Chapter 9

           Weemergedfromthepalacewhilethesunwasstillinpartabovethehorizon. IwasdeterminedtoreachtheWhiteSphinxearlythenextmorning,anderetheduskIpurposedpushingthroughthewoodsthathadstoppedmeonthepreviousjourney. Myplanwastogoasfaraspossiblethatnight,andthen,buildingafire,tosleepintheprotectionofitsglare. Accordingly,aswewentalongIgatheredanysticksordriedgrassIsaw,andpresentlyhadmyarmsfullofsuchlitter. Thusloaded,ourprogresswasslowerthanIhadanticipated,andbesidesWeenawastired. AndIbegantosufferfromsleepinesstoo; sothatitwasfullnightbeforewereachedthewood. UpontheshrubbyhillofitsedgeWeenawouldhavestopped,fearingthedarknessbeforeus; butasingularsenseofimpendingcalamity,thatshouldindeedhaveservedmeasawarning,drovemeonward. Ihadbeenwithoutsleepforanightandtwodays,andIwasfeverishandirritable. Ifeltsleepcominguponme,andtheMorlockswithit. 

           ‘Whilewehesitated,amongtheblackbushesbehindus,anddimagainsttheirblackness,Isawthreecrouchingfigures. Therewasscrubandlonggrassallaboutus,andIdidnotfeelsafefromtheirinsidiousapproach. Theforest,Icalculated,wasratherlessthanamileacross. Ifwecouldgetthroughittothebarehill-side,there,asitseemedtome,wasanaltogethersaferresting-place; IthoughtthatwithmymatchesandmycamphorIcouldcontrivetokeepmypathilluminatedthroughthewoods. YetitwasevidentthatifIwastoflourishmatcheswithmyhandsIshouldhavetoabandonmyfirewood; so,ratherreluctantly,Iputitdown. AndthenitcameintomyheadthatIwouldamazeourfriendsbehindbylightingit. Iwastodiscovertheatrociousfollyofthisproceeding,butitcametomymindasaningeniousmoveforcoveringourretreat.