
brother
turned
down
towards
victoria
and
met
a
number
of
-
such
people
he
had
a
vague
idea
that
he
might
see
something
-
of
me
he
noticed
an
unusual
number
of
police
regulating
the
-
traffic
some
of
the
refugees
were
exchanging
news
with
the
-
people
on
the
omnibuses
one
was
professing
to
have
seen
the
-
martians
boilers
on
stilts
i
tell
you
striding
along
-
like
men
most
of
them
were
excited
and
animated
by
their
-
strange
experience
=
beyond
victoria
the
public~houses
were
doing
a
lively
trade
-
with
these
arrivals
at
all
the
street
corners
groups
of
-
people
were
reading
papers
talking
excitedly
or
staring
at
-
these
unusual
sunday
visitors
they
seemed
to
increase
as
-
night
drew
on
until
at
last
the
roads
my
brother
said
-
were
like
epsom
high
street
on
a
derby
day
my
brother
-
addressed
several
of
these
fugitives
and
got
unsatisfactory
-
answers
from
most
=
none
of
them
could
tell
him
any
news
of
woking
except
one
-
man
who
assured
him
that
woking
had
been
entirely
destroyed
-
on
the
previous
night
=
i
come
from
byfleet
he
said
man
on
a
bicycle
came
-
through
the
place
in
the
early
morning
and
ran
from
door
to
-
door
warning
us
to
come
away
then
came
soldiers
we
went
-
out
to
look
and
there
were
clouds
of
smoke
to
the
-
south
-
nothing
but
smoke
and
not
a
soul
coming
that
way
-
then
we
heard
the
guns
at
chertsey
and
folks
coming
from
-
weybridge
so
i've
locked
up
my
house
and
come
on
=
at
the
time
there
was
a
strong
feeling
in
the
streets
that
-
the
authorities
were
to
blame
for
their
incapacity
to
-
dispose
of
the
invaders
without
all
this
inconvenience
=
about
eight
o'clock
a
noise
of
heavy
firing
was
distinctly
-
audible
all
over
the
south
of
london
my
brother
could
not
-
hear
it
for
the
traffic
in
the
main
thoroughfares
but
by
-
striking
through
the
quiet
back
streets
to
the
river
he
was
-
able
to
distinguish
it
quite
plainly
=
he
walked
from
westminster
to
his
apartments
near
regent's
-
park
about
two
he
was
now
very
anxious
on
my
account
and
-
disturbed
at
the
evident
magnitude
of
the
trouble
his
mind
-
was
inclined
to
run
even
as
mine
had
run
on
saturday
on
-
military
details
he
thought
of
all
those
silent
expectant
-
guns
of
the
suddenly
nomadic
countryside
he
tried
to
-
imagine
boilers
on
stilts
a
hundred
feet
high
=
there
were
one
or
two
cartloads
of
refugees
passing
along
-
oxford
street
and
several
in
the
marylebone
road
but
so
-
slowly
was
the
news
spreading
that
regent
street
and
-
portland
place
were
full
of
their
usual
sunday~night
-
promenaders
albeit
they
talked
in
groups
and
along
the
-
edge
of
regent's
park
there
were
as
many
silent
couples
-
walking
out
together
under
the
scattered
gas
lamps
as
ever
-
there
had
been
the
night
was
warm
and
still
and
a
little
-
oppressive
the
sound
of
guns
continued
intermittently
and
-
after
midnight
there
seemed
to
be
sheet
lightning
in
the
-
south
=
he
read
and
re~read
the
paper
fearing
the
worst
had
-
happened
to
me
he
was
restless
and
after
supper
prowled
-
out
again
aimlessly
he
returned
and
tried
in
vain
to
divert
-
his
attention
to
his
examination
notes
he
went
to
bed
a
-
little
after
midnight
and
was
awakened
from
lurid
dreams
in
-
the
small
hours
of
monday
by
the
sound
of
door
knockers
-
feet
running
in
the
street
distant
drumming
and
a
clamour
-
of
bells
red
reflections
danced
on
the
ceiling
for
a
-
moment
he
lay
astonished
wondering
whether
day
had
come
or
-
the
world
gone
mad
then
he
jumped
out
of
bed
and
ran
to
the
-
window
=
his
room
was
an
attic
and
as
he
thrust
his
head
out
up
and
-
down
the
street
there
were
a
dozen
echoes
to
the
noise
of
-
his
window
sash
and
heads
in
every
kind
of
night
disarray
-
appeared
enquiries
were
being
shouted
they
are
coming
-
bawled
a
policeman
hammering
at
the
door
the
martians
are
-
coming
and
hurried
to
the
next
door
=
the
sound
of
drumming
and
trumpeting
came
from
the
albany
-
street
barracks
and
every
church
within
earshot
was
hard
at
-
work
killing
sleep
with
a
vehement
disorderly
tocsin
there
-
was
a
noise
of
doors
opening
and
window
after
window
in
the
-
houses
opposite
flashed
from
darkness
into
yellow
-
illumination
=
up
the
street
came
galloping
a
closed
carriage
bursting
-
abruptly
into
noise
at
the
corner
rising
to
a
clattering
-
climax
under
the
window
and
dying
away
slowly
in
the
-
distance
close
on
the
rear
of
this
came
a
couple
of
cabs
-
the
forerunners
of
a
long
procession
of
flying
vehicles
-
going
for
the
most
part
to
chalk
farm
station
where
the
-
north~western
special
trains
were
loading
up
instead
of
-
coming
down
the
gradient
into
euston
=
for
a
long
time
my
brother
stared
out
of
the
window
in
blank
-
astonishment
watching
the
policemen
hammering
at
door
after
-
door
and
delivering
their
incomprehensible
message
then
-
the
door
behind
him
opened
and
the
man
who
lodged
across
-
the
landing
came
in
dressed
only
in
shirt
trousers
and
-
slippers
his
braces
loose
about
his
waist
his
hair
-
disordered
from
his
pillow
=
what
the
devil
is
it
he
asked
a
fire
what
a
devil
of
a
-
row
=
they
both
craned
their
heads
out
of
the
window
straining
to
-
hear
what
the
policemen
were
shouting
people
were
coming
-
out
of
the
side
streets
and
standing
in
groups
at
the
-
corners
talking
=
what
the
devil
is
it
all
about
said
my
brother's
fellow
-
lodger
=
my
brother
answered
him
vaguely
and
began
to
dress
running
-
with
each
garment
to
the
window
in
order
to
miss
nothing
of
-
the
growing
excitement
and
presently
men
selling
-
unnaturally
early
newspapers
came
bawling
into
the
street
=
london
in
danger
of
suffocation
the
kingston
and
richmond
-
defences
forced
fearful
massacres
in
the
thames
valley
=
and
all
about
him
-
in
the
rooms
below
in
the
houses
on
each
-
side
and
across
the
road
and
behind
in
the
park
terraces
-
and
in
the
hundred
other
streets
of
that
part
of
marylebone
-
and
the
westbourne
park
district
and
st
pancras
and
-
westward
and
northward
in
kilburn
and
st
john's
wood
and
-
hampstead
and
eastward
in
shoreditch
and
highbury
and
-
haggerston
and
hoxton
and
indeed
through
all
the
vastness
-
of
london
from
ealing
to
east
ham
-
people
were
rubbing
their
-
eyes
and
opening
windows
to
stare
out
and
ask
aimless
-
questions
dressing
hastily
as
the
first
breath
of
the
-
coming
storm
of
fear
blew
through
the
streets
it
was
the
-
dawn
of
the
great
panic
london
which
had
gone
to
bed
on
-
sunday
night
oblivious
and
inert
was
awakened
in
the
small
-
hours
of
monday
morning
to
a
vivid
sense
of
danger
=
unable
from
his
window
to
learn
what
was
happening
my
-
brother
went
down
and
out
into
the
street
just
as
the
sky
-
between
the
parapets
of
the
houses
grew
pink
with
the
early
-
dawn
the
flying
people
on
foot
and
in
vehicles
grew
more
-
numerous
every
moment
black
smoke
he
heard
people
-
crying
and
again
black
smoke
the
contagion
of
such
a
-
unanimous
fear
was
inevitable
as
my
brother
hesitated
on
-
the
door~step
he
saw
another
news
vender
approaching
and
-
got
a
paper
forthwith
the
man
was
running
away
with
the
-
rest
and
selling
his
papers
for
a
shilling
each
as
he
-
ran
-
a
grotesque
mingling
of
profit
and
panic
=
and
from
this
paper
my
brother
read
that
catastrophic
-
despatch
of
the
commander~in~chief
=
the
martians
are
able
to
discharge
enormous
clouds
of
a
-
black
and
poisonous
vapour
by
means
of
rockets
they
have
-
smothered
our
batteries
destroyed
richmond
kingston
and
-
wimbledon
and
are
advancing
slowly
towards
london
-
destroying
everything
on
the
way
it
is
impossible
to
stop
-
them
there
is
no
safety
from
the
black
smoke
but
in
instant
-
flight
=
that
was
all
but
it
was
enough
the
whole
population
of
the
-
great
six~million
city
was
stirring
slipping
running
-
presently
it
would
be
pouring
en
masse
northward
=
black
smoke
the
voices
cried
fire
=
the
bells
of
the
neighbouring
church
made
a
jangling
tumult
-
a
cart
carelessly
driven
smashed
amid
shrieks
and
curses
-
against
the
water
trough
up
the
street
sickly
yellow
lights
-
went
to
and
fro
in
the
houses
and
some
of
the
passing
cabs
-
flaunted
unextinguished
lamps
and
overhead
the
dawn
was
-
growing
brighter
clear
and
steady
and
calm
=
he
heard
footsteps
running
to
and
fro
in
the
rooms
and
up
-
and
down
stairs
behind
him
his
landlady
came
to
the
door
-
loosely
wrapped
in
dressing
gown
and
shawl
her
husband
-
followed
ejaculating
=
as
my
brother
began
to
realise
the
import
of
all
these
-
things
he
turned
hastily
to
his
own
room
put
all
his
-
available
money
-
some
ten
pounds
altogether
-
into
his
-
pockets
and
went
out
again
into
the
streets
=
it
was
while
the
curate
had
sat
and
talked
so
wildly
to
me
-
under
the
hedge
in
the
flat
meadows
near
halliford
and
-
while
my
brother
was
watching
the
fugitives
stream
over
-
westminster
bridge
that
the
martians
had
resumed
the
-
offensive
so
far
as
one
can
ascertain
from
the
conflicting
-
accounts
that
have
been
put
forth
the
majority
of
them
-
remained
busied
with
preparations
in
the
horsell
pit
until
-
nine
that
night
hurrying
on
some
operation
that
disengaged
-
huge
volumes
of
green
smoke
=
but
three
certainly
came
out
about
eight
o'clock
and
-
advancing
slowly
and
cautiously
made
their
way
through
-
byfleet
and
pyrford
towards
ripley
and
weybridge
and
so
-
came
in
sight
of
the
expectant
batteries
against
the
setting
-
sun
these
martians
did
not
advance
in
a
body
but
in
a
-
line
each
perhaps
a
mile
and
a
half
from
his
nearest
-
fellow
they
communicated
with
one
another
by
means
of
-
sirenlike
howls
running
up
and
down
the
scale
from
one
note
-
to
another
=
it
was
this
howling
and
firing
of
the
guns
at
ripley
and
st
-
george's
hill
that
we
had
heard
at
upper
halliford
the
-
ripley
gunners
unseasoned
artillery
volunteers
who
ought
-
never
to
have
been
placed
in
such
a
position
fired
one
-
wild
premature
ineffectual
volley
and
bolted
on
horse
and
-
foot
through
the
deserted
village
while
the
martian
-
without
using
his
heat~ray
walked
serenely
over
their
guns
-
stepped
gingerly
among
them
passed
in
front
of
them
and
so
-
came
unexpectedly
upon
the
guns
in
painshill
park
which
he
-
destroyed
=
the
st
george's
hill
men
however
were
better
led
or
of
a
-
better
mettle
hidden
by
a
pine
wood
as
they
were
they
seem
-
to
have
been
quite
unsuspected
by
the
martian
nearest
to
-
them
they
laid
their
guns
as
deliberately
as
if
they
had
-
been
on
parade
and
fired
at
about
a
thousand
yards'
range
=
the
shells
flashed
all
round
him
and
he
was
seen
to
advance
-
a
few
paces
stagger
and
go
down
everybody
yelled
-
together
and
the
guns
were
reloaded
in
frantic
haste
the
-
overthrown
martian
set
up
a
prolonged
ululation
and
-
immediately
a
second
glittering
giant
answering
him
-
appeared
over
the
trees
to
the
south
it
would
seem
that
a
-
leg
of
the
tripod
had
been
smashed
by
one
of
the
shells
the
-
whole
of
the
second
volley
flew
wide
of
the
martian
on
the
-
ground
and
simultaneously
both
his
companions
brought
-
their
heat~rays
to
bear
on
the
battery
the
ammunition
blew
-
up
the
pine
trees
all
about
the
guns
flashed
into
fire
and
-
only
one
or
two
of
the
men
who
were
already
running
over
the
-
crest
of
the
hill
escaped
=
after
this
it
would
seem
that
the
three
took
counsel
-
together
and
halted
and
the
scouts
who
were
watching
them
-
report
that
they
remained
absolutely
stationary
for
the
next
-
half
hour
the
martian
who
had
been
overthrown
crawled
-
tediously
out
of
his
hood
a
small
brown
figure
oddly
-
suggestive
from
that
distance
of
a
speck
of
blight
and
-
apparently
engaged
in
the
repair
of
his
support
about
nine
-
he
had
finished
for
his
cowl
was
then
seen
above
the
trees
-
again
=
it
was
a
few
minutes
past
nine
that
night
when
these
three
-
sentinels
were
joined
by
four
other
martians
each
carrying
-
a
thick
black
tube
a
similar
tube
was
handed
to
each
of
the
-
three
and
the
seven
proceeded
to
distribute
themselves
at
-
equal
distances
along
a
curved
line
between
st
george's
-
hill
weybridge
and
the
village
of
send
southwest
of
-
ripley
=
a
dozen
rockets
sprang
out
of
the
hills
before
them
so
soon
-
as
they
began
to
move
and
warned
the
waiting
batteries
-
about
ditton
and
esher
at
the
same
time
four
of
their
-
fighting
machines
similarly
armed
with
tubes
crossed
the
-
river
and
two
of
them
black
against
the
western
sky
came
-
into
sight
of
myself
and
the
curate
as
we
hurried
wearily
-
and
painfully
along
the
road
that
runs
northward
out
of
-
halliford
they
moved
as
it
seemed
to
us
upon
a
cloud
for
-
a
milky
mist
covered
the
fields
and
rose
to
a
third
of
their
-
height
=
at
this
sight
the
curate
cried
faintly
in
his
throat
and
-
began
running
but
i
knew
it
was
no
good
running
from
a
-
martian
and
i
turned
aside
and
crawled
through
dewy
nettles
-
and
brambles
into
the
broad
ditch
by
the
side
of
the
road
-
he
looked
back
saw
what
i
was
doing
and
turned
to
join
me
=
the
two
halted
the
nearer
to
us
standing
and
facing
-
sunbury
the
remoter
being
a
grey
indistinctness
towards
the
-
evening
star
away
towards
staines
=
the
occasional
howling
of
the
martians
had
ceased
they
took
-
up
their
positions
in
the
huge
crescent
about
their
-
cylinders
in
absolute
silence
it
was
a
crescent
with
twelve
-
miles
between
its
horns
never
since
the
devising
of
-
gun~powder
was
the
beginning
of
a
battle
so
still
to
us
and
-
to
an
observer
about
ripley
it
would
have
had
precisely
the
-
same
effect
-
the
martians
seemed
in
solitary
possession
of
-
the
darkling
night
lit
only
as
it
was
by
the
slender
moon
-
the
stars
the
afterglow
of
the
daylight
and
the
ruddy
-
glare
from
st
george's
hill
and
the
woods
of
painshill
=
but
facing
that
crescent
everywhere
-
at
staines
hounslow
-
ditton
esher
ockham
behind
hills
and
woods
south
of
the
-
river
and
across
the
flat
grass
meadows
to
the
north
of
it
-
wherever
a
cluster
of
trees
or
village
houses
gave
-
sufficient
cover
-
the
guns
were
waiting
the
signal
rockets
-
burst
and
rained
their
sparks
through
the
night
and
-
vanished
and
the
spirit
of
all
those
watching
batteries
-
rose
to
a
tense
expectation
the
martians
had
but
to
advance
-
into
the
line
of
fire
and
instantly
those
motionless
black
-
forms
of
men
those
guns
glittering
so
darkly
in
the
early
-
night
would
explode
into
a
thunderous
fury
of
battle
=
no
doubt
the
thought
that
was
uppermost
in
a
thousand
of
-
those
vigilant
minds
even
as
it
was
uppermost
in
mine
was
-
the
riddle
-
how
much
they
understood
of
us
did
they
grasp
-
that
we
in
our
millions
were
organized
disciplined
working
-
together
or
did
they
interpret
our
spurts
of
fire
the
-
sudden
stinging
of
our
shells
our
steady
investment
of
-
their
encampment
as
we
should
the
furious
unanimity
of
-
onslaught
in
a
disturbed
hive
of
bees
did
they
dream
they
-
might
exterminate
us
at
that
time
no
one
knew
what
food
-
they
needed
a
hundred
such
questions
struggled
together
in
-
my
mind
as
i
watched
that
vast
sentinel
shape
and
in
the
-
back
of
my
mind
was
the
sense
of
all
the
huge
unknown
and
-
hidden
forces
londonward
had
they
prepared
pitfalls
were
-
the
powder
mills
at
hounslow
ready
as
a
snare
would
the
-
londoners
have
the
heart
and
courage
to
make
a
greater
-
moscow
of
their
mighty
province
of
houses
=
then
after
an
interminable
time
as
it
seemed
to
us
-
crouching
and
peering
through
the
hedge
came
a
sound
like
-
the
distant
concussion
of
a
gun
another
nearer
and
then
-
another
and
then
the
martian
beside
us
raised
his
tube
on
-
high
and
discharged
it
gunwise
with
a
heavy
report
that
-
made
the
ground
heave
the
one
towards
staines
answered
him
-
there
was
no
flash
no
smoke
simply
that
loaded
detonation
=
i
was
so
excited
by
these
heavy
minute~guns
following
one
-
another
that
i
so
far
forgot
my
personal
safety
and
my
-
scalded
hands
as
to
clamber
up
into
the
hedge
and
stare
-
towards
sunbury
as
i
did
so
a
second
report
followed
and
a
-
big
projectile
hurtled
overhead
towards
hounslow
i
expected
-
at
least
to
see
smoke
or
fire
or
some
such
evidence
of
its
-
work
but
all
i
saw
was
the
deep
blue
sky
above
with
one
-
solitary
star
and
the
white
mist
spreading
wide
and
low
-
beneath
and
there
had
been
no
crash
no
answering
-
explosion
the
silence
was
restored
the
minute
lengthened
-
to
three
=
what
has
happened
said
the
curate
standing
up
beside
me
=
heaven
knows
said
i
=
a
bat
flickered
by
and
vanished
a
distant
tumult
of
-
shouting
began
and
ceased
i
looked
again
at
the
martian
-
and
saw
he
was
now
moving
eastward
along
the
riverbank
with
-
a
swift
rolling
motion
=
every
moment
i
expected
the
fire
of
some
hidden
battery
to
-
spring
upon
him
but
the
evening
calm
was
unbroken
the
-
figure
of
the
martian
grew
smaller
as
he
receded
and
-
presently
the
mist
and
the
gathering
night
had
swallowed
him
-
up
by
a
common
impulse
we
clambered
higher
towards
sunbury
-
was
a
dark
appearance
as
though
a
conical
hill
had
suddenly
-
come
into
being
there
hiding
our
view
of
the
farther
-
country
and
then
remoter
across
the
river
over
walton
we
-
saw
another
such
summit
these
hill~like
forms
grew
lower
-
and
broader
even
as
we
stared
=
moved
by
a
sudden
thought
i
looked
northward
and
there
i
-
perceived
a
third
of
these
cloudy
black
kopjes
had
risen
=
everything
had
suddenly
become
very
still
far
away
to
the
-
southeast
marking
the
quiet
we
heard
the
martians
hooting
-
to
one
another
and
then
the
air
quivered
again
with
the
-
distant
thud
of
their
guns
but
the
earthly
artillery
made
-
no
reply
=
now
at
the
time
we
could
not
understand
these
things
but
-
later
i
was
to
learn
the
meaning
of
these
ominous
kopjes
-
that
gathered
in
the
twilight
each
of
the
martians
-
standing
in
the
great
crescent
i
have
described
had
-
discharged
by
means
of
the
gunlike
tube
he
carried
a
huge
-
canister
over
whatever
hill
copse
cluster
of
houses
or
-
other
possible
cover
for
guns
chanced
to
be
in
front
of
-
him
some
fired
only
one
of
these
some
two
-
as
in
the
case
-
of
the
one
we
had
seen
the
one
at
ripley
is
said
to
have
-
discharged
no
fewer
than
five
at
that
time
these
canisters
-
smashed
on
striking
the
ground
-
they
did
not
explode
-
and
-
incontinently
disengaged
an
enormous
volume
of
heavy
inky
-
vapour
coiling
and
pouring
upward
in
a
huge
and
ebony
-
cumulus
cloud
a
gaseous
hill
that
sank
and
spread
itself
-
slowly
over
the
surrounding
country
and
the
touch
of
that
-
vapour
the
inhaling
of
its
pungent
wisps
was
death
to
all
-
that
breathes
=
it
was
heavy
this
vapour
heavier
than
the
densest
smoke
-
so
that
after
the
first
tumultuous
uprush
and
outflow
of
-
its
impact
it
sank
down
through
the
air
and
poured
over
the
-
ground
in
a
manner
rather
liquid
than
gaseous
abandoning
-
the
hills
and
streaming
into
the
valleys
and
ditches
and
-
watercourses
even
as
i
have
heard
the
carbonic~acid
gas
that
-
pours
from
volcanic
clefts
is
wont
to
do
and
where
it
came
-
upon
water
some
chemical
action
occurred
and
the
surface
-
would
be
instantly
covered
with
a
powdery
scum
that
sank
-
slowly
and
made
way
for
more
the
scum
was
absolutely
-
insoluble
and
it
is
a
strange
thing
seeing
the
instant
-
effect
of
the
gas
that
one
could
drink
without
hurt
the
-
water
from
which
it
had
been
strained
the
vapour
did
not
-
diffuse
as
a
true
gas
would
do
it
hung
together
in
banks
-
flowing
sluggishly
down
the
slope
of
the
land
and
driving
-
reluctantly
before
the
wind
and
very
slowly
it
combined
-
with
the
mist
and
moisture
of
the
air
and
sank
to
the
earth
-
in
the
form
of
dust
save
that
an
unknown
element
giving
a
-
group
of
four
lines
in
the
blue
of
the
spectrum
is
-
concerned
we
are
still
entirely
ignorant
of
the
nature
of
-
this
substance
=
once
the
tumultuous
upheaval
of
its
dispersion
was
over
the
-
black
smoke
clung
so
closely
to
the
ground
even
before
its
-
precipitation
that
fifty
feet
up
in
the
air
on
the
roofs
-
and
upper
stories
of
high
houses
and
on
great
trees
there
-
was
a
chance
of
escaping
its
poison
altogether
as
was
-
proved
even
that
night
at
street
cobham
and
ditton
=
the
man
who
escaped
at
the
former
place
tells
a
wonderful
-
story
of
the
strangeness
of
its
coiling
flow
and
how
he
-
looked
down
from
the
church
spire
and
saw
the
houses
of
the
-
village
rising
like
ghosts
out
of
its
inky
nothingness
for
-
a
day
and
a
half
he
remained
there
weary
starving
and
-
sun~scorched
the
earth
under
the
blue
sky
and
against
the
-
prospect
of
the
distant
hills
a
velvet~black
expanse
with
-
red
roofs
green
trees
and
later
black~veiled
shrubs
and
-
gates
barns
out~houses
and
walls
rising
here
and
there
-
into
the
sunlight
=
but
that
was
at
street
cobham
where
the
black
vapour
was
-
allowed
to
remain
until
it
sank
of
its
own
accord
into
the
-
ground
as
a
rule
the
martians
when
it
had
served
its
-
purpose
cleared
the
air
of
it
again
by
wading
into
it
and
-
directing
a
jet
of
steam
upon
it
=
this
they
did
with
the
vapour
banks
near
us
as
we
saw
in
-
the
starlight
from
the
window
of
a
deserted
house
at
upper
-
halliford
whither
we
had
returned
from
there
we
could
see
-
the
searchlights
on
richmond
hill
and
kingston
hill
going
to
-
and
fro
and
about
eleven
the
windows
rattled
and
we
heard
-
the
sound
of
the
huge
siege
guns
that
had
been
put
in
-
position
there
these
continued
intermittently
for
the
space
-
of
a
quarter
of
an
hour
sending
chance
shots
at
the
-
invisible
martians
at
hampton
and
ditton
and
then
the
pale
-
beams
of
the
electric
light
vanished
and
were
replaced
by
a
-
bright
red
glow
=
then
the
fourth
cylinder
fell
-
a
brilliant
green
meteor
-
as
-
i
learned
afterwards
in
bushey
park
before
the
guns
on
the
-
richmond
and
kingston
line
of
hills
began
there
was
a
-
fitful
cannonade
far
away
in
the
southwest
due
i
believe
-
to
guns
being
fired
haphazard
before
the
black
vapour
could
-
overwhelm
the
gunners
=
so
setting
about
it
as
methodically
as
men
might
smoke
out
-
a
wasps'
nest
the
martians
spread
this
strange
stifling
-
vapour
over
the
londonward
country
the
horns
of
the
-
crescent
slowly
moved
apart
until
at
last
they
formed
a
-
line
from
hanwell
to
coombe
and
malden
all
night
through
-
their
destructive
tubes
advanced
never
once
after
the
-
martian
at
st
george's
hill
was
brought
down
did
they
give
-
the
artillery
the
ghost
of
a
chance
against
them
wherever
-
there
was
a
possibility
of
guns
being
laid
for
them
unseen
-
a
fresh
canister
of
the
black
vapour
was
discharged
and
-
where
the
guns
were
openly
displayed
the
heat~ray
was
-
brought
to
bear
=
by
midnight
the
blazing
trees
along
the
slopes
of
richmond
-
park
and
the
glare
of
kingston
hill
threw
their
light
upon
a
-
network
of
black
smoke
blotting
out
the
whole
valley
of
the
-
thames
and
extending
as
far
as
the
eye
could
reach
and
-
through
this
two
martians
slowly
waded
and
turned
their
-
hissing
steam
jets
this
way
and
that
=
they
were
sparing
of
the
heat~ray
that
night
either
because
-
they
had
but
a
limited
supply
of
material
for
its
production
-
or
because
they
did
not
wish
to
destroy
the
country
but
only
-
to
crush
and
overawe
the
opposition
they
had
aroused
in
the
-
latter
aim
they
certainly
succeeded
sunday
night
was
the
-
end
of
the
organised
opposition
to
their
movements
after
-
that
no
body
of
men
would
stand
against
them
so
hopeless
-
was
the
enterprise
even
the
crews
of
the
torpedo~boats
and
-
destroyers
that
had
brought
their
quick~firers
up
the
thames
-
refused
to
stop
mutinied
and
went
down
again
the
only
-
offensive
operation
men
ventured
upon
after
that
night
was
-
the
preparation
of
mines
and
pitfalls
and
even
in
that
-
their
energies
were
frantic
and
spasmodic
=
one
has
to
imagine
as
well
as
one
may
the
fate
of
those
-
batteries
towards
esher
waiting
so
tensely
in
the
twilight
-
survivors
there
were
none
one
may
picture
the
orderly
-
expectation
the
officers
alert
and
watchful
the
gunners
-
ready
the
ammunition
piled
to
hand
the
limber
gunners
with
-
their
horses
and
waggons
the
groups
of
civilian
spectators
-
standing
as
near
as
they
were
permitted
the
evening
-
stillness
the
ambulances
and
hospital
tents
with
the
burned
-
and
wounded
from
weybridge
then
the
dull
resonance
of
the
-
shots
the
martians
fired
and
the
clumsy
projectile
whirling
-
over
the
trees
and
houses
and
smashing
amid
the
neighbouring
-
fields
=
one
may
picture
too
the
sudden
shifting
of
the
attention
-
the
swiftly
spreading
coils
and
bellyings
of
that
blackness
-
advancing
headlong
towering
heavenward
turning
the
-
twilight
to
a
palpable
darkness
a
strange
and
horrible
-
antagonist
of
vapour
striding
upon
its
victims
men
and
-
horses
near
it
seen
dimly
running
shrieking
falling
-
headlong
shouts
of
dismay
the
guns
suddenly
abandoned
men
-
choking
and
writhing
on
the
ground
and
the
swift
-
broadening~out
of
the
opaque
cone
of
smoke
and
then
night
-
and
extinction
-
nothing
but
a
silent
mass
of
impenetrable
-
vapour
hiding
its
dead
=
before
dawn
the
black
vapour
was
pouring
through
the
streets
-
of
richmond
and
the
disintegrating
organism
of
government
-
was
with
a
last
expiring
effort
rousing
the
population
of
-
london
to
the
necessity
of
flight
=
so
you
understand
the
roaring
wave
of
fear
that
swept
-
through
the
greatest
city
in
the
world
just
as
monday
was
-
dawning
-
the
stream
of
flight
rising
swiftly
to
a
torrent
-
lashing
in
a
foaming
tumult
round
the
railway
stations
-
banked
up
into
a
horrible
struggle
about
the
shipping
in
the
-
thames
and
hurrying
by
every
available
channel
northward
-
and
eastward
by
ten
o'clock
the
police
organisation
and
by
-
midday
even
the
railway
organisations
were
losing
-
coherency
losing
shape
and
efficiency
guttering
-
softening
running
at
last
in
that
swift
liquefaction
of
the
-
social
body
=
all
the
railway
lines
north
of
the
thames
and
the
-
south~eastern
people
at
cannon
street
had
been
warned
by
-
midnight
on
sunday
and
trains
were
being
filled
people
-
were
fighting
savagely
for
standing~room
in
the
carriages
-
even
at
two
o'clock
by
three
people
were
being
trampled
-
and
crushed
even
in
bishopsgate
street
a
couple
of
hundred
-
yards
or
more
from
liverpool
street
station
revolvers
were
-
fired
people
stabbed
and
the
policemen
who
had
been
sent
-
to
direct
the
traffic
exhausted
and
infuriated
were
-
breaking
the
heads
of
the
people
they
were
called
out
to
-
protect
=
and
as
the
day
advanced
and
the
engine
drivers
and
stokers
-
refused
to
return
to
london
the
pressure
of
the
flight
-
drove
the
people
in
an
ever~thickening
multitude
away
from
-
the
stations
and
along
the
northward~running
roads
by
-
midday
a
martian
had
been
seen
at
barnes
and
a
cloud
of
-
slowly
sinking
black
vapour
drove
along
the
thames
and
-
across
the
flats
of
lambeth
cutting
off
all
escape
over
the
-
bridges
in
its
sluggish
advance
another
bank
drove
over
-
ealing
and
surrounded
a
little
island
of
survivors
on
-
castle
hill
alive
but
unable
to
escape
=
after
a
fruitless
struggle
to
get
aboard
a
north~western
-
train
at
chalk
farm
-
the
engines
of
the
trains
that
had
-
loaded
in
the
goods
yard
there
ploughed
through
shrieking
-
people
and
a
dozen
stalwart
men
fought
to
keep
the
crowd
-
from
crushing
the
driver
against
his
furnace
-
my
brother
-
emerged
upon
the
chalk
farm
road
dodged
across
through
a
-
hurrying
swarm
of
vehicles
and
had
the
luck
to
be
foremost
-
in
the
sack
of
a
cycle
shop
the
front
tire
of
the
machine
-
he
got
was
punctured
in
dragging
it
through
the
window
but
-
he
got
up
and
off
notwithstanding
with
no
further
injury
-
than
a
cut
wrist
the
steep
foot
of
haverstock
hill
was
-
impassable
owing
to
several
overturned
horses
and
my
-
brother
struck
into
belsize
road
=
so
he
got
out
of
the
fury
of
the
panic
and
skirting
the
-
edgware
road
reached
edgware
about
seven
fasting
and
-
wearied
but
well
ahead
of
the
crowd
along
the
road
people
-
were
standing
in
the
roadway
curious
wondering
he
was
-
passed
by
a
number
of
cyclists
some
horsemen
and
two
motor
-
cars
a
mile
from
edgware
the
rim
of
the
wheel
broke
and
-
the
machine
became
unridable
he
left
it
by
the
roadside
and
-
trudged
through
the
village
there
were
shops
half
opened
in
-
the
main
street
of
the
place
and
people
crowded
on
the
-
pavement
and
in
the
doorways
and
windows
staring
astonished
-
at
this
extraordinary
procession
of
fugitives
that
was
-
beginning
he
succeeded
in
getting
some
food
at
an
inn
=
for
a
time
he
remained
in
edgware
not
knowing
what
next
to
-
do
the
flying
people
increased
in
number
many
of
them
-
like
my
brother
seemed
inclined
to
loiter
in
the
place
-
there
was
no
fresh
news
of
the
invaders
from
mars
=
at
that
time
the
road
was
crowded
but
as
yet
far
from
-
congested
most
of
the
fugitives
at
that
hour
were
mounted
-
on
cycles
but
there
were
soon
motor
cars
hansom
cabs
and
-
carriages
hurrying
along
and
the
dust
hung
in
heavy
clouds
-
along
the
road
to
st
albans
=
it
was
perhaps
a
vague
idea
of
making
his
way
to
chelmsford
-
where
some
friends
of
his
lived
that
at
last
induced
my
-
brother
to
strike
into
a
quiet
lane
running
eastward
-
presently
he
came
upon
a
stile
and
crossing
it
followed
a
-
footpath
northeastward
he
passed
near
several
farmhouses
-
and
some
little
places
whose
names
he
did
not
learn
he
saw
-
few
fugitives
until
in
a
grass
lane
towards
high
barnet
he
-
happened
upon
two
ladies
who
became
his
fellow
travellers
-
he
came
upon
them
just
in
time
to
save
them
=
he
heard
their
screams
and
hurrying
round
the
corner
saw
-
a
couple
of
men
struggling
to
drag
them
out
of
the
little
-
pony~chaise
in
which
they
had
been
driving
while
a
third
-
with
difficulty
held
the
frightened
pony's
head
one
of
the
-
ladies
a
short
woman
dressed
in
white
was
simply
-
screaming
the
other
a
dark
slender
figure
slashed
at
the
-
man
who
gripped
her
arm
with
a
whip
she
held
in
her
-
disengaged
hand
=
my
brother
immediately
grasped
the
situation
shouted
and
-
hurried
towards
the
struggle
one
of
the
men
desisted
and
-
turned
towards
him
and
my
brother
realising
from
his
-
antagonist's
face
that
a
fight
was
unavoidable
and
being
an
-
expert
boxer
went
into
him
forthwith
and
sent
him
down
-
against
the
wheel
of
the
chaise
=
it
was
no
time
for
pugilistic
chivalry
and
my
brother
laid
-
him
quiet
with
a
kick
and
gripped
the
collar
of
the
man
who
-
pulled
at
the
slender
lady's
arm
he
heard
the
clatter
of
-
hoofs
the
whip
stung
across
his
face
a
third
antagonist
-
struck
him
between
the
eyes
and
the
man
he
held
wrenched
-
himself
free
and
made
off
down
the
lane
in
the
direction
-
from
which
he
had
come
=
partly
stunned
he
found
himself
facing
the
man
who
had
held
-
the
horse's
head
and
became
aware
of
the
chaise
receding
-
from
him
down
the
lane
swaying
from
side
to
side
and
with
-
the
women
in
it
looking
back
the
man
before
him
a
burly
-
rough
tried
to
close
and
he
stopped
him
with
a
blow
in
the
-
face
then
realising
that
he
was
deserted
he
dodged
round
-
and
made
off
down
the
lane
after
the
chaise
with
the
sturdy
-
man
close
behind
him
and
the
fugitive
who
had
turned
now
-
following
remotely
=
suddenly
he
stumbled
and
fell
his
immediate
pursuer
went
-
headlong
and
he
rose
to
his
feet
to
find
himself
with
a
-
couple
of
antagonists
again
he
would
have
had
little
chance
-
against
them
had
not
the
slender
lady
very
pluckily
pulled
-
up
and
returned
to
his
help
it
seems
she
had
had
a
revolver
-
all
this
time
but
it
had
been
under
the
seat
when
she
and
-
her
companion
were
attacked
she
fired
at
six
yards'
-
distance
narrowly
missing
my
brother
the
less
courageous
-
of
the
robbers
made
off
and
his
companion
followed
him
-
cursing
his
cowardice
they
both
stopped
in
sight
down
the
-
lane
where
the
third
man
lay
insensible
=
take
this
said
the
slender
lady
and
she
gave
my
brother
-
her
revolver
=
go
back
to
the
chaise
said
my
brother
wiping
the
blood
-
from
his
split
lip
=
she
turned
without
a
word
-
they
were
both
panting
-
and
they
-
went
back
to
where
the
lady
in
white
struggled
to
hold
back
-
the
frightened
pony
=
the
robbers
had
evidently
had
enough
of
it
when
my
brother
-
looked
again
they
were
retreating
=
i'll
sit
here
said
my
brother
if
i
may
and
he
got
-
upon
the
empty
front
seat
the
lady
looked
over
her
-
shoulder
=
give
me
the
reins
she
said
and
laid
the
whip
along
the
-
pony's
side
in
another
moment
a
bend
in
the
road
hid
the
-
three
men
from
my
brother's
eyes
=
so
quite
unexpectedly
my
brother
found
himself
panting
-
with
a
cut
mouth
a
bruised
jaw
and
bloodstained
knuckles
-
driving
along
an
unknown
lane
with
these
two
women
=
he
learned
they
were
the
wife
and
the
younger
sister
of
a
-
surgeon
living
at
stanmore
who
had
come
in
the
small
hours
-
from
a
dangerous
case
at
pinner
and
heard
at
some
railway
-
station
on
his
way
of
the
martian
advance
he
had
hurried
-
home
roused
the
women
-
their
servant
had
left
them
two
days
-
before
-
packed
some
provisions
put
his
revolver
under
the
-
seat
-
luckily
for
my
brother
-
and
told
them
to
drive
on
to
-
edgware
with
the
idea
of
getting
a
train
there
he
stopped
-
behind
to
tell
the
neighbours
he
would
overtake
them
he
-
said
at
about
half
past
four
in
the
morning
and
now
it
was
-
nearly
nine
and
they
had
seen
nothing
of
him
they
could
not
-
stop
in
edgware
because
of
the
growing
traffic
through
the
-
place
and
so
they
had
come
into
this
side
lane
=
that
was
the
story
they
told
my
brother
in
fragments
when
-
presently
they
stopped
again
nearer
to
new
barnet
he
-
promised
to
stay
with
them
at
least
until
they
could
-
determine
what
to
do
or
until
the
missing
man
arrived
and
-
professed
to
be
an
expert
shot
with
the
revolver
-
a
weapon
-
strange
to
him
-
in
order
to
give
them
confidence
=
they
made
a
sort
of
encampment
by
the
wayside
and
the
pony
-
became
happy
in
the
hedge
he
told
them
of
his
own
escape
-
out
of
london
and
all
that
he
knew
of
these
martians
and
-
their
ways
the
sun
crept
higher
in
the
sky
and
after
a
-
time
their
talk
died
out
and
gave
place
to
an
uneasy
state
-
of
anticipation
several
wayfarers
came
along
the
lane
and
-
of
these
my
brother
gathered
such
news
as
he
could
every
-
broken
answer
he
had
deepened
his
impression
of
the
great
-
disaster
that
had
come
on
humanity
deepened
his
persuasion
-
of
the
immediate
necessity
for
prosecuting
this
flight
he
-
urged
the
matter
upon
them
=
we
have
money
said
the
slender
woman
and
hesitated
=
her
eyes
met
my
brother's
and
her
hesitation
ended
=
so
have
i
said
my
brother
=
she
explained
that
they
had
as
much
as
thirty
pounds
in
-
gold
besides
a
five~pound
note
and
suggested
that
with
-
that
they
might
get
upon
a
train
at
st
albans
or
new
-
barnet
my
brother
thought
that
was
hopeless
seeing
the
-
fury
of
the
londoners
to
crowd
upon
the
trains
and
broached
-
his
own
idea
of
striking
across
essex
towards
harwich
and
-
thence
escaping
from
the
country
altogether
=
mrs
elphinstone
-
that
was
the
name
of
the
woman
in
-
white
-
would
listen
to
no
reasoning
and
kept
calling
upon
-
george
but
her
sister~in~law
was
astonishingly
quiet
and
-
deliberate
and
at
last
agreed
to
my
brother's
suggestion
-
so
designing
to
cross
the
great
north
road
they
went
on
-
towards
barnet
my
brother
leading
the
pony
to
save
it
as
-
much
as
possible
as
the
sun
crept
up
the
sky
the
day
became
-
excessively
hot
and
under
foot
a
thick
whitish
sand
grew
-
burning
and
blinding
so
that
they
travelled
only
very
-
slowly
the
hedges
were
grey
with
dust
and
as
they
advanced
-
towards
barnet
a
tumultuous
murmuring
grew
stronger
=
they
began
to
meet
more
people
for
the
most
part
these
were
-
staring
before
them
murmuring
indistinct
questions
jaded
-
haggard
unclean
one
man
in
evening
dress
passed
them
on
-
foot
his
eyes
on
the
ground
they
heard
his
voice
and
-
looking
back
at
him
saw
one
hand
clutched
in
his
hair
and
-
the
other
beating
invisible
things
his
paroxysm
of
rage
-
over
he
went
on
his
way
without
once
looking
back
=
as
my
brother's
party
went
on
towards
the
crossroads
to
the
-
south
of
barnet
they
saw
a
woman
approaching
the
road
across
-
some
fields
on
their
left
carrying
a
child
and
with
two
-
other
children
and
then
passed
a
man
in
dirty
black
with
a
-
thick
stick
in
one
hand
and
a
small
portmanteau
in
the
-
other
then
round
the
corner
of
the
lane
from
between
the
-
villas
that
guarded
it
at
its
confluence
with
the
high
road
-
came
a
little
cart
drawn
by
a
sweating
black
pony
and
driven
-
by
a
sallow
youth
in
a
bowler
hat
grey
with
dust
there
-
were
three
girls
east
end
factory
girls
and
a
couple
of
-
little
children
crowded
in
the
cart
=
this'll
tike
us
rahnd
edgware
asked
the
driver
-
wild~eyed
white~faced
and
when
my
brother
told
him
it
-
would
if
he
turned
to
the
left
he
whipped
up
at
once
-
without
the
formality
of
thanks
=
my
brother
noticed
a
pale
grey
smoke
or
haze
rising
among
-
the
houses
in
front
of
them
and
veiling
the
white
facade
of
-
a
terrace
beyond
the
road
that
appeared
between
the
backs
of
-
the
villas
mrs
elphinstone
suddenly
cried
out
at
a
number
-
of
tongues
of
smoky
red
flame
leaping
up
above
the
houses
in
-
front
of
them
against
the
hot
blue
sky
the
tumultuous
-
noise
resolved
itself
now
into
the
disorderly
mingling
of
-
many
voices
the
gride
of
many
wheels
the
creaking
of
-
waggons
and
the
staccato
of
hoofs
the
lane
came
round
-
sharply
not
fifty
yards
from
the
crossroads
=
good
heavens
cried
mrs
elphinstone
what
is
this
you
-
are
driving
us
into
=
my
brother
stopped
=
for
the
main
road
was
a
boiling
stream
of
people
a
torrent
-
of
human
beings
rushing
northward
one
pressing
on
another
-
a
great
bank
of
dust
white
and
luminous
in
the
blaze
of
the
-
sun
made
everything
within
twenty
feet
of
the
ground
grey
-
and
indistinct
and
was
perpetually
renewed
by
the
hurrying
-
feet
of
a
dense
crowd
of
horses
and
of
men
and
women
on
-
foot
and
by
the
wheels
of
vehicles
of
every
description
=
way
my
brother
heard
voices
crying
make
way
=
it
was
like
riding
into
the
smoke
of
a
fire
to
approach
the
-
meeting
point
of
the
lane
and
road
the
crowd
roared
like
a
-
fire
and
the
dust
was
hot
and
pungent
and
indeed
a
-
little
way
up
the
road
a
villa
was
burning
and
sending
-
rolling
masses
of
black
smoke
across
the
road
to
add
to
the
-
confusion
=
two
men
came
past
them
then
a
dirty
woman
carrying
a
heavy
-
bundle
and
weeping
a
lost
retriever
dog
with
hanging
-
tongue
circled
dubiously
round
them
scared
and
wretched
-
and
fled
at
my
brother's
threat
=
so
much
as
they
could
see
of
the
road
londonward
between
the
-
houses
to
the
right
was
a
tumultuous
stream
of
dirty
-
hurrying
people
pent
in
between
the
villas
on
either
side
-
the
black
heads
the
crowded
forms
grew
into
distinctness
-
as
they
rushed
towards
the
corner
hurried
past
and
merged
-
their
individuality
again
in
a
receding
multitude
that
was
-
swallowed
up
at
last
in
a
cloud
of
dust
=
go
on
go
on
cried
the
voices
way
way
=
one
man's
hands
pressed
on
the
back
of
another
my
brother
-
stood
at
the
pony's
head
irresistibly
attracted
he
-
advanced
slowly
pace
by
pace
down
the
lane
=
edgware
had
been
a
scene
of
confusion
chalk
farm
a
riotous
-
tumult
but
this
was
a
whole
population
in
movement
it
is
-
hard
to
imagine
that
host
it
had
no
character
of
its
own
-
the
figures
poured
out
past
the
corner
and
receded
with
-
their
backs
to
the
group
in
the
lane
along
the
margin
came
-
those
who
were
on
foot
threatened
by
the
wheels
stumbling
-
in
the
ditches
blundering
into
one
another
=
the
carts
and
carriages
crowded
close
upon
one
another
-
making
little
way
for
those
swifter
and
more
impatient
-
vehicles
that
darted
forward
every
now
and
then
when
an
-
opportunity
showed
itself
of
doing
so
sending
the
people
-
scattering
against
the
fences
and
gates
of
the
villas
=
push
on
was
the
cry
push
on
they
are
coming
=
in
one
cart
stood
a
blind
man
in
the
uniform
of
the
-
salvation
army
gesticulating
with
his
crooked
fingers
and
-
bawling
eternity
eternity
his
voice
was
hoarse
and
very
-
loud
so
that
my
brother
could
hear
him
long
after
he
was
-
lost
to
sight
in
the
dust
some
of
the
people
who
crowded
in
-
the
carts
whipped
stupidly
at
their
horses
and
quarrelled
-
with
other
drivers
some
sat
motionless
staring
at
nothing
-
with
miserable
eyes
some
gnawed
their
hands
with
thirst
or
-
lay
prostrate
in
the
bottoms
of
their
conveyances
the
-
horses
bits
were
covered
with
foam
their
eyes
bloodshot
=
there
were
cabs
carriages
shop
cars
waggons
beyond
-
counting
a
mail
cart
a
road~cleaner's
cart
marked
vestry
-
of
st
pancras
a
huge
timber
waggon
crowded
with
roughs
a
-
brewer's
dray
rumbled
by
with
its
two
near
wheels
splashed
-
with
fresh
blood
=
clear
the
way
cried
the
voices
clear
the
way
=
eter~nity
eter~nity
came
echoing
down
the
road
=
there
were
sad
haggard
women
tramping
by
well
dressed
-
with
children
that
cried
and
stumbled
their
dainty
clothes
-
smothered
in
dust
their
weary
faces
smeared
with
tears
-
with
many
of
these
came
men
sometimes
helpful
sometimes
-
lowering
and
savage
fighting
side
by
side
with
them
pushed
-
some
weary
street
outcast
in
faded
black
rags
wide~eyed
-
loud~voiced
and
foul~mouthed
there
were
sturdy
workmen
-
thrusting
their
way
along
wretched
unkempt
men
clothed
-
like
clerks
or
shopmen
struggling
spasmodically
a
wounded
-
soldier
my
brother
noticed
men
dressed
in
the
clothes
of
-
railway
porters
one
wretched
creature
in
a
nightshirt
with
-
a
coat
thrown
over
it
=
but
varied
as
its
composition
was
certain
things
all
that
-
host
had
in
common
there
were
fear
and
pain
on
their
faces
-
and
fear
behind
them
a
tumult
up
the
road
a
quarrel
for
a
-
place
in
a
waggon
sent
the
whole
host
of
them
quickening
-
their
pace
even
a
man
so
scared
and
broken
that
his
knees
-
bent
under
him
was
galvanised
for
a
moment
into
renewed
-
activity
the
heat
and
dust
had
already
been
at
work
upon
-
this
multitude
their
skins
were
dry
their
lips
black
and
-
cracked
they
were
all
thirsty
weary
and
footsore
and
-
amid
the
various
cries
one
heard
disputes
reproaches
-
groans
of
weariness
and
fatigue
the
voices
of
most
of
them
-
were
hoarse
and
weak
through
it
all
ran
a
refrain
=
way
way
the
martians
are
coming
=
few
stopped
and
came
aside
from
that
flood
the
lane
opened
-
slantingly
into
the
main
road
with
a
narrow
opening
and
had
-
a
delusive
appearance
of
coming
from
the
direction
of
-
london
yet
a
kind
of
eddy
of
people
drove
into
its
mouth
-
weaklings
elbowed
out
of
the
stream
who
for
the
most
part
-
rested
but
a
moment
before
plunging
into
it
again
a
little
-
way
down
the
lane
with
two
friends
bending
over
him
lay
a
-
man
with
a
bare
leg
wrapped
about
with
bloody
rags
he
was
-
a
lucky
man
to
have
friends
=
a
little
old
man
with
a
grey
military
moustache
and
a
-
filthy
black
frock
coat
limped
out
and
sat
down
beside
the
-
trap
removed
his
boot
-
his
sock
was
blood~stained
-
shook
-
out
a
pebble
and
hobbled
on
again
and
then
a
little
girl
-
of
eight
or
nine
all
alone
threw
herself
under
the
hedge
-
close
by
my
brother
weeping
=
i
can't
go
on
i
can't
go
on
=
my
brother
woke
from
his
torpor
of
astonishment
and
lifted
-
her
up
speaking
gently
to
her
and
carried
her
to
miss
-
elphinstone
so
soon
as
my
brother
touched
her
she
became
-
quite
still
as
if
frightened
=
ellen
shrieked
a
woman
in
the
crowd
with
tears
in
her
-
voice
-
ellen
and
the
child
suddenly
darted
away
from
my
-
brother
crying
mother
=
they
are
coming
said
a
man
on
horseback
riding
past
-
along
the
lane
=
out
of
the
way
there
bawled
a
coachman
towering
high
-
and
my
brother
saw
a
closed
carriage
turning
into
the
lane
=
the
people
crushed
back
on
one
another
to
avoid
the
horse
-
my
brother
pushed
the
pony
and
chaise
back
into
the
hedge
-
and
the
man
drove
by
and
stopped
at
the
turn
of
the
way
it
-
was
a
carriage
with
a
pole
for
a
pair
of
horses
but
only
-
one
was
in
the
traces
my
brother
saw
dimly
through
the
dust
-
that
two
men
lifted
out
something
on
a
white
stretcher
and
-
put
it
gently
on
the
grass
beneath
the
privet
hedge
=
one
of
the
men
came
running
to
my
brother
=
where
is
there
any
water
he
said
he
is
dying
fast
and
-
very
thirsty
it
is
lord
garrick
=
lord
garrick
said
my
brother
the
chief
justice
=
the
water
he
said
=
there
may
be
a
tap
said
my
brother
in
some
of
the
-
houses
we
have
no
water
i
dare
not
leave
my
people
=
the
man
pushed
against
the
crowd
towards
the
gate
of
the
-
corner
house
=
go
on
said
the
people
thrusting
at
him
they
are
-
coming
go
on
=
then
my
brother's
attention
was
distracted
by
a
bearded
-
eagle~faced
man
lugging
a
small
handbag
which
split
even
as
-
my
brother's
eyes
rested
on
it
and
disgorged
a
mass
of
-
sovereigns
that
seemed
to
break
up
into
separate
coins
as
it
-
struck
the
ground
they
rolled
hither
and
thither
among
the
-
struggling
feet
of
men
and
horses
the
man
stopped
and
-
looked
stupidly
at
the
heap
and
the
shaft
of
a
cab
struck
-
his
shoulder
and
sent
him
reeling
he
gave
a
shriek
and
-
dodged
back
and
a
cartwheel
shaved
him
narrowly
=
way
cried
the
men
all
about
him
make
way
=
so
soon
as
the
cab
had
passed
he
flung
himself
with
both
-
hands
open
upon
the
heap
of
coins
and
began
thrusting
-
handfuls
in
his
pocket
a
horse
rose
close
upon
him
and
in
-
another
moment
half
rising
he
had
been
borne
down
under
-
the
horse's
hoofs
=
stop
screamed
my
brother
and
pushing
a
woman
out
of
his
-
way
tried
to
clutch
the
bit
of
the
horse
=
before
he
could
get
to
it
he
heard
a
scream
under
the
-
wheels
and
saw
through
the
dust
the
rim
passing
over
the
-
poor
wretch's
back
the
driver
of
the
cart
slashed
his
whip
-
at
my
brother
who
ran
round
behind
the
cart
the
-
multitudinous
shouting
confused
his
ears
the
man
was
-
writhing
in
the
dust
among
his
scattered
money
unable
to
-
rise
for
the
wheel
had
broken
his
back
and
his
lower
limbs
-
lay
limp
and
dead
my
brother
stood
up
and
yelled
at
the
-
next
driver
and
a
man
on
a
black
horse
came
to
his
-
assistance
=
get
him
out
of
the
road
said
he
and
clutching
the
man's
-
collar
with
his
free
hand
my
brother
lugged
him
sideways
-
but
he
still
clutched
after
his
money
and
regarded
my
-
brother
fiercely
hammering
at
his
arm
with
a
handful
of
-
gold
go
on
go
on
shouted
angry
voices
behind
=
way
way
=
there
was
a
smash
as
the
pole
of
a
carriage
crashed
into
the
-
cart
that
the
man
on
horseback
stopped
my
brother
looked
-
up
and
the
man
with
the
gold
twisted
his
head
round
and
bit
-
the
wrist
that
held
his
collar
there
was
a
concussion
and
-
the
black
horse
came
staggering
sideways
and
the
carthorse
-
pushed
beside
it
a
hoof
missed
my
brother's
foot
by
a
-
hair's
breadth
he
released
his
grip
on
the
fallen
man
and
-
jumped
back
he
saw
anger
change
to
terror
on
the
face
of
-
the
poor
wretch
on
the
ground
and
in
a
moment
he
was
hidden
-
and
my
brother
was
borne
backward
and
carried
past
the
-
entrance
of
the
lane
and
had
to
fight
hard
in
the
torrent
-
to
recover
it
=
he
saw
miss
elphinstone
covering
her
eyes
and
a
little
-
child
with
all
a
child's
want
of
sympathetic
imagination
-
staring
with
dilated
eyes
at
a
dusty
something
that
lay
-
black
and
still
ground
and
crushed
under
the
rolling
-
wheels
let
us
go
back
he
shouted
and
began
turning
the
-
pony
round
we
cannot
cross
this
-
hell
he
said
and
they
-
went
back
a
hundred
yards
the
way
they
had
come
until
the
-
fighting
crowd
was
hidden
as
they
passed
the
bend
in
the
-
lane
my
brother
saw
the
face
of
the
dying
man
in
the
ditch
-
under
the
privet
deadly
white
and
drawn
and
shining
with
-
perspiration
the
two
women
sat
silent
crouching
in
their
-
seat
and
shivering
=
then
beyond
the
bend
my
brother
stopped
again
miss
-
elphinstone
was
white
and
pale
and
her
sister~in~law
sat
-
weeping
too
wretched
even
to
call
upon
george
my
brother
-
was
horrified
and
perplexed
so
soon
as
they
had
retreated
-
he
realised
how
urgent
and
unavoidable
it
was
to
attempt
-
this
crossing
he
turned
to
miss
elphinstone
suddenly
-
resolute
=
we
must
go
that
way
he
said
and
led
the
pony
round
-
again
=
for
the
second
time
that
day
this
girl
proved
her
quality
-
to
force
their
way
into
the
torrent
of
people
my
brother
-
plunged
into
the
traffic
and
held
back
a
cab
horse
while
-
she
drove
the
pony
across
its
head
a
waggon
locked
wheels
-
for
a
moment
and
ripped
a
long
splinter
from
the
chaise
in
-
another
moment
they
were
caught
and
swept
forward
by
the
-
stream
my
brother
with
the
cabman's
whip
marks
red
across
-
his
face
and
hands
scrambled
into
the
chaise
and
took
the
-
reins
from
her
=
point
the
revolver
at
the
man
behind
he
said
giving
it
-
to
her
if
he
presses
us
too
hard
no
-
point
it
at
his
-
horse
=
then
he
began
to
look
out
for
a
chance
of
edging
to
the
-
right
across
the
road
but
once
in
the
stream
he
seemed
to
-
lose
volition
to
become
a
part
of
that
dusty
rout
they
-
swept
through
chipping
barnet
with
the
torrent
they
were
-
nearly
a
mile
beyond
the
centre
of
the
town
before
they
had
-
fought
across
to
the
opposite
side
of
the
way
it
was
din
-
and
confusion
indescribable
but
in
and
beyond
the
town
the
-
road
forks
repeatedly
and
this
to
some
extent
relieved
the
-
stress
=
they
struck
eastward
through
hadley
and
there
on
either
-
side
of
the
road
and
at
another
place
farther
on
they
came
-
upon
a
great
multitude
of
people
drinking
at
the
stream
-
some
fighting
to
come
at
the
water
and
farther
on
from
a
-
lull
near
east
barnet
they
saw
two
trains
running
slowly
-
one
after
the
other
without
signal
or
order
-
trains
swarming
-
with
people
with
men
even
among
the
coals
behind
the
-
engines
-
going
northward
along
the
great
northern
railway
-
my
brother
supposes
they
must
have
filled
outside
london
-
for
at
that
time
the
furious
terror
of
the
people
had
-
rendered
the
central
termini
impossible
=
near
this
place
they
halted
for
the
rest
of
the
afternoon
-
for
the
violence
of
the
day
had
already
utterly
exhausted
-
all
three
of
them
they
began
to
suffer
the
beginnings
of
-
hunger
the
night
was
cold
and
none
of
them
dared
to
sleep
-
and
in
the
evening
many
people
came
hurrying
along
the
road
-
nearby
their
stopping
place
fleeing
from
unknown
dangers
-
before
them
and
going
in
the
direction
from
which
my
-
brother
had
come
=
had
the
martians
aimed
only
at
destruction
they
might
on
-
monday
have
annihilated
the
entire
population
of
london
as
-
it
spread
itself
slowly
through
the
home
counties
not
only
-
along
the
road
through
barnet
but
also
through
edgware
and
-
waltham
abbey
and
along
the
roads
eastward
to
southend
and
-
shoeburyness
and
south
of
the
thames
to
deal
and
-
broadstairs
poured
the
same
frantic
rout
if
one
could
have
-
hung
that
june
morning
in
a
balloon
in
the
blazing
blue
-
above
london
every
northward
and
eastward
road
running
out
-
of
the
tangled
maze
of
streets
would
have
seemed
stippled
-
black
with
the
streaming
fugitives
each
dot
a
human
agony
-
of
terror
and
physical
distress
i
have
set
forth
at
length
-
in
the
last
chapter
my
brother's
account
of
the
road
through
-
chipping
barnet
in
order
that
my
readers
may
realise
how
-
that
swarming
of
black
dots
appeared
to
one
of
those
-
concerned
never
before
in
the
history
of
the
world
had
such
-
a
mass
of
human
beings
moved
and
suffered
together
the
-
legendary
hosts
of
goths
and
huns
the
hugest
armies
asia
-
has
ever
seen
would
have
been
but
a
drop
in
that
current
-
and
this
was
no
disciplined
march
it
was
a
stampede
-
a
-
stampede
gigantic
and
terrible
-
without
order
and
without
a
-
goal
six
million
people
unarmed
and
unprovisioned
driving
-
headlong
it
was
the
beginning
of
the
rout
of
civilisation
-
of
the
massacre
of
mankind
=
directly
below
him
the
balloonist
would
have
seen
the
-
network
of
streets
far
and
wide
houses
churches
squares
-
crescents
gardens
-
already
derelict
-
spread
out
like
a
huge
-
map
and
in
the
southward
blotted
over
ealing
richmond
-
wimbledon
it
would
have
seemed
as
if
some
monstrous
pen
had
-
flung
ink
upon
the
chart
steadily
incessantly
each
black
-
splash
grew
and
spread
shooting
out
ramifications
this
way
-
and
that
now
banking
itself
against
rising
ground
now
-
pouring
swiftly
over
a
crest
into
a
new~found
valley
-
exactly
as
a
gout
of
ink
would
spread
itself
upon
blotting
-
paper
=
and
beyond
over
the
blue
hills
that
rise
southward
of
the
-
river
the
glittering
martians
went
to
and
fro
calmly
and
-
methodically
spreading
their
poison
cloud
over
this
patch
of
-
country
and
then
over
that
laying
it
again
with
their
steam
-
jets
when
it
had
served
its
purpose
and
taking
possession
-
of
the
conquered
country
they
do
not
seem
to
have
aimed
at
-
extermination
so
much
as
at
complete
demoralisation
and
the
-
destruction
of
any
opposition
they
exploded
any
stores
of
-
powder
they
came
upon
cut
every
telegraph
and
wrecked
the
-
railways
here
and
there
they
were
hamstringing
mankind
-
they
seemed
in
no
hurry
to
extend
the
field
of
their
-
operations
and
did
not
come
beyond
the
central
part
of
-
london
all
that
day
it
is
possible
that
a
very
considerable
-
number
of
people
in
london
stuck
to
their
houses
through
-
monday
morning
certain
it
is
that
many
died
at
home
-
suffocated
by
the
black
smoke
=
until
about
midday
the
pool
of
london
was
an
astonishing
-
scene
steamboats
and
shipping
of
all
sorts
lay
there
-
tempted
by
the
enormous
sums
of
money
offered
by
fugitives
-
and
it
is
said
that
many
who
swam
out
to
these
vessels
were
-
thrust
off
with
boathooks
and
drowned
about
one
o'clock
in
-
the
afternoon
the
thinning
remnant
of
a
cloud
of
the
black
-
vapour
appeared
between
the
arches
of
blackfriars
bridge
at
-
that
the
pool
became
a
scene
of
mad
confusion
fighting
and
-
collision
and
for
some
time
a
multitude
of
boats
and
barges
-
jammed
in
the
northern
arch
of
the
tower
bridge
and
the
-
sailors
and
lightermen
had
to
fight
savagely
against
the
-
people
who
swarmed
upon
them
from
the
riverfront
people
-
were
actually
clambering
down
the
piers
of
the
bridge
from
-
above
=
when
an
hour
later
a
martian
appeared
beyond
the
clock
-
tower
and
waded
down
the
river
nothing
but
wreckage
floated
-
above
limehouse
=
of
the
falling
of
the
fifth
cylinder
i
have
presently
to
-
tell
the
sixth
star
fell
at
wimbledon
my
brother
keeping
-
watch
beside
the
women
in
the
chaise
in
a
meadow
saw
the
-
green
flash
of
it
far
beyond
the
hills
on
tuesday
the
-
little
party
still
set
upon
getting
across
the
sea
made
-
its
way
through
the
swarming
country
towards
colchester
the
-
news
that
the
martians
were
now
in
possession
of
the
whole
-
of
london
was
confirmed
they
had
been
seen
at
highgate
and
-
even
it
was
said
at
neasden
but
they
did
not
come
into
my
-
brother's
view
until
the
morrow
=
that
day
the
scattered
multitudes
began
to
realise
the
-
urgent
need
of
provisions
as
they
grew
hungry
the
rights
of
-
property
ceased
to
be
regarded
farmers
were
out
to
defend
-
their
cattle~sheds
granaries
and
ripening
root
crops
with
-
arms
in
their
hands
a
number
of
people
now
like
my
-
brother
had
their
faces
eastward
and
there
were
some
-
desperate
souls
even
going
back
towards
london
to
get
food
-
these
were
chiefly
people
from
the
northern
suburbs
whose
-
knowledge
of
the
black
smoke
came
by
hearsay
he
heard
that
-
about
half
the
members
of
the
government
had
gathered
at
-
birmingham
and
that
enormous
quantities
of
high
explosives
-
were
being
prepared
to
be
used
in
automatic
mines
across
the
-
midland
counties
=
he
was
also
told
that
the
midland
railway
company
had
-
replaced
the
desertions
of
the
first
day's
panic
had
-
resumed
traffic
and
was
running
northward
trains
from
st
-
albans
to
relieve
the
congestion
of
the
home
counties
there
-
was
also
a
placard
in
chipping
ongar
announcing
that
large
-
stores
of
flour
were
available
in
the
northern
towns
and
-
that
within
twenty~four
hours
bread
would
be
distributed
-
among
the
starving
people
in
the
neighbourhood
but
this
-
intelligence
did
not
deter
him
from
the
plan
of
escape
he
-
had
formed
and
the
three
pressed
eastward
all
day
and
-
heard
no
more
of
the
bread
distribution
than
this
promise
-
nor
as
a
matter
of
fact
did
anyone
else
hear
more
of
it
-
that
night
fell
the
seventh
star
falling
upon
primrose
-
hill
it
fell
while
miss
elphinstone
was
watching
for
she
-
took
that
duty
alternately
with
my
brother
she
saw
it
=
on
wednesday
the
three
fugitives
-
they
had
passed
the
night
-
in
a
field
of
unripe
wheat
-
reached
chelmsford
and
there
a
-
body
of
the
inhabitants
calling
itself
the
committee
of
-
public
supply
seized
the
pony
as
provisions
and
would
give
-
nothing
in
exchange
for
it
but
the
promise
of
a
share
in
it
-
the
next
day
here
there
were
rumours
of
martians
at
epping
-
and
news
of
the
destruction
of
waltham
abbey
powder
mills
in
-
a
vain
attempt
to
blow
up
one
of
the
invaders
=
people
were
watching
for
martians
here
from
the
church
-
towers
my
brother
very
luckily
for
him
as
it
chanced
-
preferred
to
push
on
at
once
to
the
coast
rather
than
wait
-
for
food
although
all
three
of
them
were
very
hungry
by
-
midday
they
passed
through
tillingham
which
strangely
-
enough
seemed
to
be
quite
silent
and
deserted
save
for
a
-
few
furtive
plunderers
hunting
for
food
near
tillingham
-
they
suddenly
came
in
sight
of
the
sea
and
the
most
amazing
-
crowd
of
shipping
of
all
sorts
that
it
is
possible
to
-
imagine
=
for
after
the
sailors
could
no
longer
come
up
the
thames
-
they
came
on
to
the
essex
coast
to
harwich
and
walton
and
-
clacton
and
afterwards
to
foulness
and
shoebury
to
bring
-
off
the
people
they
lay
in
a
huge
sickle~shaped
curve
that
-
vanished
into
mist
at
last
towards
the
naze
close
inshore
-
was
a
multitude
of
fishing
smacks
-
english
scotch
french
-
dutch
and
swedish
steam
launches
from
the
thames
yachts
-
electric
boats
and
beyond
were
ships
of
large
burden
a
-
multitude
of
filthy
colliers
trim
merchantmen
cattle
-
ships
passenger
boats
petroleum
tanks
ocean
tramps
an
-
old
white
transport
even
neat
white
and
grey
liners
from
-
southampton
and
hamburg
and
along
the
blue
coast
across
the
-
blackwater
my
brother
could
make
out
dimly
a
dense
swarm
of
-
boats
chaffering
with
the
people
on
the
beach
a
swarm
which
-
also
extended
up
the
blackwater
almost
to
maldon
=
about
a
couple
of
miles
out
lay
an
ironclad
very
low
in
the
-
water
almost
to
my
brother's
perception
like
a
-
water~logged
ship
this
was
the
ram
thunder
child
it
was
-
the
only
warship
in
sight
but
far
away
to
the
right
over
-
the
smooth
surface
of
the
sea
-
for
that
day
there
was
a
dead
-
calm
-
lay
a
serpent
of
black
smoke
to
mark
the
next
-
iron~clads
of
the
channel
fleet
which
hovered
in
an
-
extended
line
steam
up
and
ready
for
action
across
the
-
thames
estuary
during
the
course
of
the
martian
conquest
-
vigilant
and
yet
powerless
to
prevent
it
=
at
the
sight
of
the
sea
mrs
elphinstone
in
spite
of
the
-
assurances
of
her
sister~in~law
gave
way
to
panic
she
had
-
never
been
out
of
england
before
she
would
rather
die
than
-
trust
herself
friendless
in
a
foreign
country
and
so
forth
-
she
seemed
poor
woman
to
imagine
that
the
french
and
the
-
martians
might
prove
very
similar
she
had
been
growing
-
increasingly
hysterical
fearful
and
depressed
during
the
-
two
days'
journeyings
her
great
idea
was
to
return
to
-
stanmore
things
had
been
always
well
and
safe
at
stanmore
-
they
would
find
george
at
stanmore
=
it
was
with
the
greatest
difficulty
they
could
get
her
down
-
to
the
beach
where
presently
my
brother
succeeded
in
-
attracting
the
attention
of
some
men
on
a
paddle
steamer
-
from
the
thames
they
sent
a
boat
and
drove
a
bargain
for
-
thirty~six
pounds
for
the
three
the
steamer
was
going
-
these
men
said
to
ostend
=
it
was
about
two
o'clock
when
my
brother
having
paid
their
-
fares
at
the
gangway
found
himself
safely
aboard
the
-
steamboat
with
his
charges
there
was
food
aboard
albeit
at
-
exorbitant
prices
and
the
three
of
them
contrived
to
eat
a
-
meal
on
one
of
the
seats
forward
=
there
were
already
a
couple
of
score
of
passengers
aboard
-
some
of
whom
had
expended
their
last
money
in
securing
a
-
passage
but
the
captain
lay
off
the
blackwater
until
five
-
in
the
afternoon
picking
up
passengers
until
the
seated
-
decks
were
even
dangerously
crowded
he
would
probably
have
-
remained
longer
had
it
not
been
for
the
sound
of
guns
that
-
began
about
that
hour
in
the
south
as
if
in
answer
the
-
ironclad
seaward
fired
a
small
gun
and
hoisted
a
string
of
-
flags
a
jet
of
smoke
sprang
out
of
her
funnels
=
some
of
the
passengers
were
of
opinion
that
this
firing
came
-
from
shoeburyness
until
it
was
noticed
that
it
was
growing
-
louder
at
the
same
time
far
away
in
the
southeast
the
-
masts
and
upperworks
of
three
ironclads
rose
one
after
the
-
other
out
of
the
sea
beneath
clouds
of
black
smoke
but
my
-
brother's
attention
speedily
reverted
to
the
distant
firing
-
in
the
south
he
fancied
he
saw
a
column
of
smoke
rising
out
-
of
the
distant
grey
haze
=
the
little
steamer
was
already
flapping
her
way
eastward
of
-
the
big
crescent
of
shipping
and
the
low
essex
coast
was
-
growing
blue
and
hazy
when
a
martian
appeared
small
and
-
faint
in
the
remote
distance
advancing
along
the
muddy
-
coast
from
the
direction
of
foulness
at
that
the
captain
on
-
the
bridge
swore
at
the
top
of
his
voice
with
fear
and
anger
-
at
his
own
delay
and
the
paddles
seemed
infected
with
his
-
terror
every
soul
aboard
stood
at
the
bulwarks
or
on
the
-
seats
of
the
steamer
and
stared
at
that
distant
shape
-
higher
than
the
trees
or
church
towers
inland
and
advancing
-
with
a
leisurely
parody
of
a
human
stride
=
it
was
the
first
martian
my
brother
had
seen
and
he
stood
-
more
amazed
than
terrified
watching
this
titan
advancing
-
deliberately
towards
the
shipping
wading
farther
and
-
farther
into
the
water
as
the
coast
fell
away
then
far
-
away
beyond
the
crouch
came
another
striding
over
some
-
stunted
trees
and
then
yet
another
still
farther
off
-
wading
deeply
through
a
shiny
mudflat
that
seemed
to
hang
-
halfway
up
between
sea
and
sky
they
were
all
stalking
-
seaward
as
if
to
intercept
the
escape
of
the
multitudinous
-
vessels
that
were
crowded
between
foulness
and
the
naze
in
-
spite
of
the
throbbing
exertions
of
the
engines
of
the
-
little
paddle~boat
and
the
pouring
foam
that
her
wheels
-
flung
behind
her
she
receded
with
terrifying
slowness
from
-
this
ominous
advance
=
glancing
northwestward
my
brother
saw
the
large
crescent
of
-
shipping
already
writhing
with
the
approaching
terror
one
-
ship
passing
behind
another
another
coming
round
from
-
broadside
to
end
on
steamships
whistling
and
giving
off
-
volumes
of
steam
sails
being
let
out
launches
rushing
-
hither
and
thither
he
was
so
fascinated
by
this
and
by
the
-
creeping
danger
away
to
the
left
that
he
had
no
eyes
for
-
anything
seaward
and
then
a
swift
movement
of
the
steamboat
-
she
had
suddenly
come
round
to
avoid
being
run
down
flung
-
him
headlong
from
the
seat
upon
which
he
was
standing
there
-
was
a
shouting
all
about
him
a
trampling
of
feet
and
a
-
cheer
that
seemed
to
be
answered
faintly
the
steamboat
-
lurched
and
rolled
him
over
upon
his
hands
=
he
sprang
to
his
feet
and
saw
to
starboard
and
not
a
-
hundred
yards
from
their
heeling
pitching
boat
a
vast
iron
-
bulk
like
the
blade
of
a
plough
tearing
through
the
water
-
tossing
it
on
either
side
in
huge
waves
of
foam
that
leaped
-
towards
the
steamer
flinging
her
paddles
helplessly
in
the
-
air
and
then
sucking
her
deck
down
almost
to
the
waterline
=
a
douche
of
spray
blinded
my
brother
for
a
moment
when
his
-
eyes
were
clear
again
he
saw
the
monster
had
passed
and
was
-
rushing
landward
big
iron
upperworks
rose
out
of
this
-
headlong
structure
and
from
that
twin
funnels
projected
and
-
spat
a
smoking
blast
shot
with
fire
it
was
the
torpedo
ram
-
thunder
child
steaming
headlong
coming
to
the
rescue
of
-
the
threatened
shipping
=
keeping
his
footing
on
the
heaving
deck
by
clutching
the
-
bulwarks
my
brother
looked
past
this
charging
leviathan
at
-
the
martians
again
and
he
saw
the
three
of
them
now
close
-
together
and
standing
so
far
out
to
sea
that
their
tripod
-
supports
were
almost
entirely
submerged
thus
sunken
and
-
seen
in
remote
perspective
they
appeared
far
less
-
formidable
than
the
huge
iron
bulk
in
whose
wake
the
steamer
-
was
pitching
so
helplessly
it
would
seem
they
were
-
regarding
this
new
antagonist
with
astonishment
to
their
-
intelligence
it
may
be
the
giant
was
even
such
another
as
-
themselves
the
thunder
child
fired
no
gun
but
simply
drove
-
full
speed
towards
them
it
was
probably
her
not
firing
that
-
enabled
her
to
get
so
near
the
enemy
as
she
did
they
did
-
not
know
what
to
make
of
her
one
shell
and
they
would
have
-
sent
her
to
the
bottom
forthwith
with
the
heat~ray
=
she
was
steaming
at
such
a
pace
that
in
a
minute
she
seemed
-
halfway
between
the
steamboat
and
the
martians
-
a
-
diminishing
black
bulk
against
the
receding
horizontal
-
expanse
of
the
essex
coast
=
suddenly
the
foremost
martian
lowered
his
tube
and
-
discharged
a
canister
of
the
black
gas
at
the
ironclad
it
-
hit
her
larboard
side
and
glanced
off
in
an
inky
jet
that
-
rolled
away
to
seaward
an
unfolding
torrent
of
black
smoke
-
from
which
the
ironclad
drove
clear
to
the
watchers
from
-
the
steamer
low
in
the
water
and
with
the
sun
in
their
-
eyes
it
seemed
as
though
she
were
already
among
the
-
martians
=
they
saw
the
gaunt
figures
separating
and
rising
out
of
the
-
water
as
they
retreated
shoreward
and
one
of
them
raised
-
the
camera~like
generator
of
the
heat~ray
he
held
it
-
pointing
obliquely
downward
and
a
bank
of
steam
sprang
from
-
the
water
at
its
touch
it
must
have
driven
through
the
iron
-
of
the
ship's
side
like
a
white~hot
iron
rod
through
paper
=
a
flicker
of
flame
went
up
through
the
rising
steam
and
-
then
the
martian
reeled
and
staggered
in
another
moment
he
-
was
cut
down
and
a
great
body
of
water
and
steam
shot
high
-
in
the
air
the
guns
of
the
thunder
child
sounded
through
-
the
reek
going
off
one
after
the
other
and
one
shot
-
splashed
the
water
high
close
by
the
steamer
ricocheted
-
towards
the
other
flying
ships
to
the
north
and
smashed
a
-
smack
to
matchwood
=
but
no
one
heeded
that
very
much
at
the
sight
of
the
-
martian's
collapse
the
captain
on
the
bridge
yelled
-
inarticulately
and
all
the
crowding
passengers
on
the
-
steamer's
stern
shouted
together
and
then
they
yelled
-
again
for
surging
out
beyond
the
white
tumult
drove
-
something
long
and
black
the
flames
streaming
from
its
-
middle
parts
its
ventilators
and
funnels
spouting
fire
=
she
was
alive
still
the
steering
gear
it
seems
was
intact
-
and
her
engines
working
she
headed
straight
for
a
second
-
martian
and
was
within
a
hundred
yards
of
him
when
the
-
heat~ray
came
to
bear
then
with
a
violent
thud
a
blinding
-
flash
her
decks
her
funnels
leaped
upward
the
martian
-
staggered
with
the
violence
of
her
explosion
and
in
another
-
moment
the
flaming
wreckage
still
driving
forward
with
the
-
impetus
of
its
pace
had
struck
him
and
crumpled
him
up
like
-
a
thing
of
cardboard
my
brother
shouted
involuntarily
a
-
boiling
tumult
of
steam
hid
everything
again
=
two
yelled
the
captain
=
everyone
was
shouting
the
whole
steamer
from
end
to
end
-
rang
with
frantic
cheering
that
was
taken
up
first
by
one
-
and
then
by
all
in
the
crowding
multitude
of
ships
and
boats
-
that
was
driving
out
to
sea
=
the
steam
hung
upon
the
water
for
many
minutes
hiding
the
-
third
martian
and
the
coast
altogether
and
all
this
time
-
the
boat
was
paddling
steadily
out
to
sea
and
away
from
the
-
fight
and
when
at
last
the
confusion
cleared
the
drifting
-
bank
of
black
vapour
intervened
and
nothing
of
the
thunder
-
child
could
be
made
out
nor
could
the
third
martian
be
-
seen
but
the
ironclads
to
seaward
were
now
quite
close
and
-
standing
in
towards
shore
past
the
steamboat
=
the
little
vessel
continued
to
beat
its
way
seaward
and
the
-
ironclads
receded
slowly
towards
the
coast
which
was
hidden
-
still
by
a
marbled
bank
of
vapour
part
steam
part
black
-
gas
eddying
and
combining
in
the
strangest
way
the
fleet
-
of
refugees
was
scattering
to
the
northeast
several
smacks
-
were
sailing
between
the
ironclads
and
the
steamboat
after
-
a
time
and
before
they
reached
the
sinking
cloud
bank
the
-
warships
turned
northward
and
then
abruptly
went
about
and
-
passed
into
the
thickening
haze
of
evening
southward
the
-
coast
grew
faint
and
at
last
indistinguishable
amid
the
low
-
banks
of
clouds
that
were
gathering
about
the
sinking
sun
=
then
suddenly
out
of
the
golden
haze
of
the
sunset
came
the
-
vibration
of
guns
and
a
form
of
black
shadows
moving
-
everyone
struggled
to
the
rail
of
the
steamer
and
peered
-
into
the
blinding
furnace
of
the
west
but
nothing
was
to
be
-
distinguished
clearly
a
mass
of
smoke
rose
slanting
and
-
barred
the
face
of
the
sun
the
steamboat
throbbed
on
its
-
way
through
an
interminable
suspense
=
the
sun
sank
into
grey
clouds
the
sky
flushed
and
darkened
-
the
evening
star
trembled
into
sight
it
was
deep
twilight
-
when
the
captain
cried
out
and
pointed
my
brother
strained
-
his
eyes
something
rushed
up
into
the
sky
out
of
the
-
greyness
-
rushed
slantingly
upward
and
very
swiftly
into
the
-
luminous
clearness
above
the
clouds
in
the
western
sky
-
something
flat
and
broad
and
very
large
that
swept
round
-
in
a
vast
curve
grew
smaller
sank
slowly
and
vanished
-
again
into
the
grey
mystery
of
the
night
and
as
it
flew
it
-
rained
down
darkness
upon
the
land
=
in
the
first
book
i
have
wandered
so
much
from
my
own
-
adventures
to
tell
of
the
experiences
of
my
brother
that
all
-
through
the
last
two
chapters
i
and
the
curate
have
been
-
lurking
in
the
empty
house
at
halliford
whither
we
fled
to
-
escape
the
black
smoke
there
i
will
resume
we
stopped
-
there
all
sunday
night
and
all
the
next
day
-
the
day
of
the
-
panic
-
in
a
little
island
of
daylight
cut
off
by
the
black
-
smoke
from
the
rest
of
the
world
we
could
do
nothing
but
-
wait
in
aching
inactivity
during
those
two
weary
days
=
my
mind
was
occupied
by
anxiety
for
my
wife
i
figured
her
-
at
leatherhead
terrified
in
danger
mourning
me
already
as
-
a
dead
man
i
paced
the
rooms
and
cried
aloud
when
i
thought
-
of
how
i
was
cut
off
from
her
of
all
that
might
happen
to
-
her
in
my
absence
my
cousin
i
knew
was
brave
enough
for
any
-
emergency
but
he
was
not
the
sort
of
man
to
realise
danger
-
quickly
to
rise
promptly
what
was
needed
now
was
not
-
bravery
but
circumspection
my
only
consolation
was
to
-
believe
that
the
martians
were
moving
londonward
and
away
-
from
her
such
vague
anxieties
keep
the
mind
sensitive
and
-
painful
i
grew
very
weary
and
irritable
with
the
curate's
-
perpetual
ejaculations
i
tired
of
the
sight
of
his
selfish
-
despair
after
some
ineffectual
remonstrance
i
kept
away
-
from
him
staying
in
a
room
-
evidently
a
children's
-
schoolroom
-
containing
globes
forms
and
copybooks
when
he
-
followed
me
thither
i
went
to
a
box
room
at
the
top
of
the
-
house
and
in
order
to
be
alone
with
my
aching
miseries
-
locked
myself
in
=
we
were
hopelessly
hemmed
in
by
the
black
smoke
all
that
day
-
and
the
morning
of
the
next
there
were
signs
of
people
in
-
the
next
house
on
sunday
evening
-
a
face
at
a
window
and
-
moving
lights
and
later
the
slamming
of
a
door
but
i
do
-
not
know
who
these
people
were
nor
what
became
of
them
we
-
saw
nothing
of
them
next
day
the
black
smoke
drifted
slowly
-
riverward
all
through
monday
morning
creeping
nearer
and
-
nearer
to
us
driving
at
last
along
the
roadway
outside
the
-
house
that
hid
us
=
a
martian
came
across
the
fields
about
midday
laying
the
-
stuff
with
a
jet
of
superheated
steam
that
hissed
against
-
the
walls
smashed
all
the
windows
it
touched
and
scalded
-
the
curate's
hand
as
he
fled
out
of
the
front
room
when
at
-
last
we
crept
across
the
sodden
rooms
and
looked
out
again
-
the
country
northward
was
as
though
a
black
snowstorm
had
-
passed
over
it
looking
towards
the
river
we
were
-
astonished
to
see
an
unaccountable
redness
mingling
with
the
-
black
of
the
scorched
meadows
=
for
a
time
we
did
not
see
how
this
change
affected
our
-
position
save
that
we
were
relieved
of
our
fear
of
the
-
black
smoke
but
later
i
perceived
that
we
were
no
longer
-
hemmed
in
that
now
we
might
get
away
so
soon
as
i
realised
-
that
the
way
of
escape
was
open
my
dream
of
action
-
returned
but
the
curate
was
lethargic
unreasonable
=
we
are
safe
here
he
repeated
safe
here
=
i
resolved
to
leave
him
-
would
that
i
had
wiser
now
for
the
-
artilleryman's
teaching
i
sought
out
food
and
drink
i
had
-
found
oil
and
rags
for
my
burns
and
i
also
took
a
hat
and
a
-
flannel
shirt
that
i
found
in
one
of
the
bedrooms
when
it
-
was
clear
to
him
that
i
meant
to
go
alone
-
had
reconciled
-
myself
to
going
alone
-
he
suddenly
roused
himself
to
come
-
and
all
being
quiet
throughout
the
afternoon
we
started
-
about
five
o'clock
as
i
should
judge
along
the
blackened
-
road
to
sunbury
=
in
sunbury
and
at
intervals
along
the
road
were
dead
-
bodies
lying
in
contorted
attitudes
horses
as
well
as
men
-
overturned
carts
and
luggage
all
covered
thickly
with
black
-
dust
that
pall
of
cindery
powder
made
me
think
of
what
i
-
had
read
of
the
destruction
of
pompeii
we
got
to
hampton
-
court
without
misadventure
our
minds
full
of
strange
and
-
unfamiliar
appearances
and
at
hampton
court
our
eyes
were
-
relieved
to
find
a
patch
of
green
that
had
escaped
the
-
suffocating
drift
we
went
through
bushey
park
with
its
-
deer
going
to
and
fro
under
the
chestnuts
and
some
men
and
-
women
hurrying
in
the
distance
towards
hampton
and
so
we
-
came
to
twickenham
these
were
the
first
people
we
saw
=
away
across
the
road
the
woods
beyond
ham
and
petersham
were
-
still
afire
twickenham
was
uninjured
by
either
heat~ray
or
-
black
smoke
and
there
were
more
people
about
here
though
-
none
could
give
us
news
for
the
most
part
they
were
like
-
ourselves
taking
advantage
of
a
lull
to
shift
their
-
quarters
i
have
an
impression
that
many
of
the
houses
here
-
were
still
occupied
by
scared
inhabitants
too
frightened
-
even
for
flight
here
too
the
evidence
of
a
hasty
rout
was
-
abundant
along
the
road
i
remember
most
vividly
three
-
smashed
bicycles
in
a
heap
pounded
into
the
road
by
the
-
wheels
of
subsequent
carts
we
crossed
richmond
bridge
about
-
half
past
eight
we
hurried
across
the
exposed
bridge
of
-
course
but
i
noticed
floating
down
the
stream
a
number
of
-
red
masses
some
many
feet
across
i
did
not
know
what
these
-
were
-
there
was
no
time
for
scrutiny
-
and
i
put
a
more
-
horrible
interpretation
on
them
than
they
deserved
here
-
again
on
the
surrey
side
were
black
dust
that
had
once
been
-
smoke
and
dead
bodies
-
a
heap
near
the
approach
to
the
-
station
but
we
had
no
glimpse
of
the
martians
until
we
were
-
some
way
towards
barnes
=
we
saw
in
the
blackened
distance
a
group
of
three
people
-
running
down
a
side
street
towards
the
river
but
otherwise
-
it
seemed
deserted
up
the
hill
richmond
town
was
burning
-
briskly
outside
the
town
of
richmond
there
was
no
trace
of
-
the
black
smoke
=
then
suddenly
as
we
approached
kew
came
a
number
of
people
-
running
and
the
upperworks
of
a
martian
fighting~machine
-
loomed
in
sight
over
the
housetops
not
a
hundred
yards
away
-
from
us
we
stood
aghast
at
our
danger
and
had
the
martian
-
looked
down
we
must
immediately
have
perished
we
were
so
-
terrified
that
we
dared
not
go
on
but
turned
aside
and
hid
-
in
a
shed
in
a
garden
there
the
curate
crouched
weeping
-
silently
and
refusing
to
stir
again
=
but
my
fixed
idea
of
reaching
leatherhead
would
not
let
me
-
rest
and
in
the
twilight
i
ventured
out
again
i
went
-
through
a
shrubbery
and
along
a
passage
beside
a
big
house
-
standing
in
its
own
grounds
and
so
emerged
upon
the
road
-
towards
kew
the
curate
i
left
in
the
shed
but
he
came
-
hurrying
after
me
=
that
second
start
was
the
most
foolhardy
thing
i
ever
did
-
for
it
was
manifest
the
martians
were
about
us
no
sooner
-
had
the
curate
overtaken
me
than
we
saw
either
the
-
fighting~machine
we
had
seen
before
or
another
far
away
-
across
the
meadows
in
the
direction
of
kew
lodge
four
or
-
five
little
black
figures
hurried
before
it
across
the
-
green~grey
of
the
field
and
in
a
moment
it
was
evident
this
-
martian
pursued
them
in
three
strides
he
was
among
them
-
and
they
ran
radiating
from
his
feet
in
all
directions
he
-
used
no
heat~ray
to
destroy
them
but
picked
them
up
one
by
-
one
apparently
he
tossed
them
into
the
great
metallic
-
carrier
which
projected
behind
him
much
as
a
workman's
-
basket
hangs
over
his
shoulder
=
it
was
the
first
time
i
realised
that
the
martians
might
-
have
any
other
purpose
than
destruction
with
defeated
-
humanity
we
stood
for
a
moment
petrified
then
turned
and
-
fled
through
a
gate
behind
us
into
a
walled
garden
fell
-
into
rather
than
found
a
fortunate
ditch
and
lay
there
-
scarce
daring
to
whisper
to
each
other
until
the
stars
were
-
out
=
i
suppose
it
was
nearly
eleven
o'clock
before
we
gathered
-
courage
to
start
again
no
longer
venturing
into
the
road
-
but
sneaking
along
hedgerows
and
through
plantations
and
-
watching
keenly
through
the
darkness
he
on
the
right
and
i
-
on
the
left
for
the
martians
who
seemed
to
be
all
about
-
us
in
one
place
we
blundered
upon
a
scorched
and
blackened
-
area
now
cooling
and
ashen
and
a
number
of
scattered
dead
-
bodies
of
men
burned
horribly
about
the
heads
and
trunks
-
but
with
their
legs
and
boots
mostly
intact
and
of
dead
-
horses
fifty
feet
perhaps
behind
a
line
of
four
ripped
-
guns
and
smashed
gun
carriages
=
sheen
it
seemed
had
escaped
destruction
but
the
place
was
-
silent
and
deserted
here
we
happened
on
no
dead
though
the
-
night
was
too
dark
for
us
to
see
into
the
side
roads
of
the
-
place
in
sheen
my
companion
suddenly
complained
of
-
faintness
and
thirst
and
we
decided
to
try
one
of
the
-
houses
=
the
first
house
we
entered
after
a
little
difficulty
with
-
the
window
was
a
small
semi~detached
villa
and
i
found
-
nothing
eatable
left
in
the
place
but
some
mouldy
cheese
-
there
was
however
water
to
drink
and
i
took
a
hatchet
-
which
promised
to
be
useful
in
our
next
house~breaking
=
we
then
crossed
to
a
place
where
the
road
turns
towards
-
mortlake
here
there
stood
a
white
house
within
a
walled
-
garden
and
in
the
pantry
of
this
domicile
we
found
a
store
-
of
food
-
two
loaves
of
bread
in
a
pan
an
uncooked
steak
-
and
the
half
of
a
ham
i
give
this
catalogue
so
precisely
-
because
as
it
happened
we
were
destined
to
subsist
upon
-
this
store
for
the
next
fortnight
bottled
beer
stood
under
-
a
shelf
and
there
were
two
bags
of
haricot
beans
and
some
-
limp
lettuces
this
pantry
opened
into
a
kind
of
wash~up
-
kitchen
and
in
this
was
firewood
there
was
also
a
-
cupboard
in
which
we
found
nearly
a
dozen
of
burgundy
-
tinned
soups
and
salmon
and
two
tins
of
biscuits
=
we
sat
in
the
adjacent
kitchen
in
the
dark
-
for
we
dared
not
-
strike
a
light
-
and
ate
bread
and
ham
and
drank
beer
out
of
-
the
same
bottle
the
curate
who
was
still
timorous
and
-
restless
was
now
oddly
enough
for
pushing
on
and
i
was
-
urging
him
to
keep
up
his
strength
by
eating
when
the
thing
-
happened
that
was
to
imprison
us
=
it
can't
be
midnight
yet
i
said
and
then
came
a
blinding
-
glare
of
vivid
green
light
everything
in
the
kitchen
leaped
-
out
clearly
visible
in
green
and
black
and
vanished
again
-
and
then
followed
such
a
concussion
as
i
have
never
heard
-
before
or
since
so
close
on
the
heels
of
this
as
to
seem
-
instantaneous
came
a
thud
behind
me
a
clash
of
glass
a
-
crash
and
rattle
of
falling
masonry
all
about
us
and
the
-
plaster
of
the
ceiling
came
down
upon
us
smashing
into
a
-
multitude
of
fragments
upon
our
heads
i
was
knocked
-
headlong
across
the
floor
against
the
oven
handle
and
-
stunned
i
was
insensible
for
a
long
time
the
curate
told
-
me
and
when
i
came
to
we
were
in
darkness
again
and
he
-
with
a
face
wet
as
i
found
afterwards
with
blood
from
a
-
cut
forehead
was
dabbing
water
over
me
=
for
some
time
i
could
not
recollect
what
had
happened
then
-
things
came
to
me
slowly
a
bruise
on
my
temple
asserted
-
itself
=
are
you
better
asked
the
curate
in
a
whisper
=
at
last
i
answered
him
i
sat
up
=
don't
move
he
said
the
floor
is
covered
with
smashed
-
crockery
from
the
dresser
you
can't
possibly
move
without
-
making
a
noise
and
i
fancy
they
are
outside
=
we
both
sat
quite
silent
so
that
we
could
scarcely
hear
-
each
other
breathing
everything
seemed
deadly
still
but
-
once
something
near
us
some
plaster
or
broken
brickwork
-
slid
down
with
a
rumbling
sound
outside
and
very
near
was
-
an
intermittent
metallic
rattle
=
that
said
the
curate
when
presently
it
happened
again
=
yes
i
said
but
what
is
it
=
a
martian
said
the
curate
=
i
listened
again
=
it
was
not
like
the
heat~ray
i
said
and
for
a
time
i
was
-
inclined
to
think
one
of
the
great
fighting~machines
had
-
stumbled
against
the
house
as
i
had
seen
one
stumble
-
against
the
tower
of
shepperton
church
=
our
situation
was
so
strange
and
incomprehensible
that
for
-
three
or
four
hours
until
the
dawn
came
we
scarcely
moved
-
and
then
the
light
filtered
in
not
through
the
window
-
which
remained
black
but
through
a
triangular
aperture
-
between
a
beam
and
a
heap
of
broken
bricks
in
the
wall
-
behind
us
the
interior
of
the
kitchen
we
now
saw
greyly
for
-
the
first
time
=
the
window
had
been
burst
in
by
a
mass
of
garden
mould
-
which
flowed
over
the
table
upon
which
we
had
been
sitting
-
and
lay
about
our
feet
outside
the
soil
was
banked
high
-
against
the
house
at
the
top
of
the
window
frame
we
could
-
see
an
uprooted
drainpipe
the
floor
was
littered
with
-
smashed
hardware
the
end
of
the
kitchen
towards
the
house
-
was
broken
into
and
since
the
daylight
shone
in
there
it
-
was
evident
the
greater
part
of
the
house
had
collapsed
-
contrasting
vividly
with
this
ruin
was
the
neat
dresser
-
stained
in
the
fashion
pale
green
and
with
a
number
of
-
copper
and
tin
vessels
below
it
the
wallpaper
imitating
-
blue
and
white
tiles
and
a
couple
of
coloured
supplements
-
fluttering
from
the
walls
above
the
kitchen
range
=
as
the
dawn
grew
clearer
we
saw
through
the
gap
in
the
wall
-
the
body
of
a
martian
standing
sentinel
i
suppose
over
-
the
still
glowing
cylinder
at
the
sight
of
that
we
crawled
-
as
circumspectly
as
possible
out
of
the
twilight
of
the
-
kitchen
into
the
darkness
of
the
scullery
=
abruptly
the
right
interpretation
dawned
upon
my
mind
=
the
fifth
cylinder
i
whispered
the
fifth
shot
from
-
mars
has
struck
this
house
and
buried
us
under
the
ruins
=
for
a
time
the
curate
was
silent
and
then
he
whispered
=
god
have
mercy
upon
us
=
i
heard
him
presently
whimpering
to
himself
=
save
for
that
sound
we
lay
quite
still
in
the
scullery
i
-
for
my
part
scarce
dared
breathe
and
sat
with
my
eyes
fixed
-
on
the
faint
light
of
the
kitchen
door
i
could
just
see
the
-
curate's
face
a
dim
oval
shape
and
his
collar
and
cuffs
-
outside
there
began
a
metallic
hammering
then
a
violent
-
hooting
and
then
again
after
a
quiet
interval
a
hissing
-
like
the
hissing
of
an
engine
these
noises
for
the
most
-
part
problematical
continued
intermittently
and
seemed
if
-
anything
to
increase
in
number
as
time
wore
on
presently
a
-
measured
thudding
and
a
vibration
that
made
everything
about
-
us
quiver
and
the
vessels
in
the
pantry
ring
and
shift
-
began
and
continued
once
the
light
was
eclipsed
and
the
-
ghostly
kitchen
doorway
became
absolutely
dark
for
many
-
hours
we
must
have
crouched
there
silent
and
shivering
-
until
our
tired
attention
failed
=
at
last
i
found
myself
awake
and
very
hungry
i
am
inclined
-
to
believe
we
must
have
spent
the
greater
portion
of
a
day
-
before
that
awakening
my
hunger
was
at
a
stride
so
-
insistent
that
it
moved
me
to
action
i
told
the
curate
i
-
was
going
to
seek
food
and
felt
my
way
towards
the
pantry
-
he
made
me
no
answer
but
so
soon
as
i
began
eating
the
-
faint
noise
i
made
stirred
him
up
and
i
heard
him
crawling
-
after
me
=
after
eating
we
crept
back
to
the
scullery
and
there
i
must
-
have
dozed
again
for
when
presently
i
looked
round
i
was
-
alone
the
thudding
vibration
continued
with
wearisome
-
persistence
i
whispered
for
the
curate
several
times
and
-
at
last
felt
my
way
to
the
door
of
the
kitchen
it
was
still
-
daylight
and
i
perceived
him
across
the
room
lying
against
-
the
triangular
hole
that
looked
out
upon
the
martians
his
-
shoulders
were
hunched
so
that
his
head
was
hidden
from
me
=
i
could
hear
a
number
of
noises
almost
like
those
in
an
-
engine
shed
and
the
place
rocked
with
that
beating
thud
-
through
the
aperture
in
the
wall
i
could
see
the
top
of
a
-
tree
touched
with
gold
and
the
warm
blue
of
a
tranquil
-
evening
sky
for
a
minute
or
so
i
remained
watching
the
-
curate
and
then
i
advanced
crouching
and
stepping
with
-
extreme
care
amid
the
broken
crockery
that
littered
the
-
floor
=
i
touched
the
curate's
leg
and
he
started
so
violently
that
-
a
mass
of
plaster
went
sliding
down
outside
and
fell
with
a
-
loud
impact
i
gripped
his
arm
fearing
he
might
cry
out
-
and
for
a
long
time
we
crouched
motionless
then
i
turned
to
-
see
how
much
of
our
rampart
remained
the
detachment
of
the
-
plaster
had
left
a
vertical
slit
open
in
the
debris
and
by
-
raising
myself
cautiously
across
a
beam
i
was
able
to
see
-
out
of
this
gap
into
what
had
been
overnight
a
quiet
-
suburban
roadway
vast
indeed
was
the
change
that
we
-
beheld
=
the
fifth
cylinder
must
have
fallen
right
into
the
midst
of
-
the
house
we
had
first
visited
the
building
had
vanished
-
completely
smashed
pulverised
and
dispersed
by
the
blow
-
the
cylinder
lay
now
far
beneath
the
original
-
foundations
-
deep
in
a
hole
already
vastly
larger
than
the
-
pit
i
had
looked
into
at
woking
the
earth
all
round
it
had
-
splashed
under
that
tremendous
impact
-
splashed
is
the
-
only
word
-
and
lay
in
heaped
piles
that
hid
the
masses
of
-
the
adjacent
houses
it
had
behaved
exactly
like
mud
under
-
the
violent
blow
of
a
hammer
our
house
had
collapsed
-
backward
the
front
portion
even
on
the
ground
floor
had
-
been
destroyed
completely
by
a
chance
the
kitchen
and
-
scullery
had
escaped
and
stood
buried
now
under
soil
and
-
ruins
closed
in
by
tons
of
earth
on
every
side
save
towards
-
the
cylinder
over
that
aspect
we
hung
now
on
the
very
edge
-
of
the
great
circular
pit
the
martians
were
engaged
in
-
making
the
heavy
beating
sound
was
evidently
just
behind
-
us
and
ever
and
again
a
bright
green
vapour
drove
up
like
a
-
veil
across
our
peephole
=
the
cylinder
was
already
opened
in
the
centre
of
the
pit
-
and
on
the
farther
edge
of
the
pit
amid