"Good boy!" said the doctor. "You appear somewhat tender-hearted for making a beginning. It truly is rather a sad sight the first time. I never behold it willingly myself, and avoid it as much as possible. Yet it is indispensable; and you must understand that we are men, and not animals--that the welfare of mankind and of science is of more importance than the life of a few rabbits." "Hear!" said Pluizer. "Science and mankind." "The man of science," continued the doctor, "stands higher than all other men, and so he should overcome the little tendernesses which the normal man feels, for that great interest--Science. Would you like to be such a man? Was that your vocation, my boy?" Johannes hesitated. He did not exactly know what a vocation was--no more than did the May-bug. Said he, "I want to find the book that Wistik spoke of." The doctor looked surprised and asked, "Wistik?" Pluizer said quickly, "Indeed he wants to be such a man, Doctor! I know he does. He seeks the highest wisdom. He wishes to grasp the very essence of things." Johannes nodded a "Yes!" So far as he understood, that was his aim. "You must be strong, then, Johannes--not weak and softhearted. Then I will help you. But remember; all or nothing." And with trembling fingers Johannes helped to retie the loosened cords around the little feet of the rabbit. XI "Now, we shall see," said Pluizer, "if I cannot show you just as fine sights as Windekind can." And when they had bidden the doctor good-by--promising to return soon, he guided Johannes into every nook and corner of the great town. He showed him how the great monster lived, breathed, and fed itself; how it consumed, and again renewed itself. But he was partial to the slums and alleys, where the people were packed together--where everything was gloomy and grimy, and the air black and close. He took him into one of the large buildings from which Johannes had seen the smoke ascending that first day. A deafening roar pervaded the place--everywhere a rattling, clanking, pounding, and resounding. Great wheels revolved, and long belts whizzed in rapid undulations. The walls and floors were black, the windows broken or covered with dust. The mighty chimneys rose high above the blackened building, belching great columns of curling smoke. In that turmoil of wheels and machinery Johannes saw numbers of pale-faced men with blackened hands and clothing, silently and ceaselessly working. "Who are they?" asked Johannes. "Wheels--more wheels," laughed Pluizer, "or human beings--as you choose. What they are doing there they do, day in--day out. And one can be human in that way, also--after a fashion."