Chapter 32

I took a walk in the long twilight of that evening. As it began to
grow dark I passed the Fuller house and looked up at its windows.
Standing under a tree on the opposite side of the avenue I saw a
man come out of the door and walk away hurriedly with long
strides. I met him at the next corner.

'Good-evening!' he said.

I recognised then the voice and figure of John Trumbull. 'Been to
Fuller's,' said he.

'How is Hope?' I asked.

'Better,' said he. 'Walk with me?

'With pleasure,' said I, and then he quickened his pace.

We walked awhile in silence, going so fast! had hardly time to
speak, and the darkness deepened into night. We hurried along
through streets and alleys that were but dimly lighted, coming out
at length on a wide avenue passing through open fields in the
upper part of the city. Lights in cabin windows glowed on the hills
around us. I made some remark about them but he did not hear me.
He slackened pace in a moment and began whispering to himself'
I could not hear what he said. I thought of bidding him good-night
and returning but where were we and how could I find my way?
We heard a horse coming presently at a gallop. At the first loud
whack of the hoofs he turned suddenly and laying hold of my arm
began to run. I followed him into the darkness of the open field. It
gave me a spell of rare excitement for I thought at once of
highwaymen - having read so much of them in the Tribune. He
stopped suddenly and stooped low his hands touching the grass
and neither spoke until the horse had gone well beyond us. Then
he rose, stealthily, and looked about him in silence, even turning
his face to the dark sky where only a few stars were visible.

'Well!' said he with a sort of grunt. 'Beats the devil! I thought it was
A wonderful thing was happening in the sky. A great double moon
seemed to be flying over the city hooded in purple haze. A little
spray of silver light broke out of it, as we looked, and shot
backward and then floated after the two shining disks that were
falling eastward in a long curve. They seemed to be so near I
thought they were coming down upon the city. It occurred to me
they must have some connection with the odd experience I had
gone through. In a moment they had passed out of sight. We were
not aware that we had witnessed a spectacle the like of which had
not been seen in centuries, if ever, since God made the heavens'
the great meteor of 1860.

'Let's go back,' said Trumbull. 'We came too far. I forgot myself.'

'Dangerous here?' I enquired.

'Not at all,' said he, 'but a long way out of town - tired?

'Rather,' I said, grateful for his evident desire to quiet my alarm.

'Come!' said he as we came back