violently in and out among the moonlit bushes all round the sphinx,

and startling some white animal that, in the dim light, I took for a

small deer. I remember, too, late that night, beating the bushes

with my clenched fist until my knuckles were gashed and bleeding

from the broken twigs. Then, sobbing and raving in my anguish of

mind, I went down to the great building of stone. The big hall was

dark, silent, and deserted. I slipped on the uneven floor, and fell

over one of the malachite tables, almost breaking my shin. I lit a

match and went on past the dusty curtains, of which I have told you.

'There I found a second great hall covered with cushions, upon

which, perhaps, a score or so of the little people were sleeping. I

have no doubt they found my second appearance strange enough, coming

suddenly out of the quiet darkness with inarticulate noises and the

splutter and flare of a match. For they had forgotten about matches.

"Where is my Time Machine?" I began, bawling like an angry child,

laying hands upon them and shaking them up together. It must have

been very queer to them. Some laughed, most of them looked sorely

frightened. When I saw them standing round me, it came into my head

that I was doing as foolish a thing as it was possible for me to do

under the circumstances, in trying to revive the sensation of fear.

For, reasoning from their daylight behaviour, I thought that fear

must be forgotten.

'Abruptly, I dashed down the match, and, knocking one of the people

over in my course, went blundering across the big dining-hall again,

The Time Machine