SirLauncelotgotupsteam,heandIloadedupthekettlewithunslakedlimeandcarbolicacid,withatouchoflacticacidaddedthereto,thenfilledthethingupwithwaterandinsertedthesteam-spoutunderthecanopy.
　　Everythingwasship-shapenow,andwesatdownoneithersideofthecribtostandourwatch.Sandywassogratefulandsocomfortedthatshechargedacoupleofchurch-wardenswithwillow-barkandsumach-tobaccoforus,andtoldustosmokeasmuchaswepleased,itcouldn'tgetunderthecanopy,andshewasusedtosmoke,beingthefirstladyinthelandwhohadeverseenacloudblown.Well,therecouldn'tbeamorecontentedorcomfortablesightthanSirLauncelotinhisnoblearmorsittingingraciousserenityattheendofayardofsnowychurch-warden.Hewasabeautifulman,alovelyman,andwasjustintendedtomakeawifeandchildrenhappy.But,ofcourseGuenever——however,it'snousetocryoverwhat'sdoneandcan'tbehelped.
　　Well,hestoodwatch-and-watchwithme,rightstraightthrough,forthreedaysandnights,tillthechildwasoutofdanger;thenhetookherupinhisgreatarmsandkissedher,withhisplumesfallingabouthergoldenhead,thenlaidhersoftlyinSandy'slapagainandtookhisstatelywaydownthevasthall,betweentheranksofadmiringmen-at-armsandmenials,andsodisappeared.AndnoinstinctwarnedmethatIshouldneverlookuponhimagaininthisworld!Lord,whataworldofheart-breakitis.
　　Thedoctorssaidwemusttakethechildaway,ifwewouldcoaxherbacktohealthandstrengthagain.Andshemusthavesea-air.Sowetookaman-of-war,andasuiteoftwohundredandsixtypersons,andwentcruisingabout,andafterafortnightofthiswesteppedashoreontheFrenchcoast,andthedoctorsthoughtitwouldbeagoodideatomakesomethingofastaythere.Thelittlekingofthatregionofferedushishospitalities,andweweregladtoaccept.Ifhehadhadasmanyconveniencesashelacked,weshouldhavebeenplentycomfortableenough;evenasitwas,wemadeoutverywell,inhisqueeroldcastle,bythehelpofcomfortsandluxuriesfromtheship.
　　AttheendofamonthIsentthevesselhomeforfreshsupplies,andfornews.Weexpectedherbackinthreeorfourdays.Shewouldbringme,alongwithothernews,theresultofacertainexperimentwhichIhadbeenstarting.Itwasaprojectofminetoreplacethetournamentwithsomethingwhichmightfurnishanescapefortheextrasteamofthechivalry,keepthosebucksentertainedandoutofmischief,andatthesametimepreservethebestthinginthem,whichwastheirhardyspiritofemulation.Ihadhadachoicebandoftheminprivatetrainingforsometime,andthedatewasnowarrivingfortheirfirstpubliceffort.
　　Thisexperimentwasbaseball.Inordertogivethethingvoguefromthestart,andplaceitoutofthereachofcriticism,Ichosemyninesbyrank,notcapacity.Therewasn'taknightineitherteamwhowasn'tascepteredsovereign.Asformaterialofthissort,therewasaglutofitalwaysaroundArthur.Youcouldn'tthrowabrickinanydirectionandnotcrippleaking.Ofcourse,Icouldn'tgetthesepeopletoleaveofftheirarmor;theywouldn'tdothatwhentheybathed.Theyconsentedtodifferentiatethearmorsothatabodycouldtelloneteamfromtheother,butthatwasthemosttheywoulddo.So,oneoftheteamsworechain-mailulsters,andtheotherworeplatearmormadeofmynewBessemersteel.TheirpracticeinthefieldwasthemostfantasticthingIeversaw.Beingball-proof,theyneverskippedoutoftheway,butstoodstillandtooktheresult;
　　whenaBessemerwasatthebatandaballhithim,itwouldboundahundredandfiftyyardssometimes.Andwhenamanwasrunning,andthrewhimselfonhisstomachtoslidetohisbase,itwaslikeaniron-cladcomingintoport.AtfirstIappointedmenofnoranktoactasumpires,butIhadtodiscontinuethat.Thesepeoplewerenoeasiertopleasethanothernines.
　　Theumpire'sfirstdecisionwasusuallyhislast;theybrokehimintwowithabat,andhisfriendstotedhimhomeonashutter.Whenitwasnoticedthatnoumpireeversurvivedagame,umpiringgottobeunpopular.SoI
　　wasobligedtoappointsomebodywhoserankandloftypositionunderthegovernmentwouldprotecthim.
　　Herearethenamesofthenines:BESSEMERSULSTERS
　　KINGARTHUR.EMPERORLUCIUS.
　　KINGLOTOFLOTHIAN.KINGLOGRIS.
　　KINGOFNORTHGALIS.KINGMARHALTOFIRELAND.
　　KINGMARSIL.KINGMORGANORE.
　　KINGOFLITTLEBRITAIN.KINGMARKOFCORNWALL.
　　KINGLABOR.KINGNENTRESOFGARLOT.
　　KINGPELLAMOFLISTENGESE.KINGMELIODASOFLIONES.
　　KINGBAGDEMAGUS.KINGOFTHELAKE.
　　KINGTOLLEMELAFEINTES.THESOWDANOFSYRIA.
　　Umpire——CLARENCE.Thefirstpublicgamewouldcertainlydrawfiftythousandpeople;andforsolidfunwouldbeworthgoingaroundtheworldtosee.Everythingwouldbefavorable;itwasbalmyandbeautifulspringweathernow,andNaturewasalltailoredoutinhernewclothes.
　　AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur'sCourt-Chapter41Chapter41-TheInterdictHOWEVER,myattentionwassuddenlysnatchedfromsuchmatters;ourchildbegantolosegroundagain,andwehadtogotosittingupwithher,hercasebecamesoserious.Wecouldn'tbeartoallowanybodytohelpinthisservice,sowetwostoodwatch-and-watch,dayinanddayout.Ah,Sandy,whatarightheartshehad,howsimple,andgenuine,andgoodshewas!
　　Shewasaflawlesswifeandmother;andyetIhadmarriedherfornootherparticularreasons,exceptthatbythecustomsofchivalryshewasmypropertyuntilsomeknightshouldwinherfrommeinthefield.ShehadhuntedBritainoverforme;hadfoundmeatthehanging-boutoutsideofLondon,andhadstraightwayresumedheroldplaceatmysideintheplacidestwayandasofright.IwasaNewEnglander,andinmyopinionthissortofpartnershipwouldcompromiseher,soonerorlater.Shecouldn'tseehow,butIcutargumentshortandwehadawedding.
　　NowIdidn'tknowIwasdrawingaprize,yetthatwaswhatIdiddraw.
　　WithinthetwelvemonthIbecameherworshiper;andourswasthedearestandperfectestcomradeshipthateverwas.Peopletalkaboutbeautifulfriendshipsbetweentwopersonsofthesamesex.Whatisthebestofthatsort,ascomparedwiththefriendshipofmanandwife,wherethebestimpulsesandhighestidealsofbotharethesame?Thereisnoplaceforcomparisonbetweenthetwofriendships;theoneisearthly,theotherdivine.
　　Inmydreams,alongatfirst,Istillwanderedthirteencenturiesaway,andmyunsatisfiedspiritwentcallingandharkingallupanddowntheunreplyingvacanciesofavanishedworld.ManyatimeSandyheardthatimploringcrycomefrommylipsinmysleep.Withagrandmagnanimityshesaddledthatcryofmineuponourchild,conceivingittobethenameofsomelostdarlingofmine.Ittouchedmetotears,anditalsonearlyknockedmeoffmyfeet,too,whenshesmiledupinmyfaceforanearnedreward,andplayedherquaintandprettysurpriseuponme:
　　"Thenameofonewhowasdeartotheeisherepreserved,heremadeholy,andthemusicofitwillabidealwayinourears.Nowthou'ltkissme,asknowingthenameIhavegiventhechild."
　　ButIdidn'tknowit,allthesame.Ihadn'tanideaintheworld;butitwouldhavebeencrueltoconfessitandspoilherprettygame;soI
　　neverleton,butsaid:
　　"Yes,Iknow,sweetheart——howdearandgooditisofyou,too!ButIwanttoheartheselipsofyours,whicharealsomine,utteritfirst——thenitsmusicwillbeperfect."
　　Pleasedtothemarrow,shemurmured:
　　"HELLO-CENTRAL!"
　　Ididn'tlaugh——Iamalwaysthankfulforthat——butthestrainrupturedeverycartilageinme,andforweeksafterwardIcouldhearmybonesclackwhenIwalked.Sheneverfoundouthermistake.Thefirsttimesheheardthatformofsaluteusedatthetelephoneshewassurprised,andnotpleased;
　　butItoldherIhadgivenorderforit:thathenceforthandforeverthetelephonemustalwaysbeinvokedwiththatreverentformality,inperpetualhonorandremembranceofmylostfriendandhersmallnamesake.Thiswasnottrue.Butitanswered.
　　Well,duringtwoweeksandahalfwewatchedbythecrib,andinourdeepsolicitudewewereunconsciousofanyworldoutsideofthatsick-room.
　　Thenourrewardcame:thecenteroftheuniverseturnedthecornerandbegantomend.Grateful?Itisn'ttheterm.ThereISN'Tanytermforit.
　　Youknowthatyourself,ifyou'vewatchedyourchildthroughtheValleyoftheShadowandseenitcomebacktolifeandsweepnightoutoftheearthwithoneall-illuminatingsmilethatyoucouldcoverwithyourhand.
　　Why,wewerebackinthisworldinoneinstant!Thenwelookedthesamestartledthoughtintoeachother'seyesatthesamemoment;morethantwoweeksgone,andthatshipnotbackyet!
　　InanotherminuteIappearedinthepresenceofmytrain.Theyhadbeensteepedintroubledbodingsallthistime——theirfacesshowedit.Icalledanescortandwegallopedfivemilestoahilltopoverlookingthesea.
　　Wherewasmygreatcommercethatsolatelyhadmadetheseglisteningexpansespopulousandbeautifulwithitswhite-wingedflocks?Vanished,everyone!
　　Notasail,fromvergetoverge,notasmoke-bank——justadeadandemptysolitude,inplaceofallthatbriskandbreezylife.
　　Iwentswiftlyback,sayingnotawordtoanybody.ItoldSandythisghastlynews.Wecouldimaginenoexplanationthatwouldbegintoexplain.
　　Hadtherebeenaninvasion?anearthquake?apestilence?Hadthenationbeensweptoutofexistence?Butguessingwasprofitless.Imustgo——
　　atonce.Iborrowedtheking'snavy——a"ship"nobiggerthanasteamlaunch——andwassoonready.
　　Theparting——ah,yes,thatwashard.AsIwasdevouringthechildwithlastkisses,itbriskedupandjabberedoutitsvocabulary!——thefirsttimeinmorethantwoweeks,anditmadefoolsofusforjoy.Thedarlingmispronunciationsofchildhood!——dearme,there'snomusicthatcantouchit;andhowonegrieveswhenitwastesawayanddissolvesintocorrectness,knowingitwillnevervisithisbereavedearagain.Well,howgooditwastobeabletocarrythatgraciousmemoryawaywithme!
　　IapproachedEnglandthenextmorning,withthewidehighwayofsaltwateralltomyself.Therewereshipsintheharbor,atDover,buttheywerenakedastosails,andtherewasnosignoflifeaboutthem.ItwasSunday;yetatCanterburythestreetswereempty;strangestofall,therewasnotevenapriestinsight,andnostrokeofabellfelluponmyear.
　　Themournfulnessofdeathwaseverywhere.Icouldn'tunderstandit.Atlast,inthefurtheredgeofthattownIsawasmallfuneralprocession——justafamilyandafewfriendsfollowingacoffin——nopriest;afuneralwithoutbell,book,orcandle;therewasachurchtherecloseathand,buttheypasseditbyweeping,anddidnotenterit;Iglancedupatthebelfry,andtherehungthebell,shroudedinblack,anditstonguetiedback.NowIknew!NowIunderstoodthestupendouscalamitythathadovertakenEngland.Invasion?Invasionisatrivialitytoit.ItwastheINTERDICT!
　　Iaskednoquestions;Ididn'tneedtoaskany.TheChurchhadstruck;
　　thethingformetodowastogetintoadisguise,andgowarily.Oneofmyservantsgavemeasuitofclothes,andwhenweweresafebeyondthetownIputthemon,andfromthattimeItraveledalone;Icouldnotrisktheembarrassmentofcompany.
　　Amiserablejourney.Adesolatesilenceeverywhere.EveninLondonitself.
　　Traffichadceased;mendidnottalkorlaugh,orgoingroups,orevenincouples;theymovedaimlesslyabout,eachmanbyhimself,withhisheaddown,andwoeandterrorathisheart.TheTowershowedrecentwar-scars.
　　Verily,muchhadbeenhappening.
　　Ofcourse,ImeanttotakethetrainforCamelot.Train!Why,thestationwasasvacantasacavern.Imovedon.ThejourneytoCamelotwasarepetitionofwhatIhadalreadyseen.TheMondayandtheTuesdaydifferedinnowayfromtheSunday.Iarrivedfarinthenight.Frombeingthebestelectric-lightedtowninthekingdomandthemostlikearecumbentsunofanythingyoueversaw,itwasbecomesimplyablot——ablotupondarkness——thatistosay,itwasdarkerandsoliderthantherestofthedarkness,andsoyoucouldseeitalittlebetter;itmademefeelasifmaybeitwassymbolical——asortofsignthattheChurchwasgoingtoKEEPtheupperhandnow,andsnuffoutallmybeautifulcivilizationjustlikethat.Ifoundnolifestirringinthesomberstreets.Igropedmywaywithaheavyheart.
　　Thevastcastleloomedblackuponthehilltop,notasparkvisibleaboutit.Thedrawbridgewasdown,thegreatgatestoodwide,Ienteredwithoutchallenge,myownheelsmakingtheonlysoundIheard——anditwassepulchralenough,inthosehugevacantcourts.
　　AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur'sCourt-Chapter42Chapter42-War!IFOUNDClarencealoneinhisquarters,drownedinmelancholy;andinplaceoftheelectriclight,hehadreinstitutedtheancientrag-lamp,andsatthereinagrislytwilightwithallcurtainsdrawntight.Hesprangupandrushedformeeagerly,saying:
　　"Oh,it'sworthabillionmilraystolookuponalivepersonagain!"
　　HeknewmeaseasilyasifIhadn'tbeendisguisedatall.Whichfrightenedme;onemayeasilybelievethat.
　　"Quick,now,tellmethemeaningofthisfearfuldisaster,"Isaid.
　　"Howdiditcomeabout?"
　　"Well,iftherehadn'tbeenanyQueenGuenever,itwouldn'thavecomesoearly;butitwouldhavecome,anyway.Itwouldhavecomeonyourownaccountbyandby;byluck,ithappenedtocomeonthequeen's."
　　"ANDSirLauncelot's?"
　　"Justso."
　　"Givemethedetails."
　　"IreckonyouwillgrantthatduringsomeyearstherehasbeenonlyonepairofeyesinthesekingdomsthathasnotbeenlookingsteadilyaskanceatthequeenandSirLauncelot——"
　　"Yes,KingArthur's."
　　"——andonlyoneheartthatwaswithoutsuspicion——"
　　"Yes——theking's;aheartthatisn'tcapableofthinkingevilofafriend."
　　"Well,thekingmighthavegoneon,stillhappyandunsuspecting,totheendofhisdays,butforoneofyourmodernimprovements——thestock-board.
　　Whenyouleft,threemilesoftheLondon,CanterburyandDoverwerereadyfortherails,andalsoreadyandripeformanipulationinthestock-market.
　　Itwaswildcat,andeverybodyknewit.Thestockwasforsaleatagive-away.
　　WhatdoesSirLauncelotdo,but——"
　　"Yes,Iknow;hequietlypickedupnearlyallofitforasong;thenheboughtabouttwiceasmuchmore,deliverableuponcall;andhewasabouttocallwhenIleft."
　　"Verywell,hedidcall.Theboyscouldn'tdeliver.Oh,hehadthem——andhejustsettledhisgripandsqueezedthem.Theywerelaughingintheirsleevesovertheirsmartnessinsellingstocktohimat15and16
　　andalongtherethatwasn'tworth10.Well,whentheyhadlaughedlongenoughonthatsideoftheirmouths,theyrested-upthatsidebyshiftingthelaughtotheotherside.ThatwaswhentheycompromisedwiththeInvincibleat283!"
　　"Goodland!"
　　"Heskinnedthemalive,andtheydeservedit——anyway,thewholekingdomrejoiced.Well,amongtheflayedwereSirAgravaineandSirMordred,nephewstotheking.Endofthefirstact.Actsecond,scenefirst,anapartmentinCarlislecastle,wherethecourthadgoneforafewdays'hunting.Personspresent,thewholetribeoftheking'snephews.MordredandAgravaineproposetocalltheguilelessArthur'sattentiontoGueneverandSirLauncelot.
　　SirGawaine,SirGareth,andSirGaheriswillhavenothingtodowithit.
　　Adisputeensues,withloudtalk;inthemidstofitentertheking.MordredandAgravainespringtheirdevastatingtaleuponhim.TABLEAU.AtrapislaidforLauncelot,bytheking'scommand,andSirLauncelotwalksintoit.Hemadeitsufficientlyuncomfortablefortheambushedwitnesses——
　　towit,Mordred,Agravaine,andtwelveknightsoflesserrank,forhekilledeveryoneofthembutMordred;butofcoursethatcouldn'tstraightenmattersbetweenLauncelotandtheking,anddidn't."
　　"Oh,dear,onlyonethingcouldresult——Iseethat.War,andtheknightsoftherealmdividedintoaking'spartyandaSirLauncelot'sparty."
　　"Yes——thatwasthewayofit.Thekingsentthequeentothestake,proposingtopurifyherwithfire.Launcelotandhisknightsrescuedher,andindoingitslewcertaingoodoldfriendsofyoursandmine——infact,someofthebestweeverhad;towit,SirBeliasleOrgulous,SirSegwarides,SirGrifletleFilsdeDieu,SirBrandiles,SirAglovale——"
　　"Oh,youtearoutmyheartstrings."
　　"——wait,I'mnotdoneyet——SirTor,SirGauter,SirGillimer——"
　　"Theverybestmaninmysubordinatenine.Whatahandyright-fielderhewas!"
　　"——SirReynold'sthreebrothers,SirDamus,SirPriamus,SirKaytheStranger——"
　　"Mypeerlessshort-stop!I'veseenhimcatchadaisy-cutterinhisteeth.
　　Come,Ican'tstandthis!"
　　"——SirDriant,SirLambegus,SirHerminde,SirPertilope,SirPerimones,and——whomdoyouthink?"
　　"Rush!Goon."
　　"SirGaheris,andSirGareth——both!"
　　"Oh,incredible!TheirloveforLauncelotwasindestructible."
　　"Well,itwasanaccident.Theyweresimplyonlookers;theywereunarmed,andweremerelytheretowitnessthequeen'spunishment.SirLauncelotsmotedownwhoevercameinthewayofhisblindfury,andhekilledthesewithoutnoticingwhotheywere.Hereisaninstantaneousphotographoneofourboysgotofthebattle;it'sforsaleoneverynews-stand.There——thefiguresnearestthequeenareSirLauncelotwithhisswordup,andSirGarethgaspinghislatestbreath.Youcancatchtheagonyinthequeen'sfacethroughthecurlingsmoke.It'sarattlingbattle-picture."
　　"Indeed,itis.Wemusttakegoodcareofit;itshistoricalvalueisincalculable.Goon."
　　"Well,therestofthetaleisjustwar,pureandsimple.LauncelotretreatedtohistownandcastleofJoyousGard,andgatheredthereagreatfollowingofknights.Theking,withagreathost,wentthere,andtherewasdesperatefightingduringseveraldays,and,asaresult,alltheplainaroundwaspavedwithcorpsesandcast-iron.ThentheChurchpatchedupapeacebetweenArthurandLauncelotandthequeenandeverybody——everybodybutSirGawaine.Hewasbitterabouttheslayingofhisbrothers,GarethandGaheris,andwouldnotbeappeased.HenotifiedLauncelottogethimthence,andmakeswiftpreparation,andlooktobesoonattacked.SoLauncelotsailedtohisDuchyofGuiennewithhisfollowing,andGawainesoonfollowedwithanarmy,andhebeguiledArthurtogowithhim.ArthurleftthekingdominSirMordred'shandsuntilyoushouldreturn——"
　　"Ah——aking'scustomarywisdom!"
　　"Yes.SirMordredsethimselfatoncetoworktomakehiskingshippermanent.
　　HewasgoingtomarryGuenever,asafirstmove;butshefledandshutherselfupintheTowerofLondon.Mordredattacked;theBishopofCanterburydroppeddownonhimwiththeInterdict.Thekingreturned;MordredfoughthimatDover,atCanterbury,andagainatBarhamDown.Thentherewastalkofpeaceandacomposition.Terms,MordredtohaveCornwallandKentduringArthur'slife,andthewholekingdomafterward."
　　"Well,uponmyword!MydreamofarepublictoBEadream,andsoremain."
　　"Yes.ThetwoarmieslaynearSalisbury.Gawaine——Gawaine'sheadisatDoverCastle,hefellinthefightthere——GawaineappearedtoArthurinadream,atleasthisghostdid,andwarnedhimtorefrainfromconflictforamonth,letthedelaycostwhatitmight.Butbattlewasprecipitatedbyanaccident.ArthurhadgivenorderthatifaswordwasraisedduringtheconsultationovertheproposedtreatywithMordred,soundthetrumpetandfallon!forhehadnoconfidenceinMordred.MordredhadgivenasimilarordertoHISpeople.Well,byandbyanadderbitaknight'sheel;theknightforgotallabouttheorder,andmadeaslashattheadderwithhissword.Insideofhalfaminutethosetwoprodigioushostscametogetherwithacrash!Theybutcheredawayallday.Thentheking——however,wehavestartedsomethingfreshsinceyouleft——ourpaperhas."
　　"No?Whatisthat?"
　　"Warcorrespondence!"
　　"Why,that'sgood."
　　"Yes,thepaperwasboomingrightalong,fortheInterdictmadenoimpression,gotnogrip,whilethewarlasted.Ihadwarcorrespondentswithbotharmies.
　　Iwillfinishthatbattlebyreadingyouwhatoneoftheboyssays:
　　Thenthekinglookedabouthim,andthenwashewareofallhishostandofallhisgoodknightswereleftnomoreonlivebuttwoknights,thatwasSirLucandeButlere,andhisbrotherSirBedivere:andtheywerefullsorewounded.Jesumercy,saidtheking,whereareallmynobleknightsbecomen?AlasthateverIshouldseethisdolefulday.Fornow,saidArthur,Iamcometomineend.ButwouldtoGodthatIwistwherewerethattraitorSirMordred,thathathcausedallthismischief.ThenwasKingArthurwarewhereSirMordredleaneduponhisswordamongagreatheapofdeadmen.
　　Nowgivememyspear,saidArthuruntoSirLucan,foryonderIhaveespiedthetraitorthatallthiswoehathwrought.Sir,lethimbe,saidSirLucan,forheisunhappy;andifyepassthisunhappyday,yeshallberightwellrevengeduponhim.Goodlord,rememberyeofyournight'sdream,andwhatthespiritofSirGawainetoldyouthisnight,yetGodofhisgreatgoodnesshathpreservedyouhitherto.Therefore,forGod'ssake,mylord,leaveoffbythis.ForblessedbeGodyehavewonthefield:forherewebethreeonlive,andwithSirMordredisnoneonlive.Andifyeleaveoffnow,thiswickeddayofdestinyispast.Tidemedeath,betidemelife,saiththeking,nowIseehimyonderalone,heshallneverescapeminehands,foratabetteravailshallIneverhavehim.Godspeedyouwell,saidSirBedivere.Thenthekinggathisspearinbothhishands,andrantowardSirMordredcrying,Traitor,nowisthydeathdaycome.AndwhenSirMordredheardSirArthur,heranuntilhimwithhissworddrawninhishand.AndthenKingArthursmoteSirMordredundertheshield,withafoinofhisspearthroughoutthebodymorethanafathom.AndwhenSirMordredfeltthathehadhisdeath'swound,hethrusthimself,withthemightthathehad,uptothebuttofKingArthur'sspear.AndrightsohesmotehisfatherArthurwithhisswordholdeninbothhishands,onthesideofthehead,thattheswordpiercedthehelmetandthebrain-pan,andtherewithalSirMordredfellstarkdeadtotheearth.AndthenobleArthurfellinaswoontotheearth,andthereheswoonedoft-times"Thatisagoodpieceofwarcorrespondence,Clarence;youareafirst-ratenewspaperman.Well——isthekingallright?"Didhegetwell?"
　　"Poorsoul,no.Heisdead."
　　Iwasutterlystunned;ithadnotseemedtomethatanywoundcouldbemortaltohim.
　　"Andthequeen,Clarence?"
　　"Sheisanun,inAlmesbury."
　　"Whatchanges!andinsuchashortwhile.Itisinconceivable.Whatnext,Iwonder?"
　　"Icantellyouwhatnext."
　　"Well?"
　　"Stakeourlivesandstandbythem!"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbythat?"
　　"TheChurchismasternow.TheInterdictincludedyouwithMordred;
　　itisnottoberemovedwhileyouremainalive.Theclansaregathering.
　　TheChurchhasgatheredalltheknightsthatareleftalive,andassoonasyouarediscoveredweshallhavebusinessonourhands."
　　"Stuff!Withourdeadlyscientificwar-material;withourhostsoftrained——"
　　"Saveyourbreath——wehaven'tsixtyfaithfulleft!"
　　"Whatareyousaying?Ourschools,ourcolleges,ourvastworkshops,our——"
　　"Whenthoseknightscome,thoseestablishmentswillemptythemselvesandgoovertotheenemy.Didyouthinkyouhadeducatedthesuperstitionoutofthosepeople?"
　　"Icertainlydidthinkit."
　　"Well,then,youmayunthinkit.Theystoodeverystraineasily——untiltheInterdict.Sincethen,theymerelyputonaboldoutside——athearttheyarequaking.Makeupyourmindtoit——whenthearmiescome,themaskwillfall."
　　"It'shardnews.Wearelost.Theywillturnourownscienceagainstus."
　　"Notheywon't."
　　"Why?"
　　"BecauseIandahandfulofthefaithfulhaveblockedthatgame.I'lltellyouwhatI'vedone,andwhatmovedmetoit.Smartasyouare,theChurchwassmarter.ItwastheChurchthatsentyoucruising——throughherservants,thedoctors."
　　"Clarence!"
　　"Itisthetruth.Iknowit.EveryofficerofyourshipwastheChurch'spickedservant,andsowaseverymanofthecrew."
　　"Oh,come!"
　　"ItisjustasItellyou.Ididnotfindoutthesethingsatonce,butIfoundthemoutfinally.Didyousendmeverbalinformation,bythecommanderoftheship,totheeffectthatuponhisreturntoyou,withsupplies,youweregoingtoleaveCadiz——"
　　"Cadiz!Ihaven'tbeenatCadizatall!"
　　"——goingtoleaveCadizandcruiseindistantseasindefinitely,forthehealthofyourfamily?Didyousendmethatword?"
　　"Ofcoursenot.Iwouldhavewritten,wouldn'tI?"
　　"Naturally.Iwastroubledandsuspicious.WhenthecommandersailedagainImanagedtoshipaspywithhim.Ihaveneverheardofvesselorspysince.Igavemyselftwoweekstohearfromyouin.ThenIresolvedtosendashiptoCadiz.TherewasareasonwhyIdidn't."
　　"Whatwasthat?"
　　"Ournavyhadsuddenlyandmysteriouslydisappeared!Also,assuddenlyandasmysteriously,therailwayandtelegraphandtelephoneserviceceased,themenalldeserted,poleswerecutdown,theChurchlaidabanupontheelectriclight!Ihadtobeupanddoing——andstraightoff.Yourlifewassafe——nobodyinthesekingdomsbutMerlinwouldventuretotouchsuchamagicianasyouwithouttenthousandmenathisback——Ihadnothingtothinkofbuthowtoputpreparationsinthebesttrimagainstyourcoming.
　　Ifeltsafemyself——nobodywouldbeanxioustotouchapetofyours.
　　SothisiswhatIdid.FromourvariousworksIselectedallthemen——
　　boysImean——whosefaithfulnessunderwhatsoeverpressureIcouldswearto,andIcalledthemtogethersecretlyandgavethemtheirinstructions.
　　Therearefifty-twoofthem;noneyoungerthanfourteen,andnoneaboveseventeenyearsold."
　　"Whydidyouselectboys?"
　　"Becausealltheotherswereborninanatmosphereofsuperstitionandrearedinit.Itisintheirbloodandbones.Weimaginedwehadeducateditoutofthem;theythoughtso,too;theInterdictwokethemuplikeathunderclap!Itrevealedthemtothemselves,anditrevealedthemtome,too.Withboysitwasdifferent.SuchashavebeenunderourtrainingfromseventotenyearshavehadnoacquaintancewiththeChurch'sterrors,anditwasamongthesethatIfoundmyfifty-two.Asanextmove,IpaidaprivatevisittothatoldcaveofMerlin's——notthesmallone——thebigone——"
　　"Yes,theonewherewesecretlyestablishedourfirstgreatelectricplantwhenIwasprojectingamiracle."
　　"Justso.Andasthatmiraclehadn'tbecomenecessarythen,Ithoughtitmightbeagoodideatoutilizetheplantnow.I'veprovisionedthecaveforasiege——"
　　"Agoodidea,afirst-rateidea."
　　"Ithinkso.Iplacedfourofmyboysthereasaguard——inside,andoutofsight.Nobodywastobehurt——whileoutside;butanyattempttoenter——well,wesaidjustletanybodytryit!ThenIwentoutintothehillsanduncoveredandcutthesecretwireswhichconnectedyourbedroomwiththewiresthatgotothedynamitedepositsunderallourvastfactories,mills,workshops,magazines,etc.,andaboutmidnightIandmyboysturnedoutandconnectedthatwirewiththecave,andnobodybutyouandIsuspectswheretheotherendofitgoesto.Welaiditunderground,ofcourse,anditwasallfinishedinacoupleofhoursorso.Wesha'n'thavetoleaveourfortressnowwhenwewanttoblowupourcivilization."
　　"Itwastherightmove——andthenaturalone;militarynecessity,inthechangedconditionofthings.Well,whatchangesHAVEcome!Weexpectedtobebesiegedinthepalacesometimeorother,but——however,goon."
　　"Next,webuiltawirefence."
　　"Wirefence?"
　　"Yes.Youdroppedthehintofityourself,twoorthreeyearsago."
　　"Oh,Iremember——thetimetheChurchtriedherstrengthagainstusthefirsttime,andpresentlythoughtitwisetowaitforahopefulerseason.
　　Well,howhaveyouarrangedthefence?"
　　"Istarttwelveimmenselystrongwires——naked,notinsulated——fromabigdynamointhecave——dynamowithnobrushesexceptapositiveandanegativeone——"
　　"Yes,that'sright."
　　"Thewiresgooutfromthecaveandfenceinacircleoflevelgroundahundredyardsindiameter;theymaketwelveindependentfences,tenfeetapart——thatistosay,twelvecircleswithincircles——andtheirendscomeintothecaveagain."
　　"Right;goon."
　　"Thefencesarefastenedtoheavyoakenpostsonlythreefeetapart,andthesepostsaresunkfivefeetintheground."
　　"Thatisgoodandstrong."