against my nature to sit waiting without a struggle like a sheep
for the butcher. Is it quite certain, Challenger, that there is
nothing we can do?"

"To save us--nothing," said Challenger. "To prolong our lives a
few hours and thus to see the evolution of this mighty tragedy
before we are actually involved in it--that may prove to be
within my powers. I have taken certain steps----"

"The oxygen?"

"Exactly. The oxygen."

"But what can oxygen effect in the face of a poisoning of the
ether? There is not a greater difference in quality between a
brick-bat and a gas than there is between oxygen and ether. They
are different planes of matter. They cannot impinge upon one
another. Come, Challenger, you could not defend such a
proposition."

"My good Summerlee, this etheric poison is most certainly
influenced by material agents. We see it in the methods and
distribution of the outbreak. We should not _a priori_ have
expected it, but it is undoubtedly a fact. Hence I am strongly
of opinion that a gas like oxygen, which increases the vitality
and the resisting power of the body, would be extremely likely
to delay the action of what you have so happily named the
daturon. It may be that I am mistaken, but I have every
confidence in the correctness of my reasoning."