第7章

ThesongroareduptoGrahamnow，nolongerupbornebymusic，butcoarseandnoisy，andthebeatingofthemarchingfeet，tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp，interwovewithathunderousirregularityoffootstepsfromtheundisciplinedrabblethatpouredalongthehigherways。

Abruptlyhenotedacontrast。Thebuildingsontheoppositesideofthewayseemeddeserted，thecablesandbridgesthatlacedacrosstheaislewereemptyandshadowy。ItcameintoGraham’smindthatthesealsoshouldhaveswarmedwithpeople。

Hefeltacuriousemotion——throbbing——veryfast！

Hestoppedagain。Theguardsbeforehimmarchedon；thoseabouthimstoppedashedid。Hesawthedirectionoftheirfaces。Thethrobbinghadsomethingtodowiththelights。Hetoolookedup。

Atfirstitseemedtohimathingthataffectedthelightssimply，anisolatedphenomenon，havingnobearingonthethingsbelow。Eachhugeglobeofblindingwhitenesswasasitwereclutched，compressedinasystolethatwasfollowedbyatransitorydiastole，andagainasystolelikeatighteninggrip，darkness，light，darkness，inrapidalternation。

Grahambecameawarethatthisstrangebehaviourofthelightshadtodowiththepeoplebelow。Theappearanceofthehousesandways，theappearanceofthepackedmasseschanged，becameaconfusionofvividlightsandleapingshadows。Hesawamultitudeofshadowshadsprungintoaggressiveexistence，seemedrushingup，broadening，widening，growingwithsteadyswiftness——toleapsuddenlybackandreturnreinforced。Thesongandthetrampinghadceased。Theunanimousmarch，hediscovered，wasarrested，therewereeddies，aflowsideways，shoutsof"Thelights！"Voiceswerecryingtogetheronething。"Thelights！"criedthesevoices。"Thelights！"Helookeddown。Inthisdancingdeathofthelightstheareaofthestreethadsuddenlybecomeamonstrousstruggle。Thehugewhiteglobesbecamepurple—white，purplewithareddishglow，flickered，flickeredfasterandfaster，flutteredbetweenlightandextinction，ceasedtoflickerandbecamemerefadingspecksofglowingredinavastobscurity。Intensecondstheextinctionwasaccomplished，andtherewasonlythisroaringdarkness，ablackmonstrositythathadsuddenlyswallowedupthoseglitteringmyriadsofmen。

Hefeltinvisibleformsabouthim；hisarmsweregripped。Somethingrappedsharplyagainsthisshin。

Avoicebawledinhisear，"Itisallright——allright。"

Grahamshookofftheparalysisofhisfirstastonishment。

HestruckhisforeheadagainstLincoln’sandbawled，"Whatisthisdarkness？"

"TheCouncilhascutthecurrentsthatlightthecity。Wemustwait——stop。Thepeoplewillgoon。

Theywill——"

Hisvoicewasdrowned。Voiceswereshouting，"SavetheSleeper。TakecareoftheSleeper。"A

guardstumbledagainstGrahamandhurthishandbyaninadvertentblowofhisweapon。Awildtumulttossedandwhirledabouthim，growing，asitseemed，louder，denser，morefuriouseachmoment。Fragmentsofrecognisablesoundsdrovetowardshim，werewhirledawayfromhimashismindreachedouttograspthem。Voicesseemedtobeshoutingconflictingorders，othervoicesanswered。Thereweresuddenlyasuccessionofpiercingscreamsclosebeneaththem。

Avoicebawledinhisear，"Theredpolice，"andrecededforthwithbeyondhisquestions。

Acracklingsoundgrewtodistinctness，andtherewithaleapingoffaintflashesalongtheedgeofthefurtherways。BytheirlightGrahamsawtheheadsandbodiesofanumberofmen，armedwithweaponslikethoseofhisguards，leapintoaninstant’sdimvisibility。Thewholeareabegantocrackle，toflashwithlittleinstantaneousstreaksoflight，andabruptlythedarknessrolledbacklikeacurtain。

Aglareoflightdazzledhiseyes，avastseethingexpanseofstrugglingmenconfusedhismind。A

shout，aburstofcheering，cameacrosstheways。Helookeduptoseethesourceofthelight。Amanhungfaroverheadfromtheupperpartofacable，holdingbyaropetheblindingstarthathaddriventhedarknessback。Heworeareduniform。

Graham’seyesfelltothewaysagain。Awedgeofredalittlewayalongthevistacaughthiseye。Hesawitwasadensemassofred—cladmenjammedthehigherfurtherway，theirbacksagainstthepitilesscliffofbuilding，andsurroundedbyadensecrowdofantagonists。Theywerefighting。Weaponsflashedandroseandfell，headsvanishedattheedgeofthecontest，andotherheadsreplacedthem，thelittleflashesfromthegreenweaponsbecamelittlejetsofsmokygreywhilethelightlasted。

Abruptlytheflarewasextinguishedandthewayswereaninkydarknessoncemore，atumultuousmystery。

Hefeltsomethingthrustingagainsthim。Hewasbeingpushedalongthegallery。Someonewasshouting——itmightbeathim。Hewastooconfusedtohear。Hewasthrustagainstthewall，andanumberofpeopleblunderedpasthim。Itseemedtohimthathisguardswerestrugglingwithoneanother。

Suddenlythecable—hungstar—holderappearedagain，andthewholescenewaswhiteanddazzling。Thebandofred—coatsseemedbroaderandnearer；itsapexwashalf—waydownthewaystowardsthecentralaisle。

AndraisinghiseyesGrahamsawthatanumberofthesemenhadalsoappearednowinthedarkenedlowergalleriesoftheoppositebuilding，andwerefiringovertheheadsoftheirfellowsbelowattheboilingconfusionofpeopleonthelowerways。Themeaningofthesethingsdawneduponhim。Themarchofthepeoplehadcomeuponanambushattheveryoutset。

Thrownintoconfusionbytheextinctionofthelightstheywerenowbeingattackedbytheredpolice。Thenhebecameawarethathewasstandingalone，thathisguardsandLincolnwerealongthegalleryinthedirectionalongwhichhehadcomebeforethedarknessfell。Hesawtheyweregesticulatingtohimwildly，runningbacktowardshim。Agreatshoutingcamefromacrosstheways。Thenitseemedasthoughthewholefaceofthedarkenedbuildingoppositewaslinedandspeckledwithred—cladmen。Andtheywerepointingovertohimandshouting。"TheSleeper！SavetheSleeper！"shoutedamultitudeofthroats。

Somethingstruckthewallabovehishead。Helookedupattheimpactandsawastar—shapedsplashofsilverymetal。HesawLincolnnearhim。Felthisarmgripped。Then，pat，pat；hehadbeenmissedtwice。

Foramomenthedidnotunderstandthis。Thestreetwashidden，everythingwashidden，ashelooked。

Thesecondflarehadburnedout。

LincolnhadgrippedGrahambythearm，waslugginghimalongthegallery。"Beforethenextlight！"hecried。Hishastewascontagious。

Graham’sinstinctofself—preservationovercametheparalysisofhisincredulousastonishment。Hebecameforatimetheblindcreatureofthefearofdeath。Heran，stumblingbecauseoftheuncertaintyofthedarkness，blunderedintohisguardsastheyturnedtorunwithhim。Hastewashisonedesire，toescapethisperilousgalleryuponwhichhewasexposed。Athirdglarecamecloseonitspredecessors。Withitcameagreatshoutingacrosstheways，anansweringtumultfromtheways。Thered—coatsbelow，hesaw，hadnowalmostgainedthecentralpassage。Theircountlessfacesturnedtowardshim，andtheyshouted。Thewhitefacadeoppositewasdenselystippledwithred。

Allthesewonderfulthingsconcernedhim，turneduponhimasapivot。TheseweretheguardsoftheCouncilattemptingtorecapturehim。

Luckyitwasforhimthattheseshotswerethefirstfiredinangerforahundredandfiftyyears。Heheardbulletswhackingoverhishead，feltasplashofmoltenmetalstinghisear，andperceivedwithoutlookingthatthewholeoppositefacade，anunmaskedambuscadeofredpolice，wascrowdedandbawlingandfiringathim。

Downwentoneofhisguardsbeforehim，andGraham，unabletostop，leaptthewrithingbody。

Inanothersecondhehadplunged，unhurt，intoablackpassage，andincontinentlysomeone，coming，itmaybe，inatransversedirection，blunderedviolentlyintohim。Hewashurlingdownastaircaseinabsolutedarkness。Hereeled，andwasstruckagain，andcameagainstawallwithhishands。Hewascrushedbyaweightofstrugglingbodies，whirledround，andthrusttotheright。Avastpressurepinnedhim。Hecouldnotbreathe，hisribsseemedcracking。Hefeltamomentaryrelaxation，andthenthewholemassofpeoplemovingtogether，borehimbacktowardsthegreattheatrefromwhichhehadsorecentlycome。

Thereweremomentswhenhisfeetdidnottouchtheground。Thenhewasstaggeringandshoving。Heheardshoutsof"Theyarecoming！"andamuffledcryclosetohim。Hisfootblunderedagainstsomethingsoft，heheardahoarsescreamunderfoot。Heheardshoutsof"TheSleeper！"buthewastooconfusedtospeak。Heheardthegreenweaponscrackling。Foraspacehelosthisindividualwill，becameanatominapanic，blind，unthinking，mechanical。

Hethrustandpressedbackandwrithedinthepressure，kickedpresentlyagainstastep，andfoundhimselfascendingaslope。Andabruptlythefacesallabouthimleaptoutoftheblack，visible，ghastly—whiteandastonished，terrified，perspiring，inalividglare。

Oneface，ayoungman’s，wasveryneartohim，nottwentyinchesaway。Atthetimeitwasbutapassingincidentofnoemotionalvalue，butafterwardsitcamebacktohiminhisdreams。Forthisyoungman，wedgeduprightinthecrowdforatime，hadbeenshotandwasalreadydead。

Afourthwhitestarmusthavebeenlitbythemanonthecable。ItslightcameglaringinthroughvastwindowsandarchesandshowedGrahamthathewasnowoneofadensemassofflyingblackfigurespressedbackacrossthelowerareaofthegreattheatre。Thistimethepicturewaslividandfragmentaryslashedandbarredwithblackshadows。Hesawthatquiteneartohimtheredguardswerefightingtheirwaythroughthepeople。Hecouldnottellwhethertheysawhim。HelookedforLincolnandhisguards。HesawLincolnnearthestageofthetheatresurroundedinacrowdofblack—badgedrevolutionaries，liftedupandstaringtoandfroasifseekinghim。Grahamperceivedthathehimselfwasneartheoppositeedgeofthecrowd，thatbehindhim，separatedbyabarrier，slopedthenowvacantseatsofthetheatre。Asuddenideacametohim，andhebeganfightinghiswaytowardsthebarrier。Ashereachedittheglarecametoanend。

Inamomenthehadthrownoffthegreatcloakthatnotonlyimpededhismovementsbutmadehimconspicuous，andhadslippeditfromhisshoulders。Heheardsomeonetripinitsfolds。Inanotherhewasscalingthebarrierandhaddroppedintotheblacknessonthefurtherside。Thenfeelinghiswayhecametothelowerendofanascendinggangway。Inthedarknessthesoundoffiringceasedandtheroaroffeetandvoiceslulled。Thensuddenlyhecametoanunexpectedstepandtrippedandfell。Ashedidsopoolsandislandsamidstthedarknessabouthimleapttovividlightagain，theuproarsurgedlouderandtheglareofthefifthwhitestarshonethroughthevastfenestrationsofthetheatrewalls。

Herolledoveramongsomeseats，heardashoutingandthewhirringrattleofweapons，struggledupandwasknockedbackagain，perceivedthatanumberofblack—badgedmenwereallabouthimfiringattherebelsbelow，leapingfromseattoseat，crouchingamongtheseatstoreload。Instinctivelyhecrouchedamidsttheseats，asstrayshotsrippedthepneumaticcushionsandcutbrightslashesontheirsoftmetalframes。

Instinctivelyhemarkedthedirectionofthegangways，themostplausiblewayofescapeforhimsosoonastheveilofdarknessfellagain。

Ayoungmaninfadedbluegarmentscamevaultingovertheseats。"Hullo！"hesaid，withhisflyingfeetwithinsixinchesofthecrouchingSleeper’sface。

Hestaredwithoutanysignofrecognition，turnedtofire，fired，and，shouting，"TohellwiththeCouncil！"

wasabouttofireagain。ThenitseemedtoGrahamthatthehalfofthisman’sneckhadvanished。A

dropofmoisturefellonGraham’scheek。Thegreenweaponstoppedhalfraised。Foramomentthemanstoodstillwithhisfacesuddenlyexpressionless，thenhebegantoslantforward。Hiskneesbent。Mananddarknessfelltogether。AtthesoundofhisfallGrahamroseupandranforhislifeuntilastepdowntothegangwaytrippedhim。Hescrambledtohisfeet，turnedupthegangwayandranon。

Whenthesixthstarglaredhewasalreadyclosetotheyawningthroatofapassage。Heranontheswifterforthelight，enteredthepassageandturnedacornerintoabsolutenightagain。Hewasknockedsideways，rolledover，andrecoveredhisfeet。Hefoundhimselfoneofacrowdofinvisiblefugitivespressinginonedirection。Hisonethoughtnowwastheirthoughtalso；toescapeoutofthisfighting。Hethrustandstruck，staggered，ran，waswedgedtightly，lostgroundandthenwasclearagain。

Forsomeminuteshewasrunningthroughthedarknessalongawindingpassage，andthenhecrossedsomewideandopenspace，passeddownalongincline，andcameatlastdownaflightofstepstoalevelplace。

Manypeoplewereshouting，"Theyarecoming！Theguardsarecoming。Theyarefiring。Getoutofthefighting。Theguardsarefiring。ItwillbesafeinSeventhWay。AlongheretoSeventhWay！"Therewerewomenandchildreninthecrowdaswellasmen。

Mencallednamestohim。Thecrowdconvergedonanarchway，passedthroughashortthroatandemergedonawiderspaceagain，litdimly。Theblackfiguresabouthimspreadoutandranupwhatseemedinthetwilighttobeagiganticseriesofsteps。Hefollowed。Thepeopledispersedtotherightandleft……Heperceivedthathewasnolongerinacrowd。Hestoppednearthehigheststep。Beforehim，onthatlevel，weregroupsofseatsandalittlekiosk。Hewentuptothisand，stoppingintheshadowofitseaves，lookedabouthimpanting。

Everythingwasvagueandgray，butherecognisedthatthesegreatstepswereaseriesofplatformsofthe"ways，"nowmotionlessagain。Theplatformslanteduponeitherside，andthetallbuildingsrosebeyond，vastdimghosts，theirinscriptionsandadvertisementsindistinctlyseen，andupthroughthegirdersandcableswasafaintinterruptedribbonofpallidsky。A

numberofpeoplehurriedby。Fromtheirshoutsandvoices，itseemedtheywerehurryingtojointhefighting。Otherlessnoisyfiguresflittedtimidlyamongtheshadows。

Fromveryfarawaydownthestreethecouldhearthesoundofastruggle。Butitwasevidenttohimthatthiswasnotthestreetintowhichthetheatreopened。Thatformerfight，itseemed，hadsuddenlydroppedoutofsoundandhearing。And——grotesquethought！——theywerefightingforhim！

Foraspacehewaslikeamanwhopausesinthereadingofavividbook，andsuddenlydoubtswhathehasbeentakingunquestioningly。Atthattimehehadlittlemindfordetails；thewholeeffectwasahugeastonishment。Oddlyenough，whiletheflightfromtheCouncilprison，thegreatcrowdinthehall，andtheattackoftheredpoliceupontheswarmingpeoplewereclearlypresentinhismind，itcosthimanefforttopieceinhisawakeningandtorevivethemeditativeintervaloftheSilentRooms。AtfirsthismemoryleaptthesethingsandtookhimbacktothecascadeatPentargenquiveringinthewind，andallthesombresplendoursofthesunlitCornishcoast。Thecontrasttouchedeverythingwithunreality。Andthenthegapfilled，andhebegantocomprehendhisposition。

Itwasnolongerabsolutelyariddle，asithadbeenintheSilentRooms。Atleasthehadthestrange，bareoutlinenow。Hewasinsomewaytheownerofhalftheworld，andgreatpoliticalpartieswerefightingtopossesshim。OntheonehandwastheWhiteCouncil，withitsredpolice，setresolutely，itseemed，ontheusurpationofhispropertyandperhapshismurder；ontheother，therevolutionthathadliberatedhim，withthisunseen"Ostrog"asitsleader。Andthewholeofthisgiganticcitywasconvulsedbytheirstruggle。

Franticdevelopmentofhisworld！"Idonotunder—

stand，"hecried。"Idonotunderstand！"

Hehadslippedoutbetweenthecontendingpartiesintothislibertyofthetwilight。Whatwouldhappennext？Whatwashappening？Hefiguredtheredcladmenasbusilyhuntinghim，drivingtheblackbadgedrevolutionistsbeforethem。

Atanyratechancehadgivenhimabreathingspace。

Hecouldlurkunchallengedbythepassers—by，andwatchthecourseofthings。Hiseyefolloweduptheintricatedimimmensityofthetwilightbuildings，anditcametohimasathinginfinitelywonderful，thatabovetherethesunwasrising，andtheworldwaslitandglowingwiththeoldfamiliarlightofday。Inalittlewhilehehadrecoveredhisbreath。Hisclothinghadalreadydrieduponhimfromthesnow。

Hewanderedformilesalongthesetwilightways，speakingtonoone，accostedbynoone——adarkfigureamongdarkfigures——thecovetedmanoutofthepast，theinestimableunintentionalownerofhalftheworld。Wherevertherewerelightsordensecrowds，orexceptionalexcitementhewasafraidofrecognition，andwatchedandturnedbackorwentupanddownbythemiddlestairways，intosometransversesystemofwaysatalowerorhigherlevel。Andthoughhecameonnomorefighting，thewholecitystirredwithbattle。Oncehehadtoruntoavoidamarchingmultitudeofmenthatsweptthestreet。

Everyoneabroadseemedinvolved。Forthemostparttheyweremen，andtheycarriedwhathejudgedwereweapons。Itseemedasthoughthestrugglewasconcentratedmainlyinthequarterofthecityfromwhichhecame。Everandagainadistantroaring，theremotesuggestionofthatconflict，reachedhisears。Thenhiscautionandhiscuriositystruggledtogether。Buthiscautionprevailed，andhecontinuedwanderingawayfromthefighting——sofarashecouldjudge。Hewentunmolested，unsuspectedthroughthedark。

Afteratimeheceasedtohearevenaremoteechoofthebattle，fewerandfewerpeoplepassedhim，untilatlasttheTitanicstreetsbecamedeserted。Thefrontgesofthebuildingsgrewplainandharsh；heseemedtohavecometoadistrictofvacantwarehouses。

Solitudecreptuponhim——hispaceslackened。

Hebecameawareofagrowingfatigue。Attimeshewouldturnasideandseathimselfononeofthenumerousseatsoftheupperways。Butafeverishrestlessness，theknowledgeofhisvitalimplicationinhisstruggle，wouldnotlethimrestinanyplaceforlong。Wasthestruggleonhisbehalfalone？

Andtheninadesolateplacecametheshockofanearthquake——aroaringandthundering——amightywindofcoldairpouringthroughthecity，thesmashofglass，theslipandthudoffallingmasonry——asieriesofgiganticconcussions。Amassofglassandironworkfellfromtheremoteroofsintothemiddlegallery，notahundredyardsawayfromhim，andinthedistancewereshoutsandrunning。He，too，wasstartledtoanaimlessactivity，andranfirstonewayandthenasaimlesslyback。

Amancamerunningtowardshim。Hisself—controlreturned。"Whathavetheyblownup？"askedthemanbreathlessly。"Thatwasanexplosion，"andbeforeGrahamcouldspeakhehadhurriedon。

Thegreatbuildingsrosedimly，veiledbyaperplexingtwilight，albeittherivuletofskyabovewasnowbrightwithday。Henotedmanystrangefeatures，understandingnoneatthetime；heevenspeltoutmanyoftheinscriptionsinPhoneticlettering。Butwhatprofitsittodecipheraconfusionofodd—lookinglettersresolvingitself，afterpainfulstrainofeyeandmind，into"HereisEadhamite，"or，"LabourBureau——

LittleSide？"Grotesquethought，thatinallprobabilitysomeorallofthesecliff—likehouseswerehis！

Theperversityofhisexperiencecametohimvividly。

Inactualfacthehadmadesuchaleapintimeasromancershaveimaginedagainandagain。Andthatfactrealised，hehadbeenprepared，hismindhad，asitwere，seateditselfforaspectacle。Andnospectacle，butagreatvaguedanger，unsympatheticshadowsandveilsofdarkness。Somewherethroughthelabyrinthineobscurityhisdeathsoughthim。

Wouldhe，afterall，bekilledbeforehesaw？Itmightbethatevenatthenextshadowycornerhisdestructionambushed。Agreatdesiretosee，agreatlongingtoknow，aroseinhim。

Hebecamefearfulofcorners。Itseemedtohimthattherewassafetyinconcealment。Wherecouldhehidetobeinconspicuouswhenthelightsreturned？

Atlasthesatdownuponaseatinarecessononeofthehigherways，conceivinghewasalonethere。

Hesqueezedhisknucklesintohiswearyeyes。

Supposewhenhelookedagainhefoundthedarkthroughofparallelwaysandthatintolerablealtitudeofedifice，gone？Supposeheweretodiscoverthewholestoryoftheselastfewdays，theawakening，theshoutingmultitudes，thedarknessandthefighting，aphantasmagoria，anewandmorevividsortofdream。Itmustbeadream；itwassoinconsecutive，soreasonless。Whywerethepeoplefightingforhim？WhyshouldthissanerworldregardhimasOwnerandMaster？

Sohethought，sittingblinded，andthenhelookedagain，halfhopinginspiteofhisearstoseesomefamiliaraspectofthelifeofthenineteenthcentury，tosee，perhaps，thelittleharbourofBoscastleabouthim，thecliffsofPentargen，orthebedroomofhishome。

Butfacttakesnoheedofhumanhopes。Asquadofmenwithablackbannertrampedathwartthenearershadows，intentonconflict，andbeyondrosethatgiddywalloffrontage，vastanddark，withthedimincomprehensibleletteringshowingfaintlyonitsface。

"Itisnodream，"hesaid，"nodream。"Andhebowedhisfaceuponhishands。

CHAPTERXI

THEOLDMANWHOKNEWEVERYTHING

Hewasstartledbyacoughcloseathand。

Heturnedsharply，andpeering，sawasmall，hunched—upfiguresittingacoupleofyardsoffintheshadowoftheenclosure。

"Haveyeanynews？"askedthehigh—pitchedwheezyvoiceofaveryoldman。

Grahamhesitated。"None，"hesaid。

"Istayheretillthelightscomeagain，"saidtheoldman。"Thesebluescoundrelsareeverywhere——

everywhere。"

Graham’sanswerwasinarticulateassent。Hetriedtoseetheoldmanbutthedarknesshidhisface。Hewantedverymuchtorespond，totalk，buthedidnotknowhowtobegin。

"Darkanddamnable，"saidtheoldmansuddenly。

"Darkanddamnable。Turnedoutofmyroomamongallthesedangers。"

"That’shard，"venturedGraham。"That’shardonyou。"

"Darkness。Anoldmanlostinthedarkness。Andalltheworldgonemad。Warandfighting。Thepolicebeatenandroguesabroad。Whydon’ttheybringsomenegroestoprotectus？……Nomoredarkpassagesforme。Ifelloveradeadman。"

"You’resaferwithcompany，"saidtheoldman，"ifit’scompanyoftherightsort，"andpeeredfrankly。

HerosesuddenlyandcametowardsGraham。

Apparentlythescrutinywassatisfactoy。Theoldmansatdownasifrelievedtobenolongeralone。

"Eh！"hesaid，"butthisisaterribletime！Warandfighting，andthedeadIyingthere——men，strongmen，dyinginthedark。Sons！Ihavethreesons。Godknowswheretheyaretonight。"

Thevoiceceased。Thenrepeatedquavering："Godknowswheretheyaretonight。"

Grahamstoodrevolvingaquestionthatshouldnotbetrayhisignorance。Againtheoldman’svoiceendedthepause。

"ThisOstrogwillwin，"hesaid。"Hewillwin。Andwhattheworldwillbelikeunderhimnoonecantell。Mysonsareunderthewind—vanes，allthree。

Oneofmydaughters—in—lawwashismistressforawhile。Hismistress！Werenotcommonpeople。

Thoughthey’vesentmetowandertonightandtakemychance……Iknewwhatwasgoingon。Beforemostpeople。Butthisdarkness！Andtofalloveradeadbodysuddenlyinthedark！"

Hiswheezybreathingcouldbeheard。

"Ostrog！"saidGraham。

"ThegreatestBosstheworldhaseverseen，"saidthevoice。

Grahamransackedhismind。"TheCouncilhasfewfriendsamongthepeople，"hehazarded。

"Fewfriends。Andpooronesatthat。They’vehadtheirtime。Eh！Theyshouldhavekepttothecleverones。Buttwicetheyheldelection。AndOstrog。Andnowithasburstoutandnothingcanstayit，nothingcanstayit。TwicetheyrejectedOstrog——OstrogtheBoss。Iheardofhisragesatthetime——hewasterrible。Heavensavethem！Fornothingonearthcannow，hehasraisedtheLabourCompaniesuponthem。Nooneelsewouldhavedared。Allthebluecanvasarmedandmarching！Hewillgothroughwithit。Hewillgothrough。"

Hewassilentforalittlewhile。"ThisSleeper，"hesaid，andstopped。

"Yes，"saidGraham。"Well？"

Thesenilevoicesanktoaconfidentialwhisper，thedim，palefacecameclose。"TherealSleeper——"

"Yes，"saidGraham。

"Diedyearsago。"

"What？"saidGraham，sharply。

"Yearsago。Died。Yearsago。"

"Youdon’tsayso！"saidGraham。

"Ido。Idosayso。Hedied。ThisSleeperwho’swokeup——theychangedinthenight。Apoor，druggedinsensiblecreature。ButImustn’ttellallI

know。Imustn’ttellallIknow。"

Foralittlewhilehemutteredinaudibly。Hissecretwastoomuchforhim。"Idon’tknowtheonesthatputhimtosleep——thatwasbeforemytime——butI

knowthemanwhoinjectedthestimulantsandwokehimagain。Itwastentoone——wakeorkill。Wakeorkill。Ostrog’sway。"

Grahamwassoastonishedatthesethingsthathehadtointerrupt，tomaketheoldmanrepeathiswords，tore—questionvaguely，beforehewassureofthemeaningandfollyofwhatheheard。Andhisawakeninghadnotbeennatural！Wasthatanoldman’ssenilesuperstition，too，orhaditanytruthinit？

Feelinginthedarkcornersofhismemory，hepresentlycameonsomethingthatmightconceivablybeanimpressionofsomesuchstimulatingeffect。Itdawneduponhimthathehadhappeneduponaluckyencounter，thatatlasthemightlearnsomethingofthenewage。Theoldmanwheezedawhileandspat，andthenthepiping，reminiscentvoiceresumed：

"Thefirsttimetheyrejectedhim。I’vefolloweditall。"

"Rejectedwhom？"saidGraham。"TheSleeper？"

"Sleeper？No。Ostrog。Hewasterrible——terrible！

Andhewaspromisedthen，promisedcertainlythenexttime。Foolstheywere——nottobemoreafraidofhim。Nowallthecity’shismillstone，andsuchaswedustgrounduponit。Dustgrounduponit。Untilhesettowork——theworkerscuteachother’sthroats，andmurderedaChinamanoraLabourpolicemanattimes，andlefttherestofusinpeace。Deadbodies！Robbing！Darkness！Suchathinghasn’tbeenthisgrossofyears。Eh！——but’tisillonsmallfolkswhenthegreatfallout！It’sill。"

"Didyousay——therehadnotbeenwhat？——foragrossofyears？"

"Eh？"saidtheoldman。

Theoldmansaidsomethingaboutclippinghiswords，andmadehimrepeatthisathirdtime。"Fightingandslaying，andweaponsinhand，andfoolsbawlingfreedomandthelike，"saidtheoldman。"Notinallmylifehastherebeenthat。Theseareliketheolddays——forsure——whentheParispeoplebrokeout——

threegrossofyearsago。That’swhatImeanhasn’tbeen。Butit’stheworld’sway。Ithadtocomeback。

Iknow。Iknow。ThisfiveyearsOstroghasbeenworking，andtherehasbeentroubleandtrouble，andhungerandthreatsandhightalkandarms。Bluecanvasandmurmurs。Noonesafe。Everythingslidingandslipping。Andnowhereweare！Revoltandfighting，andtheCouncilcometoitsend。"

"Youareratherwell—informedonthesethings，"

saidGraham。

"IknowwhatIhear。Itisn’tallBabbleMachinewithme。"

"No，"saidGraham，wonderingwhatBabbleMachinemightbe。"AndyouarecertainthisOstrog——youarecertainOstrogorganisedthisrebellionandarrangedforthewakingoftheSleeper？Justtoasserthimself——becausehewasnotelectedtotheCouncil？