Wilbraham. What do you suppose to be their motive?
Easterley. Well, it doesn’t seem very far to seek. Among civilised men there is very little belief in the existence of such beings; what little there is is usually not active, and so far as it is active it attributes to them, just as the belief of savage men does, powers greatly in excess of those which they really possess. Either state of mind is highly favourable to their ends, and anything substituted for either; a state of mind like neither would of course be avoided by them. They might almost live among savages without in any way detracting from a highly exaggerated view of their powers; but any decisive appearance of them among civilised men; any experience such as we have had, if established and [242] ]accepted, would cause their powers to be examined and understood.
Wilbraham. I see; we should take their measure and know how to manage them.
Easterley. That’s it; as Mr. Morley says of the clergy, we should explain them.
Wilbraham. And that would be worse for them than a sheer denial of their existence?
Easterley. Very much worse. Their motives and purposes would be known and canvassed like other matters of fact, and much that holds up its head in the world now would be discredited in consequence.
Wilbraham. In short, we may put our confidence in Leäfar’s opinion, and we may conclude that they will not pursue us into the civilised settlements.
Easterley. I think so, and therefore my opinion is that when daylight comes if we find no trace of pursuit we may slack speed, and lower the car and look for the wire.
Wilbraham. Agreed. And now what do you think? Shall we be followed?
Easterley. On the whole I think we shall, but it depends on circumstances that we can only guess at.