CHAPTERXXII
　　THE：STRUGGLEINTHECOUNCILHOUSE
　　AsAsanoandGrahamhurriedalongtotheruinsabouttheCouncilHouse，theysaweverywheretheexcitementofthepeoplerising。"ToyourWardsToyourWards！"Everywheremenandwomeninbluewerehurryingfromunknownsubterraneanemployments，upthestaircasesofthemiddlepath—atoneplaceGrahamsawanarsenaloftherevolutionarycommitteebesiegedbyacrowdofshoutingmen，atanotheracoupleofmeninthehatedyellowuniformoftheLabourPolice，pursuedbyagatheringcrowd，fledprecipitatelyalongtheswiftwaythatwentintheoppositedirection。
　　Thecriesof"ToyourWards！"becameatlastacontinuousshoutingastheydrewneartheGovernmentquarter。Manyoftheshoutswereunintelligible。"Ostroghasbetrayedus，"onemanbawledinahoarsevoice，againandagain，dinningthatrefrainintoGraham’searuntilithauntedhim。ThispersonstayedclosebesideGrahamandAsanoontheswiftway，shoutingtothepeoplewhoswarmedonthelowerplatformsasherushedpastthem。HiscryaboutOstrogalternatedwithsomeincomprehensibleordersPresentlyhewentleapingdownanddisappeared。
　　Graham’smindwasfilledwiththedin。Hisplanswerevagueandunformed。Hehadonepictureofsomecommandingpositionfromwhichhecouldaddressthemultitudes，anotherofmeetingOstrogfacetoface。Hewasfullofrage，oftensemuscularexcitement，hishandsgripped，hislipswerepressedtogether。
　　ThewaytotheCouncilHouseacrosstheruinswasimpassable，butAsanometthatdifficultyandtookGrahamintothepremisesofthecentralpost—office。
　　Thepost—officewasnominallyatwork，buttheblue—
　　clothedportersmovedsluggishlyorhadstoppedtostarethroughthearchesoftheirgalleriesattheshoutingmenwhoweregoingbyoutside。"EverymantohisWard！EverymantohisWard！"Here，byAsano’sadvice，Grahamrevealedhisidentity。
　　TheycrossedtotheCouncilHousebyacablecradle。AlreadyinthebriefintervalsincethecapitulationoftheCouncillorsagreatchangehadbeenwroughtintheappearanceoftheruins。Thespurtingcascadesoftherupturedseawater—mainshadbeencapturedandtamed，andhugetemporarypipesranoverheadalongaflimsylookingfabricofgirders。TheskywaslacedwithrestoredcablesandwiresthatservedtheCouncilHouse，andamassofnewfabricwithcranesandotherbuildingmachinesgoingtoandfrouponit，projectedtotheleftofthewhitepile。
　　Themovingwaysthatranacrossthisareahadbeenrestored，albeitforoncerunningundertheopensky。ThesewerethewaysthatGrahamhadseenfromthelittlebalconyinthehourofhisawakening，notninedayssince，andthehallofhisTrancehadbeenonthefurtherside，wherenowshapelesspilesofsmashedandshatteredmasonrywereheapedtogether。
　　Itwasalreadyhighdayandthesunwasshiningbrightly。Outoftheirtallcavernsofblueelectriclightcametheswiftwayscrowdedwithmultitudesofpeople，whopouredoffthemandgatheredeverdenseroverthewreckageandconfusionoftheruins。Theairwasfulloftheirshouting，andtheywerepressingandswayingtowardsthecentralbuilding。Forthemostpartthatshoutingmassconsistedofshapelessswarms，buthereandthereGrahamcouldseethatarudedisciplinestruggledtoestablishitself。Andeveryvoiceclamouredfororderinthechaos。"ToyourWards！EverymantohisWard！"
　　ThecablecarriedthemintoahallwhichGrahamrecognisedastheante—chambertotheHalloftheAtlas，aboutthegalleryofwhichhehadwalkeddaysagowithHowardtoshowhimselftothevanishedCouncil，anhourfromhisawakening。Nowtheplacewasemptyexceptfortwocableattendants。ThesemenseemedhugelyastonishedtorecognisetheSleeperinthemanwhoswungdownfromthecrossseat。
　　"WhereisHelenWotton？"hedemanded。"WhereisHelenWotton？"
　　Theydidnotknow。
　　"ThenwhereisOstrog？ImustseeOstrogforthwith。Hehasdisobeyedme。Ihavecomebacktotakethingsoutofhishands。"WithoutwaitingforAsano，hewentstraightacrosstheplace，ascendedthestepsatthefurtherend，and，pullingthecurtainaside，foundhimselffacingtheperpetuallylabouringTitan。
　　Thehallwasempty。Itsappearancehadchangedverygreatlysincehisfirstsightofit。Ithadsufferedseriousinjuryintheviolentstruggleofthefirstoutbreak。Ontherighthandsideofthegreatfiguretheupperhalfofthewallhadbeentornawayfornearlytwohundredfeetofitslength，andasheetofthesameglassyfilmthathadenclosedGrahamathisawakeninghadbeendrawnacrossthegap。Thisdeadened，butdidnotaltogetherexcludetheroarofthepeopleoutside。
　　"Wards！Wards！Wards！"theyseemedtobesaying。Throughittherewerevisiblethebeamsandsupportsofmetalscaffoldingsthatroseandfellaccordingtotherequirementsofagreatcrowdofworkmen。Anidlebuildingmachine，withlankarmsofredpaintedmetalthatcaughtthestillplasticblocksofmineralpasteandswungthemneatlyintoposition，stretchedgauntlyacrossthisgreentintedpicture。Onitwerestillanumberofworkmenstaringatthecrowdbelow。Foramomenthestoodregardingthesethings，andAsanoovertookhim。
　　"Ostrog，"saidAsano，"willbeinthesmallofficesbeyondthere。"ThelittlemanlookedlividnowandhiseyessearchedGraham’sface。
　　TheyhadscarcelyadvancedtenpacesfromthecurtainbeforealittlepaneltotheleftoftheAtlasrolledup，andOstrog，accompaniedbyLincolnandfollowedbytwoblackandyellowcladnegroes，appearedcrossingtheremotecornerofthehall，towardsasecondpanelthatwasraisedandopen。
　　"Ostrog，"shoutedGraham，andatthesoundofhisvoicethelittlepartyturnedastonished。
　　OstrogsaidsomethingtoLincolnandadvancedalone。
　　Grahamwasthefirsttospeak。Hisvoicewasloudanddictatorial。"WhatisthisIhear？"heasked。
　　"Areyoubringingnegroeshere——tokeepthepeopledown？"
　　"Itisnonetoosoon，"saidOstrog。"Theyhavebeengettingoutofhandmoreandmore，sincetherevolt。Iunder—estimated——"
　　"Doyoumeanthattheseinfernalnegroesareontheway？"
　　"Ontheway。Asitis，youhaveseenthepeople——
　　outside？"
　　"Nowonder！But——afterwhatwassaid。Youhavetakentoomuchonyourself，Ostrog。"
　　Ostrogsaidnothing，butdrewnearer。
　　"ThesenegroesmustnotcometoLondon，"saidGraham。"IamMasterandtheyshallnotcome。"
　　OstrogglancedatLincoln，whoatoncecametowardsthemwithhistwoattendantsclosebehindhim。"Whynot？"askedOstrog。
　　"Whitemenmustbemasteredbywhitemen。
　　Besides——"
　　"Thenegroesareonlyaninstrument。"
　　"Butthatisnotthequestion。IamtheMaster。I
　　meantobetheMaster。AndItellyouthesenegroesshallnotcome。"
　　"Thepeople——"
　　"Ibelieveinthepeople。"
　　"Becauseyouareananachronism。YouareamanoutofthePast——anaccident。YouareOwnerperhapsofhalfthepropertyintheworld。ButyouarenotMaster。YoudonotknowenoughtobeMaster。"
　　HeglancedatLincolnagain。"Iknownowwhatyouthink——Icanguesssomethingofwhatyoumeantodo。Evennowitisnottoolatetowarnyou。Youdreamofhumanequality——ofasocialisticorder——
　　youhaveallthoseworn—outdreamsofthenineteenthcenturyfreshandvividinyourmind，andyouwouldrulethisagethatyoudonotunderstand。"
　　"Listen！"saidGraham。"Youcanhearit——asoundlikethesea。Notvoices——butavoice。Doyoualtogetherunderstand？"
　　"Wetaughtthemthat，"saidOstrog。
　　"Perhaps。Canyouteachthemtoforgetit？Butenoughofthis！Thesenegroesmustnotcome。"
　　TherewasapauseandOstroglookedhimintheeyes。
　　"Theywill，"hesaid。
　　"Iforbidit，"saidGraham。
　　"Theyhavestarted。"
　　"Iwillnothaveit。"
　　"No，"saidOstrog。"SorryasIamtofollowthemethodoftheCouncil——。Foryourowngood——
　　youmustnotsidewithdisorder。Andnowthatyouarehere——。Itwaskindofyoutocomehere。"
　　LincolnlaidhishandonGraham’sshoulder。
　　AbruptlyGrahamrealizedtheenormityofhisblunderincomingtotheCouncilHouse。Heturnedtowardsthecurtainsthatseparatedthehallfromtheantechamber。
　　TheclutchinghandofAsanointervened。
　　InanothermomentLincolnhadgraspedGraham’scloak。
　　HeturnedandstruckatLincoln’sface，andincontinentlyanegrohadhimbycollarandarm。Hewrenchedhimselfaway，hissleevetorenoisily，andhestumbledback，tobetrippedbytheotherattendant。
　　Thenhestruckthegroundheavilyandhewasstaringatthedistantceilingofthehall。
　　Heshouted，rolledover，strugglingfiercely，clutchedanattendant’slegandthrewhimheadlong，andstruggledtohisfeet。
　　Lincolnappearedbeforehim，wentdownheavilyagainwithablowunderthepointofthejawandlaystill。Grahammadetwostrides，stumbled。AndthenOstrog’sarmwasroundhisneck，hewaspulledoverbackward，fellheavily，andhisarmswerepinnedtotheground。AfterafewviolenteffortsheceasedtostruggleandlaystaringatOstrog’sheavingthroat。
　　"You——are——aprisoner，"pantedOstrog，exulting。
　　"You——wereratherafool——tocomeback。"
　　Grahamturnedhisheadaboutandperceivedthroughtheirregulargreenwindowinthewallsofthehallthemenwhohadbeenworkingthebuildingcranesgesticulatingexcitedlytothepeoplebelowthem。
　　Theyhadseen！
　　Ostrogfollowedhiseyesandstarted。HeshoutedsomethingtoLincoln，butLincolndidnotmove。A
　　bulletsmashedamongthemouldingsabovetheAtlasThetwosheetsoftransparentmatterthathadbeenstretchedacrossthisgapwererent，theedgesofthetornaperturedarkened，curved，ranrapidlytowardstheframework，andinamomenttheCouncilchamberstoodopentotheair。Achillygustblewinbythegap，bringingwithitawarofvoicesfromtheruinousspaceswithout，anelvishbabblement，"SavetheMaster！""WhataretheydoingtotheMaster？"
　　"TheMasterisbetrayed！"
　　AndthenherealisedthatOstrog’sattentionwasdistracted，thatOstrog’sgriphadrelaxed，and，wrenchinghisarmsfree，hestruggledtohisknees。
　　InanothermomenthehadthrustOstrogback，andhewasononefoot，hishandgrippingOstrog’sthroat，andOstrog’shandsclutchingthesilkabouthisneck。
　　Butnowmenwerecomingtowardsthemfromthedais——menwhoseintentionshemisunderstood。Hehadaglimpseofsomeonerunninginthedistancetowardsthecurtainsoftheantechamber，andthenOstroghadslippedfromhimandthesenewcomerswereuponhim。Tohisinfiniteastonishment，theyseizedhim。TheyobeyedtheshoutsofOstrog。
　　Hewasluggedadozenyardsbeforeherealisedthattheywerenotfriends——thattheyweredragginghimtowardstheopenpanel。Whenhesawthishepulledback，hetriedtoflinghimselfdown，heshoutedforhelpwithallhisstrength。Andthistimetherewereansweringcries。
　　Thegripuponhisneckrelaxed，andbehold！inthelowercorneroftherentuponthewall，firstoneandthenanumberoflittleblackfiguresappearedshoutingandwavingarms。TheycameleapingdownfromthegapintothelightgallerythathadledtotheSilentRooms。Theyranalongit，sonearweretheythatGrahamcouldseetheweaponsintheirhands，ThenOstrogwasshoutinginhiseartothemenwhoheldhim，andoncemorehewasstrugglingwithallhisstrengthagainsttheirendeavourstothrusthimtowardstheopeningthatyawnedtoreceivehim。"Theycan’tcomedown，"pantedOstrog。"Theydaren’tfire。
　　It’sallright。""We’llsavehimfromthemyet。"
　　ForlongminutesasitseemedtoGrahamthatingloriousstrugglecontinued。Hisclotheswererentinadozenplaces，hewascoveredindust，onehandhadbeentroddenupon。Hecouldheartheshoutsofhissupporters，andonceheheardshots。Hecouldfeelhisstrengthgivingway，feelhiseffortswildandaimless。Butnohelpcame，andsurely，irresistibly，thatblack，yawningopeningcamenearer。
　　Thepressureuponhimrelaxedandhestruggledup。HesawOstrog’sgreyheadrecedingandperceivedthathewasnolongerheld。Heturnedaboutandcamefullintoamaninblack。Oneofthegreenweaponscrackedclosetohim，adriftofpungentsmokecameintohisface，andasteelbladeflashed。
　　Thehugechamberspanabouthim。
　　Hesawamaninpalebluestabbingoneoftheblackandyellowattendantsnotthreeyardsfromhisface。
　　Thenhandswereuponhimagain。
　　Hewasbeingpulledintwo，directionsnow。Itseemedasthoughpeoplewereshoutingtohim。Hewantedtounderstandandcouldnot。Someonewasclutchingabouthisthighs，hewasbeinghoistedinspiteofhisvigorousefforts。Heunderstoodsuddenly，heceasedtostruggle。Hewaslifteduponmen’sshouldersandcarriedawayfromthatdevouringpanel。
　　Tenthousandthroatswerecheering。
　　HesawmeninblueandblackhurryingaftertheretreatingOstrogitesandfiring。Liftedup，hesawnowacrossthewholeexpanseofthehallbeneaththeAtlasimage，sawthathewasbeingcarriedtowardstheraisedplatforminthecentreoftheplace。Thefarendofthehallwasalreadyfullofpeoplerunningtowardshim。Theywerelookingathimandcheering。
　　Hebecameawarethatasortofbody—guardsurroundedhim。Activemenabouthimshoutedvagueorders。Hesawcloseathandtheblackmoustachedmaninyellowwhohadbeenamongthosewhohadgreetedhiminthepublictheatre，shoutingdirections。
　　Thehallwasalreadydenselypackedwithswayingpeople，thelittlemetalgallerysaggedwithashoutingload，thecurtainsattheendhadbeentornaway，andtheante—chamberwasrevealeddenselycrowded。Hecouldscarcelymakethemannearhimhearforthetumultaboutthem。"WherehasOstroggone？"heasked。
　　Themanhequestionedpointedovertheheadstowardsthelowerpanelsaboutthehallonthesideoppositethegap。Theystoodopenandarmedmen，bluecladwithblacksashes，wererunningthroughthemandvanishingintothechambersandpassagesbeyond。
　　ItseemedtoGrahamthatasoundoffiringdriftedthroughtheriot。Hewascarriedinastaggeringcurveacrossthegreathalltowardsanopeningbeneaththegap。
　　Heperceivedmenworkingwithasortofrudedisciplinetokeepthecrowdoffhim，tomakeaspaceclearabouthim。Hepassedoutofthehall，andsawacrude，newwallrisingblanklybeforehimtoppedbybluesky。Hewasswungdowntohisfeet；someonegrippedhisarmandguidedhim。Hefoundthemaninyellowcloseathand。Theyweretakinghimupanarrowstairwayofbrick，andcloseathandrosethegreatredpaintedmasses，thecranesandleversandthestillenginesofthebigbuildingmachine。
　　Hewasatthetopofthesteps。Hewashurriedacrossanarrowrailedfootway，andsuddenlywithavastshoutingtheamphitheatreofruinsopenedagainbeforehim。"TheMasteriswithus！TheMaster！
　　TheMaster！"Theshoutsweptathwartthelakeoffaceslikeawave，brokeagainstthedistantcliffofruins，andcamebackinawelterofcries。"TheMasterisonourside！"
　　Grahamperceivedthathewasnolongerencompassedbypeople，thathewasstandinguponalittletemporaryplatformofwhitemetal，partofaflimsyseemingscaffoldingthatlacedaboutthegreatmassoftheCouncilHouse。Overallthehugeexpanseoftheruins，swayedandeddiedtheshoutingpeople；
　　andhereandtheretheblackbannersoftherevolutionarysocietiesduckedandswayedandformedrarenucleioforganisationinthechaos。UpthesteepstairsofwallandscaffoldingbywhichhisrescuershadreachedtheopeningintheAtlasChamber，clungasolidcrowd，andlittleenergeticblackfiguresclingingtopillarsandprojectionswerestrenuoustoinducethesecongestedmassestostir。Behindhim，atahigherpointonthescaffolding，anumberofmenstruggledupwardswiththeflappingfoldsofahugeblackstandard。ThroughtheyawninggapinthewallsbelowhimhecouldlookdownuponthepackedattentivemultitudesintheHalloftheAtlas。Thedistantflyingstagestothesouthcameoutbrightandvivid，broughtnearerasitseemedbyanunusualtranslucencyoftheair。Asolitaryaeropilebeatupfromthecentralstageasiftomeetthecomingaeroplanes。
　　"WhathadbecomeofOstrog？"askedGraham，andevenashespokehesawthatalleyeswereturnedfromhimtowardsthecrestoftheCouncilHousebuilding。Helookedalsointhisdirectionofuniversalattention。Foramomenthesawnothingbutthejaggedcornerofawall，hardandclearagainstthesky。Thenintheshadowheperceivedtheinteriorofaroomandrecognisedwithastartthegreenandwhitedecorationsofhisformerprison。Andcomingquicklyacrossthisopenedroomanduptotheveryvergeofthecliffoftheruinscamealittlewhitecladfigurefollowedbytwoothersmallerseemingfiguresinblackandyellow。Heheardthemanbesidehimexclaim"Ostrog，"andturnedtoaskaquestion。Butheneverdid，becauseofthestartledexclamationofanotherofthosewhowerewithhimandalankfingersuddenlypointing。Helooked，andbeholdtheaeropilethathadbeenrisingfromtheflyingstagewhenlasthehadlookedinthatdirection，wasdrivingtowardsthem。Theswiftsteadyflightwasstillnovelenoughtoholdhisattention。
　　Neareritcame，growingrapidlylargerandlarger，untilithadsweptoverthefurtheredgeoftheruinsandintoviewofthedensemultitudesbelow。Itdroopedacrossthespaceandroseandpassedoverhead，risingtoclearthemassoftheCouncilHouse，afilmytranslucentshapewiththesolitaryaeronautpeeringdownthroughitsribs。Itvanishedbeyondtheskylineoftheruins。
　　GrahamtransferredhisattentiontoOstrog。Hewassignallingwithhishands，andhisattendantsbusybreakingdownthewallbesidehim。Inanothermomenttheaeropilecameintoviewagain，alittlethingfaraway，comingroundinawidecurveandgoingslower。
　　Thensuddenlythemaninyellowshouted："Whataretheydoing？Whatarethepeopledoing？WhyisOstrogleftthere？Whyishenotcaptured？Theywilllifthim——theaeropilewilllifthim！Ah！"
　　Theexclamationwasechoedbyashoutfromtheruins。TherattlingsoundofthegreenweaponsdriftedacrosstheinterveninggulftoGraham，and，lookingdown，hesawanumberofblackandyellowuniformsrunningalongoneofthegalleriesthatlayopentotheairbelowthepromontoryuponwhichOstrogstood。Theyfiredastheyranatmenunseen，andthenemergedanumberofpalebluefiguresinpursuit。Theseminutefightingfigureshadtheoddesteffect；theyseemedastheyranlikelittlemodelsoldiersinatoy。Thisqueerappearanceofahousecutopengavethatstruggleamidstfurnitureandpassagesaqualityofunreality。Itwasperhapstwohundredyardsawayfromhim，andverynearlyfiftyabovetheheadsintheruinsbelow。Theblackandyellowmenranintoanopenarchway，andturnedandfiredavolley。Oneofthebluepursuersstridingforwardclosetotheedge，flunguphisarms，staggeredsideways，seemedtoGraham’ssensetohangovertheedgeforseveralseconds，andfellheadlongdown。Grahamsawhimstrikeaprojectingcorner，flyout，headoverheels，headoverheels，andvanishbehindtheredarmofthebuildingmachine。
　　AndthenashadowcamebetweenGrahamandthesun。Helookedupandtheskywasclear，butheknewtheaeropilehadpassed。Ostroghadvanished。
　　Themaninyellowthrustbeforehim，zealousandperspiring，pointingandblatent。
　　"Theyaregrounding！"criedthemaninyellow。
　　"Theyaregrounding。Tellthepeopletofireathim。
　　Tellthemtofireathim！"
　　Grahamcouldnotunderstand。Heheardloudvoicesrepeatingtheseenigmaticalorders。
　　Suddenlyovertheedgeoftheruinshesawtheprowoftheaeropilecomeglidingandstopwithajerk。InamomentGrahamunderstoodthatthethinghadgroundedinorderthatOstrogmightescapebyit。
　　Hesawabluehazeclimbingoutofthegulf，perceivedthatthepeoplebelowhimwerenowfiringupattheprojectingstem。
　　Amanbesidehimcheeredhoarsely，andhesawthatthebluerebelshadgainedthearchwaythathadbeencontestedbythemeninblackandyellowamomentbefore，andwererunninginacontinualstreamalongtheopenpassage。
　　AndsuddenlytheaeropileslippedovertheedgeoftheCouncilHouseandfell。Itdropped，tiltingatanangleofforty—fivedegrees，anddroppingsosteeplythatitseemedtoGraham，itseemedperhapstomostofthesebelow，thatitcouldnotpossiblyriseagain。
　　ItfellsocloselypasthimthathecouldseeOstrogclutchingtheguidesoftheseat，withhisgreyhairstreaming；seethewhite—facedaeronautwrenchingovertheleverthatdrovetheenginealongitsguides。
　　Heheardtheapprehensivevaguecryofinnumerablemenbelow。
　　Grahamclutchedtherailingbeforehimandgasped。
　　Thesecondseemedanage。Thelowervanoftheaeropilepassedwithinanaceoftouchingthepeople，whoyelledandscreamedandtrampledoneanotherbelow。
　　Andthenitrose。
　　Foramomentitlookedasifitcouldnotpossiblycleartheoppositecliff，andthenthatitcouldnotpossiblyclearthewind—wheelthatrotatedbeyond。
　　Andbehold！itwasclearandsoaring，stillheelingsideways，upward，upwardintothewind—sweptsky。
　　ThesuspenseofthemomentgaveplacetoafuryofexasperationastheswarmingpeoplerealisedthatOstroghadescapedthem。Withbelatedactivitytheyrenewedtheirfire，untiltherattlingwoveintoaroar，untilthewholeareabecamedimandblueandtheairpungentwiththethinsmokeoftheirweapons。
　　Toolate！Theaeropiledwindledsmallerandsmaller，andcurvedaboutandsweptgracefullydownwardtotheflyingstagefromwhichithadsolatelyrisen。Ostroghadescaped。
　　Forawhileaconfusedbabblementarosefromtheruins，andthentheuniversalattentioncamebacktoGraham，perchedhighamongthescaffolding。Hesawthefacesofthepeopleturnedtowardshim，heardtheirshoutsathisrescue。Fromthethroatofthewayscamethesongoftherevoltspreadinglikeabreezeacrossthatswayingseaofmen。
　　Thelittlegroupofmenabouthimshoutedcongratulationsonhisescape。Themaninyellowwasclosetohim，withasetfaceandshiningeyes。Andthesongwasrising，louderandlouder；tramp，tramp，tramp，tramp。
　　Slowlytherealisationcameofthefullmeaningofthesethingstohim，theperceptionoftheswiftchangeinhisposition。Ostrog，whohadstoodbesidehimwheneverhehadfacedthatshoutingmultitudebefore，wasbeyondthere——theantagonist。Therewasnoonetoruleforhimanylonger。Eventhepeopleabouthim，theleadersandorganisersofthemultitude，lookedtoseewhathewoulddo，lookedtohimtoact，awaitedhisorders。HewasKingindeed。Hispuppetreignwasatanend。
　　Hewasveryintenttodothethingthatwasexpectedofhim。Hisnervesandmuscleswerequivering，hismindwasperhapsalittleconfused，buthefeltneitherfearnoranger。Hishandthathadbeentroddenuponthrobbedandwashot。Hewasalittlenervousabouthisbearing。Heknewhewasnotafraid，buthewasanxiousnottoseemafraid。Inhisformerlifehehadoftenbeenmoreexcitedinplayinggamesofskill。Hewasdesirousofimmediateaction，heknewhemustnotthinktoomuchindetailofthehugecomplexityofthestruggleabouthimlestheshouldbeparalysedbythesenseofitsintricacy。
　　Overtherethosesquareblueshapes，theflyingstages，meantOstrog；againstOstroghewasfightingfortheworld。
　　CHAPTERXXIII
　　WHILETHEAEROLANESWERECOMING
　　ForatimetheMasteroftheEarthwasnotevenmasterofhisownmind。Evenhiswillseemedawillnothisown，hisownactssurprisedhimandwerebutapartoftheconfusionofstrangeexperiencesthatpouredacrosshisbeing。Thesethingsweredefinite，theaeroplaneswerecoming，HelenWottonhadwarnedthepeopleoftheircoming，andhewasMasteroftheEarth。Eachofthesefactsseemedstrugglingforcompletepossessionofhisthoughts。Theyprotrudedfromabackgroundofswarminghalls，elevatedpassages，roomsjammedwithwardleadersincouncilkinematographandtelephonerooms，andwindowslookingoutonaseethingseaofmarchingmen。Themaninyellow，andmenwhomhefanciedwerecalledWardLeaders，wereeitherpropellinghimforwardorfollowinghimobediently；itwashardtotell。
　　Perhapstheyweredoingalittleofboth。Perhapssomepowerunseenandunsuspected，propelledthemall。
　　HewasawarethathewasgoingtomakeaproclamationtothePeopleoftheEarth，awareofcertaingrandiosephrasesfloatinginhismindasthethinghemeanttosay。Manylittlethingshappened，andthenhefoundhimselfwiththemaninyellowenteringalittleroomwherethisproclamationofhiswastobemade。