irection. Then apparently scenting danger, it turned, floundered back
to the center of the lake and submerged.

"I--I--am afraid," shuddered Thalma.

"There is nothing to fear," reassured Omega. "The beast cannot get to
our home, and one of these days he will either get caught in a trap or
we will get a shot at him."

Although Omega spoke bravely he was really worried about the beast and
the influence it was having on Thalma. He realized that he must at once
devise a better method of extermination. Even though he did not fear it
so much personally its presence was disturbing, and it was daily
absorbing so much water needful for themselves.

* * * * *

This great gash in the earth's crust stretching for many miles below
them had been the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean when its blue waves
still lapped the shores of continents, and that little lake, far down in
the earth's bosom, was the pitiful remainder of that once mighty sea.
Far to the north-west, showing plainly against the sky in the focus of
their binoculars, were great ridges of mountain and table land, rising
gaunt and desolate from the ancient bed of the sea--the site of the
ancient empire of Japan. Round about them on every hand were the mute
remains of marine life, for the spot where they sat had been far below
the surface of the sea. Silent, mysterious, hopeless and dreary, the
prospect appalled even their stout hearts. How they yearned for the
sight of some living thing there upon those high peaks. Silence supreme
and dreadful, in which even their voices, hushed and tremulous, sounded
profane, cowed them by its unending solemnity and the relentless grip.
Gray and nude save for their pall of dust the mountains rose into the
sky, eternal in their ghostly majesty. And the dark valleys between with
their gray lips of death looked like the gaping mouths of hell.

"Death! death! eternal and triumphant death, thou art everywhere!" cried
Omega, springing up and gazing with hopeless eyes about over the
desolation.

Thalma rose and touched his arm. A smile of faith and confidence shone
on her face. He looked at her in wonder.

"Nay, death is not everywhere," she reproved gently. "Remember Alpha,
our son. In him life does and will live again."

"Forgive me, Thalma," said Omega, taking her in his arms. "You speak
truly. With your loyalty and courage I know we will win."

And so as it had always been from the beginning of time