\"Itisquitepossible，\"Isaid，rememberingmanythings。\"Buthowdoyouknow？\"
\"IfItoldyou，Humphrey，Bickleywouldnotbelieve，soIwillnottell。PerhapsIsawitinthatcrystal，asdidthenecromancersoftheearlyworld。OrperhapsthecrystalservessomedifferentpurposeandIsawitotherwise——withmysoul。AtleastwhatIsayistrue。\"
\"Thenwhowillwin？\"askedBastin。
\"Icannotreadthefuture，Preacher。IfIcould，shouldIaskyoutoexpoundtomeyourreligionwhichprobablyisofnomoreworththanascoreofothersIhavestudied，justbecauseittellsofthefuture？IfIcouldreadthefutureIshouldbeagodinsteadofonlyanearth—lord。\"
\"Yourdaughtercalledyouagodandyousaidthatyouknewwewerecomingtowakeyouup，whichisreadingthefuture，\"
answeredBastin。
\"Everyfatherisagodtohisdaughter，orshouldbe；alsoinmydaymillionsnamedmeagodbecauseIsawfurtherandstruckharderthantheycould。Asfortherest，itcametomeinavision。Oh！Bickley，ifyouwerewiserthanyouthinkyouare，youwouldknowthatallthingstocomearebornelsewhereandtravelhitherlikethelightfromstars。Sometimestheycomefasterbeforetheirdayintoasinglemind，andthatiswhatmencallprophecy。Butthisisagiftwhichcannotbecommanded，evenbyme。AlsoIdidnotknowthatyouwouldcome。Iknewonlythatweshouldawakenandbythehelpofmen，forifnonehadbeenpresentatthatdestinedhourwemusthavediedforlackofwarmthandsustenance。\"
\"Idenyyourhypothesisintoto，\"exclaimedBickley，butnobodypaidanyattentiontohim。
\"Myfather，\"saidYva，risingandbowingbeforehimwithherswan—likegrace，\"Ihavenotedyourcommands。ButdoyoupermitthatIshowthetempletothesestrangers，alsosomethingofourpast？\"
\"Yes，yes，\"hesaid。\"Itwillsavemuchtalkinasavagetonguethatisdifficulttome。Butbringthemherenomorewithoutmycommand，saveBastinonly。Whenthesunisfourhourshighintheupperworld，lethimcometomorrowtoteachme，andafterwardsifsoIdesire。Orifhewills，hecansleephere。\"
\"IthinkIwouldrathernot，\"saidBastinhurriedly。\"Imakenopretensetobeingparticular，butthisplacedoesnotappealtomeasabedroom。Therearedegreesinthepleasuresofsolitudeand，inshort，Iwillnotdisturbyourprivacyatnight。\"
Orowavedhishandandwedeparteddownthatawfulandmostdrearyhall。
\"Ihopeyouwillspendapleasanttimehere，Bastin，\"Isaid，lookingbackfromthedoorwayatitscold，illuminatedvastness。
\"Idon’texpectto，\"heanswered，\"butdutyisduty，andifI
candragthatoldsinnerbackfromthepitthatawaitshim，itwillbeworthdoing。OnlyIhavemydoubtsabouthim。TomeheseemstobearastrongfamilyresemblancetoBeelzebub，andhe’sabadcompanionweekinandweekout。\"
Wewentthroughtheportico，Yvaleadingus，andpassedthefountainofLife—water，ofwhichshecautionedustodrinknomoreatpresent，andtopreventhimfromdoingso，draggedTommypastitbyhiscollar。Bickley，however，lingeredunderthepretenceofmakingafurtherexaminationofthestatue。AsIhadseenhimemptyingintohispocketthecontentsofacorkedbottleofquininetabloidswhichhealwayscarriedwithhim，Iguessedverywellthathisobjectwastoprocureasampleofthiswaterforfutureanalysis。OfcourseIsaidnothing，andYvaandBastintooknonoteofwhathewasdoing。
Whenwewereclearofthepalace，ofwhichwehadonlyseenonehall，wewalkedacrossanopenspacemadeunutterablydrearybytheabsenceofanyvegetationorothersignoflife，towardsahugebuildingofgloriousproportionsthatwasconstructedofblackstoneormarble。Itisimpossibleformetogiveanyideaofthefrightfulsolemnityofthisdoomededifice，forasIthinkIhavesaid，italonehadaroof，standingthereinthemidstofthatbrilliant，unvaryingandmostunnaturalilluminationwhichcamefromnowhereandyetwaseverywhere。Thus，whenoneliftedafoot，thereitwasbetweenthesoleofthebootandthefloor，ortoexpressitbetter，thebootthrewnoshadow。Ithinkthisabsenceofshadowswasperhapsthemostterrifyingcircumstanceconnectedwiththatuniversalandpervadinglight。Throughitwewalkedontothetemple。Wepassedthreecourts，pillaredallofthem，andcametothebuildingwhichwaslargerthanSt。Paul’sinLondon。Weenteredthroughhugedoorswhichstillstoodopen，andpresentlyfoundourselvesbeneaththetoweringdome。Therewerenowindows，whyshouldtherebeinaplacethatwasfulloflight？Therewasnoornamentation，therewasnothingexceptblackwalls。Andyetthegeneraleffectwasmagnificentinitsmajesticgrace。
\"Inthisplace，\"saidYva，andhersweetvoicewentwhisperingroundthewallsandthearchingdome，\"wereburiedtheKingsoftheSonsofWisdom。Theyliebeneath，eachinhissepulchre。Itsentranceisyonder，\"andshepointedtowhatseemedtobeachapelontheright。\"Wouldyouwishtoseethem？\"
\"SomehowIdon’tcareto，\"saidBastin。\"Theplaceisdrearyenoughasitiswithoutthecompanyofalotofdeadkings。\"
\"Ishouldliketodissectoneofthem，butIsupposethatwouldnotbeallowed，\"saidBickley。
\"No，\"sheanswered。\"IthinkthattheLordOrowouldnotwishyoutocutuphisforefathers。\"
\"Whenyouandhewenttosleep，whydidyounotchoosethefamilyvault？\"askedBastin。
\"Wouldyouhavefoundusthere？\"shequeriedbywayofanswer。
Then，understandingthattheinvitationwasrefusedbygeneralconsent，thoughpersonallyIshouldhavelikedtoacceptit，andhaveneverceasedregrettingthatIdidnot，shemovedtowardsacolossalobjectwhichstoodbeneaththecentreofthedome。
Onasteppedbase，notverydifferentfromthatinthecavebutmuchlarger，satafigure，drapedinacloakonwhichwasgravedanumberofstars，doubtlesstosymbolisetheheavens。Thefasteningofthecloakwasshapedlikethecrescentmoon，andthefoot—stoolonwhichrestedthefigure’sfeetwasfashionedtosuggesttheorbofthesun。Thiswasofgoldorsomesuchmetal，theonlyspotofbrightnessinallthattemple。Itwasimpossibletosaywhetherthefigureweremaleorfemale，forthecloakfallinginlong，straightfoldshiditsoutlines。Nordidtheheadtellus，forthehairalsowashiddenbeneaththemantleandthefacemighthavebeenthatofeithermanorwoman。Itwasterribleinitssolemnityandcalm，anditsexpressionwasasremoteandmysticasthatofBuddha。onlymorestern。Alsowithoutdoubtitwasblind；itwasimpossibletomistakethesightlessnessofthosestaringorbs。Acrossthekneeslayanakedswordandbeneaththecloakthearmswerehidden。Initscompletesimplicitythethingwasmarvelous。
Oneithersideuponthepedestalkneltafigureofthesizeoflife。Onewasanoldandwitheredmanwithdeathstampeduponhisface；theotherwasabeautiful，nakedwoman，herhandsclaspedintheattitudeofprayerandwithvagueterrorwrittenonhervividfeatures。
Suchwasthisgloriousgroupofwhichthemeaningcouldnotbemistaken。ItwasFatethroneduponthesun，wearingtheconstellationsashisgarment，armedwiththeswordofDestinyandworshippedbyLifeandDeath。ThisinterpretationIsetouttotheothers。
Yvakneltbeforethestatueforalittlewhile，bowingherheadinprayer，andreallyIfeltinclinedtofollowherexample，thoughintheendIcompromised，asdidBickley，bytakingoffmyhat，which，liketheothers，Istillworefromforceofhabit，thoughinthisplacenonewereneeded。OnlyBastinremainedcovered。
\"Beholdthegodofmypeople，\"saidYva。\"Haveyounoreverenceforit，OBastin？\"
\"Notmuch，\"heanswered，\"exceptasaworkofart。YouseeI
worshipFate’sMaster。Imightaddthatyourgoddoesn’tseemtohavedonemuchforyou，LadyYva，asoutofallyourgreatnessthere’snothingleftbuttwopeopleandalotofoldwallsandcaves。\"
Atfirstshewasinclinedtobeangry，forIsawherstart。
Thenhermoodchanged，andshesaidwithasigh：
\"Fate’sMaster！WheredoesHedwell？\"
\"Hereamongstotherplaces，\"saidBastin。\"I’llsoonexplainthattoyou。\"
\"Ithankyou，\"sherepliedgravely。\"ButwhyhaveyounotexplainedittoBickley？\"Thenwavingherhandtoshowthatshewishedfornoanswer，shewenton：
\"Friends，wouldyouwishtolearnsomethingofthehistoryofmypeople？\"
\"Verymuch，\"saidtheirrepressibleBastin，\"butIwouldratherthelecturetookplaceintheopenair。\"
\"Thatisnotpossible，\"sheanswered。\"Itmustbehereandnow，ornotatall。Come，standbyme。Besilentanddonotmove。Iamabouttosetlooseforcesthataredangerousifdisturbed。\"
ChapterXVI
VisionsofthePastSheledustothebackofthestatueandpointedtoeachofuswhereweshouldremain。Thenshetookherplaceatrightanglestous，asashowmanmightdo，andforawhilestoodimmovable。
Watchingherface，oncemoreIsawit，andindeedallherbody，informedwiththatstrangeairofpower，andnotedthathereyesflashedandthatherhairgrewevenmorebrilliantthanwascommon，asthoughsomeabnormalstrengthwereflowingthroughitandher。Presentlyshespoke，saying：
\"Ishallshowyoufirstourpeopleinthedayoftheirglory。
Lookinfrontofyou。\"
Welookedandbydegreesthevastspaceoftheapsebeforeusbecamealivewithforms。Atfirstthesewerevagueandshadowy，nottobeseparatedordistinguished。Thentheybecamesorealthatuntilhewasreprovedbyakick，Tommygrowledatthemandthreatenedtobreakoutintooneofhispealsofbarking。
Awonderfulsceneappeared。Therewasapalaceofwhitemarbleandinfrontofitagreatcourtyarduponwhichthesunbeatvividly。Atthefootofthestepsofthepalace，beneathasilkenawning，satakingenthroned，acrownuponhisheadandwearinggloriousrobes。Inhishandwasajewelledsceptre。Hewasanoble—lookingmanofmiddleageandabouthimweregatheredtheglitteringofficersofhiscourt。Fairwomenfannedhimandtorightandleft，butalittlebehind，satotherfairandjewelledwomenwho，Isuppose，werehiswivesordaughters。
\"OneoftheKingsoftheChildrenofWisdomnew—crowned，receivesthehomageoftheworld，\"saidYva。
Asshespokethereappeared，walkinginfrontofthethroneonebyone，otherkings，forallwerecrownedandboresceptres。Atthefootofthethroneeachofthemkneeledandkissedthefootofhimwhosatthereon，ashedidsolayingdownhissceptrewhichatasignheliftedagainandpassedaway。Ofthesekingstheremusthavebeenquitefifty，menofallcoloursandofvarioustypes，whitemen，blackmen，yellowmen，redmen。
Thencametheirministersbearinggifts，apparentlyofgoldandjewels，whichwerepiledontraysinfrontofthethrone。I
remembernotinganincident。Anoldfellowwithalamelegstumbledandupsethistray，sothatthecontentsrolledhitherandthither。Hisattemptstorecoverthemwereludicrousandcausedthemonarchonthethronetorelaxfromhisdignityandsmile。Imentionthistoshowthatwhatwewitnessedwasnosetscenebutapparentlyalivingpieceofthepast。Haditbeensotheabsurdityofthebedizenedoldmantumblingdowninthemidstofthegorgeouspageantwouldcertainlyhavebeenomitted。
No，itmustbelife，reallife，somethingthathadhappened，andthesamemaybesaidofwhatfollowed。Forinstance，therewaswhatwecallareview。Infantrymarched，someofthemarmedwithswordsandspears，thoughtheseItooktobeanornamentalbodyguard，andotherswithtubeslikesavageblowpipesofwhichI
couldnotguesstheuse。Therewerenocannon，butcarriagescamebyloadedwithbagsthathadspoutstothem。Probablythesewerechargedwithpoisonousgases。Thereweresomecavalryalso，mountedonadifferentstampofhorsefromours，thickersetandnearertheground，butwitharchednecksandfieryeyesand，I
shouldsay，verystrong。Theseagain，Itakeit，wereornamental。
Thencameothermenuponalongmachine，slunginpairsinarmouredsacks，outofwhichonlytheirheadsandarmsprojected。
Thismachine，whichresembledanelongatedbicycle，wentbyatatremendousrate，thoughwhenceitsmotivepowercamedidnotappear。Itcarriedtwentypairsofmen，eachofwhomheldinhishandsomesmallbutdoubtlessdeadlyweapon，thatinappearanceresembledanorange。Othersimilarmachineswhichfollowedcarriedfromfortytoahundredpairsofmen。
Themarvelofthepiece，however，weretheaircraft。Thesecamebyingreatnumbers。Sometimestheyflewinflockslikewildgeese，sometimessingly，sometimesinlineandsometimesinorderedsquadrons，withoutpostandofficershipsandanexactdistancekeptbetweencraftandcraft。Noneofthemseemedtobeverylargeortocarrymorethanfourorfivemen，buttheywereextraordinarilyswiftandasagileasswallows。Moreovertheyflewasbirdsdobybeatingtheirwings，butagainwecouldnotguesswhencecametheirmotivepower。
Thereviewvanished，andnextappearedasceneoffestivityinahuge，illuminatedhall。TheGreatKingsatuponadaisandbehindhimwasthatstatueofFate，oroneverysimilartoit，beneathwhichwestood。Belowhiminthehallwerethefeastersseatedatlongtables，cladinthevariouscostumesoftheircountries。Heroseand，turning，kneltbeforethestatueofFate。
Indeedheprostratedhimselfthriceinprayer。Thentakinghisseatagain，heliftedacupofwineandpledgedthatvastcompany。TheydrankbacktohimandprostratedthemselvesbeforehimashehaddonebeforetheimageofFate。OnlyInotedthatcertainmencladinsacerdotalgarmentsnotatallunlikethosewhicharewornintheGreekChurchto—day，remainedstanding。
Nowallthisexhibitionofterrestrialpompfaded。Thenextscenewassimple，thatofthedeath—bedofthissameking——weknewhimbyhiswizenedfeatures。Therehelay，terriblyoldanddying。Physicians，women，courtiers，allweretherewatchingtheend。Thetableauvanishedandinplaceofitappearedthatoftheyouthfulsuccessoramidstcheeringcrowds，withjoybreakingthroughthecloudsofsimulatedgriefuponhisface。Itvanishedalso。
\"Thusdidgreatkingsucceedgreatkingforagesuponages，\"
saidYva。\"Therewereeightyofthemandtheaverageoftheirreignswas700years。Theyruledtheearthasitwasinthosedays。Theygathereduplearning，theywieldedpower，theirwealthwasboundless。Theynurturedthearts，theydiscoveredsecrets。
Theyhadintercoursewiththestars；theywereasgods。Butlikethegodstheygrewjealous。Theyandtheircouncillorsbecamearaceapartwhoalonehadthesecretoflonglife。Therestoftheworldandthecommonplacepeopleaboutthemsufferedanddied。
TheyoftheHouseholdofWisdomlivedoninpompforgenerationstilltheearthwasmadwithenvyofthem。
\"FeverandfewergrewthedivineraceoftheSonsofWisdomsincechildrenarenotgiventotheagedandtothoseofanancient，outwornblood。ThentheWorldsaid：
\"’Theyaregreatbuttheyarenotmany；letusmakeanendofthembynumbersandtaketheirplaceandpoweranddrinkoftheirLife—water，thattheywillnotgivetous。Ifmyriadsofusperishbytheirarts，whatdoesitmatter，sincewearecountless？’SotheWorldmadewarupontheSonsofWisdom。See！\"
Againapictureformed。Theskywasfullofaircraftwhichraineddownfirelikeflashesoflightninguponcitiesbeneath。
Fromthesecitiesleaptupotherfiresthatdestroyedtheswift—
travellingthingsabove，sothattheyfellinnumberslikegnatsburnedbyalamp。Stillmoreandmoreofthemcametillthecitiescrumbledawayandtheflashesthatdartedfromthemceasedtorushupwards。TheSonsofWisdomweredrivenfromthefaceoftheearth。
Againthescenechanged。Nowitshowedthissubterraneanhallinwhichwestood。Therewaspomphere，yetitwasbutashadowofthatwhichhadbeenintheearlierdaysuponthefaceoftheearth。Courtiersmovedaboutthepalaceandtherewerepeopleintheradiantstreetsandthehouses，formostofthemwereoccupied，butrarelydidthevisionshowchildrencomingthroughtheirgates。
Ofasuddenthissceneshifted。NowwesawthatsamehallinwhichwehadvisitedOronotanhourbefore。Therehesat，yes，Orohimself，uponthedaisbeneaththeoverhangingmarbleshell。
Roundhimweresomeancientcouncillors。Inthebodyofthehalloneithersideofthedaisweremeninmilitaryarray，guardswithoutdoubtthoughtheironlyweaponwasablackrodnotunlikearuler，ifindeeditwereaweaponandnotabadgeofoffice。
Yva，whosefacehadsuddenlygrownstrangeandfixed，begantodetailtouswhatwaspassinginthisscene，inacuriousmonotonesuchasapersonmightusewhowasrepeatingsomethinglearnedbyheart。Thiswasthesubstanceofwhatshesaid：
\"ThecaseoftheSonsofWisdomisdesperate。Butfewofthemareleft。Likeothermentheyneedfoodwhichishardtocomeby，sincethefoeholdstheupperearthandthatwhichtheirdoctorscanmakehereintheShadesdoesnotsatisfythem，eventhoughtheydrinktheLife—water。Theydieanddie。TherecomesanembassyfromtheHighKingoftheconfederatedNationstotalkoftermsofpeace。See，itenters。\"
Asshespoke，upthehalladvancedtheembassy。Attheheadofitwalkedayoungman，tall，dark，handsomeandcommanding，whoseaspectseemedinsomewaytobefamiliartome。Hewasrichlyclothedinapurplecloakandworeuponhisheadagoldencircletthatsuggestedroyalrank。Thosewhofollowedhimweremostlyoldmenwhohadtheastutefacesofdiplomatists，butafewseemedtobegenerals。Yvacontinuedinhermonotonousvoice：
\"ComesthesonoftheKingoftheconfederatedNations，thePrincewhowillbeking。HebowsbeforetheLordOro。Hesays’GreatandAncientMonarchofthedivineblood，Heaven—bornOne，yourstrait，andthatofthosewhoremaintoyou，issore。YetonbehalfoftheNationsIamsenttooffertermsofpeace，butthisImayonlydointhepresenceofyourchildwhoisyourheiressandtheQueen—to—beoftheSonsofWisdom。’\"
Here，inthepicture，OrowavedhishandandfrombehindthemarbleshellappearedYvaherself，gloriouslyapparelled，wearingroyalornamentsandwithhertrainheldbywaitingladies。ShebowedtothePrinceandhiscompanyandtheybowedbacktoher。
More，wesawaglanceofrecognitionpassbetweenherandthePrince。
NowtherealYvabyoursidepointedtotheshadowYvaofthevisionorthepicture，whicheveritmightbecalled，astrangethingtoseeherdo，andwenton：
\"ThedaughteroftheLordOrocomes。ThePrinceoftheNationssalutesher。HesaysthatthegreatwarhasenduredforhundredsofyearsbetweentheChildrenofWisdomfightingforabsoluteruleandthecommonpeopleoftheearthfightingforliberty。InthatwarmanymillionsoftheSonsoftheNationshadperished，broughttotheirdeathbyfearfularts，bywizardriesandbyplaguessownamongthembytheSonsofWisdom。Yettheywerewinning，forthegloriouscitiesoftheSonsofWisdomweredestroyedandthosewhoremainedofthemweredriventodwellinthecavesoftheearthwherewithalltheirstrengthandmagictheycouldnotincrease，butfadedlikeflowersinthedark。
\"TheLordOroaskswhatarethetermsofpeaceproposedbytheNations。ThePrinceanswersthattheyarethese：ThattheSonsofWisdomshallteachalltheirwisdomtothewisemenamongtheNations。ThattheyshallgivethemtodrinkoftheLife—water，sothattheirlengthofdaysalsomaybeincreased。Thattheyshallceasetodestroythembysicknessandtheirmasteryoftheforceswhicharehidinthewomboftheworld。Iftheywilldothesethings，thentheNationsontheirpartwillceasefromwar，willrebuildthecitiestheyhavedestroyedbymeansoftheirflyingshipsthatraindowndeath，andwillagreethattheLordOroandhisseedshallrulethemforeverastheKingofkings。
\"TheLordOroasksifthatbeall。ThePrinceanswersthatitisnotall。HesaysthatwhenhedweltahostageatthecourtoftheSonsofWisdomheandthedivineLady，thedaughteroftheLordOro，andhisonlylivingchild，learnedtoloveeachother。
Hedemands，andtheNationsdemand，thatsheshallbegiventohimtowife，thatinadaytocomehemayrulewithherandtheirchildrenafterthem。
\"See！\"wentonYvainherchanting，dreamyvoice，\"theLordOroaskshisdaughterifthisbetrue。Shesays，\"heretherealYvaatmysideturnedandlookedmestraightintheeyes，\"thatitistrue；thatshelovesthePrinceoftheNationsandthatifshelivesamillionyearsshewillwednootherman，sinceshewhoisherfather’sslaveinallelseisstillthemistressofherself，ashaseverbeentherightofherroyalmothers。
\"Seeagain！TheLordOro，thedivineKing，theAncient，growswroth。HesaysthatitisenoughandmorethanenoughthattheBarbariansshouldasktoeatofthebreadofhiddenlearningandtodrinkoftheLife—wateroftheSonsofWisdom，giftsthatweregiventothemofoldbyHeavenwhencetheyspranginthebeginning。Butthatoneofthem，howeverhighlyplaced，shoulddaretoasktomixhisbloodwiththatofthedivineLady，theHeiress，theQueenoftheEarthtobe，andclaimtoshareherimperialthronethathadbeenheldbyherpureracefromagetoage，wasaninsultthatcouldonlybepurgedbydeath。SoonerwouldhegivehisdaughterinmarriagetoanapethantoachildoftheBarbarianswhohadworkedonthemsomanywoesandstriventobreakthegoldenfettersoftheirrule。
\"Lookagain！\"continuedYva。\"TheLordOro，thedivine，growsangrierstill\"（whichintruthhedid，forneverdidIseesuchdreadfulrageasthatwhichthepicturerevealedinhim）。\"Hewarns，hethreatens。Hesaysthathithertooutofgentleloveandpityhehasheldhishand；thathehasstrengthathiscommandwhichwillslaythem，notbymillionsinslowwar，butbytensofmillionsatoneblow；thatwillblotthemandtheirpeoplesfromthefaceofearthandthatwillcausethedeepseastorollwherenowtheirpleasantlandsarefruitfulinthesun。Theyshrinkbeforehisfury；behold，theirkneestremblebecausetheyknowthathehasthispower。Hemocksthem，doestheLordOro。Heasksfortheirsubmissionhereandnow，andthatinthenameoftheNationstheyshouldtakethegreatoathwhichmaynotbebroken，swearingtoceasefromwarupontheSonsofWisdomandtoobeytheminallthingstotheendsoftheearth。Someoftheambassadorswouldyield。Theylookaboutthemlikewildthingsthataretrapped。ButmadnesstakesthePrince。Hecriesthattheoathofanapeisofnoaccount，butthathewilltearuptheChildrenofWisdomasanapetearsleaves，andafterwardstakethedivineLadytobehiswife。
\"LookontheLordOro！\"continuedthelivingYva，\"hiswrathleaveshim。Hegrowscoldandsmiles。Hisdaughterthrowsherselfuponherkneesandpleadswithhim。Hethrustsheraway。ShewouldspringtothesideofthePrince；hecommandshiscouncillorstoholdher。ShecriestothePrincethatsheloveshimandhimonly，andthatinadaytocomehimshewillwedandnoother。Hethanksher，sayingthatasitiswithher，soitiswithhim，andthatbecauseofhislovehefearsnothing。Sheswoons。TheLordOromotionswithhishandtotheguard。Theylifttheirdeath—rods。Fireleapsfromthem。ThePrinceandhiscompanions，allsavethosewhowereafraidandwouldhavesworntheoath，twistandwrithe。Theyturnblack；theydie。TheLordOrocommandsthosewhoarelefttoentertheirflyingshipsandbeartotheNationsoftheEarthtidingsofwhatbefallsthosewhodaretodefyandinsulthim；towarnthemalsotoeatanddrinkandbemerrywhiletheymay，sincefortheirwickednesstheyareabouttoperish。\"
ThescenefadedandtherefollowedanotherwhichreallyI
cannotdescribe。Itrepresentedsomevastundergroundplaceandwhatappearedtobeahugemountainofironclothedinlight，literallyathinglikeanalp，rockingandspinningdownadeclivity，whichfartheronseparatedintotwobranchesbecauseofahugerazor—edgeprecipicethatrosebetween。Thereinthemiddleofthisvastspacewiththedazzlingmountainwhirlingtowardshim，stoodOroencasedinsometransparentarmour，asthoughtokeepoffheat，andwithhimhisdaughterwhounderhisdirectionwashandlingsomethingintherockbehindher。Thentherewasablindingflashandeverythingvanished。Allofthispicturepassedsoswiftlythatwecouldnotgraspitsdetails；
onlyageneralimpressionremained。
\"TheLordOro，usingthestrengththatisintheworldwhereofhealonehasthesecret，changestheworld’sbalancecausingthatwhichwaslandtobecomeseaandthatwhichwasseatobecomeland，\"saidYvainherchanting，unnaturalvoice。
