"Yes.Thewireshavenoground-connectionoutsideofthecave.Theygooutfromthepositivebrushofthedynamo;thereisaground-connectionthroughthenegativebrush;theotherendsofthewirereturntothecave,andeachisgroundedindependently."
　　"Nono,thatwon'tdo!"
　　"Why?"
　　"It'stooexpensive——usesupforcefornothing.Youdon'twantanyground-connectionexcepttheonethroughthenegativebrush.Theotherendofeverywiremustbebroughtbackintothecaveandfastenedindependently,andWITHOUTanyground-connection.Now,then,observetheeconomyofit.
　　Acavalrychargehurlsitselfagainstthefence;youareusingnopower,youarespendingnomoney,forthereisonlyoneground-connectiontillthosehorsescomeagainstthewire;themomenttheytouchittheyformaconnectionwiththenegativebrushTHROUGHTHEGROUND,anddropdead.
　　Don'tyousee?——youareusingnoenergyuntilitisneeded;yourlightningisthere,andready,liketheloadinagun;butitisn'tcostingyouacenttillyoutouchitoff.Oh,yes,thesingleground-connection——"
　　"Ofcourse!Idon'tknowhowIoverlookedthat.It'snotonlycheaper,butit'smoreeffectualthantheotherway,forifwiresbreakorgettangled,noharmisdone.
　　"No,especiallyifwehaveatell-taleinthecaveanddisconnectthebrokenwire.Well,goon.Thegatlings?"
　　"Yes——that'sarranged.Inthecenteroftheinnercircle,onaspaciousplatformsixfeethigh,I'vegroupedabatteryofthirteengatlingguns,andprovidedplentyofammunition."
　　"That'sit.Theycommandeveryapproach,andwhentheChurch'sknightsarrive,there'sgoingtobemusic.Thebrowoftheprecipiceoverthecave——"
　　"I'vegotawirefencethere,andagatling.Theywon'tdropanyrocksdownonus."
　　"Well,andtheglass-cylinderdynamitetorpedoes?"
　　"That'sattendedto.It'stheprettiestgardenthatwaseverplanted.
　　It'sabeltfortyfeetwide,andgoesaroundtheouterfence——distancebetweenitandthefenceonehundredyards——kindofneutralgroundthatspaceis.Thereisn'tasinglesquareyardofthatwholebeltbutisequippedwithatorpedo.Welaidthemonthesurfaceoftheground,andsprinkledalayerofsandoverthem.It'saninnocentlookinggarden,butyouletamanstartintohoeitonce,andyou'llsee."
　　"Youtestedthetorpedoes?"
　　"Well,Iwasgoingto,but——"
　　"Butwhat?Why,it'sanimmenseoversightnottoapplya——"
　　"Test?Yes,Iknow;butthey'reallright;Ilaidafewinthepublicroadbeyondourlinesandthey'vebeentested."
　　"Oh,thataltersthecase.Whodidit?"
　　"AChurchcommittee."
　　"Howkind!"
　　"Yes.Theycametocommandustomakesubmission.Youseetheydidn'treallycometotestthetorpedoes;thatwasmerelyanincident."
　　"Didthecommitteemakeareport?"
　　"Yes,theymadeone.Youcouldhavehearditamile."
　　"Unanimous?"
　　"Thatwasthenatureofit.AfterthatIputupsomesigns,fortheprotectionoffuturecommittees,andwehavehadnointruderssince."
　　"Clarence,you'vedoneaworldofwork,anddoneitperfectly."
　　"Wehadplentyoftimeforit;therewasn'tanyoccasionforhurry."
　　Wesatsilentawhile,thinking.Thenmymindwasmadeup,andIsaid:
　　"Yes,everythingisready;everythingisshipshape,nodetailiswanting.
　　Iknowwhattodonow."
　　"SodoI;sitdownandwait."
　　"No,SIR!riseupandSTRIKE!"
　　"Doyoumeanit?"
　　"Yes,indeed!TheDEfensiveisn'tinmyline,andtheOFfensiveis.
　　Thatis,whenIholdafairhand——two-thirdsasgoodahandastheenemy.
　　Oh,yes,we'llriseupandstrike;that'sourgame."
　　"Ahundredtooneyouareright.Whendoestheperformancebegin?"
　　"NOW!We'llproclaimtheRepublic."
　　"Well,thatWILLprecipitatethings,sureenough!"
　　"Itwillmakethembuzz,Itellyou!Englandwillbeahornets'nestbeforenoonto-morrow,iftheChurch'shandhasn'tlostitscunning——
　　andweknowithasn't.NowyouwriteandI'lldictatethus:
　　"PROCLAMATION——
　　"BEITKNOWNUNTOALL.Whereasthekinghavingdiedandleftnoheir,itbecomesmydutytocontinuetheexecutiveauthorityvestedinme,untilagovernmentshallhavebeencreatedandsetinmotion.Themonarchyhaslapsed,itnolongerexists.Byconsequence,allpoliticalpowerhasrevertedtoitsoriginalsource,thepeopleofthenation.Withthemonarchy,itsseveraladjunctsdiedalso;whereforethereisnolongeranobility,nolongeraprivilegedclass,nolongeranEstablishedChurch;allmenarebecomeexactlyequal;theyareupononecommonlevel,andreligionisfree.
　　AREPUBLICISHEREBYPROCLAIMED,asbeingthenaturalestateofanationwhenotherauthorityhasceased.ItisthedutyoftheBritishpeopletomeettogetherimmediately,andbytheirvoteselectrepresentativesanddeliverintotheirhandsthegovernment."
　　Isignedit"TheBoss,"anddateditfromMerlin'sCave.Clarencesaid——
　　"Why,thattellswhereweare,andinvitesthemtocallrightaway."
　　"Thatistheidea.WeSTRIKE——bytheProclamation——thenit'stheirinnings.Nowhavethethingsetupandprintedandposted,rightoff;thatis,givetheorder;then,ifyou'vegotacoupleofbicycleshandyatthefootofthehill,hoforMerlin'sCave!"
　　"Ishallbereadyintenminutes.Whatacyclonethereisgoingtobeto-morrowwhenthispieceofpapergetstowork!It'sapleasantoldpalace,thisis;Iwonderifweshalleveragain——butnevermindaboutthat."
　　AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur'sCourt-Chapter43Chapter43-TheBattleoftheSandBeltINMerlin'sCave——ClarenceandIandfifty-twofresh,bright,well-educated,clean-mindedyoungBritishboys.AtdawnIsentanordertothefactoriesandtoallourgreatworkstostopoperationsandremovealllifetoasafedistance,aseverythingwasgoingtobeblownupbysecretmines,"ANDNOTELLINGATWHATMOMENT——THEREFORE,VACATEATONCE."Thesepeopleknewme,andhadconfidenceinmyword.Theywouldclearoutwithoutwaitingtoparttheirhair,andIcouldtakemyowntimeaboutdatingtheexplosion.
　　Youcouldn'thireoneofthemtogobackduringthecentury,iftheexplosionwasstillimpending.
　　Wehadaweekofwaiting.Itwasnotdullforme,becauseIwaswritingallthetime.Duringthefirstthreedays,Ifinishedturningmyolddiaryintothisnarrativeform;itonlyrequiredachapterorsotobringitdowntodate.TherestoftheweekItookupinwritingletterstomywife.
　　ItwasalwaysmyhabittowritetoSandyeveryday,wheneverwewereseparate,andnowIkeptupthehabitforloveofit,andofher,thoughIcouldn'tdoanythingwiththeletters,ofcourse,afterIhadwrittenthem.Butitputinthetime,yousee,andwasalmostliketalking;itwasalmostasifIwassaying,"Sandy,ifyouandHello-Centralwerehereinthecave,insteadofonlyyourphotographs,whatgoodtimeswecouldhave!"Andthen,youknow,Icouldimaginethebabygoogooingsomethingoutinreply,withitsfistsinitsmouthanditselfstretchedacrossitsmother'slaponitsback,andshea-laughingandadmiringandworshiping,andnowandthenticklingunderthebaby'schintosetitcackling,andthenmaybethrowinginawordofanswertomeherself——andsoonandsoon——well,don'tyouknow,Icouldsitthereinthecavewithmypen,andkeepitup,thatway,bythehourwiththem.Why,itwasalmostlikehavingusalltogetheragain.
　　Ihadspiesouteverynight,ofcourse,togetnews.Everyreportmadethingslookmoreandmoreimpressive.Thehostsweregathering,gathering;
　　downalltheroadsandpathsofEnglandtheknightswereriding,andpriestsrodewiththem,toheartentheseoriginalCrusaders,thisbeingtheChurch'swar.Allthenobilities,bigandlittle,wereontheirway,andallthegentry.Thiswasallaswasexpected.Weshouldthinoutthissortoffolktosuchadegreethatthepeoplewouldhavenothingtodobutjuststeptothefrontwiththeirrepublicand——
　　Ah,whatadonkeyIwas!TowardtheendoftheweekIbegantogetthislargeanddisenchantingfactthroughmyhead:thatthemassofthenationhadswungtheircapsandshoutedfortherepublicforaboutoneday,andthereanend!TheChurch,thenobles,andthegentrythenturnedonegrand,alldisapprovingfrownuponthemandshriveledthemintosheep!Fromthatmomentthesheephadbeguntogathertothefold——thatistosay,thecamps——andoffertheirvaluelesslivesandtheirvaluablewooltothe"righteouscause."Why,eventheverymenwhohadlatelybeenslaveswereinthe"righteouscause,"andglorifyingit,prayingforit,sentimentallyslabberingoverit,justlikealltheothercommoners.Imaginesuchhumanmuckasthis;conceiveofthisfolly!
　　Yes,itwasnow"DeathtotheRepublic!"everywhere——notadissentingvoice.AllEnglandwasmarchingagainstus!Truly,thiswasmorethanI
　　hadbargainedfor.
　　Iwatchedmyfifty-twoboysnarrowly;watchedtheirfaces,theirwalk,theirunconsciousattitudes:forallthesearealanguage——alanguagegivenuspurposelythatitmaybetrayusintimesofemergency,whenwehavesecretswhichwewanttokeep.Iknewthatthatthoughtwouldkeepsayingitselfoverandoveragainintheirmindsandhearts,ALLENGLAND
　　ISMARCHINGAGAINSTUS!andevermorestrenuouslyimploringattentionwitheachrepetition,evermoresharplyrealizingitselftotheirimaginations,untilevenintheirsleeptheywouldfindnorestfromit,buthearthevagueandflittingcreaturesofthedreamssay,ALLENG-LAND——ALLENGLAND!——
　　ISMARCHINGAGAINSTYOU!Iknewallthiswouldhappen;Iknewthatultimatelythepressurewouldbecomesogreatthatitwouldcompelutterance;therefore,Imustbereadywithanansweratthattime——ananswerwellchosenandtranquilizing.
　　Iwasright.Thetimecame.TheyHADtospeak.Poorlads,itwaspitifultosee,theyweresopale,soworn,sotroubled.Atfirsttheirspokesmancouldhardlyfindvoiceorwords;buthepresentlygotboth.Thisiswhathesaid——andheputitintheneatmodernEnglishtaughthiminmyschools:
　　"Wehavetriedtoforgetwhatweare——Englishboys!Wehavetriedtoputreasonbeforesentiment,dutybeforelove;ourmindsapprove,butourheartsreproachus.Whileapparentlyitwasonlythenobility,onlythegentry,onlythetwenty-fiveorthirtythousandknightsleftaliveoutofthelatewars,wewereofonemind,andundisturbedbyanytroublingdoubt;eachandeveryoneofthesefifty-twoladswhostandherebeforeyou,said,'Theyhavechosen——itistheiraffair.'Butthink!——thematterisaltered——ALLENG-LANDISMARCHINGAGAINSTUS!Oh,sir,consider!——
　　reflect!——thesepeopleareourpeople,theyareboneofourbone,fleshofourflesh,welovethem——donotaskustodestroyournation!"
　　Well,itshowsthevalueoflookingahead,andbeingreadyforathingwhenithappens.IfIhadn'tforeseenthisthingandbeenfixed,thatboywouldhavehadme!——Icouldn'thavesaidaword.ButIwasfixed.Isaid:
　　"Myboys,yourheartsareintherightplace,youhavethoughttheworthythought,youhavedonetheworthything.YouareEnglishboys,youwillremainEnglishboys,andyouwillkeepthatnameunsmirched.Giveyourselvesnofurtherconcern,letyourmindsbeatpeace.Considerthis:whileallEnglandismarchingagainstus,whoisinthevan?Who,bythecommonestrulesofwar,willmarchinthefront?Answerme."
　　"Themountedhostofmailedknights."
　　"True.Theyare30,000strong.Acresdeeptheywillmarch.Now,observe:
　　nonebutTHEYwilleverstrikethesand-belt!Thentherewillbeanepisode!
　　Immediatelyafter,thecivilianmultitudeintherearwillretire,tomeetbusinessengagementselsewhere.Nonebutnoblesandgentryareknights,andNONEBUTTHESEwillremaintodancetoourmusicafterthatepisode.
　　Itisabsolutelytruethatweshallhavetofightnobodybutthesethirtythousandknights.Nowspeak,anditshallbeasyoudecide.Shallweavoidthebattle,retirefromthefield?"
　　Theshoutwasunanimousandhearty.
　　"Areyou——areyou——well,afraidofthesethirtythousandknights?"
　　Thatjokebroughtoutagoodlaugh,theboys'troublesvanishedaway,andtheywentgailytotheirposts.Ah,theywereadarlingfifty-two!
　　Asprettyasgirls,too.
　　Iwasreadyfortheenemynow.Lettheapproachingbigdaycomealong——itwouldfindusondeck.
　　Thebigdayarrivedontime.Atdawnthesentryonwatchinthecorralcameintothecaveandreportedamovingblackmassunderthehorizon,andafaintsoundwhichhethoughttobemilitarymusic.Breakfastwasjustready;wesatdownandateit.
　　Thisover,Imadetheboysalittlespeech,andthensentoutadetailtomanthebattery,withClarenceincommandofit.
　　Thesunrosepresentlyandsentitsunobstructedsplendorsovertheland,andwesawaprodigioushostmovingslowlytowardus,withthesteadydriftandalignedfrontofawaveofthesea.Nearerandneareritcame,andmoreandmoresublimelyimposingbecameitsaspect;yes,allEnglandwasthere,apparently.Soonwecouldseetheinnumerablebannersfluttering,andthenthesunstrucktheseaofarmorandsetitallaflash.Yes,itwasafinesight;Ihadn'teverseenanythingtobeatit.
　　Atlastwecouldmakeoutdetails.Allthefrontranks,notellinghowmanyacresdeep,werehorsemen——plumedknightsinarmor.Suddenlyweheardtheblareoftrumpets;theslowwalkburstintoagallop,andthen——well,itwaswonderfultosee!Downsweptthatvasthorse-shoewave——itapproachedthesand-belt——mybreathstoodstill;nearer,nearer——thestripofgreenturfbeyondtheyellowbeltgrewnarrow——narrowerstill——becameamereribboninfrontofthehorses——thendisappearedundertheirhoofs.GreatScott!Why,thewholefrontofthathostshotintotheskywithathunder-crash,andbecameawhirlingtempestofragsandfragments;andalongthegroundlayathickwallofsmokethathidwhatwasleftofthemultitudefromoursight.
　　Timeforthesecondstepintheplanofcampaign!Itouchedabutton,andshookthebonesofEnglandloosefromherspine!
　　Inthatexplosionallournoblecivilization-factorieswentupintheairanddisappearedfromtheearth.Itwasapity,butitwasnecessary.
　　Wecouldnotaffordtolettheenemyturnourownweaponsagainstus.
　　Nowensuedoneofthedullestquarter-hoursIhadeverendured.Wewaitedinasilentsolitudeenclosedbyourcirclesofwire,andbyacircleofheavysmokeoutsideofthese.Wecouldn'tseeoverthewallofsmoke,andwecouldn'tseethroughit.Butatlastitbegantoshredawaylazily,andbytheendofanotherquarter-hourthelandwasclearandourcuriositywasenabledtosatisfyitself.Nolivingcreaturewasinsight!Wenowperceivedthatadditionshadbeenmadetoourdefenses.Thedynamitehaddugaditchmorethanahundredfeetwide,allaroundus,andcastupanembankmentsometwenty-fivefeethighonbothbordersofit.Astodestructionoflife,itwasamazing.Moreover,itwasbeyondestimate.Ofcourse,wecouldnotCOUNTthedead,becausetheydidnotexistasindividuals,butmerelyashomogeneousprotoplasm,withalloysofironandbuttons.
　　Nolifewasinsight,butnecessarilytheremusthavebeensomewoundedintherearranks,whowerecarriedoffthefieldundercoverofthewallofsmoke;therewouldbesicknessamongtheothers——therealwaysis,afteranepisodelikethat.Buttherewouldbenoreinforcements;thiswasthelaststandofthechivalryofEngland;itwasallthatwasleftoftheorder,aftertherecentannihilatingwars.SoIfeltquitesafeinbelievingthattheutmostforcethatcouldforthefuturebebroughtagainstuswouldbebutsmall;thatis,ofknights.Ithereforeissuedacongratulatoryproclamationtomyarmyinthesewords:
　　SOLDIERS,CHAMPIONSOFHUMANLIBERTYANDEQUALITY:YourGeneralcongratulatesyou!Intheprideofhisstrengthandthevanityofhisrenown,anarrogantenemycameagainstyou.Youwereready.Theconflictwasbrief;onyourside,glorious.Thismightyvictory,havingbeenachievedutterlywithoutloss,standswithoutexampleinhistory.Solongastheplanetsshallcontinuetomoveintheirorbits,theBATTLEOFTHESAND-BELTwillnotperishoutofthememoriesofmen.
　　THEBOSS.
　　Ireaditwell,andtheapplauseIgotwasverygratifyingtome.I
　　thenwoundupwiththeseremarks:
　　"ThewarwiththeEnglishnation,asanation,isatanend.Thenationhasretiredfromthefieldandthewar.Beforeitcanbepersuadedtoreturn,warwillhaveceased.Thiscampaignistheonlyonethatisgoingtobefought.Itwillbebrief——thebriefestinhistory.Alsothemostdestructivetolife,consideredfromthestandpointofproportionofcasualtiestonumbersengaged.Wearedonewiththenation;henceforthwedealonlywiththeknights.Englishknightscanbekilled,buttheycannotbeconquered.
　　Weknowwhatisbeforeus.Whileoneofthesemenremainsalive,ourtaskisnotfinished,thewarisnotended.Wewillkillthemall."[Loudandlongcontinuedapplause.]
　　Ipicketedthegreatembankmentsthrownuparoundourlinesbythedynamiteexplosion——merelyalookoutofacoupleofboystoannouncetheenemywhenheshouldappearagain.
　　Next,Isentanengineerandfortymentoapointjustbeyondourlinesonthesouth,toturnamountainbrookthatwasthere,andbringitwithinourlinesandunderourcommand,arrangingitinsuchawaythatIcouldmakeinstantuseofitinanemergency.Thefortymenweredividedintotwoshiftsoftwentyeach,andweretorelieveeachothereverytwohours.
　　Intenhourstheworkwasaccomplished.
　　Itwasnightfallnow,andIwithdrewmypickets.Theonewhohadhadthenorthernoutlookreportedacampinsight,butvisiblewiththeglassonly.Healsoreportedthatafewknightshadbeenfeelingtheirwaytowardus,andhaddrivensomecattleacrossourlines,butthattheknightsthemselveshadnotcomeverynear.ThatwaswhatIhadbeenexpecting.Theywerefeelingus,yousee;theywantedtoknowifweweregoingtoplaythatredterroronthemagain.Theywouldgrowbolderinthenight,perhaps.IbelievedIknewwhatprojecttheywouldattempt,becauseitwasplainlythethingIwouldattemptmyselfifIwereintheirplacesandasignorantastheywere.ImentionedittoClarence.
　　"Ithinkyouareright,"saidhe;"itistheobviousthingforthemtotry."
　　"Well,then,"Isaid,"iftheydoittheyaredoomed.
　　"Certainly."
　　Theywon'thavetheslightestshowintheworld."
　　"Ofcoursetheywon't."
　　"It'sdreadful,Clarence.Itseemsanawfulpity."
　　ThethingdisturbedmesothatIcouldn'tgetanypeaceofmind.forthinkingofitandworryingoverit.So,atlast,toquietmyconscience,Iframedthismessagetotheknights:
　　TOTHEHONORABLETHECOMMANDEROFTHEINSURGENTCHIVALRYOFENGLAND:
　　YOUfightinvain.Weknowyourstrength——ifonemaycallitbythatname.Weknowthatattheutmostyoucannotbringagainstusabovefiveandtwentythousandknights.Therefore,youhavenochance——nonewhatever.
　　Reflect:wearewellequipped,wellfortified,wenumber54.Fifty-fourwhat?Men?No,MINDS——thecapablestintheworld;aforceagainstwhichmereanimalmightmaynomorehopetoprevailthanmaytheidlewavesoftheseahopetoprevailagainstthegranitebarriersofEngland.Beadvised.
　　Weofferyouyourlives;forthesakeofyourfamilies,donotrejectthegift.Weofferyouthischance,anditisthelast:throwdownyourarms;
　　surrenderunconditionallytotheRepublic,andallwillbeforgiven.
　　SignedTHEBOSS.
　　IreadittoClarence,andsaidIproposedtosenditbyaflagoftruce.
　　Helaughedthesarcasticlaughhewasbornwith,andsaid:
　　"Somehowitseemsimpossibleforyoutoeverfullyrealizewhatthesenobilitiesare.Nowletussavealittletimeandtrouble.Considermethecommanderoftheknightsyonder.Now,then,youaretheflagoftruce;
　　approachanddelivermeyourmessage,andIwillgiveyouyouranswer."
　　Ihumoredtheidea.Icameforwardunderanimaginaryguardoftheenemy'ssoldiers,producedmypaper,andreaditthrough.Foranswer,Clarencestruckthepaperoutofmyhand,pursedupascornfullipandsaidwithloftydisdain:
　　"Dismembermethisanimal,andreturnhiminabaskettothebase-bornknavewhosenthim;otheranswerhaveInone!"
　　Howemptyistheoryinpresenceoffact!Andthiswasjustfact,andnothingelse.Itwasthethingthatwouldhavehappened,therewasnogettingaroundthat.Itoreupthepaperandgrantedmymistimedsentimentalitiesapermanentrest.
　　Then,tobusiness.Itestedtheelectricsignalsfromthegatlingplatformtothecave,andmadesurethattheywereallright;Itestedandretestedthosewhichcommandedthefences——theseweresignalswherebyIcouldbreakandrenewtheelectriccurrentineachfenceindependentlyoftheothersatwill.Iplacedthebrook-connectionundertheguardandauthorityofthreeofmybestboys,whowouldalternateintwo-hourwatchesallnightandpromptlyobeymysignal,ifIshouldhaveoccasiontogiveit——threerevolvershotsinquicksuccession.Sentry-dutywasdiscardedforthenight,andthecorralleftemptyoflife;Iorderedthatquietbemaintainedinthecave,andtheelectriclightsturneddowntoaglimmer.
　　Assoonasitwasgoodanddark,Ishutoffthecurrentfromallthefences,andthengropedmywayouttotheembankmentborderingoursideofthegreatdynamiteditch.Icrepttothetopofitandlaythereontheslantofthemucktowatch.Butitwastoodarktoseeanything.Asforsounds,therewerenone.Thestillnesswasdeathlike.True,thereweretheusualnight-soundsofthecountry——thewhirofnightbirds,thebuzzingofinsects,thebarkingofdistantdogs,themellowlowingoffar-offkine——butthesedidn'tseemtobreakthestillness,theyonlyintensifiedit,andaddedagrewsomemelancholytoitintothebargain.
　　Ipresentlygaveuplooking,thenightshutdownsoblack,butIkeptmyearsstrainedtocatchtheleastsuspicioussound,forIjudgedIhadonlytowait,andIshouldn'tbedisappointed.However,Ihadtowaitalongtime.AtlastIcaughtwhatyoumaycallindistinctglimpsesofsoundÑdulledmetallicsound.Iprickedupmyears,then,andheldmybreath,forthiswasthesortofthingIhadbeenwaitingfor.Thissoundthickened,andapproached——fromtowardthenorth.Presently,Ihearditatmyownlevel——theridge-topoftheoppositeembankment,ahundredfeetormoreaway.
　　ThenIseemedtoseearowofblackdotsappearalongthatridge——humanheads?Icouldn'ttell;itmightn'tbeanythingatall;youcan'tdependonyoureyeswhenyourimaginationisoutoffocus.However,thequestionwassoonsettled.Iheardthatmetallicnoisedescendingintothegreatditch.Itaugmentedfast,itspreadallalong,anditunmistakablyfurnishedmethisfact:anarmedhostwastakingupitsquartersintheditch.Yes,thesepeoplewerearrangingalittlesurprisepartyforus.Wecouldexpectentertainmentaboutdawn,possiblyearlier.
　　Igropedmywaybacktothecorralnow;Ihadseenenough.Iwenttotheplatformandsignaledtoturnthecurrentontothetwoinnerfences.
　　ThenIwentintothecave,andfoundeverythingsatisfactorythere——nobodyawakebuttheworking-watch.IwokeClarenceandtoldhimthegreatditchwasfillingupwithmen,andthatIbelievedalltheknightswerecomingforusinabody.Itwasmynotionthatassoonasdawnapproachedwecouldexpecttheditch'sambuscadedthousandstoswarmupovertheembankmentandmakeanassault,andbefollowedimmediatelybytherestoftheirarmy.
　　Clarencesaid:
　　"Theywillbewantingtosendascoutortwointhedarktomakepreliminaryobservations.Whynottakethelightningofftheouterfences,andgivethemachance?"
　　"I'vealreadydoneit,Clarence.Didyoueverknowmetobeinhospitable?"
　　"No,youareagoodheart.Iwanttogoand——"
　　"Beareceptioncommittee?Iwillgo,too."
　　Wecrossedthecorralandlaydowntogetherbetweenthetwoinsidefences.
　　Eventhedimlightofthecavehaddisorderedoureyesightsomewhat,butthefocusstraightwaybegantoregulateitselfandsoonitwasadjustedforpresentcircumstances.Wehadhadtofeelourwaybefore,butwecouldmakeouttoseethefencepostsnow.Westartedawhisperedconversation,butsuddenlyClarencebrokeoffandsaid:
　　"Whatisthat?"
　　"Whatiswhat?"
　　"Thatthingyonder."
　　"Whatthing——where?"
　　"Therebeyondyoualittlepiece——darksomething——adullshapeofsomekind——againstthesecondfence."
　　Igazedandhegazed.Isaid:
　　"Coulditbeaman,Clarence?"
　　"No,Ithinknot.Ifyounotice,itlooksalit——why,itISaman!——
　　leaningonthefence."
　　"Icertainlybelieveitis;letusgoandsee."
　　Wecreptalongonourhandsandkneesuntilwewereprettyclose,andthenlookedup.Yes,itwasaman——adimgreatfigureinarmor,standingerect,withbothhandsontheupperwire——and,ofcourse,therewasasmellofburningflesh.Poorfellow,deadasadoor-nail,andneverknewwhathurthim.Hestoodtherelikeastatue——nomotionabouthim,exceptthathisplumesswishedaboutalittleinthenightwind.Weroseupandlookedinthroughthebarsofhisvisor,butcouldn'tmakeoutwhetherweknewhimornot——featurestoodimandshadowed.
　　Weheardmuffledsoundsapproaching,andwesankdowntothegroundwherewewere.Wemadeoutanotherknightvaguely;hewascomingverystealthily,andfeelinghisway.Hewasnearenoughnowforustoseehimputoutahand,findanupperwire,thenbendandstepunderitandoverthelowerone.Nowhearrivedatthefirstknight——andstartedslightlywhenhediscoveredhim.Hestoodamoment——nodoubtwonderingwhytheotheronedidn'tmoveon;thenhesaid,inalowvoice,"Whydreamestthouhere,goodSirMar——"thenhelaidhishandonthecorpse'sshoulder——andjustutteredalittlesoftmoanandsunkdowndead.Killedbyadeadman,yousee——killedbyadeadfriend,infact.Therewassomethingawfulaboutit.
　　Theseearlybirdscamescatteringalongaftereachother,aboutoneeveryfiveminutesinourvicinity,duringhalfanhour.Theybroughtnoarmorofoffensebuttheirswords;asarule,theycarriedtheswordreadyinthehand,andputitforwardandfoundthewireswithit.Wewouldnowandthenseeabluesparkwhentheknightthatcauseditwassofarawayastobeinvisibletous;butweknewwhathadhappened,allthesame;
　　poorfellow,hehadtouchedachargedwirewithhisswordandbeenelected.
　　Wehadbriefintervalsofgrimstillness,interruptedwithpiteousregularitybytheclashmadebythefallingofaniron-clad;andthissortofthingwasgoingon,rightalong,andwasverycreepythereinthedarkandlonesomeness.
　　Weconcludedtomakeatourbetweentheinnerfences.Weelectedtowalkupright,forconvenience'ssake;wearguedthatifdiscerned,weshouldbetakenforfriendsratherthanenemies,andinanycaseweshouldbeoutofreachofswords,andthesegentrydidnotseemtohaveanyspearsalong.Well,itwasacurioustrip.Everywheredeadmenwerelyingoutsidethesecondfence——notplainlyvisible,butstillvisible;andwecountedfifteenofthosepatheticstatues——deadknightsstandingwiththeirhandsontheupperwire.
　　Onethingseemedtobesufficientlydemonstrated:ourcurrentwassotremendousthatitkilledbeforethevictimcouldcryout.Prettysoonwedetectedamuffledandheavysound,andnextmomentweguessedwhatitwas.Itwasasurpriseinforcecoming!whisperedClarencetogoandwakethearmy,andnotifyittowaitinsilenceinthecaveforfurtherorders.Hewassoonback,andwestoodbytheinnerfenceandwatchedthesilentlightningdoitsawfulworkuponthatswarminghost.Onecouldmakeoutbutlittleofdetail;buthecouldnotethatablackmasswaspilingitselfupbeyondthesecondfence.Thatswellingbulkwasdeadmen!Ourcampwasenclosedwithasolidwallofthedead——abulwark,abreastwork,ofcorpses,youmaysay.Oneterriblethingaboutthisthingwastheabsenceofhumanvoices;therewerenocheers,nowarcries;beingintentuponasurprise,thesemenmovedasnoiselesslyastheycould;andalwayswhenthefrontrankwasnearenoughtotheirgoaltomakeitproperforthemtobegintogetashoutready,ofcoursetheystruckthefatallineandwentdownwithouttestifying.
　　Isentacurrentthroughthethirdfencenow;andalmostimmediatelythroughthefourthandfifth,soquicklywerethegapsfilledup.Ibelievedthetimewascomenowformyclimax;Ibelievedthatthatwholearmywasinourtrap.Anyway,itwashightimetofindout.SoItouchedabuttonandsetfiftyelectricsunsaflameonthetopofourprecipice.
　　Land,whatasight!Wewereenclosedinthreewallsofdeadmen!Alltheotherfenceswereprettynearlyfilledwiththeliving,whowerestealthilyworkingtheirwayforwardthroughthewires.Thesuddenglareparalyzedthishost,petrifiedthem,youmaysay,withastonishment;therewasjustoneinstantformetoutilizetheirimmobilityin,andIdidn'tlosethechance.Yousee,inanotherinstanttheywouldhaverecoveredtheirfaculties,thenthey'dhaveburstintoacheerandmadearush,andmywireswouldhavegonedownbeforeit;butthatlostinstantlostthemtheiropportunityforever;whileeventhatslightfragmentoftimewasstillunspent,Ishotthecurrentthroughallthefencesandstruckthewholehostdeadintheirtracks!THEREwasagroanyoucouldHEAR!Itvoicedthedeath-pangofeleventhousandmen.Itswelledoutonthenightwithawfulpathos.
　　Aglanceshowedthattherestoftheenemy——perhapstenthousandstrong——werebetweenusandtheencirclingditch,andpressingforwardtotheassault.ConsequentlywehadthemALL!andhadthempasthelp.Timeforthelastactofthetragedy.Ifiredthethreeappointedrevolvershots——whichmeant:
　　"Turnonthewater!"
　　Therewasasuddenrushandroar,andinaminutethemountainbrookwasragingthroughthebigditchandcreatingariverahundredfeetwideandtwentyfivedeep.
　　"Standtoyourguns,men!Openfire!"
　　Thethirteengatlingsbegantovomitdeathintothefatedtenthousand.
　　Theyhalted,theystoodtheirgroundamomentagainstthatwitheringdelugeoffire,thentheybroke,facedaboutandswepttowardtheditchlikechaffbeforeagale.Afullfourthpartoftheirforceneverreachedthetopoftheloftyembankment;thethree-fourthsreacheditandplungedover——todeathbydrowning.