ButOrofixedhiseyesuponmeandslowlywavedhisthinhandtoandfroabovemyhead。
Mysensesreeled。Thencameagreatdarkness。
Theyreturnedagain。NowIwasstandinginanicy,reekingfog,whichIknewcouldbelongtooneplaceonly——London,inDecember,andatmysidewasOro。
\"Isthistheclimateofyourwonderfulcity?\"heasked,orseemedtoask,inanaggrievedtone。
Irepliedthatitwas,foraboutthreemonthsintheyear,andbegantolookaboutme。
SoonIfoundmybearings。Infrontofmeweregreatpilesofbuildings,lookingdimandmysteriousinthefog,inwhichI
recognisedtheHousesofParliamentandWestminsterAbbey,forbothcouldbeseenfromwherewestoodinfrontoftheWestminsterBridgeStation。IexplainedtheiridentitytoOro。
\"Good,\"hesaid。\"LetusenteryourPlaceofTalk。\"
\"ButIamnotamember,andwehavenopassesfortheStrangers’Gallery,\"Iexpostulated。
\"Weshallnotneedany,\"herepliedcontemptuously。\"Leadon。\"
Thusadjured,Icrossedtheroad,Orofollowingme。Lookinground,tomyhorrorIsawhimrightinthepathofamotor—buswhichseemedtogooverhim。
\"There’sanendtoOro,\"thoughtItomyself。\"Well,atanyrate,Ihavegothome。\"
Nextinstanthewasatmysidequiteundisturbedbytheincidentofthebus。WecametoapolicemanatthedoorandI
hesitated,expectingtobechallenged。Butthepolicemanseemedabsolutelyindifferenttoourpresence,evenwhenOromarchedpasthiminhisflowingrobes。SoIfollowedwithalikesuccess。
ThenIunderstoodthatwemustbeinvisible。
Wepassedtothelobby,wherememberswerehurryingtoandfro,andconstituentsandpressmenweregathered,andsoonintotheHouse。Orowalkedupitsfloorandtookhisstandbythetable,infrontoftheSpeaker。Ifollowedhim,nonesayingusNo。
Asitchancedtherewaswhatiscalledasceneinprogress——I
thinkitwasoverIrishmatters;thedetailsareofnoaccount。
Membersshouted,Ministersprevaricatedandgrewangry,theSpeakerintervened。Onthewhole,itwasratheradegradingspectacle。Istood,orseemedtostand,andwatcheditall。Oro,inhissweepingrobes,whichlookedsoincongruousinthatplace,stepped,orseemedtostep,uptotheprincipalpersonagesoftheGovernmentandOpposition,whomIindicatedtohim,andinspectedthemonebyone,asanaturalistmightexaminestrangeinsects。
Then,returningtome,hesaid:
\"Comeaway;Ihaveseenandheardenough。Whowouldhavethoughtthatthisnationofyourswasstrugglingforitslifeinwar?\"
WepassedoutoftheHouseandsomehowcametoTrafalgarSquare。Ameetingwasinprogressthere,convened,apparently,toadvocatetherightsofLabour,alsothoseofwomen,alsotoprotestagainstthingsingeneral,especiallythethreatofConscriptionintheserviceofthecountry。
Herethenoisewastremendous,and,thefoghavingliftedsomewhat,wecouldseeeverything。SpeakersbawledfromthebaseofNelson’scolumn。Theirsupporterscheered,theiradversariesrushedatthem,andinoneortwoinstancessucceededinpullingthemdown。Awomanclimbedupandbegantoscreamoutsomethingwhichcouldonlybeheardbyafewreportersgatheredroundher。
Ithoughtheranunpleasant—lookingperson,andevidentlyherremarkswerenotpalatabletothemajorityofherauditors。Therewasarush,andshewasdraggedfromthebaseofoneofLandseer’slionsonwhichshestood。Herskirtwashalfrentoffherandherbodicesplitdowntheback。Finally,shewasconveyedaway,kicking,biting,andscratching,byanumberofpolice。Itwasadisgustingsight,andtumultensued。
\"Letusgo,\"saidOro。\"Yourofficersoforderaregood;therestisnotgood。\"
Laterwefoundourselvesoppositetothedoorsofafamousrestaurantwhereamagnificentandgiganticcommissionairehelpedladiesfrommotor—cars,receivinginreturnmoneyfromthemenwhoattendedonthem。Weentered;itwasthehourofdinner。Theplacesparkledwithgems,andthenakedbacksofthewomengleamedintheelectriclight。Coursefolloweduponcourse;
champagneflowed,afinebandplayed,everythingwascostly;
everythingwas,inasense,repellent。
\"Thesearethewealthycitizensofanationengagedinfightingforitslife,\"remarkedOrotome,strokinghislongbeard。\"Itisinteresting,veryinteresting。Letusgo。\"
Wewentoutandon,passingapublic—housecrowdedwithwomenwhohadlefttheirbabiesinchargeofchildrenintheicystreet。ItwasadayofIntercessionforthesuccessofEnglandinthewar。Thiswasplacardedeverywhere。Weentered,or,rather,Orodid,Ifollowinghim,oneofthechurchesintheStrandwhereaneveningservicewasinprogress。Thepreacherinthepulpit,averyableman,washoldingforthuponthenecessityfornationalrepentanceandself—denial;alsoofprayer。Inthebodyofthechurchexactlythirty—twopeople,mostofthemelderlywomen,werelisteningtohimwithanairofplacidacceptance。
\"Thepriesttalkswell,buthishearersarenotmany,saidOro。
\"Letusgo。\"
Wecametotheflauntingdoorsofagreatmusic—hallandpassedthroughthem,thoughtoothersthiswouldhavebeenimpossible,fortheplacewasfilledfromfloortoroof。Initspromenadesmenweredrinkingandsmoking,whilegaudywomen,paintedandlow—robed,leeredatthem。Onthestagegirlsdanced,throwingtheirlegsabovetheirheads。Thentheyvanishedamidstapplause,andawomaninayellowrobe,whopretendedtobetipsy,sangahorribleandvulgarsongfulloftopicalallusions,whichwasreceivedwithscreamsofdelightbytheenormousaudience。
\"Herethehearersareverymany,butthosetowhomtheylistendonottalkwell。Letusgo,\"saidOro,andwewent。
Atarecruitingstationwepausedamomenttoconsiderposterssupposedtobeattractive,theverysightofwhichsentathrillofshamethroughme。Irememberthattheinscriptionunderoneofthemwas:\"Whatwillyourbestgirlsay?\"
\"Isthathowyougatheryoursoldiers?Lateritwillbeotherwise,\"saidOro,andpassedon。
WereachedBlackfriarsandenteredahallatthedoorsofwhichstoodwomeninpoke—bonnets,verysweet—faced,earnest—lookingwomen。TheircountenancesseemedtostrikeOro,andhemotionedmetofollowhimintothehall。Itwasquitefullofamiserable—
lookingcongregationofperhapsathousandpeople。AmanintheblueandreduniformoftheSalvationArmywaspreachingofdutytoGodandcountry,ofself—denial,hopeandforgiveness。Heseemedahumbleperson,buthiswordswereearnest,andloveflowedfromhim。Someofhismiserablecongregationwept,othersstaredathimopen—mouthed,afew,whowereveryweary,slept。Hecalledthemuptoreceivepardon,andanumber,ledbythesweet—
facedwomen,cameandkneltbeforehim。Heandotherswhisperedtothem,thenseemedtoblessthem,andtheyrosewiththeirfaceschanged。
\"Letusgo,\"saidOro。\"Idonotunderstandtheserites,butatlastinyourgreatandwonderfulcityIhaveseensomethingthatispureandnoble。\"
Wewentout。Inthestreetstherewasgreatexcitement。Peoplerantoandfropointingupwards。Searchlights,likehugefingersofflame,stoleacrossthesky;gunsboomed。Atlast,intheglareofasearchlight,wesawalongandsinisterobjectfloatinghighaboveusandgleamingasthoughitweremadeofsilver。Flashescamefromitfollowedbyterribleboomingreportsthatgrewnearerandnearer。Ahousecollapsedwithacrashjustbehindus。
\"Ah!\"saidOro,withasmile。\"Iknowthis——itiswar,warasitwaswhentheworldwasdifferentandyetthesame。\"
Ashespoke,amotor—busrumbledpast。Anotherflashandexplosion。Aman,walkingwithhisarmsroundthewaistofagirljustaheadofus;seemedtobetossedupandtomelt。Thegirlfellinaheaponthepavement;somehowherheadandherfeethadcomequiteclosetogetherandyetsheappearedtobesittingdown。Themotor—busburstintofragmentsanditspassengershurtledthroughtheair,merehideouslumpsthathadbeenmenandwomen。Theheadofoneofthemcamedancingdownthepavementtowardsus,acigarstillstuckinthecornerofitsmouth。
\"Yes,thisiswar,\"saidOro。\"Itmakesmeyoungagaintoseeit。Butdoesthiscityofyoursunderstand?\"
Wewatchedawhile。Acrowdgathered。Policemenranup,ambulancescame。Theplacewascleared,andallthatwaslefttheycarriedaway。Afewminuteslateranothermanpassedbywithhisarmroundthewaistofanothergirl。Anothermotor—busrumbledup,and,avoidingtheholeintheroadway,travelledon,itsconductorkeepingakeenlook—outforfares。
Thestreetwasclearedbythepolice;theairshipcontinueditscourse,spawningbombsinthedistance,andvanished。Theincidentwasclosed。
\"Letusgohome,\"saidOro。\"Ihaveseenenoughofyourgreatandwonderfulcity。IwouldrestinthequietofNyoandthink。\"
ThenextthingthatIrememberwasthevoiceofBastin,saying:
\"Ifyoudon’tmind,Arbuthnot,Iwishthatyouwouldgetup。
TheGlitteringLady(hestillcalledherthat)iscomingheretohaveatalkwithmewhichIshouldprefertobeprivate。Excusemefordisturbingyou,butyouhaveoversleptyourself;indeed,I
thinkitmustbenineo’clock,sofarasIcanjudgebythesun,formywatchisveryerraticnow,eversinceBickleytriedtocleanit。\"
\"Iamsorry,mydearfellow,\"Isaidsleepily,\"butdoyouknowIthoughtIwasinLondon——infact,IcouldswearthatIhavebeenthere。\"
\"Then,\"interruptedBickley,whohadfollowedBastinintothehut,givingmethatdoubtfulglancewithwhichIwasnowfamiliar,\"Iwishtogoodnessthatyouhadbroughtbackaneveningpaperwithyou。\"
AnightortwolaterIwasagainsuddenlyawakenedtofeelthatOrowasapproaching。Heappearedlikeaghostinthebrightmoonlight,greetedme,andsaid:
\"Tonight,Humphrey,wemustmakeanotherjourney。Iwouldvisittheseatofthewar。\"
\"Idonotwishtogo,\"Isaidfeebly。
\"Whatyouwishdoesnotmatter,\"hereplied。\"Iwishthatyoushouldgo,andthereforeyoumust。\"
\"Listen,Oro,\"Iexclaimed。\"Idonotlikethisbusiness;itseemsdangeroustome。\"
\"Thereisnodangerifyouareobedient,Humphrey。\"
\"Ithinkthereis。Idonotunderstandwhathappens。DoyoumakeuseofwhattheLadyYvacalledtheFourthDimension,sothatourbodiespassovertheseasandthroughmountains,likethevibrationsofourWireless,ofwhichIwasspeakingtoyou?\"
\"No,Humphrey。Thatmethodisgoodandeasy,butIdonotuseitbecauseifIdidweshouldbevisibleintheplaceswhichwevisit,sincetherealltheatomsthatmakeamanwouldcollecttogetheragainandbeaman。\"
\"What,then,doyoudo?\"Iasked,exasperated。
\"Man,Humphrey,isnotone;heismany。Thus,amongstotherthingshehasaDouble,whichcanseeandhear,ashecanintheflesh,ifitisseparatedfromtheflesh。\"
\"TheoldEgyptiansbelievedthat,\"Isaid。
\"Didthey?Doubtlesstheyinheritedtheknowledgefromus,theSonsofWisdom。Thecupofourlearningwassofullthat,keepitsecretaswewould,fromtimetotimesomeofitoverflowedamongthevulgar,anddoubtlessthusthelightofourknowledgestillburnsfeeblyintheworld。\"
Ireflectedtomyselfthatwhatevermightbetheirothercharacteristics,theSonsofWisdomhadlostthatofmodesty,butIonlyaskedhowheusedhisDouble,supposingthatitexisted。
\"Veryeasily,\"heanswered。\"Insleepitcanbedrawnfromthebodyandsentuponitsmissionbyonethatisitsmaster。\"
\"ThenwhileyouwereasleepforallthosethousandsofyearsyourDoublemusthavemademanyjourneys。\"
\"Perhaps,\"herepliedquietly,\"andmyspiritalso,whichisanotherpartofmethatmayhavedweltinthebodiesofothermen。Butunhappily,ifsoIforget,andthatiswhyIhavesomuchtolearnandmustevenmakeuseofsuchpoorinstrumentsasyou,Humphrey。\"
\"ThenifIsleepandyoudistilmyDoubleoutofme,Isupposethatyousleeptoo。InthatcasewhodistilsyourDoubleoutofyou,LordOro?\"
Hegrewangryandanswered:
\"Asknomorequestions,blindandignorantasyouare。Itisyourpartnottoexamine,buttoobey。Sleepnow,\"andagainhewavedhishandoverme。
Inaninstant,asitseemed,wewerestandinginagreyoldtownthatIjudgedfromitsappearancemustbeeitherinnorthernFranceorBelgium。Itwasmuchshatteredbybombardment;thechurch,forinstance,wasaruin;alsomanyofthehouseshadbeenburnt。Now,however,nofiringwasgoingonforthetownhadbeentaken。ThestreetswerefullofarmedmenwearingtheGermanuniformandhelmet。Wepasseddownthemandwereabletoseeintothehouses。InsomeofthesewereGermansoldiersengagedinlootingandinotherthingssohorriblethateventheunmovedOroturnedawayhishead。
Wecametothemarket—place。ItwascrowdedwithGermantroops,alsowithagreatnumberoftheinhabitantsofthetown,mostofthemelderlymenandwomenwithchildren,whohadfallenintotheirpower。TheGermans,underthecommandofofficers,weredraggingthemenfromthearmsoftheirwivesandchildrentooneside,andwithrifle—buttsbeatingbackthescreamingwomen。AmongthemenInoticedtwoorthreepriestswhoweredoingtheirbesttosoothetheircompanionsandevengivingthemabsolutioninhurriedwhispers。
Atlengththeseparationwaseffected,whereonatahoarsewordofcommand,acompanyofsoldiersbegantofireatthemenandcontinueddoingsountilallhadfallen。Thenpettyofficerswentamongtheslaughteredandwithpistolsblewoutthebrainsofanywhostillmoved。
\"Thesebutchers,yousay,areGermans?\"askedOroofme。
\"Yes,\"Ianswered,sickwithhorror,forthoughIwasinthemindandnotinthebody,Icouldfeelastheminddoes。HadI
beeninthebodyalso,Ishouldhavefainted。
\"Thenweneednotwastetimeinvisitingtheircountry。Itisenough;letusgoon。\"
Wepassedoutintotheopenlandandcametoavillage。ItwasintheoccupationofGermancavalry。Twoofthemheldalittlegirlofnineorten,onebyherbody,theotherbyherrighthand。Anofficerstoodbetweenthemwithadrawnswordfrontingtheterrifiedchild。Hewasahorrible,coarse—facedmanwholookedtomeasthoughhehadbeendrinking。
\"I’llteachtheyoungdeviltoshowusthewrongroadandletthoseFrenchswineescape,\"heshouted,andstruckwiththesword。Thegirl’srighthandfelltotheground。
\"WaraspractisedbytheGermans!\"remarkedOro。Thenhestepped,orseemedtostepuptothemanandwhispered,orseemedtowhisper,inhisear。
Idonotknowwhattongueorwhatspiritspeechheused,orwhathesaid,butthebloated—facedbruteturnedpale。Yes,hedrewsickwithfear。
\"Ithinktherearespiritsinthisplace,\"hesaidwithaGermanoath。\"IcouldhaveswornthatsomethingtoldmethatI
wasgoingtodie。Mount!\"
TheUhlansmountedandbegantorideaway。
\"Watch,\"saidOro。
Ashespokeoutofadarkcloudappearedanaeroplane。ItspilotsawthebandofGermansbeneathanddroppedabomb。Theaimwasgood,forthemissileexplodedinthemidstofthem,causingagreatcloudofdustfromwhicharosethescreamsofmenandhorses。
\"Comeandsee,\"saidOro。
Wewerethere。Outofthecloudofdustappearedonemangallopingfuriously。Hewasayoungfellowwho,asInoted,hadturnedhisheadawayandhiddenhiseyeswithhishandwhenthehorrorwasdoneyonder。Alltheothersweredeadexcepttheofficerwhohadworkedthedeed。Hewasstillliving,butbothhishandsandoneofhisfeethadbeenblownaway。Presentlyhedied,screamingtoGodformercy。
Wepassedonandcametoabarnwithwidedoorsthatswungalittleinthewind,causingtherustedhingestoscreamlikeacreatureinpain。Oneachofthesedoorshungadeadmancrucified。Thehatofoneofthemlayupontheground,andIknewfromtheshapeofitthathewasaColonialsoldier。
\"Didyounottellme,\"saidOroaftersurveyingthem,\"thattheseGermansareofyourChristianfaith?\"
\"Yes;andtheNameofGodisalwaysontheirruler’slips。\"
\"Ah!\"hesaid,\"IamgladthatIworshipFate。Bastinthepriestneedtroublemenomore。\"
\"ThereissomethingbehindFate,\"Isaid,quotingBastinhimself。
\"Perhaps。SoindeedIhavealwaysheld,butaftermuchstudyI
cannotunderstandthemannerofitsworking。Fateisenoughforme。\"
Wewentonandcametoaflatcountrythatwaslinedwithditches,allofthemfullofmen,Germansononeside,EnglishandFrenchupontheother。Aterriblebombardmentshooktheearth,theshellsrainingupontheditches。PresentlythatfromtheEnglishgunsceasedandoutofthetrenchesinfrontofthemthousandsofmenwerevomited,whoranforwardthroughahailoffireinwhichscoresandhundredsfell,acrossanopenpieceofgroundthatwaspittedwithshellcraters。Theycametobarbedwiredefenses,orwhatremainedofthem,cutthewirewithnippersandpulleduptheposts。Thenthroughthegapstheysurgedin,shoutingandhurlinghandgrenades。TheyreachedtheGermantrenches,theyleaptintothemandfromthoseholesaroseahellishdin。Pistolswerefiredandeverywherebayonetsflashed。
Behindthemrushedahordeoflittle,dark—skinnedmen,Indianswhocarriedgreatknivesintheirhands。Thoseleaptoverthefirsttrenchandrunningonwithwildyells,divedintothesecond,thosewhowereleftofthem,andtherebeganhackingwiththeirknivesatthedefendersandthesoldierswhoworkedthespittingmaximguns。Intwentyminutesitwasover;thoselinesoftrenchesweretaken,andoncemorefromeithersidethegunsbegantoboom。
\"Waragain,\"saidOro,\"clean,honestwar,suchasthegodI
callFatedecreesforman。Ihaveseenenough。NowIwouldvisitthosewhomyoucallTurks。IunderstandtheyhaveanotherworshipandperhapstheyarenoblerthantheseChristians。\"
WecametoahillycountrywhichIrecognisedasArmenia,foronceItravelledthere,andstoppedonanseashore。HereweretheTurksinthousands。Theywereengagedindrivingbeforethemmobsofmen,womenandchildrenincountlessnumbers。Onandontheydrovethemtilltheyreachedtheshore。Theretheymassacredthemwithbayonets,withbullets,orbydrowning。Irememberadreadfulsceneofapoorwomanstandinguptoherwaistinthewater。Threechildrenwereclingingtoher——butIcannotgoon,reallyIcannotgoon。IntheendaTurkwadedoutandbayonetedherwhileshestrovetoprotectthelastlivingchildwithherpoorbodywhenceitsprang。
\"These,Iunderstand,\"saidOro,pointingtotheTurkishsoldiers,\"worshipaprophetwhotheysayisthevoiceofGod。\"
\"Yes,\"Ianswered,\"andthereforetheymassacrethesewhoareChristiansbecausetheyworshipGodwithoutaprophet。\"
\"AndwhatdotheChristiansmassacreeachotherfor?\"
\"Powerandthewealthandterritoriesthatarepower。Thatis,theKingoftheGermanswishestoruletheworld,buttheotherNationsdonotdesirehisdominion。ThereforetheyfightforLibertyandJustice。\"
\"Asitwas,soitisandshallbe,\"remarkedOro,\"onlywiththisdifference。Intheoldworldsomewerewise,buthere——\"andhestopped,hiseyesfixedupontheArmenianwomanstrugglinginherdeathagonywhilethemurdererdrownedherchild,thenadded:
\"Letusgo。\"
Ourroadranacrossthesea。OnitwesawashipsolargethatitattractedOro’sattention,andforonceheexpressedastonishment。
\"Inmyday,\"hesaid,\"wehadnovesselsofthisgreatnessintheworld。Iwishtolookuponit。\"
Welandedonthedeckoftheship,orratherthefloatingpalace,andexaminedher。Shecarriedmanypassengers,someEnglish,someAmerican,andIpointedouttoOrothedifferencesbetweenthetwopeoples。Thesewerenot,heremarked,verywideexceptthattheAmericanwomenworemorejewels,alsothatsomeoftheAmericanmen,towhomwelistenedastheyconversed,spokeofthegreatnessoftheircountry,whereastheEnglishmen,iftheysaidanythingconcerningit,belittledtheircountry。
Presently,onthesurfaceoftheseaatalittledistanceappearedsomethingstrange,asmallandominousobjectlikeacanonthetopofapole。Avoicecriedout\"Submarine!\"andeveryonenearrushedtolook。
\"IfthoseGermanstryanyoftheirmonkeytricksonus,IguesstheUnitedStateswillgivethemhell,\"saidanothervoicenearby。
Thenfromthedirectionofthepolewiththetincanonthetopofit,camesomethingwhichcausedadisturbanceinthesmoothwaterandbubblestoriseinitswake。
\"Atorpedo!\"criedsome。
\"Shutyourmouth,\"saidthevoice。\"WhodaretorpedoavesselfullofthecitizensoftheUnitedStates?\"
Nextcameaboomingcrashandafloodofupthrownwater,inthewashofwhichthatspeakerwascarriedawayintothedeep。Thenhorror!horror!horror!indescribable,asthemightyvesselwentwallowingtoherdoom。Boatslaunched;boatsoverset;boatsdraggedunderbyherrushthroughthewaterwhichcouldnotbestayed。Maddenedmenandwomenrunningtoandfro,theireyesstartingfromtheirheads,claspingchildren,fasteninglifebeltsovertheircostlygowns,orappearingfromtheircabins,theirhandsfilledwithjewelsthattheysoughttosave。Orderscriedfromhighplacesbystern—facedofficersdoingtheirdutytothelast。Andalittlewayoffthatthinpolewithatincanonthetopofitwatchingitswork。
Thentheplungeoftheenormousshipintothedeep,itshugescrewsstillwhirlingintheairandtheboomoftheburstingboilers。Lastlyeverythinggonesaveafewboatsfloatingonthequietseaandaroundthemdotsthatweretheheadsofstrugglinghumanbeings。
\"Letusgohome,\"saidOro。\"IgrowtiredofthiswarofyourChristianpeoples。Itisnobetterthanthatofthebarbariannationsoftheearlyworld。Indeeditisworse,sincethenweworshippedFateandbutafewofushadwisdom。NowyouallclaimwisdomanddeclarethatyouworshipaGodofMercy。\"
WiththesewordsstillringinginmyearsIwokeupupontheIslandofOrofena,filledwithterroratthehorriblepossibilitiesofnightmare。
Whatelsecoulditbe?Therewasthebrownandancientconeoftheextinctvolcano。Therewerethetallpalmsofthemainislandandthelakeglitteringinthesunlightbetween。TherewasBastinconductingakindofSundayschoolofOrofenansuponthepointoftheRockofOfferings,asnowhehadobtainedtheleaveofOrotodo。Therewasthemouthofthecave,andissuingfromitBickley,whobyhelpofoneofthehurricanelampshadbeenmakinganexaminationoftheburiedremainsofwhathesupposedtobeflyingmachines。Withoutdoubtitwasnightmare,andIwouldsaynothingtothemaboutitforfearofmockery。
YettwonightslaterOrocameagainandaftertheusualpreliminaries,said:
\"Humphrey,thisnightwewillvisitthatmightyAmericannation,ofwhichyouhavetoldmesomuch,andtheotherNeutralCountries。
[AtthispointthereisagapinMr。Arbuthnot’sM。S。,soOro’sreflectionsontheNeutralNations,ifany,remainunrecorded。Itcontinues:]
OnourhomewardwaywepassedoverAustralia,makingadetourtodoso。OfthecitiesOrotooknoaccount。Hesaidthattheyweretoolargeandtoomany,butthecountryinterestedhimsomuchthatIgatheredhemusthavegivengreatattentiontoagricultureatsometimeinthepast。Hepointedouttomethattheclimatewasfine,andthelandsofertilethatwithapropersystemofirrigationandwater—storageitcouldsupporttensofmillionsandfeednotonlyitselfbutagreatpartoftheoutlyingworld。
\"Butwherearethepeople?\"heasked。\"Outsideofthosehugehives,\"andheindicatedthegreatcities,\"Iseefewofthem,thoughdoubtlesssomeofthemenarefightinginthiswar。Well,inthedaystocomethismustberemedied。\"
OverNewZealand,whichhefoundbeautiful,heshookhisheadforthesamereason。
OnanothernightwevisitedtheEast。Chinawithitsteemingmillionsinterestedhimextremely,partlybecausehedeclaredthesetobethedescendantsofoneofthebarbariannationsofhisownday。Hemadearemarktotheeffectthatthisracehadalwayspossessedpointsandcapacities,andthathethoughtthatwithpropergovernmentandinstructiontheirChineseoffspringwouldbeofuseinaregeneratedworld。
FortheJapaneseandallthattheyhaddoneintwoshortgenerations,hewentsofarastoexpressrealadmiration,averyrarethingwithOro,whowasbynaturecritical。Icouldseethatmentallyheputawhitemarkagainsttheirname。