第18章

"Yes.Thewireshavenoground-connectionoutsideofthecave.Theygooutfromthepositivebrushofthedynamo;thereisaground-connectionthroughthenegativebrush;theotherendsofthewirereturntothecave,andeachisgroundedindependently."

"Nono,thatwon"tdo!"

"Why?"

"It"stooexpensive——usesupforcefornothing.Youdon"twantanyground-connectionexcepttheonethroughthenegativebrush.Theotherendofeverywiremustbebroughtbackintothecaveandfastenedindependently,andWITHOUTanyground-connection.Now,then,observetheeconomyofit.

Acavalrychargehurlsitselfagainstthefence;youareusingnopower,youarespendingnomoney,forthereisonlyoneground-connectiontillthosehorsescomeagainstthewire;themomenttheytouchittheyformaconnectionwiththenegativebrushTHROUGHTHEGROUND,anddropdead.

Don"tyousee?——youareusingnoenergyuntilitisneeded;yourlightningisthere,andready,liketheloadinagun;butitisn"tcostingyouacenttillyoutouchitoff.Oh,yes,thesingleground-connection——"

"Ofcourse!Idon"tknowhowIoverlookedthat.It"snotonlycheaper,butit"smoreeffectualthantheotherway,forifwiresbreakorgettangled,noharmisdone.

"No,especiallyifwehaveatell-taleinthecaveanddisconnectthebrokenwire.Well,goon.Thegatlings?"

"Yes——that"sarranged.Inthecenteroftheinnercircle,onaspaciousplatformsixfeethigh,I"vegroupedabatteryofthirteengatlingguns,andprovidedplentyofammunition."

"That"sit.Theycommandeveryapproach,andwhentheChurch"sknightsarrive,there"sgoingtobemusic.Thebrowoftheprecipiceoverthecave——"

"I"vegotawirefencethere,andagatling.Theywon"tdropanyrocksdownonus."

"Well,andtheglass-cylinderdynamitetorpedoes?"

"That"sattendedto.It"stheprettiestgardenthatwaseverplanted.

It"sabeltfortyfeetwide,andgoesaroundtheouterfence——distancebetweenitandthefenceonehundredyards——kindofneutralgroundthatspaceis.Thereisn"tasinglesquareyardofthatwholebeltbutisequippedwithatorpedo.Welaidthemonthesurfaceoftheground,andsprinkledalayerofsandoverthem.It"saninnocentlookinggarden,butyouletamanstartintohoeitonce,andyou"llsee."

"Youtestedthetorpedoes?"

"Well,Iwasgoingto,but——"

"Butwhat?Why,it"sanimmenseoversightnottoapplya——"

"Test?Yes,Iknow;butthey"reallright;Ilaidafewinthepublicroadbeyondourlinesandthey"vebeentested."

"Oh,thataltersthecase.Whodidit?"

"AChurchcommittee."

"Howkind!"

"Yes.Theycametocommandustomakesubmission.Youseetheydidn"treallycometotestthetorpedoes;thatwasmerelyanincident."

"Didthecommitteemakeareport?"

"Yes,theymadeone.Youcouldhavehearditamile."

"Unanimous?"

"Thatwasthenatureofit.AfterthatIputupsomesigns,fortheprotectionoffuturecommittees,andwehavehadnointruderssince."

"Clarence,you"vedoneaworldofwork,anddoneitperfectly."

"Wehadplentyoftimeforit;therewasn"tanyoccasionforhurry."

Wesatsilentawhile,thinking.Thenmymindwasmadeup,andIsaid:

"Yes,everythingisready;everythingisshipshape,nodetailiswanting.

Iknowwhattodonow."

"SodoI;sitdownandwait."

"No,SIR!riseupandSTRIKE!"

"Doyoumeanit?"

"Yes,indeed!TheDEfensiveisn"tinmyline,andtheOFfensiveis.

Thatis,whenIholdafairhand——two-thirdsasgoodahandastheenemy.

Oh,yes,we"llriseupandstrike;that"sourgame."

"Ahundredtooneyouareright.Whendoestheperformancebegin?"

"NOW!We"llproclaimtheRepublic."

"Well,thatWILLprecipitatethings,sureenough!"

"Itwillmakethembuzz,Itellyou!Englandwillbeahornets"nestbeforenoonto-morrow,iftheChurch"shandhasn"tlostitscunning——

andweknowithasn"t.NowyouwriteandI"lldictatethus:

"PROCLAMATION——

"BEITKNOWNUNTOALL.Whereasthekinghavingdiedandleftnoheir,itbecomesmydutytocontinuetheexecutiveauthorityvestedinme,untilagovernmentshallhavebeencreatedandsetinmotion.Themonarchyhaslapsed,itnolongerexists.Byconsequence,allpoliticalpowerhasrevertedtoitsoriginalsource,thepeopleofthenation.Withthemonarchy,itsseveraladjunctsdiedalso;whereforethereisnolongeranobility,nolongeraprivilegedclass,nolongeranEstablishedChurch;allmenarebecomeexactlyequal;theyareupononecommonlevel,andreligionisfree.

AREPUBLICISHEREBYPROCLAIMED,asbeingthenaturalestateofanationwhenotherauthorityhasceased.ItisthedutyoftheBritishpeopletomeettogetherimmediately,andbytheirvoteselectrepresentativesanddeliverintotheirhandsthegovernment."

Isignedit"TheBoss,"anddateditfromMerlin"sCave.Clarencesaid——

"Why,thattellswhereweare,andinvitesthemtocallrightaway."

"Thatistheidea.WeSTRIKE——bytheProclamation——thenit"stheirinnings.Nowhavethethingsetupandprintedandposted,rightoff;thatis,givetheorder;then,ifyou"vegotacoupleofbicycleshandyatthefootofthehill,hoforMerlin"sCave!"

"Ishallbereadyintenminutes.Whatacyclonethereisgoingtobeto-morrowwhenthispieceofpapergetstowork!It"sapleasantoldpalace,thisis;Iwonderifweshalleveragain——butnevermindaboutthat."

AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur"sCourt-Chapter43Chapter43-TheBattleoftheSandBeltINMerlin"sCave——ClarenceandIandfifty-twofresh,bright,well-educated,clean-mindedyoungBritishboys.AtdawnIsentanordertothefactoriesandtoallourgreatworkstostopoperationsandremovealllifetoasafedistance,aseverythingwasgoingtobeblownupbysecretmines,"ANDNOTELLINGATWHATMOMENT——THEREFORE,VACATEATONCE."Thesepeopleknewme,andhadconfidenceinmyword.Theywouldclearoutwithoutwaitingtoparttheirhair,andIcouldtakemyowntimeaboutdatingtheexplosion.

Youcouldn"thireoneofthemtogobackduringthecentury,iftheexplosionwasstillimpending.

Wehadaweekofwaiting.Itwasnotdullforme,becauseIwaswritingallthetime.Duringthefirstthreedays,Ifinishedturningmyolddiaryintothisnarrativeform;itonlyrequiredachapterorsotobringitdowntodate.TherestoftheweekItookupinwritingletterstomywife.

ItwasalwaysmyhabittowritetoSandyeveryday,wheneverwewereseparate,andnowIkeptupthehabitforloveofit,andofher,thoughIcouldn"tdoanythingwiththeletters,ofcourse,afterIhadwrittenthem.Butitputinthetime,yousee,andwasalmostliketalking;itwasalmostasifIwassaying,"Sandy,ifyouandHello-Centralwerehereinthecave,insteadofonlyyourphotographs,whatgoodtimeswecouldhave!"Andthen,youknow,Icouldimaginethebabygoogooingsomethingoutinreply,withitsfistsinitsmouthanditselfstretchedacrossitsmother"slaponitsback,andshea-laughingandadmiringandworshiping,andnowandthenticklingunderthebaby"schintosetitcackling,andthenmaybethrowinginawordofanswertomeherself——andsoonandsoon——well,don"tyouknow,Icouldsitthereinthecavewithmypen,andkeepitup,thatway,bythehourwiththem.Why,itwasalmostlikehavingusalltogetheragain.

Ihadspiesouteverynight,ofcourse,togetnews.Everyreportmadethingslookmoreandmoreimpressive.Thehostsweregathering,gathering;

downalltheroadsandpathsofEnglandtheknightswereriding,andpriestsrodewiththem,toheartentheseoriginalCrusaders,thisbeingtheChurch"swar.Allthenobilities,bigandlittle,wereontheirway,andallthegentry.Thiswasallaswasexpected.Weshouldthinoutthissortoffolktosuchadegreethatthepeoplewouldhavenothingtodobutjuststeptothefrontwiththeirrepublicand——

Ah,whatadonkeyIwas!TowardtheendoftheweekIbegantogetthislargeanddisenchantingfactthroughmyhead:thatthemassofthenationhadswungtheircapsandshoutedfortherepublicforaboutoneday,andthereanend!TheChurch,thenobles,andthegentrythenturnedonegrand,alldisapprovingfrownuponthemandshriveledthemintosheep!Fromthatmomentthesheephadbeguntogathertothefold——thatistosay,thecamps——andoffertheirvaluelesslivesandtheirvaluablewooltothe"righteouscause."Why,eventheverymenwhohadlatelybeenslaveswereinthe"righteouscause,"andglorifyingit,prayingforit,sentimentallyslabberingoverit,justlikealltheothercommoners.Imaginesuchhumanmuckasthis;conceiveofthisfolly!

Yes,itwasnow"DeathtotheRepublic!"everywhere——notadissentingvoice.AllEnglandwasmarchingagainstus!Truly,thiswasmorethanI

hadbargainedfor.

Iwatchedmyfifty-twoboysnarrowly;watchedtheirfaces,theirwalk,theirunconsciousattitudes:forallthesearealanguage——alanguagegivenuspurposelythatitmaybetrayusintimesofemergency,whenwehavesecretswhichwewanttokeep.Iknewthatthatthoughtwouldkeepsayingitselfoverandoveragainintheirmindsandhearts,ALLENGLAND

ISMARCHINGAGAINSTUS!andevermorestrenuouslyimploringattentionwitheachrepetition,evermoresharplyrealizingitselftotheirimaginations,untilevenintheirsleeptheywouldfindnorestfromit,buthearthevagueandflittingcreaturesofthedreamssay,ALLENG-LAND——ALLENGLAND!——

ISMARCHINGAGAINSTYOU!Iknewallthiswouldhappen;Iknewthatultimatelythepressurewouldbecomesogreatthatitwouldcompelutterance;therefore,Imustbereadywithanansweratthattime——ananswerwellchosenandtranquilizing.

Iwasright.Thetimecame.TheyHADtospeak.Poorlads,itwaspitifultosee,theyweresopale,soworn,sotroubled.Atfirsttheirspokesmancouldhardlyfindvoiceorwords;buthepresentlygotboth.Thisiswhathesaid——andheputitintheneatmodernEnglishtaughthiminmyschools:

"Wehavetriedtoforgetwhatweare——Englishboys!Wehavetriedtoputreasonbeforesentiment,dutybeforelove;ourmindsapprove,butourheartsreproachus.Whileapparentlyitwasonlythenobility,onlythegentry,onlythetwenty-fiveorthirtythousandknightsleftaliveoutofthelatewars,wewereofonemind,andundisturbedbyanytroublingdoubt;eachandeveryoneofthesefifty-twoladswhostandherebeforeyou,said,"Theyhavechosen——itistheiraffair."Butthink!——thematterisaltered——ALLENG-LANDISMARCHINGAGAINSTUS!Oh,sir,consider!——

reflect!——thesepeopleareourpeople,theyareboneofourbone,fleshofourflesh,welovethem——donotaskustodestroyournation!"

Well,itshowsthevalueoflookingahead,andbeingreadyforathingwhenithappens.IfIhadn"tforeseenthisthingandbeenfixed,thatboywouldhavehadme!——Icouldn"thavesaidaword.ButIwasfixed.Isaid:

"Myboys,yourheartsareintherightplace,youhavethoughttheworthythought,youhavedonetheworthything.YouareEnglishboys,youwillremainEnglishboys,andyouwillkeepthatnameunsmirched.Giveyourselvesnofurtherconcern,letyourmindsbeatpeace.Considerthis:whileallEnglandismarchingagainstus,whoisinthevan?Who,bythecommonestrulesofwar,willmarchinthefront?Answerme."

"Themountedhostofmailedknights."

"True.Theyare30,000strong.Acresdeeptheywillmarch.Now,observe:

nonebutTHEYwilleverstrikethesand-belt!Thentherewillbeanepisode!

Immediatelyafter,thecivilianmultitudeintherearwillretire,tomeetbusinessengagementselsewhere.Nonebutnoblesandgentryareknights,andNONEBUTTHESEwillremaintodancetoourmusicafterthatepisode.

Itisabsolutelytruethatweshallhavetofightnobodybutthesethirtythousandknights.Nowspeak,anditshallbeasyoudecide.Shallweavoidthebattle,retirefromthefield?"

Theshoutwasunanimousandhearty.

"Areyou——areyou——well,afraidofthesethirtythousandknights?"

Thatjokebroughtoutagoodlaugh,theboys"troublesvanishedaway,andtheywentgailytotheirposts.Ah,theywereadarlingfifty-two!

Asprettyasgirls,too.

Iwasreadyfortheenemynow.Lettheapproachingbigdaycomealong——itwouldfindusondeck.

Thebigdayarrivedontime.Atdawnthesentryonwatchinthecorralcameintothecaveandreportedamovingblackmassunderthehorizon,andafaintsoundwhichhethoughttobemilitarymusic.Breakfastwasjustready;wesatdownandateit.

Thisover,Imadetheboysalittlespeech,andthensentoutadetailtomanthebattery,withClarenceincommandofit.

Thesunrosepresentlyandsentitsunobstructedsplendorsovertheland,andwesawaprodigioushostmovingslowlytowardus,withthesteadydriftandalignedfrontofawaveofthesea.Nearerandneareritcame,andmoreandmoresublimelyimposingbecameitsaspect;yes,allEnglandwasthere,apparently.Soonwecouldseetheinnumerablebannersfluttering,andthenthesunstrucktheseaofarmorandsetitallaflash.Yes,itwasafinesight;Ihadn"teverseenanythingtobeatit.

Atlastwecouldmakeoutdetails.Allthefrontranks,notellinghowmanyacresdeep,werehorsemen——plumedknightsinarmor.Suddenlyweheardtheblareoftrumpets;theslowwalkburstintoagallop,andthen——well,itwaswonderfultosee!Downsweptthatvasthorse-shoewave——itapproachedthesand-belt——mybreathstoodstill;nearer,nearer——thestripofgreenturfbeyondtheyellowbeltgrewnarrow——narrowerstill——becameamereribboninfrontofthehorses——thendisappearedundertheirhoofs.GreatScott!Why,thewholefrontofthathostshotintotheskywithathunder-crash,andbecameawhirlingtempestofragsandfragments;andalongthegroundlayathickwallofsmokethathidwhatwasleftofthemultitudefromoursight.

Timeforthesecondstepintheplanofcampaign!Itouchedabutton,andshookthebonesofEnglandloosefromherspine!

Inthatexplosionallournoblecivilization-factorieswentupintheairanddisappearedfromtheearth.Itwasapity,butitwasnecessary.

Wecouldnotaffordtolettheenemyturnourownweaponsagainstus.

Nowensuedoneofthedullestquarter-hoursIhadeverendured.Wewaitedinasilentsolitudeenclosedbyourcirclesofwire,andbyacircleofheavysmokeoutsideofthese.Wecouldn"tseeoverthewallofsmoke,andwecouldn"tseethroughit.Butatlastitbegantoshredawaylazily,andbytheendofanotherquarter-hourthelandwasclearandourcuriositywasenabledtosatisfyitself.Nolivingcreaturewasinsight!Wenowperceivedthatadditionshadbeenmadetoourdefenses.Thedynamitehaddugaditchmorethanahundredfeetwide,allaroundus,andcastupanembankmentsometwenty-fivefeethighonbothbordersofit.Astodestructionoflife,itwasamazing.Moreover,itwasbeyondestimate.Ofcourse,wecouldnotCOUNTthedead,becausetheydidnotexistasindividuals,butmerelyashomogeneousprotoplasm,withalloysofironandbuttons.

Nolifewasinsight,butnecessarilytheremusthavebeensomewoundedintherearranks,whowerecarriedoffthefieldundercoverofthewallofsmoke;therewouldbesicknessamongtheothers——therealwaysis,afteranepisodelikethat.Buttherewouldbenoreinforcements;thiswasthelaststandofthechivalryofEngland;itwasallthatwasleftoftheorder,aftertherecentannihilatingwars.SoIfeltquitesafeinbelievingthattheutmostforcethatcouldforthefuturebebroughtagainstuswouldbebutsmall;thatis,ofknights.Ithereforeissuedacongratulatoryproclamationtomyarmyinthesewords:

SOLDIERS,CHAMPIONSOFHUMANLIBERTYANDEQUALITY:YourGeneralcongratulatesyou!Intheprideofhisstrengthandthevanityofhisrenown,anarrogantenemycameagainstyou.Youwereready.Theconflictwasbrief;onyourside,glorious.Thismightyvictory,havingbeenachievedutterlywithoutloss,standswithoutexampleinhistory.Solongastheplanetsshallcontinuetomoveintheirorbits,theBATTLEOFTHESAND-BELTwillnotperishoutofthememoriesofmen.

THEBOSS.

Ireaditwell,andtheapplauseIgotwasverygratifyingtome.I

thenwoundupwiththeseremarks:

"ThewarwiththeEnglishnation,asanation,isatanend.Thenationhasretiredfromthefieldandthewar.Beforeitcanbepersuadedtoreturn,warwillhaveceased.Thiscampaignistheonlyonethatisgoingtobefought.Itwillbebrief——thebriefestinhistory.Alsothemostdestructivetolife,consideredfromthestandpointofproportionofcasualtiestonumbersengaged.Wearedonewiththenation;henceforthwedealonlywiththeknights.Englishknightscanbekilled,buttheycannotbeconquered.

Weknowwhatisbeforeus.Whileoneofthesemenremainsalive,ourtaskisnotfinished,thewarisnotended.Wewillkillthemall."[Loudandlongcontinuedapplause.]

Ipicketedthegreatembankmentsthrownuparoundourlinesbythedynamiteexplosion——merelyalookoutofacoupleofboystoannouncetheenemywhenheshouldappearagain.

Next,Isentanengineerandfortymentoapointjustbeyondourlinesonthesouth,toturnamountainbrookthatwasthere,andbringitwithinourlinesandunderourcommand,arrangingitinsuchawaythatIcouldmakeinstantuseofitinanemergency.Thefortymenweredividedintotwoshiftsoftwentyeach,andweretorelieveeachothereverytwohours.

Intenhourstheworkwasaccomplished.

Itwasnightfallnow,andIwithdrewmypickets.Theonewhohadhadthenorthernoutlookreportedacampinsight,butvisiblewiththeglassonly.Healsoreportedthatafewknightshadbeenfeelingtheirwaytowardus,andhaddrivensomecattleacrossourlines,butthattheknightsthemselveshadnotcomeverynear.ThatwaswhatIhadbeenexpecting.Theywerefeelingus,yousee;theywantedtoknowifweweregoingtoplaythatredterroronthemagain.Theywouldgrowbolderinthenight,perhaps.IbelievedIknewwhatprojecttheywouldattempt,becauseitwasplainlythethingIwouldattemptmyselfifIwereintheirplacesandasignorantastheywere.ImentionedittoClarence.

"Ithinkyouareright,"saidhe;"itistheobviousthingforthemtotry."

"Well,then,"Isaid,"iftheydoittheyaredoomed.

"Certainly."

Theywon"thavetheslightestshowintheworld."

"Ofcoursetheywon"t."

"It"sdreadful,Clarence.Itseemsanawfulpity."

ThethingdisturbedmesothatIcouldn"tgetanypeaceofmind.forthinkingofitandworryingoverit.So,atlast,toquietmyconscience,Iframedthismessagetotheknights:

TOTHEHONORABLETHECOMMANDEROFTHEINSURGENTCHIVALRYOFENGLAND:

YOUfightinvain.Weknowyourstrength——ifonemaycallitbythatname.Weknowthatattheutmostyoucannotbringagainstusabovefiveandtwentythousandknights.Therefore,youhavenochance——nonewhatever.

Reflect:wearewellequipped,wellfortified,wenumber54.Fifty-fourwhat?Men?No,MINDS——thecapablestintheworld;aforceagainstwhichmereanimalmightmaynomorehopetoprevailthanmaytheidlewavesoftheseahopetoprevailagainstthegranitebarriersofEngland.Beadvised.

Weofferyouyourlives;forthesakeofyourfamilies,donotrejectthegift.Weofferyouthischance,anditisthelast:throwdownyourarms;

surrenderunconditionallytotheRepublic,andallwillbeforgiven.

(Signed)THEBOSS.

IreadittoClarence,andsaidIproposedtosenditbyaflagoftruce.

Helaughedthesarcasticlaughhewasbornwith,andsaid:

"Somehowitseemsimpossibleforyoutoeverfullyrealizewhatthesenobilitiesare.Nowletussavealittletimeandtrouble.Considermethecommanderoftheknightsyonder.Now,then,youaretheflagoftruce;

approachanddelivermeyourmessage,andIwillgiveyouyouranswer."

Ihumoredtheidea.Icameforwardunderanimaginaryguardoftheenemy"ssoldiers,producedmypaper,andreaditthrough.Foranswer,Clarencestruckthepaperoutofmyhand,pursedupascornfullipandsaidwithloftydisdain:

"Dismembermethisanimal,andreturnhiminabaskettothebase-bornknavewhosenthim;otheranswerhaveInone!"

Howemptyistheoryinpresenceoffact!Andthiswasjustfact,andnothingelse.Itwasthethingthatwouldhavehappened,therewasnogettingaroundthat.Itoreupthepaperandgrantedmymistimedsentimentalitiesapermanentrest.

Then,tobusiness.Itestedtheelectricsignalsfromthegatlingplatformtothecave,andmadesurethattheywereallright;Itestedandretestedthosewhichcommandedthefences——theseweresignalswherebyIcouldbreakandrenewtheelectriccurrentineachfenceindependentlyoftheothersatwill.Iplacedthebrook-connectionundertheguardandauthorityofthreeofmybestboys,whowouldalternateintwo-hourwatchesallnightandpromptlyobeymysignal,ifIshouldhaveoccasiontogiveit——threerevolvershotsinquicksuccession.Sentry-dutywasdiscardedforthenight,andthecorralleftemptyoflife;Iorderedthatquietbemaintainedinthecave,andtheelectriclightsturneddowntoaglimmer.

Assoonasitwasgoodanddark,Ishutoffthecurrentfromallthefences,andthengropedmywayouttotheembankmentborderingoursideofthegreatdynamiteditch.Icrepttothetopofitandlaythereontheslantofthemucktowatch.Butitwastoodarktoseeanything.Asforsounds,therewerenone.Thestillnesswasdeathlike.True,thereweretheusualnight-soundsofthecountry——thewhirofnightbirds,thebuzzingofinsects,thebarkingofdistantdogs,themellowlowingoffar-offkine——butthesedidn"tseemtobreakthestillness,theyonlyintensifiedit,andaddedagrewsomemelancholytoitintothebargain.

Ipresentlygaveuplooking,thenightshutdownsoblack,butIkeptmyearsstrainedtocatchtheleastsuspicioussound,forIjudgedIhadonlytowait,andIshouldn"tbedisappointed.However,Ihadtowaitalongtime.AtlastIcaughtwhatyoumaycallindistinctglimpsesofsoundÑdulledmetallicsound.Iprickedupmyears,then,andheldmybreath,forthiswasthesortofthingIhadbeenwaitingfor.Thissoundthickened,andapproached——fromtowardthenorth.Presently,Ihearditatmyownlevel——theridge-topoftheoppositeembankment,ahundredfeetormoreaway.

ThenIseemedtoseearowofblackdotsappearalongthatridge——humanheads?Icouldn"ttell;itmightn"tbeanythingatall;youcan"tdependonyoureyeswhenyourimaginationisoutoffocus.However,thequestionwassoonsettled.Iheardthatmetallicnoisedescendingintothegreatditch.Itaugmentedfast,itspreadallalong,anditunmistakablyfurnishedmethisfact:anarmedhostwastakingupitsquartersintheditch.Yes,thesepeoplewerearrangingalittlesurprisepartyforus.Wecouldexpectentertainmentaboutdawn,possiblyearlier.

Igropedmywaybacktothecorralnow;Ihadseenenough.Iwenttotheplatformandsignaledtoturnthecurrentontothetwoinnerfences.

ThenIwentintothecave,andfoundeverythingsatisfactorythere——nobodyawakebuttheworking-watch.IwokeClarenceandtoldhimthegreatditchwasfillingupwithmen,andthatIbelievedalltheknightswerecomingforusinabody.Itwasmynotionthatassoonasdawnapproachedwecouldexpecttheditch"sambuscadedthousandstoswarmupovertheembankmentandmakeanassault,andbefollowedimmediatelybytherestoftheirarmy.

Clarencesaid:

"Theywillbewantingtosendascoutortwointhedarktomakepreliminaryobservations.Whynottakethelightningofftheouterfences,andgivethemachance?"

"I"vealreadydoneit,Clarence.Didyoueverknowmetobeinhospitable?"

"No,youareagoodheart.Iwanttogoand——"

"Beareceptioncommittee?Iwillgo,too."

Wecrossedthecorralandlaydowntogetherbetweenthetwoinsidefences.

Eventhedimlightofthecavehaddisorderedoureyesightsomewhat,butthefocusstraightwaybegantoregulateitselfandsoonitwasadjustedforpresentcircumstances.Wehadhadtofeelourwaybefore,butwecouldmakeouttoseethefencepostsnow.Westartedawhisperedconversation,butsuddenlyClarencebrokeoffandsaid:

"Whatisthat?"

"Whatiswhat?"

"Thatthingyonder."

"Whatthing——where?"

"Therebeyondyoualittlepiece——darksomething——adullshapeofsomekind——againstthesecondfence."

Igazedandhegazed.Isaid:

"Coulditbeaman,Clarence?"

"No,Ithinknot.Ifyounotice,itlooksalit——why,itISaman!——

leaningonthefence."

"Icertainlybelieveitis;letusgoandsee."

Wecreptalongonourhandsandkneesuntilwewereprettyclose,andthenlookedup.Yes,itwasaman——adimgreatfigureinarmor,standingerect,withbothhandsontheupperwire——and,ofcourse,therewasasmellofburningflesh.Poorfellow,deadasadoor-nail,andneverknewwhathurthim.Hestoodtherelikeastatue——nomotionabouthim,exceptthathisplumesswishedaboutalittleinthenightwind.Weroseupandlookedinthroughthebarsofhisvisor,butcouldn"tmakeoutwhetherweknewhimornot——featurestoodimandshadowed.

Weheardmuffledsoundsapproaching,andwesankdowntothegroundwherewewere.Wemadeoutanotherknightvaguely;hewascomingverystealthily,andfeelinghisway.Hewasnearenoughnowforustoseehimputoutahand,findanupperwire,thenbendandstepunderitandoverthelowerone.Nowhearrivedatthefirstknight——andstartedslightlywhenhediscoveredhim.Hestoodamoment——nodoubtwonderingwhytheotheronedidn"tmoveon;thenhesaid,inalowvoice,"Whydreamestthouhere,goodSirMar——"thenhelaidhishandonthecorpse"sshoulder——andjustutteredalittlesoftmoanandsunkdowndead.Killedbyadeadman,yousee——killedbyadeadfriend,infact.Therewassomethingawfulaboutit.

Theseearlybirdscamescatteringalongaftereachother,aboutoneeveryfiveminutesinourvicinity,duringhalfanhour.Theybroughtnoarmorofoffensebuttheirswords;asarule,theycarriedtheswordreadyinthehand,andputitforwardandfoundthewireswithit.Wewouldnowandthenseeabluesparkwhentheknightthatcauseditwassofarawayastobeinvisibletous;butweknewwhathadhappened,allthesame;

poorfellow,hehadtouchedachargedwirewithhisswordandbeenelected.

Wehadbriefintervalsofgrimstillness,interruptedwithpiteousregularitybytheclashmadebythefallingofaniron-clad;andthissortofthingwasgoingon,rightalong,andwasverycreepythereinthedarkandlonesomeness.

Weconcludedtomakeatourbetweentheinnerfences.Weelectedtowalkupright,forconvenience"ssake;wearguedthatifdiscerned,weshouldbetakenforfriendsratherthanenemies,andinanycaseweshouldbeoutofreachofswords,andthesegentrydidnotseemtohaveanyspearsalong.Well,itwasacurioustrip.Everywheredeadmenwerelyingoutsidethesecondfence——notplainlyvisible,butstillvisible;andwecountedfifteenofthosepatheticstatues——deadknightsstandingwiththeirhandsontheupperwire.

Onethingseemedtobesufficientlydemonstrated:ourcurrentwassotremendousthatitkilledbeforethevictimcouldcryout.Prettysoonwedetectedamuffledandheavysound,andnextmomentweguessedwhatitwas.Itwasasurpriseinforcecoming!whisperedClarencetogoandwakethearmy,andnotifyittowaitinsilenceinthecaveforfurtherorders.Hewassoonback,andwestoodbytheinnerfenceandwatchedthesilentlightningdoitsawfulworkuponthatswarminghost.Onecouldmakeoutbutlittleofdetail;buthecouldnotethatablackmasswaspilingitselfupbeyondthesecondfence.Thatswellingbulkwasdeadmen!Ourcampwasenclosedwithasolidwallofthedead——abulwark,abreastwork,ofcorpses,youmaysay.Oneterriblethingaboutthisthingwastheabsenceofhumanvoices;therewerenocheers,nowarcries;beingintentuponasurprise,thesemenmovedasnoiselesslyastheycould;andalwayswhenthefrontrankwasnearenoughtotheirgoaltomakeitproperforthemtobegintogetashoutready,ofcoursetheystruckthefatallineandwentdownwithouttestifying.

Isentacurrentthroughthethirdfencenow;andalmostimmediatelythroughthefourthandfifth,soquicklywerethegapsfilledup.Ibelievedthetimewascomenowformyclimax;Ibelievedthatthatwholearmywasinourtrap.Anyway,itwashightimetofindout.SoItouchedabuttonandsetfiftyelectricsunsaflameonthetopofourprecipice.

Land,whatasight!Wewereenclosedinthreewallsofdeadmen!Alltheotherfenceswereprettynearlyfilledwiththeliving,whowerestealthilyworkingtheirwayforwardthroughthewires.Thesuddenglareparalyzedthishost,petrifiedthem,youmaysay,withastonishment;therewasjustoneinstantformetoutilizetheirimmobilityin,andIdidn"tlosethechance.Yousee,inanotherinstanttheywouldhaverecoveredtheirfaculties,thenthey"dhaveburstintoacheerandmadearush,andmywireswouldhavegonedownbeforeit;butthatlostinstantlostthemtheiropportunityforever;whileeventhatslightfragmentoftimewasstillunspent,Ishotthecurrentthroughallthefencesandstruckthewholehostdeadintheirtracks!THEREwasagroanyoucouldHEAR!Itvoicedthedeath-pangofeleventhousandmen.Itswelledoutonthenightwithawfulpathos.

Aglanceshowedthattherestoftheenemy——perhapstenthousandstrong——werebetweenusandtheencirclingditch,andpressingforwardtotheassault.ConsequentlywehadthemALL!andhadthempasthelp.Timeforthelastactofthetragedy.Ifiredthethreeappointedrevolvershots——whichmeant:

"Turnonthewater!"

Therewasasuddenrushandroar,andinaminutethemountainbrookwasragingthroughthebigditchandcreatingariverahundredfeetwideandtwentyfivedeep.

"Standtoyourguns,men!Openfire!"

Thethirteengatlingsbegantovomitdeathintothefatedtenthousand.

Theyhalted,theystoodtheirgroundamomentagainstthatwitheringdelugeoffire,thentheybroke,facedaboutandswepttowardtheditchlikechaffbeforeagale.Afullfourthpartoftheirforceneverreachedthetopoftheloftyembankment;thethree-fourthsreacheditandplungedover——todeathbydrowning.