The Recognition procession

           WhenTomCantyawokethenextmorning,theairwasheavywithathunderousmurmur:allthedistanceswerechargedwithit.Itwasmusictohim;foritmeantthattheEnglishworldwasoutinitsstrengthtogiveloyalwelcometothegreatday.

           PresentlyTomfoundhimselfoncemorethechieffigureinawonderfulfloatingpageantontheThames;forbyancientcustomthe‘recognitionprocession’throughLondonmuststartfromtheTower,andhewasboundthither.

           Whenhearrivedthere,thesidesofthevenerablefortressseemedsuddenlyrentinathousandplaces,andfromeveryrentleapedaredtongueofflameandawhitegushofsmoke;adeafeningexplosionfollowed,whichdrownedtheshoutingsofthemultitude,andmadethegroundtremble;theflame-jets,thesmoke,andtheexplosions,wererepeatedoverandoveragainwithmarvellouscelerity,sothatinafewmomentstheoldTowerdisappearedinthevastfogofitsownsmoke,allbuttheverytopofthetallpilecalledtheWhiteTower;this,withitsbanners,stoodoutabovethedensebankofvapourasamountain-peakprojectsaboveacloud-rack.