ItwasjustashearrivedwiththeseventhloadinthisextremelydishevelledconditionthatOroandhisdaughteremergedfromthecave。IndeedBastin，who，beingshortsighted，alwaysworespectaclesthat，owingtohisheatedstatewerecoveredwithmist，notseeingthatdignitary，dumpeddownthelastbasketontohistoes，exclaiming：
\"There，youlazybeggar，ItoldyouIwouldbringitall，andI
have。\"
InfacthethoughthewasaddressingBickleyandplayingoffonhimatroglodyticpracticaljoke。
Oro，however，whoathisagedidnotappreciatejokes，resenteditandwasabouttodosomethingunpleasantwhenwithextraordinarytacthisdaughterremarked：
\"Bastinthepriestmakesyouofferings。Thankhim，OLordmyfather。\"
SoOrothankedhim，nottoocordiallyforevidentlyhestillhadfeelinginhistoes，andoncemoreBastinescaped。Becomingawareofhiserror，hebegantoapologiseprofuselyinEnglish，whiletheladyYvastudiedhimcarefully。
\"Isthatthecostumeofthepriestsofyourreligion，O
Bastin？\"sheasked，surveyinghisdishevelledform。\"Ifso，youwerebetterwithoutit。\"
ThenBastinretiredtostraightenhistie，andgrabbinghiscoatfromBickley，whohandedittohimwithamalicioussmile，forcedhisperspiringarmsintoitinapeculiarlyawkwardandelephantinefashion。
MeanwhileBickleyandIproducedtwocampchairswhichwehadmadeready，andonthesethewondrouspairseatedthemselvessidebyside。
\"Wehavecometolearn，\"saidOro。\"Teach！\"
\"Notso，Father，\"interruptedYva，who，Inoted，wasclothedinyetathirdcostume，thoughwhencethesecameIcouldnotimagine。\"FirstIwouldaskaquestion。Whenceareyou，Strangers，andhowcameyouhere？\"
\"WearefromthecountrycalledEnglandandagreatstormshipwreckedushere；that，Ithink，whichraisedthemouthofthecaveabovethelevelofthisrock，\"Ianswered。
\"Thetimeappointedhavingcomewhenitshouldberaised，\"saidOroasthoughtohimself。
\"WhereisEngland？\"askedYva。
Nowamongthebookswehadwithuswasapocketatlas，quiteagoodoneofitssort。BywayofanswerIopeneditatthemapoftheworldandshowedherEngland。AlsoIshowed，towithinathousandmilesorso，thatspotontheearth’ssurfacewherewespoketogether。
Thesightofthisatlasexcitedthepairgreatly。Theyhadnottheslightestdifficultyinunderstandingeverythingaboutitandtheshapeoftheworldwithitsdivisionintohemispheresseemedtobequitefamiliartothem。Whatappearedchieflytointerestthem，andespeciallyOro，weretherelativeareasandpositionsoflandandsea。
\"Ofthis，Strangers，\"hesaid，pointingtothemap，\"IshallhavemuchtosaytoyouwhenIhavestudiedthepicturesofyourbookandcomparedthemwithothersofmyown。\"
\"Sohehasgotmaps，\"saidBickleyinEnglish，\"aswellasstarcharts。Iwonderwherehekeepsthem。\"
\"Withhisclothes，Iexpect，\"suggestedBastin。
MeanwhileOrohadhiddentheatlasinhisamplerobeandmotionedtohisdaughtertoproceed。
\"WhydoyoucomeherefromEnglandsofaraway？\"theLadyYvaasked，aquestiontowhicheachofushadananswer。
\"Toseenewcountries，\"Isaid。
\"Becausethecyclonebroughtus，\"saidBickley。
\"ToconverttheheathentomyownChristianreligion，\"saidBastin，whichwasnotstrictlytrue。
Itwasonthis。lastreplythatshefixed。
\"Whatdoesyourreligionteach？\"sheasked。
\"Itteachesthatthosewhoacceptitandobeyitscommandswillliveagainafterdeathforeverinabetterworldwhereisneithersorrownorsin，\"heanswered。
WhenheheardthissayingIsawOrostartasthoughstruckbyanewthoughtandlookatBastinwithacuriousintentness。
\"Whoaretheheathen？\"Yvaaskedagainafterapause，forshealsoseemedtobeimpressed。
\"AllwhodonotagreewithBastin’sspiritualviews，\"answeredBickley。
\"Thosewho，whetherfromlackofinstructionorfromhardnessofheart，donotfollowthetruefaith。Forinstance，Isupposethatyourfatherandyouareheathen，\"repliedBastinstoutly。
Thisseemedtoastonishthem，butpresentlyYvacaughthismeaningandsmiled，whileOrosaid：
\"Ofthisgreatmatteroffaithwewilltalklater。Itisanoldquestionintheworld。\"
\"Why，\"wentonYva，\"ifyouwishedtotravelsofardidyoucomeinashipthatsoeasilyiswrecked？Whydidyounotjourneythroughtheair，orbetterstill，passthroughspace，leavingyourbodiesasleep，as，beinginstructed，doubtlessyoucando？\"
\"Asregardsyourfirstquestion，\"Ianswered，\"therearenoaircraftknownthatcanmakesolongajourney。\"
\"Andasregardsthesecond，\"brokeinBickley，\"wedidnotdosobecauseitisimpossibleformentotransferthemselvestootherplacesthroughspaceeitherwithorwithouttheirbodies。\"。
AtthisinformationtheGlitteringLadyliftedherarchedeyebrowsandsmiledalittle，whileOrosaid：
\"Iperceivethatthenewworldhasadvancedbutalittlewayontheroadofknowledge。\"
FearingthatBastinwasabouttocommenceanargument，Ibegantoaskquestionsinmyturn。
\"LordOroandLadyYva，\"Isaid，\"wehavetoldyousomethingofourselvesandwilltellyoumorewhenyoudesireit。Butpardonusiffirstweprayyoutotelluswhatweburntoknow。Whoareyou？Ofwhatraceandcountry？Andhowcameitthatwefoundyousleepingyonder？\"
\"Ifitbeyourpleasure，answer，myFather，\"saidYva。
Orothoughtamoment，thenrepliedinacalmvoice：
\"Iamakingwhoonceruledmostoftheworldasitwasinmyday，thoughitistruethatmuchofitrebelledagainstme，mycouncillorsandservants。ThereforeIdestroyedtheworldasitwasthen，saveonlycertainportionswhencelifemightspreadtothenewcountriesthatIraisedup。HavingdonethisIputmyselfandmydaughtertosleepforaspaceoftwohundredandfiftythousandyears，thattheremightbetimeforfreshcivilisationstoarise。NowIbegintothinkthatIdidnotallotasufficiencyofages，sinceIperceivefromwhatyoutellme，thatthelearningofthenewracesisasyetbutsmall。\"
BickleyandIlookedateachotherandweresilent。Mentallywehadcollapsed。Whocouldbegintodiscussstatementsbuiltuponsuchafoundationofgiganticandparalysingfalsehoods？
Well，Bastincouldforone。Withnomoresurpriseinhisvoicethanifheweretalkingaboutlastnight’sdinner，hesaid：
\"Theremustbeamistakesomewhere，orperhapsImisunderstandyou。Itisobviousthatyou，beingaman，couldnothavedestroyedtheworld。ThatcouldonlybedonebythePowerwhichmadeitandyou。\"
ItrembledfortheresultsofBastin’smethodsofsettingoutthetruth。Tomyastonishment，however，Ororeplied：
\"Youspeakwisely，Priest，butthePoweryounamemayuseinstrumentstoaccomplishitsdecrees。Iamsuchaninstrument。\"
\"Quiteso，\"saidBastin，\"justlikeanybodyelse。YouhavemoreknowledgeofthetruththanIthought。Butpray，howdidyoudestroytheworld？\"
\"Usingmywisdomtodirecttheforcesthatareatworkintheheartofthisgreatglobe，Idrowneditwithadeluge，causingoneparttosinkandanothertorise，alsochangesofclimatewhichcompletedthework。\"
\"That’squiteright，\"exclaimedBastindelightedly。\"WeknowallabouttheDeluge，onlyyouarenotmentionedinconnectionwiththematter。Aman，Noah，hadtodowithitwhenhewassixhundredyearsold。\"
\"Sixhundred？\"saidOro。\"Thatisnotveryold。ImyselfhadseenmorethanathousandyearswhenIlaydowntosleep。\"
\"Athousand！\"remarkedBastin，mildlyinterested。\"Thatisunusual，thoughsomeofthesemightymenofrenownweknowlivedoverninehundred。\"
HereBickleysnortedandexclaimed：
\"Ninehundredmoons，\"hemeans。
\"IdidnotknowNoah，\"wentonOro。\"Perhapshelivedaftermytimeandcausedsomeotherlocaldeluge。IsthereanythingelseyouwishtoaskmebeforeIleaveyouthatImaystudythismapwriting？\"
\"Yes，\"saidBastin。\"Whywereyouallowedtodrownyourworld？\"
\"Becauseitwasevil，Priest，anddisobeyedmeandthePowerI
serve。\"
\"Oh！thankyou，\"saidBastin，\"thatfitsinexactly。ItwasjustthesameinNoah’stime。\"
\"Ipraythatitisnotjustthesamenow，\"saidOro，rising。
\"To—morrowwewillreturn，orifIdonotwhohavemuchthatI
mustdo，theladymydaughterwillreturnandspeakwithyoufurther。\"
Hedepartedintothecave，Yvafollowingatalittledistance。
Iaccompaniedherasfarasthemouthofthecave，asdidTommy，whoallthistimehadbeensittingcontentedlyuponthehemofhergorgeousrobe，quitecarelessofitsimmemorialage，ifitwasimmemorialandnotwovenyesterday，apointonwhichI
hadnoinformation。
\"LadyYva，\"Isaid，\"didIrightlyunderstandtheLordOrotosaythathewasathousandyearsold？\"
\"Yes，OHumphrey，andreallyheismore，orsoIthink。\"
\"Thenareyouathousandyearsoldalso？\"Iasked，aghast。
\"No，no，\"shereplied，shakingherhead，\"Iamyoung，quiteyoung，forIdonotcountmytimeofsleep。\"
\"Certainlyyoulookit，\"Isaid。\"Butwhat，LadyYva，doyoumeanbyyoung？\"
Sheansweredmyquestionbyanother。
\"WhatageareyourwomenwhentheyareasIam？\"
\"Noneofourwomenwereeverquitelikeyou，LadyYva。Yet，sayfromtwenty—fivetothirtyyearsofage。\"
\"Ah！IhavebeencountingandnowIremember。WhenmyfathersentmetosleepIwastwenty—sevenyearsold。No，Iwillnotdeceiveyou，Iwastwenty—sevenyearsandthreemoons。\"Then，sayingsomethingtotheeffectthatshewouldreturn，shedeparted，laughingalittleinamischievousway，and，althoughI
didnotobservethistillafterwards，Tommydepartedwithher。
WhenIrepeatedwhatshehadsaidtoBastinandBickley，whowerestandingatadistancestrainingtheirearsandsomewhataggrieved，theformerremarked：
\"Ifsheistwenty—sevenherfathermusthavemarriedlateinlife，thoughofcourseitmayhavebeenalongwhilebeforehehadchildren。\"
ThenBickley，whohadbeensuppressinghimselfallthiswhile，wentofflikeabomb。
\"Doyoutellus，Bastin，\"heasked，\"thatyoubelieveonewordofallthisghastlyrubbish？ImeanastothatantiquecharlatanbeingathousandyearsoldandhavingcausedtheFloodandtherest？\"
\"Ifyouaskme，Bickley，Iseenoparticularreasontodoubtitatpresent。Apersonwhocangotosleepinaglasscoffinkeptwarmbyapocketfulofradiumtogetherwithveryaccuratemapsoftheconstellationsatthetimehewakesup，can，Iimagine，domostthings。\"
\"EvencausetheDeluge，\"jeeredBickley。
\"Idon’tknowabouttheDeluge，butperhapshemayhavebeenpermittedtocauseadeluge。Whynot？Youcan’tlookatthingsfromfarenoughoff，Bickley。Andifsomethingseemsbigtoyou，youconcludethatthereforeitisimpossible。ThesamePowerwhichgivesyouskilltosucceedinanoperation，thathithertowasheldimpracticable，asIknowyouhavedoneonceortwice，mayhavegiventhatoldfellowpowertocauseadeluge。Youshouldmeasuretheuniverseanditspossibilitiesbyworldsandnotbyacres，Bickley。\"
\"Andbelieve，Isuppose，thatamancanliveathousandyears，whereasweknowwellthathecannotlivemorethanaboutahundred。\"
\"Youdon’tknowanythingofthesort，Bickley。Allyouknowisthatoverthebriefperiodofhistorywithwhichweareacquainted，saytenthousandyearsatmost，menhaveonlylivedtoaboutahundred。Buttheveryrockswhichyouaresofondoftalkingabout，tellusthateventhisplanetismillionsuponmillionsofyearsofage。Whoknowsthenbutthatatsometimeinitshistory，mendidnotliveforathousandyears，andthatlostcivilisationsdidnotexistofwhichthisOroandhisdaughtermaybetwosurvivors？\"
\"Thereisnoproofofanythingofthesort，\"saidBickley。
\"Idon’tknowaboutproof，asyouunderstandit，thoughIhavereadinPlatoofacontinentcalledAtlantisthatwassubmerged，accordingtothestoryofoldEgyptianpriests。ButpersonallyI
haveeveryproof，foritisallwrittendownintheBibleatwhichyouturntipyournose，andIamverygladthatIhavebeenluckyenoughtocomeacrossthisunexpectedconfirmationofthestory。Notthatitmattersmuch，sinceIshouldhavelearnedallaboutitwhenitpleasesProvidencetoremovemetoabetterworld，whichinourcircumstancesmayhappenanyday。NowImustchangemyclothesbeforeIseetothecookingandotherthings。\"
\"Iamboundtoadmit，\"saidBickley，lookingafterhim，\"thatoldBastinisnotsostupidasheseems。Fromhispointofviewtheargumentsheadvancesarequitelogical。MoreoverIthinkheisrightwhenhesaysthatwelookatthingsthroughthewrongendofthetelescope。Afteralltheuniverseisverybigandwhoknowswhatmayhappenthere？Whoknowsevenwhatmayhavehappenedonthislittleearthduringtheaeonsofitsexistence，wheneveritsbalancechancedtoshift，astheIceAgesshowusithasoftendone？StillIbelievethatoldOrotobeaPrinceofLiars。\"
\"Thatremainstobeproved，\"Iansweredcautiously。\"AllIknowisthatheisawonderfullylearnedpersonofmostremarkableappearance，andthathisdaughteristheloveliestcreatureI
eversaw。\"
\"ThereIagree，\"saidBickleydecidedly，\"andasbrilliantassheislovely。Ifshebelongstoapastcivilisation，itisapitythatiteverbecameextinct。Nowlet’sgoandhaveanap。
Bastinwillcalluswhensupperisready。\"
ChapterXIV
TheUnder—worldThatnightwesleptwellandwithoutfear，beingquitecertainthataftertheirpreviousexperiencetheOrofenanswouldmakenofurtherattemptsuponus。IndeedouronlyanxietywasforTommy，whomwecouldnotfindwhenthetimecametogivehimhissupper。
Bastin，however，seemedtorememberhavingseenhimfollowingtheGlitteringLadyintothecave。This，ofcourse，waspossible，ascertainlyhehadtakenanenormousfancytoherandsathimselfdownasclosetoherashecouldoneveryoccasion。HeevenseemedtoliketheancientOro，andwasnotafraidtojumpupandplanthisdirtypawsuponthatterrificperson’sgorgeousrobe。
MoreoverOrolikedhim，forseveraltimesIobservedhimpatthedoguponthehead；asIthinkIhavesaid，theonlyhumantouchthatIhadperceivedabouthim。Sowegaveupsearchingandcallinginthehopethathewassafewithoursupernaturalfriends。
ThenextmorningquiteearlytheLadyYvaappearedalone；no，notalone，forwithhercameourlostTommylookingextremelyspryandwellatease。ThefaithlesslittlewretchjustgreetedusinacasualfashionandthenwentandsatbyYva。InfactwhentheawkwardBastinmanagedtostumbleovertheendofherdressTommygrowledathimandshowedhisteeth。Moreoverthedowaschanged。Hewasblessedwithashinyblackcoat，butnowthiscoatsparkledinthesunlight，liketheLadyYva’shair。
\"TheGlitteringLadyisallverywell，butI’mnotsurethatI
careforaglitteringdog。Itdoesn’tlookquitenatural，\"saidBastin，contemplatinghim。
\"WhydoesTommyshine，Lady？\"Iasked。
\"BecauseIwashedhimincertainwatersthatwehave，sothatnowhelooksbeautifulandsmellssweet，\"sheanswered，laughing。
Itwastrue，thedogdidsmellsweet，whichImayaddhadnotalwaysbeenthecasewithhim，especiallywhenthereweredeadfishabout。Alsoheappearedtohavebeenfed，forheturneduphisnoseatthebitswehadsavedforhisbreakfast。
\"HehasdrunkoftheLife—water，\"explainedYva，\"andwillwantnofoodfortwodays。\"
Bickleyprickeduphisearsatthisstatementandlookedincredulous。
\"Youdonotbelieve，OBickley，\"shesaid，studyinghimgravely。\"Indeed，youbelievenothing。YouthinkmyfatherandI
tellyoumanylies。Bastinthere，hebelievesall。Humphrey？Heisnotsure；hethinkstohimself，Iwillwaitandfindoutwhetherorhothesefunnypeoplecheatme。\"
Bickleycolouredandmadesomeremarkaboutthingswhichwerecontrarytoexperience，alsothatTommyinageneralwaywasratheragreedylittledog。
\"You，too，liketoeat，Bickley\"（thiswastrue，hehadanexcellentappetite），\"butwhenyouhavedrunktheLife—wateryouwillcaremuchless。\"
\"Iamgladtohearit，\"interruptedBastin，\"forBickleywantsalotofcookingdone，andIfindittedious。\"
\"Youeatalso，Lady，\"saidBickley。
\"Yes，IeatsometimesbecauseIlikeit，butIcangoweeksandnoteat，whenIhavetheLife—water。Justnow，aftersolongasleep，Iamhungry。Pleasegivemesomeofthatfruit。No，nottheflesh，fleshIhate。\"
Wehandedittoher。Shetooktwoplantains，peeledandatethemwithextraordinarygrace。Indeedsheremindedme，Idonotknowwhy，ofsomelovelybutterflydrawingitsfoodfromaflower。
Whilesheatesheobservedusclosely；nothingseemedtoescapethequickglancesofthosebeautifuleyes。Presentlyshesaid：
\"What，OHumphrey，isthatwithwhichyoufastenyourneckdress？\"andshepointedtothelittlegoldstatueofOsiristhatIusedasapin。
ItoldherthatitwasastatuetteofagodnamedOsirisandvery，veryancient，probablyquitefivethousandyearsold，astatementatwhichshesmiledalittle；alsothatitcamefromEgypt。
\"Ah！\"sheanswered，\"isitso？Iaskedbecausewehavefiguresthatareveryliketothatone，andtheyalsoholdintheirhandsastaffsurmountedbyaloop。TheyarefiguresofSleep’sbrother——Death。\"
\"Soisthis，\"Isaid。\"AmongtheEgyptiansOsiriswasthegodofDeath。\"
Shenoddedandrepliedthatdoubtlessthesymbolhadcomedowntothem。
\"Onedayyoushalltakemetoseethislandwhichyoucallsoveryold。OrIwilltakeyou，whichwouldbequicker，\"sheadded。
Weallbowedandsaidweshouldbedelighted。EvenBastinappearedanxioustorevisitEgyptinsuchcompany，thoughwhenhewasthereitseemedtoborehim。ButwhatshemeantabouttakingusIcouldnotguess。Norhadwetimetoaskher，forshewenton，watchingourfacesasshespoke。
\"TheLordOrosendsyouamessage，Strangers。Heaskswhetheritisyourwishtoseewherewedwell。Headdsthatyouarenottocomeifyoudonotdesire，orifyoufeardanger。\"
Weallansweredthattherewasnothingweshouldlikebetter，butBastinaddedthathehadalreadyseenthetomb。
\"Doyouthink，Bastin，thatweliveinatombbecausewesleptthereforawhile，awaitingtheadventofyouwanderersattheappointedhour？\"
\"Idon’tseewhereelseitcouldbe，unlessitisfurtherdownthatcave，\"saidBastin。\"Thetopofthemountainwouldnotbeconvenientasaresidence。\"
\"Ithasnotbeenconvenientformanyanage，forreasonsthatI
willshowyou。Thinknow，beforeyoucome。Youhavenaughttofearfromus，andIbelievethatnoharmwillhappentoyou。ButyouwillseemanystrangethingsthatwillangerBickleybecausehecannotunderstandthem，andperhapswillwearyBastinbecausehisheartturnsfromwhatiswondrousandancient。OnlyHumphreywillrejoiceinthembecausethedoorsofhissoulareopenandhelongs——whatdoyoulongfor，Humphrey？\"
\"ThatwhichIhavelostandfearIshallneverfindagain，\"I
answeredboldly。
\"Iknowthatyouhavelostmanythings——lastnight，forinstance，youlostTommy，andwhenhesleptwithmehetoldmemuchaboutyouand——others。\"
\"Thisisridiculous，\"brokeinBastin。\"Canadogtalk？\"
\"Everythingcantalk，ifyouunderstanditslanguage，Bastin。
Butkeepagoodheart，Humphrey，fortheboldseekerfindsintheend。Oh！foolishman，doyounotunderstandthatallisyoursifyouhavebutthesoultoconceiveandthewilltograsp？All，all，below，between，above！EvenIknowthat，Iwhohavesomuchtolearn。\"
Soshespokeandbecamesuddenlymagnificent。Herfacewhichhadbeenbutthatofasuper—lovelywoman，tookongrandeur。Herbosomswelled；herpresenceradiatedsomesubtlepower，muchasherhairradiatedlight。
Inamomentitwasgoneandshewassmilingandjesting。
\"Willyoucome，Strangers，whereTommywasnotafraidtogo，downtotheUnder—world？Orwillyoustayhereinthesun？
Perhapsyouwilldobettertostayhereinthesun，fortheUnder—worldhasterrorsforweakheartsthatwerebornbutyesterday，andfeeblefeetmaystumbleinthedark。\"
\"Ishalltakemyelectrictorch，\"saidBastinwithdecision，\"andIadviseyoufellowstodothesame。Ialwayshatedcellars，andthecatacombsatRomeareworse，thoughfullofsacredinterest。\"
Thenwestarted，Tommyfriskingonaheadinamostprovokingwayasthoughhewereboredbyavisittoastrangehouseandgoinghome，andYvaglidingforwardwithasmileuponherfacethatwashalfmysticandhalfmischievous。Wepassedtheremainsofthemachines，andBickleyaskedherwhattheywere。
\"Carriagesinwhichoncewetravelledthroughtheskies，untilwefoundabetterway，andthattheuninstructedusedtilltheend，\"sheansweredcarelessly，leavingmewonderingwhatonearthshemeant。
Wecametothestatueandthesepulchrebeneathwithouttrouble，fortheglintofherhair，andImayaddofTommy’sback，werequitesufficienttoguideusthroughthegloom。Thecrystalcoffinswerestillthere，forBastinflashedhistorchandwesawthem，buttheboxesofradiumhadgone。
\"Letthatlightdie，\"shesaidtoBastin。\"Humphrey，givemeyourrighthandandgiveyourlefttoBickley。LetBastinclingtohimandfearnothing。\"
Wepassedtotheendofthetombandstoodagainstwhatappearedtobearockwall，allclosetogether，asshedirected。
\"Fearnothing，\"shesaidagain，butnextsecondIwasnevermorefulloffearinmylife，forwewerewhirlingdownwardsataspeedthatwouldhavemadeanAmericanelevatorattendantturnpale。
\"Don’tchokeme，\"IheardBickleysaytoBastin，andthelatter’smurmuredreplyof：
\"Inevercouldbearthesemovingstaircasesandtubelifts。Theyalwaysmakemefeelsick。\"
IadmitthatformypartIalsofeltrathersickandclungtightlytothehandoftheGlitteringLady。She，however，placedherotherhanduponmyshoulder，sayinginalowvoice：
\"DidInottellyoutohavenofear？\"
ThenIfeltcomforted，forsomehowIknewthatitwasnotherdesiretoharmandmuchlesstodestroyme。AlsoTommywasseatedquiteathiseasewithhisheadrestingagainstmyleg，andhisabsenceofalarmwasreassuring。TheonlystoicofthepartywasBickley。Ihavenodoubtthathewasquiteasfrightenedaswewere，butratherthanshowithewouldhavedied。
\"Ipresumethismachineryispneumatic，\"hebeganwhensuddenlyandwithoutshock，wearrivedattheendofourjourney。HowfarwehadfallenIamsureIdonotknow，butIshouldjudgefromtheawfulspeedatwhichwetravelled，thatitmusthavebeenseveralthousandfeet，probablyfourorfive。
\"Everythingseemssteadynow，\"remarkedBastin，\"soIsupposethisluggagelifthasstopped。TheoddthingisthatIcan’tseeanythingofit。Thereoughttobeashaft，butweseemtobestandingonalevelfloor。\"
\"Theoddthingis，\"saidBickley，\"thatwecanseeatall。
Wherethedevildoesthelightcomefromthousandsoffeetunderground？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"answeredBastin，\"unlessthereisnaturalgashere，asIamtoldthereisatatowncalledMedicineHatinCanada。\"
\"Naturalgasbeblowed，\"saidBickley。\"Itismorelikemoonlightmagnifiedtentimes。\"