The War of The Worlds by H. G. Wells chapter 3 and 4

grip on it.
I was very glad to do as he asked me as it would allow me to become one of the spectators within the enclosure which Stent wanted. I failed to find Lord Hilton at his house but I was told he was expected from London by the six oclock train from Waterloo Station and as it was then about a quarterpast five I went home had some tea and walked up to Woking Station to meet him.
CHAPTER 4
THE CYLINDER UNSCREWS
THE sun was setting when I returned to the common after giving my message to Lord Hilton. Scattered groups were hurrying with me from the direction of Woking and one or two persons were returning. The crowd about the pit had increased and stood out black against the skya couple of hundred people perhaps.
There were a number of voices raised and some sort of struggle appeared to be going on about the pit. As 1 drew nearer I heard Stents voice.
Keep back! Keep back ! A boy came running towards me.
Its moving he said to me as he passed un screwing and unscrewing. I dont like it. Im going home I am.
I went on to the crowd. There were really I should think more than two hundred people elbowing and pushing each other. I elbowed my way through. Everyone seemed greatly excited.
I say! said Ogilvy when he saw me help keep these idiots back. We dont know whats in the thing you know.
I saw a young man a shop assistant in Woking I believe he was standing on the cylinder and trying to scramble out of the hole again. The crowd had pushed him in.
Hes fallen in the pit ! cried someone. Keep back! said several.
The end of the cylinder was being screwed out from within. Nearly two feet of shining screw projected. Somebody stumbled against me and I narrowly missed being thrown on to the top of the screw. I turned and as I did so the screw must have come out and the lid of the cylinder fell upon the gravel with a ringing noise. I stuck my elbow into the person behind me and turned my head towards the Thing again. For a moment that circular opening seemed perfectly black. I had the sunset in my eyes.
I think everyone expected to see a man emerge possibly something a little unlike us men but in all essentials