th Bastin's spiritual views," answered Bickley.

"Those who, whether from lack of instruction or from hardness of heart,
do not follow the true faith. For instance, I suppose that your father
and you are heathen," replied Bastin stoutly.

This seemed to astonish them, but presently Yva caught his meaning and
smiled, while Oro said:

"Of this great matter of faith we will talk later. It is an old question
in the world."

"Why," went on Yva, "if you wished to travel so far did you come in a
ship that so easily is wrecked? Why did you not journey through the air,
or better still, pass through space, leaving your bodies asleep, as,
being instructed, doubtless you can do?"

"As regards your first question," I answered, "there are no aircraft
known that can make so long a journey."

"And as regards the second," broke in Bickley, "we did not do so because
it is impossible for men to transfer themselves to other places through
space either with or without their bodies."

At this information the Glittering Lady lifted her arched eyebrows and
smiled a little, while Oro said:

"I perceive that the new world has advanced but a little way on the road
of knowledge."

Fearing that Bastin was about to commence an argument, I began to ask
questions in my turn.

"Lord Oro and Lady Yva," I said, "we have told you something of
ourselves and will tell you more when you desire it. But pardon us if
first we pray you to tell us what we burn to know. Who are you? Of what
race and country? And how came it that we found you sleeping yonder?"

"If it be your pleasure, answer, my Father," said Yva.

Oro thought a moment, then replied in a calm voice:

"I am a king who once ruled most of the world as it was in my day,
though it is true that much of it rebelled against me, my councillors
and servants. Therefore I destroyed the world as it was then, save only
certain portions whence life might spread to the new countries that I
raised up. Having done this I put myself and my daughter to sleep for a
space of two hundred and fifty thousand years, that there might be time
for fresh civilisations to arise. Now I begin to think that I did not
allot a sufficiency of ages, since I perceive from what you tell me,
that the learning of the new races is as yet but small."

Bickley and I looked at each other and were silent. Mentally we had
collapsed. Who could begin to discuss statements built upon such a
foundation of gigantic and paralysing fa