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Nearer the Hudson drew, and nearer still; and now its untroubled azure, calm save for a few cat's-paws of breeze that idled on the surface, stretched alht

"We're still a little too far north, I see," the ed, and swept the biplane round to southward

The ruins of Newburgh lay presently upon their right Soon after the crumbled walls of West Point's pride slid past in silence, save for the chatter of the engines, the whirling roar of the propeller-blades' vast energy

No boat now vexed the flood Upon its boso the banks no speeding train flung its smoke-pennant to the wind Pris

Beatrice shuddered slightly Now that they were nearing "ho

"Oh, Allan, is it possible all this will ever be peopled again--alive?"

"Certain to be! Once we get those records and begin transplanting the Merucaans, the rest will be only a matter of time!"

She made no answer, but in her eyes shone pride that he could know such visions, have such faith

Already they recognized the ruins of Nyack, and beyond them the point in the river behind which, they knew, lay Hope Villa, nestling in its gardens, its little sphere of cultivation hewn from the very heart of the dense wilderness

Allan slackened speed, crossed to the eastern bank, and jockeyed for a safe landing

The point slipped backward and away There, right ahead, they caught a gli white beach where they had fished and bathed and built their boat-house, and whence in their little yawl they had ten months before started on their trip of exploration--a trip destined to end so strangely in the Abyss

"Ho to her lids "Oh, ho doard toward the beach, hardly a mile ahen a harsh shout escaped the man

"Look! Canoes! My God--what--"

As the drive of the Pauillac opened up the concave of the sand and brought its whole length to view, Stern and the girl suddenly becaularly, they all at once made out ten, twenty, thirty boats Still afar, they could see these were the sah bancas such as they had seen after the battle--bancas in one of which they two had escaped up-river!

"Boats! The Horde again!"

Even as he shouted a tiny, black,out onto the sand Another followed and a third, and now a dozen showed there, very distinct and hideous, upon the white crescent