curved line of fire was creeping up the grass of the hill. I laughed

at that, and turned again to the dark trees before me. It was very

black, and Weena clung to me convulsively, but there was still, as

my eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, sufficient light for me to

avoid the stems. Overhead it was simply black, except where a gap of

remote blue sky shone down upon us here and there. I struck none of

my matches because I had no hand free. Upon my left arm I carried my

little one, in my right hand I had my iron bar.

For some way I heard nothing but the crackling twigs under my feet,

the faint rustle of the breeze above, and my own breathing and the

throb of the blood-vessels in my ears. Then I seemed to know of a

pattering about me. I pushed on grimly. The pattering grew more

distinct, and then I caught the same queer sound and voices I had

heard in the Under-world. There were evidently several of the

Morlocks, and they were closing in upon me. Indeed, in another

minute I felt a tug at my coat, then something at my arm. And Weena

shivered violently, and became quite still.

'It was time for a match. But to get one I must put her down. I did

so, and, as I fumbled with my pocket, a struggle began in the

darkness about my knees, perfectly silent on her part and with the

same peculiar cooing sounds from the Morlocks. Soft little hands,

too, were creeping over my coat and back, touching even my neck.

Then the match scratched and fizzed. I held it flaring, and saw the

white backs of the Morlocks in flight amid the trees. I hastily took

100

The Time Machine