The falling star

           Thencamethenightofthefirstfallingstar. Itwasseenearlyinthemorning,rushingoverWinchestereastward,alineofflamehighintheatmosphere. Hundredsmusthaveseenit,andtakenitforanordinaryfallingstar. Albindescribeditasleavingagreenishstreakbehinditthatglowedforsomeseconds. Denning,ourgreatestauthorityonmeteor-ites,statedthattheheightofitsfirstappearancewasaboutninetyoronehundredmiles. Itseemedtohimthatitfelltoearthaboutonehundredmileseastofhim. 

           Iwasathomeatthathourandwritinginmystudy; andalthoughmyFrenchwindowsfacetowardsOttershawandtheblindwasup(forIlovedinthosedaystolookupatthenightsky),Isawnothingofit. YetthisstrangestofallthingsthatevercametoearthfromouterspacemusthavefallenwhileIwassittingthere,visibletomehadIonlylookedupasitpassed. Someofthosewhosawitsflightsayittravelledwithahissingsound. Imyselfheardnothingofthat. ManypeopleinBerkshire,Surrey,andMiddlesexmusthaveseenthefallofit,and,atmost,havethoughtthatanothermeteoritehaddescended. Nooneseemstohavetroubledtolookforthefallenmassthatnight. 

           ButveryearlyinthemorningpoorOgilvy,whohadseentheshootingstarandwhowaspersuadedthatameteoritelaysomewhereonthecommonbetweenHorsell,Ottershaw,andWoking,roseearlywiththeideaoffindingit. Findithedid,soonafterdawn,andnotfarfromthesandpits. Anenormousholehadbeenmadebytheimpactoftheprojectile,andthesandandgravelhadbeenflungviolentlyineverydirectionovertheheath,formingheapsvisibleamileandahalfaway. Theheatherwasonfireeastward,andathinbluesmokeroseagainstthedawn.