ven to obey my conscience.
The spirits also on Saturn kept saying I should be happy. Now, did
this mean it was incumbent upon me to rejoice, because of some blessing
I already had, and did not appreciate, or did their prescience show
them some prospective happiness I was to enjoy? The visions also of
Violet, the angel, and the lily, which I believed, and still believe,
were no mere empty fancies, should have given me the most unspeakable
joy. It may be a mistake to apply earthly logic to heavenly things,
but the fundamental laws of science cannot change.

"Why am I so unhappy?" he continued, returning to his original
question. "The visions gave promise of special grace, perhaps some
special favour. True, my prayer to see Sylvia was heard, but,
considering the sacrifice, this has been no blessing. The request
cannot have been wrong in itself, and as for the manner, there was no
arrogance in my heart. I asked as a mortal, as a man of but finite
understanding, for what concerned me most. Why, oh why, so wretched?"

CHAPTER XIV.

HIC ILLE JACET.

At daybreak the thunder-shower passed off, but was followed by a cold,
drenching rain. Supposing Ayrault had remained in the Callisto,
Bearwarden and Cortlandt did not feel anxious, and, not wishing to be
wet through, remained in the cave, keeping up a good fire with the wood
they had collected. Towards evening a cold wind came up, and, thinking
this might clear the air, they ventured out, but, finding the ground
saturated, and that the rain was again beginning to fall, they returned
to shelter, prepared a dinner of canned meat, and made themselves as
comfortable as possible for the night.

"I am surprised," said Cortlandt, "that Dick did not try to return to
us, since he had the mackintoshes."

"I dare say he did try," replied Bearwarden, "but finding the course
inundated, and knowing we should not need the mackintoshes if we
remained under cover, decided to put back. The Callisto is, of course,
as safe as a church."

"I hope," said Cortlandt, "no harm has come to him on the way. It will
be a weight off my mind to see him safely with us."

"Should he not turn up in the morning," replied Bearwarden, "we must
begin a search for him bright and early."

Making up the fire as near the entrance of the cave as they could find
a dry place, so that Ayrault should see it if he attempted to return
during the night,