After the glimpse I had had of the Martians emerging from the cylinder in which they had come to the earth from their planet, a kind of fascination paralysed my actions. I remained standing knee-deep in the heather, staring at the mound that hid them. I was a battleground of fear and curiosity.
I did not dare to go back towards the pit, but I felt a passionate longing to peer into it. I began walking, therefore, in a big curve, seeking some point of vantage and continually looking at the sand heaps that hid these new-comers to our earth. Once a leash of thin black whips, like the arms of an octopus, flashed across the sunset and was immediately withdrawn, and afterwards a thin rod rose up, joint by joint, bearing at its apex a circular disk that spun with a wobbling motion. What could be going on there?
I believe I have broken a finger here against his cursed jaw ain’t those mincing knives down in the forecastle there, men? look to those handspikes, my hearties. Captain, by God, look to yourself say the word don’t be a fool; forget it all; we are ready to turn to treat us decently, and we’re your men; but we won’t be flogged.
Leatherhead
We can’t possibly stay here, I said; and as I spoke the firing reopened for a moment upon the common. “But where are we to go?” said my wife in terror. I thought perplexed. Then I remembered her cousins at Leatherhead.
Leatherhead! I shouted above the sudden noise. She looked away from me downhill. The people were coming out of their houses, astonished. “How are we to get to Leatherhead?” she said.
Stop here,” said
You are safe here! I shouted above the sudden noise. She looked away from me downhill. The people were coming out of their houses, astonished.
Me, Myself and I
and I started off at once for the Spotted Dog, for I knew the landlord had a horse and dog cart. I ran, for I perceived that in a moment everyone upon this side of the hill would be moving. I found him in his bar, quite unaware of what was going on behind his house. A man stood with his back to me, talking to him.
Some lists
- Down the hill I saw a bevy of hussars ride under the railway bridge; three galloped through the open gates of the Oriental College;
- two others dismounted, and began running from house to house.
- the sun, shining through the smoke that drove up from the tops of the trees,
- seemed blood red, and threw an unfamiliar lurid light upon everything.
I started off at once for the Spotted Dog, for I knew the landlord had a horse and dog cart. I ran, for I perceived that in a moment everyone upon this side of the hill would be moving. I found him in his bar, quite unaware of what was going on behind his house. A man stood with his back to me, talking to him.
- Down the hill I saw a bevy of hussars ride under the railway bridge; three galloped through the open gates of the Oriental College;
- two others dismounted, and began running from house to house.
- the sun, shining through the smoke that drove up from the tops of the trees,
- seemed blood red, and threw an unfamiliar lurid light upon everything.
Started off at once for the Spotted Dog, for I knew the landlord had a horse and dog cart. I ran, for I perceived that in a moment everyone upon this side of the hill would be moving. I found him in his bar, quite unaware of what was going on behind his house. A man stood with his back to me, talking to him.
I and my wife stood amazed. Then I realised that the crest of Maybury Hill must be within range of the Martians’ Heat-Ray now that the college was cleared out of the way. At that I gripped my wife’s arm, and without ceremony ran her out into the road. Then I fetched out the servant, telling her I would go upstairs myself for the box she was clamouring for.
Leatherhead! I shouted above the sudden noise. She looked away from me downhill. The people were coming out of their houses, astonished. “How are we to get to Leatherhead?” she said.
Last modified: December 23, 2025
