leaves the lair, so that I may revel in sight of its 

 entire being. But no farther does it extend itself; 

 it remains for the most part poised, as it were, 

 gently undulating in mid-air — mid-water seems 

 not quite the truth, for through my magic lenses all 

 realism is lost. 



The illusion is not long-lasting, though; for 

 suddenly all is darkness . . . No, not all : where 

 formerly was my worm, there gradually resolves 

 itself in faint outlines of greenish fire, its phantom 

 form! . . . 



During my complete absorption, I neglect my 

 lamp, with the consequence that upon my chance 

 encounter with the wires, a faulty connection is 

 strained and the light goes out. At any rate, this is 

 a most fortunate accident. It reveals the fact that 

 my microscopic worm is phosphorescent. 



With matters fixed, I resume my place at the 

 binocular. But my pretty worm is gone. The only 

 life now visible is the scintillating form of some 

 creature as it curves across the field at a speed too 

 great for me to make out its details. Therefore, I 

 decide to move on. 



Over hills of jasper veined with silver and gold, 

 past valleys floored with crystals of amethyst, I 



[136] 



