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hospital with it； and it could not well be left in the street； I somewhat
reluctantly carried it indoors with me。
Once in the shine of my own lamp and a cigar in my mouth I had a
closer look at that ancient piece of art work from heaven； or the other
place； only knows what ancient loom。
A big； strong rug of faded Oriental colouring； it covered half the floor
of my sitting…room； the substance being of a material more like camel's
hair than anything else； and run… ning across； when examined closely； were
some dark fibres so long and fine that surely they must have come from
the tail of Solomon's favourite black stallion itself。 But the strangest
thing about that carpet was its pattern。 It was threadbare enough to all
conscience in places； yet the design still lived in solemn； age…wasted hues；
and； as I dragged it to my stove…front and spread it out； it seemed to me
that it was as much like a star map done by a scribe who had lately
recovered from delirium tremens as anything else。 In the centre appeared
a round such as might be taken for the sun； while here and there； 〃in the
field；〃 as heralds say； were lesser orbs which from their size and position
could represent smaller worlds circling about it。 Between these orbs
were dotted lines and arrow…heads of the oldest form pointing in all
directions； while all the intervening spaces were filled up with woven
characters half…way in appearance between Runes and Cryptic…Sanskrit。
Round the borders these characters ran into a wild maze； a perfect jungle
of an alphabet through which none but a wizard could have forced a way
in search of meaning。
Altogether； I thought as I kicked it out straight upon my floor； it was
a strange and not unhandsome article of furnitureit would do nicely for
the mess…room on the Carolina； and if any representatives of yonder
poor old fel… low turned up tomorrow； why； I would give them a couple of
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dollars for it。 Little did I guess how dear it would be at any price！
Meanwhile that steak was late； and now that the tempor… ary
excitement of the evening was wearing off I fell dull again。 What a dark；
sodden world it was that frowned in on me as I moved over to the window
and opened it for the benefit of the cool air； and how the wind howled
about the roof tops。 How lonely I was！ What a fool I had been to ask
for long leave and come ashore like this； to curry favour with a set of
stubborn dunderheads who cared nothing for meor Polly； and could not
or would not understand how important it was to the best interests of the
Service that I should get that promotion which alone would send me back
to her an eligible wooer！ What a fool I was not to have volunteered for
some desperate service instead of wast… ing time like this！ Then at least
life would have been interesting； now it was dull as ditch…water； with
wretched vistas of stagnant waiting between now and that joyful day when
I could claim that dear； rosy…checked girl for my own。 What a fool I had
been！
〃I wish； I wish；〃 I exclaimed； walking round the little room； 〃I wish I
were〃
While these unfinished exclamations were actually passing my lips I
chanced to cross that infernal mat； and it is no more startling than true； but
at my word a quiver of expectation ran through that gaunt weba rustle of
antici… pation filled its ancient fabric； and one frayed corner surged up； and
as I passed off its surface in my stride； the sentence still unfinished on my
lips； wrapped itself about my left leg with extraordinary swiftness and so
effectively that I nearly fell into the arms of my landlady； who opened the
door at the moment and came in with a tray and the steak and tomatoes
mentioned more than once already。
It was the draught caused by the opening door； of course； that had
made the dead man's rug lift so strangely what else could it have been？
I made this apology to the good woman； and when she had set the table
and closed the door took another turn or two about my den； con… tinuing as
I did so my angry thoughts。
〃Yes； yes；〃 I said at last； returning to the stove and taking my stand；
hands in pockets； in front of it； 〃anything were better than this； any
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enterprise however wild； any adventure however desperate。 Oh； I wish I
were anywhere but here； anywhere out of this redtape…ridden world of ours！
I WISH I WERE IN THE PLANET MARS！〃
How can I describe what followed those luckless words？ Even as I
spoke the magic carpet quivered responsively under my feet； and an
undulation went all round the fringe as though a sudden wind were
shaking it。 It humped up in the middle so abruptly that I came down
sitting with a shock that numbed me for the moment。 It threw me on my
back and billowed up round me as though I were in the trough of a stormy
sea。 Quicker than I can write it lapped a corner over and rolled me in its
folds like a chrysalis in a cocoon。 I gave a wild yell and made one frantic
struggle； but it was too late。 With the leathery strength of a giant and the
swiftness of an accomplished cigar… roller covering a 〃core〃 with leaf； it
swamped my efforts； straightened my limbs； rolled me over； lapped me in
fold after fold till head and feet and everything were gone crushed life
and breath back into my innermost being； and then； with the last particle
of consciousness； I felt myself lifted from the floor； pass once round the
room； and finally shoot out； point foremost； into space through the open
window； and go up and up and up with a sound of rending atmospheres
that seemed to tear like riven silk in one pro… longed shriek under my head；
and to close up in thunder astern until my reeling senses could stand it no
longer。 and time and space and circumstances all lost their meaning to
me。
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CHAPTER II
How long that wild rush lasted I have no means of judging。 It may
have been an hour； a day； or many days； for I was throughout in a state of
suspended animation； but presently my senses began to return and with
them a sensa… tion of lessening speed； a grateful relief to a heavy pressure
which had held my life crushed in its grasp； without destroy… ing it
completely。 It was just that sort of sensation though more keen which；
drowsy in his bunk； a traveller feels when he is aware； without special
perception； harbour is reached and a voyage comes to an end。 But in my
case the slowing down was for a long time comparative。 Yet the
sensation served to revive my scattered senses； and just as I was
awakening to a lively sense of amazement； an incredible doubt of my own
emotions； and an eager desire to know what had happened； my strange
conveyance oscillated once or twice； undulated lightly up and down； like a
wood… pecker flying from tree to tree； and then grounded； bows first；
rolled over several times； then steadied again； and； coming at last to rest；
the next minute the infernal rug opened； quiver… ing along all its borders in
its peculiar way； and humping up in the middle shot me five feet into the
air like a cat tossed from a schoolboy's blanket。
As I turned over I had a dim vision of a clear light like the shine of
dawn； and solid ground sloping away below me。 Upon that slope was
ranged a crowd of squatting people； and a staid…looking individual with his
back turned stood nearer by。 Afterwards I found he was lecturing all
those sitters on the ethics of gravity and the inherent properties of falling
bodies； at the moment I only knew he was directly in my line as I
d