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full upon the Red Knob, and in goes that Knob with a sudden push and a small sound. I felt as it might be in a Faint-ness, and the Street went out of my sight, but the Chair stood still. In the place of the Street and the Barn was a new and strange Place, like to a Chamber, and there fell a terrible Clangour about me.
     
    The Chamber was high and smooth. I cou’d not discover, whether it were Built of Wood, or Stone, or Bricks, for all was cover’d with a manner of smooth Plaster and painted over. The Windows were uncommon great and let in much light, and gave upon a great Road, whereon stood great Buildings of Stone. In the Ceiling of this Chamber I saw long Lines or Rods of some Substance, that were Glowing as if they were of Iron heated in a Furnace, for from them came much Light of a Whiteish Hue. I was afear’d they wou’d fall down upon me and burn me. There stood some Tables and Chairs, of a strange kind of design, and some were of Metal.
     
    The Clangour I thought came from without. It chang’d every minute, with a dreadful Thundring and Moaning. I crouch’d me down in my Sorcerer’s Chair and commended my Soul to ALMIGHTY GOD, for I thought, that some fearful Disaster was nigh, War or Earthquake mayhap, and that I shou’d soon perish. Before many minutes had past, the Thundring grew more lowd, and a manner of Chariot or Coach came Rowling down the Road without, with a swiftness that no Coach cou’d ever have (as I thought). No horse drew it, and so swiftly went it by, that I cou’d not perceive, whether any Body were within. As it went it Rumbled and Moan’d, ‘till the Soul had like to leave my Body for meer Terror. I was still shaking from the Fear of it, when by there came another such, going the other way, making a like Noise, and Snarling besides. Within it methought I saw a Face, that look’d ever forward, and took no mind of me or of the Buildings round about. It seem’d to me then, that all this Thundring and Moaning that continually assail’d my Ears, must come from a sort of Chariots, that came and went in the neighbourhood, but for the most part out of sight.
     
    Now (thinks I) the Boot is on the other Foot, for if that Sorcerer was afraid for his Life, so now am I. And am I (I says to my self) to take leave of this Machine wherein I now sit, and suffer it to be spirited away by the first Comer, even as he did? So (after offering up a short Prayer to the LORD GOD) I fell to examining my Chair more searchingly and narrowly, then I had yet done. And I perceiv’d, low down by my Feet, a Black Rod, that seem’d as it were meant to slide to and fro in a Hole or Slot. It stood out to the Right hand, and by that side was writ (but in Metal), OPERATING. On the other side was writ, LOCKED. In a great Trembling I slid that Rod towards the Left. Then, to make sure that it wou’d indeed return, I slid it back to the Right. I cou’d not well understand the Words, but it seem’d to me, that with the Rod to the Left, the Machine might be safe, so that no Body cou’d do any thing with it, untill he had slid the Rod back again to the Right. Mr Sorcerer, for all his fears, was so secure, as to let alone that precaution.
     
    So, finally, and with another Prayer, I slid the Rod toward the Left again, and stole out of my Machine. The Chamber was warm, and wonderful clean, but there was a mighty strange Odour in the Air, somewhat as of Burning; I suppos’d, it might come from the Hot Bars in the Ceiling, and I perceiv’d that there were great Marks of Soot or Dust upon the Walls and Ceiling, tho’ there was no Hearth in the whole place. The Floor was made, or cover’d, with some singular Stuff, which was smooth like Wood or Stone, but resembled more some manner of Linnen-cloth or Carpet to the sight. On a great Bench stood a Row of Books, bound, not in Leather, but in some kind of Cloth (as it seem’d to me), each one in a different colour. Their Paper was more fine and white than I cou’d have