eld up his hand and Yva bent the knee in
greeting to him.

"So you have come, all of you," he said. "I thought that perhaps there
were one or two who would not find courage to ride the flying stone. I
am glad that it is not so, since otherwise he who had shown himself a
coward should have had no share in the rule of that new world which is
to be. Therefore I chose yonder road that it might test you."

"Then if you will be so good as to choose another for us to return by, I
shall be much obliged to you, Oro," said Bastin.

"How do you know that if I did it would not be more terrible, Preacher?
How do you know indeed that this is not your last journey from which
there is no return?"

"Of course I can't be sure of anything, Oro, but I think the question
is one which you might more appropriately put to yourself. According
to your own showing you are now extremely old and therefore your end is
likely to come at any moment. Of course, however, if it did you would
have one more journey to make, but it wouldn't be polite for me to say
in what direction."

Oro heard, and his splendid, icy face was twisted with sudden rage.
Remembering the scene in the temple where he had grovelled before his
god, uttering agonised, unanswered prayers for added days, I understood
the reason of his wrath. It was so great that I feared lest he should
kill Bastin (who only a few hours before, be it remembered, had tried to
kill him) then and there, as doubtless he could have done if he wished.
Fortunately, if he felt it; the impulse passed.

"Miserable fool!" he said. "I warn you to keep a watch upon your words.
Yesterday you would have slain me with your toy. Today you stab me with
your ill-omened tongue. Be fearful lest I silence it for ever."

"I am not in the least fearful, Oro, since I am sure that you can't hurt
me at all any more than I could hurt you last night because, you see, it
wasn't permitted. When the time comes for me to die, I shall go, but you
will have nothing to do with that. To tell the truth, I am very sorry
for you, as with all your greatness, your soul is of the earth, earthy,
also sensual and devilish, as the Apostle said, and, I am afraid, very
malignant, and you will have a great deal to answer for shortly. Yours
won't be a happy deathbed, Oro, because, you see, you glory in your sins
and don't know what repentance means."

I must add that when I heard these words I was filled with the most
unbounded admiration fo