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d in the observatory buildings I repaired； after two Sundays I established acquaintance with John Donald； the head of this family。 On the evening of the third； I made acquaintance with his wife in a visit to them。 Before three Sundays more he had recommended me to the surviving trustees as his successor as janitor to the buildings。 He himself had accepted promotion； and gone； with his household； to keep a store for Haliburton in North Ovid。 I sent for Polly and the children； to establish them in the janitor's rooms； and； after writing to her； with trembling eye I waited for the Brick Moon to pass over the field of the fifteen…inch equatorial。
Night came。 I was 〃sole alone〃！ B。 M。 came； more than filled the field of vision； of course！ but for that I was ready。 Heavens！ how changed。 Red no longer； but green as a meadow in the spring。 Still I could see black on the greenthe large twenty…foot circles which I remembered so well； which broke the concave of the dome； and； on the upper edgewere these palm…trees？ They were。 No； they were hemlocks； by their shape； and among them were moving to and fro flies？ Of course； I cannot see flies！ But something is moving； coming； going。 One； two； three； ten； there are more than thirty in all！ They are men and women and their children！
Could it be possible？ It was possible！ Orcutt and Brannan and the rest of them had survived that giddy flight through the ether； and were going and coming on the surface of their own little world； bound to it by its own attraction and living by its own laws！
As I watched； I saw one of them leap from that surface。 He passed wholly out of my field of vision； but in a minute； more or less； returned。 Why not！ Of course the attraction of his world must be very small； while he retained the same power of muscle he had when he was here。 They must be horribly crowded； I thought。 No。 They had three acres of surface； and there were but thirty…seven of them。 Not so much crowded as people are in Roxbury； not nearly so much as in Boston； and； besides； these people are living underground； and have the whole of their surface for their exercise。
I watched their every movement as they approached the edge and as they left it。 Often they passed beyond it； so that I could see them no more。 Often they sheltered themselves from that tropical sun beneath the trees。 Think of living on a world where from the vertical heat of the hottest noon of the equator to the twilight of the poles is a walk of only fifty paces！ What atmosphere they had； to temper and diffuse those rays； I could not then conjecture。
I knew that at half…past ten they would pass into the inevitable eclipse which struck them every night at this period of their orbit； and must； I thought； be a luxury to them； as recalling old memories of night when they were on this world。 As they approached the line of shadow； some fifteen minutes before it was due； I counted on the edge thirty…seven specks arranged evidently in order； and； at one moment； as by one signal； all thirty… seven jumped into the air；high jumps。 Again they did it； and again。 Then a low jump； then a high one。 I caught the idea in a moment。 They were telegraphing to our world； in the hope of an observer。 Long leaps and short leaps；the long and short of Morse's Telegraph Alphabet；were communicating ideas。 My paper and pencil had been of course before me。 I jotted down the despatch； whose language I knew perfectly：
〃Show ‘I understand' on the Saw…Mill Flat。〃 〃Show ‘I understand' on the Saw…Mill Flat。〃 〃Show ‘I understand' on the Saw…Mill Flat。〃
By 〃I understand〃 they meant the responsive signal given； in all telegraphy； by an operator who has received and understood a message。
As soon as this exercise had been three times repeated； they proceeded in a solid bodymuch the most apparent object I had had until nowto Circle No。 3； and then evidently descended into the MOON。
The eclipse soon began； but I knew the MOON'S path now； and followed the dusky； coppery spot without difficulty。 At 1。33 it emerged； and in a very few moments I saw the solid column pass from Circle No。 3 again； deploy on the edge again； and repeat three times the signal：
〃Show ‘I understand' on the Saw…Mill Flat。〃 〃Show ‘I understand' on the Saw…Mill Flat。〃 〃Show ‘I understand' on the Saw…Mill Flat。〃
It was clear that Orcutt had known that the edge of his little world would be most easy of observation； and that he had guessed that the moments of obscuration and of emersion were the moments when observers would be most careful。 After this signal they broke up again； and I could not follow them。 With daylight I sent off a despatch to Haliburton； and； grateful and happy in comparison； sank into the first sleep not haunted by horrid dreams； which I had known for years。
Haliburton knew that George Orcutt had taken with him a good Dolland's refractor； which he had bought in London； of a two…inch glass。 He knew that this would give Orcutt a very considerable power； if he could only adjust it accurately enough to find No。 9 in the 3d Range。 Orcutt had chosen well in selecting the 〃Saw…Mill Flat；〃 a large meadow； easily distinguished by the peculiar shape of the mill…pond which we had made。 Eager though Haliburton was to join me； he loyally took moneys； caught the first train to Skowhegan； and； travelling thence； in thirty…six hours more was again descending Spoonwood Hill； for the first time since our futile observations。 The snow lay white upon the Flat。 With Rob。 Shea's help； he rapidly unrolled a piece of black cambric twenty yards long； and pinned it to the crust upon the snow； another by its side； and another。 Much cambric had he left。 They had carried down with them enough for the funerals of two Presidents。 Haliburton showed the symbols for 〃I understand；〃 but he could not resist also displaying 。。 。； which are the dots and lines to represent O。 K。； which； he says； is the shortest message of comfort。 And not having exhausted the space on the Flat； he and Robert； before night closed in； made a gigantic O。 K。； fifteen yards from top to bottom； and in marks that were fifteen feet through。 I had telegraphed my great news to Haliburton on Monday night。 Tuesday night he was at Skowhegan。 Thursday night he was at No。 9。 Friday he and Rob。 stretched their cambric。 Meanwhile； every day I slept。 Every night I was glued to the eye…piece。 Fifteen minutes before the eclipse every night this weird dance of leaps two hundred feet high； followed by hops of twenty feet high； mingled always in the steady order I have described； spelt out the ghastly message： 〃Show ‘I understand' on the Saw…Mill Flat。〃
And every morning； as the eclipse ended； I saw the column creep along to the horizon； and again； as the duty of opening day； spell out the same：
〃Show ‘I understand' on the Saw…Mill Flat。〃
They had done this twice in every twenty…four hours for nearly two years。 For three nights steadily I read these signals twice each night； only these； and nothing more。
But Friday night all was changed。 After 〃Attention；〃 that dreadful 〃Show〃 did not come； but this cheerful signal：
〃Hurrah。 All well。 Air； food； and friends！ what more can