\"Thenhowisitthatwecanbreathehere？\"Iasked。\"Becausethisroadthatwearefollowingconnectswiththeupperairorusedtodoso，sinceonceIfollowedit。Itisalongroadandtheclimbissteep，butatlastitleadstothelightoftheblessedsun，norarethereanypitfallsinthepath。Wouldthatwemighttreadittogether，Humphrey，\"sheaddedwithpassion，\"andberidofmysteriesandthegloom，orthatlightwhichisworsethangloom。\"
\"Whynot？\"Iaskedeagerly。\"Whyshouldwenotturnandflee？\"
\"Whocanfleefrommyfather，theLordOro？\"shereplied。\"Hewouldsnareusbeforewehadgoneamile。Moreover，ifwefled，bytomorrowhalftheworldmustperish。\"
\"Andhowcanwesaveitbynotflying，Yva？\"
\"Idonotknow，Humphrey，yetIthinkitwillbesaved，perchancebysacrifice。Thatisthekeystoneofyourfaith，isitnot？Thereforeifitisaskedofyoutosavetheworld，youwillnotshrinkfromit，willyou，Humphrey？\"
\"Ihopenot，\"Ireplied，withoutenthusiasm，Iadmit。IndeeditstruckmethatabusinessofthissortwasbetterfittedtoBastinthantomyself，oratanyratetohisprofession。Ithinksheguessedmythoughts，forbythelightofthelampIsawhersmileinherdazzlingway。Thenafteraswiftglancebehindher，sheturnedandsuddenlykissedme，asshedidsocallingdowneverlastingblessingsonmyheadandonmyspirit。TherewassomethingverywonderfulaboutthisbenedictionofYva’sanditthrilledmethroughandthrough，sothattoitIcouldmakenoanswer。
Nextmomentitwastoolatetoretreat，forournarrowingpassageturnedandwefoundourselvesinawondrousplace。Icallitwondrousbecauseofitwecouldseeneitherthebeginningnortheend，northeroof，noraughtelsesavetherockonwhichwewalked，andthesideorwallthatourhandstouched。Norwasthisbecauseofdarkness，sincealthoughitwasnotilluminatedliketheuppercaverns，lightofasortwaspresent。Itwasaverystrangelight，consistingofbrilliantandintermittentflashes，orglobesofblueandlambentflamewhichseemedtoleapfromnowhereintonowhere，orsometimestohangpoisedinmidair。
\"Howoddtheyare，\"saidthevoiceofBastinbehindme。\"TheyremindmeofthosebluesparkswhichjumpupfromthewiresofthetramwaysinLondononadarknight。Youknow，don’tyou，Bickley？Imeanwhentheconductorpullsroundthatlongstickwithanironwheelonthetopofit。\"
\"Nobodybutyoucouldhavethoughtofsuchacomparison，Bastin，\"answeredBickley。\"Still，multipliedathousandfoldtheyarenotunlike。\"
Norindeedwerethey，exceptthateachblueflashwasasbigasthefullmoonandinoneplaceoranothertheyweresocontinuousthatonecouldhavereadaletterbytheirlight。Alsotheeffectofthemwasghastlyandmostunnatural，terrifying，too，sinceeventheirbrilliancecouldnotrevealtheextentofthatgigantichollowinthebowelsoftheworldwhereintheyleapttoandfrolikelightnings，orhunglikehuge，uncannylanterns。
ChapterXXV
Sacrifice\"Theairinthisplacemustbechargedwithsomeformofelectricity，buttheoddthingisthatitdoesnotseemtoharmus，\"saidBickleyinamatter—of—factfashionasthoughheweredeterminednottobeastonished。
\"TomeitlooksmorelikemarshfiresorSt。Elmolights，thoughhowthesecanbewherethereisnovapour，Idonotknow，\"
Ianswered。
AsIspokeaparticularlylargeballofflamefellfromabove。
ItresembledashootingstarorameteormorethananythingelsethatIhadeverseen，andmademewonderwhetherwewerenotperhapsstandingbeneathsomeinky，unseensky。
NextmomentIforgotsuchspeculations，forinitsbluelight，whichmadehimterribleandghastly，IperceivedOrostandinginfrontofuscladinalongcloak。
\"Dearme！\"saidBastin，\"helooksjustlikethedevil，doesn’the，andnowIcometothinkofit，thisisn’tatallabadimitationofhell。\"
\"Howdoyouknowitisanimitation？\"askedBickley。
\"Becausewhatevermightbethecasewithyou，Bickley，ifitwere，theLadyYvaandIshouldnotbehere。\"
EventhenIcouldnothelpsmilingatthisrepartee，buttheargumentwentnofurtherforOrohelduphishandandYvabentthekneeingreetingtohim。
\"Soyouhavecome，allofyou，\"hesaid。\"Ithoughtthatperhapstherewereoneortwowhowouldnotfindcouragetoridetheflyingstone。Iamgladthatitisnotso，sinceotherwisehewhohadshownhimselfacowardshouldhavehadnoshareintheruleofthatnewworldwhichistobe。ThereforeIchoseyonderroadthatitmighttestyou。\"
\"Thenifyouwillbesogoodastochooseanotherforustoreturnby，Ishallbemuchobligedtoyou，Oro，\"saidBastin。
\"HowdoyouknowthatifIdiditwouldnotbemoreterrible，Preacher？Howdoyouknowindeedthatthisisnotyourlastjourneyfromwhichthereisnoreturn？\"
\"OfcourseIcan’tbesureofanything，Oro，butIthinkthequestionisonewhichyoumightmoreappropriatelyputtoyourself。Accordingtoyourownshowingyouarenowextremelyoldandthereforeyourendislikelytocomeatanymoment。Ofcourse，however，ifitdidyouwouldhaveonemorejourneytomake，butitwouldn’tbepoliteformetosayinwhatdirection。\"
Oroheard，andhissplendid，icyfacewastwistedwithsuddenrage。Rememberingthesceneinthetemplewherehehadgrovelledbeforehisgod，utteringagonised，unansweredprayersforaddeddays，Iunderstoodthereasonofhiswrath。ItwassogreatthatIfearedlestheshouldkillBastin（whoonlyafewhoursbefore，beitremembered，hadtriedtokillhim）thenandthere，asdoubtlesshecouldhavedoneifhewished。Fortunately，ifhefeltit；theimpulsepassed。
\"Miserablefool！\"hesaid。\"Iwarnyoutokeepawatchuponyourwords。Yesterdayyouwouldhaveslainmewithyourtoy。
Todayyoustabmewithyourill—omenedtongue。BefearfullestI
silenceitforever。\"
\"Iamnotintheleastfearful，Oro，sinceIamsurethatyoucan’thurtmeatallanymorethanIcouldhurtyoulastnightbecause，yousee，itwasn’tpermitted。Whenthetimecomesformetodie，Ishallgo，butyouwillhavenothingtodowiththat。Totellthetruth，Iamverysorryforyou，aswithallyourgreatness，yoursoulisoftheearth，earthy，alsosensualanddevilish，astheApostlesaid，and，Iamafraid，verymalignant，andyouwillhaveagreatdealtoanswerforshortly。Yourswon’tbeahappydeathbed，Oro，because，yousee，yougloryinyoursinsanddon’tknowwhatrepentancemeans。\"
ImustaddthatwhenIheardthesewordsIwasfilledwiththemostunboundedadmirationforBastin’sfearlesscouragewhichenabledhimthustobeardthissuper—tyrantinhisden。Soindeedwereweall，forIreaditinYva’sfaceandheardBickleymutter：
\"Bravo！Splendid！Afterallthereissomethinginfaith！\"
EvenOroappreciateditwithhisintellect，ifnotwithhisheart，forhestaredatthemanandmadenoanswer。Inthelanguageofthering，hewasquite\"knockedout\"and，almosthumbly，changedthesubject。
\"Wehaveyetalittlewhile，\"hesaid，\"beforethathappenswhichIhavedecreed。Come，Humphrey，thatImayshowyousomeofthemarvelsofthisbubbleblowninthebowelsoftheworld，\"andhemotionedtoustopickupthelanterns。
Thenheledusawayfromthewallofthecavern，ifsuchitwas，foradistanceofperhapssixorsevenhundredpaces。Heresuddenlywecametoagreatgrooveintherockyfloor，asbroadasaverywideroadway，andmayhapfourfeetindepth。Thebottomofthisgroovewaspolishedandglittered；indeeditgaveustheimpressionofbeingiron，orotherorewhichhadbeenweldedtogetherbeneaththegrindingofsomeimmeasurableweight。Justatthespotwherewestruckthegroove，itdividedintotwo，forthisreason。
Initscentrethefloorofiron，orwhateveritmayhavebeen，rose，thefractionofaninchatfirst，butafterwardsmoresharply，andthisataspotwherethegroovehadasomewhatsteepdownwarddipwhichappearedtoextendonwardsIknownothowfar。
Followingalongthiscentralriseforagreatway，nearlyamile，Ishouldthink，weobservedthatitbecameevermorepronounced，tillatlengthitendedinarazor—edgecliffwhichstretcheduphigherthanwecouldsee，evenbythelightoftheelectricaldischarges。Standingagainsttheedgeofthiscliff，weperceivedthatatadistancefromittherewerenowtwogroovesofaboutequalwidth。Oneoftheseranawayintothedarknessonourrightaswefacedthesharpedge，andatanever—
wideningangle，whiletheother，atasimilarangle，ranintothedarknesstotheleftoftheknifeofcliff。Thatwasall。
No，thereweretwomorenotablethings。Neitherofthegroovesnowlaywithinhundredsofyardsofthecliff，perhapsaquarterofamile，forbeitrememberedwehadfollowedtherisingrockbetweenthem。Toputitquiteclearly，itwasexactlyasthoughonelineofrailshadseparatedintotwolinesofrails，asoftenenoughtheydo，andanobserverstandingonhighgroundbetweencouldseethembothvanishingintotunnelstotherightandleft，butfarapart。
Thesecondnotablethingwasthattheright—handgroove，wherefirstwesawitatthepointofseparation，wasnotpolishedliketheleft—handgroove，althoughatsometimeorotheritseemedtohavebeensubjectedtothepressureofthesameterrificweightwhichcutitsfellowoutofthebedofrockoriron，asthesharpwheelsofaheavilyladenwagonsinkrutsintoaroadway。
\"Whatdoesitallmean，LordOro？\"Iaskedwhenhehadledusbacktothespotwheretheonegroovebegantobetwogrooves，thatis，amileorsoawayfromtherazor—edgedcliff。
\"This，Humphrey，\"heanswered。\"Thatwhichtravelsalongyonderroad，whenitreachesthisspotonwhichwestand，followstheleft—handpathwhichismadebrightwithitspassage。Yet，couldagiantatthatmomentofitstouchingthisexactspotonwhichI
laymyhand，thrustitwithsufficientstrength，itwouldleavetheleft—handroadandtaketheright—handroad。\"
\"Andifitdid，whatthen；LordOro？\"
\"Thenwithinanhourorso，whenithadtravelledfarenoughuponitsway，thebalanceoftheearthwouldbechanged，andgreatthingswouldhappenintheworldabove，asoncetheyhappenedinbygonedays。Nowdoyouunderstand，Humphrey？\"
\"GoodHeavens！Yes，Iunderstandnow，\"Ianswered。\"Butfortunatelythereisnosuchgiant。\"
Orobrokeintoamockinglaughandhisgreyoldfacelitupwithafiendishexultation，ashecried：
\"Fool！I，Oro，amthatgiant。OnceinthedeaddaysIturnedthebalanceoftheworldfromtheright—handroadwhichnowisdullwithdisuse，totheleft—handroadwhichglitterssobrightlytoyoureyes，andthefaceoftheearthwaschanged。NowagainIwillturnitfromtheleft—handroadtotheright—handroadinwhichformillionsofyearsitwaswonttorun，andoncemorethefaceoftheearthshallchange，andthosewhoareleftlivingupontheearth，orwhointhecourseofagesshallcometoliveuponthenewearth，mustbowdowntoOroandtakehimandhisseedtobetheirgodsandkings。\"
WhenIheardthisIwasoverwhelmedandcouldnotanswer。AlsoIrememberedacertainconfusedpicturewhichYvahadshowntousintheTempleofNyo。Butsupportedbyhisdisbelief，Bickleyasked：
\"Andhowoftendoesthebalanceofwhichyouspeakcomethisway，LordOro？\"
\"Onceonlyinmanyyears；thenumberismysecret，Bickley，\"hereplied。
\"Thenthereiseveryreasontohopethatitwillnottroubleus，\"remarkedBickleywithasuspicionofmockeryinhisvoice。
\"Doyouthinkso，youlearnedBickley？\"askedOro。\"Ifso，Idonot。Unlessmyskillhasfailedmeandmycalculationshavegoneawry，thatTravellerofwhichItellshouldpresentlybewithus。
Hearkennow！Whatisthatsoundwehear？\"
Ashespoketherereachedourearsthefirst，far—offmurmursofadreadfulmusic。Icannotdescribeitinwordsbecausethatisimpossible，butitwassomethingliketothebuzzofathousandhumming—topssuchasarelovedbychildrenbecauseoftheirweirdsong。
\"Backtothewall！\"criedOrotriumphantly。\"Thetimeisshort！\"
Sobackwewent，Oropausingawhilebehindandovertakinguswithlong，determinedstrides。Yvaledus，glidingatmysideand，asIthought，nowandagainglancedatmyfacewithalookthatwashalfanxiousandhalfpitiful。AlsotwiceshestoopedandpattedTommy。
Wereachedthewall，thoughnotquiteatthespotwhencewehadstartedtoexaminethegroovedroads。atleastIthinkthiswasso，sincenowforthefirsttimeobservedakindoflittlewindowinitsrockyface。Itstoodaboutfivefeetfromitsfloorlevel，andwasperhapsteninchessquare，notmore。Inshort，exceptforitsshapeitresembledaship’sportholeratherthanawindow。
Itssubstanceappearedtobetalc，orsomesuchmaterial，andinchesthick，yetthroughit，afterOrohadcastasidesomesortofcovering，cameaglarelikethatofasearch—light。Infactitwasasearch—lightsofarasconcernedoneofitspurposes。
Bythiswindoworportholelayapileofcloaks，alsofourobjectswhichlookedlikeZulubattleshieldscutinsomeunknownmetalormaterial。Verydeftly，veryquietly，Yvaliftedthesecloaksandwrappedoneofthemabouteachofus，andwhileshewasthusemployedInoticedthattheywereofasubstanceverysimilartothatofthegownshewore，whichIhavedescribed，butharder。Nextshegaveoneofthemetal—likeshieldstoeachofus，biddingusholdtheminfrontofourbodiesandheads，andonlytolookthroughcertainslitsintheminwhichwereeyepiecesthatappearedtobeofthesamehornystuffasthesearchlightwindow。Further，shecommandedustostandinarowwithourbacksagainsttherockwall，atcertainspotswhichsheindicatedwithgreatprecision，andwhateverwesaworheardonnoaccounttomove。
Sotherewestood，Bickleynexttome，andbeyondhimBastin。
ThenYvatookthefourthshield，asInotedamuchlargeronethanours，andplacedherselfbetweenmeandthesearch—lightorporthole。OntheothersideofthiswasOrowhohadnoshield。
Thesearrangementstooksomeminutesandduringthattimeoccupiedallourattention。Whentheywerecompleted，however，ourcuriosityandfearbegantoreassertthemselves。IlookedaboutmeandperceivedthatOrohadhisrighthanduponwhatseemedtobearoughstonerod，inshapenotunlikethatwithwhichrailwaypointsaremoved。Heshoutedtoustostandstillandkeeptheshieldsoverourfaces。Thenverygentlyhepresseduponthelever。Theportholesankthefractionofaninch，andinstantlythereleaptfromitamostterrificblazeoflightning，whichshotacrosstheblacknessinfrontand，aslightningdoes，revealedfar，farawayanotherwall，orrathercliff，likethatagainstwhichweleant。
\"Allworkswell，\"exclaimedOroinasatisfiedvoice，liftinghishandfromtherod，\"andthestrengthwhichIhavestoredwillbemorethanenough。\"
Meanwhilethehummingnoisecamenearerandgrewinvolume。
\"Isay，\"saidBickley，\"asyouknow，Ihavebeensceptical，butIdon’tlikethisbusiness。Oro，whatareyougoingtodo？\"
\"Sinkhalftheworldbeneaththeseas，\"saidOro，\"andraiseupthatwhichIdrownedmorethantwothousandcenturiesago。ButasyoudonotbelievethatIhavethispower，Bickley，whydoyouasksuchquestions？\"
\"Ibelievethatyouhaveit，whichwaswhyItriedtoshootyouyesterday，\"saidBastin。\"Foryoursoul’ssakeIbegyoutodesistfromanattemptwhichIamsurewillnotsucceed，butwhichwillcertainlyinvolveyoureternaldamnation，sincethefailurewillbenofaultofyours。\"
ThenIspokealso，saying：
\"Iimploreyou，LordOro，toletthisbusinessbe。Idonotknowexactlyhowmuchorhowlittleyoucando，butIunderstandthatyourobjectistoslaymenbymillionsinordertoraiseupanotherworldofwhichyouwillbetheabsoluteking，asyouwereofsomepastempirethathasbeendestroyed，eitherthroughyouragencyorotherwise。Nogoodcancomeofsuchambitions。LikeBastin，foryoursoul’ssakeIprayyoutoletthembe。\"
\"WhatHumphreysaysIrepeat，\"saidYva。\"MyFather，althoughyouknowitnot，youseekgreatevil，andfromthesehopesyousowyouwillharvestnothingsavealossofwhichyoudonotdream。Moreover，yourplanswillfail。NowIwhoam，likeyourself，oftheChildrenofWisdom，havespoken，forthefirstandlasttime，andmywordsaretrue。Iprayyougivethemweight，myFather。\"
Oroheard，andgrewfurious。
\"What！\"hesaid。\"Areyouagainstme，everyone，andmyowndaughteralso？Iwouldliftyouup，Iwouldmakeyourulersofanewworld；IwoulddestroyyourvilecivilisationswhichIhavestudiedwithmyeyes，thatImaybuildbetter！Toyou，Humphrey，Iwouldgivemyonlychildinmarriagethatfromyoumayspringadivineraceofkings！Andyetyouareagainstmeandsetupyourpunyscruplesasabarrieracrossmypathofwisdom。Well，I
treadthemdown，Igoonmyappointedway。Butbewarehowyoutrytoholdmeback。Ifanyoneofyoushouldattempttocomebetweenmeandmyends，knowthatIwilldestroyyouall。Obeyordie。\"
\"Well，hehashadhischanceandhewon’ttakeit，\"saidBastininthesilencethatfollowed。\"Themanmustgotothedevilhisownwayandthereisnothingmoretobesaid。\"
Isaythesilence，butitwasnomoresilent。Thedistanthumminggrewtoaroar，theroartoahellishhurricaneofsoundwhichpresentlydrownedallattemptsatordinaryspeech。
Thenbellowingliketenmillionsofbulls，atlengthfarawaythereappearedsomethingterrible。Icanonlydescribeitsappearanceasthatofanattenuatedmountainonfire。WhenitdrewnearerIperceivedthatitwasmorelikeaballet—dancerwhirlingroundandrounduponhertoes，orratheralltheballet—dancersintheworldrolledintooneandthenmultipliedamilliontimesinsize。No，itwaslikeamushroomwithtwostalks，oneaboveandonebelow，orahugetopwithapointonwhichitspun，aswellingbellyandanotherpointabove。Butwhatatop！Itmusthavebeentwothousandfeethigh，ifitwasaninch，anditscircumferencewhocouldmeasure？
Onitcame，dancing，swayingandspinningatarateinconceivable，sothatitlookedlikeagiganticwheeloffire。
Yetitwasnotfirethatclotheditbutrathersomephosphorescence，sincefromitcamenoheat。Yes，aphosphorescencearrangedinbandsofghastlyblueandluridred，withstreaksofothercoloursrunningupbetween，andakindofwavingfringeofpurple。
Thefire—mountainthunderedonwithavoiceliketothatofavalanchesoroficebergscrashingfromtheirparentglacierstothesea。Itsterrificaspectwasappalling，anditsweightcausedthesolidrocktoquiverlikealeaf。Watchingit，wefeltasantsmightfeelattheadventofthecrackofdoom，foritsmereheightandgirthandsizeoverwhelmedus。Wecouldnotevenspeak。ThelastwordsIheardwerefromthemouthofOrowhoscreamedout：
\"BeholdthebalanceoftheWorld，youmiserable，doubtingmen，andbeholdmechangeitspath——turningitasthesteersmanturnsaship！\"
ThenhemadecertainsignstoYva，whoinobediencetothemapproachedtheportholeorsearch—lighttowhichshedidsomethingthatIcouldnotdistinguish。Theeffectwastomakethebeamoflightmuchstrongerandsharper，alsotoshiftitontothepointorfootofthespinningmountainand，byanaimingofthelensfromtimetotime，tokeepitthere。
Thiswentonforawhile，sincethedreadfulthingdidnottravelfastnotwithstandingthefrightfulspeedofitsrevolutions。Ishoulddoubtindeedifitadvancedmorequicklythanamancouldwalk；atanyratesoitseemedtous。Butwehadnomeansofjudgingitsrealrateofprogresswhereofweknewaslittleaswedidofthecourseitfollowedinthebowelsoftheearth。Perhapsthatwasspiral，fromtheworld’sdeepheartupwards，andthiswasthehighestpointitreached。Orperhapsitremainedstationary，butstillspinning，forscoresorhundredsofyearsinsomecentralpowerhouseofitsown，whence，inobediencetounknownlaws，fromtimetotimeitmadetheseterrificjourneys。
Nooneknows，unlessperhapsOrodid，inwhichcasehekepttheinformationtohimself，andnoonewilleverknow。Atanyratethereitwas，travellingtowardsusonitsgiantbutt，thepegofthetopasitwere，which，hiddeninacloudoffriction—bornsparksthatenvelopeditlikethecupofacurvingfloweroffire，whirledroundandroundataninfinitespeed。Itwasonthisflamingflowerthatthesearch—lightplayedsteadily，doubtlessthatOromightmarkandmeasureitsmonstrousprogress。
\"Heisgoingtotrytosendthethingdowntheright—handpath，\"IshoutedintoBickley’sear。
\"Can’tbedone！Nothingcanshiftatravellingweightoftensofmillionsoftonsoneinch，\"Bickleyroaredback，tryingtolookconfident。
Clearly，however，Yvathoughtthatitcouldbedone，forofasuddenshecastdownhershieldand，throwingherselfuponherknees，stretchedoutherhandsinsupplicationtoherfather。I
understood，asdidweall，thatshewasimploringhimtoabandonhishellishpurpose。Heglaredatherandshookhishead。Then，asshestillwentonpraying，hestruckheracrossthefacewithhishandandpushedhertoherfeetagain。MybloodboiledasI
sawitandIthinkIshouldhavesprungathim，hadnotBickleycaughtholdofme，shouting，\"Don’t，orhewillkillherandustoo。\"
Yvaliftedhershieldandreturnedtoherstation，andinthebluedischargeswhichnowflashedalmostcontinuously，andthephosphorescentglareoftheadvancingmountain，Isawthatthoughherbeautifulfaceworkedbeneaththepainoftheblow，hereyesremainedsereneandpurposeful。EventhenIwondered——whatwasthepurposeshiningthroughthem。AlsoIwonderedifIwasabouttobecalledupontomakethatsacrificeofwhichshehadspoken，andifso，how。OfonethingIwasdetermined——thatifthecallcameitshouldnotfindmedeaf。YetallthewhileIwashorriblyafraid。
AtanothersignfromOro，Yvadidsomethingmoretothelens——
again，beingalongsideofher，Icouldnotseewhatitwas。Thebeamoflightshiftedandwanderedtill，faraway，itfellexactlyuponthatspotwheretherockbegantoriseintotheridgewhichseparatedthetwogroovesorroadsandendedintherazor—edgedcliff。MoreoverIobservedthatOro，wholeftitthelastofus，hadeitherplacedsomethingwhitetomarkthisfirstinfinitesimalbulgingofthefloorofthegroove，orhadsmeareditwithchalkorshiningpigment。IobservedalsowhatIhadnotbeenabletoseebefore，thatathinwhitelineranacrossthefloor，nodoubttogivetheprecisedirectionofthispaintedriseofrock，andthattheglareofthesearch—lightnowlayexactlyoverthatline。
Themonstrous，flaminggyroscopefashionedinNature’sworkshop，forsuchwithoutdoubtitwas，wasdrawingnear，emittingasitcameatumultofsoundswhich，withtheechoesthattheycaused，almostover—whelmedoursenses。PoorlittleTommy，alreadycowed，althoughhewasabold—naturedbeast，brokedownentirely，andIcouldseefromhisopenmouththathewashowlingwithterror。Hestaredabouthim，thenrantoYvaandpawedather，evidentlyaskingtobetakenintoherarms。Shethrusthimaway，almostfiercely，andmadesignstometolifthimupandholdhimbeneathmyshield。ThisIdid，reflectingsadlythatifIwastobesacrificed，Tommymustsharemyfate。I
eventhoughtofpassinghimontoBickley，buthadnotime。
IndeedIcouldnotattracthisattention，forBickleywasstaringwithallhiseyesatthenightmare—likespectaclewhichwasinprogressaboutus。Indeednonightmare，nowildimaginationofwhichthemindofmaniscapable，couldrivaltheaspectofitsstupendousfacts。
Thinkofthem！Theunmeasuredspaceofblacknessthreadedbythoseglobesofghastlyincandescencethatnowhungawhileandnowshotupwards，downwards，across，apparentlywithoutoriginorend，likeastreamofmeteorsthathadgonemad。Thenthetravellingmountain，twothousandfeetinheight，ormore，withitsenormoussaucer—likerimpaintedroundwithbandsofluridredandblue，andaboutitsgrindingfootthetulipbloomofemittedflame。Thenthefierce—facedOroathispost，hishandupontherod，waiting，remorseless，todrownhalfofthisgreatworld，withthelovelyYvastandingcalm—eyedlikeasaintinhellandwatchingmeabovetheedgeoftheshieldwhichsuchasaintmightbeartoturnasidethefierydartsofthewicked。Andlastlywethreemenflattenedterror—stricken，againstthewall。