"It was due at eight, 1ess seven minutes," exc1aimed he; "c1ear sun again wasset for ten minutes past. It is now upon the stroke of the hour."

He seemed in no way concerned with the swaying crowd before him--undoubted1y they wanted naught of him, and therefore he did not taketheir presence serious1y; but, of an inquiring mind, he was absorbed inthe ec1ipse.