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Meanwhile that steak was late； and now that the tempor… ary excitement of the evening was wearing off I fell dull again。 What a dark； sodden world it was that frowned in on me as I moved over to the window and opened it for the benefit of the cool air； and how the wind howled about the roof tops。 How lonely I was！ What a fool I had been to ask for long leave and come ashore like this； to curry favour with a set of stubborn dunderheads who cared nothing for meor Polly； and could not or would not understand how important it was to the best interests of the Service that I should get that promotion which alone would send me back to her an eligible wooer！ What a fool I was not to have volunteered for some desperate service instead of wast… ing time like this！ Then at least life would have been interesting； now it was dull as ditch…water； with wretched vistas of stagnant waiting between now and that joyful day when I could claim that dear； rosy…checked girl for my own。 What a fool I had been！
〃I wish； I wish；〃 I exclaimed； walking round the little room； 〃I wish I were〃
While these unfinished exclamations were actually passing my lips I chanced to cross that infernal mat； and it is no more startling than true； but at my word a quiver of expectation ran through that gaunt weba rustle of antici… pation filled its ancient fabric； and one frayed corner surged up； and as I passed off its surface in my stride； the sentence still unfinished on my lips； wrapped itself about my left leg with extraordinary swiftness and so effectively that I nearly fell into the arms of my landlady； who opened the door at the moment and came in with a tray and the steak and tomatoes mentioned more than once already。
It was the draught caused by the opening door； of course； that had made the dead man's rug lift so strangely what else could it have been？ I made this apology to the good woman； and when she had set the table and closed the door took another turn or two about my den； con… tinuing as I did so my angry thoughts。
〃Yes； yes；〃 I said at last； returning to the stove and taking my stand； hands in pockets； in front of it； 〃anything were better than this； any enterprise however wild； any adventure however desperate。 Oh； I wish I were anywhere but here； anywhere out of this redtape…ridden world of ours！ I WISH I WERE IN THE PLANET MARS！〃
How can I describe what followed those luckless words？ Even as I spoke the magic carpet quivered responsively under my feet； and an undulation went all round the fringe as though a sudden wind were shaking it。 It humped up in the middle so abruptly that I came down sitting with a shock that numbed me for the moment。 It threw me on my back and billowed up round me as though I were in the trough of a stormy sea。 Quicker than I can write it lapped a corner over and rolled me in its folds like a chrysalis in a cocoon。 I gave a wild yell and made one frantic struggle； but it was too late。 With the leathery strength of a giant and the swiftness of an accomplished cigar… roller covering a 〃core〃 with leaf； it swamped my efforts； straightened my limbs； rolled me over； lapped me in fold after fold till head and feet and everything were gone crushed life and breath back into my innermost being； and then； with the last particle of consciousness； I felt myself lifted from the floor； pass once round the room； and finally shoot out； point foremost； into space through the open window； and go up and up and up with a sound of rending atmospheres that seemed to tear like riven silk in one pro… longed shriek under my head； and to close up in thunder astern until my reeling senses could stand it no longer。 and time and space and circumstances all lost their meaning to me。
CHAPTER II
How long that wild rush lasted I have no means of judging。 It may have been an hour； a day； or many days； for I was throughout in a state of suspended animation； but presently my senses began to return and with them a sensa… tion of lessening speed； a grateful relief to a heavy pressure which had held my life crushed in its grasp； without destroy… ing it completely。 It was just that sort of sensation though more keen which； drowsy in his bunk； a traveller feels when he is aware； without special perception； harbour is reached and a voyage comes to an end。 But in my case the slowing down was for a long time comparative。 Yet the sensation served to revive my scattered senses； and just as I was awakening to a lively sense of amazement； an incredible doubt of my own emotions； and an eager desire to know what had happened； my strange conveyance oscillated once or twice； undulated lightly up and down； like a wood… pecker flying from tree to tree； and then grounded； bows first； rolled over several times； then steadied again； and； coming at last to rest； the next minute the infernal rug opened； quiver… ing along all its borders in its peculiar way； and humping up in the middle shot me five feet into the air like a cat tossed from a schoolboy's blanket。
As I turned over I had a dim vision of a clear light like the shine of dawn； and solid ground sloping away below me。 Upon that slope was ranged a crowd of squatting people； and a staid…looking individual with his back turned stood nearer by。 Afterwards I found he was lecturing all those sitters on the ethics of gravity and the inherent properties of falling bodies； at the moment I only knew he was directly in my line as I descended； and him round the waist I seized； giddy with the light and fresh air； waltzed him down the slope with the force of my impetus； and； tripping at the bottom； rolled over and over recklessly with him sheer into the arms of the gaping crowd below。 Over and over we went into the thickest mass of bodies； making a way through the people； until at last we came to a stop in a perfect mound of writhing forms and waving legs and arms。 When we had done the mass disentangled itself and I was able to raise my head from the shoulder of someone on whom I had fallen； lifting him； or herwhich was it？into a sitting posture alongside of me at the same time； while the others rose about us like wheat…stalks after a storm； and edged shyly off； as well as they might。
Such a sleek； slim youth it was who sat up facing me； with a flush of gentle surprise on his face； and dapper hands that felt cautiously about his anatomy for injured places。 He looked so quaintly rueful yet withal so good… tempered that I could not help bursting into laughter in spite of my own amazement。 Then he laughed too； a sedate； musical chuckle； and said something incomprehensible； point… ing at the same time to a cut upon my finger that was bleed… ing a little。 I shook my head； meaning thereby that it was nothing； but the stranger with graceful solicitude took my hand； and； after examining the hurt； deliberately tore a strip of cloth from a bright yellow toga…like garment he was wearing and bound the place up with a woman's tenderness。
Meanwhile； as he ministered； there was time to look about me。 Where was I？ It was not the Broadway； it was not Staten Island on a Saturday afternoon。 The night was just over； and the sun on the point of rising。 Yet it was still shadowy all about； the air being marvellously tepid and pleasant to the senses。 Quaint； soft aromas like the breath of a new worldthe fragrance of unknown flowers； and the dewy scent of never…trodden fields drifted to my nostrils； and to my ears came a sound of laughter scarcely more human than the murmur of the wind in the trees； and a pretty undulating whisper as though a great concourse of people were talking softly in their sleep。 I gazed about scarcely knowing how much of my senses or surroundings were real and how much fanciful； until I presently be… came aware the rosy twilight was broadening into day； and under the increasing shine a strange scene was fashion… ing itself。
At first it was an opal sea I looked on of mist； shot along its upper surface with the rosy gold and pinks of dawn。 Then； as that soft； translucent lake ebbed； jutting hills came through it； black and crimson； and as they seemed to mount into the air other lower hills showed through the veil with rounded forest knobs till at last the brightening day dis… pelled the mist； and as the rosy…coloured gauzy fragments went slowly floating away a wonderfully fair country lay at my feet； with a broad sea glimmering in many arms and bays in the distance beyond。 It was all dim and unreal at first； the mountains shadowy； the ocean unreal； the flowery fields be… tween it and me vacant and shadowy。
Yet were they vacant？ As my eyes cleared and day brightened still more； and I turned my head this way and that； it presently dawned upon me all the meadow cop… pices and terraces northwards of where I lay； all that blue and spacious ground I had thought to be bare and vacant； were alive with a teeming city of booths and tents； now I came to look more closely there was a whole town upon the slope； built as might be in a night of boughs and branches still unwithered； the streets and ways of that city in the shadows thronged with expectant people moving in groups and shifting to and fro in lively streamschatting at the stalls and clustering round the tent doors in soft； gauzy； pa