e world and their presence
made Omega wonder. There appeared to be no reason for them.

"I do not understand those clouds," he said to Thalma as he sat with her
and Alpha in the shade of the coral tree. "Perhaps there are hidden
places of moisture, that have escaped the receiving rays of this
mirror."

"Let us go and see," exclaimed Thalma, her eyes agleam with a new hope.
"Let us make another voyage around the world. Alpha has never been far
from home."

"That is so," he agreed. "We will go at once."

So they entered the silver ship and sailed away over the hot, dry
wastes, on and on over the cities of antiquity. The ruins of New York,
London, Paris and other marts of the ancients were visited in their
melancholy quest for life. But even the sites of these cities were hard
to find. Only the tops of the tallest structures, such as the tip of the
Washington monument and the towers of office buildings stood above the
ashes and sands of centuries. But not even the shadow of a cloud was
seen. Still they sailed on--even skirted the dark wastes of the poles
and stopped in deep valleys to test for water. Twice around the
equatorial regions they voyaged in search of a new and better haven, but
in vain. The insistent cry for water burned in their souls and led them
back to the little lake--the last sop nature had to offer the remnant of
her children.

* * * * *

Although the days were still hot and blistering, the nights were cold,
ice often forming on the lake near the shore and lingering until touched
by the advancing sun. Omega understood, and again a cold fear clutched
his heart. Unless by some miracle of the heavens sufficient moisture
should come back to the earth, no human soul could long endure the heat
of the day and the freezing temperature of night.

To still further conserve the precious water of the lake, Omega now
extended the folds of the cloud curtain down to its shores thus
completely enclosing it. And as this further reduced the evaporation to
a remarkable extent the hopes of Omega and Thalma took on new life. Here
they visioned Alpha and his children living and dying in peace, now that
the monster was no more. With the help of additional safeguards Omega
reckoned that the water might be made to last many more years, and,
before it could become wholly exhausted, some whim of nature might again
shower the earth with rain.

Now to pass the time--for there was nothing to do