dim morning light I can see the scornful curve of your upper
lip!--you are really very good-looking, you know!--and you imply the
same old Garden of Eden story of man giving away woman as a wholly
incomprehensible bad job! Adam flung her back as a reproach to her
Creator--'the woman thou gavest me;'--oh, that woman and that apple!
But he had to confess 'I did eat.' He always eats,--he eats everything
woman can give him--he will even eat HER if he gets the chance!" She
laughed and pointed to the brightening sky. "See? ''Tis almost
morning!' as Shakespeare's Juliet remarked--but I would not 'have thee
gone'--not unless I go also. Whither shall we fly?"

He looked at her, moved as he often was by a thrill of admiration and
wonder.

"It is for you to decide"--he answered--"You know best the
possibilities-and the risks---"

"I know the possibilities perfectly,"--she said--"But I know nothing of
risks--there are none. This is our safety"--and she drew out from the
folds of her cloak, two small packets of cylindrical form--"This
emanation of Nature's greatest force will keep us going for a year if
needful! Oh man!--I do not mean YOU particularly, but man
generally!--why could you not light on this little, little clue!--why
was it left to a woman! Come!--let us see the White Eagle in its
nest,--it shall spread its wings and soar to-day--we will give it full
liberty!"

The dawn was spreading in threads of gold and silver and blue all over
the heavens, and the sea flushed softly under the deepening light, as
she went towards the aerodrome, he walking slowly by her side.

"Are you so sure?" he said--"Will you not risk your life in this
attempt?"

She stopped abruptly.

"My life? What is it? The life of a midge in the sun! It is no good to
me unless I do something with it! I would live for ever if I
could!--here, on this dear little ball of Earth--I do not want a better
heaven. The heaven which the clergy promise us is so remarkably
unattractive! But I run no risk of losing my life or yours in our
aerial adventures; we carry the very essence of vitality with us.
Come!--I want to see my flying palace! When I was a small child I used
to feed my fancy on the 'Arabian Nights,' and most dearly did I love
the story of Aladdin and his palace that was transported through the
air. I used to say 'I will have a flying palace myself!' And now I have
realised my dream."

"That remains to be proved"--said Rivardi--"With all our work w