But pardon us if first we pray you to tell us what we burn to know.

Who are you?
Of what race and country?
And how came it that we found you sleeping yonder ?" "If it be your pleasure, answer, my Father," said Yva.
Oro thought a moment, then replied in a calm voice: "I am a king who once ruled most of the world as it was in my day, though it is true that much of it rebelled against me, my councillors and servants.

Therefore I destroyed the world as it was then, save only certain portions whence life might spread to the new countries that I raised up.

Having done this I put myself and my daughter to sleep for a space of two hundred and fifty thousand years, that there might be time for fresh civilisations to arise.

Now I begin to think that I did not allot a sufficiency of ages, since I perceive from what you tell me, that the learning of the new races is as yet but small." Bickley and I looked at each other and were silent.