He turned to see who stood in the rear.
"O, Mr. World, thou needst not fear to sign the pledge and enter the
secret service of our great and glorious master," were the words that
greeted him in a friendly tone.
"Who art thou, and how camest thou here?" asked Mr. World in suspense.
"I came here from 'going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up
and down in it.'" Then, without uttering another word, the strange
visitor lifted the pledge from the desk and read it audibly:
"Into these darker chambers let me go,
I promise to conceal its scenes of woe,
And solemnly declare, as here I stand,
That I will aid this secret working band."
"What can there be about that pledge not suited to your wish? It means
that you are to have your eyes opened to behold new things, and also
to learn the secret laws of life, healthful to your marrow and your
bones."
Mr. World hesitated no longer. He signed the document forthwith, and
a pass-word was whispered into his ear.
Suddenly a door opened at one end of the room, through which Mr. World
walked into a large cavern which was illuminated only by faint
glimmerings of light.
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