unthought-of and unknown to him.



CHAPTER IV

THE CITY OF DEATH


Presently Beatrice grew calmer. For though grief and terror
still weighed upon her soul, she realized that this was no fit time to
yield to any weakness--now when a thousand things were pressing for
accomplishment, if their own lives, too, were not presently to be
snuffed out in all this universal death.

"Come, come," said Stern reassuringly. "I want you, too, to get a
complete idea of what has happened. From now on you must know all,
share all, with me." And, taking her by the hand he led her along the
crumbling and uncertain platform.

Together, very cautiously, they explored the three sides of the
platform still unchoked by ruins.

Out over the incredible mausoleum of civilization they peered. Now and
again they fortified their vision by recourse to the telescope.

Nowhere, as he had said, was any slightest sign of life to be
discerned. Nowhere a thread of smoke arose; nowhere a sound echoed
upward.