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Chapter II. The Tide Of Death
Evenourownlittlehillmaypresentlyprovetobeatemporaryislandamidaseaofdisaster.Butatthepresentrateofadvanceafewshorthourswillsubmergeusall."
LordJohnRoxtonwipedhisbrow.
"Whatbeatsme,"saidhe,"ishowyoucouldsittherelaughin’withthatstackoftelegramsunderyourhand.I’veseendeathasoftenasmostfolk,butuniversaldeath—it’sawful!"
"Astothelaughter,"saidChallenger,"youwillbearinmindthat,likeyourselves,Ihavenotbeenexemptfromthestimulatingcerebraleffectsoftheethericpoison.Butastothehorrorwithwhichuniversaldeathappearstoinspireyou,Iwouldputittoyouthatitissomewhatexaggerated.Ifyouweresenttoseaaloneinanopenboattosomeunknowndestination,yourheartmightwellsinkwithinyou.Theisolation,theuncertainty,wouldoppressyou.Butifyourvoyageweremadeinagoodlyship,whichborewithinitallyourrelationsandyourfriends,youwouldfeelthat,howeveruncertainyourdestinationmightstillremain,youwouldatleasthaveonecommonandsimultaneousexperiencewhichwouldholdyoutotheendinthesameclosecommunion.Alonelydeathmaybeterrible,butauniversalone,aspainlessasthiswouldappeartobe,isnot,inmyjudgment,amatterforapprehension.Indeed,Icouldsympathizewiththepersonwhotooktheviewthatthehorrorlayintheideaofsurvivingwhenallthatislearned,famous,andexaltedhadpassedaway."
"What,then,doyouproposetodo?"askedSummerlee,whohadforoncenoddedhisassenttothereasoningofhisbrotherscientist.
