"They ARE drums.

The drums of Destiny!" Louder the roaring grew.

Now it was a tremendous rhythmic cannonading.
The Thing halted.

The tower that upheld Ruth and Norhala swayed, bent over the gap between us, touched the top on which we rode.
Gently the two were plucked up; swiftly they were set beside us.
Came a shrill, keen wailing--louder than ever I had heard before.

There was an earthquake trembling; a maelstrom swirling in which we spun; a swift sinking.
The Thing split in two.