“Yea, master!” he cried. “We saw such!”
“Where, where? For God's sake, where was it?” ejaculated Stern, gripping him by the arm with a hand that shook with sudden keen emotion.
“Where was it, master? Thus one day's marching.”
Rigvin wheeled and pointed to northwestward.
“And ye can find it again?”
“Truly, yes. Why, master?”
“There, near that mountain, lies the wreck of the vlyn b'hotu, the flying boat, Rigvin! Lead us thither! We must find it. And then Settlement Cliffs!”
Through all his exhaustion and his pain he knew that now the goal was close at hand. And beyond toil, suffering and hardship once more beckoned prosperity and peace and love.
CHAPTER XXXIII
FIVE YEARS LATER
Long before daybreak that morning, the thriving village of Settlement Cliffs, capital and market-town of the New Hope Colony, was awake and astir.