From the girl came a low wail of anguish; the boy dropped upon his knees, covering his face.
For the moment the white beard stood rigid; then the robe that had covered him seemed to melt away, revealing all the knotted, monstrous body.

And in that body a vibration began, increasing to incredible rapidity.

It wavered before us like a reflection in a still pond stirred by a sudden wind.

It grew and grew--to a rhythm whose rapidity was intolerable to watch and that still chained the eyes.
The figure grew indistinct, misty.

Tiny sparks in infinite numbers leaped from it--like, I thought, the radiant shower of particles hurled out by radium when seen under the microscope.