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〃Miserable fool！〃 he said。 〃I warn you to keep a watch upon
your words。 Yesterday you would have slain me with your toy。
Today you stab me with your ill…omened tongue。 Be fearful lest I
silence it for ever。〃
〃I am not in the least fearful； Oro； since I am sure that you
can't hurt me at all any more than I could hurt you last night
because； you see； it wasn't permitted。 When the time comes for me
to die； I shall go； but you will have nothing to do with that。 To
tell the truth； I am very sorry for you； as with all your
greatness； your soul is of the earth； earthy； also sensual and
devilish； as the Apostle said； and； I am afraid； very malignant；
and you will have a great deal to answer for shortly。 Yours won't
be a happy deathbed； Oro； because； you see； you glory in your
sins and don't know what repentance means。〃
I must add that when I heard these words I was filled with the
most unbounded admiration for Bastin's fearless courage which
enabled him thus to beard this super…tyrant in his den。 So indeed
were we all； for I read it in Yva's face and heard Bickley
mutter：
〃Bravo！ Splendid！ After all there is something in faith！〃
Even Oro appreciated it with his intellect； if not with his
heart； for he stared at the man and made no answer。 In the
language of the ring； he was quite 〃knocked out〃 and； almost
humbly； changed the subject。
〃We have yet a little while；〃 he said； 〃before that happens
which I have decreed。 Come； Humphrey； that I may show you some of
the marvels of this bubble blown in the bowels of the world；〃 and
he motioned to us to pick up the lanterns。
Then he led us away from the wall of the cavern； if such it
was； for a distance of perhaps six or seven hundred paces。 Here
suddenly we came to a great groove in the rocky floor； as broad
as a very wide roadway； and mayhap four feet in depth。 The bottom
of this groove was polished and glittered； indeed it gave us the
impression of being iron； or other ore which had been welded
together beneath the grinding of some immeasurable weight。 Just
at the spot where we struck the groove； it divided into two； for
this reason。
In its centre the floor of iron； or whatever it may have been；
rose； the fraction of an inch at first； but afterwards more
sharply； and this at a spot where the groove had a somewhat steep
downward dip which appeared to extend onwards I know not how far。
Following along this central rise for a great way； nearly a
mile； I should think； we observed that it became ever more
pronounced； till at length it ended in a razor…edge cliff which
stretched up higher than we could see； even by the light of the
electrical discharges。 Standing against the edge of this cliff；
we perceived that at a distance from it there were now two
grooves of about equal width。 One of these ran away into the
darkness on our right as we faced the sharp edge； and at an ever…
widening angle； while the other； at a similar angle； ran into the
darkness to the left of the knife of cliff。 That was all。
No； there were two more notable things。 Neither of the grooves
now lay within hundreds of yards of the cliff； perhaps a quarter
of a mile； for be it remembered we had followed the rising rock
between them。 To put it quite clearly； it was exactly as though
one line of rails had separated into two lines of rails； as often
enough they do； and an observer standing on high ground between
could see them both vanishing into tunnels to the right and left；
but far apart。
The second notable thing was that the right…hand groove； where
first we saw it at the point of separation； was not polished like
the left…hand groove； although at some time or other it seemed to
have been subjected to the pressure of the same terrific weight
which cut its fellow out of the bed of rock or iron； as the sharp
wheels of a heavily laden wagon sink ruts into a roadway。
〃What does it all mean； Lord Oro？〃 I asked when he had led us
back to the spot where the one groove began to be two grooves；
that is； a mile or so away from the razor…edged cliff。
〃This； Humphrey；〃 he answered。 〃That which travels along yonder
road； when it reaches this spot on which we stand； follows the
left…hand path which is made bright with its passage。 Yet； could
a giant at that moment of its touching this exact spot on which I
lay my hand； thrust it with sufficient strength； it would leave
the left…hand road and take the right…hand road。〃
〃And if it did； what then； Lord Oro？〃
〃Then within an hour or so； when it had travelled far enough
upon its way； the balance of the earth would be changed； and
great things would happen in the world above； as once they
happened in bygone days。 Now do you understand； Humphrey？〃
〃Good Heavens！ Yes； I understand now；〃 I answered。 〃But
fortunately there is no such giant。〃
Oro broke into a mocking laugh and his grey old face lit up
with a fiendish exultation； as he cried：
〃Fool！ I； Oro； am that giant。 Once in the dead days I turned
the balance of the world from the right…hand road which now is
dull with disuse； to the left…hand road which glitters so
brightly to your eyes； and the face of the earth was changed。 Now
again I will turn it from the left…hand road to the right…hand
road in which for millions of years it was wont to run； and once
more the face of the earth shall change； and those who are left
living upon the earth； or who in the course of ages shall come to
live upon the new earth； must bow down to Oro and take him and
his seed to be their gods and kings。〃
When I heard this I was overwhelmed and could not answer。 Also
I remembered a certain confused picture which Yva had shown to us
in the Temple of Nyo。 But supported by his disbelief； Bickley
asked：
〃And how often does the balance of which you speak come this
way； Lord Oro？〃
〃Once only in many years； the number is my secret； Bickley；〃 he
replied。
〃Then there is every reason to hope that it will not trouble
us；〃 remarked Bickley with a suspicion of mockery in his voice。
〃Do you think so； you learned Bickley？〃 asked Oro。 〃If so； I do
not。 Unless my skill has failed me and my calculations have gone
awry； that Traveller of which I tell should presently be with us。
Hearken now！ What is that sound we hear？〃
As he spoke there reached our ears the first； far…off murmurs
of a dreadful music。 I cannot describe it in words because that
is impossible； but it was something like to the buzz of a
thousand humming…tops such as are loved by children because of
their weird song。
〃Back to the wall！〃 cried Oro triumphantly。 〃The time is
short！〃
So back we went； Oro pausing a while behind and overtaking us
with long； determined strides。 Yva led us； gliding at my side
and； as I thought； now and again glanced at my face with a look
that was half anxious and half pitiful。 Also twice she stooped
and patted Tommy。
We reached the wall； though not quite at the spot whence we had
started to examine the grooved roads。 at least I think this was
so； since now for the first time observed a kind of little window
in its rocky face。 It stood about five feet from its floor level；
and was perhaps ten inches square； not more。 In short； except for
its shape it resembled a ship's porthole rather than a window。
Its substance appeared to be talc； or some such material； and
inches thick； yet through it； after Oro had cast aside some sort
of covering； came a glare like that of a search…light。 In fact it
was a search…light so far as concerned one of its purposes。
By this window or porthole lay a pile of cloaks； also four
objects which looked like Zulu battle shields cut in some unknown
metal or material。 Very deftly； very quietly； Yva lifted these
cloaks and wrapped one of them about each of us； and while she
was thus employed I noticed that they were of a substance very
similar to that of the gown she wore； which I have described； but
harder。 Next she gave one of the metal…like shields to each of
us； bidding us hold them in front of our bodies and heads； and
only to look through certain slits in them in which were
eyepieces that appeared to be of the same horny stuff as the
searchlight window。 Further； she commanded us to stand in a row
with our backs against the rock wall； at certain spots which she
indicated with great precision； and whatever we saw or heard on
no account to move。
So there we stood； Bickley next to me； and beyond him Bastin。
Then Yva took the fourth shield； as I noted a much larger one
than ours； and placed herself between me and the search…light or
porthole。 On the other side of this was Oro who had no shield。
These arrangements took some minutes and during that time
occupied all our attention。 When they were completed； however；
our curiosity and fear began to reassert themselves。 I looked
about me and perceived that Oro had his right hand upon wha