Reading Help The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
And here, yielding to an irresistible impulse, I wrote my name upon `
` the nose of a steatite monster from South America that particularly `
` took my fancy. `
` `
` 'As the evening drew on, my interest waned. I went through gallery `
` after gallery, dusty, silent, often ruinous, the exhibits sometimes `
` mere heaps of rust and lignite, sometimes fresher. In one place I `
` suddenly found myself near the model of a tin-mine, and then by the `
` merest accident I discovered, in an air-tight case, two dynamite `
` cartridges! I shouted "Eureka!" and smashed the case with joy. Then `
` came a doubt. I hesitated. Then, selecting a little side gallery, `
` I made my essay. I never felt such a disappointment as I did in `
` waiting five, ten, fifteen minutes for an explosion that never came. `
` Of course the things were dummies, as I might have guessed from `
` their presence. I really believe that had they not been so, I should `
` have rushed off incontinently and blown Sphinx, bronze doors, and `
` (as it proved) my chances of finding the Time Machine, all together `
` into non-existence. `
` `
` 'It was after that, I think, that we came to a little open court `
` within the palace. It was turfed, and had three fruit-trees. So we `
` rested and refreshed ourselves. Towards sunset I began to consider `
` our position. Night was creeping upon us, and my inaccessible `
` hiding-place had still to be found. But that troubled me very little `
` now. I had in my possession a thing that was, perhaps, the best of `
` all defences against the Morlocks--I had matches! I had the camphor `
` in my pocket, too, if a blaze were needed. It seemed to me that `
` the best thing we could do would be to pass the night in the open, `
` protected by a fire. In the morning there was the getting of the `
` Time Machine. Towards that, as yet, I had only my iron mace. But `
` now, with my growing knowledge, I felt very differently towards `
` those bronze doors. Up to this, I had refrained from forcing them, `
` largely because of the mystery on the other side. They had never `
` impressed me as being very strong, and I hoped to find my bar of `
` iron not altogether inadequate for the work. `
` `
` `
` `
` IX `
` `
` `
` 'We emerged from the palace while the sun was still in part above `
` the horizon. I was determined to reach the White Sphinx early the `
` next morning, and ere the dusk I purposed pushing through the woods `
` that had stopped me on the previous journey. My plan was to go as `
` far as possible that night, and then, building a fire, to sleep `
` in the protection of its glare. Accordingly, as we went along I `
` gathered any sticks or dried grass I saw, and presently had my arms `
` full of such litter. Thus loaded, our progress was slower than I had `
` anticipated, and besides Weena was tired. And I began to suffer from `
` sleepiness too; so that it was full night before we reached the `
` wood. Upon the shrubby hill of its edge Weena would have stopped, `
` fearing the darkness before us; but a singular sense of impending `
` calamity, that should indeed have served me as a warning, drove me `
` onward. I had been without sleep for a night and two days, and I was `
` feverish and irritable. I felt sleep coming upon me, and the `
` Morlocks with it. `
` `
` 'While we hesitated, among the black bushes behind us, and dim `
` against their blackness, I saw three crouching figures. There was `
` scrub and long grass all about us, and I did not feel safe from `
` their insidious approach. The forest, I calculated, was rather `
` less than a mile across. If we could get through it to the bare `
` hill-side, there, as it seemed to me, was an altogether safer `
` resting-place; I thought that with my matches and my camphor I could `
` contrive to keep my path illuminated through the woods. Yet it was `
` evident that if I was to flourish matches with my hands I should `
` have to abandon my firewood; so, rather reluctantly, I put it down. `
` And then it came into my head that I would amaze our friends behind `
` by lighting it. I was to discover the atrocious folly of this `
` proceeding, but it came to my mind as an ingenious move for covering `
` our retreat. `
` `
` 'I don't know if you have ever thought what a rare thing flame must `
` be in the absence of man and in a temperate climate. The sun's `
` heat is rarely strong enough to burn, even when it is focused by `
` dewdrops, as is sometimes the case in more tropical districts. `
` Lightning may blast and blacken, but it rarely gives rise to `
` widespread fire. Decaying vegetation may occasionally smoulder with `
` the heat of its fermentation, but this rarely results in flame. In `
` this decadence, too, the art of fire-making had been forgotten on `
` the earth. The red tongues that went licking up my heap of wood were `
` an altogether new and strange thing to Weena. `
` `
` 'She wanted to run to it and play with it. I believe she would have `
` cast herself into it had I not restrained her. But I caught her up, `
` and in spite of her struggles, plunged boldly before me into the `
` wood. For a little way the glare of my fire lit the path. Looking `
` back presently, I could see, through the crowded stems, that from my `
` heap of sticks the blaze had spread to some bushes adjacent, and a `
` 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 `
` a lump of camphor from my pocket, and prepared to light it as soon `
` as the match should wane. Then I looked at Weena. She was lying `
` clutching my feet and quite motionless, with her face to the ground. `
` With a sudden fright I stooped to her. She seemed scarcely to `
` breathe. I lit the block of camphor and flung it to the ground, `
` and as it split and flared up and drove back the Morlocks and the `
` shadows, I knelt down and lifted her. The wood behind seemed full of `
` the stir and murmur of a great company! `
` `
` 'She seemed to have fainted. I put her carefully upon my shoulder `
` and rose to push on, and then there came a horrible realization. In `
` manoeuvring with my matches and Weena, I had turned myself about `
` several times, and now I had not the faintest idea in what direction `
` lay my path. For all I knew, I might be facing back towards the `
` Palace of Green Porcelain. I found myself in a cold sweat. I had to `
` think rapidly what to do. I determined to build a fire and encamp `
` where we were. I put Weena, still motionless, down upon a turfy `
` bole, and very hastily, as my first lump of camphor waned, I began `
` collecting sticks and leaves. Here and there out of the darkness `
` round me the Morlocks' eyes shone like carbuncles. `
` `
` 'The camphor flickered and went out. I lit a match, and as I did so, `
` two white forms that had been approaching Weena dashed hastily away. `
` One was so blinded by the light that he came straight for me, and I `
` felt his bones grind under the blow of my fist. He gave a whoop of `
` dismay, staggered a little way, and fell down. I lit another piece `
` of camphor, and went on gathering my bonfire. Presently I noticed `
` how dry was some of the foliage above me, for since my arrival `
` on the Time Machine, a matter of a week, no rain had fallen. So, `
` instead of casting about among the trees for fallen twigs, I began `
` leaping up and dragging down branches. Very soon I had a choking `
` smoky fire of green wood and dry sticks, and could economize my `
` camphor. Then I turned to where Weena lay beside my iron mace. I `
` tried what I could to revive her, but she lay like one dead. I could `
` not even satisfy myself whether or not she breathed. `
` `
` 'Now, the smoke of the fire beat over towards me, and it must have `
` made me heavy of a sudden. Moreover, the vapour of camphor was in `
` the air. My fire would not need replenishing for an hour or so. I `
` felt very weary after my exertion, and sat down. The wood, too, was `
` full of a slumbrous murmur that I did not understand. I seemed just `
` to nod and open my eyes. But all was dark, and the Morlocks had `
` their hands upon me. Flinging off their clinging fingers I hastily `
` felt in my pocket for the match-box, and--it had gone! Then they `
` gripped and closed with me again. In a moment I knew what had `
` happened. I had slept, and my fire had gone out, and the bitterness `
` of death came over my soul. The forest seemed full of the smell of `
` burning wood. I was caught by the neck, by the hair, by the arms, `
` and pulled down. It was indescribably horrible in the darkness to `
` feel all these soft creatures heaped upon me. I felt as if I was in `
` a monstrous spider's web. I was overpowered, and went down. I felt `
` little teeth nipping at my neck. I rolled over, and as I did so my `
` hand came against my iron lever. It gave me strength. I struggled `
` up, shaking the human rats from me, and, holding the bar short, `
` I thrust where I judged their faces might be. I could feel the `
` succulent giving of flesh and bone under my blows, and for a moment `
` I was free. `
` `
` 'The strange exultation that so often seems to accompany hard `
` fighting came upon me. I knew that both I and Weena were lost, but I `
` determined to make the Morlocks pay for their meat. I stood with my `
` back to a tree, swinging the iron bar before me. The whole wood was `
` full of the stir and cries of them. A minute passed. Their voices `
` seemed to rise to a higher pitch of excitement, and their movements `
` grew faster. Yet none came within reach. I stood glaring at the `
` blackness. Then suddenly came hope. What if the Morlocks were `
` afraid? And close on the heels of that came a strange thing. The `
` darkness seemed to grow luminous. Very dimly I began to see the `
` Morlocks about me--three battered at my feet--and then I recognized, `
` with incredulous surprise, that the others were running, in an `
` incessant stream, as it seemed, from behind me, and away through the `
` wood in front. And their backs seemed no longer white, but reddish. `
` As I stood agape, I saw a little red spark go drifting across a gap `
` of starlight between the branches, and vanish. And at that I `
` understood the smell of burning wood, the slumbrous murmur that was `
` growing now into a gusty roar, the red glow, and the Morlocks' `
` flight. `
` `
` 'Stepping out from behind my tree and looking back, I saw, through `
` the black pillars of the nearer trees, the flames of the burning `
` forest. It was my first fire coming after me. With that I looked for `
` Weena, but she was gone. The hissing and crackling behind me, the `
` explosive thud as each fresh tree burst into flame, left little `
` time for reflection. My iron bar still gripped, I followed in the `
` Morlocks' path. It was a close race. Once the flames crept forward `
`
` the nose of a steatite monster from South America that particularly `
` took my fancy. `
` `
` 'As the evening drew on, my interest waned. I went through gallery `
` after gallery, dusty, silent, often ruinous, the exhibits sometimes `
` mere heaps of rust and lignite, sometimes fresher. In one place I `
` suddenly found myself near the model of a tin-mine, and then by the `
` merest accident I discovered, in an air-tight case, two dynamite `
` cartridges! I shouted "Eureka!" and smashed the case with joy. Then `
` came a doubt. I hesitated. Then, selecting a little side gallery, `
` I made my essay. I never felt such a disappointment as I did in `
` waiting five, ten, fifteen minutes for an explosion that never came. `
` Of course the things were dummies, as I might have guessed from `
` their presence. I really believe that had they not been so, I should `
` have rushed off incontinently and blown Sphinx, bronze doors, and `
` (as it proved) my chances of finding the Time Machine, all together `
` into non-existence. `
` `
` 'It was after that, I think, that we came to a little open court `
` within the palace. It was turfed, and had three fruit-trees. So we `
` rested and refreshed ourselves. Towards sunset I began to consider `
` our position. Night was creeping upon us, and my inaccessible `
` hiding-place had still to be found. But that troubled me very little `
` now. I had in my possession a thing that was, perhaps, the best of `
` all defences against the Morlocks--I had matches! I had the camphor `
` in my pocket, too, if a blaze were needed. It seemed to me that `
` the best thing we could do would be to pass the night in the open, `
` protected by a fire. In the morning there was the getting of the `
` Time Machine. Towards that, as yet, I had only my iron mace. But `
` now, with my growing knowledge, I felt very differently towards `
` those bronze doors. Up to this, I had refrained from forcing them, `
` largely because of the mystery on the other side. They had never `
` impressed me as being very strong, and I hoped to find my bar of `
` iron not altogether inadequate for the work. `
` `
` `
` `
` IX `
` `
` `
` 'We emerged from the palace while the sun was still in part above `
` the horizon. I was determined to reach the White Sphinx early the `
` next morning, and ere the dusk I purposed pushing through the woods `
` that had stopped me on the previous journey. My plan was to go as `
` far as possible that night, and then, building a fire, to sleep `
` in the protection of its glare. Accordingly, as we went along I `
` gathered any sticks or dried grass I saw, and presently had my arms `
` full of such litter. Thus loaded, our progress was slower than I had `
` anticipated, and besides Weena was tired. And I began to suffer from `
` sleepiness too; so that it was full night before we reached the `
` wood. Upon the shrubby hill of its edge Weena would have stopped, `
` fearing the darkness before us; but a singular sense of impending `
` calamity, that should indeed have served me as a warning, drove me `
` onward. I had been without sleep for a night and two days, and I was `
` feverish and irritable. I felt sleep coming upon me, and the `
` Morlocks with it. `
` `
` 'While we hesitated, among the black bushes behind us, and dim `
` against their blackness, I saw three crouching figures. There was `
` scrub and long grass all about us, and I did not feel safe from `
` their insidious approach. The forest, I calculated, was rather `
` less than a mile across. If we could get through it to the bare `
` hill-side, there, as it seemed to me, was an altogether safer `
` resting-place; I thought that with my matches and my camphor I could `
` contrive to keep my path illuminated through the woods. Yet it was `
` evident that if I was to flourish matches with my hands I should `
` have to abandon my firewood; so, rather reluctantly, I put it down. `
` And then it came into my head that I would amaze our friends behind `
` by lighting it. I was to discover the atrocious folly of this `
` proceeding, but it came to my mind as an ingenious move for covering `
` our retreat. `
` `
` 'I don't know if you have ever thought what a rare thing flame must `
` be in the absence of man and in a temperate climate. The sun's `
` heat is rarely strong enough to burn, even when it is focused by `
` dewdrops, as is sometimes the case in more tropical districts. `
` Lightning may blast and blacken, but it rarely gives rise to `
` widespread fire. Decaying vegetation may occasionally smoulder with `
` the heat of its fermentation, but this rarely results in flame. In `
` this decadence, too, the art of fire-making had been forgotten on `
` the earth. The red tongues that went licking up my heap of wood were `
` an altogether new and strange thing to Weena. `
` `
` 'She wanted to run to it and play with it. I believe she would have `
` cast herself into it had I not restrained her. But I caught her up, `
` and in spite of her struggles, plunged boldly before me into the `
` wood. For a little way the glare of my fire lit the path. Looking `
` back presently, I could see, through the crowded stems, that from my `
` heap of sticks the blaze had spread to some bushes adjacent, and a `
` 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 `
` a lump of camphor from my pocket, and prepared to light it as soon `
` as the match should wane. Then I looked at Weena. She was lying `
` clutching my feet and quite motionless, with her face to the ground. `
` With a sudden fright I stooped to her. She seemed scarcely to `
` breathe. I lit the block of camphor and flung it to the ground, `
` and as it split and flared up and drove back the Morlocks and the `
` shadows, I knelt down and lifted her. The wood behind seemed full of `
` the stir and murmur of a great company! `
` `
` 'She seemed to have fainted. I put her carefully upon my shoulder `
` and rose to push on, and then there came a horrible realization. In `
` manoeuvring with my matches and Weena, I had turned myself about `
` several times, and now I had not the faintest idea in what direction `
` lay my path. For all I knew, I might be facing back towards the `
` Palace of Green Porcelain. I found myself in a cold sweat. I had to `
` think rapidly what to do. I determined to build a fire and encamp `
` where we were. I put Weena, still motionless, down upon a turfy `
` bole, and very hastily, as my first lump of camphor waned, I began `
` collecting sticks and leaves. Here and there out of the darkness `
` round me the Morlocks' eyes shone like carbuncles. `
` `
` 'The camphor flickered and went out. I lit a match, and as I did so, `
` two white forms that had been approaching Weena dashed hastily away. `
` One was so blinded by the light that he came straight for me, and I `
` felt his bones grind under the blow of my fist. He gave a whoop of `
` dismay, staggered a little way, and fell down. I lit another piece `
` of camphor, and went on gathering my bonfire. Presently I noticed `
` how dry was some of the foliage above me, for since my arrival `
` on the Time Machine, a matter of a week, no rain had fallen. So, `
` instead of casting about among the trees for fallen twigs, I began `
` leaping up and dragging down branches. Very soon I had a choking `
` smoky fire of green wood and dry sticks, and could economize my `
` camphor. Then I turned to where Weena lay beside my iron mace. I `
` tried what I could to revive her, but she lay like one dead. I could `
` not even satisfy myself whether or not she breathed. `
` `
` 'Now, the smoke of the fire beat over towards me, and it must have `
` made me heavy of a sudden. Moreover, the vapour of camphor was in `
` the air. My fire would not need replenishing for an hour or so. I `
` felt very weary after my exertion, and sat down. The wood, too, was `
` full of a slumbrous murmur that I did not understand. I seemed just `
` to nod and open my eyes. But all was dark, and the Morlocks had `
` their hands upon me. Flinging off their clinging fingers I hastily `
` felt in my pocket for the match-box, and--it had gone! Then they `
` gripped and closed with me again. In a moment I knew what had `
` happened. I had slept, and my fire had gone out, and the bitterness `
` of death came over my soul. The forest seemed full of the smell of `
` burning wood. I was caught by the neck, by the hair, by the arms, `
` and pulled down. It was indescribably horrible in the darkness to `
` feel all these soft creatures heaped upon me. I felt as if I was in `
` a monstrous spider's web. I was overpowered, and went down. I felt `
` little teeth nipping at my neck. I rolled over, and as I did so my `
` hand came against my iron lever. It gave me strength. I struggled `
` up, shaking the human rats from me, and, holding the bar short, `
` I thrust where I judged their faces might be. I could feel the `
` succulent giving of flesh and bone under my blows, and for a moment `
` I was free. `
` `
` 'The strange exultation that so often seems to accompany hard `
` fighting came upon me. I knew that both I and Weena were lost, but I `
` determined to make the Morlocks pay for their meat. I stood with my `
` back to a tree, swinging the iron bar before me. The whole wood was `
` full of the stir and cries of them. A minute passed. Their voices `
` seemed to rise to a higher pitch of excitement, and their movements `
` grew faster. Yet none came within reach. I stood glaring at the `
` blackness. Then suddenly came hope. What if the Morlocks were `
` afraid? And close on the heels of that came a strange thing. The `
` darkness seemed to grow luminous. Very dimly I began to see the `
` Morlocks about me--three battered at my feet--and then I recognized, `
` with incredulous surprise, that the others were running, in an `
` incessant stream, as it seemed, from behind me, and away through the `
` wood in front. And their backs seemed no longer white, but reddish. `
` As I stood agape, I saw a little red spark go drifting across a gap `
` of starlight between the branches, and vanish. And at that I `
` understood the smell of burning wood, the slumbrous murmur that was `
` growing now into a gusty roar, the red glow, and the Morlocks' `
` flight. `
` `
` 'Stepping out from behind my tree and looking back, I saw, through `
` the black pillars of the nearer trees, the flames of the burning `
` forest. It was my first fire coming after me. With that I looked for `
` Weena, but she was gone. The hissing and crackling behind me, the `
` explosive thud as each fresh tree burst into flame, left little `
` time for reflection. My iron bar still gripped, I followed in the `
` Morlocks' path. It was a close race. Once the flames crept forward `
`