The Fight in the Moon Butchers' Cave

I do not know how far we clambered before we came to the grating. It may be we ascended only a few hundred feet, but at the time it seemed to me we might have hauled and jammed and hopped and wedged ourselves through a mile or more of vertical ascent. Whenever I recall that time, there comes into my head the heavy clank of our golden chains that followed every movement. Very soon my knuckles and knees were raw, and I had a bruise on one cheek. After a time the first violence of our efforts diminished, and our movements became more deliberate and less painful. The noise of the pursuing Selenites had died away altogether. It seemed almost as though they had not traced us up the crack after all, in spite of the tell-tale heap of broken fungi that must have lain beneath it. At times the cleft narrowed so much that we could scarce squeeze up it; at others it expanded into great drusy cavities, studded with prickly crystals or thickly beset with dull, shining fungoid pimples. Sometimes it twisted spirally, and at other times slanted down nearly to the horizontal direction. Ever and again there was the intermittent drip and trickle of water by us. Once or twice it seemed to us that small living things had rustled out of our reach, but what they were we never saw. They may have been venomous beasts for all I know, but they did us no harm, and we were now tuned to a pitch when a weird creeping thing more or less mattered little. And at last, far above, came the familiar bluish light again, and then we saw that it filtered through a grating that barred our way.

I do not know how far we climbed before we came to the grating. We may have climbed only a few hundred feet. But at the time, it seemed we might have hauled, jammed, hopped, and wedged ourselves a mile or more straight up. Whenever I remember that time, I hear the heavy clank of our golden chains after every movement. Soon my knuckles and knees were raw, and I had a bruise on one cheek. After a while, our efforts became less frantic, and we moved more deliberately and with less pain. The noise of the pursuing Selenites had died away completely. It almost seemed they had not followed us up the crack after all. Yet a telltale heap of broken fungi must have been lying beneath it. At times the crack narrowed so much that we could barely squeeze through it. At other times it widened into huge cavities lined with prickly crystals or covered in clusters of dull, shiny fungal bumps. Sometimes it twisted in a spiral. At other times it sloped down until it was nearly horizontal. Water dripped and trickled beside us now and then. Once or twice we thought small living things had rustled away from us, but we never saw them. For all I know, they may have been venomous creatures, but they did us no harm. We were so worked up by then that one more or less strange creeping thing hardly mattered. At last, far above us, the familiar bluish light appeared again. Then we saw that it was filtering through a grating that blocked our way.

We whispered as we pointed this out to one another, and became more and more cautious in our ascent. Presently we were close under the grating, and by pressing my face against its bars I could see a limited portion of the cavern beyond. It was clearly a large space, and lit no doubt by some rivulet of the same blue light that we had seen flow from the beating machinery. An intermittent trickle of water dropped ever and again between the bars near my face.

We whispered as we pointed this out to each other, and grew more and more cautious as we climbed. Soon we were just below the grating. I pressed my face against its bars and could see a small part of the cavern beyond. It was clearly a large space. No doubt it was lit by a stream of the same blue light we had seen flowing from the beating machinery. Water trickled through the bars near my face every now and then.

My first endeavour was naturally to see what might be upon the floor of the cavern, but our grating lay in a depression whose rim hid all this from our eyes. Our foiled attention then fell back upon the suggestion of the various sounds we heard, and presently my eye caught a number of faint shadows that played across the dim roof far overhead.

Naturally, I first tried to see what was on the cavern floor. But our grating lay in a hollow, and its rim blocked our view. Unable to see, we turned our attention back to what the various sounds might suggest. Soon, I noticed several faint shadows moving across the dim roof high overhead.

Indisputably there were several Selenites, perhaps a considerable number, in this space, for we could hear the noises of their intercourse, and faint sounds that I identified as their footfalls. There was also a succession of regularly repeated sounds—chid, chid, chid—which began and ceased, suggestive of a knife or spade hacking at some soft substance. Then came a clank as if of chains, a whistle and a rumble as of a truck running over a hollowed place, and then again that chid, chid, chid resumed. The shadows told of shapes that moved quickly and rhythmically, in agreement with that regular sound, and rested when it ceased.

There were definitely several Selenites in this space, perhaps quite a number. We could hear the sounds they made communicating, and faint sounds I recognized as their footsteps. There was also a regularly repeated sound, chid, chid, chid, which started and stopped. It sounded like a knife or spade hacking at something soft. Then came a clank, as if from chains, a whistle, and a rumble. The rumble sounded like a truck running over a hollow place. Then the chid, chid, chid began again. The shadows showed shapes moving quickly and rhythmically, in time with the regular sound. They rested when it stopped.

We put our heads close together, and began to discuss these things in noiseless whispers.

We put our heads close together and began to discuss these things in silent whispers.

“They are occupied,” I said, “they are occupied in some way.”

“They're busy,” I said, “they're busy with something.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“They’re not seeking us, or thinking of us.”

“They’re not looking for us or thinking about us.”

“Perhaps they have not heard of us.”

“Perhaps they haven't heard of us.”

“Those others are hunting about below. If suddenly we appeared here—”

“Those others are searching below. If we suddenly appeared here...”

We looked at one another.

We looked at each other.

“There might be a chance to parley,” said Cavor.

“There might be a chance to negotiate,” said Cavor.

“No,” I said. “Not as we are.”

“No,” I said. “Not as we are.”

For a space we remained, each occupied by his own thoughts.

For a while, we remained there, each lost in his own thoughts.

Chid, chid, chid went the chipping, and the shadows moved to and fro.

Chid, chid, chid went the chipping, and the shadows moved back and forth.

I looked at the grating. “It’s flimsy,” I said. “We might bend two of the bars and crawl through.”

I looked at the grating. “It’s weak,” I said. “We might bend two of the bars and crawl through.”

We wasted a little time in vague discussion. Then I took one of the bars in both hands, and got my feet up against the rock until they were almost on a level with my head, and so thrust against the bar. It bent so suddenly that I almost slipped. I clambered about and bent the adjacent bar in the opposite direction, and then took the luminous fungus from my pocket and dropped it down the fissure.

We wasted a little time talking without getting anywhere. Then I took one of the bars in both hands. I braced my feet against the rock, almost level with my head, and pushed against the bar. It bent so suddenly that I almost slipped. I clambered around and bent the next bar in the opposite direction. Then I took the glowing fungus from my pocket and dropped it down the crack.

“Don’t do anything hastily,” whispered Cavor, as I twisted myself up through the opening I had enlarged. I had a glimpse of busy figures as I came through the grating, and immediately bent down, so that the rim of the depression in which the grating lay hid me from their eyes, and so lay flat, signalling advice to Cavor as he also prepared to come through. Presently we were side by side in the depression, peering over the edge at the cavern and its occupants.

“Don’t do anything hastily,” Cavor whispered as I twisted my way through the opening I had widened. As I came through the grating, I glimpsed busy figures. I immediately bent down, so that the rim of the hollow around the grating hid me from them. Then I lay flat, signalling advice to Cavor as he prepared to come through. Soon we were side by side in the hollow, peering over the edge at the cavern and its occupants.

It was a much larger cavern than we had supposed from our first glimpse of it, and we looked up from the lowest portion of its sloping floor. It widened out as it receded from us, and its roof came down and hid the remoter portion altogether. And lying in a line along its length, vanishing at last far away in that tremendous perspective, were a number of huge shapes, huge pallid hulls, upon which the Selenites were busy. At first they seemed big white cylinders of vague import. Then I noted the heads upon them lying towards us, eyeless and skinless like the heads of sheep at a butcher’s, and perceived they were the carcasses of mooncalves being cut up, much as the crew of a whaler might cut up a moored whale. They were cutting off the flesh in strips, and on some of the farther trunks the white ribs were showing. It was the sound of their hatchets that made that chid, chid, chid. Some way away a thing like a trolley cable, drawn and loaded with chunks of lax meat, was running up the slope of the cavern floor. This enormous long avenue of hulls that were destined to be food gave us a sense of the vast populousness of the moon world second only to the effect of our first glimpse down the shaft.

The cavern was much larger than we had thought at first. We looked up from the lowest part of its sloping floor. It widened as it stretched away from us, and the roof came down low enough to hide the far end entirely. Along its length lay a row of huge shapes, pale, massive bodies that finally vanished in the vast distance. The Selenites were busy working on them. At first, they looked like large white cylinders whose purpose was unclear. Then I noticed their heads, facing us. They had no eyes or skin, like sheep’s heads at a butcher’s. I realized that they were the carcasses of mooncalves, being cut up much as a whaling crew might cut up a moored whale. The Selenites were cutting the flesh into strips, and white ribs showed on some of the more distant carcasses. Their hatchets made the sound: chid, chid, chid. Some distance away, something like a trolley cable was running up the slope of the cavern floor, carrying chunks of loose meat. This enormous, long row of bodies destined for food gave us a sense of how densely populated the moon world was. Only our first glimpse down the shaft had given us a stronger impression.

It seemed to me at first that the Selenites must be standing on trestle-supported planks,² and then I saw that the planks and supports and the hatchets were really of the same leaden hue as my fetters had seemed before white light came to bear on them. A number of very thick-looking crowbars lay about the floor, and had apparently assisted to turn the dead mooncalf over on its side. They were perhaps six feet long, with shaped handles, very tempting-looking weapons. The whole place was lit by three transverse streams of the blue fluid.

At first, I thought the Selenites were standing on planks supported by trestles.² Then I saw that the planks, supports, and hatchets were lead-colored. They were the same color my fetters had seemed before white light fell on them. Several very thick-looking crowbars lay on the floor. They had apparently helped turn the dead mooncalf onto its side. The crowbars were perhaps six feet long, with shaped handles, and looked very tempting as weapons. Three streams of blue fluid ran across the place, lighting it all.

We lay for a long time noting all these things in silence. “Well?” said Cavor at last.

We lay in silence for a long time, noticing all these things. “Well?” Cavor said at last.

I crouched over and turned to him. I had come upon a brilliant idea. “Unless they lowered those bodies by a crane,” I said, “we must be nearer the surface than I thought.”

I crouched down and turned to him. I had a brilliant idea. “Unless they lowered those bodies with a crane,” I said, “we must be closer to the surface than I thought.”

“Why?”

“Why?”

“The mooncalf doesn’t hop, and it hasn’t got wings.”

“The mooncalf doesn’t hop, and it doesn’t have wings.”

He peered over the edge of the hollow again. “I wonder now—” he began. “After all, we have never gone far from the surface—”

He looked over the edge of the hollow again. “I wonder...” he began. “After all, we've never gone far from the surface...”

I stopped him by a grip on his arm. I had heard a noise from the cleft below us!

I stopped him by grabbing his arm. I had heard a noise from the crack below us!

We twisted ourselves about, and lay as still as death, with every sense alert. In a little while I did not doubt that something was quietly ascending the cleft. Very slowly and quite noiselessly I assured myself of a good grip on my chain, and waited for that something to appear.

We turned around and lay as still as death, with every sense alert. Soon I was sure that something was quietly climbing the cleft. Very slowly and silently, I made sure I had a firm grip on my chain. Then I waited for it to appear.

“Just look at those chaps with the hatchets again,” I said.

“Just look at those guys with the hatchets again,” I said.

“They’re all right,” said Cavor.

“They’re all right,” said Cavor.

I took a sort of provisional aim at the gap in the grating. I could hear now quite distinctly the soft twittering of the ascending Selenites, the dab of their hands against the rock, and the falling of dust from their grips as they clambered.

I aimed roughly at the gap in the grating. I could now hear the climbing Selenites clearly. They twittered softly, their hands pattered against the rock, and dust fell from their grips as they climbed.

Then I could see that there was something moving dimly in the blackness below the grating, but what it might be I could not distinguish. The whole thing seemed to hang fire just for a moment—then smash! I had sprung to my feet, struck savagely at something that had flashed out at me. It was the keen point of a spear. I have thought since that its length in the narrowness of the cleft must have prevented its being sloped to reach me. Anyhow, it shot out from the grating like the tongue of a snake, and missed and flew back and flashed again. But the second time I snatched and caught it, and wrenched it away, but not before another had darted ineffectually at me.

Then I could see something moving dimly in the darkness below the grating, but I could not make out what it was. Everything seemed to pause for a moment. Then, smash! I sprang to my feet and struck fiercely at something that had flashed out at me. It was the sharp point of a spear. I have since thought that the spear was too long to angle toward me in the narrow cleft. Anyway, it shot out from the grating like a snake's tongue, missed, flew back, and flashed out again. But the second time, I grabbed it and wrenched it away. Before I could do that, another spear had darted at me and missed.

I shouted with triumph as I felt the hold of the Selenite resist my pull for a moment and give, and then I was jabbing down through the bars, amidst squeals from the darkness, and Cavor had snapped off the other spear, and was leaping and flourishing it beside me, and making inefficient jabs. Clang, clang, came up through the grating, and then an axe hurtled through the air and whacked against the rocks beyond, to remind me of the fleshers at the carcasses up the cavern.

I shouted in triumph as the Selenite's grip resisted my pull for a moment, then gave way. I began jabbing down through the bars, while squeals came from the darkness. Cavor had snapped off the other spear. He was jumping and waving it beside me, jabbing without much success. Clang, clang, came the sound through the grating. Then an axe flew through the air and struck the rocks beyond us. It reminded me of the fleshers working on the carcasses farther up the cavern.

I turned, and they were all coming towards us in open order waving their axes. They were short, thick, little beggars, with long arms, strikingly different from the ones we had seen before. If they had not heard of us before, they must have realised the situation with incredible swiftness. I stared at them for a moment, spear in hand. “Guard that grating, Cavor,” I cried, howled to intimidate them, and rushed to meet them. Two of them missed with their hatchets, and the rest fled incontinently. Then the two also were sprinting away up the cavern, with hands clenched and heads down. I never saw men run like them!

I turned and saw them all coming toward us, spread out and waving their axes. They were short, stocky little fellows with long arms, strikingly different from the ones we had seen before. If they had not heard of us before, they must have grasped the situation incredibly quickly. I stared at them for a moment, spear in hand. “Guard that grating, Cavor,” I cried. Then I howled to frighten them and rushed to meet them. Two of them missed me with their hatchets, and the rest fled at once. Then those two also sprinted away up the cavern, with their hands clenched and heads down. I never saw men run like them!

I knew the spear I had was no good for me. It was thin and flimsy, only effectual for a thrust, and too long for a quick recover. So I only chased the Selenites as far as the first carcass, and stopped there and picked up one of the crowbars that were lying about. It felt comfortingly heavy, and equal to smashing any number of Selenites. I threw away my spear, and picked up a second crowbar for the other hand. I felt five times better than I had with the spear. I shook the two threateningly at the Selenites, who had come to a halt in a little crowd far away up the cavern, and then turned about to look at Cavor.

I knew my spear was no use to me. It was thin and flimsy, only good for thrusting, and too long to bring back quickly for another strike. So I chased the Selenites only as far as the first carcass. I stopped there and picked up one of the crowbars lying around. It felt reassuringly heavy, and capable of smashing any number of Selenites. I threw away my spear and picked up a second crowbar for my other hand. I felt five times better than I had with the spear. The Selenites had stopped in a small crowd far up the cavern. I shook the two crowbars at them threateningly, then turned to look at Cavor.

He was leaping from side to side of the grating, making threatening jabs with his broken spear. That was all right. It would keep the Selenites down—for a time at any rate. I looked up the cavern again. What on earth were we going to do now?

He was jumping from side to side of the grating, thrusting his broken spear threateningly. That was all right. It would keep the Selenites down, at least for a while. I looked up the cavern again. What on earth were we going to do now?

We were cornered in a sort of way already. But these butchers up the cavern had been surprised, they were probably scared, and they had no special weapons, only those little hatchets of theirs. And that way lay escape. Their sturdy little forms—ever so much shorter and thicker than the mooncalf herds—were scattered up the slope in a way that was eloquent of indecision. I had the moral advantage of a mad bull in a street. But for all that, there seemed a tremendous crowd of them. Very probably there was. Those Selenites down the cleft had certainly some infernally long spears. It might be they had other surprises for us.... But, confound it! if we charged up the cave we should let them up behind us, and if we didn’t those little brutes up the cave would probably get reinforced. Heaven alone knew what tremendous engines of warfare—guns, bombs, terrestrial torpedoes—this unknown world below our feet, this vaster world of which we had only pricked the outer cuticle, might not presently send up to our destruction. It became clear the only thing to do was to charge! It became clearer as the legs of a number of fresh Selenites appeared running down the cavern towards us.

We were already cornered, in a way. But the butchers up the cavern had been caught by surprise and were probably scared. They had no special weapons, only their little hatchets. And that was our escape route. Their sturdy little bodies were scattered up the slope, as if they could not decide what to do. They were much shorter and thicker than the mooncalf herds. I had the psychological advantage of a mad bull in a street. But even so, there seemed to be a tremendous crowd of them. There probably was. The Selenites down the cleft certainly had some infernally long spears. They might have other surprises for us.... But, damn it! If we charged up the cave, we would let those behind us climb up after us. And if we did not, those little brutes up the cave would probably get reinforcements. Heaven alone knew what tremendous weapons of war might soon come up to destroy us. There might be guns, bombs, or terrestrial torpedoes in that unknown world beneath our feet. We had only pierced the outer skin of that vaster world. It became clear that our only choice was to charge! It became even clearer when the legs of more Selenites appeared, running down the cavern toward us.

“Bedford!” cried Cavor, and behold! he was halfway between me and the grating.

“Bedford!” cried Cavor. And there he was, halfway between me and the grating.

“Go back!” I cried. “What are you doing—”

“Go back!” I cried. “What are you doing...”

“They’ve got—it’s like a gun!”

“They’ve got... it’s like a gun!”

And struggling in the grating between those defensive spears appeared the head and shoulders of a singularly lean and angular Selenite, bearing some complicated apparatus.

The head and shoulders of a remarkably thin, angular Selenite appeared, struggling through the grating between those defensive spears. The Selenite was carrying a complicated device.

I realised Cavor’s utter incapacity for the fight we had in hand. For a moment I hesitated. Then I rushed past him whirling my crowbars, and shouting to confound the aim of the Selenite. He was aiming in the queerest way with the thing against his stomach. “Chuzz!” The thing wasn’t a gun; it went off like a cross-bow more, and dropped me in the middle of a leap.

I realized that Cavor was completely unable to fight. For a moment, I hesitated. Then I rushed past him, swinging my crowbars and shouting to throw off the Selenite’s aim. He was aiming in a very strange way, with the thing against his stomach. “Chuzz!” The thing wasn’t a gun. It fired more like a crossbow and knocked me down in mid-leap.

I didn’t fall down, I simply came down a little shorter than I should have done if I hadn’t been hit, and from the feel of my shoulder the thing might have tapped me and glanced off. Then my left hand hit against the shaft, and I perceived there was a sort of spear sticking half through my shoulder. The moment after I got home with the crowbar in my right hand, and hit the Selenite fair and square. He collapsed—he crushed and crumpled—his head smashed like an egg.

I didn’t fall down. I just landed a little short of where I would have landed if I hadn’t been hit. From how my shoulder felt, the thing might have tapped me and glanced off. Then my left hand hit the shaft, and I realized a kind of spear was sticking halfway through my shoulder. A moment later, I struck the Selenite squarely with the crowbar in my right hand. He collapsed, crushing and crumpling. His head smashed like an egg.

I dropped a crowbar, pulled the spear out of my shoulder, and began to jab it down the grating into the darkness. At each jab came a shriek and twitter. Finally I hurled the spear down upon them with all my strength, leapt up, picked up the crowbar again, and started for the multitude up the cavern.

I dropped a crowbar, pulled the spear from my shoulder, and began jabbing it through the grating into the darkness. Each jab brought a shriek and a twitter. Finally, I threw the spear down at them with all my strength. I jumped up, picked up the crowbar again, and headed toward the crowd farther up the cavern.

“Bedford!” cried Cavor. “Bedford!” as I flew past him.

“Bedford!” Cavor shouted. “Bedford!” as I flew past him.

I seem to remember his footsteps coming on behind me.

I seem to remember his footsteps approaching behind me.

Step, leap ... whack, step, leap.... Each leap seemed to last ages. With each, the cave opened out and the number of Selenites visible increased. At first they seemed all running about like ants in a disturbed ant-hill, one or two waving hatchets and coming to meet me, more running away, some bolting sideways into the avenue of carcasses, then presently others came in sight carrying spears, and then others. I saw a most extraordinary thing, all hands and feet, bolting for cover. The cavern grew darker farther up.

Step, leap ... whack, step, leap.... Each leap seemed to last ages. With each leap, the cave opened up, and more Selenites came into view. At first, they all seemed to be running around like ants in a disturbed anthill. One or two waved hatchets and came toward me. More ran away, and some darted sideways into the avenue of carcasses. Then others came into view carrying spears, and then still more. I saw a most extraordinary thing, all hands and feet, running for cover. The cavern grew darker farther in.

Flick! something flew over my head. Flick! As I soared in mid-stride I saw a spear hit and quiver in one of the carcasses to my left. Then, as I came down, one hit the ground before me, and I heard the remote chuzz! with which their things were fired. Flick, flick! for a moment it was a shower. They were volleying!

Flick! Something flew over my head. Flick! As I sailed through the air mid-stride, I saw a spear strike a carcass to my left. It quivered there. Then, as I came down, another hit the ground in front of me. I heard the distant chuzz! as their weapons fired. Flick, flick! For a moment, spears rained down. They were firing volleys!

I stopped dead.

I stopped dead.

I don’t think I thought clearly then. I seem to remember a kind of stereotyped phrase running through my mind: “Zone of fire, seek cover!” I know I made a dash for the space between two of the carcasses, and stood there panting and feeling very wicked.

I don’t think I was thinking clearly then. I seem to remember a familiar phrase running through my mind: “Zone of fire, seek cover!” I know I ran into the space between two of the carcasses. I stood there panting and feeling very wicked.

I looked round for Cavor, and for a moment it seemed as if he had vanished from the world. Then he came out of the darkness between the row of the carcasses and the rocky wall of the cavern. I saw his little face, dark and blue, and shining with perspiration and emotion.

I looked around for Cavor. For a moment, he seemed to have vanished from the world. Then he came out of the darkness between the row of carcasses and the cavern’s rocky wall. His little face was dark and blue, shining with sweat and emotion.

He was saying something, but what it was I did not heed. I had realised that we might work from mooncalf to mooncalf up the cave until we were near enough to charge home. It was charge or nothing. “Come on!” I said, and led the way.

He was saying something, but I wasn't listening. I had realized we could move from mooncalf to mooncalf up the cave until we were close enough to charge. We had to charge or do nothing. “Come on!” I said, and led the way.

“Bedford!” he cried unavailingly.

“Bedford!” he cried in vain.

My mind was busy as we went up that narrow alley between the dead bodies and the wall of the cavern. The rocks curved about—they could not enfilade us. Though in that narrow space we could not leap, yet with our earth-born strength we were still able to go very much faster than the Selenites. I reckoned we should presently come right among them. Once we were on them, they would be nearly as formidable as black beetles. Only there would first of all be a volley. I thought of a stratagem. I whipped off my flannel jacket as I ran.

My mind was racing as we went up the narrow passage between the dead bodies and the cavern wall. The rocks curved around us, so the Selenites could not fire down the passage at us. Though the passage was too narrow for us to leap, our earth-born strength still let us move much faster than the Selenites. I figured we would soon reach them. Once we were among them, they would be nearly as formidable as black beetles. But first, there would be a volley. I thought of a plan and pulled off my flannel jacket as I ran.

“Bedford!” panted Cavor behind me.

“Bedford!” Cavor panted behind me.

I glanced back. “What?” said I.

I glanced back. “What?” I said.

He was pointing upward over the carcasses. “White light!” he said. “White light again!”

He pointed upward over the carcasses. “White light!” he said. “White light again!”

I looked, and it was even so; a faint white ghost of light in the remoter cavern roof. That seemed to give me double strength.

I looked, and it was true. A faint, ghostly white light showed on the distant cavern roof. The sight seemed to give me twice my strength.

“Keep close,” I said. A flat, long Selenite dashed out of the darkness, and squealed and fled. I halted, and stopped Cavor with my hand. I hung my jacket over my crowbar, ducked round the next carcass, dropped jacket and crowbar, showed myself, and darted back.

“Stay close,” I said. A long, flat Selenite rushed out of the darkness, squealed, and fled. I stopped and held Cavor back with my hand. I hung my jacket over my crowbar and ducked around the next carcass. I dropped the jacket and crowbar, showed myself, and darted back.

“Chuzz-flick,” just one arrow came. We were close on the Selenites, and they were standing in a crowd, broad, short, and tall together, with a little battery of their shooting implements pointing down the cave. Three or four other arrows followed the first, then their fire ceased.

“Chuzz-flick,” just one arrow came. We were close to the Selenites, who stood in a crowd, broad, short, and tall together. A small battery of their weapons pointed down the cave. Three or four more arrows followed the first, then they stopped firing.

I stuck out my head, and escaped by a hair’s-breadth. This time I drew a dozen shots or more, and heard the Selenites shouting and twittering as if with excitement as they shot. I picked up jacket and crowbar again.

I stuck out my head and narrowly escaped. This time, they fired a dozen shots or more at me. I heard the Selenites shouting and twittering as if excited as they shot. I picked up my jacket and crowbar again.

“Now!” said I, and thrust out the jacket.

“Now!” I said, and pushed the jacket out.

“Chuzz-zz-zz-zz! Chuzz!” In an instant my jacket had grown a thick beard of arrows, and they were quivering all over the carcass behind us. Instantly I slipped the crowbar out of the jacket, dropped the jacket—for all I know to the contrary it is lying up there in the moon now—and rushed out upon them.

“Chuzz-zz-zz-zz! Chuzz!” In an instant, my jacket had grown a thick beard of arrows. Arrows were quivering all over the carcass behind us, too. I immediately pulled the crowbar out of the jacket and dropped the jacket. For all I know, it is still lying up there on the moon. Then I rushed out at them.

For a minute perhaps it was massacre. I was too fierce to discriminate, and the Selenites were probably too scared to fight. At any rate they made no sort of fight against me. I saw scarlet, as the saying is. I remember I seemed to be wading among those leathery, thin things as a man wades through tall grass, mowing and hitting, first right, then left; smash. Little drops of moisture flew about. I trod on things that crushed and piped and went slippery. The crowd seemed to open and close and flow like water. They seemed to have no combined plan whatever. There were spears flew about me, I was grazed over the ear by one. I was stabbed once in the arm and once in the cheek, but I only found that out afterwards, when the blood had had time to run and cool and feel wet.

For perhaps a minute, it was a massacre. I was too fierce to tell one Selenite from another, and they were probably too scared to fight. In any case, they made no attempt to fight me. I saw red, as the saying goes. I remember seeming to wade among those thin, leathery things as a man wades through tall grass. I swung and hit, first right, then left. Smash. Little drops of moisture flew about. I stepped on things that crushed, squeaked, and turned slippery. The crowd seemed to open and close and flow like water. They seemed to have no common plan at all. Spears flew around me, and one grazed my ear. I was stabbed once in the arm and once in the cheek. But I only found that out later, when the blood had had time to run, cool, and feel wet.

What Cavor did I do not know. For a space it seemed that this fighting had lasted for an age, and must needs go on for ever. Then suddenly it was all over, and there was nothing to be seen but the backs of heads bobbing up and down as their owners ran in all directions.... I seemed altogether unhurt. I ran forward some paces, shouting, then turned about. I was amazed.

I don't know what Cavor did. For a while, it seemed the fighting had lasted for ages and would go on forever. Then suddenly it was all over. All I could see were the backs of heads bobbing up and down as people ran in every direction.... I seemed to be completely unhurt. I ran forward a few steps, shouting, then turned around. I was amazed.

I had come right through them in vast flying strides, they were all behind me, and running hither and thither to hide.

I had passed right through them in huge, flying strides. They were all behind me, running in every direction to hide.

I felt an enormous astonishment at the evaporation of the great fight into which I had hurled myself, and not a little exultation. It did not seem to me that I had discovered the Selenites were unexpectedly flimsy, but that I was unexpectedly strong. I laughed stupidly. This fantastic moon!

I was enormously surprised that the great fight I had thrown myself into had vanished, and I felt quite triumphant. It seemed to me that I was unexpectedly strong, not that the Selenites were unexpectedly fragile. I laughed stupidly. This fantastic moon!

I glanced for a moment at the smashed and writhing bodies that were scattered over the cavern floor, with a vague idea of further violence, then hurried on after Cavor.

I glanced at the smashed, writhing bodies scattered across the cavern floor. I had a vague thought of more violence, then hurried after Cavor.