"Thenhowisitthatwecanbreathehere？"Iasked。"Becausethisroadthatwearefollowingconnectswiththeupperairorusedtodoso，sinceonceIfollowedit。Itisalongroadandtheclimbissteep，butatlastitleadstothelightoftheblessedsun，norarethereanypitfallsinthepath。Wouldthatwemighttreadittogether，Humphrey，"sheaddedwithpassion，"andberidofmysteriesandthegloom，orthatlightwhichisworsethangloom。"
　　"Whynot？"Iaskedeagerly。"Whyshouldwenotturnandflee？"
　　"Whocanfleefrommyfather，theLordOro？"shereplied。"Hewouldsnareusbeforewehadgoneamile。Moreover，ifwefled，bytomorrowhalftheworldmustperish。"
　　"Andhowcanwesaveitbynotflying，Yva？"
　　"Idonotknow，Humphrey，yetIthinkitwillbesaved，perchancebysacrifice。Thatisthekeystoneofyourfaith，isitnot？Thereforeifitisaskedofyoutosavetheworld，youwillnotshrinkfromit，willyou，Humphrey？"
　　"Ihopenot，"Ireplied，withoutenthusiasm，Iadmit。IndeeditstruckmethatabusinessofthissortwasbetterfittedtoBastinthantomyself，oratanyratetohisprofession。Ithinksheguessedmythoughts，forbythelightofthelampIsawhersmileinherdazzlingway。Thenafteraswiftglancebehindher，sheturnedandsuddenlykissedme，asshedidsocallingdowneverlastingblessingsonmyheadandonmyspirit。TherewassomethingverywonderfulaboutthisbenedictionofYva’sanditthrilledmethroughandthrough，sothattoitIcouldmakenoanswer。
　　Nextmomentitwastoolatetoretreat，forournarrowingpassageturnedandwefoundourselvesinawondrousplace。Icallitwondrousbecauseofitwecouldseeneitherthebeginningnortheend，northeroof，noraughtelsesavetherockonwhichwewalked，andthesideorwallthatourhandstouched。Norwasthisbecauseofdarkness，sincealthoughitwasnotilluminatedliketheuppercaverns，lightofasortwaspresent。Itwasaverystrangelight，consistingofbrilliantandintermittentflashes，orglobesofblueandlambentflamewhichseemedtoleapfromnowhereintonowhere，orsometimestohangpoisedinmidair。
　　"Howoddtheyare，"saidthevoiceofBastinbehindme。"TheyremindmeofthosebluesparkswhichjumpupfromthewiresofthetramwaysinLondononadarknight。Youknow，don’tyou，Bickley？Imeanwhentheconductorpullsroundthatlongstickwithanironwheelonthetopofit。"
　　"Nobodybutyoucouldhavethoughtofsuchacomparison，Bastin，"answeredBickley。"Still，multipliedathousandfoldtheyarenotunlike。"
　　Norindeedwerethey，exceptthateachblueflashwasasbigasthefullmoonandinoneplaceoranothertheyweresocontinuousthatonecouldhavereadaletterbytheirlight。Alsotheeffectofthemwasghastlyandmostunnatural，terrifying，too，sinceeventheirbrilliancecouldnotrevealtheextentofthatgigantichollowinthebowelsoftheworldwhereintheyleapttoandfrolikelightnings，orhunglikehuge，uncannylanterns。
　　ChapterXXV
　　Sacrifice"Theairinthisplacemustbechargedwithsomeformofelectricity，buttheoddthingisthatitdoesnotseemtoharmus，"saidBickleyinamatter—of—factfashionasthoughheweredeterminednottobeastonished。
　　"TomeitlooksmorelikemarshfiresorSt。Elmolights，thoughhowthesecanbewherethereisnovapour，Idonotknow，"
　　Ianswered。
　　AsIspokeaparticularlylargeballofflamefellfromabove。
　　ItresembledashootingstarorameteormorethananythingelsethatIhadeverseen，andmademewonderwhetherwewerenotperhapsstandingbeneathsomeinky，unseensky。
　　NextmomentIforgotsuchspeculations，forinitsbluelight，whichmadehimterribleandghastly，IperceivedOrostandinginfrontofuscladinalongcloak。
　　"Dearme！"saidBastin，"helooksjustlikethedevil，doesn’the，andnowIcometothinkofit，thisisn’tatallabadimitationofhell。"
　　"Howdoyouknowitisanimitation？"askedBickley。
　　"Becausewhatevermightbethecasewithyou，Bickley，ifitwere，theLadyYvaandIshouldnotbehere。"
　　EventhenIcouldnothelpsmilingatthisrepartee，buttheargumentwentnofurtherforOrohelduphishandandYvabentthekneeingreetingtohim。
　　"Soyouhavecome，allofyou，"hesaid。"Ithoughtthatperhapstherewereoneortwowhowouldnotfindcouragetoridetheflyingstone。Iamgladthatitisnotso，sinceotherwisehewhohadshownhimselfacowardshouldhavehadnoshareintheruleofthatnewworldwhichistobe。ThereforeIchoseyonderroadthatitmighttestyou。"
　　"Thenifyouwillbesogoodastochooseanotherforustoreturnby，Ishallbemuchobligedtoyou，Oro，"saidBastin。
　　"HowdoyouknowthatifIdiditwouldnotbemoreterrible，Preacher？Howdoyouknowindeedthatthisisnotyourlastjourneyfromwhichthereisnoreturn？"
　　"OfcourseIcan’tbesureofanything，Oro，butIthinkthequestionisonewhichyoumightmoreappropriatelyputtoyourself。Accordingtoyourownshowingyouarenowextremelyoldandthereforeyourendislikelytocomeatanymoment。Ofcourse，however，ifitdidyouwouldhaveonemorejourneytomake，butitwouldn’tbepoliteformetosayinwhatdirection。"
　　Oroheard，andhissplendid，icyfacewastwistedwithsuddenrage。Rememberingthesceneinthetemplewherehehadgrovelledbeforehisgod，utteringagonised，unansweredprayersforaddeddays，Iunderstoodthereasonofhiswrath。ItwassogreatthatIfearedlestheshouldkillBastin（whoonlyafewhoursbefore，beitremembered，hadtriedtokillhim）thenandthere，asdoubtlesshecouldhavedoneifhewished。Fortunately，ifhefeltit；theimpulsepassed。
　　"Miserablefool！"hesaid。"Iwarnyoutokeepawatchuponyourwords。Yesterdayyouwouldhaveslainmewithyourtoy。
　　Todayyoustabmewithyourill—omenedtongue。BefearfullestI
　　silenceitforever。"
　　"Iamnotintheleastfearful，Oro，sinceIamsurethatyoucan’thurtmeatallanymorethanIcouldhurtyoulastnightbecause，yousee，itwasn’tpermitted。Whenthetimecomesformetodie，Ishallgo，butyouwillhavenothingtodowiththat。Totellthetruth，Iamverysorryforyou，aswithallyourgreatness，yoursoulisoftheearth，earthy，alsosensualanddevilish，astheApostlesaid，and，Iamafraid，verymalignant，andyouwillhaveagreatdealtoanswerforshortly。Yourswon’tbeahappydeathbed，Oro，because，yousee，yougloryinyoursinsanddon’tknowwhatrepentancemeans。"
　　ImustaddthatwhenIheardthesewordsIwasfilledwiththemostunboundedadmirationforBastin’sfearlesscouragewhichenabledhimthustobeardthissuper—tyrantinhisden。Soindeedwereweall，forIreaditinYva’sfaceandheardBickleymutter：
　　"Bravo！Splendid！Afterallthereissomethinginfaith！"
　　EvenOroappreciateditwithhisintellect，ifnotwithhisheart，forhestaredatthemanandmadenoanswer。Inthelanguageofthering，hewasquite"knockedout"and，almosthumbly，changedthesubject。
　　"Wehaveyetalittlewhile，"hesaid，"beforethathappenswhichIhavedecreed。Come，Humphrey，thatImayshowyousomeofthemarvelsofthisbubbleblowninthebowelsoftheworld，"andhemotionedtoustopickupthelanterns。
　　Thenheledusawayfromthewallofthecavern，ifsuchitwas，foradistanceofperhapssixorsevenhundredpaces。Heresuddenlywecametoagreatgrooveintherockyfloor，asbroadasaverywideroadway，andmayhapfourfeetindepth。Thebottomofthisgroovewaspolishedandglittered；indeeditgaveustheimpressionofbeingiron，orotherorewhichhadbeenweldedtogetherbeneaththegrindingofsomeimmeasurableweight。Justatthespotwherewestruckthegroove，itdividedintotwo，forthisreason。
　　Initscentrethefloorofiron，orwhateveritmayhavebeen，rose，thefractionofaninchatfirst，butafterwardsmoresharply，andthisataspotwherethegroovehadasomewhatsteepdownwarddipwhichappearedtoextendonwardsIknownothowfar。
　　Followingalongthiscentralriseforagreatway，nearlyamile，Ishouldthink，weobservedthatitbecameevermorepronounced，tillatlengthitendedinarazor—edgecliffwhichstretcheduphigherthanwecouldsee，evenbythelightoftheelectricaldischarges。Standingagainsttheedgeofthiscliff，weperceivedthatatadistancefromittherewerenowtwogroovesofaboutequalwidth。Oneoftheseranawayintothedarknessonourrightaswefacedthesharpedge，andatanever—
　　wideningangle，whiletheother，atasimilarangle，ranintothedarknesstotheleftoftheknifeofcliff。Thatwasall。
　　No，thereweretwomorenotablethings。Neitherofthegroovesnowlaywithinhundredsofyardsofthecliff，perhapsaquarterofamile，forbeitrememberedwehadfollowedtherisingrockbetweenthem。Toputitquiteclearly，itwasexactlyasthoughonelineofrailshadseparatedintotwolinesofrails，asoftenenoughtheydo，andanobserverstandingonhighgroundbetweencouldseethembothvanishingintotunnelstotherightandleft，butfarapart。
　　Thesecondnotablethingwasthattheright—handgroove，wherefirstwesawitatthepointofseparation，wasnotpolishedliketheleft—handgroove，althoughatsometimeorotheritseemedtohavebeensubjectedtothepressureofthesameterrificweightwhichcutitsfellowoutofthebedofrockoriron，asthesharpwheelsofaheavilyladenwagonsinkrutsintoaroadway。
　　"Whatdoesitallmean，LordOro？"Iaskedwhenhehadledusbacktothespotwheretheonegroovebegantobetwogrooves，thatis，amileorsoawayfromtherazor—edgedcliff。
　　"This，Humphrey，"heanswered。"Thatwhichtravelsalongyonderroad，whenitreachesthisspotonwhichwestand，followstheleft—handpathwhichismadebrightwithitspassage。Yet，couldagiantatthatmomentofitstouchingthisexactspotonwhichI
　　laymyhand，thrustitwithsufficientstrength，itwouldleavetheleft—handroadandtaketheright—handroad。"
　　"Andifitdid，whatthen；LordOro？"
　　"Thenwithinanhourorso，whenithadtravelledfarenoughuponitsway，thebalanceoftheearthwouldbechanged，andgreatthingswouldhappenintheworldabove，asoncetheyhappenedinbygonedays。Nowdoyouunderstand，Humphrey？"
　　"GoodHeavens！Yes，Iunderstandnow，"Ianswered。"Butfortunatelythereisnosuchgiant。"
　　Orobrokeintoamockinglaughandhisgreyoldfacelitupwithafiendishexultation，ashecried：
　　"Fool！I，Oro，amthatgiant。OnceinthedeaddaysIturnedthebalanceoftheworldfromtheright—handroadwhichnowisdullwithdisuse，totheleft—handroadwhichglitterssobrightlytoyoureyes，andthefaceoftheearthwaschanged。NowagainIwillturnitfromtheleft—handroadtotheright—handroadinwhichformillionsofyearsitwaswonttorun，andoncemorethefaceoftheearthshallchange，andthosewhoareleftlivingupontheearth，orwhointhecourseofagesshallcometoliveuponthenewearth，mustbowdowntoOroandtakehimandhisseedtobetheirgodsandkings。"
　　WhenIheardthisIwasoverwhelmedandcouldnotanswer。AlsoIrememberedacertainconfusedpicturewhichYvahadshowntousintheTempleofNyo。Butsupportedbyhisdisbelief，Bickleyasked：
　　"Andhowoftendoesthebalanceofwhichyouspeakcomethisway，LordOro？"
　　"Onceonlyinmanyyears；thenumberismysecret，Bickley，"hereplied。
　　"Thenthereiseveryreasontohopethatitwillnottroubleus，"remarkedBickleywithasuspicionofmockeryinhisvoice。
　　"Doyouthinkso，youlearnedBickley？"askedOro。"Ifso，Idonot。Unlessmyskillhasfailedmeandmycalculationshavegoneawry，thatTravellerofwhichItellshouldpresentlybewithus。
　　Hearkennow！Whatisthatsoundwehear？"
　　Ashespoketherereachedourearsthefirst，far—offmurmursofadreadfulmusic。Icannotdescribeitinwordsbecausethatisimpossible，butitwassomethingliketothebuzzofathousandhumming—topssuchasarelovedbychildrenbecauseoftheirweirdsong。
　　"Backtothewall！"criedOrotriumphantly。"Thetimeisshort！"
　　Sobackwewent，Oropausingawhilebehindandovertakinguswithlong，determinedstrides。Yvaledus，glidingatmysideand，asIthought，nowandagainglancedatmyfacewithalookthatwashalfanxiousandhalfpitiful。AlsotwiceshestoopedandpattedTommy。
　　Wereachedthewall，thoughnotquiteatthespotwhencewehadstartedtoexaminethegroovedroads。atleastIthinkthiswasso，sincenowforthefirsttimeobservedakindoflittlewindowinitsrockyface。Itstoodaboutfivefeetfromitsfloorlevel，andwasperhapsteninchessquare，notmore。Inshort，exceptforitsshapeitresembledaship’sportholeratherthanawindow。
　　Itssubstanceappearedtobetalc，orsomesuchmaterial，andinchesthick，yetthroughit，afterOrohadcastasidesomesortofcovering，cameaglarelikethatofasearch—light。Infactitwasasearch—lightsofarasconcernedoneofitspurposes。
　　Bythiswindoworportholelayapileofcloaks，alsofourobjectswhichlookedlikeZulubattleshieldscutinsomeunknownmetalormaterial。Verydeftly，veryquietly，Yvaliftedthesecloaksandwrappedoneofthemabouteachofus，andwhileshewasthusemployedInoticedthattheywereofasubstanceverysimilartothatofthegownshewore，whichIhavedescribed，butharder。Nextshegaveoneofthemetal—likeshieldstoeachofus，biddingusholdtheminfrontofourbodiesandheads，andonlytolookthroughcertainslitsintheminwhichwereeyepiecesthatappearedtobeofthesamehornystuffasthesearchlightwindow。Further，shecommandedustostandinarowwithourbacksagainsttherockwall，atcertainspotswhichsheindicatedwithgreatprecision，andwhateverwesaworheardonnoaccounttomove。
　　Sotherewestood，Bickleynexttome，andbeyondhimBastin。
　　ThenYvatookthefourthshield，asInotedamuchlargeronethanours，andplacedherselfbetweenmeandthesearch—lightorporthole。OntheothersideofthiswasOrowhohadnoshield。
　　Thesearrangementstooksomeminutesandduringthattimeoccupiedallourattention。Whentheywerecompleted，however，ourcuriosityandfearbegantoreassertthemselves。IlookedaboutmeandperceivedthatOrohadhisrighthanduponwhatseemedtobearoughstonerod，inshapenotunlikethatwithwhichrailwaypointsaremoved。Heshoutedtoustostandstillandkeeptheshieldsoverourfaces。Thenverygentlyhepresseduponthelever。Theportholesankthefractionofaninch，andinstantlythereleaptfromitamostterrificblazeoflightning，whichshotacrosstheblacknessinfrontand，aslightningdoes，revealedfar，farawayanotherwall，orrathercliff，likethatagainstwhichweleant。
　　"Allworkswell，"exclaimedOroinasatisfiedvoice，liftinghishandfromtherod，"andthestrengthwhichIhavestoredwillbemorethanenough。"
　　Meanwhilethehummingnoisecamenearerandgrewinvolume。
　　"Isay，"saidBickley，"asyouknow，Ihavebeensceptical，butIdon’tlikethisbusiness。Oro，whatareyougoingtodo？"
　　"Sinkhalftheworldbeneaththeseas，"saidOro，"andraiseupthatwhichIdrownedmorethantwothousandcenturiesago。ButasyoudonotbelievethatIhavethispower，Bickley，whydoyouasksuchquestions？"
　　"Ibelievethatyouhaveit，whichwaswhyItriedtoshootyouyesterday，"saidBastin。"Foryoursoul’ssakeIbegyoutodesistfromanattemptwhichIamsurewillnotsucceed，butwhichwillcertainlyinvolveyoureternaldamnation，sincethefailurewillbenofaultofyours。"
　　ThenIspokealso，saying：
　　"Iimploreyou，LordOro，toletthisbusinessbe。Idonotknowexactlyhowmuchorhowlittleyoucando，butIunderstandthatyourobjectistoslaymenbymillionsinordertoraiseupanotherworldofwhichyouwillbetheabsoluteking，asyouwereofsomepastempirethathasbeendestroyed，eitherthroughyouragencyorotherwise。Nogoodcancomeofsuchambitions。LikeBastin，foryoursoul’ssakeIprayyoutoletthembe。"
　　"WhatHumphreysaysIrepeat，"saidYva。"MyFather，althoughyouknowitnot，youseekgreatevil，andfromthesehopesyousowyouwillharvestnothingsavealossofwhichyoudonotdream。Moreover，yourplanswillfail。NowIwhoam，likeyourself，oftheChildrenofWisdom，havespoken，forthefirstandlasttime，andmywordsaretrue。Iprayyougivethemweight，myFather。"
　　Oroheard，andgrewfurious。
　　"What！"hesaid。"Areyouagainstme，everyone，andmyowndaughteralso？Iwouldliftyouup，Iwouldmakeyourulersofanewworld；IwoulddestroyyourvilecivilisationswhichIhavestudiedwithmyeyes，thatImaybuildbetter！Toyou，Humphrey，Iwouldgivemyonlychildinmarriagethatfromyoumayspringadivineraceofkings！Andyetyouareagainstmeandsetupyourpunyscruplesasabarrieracrossmypathofwisdom。Well，I
　　treadthemdown，Igoonmyappointedway。Butbewarehowyoutrytoholdmeback。Ifanyoneofyoushouldattempttocomebetweenmeandmyends，knowthatIwilldestroyyouall。Obeyordie。"
　　"Well，hehashadhischanceandhewon’ttakeit，"saidBastininthesilencethatfollowed。"Themanmustgotothedevilhisownwayandthereisnothingmoretobesaid。"
　　Isaythesilence，butitwasnomoresilent。Thedistanthumminggrewtoaroar，theroartoahellishhurricaneofsoundwhichpresentlydrownedallattemptsatordinaryspeech。
　　Thenbellowingliketenmillionsofbulls，atlengthfarawaythereappearedsomethingterrible。Icanonlydescribeitsappearanceasthatofanattenuatedmountainonfire。WhenitdrewnearerIperceivedthatitwasmorelikeaballet—dancerwhirlingroundandrounduponhertoes，orratheralltheballet—dancersintheworldrolledintooneandthenmultipliedamilliontimesinsize。No，itwaslikeamushroomwithtwostalks，oneaboveandonebelow，orahugetopwithapointonwhichitspun，aswellingbellyandanotherpointabove。Butwhatatop！Itmusthavebeentwothousandfeethigh，ifitwasaninch，anditscircumferencewhocouldmeasure？
　　Onitcame，dancing，swayingandspinningatarateinconceivable，sothatitlookedlikeagiganticwheeloffire。
　　Yetitwasnotfirethatclotheditbutrathersomephosphorescence，sincefromitcamenoheat。Yes，aphosphorescencearrangedinbandsofghastlyblueandluridred，withstreaksofothercoloursrunningupbetween，andakindofwavingfringeofpurple。
　　Thefire—mountainthunderedonwithavoiceliketothatofavalanchesoroficebergscrashingfromtheirparentglacierstothesea。Itsterrificaspectwasappalling，anditsweightcausedthesolidrocktoquiverlikealeaf。Watchingit，wefeltasantsmightfeelattheadventofthecrackofdoom，foritsmereheightandgirthandsizeoverwhelmedus。Wecouldnotevenspeak。ThelastwordsIheardwerefromthemouthofOrowhoscreamedout：
　　"BeholdthebalanceoftheWorld，youmiserable，doubtingmen，andbeholdmechangeitspath——turningitasthesteersmanturnsaship！"
　　ThenhemadecertainsignstoYva，whoinobediencetothemapproachedtheportholeorsearch—lighttowhichshedidsomethingthatIcouldnotdistinguish。Theeffectwastomakethebeamoflightmuchstrongerandsharper，alsotoshiftitontothepointorfootofthespinningmountainand，byanaimingofthelensfromtimetotime，tokeepitthere。
　　Thiswentonforawhile，sincethedreadfulthingdidnottravelfastnotwithstandingthefrightfulspeedofitsrevolutions。Ishoulddoubtindeedifitadvancedmorequicklythanamancouldwalk；atanyratesoitseemedtous。Butwehadnomeansofjudgingitsrealrateofprogresswhereofweknewaslittleaswedidofthecourseitfollowedinthebowelsoftheearth。Perhapsthatwasspiral，fromtheworld’sdeepheartupwards，andthiswasthehighestpointitreached。Orperhapsitremainedstationary，butstillspinning，forscoresorhundredsofyearsinsomecentralpowerhouseofitsown，whence，inobediencetounknownlaws，fromtimetotimeitmadetheseterrificjourneys。
　　Nooneknows，unlessperhapsOrodid，inwhichcasehekepttheinformationtohimself，andnoonewilleverknow。Atanyratethereitwas，travellingtowardsusonitsgiantbutt，thepegofthetopasitwere，which，hiddeninacloudoffriction—bornsparksthatenvelopeditlikethecupofacurvingfloweroffire，whirledroundandroundataninfinitespeed。Itwasonthisflamingflowerthatthesearch—lightplayedsteadily，doubtlessthatOromightmarkandmeasureitsmonstrousprogress。
　　"Heisgoingtotrytosendthethingdowntheright—handpath，"IshoutedintoBickley’sear。
　　"Can’tbedone！Nothingcanshiftatravellingweightoftensofmillionsoftonsoneinch，"Bickleyroaredback，tryingtolookconfident。
　　Clearly，however，Yvathoughtthatitcouldbedone，forofasuddenshecastdownhershieldand，throwingherselfuponherknees，stretchedoutherhandsinsupplicationtoherfather。I
　　understood，asdidweall，thatshewasimploringhimtoabandonhishellishpurpose。Heglaredatherandshookhishead。Then，asshestillwentonpraying，hestruckheracrossthefacewithhishandandpushedhertoherfeetagain。MybloodboiledasI
　　sawitandIthinkIshouldhavesprungathim，hadnotBickleycaughtholdofme，shouting，"Don’t，orhewillkillherandustoo。"
　　Yvaliftedhershieldandreturnedtoherstation，andinthebluedischargeswhichnowflashedalmostcontinuously，andthephosphorescentglareoftheadvancingmountain，Isawthatthoughherbeautifulfaceworkedbeneaththepainoftheblow，hereyesremainedsereneandpurposeful。EventhenIwondered——whatwasthepurposeshiningthroughthem。AlsoIwonderedifIwasabouttobecalledupontomakethatsacrificeofwhichshehadspoken，andifso，how。OfonethingIwasdetermined——thatifthecallcameitshouldnotfindmedeaf。YetallthewhileIwashorriblyafraid。
　　AtanothersignfromOro，Yvadidsomethingmoretothelens——
　　again，beingalongsideofher，Icouldnotseewhatitwas。Thebeamoflightshiftedandwanderedtill，faraway，itfellexactlyuponthatspotwheretherockbegantoriseintotheridgewhichseparatedthetwogroovesorroadsandendedintherazor—edgedcliff。MoreoverIobservedthatOro，wholeftitthelastofus，hadeitherplacedsomethingwhitetomarkthisfirstinfinitesimalbulgingofthefloorofthegroove，orhadsmeareditwithchalkorshiningpigment。IobservedalsowhatIhadnotbeenabletoseebefore，thatathinwhitelineranacrossthefloor，nodoubttogivetheprecisedirectionofthispaintedriseofrock，andthattheglareofthesearch—lightnowlayexactlyoverthatline。
　　Themonstrous，flaminggyroscopefashionedinNature’sworkshop，forsuchwithoutdoubtitwas，wasdrawingnear，emittingasitcameatumultofsoundswhich，withtheechoesthattheycaused，almostover—whelmedoursenses。PoorlittleTommy，alreadycowed，althoughhewasabold—naturedbeast，brokedownentirely，andIcouldseefromhisopenmouththathewashowlingwithterror。Hestaredabouthim，thenrantoYvaandpawedather，evidentlyaskingtobetakenintoherarms。Shethrusthimaway，almostfiercely，andmadesignstometolifthimupandholdhimbeneathmyshield。ThisIdid，reflectingsadlythatifIwastobesacrificed，Tommymustsharemyfate。I
　　eventhoughtofpassinghimontoBickley，buthadnotime。
　　IndeedIcouldnotattracthisattention，forBickleywasstaringwithallhiseyesatthenightmare—likespectaclewhichwasinprogressaboutus。Indeednonightmare，nowildimaginationofwhichthemindofmaniscapable，couldrivaltheaspectofitsstupendousfacts。
　　Thinkofthem！Theunmeasuredspaceofblacknessthreadedbythoseglobesofghastlyincandescencethatnowhungawhileandnowshotupwards，downwards，across，apparentlywithoutoriginorend，likeastreamofmeteorsthathadgonemad。Thenthetravellingmountain，twothousandfeetinheight，ormore，withitsenormoussaucer—likerimpaintedroundwithbandsofluridredandblue，andaboutitsgrindingfootthetulipbloomofemittedflame。Thenthefierce—facedOroathispost，hishandupontherod，waiting，remorseless，todrownhalfofthisgreatworld，withthelovelyYvastandingcalm—eyedlikeasaintinhellandwatchingmeabovetheedgeoftheshieldwhichsuchasaintmightbeartoturnasidethefierydartsofthewicked。Andlastlywethreemenflattenedterror—stricken，againstthewall。