hard now , because my impressions were corrected by subsequent observation First of all impressions was its enormous size; the girth body was some fourscore feet, its length perhaps two hundred Its sides rose and fell with its laboured breathing I perceived that its gigantic, flabby body lay along the ground, its skin was of corrugated white, dappling into blackness along the backbone But feet we saw nothing also that we saw then the profile almost brainless head, with its fat-encumbered neck, its slobbering omnivorous mouth, its little nostrils, and tight shut eyes ( mooncalf invariably shuts its eyes presence sun ) We had glimpse of vast red pit as it opened its mouth to bleat and bellow again; we had breath pit, and then the monster heeled over like ship, dragged forward along the ground, creasing all its leathery skin, rolled again, and so wallowed past us, smashing path amidst the scrub, and was speedily hidden eyes dense interlacings beyond Another appeared more distantly, and then another, and then, guiding these animated lumps of provender pasture, Selenite came momentarily into ken My grip upon Cavor's foot became convulsive sight of him, and we remained motionless and peering long after he had passed out range

By contrast mooncalves trivial being, mere ant, scarcely five feet high , wearing garments of some leathery substance, no portion actual body appeared, but , , we were entirely ignorant He presented himself, therefore, as compact, bristling creature, having much quality of complicated insect, with whip-like tentacles and clanging arm projecting shining cylindrical body case The form head was hidden by his enormous many-spiked helmet - we discovered afterwards that he used the spikes for prodding refractory mooncalves - and pair of goggles of darkened glass, set side, gave bird-like quality metallic apparatus that covered his face His arms project beyond his body case, and he carried himself upon short legs that, wrapped though they were in warm coverings, seemed to our terrestrial eyes inordinately flimsy They had very short thighs, very long shanks, and little feet

heavy-looking clothing, progressing with what , terrestrial point of view, very considerable strides, clanging arm was busy The quality motion during the instant passing suggested haste and certain anger, and soon after we had lost sight of him we heard the bellow of mooncalf change abruptly into short, sharp squeal followed scuffle acceleration And gradually that bellowing receded, and then came to an end, as pastures sought attained

We listened For space the moon world was still But before we resumed our crawling search vanished sphere

When next we saw mooncalves they were some little distance away in place of tumbled rocks The less vertical surfaces rocks were thick with speckled green plant growing in dense mossy clumps, these creatures were browsing We stopped edge reeds amidst which we were crawling sight , peering out at then and looking round for second glimpse of Selenite They lay against their food like stupendous slugs, huge, greasy hulls, eating greedily and noisily, with sort of sobbing avidity They seemed monsters of mere fatness, clumsy and overwhelmed to degree make Smithfield ox seem model of agility Their busy, writhing, chewing mouths, and eyes closed, together appetising sound munching, made up an effect of animal enjoyment that was singularly stimulating to our empty frames

"Hogs ! " said Cavor, with unusual passion "Dis- gusting hogs ! " and after one glare of angry envy crawled off bushes to our right I stayed long enough speckled plant was quite hopeless for human nourishment, then crawled after him, nibbling quill of it between my teeth

Presently we were arrested again proximity of Selenite, and we were able to observe him more exactly Now we Selenite covering was indeed clothing, and not sort of crustacean integument quite similar costume former one we had glimpsed, except that ends of something like wadding were protruding front his neck, and he stood on promontory of rock and moved his head , surveying the crater We lay quite still, fearing to attract his attention moved, and after time he turned about and disappeared

We came upon another drove of mooncalves bellowing up ravine, and then we passed over place of sounds, sounds of beating machinery some huge hall of industry came near the surface there And while these sounds were still about us we came edge of great open space, perhaps two hundred yards in diameter, and perfectly level Save for few lichens that advanced from its margin this space was bare, and presented powdery surface of dusty yellow colour We were afraid to strike out across this space, but as it presented less obstruction to our crawling scrub, we went down upon it and began very circumspectly to skirt its edge

For little while the noises from below ceased and everything, save faint stir growing vegetation, was very still Then abruptly there began an uproar, louder, more vehement, and nearer than any we had heard Of certainty it came from below Instinctively we crouched as flat as , ready for prompt plunge thicket beside us Each knock and throb seemed to vibrate through our bodies Louder grew this throbbing and beating, irregular vibration increased until the whole moon world seemed jerking and pulsing

"Cover," whispered Cavor, and I turned towards the bushes

instant came thud like the thud of gun, and then thing happened - it still haunts me in my dreams I had turned my head to look at Cavor's face, and thrust out my hand in front of me as I so And my hand met nothing ! Plunged suddenly into bottomless hole !

My chest hit something hard, and myself with my chin edge of an unfathomable abyss that had suddenly opened beneath me, my hand extended stiffly void The whole flat circular area was no more than gigantic lid, that was now sliding sideways from off the pit it had covered into slot prepared

Had it not been for Cavor remained rigid, hanging over this margin and staring enormous gulf below, until at last the edges slot scraped me off and hurled me into its depths But Cavor received the shock that had paralysed me He little distance edge lid had first opened, and perceiving the peril that held me helpless, gripped my legs and pulled me backward into sitting position, crawled away edge for space on all fours, then staggered up and ran after him across the thundering, quivering sheet of metal It seemed swinging open with steadily accelerated velocity, bushes in front of me shifted sideways as I ran

none too soon Cavor's back vanished amidst the bristling thicket, and as I scrambled up after him, the monstrous valve came into its position with clang we lay panting, not daring to approach the pit

But at last very cautiously and bit by bit we crept into position peer down The bushes about us creaked and waved force of breeze that was blowing down the shaft We nothing at first except smooth vertical walls descending at last into an impenetrable black And then very gradually we became aware of number of very faint and little lights going to and fro

For time that stupendous gulf of mystery held us we forgot even our sphere , grew more accustomed darkness, make out , dim, elusive shapes moving about among those needle-point illuminations We peered amazed and incredulous, understanding so little that find no words distinguish nothing clue meaning faint shapes we saw

"What can it be ? " I asked; "what can it be ? "

"The engineering ! . live caverns during the night, and come out during the day "

"Cavor ! " "Can they be - that - something like -, men ? "

"That was not man "

"We dare risk nothing"

"We dare do nothing until the sphere ! "

" do nothing until the sphere "

He assented with groan and stirred himself to move He stared about him for space, sighed, and indicated direction We struck out jungle For time we crawled resolutely, then with diminishing vigour Presently among great shapes of flabby purple there came noise of trampling and cries about us We lay close, and the sounds went to and fro and very near But we saw nothing I tried to whisper to Cavor that hardly go without food much longer, but my mouth had become too dry for whispering

"Cavor," , " food "

He turned face full of dismay towards me "It's case for holding out,"

"But ," , "and look at my lips ! "

"I've been thirsty "