_Easterley._ Well, it doesn’t seem very far to seek. Among civilised men there is very little belief in the existence of such beings; what little there is is usually not active, and so far as it is active it attributes to them, just as the belief of savage men does, powers greatly in excess of those which they really possess. Either state of mind is highly favourable to their ends, and anything substituted for either; a state of mind like neither would of course be avoided by them. They might almost live among savages without in any way detracting from a highly exaggerated view of their powers; but any decisive appearance of them among civilised men; any experience such as we have had, if established and accepted, would cause their powers to be examined and understood. _Wilbraham._ I see; we should take their measure and know how to manage them. _Easterley._ That’s it; as Mr. Morley says of the clergy, we should explain them. _Wilbraham._ And that would be worse for them than a sheer denial of their existence? _Easterley._ Very much worse. Their motives and purposes would be known and canvassed like other matters of fact, and much that holds up its head in the world now would be discredited in consequence. _Wilbraham._ In short, we may put our confidence in Leäfar’s opinion, and we may conclude that they will not pursue us into the civilised settlements. _Easterley._ I think so, and therefore my opinion is that when daylight comes if we find no trace of pursuit we may slack speed, and lower the car and look for the wire. _Wilbraham._ Agreed. And now what do you think? Shall we be followed? _Easterley._ On the whole I think we shall, but it depends on circumstances that we can only guess at. _Wilbraham._ Why do you think we shall be followed? _Easterley._ Well, it seems to me likely that patrols of some kind are kept, and in that case the absence of the car will be discovered, perhaps is now discovered. _Wilbraham._ And what then? _Easterley._ Then our quarters will be searched, and our escape will immediately become known. _Wilbraham._ How can they tell in which direction to follow us? _Easterley._ They cannot tell, but they may very well conclude that we shall make either for the west coast or for the wire, and they may send after us both ways. I wonder if Leäfar knows which course we have taken? _Wilbraham._ Yes, he knows. I thought you were not attending when I said it, but I spoke plainly enough. I said, “If we escape shall we go eastward or westward? My purpose is to make for the wire.” And he said in reply “Yes, that is the better course.” It was near the end of his talk. “Well, now,” said I, “suppose we get through safely, what shall we do with the car?” “I have thought that over, Bob,” he said, “and I have come to rather an odd conclusion.” _Easterley._ Do you mind telling a fellow what it is?