Copernicus was now more hopeful. He could not but feel that, if the elder sister came face to face with his marvellous machine, good must result for his plans. Rebecca walked with nervous haste, dreading Phoebe's possible discovery of this most unconventional conduct. The night was moonless, and the two stumbled and groped their way down the lane at a pace whose slowness exasperated Rebecca. "Ef I'd a-known!" she exclaimed, under her breath. "We're 'most there, Cousin Rebecca," said Copernicus, with deprecating softness. "Here, give me holt o' yer hand while we climb over the wall. Here's Burnham's swamp right now." Accepting the proffered aid, Rebecca found herself in the midst of a thicket of bushes, many of which were thorny and all of which seemed bent upon repelling nocturnal adventurers. Droop, going ahead, did his best to draw aside the obstinate twigs, and Rebecca followed him with half-averted head, lifting her skirts and walking sidewise. "'Mighty lucky, 'tain't wet weather!" she mumbled. At that moment her guide stood still. "There!" he exclaimed, in a low, half-awed voice. Rebecca stopped and gazed about. A little to the right the dark gray of the sky was cut by a looming black mass of uncertain form. It looked like the crouching phantom of some shapeless sea-monster. Rebecca half expected to see it dissolve like a wind-driven fog. Their physical sight could distinguish nothing of the outer characteristics of this mysterious structure; but for this very reason, the imagination was the more active. Rebecca, with all her directness of nature and commonplace experience, felt in this unwonted presence that sense of awed mystery which she would have called a "creepy feeling." What unknown and incomprehensible forces were locked within that formless mass? By what manner of race as yet unborn had its elements been brought together--no, no--_would_ they be brought together? How assume a comfortable mental attitude toward this creation whose present existence so long antedated its own origin? One sentiment, at least, Rebecca could entertain with hearty consistency. Curiosity asserted its supremacy over every other feeling. "Can't we get into the thing, an' light a candle or suthin'?" she said. "Of course we can," said Droop. "That's what I brought ye here fer. Take holt o' my hand an' lift yer feet, or you'll stumble." Leading his companion by the hand, Copernicus approached the dark form, moving with great caution over the clumps of grassy turf. Presently he reached the side of the machine. Rebecca heard him strike it with his hand two or three times, as though groping for something. Then she was drawn forward again, and suddenly found herself entering an invisible doorway. She stumbled on the threshold and flung out her free hand for support. She clutched at a hand-rail that seemed to lead spirally upward. Droop's voice came out of the blackness. "Jest wait here a minute," he said. "I'll go up an' turn on the light."