Next she gave one of the metal-like shields to each of us, bidding us hold them in front of our bodies and heads, and only to look through certain slits in them in which were eyepieces that appeared to be of the same horny stuff as the searchlight window.

Further, she commanded us to stand in a row with our backs against the rock wall, at certain spots which she indicated with great precision, and whatever we saw or heard on no account to move.
So there we stood, Bickley next to me, and beyond him Bastin.

Then Yva took the fourth shield, as I noted a much larger one than ours, and placed herself between me and the search-light or porthole.

On the other side of this was Oro who had no shield.
These arrangements took some minutes and during that time occupied all our attention.

When they were completed, however, our curiosity and fear began to reassert themselves.