ned for perhaps the half of an hour. It was
towards the end of this time that in the intense silence I heard a crash
from the direction of the temple, as though something heavy had
fallen to the rocky floor. Bickley also heard this sound. When the two
reappeared I noticed that though still quite calm, Yva looked radiant,
and, if I may say so, even more human and womanly than I had ever seen
her, while Bastin also seemed very happy.

"One has strange experiences in life, yes, very strange," he remarked,
apparently addressing the air, which left me wondering to what
particular experience he might refer. Well, I thought that I could
guess.

"Friends," said Yva, "it is time for us to be going and I am your guide.
You will meet the Lord Oro at the end of your journey. I pray you to
bring those lamps of yours with you, since all the road is not lightened
like this place."

"I should like to ask," said Bickley, "whither we go and for what
object, points on which up to the present we have had no definite
information."

"We go, friend Bickley, deep into the bowels of the world, far deeper, I
think, than any mortal men have gone hitherto, that is, of your race."

"Then we shall perish of heat," said Bickley, "for with every thousand
feet the temperature rises many degrees."

"Not so. You will pass through a zone of heat, but so swiftly that if
you hold your breath you will not suffer overmuch. Then you will come to
a place where a great draught blows which will keep you cool, and thence
travel on to the end."

"Yes, but to what end, Lady Yva?"

"That you will see for yourselves, and with it other wondrous things."

Here some new idea seemed to strike her, and after a little hesitation
she added:

"Yet why should you go? Oro has commanded it, it is true, but I think
that at the last he will forget. It must be decided swiftly. There is
yet time. I can place you in safety in the sepulchre of Sleep where you
found us. Thence cross to the main island and sail away quickly in your
boat out into the great sea, where I believe you will find succour. Know
that after disobeying him, you must meet Oro no more lest it should be
the worse for you. If that be your will, let us start. What say you?"

She looked at me.

"I say, Yva, that I am willing to go if you come with us. Not
otherwise."

"I say," said Bickley, "that I want to see all this supernatural rubbish
thoroughly exploded, and that therefore I should prefer to go on