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length the huge stone moved but very slowly。
〃Be ready to follow me；〃 cried Yva again； and we rose to our
feet； that is； Bickley and I did； but poor Bastin was semi…
comatose。 The stone stopped and Yva sprang from it to a rock
platform level with which it lay。 We followed； dragging Bastin
between us。 As we did so something hit me gently on the head。 It
was Bastin's lamp； which I seized。
〃We are safe。 Sit down and rest；〃 said Yva； leading us a few
paces away。
We obeyed and presently by the dim light saw the stone begin to
stir again； this time upwards。 In another twenty seconds it was
away on its never…ending journey。
〃Does it always go on like that？〃 said Bastin； sitting up and
staring after it。
〃Tens of thousands of years ago it was journeying thus； and
tens of thousands of years hence it will still be journeying； or
so I think；〃 she replied。 〃Why not； since the strength of the
draught never changes and there is nothing to wear it except the
air？〃
Somehow the vision of this huge stone； first loosed and set in
motion by heaven knows what agency； travelling from aeon to aeon
up and down that shaft in obedience to some law I did not
understand； impressed my imagination like a nightmare。 Indeed I
often dream of it to this day。
I looked about me。 We were in some cavernous place that could
be but dimly seen； for here the light that flowed down the shaft
from the upper caves where it was mysteriously created； scarcely
shone； and often indeed was entirely cut off； when the ever…
journeying stone was in the narrowest parts of the passage。 I
could see； however； that this cavern stretched away both to right
and left of us； while I felt that from the left； as we sat facing
the shaft； there drew down a strong blast of fresh air which
suggested that somewhere； however far away； it must open on to
the upper world。 For the rest its bottom and walls seemed to be
smooth as though they had been planed in the past ages by the
action of cosmic forces。 Bickley noticed this the first and
pointed it out to me。 We had little time to observe； however； for
presently Yva said：
〃If you are rested； friends； I pray you light those lamps of
yours； since we must walk a while in darkness。〃
We did and started； still travelling downhill。 Yva walked ahead
with me and Tommy who seemed somewhat depressed and clung close
to our heels。 The other two followed； arguing strenuously about I
know not what。 It was their way of working off irritation and
alarms。
I asked Yva what was about to happen； for a great fear
oppressed me。
〃I am not sure； Beloved；〃 she answered in a sweet and gentle
voice； 〃who do not know all Oro's secrets； but as I think； great
things。 We are now deep in the bowels of the world； and
presently； perhaps； you will see some of its mighty forces
whereof your ignorant races have no knowledge； doing their
everlasting work。〃
〃Then how is it that we can breathe here？〃 I asked。 〃Because
this road that we are following connects with the upper air or
used to do so； since once I followed it。 It is a long road and
the climb is steep； but at last it leads to the light of the
blessed sun； nor are there any pitfalls in the path。 Would that
we might tread it together； Humphrey；〃 she added with passion；
〃and be rid of mysteries and the gloom； or that light which is
worse than gloom。〃
〃Why not？〃 I asked eagerly。 〃Why should we not turn and flee？〃
〃Who can flee from my father； the Lord Oro？〃 she replied。 〃He
would snare us before we had gone a mile。 Moreover； if we fled；
by tomorrow half the world must perish。〃
〃And how can we save it by not flying； Yva？〃
〃I do not know； Humphrey； yet I think it will be saved；
perchance by sacrifice。 That is the keystone of your faith； is it
not？ Therefore if it is asked of you to save the world； you will
not shrink from it； will you； Humphrey？〃
〃I hope not；〃 I replied； without enthusiasm； I admit。 Indeed it
struck me that a business of this sort was better fitted to
Bastin than to myself； or at any rate to his profession。 I think
she guessed my thoughts； for by the light of the lamp I saw her
smile in her dazzling way。 Then after a swift glance behind her；
she turned and suddenly kissed me； as she did so calling down
everlasting blessings on my head and on my spirit。 There was
something very wonderful about this benediction of Yva's and it
thrilled me through and through； so that to it I could make no
answer。
Next moment it was too late to retreat； for our narrowing
passage turned and we found ourselves in a wondrous place。 I call
it wondrous because of it we could see neither the beginning nor
the end； nor the roof； nor aught else save the rock on which we
walked； and the side or wall that our hands touched。 Nor was this
because of darkness； since although it was not illuminated like
the upper caverns； light of a sort was present。 It was a very
strange light； consisting of brilliant and intermittent flashes；
or globes of blue and lambent flame which seemed to leap from
nowhere into nowhere； or sometimes to hang poised in mid air。
〃How odd they are；〃 said the voice of Bastin behind me。 〃They
remind me of those blue sparks which jump up from the wires of
the tramways in London on a dark night。 You know； don't you；
Bickley？ I mean when the conductor pulls round that long stick
with an iron wheel on the top of it。〃
〃Nobody but you could have thought of such a comparison；
Bastin；〃 answered Bickley。 〃Still； multiplied a thousandfold they
are not unlike。〃
Nor indeed were they； except that each blue flash was as big as
the full moon and in one place or another they were so continuous
that one could have read a letter by their light。 Also the effect
of them was ghastly and most unnatural； terrifying； too； since
even their brilliance could not reveal the extent of that
gigantic hollow in the bowels of the world wherein they leapt to
and fro like lightnings； or hung like huge； uncanny lanterns。
Chapter XXV
Sacrifice
〃The air in this place must be charged with some form of
electricity； but the odd thing is that it does not seem to harm
us；〃 said Bickley in a matter…of…fact fashion as though he were
determined not to be astonished。
〃To me it looks more like marsh fires or St。 Elmo lights；
though how these can be where there is no vapour； I do not know；〃
I answered。
As I spoke a particularly large ball of flame fell from above。
It resembled a shooting star or a meteor more than anything else
that I had ever seen； and made me wonder whether we were not
perhaps standing beneath some inky； unseen sky。
Next moment I forgot such speculations； for in its blue light；
which made him terrible and ghastly； I perceived Oro standing in
front of us clad in a long cloak。
〃Dear me！〃 said Bastin； 〃he looks just like the devil； doesn't
he； and now I come to think of it； this isn't at all a bad
imitation of hell。〃
〃How do you know it is an imitation？〃 asked Bickley。
〃Because whatever might be the case with you； Bickley； if it
were； the Lady Yva and I should not be here。〃
Even then I could not help smiling at this repartee； but the
argument went no further for Oro held up his hand and Yva bent
the knee in greeting to him。
〃So you have come； all of you；〃 he said。 〃I thought that
perhaps there were one or two who would not find courage to ride
the flying stone。 I am glad that it is not so； since otherwise he
who had shown himself a coward should have had no share in the
rule of that new world which is to be。 Therefore I chose yonder
road that it might test you。〃
〃Then if you will be so good as to choose another for us to
return by； I shall be much obliged to you； Oro；〃 said Bastin。
〃How do you know that if I did it would not be more terrible；
Preacher？ How do you know indeed that this is not your last
journey from which there is no return？〃
〃Of course I can't be sure of anything； Oro； but I think the
question is one which you might more appropriately put to
yourself。 According to your own showing you are now extremely old
and therefore your end is likely to come at any moment。 Of
course； however； if it did you would have one more journey to
make； but it wouldn't be polite for me to say in what direction。〃
Oro heard； and his splendid； icy face was twisted with sudden
rage。 Remembering the scene in the temple where he had grovelled
before his god； uttering agonised； unanswered prayers for added
days； I understood the reason of his wrath。 It was so great that
I feared lest he should kill Bastin （who only a few hours before；
be it remembered； had tried to kill him） then and there； as
doubtless he could have done if he wished。 Fortunately； if he
felt it； the impulse passed。
〃Miserable fool！〃 he said。 〃I warn you to keep a watch upon
your words。 Yesterday you would h