ghts of an island
hanging there in the waste and hitherto known to nobody simply
because nobody knew the truth about the Fourth Dimension did not
assail them. So absorbed had St. George become in the undertaking,
so convincing had been the events that led up to it, and so ready
for anything in any dimension were his companions, that their
excitement was simply the ancient excitement of lights to the
mariner and nothing more; save indeed that to St. George they spoke
a certain language sweeter than the language of any island lying in
the heart of mere science or mere magic either.

When it became evident that the lights were no will-o'-the-wisps,
born of the moon and the void, but the veritable lights that shine
upon harbours, Bennietod tumbled below for Jarvo, who came on deck
and gazed and doubted and well-nigh wept for joy and poured forth
strange words and called aloud for Akko. Akko came and nodded and
showed white teeth.

"To-morrow," he said only.

Barnay came.

"Fwhat matther?" He put it cynically, scowling critically at Jarvo
and Akko. "All in the way av fair fight, that'll be about Mor-rocco,
if I've the full av my wits about me, an' music to my eyes, by the
same token."

Jarvo fixed him with his impenetrable look.

"It is the light of the king's palace on the summit of Mount
Khalak," he announced simply.

The light of the king's palace. St. George heard and thrilled with
thanksgiving. It would be then the light at her very threshold,
provided the impossible is possible, as scientists and devotees have
every reason to think. But was she there--was she there? If there
was an oracle for the answer, it was not St. George. The little
white stars danced and signaled faintly on the far horizon. Whatever
they had to reveal was for nearer eyes than his.

The glass passed from hand to hand, and in turn they all swept the
low sky where the faint points burned; but when some one had cried
that the lights were no longer visible, and the others had verified
the cry by looking blankly into a sudden waste of milky black--black
water, pale light--and turned baffled eyes to Jarvo, the little man
spoke smoothly, not even reaching a lean, brown hand for the glass.

"But have no fear, adon," he reassured them, "the chart is not
exact--it is that which has delayed us. It will adjust itself. The
light may long disappear, but it will come again. The gods will
permit the possible."

They looked at one another doubtfully