“These, I understand,” said Oro, pointing to the Turkish soldiers, “worship a prophet who they say is the voice of God.”

“Yes,” I answered, “and therefore they massacre these who are Christians because they worship God without a prophet.”

“And what do the Christians massacre each other for?”

“Power and the wealth and territories that are power.  That is, the King of the Germans wishes to rule the world, but the other Nations do not desire his dominion.  Therefore they fight for Liberty and Justice.”

“As it was, so it is and shall be,” remarked Oro, “only with this difference.  In the old world some were wise, but here—­” and he stopped, his eyes fixed upon the Armenian woman struggling in her death agony while the murderer drowned her child, then added:  “Let us go.”

Our road ran across the sea.  On it we saw a ship so large that it attracted Oro’s attention, and for once he expressed astonishment.

“In my day,” he said, “we had no vessels of this greatness in the world.  I wish to look upon it.”

We landed on the deck of the ship, or rather the floating palace, and examined her.  She carried many passengers, some English, some American, and I pointed out to Oro the differences between the two peoples.  These were not, he remarked, very wide except that the American women wore more jewels, also that some of the American men, to whom we listened as they conversed, spoke of the greatness of their country, whereas the Englishmen, if they said anything concerning it, belittled their country.

Presently, on the surface of the sea at a little distance appeared something strange, a small and ominous object like a can on the top of a pole.  A voice cried out “Submarine!” and everyone near rushed to look.

“If those Germans try any of their monkey tricks on us, I guess the United States will give them hell,” said another voice near by.

Then from the direction of the pole with the tin can on the top of it, came something which caused a disturbance in the smooth water and bubbles to rise in its wake.

“A torpedo!” cried some.

“Shut your mouth,” said the voice.  “Who dare torpedo a vessel full of the citizens of the United States?”

Next came a booming crash and a flood of upthrown water, in the wash of which that speaker was carried away into the deep.  Then horror! horror! horror! indescribable, as the mighty vessel went wallowing to her doom.  Boats launched; boats overset; boats dragged under by her rush through the water which could not be stayed.  Maddened men and women running to and fro, their eyes starting from their heads, clasping children, fastening lifebelts over their costly gowns, or appearing from their cabins, their hands filled with jewels that they sought to save.  Orders cried from high places by stern-faced officers doing their duty to the last.  And a little way off that thin pole with a tin can on the top of it watching its work.