第2章

Ho-ho——answermethat!"

Theshockthatwentthroughmewasdistressing.Inowbegantoreasonthatmysituationwasinthelastdegreeserious,dreamornodream;forIknewbypastexperienceofthelifelikeintensityofdreams,thattobeburnedtodeath,eveninadream,wouldbeveryfarfrombeingajest,andwasathingtobeavoided,byanymeans,fairorfoul,thatIcouldcontrive.SoIsaidbeseechingly:

"Ah,Clarence,goodboy,onlyfriendI"vegot,——foryouAREmyfriend,aren"tyou?——don"tfailme;helpmetodevisesomewayofescapingfromthisplace!"

"Nowdobuthearthyself!Escape?Why,man,thecorridorsareinguardandkeepofmen-at-arms."

"Nodoubt,nodoubt.Buthowmany,Clarence?Notmany,Ihope?"

"Fullascore.Onemaynothopetoescape."Afterapause——hesitatingly:

"andtherebeotherreasons——andweightier."

"Otherones?Whatarethey?"

"Well,theysay——oh,butIdaren"t,indeeddaren"t!"

"Why,poorlad,whatisthematter?Whydoyoublench?Whydoyoutrembleso?"

"Oh,insooth,thereisneed!Idowanttotellyou,but——"

"Come,come,bebrave,beaman——speakout,there"sagoodlad!"

Hehesitated,pulledonewaybydesire,theotherwaybyfear;thenhestoletothedoorandpeepedout,listening;andfinallycreptclosetomeandputhismouthtomyearandtoldmehisfearfulnewsinawhisper,andwithallthecoweringapprehensionofonewhowasventuringuponawfulgroundandspeakingofthingswhoseverymentionmightbefreightedwithdeath.

"Merlin,inhismalice,haswovenaspellaboutthisdungeon,andtherebidesnotthemaninthesekingdomsthatwouldbedesperateenoughtoessaytocrossitslineswithyou!NowGodpityme,Ihavetoldit!Ah,bekindtome,bemercifultoapoorboywhomeanstheewell;foranthoubetraymeIamlost!"

IlaughedtheonlyreallyrefreshinglaughIhadhadforsometime;

andshouted:

"Merlinhaswroughtaspell!MERLIN,forsooth!Thatcheapoldhumbug,thatmaunderingoldass?Bosh,purebosh,thesilliestboshintheworld!

Why,itdoesseemtomethatofallthechildish,idiotic,chuckle-headed,chicken-liveredsuperstitionsthatev——oh,damnMerlin!"

ButClarencehadslumpedtohiskneesbeforeIhadhalffinished,andhewasliketogooutofhismindwithfright.

"Oh,beware!Theseareawfulwords!Anymomentthesewallsmaycrumbleuponusifyousaysuchthings.Ohcallthembackbeforeitistoolate!"

Nowthisstrangeexhibitiongavemeagoodideaandsetmetothinking.

IfeverybodyaboutherewassohonestlyandsincerelyafraidofMerlin"spretendedmagicasClarencewas,certainlyasuperiormanlikemeoughttobeshrewdenoughtocontrivesomewaytotakeadvantageofsuchastateofthings.Iwentonthinking,andworkedoutaplan.ThenIsaid:

"Getup.Pullyourselftogether;lookmeintheeye.DoyouknowwhyIlaughed?"

"No——butforourblessedLady"ssake,doitnomore."

"Well,I"lltellyouwhyIlaughed.BecauseI"mamagicianmyself."

"Thou!"Theboyrecoiledastep,andcaughthisbreath,forthethinghithimrathersudden;buttheaspectwhichhetookonwasvery,veryrespectful.

Itookquicknoteofthat;itindicatedthatahumbugdidn"tneedtohaveareputationinthisasylum;peoplestoodreadytotakehimathisword,withoutthat.Iresumed.

"I"veknowMerlinsevenhundredyears,andhe——"

"Sevenhun——"

"Don"tinterruptme.Hehasdiedandcomealiveagainthirteentimes,andtraveledunderanewnameeverytime:Smith,Jones,Robinson,Jackson,Peters,Haskins,Merlin——anewaliaseverytimeheturnsup.IknewhiminEgyptthreehundredyearsago;IknewhiminIndiafivehundredyearsago——heisalwaysbletheringaroundinmyway,everywhereIgo;hemakesmetired.Hedon"tamounttoshucks,asamagician;knowssomeoftheoldcommontricks,buthasnevergotbeyondtherudiments,andneverwill.

Heiswellenoughfortheprovinces——one-nightstandsandthatsortofthing,youknow——butdearme,HEoughtn"ttosetupforanexpert——

anywaynotwherethere"sarealartist.Nowlookhere,Clarence,Iamgoingtostandyourfriend,rightalong,andinreturnyoumustbemine.Iwantyoutodomeafavor.IwantyoutogetwordtothekingthatIamamagicianmyself——andtheSupremeGrandHigh-yu-Muckamuckandheadofthetribe,atthat;andIwanthimtobemadetounderstandthatIamjustquietlyarrangingalittlecalamityherethatwillmakethefurflyintheserealmsifSirKay"sprojectiscarriedoutandanyharmcomestome.Willyougetthattothekingforme?"

Thepoorboywasinsuchastatethathecouldhardlyanswerme.Itwaspitifultoseeacreaturesoterrified,sounnerved,sodemoralized.

Buthepromisedeverything;andonmysidehemademepromiseoverandoveragainthatIwouldremainhisfriend,andneverturnagainsthimorcastanyenchantmentsuponhim.Thenheworkedhiswayout,stayinghimselfwithhishandalongthewall,likeasickperson.

Presentlythisthoughtoccurredtome:howheedlessIhavebeen!Whentheboygetscalm,hewillwonderwhyagreatmagicianlikemeshouldhavebeggedaboylikehimtohelpmegetoutofthisplace;hewillputthisandthattogether,andwillseethatIamahumbug.

Iworriedoverthatheedlessblunderforanhour,andcalledmyselfagreatmanyhardnames,meantime.Butfinallyitoccurredtomeallofasuddenthattheseanimalsdidn"treason;thatTHEYneverputthisandthattogether;thatalltheirtalkshowedthattheydidn"tknowadiscrepancywhentheysawit.Iwasatrest,then.

Butassoonasoneisatrest,inthisworld,offhegoesonsomethingelsetoworryabout.ItoccurredtomethatIhadmadeanotherblunder:

Ihadsenttheboyofftoalarmhisbetterswithathreat——Iintendingtoinventacalamityatmyleisure;nowthepeoplewhoarethereadiestandeagerestandwillingesttoswallowmiraclesaretheveryoneswhoarehungriesttoseeyouperformthem;supposeIshouldbecalledonforasample?SupposeIshouldbeaskedtonamemycalamity?Yes,Ihadmadeablunder;Ioughttohaveinventedmycalamityfirst."WhatshallIdo?

whatcanIsay,togainalittletime?"Iwasintroubleagain;inthedeepestkindoftrouble:"There"safootstep!——they"recoming.IfIhadonlyjustamomenttothinkGood,I"vegotit.I"mallright."

Yousee,itwastheeclipse.Itcameintomymindinthenickoftime,howColumbus,orCortez,oroneofthosepeople,playedaneclipseasasavingtrumponce,onsomesavages,andIsawmychance.Icouldplayitmyself,now,anditwouldn"tbeanyplagiarism,either,becauseIshouldgetitinnearlyathousandyearsaheadofthoseparties.

Clarencecamein,subdued,distressed,andsaid:

"Ihastedthemessagetoourliegetheking,andstraightwayhehadmetohispresence.Hewasfrightedeventothemarrow,andwasmindedtogiveorderforyourinstantenlargement,andthatyoubeclothedinfineraimentandlodgedasbefittedonesogreat;butthencameMerlinandspoiledall;forhepersuadedthekingthatyouaremad,andknownotwhereofyouspeak;andsaidyourthreatisbutfoolishnessandidlevaporing.

Theydisputedlong,butintheend,Merlin,scoffing,said,"WhereforehathhenotNAMEDhisbravecalamity?Verilyitisbecausehecannot."

Thisthrustdidinamostsuddensortclosetheking"smouth,andhecouldoffernaughttoturntheargument;andso,reluctant,andfulllothtodoyouthediscourtesy,heyetprayethyoutoconsiderhisperplexedcase,asnotinghowthematterstands,andnamethecalamity——ifsobeyouhavedeterminedthenatureofitandthetimeofitscoming.Oh,pritheedelaynot;todelayatsuchatimeweretodoubleandtrebletheperilsthatalreadycompasstheeabout.Oh,bethouwise——namethecalamity!"

IallowedsilencetoaccumulatewhileIgotmyimpressivenesstogether,andthensaid:

"HowlonghaveIbeenshutupinthishole?"

"YewereshutupwhenyesterdaywaswellspentItis9ofthemorningnow."

"No!ThenIhavesleptwell,sureenough.Nineinthemorningnow!Andyetitistheverycomplexionofmidnight,toashade.Thisisthe20th,then?"

"The20th——yes."

"AndIamtobeburnedaliveto-morrow."Theboyshuddered.

"Atwhathour?"

"Athighnoon."

"Nowthen,Iwilltellyouwhattosay."Ipaused,andstoodoverthatcoweringladawholeminuteinawfulsilence;then,inavoicedeep,measured,chargedwithdoom,Ibegan,androsebydramaticallygradedstagestomycolossalclimax,whichIdeliveredinassublimeandnobleawayaseverIdidsuchathinginmylife:"GobackandtellthekingthatatthathourIwillsmotherthewholeworldinthedeadblacknessofmidnight;

Iwillblotoutthesun,andheshallnevershineagain;thefruitsoftheearthshallrotforlackoflightandwarmth,andthepeoplesoftheearthshallfamishanddie,tothelastman!"

Ihadtocarrytheboyoutmyself,hesunkintosuchacollapse.Ihandedhimovertothesoldiers,andwentback.

AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur"sCourt-Chapter6Chapter6-TheEclipseINthestillnessandthedarkness,realizationsoonbegantosupplementknowledge.Themereknowledgeofafactispale;butwhenyoucometoREALIZE

yourfact,ittakesoncolor.Itisallthedifferencebetweenhearingofamanbeingstabbedtotheheart,andseeingitdone.Inthestillnessandthedarkness,theknowledgethatIwasindeadlydangertooktoitselfdeeperanddeepermeaningallthetime;asomethingwhichwasrealizationcreptinchbyinchthroughmyveinsandturnedmecold.

Butitisablessedprovisionofnaturethatattimeslikethese,assoonasaman"smercuryhasgotdowntoacertainpointtherecomesarevulsion,andherallies.Hopespringsup,andcheerfulnessalongwithit,andthenheisingoodshapetodosomethingforhimself,ifanythingcanbedone.

Whenmyrallycame,itcamewithabound.Isaidtomyselfthatmyeclipsewouldbesuretosaveme,andmakemethegreatestmaninthekingdombesides;

andstraightwaymymercurywentuptothetopofthetube,andmysolicitudesallvanished.Iwasashappyamanastherewasintheworld.Iwasevenimpatientfortomorrowtocome,Isowantedtogatherinthatgreattriumphandbethecenterofallthenation"swonderandreverence.Besides,inabusinesswayitwouldbethemakingofme;Iknewthat.

Meantimetherewasonethingwhichhadgotpushedintothebackgroundofmymind.Thatwasthehalfconvictionthatwhenthenatureofmyproposedcalamityshouldbereportedtothosesuperstitiouspeople,itwouldhavesuchaneffectthattheywouldwanttocompromise.So,byandbywhenI

heardfootstepscoming,thatthoughtwasrecalledtome,andIsaidtomyself,"Assureasanything,it"sthecompromise.Well,ifitisgood,allright,Iwillaccept;butifitisn"t,Imeantostandmygroundandplaymyhandforallitisworth."

Thedooropened,andsomemen-at-armsappeared.Theleadersaid:

"Thestakeisready.Come!"

Thestake!Thestrengthwentoutofme,andIalmostfelldown.Itishardtogetone"sbreathatsuchatime,suchlumpscomeintoone"sthroat,andsuchgaspings;butassoonasIcouldspeak,Isaid:

"Butthisisamistake——theexecutionistomorrow."

"Orderchanged;beensetforwardaday.Hastethee!"

Iwaslost.Therewasnohelpforme.Iwasdazed,stupefied;Ihadnocommandovermyself,Ionlywanderedpurposelyabout,likeoneoutofhismind;sothesoldierstookholdofme,andpulledmealongwiththem,outofthecellandalongthemazeofundergroundcorridors,andfinallyintothefierceglareofdaylightandtheupperworld.AswesteppedintothevastenclosedcourtofthecastleIgotashock;forthefirstthingIsawwasthestake,standinginthecenter,andnearitthepiledfagotsandamonk.Onallfoursidesofthecourttheseatedmultitudesroserankaboverank,formingslopingterracesthatwererichwithcolor.Thekingandthequeensatintheirthrones,themostconspicuousfiguresthere,ofcourse.

Tonoteallthis,occupiedbutasecond.ThenextsecondClarencehadslippedfromsomeplaceofconcealmentandwaspouringnewsintomyear,hiseyesbeamingwithtriumphandgladness.Hesaid:

""TisthroughMEthechangewaswrought!AndmainhardhaveIworkedtodoit,too.ButwhenIrevealedtothemthecalamityinstore,andsawhowmightywastheterroritdidengender,thensawIalsothatthiswasthetimetostrike!WhereforeIdiligentlypretended,untothisandthatandtheotherone,thatyourpoweragainstthesuncouldnotreachitsfulluntilthemorrow;andsoifanywouldsavethesunandtheworld,youmustbeslainto-day,whileyourenchantmentsarebutintheweavingandlackpotency.Odsbodikins,itwasbutadulllie,amostindifferentinvention,butyoushouldhaveseenthemseizeitandswallowit,inthefrenzyoftheirfright,asitweresalvationsentfromheaven;andallthewhilewasIlaughinginmysleevetheonemoment,toseethemsocheaplydeceived,andglorifyingGodthenext,thatHewascontenttoletthemeanestofHiscreaturesbeHisinstrumenttothesavingofthylife.Ahhowhappyhasthemattersped!YouwillnotneedtodothesunaREALhurt——ah,forgetnotthat,onyoursoulforgetitnot!Onlymakealittledarkness——onlythelittlestlittledarkness,mind,andceasewiththat.Itwillbesufficient.TheywillseethatIspokefalsely,——beingignorant,astheywillfancy——andwiththefallingofthefirstshadowofthatdarknessyoushallseethemgomadwithfear;andtheywillsetyoufreeandmakeyougreat!Gotothytriumph,now!Butremember——ah,goodfriend,Iimploretheeremembermysupplication,anddotheblessedsunnohurt.ForMYsake,thytruefriend."

Ichokedoutsomewordsthroughmygriefandmisery;asmuchastosayIwouldsparethesun;forwhichthelad"seyespaidmebackwithsuchdeepandlovinggratitudethatIhadnotthehearttotellhimhisgood-heartedfoolishnesshadruinedmeandsentmetomydeath.

AsthesoldiersassistedmeacrossthecourtthestillnesswassoprofoundthatifIhadbeenblindfoldIshouldhavesupposedIwasinasolitudeinsteadofwalledinbyfourthousandpeople.Therewasnotamovementperceptibleinthosemassesofhumanity;theywereasrigidasstoneimages,andaspale;anddreadsatuponeverycountenance.ThishushcontinuedwhileIwasbeingchainedtothestake;itstillcontinuedwhilethefagotswerecarefullyandtediouslypiledaboutmyankles,myknees,mythighs,mybody.Thentherewasapause,andadeeperhush,ifpossible,andamankneltdownatmyfeetwithablazingtorch;themultitudestrainedforward,gazing,andpartingslightlyfromtheirseatswithoutknowingit;themonkraisedhishandsabovemyhead,andhiseyestowardthebluesky,andbegansomewordsinLatin;inthisattitudehedronedonandon,alittlewhile,andthenstopped.Iwaitedtwoorthreemoments;thenlookedup;hewasstandingtherepetrified.Withacommonimpulsethemultituderoseslowlyupandstaredintothesky.Ifollowedtheireyes,assureasguns,therewasmyeclipsebeginning!Thelifewentboilingthroughmyveins;Iwasanewman!Therimofblackspreadslowlyintothesun"sdisk,myheartbeathigherandhigher,andstilltheassemblageandtheprieststaredintothesky,motionless.Iknewthatthisgazewouldbeturneduponme,next.Whenitwas,lwasready.IwasinoneofthemostgrandattitudesIeverstruck,withmyarmstretcheduppointingtothesun.Itwasanobleeffect.YoucouldSEEtheshuddersweepthemasslikeawave.Twoshoutsrangout,onecloseupontheheelsoftheother:

"Applythetorch!"

"Iforbidit!"

TheonewasfromMerlin,theotherfromtheking.Merlinstartedfromhisplace——toapplythetorchhimself,Ijudged.Isaid:

"Staywhereyouare.Ifanymanmoves——eventheking——beforeIgivehimleave,Iwillblasthimwiththunder,Iwillconsumehimwithlightnings!"

Themultitudesankmeeklyintotheirseats,andIwasjustexpectingtheywould.Merlinhesitatedamomentortwo,andIwasonpinsandneedlesduringthatlittlewhile.Thenhesatdown,andItookagoodbreath;forIknewIwasmasterofthesituationnow.Thekingsaid:

"Bemerciful,fairsir,andessaynofurtherinthisperilousmatter,lestdisasterfollow.Itwasreportedtousthatyourpowerscouldnotattainuntotheirfullstrengthuntilthemorrow;but——"

"YourMajestythinksthereportmayhavebeenalie?ItWASalie."

Thatmadeanimmenseeffect;upwentappealinghandseverywhere,andthekingwasassailedwithastormofsupplicationsthatImightbeboughtoffatanyprice,andthecalamitystayed.Thekingwaseagertocomply.

Hesaid:

"Nameanyterms,reverendsir,eventothehalvingofmykingdom;butbanishthiscalamity,sparethesun!"

Myfortunewasmade.Iwouldhavetakenhimupinaminute,butIcouldn"tstopaneclipse;thethingwasoutofthequestion.SoIaskedtimetoconsider.Thekingsaid:

"Howlong——ah,howlong,goodsir?Bemerciful;look,itgrowethdarker,momentbymoment.Pritheehowlong?"

"Notlong.Halfanhour——maybeanhour."

Therewereathousandpatheticprotests,butIcouldn"tshortenupany,forIcouldn"trememberhowlongatotaleclipselasts.Iwasinapuzzledcondition,anyway,andwantedtothink.Somethingwaswrongaboutthateclipse,andthefactwasveryunsettling.Ifthiswasn"ttheoneIwasafter,howwasItotellwhetherthiswasthesixthcentury,ornothingbutadream?Dearme,ifIcouldonlyproveitwasthelatter!Herewasagladnewhope.Iftheboywasrightaboutthedate,andthiswassurelythe20th,itWASN"Tthesixthcentury.Ireachedforthemonk"ssleeve,inconsiderableexcitement,andaskedhimwhatdayofthemonthitwas.

Hanghim,hesaiditwastheTWENTY-FIRST!Itmademeturncoldtohearhim.Ibeggedhimnottomakeanymistakeaboutit;buthewassure;heknewitwasthe21st.So,thatfeather-headedboyhadbotchedthingsagain!

Thetimeofthedaywasrightfortheeclipse;Ihadseenthatformyself,inthebeginning,bythedialthatwasnearby.Yes,IwasinKingArthur"scourt,andImightaswellmakethemostoutofitIcould.

Thedarknesswassteadilygrowing,thepeoplebecomingmoreandmoredistressed.Inowsaid:

"Ihavereflected,SirKing.Foralesson,Iwillletthisdarknessproceed,andspreadnightintheworld;butwhetherIblotoutthesunforgood,orrestoreit,shallrestwithyou.Thesearetheterms,towit:

Youshallremainkingoverallyourdominions,andreceiveallthegloriesandhonorsthatbelongtothekingship;butyoushallappointmeyourperpetualministerandexecutive,andgivemeformyservicesonepercent.ofsuchactualincreaseofrevenueoverandaboveitspresentamountasImaysucceedincreatingforthestate.IfIcan"tliveonthat,Isha"n"taskanybodytogivemealift.Isitsatisfactory?"

Therewasaprodigiousroarofapplause,andoutofthemidstofittheking"svoicerose,saying:

"Awaywithhisbonds,andsethimfree!anddohimhomage,highandlow,richandpoor,forheisbecometheking"srighthand,isclothedwithpowerandauthority,andhisseatisuponthehigheststepofthethrone!Nowsweepawaythiscreepingnight,andbringthelightandcheeragain,thatalltheworldmayblessthee."

ButIsaid:

"Thatacommonmanshouldbeshamedbeforetheworld,isnothing;butitweredishonortotheKINGifanythatsawhisministernakedshouldnotalsoseehimdeliveredfromhisshame.IfImightaskthatmyclothesbebroughtagain——"

"Theyarenotmeet,"thekingbrokein."Fetchraimentofanothersort;

clothehimlikeaprince!"

Myideaworked.Iwantedtokeepthingsastheyweretilltheeclipsewastotal,otherwisetheywouldbetryingagaintogetmetodismissthedarkness,andofcourseIcouldn"tdoit.Sendingfortheclothesgainedsomedelay,butnotenough.SoIhadtomakeanotherexcuse.Isaiditwouldbebutnaturalifthekingshouldchangehismindandrepenttosomeextentofwhathehaddoneunderexcitement;thereforeIwouldletthedarknessgrowawhile,andifattheendofareasonabletimethekinghadkepthismindthesame,thedarknessshouldbedismissed.Neitherthekingnoranybodyelsewassatisfiedwiththatarrangement,butIhadtosticktomypoint.

Itgrewdarkeranddarkerandblackerandblacker,whileIstruggledwiththoseawkwardsixth-centuryclothes.Itgottobepitchdark,atlast,andthemultitudegroanedwithhorrortofeelthecolduncannynightbreezesfanthroughtheplaceandseethestarscomeoutandtwinkleinthesky.

Atlasttheeclipsewastotal,andIwasverygladofit,buteverybodyelsewasinmisery;whichwasquitenatural.Isaid:

"Theking,byhissilence,stillstandstotheterms."ThenIliftedupmyhands——stoodjustsoamoment——thenIsaid,withthemostawfulsolemnity:"Lettheenchantmentdissolveandpassharmlessaway!"

Therewasnoresponse,foramoment,inthatdeepdarknessandthatgraveyardhush.Butwhenthesilverrimofthesunpusheditselfout,amomentortwolater,theassemblagebrokeloosewithavastshoutandcamepouringdownlikeadelugetosmothermewithblessingsandgratitude;

andClarencewasnotthelastofthewash,tobesure.

AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur"sCourt-Chapter7Chapter7-Merlin"sTowerINASMUCHasIwasnowthesecondpersonageintheKingdom,asfaraspoliticalpowerandauthortywereconcerned,muchwasmadeofme.Myraimentwasofsilksandvelvetsandclothofgold,andbyconsequencewasveryshowy,alsouncomfortable.Buthabitwouldsoonreconcilemetomyclothes;I

wasawareofthat.Iwasgiventhechoicestsuiteofapartmentsinthecastle,aftertheking"s.Theywereaglowwithloud-coloredsilkenhangings,butthestonefloorshadnothingbutrushesonthemforacarpet,andtheyweremisfitrushesatthat,beingnotallofonebreed.Asforconveniences,properlyspeaking,thereweren"tany.ImeanLITTLEconveniences;itisthelittleconveniencesthatmaketherealcomfortoflife.Thebigoakenchairs,gracedwithrudecarvings,werewellenough,butthatwasthestoppingplace.Therewasnosoap,nomatches,nolooking-glass——exceptametalone,aboutaspowerfulasapailofwater.Andnotachromo.Ihadbeenusedtochromosforyears,andIsawnowthatwithoutmysuspectingitapassionforarthadgotworkedintothefabricofmybeing,andwasbecomeapartofme.ItmademehomesicktolookaroundoverthisproudandgaudybutheartlessbarrennessandrememberthatinourhouseinEastHartford,allunpretendingasitwas,youcouldn"tgointoaroombutyouwouldfindaninsurance-chromo,oratleastathree-colorGod-Bless-Our-Homeoverthedoor;andintheparlorwehadnine.Buthere,eveninmygrandroomofstate,therewasn"tanythinginthenatureofapictureexceptathingthesizeofabedquilt,whichwaseitherwovenorknitted(ithaddarnedplacesinit),andnothinginitwastherightcolorortherightshape;

andasforproportions,evenRaphaelhimselfcouldn"thavebotchedthemmoreformidably,afterallhispracticeonthosenightmarestheycallhis"celebratedHamptonCourtcartoons."Raphaelwasabird.Wehadseveralofhischromos;onewashis"MiraculousDraughtofFishes,"whereheputsinamiracleofhisown——putsthreemenintoacanoewhichwouldn"thaveheldadogwithoutupsetting.IalwaysadmiredtostudyR."sart,itwassofreshandunconventional.

Therewasn"tevenabelloraspeaking-tubeinthecastle.Ihadagreatmanyservants,andthosethatwereondutylolledintheanteroom;andwhenIwantedoneofthemIhadtogoandcallforhim.Therewasnogas,therewerenocandles;abronzedishhalffullofboarding-housebutterwithablazingragfloatinginitwasthethingthatproducedwhatwasregardedaslight.Alotofthesehungalongthewallsandmodifiedthedark,justtoneditdownenoughtomakeitdismal.Ifyouwentoutatnight,yourservantscarriedtorches.Therewerenobooks,pens,paperorink,andnoglassintheopeningstheybelievedtobewindows.Itisalittlething——glassis——untilitisabsent,thenitbecomesabigthing.Butperhapstheworstofallwas,thattherewasn"tanysugar,coffee,tea,ortobacco.IsawthatIwasjustanotherRobinsonCrusoecastawayonanuninhabitedisland,withnosocietybutsomemoreorlesstameanimals,andifIwantedtomakelifebearableImustdoashedid——invent,contrive,create,reorganizethings;setbrainandhandtowork,andkeepthembusy.

Well,thatwasinmyline.

Onethingtroubledmealongatfirst——theimmenseinterestwhichpeopletookinme.Apparentlythewholenationwantedalookatme.ItsoontranspiredthattheeclipsehadscaredtheBritishworldalmosttodeath;thatwhileitlastedthewholecountry,fromoneendtotheother,wasinapitiablestateofpanic,andthechurches,hermitages,andmonkeriesoverflowedwithprayingandweepingpoorcreatureswhothoughttheendoftheworldwascome.Thenhadfollowedthenewsthattheproducerofthisawfuleventwasastranger,amightymagicianatArthur"scourt;thathecouldhaveblownoutthesunlikeacandle,andwasjustgoingtodoitwhenhismercywaspurchased,andhethendissolvedhisenchantments,andwasnowrecognizedandhonoredasthemanwhohadbyhisunaidedmightsavedtheglobefromdestructionanditspeoplesfromextinction.Nowifyouconsiderthateverybodybelievedthat,andnotonlybelievedit,butneverevendreamedofdoubtingit,youwilleasilyunderstandthattherewasnotapersoninallBritainthatwouldnothavewalkedfiftymilestogetasightofme.OfcourseIwasallthetalk——allothersubjectsweredropped;eventhekingbecamesuddenlyapersonofminorinterestandnotoriety.Withintwentyfourhoursthedelegationsbegantoarrive,andfromthattimeonwardforafortnighttheykeptcoming.Thevillagewascrowded,andallthecountryside.Ihadtogooutadozentimesadayandshowmyselftothesereverentandawe-strickenmultitudes.Itcametobeagreatburden,astotimeandtrouble,butofcourseitwasatthesametimecompensatinglyagreeabletobesocelebratedandsuchacenterofhomage.ItturnedBrerMerlingreenwithenvyandspite,whichwasagreatsatisfactiontome.ButtherewasonethingI

couldn"tunderstand——nobodyhadaskedforanautograph.IspoketoClarenceaboutit.ByGeorge!Ihadtoexplaintohimwhatitwas.Thenhesaidnobodyinthecountrycouldreadorwritebutafewdozenpriests.Land!

thinkofthat.

Therewasanotherthingthattroubledmealittle.Thosemultitudespresentlybegantoagitateforanothermiracle.Thatwasnatural.Tobeabletocarrybacktotheirfarhomestheboastthattheyhadseenthemanwhocouldcommandthesun,ridingintheheavens,andbeobeyed,wouldmakethemgreatintheeyesoftheirneighbors,andenviedbythemall;

buttobeabletoalsosaytheyhadseenhimworkamiraclethemselves——why,peoplewouldcomeadistancetoseeTHEM.Thepressuregottobeprettystrong.Therewasgoingtobeaneclipseofthemoon,andIknewthedateandhour,butitwastoofaraway.Twoyears.Iwouldhavegivenagooddealforlicensetohurryitupanduseitnowwhentherewasabigmarketforit.Itseemedagreatpitytohaveitwastedso,andcomelaggingalongatatimewhenabodywouldn"thaveanyuseforit,aslikeasnot.Ifithadbeenbookedforonlyamonthaway,Icouldhavesolditshort;but,asmattersstood,Icouldn"tseemtocipheroutanywaytomakeitdomeanygood,soIgaveuptrying.Next,ClarencefoundthatoldMerlinwasmakinghimselfbusyontheslyamongthosepeople.HewasspreadingareportthatIwasahumbug,andthatthereasonIdidn"taccommodatethepeoplewithamiraclewasbecauseIcouldn"t.IsawthatImustdosomething.Ipresentlythoughtoutaplan.

BymyauthorityasexecutiveIthrewMerlinintoprison——thesamecellIhadoccupiedmyself.ThenIgavepublicnoticebyheraldandtrumpetthatIshouldbebusywithaffairsofstateforafortnight,butabouttheendofthattimeIwouldtakeamoment"sleisureandblowupMerlin"sstonetowerbyfiresfromheaven;inthemeantime,whosolistenedtoevilreportsaboutme,lethimbeware.Furthermore,Iwouldperformbutthisonemiracleatthistime,andnomore;ifitfailedtosatisfyandanymurmured,Iwouldturnthemurmurersintohorses,andmakethemuseful.

Quietensued.

ItookClarenceintomyconfidence,toacertaindegree,andwewenttoworkprivately.Itoldhimthatthiswasasortofmiraclethatrequiredatrifleofpreparation,andthatitwouldbesuddendeathtoevertalkaboutthesepreparationstoanybody.Thatmadehismouthsafeenough.Clandestinelywemadeafewbushelsoffirst-rateblastingpowder,andIsuperintendedmyarmorerswhiletheyconstructedalightningrodandsomewires.Thisoldstonetowerwasverymassive——andratherruinous,too,foritwasRoman,andfourhundredyearsold.Yes,andhandsome,afterarudefashion,andclothedwithivyfrombasetosummit,aswithashirtofscalemail.

Itstoodonalonelyeminence,ingoodviewfromthecastle,andabouthalfamileaway.

Workingbynight,westowedthepowderinthetower——dugstonesout,ontheinside,andburiedthepowderinthewallsthemselves,whichwerefifteenfeetthickatthebase.Weputinapeckatatime,inadozenplaces.WecouldhaveblownuptheTowerofLondonwiththesecharges.

Whenthethirteenthnightwascomeweputupourlightning-rod,beddeditinoneofthebatchesofpowder,andranwiresfromittotheotherbatches.Everybodyhadshunnedthatlocalityfromthedayofmyproclamation,butonthemorningofthefourteenthIthoughtbesttowarnthepeople,throughtheheralds,tokeepclearaway——aquarterofamileaway.Thenadded,bycommand,thatatsometimeduringthetwenty-fourhoursIwouldconsummatethemiracle,butwouldfirstgiveabriefnotice;byflagsonthecastletowersifinthedaytime,bytorch-basketsinthesameplacesifatnight.

Thunder-showershadbeentolerablyfrequentoflate,andIwasnotmuchafraidofafailure;still,Ishouldn"thavecaredforadelayofadayortwo;IshouldhaveexplainedthatIwasbusywithaffairsofstateyet,andthepeoplemustwait.

Ofcourse,wehadablazingsunnyday——almostthefirstonewithoutacloudforthreeweeks;thingsalwayshappenso.Ikeptsecluded,andwatchedtheweather.Clarencedroppedinfromtimetotimeandsaidthepublicexcitementwasgrowingandgrowingallthetime,andthewholecountryfillingupwithhumanmassesasfarasonecouldseefromthebattlements.

Atlastthewindsprangupandacloudappeared——intherightquarter,too,andjustatnightfall.ForalittlewhileIwatchedthatdistantcloudspreadandblacken,thenIjudgeditwastimeformetoappear.Iorderedthetorch-basketstobelit,andMerlinliberatedandsenttome.AquarterofanhourlaterIascendedtheparapetandtherefoundthekingandthecourtassembledandgazingoffinthedarknesstowardMerlin"sTower.Alreadythedarknesswassoheavythatonecouldnotseefar;thesepeopleandtheoldturrets,beingpartlyindeepshadowandpartlyintheredglowfromthegreattorch-basketsoverhead,madeagooddealofapicture.