advent of man is as certain as the growth of the oak from the
acorn. The old circle will swing round once more."

"But the poison?" I asked. "Will that not nip life in the bud?"

"The poison may be a mere stratum or layer in the ether--a mephitic Gulf
Stream across that mighty ocean in which we float. Or tolerance may be
established and life accommodate itself to a new condition. The mere
fact that with a comparatively small hyperoxygenation of our blood we can
hold out against it is surely a proof in itself that no very great change
would be needed to enable animal life to endure it."

The smoking house beyond the trees had burst into flames. We could see
the high tongues of fire shooting up into the air.

"It's pretty awful," muttered Lord John, more impressed than I had ever
seen him.

"Well, after all, what does it matter?" I remarked. "The world is dead.
Cremation is surely the best burial."

"It would shorten us up if this house went ablaze."

"I foresaw the danger," said Challenger, "and asked my wife to guard
against it."

"Everything is quite safe, dear. But my head begins to throb again.
What a dreadful atmosphere!"

"We must change it," said Challenger. He bent over his cylinder of
oxygen.

"It's nearly empty," said he. "It has lasted us some three and a half
hours. It is now close on eight o'clock. We shall get through the night
comfortably. I should expect the end about nine o'clock to-morrow
morning. We shall see one sunrise, which shall be all our own."

He turned on his second tube and opened for half a minute the fanlight
over the door. Then as the air became perceptibly better, but our own
symptoms more acute, he closed it once again.

"By the way," said he, "man does not live upon oxygen alone. It's dinner
time and over. I assure you, gentlemen, that when I invited you to my
home and to what I had hoped would be an interesting reunion, I had
intended that my kitchen should justify itself. However, we must do what
we can. I am sure that you will agree with me that it would be folly to
consume our air too rapidly by lighting an oil-stove. I have some small
provision of cold meats, bread, and pickles which, with a couple of
bottles of claret, may serve our turn. Thank you, my dear--now as ever
you are the queen of managers."

It was indeed wonderful how, with the self-respect and sense of propriety
of the British housekeeper, the lady had within a few minutes adorned t