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suddenly all three of us became aware of Oro。
He also has been thrown to the ground by the strength of the
prisoned forces which he gathered and loosed upon their unholy
errand； but； as I rejoiced to observe； had suffered from them
much more than ourselves。 Doubtless this was owing to the fact
that he had sprung forward in a last wild effort to save his
daughter； or to prevent her from interfering with his experiment；
I know not which。 As a result his right cheek was much scorched；
his right arm was withered and helpless； and his magnificent
beard was half burnt off him。 Further； very evidently he was
suffering from severe shock； for he rocked upon his feet and
shook like an aspen leaf。 All this； however； did not interfere
with the liveliness of his grief and rage。
There he stood； a towering shape； like a lightning…smitten
statue； and cursed us； especially Bastin。
〃My daughter has gone！〃 he cried； 〃burned up by the fiery power
that is my servant。 Nothing remains of her but dust； and； Priest；
this is your doing。 You poisoned her heart with your childish
doctrines of mercy and sacrifice； and the rest； so that she threw
herself into the path of the flash to save some miserable races
that she had never even known。〃
He paused exhausted； whereon Bastin answered him with spirit：
〃Yes； Oro； she being a holy woman； has gone where you will
never follow her。 Also it is your own fault since you should have
listened to her entreaties instead of boxing her ears like the
brute you are。〃
〃My daughter is gone；〃 went on Oro； recovering his strength；
〃and my great designs are ruined。 Yet only for a while；〃 he
added； 〃for the world…balance will return again； if not till long
after your life…spans are done。〃
〃If you don't doctor yourself； Lord Oro；〃 said Bickley； also
rising； 〃I may tell you as one who understands such things； that
most likely it will be after your life…span is done also。 Although
their effect may be delayed； severe shocks from burns and over…
excitement are apt to prove fatal to the aged。〃
Oro snarled at him； no other word describes it。
〃And there are other things； Physician；〃 he said； 〃which are
apt to prove fatal to the young。 At least now you will no longer
deny my power。〃
〃I am not so sure；〃 answered Bickley； 〃since it seems that
there is a greater Power； namely that of a woman's love and
sacrifice。〃
〃And a greater still；〃 interrupted Bastin； 〃Which put those
ideas into her head。〃
〃As for you； Humphrey；〃 went on Oro； 〃I rejoice to think that
you at least have lost two things that man desires above all
other thingsthe woman you sought and the future kingship of the
world。〃
I stood up and faced him。
〃The first I have gained； although how； you do not understand；
Oro；〃 I answered。 〃And of the second； seeing that it would have
come through you； on your conditions； I am indeed glad to be rid。
I wish no power that springs from murder； and no gifts from one
who answered his daughter's prayer with blows。〃
For a moment he seemed remorseful。
〃She vexed me with her foolishness；〃 he said。 Then his rage
blazed up again：
〃And it was you who taught it to her；〃 he went on。 〃You are
guilty； all three of you； and therefore I am left with none to
serve me in my age； therefore also my mighty schemes are
overthrown。〃
〃Also； Oro； if you speak truth； therefore half the world is
saved；〃 I added quietly； 〃and one has left it of whom it was
unworthy。〃
〃You think that these civilisations of yours； as you are
pleased to call them； are saved； do you？〃 he sneered。 〃Yet； even
if Bickley were right and I should die and become powerless； I
tell you that they are already damned。 I have studied them in
your books and seen them with my eyes； and I say that they are
rotten before ever they are ripe； and that their end shall be the
end of the Sons of Wisdom； to die for lack of increase。 That is
why I would have saved the East； because in it alone there is
increase； and thence alone can rise the great last race of man
which I would have given to your children for an heritage。
Moreover； think not that you Westerners have done with wars。 I
tell you that they are but begun and that the sword shall eat you
up； and what the sword spares class shall snatch from class in
the struggle for supremacy and ease。〃
Thus he spoke with extraordinary and concentrated bitterness
that I confess would have frightened me； had I been capable of
fear； which at the moment I was not。 Who is afraid when he has
lost all？
Nor was Bastin alarmed； if for other reasons。
〃I think it right to tell you； Oro；〃 he said； 〃that the only
future you need trouble about is your own。 God Almighty will look
after the western civilisations in whatever way He may think
best； as you may remember He did just now。 Only I am sure you
won't be here to see how it is done。〃
Again fury blazed in Oro's eyes。
〃At least I will look after you； you half…bred dogs； who yap
out ill…omened prophecies of death into my face。 Since the three
of you loved my daughter whom you brought to her doom； and were
by her beloved； if differently； I think it best that you should
follow on her road。 How？ That is the question？ Shall I leave you
to starve in these great caves？Nay； look not towards the road
of escape which doubtless she pointed out to you； for； as
Humphrey knows； I can travel swiftly and I will make sure that
you find it blocked。 Or shall I〃 and he glanced upwards at the
great globes of wandering fire； as though he purposed to summon
them to be our death； as doubtless he could have done。
〃I do not care what you do；〃 I answered wearily。 〃Only I would
beg you to strike quickly。 Yet for my friends I am sorry； since
it was I who led them on this quest； and for you； too； Tommy；〃 I
added； looking at the poor little hound。 〃You were foolish；
Tommy；〃 I went on； 〃when you scented out that old tyrant in his
coffin； at least for our own sake。〃
Indeed the dog was terribly scared。 He whined continually and
from time to time ran a little way and then returned to us；
suggesting that we should go from this horror…haunted spot。
Lastly； as though he understood that it was Oro who kept us
there； he went to him and jumping up； licked his hand in a
beseeching fashion。
The super…man looked at the dog and as he looked the rage went
out of his face and was replaced by something resembling pity。
〃I do not wish the beast to die；〃 he muttered to himself in
low reflective tones； as though he thought aloud； 〃for of them
all it alone liked and did not fear me。 I might take it with me
but still it would perish of grief in the loneliness of the
caves。 Moreover； she loved it whom I shall see no more； yes；
Yva〃 as he spoke the name his voice broke a little。 〃Yet if I
suffer them to escape they will tell my story to the world and
make me a laughingstock。 Well； if they do； what does it matter？
None of those Western fools would believe it； thinking that they
knew all； like Bickley they would mock and say that they were
mad； or liars。〃
Again Tommy licked his hand； but more confidently； as though
instinct told him something of what was passing in Oro's mind。 I
watched with an idle wonder； marvelling whether it were possible
that this merciless being would after all spare us for the sake
of the dog。
So； strange to say； it came about； for suddenly Oro looked up
and said：
〃Get you gone； and quickly； before my mood changes。 The hound
has saved you。 For its sake I give you your lives； who otherwise
should certainly have died。 She who has gone pointed out to you；
I doubt not； a road that runs to the upper air。 I think that it
is still open。 Indeed；〃 he added； closing his eyes for a moment；
〃I see that it is still open； if long and difficult。 Follow it；
and should you win through； take your boat and sail away as
swiftly as you can。 Whether you die or live I care nothing； but
my hands will be clean of your blood； although yours are stained
with Yva's。 Begone！ and my curse go with you。〃
Without waiting for further words we went to fetch our
lanterns； water…bottles and bag of food which we had laid down at
a little distance。 As we approached them I looked up and saw Oro
standing some way off。 The light from one of the blue globes of
fire which passed close above his head； shone upon him and made
him ghastly。 Moreover； it seemed to me as though approaching
death had written its name upon his malevolent countenance。
I turned my head away； for about his aspect in those sinister
surroundings there was something horrible； something menacing and
repellent to man and of him I wished to see no more。 Nor indeed
did I； for when I glanced in that direction again Oro was gone。 I
suppose that he had retreated into the shadows where no light
played。
We gathered up our gear； and while the others were relig