So there we stood, Bickley next to me, and beyond him Bastin. Then Yva
took the fourth shield, as I noted a much larger one than ours, and
placed herself between me and the search-light or porthole. On the other
side of this was Oro who had no shield.

These arrangements took some minutes and during that time occupied all
our attention. When they were completed, however, our curiosity and fear
began to reassert themselves. I looked about me and perceived that Oro
had his right hand upon what seemed to be a rough stone rod, in shape
not unlike that with which railway points are moved. He shouted to us
to stand still and keep the shields over our faces. Then very gently he
pressed upon the lever. The porthole sank the fraction of an inch, and
instantly there leapt from it a most terrific blaze of lightning, which
shot across the blackness in front and, as lightning does, revealed
far, far away another wall, or rather cliff, like that against which we
leant.

"All works well," exclaimed Oro in a satisfied voice, lifting his hand
from the rod, "and the strength which I have stored will be more than
enough."

Meanwhile the humming noise came nearer and grew in volume.

"I say," said Bickley, "as you know, I have been sceptical, but I don't
like this business. Oro, what are you going to do?"

"Sink half the world beneath the seas," said Oro, "and raise up that
which I drowned more than two thousand centuries ago. But as you do not
believe that I have this power, Bickley, why do you ask such questions?"

"I believe that you have it, which was why I tried to shoot you
yesterday," said Bastin. "For your soul's sake I beg you to desist from
an attempt which I am sure will not succeed, but which will certainly
involve your eternal damnation, since the failure will be no fault of
yours."

Then I spoke also, saying:

"I implore you, Lord Oro, to let this business be. I do not know exactly
how much or how little you can do, but I understand that your object is
to slay men by millions in order to raise up another world of which you
will be the absolute king, as you were of some past empire that has been
destroyed, either through your agency or otherwise. No good can come of
such ambitions. Like Bastin, for your soul's sake I pray you to let them
be."

"What Humphrey says I repeat," said Yva. "My Father, although you know
it not, you seek great evil, and from these hopes you sow you will
harvest nothing save a loss of wh