by H G Wells

I

Until the extraordinary affair at Sidmouth, the peculiar species _Haploteuthis ferox was known to science only generically, strength of half-digested tentacle obtained near the Azores, and decaying body pecked by birds and nibbled by fish, found early in 1896 Jennings, near Land's End

In no department of zoological science, indeed, are we quite dark as with regard deep-sea cephalopods mere accident, for instance, it led Prince of Monaco's discovery of nearly dozen new forms summer of 1895, discovery before-mentioned tentacle was included It chanced that cachalot was killed off Terceira by some sperm whalers, and in its last struggles charged almost Prince's yacht, missed it, rolled under, and died within twenty yards rudder And in its agony it threw up number of large objects, which the Prince, dimly perceiving they were strange and important, was, by happy expedient, able to secure sank He set his screws in motion, and kept them circling vortices thus created until boat lowered And these specimens were whole cephalopods and fragments of cephalopods, some of gigantic proportions, and almost all unknown to science !

It would seem, indeed, large and agile creatures, living middle depths sea, must, to large extent, for ever remain unknown , since under water too nimble for nets, and only by such rare, unlooked-for accidents that specimens obtained case of Haploteuthis ferox_, for instance, still altogether ignorant habitat, as ignorant breeding-ground herring or the sea-ways salmon And zoologists are altogether at loss to account for its sudden appearance coast Possibly it stress of hunger migration that drove it hither deep But , perhaps, better to avoid necessarily inconclusive discussion, and at once narrative

The first human being to set eyes upon living Haploteuthis_--the first human being to survive, , for there little doubt now wave of bathing fatalities and boating accidents that travelled along the coast of Cornwall and Devon in early May was due cause--was retired tea-dealer name of Fison, who was stopping at Sidmouth boarding-house afternoon, and walking along the cliff path between Sidmouth and Ladram Bay The cliffs direction are very high, but down the red face in one place kind of ladder staircase made near this when his attention was attracted by what at first he thought cluster of birds struggling over fragment of food that caught the sunlight, and glistened pinkish-white The tide was right out, and this object was far below him, but remote across broad waste of rock reefs covered with dark seaweed and interspersed with silvery shining tidal pools And , moreover, dazzled brightness further water

In minute, regarding this again, he perceived that his judgment was in fault, for over this struggle circled number of birds, jackdaws and gulls most part, the latter gleaming blindingly sunlight smote their wings, seemed minute in comparison with it curiosity was, perhaps, aroused all the more strongly because first insufficient explanations

As he had nothing better than amuse himself, he decided this object, whatever , the goal afternoon walk, instead of Ladram Bay, conceiving it might perhaps be great fish of some sort, stranded by some chance, and flapping about in its distress And so he hurried down the long steep ladder, stopping at intervals of thirty feet or so breath and scan the mysterious movement

foot cliff , , nearer his object than he ; but, other hand, it now came up against the incandescent sky, beneath the sun, so seem dark and indistinct Whatever was pinkish of now hidden by skerry of weedy boulders But he perceived made up of seven rounded bodies distinct or connected, and birds kept up constant croaking and screaming, but seemed afraid to approach it too closely

Mr Fison, torn by curiosity, began picking his way across the wave-worn rocks, and finding the wet seaweed that covered them thickly rendered them extremely slippery, he stopped, removed his shoes and socks, and rolled his trousers above his knees His object was, , merely to avoid stumbling rocky pools about him, and perhaps rather glad, as all men are, of an excuse to resume, even for moment, the sensations boyhood At any rate, , , that he owes his life

He approached his mark with all the assurance which the absolute security country against all forms of animal life gives its inhabitants The round bodies moved to and fro, but only when he surmounted the skerry of boulders mentioned that he realised the horrible nature discovery It came upon him with some suddenness

The rounded bodies fell apart as into sight over the ridge, and displayed the pinkish object the partially devoured body of human being, but whether of man or woman unable rounded bodies were new and ghastly-looking creatures, in shape somewhat resembling an octopus, with huge and very long and flexible tentacles, coiled copiously ground The skin had glistening texture, unpleasant , like shiny leather The downward bend tentacle-surrounded mouth, the curious excrescence bend, the tentacles, large intelligent eyes, gave the creatures grotesque suggestion of face They were the size of fair-sized swine body, tentacles seemed to him many feet in length There were, he thinks, seven or eight creatures Twenty yards beyond them, amid the surf now returning tide, two others were emerging sea

Their bodies lay flatly rocks, and their eyes regarded him with evil interest; but it appear that Mr Fison was afraid, or that he realised that in any danger Possibly his confidence ascribed limpness attitudes But horrified, , and intensely excited and indignant, at such revolting creatures preying upon human flesh He thought they had chanced upon drowned body He shouted , idea of driving them off, and finding budge, cast about him, picked up big rounded lump of rock, and flung it at one

And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him--creeping at first deliberately, and making soft purring sound to

In moment Mr Fison realised that in danger He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with leap, forthwith Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and behold ! the tentacles leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge he had just been standing !

he shouted again, but not threatening, but cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him beach The tall red cliffs seemed suddenly at vast distance, and , they were creatures in another world, two minute workmen engaged repair ladder-way, and little suspecting the race for life that was beginning below them At hear the creatures splashing pools not dozen feet behind him, and once he slipped and almost fell

They chased him very foot cliffs, and desisted only when he joined workmen foot ladder-way up the cliff All three men pelted them with stones for time, and then hurried cliff top and along the path towards Sidmouth, to secure assistance and boat, and to rescue the desecrated body clutches abominable creatures

II

And, he already been in sufficient peril that day, Mr Fison went boat to point out the exact spot adventure

tide was down, it required considerable detour to reach the spot, and when at last they came off the ladder-way, the mangled body had disappeared The water was now running in, submerging first one slab of slimy rock and then another, four men boat--the workmen, , the boatman, and Mr Fison--now turned their attention bearings off shore water beneath the keel

At first see little below them, save dark jungle of laminaria, with an occasional darting fish Their minds were set on adventure, expressed their disappointment freely But presently they saw monsters swimming water seaward, with curious rolling motion that suggested to Mr Fison the spinning roll of captive balloon Almost immediately after, the waving streamers of laminaria were extraordinarily perturbed, parted for moment, and three beasts became darkly visible, struggling for probably some fragment drowned man In moment the copious olive-green ribbons had poured again over this writhing group

all four men, greatly excited, began beating the water with oars and shouting, and immediately they saw tumultuous movement weeds They desisted more clearly, and water was smooth, they saw, as it seemed , the whole sea bottom weeds set with eyes

"Ugly swine ! " cried men "Why, there's dozens ! "

And forthwith the things began to rise water Mr Fison has since described writer this startling eruption waving laminaria meadows To him it seemed to occupy considerable time, but probable that really an affair of few seconds only For time nothing but eyes, and then he speaks of tentacles streaming out and parting the weed fronds Then these things, growing larger, until at last the bottom was hidden by their intercoiling forms, tips of tentacles rose darkly here and there air above the swell waters

One came up boldly side boat, and clinging with three sucker-set tentacles, threw four others over the gunwale, with an intention either of oversetting the boat or of clambering Mr Fison at once caught up the boat-hook, and, jabbing furiously soft tentacles, forced it to desist struck back and almost pitched overboard boatman, who was using his oar to resist similar attack other side boat But the tentacles on either side at once relaxed their hold, slid out of sight, and splashed water

"We'd better get out ," said Mr Fison, who was trembling violently He went tiller, while the boatman and workmen seated themselves and began rowing The other workman stood up fore part boat, boat-hook, ready to strike any more tentacles that might appear Nothing else seems said Mr Fison had expressed the common feeling beyond amendment In hushed, scared mood, with faces white and drawn, they set about escaping position into which they had so recklessly blundered