ItwasjustashearrivedwiththeseventhloadinthisextremelydishevelledconditionthatOroandhisdaughteremergedfromthecave。IndeedBastin，who，beingshortsighted，alwaysworespectaclesthat，owingtohisheatedstatewerecoveredwithmist，notseeingthatdignitary，dumpeddownthelastbasketontohistoes，exclaiming：
　　"There，youlazybeggar，ItoldyouIwouldbringitall，andI
　　have。"
　　InfacthethoughthewasaddressingBickleyandplayingoffonhimatroglodyticpracticaljoke。
　　Oro，however，whoathisagedidnotappreciatejokes，resenteditandwasabouttodosomethingunpleasantwhenwithextraordinarytacthisdaughterremarked：
　　"Bastinthepriestmakesyouofferings。Thankhim，OLordmyfather。"
　　SoOrothankedhim，nottoocordiallyforevidentlyhestillhadfeelinginhistoes，andoncemoreBastinescaped。Becomingawareofhiserror，hebegantoapologiseprofuselyinEnglish，whiletheladyYvastudiedhimcarefully。
　　"Isthatthecostumeofthepriestsofyourreligion，O
　　Bastin？"sheasked，surveyinghisdishevelledform。"Ifso，youwerebetterwithoutit。"
　　ThenBastinretiredtostraightenhistie，andgrabbinghiscoatfromBickley，whohandedittohimwithamalicioussmile，forcedhisperspiringarmsintoitinapeculiarlyawkwardandelephantinefashion。
　　MeanwhileBickleyandIproducedtwocampchairswhichwehadmadeready，andonthesethewondrouspairseatedthemselvessidebyside。
　　"Wehavecometolearn，"saidOro。"Teach！"
　　"Notso，Father，"interruptedYva，who，Inoted，wasclothedinyetathirdcostume，thoughwhencethesecameIcouldnotimagine。"FirstIwouldaskaquestion。Whenceareyou，Strangers，andhowcameyouhere？"
　　"WearefromthecountrycalledEnglandandagreatstormshipwreckedushere；that，Ithink，whichraisedthemouthofthecaveabovethelevelofthisrock，"Ianswered。
　　"Thetimeappointedhavingcomewhenitshouldberaised，"saidOroasthoughtohimself。
　　"WhereisEngland？"askedYva。
　　Nowamongthebookswehadwithuswasapocketatlas，quiteagoodoneofitssort。BywayofanswerIopeneditatthemapoftheworldandshowedherEngland。AlsoIshowed，towithinathousandmilesorso，thatspotontheearth’ssurfacewherewespoketogether。
　　Thesightofthisatlasexcitedthepairgreatly。Theyhadnottheslightestdifficultyinunderstandingeverythingaboutitandtheshapeoftheworldwithitsdivisionintohemispheresseemedtobequitefamiliartothem。Whatappearedchieflytointerestthem，andespeciallyOro，weretherelativeareasandpositionsoflandandsea。
　　"Ofthis，Strangers，"hesaid，pointingtothemap，"IshallhavemuchtosaytoyouwhenIhavestudiedthepicturesofyourbookandcomparedthemwithothersofmyown。"
　　"Sohehasgotmaps，"saidBickleyinEnglish，"aswellasstarcharts。Iwonderwherehekeepsthem。"
　　"Withhisclothes，Iexpect，"suggestedBastin。
　　MeanwhileOrohadhiddentheatlasinhisamplerobeandmotionedtohisdaughtertoproceed。
　　"WhydoyoucomeherefromEnglandsofaraway？"theLadyYvaasked，aquestiontowhicheachofushadananswer。
　　"Toseenewcountries，"Isaid。
　　"Becausethecyclonebroughtus，"saidBickley。
　　"ToconverttheheathentomyownChristianreligion，"saidBastin，whichwasnotstrictlytrue。
　　Itwasonthis。lastreplythatshefixed。
　　"Whatdoesyourreligionteach？"sheasked。
　　"Itteachesthatthosewhoacceptitandobeyitscommandswillliveagainafterdeathforeverinabetterworldwhereisneithersorrownorsin，"heanswered。
　　WhenheheardthissayingIsawOrostartasthoughstruckbyanewthoughtandlookatBastinwithacuriousintentness。
　　"Whoaretheheathen？"Yvaaskedagainafterapause，forshealsoseemedtobeimpressed。
　　"AllwhodonotagreewithBastin’sspiritualviews，"answeredBickley。
　　"Thosewho，whetherfromlackofinstructionorfromhardnessofheart，donotfollowthetruefaith。Forinstance，Isupposethatyourfatherandyouareheathen，"repliedBastinstoutly。
　　Thisseemedtoastonishthem，butpresentlyYvacaughthismeaningandsmiled，whileOrosaid：
　　"Ofthisgreatmatteroffaithwewilltalklater。Itisanoldquestionintheworld。"
　　"Why，"wentonYva，"ifyouwishedtotravelsofardidyoucomeinashipthatsoeasilyiswrecked？Whydidyounotjourneythroughtheair，orbetterstill，passthroughspace，leavingyourbodiesasleep，as，beinginstructed，doubtlessyoucando？"
　　"Asregardsyourfirstquestion，"Ianswered，"therearenoaircraftknownthatcanmakesolongajourney。"
　　"Andasregardsthesecond，"brokeinBickley，"wedidnotdosobecauseitisimpossibleformentotransferthemselvestootherplacesthroughspaceeitherwithorwithouttheirbodies。"。
　　AtthisinformationtheGlitteringLadyliftedherarchedeyebrowsandsmiledalittle，whileOrosaid：
　　"Iperceivethatthenewworldhasadvancedbutalittlewayontheroadofknowledge。"
　　FearingthatBastinwasabouttocommenceanargument，Ibegantoaskquestionsinmyturn。
　　"LordOroandLadyYva，"Isaid，"wehavetoldyousomethingofourselvesandwilltellyoumorewhenyoudesireit。Butpardonusiffirstweprayyoutotelluswhatweburntoknow。Whoareyou？Ofwhatraceandcountry？Andhowcameitthatwefoundyousleepingyonder？"
　　"Ifitbeyourpleasure，answer，myFather，"saidYva。
　　Orothoughtamoment，thenrepliedinacalmvoice：
　　"Iamakingwhoonceruledmostoftheworldasitwasinmyday，thoughitistruethatmuchofitrebelledagainstme，mycouncillorsandservants。ThereforeIdestroyedtheworldasitwasthen，saveonlycertainportionswhencelifemightspreadtothenewcountriesthatIraisedup。HavingdonethisIputmyselfandmydaughtertosleepforaspaceoftwohundredandfiftythousandyears，thattheremightbetimeforfreshcivilisationstoarise。NowIbegintothinkthatIdidnotallotasufficiencyofages，sinceIperceivefromwhatyoutellme，thatthelearningofthenewracesisasyetbutsmall。"
　　BickleyandIlookedateachotherandweresilent。Mentallywehadcollapsed。Whocouldbegintodiscussstatementsbuiltuponsuchafoundationofgiganticandparalysingfalsehoods？
　　Well，Bastincouldforone。Withnomoresurpriseinhisvoicethanifheweretalkingaboutlastnight’sdinner，hesaid：
　　"Theremustbeamistakesomewhere，orperhapsImisunderstandyou。Itisobviousthatyou，beingaman，couldnothavedestroyedtheworld。ThatcouldonlybedonebythePowerwhichmadeitandyou。"
　　ItrembledfortheresultsofBastin’smethodsofsettingoutthetruth。Tomyastonishment，however，Ororeplied：
　　"Youspeakwisely，Priest，butthePoweryounamemayuseinstrumentstoaccomplishitsdecrees。Iamsuchaninstrument。"
　　"Quiteso，"saidBastin，"justlikeanybodyelse。YouhavemoreknowledgeofthetruththanIthought。Butpray，howdidyoudestroytheworld？"
　　"Usingmywisdomtodirecttheforcesthatareatworkintheheartofthisgreatglobe，Idrowneditwithadeluge，causingoneparttosinkandanothertorise，alsochangesofclimatewhichcompletedthework。"
　　"That’squiteright，"exclaimedBastindelightedly。"WeknowallabouttheDeluge，onlyyouarenotmentionedinconnectionwiththematter。Aman，Noah，hadtodowithitwhenhewassixhundredyearsold。"
　　"Sixhundred？"saidOro。"Thatisnotveryold。ImyselfhadseenmorethanathousandyearswhenIlaydowntosleep。"
　　"Athousand！"remarkedBastin，mildlyinterested。"Thatisunusual，thoughsomeofthesemightymenofrenownweknowlivedoverninehundred。"
　　HereBickleysnortedandexclaimed：
　　"Ninehundredmoons，"hemeans。
　　"IdidnotknowNoah，"wentonOro。"Perhapshelivedaftermytimeandcausedsomeotherlocaldeluge。IsthereanythingelseyouwishtoaskmebeforeIleaveyouthatImaystudythismapwriting？"
　　"Yes，"saidBastin。"Whywereyouallowedtodrownyourworld？"
　　"Becauseitwasevil，Priest，anddisobeyedmeandthePowerI
　　serve。"
　　"Oh！thankyou，"saidBastin，"thatfitsinexactly。ItwasjustthesameinNoah’stime。"
　　"Ipraythatitisnotjustthesamenow，"saidOro，rising。
　　"To—morrowwewillreturn，orifIdonotwhohavemuchthatI
　　mustdo，theladymydaughterwillreturnandspeakwithyoufurther。"
　　Hedepartedintothecave，Yvafollowingatalittledistance。
　　Iaccompaniedherasfarasthemouthofthecave，asdidTommy，whoallthistimehadbeensittingcontentedlyuponthehemofhergorgeousrobe，quitecarelessofitsimmemorialage，ifitwasimmemorialandnotwovenyesterday，apointonwhichI
　　hadnoinformation。
　　"LadyYva，"Isaid，"didIrightlyunderstandtheLordOrotosaythathewasathousandyearsold？"
　　"Yes，OHumphrey，andreallyheismore，orsoIthink。"
　　"Thenareyouathousandyearsoldalso？"Iasked，aghast。
　　"No，no，"shereplied，shakingherhead，"Iamyoung，quiteyoung，forIdonotcountmytimeofsleep。"
　　"Certainlyyoulookit，"Isaid。"Butwhat，LadyYva，doyoumeanbyyoung？"
　　Sheansweredmyquestionbyanother。
　　"WhatageareyourwomenwhentheyareasIam？"
　　"Noneofourwomenwereeverquitelikeyou，LadyYva。Yet，sayfromtwenty—fivetothirtyyearsofage。"
　　"Ah！IhavebeencountingandnowIremember。WhenmyfathersentmetosleepIwastwenty—sevenyearsold。No，Iwillnotdeceiveyou，Iwastwenty—sevenyearsandthreemoons。"Then，sayingsomethingtotheeffectthatshewouldreturn，shedeparted，laughingalittleinamischievousway，and，althoughI
　　didnotobservethistillafterwards，Tommydepartedwithher。
　　WhenIrepeatedwhatshehadsaidtoBastinandBickley，whowerestandingatadistancestrainingtheirearsandsomewhataggrieved，theformerremarked：
　　"Ifsheistwenty—sevenherfathermusthavemarriedlateinlife，thoughofcourseitmayhavebeenalongwhilebeforehehadchildren。"
　　ThenBickley，whohadbeensuppressinghimselfallthiswhile，wentofflikeabomb。
　　"Doyoutellus，Bastin，"heasked，"thatyoubelieveonewordofallthisghastlyrubbish？ImeanastothatantiquecharlatanbeingathousandyearsoldandhavingcausedtheFloodandtherest？"
　　"Ifyouaskme，Bickley，Iseenoparticularreasontodoubtitatpresent。Apersonwhocangotosleepinaglasscoffinkeptwarmbyapocketfulofradiumtogetherwithveryaccuratemapsoftheconstellationsatthetimehewakesup，can，Iimagine，domostthings。"
　　"EvencausetheDeluge，"jeeredBickley。
　　"Idon’tknowabouttheDeluge，butperhapshemayhavebeenpermittedtocauseadeluge。Whynot？Youcan’tlookatthingsfromfarenoughoff，Bickley。Andifsomethingseemsbigtoyou，youconcludethatthereforeitisimpossible。ThesamePowerwhichgivesyouskilltosucceedinanoperation，thathithertowasheldimpracticable，asIknowyouhavedoneonceortwice，mayhavegiventhatoldfellowpowertocauseadeluge。Youshouldmeasuretheuniverseanditspossibilitiesbyworldsandnotbyacres，Bickley。"
　　"Andbelieve，Isuppose，thatamancanliveathousandyears，whereasweknowwellthathecannotlivemorethanaboutahundred。"
　　"Youdon’tknowanythingofthesort，Bickley。Allyouknowisthatoverthebriefperiodofhistorywithwhichweareacquainted，saytenthousandyearsatmost，menhaveonlylivedtoaboutahundred。Buttheveryrockswhichyouaresofondoftalkingabout，tellusthateventhisplanetismillionsuponmillionsofyearsofage。Whoknowsthenbutthatatsometimeinitshistory，mendidnotliveforathousandyears，andthatlostcivilisationsdidnotexistofwhichthisOroandhisdaughtermaybetwosurvivors？"
　　"Thereisnoproofofanythingofthesort，"saidBickley。
　　"Idon’tknowaboutproof，asyouunderstandit，thoughIhavereadinPlatoofacontinentcalledAtlantisthatwassubmerged，accordingtothestoryofoldEgyptianpriests。ButpersonallyI
　　haveeveryproof，foritisallwrittendownintheBibleatwhichyouturntipyournose，andIamverygladthatIhavebeenluckyenoughtocomeacrossthisunexpectedconfirmationofthestory。Notthatitmattersmuch，sinceIshouldhavelearnedallaboutitwhenitpleasesProvidencetoremovemetoabetterworld，whichinourcircumstancesmayhappenanyday。NowImustchangemyclothesbeforeIseetothecookingandotherthings。"
　　"Iamboundtoadmit，"saidBickley，lookingafterhim，"thatoldBastinisnotsostupidasheseems。Fromhispointofviewtheargumentsheadvancesarequitelogical。MoreoverIthinkheisrightwhenhesaysthatwelookatthingsthroughthewrongendofthetelescope。Afteralltheuniverseisverybigandwhoknowswhatmayhappenthere？Whoknowsevenwhatmayhavehappenedonthislittleearthduringtheaeonsofitsexistence，wheneveritsbalancechancedtoshift，astheIceAgesshowusithasoftendone？StillIbelievethatoldOrotobeaPrinceofLiars。"
　　"Thatremainstobeproved，"Iansweredcautiously。"AllIknowisthatheisawonderfullylearnedpersonofmostremarkableappearance，andthathisdaughteristheloveliestcreatureI
　　eversaw。"
　　"ThereIagree，"saidBickleydecidedly，"andasbrilliantassheislovely。Ifshebelongstoapastcivilisation，itisapitythatiteverbecameextinct。Nowlet’sgoandhaveanap。
　　Bastinwillcalluswhensupperisready。"
　　ChapterXIV
　　TheUnder—worldThatnightwesleptwellandwithoutfear，beingquitecertainthataftertheirpreviousexperiencetheOrofenanswouldmakenofurtherattemptsuponus。IndeedouronlyanxietywasforTommy，whomwecouldnotfindwhenthetimecametogivehimhissupper。
　　Bastin，however，seemedtorememberhavingseenhimfollowingtheGlitteringLadyintothecave。This，ofcourse，waspossible，ascertainlyhehadtakenanenormousfancytoherandsathimselfdownasclosetoherashecouldoneveryoccasion。HeevenseemedtoliketheancientOro，andwasnotafraidtojumpupandplanthisdirtypawsuponthatterrificperson’sgorgeousrobe。
　　MoreoverOrolikedhim，forseveraltimesIobservedhimpatthedoguponthehead；asIthinkIhavesaid，theonlyhumantouchthatIhadperceivedabouthim。Sowegaveupsearchingandcallinginthehopethathewassafewithoursupernaturalfriends。
　　ThenextmorningquiteearlytheLadyYvaappearedalone；no，notalone，forwithhercameourlostTommylookingextremelyspryandwellatease。ThefaithlesslittlewretchjustgreetedusinacasualfashionandthenwentandsatbyYva。InfactwhentheawkwardBastinmanagedtostumbleovertheendofherdressTommygrowledathimandshowedhisteeth。Moreoverthedowaschanged。Hewasblessedwithashinyblackcoat，butnowthiscoatsparkledinthesunlight，liketheLadyYva’shair。
　　"TheGlitteringLadyisallverywell，butI’mnotsurethatI
　　careforaglitteringdog。Itdoesn’tlookquitenatural，"saidBastin，contemplatinghim。
　　"WhydoesTommyshine，Lady？"Iasked。
　　"BecauseIwashedhimincertainwatersthatwehave，sothatnowhelooksbeautifulandsmellssweet，"sheanswered，laughing。
　　Itwastrue，thedogdidsmellsweet，whichImayaddhadnotalwaysbeenthecasewithhim，especiallywhenthereweredeadfishabout。Alsoheappearedtohavebeenfed，forheturneduphisnoseatthebitswehadsavedforhisbreakfast。
　　"HehasdrunkoftheLife—water，"explainedYva，"andwillwantnofoodfortwodays。"
　　Bickleyprickeduphisearsatthisstatementandlookedincredulous。
　　"Youdonotbelieve，OBickley，"shesaid，studyinghimgravely。"Indeed，youbelievenothing。YouthinkmyfatherandI
　　tellyoumanylies。Bastinthere，hebelievesall。Humphrey？Heisnotsure；hethinkstohimself，Iwillwaitandfindoutwhetherorhothesefunnypeoplecheatme。"
　　Bickleycolouredandmadesomeremarkaboutthingswhichwerecontrarytoexperience，alsothatTommyinageneralwaywasratheragreedylittledog。
　　"You，too，liketoeat，Bickley"（thiswastrue，hehadanexcellentappetite），"butwhenyouhavedrunktheLife—wateryouwillcaremuchless。"
　　"Iamgladtohearit，"interruptedBastin，"forBickleywantsalotofcookingdone，andIfindittedious。"
　　"Youeatalso，Lady，"saidBickley。
　　"Yes，IeatsometimesbecauseIlikeit，butIcangoweeksandnoteat，whenIhavetheLife—water。Justnow，aftersolongasleep，Iamhungry。Pleasegivemesomeofthatfruit。No，nottheflesh，fleshIhate。"
　　Wehandedittoher。Shetooktwoplantains，peeledandatethemwithextraordinarygrace。Indeedsheremindedme，Idonotknowwhy，ofsomelovelybutterflydrawingitsfoodfromaflower。
　　Whilesheatesheobservedusclosely；nothingseemedtoescapethequickglancesofthosebeautifuleyes。Presentlyshesaid：
　　"What，OHumphrey，isthatwithwhichyoufastenyourneckdress？"andshepointedtothelittlegoldstatueofOsiristhatIusedasapin。
　　ItoldherthatitwasastatuetteofagodnamedOsirisandvery，veryancient，probablyquitefivethousandyearsold，astatementatwhichshesmiledalittle；alsothatitcamefromEgypt。
　　"Ah！"sheanswered，"isitso？Iaskedbecausewehavefiguresthatareveryliketothatone，andtheyalsoholdintheirhandsastaffsurmountedbyaloop。TheyarefiguresofSleep’sbrother——Death。"
　　"Soisthis，"Isaid。"AmongtheEgyptiansOsiriswasthegodofDeath。"
　　Shenoddedandrepliedthatdoubtlessthesymbolhadcomedowntothem。
　　"Onedayyoushalltakemetoseethislandwhichyoucallsoveryold。OrIwilltakeyou，whichwouldbequicker，"sheadded。
　　Weallbowedandsaidweshouldbedelighted。EvenBastinappearedanxioustorevisitEgyptinsuchcompany，thoughwhenhewasthereitseemedtoborehim。ButwhatshemeantabouttakingusIcouldnotguess。Norhadwetimetoaskher，forshewenton，watchingourfacesasshespoke。
　　"TheLordOrosendsyouamessage，Strangers。Heaskswhetheritisyourwishtoseewherewedwell。Headdsthatyouarenottocomeifyoudonotdesire，orifyoufeardanger。"
　　Weallansweredthattherewasnothingweshouldlikebetter，butBastinaddedthathehadalreadyseenthetomb。
　　"Doyouthink，Bastin，thatweliveinatombbecausewesleptthereforawhile，awaitingtheadventofyouwanderersattheappointedhour？"
　　"Idon’tseewhereelseitcouldbe，unlessitisfurtherdownthatcave，"saidBastin。"Thetopofthemountainwouldnotbeconvenientasaresidence。"
　　"Ithasnotbeenconvenientformanyanage，forreasonsthatI
　　willshowyou。Thinknow，beforeyoucome。Youhavenaughttofearfromus，andIbelievethatnoharmwillhappentoyou。ButyouwillseemanystrangethingsthatwillangerBickleybecausehecannotunderstandthem，andperhapswillwearyBastinbecausehisheartturnsfromwhatiswondrousandancient。OnlyHumphreywillrejoiceinthembecausethedoorsofhissoulareopenandhelongs——whatdoyoulongfor，Humphrey？"
　　"ThatwhichIhavelostandfearIshallneverfindagain，"I
　　answeredboldly。
　　"Iknowthatyouhavelostmanythings——lastnight，forinstance，youlostTommy，andwhenhesleptwithmehetoldmemuchaboutyouand——others。"
　　"Thisisridiculous，"brokeinBastin。"Canadogtalk？"
　　"Everythingcantalk，ifyouunderstanditslanguage，Bastin。
　　Butkeepagoodheart，Humphrey，fortheboldseekerfindsintheend。Oh！foolishman，doyounotunderstandthatallisyoursifyouhavebutthesoultoconceiveandthewilltograsp？All，all，below，between，above！EvenIknowthat，Iwhohavesomuchtolearn。"
　　Soshespokeandbecamesuddenlymagnificent。Herfacewhichhadbeenbutthatofasuper—lovelywoman，tookongrandeur。Herbosomswelled；herpresenceradiatedsomesubtlepower，muchasherhairradiatedlight。
　　Inamomentitwasgoneandshewassmilingandjesting。
　　"Willyoucome，Strangers，whereTommywasnotafraidtogo，downtotheUnder—world？Orwillyoustayhereinthesun？
　　Perhapsyouwilldobettertostayhereinthesun，fortheUnder—worldhasterrorsforweakheartsthatwerebornbutyesterday，andfeeblefeetmaystumbleinthedark。"
　　"Ishalltakemyelectrictorch，"saidBastinwithdecision，"andIadviseyoufellowstodothesame。Ialwayshatedcellars，andthecatacombsatRomeareworse，thoughfullofsacredinterest。"
　　Thenwestarted，Tommyfriskingonaheadinamostprovokingwayasthoughhewereboredbyavisittoastrangehouseandgoinghome，andYvaglidingforwardwithasmileuponherfacethatwashalfmysticandhalfmischievous。Wepassedtheremainsofthemachines，andBickleyaskedherwhattheywere。
　　"Carriagesinwhichoncewetravelledthroughtheskies，untilwefoundabetterway，andthattheuninstructedusedtilltheend，"sheansweredcarelessly，leavingmewonderingwhatonearthshemeant。
　　Wecametothestatueandthesepulchrebeneathwithouttrouble，fortheglintofherhair，andImayaddofTommy’sback，werequitesufficienttoguideusthroughthegloom。Thecrystalcoffinswerestillthere，forBastinflashedhistorchandwesawthem，buttheboxesofradiumhadgone。
　　"Letthatlightdie，"shesaidtoBastin。"Humphrey，givemeyourrighthandandgiveyourlefttoBickley。LetBastinclingtohimandfearnothing。"
　　Wepassedtotheendofthetombandstoodagainstwhatappearedtobearockwall，allclosetogether，asshedirected。
　　"Fearnothing，"shesaidagain，butnextsecondIwasnevermorefulloffearinmylife，forwewerewhirlingdownwardsataspeedthatwouldhavemadeanAmericanelevatorattendantturnpale。
　　"Don’tchokeme，"IheardBickleysaytoBastin，andthelatter’smurmuredreplyof：
　　"Inevercouldbearthesemovingstaircasesandtubelifts。Theyalwaysmakemefeelsick。"
　　IadmitthatformypartIalsofeltrathersickandclungtightlytothehandoftheGlitteringLady。She，however，placedherotherhanduponmyshoulder，sayinginalowvoice：
　　"DidInottellyoutohavenofear？"
　　ThenIfeltcomforted，forsomehowIknewthatitwasnotherdesiretoharmandmuchlesstodestroyme。AlsoTommywasseatedquiteathiseasewithhisheadrestingagainstmyleg，andhisabsenceofalarmwasreassuring。TheonlystoicofthepartywasBickley。Ihavenodoubtthathewasquiteasfrightenedaswewere，butratherthanshowithewouldhavedied。
　　"Ipresumethismachineryispneumatic，"hebeganwhensuddenlyandwithoutshock，wearrivedattheendofourjourney。HowfarwehadfallenIamsureIdonotknow，butIshouldjudgefromtheawfulspeedatwhichwetravelled，thatitmusthavebeenseveralthousandfeet，probablyfourorfive。
　　"Everythingseemssteadynow，"remarkedBastin，"soIsupposethisluggagelifthasstopped。TheoddthingisthatIcan’tseeanythingofit。Thereoughttobeashaft，butweseemtobestandingonalevelfloor。"
　　"Theoddthingis，"saidBickley，"thatwecanseeatall。
　　Wherethedevildoesthelightcomefromthousandsoffeetunderground？"
　　"Idon’tknow，"answeredBastin，"unlessthereisnaturalgashere，asIamtoldthereisatatowncalledMedicineHatinCanada。"
　　"Naturalgasbeblowed，"saidBickley。"Itismorelikemoonlightmagnifiedtentimes。"