I looked about me and perceived that Oro had his right hand upon what seemed to be a rough stone rod, in shape not unlike that with which railway points are moved.

He shouted to us to stand still and keep the shields over our faces.

Then very gently he pressed upon the lever.

The porthole sank the fraction of an inch, and instantly there leapt from it a most terrific blaze of lightning, which shot across the blackness in front and, as lightning does, revealed far, far away another wall, or rather cliff, like that against which we leant.
"All works well," exclaimed Oro in a satisfied voice, lifting his hand from the rod, "and the strength which I have stored will be more than enough." Meanwhile the humming noise came nearer and grew in volume.
"I say," said Bickley, "as you know, I have been sceptical, but I don't like this business.

Oro, what are you going to do ?" "Sink half the world beneath the seas," said Oro, "and raise up that which I drowned more than two thousand centuries ago.