Машина времени

           Thesenseoftheseunseencreaturesexaminingmewasindescribablyunpleasant. Thesuddenrealizationofmyignoranceoftheirwaysofthinkinganddoingcamehometomeveryvividlyinthedarkness. IshoutedatthemasloudlyasIcould. Theystartedaway,andthenIcouldfeelthemapproachingmeagain. Theyclutchedatmemoreboldly,whisperingoddsoundstoeachother. Ishiveredviolently,andshoutedagainratherdiscordantly. Thistimetheywerenotsoseriouslyalarmed,andtheymadeaqueerlaughingnoiseastheycamebackatme. IwillconfessIwashorriblyfrightened. Ideterminedtostrikeanothermatchandescapeundertheprotectionofitsglare. Ididso,andekingouttheflickerwithascrapofpaperfrommypocket,Imadegoodmyretreattothenarrowtunnel. ButIhadscarceenteredthiswhenmylightwasblownoutandintheblacknessIcouldheartheMorlocksrustlinglikewindamongleaves,andpatteringliketherain,astheyhurriedafterme. 

           ‘InamomentIwasclutchedbyseveralhands,andtherewasnomistakingthattheyweretryingtohaulmeback. Istruckanotherlight,andwaveditintheirdazzledfaces. Youcanscarceimaginehownauseatinglyinhumantheylooked—thosepale,chinlessfacesandgreat,lidless,pinkish-greyeyes! —astheystaredintheirblindnessandbewilderment. ButIdidnotstaytolook,Ipromiseyou: Iretreatedagain,andwhenmysecondmatchhadended,Istruckmythird. IthadalmostburnedthroughwhenIreachedtheopeningintotheshaft. Ilaydownontheedge,forthethrobofthegreatpumpbelowmademegiddy. ThenIfeltsidewaysfortheprojectinghooks,and,asIdidso,myfeetweregraspedfrombehind,andIwasviolentlytuggedbackward. Ilitmylastmatch...anditincontinentlywentout.