The cylinder opens

           WhenIreturnedtothecommonthesunwassetting. ScatteredgroupswerehurryingfromthedirectionofWoking,andoneortwopersonswerereturning. Thecrowdaboutthepithadincreased,andstoodoutblackagainstthelemonyellowofthesky—acoupleofhundredpeople,perhaps. Therewereraisedvoices,andsomesortofstruggleappearedtobegoingonaboutthepit. Strangeimaginingspassedthroughmymind. AsIdrewnearerIheardStent’svoice: 

           ‘Keepback!Keepback!’ 

           Aboycamerunningtowardsme. 

           ‘It’sa-movin’,’hesaidtomeashepassed;‘a-screwin’anda-screwin’out. Idon’tlikeit. I’ma-goin’‘ome,Iam.’ 

           Iwentontothecrowd. Therewerereally,Ishouldthink,twoorthreehundredpeopleelbowingandjostlingonean-other,theoneortwoladiestherebeingbynomeanstheleastactive. 

           ‘He’sfalleninthepit!’criedsomeone. 

           ‘Keepback!’saidseveral. 

           Thecrowdswayedalittle,andIelbowedmywaythrough. Everyoneseemedgreatlyexcited. Iheardapeculiarhummingsoundfromthepit. 

           ‘Isay!’saidOgilvy;‘helpkeeptheseidiotsback. Wedon’tknowwhat’sintheconfoundedthing,youknow!’