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increas… ing volumes。
In burst the first panel； then another； and I could see through the gaps a
medley of tossing weapons and wild faces without。 Short shrift for me if
they came through； so in the obstinacy of desperation I set to work to pile
old furniture and dry goods against the barricade。 And as they yelled and
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hammered outside I screamed back defiance from within； sweating；
tugging； and hauling with the strength of ten men； piling up the old
Martian lumber against the opening till； so fierce was the attack outside；
little was left of the original doorway and nothing between me and the
beseigers but a rampart of broken woodwork half seen in a smother of
smoke and flames。
Still they came on； thrusting spears and javelins through every crevice
and my strength began to go。 I threw two tables into a gap； and brained a
besieger with a sweet… meat…seller's block and smothered another； and
overturned a great chest against my barricade； but what was the purpose of
it all？ They were fifty to one and my rampart quaked before them。 The
smoke was stifling； and the pains of dis… solution in my heart。 They burst
in and clambered up the rampart like black ants。 I looked round for still
one more thing to hurl into the breach。 My eyes lit on a roll of carpet： I
seized it by one corner meaning to drag it to the door… way； and it came
undone at a touch。
That strange； that incredible pattern！ Where in all the vicissitudes of
a chequered career had I seen such a one before？ I stared at it in
amazement under the very spears of the woodmen in the red glare of
Hath's burning palace。 Then all on a sudden it burst upon me that IT
WAS THE ACCURSED RUG； the very one which in response to a
careless wish had swept me out of my own dear world； and forced me to
take as wild a journey into space as ever fell to a man's lot since the
universe was made！
And in another second it occurred to me that if it had brought me
hither it might take me hence。 It was but a chance； yet worth trying when
all other chances were against me。 As Ar…hap's men came shouting over
the barricade I threw myself down upon that incredible carpet and cried
from the bottom of my heart；
〃I wishI wish I were in New York！〃
Yes！
A moment of thrilling suspense and then the corners lifted as though a
strong breeze were playing upon them。 An… other moment and they had
curled over like an incoming surge。 One swift glance I got at the smoke
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and flames； the glittering spears and angry faces； and then fold upon fold；
a stifling； all…enveloping embrace； a lift； a sense of super… human speed
and then forgetfulness。
When I came to； as reporters say； I was aware the rug had ejected me
on solid ground and disappeared； forever。 Where was I！ It was cool；
damp； and muddy。 There were some iron railings close at hand and a
street lamp overhead。 These things showed clearly to me； sitting on a
doorstep under that light； head in hand； amazed and giddyso amazed that
when slowly the recognition came of the in… credible fact my wish was
gratified and I was home again； the stupendous incident scarcely appealed
to my tingling sen… ses more than one of the many others I had lately
undergone。
Very slowly I rose to my feet； and as like a discreditable reveller as
could be； climbed the steps。 The front door was open； and entering the
oh； so familiar hall a sound of voices in my sitting…room on the right
caught my ear。
〃Oh no； Mrs。 Brown；〃 said one； which I recognised at once as my
Polly's； 〃he is dead for certain； and my heart is breaking。 He would never；
never have left me so long without writing if he had been alive；〃 and then
came a great sound of sobbing。
〃Bless your kind heart； miss；〃 said the voice of my land… lady in reply；
〃but you don't know as much about young gentlemen as I do。 It is not
likely； if he has gone off on the razzle…dazzle； as I am sure he has； he is
going to write every post and tell you about it。 Now you go off to your
ma at the hotel like a dear； and forget all about him till he comes back
that's MY advice。〃
〃I cannot； I cannot； Mrs。 Brown。 I cannot rest by day or sleep by
night for thinking of him； for wondering why he went away so suddenly；
and for hungering for news of him。 Oh； I am miserable。 Gully！ Gully！
Come to me；〃 and then there were sounds of troubled footsteps pacing to
and fro and of a woman's grief。
That was more than I could stand。 I flung the door open； and； dirty；
dishevelled； with unsteady steps； advanced into the room。
〃Ahem！〃 coughed Mrs。 Brown； 〃just as I expected！〃
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But I had no eyes for her。 〃Polly！ Polly！〃 I cried； and that dear girl；
after a startled scream and a glance to make sure it was indeed the
recovered prodigal； rushed over and threw all her weight of dear； warm；
comfortable woman… hood into my arms； and the moment after burst into a
pas… sion of happy tears down my collar。
〃Humph！〃 quoth the landlady； 〃that is not what BROWN gets when he
forgets his self。 No； not by any means。〃
But she was a good old soul at heart； and； seeing how matters stood；
with a parting glance of scorn in my direction and a toss of her head； went
out of the room； and closed the door behind her。
Need I tell in detail what followed？ Polly behaved like an angel； and
when in answer to her gentle reproaches I told her the outlines of my
marvellous story she almost be… lieved me！ Over there on the writing…
desk lay a whole row of the unopened letters she had showered upon me
during my absence； and amongst them an official one。 We went and
opened it together； and it was an intimation of my promotion； a much
better 〃step〃 than I had ever dared to hope for。
Holding that missive in my hand a thought suddenly oc… curred to me。
〃Polly dear； this letter makes me able to maintain you as you ought to
be maintained； and there is still a fortnight of vacation for me。 Polly； will
you marry me tomorrow？〃
〃No； certainly not； sir。〃
〃Then will you marry me on Monday？〃
〃Do you truly； truly want me to？〃
〃Truly； truly。〃
〃Then； yes；〃 and the dear girl again came blushing into my arms。
While we were thus the door opened； and in came her parents who
were staying at a neighbouring hotel while in… quiries were made as to my
mysterious absence。 Not un… naturally my appearance went a long way
to confirm suspi… cions such as Mrs。 Brown had confessed to； and； after
they had given me cold salutations； Polly's mother； fixing gold glasses on
the bridge of her nose and eyeing me haughtily therefrom； observed；
〃And now that you ARE safely at home again； Lieuten… ant Gulliver
Jones； I think I will take my daughter away with me。 Tomorrow her
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father will ascertain the true state of her feelings after this unpleasant
experience； and sub… sequently he will no doubt communicate with you on
the subject。〃 This very icily。
But I was too happy to be lightly put down。
〃My dear madam；〃 I replied； 〃I am happy to be able to save her father
that trouble。 I have already communicated with this young lady as to the
state of her feelings； and as an outcome I am delighted to be able to tell
you we are to be married on Monday。〃
〃Oh yes； Mother； it is true； and if you do not want to make me