第6章

"Stoop，"saidGraham’sguide，andtheyavoidedanendlessbandrunningroaringuptotheshaftofthevane。"Thisway！"andtheywereankledeepinagutterfullofdriftedthawingsnow，betweentwolowwallsofmetalthatpresentlyrosewaisthigh。"Iwillgofirst，"saidtheguide。Grahamdrewhiscloakabouthimandfollowed。Thensuddenlycameanarrowabyssacrosswhichthegutterleapttothesnowydarknessofthefurtherside。Grahampeepedoverthesideonceandthegulfwasblack。Foramomentheregrettedhisflight。Hedarednotlookagain，andhisbrainspunashewadedthroughthehalfliquidsnow。

Thenoutoftheguttertheyclamberedandhurriedacrossawideflatspacedampwiththawingsnow，andforhalfitsextentdimlytranslucenttolightsthatwenttoandfrounderneath。Hehesitatedatthisunstablelookingsubstance，buthisguideranonunheeding，andsotheycametoandclamberedupslipperystepstotherimofagreatdomeofglass。

Roundthistheywent。Farbelowanumberofpeopleseemedtobedancing，andmusicfilteredthroughthedome……Grahamfanciedheheardashoutingthroughthesnowstorm，andhisguidehurriedhimonwithanewspurtofhaste。Theyclamberedpantingtoaspaceofhugewindmills，onesovastthatonlytheloweredgeofitsvanscamerushingintosightandrushedupagainandwaslostinthenightandthesnow。Theyhurriedforatimethroughthecolossalmetallictraceryofitssupports，andcameatlastaboveaplaceofmovingplatformsliketheplaceintowhichGrahamhadlookedfromthebalcony。Theycrawledacrosstheslopingtransparencythatcoveredthisstreetofplatforms，crawlingonhandsandkneesbecauseoftheslipperinessofthesnowfall。

Forthemostparttheglasswasbedewed，andGrahamsawonlyhazysuggestionsoftheformsbelow，butnearthepitchofthetransparentrooftheglasswasclear，andhefoundhimselflookingsheerlydownuponitall。Forawhile，inspiteoftheurgencyofhisguide，hegavewaytovertigoandlayspread—eagledontheglass，sickandparalysed。Farbelow，merestirringspecksanddots，wentthepeopleoftheunsleepingcityintheirperpetualdaylight，andthemovingplatformsranontheirincessantjourney。Messengersandmenonunknownbusinessesshotalongthedroopingcablesandthefrailbridgeswerecrowdedwithmen。Itwaslikepeeringintoagiganticglasshive，anditlayverticallybelowhimwithonlyatoughglassofunknownthicknesstosavehimfromafall。

Thestreetshowedwarmandlit，andGrahamwaswetnowtotheskinwiththawingsnow，andhisfeetwerenumbedwithcold。Foraspacehecouldnotmove。

"Comeon！"criedhisguide，withterrorinhisvoice。

"Comeon！"

Grahamreachedthepitchoftheroofbyaneffort。

Overtheridge，followinghisguide’sexample，heturnedaboutandslidbackwarddowntheoppositeslopeveryswiftly，amidalittleavalancheofsnowWhilehewasslidinghethoughtofwhatwouldhappenifsomebrokengapshouldcomeinhisway。Attheedgehestumbledtohisfeetankledeepinslushthankingheavenforanopaquefootingagain。Hisguidewasalreadyclamberingupametalscreentoalevelexpanse。

Throughthesparesnowflakesabovethisloomedanotherlineofvastwindmills，andthensuddenlytheamorphoustumultoftherotatingwheelswaspiercedwithadeafeningsound。Itwasamechanicalshrillingofextraordinaryintensitythatseemedtocomesimultaneouslyfromeverypointofthecompass。

"Theyhavemissedusalready！"criedGraham’sguideinanaccentofterror，andsuddenly，withablindingflash，thenightbecameday。

Abovethedrivingsnow，fromthesummitsofthewind—wheels，appearedvastmastscarryingglobesoflividlight。Theyrecededinillimitablevistasineverydirection。Asfarashiseyecouldpenetratethesnowfalltheyglared。

"Getonthis，"criedGraham’sconductor，andthrusthimforwardtoalonggratingofsnowlessmetalthatranlikeabandbetweentwoslightlyslopingexpansesofsnow。ItfeltwarmtoGraham’sbenurrledfeet，andafainteddyofsteamrosefromit。

"Comeon！"shoutedhisguidetenyardsoff，and，withoutwaiting，ranswiftlythroughtheincandescentglaretowardstheironsupportsofthenextrangeofwind—wheels。Graham，recoveringfromhisastonishment，followedasfast，convincedofhisimminentcapture。

Inascoreofsecondstheywerewithinatraceryofglareandblackshadowsshotwithmovingbarsbeneaththemonstrouswheels。Graham’sconductorranonforsometime，andsuddenlydartedsidewaysandvanishedintoablackshadowinthecornerofthefootofahugesupport。InanothermomentGrahamwasbesidehim。

Theycoweredpantingandstaredout。

ThesceneuponwhichGrahamlookedwasverywildandstrange。Thesnowhadnowalmostceased；

onlyabelatedflakepassednowandagainacrossthepicture。Butthebroadstretchoflevelbeforethemwasaghastlywhite，brokenonlybygiganticmassesandmovingshapesandlengthystripsofimpenetrabledarkness，vastungainlyTitansofshadow。Allaboutthem，hugemetallicstructures，irongirders，inhumanlyvastasitseemedtohim，interlaced，andtheedgesofwind—wheels，scarcelymovinginthelull，I

passedingreatshiningcurvessteeperandsteeperupintoaluminoushaze。Whereverthesnow—spangledlightstruckdown，beamsandgirders，andincessantbandsrunningwithahalting，indomitableresolutionpassedupwardanddownwardintotheblack。Andwithallthatmightyactivity，withanomnipresentsenseofmotiveanddesign，thissnow—claddesolationofmechanismseemedvoidofallhumanpresencesavethemselves，seemedastracklessanddesertedandunfrequentedbymenassomeinaccessibleAlpinesnowfield。

"Theywillbechasingus，"criedtheleader。"Wearescarcelyhalfwaythereyet。Coldasitiswemusthidehereforaspace——atleastuntilitsnowsmorethicklyagain。"

Histeethchatteredinhishead。

"Wherearethemarkets？"askedGrahamstaringout。"Whereareallthepeople？"

Theothermadenoanswer。

"Look！"whisperedGraham，crouchedclose，andbecameverystill。

Thesnowhadsuddenlybecomethickagain，andslidingwiththewhirlingeddiesoutoftheblackpitoftheskycamesomething，vagueandlargeandveryswift。Itcamedowninasteepcurveandsweptround，widewingsextendedandatrailofwhitecondensingsteambehindit，rosewithaneasyswiftnessandwentglidinguptheair，swepthorizontallyforwardinawidecurve，andvanishedagaininthesteamingspecksofsnow。And，throughtheribsofitsbody，Grahamsawtwolittlemen，veryminuteandactive，searchingthesnowyareasabouthim，asitseemedtohim，withfieldglasses。Forasecondtheywereclear，thenhazythroughathickwhirlofsnow，thensmallanddistant，andinaminutetheyweregone。

"Now！"criedhiscompanion。"Come！"

HepulledGraham’ssleeve，andincontinentlythetwowererunningheadlongdownthearcadeofironworkbeneaththewind—wheels。Graham，runningblindly，collidedwithhisleader，whohadturnedbackonhimsuddenly。Hefoundhimselfwithinadozenyardsofablackchasm。Itextendedasfarashecouldseerightandleft。Itseemedtocutofftheirprogressineitherdirection。

"DoasIdo，"whisperedhisguide。Helaydownandcrawledtotheedge，thrusthisheadoverandtwisteduntiloneleghung。Heseemedtofeelforsomethingwithhisfoot，foundit，andwentslidingovertheedgeintothegulf。Hisheadreappeared。

"Itisaledge，"hewhispered。"Inthedarkallthewayalong。DoasIdid。"

Grahamhesitated，wentdownuponallfours，crawledtotheedge，andpeeredintoavelvetyblackness。

Forasicklymomenthehadcourageneithertogoonnorretreat，thenhesatandhunghislegdown，felthisguide’shandspullingathim，hadahorriblesensationofslidingovertheedgeintotheunfathomable，splashed，andfelthimselfinaslushygutter，impenetrablydark。

"Thisway，"whisperedthevoice，andhebegancrawlingalongthegutterthroughthetricklingthaw，pressinghimselfagainstthewall。Theycontinuedalongitforsomeminutes。Heseemedtopassthroughahundredstagesofmisery，topassminuteafterminutethroughahundreddegreesofcold，damp，andexhaustion。

Inalittlewhileheceasedtofeelhishandsandfeet。

Thegutterslopeddownwards。Heobservedthattheywerenowmanyfeetbelowtheedgeofthebuildings。

Rowsofspectralwhiteshapesliketheghostsofblind—drawnwindowsroseabovethem。Theycametotheendofacablefastenedaboveoneofthesewhitewindows，dimlyvisibleanddroppingintoimpenetrableshadows。Suddenlyhishandcameagainsthisguide’s。

"Still！"whisperedthelatterverysoftly。

Helookedupwithastartandsawthehugewingsoftheflyingmachineglidingslowlyandnoiselesslyoverheadathwartthebroadbandofsnow—fleckedgrey—bluesky。Inamomentitwashiddenagain。

"Keepstill；theywerejustturning。"

Forawhilebothweremotionless，thenGraham’scompanionstoodup，andreachingtowardsthefasteningsofthecablefumbledwithsomeindistincttackle。

"Whatisthat？"askedGraham。

Theonlyanswerwasafaintcry。Themancrouchedmotionless。Grahampeeredandsawhisfacedimly。

Hewasstaringdownthelongribbonofsky，andGraham，followinghiseyes，sawtheflyingmachinesmallandfaintandremote。Thenhesawthatthewingsspreadoneitherside，thatitheadedtowardsthem，thateverymomentitgrewlarger。Itwasfollowingtheedgeofthechasmtowardsthem。

Theman’smovementsbecameconvulsive。HethrusttwocrossbarsintoGraham’shand。Grahamcouldnotseethem，heascertainedtheirformbyfeeling。

Theywereslungbythincordstothecable。Onthecordwerehandgripsofsomesoftelasticsubstance。

"Putthecrossbetweenyourlegs，"whisperedtheguidehysterically，"andgriptheholdfasts。

Griptightly，grip！"

Grahamdidashewastold。

"Jump，"saidthevoice。"Inheaven’sname，jump！"

ForonemomentoussecondGrahamcouldnotspeak。Hewasgladafterwardsthatdarknesshidhisface。Hesaidnothing。Hebegantotrembleviolently。

Helookedsidewaysattheswiftshadowthatswalloweduptheskyasitrusheduponhim。

"Jump！Jump——inGod’sname！Ortheywillhaveus，"criedGraham’sguide，andintheviolenceofhispassionthrusthimforward。

Grahamtotteredconvulsively，gaveasobbingcry，acryinspiteofhimself，andthen，astheflyingmachinesweptoverthem，fellforwardintothepitofthatdarkness，seatedonthecrosswoodandholdingtheropeswiththeclutchofdeath。Somethingcracked，somethingrappedsmartlyagainstawall。

Heheardthepulleyofthecradlehumonitsrope。

Heheardtheaeronautsshout。Hefeltapairofkneesdiggingintohisback……Hewassweepingheadlongthroughtheair，fallingthroughtheair。Allhisstrengthwasinhishands。Hewouldhavescreamedbuthehadnobreath。

Heshotintoablindinglightthatmadehimgripthetighter。Herecognisedthegreatpassagewiththerunningways，thehanginglightsandinterlacinggirders。Theyrushedupwardandbyhim。Hehadamomentaryimpressionofagreatcircularapertureyawningtoswallowhimup。

Hewasinthedarkagain，falling，falling，grippingwithachinghands，andbehold！aclapofsound，aburstoflight，andhewasinabrightlylithallwitharoaringmultitudeofpeoplebeneathhisfeet。Thepeople！Hispeople！Aproscenium，astagerusheduptowardshim，andhiscablesweptdowntoacircularaperturetotherightofthis。Hefelthewastravellingslower，andsuddenlyverymuchslower。Hedistinguishedshoutsof"Saved！TheMaster。Heissafe！"Thestagerusheduptowardshimwithrapidlydiminishingswiftness。Then——。

Heheardthemanclingingbehindhimshoutasifsuddenlyterrified，andthisshoutwasechoedbyashoutfrombelow。Hefeltthathewasnolongerglidingalongthecablebutfallingwithit。Therewasatumultofyells，screamsandcries。Hefeltsomethingsoftagainsthisextendedhand，andtheimpactofabrokenfallquiveringthroughhisarm……

Hewantedtobestillandthepeoplewereliftinghim。Hebelievedafterwardshewascarriedtotheplatformandgivensomedrink，buthewasneversure。

Hedidnotnoticewhatbecameofhisguide。Whenhismindwasclearagainhewasonhisfeet；eagerhandswereassistinghimtostand。Hewasinabigalcove，occupyingthepositionthatinhispreviousexperiencehadbeendevotedtothelowerboxes。Ifthiswasindeedatheatre。

Amightytumultwasinhisears，athunderousroar，theshoutingofacountlessmultitude。"ItistheSleeper！TheSleeperiswithus！"

"TheSleeperiswithus！TheMaster——theOwner！TheMasteriswithus。Heissafe。"

Grahamhadasurgingvisionofagreathallcrowdedwithpeople。Hesawnoindividuals，hewasconsciousofafrothofpinkfaces，ofwavingarmsandgarments，hefelttheoccultinfluenceofavastcrowdpouringoverhim，buoyinghimup。Therewerebalconies，galleries，greatarchwaysgivingremoterperspectives，andeverywherepeople，avastarenaofpeople，denselypackedandcheering。Acrossthenearerspacelaythecollapsedcablelikeahugesnake。Ithadbeencutbythemenoftheflyingmachineatitsupperend，andhadcrumpleddownintothehall。Menseemedtobehaulingthisoutoftheway。Butthewholeeffectwasvague，theverybuildingsthrobbedandleaptwiththeroarofthevoices。

Hestoodunsteadilyandlookedatthoseabouthim。

Someonesupportedhimbyonearm。"Letmegointoalittleroom，"hesaid，weeping；"alittleroom，"

andcouldsaynomore。Amaninblacksteppedforward，tookhisdisengagedarm。Hewasawareofofficiousmenopeningadoorbeforehim。Someoneguidedhimtoaseat。Hestaggered。Hesatdownheavilyandcoveredhisfacewithhishands；hewastremblingviolently，hisnervouscontrolwasatanend。

Hewasrelievedofhiscloak，hecouldnotrememberhow；hispurplehosehesawwereblackwithwet。

Peoplewererunningabouthim，thingswerehappening，butforsometimehegavenoheedtothem。

Hehadescaped。Amyriadofcriestoldhimthat。

Hewassafe。Thesewerethepeoplewhowereonhisside。Foraspacehesobbedforbreath，andthenhesatstillwithhisfacecovered。Theairwasfulloftheshoutingofinnumerablemen。

CHAPTERIX

THEPEOPLEMARCH

Hebecameawareofsomeoneurgingaglassofclearfluiduponhisattention，lookedupanddiscoveredthiswasadarkyoungmaninayellowgarment。Hetookthedoseforthwith，andinamomenthewasglowing。

Atallmaninablackrobestoodbyhisshoulder，andpointedtothehalfopendoorintothehall。Thismanwasshoutingclosetohisearandyetwhatwassaidwasindistinctbecauseofthetremendousuproarfromthegreattheatre。Behindthemanwasagirlinasilverygreyrobe，whomGraham，eveninthisconfusion，perceivedtobebeautiful。Herdarkeyes，fullofwonderandcuriosity，—werefixedonhim，herlipstrembledapart。Apartiallyopeneddoorgaveaglimpseofthecrowdedhall，andadmittedavastuneventumult，ahammering，clappingandshoutingthatdiedawayandbeganagain，androsetoathunderouspitch，andsocontinuedintermittentlyallthetimethatGrahamremainedinthelittleroom。Hewatchedthelipsofthemaninblackandgatheredthathewasmakingsomeclumsyexplanation。

Hestaredstupidlyforsomemomentsatthesethingsandthenstoodupabruptly；hegraspedthearmofthisshoutingperson。

"Tellme！"hecried。"WhoamI？WhoamI？"

Theotherscamenearertohearhiswords。"WhoamI？"Hiseyessearchedtheirfaces。

"Theyhavetoldhimnothing！"criedthegirl。

"Tellme，tellme！"criedGraham。

"YouaretheMasteroftheEarth。Youareownerofhalftheworld。"

Hedidnotbelieveheheardaright。Heresistedthepersuasion。Hepretendednottounderstand，nottohear。Heliftedhisvoiceagain。"Ihavebeenawakethreedays——aprisonerthreedays。Ijudgethereissomestrugglebetweenanumberofpeopleinthiscity——itisLondon？"

"Yes，"saidtheyoungerman。

"AndthosewhomeetinthegreathallwiththewhiteAtlas？Howdoesitconcernme？Insomewayithastodowithme。Why，Idon’tknow。

Drugs？ItseemstomethatwhileIhaveslepttheworldhasgonemad。Ihavegonemad。"

"WhoarethoseCouncillorsundertheAtlas？Whyshouldtheytrytodrugme？"

"Tokeepyouinsensible，"saidthemaninyellow。

"Topreventyourinterference。"

"But_why？__"

"Because__you__aretheAtlas，Sire，"saidthemaninyellow。"Theworldisonyourshoulders。Theyruleitinyourname。"

Thesoundsfromthehallhaddiedintoasilencethreadedbyonemonotonousvoice。Nowsuddenly，tramplingontheselastwords，cameadeafeningtumult，aroaringandthundering，cheercrowdedoncheer，voiceshoarseandshrill，beating，overlapping，andwhileitlastedthepeopleinthelittleroomcouldnotheareachothershout。

Grahamstood，hisintelligenceclinginghelplesslytothethinghehadjustheard。"TheCouncil，"herepeatedblankly，andthensnatchedatanamethathadstruckhim。"ButwhoisOstrog？"hesaid。

"Heistheorganiser——theorganiseroftherevolt。

OurLeader——inyourname。"

"Inmyname？——Andyou？Whyishenothere？"

"He——hasdeputedus。Iamhisbrother——hishalf—brother，Lincoln。Hewantsyoutoshowyourselftothesepeopleandthencomeontohim。Thatiswhyhehassent。Heisatthewind—vaneofficesdirecting。Thepeoplearemarching。"

"Inyourname，"shoutedtheyoungerman。"Theyhaveruled，crushed，tyrannised。Atlasteven——"

"Inmyname！Myname！Master？"

Theyoungermansuddenlybecameaudibleinapauseoftheouterthunder，indignantandvociferous，ahighpenetratingvoiceunderhisredaquilinenoseandbushymoustache。"Nooneexpectedyoutowake。Nooneexpectedyoutowake。Theywerecunning。Damnedtyrants！Buttheyweretakenbysurprise。Theydidnotknowwhethertodrugyou，hypnotiseyou，killyou。"

Againthehalldominatedeverything。

"Ostrogisatthewind—vaneofficesready——。Evennowthereisarumouroffightingbeginning。"

ThemanwhohadcalledhimselfLincolncameclosetohim。"Ostroghasitplanned。Trusthim。Wehaveourorganisationsready。Weshallseizetheflyingstages——。Evennowhemaybedoingthat。

Then——"

"Thispublictheatre，"bawledthemaninyellow，"isonlyacontingent。Wehavefivemyriadsofdrilledmen——"

"Wehavearms，"criedLincoln。"Wehaveplans。

Aleader。Theirpolicehavegonefromthestreetsandaremassedinthe——"（inaudible）。"Itisnowornever。TheCouncilisrocking——Theycannottrusteventheirdrilledmen——"

"Hearthepeoplecallingtoyou！"

Graham’smindwaslikeanightofmoonandswiftclouds，nowdarkandhopeless，nowclearandghastly。

HewasMasteroftheEarth，hewasamansoddenwiththawingsnow。Ofallhisfluctuatingimpressionsthedominantonespresentedanantagonism；ontheonehandwastheWhiteCouncil，powerful，disciplined，few，theWhiteCouncilfromwhichhehadjustescaped；andontheother，monstrouscrowds，packedmassesofindistinguishablepeopleclamouringhisname，hailinghimMaster。Theothersidehadimprisonedhim，debatedhisdeath。Theseshoutingthousandsbeyondthelittledoorwayhadrescuedhim。

Butwhythesethingsshouldbesohecouldnotunderstand。

Thedooropened，Lincoln’svoicewassweptawayanddrowned，andarushofpeoplefollowedontheheelsofthetumult。TheseintruderscametowardshimandLincolngesticulating。Thevoiceswithoutexplainedtheirsoundlesslips。"ShowustheSleeper，showustheSleeper！"wastheburdenoftheuproarMenwerebawlingfor"Order！Silence！"

Grahamglancedtowardstheopendoorway，andsawatall，oblongpictureofthehallbeyond，awaving，incessantconfusionofcrowded，shoutingfaces，menandwomentogether，wavingpalebluegarments，extendedhands。Manywerestanding，onemaninragsofdarkbrown，agauntfigure，stoodontheseatandwavedablackcloth。Hemetthewonderandexpectationofthegirl’seyes。Whatdidthesepeopleexpectfromhim。Hewasdimlyawarethatthetumultoutsidehadchangeditscharacter，wasinsomewaybeating，marching。Hisownmind，too，changed。

foraspacehedidnotrecognisetheinfluencethatwastransforminghim。Butamomentthatwasneartopanicpassed。Hetriedtomakeaudibleinquiriesofwhatwasrequiredofhim。

Lincolnwasshoutinginhisear，butGrahamwasdeafenedtothat。Alltheotherssavethewomangesticulatedtowardsthehall。Heperceivedwhathadhappenedtotheuproar。Thewholemassofpeoplewaschantingtogether。Itwasnotsimplyasong，thevoicesweregatheredtogetherandupbornebyatorrentofinstrumentalmusic，musiclikethemusicofanorgan，awoventextureofsounds，fulloftrumpets，fullofflauntingbanners，fullofthemarchandpageantryofopeningwar。Andthefeetofthepeoplewerebeatingtime——tramp，tramp。

Hewasurgedtowardsthedoor。Heobeyedmechanically。Thestrengthofthatchanttookholdofhim，stirredhim，emboldenedhim。Thehallopenedtohim，avastwelterofflutteringcolourswayingtothemusic。

"Waveyourarmtothem，"saidLincoln。"Waveyourarmtothem。"

"This，"saidavoiceontheotherside，"hemusthavethis。"Armswereabouthisneckdetaininghiminthedoorway，andablacksubtly—foldingmantlehungfromhisshoulders。HethrewhisarmfreeofthisandfollowedLincoln。Heperceivedthegirlingreyclosetohim，herfacelit，hergestureonward。Fortheinstantshebecametohim，flushedandeagerasshewas，anembodimentofthesong。Heemergedinthealcoveagain。Incontinentlythemountingwavesofthesongbrokeuponhisappearing，andflashedupintoafoamofshouting。GuidedbyLincoln’shandhemarchedobliquelyacrossthecentreofthestagefacingthepeople。

Thehallwasavastandintricatespace——galleries，balconies，broadspacesofamphitheatralsteps，andgreatarchways。Faraway，highup，seemedthemouthofahugepassagefullofstrugglinghumanity。

Thewholemultitudewasswayingincongestedmasses。

Individualfiguressprangoutofthetumult，impressedhimmomentarily，andlostdefinitionagain。Closetotheplatformswayedabeautifulfairwoman，carriedbythreemen，herhairacrossherfaceandbrandishingagreenstaff。Nextthisgroupanoldcarewornmaninbluecanvasmaintainedhisplaceinthecrushwithdifficulty，andbehindshoutedahairlessface，agreatcavityoftoothlessmouth。Avoicecalledthatenigmaticalword"Ostrog。"Allhisimpressionswerevaguesavethemassiveemotionofthattramplingsong。Themultitudewerebeatingtimewiththeirfeet——markingtime，tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。

Thegreenweaponswaved，flashedandslanted。Thenhesawthosenearesttohimonalevelspacebeforethestageweremarchinginfrontofhim，passingtowardsagreatarchway，shouting"TotheCouncil！"

Tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。Heraisedhisarm，andtheroaringwasredoubled。Herememberedhehadtoshout"March！"Hismouthshapedinaudibleheroicwords。Hewavedhisarmagainandpointedtothearchway，shouting"Onward！"Theywerenolongermarkingtime，theyweremarching；tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。Inthathostwerebeardedmen，oldmen，youths，flutteringrobedbare—armedwomen，girls。Menandwomenofthenewage！Richrobes，greyragsflutteredtogetherinthewhirloftheirmovementamidstthedominantblue。Amonstrousblackbannerjerkeditswaytotheright。Heperceivedablue—cladnegro，ashrivelledwomaninyellow，thenagroupoftallfair—haired，white—faced，blue—cladmenpushedtheatricallypasthim。HenotedtwoChinamen。

Atall，sallow，dark—haired，shining—eyedyouth，whitecladfromtoptotoe，clambereduptowardstheplatformshoutingloyally，andsprangdownagainandreceded，lookingbackward。Heads，shoulders，handsclutchingweapons，allwereswingingwiththosemarchingcadences。

Facescameoutoftheconfusiontohimashestoodthere，eyesmethisandpassedandvanished。Mengesticulatedtohim，shoutedinaudiblepersonalthings。

Mostofthefaceswereflushed，butmanywereghastlywhite。Anddiseasewasthere，andmanyahandthatwavedtohimwasgauntandlean。Menandwomenofthenewage！Strangeandincrediblemeeting！Asthebroadstreampassedbeforehimtotheright，tributarygangwaysfromtheremoteuplandsofthehallthrustdownwardinanincessantreplacementofpeople；

tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。Theunisonofthesongwasenrichedandcomplicatedbythemassiveechoesofarchesandpassages。Menandwomenmingledintheranks；tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。

Thewholeworldseemedmarching。Tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp；hisbrainwastramping。Thegarmentswavedonward，thefacespouredbymoreabundantly。

Tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp；atLincoln’spressureheturnedtowardsthearchway，walkingunconsciouslyinthatrhythm，scarcelynoticinghismovementforthemelodyandstirofit。Themultitude，thegestureandsong，allmovedinthatdirection，theflowofpeoplesmotedownwarduntiltheupturnedfaceswerebelowthelevelofhisfeet。Hewasawareofapathbeforehim，ofasuiteabouthim，ofguardsanddignities，and；Lincolnonhisrighthand。Attendantsintervened，andeverandagainblottedoutthesightofthemultitudetotheleft。Beforehimwentthebacksoftheguardsinblack——threeandthreeandthree。Hewasmarchedalongalittlerailedway，andcrossedabovethearchway，withthetorrentdippingtoflowbeneath，andshoutinguptohim。Hedidnotknowwhitherhewent；hedidnotwanttoknow。Heglancedbackacrossaflamingspaciousnessofhall。Tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。

CHAPTERX

THEBATTLEOFTHEDARKNESS

Hewasnolongerinthehall。Hewasmarchingalongagalleryoverhangingoneofthegreatstreetsofthemovingplatformsthattraversedthecity。

Beforehimandbehindhimtrampedhisguards。Thewholeconcaveofthemovingwaysbelowwasacongestedmassofpeoplemarching，trampingtotheleft，shouting，wavinghandsandarms，pouringalongahugevista，shoutingastheycameintoview，shoutingastheypassed，shoutingastheyreceded，untiltheglobesofelectriclightrecedinginperspectivedroppeddownitseemedandhidtheswarmingbareheads。

Tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。