The Hunt for the Invisible Man

For a space Kemp was too inarticulate to make Adye understand the swift things that had just happened. They stood on the landing, Kemp speaking swiftly, the grotesque swathings of Griffin still on his arm. But presently Adye began to grasp something of the situation.

For a while, Kemp could not find the words to tell Adye what had just happened so quickly. They stood on the landing while Kemp spoke rapidly, Griffin’s grotesque wrappings still on his arm. But soon Adye began to understand something of the situation.

“He is mad,” said Kemp; “inhuman. He is pure selfishness. He thinks of nothing but his own advantage, his own safety. I have listened to such a story this morning of brutal self-seeking.... He has wounded men. He will kill them unless we can prevent him. He will create a panic. Nothing can stop him. He is going out now—furious!”

“He’s mad,” said Kemp. “He’s inhuman. He’s completely selfish. He thinks only of his own advantage and safety. This morning I heard a story of brutal selfishness.... He has wounded men. He will kill them unless we can stop him. He will cause a panic. Nothing can stop him. He’s going out now, furious!”

“He must be caught,” said Adye. “That is certain.”

“He must be caught,” said Adye. “That is certain.”

“But how?” cried Kemp, and suddenly became full of ideas. “You must begin at once. You must set every available man to work; you must prevent his leaving this district. Once he gets away, he may go through the countryside as he wills, killing and maiming. He dreams of a reign of terror! A reign of terror, I tell you. You must set a watch on trains and roads and shipping. The garrison must help. You must wire for help. The only thing that may keep him here is the thought of recovering some books of notes he counts of value. I will tell you of that! There is a man in your police station—Marvel.”

“But how?” cried Kemp, suddenly bursting with ideas. “You must start at once. You must put every available man to work. You must stop him from leaving this district. Once he gets away, he may roam the countryside as he pleases, killing and maiming. He dreams of a reign of terror! A reign of terror, I tell you. You must keep watch on trains, roads, and ships. The garrison must help. You must send for help by telegraph. Only the thought of recovering some notebooks he values may keep him here. I will tell you about them! There is a man in your police station named Marvel.”

“I know,” said Adye, “I know. Those books—yes. But the tramp....”

“I know,” said Adye. “I know. Those books, yes. But the tramp....”

“Says he hasn’t them. But he thinks the tramp has. And you must prevent him from eating or sleeping; day and night the country must be astir for him. Food must be locked up and secured, all food, so that he will have to break his way to it. The houses everywhere must be barred against him. Heaven send us cold nights and rain! The whole country-side must begin hunting and keep hunting. I tell you, Adye, he is a danger, a disaster; unless he is pinned and secured, it is frightful to think of the things that may happen.”

“He says he doesn’t have them. But he thinks the tramp does. You must prevent him from eating or sleeping. The whole countryside must be on the alert for him, day and night. All food must be locked up and secured, so that he has to break in to get it. Every house must be barred against him. Heaven send us cold nights and rain! The whole countryside must start hunting and keep hunting. I tell you, Adye, he is a danger, a disaster. Unless he is caught and secured, it is frightening to think what might happen.”

“What else can we do?” said Adye. “I must go down at once and begin organising. But why not come? Yes—you come too! Come, and we must hold a sort of council of war—get Hopps to help—and the railway managers. By Jove! it’s urgent. Come along—tell me as we go. What else is there we can do? Put that stuff down.”

“What else can we do?” said Adye. “I must go down at once and start organizing. But why don’t you come? Yes, you come too! We need to hold a sort of war council and get Hopps and the railway managers to help. Good Lord, it’s urgent. Come along and tell me as we go. What else can we do? Put that stuff down.”

In another moment Adye was leading the way downstairs. They found the front door open and the policemen standing outside staring at empty air. “He’s got away, sir,” said one.

A moment later, Adye led the way downstairs. They found the front door open. The policemen stood outside, staring at empty air. “He got away, sir,” said one.

“We must go to the central station at once,” said Adye. “One of you go on down and get a cab to come up and meet us—quickly. And now, Kemp, what else?”

“We need to go to the central station right away,” said Adye. “One of you go down and get a cab to come up and meet us. Quickly. Now, Kemp, what else?”

“Dogs,” said Kemp. “Get dogs. They don’t see him, but they wind him. Get dogs.”

“Dogs,” said Kemp. “Get dogs. They can’t see him, but they can smell him. Get dogs.”

“Good,” said Adye. “It’s not generally known, but the prison officials over at Halstead know a man with bloodhounds. Dogs. What else?”

“Good,” said Adye. “It’s not widely known, but the prison officials at Halstead know a man with bloodhounds. Dogs. What else?”

“Bear in mind,” said Kemp, “his food shows. After eating, his food shows until it is assimilated. So that he has to hide after eating. You must keep on beating. Every thicket, every quiet corner. And put all weapons—all implements that might be weapons, away. He can’t carry such things for long. And what he can snatch up and strike men with must be hidden away.”

“Remember,” said Kemp, “his food is visible. After he eats, the food remains visible until his body absorbs it. So he has to hide after eating. You must keep searching. Search every thicket and every quiet corner. And put away all weapons and anything that could be used as a weapon. He can’t carry such things for long. Anything he could grab and use to strike people must be hidden away.”

“Good again,” said Adye. “We shall have him yet!”

“Good, again,” said Adye. “We'll catch him yet!”

“And on the roads,” said Kemp, and hesitated.

“And on the roads,” Kemp said, then hesitated.

“Yes?” said Adye.

“Yes?” said Adye.

“Powdered glass,” said Kemp. “It’s cruel, I know. But think of what he may do!”

“Powdered glass,” said Kemp. “I know it’s cruel. But think of what he may do!”

Adye drew the air in sharply between his teeth. “It’s unsportsmanlike. I don’t know. But I’ll have powdered glass got ready. If he goes too far....”

Adye drew in a sharp breath through his teeth. “It’s unsportsmanlike. I don’t know. But I’ll have powdered glass made ready. If he goes too far....”

“The man’s become inhuman, I tell you,” said Kemp. “I am as sure he will establish a reign of terror—so soon as he has got over the emotions of this escape—as I am sure I am talking to you. Our only chance is to be ahead. He has cut himself off from his kind. His blood be upon his own head.”

“The man has become inhuman, I tell you,” said Kemp. “Once he has recovered from the emotions of his escape, he will establish a reign of terror. I’m as sure of that as I am that I’m talking to you. Our only chance is to get ahead of him. He has cut himself off from other people. Whatever happens to him is his own fault.”