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rest？〃
〃If you ask me； Bickley； I see no particular reason to doubt it
at present。 A person who can go to sleep in a glass coffin kept
warm by a pocketful of radium together with very accurate maps of
the constellations at the time he wakes up； can； I imagine； do
most things。〃
〃Even cause the Deluge；〃 jeered Bickley。
〃I don't know about the Deluge； but perhaps he may have been
permitted to cause a deluge。 Why not？ You can't look at things
from far enough off； Bickley。 And if something seems big to you；
you conclude that therefore it is impossible。 The same Power
which gives you skill to succeed in an operation； that hitherto
was held impracticable； as I know you have done once or twice；
may have given that old fellow power to cause a deluge。 You
should measure the universe and its possibilities by worlds and
not by acres； Bickley。〃
〃And believe； I suppose； that a man can live a thousand years；
whereas we know well that he cannot live more than about a
hundred。〃
〃You don't know anything of the sort； Bickley。 All you know is
that over the brief period of history with which we are
acquainted； say ten thousand years at most； men have only lived
to about a hundred。 But the very rocks which you are so fond of
talking about； tell us that even this planet is millions upon
millions of years of age。 Who knows then but that at some time in
its history； men did not live for a thousand years； and that lost
civilisations did not exist of which this Oro and his daughter
may be two survivors？〃
〃There is no proof of anything of the sort；〃 said Bickley。
〃I don't know about proof； as you understand it； though I have
read in Plato of a continent called Atlantis that was submerged；
according to the story of old Egyptian priests。 But personally I
have every proof； for it is all written down in the Bible at
which you turn tip your nose； and I am very glad that I have been
lucky enough to come across this unexpected confirmation of the
story。 Not that it matters much； since I should have learned all
about it when it pleases Providence to remove me to a better
world； which in our circumstances may happen any day。 Now I must
change my clothes before I see to the cooking and other things。〃
〃I am bound to admit；〃 said Bickley； looking after him； 〃that
old Bastin is not so stupid as he seems。 From his point of view
the arguments he advances are quite logical。 Moreover I think he
is right when he says that we look at things through the wrong
end of the telescope。 After all the universe is very big and who
knows what may happen there？ Who knows even what may have
happened on this little earth during the aeons of its existence；
whenever its balance chanced to shift； as the Ice Ages show us it
has often done？ Still I believe that old Oro to be a Prince of
Liars。〃
〃That remains to be proved；〃 I answered cautiously。 〃All I know
is that he is a wonderfully learned person of most remarkable
appearance； and that his daughter is the loveliest creature I
ever saw。〃
〃There I agree；〃 said Bickley decidedly； 〃and as brilliant as
she is lovely。 If she belongs to a past civilisation； it is a
pity that it ever became extinct。 Now let's go and have a nap。
Bastin will call us when supper is ready。〃
Chapter XIV
The Under…world
That night we slept well and without fear； being quite certain
that after their previous experience the Orofenans would make no
further attempts upon us。 Indeed our only anxiety was for Tommy；
whom we could not find when the time came to give him his supper。
Bastin； however； seemed to remember having seen him following the
Glittering Lady into the cave。 This； of course； was possible； as
certainly he had taken an enormous fancy to her and sat himself
down as close to her as he could on every occasion。 He even
seemed to like the ancient Oro； and was not afraid to jump up and
plant his dirty paws upon that terrific person's gorgeous robe。
Moreover Oro liked him； for several times I observed him pat the
dog upon the head； as I think I have said； the only human touch
that I had perceived about him。 So we gave up searching and
calling in the hope that he was safe with our supernatural
friends。
The next morning quite early the Lady Yva appeared alone； no；
not alone； for with her came our lost Tommy looking extremely
spry and well at ease。 The faithless little wretch just greeted
us in a casual fashion and then went and sat by Yva。 In fact when
the awkward Bastin managed to stumble over the end of her dress
Tommy growled at him and showed his teeth。 Moreover the do was
changed。 He was blessed with a shiny black coat； but now this
coat sparkled in the sunlight； like the Lady Yva's hair。
〃The Glittering Lady is all very well； but I'm not sure that I
care for a glittering dog。 It doesn't look quite natural；〃 said
Bastin； contemplating him。
〃Why does Tommy shine； Lady？〃 I asked。
〃Because I washed him in certain waters that we have； so that
now he looks beautiful and smells sweet；〃 she answered； laughing。
It was true； the dog did smell sweet； which I may add had not
always been the case with him； especially when there were dead
fish about。 Also he appeared to have been fed； for he turned up
his nose at the bits we had saved for his breakfast。
〃He has drunk of the Life…water；〃 explained Yva； 〃and will want
no food for two days。〃
Bickley pricked up his ears at this statement and looked
incredulous。
〃You do not believe； O Bickley；〃 she said； studying him
gravely。 〃Indeed； you believe nothing。 You think my father and I
tell you many lies。 Bastin there； he believes all。 Humphrey？ He
is not sure； he thinks to himself； I will wait and find out
whether or ho these funny people cheat me。〃
Bickley coloured and made some remark about things which were
contrary to experience； also that Tommy in a general way was
rather a greedy little dog。
〃You； too； like to eat； Bickley〃 （this was true； he had an
excellent appetite）； 〃but when you have drunk the Life…water you
will care much less。〃
〃I am glad to hear it；〃 interrupted Bastin； 〃for Bickley wants
a lot of cooking done； and I find it tedious。〃
〃You eat also； Lady；〃 said Bickley。
〃Yes； I eat sometimes because I like it； but I can go weeks and
not eat； when I have the Life…water。 Just now； after so long a
sleep； I am hungry。 Please give me some of that fruit。 No； not
the flesh； flesh I hate。〃
We handed it to her。 She took two plantains； peeled and ate
them with extraordinary grace。 Indeed she reminded me； I do not
know why； of some lovely butterfly drawing its food from a
flower。
While she ate she observed us closely； nothing seemed to escape
the quick glances of those beautiful eyes。 Presently she said：
〃What； O Humphrey； is that with which you fasten your
neckdress？〃 and she pointed to the little gold statue of Osiris
that I used as a pin。
I told her that it was a statuette of a god named Osiris and
very； very ancient； probably quite five thousand years old； a
statement at which she smiled a little； also that it came from
Egypt。
〃Ah！〃 she answered； 〃is it so？ I asked because we have figures
that are very like to that one； and they also hold in their hands
a staff surmounted by a loop。 They are figures of Sleep's
brotherDeath。〃
〃So is this；〃 I said。 〃Among the Egyptians Osiris was the god
of Death。〃
She nodded and replied that doubtless the symbol had come down
to them。
〃One day you shall take me to see this land which you call so
very old。 Or I will take you； which would be quicker；〃 she added。
We all bowed and said we should be delighted。 Even Bastin
appeared anxious to revisit Egypt in such company； though when he
was there it seemed to bore him。 But what she meant about taking
us I could not guess。 Nor had we time to ask her； for she went
on； watching our faces as she spoke。
〃The Lord Oro sends you a message； Strangers。 He asks whether
it is your wish to see where we dwell。 He adds that you are not
to come if you do not desire； or if you fear danger。〃
We all answered that there was nothing we should like better；
but Bastin added that he had already seen the tomb。
〃Do you think； Bastin； that we live in a tomb because we slept
there for a while； awaiting the advent of you wanderers at the
appointed hour？〃
〃I don't see where else it could be； unless it is further down
that cave；〃 said Bastin。 〃The top of the mountain would not be
convenient as a residence。〃
〃It has not been convenient for many an age； for reasons that I
will show you。 Think now； before you come。 You have naught to
fear from us； and I believe that no harm will happen to you。 But
you will see many strange things that will anger Bickley because
he cannot understand them； and perhaps will weary Bastin because
his heart turns from what is wondr