The Night Land

But the men, being Prepared, had the Capsule, and would die swiftly in

the last moment. I looked again towards the Hump, and saw that it came like a Hill of

Blackness in the Land, and was almost anigh. Then there happened a

wonder; for in that moment when all had else gone quickly, that they

might save their souls, out of the earth there rose a little Light, like

to the crescent of the young moon of this early day. And the crescent

rose up into an arch of bright and cold fire, glowing but little; and it

spanned above the Ten-thousand and the dead; and the Hump stood still,

and went backwards and was presently lost.

And the men came swiftly towards the Mighty Pyramid. Yet, ere they were

come to safety, the Baying of the Hounds sounded close upon them, and

they faced to the danger; yet, as I could know, without despair, because

that they yet lived after so enormous a peril.

And the Hounds were very nigh, as now I beheld with the Great Spy-Glass;

and I counted five score, running with mighty heads low, and in a pack.

And lo! as the Hounds came at them, the Ten-thousand drew apart, and had

a space between the men, that they might have full use of that terrible

Diskos; and they fought with the handles at length, and I saw the disks

spin and glisten and send out fire.

Then was there a very great battle; for the Light that arched above

them, and held away The Power from their souls, made not to protect them

from this danger of the lesser monsters. And at an hundred thousand

embrasures within the Mighty Pyramid, the women cried and sobbed, and

looked again. And in the lower cities it was told, after, that the

Peoples could hear the crash and splinter of the armour, as the Hounds

ran to and fro, slaying; aye, even the sound of the armour between their

teeth.

Yet, the Ten-thousand ceased not to smite with the Diskos; and they

hewed the Hounds in pieces; but of the men that went forth, there were a

thousand and seven hundred slain by the Hounds, ere the men won to

victory. Then came that wearied band of heroes back to the home shelter of the

Vast Redoubt; and they bore their dead with them, and the Youths that

they slew. And they were received with great honour, and with exceeding

grief, and in a great silence; for the thing admitted not of words,

until a time had passed. And in the cities of the Pyramid there was

mourning; for there had been no sorrow like unto this through, mayhap,

an hundred thousand years.