spoke with extraordinary and concentrated bitterness that I
confess would have frightened me, had I been capable of fear, which at
the moment I was not. Who is afraid when he has lost all?

Nor was Bastin alarmed, if for other reasons.

"I think it right to tell you, Oro," he said, "that the only future you
need trouble about is your own. God Almighty will look after the western
civilisations in whatever way He may think best, as you may remember He
did just now. Only I am sure you won't be here to see how it is done."

Again fury blazed in Oro's eyes.

"At least I will look after you, you half-bred dogs, who yap out
ill-omened prophecies of death into my face. Since the three of you
loved my daughter whom you brought to her doom, and were by her beloved,
if differently, I think it best that you should follow on her road.
How? That is the question? Shall I leave you to starve in these great
caves?--Nay, look not towards the road of escape which doubtless she
pointed out to you, for, as Humphrey knows, I can travel swiftly and I
will make sure that you find it blocked. Or shall I--" and he glanced
upwards at the great globes of wandering fire, as though he purposed to
summon them to be our death, as doubtless he could have done.

"I do not care what you do," I answered wearily. "Only I would beg you
to strike quickly. Yet for my friends I am sorry, since it was I who led
them on this quest, and for you, too, Tommy," I added, looking at the
poor little hound. "You were foolish, Tommy," I went on, "when you
scented out that old tyrant in his coffin, at least for our own sake."

Indeed the dog was terribly scared. He whined continually and from time
to time ran a little way and then returned to us, suggesting that we
should go from this horror-haunted spot. Lastly, as though he understood
that it was Oro who kept us there, he went to him and jumping up, licked
his hand in a beseeching fashion.

The super-man looked at the dog and as he looked the rage went out of
his face and was replaced by something resembling pity.

"I do not wish the beast to die," he muttered to himself in low
reflective tones, as though he thought aloud, "for of them all it alone
liked and did not fear me. I might take it with me but still it would
perish of grief in the loneliness of the caves. Moreover, she loved it
whom I shall see no more; yes, Yva--" as he spoke the name his voice
broke a little. "Yet if I suffer them to escape they will t