bare invisible feet that followed to take what line they would.

For the first time in his life Kemp discovered that the hill-road

was indescribably vast and desolate, and that the beginnings of the

town far below at the hill foot were strangely remote. Never had

there been a slower or more painful method of progression than

running. All the gaunt villas, sleeping in the afternoon sun,

looked locked and barred; no doubt they were locked and barred--by

his own orders. But at any rate they might have kept a lookout

for an eventuality like this! The town was rising up now, the sea

had dropped out of sight behind it, and people down below were

stirring. A tram was just arriving at the hill foot. Beyond that

was the police station. Was that footsteps he heard behind him?

Spurt.

The people below were staring at him, one or two were running, and

his breath was beginning to saw in his throat. The tram was quite

near now, and the "Jolly Cricketers" was noisily barring its doors.

Beyond the tram were posts and heaps of gravel--the drainage

works. He had a transitory idea of jumping into the tram and

slamming the doors, and then he resolved to go for the police

station. In another moment he had passed the door of the "Jolly

Cricketers," and was in the blistering fag end of the street, with

human beings about him. The tram driver and his helper--arrested

by the sight of his furious haste--stood staring with the tram

horses unhitched. Further on the astonished features of navvies

234

The Invisible Man