ChapterI
THEBLURRINGOFLINES
Itisimperativethatnowatonce，whilethesestupendouseventsarestillclearinmymind，Ishouldsetthemdownwiththatexactnessofdetailwhichtimemayblur。ButevenasIdoso，I
amoverwhelmedbythewonderofthefactthatitshouldbeourlittlegroupofthe"LostWorld"——ProfessorChallenger，ProfessorSummerlee，LordJohnRoxton，andmyself——whohavepassedthroughthisamazingexperience。
When，someyearsago，IchronicledintheDailyGazetteourepoch—makingjourneyinSouthAmerica，Ilittlethoughtthatitshouldeverfalltomylottotellanevenstrangerpersonalexperience，onewhichisuniqueinallhumanannalsandmuststandoutintherecordsofhistoryasagreatpeakamongthehumblefoothillswhichsurroundit。Theeventitselfwillalwaysbemarvellous，butthecircumstancesthatwefourweretogetheratthetimeofthisextraordinaryepisodecameaboutinamostnaturaland，indeed，inevitablefashion。IwillexplaintheeventswhichleduptoitasshortlyandasclearlyasIcan，thoughIamwellawarethatthefullerthedetailuponsuchasubjectthemorewelcomeitwillbetothereader，forthepubliccuriosityhasbeenandstillisinsatiable。
ItwasuponFriday，thetwenty—seventhofAugust——adateforevermemorableinthehistoryoftheworld——thatIwentdowntotheofficeofmypaperandaskedforthreedays’leaveofabsencefromMr。McArdle，whostillpresidedoverournewsdepartment。
ThegoodoldScotchmanshookhishead，scratchedhisdwindlingfringeofruddyfluff，andfinallyputhisreluctanceintowords。
"Iwasthinking，Mr。Malone，thatwecouldemployyoutoadvantagethesedays。Iwasthinkingtherewasastorythatyouaretheonlymanthatcouldhandleasitshouldbehandled。"
"Iamsorryforthat，"saidI，tryingtohidemydisappointment。
"OfcourseifIamneeded，thereisanendofthematter。Buttheengagementwasimportantandintimate。IfIcouldbespared————"
"Well，Idon’tseethatyoucan。"
Itwasbitter，butIhadtoputthebestfaceIcoulduponit。
Afterall，itwasmyownfault，forIshouldhaveknownbythistimethatajournalisthasnorighttomakeplansofhisown。
"ThenI’llthinknomoreofit，"saidIwithasmuchcheerfulnessasIcouldassumeatsoshortanotice。"Whatwasitthatyouwantedmetodo？"
"Well，itwasjusttointerviewthatdeevilofamandownatRotherfield。"
"Youdon’tmeanProfessorChallenger？"Icried。
"Aye，it’sjusthimthatIdomean。HeranyoungAlecSimpsonoftheCourieramiledownthehighroadlastweekbythecollarofhiscoatandtheslackofhisbreeches。You’llhavereadofit，likely，inthepolicereport。Ourboyswouldassooninterviewaloosealligatorinthezoo。Butyoucoulddoit，I’mthinking——anoldfriendlikeyou。"
"Why，"saidI，greatlyrelieved，"thismakesitalleasy。ItsohappensthatitwastovisitProfessorChallengeratRotherfieldthatIwasaskingforleaveofabsence。Thefactis，thatitistheanniversaryofourmainadventureontheplateauthreeyearsago，andhehasaskedourwholepartydowntohishousetoseehimandcelebratetheoccasion。"
"Capital!"criedMcArdle，rubbinghishandsandbeamingthroughhisglasses。"Thenyouwillbeabletogethisopeenionsoutofhim。InanyothermanIwouldsayitwasallmoonshine，butthefellowhasmadegoodonce，andwhoknowsbuthemayagain!"
"Getwhatoutofhim？"Iasked。"Whathashebeendoing？"
"Haven’tyouseenhisletteron`ScientificPossibeelities’into—day’sTimes？"
"No。"
McArdlediveddownandpickedacopyfromthefloor。
"Readitaloud，"saidhe，indicatingacolumnwithhisfinger。
"I’dbegladtohearitagain，forIamnotsurenowthatIhavetheman’smeaningclearinmyhead。"
ThiswastheletterwhichIreadtothenewseditoroftheGazette：——
"SCIENTIFICPOSSIBILITIES"
"Sir，——Ihavereadwithamusement，notwhollyunmixedwithsomelesscomplimentaryemotion，thecomplacentandwhollyfatuousletterofJamesWilsonMacPhailwhichhaslatelyappearedinyourcolumnsuponthesubjectoftheblurringofFraunhofer’slinesinthespectrabothoftheplanetsandofthefixedstars。
Hedismissesthematterasofnosignificance。Toawiderintelligenceitmaywellseemofverygreatpossibleimportance——sogreatastoinvolvetheultimatewelfareofeveryman，woman，andchilduponthisplanet。Icanhardlyhope，bytheuseofscientificlanguage，toconveyanysenseofmymeaningtothoseineffectualpeoplewhogathertheirideasfromthecolumnsofadailynewspaper。Iwillendeavour，therefore，tocondescendtotheirlimitationandtoindicatethesituationbytheuseofahomelyanalogywhichwillbewithinthelimitsoftheintelligenceofyourreaders。"
"Man，he’sawonder——alivingwonder!"saidMcArdle，shakinghisheadreflectively。"He’dputupthefeathersofasucking—doveandsetupariotinaQuakers’meeting。NowonderhehasmadeLondontoohotforhim。It’sapeety，Mr。Malone，forit’sagrandbrain!We’lllet’shavetheanalogy。"
"Wewillsuppose，"Iread，"thatasmallbundleofconnectedcorkswaslaunchedinasluggishcurrentuponavoyageacrosstheAtlantic。Thecorksdriftslowlyonfromdaytodaywiththesameconditionsallroundthem。Ifthecorksweresentientwecouldimaginethattheywouldconsidertheseconditionstobepermanentandassured。Butwe，withoursuperiorknowledge，knowthatmanythingsmighthappentosurprisethecorks。Theymightpossiblyfloatupagainstaship，orasleepingwhale，orbecomeentangledinseaweed。Inanycase，theirvoyagewouldprobablyendbytheirbeingthrownupontherockycoastofLabrador。Butwhatcouldtheyknowofallthiswhiletheydriftedsogentlydaybydayinwhattheythoughtwasalimitlessandhomogeneousocean？
YourreaderswillpossiblycomprehendthattheAtlantic，inthisparable，standsforthemightyoceanofetherthroughwhichwedriftandthatthebunchofcorksrepresentsthelittleandobscureplanetarysystemtowhichwebelong。Athird—ratesun，withitsragtagandbobtailofinsignificantsatellites，wefloatunderthesamedailyconditionstowardssomeunknownend，somesqualidcatastrophewhichwilloverwhelmusattheultimateconfinesofspace，wherewearesweptoveranethericNiagaraordasheduponsomeunthinkableLabrador。Iseenoroomherefortheshallowandignorantoptimismofyourcorrespondent，Mr。
JamesWilsonMacPhail，butmanyreasonswhyweshouldwatchwithaverycloseandinterestedattentioneveryindicationofchangeinthosecosmicsurroundingsuponwhichourownultimatefatemaydepend。"
"Man，he’dhavemadeagrandmeenister，"saidMcArdle。"Itjustboomslikeanorgan。Let’sgetdountowhatitisthat’stroublinghim。"
ThegeneralblurringandshiftingofFraunhofer’slinesofthespectrumpoint，inmyopinion，toawidespreadcosmicchangeofasubtleandsingularcharacter。Lightfromaplanetisthereflectedlightofthesun。Lightfromastarisaself—producedlight。Butthespectrabothfromplanetsandstarshave，inthisinstance，allundergonethesamechange。Isit，then，achangeinthoseplanetsandstars？Tomesuchanideaisinconceivable。
Whatcommonchangecouldsimultaneouslycomeuponthemall？Isitachangeinourownatmosphere？Itispossible，butinthehighestdegreeimprobable，sinceweseenosignsofitaroundus，andchemicalanalysishasfailedtorevealit。What，then，isthethirdpossibility？Thatitmaybeachangeintheconductingmedium，inthatinfinitelyfineetherwhichextendsfromstartostarandpervadesthewholeuniverse。Deepinthatoceanwearefloatinguponaslowcurrent。Mightthatcurrentnotdriftusintobeltsofetherwhicharenovelandhavepropertiesofwhichwehaveneverconceived？Thereisachangesomewhere。Thiscosmicdisturbanceofthespectrumprovesit。
Itmaybeagoodchange。Itmaybeanevilone。Itmaybeaneutralone。Wedonotknow。Shallowobserversmaytreatthematterasonewhichcanbedisregarded，butonewholikemyselfispossessedofthedeeperintelligenceofthetruephilosopherwillunderstandthatthepossibilitiesoftheuniverseareincalculableandthatthewisestmanishewhoholdshimselfreadyfortheunexpected。Totakeanobviousexample，whowouldundertaketosaythatthemysteriousanduniversaloutbreakofillness，recordedinyourcolumnsthisverymorningashavingbrokenoutamongtheindigenousracesofSumatra，hasnoconnectionwithsomecosmicchangetowhichtheymayrespondmorequicklythanthemorecomplexpeoplesofEurope？Ithrowouttheideaforwhatitisworth。Toassertitis，inthepresentstage，asunprofitableastodenyit，butitisanunimaginativenumskullwhoistoodensetoperceivethatitiswellwithintheboundsofscientificpossibility。
"Yoursfaithfully，"GEORGEEDWARDCHALLENGER。
"THEBRIARS，ROTHERFIELD。"
"It’safine，steemulatingletter，"saidMcArdlethoughtfully，fittingacigaretteintothelongglasstubewhichheusedasaholder。"What’syouropeenionofit，Mr。Malone？"
Ihadtoconfessmytotalandhumiliatingignoranceofthesubjectatissue。What，forexample，wereFraunhofer’slines？
McArdlehadjustbeenstudyingthematterwiththeaidofourtamescientistattheoffice，andhepickedfromhisdesktwoofthosemany—colouredspectralbandswhichbearageneralresemblancetothehat—ribbonsofsomeyoungandambitiouscricketclub。Hepointedouttomethattherewerecertainblacklineswhichformedcrossbarsupontheseriesofbrilliantcoloursextendingfromtheredatoneendthroughgradationsoforange，yellow，green，blue，andindigotothevioletattheother。
"ThosedarkbandsareFraunhofer’slines，"saidhe。"Thecoloursarejustlightitself。Everylight，ifyoucansplititupwithaprism，givesthesamecolours。Theytellusnothing。Itisthelinesthatcount，becausetheyvaryaccordingtowhatitmaybethatproducesthelight。Itistheselinesthathavebeenblurredinsteadofclearthislastweek，andalltheastronomershavebeenquarrelingoverthereason。Here’saphotographoftheblurredlinesforourissueto—morrow。Thepublichavetakennointerestinthematteruptonow，butthisletterofChallenger’sintheTimeswillmakethemwakeup，I’mthinking。"
"AndthisaboutSumatra？"
"Well，it’salongcryfromablurredlineinaspectrumtoasickniggerinSumatra。Andyetthechielhasshownusoncebeforethatheknowswhathe’stalkingabout。Thereissomequeerillnessdownyonder，that’sbeyondalldoubt，andto—daythere’sacablejustcomeinfromSingaporethatthelighthousesareoutofactionintheStraitsofSundan，andtwoshipsonthebeachinconsequence。Anyhow，it’sgoodenoughforyoutointerviewChallengerupon。Ifyougetanythingdefinite，letushaveacolumnbyMonday。"
Iwascomingoutfromthenewseditor’sroom，turningovermynewmissioninmymind，whenIheardmynamecalledfromthewaiting—roombelow。Itwasatelegraph—boywithawirewhichhadbeenforwardedfrommylodgingsatStreatham。Themessagewasfromtheverymanwehadbeendiscussing，andranthus：——
Malone，17，HillStreet，Streatham。——Bringoxygen。——Challenger。
"Bringoxygen!"TheProfessor，asIrememberedhim，hadanelephantinesenseofhumourcapableofthemostclumsyandunwieldlygambollings。Wasthisoneofthosejokeswhichusedtoreducehimtouproariouslaughter，whenhiseyeswoulddisappearandhewasallgapingmouthandwaggingbeard，supremelyindifferenttothegravityofallaroundhim？Iturnedthewordsover，butcouldmakenothingevenremotelyjocoseoutofthem。
Thensurelyitwasaconciseorder——thoughaverystrangeone。
HewasthelastmanintheworldwhosedeliberatecommandI
shouldcaretodisobey。Possiblysomechemicalexperimentwasafoot；possibly————Well，itwasnobusinessofminetospeculateuponwhyhewantedit。Imustgetit。TherewasnearlyanhourbeforeIshouldcatchthetrainatVictoria。Itookataxi，andhavingascertainedtheaddressfromthetelephonebook，ImadefortheOxygenTubeSupplyCompanyinOxfordStreet。
AsIalightedonthepavementatmydestination，twoyouthsemergedfromthedooroftheestablishmentcarryinganironcylinder，which，withsometrouble，theyhoistedintoawaitingmotor—car。Anelderlymanwasattheirheelsscoldinganddirectinginacreaky，sardonicvoice。Heturnedtowardsme。
Therewasnomistakingthoseausterefeaturesandthatgoateebeard。Itwasmyoldcross—grainedcompanion，ProfessorSummerlee。
"What!"hecried。"Don’ttellmethatYOUhavehadoneofthesepreposteroustelegramsforoxygen？"
Iexhibitedit。
"Well，well!Ihavehadonetoo，and，asyousee，verymuchagainstthegrain，Ihaveacteduponit。Ourgoodfriendisasimpossibleasever。Theneedforoxygencouldnothavebeensourgentthathemustdeserttheusualmeansofsupplyandencroachuponthetimeofthosewhoarereallybusierthanhimself。Whycouldhenotorderitdirect？"
Icouldonlysuggestthatheprobablywanteditatonce。
"Orthoughthedid，whichisquiteanothermatter。Butitissuperfluousnowforyoutopurchaseany，sinceIhavethisconsiderablesupply。"
"Still，forsomereasonheseemstowishthatIshouldbringoxygentoo。Itwillbesafertodoexactlywhathetellsme。"
Accordingly，inspiteofmanygrumblesandremonstrancesfromSummerlee，Iorderedanadditionaltube，whichwasplacedwiththeotherinhismotor—car，forhehadofferedmealifttoVictoria。
Iturnedawaytopayoffmytaxi，thedriverofwhichwasverycantankerousandabusiveoverhisfare。AsIcamebacktoProfessorSummerlee，hewashavingafuriousaltercationwiththemenwhohadcarrieddowntheoxygen，hislittlewhitegoat’sbeardjerkingwithindignation。Oneofthefellowscalledhim，Iremember，"asillyoldbleachedcockatoo，"whichsoenragedhischauffeurthatheboundedoutofhisseattotakethepartofhisinsultedmaster，anditwasallwecoulddotopreventariotinthestreet。
Theselittlethingsmayseemtrivialtorelate，andpassedasmereincidentsatthetime。Itisonlynow，asIlookback，thatIseetheirrelationtothewholestorywhichIhavetounfold。
Thechauffeurmust，asitseemedtome，havebeenanoviceorelsehavelosthisnerveinthisdisturbance，forhedrovevilelyonthewaytothestation。Twicewenearlyhadcollisionswithotherequallyerraticvehicles，andIrememberremarkingtoSummerleethatthestandardofdrivinginLondonhadverymuchdeclined。OncewebrushedtheveryedgeofagreatcrowdwhichwaswatchingafightatthecorneroftheMall。Thepeople，whoweremuchexcited，raisedcriesofangerattheclumsydriving，andonefellowspranguponthestepandwavedastickaboveourheads。Ipushedhimoff，butweweregladwhenwehadgotclearofthemandsafeoutofthepark。Theselittleevents，comingoneaftertheother，leftmeveryjangledinmynerves，andIcouldseefrommycompanion’spetulantmannerthathisownpatiencehadgottoalowebb。
ButourgoodhumourwasrestoredwhenwesawLordJohnRoxtonwaitingforusupontheplatform，histall，thinfigurecladinayellowtweedshooting—suit。Hiskeenface，withthoseunforgettableeyes，sofierceandyetsohumorous，flushedwithpleasureatthesightofus。Hisruddyhairwasshotwithgrey，andthefurrowsuponhisbrowhadbeencutalittledeeperbyTime’schisel，butinallelsehewastheLordJohnwhohadbeenourgoodcomradeinthepast。
"Hullo，HerrProfessor!Hullo，youngfella!"heshoutedashecametowardus。
Heroaredwithamusementwhenhesawtheoxygencylindersupontheporter’strollybehindus。"Soyou’vegotthemtoo!"hecried。"Mineisinthevan。Whatevercantheolddearbeafter？"
"HaveyouseenhisletterintheTimes？"Iasked。
"Whatwasit？"
"Stuffandnonsense!"saidSummerleeHarshly。
"Well，it’satthebottomofthisoxygenbusiness，orIammistaken，"saidI。
"Stuffandnonsense!"criedSummerleeagainwithquiteunnecessaryviolence。Wehadallgotintoafirst—classsmoker，andhehadalreadylittheshortandcharredoldbriarpipewhichseemedtosingetheendofhislong，aggressivenose。
"FriendChallengerisacleverman，"saidhewithgreatvehemence。"Noonecandenyit。It’safoolthatdeniesit。
Lookathishat。There’sasixty—ouncebraininsideit——abigengine，runningsmooth，andturningoutcleanwork。Showmetheengine—houseandI’lltellyouthesizeoftheengine。
Butheisaborncharlatan——you’veheardmetellhimsotohisface——aborncharlatan，withakindofdramatictrickofjumpingintothelimelight。Thingsarequiet，sofriendChallengerseesachancetosetthepublictalkingabouthim。
Youdon’timaginethatheseriouslybelievesallthisnonsenseaboutachangeintheetherandadangertothehumanrace？Waseversuchacock—and—bullstoryinthislife？"
Hesatlikeanoldwhiteraven，croakingandshakingwithsardoniclaughter。
AwaveofangerpassedthroughmeasIlistenedtoSummerlee。
Itwasdisgracefulthatheshouldspeakthusoftheleaderwhohadbeenthesourceofallourfameandgivenussuchanexperienceasnomenhaveeverenjoyed。Ihadopenedmymouthtouttersomehotretort，whenLordJohngotbeforeme。
"YouhadascraponcebeforewitholdmanChallenger，"saidhesternly，"andyouweredownandoutinsidetenseconds。Itseemstome，ProfessorSummerlee，he’sbeyondyourclass，andthebestyoucandowithhimistowalkwideandleavehimalone。"
"Besides，"saidI，"hehasbeenagoodfriendtoeveryoneofus。Whateverhisfaultsmaybe，heisasstraightasaline，andIdon’tbelieveheeverspeaksevilofhiscomradesbehindtheirbacks。"
"Wellsaid，youngfellah—my—lad，"saidLordJohnRoxton。Then，withakindlysmile，heslappedProfessorSummerleeuponhisshoulder。"Come，HerrProfessor，we’renotgoingtoquarrelatthistimeofday。We’veseentoomuchtogether。ButkeepoffthegrasswhenyougetnearChallenger，forthisyoungfellahandI
haveabitofaweaknessfortheolddear。"
ButSummerleewasinnohumourforcompromise。Hisfacewasscrewedupinrigiddisapproval，andthickcurlsofangrysmokerolledupfromhispipe。
"Astoyou，LordJohnRoxton，"hecreaked，"youropinionuponamatterofscienceisofasmuchvalueinmyeyesasmyviewsuponanewtypeofshot—gunwouldbeinyours。Ihavemyownjudgment，sir，andIuseitinmyownway。Becauseithasmisledmeonce，isthatanyreasonwhyIshouldacceptwithoutcriticismanything，howeverfar—fetched，whichthismanmaycaretoputforward？ArewetohaveaPopeofscience，withinfallibledecreeslaiddownEXCATHEDRA，andacceptedwithoutquestionbythepoorhumblepublic？Itellyou，sir，thatIhaveabrainofmyownandthatIshouldfeelmyselftobeasnobandaslaveifIdidnotuseit。IfitpleasesyoutobelievethisrigmaroleaboutetherandFraunhofer’slinesuponthespectrum，dosobyallmeans，butdonotaskonewhoisolderandwiserthanyourselftoshareinyourfolly。Isitnotevidentthatiftheetherwereaffectedtothedegreewhichhemaintains，andifitwereobnoxioustohumanhealth，theresultofitwouldalreadybeapparentuponourselves？"Herehelaughedwithuproarioustriumphoverhisownargument。"Yes，sir，weshouldalreadybeveryfarfromournormalselves，andinsteadofsittingquietlydiscussingscientificproblemsinarailwaytrainweshouldbeshowingactualsymptomsofthepoisonwhichwasworkingwithinus。Wheredoweseeanysignsofthispoisonouscosmicdisturbance？Answermethat，sir!Answermethat!Come，come，noevasion!Ipinyoutoananswer!"
Ifeltmoreandmoreangry。TherewassomethingveryirritatingandaggressiveinSummerlee’sdemeanour。
"Ithinkthatifyouknewmoreaboutthefactsyoumightbelesspositiveinyouropinion，"saidI。
Summerleetookhispipefromhismouthandfixedmewithastonystare。
"Praywhatdoyoumean，sir，bythatsomewhatimpertinentobservation？"
"ImeanthatwhenIwasleavingtheofficethenewseditortoldmethatatelegramhadcomeinconfirmingthegeneralillnessoftheSumatranatives，andaddingthatthelightshadnotbeenlitintheStraitsofSunda。"
"Really，thereshouldbesomelimitstohumanfolly!"criedSummerleeinapositivefury。"Isitpossiblethatyoudonotrealizethatether，ifforamomentweadoptChallenger’spreposteroussupposition，isauniversalsubstancewhichisthesamehereasattheothersideoftheworld？DoyouforaninstantsupposethatthereisanEnglishetherandaSumatranether？PerhapsyouimaginethattheetherofKentisinsomewaysuperiortotheetherofSurrey，throughwhichthistrainisnowbearingus。Therereallyarenoboundstothecredulityandignoranceoftheaveragelayman。IsitconceivablethattheetherinSumatrashouldbesodeadlyastocausetotalinsensibilityattheverytimewhentheetherherehashadnoappreciableeffectuponuswhatever？Personally，IcantrulysaythatIneverfeltstrongerinbodyorbetterbalancedinmindinmylife。"
"Thatmaybe。Idon’tprofesstobeascientificman，"saidI，"thoughIhaveheardsomewherethatthescienceofonegenerationisusuallythefallacyofthenext。Butitdoesnottakemuchcommonsensetoseethat，asweseemtoknowsolittleaboutether，itmightbeaffectedbysomelocalconditionsinvariouspartsoftheworldandmightshowaneffectovertherewhichwouldonlydeveloplaterwithus。"
"With`might’and`may’youcanproveanything，"criedSummerleefuriously。"Pigsmayfly。Yes，sir，pigsMAYfly——buttheydon’t。Itisnotwortharguingwithyou。Challengerhasfilledyouwithhisnonsenseandyouarebothincapableofreason。I
hadassoonlayargumentsbeforethoserailwaycushions。"
"Imustsay，ProfessorSummerlee，thatyourmannersdonotseemtohaveimprovedsinceIlasthadthepleasureofmeetingyou，"
saidLordJohnseverely。
"Youlordlingsarenotaccustomedtohearthetruth，"Summerleeansweredwithabittersmile。"Itcomesasabitofashock，doesitnot，whensomeonemakesyourealizethatyourtitleleavesyounonethelessaveryignorantman？"
"Uponmyword，sir，"saidLordJohn，verysternandrigid，"ifyouwereayoungermanyouwouldnotdaretospeaktomeinsooffensiveafashion。"
Summerleethrustouthischin，withitslittlewaggingtuftofgoateebeard。
"Iwouldhaveyouknow，sir，that，youngorold，therehasneverbeenatimeinmylifewhenIwasafraidtospeakmymindtoanignorantcoxcomb——yes，sir，anignorantcoxcomb，ifyouhadasmanytitlesasslavescouldinventandfoolscouldadopt。"
ForamomentLordJohn’seyesblazed，andthen，withatremendouseffort，hemasteredhisangerandleanedbackinhisseatwitharmsfoldedandabittersmileuponhisface。Tomeallthiswasdreadfulanddeplorable。Likeawave，thememoryofthepastsweptoverme，thegoodcomradeship，thehappy，adventurousdays——allthatwehadsufferedandworkedforandwon。Thatitshouldhavecometothis——toinsultsandabuse!
SuddenlyIwassobbing——sobbinginloud，gulping，uncontrollablesobswhichrefusedtobeconcealed。Mycompanionslookedatmeinsurprise。Icoveredmyfacewithmyhands。
"It’sallright，"saidI。"Only——onlyitISsuchapity!"
"You’reill，youngfellah，that’swhat’samisswithyou，"saidLordJohn。"Ithoughtyouwerequeerfromthefirst。"
"Yourhabits，sir，havenotmendedinthesethreeyears，"saidSummerlee，shakinghishead。"Ialsodidnotfailtoobserveyourstrangemannerthemomentwemet。Youneednotwasteyoursympathy，LordJohn。Thesetearsarepurelyalcoholic。Themanhasbeendrinking。Bytheway，LordJohn，Icalledyouacoxcombjustnow，whichwasperhapsundulysevere。Butthewordremindsmeofasmallaccomplishment，trivialbutamusing，whichIusedtopossess。Youknowmeastheausteremanofscience。CanyoubelievethatIoncehadawell—deservedreputationinseveralnurseriesasafarmyardimitator？PerhapsIcanhelpyoutopassthetimeinapleasantway。Woulditamuseyoutohearmecrowlikeacock？"
"No，sir，"saidLordJohn，whowasstillgreatlyoffended，"itwouldNOTamuseme。"
"Myimitationofthecluckinghenwhohadjustlaidaneggwasalsoconsideredratherabovetheaverage。MightIventure？"
"No，sir，no——certainlynot。"
Butinspiteofthisearnestprohibition，ProfessorSummerleelaiddownhispipeandfortherestofourjourneyheentertained——orfailedtoentertain——usbyasuccessionofbirdandanimalcrieswhichseemedsoabsurdthatmytearsweresuddenlychangedintoboisterouslaughter，whichmusthavebecomequitehystericalasIsatoppositethisgraveProfessorandsawhim——orratherheardhim——inthecharacteroftheuproariousroosterorthepuppywhosetailhadbeentroddenupon。OnceLordJohnpassedacrosshisnewspaper，uponthemarginofwhichhehadwritteninpencil，"Poordevil!Madasahatter。"Nodoubtitwasveryeccentric，andyettheperformancestruckmeasextraordinarilycleverandamusing。
Whilstthiswasgoingon，LordJohnleanedforwardandtoldmesomeinterminablestoryaboutabuffaloandanIndianrajahwhichseemedtometohaveneitherbeginningnorend。ProfessorSummerleehadjustbeguntochirruplikeacanary，andLordJohntogettotheclimaxofhisstory，whenthetraindrewupatJarvisBrook，whichhadbeengivenusasthestationforRotherfield。
AndtherewasChallengertomeetus。Hisappearancewasglorious。Notalltheturkey—cocksincreationcouldmatchtheslow，high—steppingdignitywithwhichheparadedhisownrailwaystationandthebenignantsmileofcondescendingencouragementwithwhichheregardedeverybodyaroundhim。Ifhehadchangedinanythingsincethedaysofold，itwasthathispointshadbecomeaccentuated。Thehugeheadandbroadsweepofforehead，withitsplasteredlockofblackhair，seemedevengreaterthanbefore。Hisblackbeardpouredforwardinamoreimpressivecascade，andhiscleargreyeyes，withtheirinsolentandsardoniceyelids，wereevenmoremasterfulthanofyore。
Hegavemetheamusedhand—shakeandencouragingsmilewhichtheheadmasterbestowsuponthesmallboy，and，havinggreetedtheothersandhelpedtocollecttheirbagsandtheircylindersofoxygen，hestowedusandthemawayinalargemotor—carwhichwasdrivenbythesameimpassiveAustin，themanoffewwords，whomIhadseeninthecharacterofbutlerupontheoccasionofmyfirsteventfulvisittotheProfessor。Ourjourneyledusupawindinghillthroughbeautifulcountry。Isatinfrontwiththechauffeur，butbehindmemythreecomradesseemedtometobealltalkingtogether。LordJohnwasstillstrugglingwithhisbuffalostory，sofarasIcouldmakeout，whileonceagainI
heard，asofold，thedeeprumbleofChallengerandtheinsistentaccentsofSummerleeastheirbrainslockedinhighandfiercescientificdebate。SuddenlyAustinslantedhismahoganyfacetowardmewithouttakinghiseyesfromhissteering—wheel。
"I’mundernotice，"saidhe。
"Dearme!"saidI。
Everythingseemedstrangeto—day。Everyonesaidqueer，unexpectedthings。Itwaslikeadream。
"It’sforty—seventimes，"saidAustinreflectively。
"Whendoyougo？"Iasked，forwantofsomebetterobservation。
"Idon’tgo，"saidAustin。
Theconversationseemedtohaveendedthere，butpresentlyhecamebacktoit。
"IfIwastogo，whowouldlookafter’im？"Hejerkedhisheadtowardhismaster。"Whowould’egettoserve’im？"
"Someoneelse，"Isuggestedlamely。
"Not’e。Noonewouldstayaweek。IfIwastogo，that’ousewouldrundownlikeawatchwiththemainspringout。I’mtellingyoubecauseyou’re’isfriend，andyououghttoknow。IfIwastotake’imat’isword——butthere，Iwouldn’thavethe’eart。
’Eandthemissuswouldbeliketwobabesleftoutinabundle。
I’mjusteverything。Andthen’egoesandgivesmenotice。"
"Whywouldnoonestay？"Iasked。
"Well，theywouldn’tmakeallowances，sameasIdo。’E’saverycleverman，themaster——socleverthat’e’scleanbalmysometimes。I’veseen’imrightoff’isonion，andnoerror。
Well，lookwhat’edidthismorning。"
"Whatdidhedo？"
Austinbentovertome。
"’Ebitthe’ousekeeper，"saidheinahoarsewhisper。
"Bither？"
"Yes，sir。Bit’erontheleg。Isaw’erwithmyowneyesstartin’amarathonfromthe’all—door。"
"Goodgracious!"
"Soyou’dsay，sir，ifyoucouldseesomeofthegoingson。’E
don’tmakefriendswiththeneighbors。There’ssomeofthemthinksthatwhen’ewasupamongthosemonstersyouwroteabout，itwasjust`’Ome，Sweet’Ome’forthemaster，and’ewasneverinfittercompany。That’swhatTHEYsay。ButI’veserved’imtenyears，andI’mfondof’im，and，mindyou，’e’sagreatman，whenall’ssaidan’done，andit’sanhonortoserve’im。But’edoestryonecruelattimes。Nowlookatthat，sir。Thatain’twhatyoumightcallold—fashioned’ospitality，isitnow？Justyoureaditforyourself。"
Thecaronitslowestspeedhadgrounditswayupasteep，curvingascent。Atthecorneranotice—boardpeeredoverawell—clippedhedge。AsAustinsaid，itwasnotdifficulttoread，forthewordswerefewandarresting：——
|———————————————————————————————————————|
|WARNING。|
|————|
|Visitors，Pressmen，andMendicants|
|arenotencouraged。|
||
|G。E。CHALLENGER。|
|_______________________________________|
"No，it’snotwhatyoumightcall’earty，"saidAustin，shakinghisheadandglancingupatthedeplorableplacard。"Itwouldn’tlookwellinaChristmascard。Ibegyourpardon，sir，forI
haven’tspokeasmuchasthisformanyalongyear，butto—daymyfeelingsseemto’avegotthebetterofme。’Ecansackmetill’e’sblueintheface，butIain’tgoing，andthat’sflat。I’m’ismanand’e’smymaster，andsoitwillbe，Iexpect，totheendofthechapter。"
Wehadpassedbetweenthewhitepostsofagateandupacurvingdrive，linedwithrhododendronbushes。Beyondstoodalowbrickhouse，pickedoutwithwhitewoodwork，verycomfortableandpretty。Mrs。Challenger，asmall，dainty，smilingfigure，stoodintheopendoorwaytowelcomeus。
"Well，mydear，"saidChallenger，bustlingoutofthecar，"hereareourvisitors。Itissomethingnewforustohavevisitors，isitnot？Nolovelostbetweenusandourneighbors，isthere？
Iftheycouldgetratpoisonintoourbaker’scart，Iexpectitwouldbethere。"
"It’sdreadful——dreadful!"criedthelady，betweenlaughterandtears。"Georgeisalwaysquarrelingwitheveryone。Wehaven’tafriendonthecountryside。"
"Itenablesmetoconcentratemyattentionuponmyincomparablewife，"saidChallenger，passinghisshort，thickarmroundherwaist。Pictureagorillaandagazelle，andyouhavethepairofthem。"Come，come，thesegentlemenaretiredfromthejourney，andluncheonshouldbeready。HasSarahreturned？"
Theladyshookherheadruefully，andtheProfessorlaughedloudlyandstrokedhisbeardinhismasterfulfashion。
"Austin，"hecried，"whenyouhaveputupthecaryouwillkindlyhelpyourmistresstolaythelunch。Now，gentlemen，willyoupleasestepintomystudy，forthereareoneortwoveryurgentthingswhichIamanxioustosaytoyou。"
ChapterII
THETIDEOFDEATH
Aswecrossedthehallthetelephone—bellrang，andweweretheinvoluntaryauditorsofProfessorChallenger’sendoftheensuingdialogue。Isay"we，"butnoonewithinahundredyardscouldhavefailedtoheartheboomingofthatmonstrousvoice，whichreverberatedthroughthehouse。Hisanswerslingeredinmymind。
"Yes，yes，ofcourse，itisI……Yes，certainly，THEProfessorChallenger，thefamousProfessor，whoelse？……Ofcourse，everywordofit，otherwiseIshouldnothavewrittenit……I
shouldn’tbesurprised……Thereiseveryindicationofit……
Withinadayorsoatthefurthest……Well，Ican’thelpthat，canI？……Veryunpleasant，nodoubt，butIratherfancyitwillaffectmoreimportantpeoplethanyou。Thereisnousewhiningaboutit……No，Icouldn’tpossibly。Youmusttakeyourchance……That’senough，sir。Nonsense!Ihavesomethingmoreimportanttodothantolistentosuchtwaddle。"
Heshutoffwithacrashandledusupstairsintoalargeairyapartmentwhichformedhisstudy。Onthegreatmahoganydesksevenoreightunopenedtelegramswerelying。
"Really，"hesaidashegatheredthemup，"Ibegintothinkthatitwouldsavemycorrespondents’moneyifIweretoadoptatelegraphicaddress。Possibly`Noah，Rotherfield，’wouldbethemostappropriate。"
Asusualwhenhemadeanobscurejoke，heleanedagainstthedeskandbellowedinaparoxysmoflaughter，hishandsshakingsothathecouldhardlyopentheenvelopes。
"Noah!Noah!"hegasped，withafaceofbeetroot，whileLordJohnandIsmiledinsympathyandSummerlee，likeadyspepticgoat，waggedhisheadinsardonicdisagreement。FinallyChallenger，stillrumblingandexploding，begantoopenhistelegrams。Thethreeofusstoodinthebowwindowandoccupiedourselvesinadmiringthemagnificentview。
Itwascertainlyworthlookingat。Theroadinitsgentlecurveshadreallybroughtustoaconsiderableelevation——sevenhundredfeet，asweafterwardsdiscovered。Challenger’shousewasontheveryedgeofthehill，andfromitssouthernface，inwhichwasthestudywindow，onelookedacrossthevaststretchofthewealdtowherethegentlecurvesoftheSouthDownsformedanundulatinghorizon。InacleftofthehillsahazeofsmokemarkedthepositionofLewes。Immediatelyatourfeettherelayarollingplainofheather，withthelong，vividgreenstretchesoftheCrowboroughgolfcourse，alldottedwiththeplayers。A
littletothesouth，throughanopeninginthewoods，wecouldseeasectionofthemainlinefromLondontoBrighton。Intheimmediateforeground，underourverynoses，wasasmallenclosedyard，inwhichstoodthecarwhichhadbroughtusfromthestation。
AnejaculationfromChallengercausedustoturn。Hehadreadhistelegramsandhadarrangedtheminalittlemethodicalpileuponhisdesk。Hisbroad，ruggedface，orasmuchofitaswasvisibleoverthemattedbeard，wasstilldeeplyflushed，andheseemedtobeundertheinfluenceofsomestrongexcitement。
"Well，gentlemen，"hesaid，inavoiceasifhewasaddressingapublicmeeting，"thisisindeedaninterestingreunion，andittakesplaceunderextraordinary——Imaysayunprecedented——circumstances。MayIaskifyouhaveobservedanythinguponyourjourneyfromtown？"
"TheonlythingwhichIobserved，"saidSummerleewithasoursmile，"wasthatouryoungfriendherehasnotimprovedinhismannersduringtheyearsthathavepassed。IamsorrytostatethatIhavehadtoseriouslycomplainofhisconductinthetrain，andIshouldbewantinginfranknessifIdidnotsaythatithasleftamostunpleasantimpressioninmymind。"
"Well，well，weallgetabitprosysometimes，"saidLordJohn。
"Theyoungfellahmeantnorealharm。Afterall，he’sanInternational，soifhetakeshalfanhourtodescribeagameoffootballhehasmorerighttodoitthanmostfolk。"
"Halfanhourtodescribeagame!"Icriedindignantly。"Why，itwasyouthattookhalfanhourwithsomelong—windedstoryaboutabuffalo。ProfessorSummerleewillbemywitness。"
"Icanhardlyjudgewhichofyouwasthemostutterlywearisome，"
saidSummerlee。"Ideclaretoyou，Challenger，thatIneverwishtohearoffootballorofbuffaloessolongasIlive。"
"Ihaveneversaidonewordto—dayaboutfootball，"Iprotested。
LordJohngaveashrillwhistle，andSummerleeshookhisheadsadly。
"Soearlyinthedaytoo，"saidhe。"Itisindeeddeplorable。
AsIsatthereinsadbutthoughtfulsilence————"
"Insilence!"criedLordJohn。"Why，youweredoin’amusic—hallturnofimitationsalltheway——morelikearunawaygramophonethanaman。"
Summerleedrewhimselfupinbitterprotest。
"Youarepleasedtobefacetious，LordJohn，"saidhewithafaceofvinegar。
"Why，dashitall，thisisclearmadness，"criedLordJohn。
"Eachofusseemstoknowwhattheothersdidandnoneofusknowswhathedidhimself。Let’sputitalltogetherfromthefirst。Wegotintoafirst—classsmoker，that’sclear，ain’tit？ThenwebegantoquarreloverfriendChallenger’sletterintheTimes。"
"Oh，youdid，didyou？"rumbledourhost，hiseyelidsbeginningtodroop。
"Yousaid，Summerlee，thattherewasnopossibletruthinhiscontention。"
"Dearme!"saidChallenger，puffingouthischestandstrokinghisbeard。"Nopossibletruth!Iseemtohaveheardthewordsbefore。AndmayIaskwithwhatargumentsthegreatandfamousProfessorSummerleeproceededtodemolishthehumbleindividualwhohadventuredtoexpressanopinionuponamatterofscientificpossibility？Perhapsbeforeheexterminatesthatunfortunatenonentityhewillcondescendtogivesomereasonsfortheadverseviewswhichhehasformed。"
Hebowedandshruggedandspreadopenhishandsashespokewithhiselaborateandelephantinesarcasm。
"Thereasonwassimpleenough，"saidthedoggedSummerlee。"I
contendedthatiftheethersurroundingtheearthwassotoxicinonequarterthatitproduceddangeroussymptoms，itwashardlylikelythatwethreeintherailwaycarriageshouldbeentirelyunaffected。"
TheexplanationonlybroughtuproariousmerrimentfromChallenger。Helaugheduntileverythingintheroomseemedtorattleandquiver。
"OurworthySummerleeis，notforthefirsttime，somewhatoutoftouchwiththefactsofthesituation，"saidheatlast，moppinghisheatedbrow。"Now，gentlemen，IcannotmakemypointbetterthanbydetailingtoyouwhatIhavemyselfdonethismorning。YouwillthemoreeasilycondoneanymentalabberationuponyourownpartwhenyourealizethatevenIhavehadmomentswhenmybalancehasbeendisturbed。Wehavehadforsomeyearsinthishouseholdahousekeeper——oneSarah，withwhosesecondnameIhaveneverattemptedtoburdenmymemory。Sheisawomanofasevereandforbiddingaspect，primanddemureinherbearing，veryimpassiveinhernature，andneverknownwithinourexperiencetoshowsignsofanyemotion。AsIsataloneatmybreakfast——Mrs。Challengerisinthehabitofkeepingherroomofamorning——itsuddenlyenteredmyheadthatitwouldbeentertainingandinstructivetoseewhetherIcouldfindanylimitstothiswoman’sinperturbability。Idevisedasimplebuteffectiveexperiment。Havingupsetasmallvaseofflowerswhichstoodinthecentreofthecloth，Irangthebellandslippedunderthetable。Sheenteredand，seeingtheroomempty，imaginedthatIhadwithdrawntothestudy。AsIhadexpected，sheapproachedandleanedoverthetabletoreplacethevase。I
hadavisionofacottonstockingandanelastic—sidedboot。
Protrudingmyhead，Isankmyteethintothecalfofherleg。
Theexperimentwassuccessfulbeyondbelief。Forsomemomentsshestoodparalyzed，staringdownatmyhead。Thenwithashriekshetoreherselffreeandrushedfromtheroom。Ipursuedherwithsomethoughtsofanexplanation，butsheflewdownthedrive，andsomeminutesafterwardsIwasabletopickheroutwithmyfield—glassestravelingveryrapidlyinasouth—westerlydirection。Itellyoutheanecdoteforwhatitisworth。Idropitintoyourbrainsandawaititsgermination。Isitilluminative？Hasitconveyedanythingtoyourminds？WhatdoYOUthinkofit，LordJohn？"
LordJohnshookhisheadgravely。
"You’llbegettin’intoserioustroublesomeofthesedaysifyoudon’tputabrakeon，"saidhe。
"Perhapsyouhavesomeobservationtomake，Summerlee？"
"Youshoulddropallworkinstantly，Challenger，andtakethreemonthsinaGermanwatering—place，"saidhe。
"Profound!Profound!"criedChallenger。"Now，myyoungfriend，isitpossiblethatwisdommaycomefromyouwhereyourseniorshavesosignallyfailed？"
Anditdid。Isayitwithallmodesty，butitdid。Ofcourse，itallseemsobviousenoughtoyouwhoknowwhatoccurred，butitwasnotsoveryclearwheneverythingwasnew。Butitcameonmesuddenlywiththefullforceofabsoluteconviction。
"Poison!"Icried。
Then，evenasIsaidtheword，mymindflashedbackoverthewholemorning’sexperiences，pastLordJohnwithhisbuffalo，pastmyownhystericaltears，pasttheoutrageousconductofProfessorSummerlee，tothequeerhappeningsinLondon，therowinthepark，thedrivingofthechauffeur，thequarrelattheoxygenwarehouse。Everythingfittedsuddenlyintoitsplace。
"Ofcourse，"Icriedagain。"Itispoison。Weareallpoisoned。"
"Exactly，"saidChallenger，rubbinghishands，"weareallpoisoned。Ourplanethasswumintothepoisonbeltofether，andisnowflyingdeeperintoitattherateofsomemillionsofmilesaminute。Ouryoungfriendhasexpressedthecauseofallourtroublesandperplexitiesinasingleword，`poison。’"
Welookedateachotherinamazedsilence。Nocommentseemedtomeetthesituation。
"Thereisamentalinhibitionbywhichsuchsymptomscanbecheckedandcontrolled，"saidChallenger。"Icannotexpecttofinditdevelopedinallofyoutothesamepointwhichithasreachedinme，forIsupposethatthestrengthofourdifferentmentalprocessesbearssomeproportiontoeachother。
Butnodoubtitisappreciableeveninouryoungfriendhere。
AfterthelittleoutburstofhighspiritswhichsoalarmedmydomesticIsatdownandreasonedwithmyself。IputittomyselfthatIhadneverbeforefeltimpelledtobiteanyofmyhousehold。Theimpulsehadthenbeenanabnormalone。InaninstantIperceivedthetruth。Mypulseuponexaminationwastenbeatsabovetheusual，andmyreflexeswereincreased。Icalleduponmyhigherandsanerself，therealG。E。C。，seatedsereneandimpregnablebehindallmeremoleculardisturbance。I
summonedhim，Isay，towatchthefoolishmentaltrickswhichthepoisonwouldplay。IfoundthatIwasindeedthemaster。Icouldrecognizeandcontroladisorderedmind。Itwasaremarkableexhibitionofthevictoryofmindovermatter，foritwasavictoryoverthatparticularformofmatterwhichismostintimatelyconnectedwithmind。Imightalmostsaythatmindwasatfaultandthatpersonalitycontrolledit。Thus，whenmywifecamedownstairsandIwasimpelledtoslipbehindthedoorandalarmherbysomewildcryassheentered，Iwasabletostifletheimpulseandtogreetherwithdignityandrestraint。Anoverpoweringdesiretoquacklikeaduckwasmetandmasteredinthesamefashion。
Later，whenIdescendedtoorderthecarandfoundAustinbendingoveritabsorbedinrepairs，IcontrolledmyopenhandevenafterIhadlifteditandrefrainedfromgivinghimanexperiencewhichwouldpossiblyhavecausedhimtofollowinthestepsofthehousekeeper。Onthecontrary，Itouchedhimontheshoulderandorderedthecartobeatthedoorintimetomeetyourtrain。AtthepresentinstantIammostforciblytemptedtotakeProfessorSummerleebythatsillyoldbeardofhisandtoshakehisheadviolentlybackwardsandforwards。Andyet，asyousee，Iamperfectlyrestrained。Letmecommendmyexampletoyou。"
"I’lllookoutforthatbuffalo，"saidLordJohn。
"AndIforthefootballmatch。"
"Itmaybethatyouareright，Challenger，"saidSummerleeinachastenedvoice。"IamwillingtoadmitthatmyturnofmindiscriticalratherthanconstructiveandthatIamnotareadyconverttoanynewtheory，especiallywhenithappenstobesounusualandfantasticasthisone。However，asIcastmymindbackovertheeventsofthemorning，andasIreconsiderthefatuousconductofmycompanions，Ifinditeasytobelievethatsomepoisonofanexcitingkindwasresponsiblefortheirsymptoms。"
Challengerslappedhiscolleaguegood—humouredlyupontheshoulder。"Weprogress，"saidhe。"Decidedlyweprogress。"
"Andpray，sir，"askedSummerleehumbly，"whatisyouropinionastothepresentoutlook？"
"WithyourpermissionIwillsayafewwordsuponthatsubject。"
Heseatedhimselfuponhisdesk，hisshort，stumpylegsswinginginfrontofhim。"Weareassistingatatremendousandawfulfunction。Itis，inmyopinion，theendoftheworld。"
Theendoftheworld!Oureyesturnedtothegreatbow—windowandwelookedoutatthesummerbeautyofthecountry—side，thelongslopesofheather，thegreatcountry—houses，thecozyfarms，thepleasure—seekersuponthelinks。
Theendoftheworld!Onehadoftenheardthewords，buttheideathattheycouldeverhaveanimmediatepracticalsignificance，thatitshouldnotbeatsomevaguedate，butnow，to—day，thatwasatremendous，astaggeringthought。WewereallstrucksolemnandwaitedinsilenceforChallengertocontinue。
Hisoverpoweringpresenceandappearancelentsuchforcetothesolemnityofhiswordsthatforamomentallthecruditiesandabsurditiesofthemanvanished，andheloomedbeforeusassomethingmajesticandbeyondtherangeofordinaryhumanity。
Thentome，atleast，therecamebackthecheeringrecollectionofhowtwicesincewehadenteredtheroomhehadroaredwithlaughter。Surely，Ithought，therearelimitstomentaldetachment。Thecrisiscannotbesogreatorsopressingafterall。
`Youwillconceiveabunchofgrapes，"saidhe，"whicharecoveredbysomeinfinitesimalbutnoxiousbacillus。Thegardenerpassesitthroughadisinfectingmedium。Itmaybethathedesireshisgrapestobecleaner。Itmaybethatheneedsspacetobreedsomefreshbacilluslessnoxiousthanthelast。Hedipsitintothepoisonandtheyaregone。OurGardeneris，inmyopinion，abouttodipthesolarsystem，andthehumanbacillus，thelittlemortalvibriowhichtwistedandwriggledupontheouterrindoftheearth，willinaninstantbesterilizedoutofexistence。"
Againtherewassilence。Itwasbrokenbythehightrillofthetelephone—bell。
"Thereisoneofourbacillisqueakingforhelp，"saidhewithagrimsmile。"Theyarebeginningtorealizethattheircontinuedexistenceisnotreallyoneofthenecessitiesoftheuniverse。"
Hewasgonefromtheroomforaminuteortwo。Irememberthatnoneofusspokeinhisabsence。Thesituationseemedbeyondallwordsorcomments。
"ThemedicalofficerofhealthforBrighton，"saidhewhenhereturned。"Thesymptomsareforsomereasondevelopingmorerapidlyuponthesealevel。Oursevenhundredfeetofelevationgiveusanadvantage。FolkseemtohavelearnedthatIamthefirstauthorityuponthequestion。NodoubtitcomesfrommyletterintheTimes。ThatwasthemayorofaprovincialtownwithwhomItalkedwhenwefirstarrived。Youmayhaveheardmeuponthetelephone。Heseemedtoputanentirelyinflatedvalueuponhisownlife。Ihelpedhimtoreadjusthisideas。"
Summerleehadrisenandwasstandingbythewindow。Histhin，bonyhandsweretremblingwithhisemotion。
"Challenger，"saidheearnestly，"thisthingistooseriousformerefutileargument。DonotsupposethatIdesiretoirritateyoubyanyquestionImayask。ButIputittoyouwhethertheremaynotbesomefallacyinyourinformationorinyourreasoning。Thereisthesunshiningasbrightlyaseverinthebluesky。Therearetheheatherandtheflowersandthebirds。
Therearethefolkenjoyingthemselvesuponthegolf—linksandthelaborersyondercuttingthecorn。Youtellusthattheyandwemaybeupontheverybrinkofdestruction——thatthissunlitdaymaybethatdayofdoomwhichthehumanracehassolongawaited。Sofarasweknow，youfoundthistremendousjudgmentuponwhat？Uponsomeabnormallinesinaspectrum——uponrumoursfromSumatra——uponsomecuriouspersonalexcitementwhichwehavediscernedineachother。Thislattersymptomisnotsomarkedbutthatyouandwecould，byadeliberateeffort，controlit。
Youneednotstandonceremonywithus，Challenger。Wehaveallfaceddeathtogetherbeforenow。Speakout，andletusknowexactlywherewestand，andwhat，inyouropinion，areourprospectsforourfuture。"
Itwasabrave，goodspeech，aspeechfromthatstanchandstrongspiritwhichlaybehindalltheaciditiesandangularitiesoftheoldzoologist。LordJohnroseandshookhimbythehand。
"Mysentimenttoatick，"saidhe。"Now，Challenger，it’suptoyoutotelluswhereweare。Weain’tnervousfolk，asyouknowwell；butwhenitcomestomakin’aweek—endvisitandfindingyou’verunfullbuttintotheDayofJudgment，itwantsabitofexplainin’。What’sthedanger，andhowmuchofitisthere，andwhatarewegoin’todotomeetit？"
Hestood，tallandstrong，inthesunshineatthewindow，withhisbrownhandupontheshoulderofSummerlee。Iwaslyingbackinanarmchair，anextinguishedcigarettebetweenmylips，inthatsortofhalf—dazedstateinwhichimpressionsbecomeexceedinglydistinct。Itmayhavebeenanewphaseofthepoisoning，butthedeliriouspromptingshadallpassedawayandweresucceededbyanexceedinglylanguidand，atthesametime，perceptivestateofmind。Iwasaspectator。Itdidnotseemtobeanypersonalconcernofmine。Butherewerethreestrongmenatagreatcrisis，anditwasfascinatingtoobservethem。
Challengerbenthisheavybrowsandstrokedhisbeardbeforeheanswered。Onecouldseethathewasverycarefullyweighinghiswords。
"WhatwasthelastnewswhenyouleftLondon？"heasked。
"IwasattheGazetteofficeaboutten，"saidI。"TherewasaReuterjustcomeinfromSingaporetotheeffectthatthesicknessseemedtobeuniversalinSumatraandthatthelighthouseshadnotbeenlitinconsequence。"
"Eventshavebeenmovingsomewhatrapidlysincethen，"saidChallenger，pickinguphispileoftelegrams。"Iaminclosetouchbothwiththeauthoritiesandwiththepress，sothatnewsisconverginguponmefromallparts。Thereis，infact，ageneralandveryinsistentdemandthatIshouldcometoLondon；
butIseenogoodendtobeserved。Fromtheaccountsthepoisonouseffectbeginswithmentalexcitement；theriotinginParisthismorningissaidtohavebeenveryviolent，andtheWelshcolliersareinastateofuproar。Sofarastheevidencetohandcanbetrusted，thisstimulativestage，whichvariesmuchinracesandinindividuals，issucceededbyacertainexaltationandmentallucidity——Iseemtodiscernsomesignsofitinouryoungfriendhere——which，afteranappreciableinterval，turnstocoma，deepeningrapidlyintodeath。Ifancy，sofarasmytoxicologycarriesme，thattherearesomevegetablenervepoisons————"
"Datura，"suggestedSummerlee。
"Excellent!"criedChallenger。"Itwouldmakeforscientificprecisionifwenamedourtoxicagent。Letitbedaturon。Toyou，mydearSummerlee，belongsthehonour——posthumous，alas，butnonethelessunique——ofhavinggivenanametotheuniversaldestroyer，theGreatGardener’sdisinfectant。Thesymptomsofdaturon，then，maybetakentobesuchasIindicate。Thatitwillinvolvethewholeworldandthatnolifecanpossiblyremainbehindseemstometobecertain，sinceetherisauniversalmedium。Uptonowithasbeencapriciousintheplaceswhichithasattacked，butthedifferenceisonlyamatterofafewhours，anditislikeanadvancingtidewhichcoversonestripofsandandthenanother，runninghitherandthitherinirregularstreams，untilatlastithassubmergeditall。Therearelawsatworkinconnectionwiththeactionanddistributionofdaturonwhichwouldhavebeenofdeepinteresthadthetimeatourdisposalpermittedustostudythem。SofarasIcantracethem"——hereheglancedoverhistelegrams——"thelessdevelopedraceshavebeenthefirsttorespondtoitsinfluence。
TherearedeplorableaccountsfromAfrica，andtheAustralianaboriginesappeartohavebeenalreadyexterminated。TheNorthernraceshaveasyetshowngreaterresistingpowerthantheSouthern。This，yousee，isdatedfromMarseillesatnine—forty—fivethismorning。Igiveittoyouverbatim：——
"`AllnightdeliriousexcitementthroughoutProvence。TumultofvinegrowersatNimes。SocialisticupheavalatToulon。Suddenillnessattendedbycomaattackedpopulationthismorning。
PESTEFOUDROYANTE。Greatnumbersofdeadinthestreets。
Paralysisofbusinessanduniversalchaos。’
"Anhourlatercamethefollowing，fromthesamesource：——
"`Wearethreatenedwithutterextermination。Cathedralsandchurchesfulltooverflowing。Thedeadoutnumbertheliving。Itisinconceivableandhorrible。Deceaseseemstobepainless，butswiftandinevitable。’
"ThereisasimilartelegramfromParis，wherethedevelopmentisnotyetasacute。IndiaandPersiaappeartobeutterlywipedout。TheSlavonicpopulationofAustriaisdown，whiletheTeutonichashardlybeenaffected。Speakinggenerally，thedwellersupontheplainsandupontheseashoreseem，sofarasmylimitedinformationgoes，tohavefelttheeffectsmorerapidlythanthoseinlandorontheheights。Evenalittleelevationmakesaconsiderabledifference，andperhapsiftherebeasurvivorofthehumanrace，hewillagainbefounduponthesummitofsomeArarat。Evenourownlittlehillmaypresentlyprovetobeatemporaryislandamidaseaofdisaster。Butatthepresentrateofadvanceafewshorthourswillsubmergeusall。"
LordJohnRoxtonwipedhisbrow。
"Whatbeatsme，"saidhe，"ishowyoucouldsittherelaughin’
withthatstackoftelegramsunderyourhand。I’veseendeathasoftenasmostfolk，butuniversaldeath——it’sawful!"
"Astothelaughter，"saidChallenger，"youwillbearinmindthat，likeyourselves，Ihavenotbeenexemptfromthestimulatingcerebraleffectsoftheethericpoison。Butastothehorrorwithwhichuniversaldeathappearstoinspireyou，I
wouldputittoyouthatitissomewhatexaggerated。Ifyouweresenttoseaaloneinanopenboattosomeunknowndestination，yourheartmightwellsinkwithinyou。Theisolation，theuncertainty，wouldoppressyou。Butifyourvoyageweremadeinagoodlyship，whichborewithinitallyourrelationsandyourfriends，youwouldfeelthat，howeveruncertainyourdestinationmightstillremain，youwouldatleasthaveonecommonandsimultaneousexperiencewhichwouldholdyoutotheendinthesameclosecommunion。Alonelydeathmaybeterrible，butauniversalone，aspainlessasthiswouldappeartobe，isnot，inmyjudgment，amatterforapprehension。Indeed，Icouldsympathizewiththepersonwhotooktheviewthatthehorrorlayintheideaofsurvivingwhenallthatislearned，famous，andexaltedhadpassedaway。"
"What，then，doyouproposetodo？"askedSummerlee，whohadforoncenoddedhisassenttothereasoningofhisbrotherscientist。
"Totakeourlunch，"saidChallengerastheboomofagongsoundedthroughthehouse。"Wehaveacookwhoseomelettesareonlyexcelledbyhercutlets。Wecanbuttrustthatnocosmicdisturbancehasdulledherexcellentabilities。MyScharzbergerof’96mustalsoberescued，sofarasourearnestandunitedeffortscandoit，fromwhatwouldbeadeplorablewasteofagreatvintage。"Heleveredhisgreatbulkoffthedesk，uponwhichhehadsatwhileheannouncedthedoomoftheplanet。
"Come，"saidhe。"Ifthereislittletimeleft，thereisthemoreneedthatweshouldspenditinsoberandreasonableenjoyment。"
And，indeed，itprovedtobeaverymerrymeal。Itistruethatwecouldnotforgetourawfulsituation。Thefullsolemnityoftheeventloomedeveratthebackofourmindsandtemperedourthoughts。Butsurelyitisthesoulwhichhasneverfaceddeathwhichshiesstronglyfromitattheend。Toeachofusmenithad，foronegreatepochinourlives，beenafamiliarpresence。
Astothelady，sheleaneduponthestrongguidanceofhermightyhusbandandwaswellcontenttogowhitherhispathmightlead。Thefuturewasourfate。Thepresentwasourown。Wepasseditingoodlycomradeshipandgentlemerriment。Ourmindswere，asIhavesaid，singularlylucid。EvenIstrucksparksattimes。AstoChallenger，hewaswonderful!NeverhaveIsorealizedtheelementalgreatnessoftheman，thesweepandpowerofhisunderstanding。Summerleedrewhimonwithhischorusofsubacidcriticism，whileLordJohnandIlaughedatthecontestandthelady，herhanduponhissleeve，controlledthebellowingsofthephilosopher。Life，death，fate，thedestinyofman——thesewerethestupendoussubjectsofthatmemorablehour，madevitalbythefactthatasthemealprogressedstrange，suddenexaltationsinmymindandtinglingsinmylimbsproclaimedthattheinvisibletideofdeathwasslowlyandgentlyrisingaroundus。OnceIsawLordJohnputhishandsuddenlytohiseyes，andonceSummerleedroppedbackforaninstantinhischair。Eachbreathwebreathedwaschargedwithstrangeforces。Andyetourmindswerehappyandatease。
PresentlyAustinlaidthecigarettesuponthetableandwasabouttowithdraw。
"Austin!"saidhismaster。
"Yes，sir？"
"Ithankyouforyourfaithfulservice。"Asmilestoleovertheservant’sgnarledface。
"I’vedonemyduty，sir。"
"I’mexpectingtheendoftheworldto—day，Austin。"
"Yes，sir。Whattime，sir？"
"Ican’tsay，Austin。Beforeevening。"
"Verygood，sir。"
ThetaciturnAustinsalutedandwithdrew。Challengerlitacigarette，and，drawinghischairclosertohiswife’s，hetookherhandinhis。
"Youknowhowmattersstand，dear，"saidhe。"Ihaveexplaineditalsotoourfriendshere。You’renotafraidareyou？"
"Itwon’tbepainful，George？"
"Nomorethanlaughing—gasatthedentist’s。Everytimeyouhavehadityouhavepracticallydied。"
"Butthatisapleasantsensation。"
返回顶部