Presently, when it hung over the edge of the shadow that was nearest to us, it was let down with a run and overset, and out of it, looking very small in those vast surroundings and that mysterious light, rolled the figure of a man.

Although at that distance we could see little of him, accident assured us of his identity, for as he rolled the hat he wore fell from him, and I knew it at once for Higgs's sun-helmet.

He rose from the ground, limped very slowly and painfully after the helmet, picked it up, and proceeded to use it to dust his knees.

At this moment there was a clanking sound.
"Oh! they lift the gates!" murmured Maqueda.
Then followed more sounds, this time of wild beasts raging for their prey, and of other human beasts shrieking with excitement on the wall above.

The Professor turned and saw.