As nearly as I can remember, he answered that he was beginning to repent, as from all he had learned from us, he gathered that the races which had arisen as a consequence of his action, were worse than those which he had destroyed.

As regards reparation, what he had done once he could do again.

He would think the matter over seriously, and see if it were possible and advisable to raise those parts of the world which had been sunk, and sink those which had been raised.

If so, he thought that would make very handsome amends to the departed nations and set him quite right with any superior Power, if such a thing existed.

What are you laughing at, Bickley?
I don't think it a laughing matter, since such remarks do not seem to me to indicate any real change in Oro's heart, which is what I was trying to effect." Bickley, who was convulsed with merriment, wiped his eyes and said: "You dear old donkey, don't you see what you have done, or rather would have done if there were a word of truth in all this ridiculous story about a deluge?
You would be in the way of making your precious pupil, who certainly is the most masterly old liar in the world, repeat his offence and send Europe to the bottom of the sea." "That did occur to me, but it doesn't much matter as I am quite certain that such a thing would never be allowed.