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first sound of the approach of someone； woke up and growled。 Then
recognising Oro； he went to him； wagged his tail and curled
himself up at his feet。
Bastin believed my story readily enough； saying that Oro was a
peculiar person who no doubt had ways of coming and going which
we did not understand。 His point was； however； that he did not in
the least wish to visit Nyo any more。 The wonders of its
underground palaces and temples had no charms for him。 Also he
did not think he could do any good by going； since after 〃sucking
him as dry as an orange〃 with reference to religious matters
〃that old vampire…bat Oro had just thrown him away like the
rind；〃 and； he might add； 〃seemed no better for the juice he had
absorbed。〃
〃I doubt；〃 continued Bastin； 〃whether St。 Paul himself could
have converted Oro； even if he performed miracles before him。
What is the use of showing miracles to a man who could always
work a bigger one himself？〃
In short； Bastin's one idea； and Bickley's also for the matter
of that； was to get away to the main island and thence escape by
means of the boat； or in some other fashion。
I pointed out that Oro had said we must obey at the peril of
our lives； indeed that he had put it even more strongly； using
words to the effect that if we did not he would kill us。
〃I'd take the risk；〃 said Bickley； 〃since I believe that
you dreamt it all； Arbuthnot。 However； putting that
aside； there is a natural reason why you should wish to
go； and for my own part； so do I in a way。 I want to see
what that old fellow has up his extremely long sleeve； if
there is anything there at all。〃
〃Well； if you ask me； Bickley；〃 I answered； 〃I believe it is
the destruction of half the earth； or some little matter of that
sort。〃
At this suggestion Bickley only snorted； but Bastin said
cheerfully：
〃I dare say。 He is bad enough even for that。 But as I am quite
convinced that it will never be allowed； his intentions do not
trouble me。〃
I remarked that he seemed to have carried them out once before。
〃Oh！ you mean the Deluge。 Well； no doubt there was a deluge；
but I am sure that Oro had no more to do with it than you or I；
as I think I have said already。 Anyhow it is impossible to leave
you to descend into that hole alone。 I suggest； therefore； that
we should go into the sepulchre at the time which you believe Oro
appointed； and see what happens。 If you are not mistaken； the
Glittering Lady will come there to fetch us； since it is quite
certain that we cannot work the lift or whatever it is； alone。 If
you are mistaken we can just go back to bed as usual。〃
〃Yes； that's the best plan；〃 said Bickley； shortly； after which
the conversation came to an end。
All that day and the next I watched and waited in vain for the
coming of Yva； but no Yva appeared。 I even went as far as the
sepulchre； but it was as empty as were the two crystal coffins；
and after waiting a while I returned。 Although I did not say so
to Bickley； to me it was evident that Oro； as he had said； was
determined to cut off all communication between us。
The second day drew to its close。 Our simple preparations were
complete。 They consisted mainly in making ready our hurricane
lamps and packing up a little food； enough to keep us for three
or four days if necessary； together with some matches and a good
supply of oil； since； as Bastin put it； he was determined not to
be caught like the foolish virgins in the parable。
〃You see；〃 he added； 〃one never knows when it might please that
old wretch to turn off the incandescent gas or electric light； or
whatever it is he uses to illumine his family catacombs； and then
it would be awkward if we had no oil。〃
〃For the matter of that he might steal our lamps；〃
suggested Bickley； 〃in which case we should be where
Moses was when the light went out。〃
〃I have considered that possibility；〃 answered Bastin； 〃and
therefore； although it is a dangerous weapon to carry loaded； I
am determined to take my revolver。 If necessary I shall consider
myself quite justified in shooting him to save our lives and
those of thousands of others。〃
At this we both laughed； somehow the idea of Bastin trying to
shoot Oro struck us as intensely ludicrous。 Yet that very thing
was to happen。
It was a peculiarly beautiful sunset over the southern seas。 To
the west the great flaming orb sank into the ocean； to the east
appeared the silver circle of the full moon。 To my excited fancy
they were like scales hanging from the hand of a materialised
spirit of calm。 Over the volcano and the lake； over the island
with its palm trees； over the seas beyond； this calm brooded。
Save for a few travelling birds the sky was empty； no cloud
disturbed its peace； the world seemed steeped in innocence and
quiet。
All these things struck me； as I think they did the others；
because by the action of some simultaneous thought it came to our
minds that very probably we were； looking on them for the last
time。 It is all very well to talk of the Unknown and the Infinite
whereof we are assured we are the heirs； but that does not make
it any easier for us to part with the Known and the Finite。 The
contemplation of the wonders of Eternity does not conceal the
advantages of actual and existent Time。 In short there is no one
of us； from a sainted archbishop down to a sinful suicide； who
does not regret the necessity of farewell to the pleasant light
and the kindly race of men wherewith we are acquainted。
For after all； who can be quite certain of the Beyond？ It may
be splendid； but it will probably be strange； and from
strangeness； after a certain age； we shrink。 We know that all
things will be different there； that our human relationships will
be utterly changed； that perhaps sex which shapes so many of
them； will vanish to be replaced by something unknown； that
ambitions will lose their hold of us； and that； at the best； the
mere loss of hopes and fears will leave us empty。 So at least we
think； who seek not variation but continuance； since the spirit
must differ from the body and that thought alarms our
intelligence。
At least some of us think so； others； like Bickley； write down
the future as a black and endless night； which after all has its
consolations since； as has been wisely suggested； perhaps
oblivion is better than any memories。 Others again； like Bastin；
would say of it with the Frenchman； plus ca change； plus c'est la
meme chose。 Yet others； like Oro； consider it as a realm of
possibilities； probably unpleasant and perhaps non…existent； just
this and nothing more。 Only one thing is certain； that no
creature which has life desires to leap into the fire and from
the dross of doubts； to resolve the goldor the leadof
certainty。
〃It is time to be going；〃 said Bastin。 〃In these skies the sun
seems to tumble down； not to set decently as it does in England；
and if we wait any longer we shall be late for our appointment in
the sepulchre。 I am sorry because although I don't often notice
scenery； everything looks rather beautiful this evening。 That
star； for instance； I think it is called Venus。〃
〃And therefore one that Arbuthnot should admire；〃 broke in
Bickley； attempting to lighten matters with a joke。 〃But come on
and let us be rid of this fool's errand。 Certainly the world is a
lovely place after all； and for my part I hope that we haven't
seen the last of it；〃 he added with a sigh。
〃So do I；〃 said Bastin； 〃though of course； Faith teaches us
that there are much better ones beyond。 It is no use bothering
about what they are like； but I hope that the road to them
doesn't run through the hole that the old reprobate； Oro； calls
Nyo。〃
A few minutes later we started； each of us carrying his share
of the impedimenta。 I think that Tommy was the only really
cheerful member of the party； for he skipped about and barked；
running backwards and forwards into the mouth of the cave； as
though to hurry our movements。
〃Really；〃 said Bastin； 〃it is quite unholy to see an animal
going on in that way when it knows that it is about to descend
into the bowels of the earth。 I suppose it must like them。〃
〃Oh！ no；〃 commented Bickley； 〃it only likes what is in them
like Arbuthnot。 Since that little beast came in contact with the
Lady Yva； it has never been happy out of her company。〃
〃I think that is so；〃 said Bastin。 〃At any rate I have noticed
that it has been moping for the last two days； as it always does
when she is not present。 It even seems to like Oro who gives me
the creeps； perhaps because he is her father。 Dogs must be very
charitable animals。〃
By now we were in the cave marching past the wrecks of the
half…buried flying…machines； which Bickley； as he remarked
regretfully； had never found time thoroughly to examine。 Indeed；
to do so would have needed more digging than we