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The Fighting Begins
Thepinnacleofthemosquehadvanished,andtherooflineofthecollegeitselflookedasifahundred-tongunhadbeenatworkuponit. Oneofourchimneyscrackedasifashothadhitit,flew,andapieceofitcameclatteringdownthetilesandmadeaheapofbrokenredfragmentsupontheflowerbedbymystudywindow.
Iandmywifestoodamazed. ThenIrealisedthatthecrestofMayburyHillmustbewithinrangeoftheMartians’Heat-Raynowthatthecollegewasclearedoutoftheway.
AtthatIgrippedmywife’sarm,andwithoutceremonyranheroutintotheroad. ThenIfetchedouttheservant,tellingherIwouldgoupstairsmyselffortheboxshewasclamouringfor.
"Wecan’tpossiblystayhere,"Isaid; andasIspokethefiringreopenedforamomentuponthecommon.
"Butwherearewetogo?"saidmywifeinterror.
Ithoughtperplexed.ThenIrememberedhercousinsatLeatherhead.
"Leatherhead!"Ishoutedabovethesuddennoise.
Shelookedawayfrommedownhill. Thepeoplewerecomingoutoftheirhouses,astonished.
"HowarewetogettoLeatherhead?"shesaid.
DownthehillIsawabevyofhussarsrideundertherailwaybridge; threegallopedthroughtheopengatesoftheOrientalCollege; twoothersdismounted,andbeganrunningfromhousetohouse.
