By this window or porthole lay a pile of cloaks, also four objects which looked like Zulu battle shields cut in some unknown metal or material.  Very deftly, very quietly, Yva lifted these cloaks and wrapped one of them about each of us, and while she was thus employed I noticed that they were of a substance very similar to that of the gown she wore, which I have described, but harder.  Next she gave one of the metal-like shields to each of us, bidding us hold them in front of our bodies and heads, and only to look through certain slits in them in which were eyepieces that appeared to be of the same horny stuff as the searchlight window.  Further, she commanded us to stand in a row with our backs against the rock wall, at certain spots which she indicated with great precision, and whatever we saw or heard on no account to move.

So there we stood, Bickley next to me, and beyond him Bastin.  Then Yva took the fourth shield, as I noted a much larger one than ours, and placed herself between me and the search-light or porthole.  On the other side of this was Oro who had no shield.

These arrangements took some minutes and during that time occupied all our attention.  When they were completed, however, our curiosity and fear began to reassert themselves.  I looked about me and perceived that Oro had his right hand upon what seemed to be a rough stone rod, in shape not unlike that with which railway points are moved.  He shouted to us to stand still and keep the shields over our faces.  Then very gently he pressed upon the lever.  The porthole sank the fraction of an inch, and instantly there leapt from it a most terrific blaze of lightning, which shot across the blackness in front and, as lightning does, revealed far, far away another wall, or rather cliff, like that against which we leant.

“All works well,” exclaimed Oro in a satisfied voice, lifting his hand from the rod, “and the strength which I have stored will be more than enough.”

Meanwhile the humming noise came nearer and grew in volume.

“I say,” said Bickley, “as you know, I have been sceptical, but I don’t like this business.  Oro, what are you going to do?”

“Sink half the world beneath the seas,” said Oro, “and raise up that which I drowned more than two thousand centuries ago.  But as you do not believe that I have this power, Bickley, why do you ask such questions?”

“I believe that you have it, which was why I tried to shoot you yesterday,” said Bastin.  “For your soul’s sake I beg you to desist from an attempt which I am sure will not succeed, but which will certainly involve your eternal damnation, since the failure will be no fault of yours.”

Then I spoke also, saying: 

“I implore you, Lord Oro, to let this business be.  I do not know exactly how much or how little you can do, but I understand that your object is to slay men by millions in order to raise up another world of which you will be the absolute king, as you were of some past empire that has been destroyed, either through your agency or otherwise.  No good can come of such ambitions.  Like Bastin, for your soul’s sake I pray you to let them be.”