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To many who stared at it that night until their eyes ached； it
seemed that it was visibly approaching。 And that night； too； the
weather changed； and the frost that had gripped all Central Europe
and France and England softened towards a thaw。
But you must not imagine because I have spoken of people
praying through the night and people going aboard ships and people
fleeing toward mountainous country that the whole world was already
in a terror because of the star。 As a matter of fact； use and wont
still ruled the world； and save for the talk of idle moments and
the splendour of the night； nine human beings out of ten were still
busy at their common occupations。 In all the cities the shops；
save one here and there； opened and closed at their proper hours；
the doctor and the undertaker plied their trades； the workers
gathered in the factories； soldiers drilled； scholars studied；
lovers sought one another； thieves lurked and fled； politicians
planned their schemes。 The presses of the newspapers roared
through the night； and many a priest of this church and that would
not open his holy building to further what he considered a foolish
panic。 The newspapers insisted on the lesson of the year 1000for
then； too； people had anticipated the end。 The star was no
starmere gasa comet； and were it a star it could not possibly
strike the earth。 There was no precedent for such a thing。 Common
sense was sturdy everywhere； scornful； jesting； a little inclined
to persecute the
obdurate fearful。 That night； at seven…fifteen by Greenwich time；
the star would be at its nearest to Jupiter。 Then the world would
see the turn things would take。 The master mathematician's grim
warnings were treated by many as so much mere elaborate
self…advertisement。 Common sense at last； a little heated by
argument； signified its unalterable convictions by going to bed。
So； too； barbarism and savagery； already tired of the novelty； went
about their nightly business； and save for a howling dog here and
there； the beast world left the star unheeded。
And yet； when at last the watchers in the European States saw
the star rise； an hour later it is true； but no larger than it had
been the night before； there were still plenty awake to laugh at
the master mathematicianto take the danger as if it had passed。
But hereafter the laughter ceased。 The star grewit grew
with a terrible steadiness hour after hour； a little larger each
hour； a little nearer the midnight zenith； and brighter and
brighter； until it had turned night into a second day。 Had it come
straight to the earth instead of in a curved path； had it lost no
velocity to Jupiter； it must have leapt the intervening gulf in a
day； but as it was it took five days altogether to come by our
planet。 The next night it had become a third the size of the moon
before it set to English eyes； and the thaw was assured。 It rose
over America near the size of the moon； but blinding white to look
at； and HOT； and a breath of hot wind blew now with its
rising and gathering strength； and in Virginia； and Brazil； and
down the St。 Lawrence valley； it shone intermittently through a
driving reek of thunder…clouds； flickering violet lightning；
and hail unprecedented。 In Manitoba was a thaw and devastating
floods。 And upon all the mountains of the earth the snow and ice
began to melt that night； and all the rivers coming out of high
country flowed thick and turbid； and soonin their upper reaches
with swirling trees and the bodies of beasts and men。 They rose
steadily； steadily in the ghostly brilliance； and came trickling
over their banks at last； behind the flying population of their
valleys。
And along the coast of Argentina and up the South Atlantic the
tides were higher than had ever been in the memory of man； and the
storms drove the waters in many cases scores of miles inland；
drowning whole cities。 And so great grew the heat during the night
that the rising of the sun was like the coming of a shadow。 The
earthquakes began and grew until all down America from the Arctic
Circle to Cape Horn； hillsides were sliding； fissures were opening；
and houses and walls crumbling to destruction。 The whole side of
Cotopaxi slipped out in one vast convulsion； and a tumult of lava
poured out so high and broad and swift and liquid that in one day
it reached the sea。
So the star； with the wan moon in its wake； marched across the
Pacific； trailed the thunderstorms like the hem of a robe； and the
growing tidal wave that toiled behind it； frothing and eager；
poured over island and island and swept them clear of men。 Until
that wave came at lastin a blinding light and with the breath of
a furnace； swift and terrible it camea wall of water； fifty feet
high； roaring hungrily； upon the long coasts of Asia； and swept
inland across the plains of China。 For a space the star； hotter
now and larger and brighter than the sun in its strength； showed
with pitiless brilliance the wide and populous country； towns and
villages with their pagodas and trees； roads； wide cultivated
fields； millions of sleepless people staring in helpless terror at
the incandescent sky； and then； low and growing； came the murmur of
the flood。 And thus it was with millions of men that nighta
flight nowhither； with limbs heavy with heat and breath fierce and
scant； and the flood like a wall swift and white behind。 And then
death。
China was lit glowing white； but over Japan and Java and all
the islands of Eastern Asia the great star was a ball of dull red
fire because of the steam and smoke and ashes the volcanoes were
spouting forth to salute its coming。 Above was the lava； hot gases
and ash； and below the seething floods； and the whole earth swayed
and rumbled with the earthquake shocks。 Soon the immemorial snows
of Thibet and the Himalaya were melting and pouring down by ten
million deepening converging channels upon the plains of Burmah and
Hindostan。 The tangled summits of the Indian jungles were aflame
in a thousand places； and below the hurrying waters around the
stems were dark objects that still struggled feebly and reflected
the blood…red tongues of fire。 And in a rudderless confusion a
multitude of men and women fled down the broad river…ways to that
one last hope of menthe open sea。
Larger grew the star； and larger； hotter； and brighter with a
terrible swiftness now。 The tropical ocean had lost its
phosphorescence； and the whirling steam rose in ghostly wreaths
from the black waves that plunged incessantly； speckled with
storm…tossed ships。
And then came a wonder。 It seemed to those who in Europe
watched for the rising of the star that the world must have ceased
its rotation。 In a thousand open spaces of down and upland the
people who had fled thither from the floods and the falling houses
and sliding slopes of hill watched for that rising in vain。 Hour
followed hour through a terrible suspen