Up from the woods shot a beam of the greenish-red light. It darted to and fro for an instant, almost vertically in the air, and Mercer heard the crackle of the tree-tops as they burst into flame under its heat. Then it swung downward, but before it could reach the water level the rise of ground at the bank cut it off. Without realizing it, Mercer had been holding his breath as he watched. Now he let it out with a long sigh of relief. "We did it, Anina--we did it," he said exultantly. "And we've got a light-ray, too." A moment later they swept around a bend in the river, out of sight and out of hearing of their enemies. CHAPTER XXIII. THE STORM. On the little stern seat of the boat Mercer and Anina sat side by side, the girl steering by a small tiller that lay between them. They were well out in the middle of the river now, speeding silently along with its swift current. They made extraordinary speed. Both banks of the river were visible in the twilight--dim, wooded hills stretching back into darkness. The stream widened steadily as they advanced, until near, its mouth it had become a broad estuary. They followed its right shore now and soon were out in the Narrow Sea. "We'd better go right on across," said Mercer. "It's too early for Alan to be at the end of the trail. He won't be there till to-night. We can reach the Great City before he starts." They decided to do that, and headed straight out into the sea. They had been cold, sitting there in the wind, and wet to the skin. But the boat contained several furry jackets, which the men had left in it, and in the bottom, near the stern, a cubical metal box which lighted up like an electric radiator. By this they had dried and warmed themselves, and now, each with a fur jacket on, they felt thoroughly comfortable. Mercer was elated at what they had accomplished. He could see now how fortunate a circumstance it was that we had set the men free. He would not have stumbled upon this other party, and the invasion of the Light Country would have begun, had we not released them. He talked enthusiastically about what we were to do next, and Anina listened, saying very little, but following his words with eager attention. Once he thought she was more interested in the words themselves than in what he was saying, and said so. "Your language--so very easy it is. I want to learn it soon if I can." "Why, you know it already," he protested. "And how the deuce you ever got it so quickly beats me." She smiled. "When you say words--very easy then for me to remember. Not many words in spoken language." He shook his head. "Well, however you do it, the result's all right. I'm mighty glad, too. Why, when I get you back home on earth--" He stopped in sudden confusion. She put her hand on his arm. "Miela says your earth is very wonderful. Tell me about it." She listened to his glowing words. "And opera--what is that?" she asked once when he paused.