eates a fervor of
blood and a romance of temperament unknown in lands possessing night,
hence the practices of Egyplosis are a natural result of climatic
conditions. The appetite for ideal love has been created by the
climate, and the religion of the country very naturally responds to
the craving of such appetite. Who knows what excesses might not obtain
if no such restraint were imposed on the most gallant youth of the
country."

"I think," said the naturalist, "that the proper thing to do would be
to have their people imitate the conduct of Jacob of old and Rachel.
Jacob worshipped ideal love in the person of Rachel for seven years
and then married, her. If our commander would only propose such a
scheme to the supreme goddess it might possibly be favorably
considered."

"Do you really suppose," said I, "that I possess any influence with
the goddess, or that any recommendation of mine would be able to
change the constitution of Atvatabar?"

"Well, sir," said he, "if you will allow me to make the remark, I
think the supreme goddess takes quite as much interest in you as you
do in her, and would treat your opinions with great respect."

"You think more than I have ever dared to think," I replied, "and your
thought savors of sacrilege. The goddess belongs to her faith, her
country. To prefer an individual soul is to dethrone herself as
goddess and meet a painful death."

"In any case, whatever happens, you can rely on the fidelity of your
followers," said the naturalist.

The subject was fast becoming embarrassing and I merely said:
"Gentlemen, I am assured of your fidelity; so please let us dismiss
the subject."

The hour for rest having been sounded, I sought my couch, but not to
sleep. The remarks made by my companions, emphasized by my growing
fondness for the goddess, set me to thinking what the end would be of
our discovery of Atvatabar. I wondered if Lyone was not, as sung by
her devotees,

"A chrysalis eager to hover
And fly from her prison away."

Could it be that the goddess might possibly, if an occasion worthy of
such a step presented itself, fly from Egyplosis, renounce her throne,
her crown, her sublime office of supreme goddess of Harikar, and with
me retire to some far-off country, braving in the meantime the almost
certain prospect of death. For her sake I felt I could meet any
situation, however terrible, but for my sake would she throw aside her
unparalleled dignities? Even if in