Our success was unlimited. There seemed to be no barriers to their understanding; they comprehended, became interested; in a few weeks they helped us plan. We had a great army of docile, winged servants.
There appeared to exist no envy, hate or anger among them. They were ambitious, but they were not treacherous. Their faith in us, in all we hoped and in all we did, was perfect.
Regan was delighted. He planned the most stupendous works.
We took possession of four great plains bordering on the sea, and each, with those who chose to assist, began improvements.
“I will build a cathedral which shall surpass St. Peter’s!” said Father Renaudin. “I shall have a praise-offering congregation, for I can see no sin among these bird men! They are not a fallen race; their brain is not clogged by wickedness! That is why they learn so fast!”
We knew another thing, but we thought Father Renaudin did not see it, so we did not tell him. It was that this people, with all their brilliance of intellect, lacked something. They would never be a dominant race. They must have leaders, and I am compelled to acknowledge that in Regan they had found one. What a commander of hosts he would have been, had there been any occasion for the hosts! What a defender of the nations, had there only been need of a defence!
We even began to dislike our security!
As it was, Regan built walls and piers, planted great gardens to decorate his mountain sides, erected towns and surrounded them with terraces of earth and stone work, where the silver of fountains was contrasted with pale thread-like leaves, purple pansy color and deep cardinal red. The spires and domes and squares which he designed were always architecturally superior to any which the rest of us could conceive.
Isabella had a pretty little town. Every house seemed a home-like cottage of Earth. She had schools and soon printing presses, upon which Father Renaudin printed condensed remembrances of the most important subjects of earthly teachings. Isabella herself put into record music and poetry, “original and selected.”
We found among the volcano’s rocky depths many beds of sulphur. We found also many minerals of Earth. Of iron, lead, silver and salt we had mines and worked them.