Hearken now! What is that sound we hear ?" As he spoke there reached our ears the first, far-off murmurs of a dreadful music.

I cannot describe it in words because that is impossible, but it was something like to the buzz of a thousand humming-tops such as are loved by children because of their weird song.
"Back to the wall!" cried Oro triumphantly.

"The time is short!" So back we went, Oro pausing a while behind and overtaking us with long, determined strides.

Yva led us, gliding at my side and, as I thought, now and again glanced at my face with a look that was half anxious and half pitiful.

Also twice she stooped and patted Tommy.
We reached the wall, though not quite at the spot whence we had started to examine the grooved roads.