Thecontrastbetweentheswiftandcomplexmovementsofthesecontrivancesandtheinertpantingclumsinessoftheirmasterswasacute，andfordaysIhadtotellmyselfrepeatedlythattheselatterwereindeedthelivingofthetwothings。
Thecuratehadpossessionoftheslitwhenthefirstmenwerebroughttothepit。Iwassittingbelow，huddledup，listeningwithallmyears。
Hemadeasuddenmovementbackward，andI，fearfulthatwewereobserved，crouchedinaspasmofterror。Hecameslidingdowntherubbishandcreptbesidemeinthedarkness，inarticulate，gesticulating，andforamomentIsharedhispanic。Hisgesturesuggestedaresignationoftheslit，andafteralittlewhilemycuriositygavemecourage，andIroseup，steppedacrosshim，andclambereduptoit。AtfirstIcouldseenoreasonforhisfranticbehaviour。Thetwilighthadnowcome，thestarswerelittleandfaint，butthepitwasilluminatedbytheflickeringgreenfirethatcamefromthealuminium-making。Thewholepicturewasaflickeringschemeofgreengleamsandshiftingrustyblackshadows，strangelytryingtotheeyes。Overandthroughitallwentthebats，heedingitnotatall。ThesprawlingMartianswerenolongertobeseen，themoundofblue-greenpowderhadrisentocoverthemfromsight，andafighting-machine，withitslegscontracted，crumpled，andabbreviated，stoodacrossthecornerofthepit。
Andthen，amidtheclangourofthemachinery，cameadriftingsuspicionofhumanvoices，thatIentertainedatfirstonlytodismiss。
Icrouched，watchingthisfighting-machineclosely，satisfy-ingmyselfnowforthefirsttimethatthehooddidindeedcontainaMartian。AsthegreenflamesliftedIcouldseetheoilygleamofhisintegumentandthebrightnessofhiseyes。AndsuddenlyIheardayell，andsawalongtentaclereach-ingovertheshoulderofthemachinetothelittlecagethathuncheduponitsback。Thensomething——somethingstrug-glingviolently——wasliftedhighagainstthesky，ablack，vagueenigmaagainstthestarlight；andasthisblackobjectcamedownagain，Isawbythegreenbrightnessthatitwasaman。Foraninstanthewasclearlyvisible。Hewasastout，ruddy，middle-agedman，welldressed；threedaysbefore，hemusthavebeenwalkingtheworld，amanofconsiderableconsequence。Icouldseehisstaringeyesandgleamsoflightonhisstudsandwatchchain。Hevanishedbehindthemound，andforamomenttherewassilence。AndthenbeganashriekingandasustainedandcheerfulhootingfromtheMartians。