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re by him to give him a peck whenever he stirred； lest he should turn the whole world upside down with his prophecies and his theories。
〃But stupid old Epimetheus went working and grubbing on； with the help of his wife Pandora； always looking behind him to see what had happened； till he really learnt to know now and then what would happen next； and understood so well which side his bread was buttered； and which way the cat jumped； that he began to make things which would work； and go on working； too； to till and drain the ground； and to make looms； and ships； and railroads； and steam ploughs； and electric telegraphs； and all the things which you see in the Great Exhibition； and to foretell famine； and bad weather； and the price of stocks and （what is hardest of all） the next vagary of the great idol Whirligig； which some call Public Opinion； till at last he grew as rich as a Jew； and as fat as a farmer； and people thought twice before they meddled with him； but only once before they asked him to help them； for； because he earned his money well； he could afford to spend it well likewise。
〃And his children are the men of science； who get good lasting work done in the world； but the children of Prometheus are the fanatics； and the theorists； and the bigots； and the bores； and the noisy windy people； who go telling silly folk what will happen； instead of looking to see what has happened already。〃
Now； was not Mother Carey's a wonderful story？ And； I am happy to say； Tom believed it every word。
For so it happened to Tom likewise。 He was very sorely tried； for though； by keeping the dog to heels （or rather to toes； for he had to walk backward）； he could see pretty well which way the dog was hunting； yet it was much slower work to go backwards than to go forwards。 But； what was more trying still； no sooner had he got out of Peacepool； than there came running to him all the conjurors； fortune…tellers； astrologers； prophesiers； projectors； prestigiators； as many as were in those parts （and there are too many of them everywhere）； Old Mother Shipton on her broomstick； with Merlin； Thomas the Rhymer； Gerbertus； Rabanus Maurus； Nostradamus； Zadkiel； Raphael； Moore； Old Nixon； and a good many in black coats and white ties who might have known better； considering in what century they were born； all bawling and screaming at him； 〃Look a…head； only look a…head； and we will show you what man never saw before； and right away to the end of the world！〃
But I am proud to say that； though Tom had not been to Cambridge … for； if he had； he would have certainly been senior wrangler … he was such a little dogged； hard； gnarly； foursquare brick of an English boy； that he never turned his head round once all the way from Peacepool to the Other…end…of…Nowhere： but kept his eye on the dog； and let him pick out the scent； hot or cold； straight or crooked； wet or dry； up hill or down dale； by which means he never made a single mistake； and saw all the wonderful and hitherto by… no…mortal…man…imagined things； which it is my duty to relate to you in the next chapter。
CHAPTER VIII AND LAST
〃Come to me； O ye children！ For I hear you at your play； And the questions that perplexed me Have vanished quite away。
〃Ye open the Eastern windows； That look towards the sun； Where thoughts are singing swallows； And the brooks of morning run。
* * * * *
〃For what are all our contrivings And the wisdom of our books； When compared with your caresses； And the gladness of your looks？
〃Ye are better than all the ballads That ever were sung or said； For ye are living poems； And all the rest are dead。〃
LONGFELLOW。
Here begins the never…to…be…too…much…studied account of the nine… hundred…and…ninety…ninth part of the wonderful things which Tom saw on his journey to the Other…end…of…Nowhere； which all good little children are requested to read； that； if ever they get to the Other…end…of…Nowhere； as they may very probably do； they may not burst out laughing； or try to run away； or do any other silly vulgar thing which may offend Mrs。 Bedonebyasyoudid。
Now； as soon as Tom had left Peacepool； he came to the white lap of the great sea…mother； ten thousand fathoms deep； where she makes world…pap all day long； for the steam…giants to knead； and the fire…giants to bake； till it has risen and hardened into mountain… loaves and island…cakes。
And there Tom was very near being kneaded up in the world…pap； and turned into a fossil water…baby； which would have astonished the Geological Society of New Zealand some hundreds of thousands of years hence。
For； as he walked along in the silence of the sea…twilight； on the soft white ocean floor； he was aware of a hissing； and a roaring； and a thumping； and a pumping； as of all the steam…engines in the world at once。 And； when he came near； the water grew boiling…hot； not that that hurt him in the least： but it also grew as foul as gruel； and every moment he stumbled over dead shells； and fish； and sharks； and seals； and whales； which had been killed by the hot water。
And at last he came to the great sea…serpent himself； lying dead at the bottom； and as he was too thick to scramble over； Tom had to walk round him three…quarters of a mile and more； which put him out of his path sadly； and； when he had got round； he came to the place called Stop。 And there he stopped； and just in time。
For he was on the edge of a vast hole in the bottom of the sea； up which was rushing and roaring clear steam enough to work all the engines in the world at once； so clear； indeed； that it was quite light at moments； and Tom could see almost up to the top of the water above； and down below into the pit for nobody knows how far。
But； as soon as he bent his head over the edge； he got such a rap on the nose from pebbles； that he jumped back again； for the steam； as it rushed up； rasped away the sides of the hole； and hurled it up into the sea in a shower of mud and gravel and ashes； and then it spread all around； and sank again； and covered in the dead fish so fast； that before Tom had stood there five minutes he was buried in silt up to his ankles； and began to be afraid that he should have been buried alive。
And perhaps he would have been； but that while he was thinking； the whole piece of ground on which he stood was torn off and blown upwards； and away flew Tom a mile up through the sea； wondering what was coming next。
At last he stopped … thump！ and found himself tight in the legs of the most wonderful bogy which he had ever seen。
It had I don't know how many wings； as big as the sails of a windmill； and spread out in a ring like them； and with them it hovered over the steam which rushed up； as a ball hovers over the top of a fountain。 And for every wing above it had a leg below； with a claw like a comb at the tip； and a nostril at the root； and in the middle it had no stomach and one eye； and as for its mouth； that was all on one side； as the madreporiform tubercle in a star… fish is。 Well； it was a very strange beast； but no stranger than some dozens which you may see。
〃What do you want here；〃 it cried quite peevishly； 〃getting in my way？〃 and it tried to drop Tom： but he held on tight to