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… man did not care about driving back to the hospital with it； and it could not well be left in the street； I somewhat reluctantly carried it indoors with me。
Once in the shine of my own lamp and a cigar in my mouth I had a closer look at that ancient piece of art work from heaven； or the other place； only knows what ancient loom。
A big； strong rug of faded Oriental colouring； it covered half the floor of my sitting…room； the substance being of a material more like camel's hair than anything else； and run… ning across； when examined closely； were some dark fibres so long and fine that surely they must have come from the tail of Solomon's favourite black stallion itself。 But the strangest thing about that carpet was its pattern。 It was threadbare enough to all conscience in places； yet the design still lived in solemn； age…wasted hues； and； as I dragged it to my stove…front and spread it out； it seemed to me that it was as much like a star map done by a scribe who had lately recovered from delirium tremens as anything else。 In the centre appeared a round such as might be taken for the sun； while here and there； 〃in the field；〃 as heralds say； were lesser orbs which from their size and position could represent smaller worlds circling about it。 Between these orbs were dotted lines and arrow…heads of the oldest form pointing in all directions； while all the intervening spaces were filled up with woven characters half…way in appearance between Runes and Cryptic…Sanskrit。 Round the borders these characters ran into a wild maze； a perfect jungle of an alphabet through which none but a wizard could have forced a way in search of meaning。
Altogether； I thought as I kicked it out straight upon my floor； it was a strange and not unhandsome article of furnitureit would do nicely for the mess…room on the Carolina； and if any representatives of yonder poor old fel… low turned up tomorrow； why； I would give them a couple of dollars for it。 Little did I guess how dear it would be at any price！
Meanwhile that steak was late； and now that the tempor… ary excitement of the evening was wearing off I fell dull again。 What a dark； sodden world it was that frowned in on me as I moved over to the window and opened it for the benefit of the cool air； and how the wind howled about the roof tops。 How lonely I was！ What a fool I had been to ask for long leave and come ashore like this； to curry favour with a set of stubborn dunderheads who cared nothing for meor Polly； and could not or would not understand how important it was to the best interests of the Service that I should get that promotion which alone would send me back to her an eligible wooer！ What a fool I was not to have volunteered for some desperate service instead of wast… ing time like this！ Then at least life would have been interesting； now it was dull as ditch…water； with wretched vistas of stagnant waiting between now and that joyful day when I could claim that dear； rosy…checked girl for my own。 What a fool I had been！
〃I wish； I wish；〃 I exclaimed； walking round the little room； 〃I wish I were〃
While these unfinished exclamations were actually passing my lips I chanced to cross that infernal mat； and it is no more startling than true； but at my word a quiver of expectation ran through that gaunt weba rustle of antici… pation filled its ancient fabric； and one frayed corner surged up； and as I passed off its surface in my stride； the sentence still unfinished on my lips； wrapped itself about my left leg with extraordinary swiftness and so effectively that I nearly fell into the arms of my landlady； who opened the door at the moment and came in with a tray and the steak and tomatoes mentioned more than once already。
It was the draught caused by the opening door； of course； that had made the dead man's rug lift so strangely what else could it have been？ I made this apology to the good woman； and when she had set the table and closed the door took another turn or two about my den； con… tinuing as I did so my angry thoughts。
〃Yes； yes；〃 I said at last； returning to the stove and taking my stand； hands in pockets； in front of it； 〃anything were better than this； any enterprise however wild； any adventure however desperate。 Oh； I wish I were anywhere but here； anywhere out of this redtape…ridden world of ours！ I WISH I WERE IN THE PLANET MARS！〃
How can I describe what followed those luckless words？ Even as I spoke the magic carpet quivered responsively under my feet； and an undulation went all round the fringe as though a sudden wind were shaking it。 It humped up in the middle so abruptly that I came down sitting with a shock that numbed me for the moment。 It threw me on my back and billowed up round me as though I were in the trough of a stormy sea。 Quicker than I can write it lapped a corner over and rolled me in its folds like a chrysalis in a cocoon。 I gave a wild yell and made one frantic struggle； but it was too late。 With the leathery strength of a giant and the swiftness of an accomplished cigar… roller covering a 〃core〃 with leaf； it swamped my efforts； straightened my limbs； rolled me over； lapped me in fold after fold till head and feet and everything were gone crushed life and breath back into my innermost being； and then； with the last particle of consciousness； I felt myself lifted from the floor； pass once round the room； and finally shoot out； point foremost； into space through the open window； and go up and up and up with a sound of rending atmospheres that seemed to tear like riven silk in one pro… longed shriek under my head； and to close up in thunder astern until my reeling senses could stand it no longer。 and time and space and circumstances all lost their meaning to me。
CHAPTER II
How long that wild rush lasted I have no means of judging。 It may have been an hour； a day； or many days； for I was throughout in a state of suspended animation； but presently my senses began to return and with them a sensa… tion of lessening speed； a grateful relief to a heavy pressure which had held my life crushed in its grasp； without destroy… ing it completely。 It was just that sort of sensation though more keen which； drowsy in his bunk； a traveller feels when he is aware； without special perception； harbour is reached and a voyage comes to an end。 But in my case the slowing down was for a long time comparative。 Yet the sensation served to revive my scattered senses； and just as I was awakening to a lively sense of amazement； an incredible doubt of my own emotions； and an eager desire to know what had happened； my strange conveyance oscillated once or twice； undulated lightly up and down； like a wood… pecker flying from tree to tree； and then grounded； bows first； rolled over several times； then steadied again； and； coming at last to rest； the next minute the infernal rug opened； quiver… ing along all its borders in its peculiar way； and humping up in the middle shot me five feet into the air like a cat tossed from a schoolboy's blanket。
As I turned over I had a dim vision of a clear light like the shine of dawn； and solid ground sloping away below me。 Upon that slope was ranged a crowd of squatting people； and a staid…look