This evidently set some machinery in motion, for a sound as of whirring came.

From one side of the box floated what looked like a piece of stiff ribbon, which snapped and crackled as the wind took it.
For a few seconds Mimi saw it as it rushed along the sagging line to the kite.

When close to it, there was a loud crack, and a sudden light appeared to issue from every chink in the box.

Then a quick flame flashed along the snapping ribbon, which glowed with an intense light--a light so great that the whole of the countryside around stood out against the background of black driving clouds.

For a few seconds the light remained, then suddenly disappeared in the blackness around.