as to spiritualize the race. Such a soul ought to
be free to surround itself with that atmosphere from which it absorbs
life. It must choose its own weapons and armor, so as to be adequately
equipped for the battle. In its eagerness to climb on discovering
wings it must be accompanied by its own retinue of spirits, by
enthusiastic and lasting friendships so consoling to its nature. Such
was the idea of Egyplosis.

Captain Lavornal at this point stated that when the company regained
the deck he would put the rotating wheel, placed at the stern of the
ship, in motion, so as to produce the combination of a revolving as
well as an onward flight.

"These wheels," said he, "will spin us around, and by means of our
double rudder we produce both vertical and lateral undulations, which,
combined with the rotary movement of the deck, will produce a
delirious sensation. All the abandon of great and strong birds are
ours. We can imitate the sonorous sweep of the seemorgh, who plunges
with supreme majesty in the abyss of air."

"These elaborations of flight," said Lyone, "are not pursued merely
for physical pleasure, but in a mysterious way they are the moulders
of the soul itself. That essence, re-enforced with such subtle and
powerful enthusiasm, develops sensibility and assumes a grandeur and
ecstasy unknown to those who merely travel on the earth. Each gesture
of flight is a stride nearer omnipotence, an attribute more godlike by
reason of its supremacy over those obstacles that crush and
overwhelm."

I shared the same seat with Lyone at the prow of the vessel.

The scenery had in our absence developed into more marked grandeur.
Under the spell of an eternal morning, of such light as poets only
dream of, there rose on either side of us consummate rocks and
cataracts that signalled heaven. The swinging pillars of incredible
streams leaped thousands of feet into the gulf beneath. They charmed
us like glittering serpents. The gorge, the rocks, the cataracts, the
heavens of the earth above us were a prodigal feast to which nature
had bidden us.

[Illustration: THEN THE SHIP ROSE AGAIN TOWARD THE MAMMOTH ROCKS,
ADORNED WITH THE TAPESTRIES OF FALLING WAVE.]

As we explored the depths of the gulf the _Aeropher_ assumed an
undulating motion. For several miles the vessel kept descending,
until we swept through an overwhelming jungle of wild flowers. There
were acres of roses riotous in bloom, there was the trailing of wild
pea