upward; it resembled a slowly moving cordial, rather than mere heat.
The sensation was quite new in his experience, yet he knew by
instinct what it was. The energy emitted by the brook was ascending
his body neither as friend nor foe but simply because it happened to
be the direct road to its objective elsewhere. But, although it had
no hostile intentions, it was likely to prove a rough traveller--he
was clearly conscious that its passage through his body threatened to
bring about some physical transformation, unless he could do
something to prevent it. Leaping quickly out of the water, he leaned
against a rock, tightened his muscles, and braced himself against the
impending charge. At that very moment the blurring again attacked
his sight, and, while he was guarding against that, his forehead
sprouted out into a galaxy of new eyes. He put his hand up and
counted six, in addition to his old ones.

The danger was past and Maskull laughed, congratulating himself on
having got off so easily. Then he wondered what the new organs were
for--whether they were a good or a bad thing. He had not taken a
dozen steps up the ravine before he found out. Just as he was in the
act of jumping down from the top of a boulder, his vision altered and
he came to an automatic standstill. He was perceiving two worlds
simultaneously. With his own eyes he saw the gorge as before, with
its rocks, brook, plant-animals, sunshine, and shadows. But with
his acquired eyes he saw differently. All the details of the valley
were visible, but the light seemed turned down, and everything
appeared faint, hard, and uncoloured. The sun was obscured by masses
of cloud which filled the whole sky. This vapour was in violent and
almost living motion. It was thick in extension, but thin in
texture; some parts, however, were far denser than others, as the
particles were crushed together or swept apart by the motion. The