light far from this dreadful hollow and--and--that monster
out there in the lake."

Omega hung his head. Well he knew that the presence of the monster was
slowly killing his beloved. She complained not, but her dreams were
disturbed with frightful visions, and often Omega awakened to find her
at a window staring out over the lake with terror-stricken eyes.

This new cloud was thousands of miles to the east but with fond
anticipations they entered the ship and plunged toward it. But although
they reached the spot in one hour, the last remnant of vapor dissolved
before their eyes, and they turned sadly homeward, once more beaten by
the inexorable decrees of fate.

So having decided at last that this deep valley must remain their home
forever, Omega looked about for a suitable building site, for although
the ship was safe and comfortable they longed for a home on the earth.
But the ever present menace of the sea-monster saddened them and filled
them with misgivings, despite the fact that Omega could guard the
cottage electrically. But Omega wondered whether electric safeguards
would keep this creature from coming some night to the cottage and
sticking his loathsome head in at door or window. Omega shuddered at the
thought, but refrained from mentioning such a possibility to Thalma.

Having selected a site under the branches of a great coral tree standing
within the shade of an overhanging rock, Omega erected a cottage. It
took him but a few days to build and furnish this building from supplies
on the ship. It was complete in every feature, even to running water
from the lake. Grass was brought from the lake and a lawn laid out about
the cottage in the shadows of the rock. The grass was kept watered for
Thalma's sake, even though the water was needed for other purposes and
the lake was diminishing steadily. But she was sacred in his eyes--she
the last mother the old earth ever was to know.

The interior of the cottage was embellished like a palace, for treasures
were brought from the airship to grace its walls. The richest rugs,
curtains, tapestries and silks the world had ever known were there for
Thalma's pleasure and comfort. Paintings of green verdure, of forests
and plains of waving grass, of tumbling mountain streams and cool,
placid lakes, Omega drew from the young days of the earth. The power to
portray nature's moods and beauties had increased in many men with the
passing of time. He placed these scenes before