\"Yes.Thewireshavenoground-connectionoutsideofthecave.Theygooutfromthepositivebrushofthedynamo;thereisaground-connectionthroughthenegativebrush;theotherendsofthewirereturntothecave,andeachisgroundedindependently.\"
\"Nono,thatwon\'tdo!\"
\"Why?\"
\"It\'stooexpensive——usesupforcefornothing.Youdon\'twantanyground-connectionexcepttheonethroughthenegativebrush.Theotherendofeverywiremustbebroughtbackintothecaveandfastenedindependently,andWITHOUTanyground-connection.Now,then,observetheeconomyofit.
Acavalrychargehurlsitselfagainstthefence;youareusingnopower,youarespendingnomoney,forthereisonlyoneground-connectiontillthosehorsescomeagainstthewire;themomenttheytouchittheyformaconnectionwiththenegativebrushTHROUGHTHEGROUND,anddropdead.
Don\'tyousee?——youareusingnoenergyuntilitisneeded;yourlightningisthere,andready,liketheloadinagun;butitisn\'tcostingyouacenttillyoutouchitoff.Oh,yes,thesingleground-connection——\"
\"Ofcourse!Idon\'tknowhowIoverlookedthat.It\'snotonlycheaper,butit\'smoreeffectualthantheotherway,forifwiresbreakorgettangled,noharmisdone.
\"No,especiallyifwehaveatell-taleinthecaveanddisconnectthebrokenwire.Well,goon.Thegatlings?\"
\"Yes——that\'sarranged.Inthecenteroftheinnercircle,onaspaciousplatformsixfeethigh,I\'vegroupedabatteryofthirteengatlingguns,andprovidedplentyofammunition.\"
\"That\'sit.Theycommandeveryapproach,andwhentheChurch\'sknightsarrive,there\'sgoingtobemusic.Thebrowoftheprecipiceoverthecave——\"
\"I\'vegotawirefencethere,andagatling.Theywon\'tdropanyrocksdownonus.\"
\"Well,andtheglass-cylinderdynamitetorpedoes?\"
\"That\'sattendedto.It\'stheprettiestgardenthatwaseverplanted.
It\'sabeltfortyfeetwide,andgoesaroundtheouterfence——distancebetweenitandthefenceonehundredyards——kindofneutralgroundthatspaceis.Thereisn\'tasinglesquareyardofthatwholebeltbutisequippedwithatorpedo.Welaidthemonthesurfaceoftheground,andsprinkledalayerofsandoverthem.It\'saninnocentlookinggarden,butyouletamanstartintohoeitonce,andyou\'llsee.\"
\"Youtestedthetorpedoes?\"
\"Well,Iwasgoingto,but——\"
\"Butwhat?Why,it\'sanimmenseoversightnottoapplya——\"
\"Test?Yes,Iknow;butthey\'reallright;Ilaidafewinthepublicroadbeyondourlinesandthey\'vebeentested.\"
\"Oh,thataltersthecase.Whodidit?\"
\"AChurchcommittee.\"
\"Howkind!\"
\"Yes.Theycametocommandustomakesubmission.Youseetheydidn\'treallycometotestthetorpedoes;thatwasmerelyanincident.\"
\"Didthecommitteemakeareport?\"
\"Yes,theymadeone.Youcouldhavehearditamile.\"
\"Unanimous?\"
\"Thatwasthenatureofit.AfterthatIputupsomesigns,fortheprotectionoffuturecommittees,andwehavehadnointruderssince.\"
\"Clarence,you\'vedoneaworldofwork,anddoneitperfectly.\"
\"Wehadplentyoftimeforit;therewasn\'tanyoccasionforhurry.\"
Wesatsilentawhile,thinking.Thenmymindwasmadeup,andIsaid:
\"Yes,everythingisready;everythingisshipshape,nodetailiswanting.
Iknowwhattodonow.\"
\"SodoI;sitdownandwait.\"
\"No,SIR!riseupandSTRIKE!\"
\"Doyoumeanit?\"
\"Yes,indeed!TheDEfensiveisn\'tinmyline,andtheOFfensiveis.
Thatis,whenIholdafairhand——two-thirdsasgoodahandastheenemy.
Oh,yes,we\'llriseupandstrike;that\'sourgame.\"
\"Ahundredtooneyouareright.Whendoestheperformancebegin?\"
\"NOW!We\'llproclaimtheRepublic.\"
\"Well,thatWILLprecipitatethings,sureenough!\"
\"Itwillmakethembuzz,Itellyou!Englandwillbeahornets\'nestbeforenoonto-morrow,iftheChurch\'shandhasn\'tlostitscunning——
andweknowithasn\'t.NowyouwriteandI\'lldictatethus:
\"PROCLAMATION——
\"BEITKNOWNUNTOALL.Whereasthekinghavingdiedandleftnoheir,itbecomesmydutytocontinuetheexecutiveauthorityvestedinme,untilagovernmentshallhavebeencreatedandsetinmotion.Themonarchyhaslapsed,itnolongerexists.Byconsequence,allpoliticalpowerhasrevertedtoitsoriginalsource,thepeopleofthenation.Withthemonarchy,itsseveraladjunctsdiedalso;whereforethereisnolongeranobility,nolongeraprivilegedclass,nolongeranEstablishedChurch;allmenarebecomeexactlyequal;theyareupononecommonlevel,andreligionisfree.
AREPUBLICISHEREBYPROCLAIMED,asbeingthenaturalestateofanationwhenotherauthorityhasceased.ItisthedutyoftheBritishpeopletomeettogetherimmediately,andbytheirvoteselectrepresentativesanddeliverintotheirhandsthegovernment.\"
Isignedit\"TheBoss,\"anddateditfromMerlin\'sCave.Clarencesaid——
\"Why,thattellswhereweare,andinvitesthemtocallrightaway.\"
\"Thatistheidea.WeSTRIKE——bytheProclamation——thenit\'stheirinnings.Nowhavethethingsetupandprintedandposted,rightoff;thatis,givetheorder;then,ifyou\'vegotacoupleofbicycleshandyatthefootofthehill,hoforMerlin\'sCave!\"
\"Ishallbereadyintenminutes.Whatacyclonethereisgoingtobeto-morrowwhenthispieceofpapergetstowork!It\'sapleasantoldpalace,thisis;Iwonderifweshalleveragain——butnevermindaboutthat.\"
AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur\'sCourt-Chapter43Chapter43-TheBattleoftheSandBeltINMerlin\'sCave——ClarenceandIandfifty-twofresh,bright,well-educated,clean-mindedyoungBritishboys.AtdawnIsentanordertothefactoriesandtoallourgreatworkstostopoperationsandremovealllifetoasafedistance,aseverythingwasgoingtobeblownupbysecretmines,\"ANDNOTELLINGATWHATMOMENT——THEREFORE,VACATEATONCE.\"Thesepeopleknewme,andhadconfidenceinmyword.Theywouldclearoutwithoutwaitingtoparttheirhair,andIcouldtakemyowntimeaboutdatingtheexplosion.
Youcouldn\'thireoneofthemtogobackduringthecentury,iftheexplosionwasstillimpending.
Wehadaweekofwaiting.Itwasnotdullforme,becauseIwaswritingallthetime.Duringthefirstthreedays,Ifinishedturningmyolddiaryintothisnarrativeform;itonlyrequiredachapterorsotobringitdowntodate.TherestoftheweekItookupinwritingletterstomywife.
ItwasalwaysmyhabittowritetoSandyeveryday,wheneverwewereseparate,andnowIkeptupthehabitforloveofit,andofher,thoughIcouldn\'tdoanythingwiththeletters,ofcourse,afterIhadwrittenthem.Butitputinthetime,yousee,andwasalmostliketalking;itwasalmostasifIwassaying,\"Sandy,ifyouandHello-Centralwerehereinthecave,insteadofonlyyourphotographs,whatgoodtimeswecouldhave!\"Andthen,youknow,Icouldimaginethebabygoogooingsomethingoutinreply,withitsfistsinitsmouthanditselfstretchedacrossitsmother\'slaponitsback,andshea-laughingandadmiringandworshiping,andnowandthenticklingunderthebaby\'schintosetitcackling,andthenmaybethrowinginawordofanswertomeherself——andsoonandsoon——well,don\'tyouknow,Icouldsitthereinthecavewithmypen,andkeepitup,thatway,bythehourwiththem.Why,itwasalmostlikehavingusalltogetheragain.
Ihadspiesouteverynight,ofcourse,togetnews.Everyreportmadethingslookmoreandmoreimpressive.Thehostsweregathering,gathering;
downalltheroadsandpathsofEnglandtheknightswereriding,andpriestsrodewiththem,toheartentheseoriginalCrusaders,thisbeingtheChurch\'swar.Allthenobilities,bigandlittle,wereontheirway,andallthegentry.Thiswasallaswasexpected.Weshouldthinoutthissortoffolktosuchadegreethatthepeoplewouldhavenothingtodobutjuststeptothefrontwiththeirrepublicand——
Ah,whatadonkeyIwas!TowardtheendoftheweekIbegantogetthislargeanddisenchantingfactthroughmyhead:thatthemassofthenationhadswungtheircapsandshoutedfortherepublicforaboutoneday,andthereanend!TheChurch,thenobles,andthegentrythenturnedonegrand,alldisapprovingfrownuponthemandshriveledthemintosheep!Fromthatmomentthesheephadbeguntogathertothefold——thatistosay,thecamps——andoffertheirvaluelesslivesandtheirvaluablewooltothe\"righteouscause.\"Why,eventheverymenwhohadlatelybeenslaveswereinthe\"righteouscause,\"andglorifyingit,prayingforit,sentimentallyslabberingoverit,justlikealltheothercommoners.Imaginesuchhumanmuckasthis;conceiveofthisfolly!
Yes,itwasnow\"DeathtotheRepublic!\"everywhere——notadissentingvoice.AllEnglandwasmarchingagainstus!Truly,thiswasmorethanI
hadbargainedfor.
Iwatchedmyfifty-twoboysnarrowly;watchedtheirfaces,theirwalk,theirunconsciousattitudes:forallthesearealanguage——alanguagegivenuspurposelythatitmaybetrayusintimesofemergency,whenwehavesecretswhichwewanttokeep.Iknewthatthatthoughtwouldkeepsayingitselfoverandoveragainintheirmindsandhearts,ALLENGLAND
ISMARCHINGAGAINSTUS!andevermorestrenuouslyimploringattentionwitheachrepetition,evermoresharplyrealizingitselftotheirimaginations,untilevenintheirsleeptheywouldfindnorestfromit,buthearthevagueandflittingcreaturesofthedreamssay,ALLENG-LAND——ALLENGLAND!——
ISMARCHINGAGAINSTYOU!Iknewallthiswouldhappen;Iknewthatultimatelythepressurewouldbecomesogreatthatitwouldcompelutterance;therefore,Imustbereadywithanansweratthattime——ananswerwellchosenandtranquilizing.
Iwasright.Thetimecame.TheyHADtospeak.Poorlads,itwaspitifultosee,theyweresopale,soworn,sotroubled.Atfirsttheirspokesmancouldhardlyfindvoiceorwords;buthepresentlygotboth.Thisiswhathesaid——andheputitintheneatmodernEnglishtaughthiminmyschools:
\"Wehavetriedtoforgetwhatweare——Englishboys!Wehavetriedtoputreasonbeforesentiment,dutybeforelove;ourmindsapprove,butourheartsreproachus.Whileapparentlyitwasonlythenobility,onlythegentry,onlythetwenty-fiveorthirtythousandknightsleftaliveoutofthelatewars,wewereofonemind,andundisturbedbyanytroublingdoubt;eachandeveryoneofthesefifty-twoladswhostandherebeforeyou,said,\'Theyhavechosen——itistheiraffair.\'Butthink!——thematterisaltered——ALLENG-LANDISMARCHINGAGAINSTUS!Oh,sir,consider!——
reflect!——thesepeopleareourpeople,theyareboneofourbone,fleshofourflesh,welovethem——donotaskustodestroyournation!\"
Well,itshowsthevalueoflookingahead,andbeingreadyforathingwhenithappens.IfIhadn\'tforeseenthisthingandbeenfixed,thatboywouldhavehadme!——Icouldn\'thavesaidaword.ButIwasfixed.Isaid:
\"Myboys,yourheartsareintherightplace,youhavethoughttheworthythought,youhavedonetheworthything.YouareEnglishboys,youwillremainEnglishboys,andyouwillkeepthatnameunsmirched.Giveyourselvesnofurtherconcern,letyourmindsbeatpeace.Considerthis:whileallEnglandismarchingagainstus,whoisinthevan?Who,bythecommonestrulesofwar,willmarchinthefront?Answerme.\"
\"Themountedhostofmailedknights.\"
\"True.Theyare30,000strong.Acresdeeptheywillmarch.Now,observe:
nonebutTHEYwilleverstrikethesand-belt!Thentherewillbeanepisode!
Immediatelyafter,thecivilianmultitudeintherearwillretire,tomeetbusinessengagementselsewhere.Nonebutnoblesandgentryareknights,andNONEBUTTHESEwillremaintodancetoourmusicafterthatepisode.
Itisabsolutelytruethatweshallhavetofightnobodybutthesethirtythousandknights.Nowspeak,anditshallbeasyoudecide.Shallweavoidthebattle,retirefromthefield?\"
Theshoutwasunanimousandhearty.
\"Areyou——areyou——well,afraidofthesethirtythousandknights?\"
Thatjokebroughtoutagoodlaugh,theboys\'troublesvanishedaway,andtheywentgailytotheirposts.Ah,theywereadarlingfifty-two!
Asprettyasgirls,too.
Iwasreadyfortheenemynow.Lettheapproachingbigdaycomealong——itwouldfindusondeck.
Thebigdayarrivedontime.Atdawnthesentryonwatchinthecorralcameintothecaveandreportedamovingblackmassunderthehorizon,andafaintsoundwhichhethoughttobemilitarymusic.Breakfastwasjustready;wesatdownandateit.
Thisover,Imadetheboysalittlespeech,andthensentoutadetailtomanthebattery,withClarenceincommandofit.
Thesunrosepresentlyandsentitsunobstructedsplendorsovertheland,andwesawaprodigioushostmovingslowlytowardus,withthesteadydriftandalignedfrontofawaveofthesea.Nearerandneareritcame,andmoreandmoresublimelyimposingbecameitsaspect;yes,allEnglandwasthere,apparently.Soonwecouldseetheinnumerablebannersfluttering,andthenthesunstrucktheseaofarmorandsetitallaflash.Yes,itwasafinesight;Ihadn\'teverseenanythingtobeatit.
Atlastwecouldmakeoutdetails.Allthefrontranks,notellinghowmanyacresdeep,werehorsemen——plumedknightsinarmor.Suddenlyweheardtheblareoftrumpets;theslowwalkburstintoagallop,andthen——well,itwaswonderfultosee!Downsweptthatvasthorse-shoewave——itapproachedthesand-belt——mybreathstoodstill;nearer,nearer——thestripofgreenturfbeyondtheyellowbeltgrewnarrow——narrowerstill——becameamereribboninfrontofthehorses——thendisappearedundertheirhoofs.GreatScott!Why,thewholefrontofthathostshotintotheskywithathunder-crash,andbecameawhirlingtempestofragsandfragments;andalongthegroundlayathickwallofsmokethathidwhatwasleftofthemultitudefromoursight.
Timeforthesecondstepintheplanofcampaign!Itouchedabutton,andshookthebonesofEnglandloosefromherspine!
Inthatexplosionallournoblecivilization-factorieswentupintheairanddisappearedfromtheearth.Itwasapity,butitwasnecessary.
Wecouldnotaffordtolettheenemyturnourownweaponsagainstus.
Nowensuedoneofthedullestquarter-hoursIhadeverendured.Wewaitedinasilentsolitudeenclosedbyourcirclesofwire,andbyacircleofheavysmokeoutsideofthese.Wecouldn\'tseeoverthewallofsmoke,andwecouldn\'tseethroughit.Butatlastitbegantoshredawaylazily,andbytheendofanotherquarter-hourthelandwasclearandourcuriositywasenabledtosatisfyitself.Nolivingcreaturewasinsight!Wenowperceivedthatadditionshadbeenmadetoourdefenses.Thedynamitehaddugaditchmorethanahundredfeetwide,allaroundus,andcastupanembankmentsometwenty-fivefeethighonbothbordersofit.Astodestructionoflife,itwasamazing.Moreover,itwasbeyondestimate.Ofcourse,wecouldnotCOUNTthedead,becausetheydidnotexistasindividuals,butmerelyashomogeneousprotoplasm,withalloysofironandbuttons.
Nolifewasinsight,butnecessarilytheremusthavebeensomewoundedintherearranks,whowerecarriedoffthefieldundercoverofthewallofsmoke;therewouldbesicknessamongtheothers——therealwaysis,afteranepisodelikethat.Buttherewouldbenoreinforcements;thiswasthelaststandofthechivalryofEngland;itwasallthatwasleftoftheorder,aftertherecentannihilatingwars.SoIfeltquitesafeinbelievingthattheutmostforcethatcouldforthefuturebebroughtagainstuswouldbebutsmall;thatis,ofknights.Ithereforeissuedacongratulatoryproclamationtomyarmyinthesewords:
SOLDIERS,CHAMPIONSOFHUMANLIBERTYANDEQUALITY:YourGeneralcongratulatesyou!Intheprideofhisstrengthandthevanityofhisrenown,anarrogantenemycameagainstyou.Youwereready.Theconflictwasbrief;onyourside,glorious.Thismightyvictory,havingbeenachievedutterlywithoutloss,standswithoutexampleinhistory.Solongastheplanetsshallcontinuetomoveintheirorbits,theBATTLEOFTHESAND-BELTwillnotperishoutofthememoriesofmen.
THEBOSS.
Ireaditwell,andtheapplauseIgotwasverygratifyingtome.I
thenwoundupwiththeseremarks:
\"ThewarwiththeEnglishnation,asanation,isatanend.Thenationhasretiredfromthefieldandthewar.Beforeitcanbepersuadedtoreturn,warwillhaveceased.Thiscampaignistheonlyonethatisgoingtobefought.Itwillbebrief——thebriefestinhistory.Alsothemostdestructivetolife,consideredfromthestandpointofproportionofcasualtiestonumbersengaged.Wearedonewiththenation;henceforthwedealonlywiththeknights.Englishknightscanbekilled,buttheycannotbeconquered.
Weknowwhatisbeforeus.Whileoneofthesemenremainsalive,ourtaskisnotfinished,thewarisnotended.Wewillkillthemall.\"[Loudandlongcontinuedapplause.]
Ipicketedthegreatembankmentsthrownuparoundourlinesbythedynamiteexplosion——merelyalookoutofacoupleofboystoannouncetheenemywhenheshouldappearagain.
Next,Isentanengineerandfortymentoapointjustbeyondourlinesonthesouth,toturnamountainbrookthatwasthere,andbringitwithinourlinesandunderourcommand,arrangingitinsuchawaythatIcouldmakeinstantuseofitinanemergency.Thefortymenweredividedintotwoshiftsoftwentyeach,andweretorelieveeachothereverytwohours.
Intenhourstheworkwasaccomplished.
Itwasnightfallnow,andIwithdrewmypickets.Theonewhohadhadthenorthernoutlookreportedacampinsight,butvisiblewiththeglassonly.Healsoreportedthatafewknightshadbeenfeelingtheirwaytowardus,andhaddrivensomecattleacrossourlines,butthattheknightsthemselveshadnotcomeverynear.ThatwaswhatIhadbeenexpecting.Theywerefeelingus,yousee;theywantedtoknowifweweregoingtoplaythatredterroronthemagain.Theywouldgrowbolderinthenight,perhaps.IbelievedIknewwhatprojecttheywouldattempt,becauseitwasplainlythethingIwouldattemptmyselfifIwereintheirplacesandasignorantastheywere.ImentionedittoClarence.
\"Ithinkyouareright,\"saidhe;\"itistheobviousthingforthemtotry.\"
\"Well,then,\"Isaid,\"iftheydoittheyaredoomed.
\"Certainly.\"
Theywon\'thavetheslightestshowintheworld.\"
\"Ofcoursetheywon\'t.\"
\"It\'sdreadful,Clarence.Itseemsanawfulpity.\"
ThethingdisturbedmesothatIcouldn\'tgetanypeaceofmind.forthinkingofitandworryingoverit.So,atlast,toquietmyconscience,Iframedthismessagetotheknights:
TOTHEHONORABLETHECOMMANDEROFTHEINSURGENTCHIVALRYOFENGLAND:
YOUfightinvain.Weknowyourstrength——ifonemaycallitbythatname.Weknowthatattheutmostyoucannotbringagainstusabovefiveandtwentythousandknights.Therefore,youhavenochance——nonewhatever.
Reflect:wearewellequipped,wellfortified,wenumber54.Fifty-fourwhat?Men?No,MINDS——thecapablestintheworld;aforceagainstwhichmereanimalmightmaynomorehopetoprevailthanmaytheidlewavesoftheseahopetoprevailagainstthegranitebarriersofEngland.Beadvised.
Weofferyouyourlives;forthesakeofyourfamilies,donotrejectthegift.Weofferyouthischance,anditisthelast:throwdownyourarms;
surrenderunconditionallytotheRepublic,andallwillbeforgiven.
SignedTHEBOSS.
IreadittoClarence,andsaidIproposedtosenditbyaflagoftruce.
Helaughedthesarcasticlaughhewasbornwith,andsaid:
\"Somehowitseemsimpossibleforyoutoeverfullyrealizewhatthesenobilitiesare.Nowletussavealittletimeandtrouble.Considermethecommanderoftheknightsyonder.Now,then,youaretheflagoftruce;
approachanddelivermeyourmessage,andIwillgiveyouyouranswer.\"
Ihumoredtheidea.Icameforwardunderanimaginaryguardoftheenemy\'ssoldiers,producedmypaper,andreaditthrough.Foranswer,Clarencestruckthepaperoutofmyhand,pursedupascornfullipandsaidwithloftydisdain:
\"Dismembermethisanimal,andreturnhiminabaskettothebase-bornknavewhosenthim;otheranswerhaveInone!\"
Howemptyistheoryinpresenceoffact!Andthiswasjustfact,andnothingelse.Itwasthethingthatwouldhavehappened,therewasnogettingaroundthat.Itoreupthepaperandgrantedmymistimedsentimentalitiesapermanentrest.
Then,tobusiness.Itestedtheelectricsignalsfromthegatlingplatformtothecave,andmadesurethattheywereallright;Itestedandretestedthosewhichcommandedthefences——theseweresignalswherebyIcouldbreakandrenewtheelectriccurrentineachfenceindependentlyoftheothersatwill.Iplacedthebrook-connectionundertheguardandauthorityofthreeofmybestboys,whowouldalternateintwo-hourwatchesallnightandpromptlyobeymysignal,ifIshouldhaveoccasiontogiveit——threerevolvershotsinquicksuccession.Sentry-dutywasdiscardedforthenight,andthecorralleftemptyoflife;Iorderedthatquietbemaintainedinthecave,andtheelectriclightsturneddowntoaglimmer.
Assoonasitwasgoodanddark,Ishutoffthecurrentfromallthefences,andthengropedmywayouttotheembankmentborderingoursideofthegreatdynamiteditch.Icrepttothetopofitandlaythereontheslantofthemucktowatch.Butitwastoodarktoseeanything.Asforsounds,therewerenone.Thestillnesswasdeathlike.True,thereweretheusualnight-soundsofthecountry——thewhirofnightbirds,thebuzzingofinsects,thebarkingofdistantdogs,themellowlowingoffar-offkine——butthesedidn\'tseemtobreakthestillness,theyonlyintensifiedit,andaddedagrewsomemelancholytoitintothebargain.
Ipresentlygaveuplooking,thenightshutdownsoblack,butIkeptmyearsstrainedtocatchtheleastsuspicioussound,forIjudgedIhadonlytowait,andIshouldn\'tbedisappointed.However,Ihadtowaitalongtime.AtlastIcaughtwhatyoumaycallindistinctglimpsesofsoundÑdulledmetallicsound.Iprickedupmyears,then,andheldmybreath,forthiswasthesortofthingIhadbeenwaitingfor.Thissoundthickened,andapproached——fromtowardthenorth.Presently,Ihearditatmyownlevel——theridge-topoftheoppositeembankment,ahundredfeetormoreaway.
ThenIseemedtoseearowofblackdotsappearalongthatridge——humanheads?Icouldn\'ttell;itmightn\'tbeanythingatall;youcan\'tdependonyoureyeswhenyourimaginationisoutoffocus.However,thequestionwassoonsettled.Iheardthatmetallicnoisedescendingintothegreatditch.Itaugmentedfast,itspreadallalong,anditunmistakablyfurnishedmethisfact:anarmedhostwastakingupitsquartersintheditch.Yes,thesepeoplewerearrangingalittlesurprisepartyforus.Wecouldexpectentertainmentaboutdawn,possiblyearlier.
Igropedmywaybacktothecorralnow;Ihadseenenough.Iwenttotheplatformandsignaledtoturnthecurrentontothetwoinnerfences.
ThenIwentintothecave,andfoundeverythingsatisfactorythere——nobodyawakebuttheworking-watch.IwokeClarenceandtoldhimthegreatditchwasfillingupwithmen,andthatIbelievedalltheknightswerecomingforusinabody.Itwasmynotionthatassoonasdawnapproachedwecouldexpecttheditch\'sambuscadedthousandstoswarmupovertheembankmentandmakeanassault,andbefollowedimmediatelybytherestoftheirarmy.
Clarencesaid:
\"Theywillbewantingtosendascoutortwointhedarktomakepreliminaryobservations.Whynottakethelightningofftheouterfences,andgivethemachance?\"
\"I\'vealreadydoneit,Clarence.Didyoueverknowmetobeinhospitable?\"
\"No,youareagoodheart.Iwanttogoand——\"
\"Beareceptioncommittee?Iwillgo,too.\"
Wecrossedthecorralandlaydowntogetherbetweenthetwoinsidefences.
Eventhedimlightofthecavehaddisorderedoureyesightsomewhat,butthefocusstraightwaybegantoregulateitselfandsoonitwasadjustedforpresentcircumstances.Wehadhadtofeelourwaybefore,butwecouldmakeouttoseethefencepostsnow.Westartedawhisperedconversation,butsuddenlyClarencebrokeoffandsaid:
\"Whatisthat?\"
\"Whatiswhat?\"
\"Thatthingyonder.\"
\"Whatthing——where?\"
\"Therebeyondyoualittlepiece——darksomething——adullshapeofsomekind——againstthesecondfence.\"
Igazedandhegazed.Isaid:
\"Coulditbeaman,Clarence?\"
\"No,Ithinknot.Ifyounotice,itlooksalit——why,itISaman!——
leaningonthefence.\"
\"Icertainlybelieveitis;letusgoandsee.\"
Wecreptalongonourhandsandkneesuntilwewereprettyclose,andthenlookedup.Yes,itwasaman——adimgreatfigureinarmor,standingerect,withbothhandsontheupperwire——and,ofcourse,therewasasmellofburningflesh.Poorfellow,deadasadoor-nail,andneverknewwhathurthim.Hestoodtherelikeastatue——nomotionabouthim,exceptthathisplumesswishedaboutalittleinthenightwind.Weroseupandlookedinthroughthebarsofhisvisor,butcouldn\'tmakeoutwhetherweknewhimornot——featurestoodimandshadowed.
Weheardmuffledsoundsapproaching,andwesankdowntothegroundwherewewere.Wemadeoutanotherknightvaguely;hewascomingverystealthily,andfeelinghisway.Hewasnearenoughnowforustoseehimputoutahand,findanupperwire,thenbendandstepunderitandoverthelowerone.Nowhearrivedatthefirstknight——andstartedslightlywhenhediscoveredhim.Hestoodamoment——nodoubtwonderingwhytheotheronedidn\'tmoveon;thenhesaid,inalowvoice,\"Whydreamestthouhere,goodSirMar——\"thenhelaidhishandonthecorpse\'sshoulder——andjustutteredalittlesoftmoanandsunkdowndead.Killedbyadeadman,yousee——killedbyadeadfriend,infact.Therewassomethingawfulaboutit.
Theseearlybirdscamescatteringalongaftereachother,aboutoneeveryfiveminutesinourvicinity,duringhalfanhour.Theybroughtnoarmorofoffensebuttheirswords;asarule,theycarriedtheswordreadyinthehand,andputitforwardandfoundthewireswithit.Wewouldnowandthenseeabluesparkwhentheknightthatcauseditwassofarawayastobeinvisibletous;butweknewwhathadhappened,allthesame;
poorfellow,hehadtouchedachargedwirewithhisswordandbeenelected.
Wehadbriefintervalsofgrimstillness,interruptedwithpiteousregularitybytheclashmadebythefallingofaniron-clad;andthissortofthingwasgoingon,rightalong,andwasverycreepythereinthedarkandlonesomeness.
Weconcludedtomakeatourbetweentheinnerfences.Weelectedtowalkupright,forconvenience\'ssake;wearguedthatifdiscerned,weshouldbetakenforfriendsratherthanenemies,andinanycaseweshouldbeoutofreachofswords,andthesegentrydidnotseemtohaveanyspearsalong.Well,itwasacurioustrip.Everywheredeadmenwerelyingoutsidethesecondfence——notplainlyvisible,butstillvisible;andwecountedfifteenofthosepatheticstatues——deadknightsstandingwiththeirhandsontheupperwire.
Onethingseemedtobesufficientlydemonstrated:ourcurrentwassotremendousthatitkilledbeforethevictimcouldcryout.Prettysoonwedetectedamuffledandheavysound,andnextmomentweguessedwhatitwas.Itwasasurpriseinforcecoming!whisperedClarencetogoandwakethearmy,andnotifyittowaitinsilenceinthecaveforfurtherorders.Hewassoonback,andwestoodbytheinnerfenceandwatchedthesilentlightningdoitsawfulworkuponthatswarminghost.Onecouldmakeoutbutlittleofdetail;buthecouldnotethatablackmasswaspilingitselfupbeyondthesecondfence.Thatswellingbulkwasdeadmen!Ourcampwasenclosedwithasolidwallofthedead——abulwark,abreastwork,ofcorpses,youmaysay.Oneterriblethingaboutthisthingwastheabsenceofhumanvoices;therewerenocheers,nowarcries;beingintentuponasurprise,thesemenmovedasnoiselesslyastheycould;andalwayswhenthefrontrankwasnearenoughtotheirgoaltomakeitproperforthemtobegintogetashoutready,ofcoursetheystruckthefatallineandwentdownwithouttestifying.
Isentacurrentthroughthethirdfencenow;andalmostimmediatelythroughthefourthandfifth,soquicklywerethegapsfilledup.Ibelievedthetimewascomenowformyclimax;Ibelievedthatthatwholearmywasinourtrap.Anyway,itwashightimetofindout.SoItouchedabuttonandsetfiftyelectricsunsaflameonthetopofourprecipice.
Land,whatasight!Wewereenclosedinthreewallsofdeadmen!Alltheotherfenceswereprettynearlyfilledwiththeliving,whowerestealthilyworkingtheirwayforwardthroughthewires.Thesuddenglareparalyzedthishost,petrifiedthem,youmaysay,withastonishment;therewasjustoneinstantformetoutilizetheirimmobilityin,andIdidn\'tlosethechance.Yousee,inanotherinstanttheywouldhaverecoveredtheirfaculties,thenthey\'dhaveburstintoacheerandmadearush,andmywireswouldhavegonedownbeforeit;butthatlostinstantlostthemtheiropportunityforever;whileeventhatslightfragmentoftimewasstillunspent,Ishotthecurrentthroughallthefencesandstruckthewholehostdeadintheirtracks!THEREwasagroanyoucouldHEAR!Itvoicedthedeath-pangofeleventhousandmen.Itswelledoutonthenightwithawfulpathos.
Aglanceshowedthattherestoftheenemy——perhapstenthousandstrong——werebetweenusandtheencirclingditch,andpressingforwardtotheassault.ConsequentlywehadthemALL!andhadthempasthelp.Timeforthelastactofthetragedy.Ifiredthethreeappointedrevolvershots——whichmeant:
\"Turnonthewater!\"
Therewasasuddenrushandroar,andinaminutethemountainbrookwasragingthroughthebigditchandcreatingariverahundredfeetwideandtwentyfivedeep.
\"Standtoyourguns,men!Openfire!\"
Thethirteengatlingsbegantovomitdeathintothefatedtenthousand.
Theyhalted,theystoodtheirgroundamomentagainstthatwitheringdelugeoffire,thentheybroke,facedaboutandswepttowardtheditchlikechaffbeforeagale.Afullfourthpartoftheirforceneverreachedthetopoftheloftyembankment;thethree-fourthsreacheditandplungedover——todeathbydrowning.