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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 tell my story to the world and
make me a laughingstock。 Well； if they do； what does it matter？
None of those Western fools would believe it； thinking that they
knew all； like Bickley they would mock and say that they were
mad； or liars。〃
Again Tommy licked his hand； but more confidently； as though
instinct told him something of what was passing in Oro's mind。 I
watched with an idle wonder； marvelling whether it were possible
that this merciless being would after all spare us for the sake
of the dog。
So； strange to say； it came about； for suddenly Oro looked up
and said：
〃Get you gone； and quickly； before my mood changes。 The hound
has saved you。 For its sake I give you your lives； who otherwise
should certainly have died。 She who has gone pointed out to you；
I doubt not； a road that runs to the upper air。 I think that it
is still open。 Indeed；〃 he added； closing his eyes for a moment；
〃I see that it is still open； if long and difficult。 Follow it；
and should you win through； take your boat and sail away as
swiftly as you can。 Whether you die or live I care nothing； but
my hands will be clean of your blood； although yours are stained
with Yva's。 Begone！ and my curse go with you。〃
Without waiting for further words we went to fetch our
lanterns； water…bottles and bag of food which we had laid down at
a little distance。 As we approached them I looked up and saw Oro
standing some way off。 The light from one of the blue globes of
fire which passed close above his head； shone upon him and made
him ghastly。 Moreover； it seemed to me as though approaching
death had written its name upon his malevolent countenance。
I turned my head away； for about his aspect in those sinister
surroundings there was something horrible； something menacing and
repellent to man and of him I wished to see no more。 Nor indeed
did I； for when I glanced in that direction again Oro was gone。 I
suppose that he had retreated into the shadows where no light
played。
We gathered up our gear； and while the others were relighting
the lanterns； I walked a few paces forward to the spot where Yva
had been dissolved in the devouring fire。 Something caught my eye
upon the rocky floor。 I picked it up。 It was the ring； or rather
the remains of the ring that I had given her on that night when
we declared our love amidst the ruins by the crater lake。 She had
never worn it on her hand but for her own reasons； as she told
me； suspended it upon her breast beneath her robe。 It was an
ancient ring that I had bought in Egypt； fashioned of gold in
which was set a very hard basalt or other black stone。 On this
was engraved the ank or looped cross； which was the Egyptian
symbol of Life； and round it a snake； the symbol of Eternity。 The
gold was for the most part melted； but the stone； being so hard
and protected by the shield and asbestos cloak； for such I
suppose it was； had resisted the fury of the flash。 Only now it
was white instead of black； like a burnt onyx that had known the
funeral pyre。 Indeed； perhaps it was an onyx。 I kissed it and hid
it away； for it seemed to me to convey a greeting and with it a
promise。
Then we started； a very sad and dejected trio。 Leaving with a
shudder that vast place where the blue lights played eternally；
we came to the shaft up and down which the travelling stone
pursued its endless path； and saw it arrive and depart again。
〃I wonder he did not send us that way；〃 said Bickley； pointing
to it。
〃I am sure I am very glad it never occurred to him；〃 answered
Bastin； 〃for I am certain that we could not have made the journey
again without our guide； Yva。〃
I looked at him and he ceased。 Somehow I could not bear； as
yet； to hear her beloved name spoken by other lips。
Then we entered the passage that she pointed out to us； and
began a most terrible journey which； so far as we could judge；
for we lost any exact count of time； took us about sixty hours。
The road； it is true； was smooth and unblocked； but the ascent
was fearfully steep and slippery； so much so that often we were
obliged to pull each other up it and lie down to rest。
Had it not been for those large； felt…covered bottles of Life…
water； I am sure we should never have won through。 But this
marvelous elixir； drunk a little at a time； always re…
invigorated us and gave us strength to push on。 Also we had some
food； and fortunately our spare oil held out； for the darkness in
that tunnel was complete。 Tommy became so exhausted that at
length we must carry him by turns。 He would have died had it not
been for the water； indeed I thought that he was going to die。
After our last rest and a short sleep； however； he seemed to
begin to recover； and generally there was something in his manner
which suggested to us that he knew himself to be not far from the
surface of the earth towards which we had crawled upwards for
thousands upon thousands of feet； fortunately without meeting
with any zone of heat which was