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"Perhaps they might in a miraculous way," suggested Blackana. "No good miracle is ever done in the steps of the Devil or in his dominions," I answered with boldness. Then did Blackana enlarge himself, and as he replied he looked down upon me significantly. "O puny mortal, instruct me not in the miracles of my master. More great things are done under the canopies of Hell than mortals ever know."
Would you here be crushed to death so far from the light of day?" Superhuman strength moved me to answer thus: "Though all these hosts should hear me, I fear nothing. I am invincible, and should you take me to the deepest depths, amidst foul crawling imps, not one can harm me. Neither can you, Blackana. "Come on," he sneered, "cease your senseless sentences and follow me."
I saw the glimmering light of many a region as we darted by at our lightning speed. In an incredibly short time we reached the first grand level. Blackana led me forth from the elevator into an immense cavern whose dimensions were apparently as limitless as the space between the earth and sky. It was illuminated by infernal lights and all astir with moving thousands in fabled dress and shape.
Blackana pushed me on through all the demonstrations, and then led me into a great structure more secluded than the electrical stations. Here the state laws are hatched, but, thanks to a higher sanctum, not all the brood see daylight. The plotters of Hell sat in this underground legislative centre, and I saw, to my horror, some state legislators occupying seats in this infamous quarter.
"At what rate do we now travel?" I nervously asked, for I felt the hand of Blackana still pressing me down lest the great elevator would fall faster than my body. "According to earthly reckoning we are falling twenty furlongs a second and our speed is still increasing with the descent," was the startling answer. I spoke no more, but found myself clutching the raised bars of the floor.
"Explain it to me," I asked as I looked wonderingly at Blackana. "Urge it not, urge it not! Be content to dwell in ignorance!" "I am here to learn, and I would know what force or power can so well-nigh destroy this wretched center. Tell me the truth. I demand it." Then did Blackana move himself in his startling attitudes, as if loath to speak.
At the base of the mountains, on each side of the way, there were numerous large openings through which imps of darkness were constantly passing. Most of them were habited as angels of light. "Tell me the mystery of those dismal openings," I asked as I turned to Blackana. "Words are inadequate to tell of the places to which they lead.
I was sorely vexed at the operations of this whole college and, looking at Blackana, I said impatiently: "How can your comrades find delight in such an impish work covering truth and scattering hellish sophistry abroad?" "Delight?" repeated Blackana.
Blackana quivered and resumed his task. He told me that above us, deep in the bowels of these mountains, were the more refined legislative halls of Satan; while below us, at varying and terrible depths, lay scattered many a brooding station where the lowest laws of Hell are hatched.
This I do not willingly, but I am thus commanded." Not wishing to receive my orders from the mouth of a demon, I talked to my better Friend who bade me go and be assured that a body-guard of ten thousand would ever be at my side, though I saw them not. On wings, swifter than the wind, Blackana and I covered the intervening space.
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