Also I was glad to learn that he was her father and not her old
husband, for to me that would have been horrible, a desecration too deep
for words.

"How long did you sleep, Yva?" I asked, pointing towards the sepulchre
in the cave.

After a little thought she understood and shook her head hopelessly,
then by an afterthought, she said,

"Stars tell Oro to-night."

So Oro was an astronomer as well as a king and a god. I had guessed as
much from those plates in the coffin which seemed to have stars engraved
on them.

At this point our conversation came to an end, for the Ancient himself
approached, leaning on the arm of Bickley who was engaged in an animated
argument with Bastin.

"For Heaven's sake!" said Bickley, "keep your theology to yourself at
present. If you upset the old fellow and put him in a temper he may
die."

"If a man tells me that he is a god it is my duty to tell him that he is
a liar," replied Bastin obstinately.

"Which you did, Bastin, only fortunately he did not understand you. But
for your own sake I advise you not to take liberties. He is not one, I
think, with whom it is wise to trifle. I think he seems thirsty. Go and
get some water from the rain pool, not from the lake."

Bastin departed and presently returned with an aluminum jug full of pure
water and a glass. Bickley poured some of it into a glass and handed it
to Yva who bent her head in thanks. Then she did a curious thing. Having
first lifted the glass with both hands to the sky and held it so for a
few seconds, she turned and with an obeisance poured a little of it on
the ground before her father's feet.

A libation, thought I to myself, and evidently Bastin agreed with me,
for I heard him mutter,

"I believe she is making a heathen offering."

Doubtless we were right, for Oro accepted the homage by a little motion
of the head. After this, at a sign from him she drank the water. Then
the glass was refilled and handed to Oro who also held it towards the
sky. He, however, made no libation but drank at once, two tumblers of it
in rapid succession.

By now the direct sunlight was passing from the mouth of the cave, and
though it was hot enough, both of them shivered a little. They spoke
together in some language of which we could not understand a word, as
though they were debating what their course of action should be. The
dispute was long and earnest. Had we known what was passing, which I
learned afterwards, it would have m