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The Days of Imprisonment
Heateanddrankimpulsivelyinheavymealsatlongintervals. Hesleptlittle.
Asthedaysworeon,hisuttercarelessnessofanyconsiderationsointensifiedourdistressanddangerthatIhad,muchasIloatheddoingit,toresorttothreats,andatlasttoblows. Thatbroughthimtoreasonforatime. Buthewasoneofthoseweakcreatures,voidofpride,timorous,anaemic,hatefulsouls,fullofshiftycunning,whofaceneitherGodnorman,whofacenoteventhemselves.
Itisdisagreeableformetorecallandwritethesethings,butIsetthemdownthatmystorymaylacknothing. Thosewhohaveescapedthedarkandterribleaspectsoflifewillfindmybrutality,myflashofrageinourfinaltragedy,easyenoughtoblame; fortheyknowwhatiswrongaswellasany,butnotwhatispossibletotorturedmen. Butthosewhohavebeenundertheshadow,whohavegonedownatlasttoelementalthings,willhaveawidercharity.
Andwhilewithinwefoughtoutourdark,dimcontestofwhispers,snatchedfoodanddrink,andgrippinghandsandblows,without,inthepitilesssunlightofthatterribleJune,wasthestrangewonder,theunfamiliarroutineoftheMartiansinthepit. Letmereturntothosefirstnewexperiencesofmine. AfteralongtimeIventuredbacktothepeephole,tofindthatthenew-comershadbeenreinforcedbytheoccupantsofnofewerthanthreeofthefighting-machines. Theselasthadbroughtwiththemcertainfreshappliancesthatstoodinanorderlymanneraboutthecylinder. Thesecondhandling-machinewasnowcompleted,andwasbusiedinservingoneofthenovelcontrivancesthebigmachinehadbrought.
