cast upon the shore and wrecked. Undamaged among the cargo is 
a “Victoria”. What is its use ? The wheels speak of roads, their 
slimness of smooth roads, the brake of hilly roads. The shafts show 
that it was meant to be drawn by an animal, their height and length 
suggest an animal of the size of a horse. That the carnage is 
open suggests a climate tolerable at any time of the year. The 
height of the box suggests crowded streets, or the spirited character 
of the animal employed to draw it. The cushions indicate its use 
to convey men rather than merchandise; its hood that rain some- 
jmes falls, or that the sun is at times powerful. The springs would 
imply considérable skill in metals; the varnish much attainment in 
that craft. 
35* Similarly, let the adept consider of his own case. Now that 
he is on the point of plunging into the Abyss a giant Why ? 
confronts him with uplifted club. 
3 b. There is no minutest atom of his composition which can be 
withdrawn without making him some other than he is; no useless 
moment in his past. Then what is his future ? The “Victoria” is 
not a wagon; it is not intended for carting hay. It is not a sulky; 
it is useless in trotting races. 
3/* So the adept has military genius, or much knowledge of 
Greek; how do these attainments help his purpose, or the purpose 
of the Brothers ? He was put to death by Calvin, or stoned by 
Hezekiah; as a snake he was killed by a villager, or as an éléphant 
slain in battle under Hamilcar. How do such memories help him ? 
Until he hâve thoroughly mastered the reason for every incident 
in his past, and found a purpose for every item of his présent 
equipment, he cannot truly answer even those Three Questions 
that were first put to him, even the Three Questions of the Ritual 
of the Pyramid ; he is not ready to swear the Oath of the Abyss. 
38. But being thus enlightened, let him swear the Oath of the 
Abyss; yea, let him swear the Oath of the Abyss. 
I. A brother known to me was repeatedly baffled in this méditation. 
But one day being thrown with his horse over a sheer cliff of forty feet, 
and escaping without a scratch or a bruise, he was reminded of his many 
narrow escapes from death. These proved to be the last factors in his 
problem, which, thus completed, solved itself in a moment. (O. M. 
Chinese Frontier 1905-6.) 
422 —