The Night Land

And, presently, they were surrounded by the Ten-thousand, and carried

upon slings; and all that body swung round towards the Pyramid, and came

back at a great pace. And, in the same time, I heard the sound that made them so swift to

hasten; for there smote up through the night the Baying of the Hounds;

and we knew that they were discovered. And I swept the Great Spy-Glass

over the Land, towards the Valley Of The Hounds, that I might discover

them quickly; and I saw them come lumbering, at a strange gallop, and

great as horses, and it might be only ten miles to the East.

And I looked once upon the Watcher of the North-East, and I saw and

marvelled that the great bell-ear quivered constantly; and I knew that

it had knowledge, and gave signal to all the Land. Then did one of the

Monstruwacans report that a new and terrible Influence was abroad in the

Land; and by the instrument, we had knowledge that it approached; and

some of the Monstruwacans called foolishly with weak voices to the

Ten-thousand to haste; forgetting, and desiring only their safety from

that which came near.

Then, looking with the Great Spy-Glass, I saw that there moved across

the Land, from the direction of the Plain of Blue Fire, a mighty Hump,

seeming of Black Mist, and came with prodigious swiftness. And I called

to the Master Monstruwacan, that he come and look through one of the

eye-pieces that were about the Great Spy-Glass; and he came quickly, and

when he had looked a while, he called to the Monstruwacan that had made

report. And the Monstruwacan answered, and replied that the Influence

drew nearer, by the reading of the instrument; yet of the thing itself

the man had no sight

. And I ceased not to look, and in a little while, the Humped thing passed

downwards into the Vale of Red Fire, which lay across the Land that way.

But I watched steadfastly, and presently I saw the black Hump climb up

from the Vale of Red Fire upon this side, and come through the night, so

that in scarce a minute it had come halfway across that part of the

Night Land. And my heart stood quiet with fear, and the utter terror of this

Monster, which I knew to be surely one of the Great Forces of Evil of

that Land, and had power, without doubt, to destroy the spirit. And the

Master Monstruwacan leapt towards the Home-Call, and sent the great

Sound down to the Ten-thousand, that they might attend, and immediately,

he signalled to them to Beware. Yet, already I perceived that they knew

of this Utter Danger that was upon them; for I saw them slay the Youths

quickly, that their spirits might not be lost; for they were Unprepared.