第7章
Bastin，surprised，askedthemwhohadcausedthedeluge。Theyreplied，Orowhichwasthenameoftheirgod，Orowhodweltyonderonthemountaininthelake，andwhoserepresentationtheyworshippedinidols。HesaidthatGoddweltinHeaven，towhichtheyrepliedwithcalmcertainty：
"No，no，hedwellsonthemountaininthelake，"whichwaswhytheyneverdaredtoapproachthatmountain。
IndeeditwasonlybygivingthenameOrototheDivinityandadmittingthatHemightdwellinthemountainaswellaseverywhereelse，thatBastinwasabletomakeprogress。Havingconcededthis，notwithoutscruples，however，hedidmakeconsiderableprogress，somuch，infact，thatIperceivedthatthepriestsofOrowerebeginningtogrowveryjealousofhimandofhisincreasingauthoritywiththepeople。Bastinwasnaturallytriumphant，andevenexclaimedexultinglythatwithinayearhewouldhavehalfofthepopulationbaptised。
"Withinayear，mydearfellow，"saidBickley，"youwillhaveyourthroatcutasasacrifice，andprobablyoursalso。Itisapity，too，aswithinthattimeIshouldhavestampedoutophthalmiaandsomeotherdiseasesintheisland。"
Here，leavingBastinandhisgoodworkasideforawhile，I
willsayalittleaboutthecountry。FrominformationwhichI
gatheredonsomejourneysthatImadeandbyinquiriesfromthechiefMarama，whohadbecomedevotedtous，IfoundthatOrofenawasquitealargeplace。Inshapetheislandwascircular，abroadbandofterritorysurroundingthegreatlakeofwhichI
havespoken，thatinitsturnsurroundedasmallerislandfromwhichrosethemountaintop。NootherlandwasknowntobeneartheshoresofOrofena，whichhadneverbeenvisitedbyanyoneexceptthestrangersahundredyearsagoorso，whoweresacrificedandeaten。Mostoftheislandwascoveredwithforestwhichtheinhabitantslackedtheenergy，andindeedhadnotools，tofell。Theywereanextremelylazypeopleandwouldonlycultivateenoughbananasandotherfoodtosatisfytheirimmediateneeds。Intruththeylivedmostlyuponbreadfruitandotherproductsofthewildtrees。
Thusitcameaboutthatinyearsofscarcitythroughdroughtorclimaticcauses，whichpreventedtheforesttreesfrombearing，theysufferedverymuchfromhunger。Insuchyearshundredsofthemwouldperishandtheremainderresortedtothedreadfulexpedientofcannibalism。Sometimes，too，theshoalsoffishavoidedtheirshores，reducingthemtogreatmisery。Theironlydomesticanimalwasthepigwhichroamedabouthalfwildandinnogreatnumbers，fortheyhadnevertakenthetroubletobreeditincaptivity。Theirresources，therefore，werelimited，whichaccountedforthecomparativesmallnessofthepopulation，furtherreducedasitwasbyawickedhabitofinfanticidepractisedinordertolightentheburdenofbringingupchildren。
Theyhadnotraditionsastohowtheyreachedthisland，theirbeliefbeingthattheyhadalwaysbeentherebutthattheirforefathersweremuchgreaterthanthey。Theywerepoetical，andsangsongsinalanguagewhichthemselvestheycouldnotunderstand；theysaidthatitwasthetonguetheirforefathershadspoken。Alsotheyhadseveralstrangecustomsofwhichtheydidnotknowtheorigin。Myownopinion，whichBickleyshared，wasthattheywereinfactashrunkenanddeterioratedremnantofsomehighracenowcomingtoitsendthroughageandinter—breeding。Aboutthemindeed，notwithstandingtheirprimitivesavagerywhichinitsqualitiesmuchresembledthatofotherPolynesians，therewasaverycuriousairofantiquity。Onefeltthattheyhadknowntheolderworldanditsmysteries，thoughnowbothwereforgotten。Alsotheirlanguage，whichintimewecametospeakperfectly，wascopious，musical，andexpressiveinitsidioms。
OnecircumstanceImustmention。InwalkingaboutthecountryI
observedalloveritenormousholes，someofthemmeasuringasmuchasahundredyardsacross，withadepthoffiftyfeetormore，andthisnotonalluviallandsalthoughtheretracesofthemexistedalso，butinsolidrock。WhatthisrockwasIdonotknowasnoneofusweregeologists，butitseemedtometopartakeofthenatureofgranite。Certainlyitwasnotcorallikethatonandaboutthecoast，butofaprimevalformation。
WhenIaskedMaramawhatcausedtheseholes，heonlyshruggedhisshouldersandsaidhedidnotknow，buttheirfathershaddeclaredthattheyweremadebystonesfallingfromheaven。This，ofcourse，suggestedmeteoritestomymind。IsubmittedtheideatoBickley，who，inoneofhisrareintervalsofleisure，camewithmetomakeanexamination。
"Iftheyweremeteorites，"hesaid，"ofwhichashowerstrucktheearthinsomepastgeologicalage，alllifemusthavebeendestroyedbythemandtheirremainsoughttoexistatthebottomoftheholes。Tometheylookmoreliketheeffectofhighexplosives，butthat，ofcourse，isimpossible，thoughIdon’tknowwhatelsecouldhavecausedsuchcraters。"
Thenhewentbacktohiswork，fornothingthathadtodowithantiquityinterestedBickleyverymuch。Thepresentanditsproblemswereenoughforhim，hewouldsay，whoneitherhadlivedinthepastnorexpectedtohaveanyshareinthefuture。
AsIremainedcuriousImadeanopportunitytoscrambletothebottomofoneofthesecraters，takingwithmesomeofthenativeswiththeirwoodentools。HereIfoundagooddealofsoileitherwasheddownfromthesurfaceorresultingfromthedecompositionoftherock，thoughoddlyenoughinitnothinggrew。Idirectedthemtodig。Afterawhiletomyastonishmentthereappearedacornerofagreatworkedstonequiteunlikethatofthecrater，indeeditseemedtometobeamarble。Furtherexaminationshowedthatthisblockwasmostbeautifullycarvedinbas—relief，apparentlywithadesignofleavesandflowers。InthedisturbedsoilalsoIpickedupalife—sizedmarblehandofawomanexquisitelyfinishedandapparentlybrokenfromastatuethatmighthavebeentheworkofoneofthegreatGreeksculptors。Moreover，onthethirdfingerofthishandwasarepresentationofaringwhereof，unfortunately，thebezelhadbeendestroyed。
Iputthehandinmypocket，butasdarknesswascomingon，I
couldnotpursuetheresearchanddisintertheblock。WhenI
wishedtoreturnthenextday，IwasinformedpolitelybyMaramathatitwouldnotbesafeformetodosoasthepriestsofOrodeclaredthatifIsoughttomeddlewiththe"buriedthingsthegodwouldgrowangryandbringdisasteronme。"
WhenIpersistedhesaidthatatleastImustgoalonesincenonativewouldaccompanyme，andaddedearnestlythatheprayedmenottogo。SotomygreatregretanddisappointmentIwasobligedtogiveuptheidea。
ChapterVIII
BastinAttemptstheMartyr’sCrownThatcarvedstoneandthemarblehandtookagreatholdofmyimagination。Whatdidtheymean？Howcouldtheyhavecometothebottomofthathole，unlessindeedtheywerepartofsomebuildinganditsornamentswhichhadbeendestroyedintheneighbourhood？Thestoneofwhichwehadonlyuncoveredacornerseemedfartoobigtohavebeencarriedtherefromanyship；itmusthaveweighedseveraltons。Besides，shipsdonotcarrysuchthingsabouttheworld，andnonehadvisitedthisislandduringthelasttwocenturiesatanyrate，orlocaltraditionwouldhaverecordedsowonderfulafact。Werethere，then，onceedificescoveredwithelegantcarvingstandingonthisplace，andweretheyadornedwithlovelystatuesthatwouldnothavedisgracedthebestperiodofGreekart？Thethingwasincredibleexceptonthesuppositionthatthesewererelicsofanutterlylostcivilisation。
Bickleywasasmuchpuzzledasmyself。Allhecouldsaywasthattheworldwasinfinitelyoldandmanythingsmighthavehappenedinitwhereofwehadnorecord。EvenBastinwasexcitedforalittlewhile，butashisimaginationwasrepresentedbyzero，allhecouldsaywas：
"Isupposesomeoneleftthemthere，andanyhowitdoesn’tmattermuch，doesit？"
ButI，whohavecertainleaningstowardstheancientandmysterious，couldnotbeputoffinthisfashion。Irememberedthatunapproachablemountaininthemidstofthelakeandthatonitappearedtobesomethingwhichlookedlikeruinsasseenfromthetopofthecliffthroughglasses。Atanyratethiswasapoint，thatImightclearup。
Sayingnothingtoanybody，onemorningIslippedawayandwalkedtotheedgeofthelake，adistanceoffiveorsixmilesoverroughcountry。HavingarrivedthereIperceivedthatthecone—shapedmountaininthecentre，whichwasaboutamilefromthelakeshore，wasmuchlargerthanIhadthought，quitethreehundredfeethighindeed，andwithaverylargecircumference。
Further，itssidesevidentlyoncehadbeenterraced，anditwasononeofthesebroadterraces，half—wayupandfacingtowardstherisingsun，thattheruin—likeremainswereheaped。I
examinedthemthroughmyglasses。Undoubtedlyitwasacyclopeanruinbuiltofgreatblocksofcolouredstonewhichseemedtohavebeenshatteredbyearthquakeorexplosion。Therewerethepillarsofamightygatewayandtheremainsofwalls。
ItrembledwithexcitementasIstaredandstared。CouldInotgettotheplaceandseeformyself？Iobservedthatfromtheflatbush—cladlandatthefootofthemountain，ranoutwhatseemedtobetheresidueofastonepierwhichendedinalargetable—toppedrockbetweentwoandthreehundredfeetacross。Buteventhiswastoofartoreachbyswimming，besidesforaughtI
knewtheremightbealligatorsinthatlake。Iwalkedupanddownitsborders，tillpresentlyIcametoapathwhichledintoapatchofsomevarietyofcottonpalm。
FollowingthispathIdiscoveredaboat—housethatchedoverwithpalmleaves。Insideitweretwogoodcanoeswiththeirpaddles，floatingandtiedtothestumpsoftreesbyfibreropes。
InstantlyImadeupmymindthatIwouldpaddletotheislandandinvestigate。JustasIwasabouttostepintooneofthecanoesthelightwascutoff。LookingupIsawthatamanwascrouchinginthedoor—placeoftheboat—houseinordertoenter，andpausedguiltily。
"Friend—from—the—Sea"（thatwasthenamethattheseislandershadgiventome），saidthevoiceofMarama，"say——whatareyoudoinghere？"
"Iamabouttotakearowonthelake，Chief，"Iansweredcarelessly。
"Indeed，Friend。Havewethentreatedyousobadlythatyouaretiredoflife？"
"Whatdoyoumean？"Iasked。
"Comeoutintothesunlight，Friend，andIwillexplaintoyou。"
IhesitatedtillIsawMaramaliftingtheheavywoodenspearhecarriedandrememberedthatIwasunarmed。ThenIcameout。
"Whatdoesallthismean，Chief？"Iaskedangrilywhenwewereclearofthepatchofcottonpalm。
"Imean，Friend，thatyouhavebeenveryneartomakingalongerjourneythanyouthought。Havepatiencenowandlistentome。Isawyouleavingthevillagethismorningandfollowed，suspectingyourpurpose。Yes，Ifollowedalone，sayingnothingtothepriestsofOrowhofortunatelywereawaywatchingtheBellowerfortheirownreasons。Isawyousearchingoutthesecretsofthemountainwiththosemagictubesthatmakethingsbigthataresmall，andthingsthatarefaroffcomenear，andI
followedyoutothecanoes。"
"Allthatisplainenough，Marama。Butwhy？"
"HaveInottoldyou，Friend—from—the—Sea，thatyonderhillwhichiscalledOrofena，whencethisislandtakesitsname，issacred？"
"Yousaidso，butwhatofit？"
"This：tosetfootthereonistodieand，Isuppose，greatasyouare，you，too，candielikeothers。Atleast，althoughIloveyou，hadyounotcomeawayfromthatcanoeIwasabouttodiscoverwhetherthisisso。"
"Thenforwhatarethecanoesused？"Iaskedwithirritation。
"Youseethatflatrock，Friend，withtheholebeyond，whichisthemouthofacavethatappearedonlyinthegreatstormthatbroughtyoutoourland？Theyareusedtoconveyofferingswhicharelaidupontherock。Beyonditnomanmaygo，andsincethebeginningnomanhasevergone。"
"Offeringstowhom？"
"TotheOromatuas，thespiritsofthegreatdeadwholivethere。"
"Oromatuas？Oro！ItisalwayssomethingtodowithOro。WhoandwhatisOro？"
"Oroisagod，Friend，thoughitistruethatthepriestssaythatabovehimthereisagreatergodcalledDegai，theCreator，theFatewhomadeallthingsanddirectsallthings。"
"Verywell，butwhydoyousupposethatOro，theservantofDegai，livesinthatmountain？Ithoughtthathelivedinagroveyonderwhereyourpriests，asIamtold，haveanimageofhim。"
"Idonotknow，Friend—from—the—Sea，butsoithasbeenheldfromthebeginning。Theimageinthegroveisonlyvisitedbyhisspiritfromtimetotime。Now，Iprayyou，comebackandbeforethepriestsdiscoverthatyouhavebeenhere，andforgetthatthereareanycanoesuponthislake。"
So，thinkingitwisest，Iturnedthematterwithalaughandwalkedawaywithhimtothevillage。OnourroadItriedtoextractsomemoreinformationbutwithoutsuccess。Hedidnotknowwhobuilttheruinuponthemountain，orwhodestroyedit。
Hedidnotknowhowtheterracescamethere。AllheknewwasthatduringtheconvulsionofNaturewhichresultedinthetidalwavethathadthrownourshipupontheisland，themountainhadbeenseentoquiverlikeatreeinthewindasthoughwithinitgreatforceswereatwork。Thenitwasobservedtohaverisenagoodmanymorefeetabovethesurfaceofthelake，asmightbenotedbythewatermarkupontheshore，andthenalsothemouthofthecavehadappeared。ThepriestssaidthatallthiswasbecausetheOromatuaswhodwelttherewerestirring，whichportendedgreatthings。Indeedgreatthingshadhappened——forhadwenotarrivedintheirland？
Ithankedhimforwhathehadtoldme，and，astherewasnothingmoretobelearned，droppedthesubjectwhichwasnevermentionedbetweenusagain，atleastnotforalongwhile。ButinmyheartIdeterminedthatIwouldreachthatmountaineventhoughtodosoImustriskmylife。Somethingseemedtocallmetotheplace；itwasasthoughIwerebeingdrawnbyamagnet。
Asithappened，beforesoverylongIdidgotothemountain，notofmyownwillbutbecauseIwasobliged。Itcameaboutthus。
OnenightIaskedBastinhowhewasgettingonwithhismissionarywork。Hereplied：Verywellindeed，buttherewasonegreatobstacleinhispath，theidolintheGrove。WereitnotforthisaccursedimagehebelievedthatthewholeislandwouldbecomeChristian。Iaskedhimtobemoreplain。Heexplainedthatallhisworkwasthwartedbythisidol，sincehisconvertsdeclaredthattheydidnotdaretobebaptisedwhileitsatthereintheGrove。Iftheydid，thespiritthatwasinitwouldbewitchthemandperhapsstealoutatnightandmurderthem。
"Thespiritbeingourfriendsthesorcerers，"Isuggested。
"That’sit，Arbuthnot。Doyouknow，Ibelievethosedevilishmensometimesofferhumansacrificestothissatanicfetish，whenthereisadroughtoranythingofthatsort。"
"Icanquitebelieveit，"Ianswered，"butastheywillscarcelyremovetheirgodandwithittheirownlivelihoodandauthority，Iamafraidthataswedon’twanttobesacrificed，thereisnothingtobedone。"
AtthismomentIwascalledaway。AsIwentIheardBastinmutteringsomethingaboutmartyrs，butpaidnoattention。LittledidIguesswhatwasgoingoninhispiousbutobstinatemind。Ineffectitwasthis——thatifnooneelsewouldremovethatidolhewasquitereadytodoithimself。
However，hewasverycunningoverthatbusiness，almostJesuiticalindeed。Notoneworddidhebreatheofhisdarkplanstome，andstilllesstoBickley。Hejustwentonwithhisteaching，lamentingfromtimetotimethestumbling—blockoftheidolandexpressingwonderastohowitmightbecircumventedbyachangeintheheartsoftheislanders，orotherwise。Sadasitistorecord，infact，dearoldBastinwentasneartotellingafibinconnectionwiththismatterasIsupposehehadeverdoneinhislife。Ithappenedthus。OnedayBickley’ssharpeyecaughtsightofBastinwalkingaboutwithwhatlookedlikeabottleofwhiskyinhispocket。
"Hallo，oldfellow，"hesaid，"hastheself—denyingordinancebrokendown？Ididn’tknowthatyoutookpegsonthesly，"andhepointedtothebottle。
"Ifyouareinsinuating，Bickley，thatIabsorbspiritssurreptitiously，youaremoremistakenthanusual，whichissayingagooddeal。Thisbottlecontains，notScotchwhiskybutparaffin，althoughIadmitthatitslabelmayhavemisledyou，unintentionally，sofarasIamconcerned。"
"Whatareyougoingtodowiththeparaffin？"askedBickley。
Bastincolouredthroughhistanandrepliedawkwardly：
"Paraffinisverygoodtokeepawaymosquitoesifonecanstandthesmellofituponone’sskin。NotthatIhavebroughtitherewiththatsoleobject。ThetruthisthatIamanxioustoexperimentwithalampofmyowndesignmade——um——ofnativewood，"andhedepartedinahurry。
"WhennextoldBastinwantstotellalie，"commentedBickley，"heshouldmakeuphismindastowhatitistobe，andsticktoit。Iwonderwhatheisafterwiththatparaffin？Notgoingtodoseanyofmypatientswithit，Ihope。Hewasarguingtheotherdaythatitisagreatremedytakeninternally，beingquiteunawarethatthelampvarietyisnotusedforthatpurpose。"
"Perhapshemeanstoswallowsomehimself，justtoshowthatheisright，"Isuggested。
"Thestomach—pumpisathand，"saidBickley，andthematterdropped。
NextmorningIgotupbeforeitwaslight。Havingsomeelementaryknowledgeofthemainfactsofastronomy，whichremainedwithmefromboyhoodwhenIhadattendedlecturesonthesubject，whichIhadtriedtorefreshbyhelpofanencyclopediaIhadbroughtfromtheship，Iwishedtoattempttoobtainanideaofourpositionbyhelpofthestars。Inthisendeavour，I
maysay，Ifailedabsolutely，asIdidnotknowhowtotakeastellaroranyotherobservation。
OnmywayoutofournativehouseIobserved，bythelanternI
carried，thatthecompartmentofitoccupiedbyBastinwasempty，andwonderedwhitherhehadgoneatthathour。Onarrivingatmyobservation—post，arockyeminenceonopenground，where，withTommyatmyside，Itookmyseatwithatelescope，Iwasastonishedtoseeorrathertohearagreatnumberofthenativeswalkingpastthebaseofthemoundtowardsthebush。ThenI
rememberedthatsomeone，Marama，Ithink，hadinformedmethattherewastobeagreatsacrificetoOroatdawnonthatday。
AfterthisIthoughtnomoreofthematterbutoccupiedmyselfinafutilestudyoftheheavenlybodies。Atlengththedawnbrokeandputaperiodtomylabours。
GlancingroundmebeforeIdescendedfromthelittlehill，I
sawaflameoflightappearsuddenlyabouthalfamileormoreawayamongthosetreeswhichIknewconcealedtheimageofOro。
OnthispersonallyIhadneverhadthecuriositytolook，asI
knewthatitwasonlyahideousidolstuckoverwithfeathersandotherbedizenments。Theflameshotsuddenlystraightintothestillairandwasfollowedafewsecondslaterbythesoundofadullexplosion，afterwhichitwentout。Alsoitwasfollowedbysomethingelse——ascreamofragefromaninfuriatedmob。
AtthefootofthehillIstoppedtowonderwhatthesesoundsmightmean。ThenofasuddenappearedBickley，whohadbeenattendingsomeurgentcase，andaskedmewhowasexplodinggunpowder。ItoldhimthatIhadnoidea。
"ThenIhave，"heanswered。"ItisthatassBastinuptosomegame。NowIguesswhyhewantedthatparaffin。Listentotherow。
Whataretheyafter？"
"SacrificingBastin，perhaps，"Ireplied，halfinjest。"Haveyouyourrevolver？"
Henodded。Wealwaysworeourpistolsifwewentoutduringthedarkhours。
"Thenperhapswehadbettergotosee。"
Westarted，andhadnotcoveredahundredyardsbeforeagirl，whomIrecognisedasoneofBastin’sconverts，cameflyingtowardsusandscreamingout，"Help！Help！TheykilltheBellowerwithfire！Theycookhimlikeapig！"
"JustwhatIexpected，"saidBickley。
Thenweranhard，asevidentlytherewasnotimetolose。WhilewewentIextractedfromtheterrifiedgirl，whomweforcedtoshowustheway，thatasthesacrificewasabouttobeofferedBastinhadappeared，and，"makingfire，"appliedittothegodOro，whoinstantlyburstintoflame。Thenheranback，callingoutthatthedevilwasdead。AshedidsotherewasaloudexplosionandOroflewintopieces。Hisburningheadwentalongwayintotheairand，fallingontooneofthepriests，killedhim。ThereontheotherpriestsandthepeopleseizedtheBellowerandmadehimfast。Nowtheywereengagedinheatinganoveninwhichtoputhimtocook。WhenitwasreadytheywouldeathiminhonourofOro。
"Andservehimrighttoo！"gaspedBickley，who，beingstout，wasnotagoodrunner。"Whycan’theleaveotherpeople’sgodsaloneinsteadofblowingthemupwithgunpowder？"
"Don’tknow，"Ianswered。"Hopeweshallgetthereintime！"
"TobecookedandeatenwithBastin！"wheezedBickley，afterwhichhisbreathgaveout。
Asitchancedwedid，forthesestoneovenstakealongtimetoheat。Therebytheedgeofhisfierygravewithhishandsandlegsboundinpalm—fibreshackles，stoodBastin，quiteunmoved，smilingindeed，inasortofseraphicwaywhichirritatedusbothextremely。RoundhimdancedtheinfuriatedpriestsofOro，androundthem，shriekingandhowlingwithrage，wasmostofthepopulationofOrofena。Werushedupsosuddenlythatnonetriedtostopus，andtookourstandoneithersideofhim，producingourpistolsaswedidso。
"Thankyouforcoming，"saidBastininthesilencewhichfollowed；"thoughIdon’tthinkitistheleastuse。Icannotrecallthatanyoftheearlymartyrswereeverroastedandeaten，though，ofcourse，throwingthemintoboilingoilorwaterwasfairlycommon。Itakeitthattheriteissacrificialandeveninalowsense，sacramental，notmerelyoneofcommoncannibalism。"
Istaredathim，andBickleygaspedout：
"Ifyouaretobeeaten，whatdoesitmatterwhyyouareeaten？"
"Oh！"repliedBastin；"thereisallthedifferenceintheworld，thoughitisonethatIcannotexpectyoutoappreciate。
AndnowpleasebequietasIwishtosaymyprayers。Iimaginethatthosestoneswillbehotenoughtodotheirofficewithintwentyminutesorso，whichisnotverylong。"
AtthatmomentMaramaappeared，evidentlyinastateofgreatperturbation。WithhimweresomeofthepriestsorsorcererswhoweredancingaboutasIimaginethepriestsofBaalmusthavedone，andfilledwithfury。Theyrolledtheireyes，theystuckouttheirtongues，theyutteredweirdcriesandshooktheirwoodenknivesattheplacidBastin。
"Whatisthematter？"Iaskedsternlyofthechief。
"This，Friend—from—the—Sea。TheBellowerthere，whenthesacrificewasabouttobeofferedtoOroatthedawn，rushedforward，andhavingthrustsomethingbetweenthelegsoftheimageofthegod，pouredyellowwateroverit，andwithfirecausedittoburstintofierceflame。Thenheranawayandmockedthegodwhopresently，withaloudreport，flewintopiecesandkilledthatman。ThereforetheBellowermustbesacrificed。"
"Whatto？"Iasked。"TheimagehasgoneandthepieceofitthatascendedfellnotupontheBellower，aswouldhavehappenedifthegodhadbeenangrywithhim，butononeofitsownpriests，whomitkilled。Therefore，havingbeensacrificedbythegoditself，heitisthatshouldbeeaten，nottheBellower，whomerelydidwhathisSpiritbadehim。"
ThisingeniousargumentseemedtoproducesomeeffectuponMarama，buttothepriestsitdidnotatallappeal。
"Eatthemall！"thesecried。"TheyaretheenemiesofOroandhaveworkedsacrilege！"
Moreover，tojudgefromtheirdemeanour，thebulkofthepeopleseemedtoagreewiththem。Thingsbegantolookveryugly。Thepriestsrushedforward，threateninguswiththeirwoodenweapons，andoneofthemevenaimedablowatBickley，whichonlymissedhimbyaninchortwo。
"Lookhere，myfriend，"calledthedoctorwhosetemperwasrising，"younamemetheGreatPriestorGreatHealer，doyounot？Well，becareful，lestIshouldshowyouthatIcankillaswellasheal！"
Notintheleastintimidatedbythisthreattheman，agreatbedizenedfellowwholiterallywasfoamingatthemouthwithrage，rushedforwardagain，hisclubraised，apparentlywiththeobjectofdashingoutBickley’sbrains。
SuddenlyBickleyliftedhisrevolverandfired。Theman，shotthroughtheheart，sprangintotheairandfelluponhisface——
stonedead。Therewasconsternation，forthesepeoplehadneverseenusshootanythingbefore，andwerequiteunacquaintedwiththepropertiesoffirearms，whichtheysupposedtobemerelyinstrumentsformakinganoise。Theystared，theygaspedinfearandastonishment，andthentheyfled，pursuedbyTommy，barking，leavingusalonewiththetwodeadmen。
"Itwastimetoteachthemalesson，"saidBickleyashereplacedtheemptycartridge，and，seizingthedeadman，rolledhimintotheburningpit。
"Yes，"Ianswered；"butpresently，whentheyhavegotovertheirfright，theywillcomebacktoteachusone。"
Bastinsaidnothing；heseemedtoodazedattheturneventshadtaken。
"Whatdoyousuggest？"askedBickley。
"Flight，"Ianswered。
"Whereto——theship？Wemightholdthat。"
"No；thatiswhattheyexpect。Look！Theyarecuttingoffourroadthere。Totheislandinthelakewheretheydarenotfollowus，foritisholyground。"
"Howarewegoingtoliveontheisland？"askedBickley。
"Idon’tknow，"Ireplied；"butIamquitecertainthatifwestayhereweshalldie。"