Война миров

           Atthatthecaptainonthebridgesworeatthetopofhisvoicewithfearandangerathisowndelay,andthepaddlesseemedinfectedwithhisterror. Everysoulaboardstoodatthebulwarksorontheseatsofthesteamerandstaredatthatdistantshape,higherthanthetreesorchurchtowersinland,andadvancingwithaleisurelyparodyofahumanstride. 

           ItwasthefirstMartianmybrotherhadseen,andhestood,moreamazedthanterrified,watchingthisTitanadvancingdeliberatelytowardstheshipping,wadingfartherandfartherintothewaterasthecoastfellaway. Then,farawaybeyondtheCrouch,cameanother,stridingoversomestuntedtrees,andthenyetanother,stillfartheroff,wadingdeeplythroughashinymudflatthatseemedtohanghalfwayupbetweenseaandsky. Theywereallstalkingseaward,asiftointercepttheescapeofthemultitudinousvesselsthatwerecrowdedbetweenFoulnessandtheNaze. Inspiteofthethrobbingexertionsoftheenginesofthelittlepaddle-boat,andthepouringfoamthatherwheelsflungbehindher,sherecededwithterrifyingslownessfromthisominousadvance. 

           Glancingnorthwestward,mybrothersawthelargecrescentofshippingalreadywrithingwiththeapproachingterror; oneshippassingbehindanother,anothercomingroundfrombroadsidetoendon,steamshipswhistlingandgivingoffvolumesofsteam,sailsbeingletout,launchesrushinghitherandthither. Hewassofascinatedbythisandbythecreepingdangerawaytotheleftthathehadnoeyesforanythingseaward. Andthenaswiftmovementofthesteamboat(shehadsuddenlycomeroundtoavoidbeingrundown)flunghimheadlongfromtheseatuponwhichhewasstanding. Therewasashoutingallabouthim,atramplingoffeet,andacheerthatseemedtobeansweredfaintly. Thesteamboatlurchedandrolledhimoveruponhishands.