The Stranger Unveiled

The stranger went into the little parlour of the “Coach and Horses” about half-past five in the morning, and there he remained until near midday, the blinds down, the door shut, and none, after Hall’s repulse, venturing near him.

The stranger went into the small sitting room of the “Coach and Horses” at about half-past five in the morning. He stayed there until nearly midday, with the blinds down and the door shut. After Hall was turned away, no one dared go near him.

All that time he must have fasted. Thrice he rang his bell, the third time furiously and continuously, but no one answered him. “Him and his ‘go to the devil’ indeed!” said Mrs. Hall. Presently came an imperfect rumour of the burglary at the vicarage, and two and two were put together. Hall, assisted by Wadgers, went off to find Mr. Shuckleforth, the magistrate, and take his advice. No one ventured upstairs. How the stranger occupied himself is unknown. Now and then he would stride violently up and down, and twice came an outburst of curses, a tearing of paper, and a violent smashing of bottles.

He must have gone without food all that time. He rang his bell three times. The third time, he rang it furiously and without stopping, but no one answered him. “Him and his ‘go to the devil’ indeed!” said Mrs. Hall. Soon, an incomplete account of the burglary at the vicarage began to spread, and people put two and two together. Hall, with Wadgers’s help, went to find Mr. Shuckleforth, the magistrate, and ask his advice. No one dared go upstairs. No one knows what the stranger did. Now and then he paced violently up and down. Twice, there were outbursts of cursing, the sound of paper being torn, and the violent smashing of bottles.

The little group of scared but curious people increased. Mrs. Huxter came over; some gay young fellows resplendent in black ready-made jackets and piqué paper ties—for it was Whit Monday—joined the group with confused interrogations. Young Archie Harker distinguished himself by going up the yard and trying to peep under the window-blinds. He could see nothing, but gave reason for supposing that he did, and others of the Iping youth presently joined him.

The small group of frightened but curious people grew. Mrs. Huxter came over. Some cheerful young men joined the group, asking confused questions. Because it was Whit Monday, they were dressed up in black ready-made jackets and piqué paper ties. Young Archie Harker drew attention to himself by going up the yard and trying to peek under the window blinds. He could see nothing, but gave the impression that he could. Soon, other young people from Iping joined him.

It was the finest of all possible Whit Mondays, and down the village street stood a row of nearly a dozen booths, a shooting gallery, and on the grass by the forge were three yellow and chocolate waggons and some picturesque strangers of both sexes putting up a cocoanut shy. The gentlemen wore blue jerseys, the ladies white aprons and quite fashionable hats with heavy plumes. Wodger, of the “Purple Fawn,” and Mr. Jaggers, the cobbler, who also sold old second-hand ordinary bicycles, were stretching a string of union-jacks and royal ensigns (which had originally celebrated the first Victorian Jubilee) across the road.

It was the finest Whit Monday imaginable. Nearly a dozen booths and a shooting gallery stood along the village street. On the grass by the forge were three yellow and chocolate wagons. Some colorful strangers, both men and women, were setting up a coconut shy. The men wore blue jerseys. The women wore white aprons and quite fashionable hats with heavy plumes. Wodger, of the “Purple Fawn,” and Mr. Jaggers, the cobbler, were stretching a string of Union Jacks and royal flags across the road. Mr. Jaggers also sold old secondhand ordinary bicycles. The flags had originally been used to celebrate Queen Victoria’s first Jubilee.

And inside, in the artificial darkness of the parlour, into which only one thin jet of sunlight penetrated, the stranger, hungry we must suppose, and fearful, hidden in his uncomfortable hot wrappings, pored through his dark glasses upon his paper or chinked his dirty little bottles, and occasionally swore savagely at the boys, audible if invisible, outside the windows. In the corner by the fireplace lay the fragments of half a dozen smashed bottles, and a pungent twang of chlorine tainted the air. So much we know from what was heard at the time and from what was subsequently seen in the room.

Inside the artificially darkened parlour, only one thin beam of sunlight came through. The stranger, who was presumably hungry and afraid, was hidden in his uncomfortable, hot wrappings. He studied his papers through his dark glasses or clinked his dirty little bottles. Now and then, he swore savagely at the boys outside the windows. They could be heard but not seen. In the corner by the fireplace lay the pieces of half a dozen smashed bottles. A sharp smell of chlorine tainted the air. We know this much from what people heard at the time and what they later saw in the room.

About noon he suddenly opened his parlour door and stood glaring fixedly at the three or four people in the bar. “Mrs. Hall,” he said. Somebody went sheepishly and called for Mrs. Hall.

Around noon, he suddenly opened his sitting room door. He stood there, glaring at the three or four people in the bar. “Mrs. Hall,” he said. Someone went sheepishly to call Mrs. Hall.

Mrs. Hall appeared after an interval, a little short of breath, but all the fiercer for that. Hall was still out. She had deliberated over this scene, and she came holding a little tray with an unsettled bill upon it. “Is it your bill you’re wanting, sir?” she said.

Mrs. Hall appeared after a while, a little out of breath but fiercer than ever. Hall was still out. She had thought over this encounter and came in carrying a small tray with an unpaid bill on it. “Is it your bill you’re wanting, sir?” she said.

“Why wasn’t my breakfast laid? Why haven’t you prepared my meals and answered my bell? Do you think I live without eating?”

“Why wasn’t my breakfast set out? Why haven’t you prepared my meals and answered my bell? Do you think I can live without eating?”

“Why isn’t my bill paid?” said Mrs. Hall. “That’s what I want to know.”

“Why hasn’t my bill been paid?” said Mrs. Hall. “That’s what I want to know.”

“I told you three days ago I was awaiting a remittance—”

“I told you three days ago I was waiting for money to be sent to me...”

“I told you two days ago I wasn’t going to await no remittances. You can’t grumble if your breakfast waits a bit, if my bill’s been waiting these five days, can you?”

“I told you two days ago I wasn’t going to wait for any money. You can’t complain if your breakfast is a little late when my bill has been unpaid for five days, can you?”

The stranger swore briefly but vividly.

The stranger cursed briefly but colorfully.

“Nar, nar!” from the bar.

“No, no!” came from the bar.

“And I’d thank you kindly, sir, if you’d keep your swearing to yourself, sir,” said Mrs. Hall.

“And I’d appreciate it, sir, if you’d keep your swearing to yourself,” said Mrs. Hall.

The stranger stood looking more like an angry diving-helmet than ever. It was universally felt in the bar that Mrs. Hall had the better of him. His next words showed as much.

The stranger stood there, looking more like an angry diving helmet than ever. Everyone in the bar felt that Mrs. Hall had gotten the better of him. His next words showed they were right.

“Look here, my good woman—” he began.

“Look here, ma’am,” he began.

“Don’t ‘good woman’ me,” said Mrs. Hall.

“Don’t ‘good woman’ me,” said Mrs. Hall.

“I’ve told you my remittance hasn’t come.”

“I’ve told you the money I’m expecting hasn’t arrived.”

“Remittance indeed!” said Mrs. Hall.

“Money, indeed!” said Mrs. Hall.

“Still, I daresay in my pocket—”

“Still, I suppose in my pocket...”

“You told me three days ago that you hadn’t anything but a sovereign’s worth of silver upon you.”

“Three days ago, you told me you only had a sovereign’s worth of silver coins on you.”

“Well, I’ve found some more—”

“Well, I’ve found some more...”

“’Ul-lo!” from the bar.

“Hello!” from the bar.

“I wonder where you found it,” said Mrs. Hall.

“I wonder where you found it,” said Mrs. Hall.

That seemed to annoy the stranger very much. He stamped his foot. “What do you mean?” he said.

That seemed to annoy the stranger very much. He stamped his foot. “What do you mean?” he said.

“That I wonder where you found it,” said Mrs. Hall. “And before I take any bills or get any breakfasts, or do any such things whatsoever, you got to tell me one or two things I don’t understand, and what nobody don’t understand, and what everybody is very anxious to understand. I want to know what you been doing t’my chair upstairs, and I want to know how ’tis your room was empty, and how you got in again. Them as stops in this house comes in by the doors—that’s the rule of the house, and that you didn’t do, and what I want to know is how you did come in. And I want to know—”

“That I wonder where you found it,” said Mrs. Hall. “And before I take any bills or get any breakfasts, or do anything like that, you got to tell me one or two things I don’t understand. Nobody understands them, and everybody is very anxious to understand. I want to know what you been doing to my chair upstairs. And I want to know how your room was empty, and how you got in again. Those who stay in this house come in by the doors. That’s the rule of the house, and you didn’t do that. I want to know how you did come in. And I want to know.”

Suddenly the stranger raised his gloved hands clenched, stamped his foot, and said, “Stop!” with such extraordinary violence that he silenced her instantly.

Suddenly, the stranger raised his clenched, gloved hands and stamped his foot. “Stop!” he said so violently that she fell silent at once.

“You don’t understand,” he said, “who I am or what I am. I’ll show you. By Heaven! I’ll show you.” Then he put his open palm over his face and withdrew it. The centre of his face became a black cavity. “Here,” he said. He stepped forward and handed Mrs. Hall something which she, staring at his metamorphosed face, accepted automatically. Then, when she saw what it was, she screamed loudly, dropped it, and staggered back. The nose—it was the stranger’s nose! pink and shining—rolled on the floor.

“You don’t understand,” he said, “who I am or what I am. I’ll show you. By Heaven! I’ll show you.” Then he placed his open palm over his face and pulled it away. The center of his face was now a black hole. “Here,” he said. He stepped forward and handed Mrs. Hall something. She was staring at his changed face and took it without thinking. Then she saw what it was. She screamed loudly, dropped it, and staggered back. The nose rolled on the floor. It was the stranger’s nose, pink and shiny!

Then he removed his spectacles, and everyone in the bar gasped. He took off his hat, and with a violent gesture tore at his whiskers and bandages. For a moment they resisted him. A flash of horrible anticipation passed through the bar. “Oh, my Gard!” said some one. Then off they came.

Then he took off his glasses, and everyone in the bar gasped. He took off his hat and violently tugged at his whiskers and bandages. For a moment, they would not come off. A flash of horrified anticipation swept through the bar. “Oh, my God!” someone said. Then they came off.

It was worse than anything. Mrs. Hall, standing open-mouthed and horror-struck, shrieked at what she saw, and made for the door of the house. Everyone began to move. They were prepared for scars, disfigurements, tangible horrors, but nothing! The bandages and false hair flew across the passage into the bar, making a hobbledehoy jump to avoid them. Everyone tumbled on everyone else down the steps. For the man who stood there shouting some incoherent explanation, was a solid gesticulating figure up to the coat-collar of him, and then—nothingness, no visible thing at all!

It was worse than anything. Mrs. Hall stood open-mouthed and horrified. She shrieked at what she saw and ran toward the house door. Everyone began to move. They had been prepared for scars, disfigurements, horrors they could touch, but nothing! The bandages and false hair flew across the passage into the bar, making a young man jump out of their way. Everyone tumbled over everyone else down the steps. The man stood there shouting a confused explanation. His body was solid up to his coat collar, and he was waving his arms. But above the collar there was nothing, nothing visible at all!

People down the village heard shouts and shrieks, and looking up the street saw the “Coach and Horses” violently firing out its humanity. They saw Mrs. Hall fall down and Mr. Teddy Henfrey jump to avoid tumbling over her, and then they heard the frightful screams of Millie, who, emerging suddenly from the kitchen at the noise of the tumult, had come upon the headless stranger from behind. These increased suddenly.

People farther down the village heard shouts and shrieks. Looking up the street, they saw the “Coach and Horses” violently throwing its people out. They saw Mrs. Hall fall and Mr. Teddy Henfrey jump to avoid falling over her. Then they heard Millie’s terrifying screams. Hearing the commotion, she had suddenly come out of the kitchen and found the headless stranger from behind. Her screams suddenly grew louder.

Forthwith everyone all down the street, the sweetstuff seller, cocoanut shy proprietor and his assistant, the swing man, little boys and girls, rustic dandies, smart wenches, smocked elders and aproned gipsies—began running towards the inn, and in a miraculously short space of time a crowd of perhaps forty people, and rapidly increasing, swayed and hooted and inquired and exclaimed and suggested, in front of Mrs. Hall’s establishment. Everyone seemed eager to talk at once, and the result was Babel. A small group supported Mrs. Hall, who was picked up in a state of collapse. There was a conference, and the incredible evidence of a vociferous eye-witness. “O Bogey!” “What’s he been doin’, then?” “Ain’t hurt the girl, ’as ’e?” “Run at en with a knife, I believe.” “No ’ed, I tell ye. I don’t mean no manner of speaking. I mean marn ’ithout a ’ed!” “Narnsense! ’tis some conjuring trick.” “Fetched off ’is wrapping, ’e did—”

Everyone down the street immediately began running towards the inn. There was the sweets seller, the coconut shy owner and his assistant, and the man who ran the swings. There were little boys and girls, well-dressed country men and women, older people in smocks, and gipsies in aprons. In a miraculously short time, perhaps forty people had gathered outside Mrs. Hall’s establishment, and the crowd was growing rapidly. They swayed and hooted, asking questions, exclaiming, and offering suggestions. Everyone seemed eager to talk at once, and the result was Babel. A small group supported Mrs. Hall, who had been picked up in a state of collapse. They discussed what had happened, and a loud eyewitness gave an unbelievable account. “O Bogey!” “What’s he been doing, then?” “Ain’t hurt the girl, has he?” “Run at him with a knife, I believe.” “No head, I tell you. I don’t mean no manner of speaking. I mean man without a head!” “Nonsense! ’Tis some conjuring trick.” “Fetched off his wrapping, he did...”

In its struggles to see in through the open door, the crowd formed itself into a straggling wedge, with the more adventurous apex nearest the inn. “He stood for a moment, I heerd the gal scream, and he turned. I saw her skirts whisk, and he went after her. Didn’t take ten seconds. Back he comes with a knife in uz hand and a loaf; stood just as if he was staring. Not a moment ago. Went in that there door. I tell ’e, ’e ain’t gart no ’ed at all. You just missed en—”

As the crowd struggled to see through the open door, it formed a loose wedge. The most adventurous people were at the point, nearest the inn. “He stood for a moment, I heard the girl scream, and he turned. I saw her skirts whisk, and he went after her. Didn’t take ten seconds. Back he comes with a knife in his hand and a loaf. Stood just as if he was staring. Not a moment ago. Went in that there door. I tell you, he ain’t got no head at all. You just missed him.”

There was a disturbance behind, and the speaker stopped to step aside for a little procession that was marching very resolutely towards the house; first Mr. Hall, very red and determined, then Mr. Bobby Jaffers, the village constable, and then the wary Mr. Wadgers. They had come now armed with a warrant.

There was a commotion behind them, and the speaker stopped and stepped aside. A small procession was marching determinedly toward the house. First came Mr. Hall, very red and determined, followed by Mr. Bobby Jaffers, the village constable, and then the wary Mr. Wadgers. They had now come with a warrant.

People shouted conflicting information of the recent circumstances. “’Ed or no ’ed,” said Jaffers, “I got to ’rest en, and ’rest en I will.”

People shouted conflicting accounts of what had just happened. “Head or no head,” said Jaffers, “I got to arrest him, and arrest him I will.”

Mr. Hall marched up the steps, marched straight to the door of the parlour and flung it open. “Constable,” he said, “do your duty.”

Mr. Hall marched up the steps and straight to the living room door. He flung it open. “Officer,” he said, “do your duty.”

Jaffers marched in. Hall next, Wadgers last. They saw in the dim light the headless figure facing them, with a gnawed crust of bread in one gloved hand and a chunk of cheese in the other.

Jaffers marched in, followed by Hall and then Wadgers. In the dim light, they saw the headless figure facing them. It held a partly eaten crust of bread in one gloved hand and a chunk of cheese in the other.

“That’s him!” said Hall.

“That’s him!” said Hall.

“What the devil’s this?” came in a tone of angry expostulation from above the collar of the figure.

“What the devil’s this?” an angry voice demanded from above the figure’s collar.

“You’re a damned rum customer, mister,” said Mr. Jaffers. “But ’ed or no ’ed, the warrant says ‘body,’ and duty’s duty—”

“You’re a damned strange fellow, mister,” said Mr. Jaffers. “But head or no head, the warrant says ‘body,’ and duty’s duty.”

“Keep off!” said the figure, starting back.

“Stay back!” said the figure, jumping back.

Abruptly he whipped down the bread and cheese, and Mr. Hall just grasped the knife on the table in time to save it. Off came the stranger’s left glove and was slapped in Jaffers’ face. In another moment Jaffers, cutting short some statement concerning a warrant, had gripped him by the handless wrist and caught his invisible throat. He got a sounding kick on the shin that made him shout, but he kept his grip. Hall sent the knife sliding along the table to Wadgers, who acted as goal-keeper for the offensive, so to speak, and then stepped forward as Jaffers and the stranger swayed and staggered towards him, clutching and hitting in. A chair stood in the way, and went aside with a crash as they came down together.

Suddenly, he slammed down the bread and cheese. Mr. Hall grabbed the knife on the table just in time to save it. The stranger pulled off his left glove and slapped Jaffers across the face with it. Jaffers had been saying something about a warrant, but he broke off and grabbed the stranger’s handless wrist and invisible throat. The stranger gave him a hard kick on the shin that made him shout, but Jaffers held on. Hall slid the knife along the table to Wadgers, who was acting as goalkeeper for the attack, so to speak. Then Hall stepped forward as Jaffers and the stranger staggered toward him, grappling and hitting each other. A chair stood in their way, and it crashed aside as they fell together.

“Get the feet,” said Jaffers between his teeth.

“Get the feet,” Jaffers said through clenched teeth.

Mr. Hall, endeavouring to act on instructions, received a sounding kick in the ribs that disposed of him for a moment, and Mr. Wadgers, seeing the decapitated stranger had rolled over and got the upper side of Jaffers, retreated towards the door, knife in hand, and so collided with Mr. Huxter and the Sidderbridge carter coming to the rescue of law and order. At the same moment down came three or four bottles from the chiffonnier and shot a web of pungency into the air of the room.

Mr. Hall tried to follow the instructions, but received a hard kick in the ribs that stopped him for a moment. Mr. Wadgers saw that the headless stranger had rolled over and gotten on top of Jaffers. Knife in hand, he backed toward the door. There he collided with Mr. Huxter and the Sidderbridge carter, who were coming to the rescue of law and order. At the same moment, three or four bottles fell from the cabinet, sending a web of pungent fumes into the room.

“I’ll surrender,” cried the stranger, though he had Jaffers down, and in another moment he stood up panting, a strange figure, headless and handless—for he had pulled off his right glove now as well as his left. “It’s no good,” he said, as if sobbing for breath.

“I’ll surrender,” cried the stranger, though he had Jaffers pinned down. A moment later, he stood up, panting. He was a strange figure, with no visible head or hands. He had now pulled off his right glove as well as his left. “It’s no good,” he said, as if sobbing for breath.

It was the strangest thing in the world to hear that voice coming as if out of empty space, but the Sussex peasants are perhaps the most matter-of-fact people under the sun. Jaffers got up also and produced a pair of handcuffs. Then he stared.

It was the strangest thing in the world to hear that voice coming as if from empty space. But the Sussex peasants are perhaps the most practical people in the world. Jaffers got up too and took out a pair of handcuffs. Then he stared.

“I say!” said Jaffers, brought up short by a dim realization of the incongruity of the whole business, “Darn it! Can’t use ’em as I can see.”

“I say!” said Jaffers. He stopped short as he began to realize how strange the whole business was. “Darn it! Can’t use them as I can see.”

The stranger ran his arm down his waistcoat, and as if by a miracle the buttons to which his empty sleeve pointed became undone. Then he said something about his shin, and stooped down. He seemed to be fumbling with his shoes and socks.

The stranger ran his arm down his vest. As if by a miracle, the buttons his empty sleeve pointed to came undone. Then he said something about his shin and bent down. He seemed to be fumbling with his shoes and socks.

“Why!” said Huxter, suddenly, “that’s not a man at all. It’s just empty clothes. Look! You can see down his collar and the linings of his clothes. I could put my arm—”

“Why!” Huxter said suddenly. “That’s not a man at all. It’s just empty clothes. Look! You can see down his collar and see the linings of his clothes. I could put my arm...”

He extended his hand; it seemed to meet something in mid-air, and he drew it back with a sharp exclamation. “I wish you’d keep your fingers out of my eye,” said the aerial voice, in a tone of savage expostulation. “The fact is, I’m all here—head, hands, legs, and all the rest of it, but it happens I’m invisible. It’s a confounded nuisance, but I am. That’s no reason why I should be poked to pieces by every stupid bumpkin in Iping, is it?”

He reached out his hand. It seemed to touch something in midair, and he pulled it back with a sharp cry. “I wish you’d keep your fingers out of my eye,” said the voice in the air, angrily. “The fact is, I’m all here: head, hands, legs, and everything else. But I happen to be invisible. It’s a damn nuisance, but I am. That’s no reason for every stupid country idiot in Iping to poke me to pieces, is it?”

The suit of clothes, now all unbuttoned and hanging loosely upon its unseen supports, stood up, arms akimbo.

The suit was now completely unbuttoned and hung loosely on its invisible supports. It stood with its hands on its hips.

Several other of the men folks had now entered the room, so that it was closely crowded. “Invisible, eh?” said Huxter, ignoring the stranger’s abuse. “Who ever heard the likes of that?”

Several other men had entered the room, so it was now packed. “Invisible, huh?” said Huxter, ignoring the stranger’s insults. “Who ever heard of such a thing?”

“It’s strange, perhaps, but it’s not a crime. Why am I assaulted by a policeman in this fashion?”

“It may be strange, but it’s not a crime. Why is a policeman attacking me like this?”

“Ah! that’s a different matter,” said Jaffers. “No doubt you are a bit difficult to see in this light, but I got a warrant and it’s all correct. What I’m after ain’t no invisibility,—it’s burglary. There’s a house been broke into and money took.”

“Ah! That’s a different matter,” said Jaffers. “No doubt you’re a bit hard to see in this light. But I got a warrant, and it’s all in order. What I’m after ain’t invisibility. It’s burglary. A house has been broken into and money taken.”

“Well?”

“Well?”

“And circumstances certainly point—”

“And the circumstances certainly suggest...”

“Stuff and nonsense!” said the Invisible Man.

“Nonsense!” said the Invisible Man.

“I hope so, sir; but I’ve got my instructions.”

“I hope so, sir, but I have my instructions.”

“Well,” said the stranger, “I’ll come. I’ll come. But no handcuffs.”

“Well,” said the stranger, “I’ll come. I’ll come. But no handcuffs.”

“It’s the regular thing,” said Jaffers.

“It’s the usual procedure,” said Jaffers.

“No handcuffs,” stipulated the stranger.

“No handcuffs,” the stranger insisted.

“Pardon me,” said Jaffers.

“Excuse me,” said Jaffers.

Abruptly the figure sat down, and before any one could realise was was being done, the slippers, socks, and trousers had been kicked off under the table. Then he sprang up again and flung off his coat.

Suddenly, the figure sat down. Before anyone could realize what he was doing, he kicked off his slippers, socks, and trousers under the table. Then he sprang up again and threw off his coat.

“Here, stop that,” said Jaffers, suddenly realising what was happening. He gripped at the waistcoat; it struggled, and the shirt slipped out of it and left it limp and empty in his hand. “Hold him!” said Jaffers, loudly. “Once he gets the things off—”

“Hey, stop that,” said Jaffers, suddenly realizing what was happening. He grabbed the waistcoat. It struggled, and the shirt slipped out of it, leaving the waistcoat limp and empty in his hand. “Hold him!” Jaffers shouted. “Once he gets his clothes off...”

“Hold him!” cried everyone, and there was a rush at the fluttering white shirt which was now all that was visible of the stranger.

“Hold him!” everyone shouted. They rushed at the fluttering white shirt. It was now all they could see of the stranger.

The shirt-sleeve planted a shrewd blow in Hall’s face that stopped his open-armed advance, and sent him backward into old Toothsome the sexton, and in another moment the garment was lifted up and became convulsed and vacantly flapping about the arms, even as a shirt that is being thrust over a man’s head. Jaffers clutched at it, and only helped to pull it off; he was struck in the mouth out of the air, and incontinently threw his truncheon and smote Teddy Henfrey savagely upon the crown of his head.

The shirt sleeve landed a sharp blow on Hall’s face, stopping him as he advanced with open arms. It sent him backward into old Toothsome the sexton. A moment later, the shirt lifted and twisted, flapping emptily around the arms as if being pulled over a man’s head. Jaffers grabbed it, but only helped pull it off. He was struck in the mouth by a blow out of thin air. He immediately threw his truncheon and struck Teddy Henfrey savagely on top of the head.

“Look out!” said everybody, fencing at random and hitting at nothing. “Hold him! Shut the door! Don’t let him loose! I got something! Here he is!” A perfect Babel of noises they made. Everybody, it seemed, was being hit all at once, and Sandy Wadgers, knowing as ever and his wits sharpened by a frightful blow in the nose, reopened the door and led the rout. The others, following incontinently, were jammed for a moment in the corner by the doorway. The hitting continued. Phipps, the Unitarian, had a front tooth broken, and Henfrey was injured in the cartilage of his ear. Jaffers was struck under the jaw, and, turning, caught at something that intervened between him and Huxter in the mêlée, and prevented their coming together. He felt a muscular chest, and in another moment the whole mass of struggling, excited men shot out into the crowded hall.

“Watch out!” everyone shouted, swinging wildly and hitting nothing. “Hold him! Shut the door! Don’t let him loose! I got something! Here he is!” They made a complete uproar. Everyone seemed to be getting hit at once. Sandy Wadgers, as quick-witted as ever, was made even sharper by a terrible blow to the nose. He reopened the door and led the retreat. The others rushed after him and were briefly jammed together in the corner by the doorway. The hitting continued. Phipps, the Unitarian, had a front tooth broken, and Henfrey’s ear cartilage was injured. Jaffers was struck under the jaw. He turned and grabbed at something between him and Huxter in the chaos. It was keeping the two men from reaching each other. He felt a muscular chest, and a moment later the whole mass of struggling, excited men shot out into the crowded hall.

“I got him!” shouted Jaffers, choking and reeling through them all, and wrestling with purple face and swelling veins against his unseen enemy.

“I got him!” shouted Jaffers. He choked and staggered through the crowd, wrestling with his unseen enemy. His face was purple and his veins bulged.

Men staggered right and left as the extraordinary conflict swayed swiftly towards the house door, and went spinning down the half-dozen steps of the inn. Jaffers cried in a strangled voice—holding tight, nevertheless, and making play with his knee—spun around, and fell heavily undermost with his head on the gravel. Only then did his fingers relax.

Men staggered to either side as the extraordinary struggle moved swiftly toward the inn door. The fighters tumbled down the six steps. Jaffers cried out in a strangled voice. Still holding on tightly and using his knee, he spun around and fell heavily underneath, his head hitting the gravel. Only then did his fingers loosen their grip.

There were excited cries of “Hold him!” “Invisible!” and so forth, and a young fellow, a stranger in the place whose name did not come to light, rushed in at once, caught something, missed his hold, and fell over the constable’s prostrate body. Half-way across the road a woman screamed as something pushed by her; a dog, kicked apparently, yelped and ran howling into Huxter’s yard, and with that the transit of the Invisible Man was accomplished. For a space people stood amazed and gesticulating, and then came panic, and scattered them abroad through the village as a gust scatters dead leaves.

There were excited cries of “Hold him!” “Invisible!” and so on. A young man, a stranger whose name was never discovered, rushed in at once. He caught something, but lost his grip and fell over the constable, who was lying on the ground. Halfway across the road, a woman screamed as something pushed past her. A dog, apparently kicked, yelped and ran howling into Huxter’s yard. With that, the Invisible Man had passed through. For a while, people stood amazed and gesturing. Then panic broke out and scattered them through the village, as a gust scatters dead leaves.

But Jaffers lay quite still, face upward and knees bent, at the foot of the steps of the inn.

But Jaffers lay completely still at the bottom of the inn steps, face up and knees bent.