But the breathing of a fiend: the star's coming!
The star that breathes a horrible fury of fire
Like glaring fog into the empty night ;
And in the gust of its wrath the world will soon
Shrivel and spin like paper in a furnace.
I knew they both would have to pay me at last
With sight of their damned souls for all my



wrong



Shale Somebody stop his gab.
Merrick {seizing the DOWSER and shaking him)

Is it the truth?
Is it the truth we're in the way of the star?

Sollers

O let us go home ; let us go home and sleep !

j4 crowd of men and women burst in and shout con
Jusedly.
1 . Look out for the star !

2. 'Tis moving, moving.
3. Grows as you stare at it.
4. Bigger than ever,

214



1. Down it comes with a diving pounce, Lascelles
As though it had lookt for us and at last found us. Aber-

2. O so near and coming so quick ! crombie

3. And how the burning hairs of its tail
Do seem surely to quiver for speed.
4. We saw its great tail twitch behind it.
'Tis come so near, so gleaming near.
1. The tail is wagging !

2. Come out and see !

3. The star is wagging its tail and eyeing us —

4. Like a cat huncht to leap on a bird.
Merrick

Out of my way and let me see for myself.
[They all begin to hustle out:
HUFF speaks in midst oj the turmoil.
Hujff

Ay, now begins the just man's reward;

And hatred of the evil thing

Now is to be satisfied.
