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〃We are from the country called England and a great storm
shipwrecked us here； that； I think； which raised the mouth of the
cave above the level of this rock；〃 I answered。
〃The time appointed having come when it should be raised；〃 said
Oro as though to himself。
〃Where is England？〃 asked Yva。
Now among the books we had with us was a pocket atlas； quite a
good one of its sort。 By way of answer I opened it at the map of
the world and showed her England。 Also I showed； to within a
thousand miles or so； that spot on the earth's surface where we
spoke together。
The sight of this atlas excited the pair greatly。 They had not
the slightest difficulty in understanding everything about it and
the shape of the world with its division into hemispheres seemed
to be quite familiar to them。 What appeared chiefly to interest
them； and especially Oro； were the relative areas and positions
of land and sea。
〃Of this； Strangers；〃 he said； pointing to the map； 〃I shall
have much to say to you when I have studied the pictures of your
book and compared them with others of my own。〃
〃So he has got maps；〃 said Bickley in English； 〃as well as star
charts。 I wonder where he keeps them。〃
〃With his clothes； I expect；〃 suggested Bastin。
Meanwhile Oro had hidden the atlas in his ample robe and
motioned to his daughter to proceed。
〃Why do you come here from England so far away？〃 the Lady Yva
asked； a question to which each of us had an answer。
〃To see new countries；〃 I said。
〃Because the cyclone brought us；〃 said Bickley。
〃To convert the heathen to my own Christian religion；〃 said
Bastin； which was not strictly true。
It was on this。 last reply that she fixed。
〃What does your religion teach？〃 she asked。
〃It teaches that those who accept it and obey its commands will
live again after death for ever in a better world where is
neither sorrow nor sin；〃 he answered。
When he heard this saying I saw Oro start as though struck by a
new thought and look at Bastin with a curious intentness。
〃Who are the heathen？〃 Yva asked again after a pause； for she
also seemed to be impressed。
〃All who do not agree with Bastin's spiritual views；〃 answered
Bickley。
〃Those who； whether from lack of instruction or from hardness
of heart； do not follow the true faith。 For instance； I suppose
that your father and you are heathen；〃 replied Bastin stoutly。
This seemed to astonish them； but presently Yva caught his
meaning and smiled； while Oro said：
〃Of this great matter of faith we will talk later。 It is an old
question in the world。〃
〃Why；〃 went on Yva； 〃if you wished to travel so far did you
come in a ship that so easily is wrecked？ Why did you not journey
through the air； or better still； pass through space； leaving
your bodies asleep； as； being instructed； doubtless you can do？〃
〃As regards your first question；〃 I answered； 〃there are no
aircraft known that can make so long a journey。〃
〃And as regards the second；〃 broke in Bickley； 〃we did not do
so because it is impossible for men to transfer themselves to
other places through space either with or without their bodies。〃。
At this information the Glittering Lady lifted her arched
eyebrows and smiled a little； while Oro said：
〃I perceive that the new world has advanced but a little way on
the road of knowledge。〃
Fearing that Bastin was about to commence an argument； I began
to ask questions in my turn。
〃Lord Oro and Lady Yva；〃 I said； 〃we have told you something of
ourselves and will tell you more when you desire it。 But pardon
us if first we pray you to tell us what we burn to know。 Who are
you？ Of what race and country？ And how came it that we found you
sleeping yonder？〃
〃If it be your pleasure； answer； my Father；〃 said Yva。
Oro thought a moment； then replied in a calm voice：
〃I am a king who once ruled most of the world as it was in my
day； though it is true that much of it rebelled against me； my
councillors and servants。 Therefore I destroyed the world as it
was then； save only certain portions whence life might spread to
the new countries that I raised up。 Having done this I put myself
and my daughter to sleep for a space of two hundred and fifty
thousand years； that there might be time for fresh civilisations
to arise。 Now I begin to think that I did not allot a sufficiency
of ages； since I perceive from what you tell me； that the
learning of the new races is as yet but small。〃
Bickley and I looked at each other and were silent。 Mentally we
had collapsed。 Who could begin to discuss statements built upon
such a foundation of gigantic and paralysing falsehoods？
Well； Bastin could for one。 With no more surprise in his voice
than if he were talking about last night's dinner； he said：
〃There must be a mistake somewhere； or perhaps I misunderstand
you。 It is obvious that you； being a man； could not have
destroyed the world。 That could only be done by the Power which
made it and you。〃
I trembled for the results of Bastin's methods of setting out
the truth。 To my astonishment； however； Oro replied：
〃You speak wisely； Priest； but the Power you name may use
instruments to accomplish its decrees。 I am such an instrument。〃
〃Quite so；〃 said Bastin； 〃just like anybody else。 You have more
knowledge of the truth than I thought。 But pray； how did you
destroy the world？〃
〃Using my wisdom to direct the forces that are at work in the
heart of this great globe； I drowned it with a deluge； causing
one part to sink and another to rise； also changes of climate
which completed the work。〃
〃That's quite right；〃 exclaimed Bastin delightedly。 〃We know
all about the Deluge； only you are not mentioned in connection
with the matter。 A man； Noah； had to do with it when he was six
hundred years old。〃
〃Six hundred？〃 said Oro。 〃That is not very old。 I myself had
seen more than a thousand years when I lay down to sleep。〃
〃A thousand！〃 remarked Bastin； mildly interested。 〃That is
unusual； though some of these mighty men of renown we know lived
over nine hundred。〃
Here Bickley snorted and exclaimed：
〃Nine hundred moons；〃 he means。
〃I did not know Noah；〃 went on Oro。 〃Perhaps he lived after my
time and caused some other local deluge。 Is there anything else
you wish to ask me before I leave you that I may study this map
writing？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Bastin。 〃Why were you allowed to drown your world？〃
〃Because it was evil； Priest； and disobeyed me and the Power I
serve。〃
〃Oh！ thank you；〃 said Bastin； 〃that fits in exactly。 It was
just the same in Noah's time。〃
〃I pray that it is not just the same now；〃 said Oro； rising。
〃To…morrow we will return； or if I do not who have much that I
must do； the lady my daughter will return and speak with you
further。〃
He departed into the cave； Yva following at a little distance。
I accompanied her as far as the mouth of the cave； as did
Tommy； who all this time had been sitting contentedly upon the
hem of her gorgeous robe； quite careless of its immemorial age；
if it was immemorial and not woven yesterday； a point on which I
had no information。
〃Lady Yva；〃 I said； 〃did I rightly understand the Lord Oro to
say that he was a thousand years old？〃
〃Yes； O Humphrey； and really he is more； or so I think。〃
〃Then are you a thousand years old also？〃 I asked； aghast。
〃No； no；〃 she replied； shaking her head； 〃I am young； quite
young； for I do not count my time of sleep。〃
〃Certainly you look it；〃 I said。 〃But what； Lady Yva； do you
mean by young？〃
She answered my question by another。
〃What age are your women when they are as I am？〃
〃None of our women were ever quite like you； Lady Yva。 Yet； say
from twenty…five to thirty years of age。〃
〃Ah！ I have been counting and now I remember。 When my father
sent me to sleep I was twenty…seven years old。 No； I will not
deceive you； I was twenty…seven years and three moons。〃 Then；
saying something to the effect that she would return； she
departed； laughing a little in a mischievous way； and； although I
did not observe this till afterwards； Tommy departed with her。
When I repeated what she had said to Bastin and Bickley； who
were standing at a distance straining their ears and somewhat
aggrieved； the former remarked：
〃If she is twenty…seven her father must have married late in
life； though of course it may have been a long while before he
had children。〃
Then Bickley； who had been suppressing himself all this while；
went off like a bomb。
〃Do you tell us； Bastin；〃 he asked； 〃that you believe one word
of all this ghastly rubbish？ I mean as to that antique charlatan
being a thousand years old and having caused the Flood and the
rest？〃
〃If you ask me； Bickley； I see no particular reason to doubt it
at prese