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waves hundreds and hundreds of feet high； the ocean flowed in and
all was troubled； yeasty sea。
〃Oro carries out his threat to destroy the Nations who had
rebelled against him；〃 said Yva。 〃Much of the world sinks beneath
the waves； but in place of it other lands arise above the waves；
to be inhabited by the seed of those who remain living in those
portions of the Earth that the deluge spared。〃
This horrible vision passed and was succeeded by one more； that
of Oro standing in the sepulchre of the cave by the side of the
crystal coffin which contained what appeared to be the body of
his daughter。 He gazed at her； then drank some potion and laid
himself down in the companion coffin； that in which we had found
him。
All vanished away and Yva； appearing to wake from some kind of
trance； smiled； and in her natural voice asked if we had seen
enough。
〃Quite；〃 I answered in a tone that caused her to say：
〃I wonder what you have seen； Humphrey。 Myself I do not know；
since it is through me that you see at all and when you see I am
in you who see。〃
〃Indeed；〃 I replied。 〃Well； I will tell you about it later。〃
〃Thank you so much；〃 exclaimed Bastin； recovering suddenly from
his amazement。 〃I have heard a great deal of these moving…picture
shows which are becoming so popular； but have always avoided
attending them because their influence on the young is supposed
to be doubtful； and a priest must set a good example to his
congregation。 Now I see that they can have a distinct educational
value； even if it is presented in the form of romance。〃
〃How is it done？〃 asked Bickley； almost fiercely。
〃I do not altogether know；〃 she answered。 〃This I do know；
however； that everything which has happened on this world can be
seen from moment to moment at some point in the depths of space；
for thither the sun's light takes it。 There； too； it can be
caught and thence in an instant returned to earth again； to be
reflected in the mirror of the present by those who know how that
mirror should be held。 Ask me no more； one so wise as you； O
Bickley； can solve such problems for himself。〃
〃If you don't mind； Lady Yva；〃 said Bastin； 〃I think I should
like to get out of this place； interesting as it is。 I have food
to cook up above and lots of things to attend to； especially as I
understand I am to come back here tomorrow。 Would you mind
showing me the way to that lift or moving staircase？〃
〃Come；〃 she said； smiling。
So we went past the image of Fate； out of the temple； down the
vast and lonely streets so unnaturally illuminated； to the place
where we had first found ourselves on arrival in the depths。
There we stood。
A moment later and we were whirling up as we had whirled down。
I suppose that Yva came with us though I never saw her do so； and
the odd thing was that when we arrived in the sepulchre； she
seemed already to be standing there waiting to direct us。
〃Really；〃 remarked Bastin； 〃this is exactly like Maskelyne and
Cook。 Did you ever see their performance； Bickley？ If so； it must
have given you lots to explain for quite a long while。〃
〃Jugglery never appealed to me； whether in London or in
Orofena；〃 replied Bickley in a sour voice as he extracted from
his pocket an end of candle to which he set light。
〃What is jugglery？〃 asked Bastin； and they departed arguing；
leaving me alone with Yva in the sepulchre。
〃What have I seen？〃 I asked her。
〃I do not know； Humphrey。 Everyone sees different things； but
perhaps something of the truth。〃
〃I hope not； Yva； for amongst other things I seemed to see you
swear yourself to a man for ever。〃
〃Yes； and this I did。 What of it？〃
〃Only that it might be hard for another man。〃
〃Yes； for another man it might be hard。 You were once married；
were you not； Humphrey； to a wife who died？〃
〃Yes； I was married。〃
〃And did you not swear to that wife that you would never look
in love upon another woman？〃
〃I did；〃 I answered in a shamed voice。 〃But how do you know？ I
never told you so。〃
〃Oh！ I know you and therefore guessed。〃
〃Well； what of it； Yva？〃
〃Nothing； except that you must find your wife before you love
again； and before I love again I must find him whom I wish to be
my husband。〃
〃How can that happen；〃 I asked； 〃when both are dead？〃
〃How did all that you have seen to…day in Nyo happen？〃 she
replied； laughing softly。 〃Perhaps you are very blind； Humphrey；
or perhaps we both are blind。 If so； mayhap light will come to
us。 Meanwhile do not be sad。 Tomorrow I will meet you and you
shall teach meyour English tongue； Humphrey； and other things。〃
〃Then let it be in the sunlight； Yva。 I do not love those
darksome halls of Nyo that glow like something dead。〃
〃It is fitting； for are they not dead？〃 she answered； with a
little laugh。 〃So be it。 Bastin shall teach my father down below；
since sun and shade are the same to him who only thinks of his
religion； and you shall teach me up above。〃
〃I am not so certain about Bastin and of what he thinks；〃 I
said doubtfully。 〃Also will the Lord Oro permit you to come？〃
〃Yes； for in such matters I rule myself。 Also；〃 she added
meaningly； 〃he remembers my oath that I will wed no mansave one
who is dead。 Now farewell a while and bid Bastin be here when the
sun is three hours high； not before or after。〃
Then I left her。
Chapter XVII
Yva Explains
When I reached the rock I was pleased to find Marama and about
twenty of his people engaged in erecting the house that we had
ordered them to build for our accommodation。 Indeed； it was
nearly finished； since house…building in Orofena is a simple
business。 The framework of poles let into palm trunks； since they
could not be driven into the rock； had been put together on the
further shore and towed over bodily by canoes。 The overhanging
rock formed one side of the house； the ends were of palm leaves
tied to the poles； and the roof was of the same material。 The
other side was left open for the present； which in that equable
and balmy clime was no disadvantage。 The whole edifice was about
thirty feet long by fifteen deep and divided into two portions；
one for sleeping and one for living； by a palm leaf partition。
Really； it was quite a comfortable abode； cool and rainproof；
especially after Bastin had built his hut in which to cook。
Marama and his people were very humble in their demeanour and
implored us to visit them on the main island。 I answered that
perhaps we would later on； as we wished to procure certain things
from the wreck。 Also； he requested Bastin to continue his
ministrations as the latter greatly desired to do。 But to this
proposal I would not allow him to give any direct answer at the
moment。 Indeed； I dared not do so until I was sure of Oro's
approval。
Towards evening they departed in their canoes； leaving behind
them the usual ample store of provisions。
We cooked our meal as usual； only to discover that what Yva had
said about the Life…water was quite true； since we had but little
appetite for solid food； though this returned upon the following
day。 The same thing happened upon every occasion after drinking
of that water which certainly was a most invigorating fluid。
Never for years had any of us felt so well as it caused us to do。
So we lit our pipes and talked about our experiences though of
these； indeed； we scarcely knew what to say。 Bastin accepted them
as something out of the common； of course； but as facts which
admitted of no discussion。 After all； he said； the Old Testament
told much the same story of people called the Sons of God who
lived very long lives and ran after the daughters of men whom
they should have left alone； and thus became the progenitors of a
remarkable race。 Of this race； he presumed that Oro and his
daughter were survivors； especially as they spoke of their family
as 〃Heaven born。〃 How they came to survive was more than he could
understand and really scarcely worth bothering over； since there
they were。
It was the same about the Deluge； continued Bastin； although
naturally Oro spoke falsely； or； at any rate； grossly
exaggerated； when he declared that he had caused this
catastrophe； unless indeed he was talking about a totally
different deluge； though even then he could not have brought it
about。 It was curious； however； that the people drowned were said
to have been wicked； and Oro had the same opinion about those
whom he claimed to have drowned； though for the matter of that；
he could not conceive anyone more wicked than Oro himself。 On his
own showing he was a most revengeful person and one who declined
to agree to a quite suitable alliance； apparently desired by both
parties； merely because it offended his family pride。 No； on
reflection he might be unjust to Oro in this particular； since he