第5章

"That’sthelowestglassIeversawinthePolynesianoranyotherseasduringthirtyyears。It’sright，too，forIhavetesteditbythreeothers，"hesaid。

"Whatdoesitmean？"Iaskedratheranxiously。

"SouthSeacycloneoftheworstbreed，"hereplied。"ThatcursedDaneknewitwascomingandthat’swhyhelefttheship。

Prayasyouneverprayedbefore，"andagainhestretchedouthishandtowardsthewhiskybottle。ButIsteppedbetweenhimandit，shakingmyhead。Thereonhelaughedforthethirdtimeandleftthecabin。ThoughIsawhimonceortwiceafterwards，thesewerereallythelastwordsofintelligibleconversationthatIeverhadwithCaptainAstley。

"Itseemsthatweareinsomedanger，"saidBastin，inanunmovedkindofway。"Ithinkthatwasagoodideaofthecaptain’s，toputupapetition，Imean，butasBickleywillscarcelycaretojoininitIwillgointothecabinanddosomyself。"

Bickleysnorted，thensaid：

"Confoundthatcaptain！Whydidheplaysuchatrickuponusaboutthebarometer？Humphrey，Ibelievehehadbeendrinking。"

"SodoI，"Isaid，lookingatthewhiskybottle。"Otherwise，aftertakingthoseprecautionstokeepusinthedark，hewouldnothaveletonlikethat。"

"Well，"saidBickley，"hecan’tgettotheliquor，exceptthroughthissaloon，asitislockedupforwardwiththeotherstores。"

"That’snothing，"Ireplied，"asdoubtlesshehasasupplyofhisown；rum，Iexpect。Wemusttakeourchance。"

Bickleynodded，andsuggestedthatweshouldgoondecktoseewhatwashappening。Sowewent。Notabreathofwindwasstirring，andeventheseaseemedtobesettlingdownalittle。

Atleast，sowejudgedfromthemotion，forwecouldnotseeeitheritorthesky；everythingwasasblackaspitch。Weheardthesailors，however，engagedinriggingguideropesforeandaft，andbatteningdownthehatcheswithextratarpaulinsbythelightoflanterns。Alsotheywereputtingropesroundtheboatsanddoingsomethingtothesparsandtopmasts。

PresentlyBastinjoinedus，having，Isuppose，finishedhisdevotions。

"Really，itisquitepleasanthere，"hesaid。"Oneneverknowshowdisagreeablesomuchwindisuntilitstops。"

Ilitmypipe，makingnoanswer，andthematchburnedquitesteadilythereintheopenair。

"Whatisthat？"exclaimedBickley，staringatsomethingwhichnowIsawforthefirsttime。Itlookedlikealineofwhiteapproachingthroughthegloom。Withitcameahissingsound，andalthoughtherewasstillnowind，theriggingbegantomoanmysteriouslylikeathinginpain。Abigdropofwateralsofellfromthesidesintomypipeandputitout。Thenoneofthesailorscriedinahoarsevoice：

"Getdownbelow，governors，unlessyouwanttogoouttosea！"

"Why？"inquiredBastin。

"Why？Becosthe’urricaneiscoming，that’sall。Comingasthoughthedevilhadkickeditoutof’ell。"

Bastinseemedinclinedtoremonstrateatthissortoflanguage，butwepushedhimdownthecompanionandfollowed，propellingthespanielTommyinfrontofus。NextmomentIheardthesailorsbatteningthehatchwithhurriedblows，andwhenthiswasdonetotheirsatisfaction，heardtheirfeetalsoastheyranintoshelter。

AnotherinstantandwewerealllyinginaheaponthecabinfloorwithpoorTommyontopofus。Thecyclonehadstrucktheship！Abovethewashofwaterandthescreamingofthegaleweheardothermysterioussounds，whichdoubtlesswerecausedbytheyardshittingtheseas，fortheyachtwaslyingonherside。I

thoughtthatallwasover，butpresentlytherecamearending，crashingnoise。Themasts，oroneofthem，hadgone，andbydegreeswerighted。

"Nearthing！"saidBickley。"Goodheavens，what’sthat？"

Ilistened，fortheelectriclighthadtemporarilygoneout，owing，Isuppose，tothedynamohavingstoppedforamoment。A

mostunholyandhollowsoundwasrisingfromthecabinfloor。Itmighthavebeencausedbyabullockwithitswindpipecut，tryingtogetitsbreathandgroaning。ThenthelightcameonagainandwesawBastinlyingatfulllengthonthecarpet。

"He’sbrokenhisneckorsomething，"Isaid。

Bickleycrepttohimandhavinglooked，sangout：

"It’sallright！He’sonlysea—sick。Ithoughtitwouldcometothatifhedranksomuchtea。"

"Sea—sick，"Isaidfaintly——"sea—sick？"

"That’sall，"saidBickley。"Thenervesofthestomachactingonthebrainorvice—versa——thatis，ifBastinhasabrain，"headdedsottovoce。

"Oh！"groanedtheprostrateclergyman。"IwishthatIweredead！"

"Don’ttroubleaboutthat，"answeredBickley。"Iexpectyousoonwillbe。Here，drinksomewhisky，youdonkey。"

Bastinsatupandobeyed，outofthebottle，foritwasimpossibletopouranythingintoaglass，withresultstoodreadfultonarrate。

"Icallthatadirtytrick，"hesaidpresently，inafeeblevoice，gloweringatBickley。

"IexpectIshallhavetoplayyouadirtierbeforelong，foryouareaprettybadcase，oldfellow。"

Asamatteroffacthehad，foronceBastinhadbegunreallywethoughtthathewasgoingtodie。Somehowwegothimintohiscabin，whichopenedoffthesaloon，andashecoulddrinknothingmore，Bickleymanagedtoinjectmorphiaorsomeothercompoundintohim，whichmadehiminsensibleforalongwhile。

"Hemustbeinapoorway，"hesaid，"fortheneedlewentmorethanaquarterofaninchintohim，andhenevercriedoutorstirred。Couldn’thelpitinthatrolling。"

ButnowIcouldheartheenginesworking，andIthinkthatthebowofthevesselwasgotheadontotheseas，forinsteadofrollingwepitched，orrathertheshipstoodfirstupononeendandthenupontheother。Thiscontinuedforawhileuntilthefirstburstofthecyclonehadgoneby。Thensuddenlytheenginesstopped；Isupposethattheyhadbrokendown，butIneverlearned，andweseemedtoveerabout，nearlysinkingintheprocess，andtorunbeforethehurricaneatterrificspeed。

"Iwonderwherewearegoingto？"IsaidtoBickley。"Tothelandofsleep，Humphrey，Iimagine，"herepliedinamoregentlevoicethanIhadoftenheardhimuse，adding："Good—bye，oldboy，wehavebeenrealfriends，haven’twe，notwithstandingmypeculiarities？IonlywishthatIcouldthinkthattherewasanythinginBastin’sviews。ButIcan’t，Ican’t。It’sgoodnightforuspoorcreatures！"

ChapterVI

LandAtlasttheelectriclightreallywentout。Ihadlookedatmywatchjustbeforethishappenedandwounditup，which，Bickleyremarked，wassuperfluousandawasteofenergy。Itthenmarked3。20inthemorning。WehadwedgedBastin，whowasnowsnoringcomfortably，intohisberth，withpillows，andmanagedtotieacordoverhim——no，itwasalargebathtowel，fixingoneendofittothelittlerackoverhisbedandtheothertoitsframework。Asforourselves，welaydownonthefloorbetweenthetablelegs，which，ofcourse，werescrewed，andthesettee，protectingourselvesasbestwewereablebyhelpofthecushions，etc。，betweentwoofwhichwethrusttheterrifiedTommywhohadbeenslidingupanddownthecabinfloor。Thusweremained，expectingdeatheverymomenttillthelightofday，averydimlight，strugglingthroughaport—holeofwhichtheironcoverhadsomehowbeenwrenchedoff。Orperhapsitwasnevershut，Idonotremember。

Aboutthistimetherecamealullinthehellish，howlinghurricane；thefactbeing，Isuppose，thatwehadreachedthecentreofthecyclone。Isuggestedthatweshouldtrytogoondeckandseewhatwashappening。Sowestarted，onlytofindtheentrancetothecompanionsofaithfullysecuredthatwecouldnotbyanymeansgetout。Weknockedandshouted，butnooneanswered。Mybeliefisthatatthistimeeveryoneontheyachtexceptourselveshadbeenwashedawayanddrowned。

Thenwereturnedtothesaloon，which，exceptforalittlewatertricklingaboutthefloor，wasmarvelouslydry，and，beinghungry，retrievedsomebitsoffoodandbiscuitfromitscornersandate。Atthismomentthecyclonebegantoblowagainworsethanever，butitseemedtous，fromanotherdirection，andbeforeitspedourpoorderelictbarque。ItblewalldaytillformypartIgrewutterlywearyandevenlongedfortheinevitableend。IfmyviewswerenotquitethoseofBastin，certainlytheywerenotthoseofBickley。Ihadbelievedfrommyyouthupthattheindividualityofman，theego，sotospeak，doesnotdiewhenlifegoesoutofhispoorbody，andthisfaithdidnotdesertmethen。Therefore，Iwishedtohaveitoverandlearnwhattheremightbeupontheotherside。

Wecouldnotspeakmuchbecauseofthehowlingofthewind，butBickleydidmanagetoshouttomesomethingtotheeffectthathispartnerswould，inhisopinion，makeanendoftheirgreatpracticewithintwoyears，which，headded，wasapity。Inoddedmyhead，notcaringtwopencewhathappenedtoBickley’spartnersortheirbusiness，ortomyownproperty，ortoanythingelse。

Whendeathisathandmostofusdonotthinkmuchofsuchthingsbecausethenwerealisehowsmalltheyare。IndeedIwaswonderingwhetherwithinafewminutesorhoursIshouldorshouldnotseeNatalieagain，andifthisweretheendtowhichshehadseemedtobeckonmeinthatdream。

Onwesped，andon。AboutfourintheafternoonweheardsoundsfromBastin’scabinwhichfaintlyremindedmeofsometune。I

crepttothedoorandlistened。Evidentlyhehadawakenedandwassingingortryingtosing，formusicwasnotoneofhisstrongpoints，"Forthoseinperilonthesea。"DevoutlydidIwishthatitmightbeheard。Presentlyitceased，soIsupposehewenttosleepagain。

Thedarknessgatheredoncemore。Thenofasuddensomethingfearfulhappened。TherewerestupendousnoisesofakindIhadneverheard；therewereconvulsions。Itseemedtousthattheshipwasflungrightupintotheairahundredfeetormore。

"Tidalwave，Iexpect，"shoutedBickley。

Almostashespokeshecamedownwiththemostappallingcrashontosomethinghardandnearlyjarredthesensesoutofus。Nextthesaloonwaswhirlingroundandroundandyetbeingcarriedforward，andwefeltairblowinguponus。Thenoursensesleftus。AsIclaspedTommytomyside，whimperingandlickingmyface，mylastthoughtwasthatallwasover，andthatpresentlyI

shouldlearneverythingornothing。

Iwokeupfeelingverybruisedandsoreandperceivedthatlightwasflowingintothesaloon。Thedoorwasstillshut，butithadbeenwrenchedoffitshinges，andthatwaswherethelightcamein；alsosomeoftheteakplanksofthedecking，jaggedandsplintered，werestickingupthroughthecarpet。Thetablehadbrokenfromitsfasteningsandlayuponitsside。Everythingelsewasoneconfusion。IlookedatBickley。Apparentlyhehadnotawakened。Hewasstretchedoutstillwedgedinwithhiscushionsandbleedingfromawoundinhishead。Icrepttohiminterrorandlistened。Hewasnotdead，forhisbreathingwasregularandnatural。Thewhiskybottlewhichhadbeencorkedwasuponthefloorunbrokenandaboutathirdfull。Itookagoodpullatthespirit；tomeittastedlikenectarfromthegods。ThenItriedtoforcesomedownBickley’sthroatbutcouldnot，soIpouredalittleuponthecutonhishead。Thesmartofitwokehiminahurry。

"Wherearewenow？"heexclaimed。"Youdon’tmeantotellmethatBastinisrightafterallandthatweliveagainsomewhereelse？Oh！Icouldneverbearthatignominy。"

"Idon’tknowaboutlivingsomewhereelse，"Isaid，"althoughmyopinionsonthatmatterdifferfromyours。ButIdoknowthatyouandIarestillonearthinwhatremainsofthesaloonoftheStaroftheSouth。"

"ThankGodforthat！Let’sgoandlookforoldBastin，"saidBickley。"Idopraythatheisallrightalso。"

"Itismostillogicalofyou，Bickley，andindeedwrong，"

groanedadeepvoicefromtheothersideofthecabindoor，"tothankaGodinWhomyoudonotbelieve，andtotalkofprayingforoneoftheworstandmostinefficientofHisservantswhenyouhavenofaithinprayer。

"Gotyouthere，myfriend，"Isaid。

Bickleymurmuredsomethingaboutforceofhabit，andlookedsmallerthanIhadeverseenhimdobefore。

Somehowweforcedthatdooropen；itwasnoteasybecauseithadjammed。Withinthecabin，hangingoneithersideofthebathtowelwhichhadstoodthestrainnobly，somethinglikeadampgarmentoveralinenline，wasBastinmostofwhosebunkseemedtohavedisappeared。Yes——Bastin，paleanddishevelledandlookingshrunk，withhishairtouzledandhisbeardapparentlygrowingallways，butstillBastinalive，ifveryweak。

Bickleyranathimandmadeacursoryexaminationwithhisfingers。

"Nothingbroken，"hesaidtriumphantly。"He’sallright。"

"Ifyouhadhungoveratowelformanyhoursinmostviolentweatheryouwouldnotsaythat，"groanedBastin。"Myinsideisapulp。Butperhapsyouwouldbekindenoughtountieme。"

"Bosh！"saidBickleyasheobeyed。"Allyouwantissomethingtoeat。Meanwhile，drinkthis，"andhehandedhimtheremainsofthewhisky。

Bastinswallowediteverydrop，murmuringsomethingabouttakingalittlewineforhisstomach’ssake，"oneofthePaulineinjunctions，youknow，"afterwhichhewasmuchmorecheerful。

Thenwehuntedaboutandfoundsomemoreofthebiscuitsandotherfoodwithwhichwefilledourselvesafterafashion。

"Iwonderwhathashappened，"saidBastin。"Isupposethat，thankstotheskillofthecaptain，wehaveafterallreachedthehavenwherewewouldbe。"

Herehestopped，rubbedhiseyesandlookedtowardsthesaloondoorwhich，asIhavesaid，hadbeenwrenchedoffitshinges，butappearedtohaveopenedwiderthanwhenIobserveditlast。AlsoTommy，whowasrecoveringhisspirits，utteredaseriesoflowgrowls。

"Itisamostcuriousthing，"hewenton，"andIsupposeImustbesufferingfromhallucinations，butIcouldswearthatjustnowIsawlookingthroughthatdoorthesameimproperyoungwomanclothedinafewflowersandnothingelse，whosephotographinthatabominableandlibellousbookwasindirectlythecauseofourtempestuousvoyage。"

"Indeed！"repliedBickley。"Well，solongasshehasnotgotonthebroken—downstaysandtheSalvationArmybonnetwithoutacrown，whichyoumayremembersheworeaftershehadfallenintothehandsofyourfraternity，IamsureIdonotmind。InfactI

shouldbedelightedtoseeanythingsopleasant。"

Atthismomentadistinctsoundoffemaletitteringarosefrombeyondthedoor。TommybarkedandBickleysteppedtowardsit，butIcalledtohim。

"Lookout！Wheretherearewomentherearesuretobemen。Letusbereadyagainstaccidents。"

Sowearmedourselveswithpistols，thatisBickleyandIdid，BastinbeingfortifiedsolelywithaBible。

Thenweadvanced，aremarkableanddilapidatedtrio，anddraggedthedoorwide。Instantlytherewasascurryandwecaughtsightofwomen’sformswearingonlyflowers，andbutfewofthese，runningoverwhitesandtowardsgroupsofmenarmedwithodd—lookingclubs，someofwhichwerefashionedtotheshapesofswordsandspears。TomakeanimpressionIfiredtwoshotswithmyrevolverintotheair，whereuponbothmenandwomenfledintogrovesoftreesandvanished。

"Theydon’tseemtobeaccustomedtowhitepeople，"saidBickley。"Isitpossiblethatwehavefoundashoreuponwhichnomissionaryhassetafoot？"

"Ihopeso，"saidBastin，"seeingthatunworthyasIam，thentheopportunitiesformewouldbeverygreat。"

Westoodstillandlookedaboutus。Thiswaswhatwesaw。Alltheafterpartoftheshipfromforwardofthebridgehadvanishedutterly；therewasnotatraceofit；shehadasitwerebeencutintwo。More，weweresomeconsiderabledistancefromtheseawhichwasstillragingoveraquarterofamileawaywheregreatwhitecombersstruckuponareefandspoutedintotheair。Behinduswasacliff，apparentlyofrockbutcoveredwithearthandvegetation，andagainstthiscliff，inwhichtheprowoftheshipwasburied，she，orwhatremainedofher，hadcometoanchorforthelasttime。

"Youseewhathashappened，"Isaid。"Agreattidalwavehascarriedusuphereandretreated。"

"That’sit，"exclaimedBickley。"Lookatthedebris，"andhepointedtotorn—uppalms，bushesandseaweedpiledintoheapswhichstillransaltwater；alsotoanumberofdeadfishthatlayaboutamongthem，adding，"Well，wearesavedanyhow。"

"AndyettherearepeoplelikeyouwhosaythatthereisnoProvidence！"ejaculatedBastin。

"IwonderwhattheviewsofCaptainAstleyandthecreware，orratherwere，uponthatmatter，"interruptedBickley。

"Idon’tknow，"answeredBastin，lookingabouthimvaguely。"ItistruethatIcan’tseeanyofthem，butiftheyaredrownednodoubtitisbecausetheirperiodofusefulnessinthisworldhadended。"

"Let’sgetdownandlookaboutus，"Iremarked，beinganxioustoavoidfurtherargument。

Sowescrambledfromtheremnantoftheship，likeNoahdescendingoutoftheark，asBastinsaid，ontothebeachbeneath，whereTommyrushedtoandfro，gambollingforjoy。Herewediscoveredapathwhichrandiagonallyupthesideofacliffwhichwasnowheremorethanfiftyorsixtyfeetinheight，andpossiblyhadonceformedtheshoreofthisland，orperhapsthatofalake。Upthispathwewent，followingthetracksofmanyhumanfeet，andreachingthecrestofthecliff，lookedaboutus，baskingaswedidsointhebeautifulmorningsun，fortheskywasnowclearofcloudsandwiththatlastawfuleffort，whichdestroyedourship，thecyclonehadpassedaway。

WewerestandingonaplaindownwhichranalittlestreamofgoodwaterwhereofTommydrankgreedily，wefollowinghisexample。Totherightandleftofthisplain，furtherthanwecouldsee，stretchedbushlandoverwhichtoweredmanypalms，ratherraggednowbecauseofthelashingofthegale。Lookinginlandweperceivedthatthegroundslopedgentlydownwards，endingatadistanceofsomemilesinalargelake。Faroutinthislakesomethinglikethetopofamountainofabrowncolourroseabovethewater，andontheedgeofitwaswhatfromthatdistanceappearedtobeatumbledruin。

"Thisisallveryinteresting，"IsaidtoBickley。"Whatdoyoumakeofit？"

"Idon’tquiteknow。AtfirstsightIshouldsaythatwearestandingonthelipofacraterofsomevastextinctvolcano。

Lookhowitcurvestonorthandsouthandatthesloperunningdowntothelake。"

Inodded。

"Luckythatthetidalwavedidnotgetoverthecliff，"Isaid。

"Ifithadthepeopleherewouldhaveallbeendrownedout。I

wonderwheretheyhavegone？"

AsIspokeBastinpointedtotheedgeofthebushsomehundredsofyardsaway，whereweperceivedbrownfiguresslippingaboutamongthetrees。Isuggestedthatweshouldgobacktothemouthofourpath，soastohavealineofretreatopenincaseofnecessity，andawaitevents。Sowedidandtherestoodstill。Bydegreesthebrownfiguresemergedontotheplaintothenumberofsomehundreds，andwesawthattheywerebothmaleandfemale。

Thewomenwereclothedinnothingexceptflowersandalittlegirdle；themenwereallarmedwithwoodenweaponsandalsoworeagirdlebutnoflowers。Thechildren，ofwhomthereweremany，werequitenaked。

Amongthesepeopleweobservedatallpersonclothedinwhatseemedtobeamagnificentfeathercloak，and，walkingaroundandabouthim，anumberofgrotesqueformsadornedwithhideousmasksandbasket—likehead—dressesthatweresurmountedbyplumes。

"Thekingorchiefandhispriestsormedicine—men！Thisissplendid，"saidBickleytriumphantly。

Bastinalsocontemplatedthemwithenthusiasmasrawmaterialuponwhichhehopedtogettowork。

Bydegreesandverycautiouslytheyapproachedus。Toourjoy，weperceivedthatbehindthemwalkedseveralyoungwomenwhoborewoodentraysoffoodorfruit。

"Thatlookswell，"Isaid。"Theywouldnotmakeofferingsunlesstheywerefriendly。"

"Thefoodmaybepoisoned，"remarkedBickleysuspiciously。

Thecrowdadvanced，westandingquitestilllookingasdignifiedaswecould，Iasthetallestinthemiddle，withTommysittingatmyfeet。Whentheywereaboutfiveandtwentyyardsaway，however，thatwretchedlittledogcaughtsightofthemaskedpriests。Hegrowledandthenrushedatthembarking，hislongblackearsflappingashewent。

Theeffectwasinstantaneous。Oneandalltheyturnedandfledprecipitately，whoevidentlyhadneverbeforeseenadogandlookeduponitasadeadlycreature。Yes，eventhetallchiefandhismaskedmedicine—menfledlikeharespursuedbyTommy，whobitoneofthemintheleg，evokingaterrifichowl。Icalledhimbackandtookhimintomyarms。Seeingthathewassafeforawhilethecrowdreformedandonceagainadvanced。

Astheycamewenotedthattheywereawonderfullyhandsomepeople，tallandstraightwithregularlyshapedfeaturesandnothingofthenegroaboutthem。Someoftheyoungwomenmightevenbecalledbeautiful，thoughthosewhowereelderlyhadbecomecorpulent。Thefeather—clothedchief，however，wasmuchdisfiguredbyahugegrowthwithanarrowstalktoitthathungfromhisneckandrestedonhisshoulder。

"I’llhavethatoffhimbeforeheisaweekolder，"saidBickley，surveyingthisdeformitywithgreatprofessionalinterest。

Ontheycame，thegirlswiththeplatterswalkingahead。Ononeofthesewerewhatlookedlikejointsofbakedpork，onanothersomeplantainsandpear—shapedfruits。Theykneltdownandofferedthesetous。Wecontemplatedthemforawhile。ThenBickleyshookhisheadandbegantorubhisstomachwithappropriatecontortions。Clearlytheywerequick—mindedenoughfortheysawthepoint。Atsomewordsthegirlsbroughttheplatterstothechiefandothers，whotookfromthemportionsofthefoodathazardandatethemtoshowthatitwasnotpoisoned，wewatchingtheirthroatsthewhiletomakesurethatitwasswallowed。ThentheyreturnedagainandwetooksomeofthefoodthoughonlyBickleyate，because，asIpointedouttohim，beingadoctorwhounderstoodtheuseofantidotes；clearlyheshouldmaketheexperiment。However，nothinghappened；indeedhesaidthatitwasverygood。

Afterthistherecameapause。ThensuddenlyBastintookuphisparableinthePolynesiantonguewhich——toacertainextent——hehadacquiredwithsomuchpains。

"Whatisthisplacecalled？"heaskedslowlyanddistinctly，pausingbetweeneachword。

Hisaudienceshooktheirheadsandhetriedagain，puttingtheaccentsondifferentsyllables。Behold！somebrightspiritunderstoodhimandanswered：

"Orofena。"

"Thatmeansahill，oranisland，orahillinanisland，"

whisperedBickleytome。

"WhoisyourGod？"askedBastinagain。

Thepointseemedoneuponwhichtheywerealittledoubtful，butatlastthechiefanswered，"Oro。Hewhofights。"

"Inotherwords，Mars，"saidBickley。

"Iwillgiveyouabetterone，"saidBastininthesameslowfashion。

ThinkingthathereferredtohimselfthesechildrenofNaturecontemplatedhisangularformdoubtfullyandshooktheirheads。

Thenforthefirsttimeoneofthemenwhowaswearingamaskandawickercrateonhishead，spokeinahollowvoice，saying：

"IfyoutryOrowilleatyouup。"

"Headpriest！"saidBickley，nudgingme。"OldBastinhadbetterbecarefulorhewillgethisteethintohimandcallthemOro’s。"

Anotherpause，afterwhichthemaninafeathercloakwiththegrowthonhisneckthataservantwassupporting，said：

"IamMarama，thechiefofOrofena。Wehaveneverseenmenlikeyoubefore，ifyouaremen。Whatbroughtyouhereandwithyouthatfierceandterribleanimal，orevilspiritwhichmakesanoiseandbites？"

NowBickleypretendedtoconsultmewhostoodbroodingandmajestic，thatisifIcanbemajestic。Iwhisperedsomethingandheanswered：

"Thegodsofthewindandthesea。"