“Not now in the presence of Bickley who doubtless disbelieves your faith, as he does all else, holding it with justice or without, to be but another illusion.  Yet you shall teach me and on it I will form my own judgment.”

“I shall be delighted,” said Bastin.  Then a doubt struck him, and he added:  “But why do you wish to learn?  Not that you may make a mock of my religion, is it?”

“I mock at no man’s belief, because I think that what men believe is true—­for them.  I will tell you why I wish to hear of yours, since I never hide the truth.  I who am so wise and old, yet must die; though that time may be far away, still I must die, for such is the lot of man born of woman.  And I do not desire to die.  Therefore I shall rejoice to learn of any faith that promises to the children of earth a life eternal beyond the earth.  Tomorrow you shall begin to teach me.  Now leave me, Strangers, for I have much to do,” and he waved his hand towards the table.

We rose and bowed, wondering what he could have to do down in this luminous hole, he who had been for so many thousands of years out of touch with the world.  It occurred to me, however, that during this long period he might have got in touch with other worlds, indeed he looked like it.

“Wait,” he said, “I have something to tell you.  I have been studying this book of writings, or world pictures,” and he pointed to my atlas which, as I now observed for the first time, was also lying upon the table.  “It interests me much.  Your country is small, very small.  When I caused it to be raised up I think that it was larger, but since then that seas have flowed in.”

Here Bickley groaned aloud.

“This one is much greater,” went on Oro, casting a glance at Bickley that must have penetrated him like a searchlight.  Then he opened the map of Europe and with his finger indicated Germany and Austria-Hungary.  “I know nothing of the peoples of these lands,” he added, “but as you belong to one of them and are my guests, I trust that yours may succeed in the war.”

“What war?” we asked with one voice.

“Since Bickley is so clever, surely he should know better than an illusion such as I. All I can tell you is that I have learned that there is war between this country and that,” and he pointed to Great Britain and to Germany upon the map; “also between others.”

“It is quite possible,” I said, remembering many things.  “But how do you know?”

“If I told you, Humphrey, Bickley would not believe, so I will not tell.  Perhaps I saw it in that crystal, as did the necromancers of the early world.  Or perhaps the crystal serves some different purpose and I saw it otherwise—­with my soul.  At least what I say is true.”

“Then who will win?” asked Bastin.

“I cannot read the future, Preacher.  If I could, should I ask you to expound to me your religion which probably is of no more worth than a score of others I have studied, just because it tells of the future?  If I could read the future I should be a god instead of only an earth-lord.”