第10章

"Iamverythirsty，"saidBastinpresently。"Thosesmellsseemtohavedriedmeup。Iamgoingtogetsometea——Imeanwater，asunfortunatelythereisnotea，"andhesetofftowardsthemouthofthecave。

Wefollowedhim，Idon’tquiteknowwhy，exceptthatwewishedtobreathefreelyoutside，alsoweknewthatthesepulchreanditscontentswouldbeassafeastheyhadbeenfor——well，howlong？

Itprovedtobeabeautifulmorningoutside。Wewalkedupanddownenjoyingitsub—consciously，forreallyour——thatisBickley’sandmyown——intelligenceswereconcentratedonthatsepulchreanditscontents。WhereBastin’smayhavebeenIdonotknow，perhapsinavisionaryteapot，sinceIwassurethatitwouldtakehimadayortwotoappreciatethesignificanceofourdiscoveries。Atanyrate，hewanderedoff，makingnoremarksaboutthem，todrinkwater，Isuppose。

Presentlyhebegantoshouttousfromtheendofthetable—rockandwewenttoseethereasonofhisnoise。Itprovedtobeverysatisfactory，forwhilewewereinthecavetheOrofenanshadbroughtabsolutelyeverythingbelongingtous，togetherwithalargesupplyoffoodfromthemainisland。Notasinglearticlewasmissing；evenourbooks，acanwiththebottomout，andthebrokenpiecesofalittlepocketmirrorhadbeenreligiouslytransported，andwiththeseafewarticlesthathadbeenstolenfromus，notablymypocket—knife。Evidentlyagreattaboohadbeenlaiduponallourpossessions。TheywerenowcarefullyarrangedinoneofthegroovesoftherockthatBickleysupposedhadbeenmadebythewheelsofaeroplanes，whichwaswhywehadnotseenthematonce。

Eachofusrushedforwhatwedesiredmost——Bastinforoneofthecanistersoftea，Iformydiaries，andBickleyforhischestofinstrumentsandmedicines。Thesewereremovedtothemouthofthecave，andafterthemtheotherthingsandthefood；alsoabelltentandsomecampfurniturethatwehadbroughtfromtheship。ThenBastinmadesometeaofwhichhedrankfourlargepannikins，havingfirstsaidgraceoveritwithunwontedfervour。

Nordidwedisdainourshareofthebeverage，althoughBickleypreferredcocoaandIcoffee。Cocoaandcoffeewehadnotimetomakethen，andinviewofthatsepulchreinthecave，whathadwetodowithcocoaandcoffee？

SoBickleyandIsaidtoeachother，andyetpresentlyhechangedhismindandinaspecialmetalmachinecarefullymadesomeextremelystrongblackcoffeewhichhepouredintoathermosflask，previouslywarmedwithhotwater，addingtheretoaboutaclaretglassofbrandy。Alsoheextractedcertaindrugsfromhismedicine—chest，andwiththem，asInoted，ahypodermicsyringe，whichhefirstboiledinakettleandthenshutupinalittletubewithaglassstopper。

Thesepreparationsfinished，hecalledtoTommytogivehimthescrapsofourmeal。ButtherewasnoTommy。Thedogwasmissing，andthoughwehuntedeverywherewecouldnotfindhim。Finallyweconcludedthathehadwanderedoffdownthebeachonbusinessofhisownandwouldreturninduecourse。WecouldnotbotheraboutTommyjustthen。

Aftermakingsomefurtherpreparationsandfidgetingaboutalittle，Bickleyannouncedthataswehadnowsomeproperparaffinlampsofthepowerfulsortwhichareknownas"hurricane，"heproposedbytheiraidtocarryoutfurtherexaminationsinthecave。

"IthinkIshallstopwhereIam，"saidBastin，helpinghimselffromthekettletoafifthpannikinoftea。"Thosecorpsesareveryinteresting，butIdon’tseeanyuseinstaringatthemagainatpresent。Onecanalwaysdothatatanytime。IhavemissedMaramaoncealreadybybeingawayinthatcave，andIhavealottosaytohimaboutmypeople；Idon’twanttobeabsentincaseheshouldreturn。"

"Towashupthethings，Isuppose，"saidBickleywithasniff；

"orperhapstoeatthetea—leaves。"

"Well，asamatteroffact，Ihavenoticedthatthesenativeshaveapeculiartastefortea—leaves。Ithinktheybelievethemtobeamedicine，butIdon’tsupposetheywouldcomesofarforthem，thoughperhapstheymightinthehopeofgettingtheheadofOro。Anyhow，Iamgoingtostophere。"

"Praydo，"saidBickley。"Areyouready，Humphrey？"

Inodded，andhehandedtomeafelt—coveredflaskofthenon—

conductingkind，filledwithboilingwater，atinofpreservedmilk，andalittlebottleofmeatextractofamostconcentratedsort。Then，havinglittwoofthehurricanelampsandseenthattheywerefullofoil，westartedbackupthecave。

ChapterXI

ResurrectionWereachedthesepulchrewithoutstoppingtolookattheparkedmachinesoreventhemarvelousstatuethatstoodaboveit，forwhatdidwecareaboutmachinesorstatuesnow？Asweapproachedwewereastonishedtohearlowandcavernousgrowlings。

"Thereissomewildbeastinthere，"saidBickley，halting。

"No，byGeorge！it’sTommy。Whatcanthedogbeafter？"

Wepeepedin，andtheresureenoughwasTommylyingonthetopoftheGlitteringLady’scoffinandgrowlinghisverybestwiththehairstandingupuponhisback。Whenhesawwhoitwas，however，hejumpedoffandfriskedround，lickingmyhand。

"That’sverystrange，"Iexclaimed。

"Notstrangerthaneverythingelse，"saidBickley。

"Whatareyougoingtodo？"Iasked。

"Openthesecoffins，"heanswered，"beginningwiththatoftheoldgod，sinceIwouldratherexperimentonhim。Iexpecthewillcrumbleintodust。Butifbychancehedoesn’tI’lljamalittlestrychnine，mixedwithsomeotherdrugs，ofwhichyoudon’tknowthenames，intooneofhisveinsandseeifanythinghappens。Ifitdoesn’t，itwon’thurthim，andifitdoes——well，whoknows？

Nowgivemeahand。"

Wewenttotheleft—handcoffinandbyinsertingthehookonthebackofmyknife，ofwhichtherealuseistopickstonesoutofhorses’hoofs，intooneofthelittleair—holesIhavedescribed，managedtoraisetheheavycrystallidsufficientlytoenableustoforceapieceofwoodbetweenitandthetop。Therestwaseasy，forthehingesbeingofcrystalhadnotcorroded。

Intwominutesitwasopen。

Fromthechestcameanoverpoweringspicyodour，andwithitaveritablebreathofwarmairbeforewhichwerecoiledalittle。

Bickleytookapocketthermometerwhichhehadathandandglancedatit。Itmarkedatemperatureof82degreesinthesepulchre。Havingnotedthis，hethrustitintothecoffinbetweenthecrystalwallanditsoccupant。Thenwewentoutandwaitedalittlewhiletogivetheodourstimetodissipate，fortheymadetheheadreel。

Afterfiveminutesorsowereturnedandexaminedthethermometer。Ithadrisento98degrees，thenaturaltemperatureofthehumanbody。

"Whatdoyoumakeofthatifthemanisdead？"hewhispered。

Ishookmyhead，andaswehadagreed，settohelpinghimtoliftthebodyfromthecoffin。Itwasagoodweight，quiteelevenstoneIshouldsay；moreover，itwasnotstill，forthehipjointsbent。Wegotitoutandlaiditonablanketwehadspreadonthefloorofthesepulchre。WhilstIwasthusengagedIsawsomethingthatnearlycausedmetoloosemyholdfromastonishment。Beneaththehead，thecentreofthebackandthefeetwerecrystalboxesabouteightinchessquare，orrathercrystalblocks，forinthemIcouldseenoopening，andtheseboxesemittedafaintphosphorescentlight。Itouchedoneofthemandfoundthatitwasquitewarm。

"Greatheavens！"Iexclaimed，"here’smagic。"

"There’snosuchthing，"answeredBickleyinhisusualformula。

Thenanexplanationseemedtostrikehimandheadded，"Notmagicbutradiumorsomethingofthesort。That’showthetemperaturewaskeptup。Insufficientquantityitispracticallyindestructible，yousee。Myword！thisoldgentlemanknewathingortwo。"

Againwewaitedalittlewhiletoseeifthebodybeguntocrumbleonexposuretotheair，Itakingtheopportunitytomakearoughsketchofitinmypocket—bookinanticipationofthatevent。Butitdidnot；itremainedquitesound。

"Heregoes，"saidBickley。"Ifheshouldbealive，hewillcatchcoldinhislungsafterlyingforagesinthatbabyincubator，asIsupposehehasdone。Soitisnowornever。"

Thenbiddingmeholdtheman’srightarm，hetookthesterilizedsyringewhichhehadprepared，andthrustingtheneedleintoaveinheselectedjustabovethewrist，injectedthecontents。

"Itwouldhavebeenbetterovertheheart，"hewhispered，"butIthoughtIwouldtrythearmfirst。Idon’tlikeriskingchillsbyuncoveringhim。"

Imadenoanswerandagainwewaitedandwatched。

"Greatheavens，he’sstirring！"Igaspedpresently。

Stirringhewas，forhisfingersbegantomove。

Bickleybentdownandplacedhiseartotheheart——Iforgottosaythathehadtestedthisbeforewithastethoscope，buthadbeenunabletodetectanymovement。

"Ibelieveitisbeginningtobeat，"hesaidinanawedvoice。

Thenheappliedthestethoscope，andadded，"Itis，itis！"

Nexthetookafilamentofcottonwoolandlaiditontheman’slips。Presentlyitmoved；hewasbreathing，thoughveryfaintly。

Bickleytookmorecottonwoolandhavingpouredsomethingfromhismedicine—chestontoit，placeditoverthemouthbeneaththeman’snostrils——Ibelieveitwassalvolatile。

Nothingfurtherhappenedforalittlewhile，andtorelievethestrainonmymindIstaredabsentlyintotheemptycoffin。HereI

sawwhathadescapedournotice，twosmallplatesofwhitemetalandcutuponthemwhatItooktobestarmaps。BeyondtheseandtheglowingboxeswhichIhavementioned，therewasnothingelseinthecoffin。Ihadnotimetoexaminethem，foratthatmomenttheoldmanopenedhismouthandbegantobreathe，evidentlywithsomediscomfortandeffort，ashisemptylungsfilledthemselveswithair。Thenhiseyelidslifted，revealingawonderfulpairofdarkglowingeyesbeneath。Nexthetriedtositupbutwouldhavefallen，hadnotBickleysupportedhimwithhisarm。

IdonotthinkhesawBickley，indeedheshuthiseyesagainasthoughthelighthurtthem，andwentintoakindoffaint。ThenitwasthatTommy，whoallthiswhilehadbeenwatchingtheproceedingswithgraveinterest，cameforward，wagginghistail，andlickedtheman’sface。Atthetouchofthedog’sredtongue，heopenedhiseyesforthesecondtime。Nowhesaw——notusbutTommy，foraftercontemplatinghimforafewseconds，somethinglikeasmileappeareduponhisfiercebutnobleface。More，heliftedhishandandlaiditonthedog’shead，asthoughtopatitkindly。Halfaminuteorsolaterhisawakeningsensesappreciatedourpresence。Theincipientsmilevanishedandwasreplacedbyasomewhatterriblefrown。

MeanwhileBickleyhadpouredoutsomeofthehotcoffeelacedwithbrandyintothecupthatwasscrewedonthetopofthethermosflask。AdvancingtothemanwhomIsupported，heputittohislips。Hetastedandmadeawryface，butpresentlyhebegantosip，andultimatelyswalloweditall。Theeffectofthestimulantwaswonderful，forinafewminuteshecametolifecompletelyandwasevenabletositupwithoutsupport。

Forquitealongwhilehegazedatusgravely，talkingusinandeverythingconnectedwithus。Forinstance，Bickley’smedicine—

casewhichlayopenshowingthelittlevulcanitetubes，afewinstrumentsandotheroutfit，engagedhisparticularattention，andIsawatoncethatheunderstoodwhatitwas。Thushisarmstillsmartedwheretheneedlehadbeendriveninandontheblanketlaythesyringe。Helookedathisarm，thenlookedatthesyringe，andnodded。Theparaffinhurricanelampsalsoseemedtointerestandwinhisapproval。Wetwomen，asIthought，attractedhimleastofall；hejustsummedusupandourgarments，moreespeciallythegarments，withafewshrewdglances，andthenseemedtoturnhisthoughtstoTommy，whohadseatedhimselfquitecontentedlyathisside，evidentlyacceptinghimasanewadditiontoourparty。

IconfessthatthisbehaviouronTommy’spartreassuredmenotalittle。Iamagreatbelieverintheinstinctsofanimals，especiallyofdogs，andIfeltcertainthatifthismanhadnotbeeninallessentialshumanlikeourselves，Tommywouldnothavetoleratedhim。Inthesamewaythesleeper’sclearlikingforTommy，atwhomhelookedmuchoftenerandwithgreaterkindnessthanhedidatus，suggestedthattherewasgoodnessinhimsomewhere，sincealthoughadoginitswonderfultolerancemayloveabadpersoninwhomitsmellsouthiddenvirtue，noreallybadpersoneverlovedadog，or，Imayadd，achildoraflower。

Asamatteroffact，the"oldgod，"aswehadchristenedhimwhilehewasinhiscoffin，duringallourassociationwithhim，caredinfinitelymoreforTommythanhedidforanyofus，acircumstancethatultimatelywasnotwithoutitsinfluenceuponourfortunes。Butforthistherewasareasonaswelearnedafterwards，alsohewasnotreallysoamiableasIhoped。

Whenwehadlookedateachotherforalongwhilethesleeperbegantoarrangehisbeard，ofwhichthelengthseemedtosurprisehim，especiallyasTommywasseatedononeendofit。

FindingthisoutandapparentlynotwishingtodisturbTommy，hegaveuptheoccupation，andafteroneortwoattempts，forhistongueandlipsstillseemedtobestiff，addressedusinsomesonorousandmusicallanguage，unlikeanythatwehadeverheard。

Weshookourheads。ThenbyanafterthoughtIsaid"Goodday"tohiminthelanguageoftheOrofenans。Hepuzzledoverthewordasthoughitweremoreorlessfamiliartohim，andwhenIrepeatedit，gaveitbacktomewithadifferenceindeed，butinawaywhichconvincedusthathequiteunderstoodwhatImeant。Theconversationwentnofurtheratthemomentbecausejustthensomememoryseemedtostrikehim。

HewassittingwithhisbackagainstthecoffinoftheGlitteringLady，whomthereforehehadnotseen。Nowhebegantoturnround，andbeingtooweaktodoso，motionedmetohelphim。

Iobeyed，whileBickley，guessinghispurpose，helduponeofthehurricanelampsthathemightseebetter。Withakindoffierceeagernesshesurveyedherwholaywithinthecoffin，andafterhehaddoneso，utteredasighasofintenserelief。

Nexthepointedtothemetalcupoutofwhichhehaddrunk。

Bickleyfilleditagainfromthethermosflask，whichIobservedexcitedhiskeeninterest，for，havingtouchedtheflaskwithhishandandfoundthatitwascool，heappearedtomarvelthatthefluidcomingfromitshouldbehotandsteaming。Presentlyhesmiledasthoughhehadgotthecluetothemystery，andswallowedhisseconddrinkofcoffeeandspirit。Thisdone，hemotionedtoustoliftthelidofthelady’scoffin，pointingoutacertaincatchintheboltswhichatfirstwecouldnotmaster，foritwillberememberedthatonthiscoffinthesewereshot。

Intheend，bypursuingthesamemethodsthatwehadusedintheinstanceofhisown，weraisedthecoffinlidandoncemoreweredriventoretreatfromthesepulchreforawhilebytheoverpoweringodourliketothatofawholegreenhousefulloftuberoses，thatflowedoutofit，inducingakindofstupefactionfromwhichevenTommyfled。

Whenwereturneditwastofindthemankneelingbythesideofthecoffin，forasyethecouldnotstand，withhisglowingeyesfixeduponthefaceofherwhosleptthereinandwavinghislongarmsaboveher。

"Hypnoticbusiness！Wonderifitwillwork，"whisperedBickley。

Thenheliftedthesyringeandlookedinquiringlyattheman，whoshookhishead，andwentonwithhismesmericpasses。

Icreptroundhimandtookmystandbythesleeper’shead，thatImightwatchherface，whichwaswellworthwatching，whileBickley，withhismedicineathand，remainednearherfeet，I

thinkengagedindisinfectingthesyringeinsomespiritoracid。

Ibelievehewasabouttomakeanattempttouseitwhensuddenly，asthoughbeneaththeinfluenceofthehypnoticpasses，achangeappearedontheGlitteringLady’sface。Hitherto，beautifulasitwas，ithadbeenadeadfacethoughoneofapersonwhohadsuddenlybeencutoffwhileinfullhealthandvigourafewhours，oratthemostadayorsobefore。Nowitbegantoliveagain；itwasasthoughthespiritwerereturningfromafar，andnotwithouttoilandtribulation。

Expressionafterexpressionflittedacrossthefeatures；indeedtheseseemedtochangesomuchfrommomenttomomentthattheymighthavebelongedtoseveraldifferentindividuals，thougheachwasbeautiful。ThefactoftheseremarkablechangeswiththesuggestionofmultiformpersonalitieswhichtheyconveyedimpressedbothBickleyandmyselfverymuchindeed。Thenthebreastheavedtumultuously；itevenappearedtostruggle。Nexttheeyesopened。Theywerefullofwonder，evenoffear，butoh！

whatmarvelouseyes。Idonotknowhowtodescribethem，I

cannotevenstatetheirexactcolour，exceptthatitwasdark，somethingliketheblueofsapphiresofthedeepesttint，andyetnotblack；large，too，andsoftasadeer’s。Theyshutagainasthoughthelighthurtthem，thenoncemoreopenedandwanderedabout，apparentlywithoutseeing。

Atlengththeyfoundmyface，forIwasstillbendingoverher，and，restingthere，appearedtotakeitinbydegrees。More，itseemedtotouchandstirsomehumanspringinthestill—sleepingheart。Atleastthefearpassedfromherfeaturesandwasreplacedbyafaintsmile，suchasapatientsometimesgivestooneknownandwellloved，astheeffectsofchloroformpassaway。

Forawhileshelookedatmewithanearnest，searchinggaze，thensuddenly，forthefirsttimemovingherarms，liftedthemandthrewthemroundmyneck。

Theoldmanstared，bendinghisimperialbrowsintoalittlefrown，butdidnothing。Bickleystaredalsothroughhisglassesandsniffedasthoughindisapproval，whileIremainedquitestill，fightingwithawildimpulsetokissheronthelipsasonewouldanawakeningandbelovedchild。IdoubtifIcouldhavedoneso，however，forreallyIwasimmovable；myheartseemedtostopandallmymusclestobeparalysed。

Idonotknowforhowlongthisendured，butIdoknowhowitended。PresentlyintheintensesilenceIheardBastin’sheavyvoiceandlookinground，sawhisbigheadprojectingintothesepulchre。

"Well，Inever！"hesaid，"youseemtohavewokethemupwithavengeance。Ifyoubeginlikethatwiththelady，therewillbecomplicationsbeforeyouhavedone，Arbuthnot。"

Talkofbeingbroughtbacktoearthwitharush！IcouldhavekilledBastin，andBickley，turningonhimlikeatiger，toldhimtobeoff，findwoodandlightalargefireinfrontofthestatue。IthinkhewasabouttoarguewhentheAncientgavehimaglanceofhisfierceeyes，whichalarmedhim，andhedeparted，bewildered，toreturnpresentlywiththewood。

Butthesoundofhisvoicehadbrokenthespell。TheLadyletherarmsfallwithastart，andshuthereyesagain，seemingtofaint。Bickleysprangforwardwithhissalvolatileandappliedittohernostrils，theAncientnotinterfering，forheseemedtorecognisethathehadtodealwithamanofskillandonewhomeantwellbythem。

Intheendwebroughtherroundagainand，toomitdetails，Bickleygaveher，notcoffeeandbrandy，butamixturehecompoundedofhotwater，preservedmilkandmeatessence。Theeffectofitonherwaswonderful，sinceafewminutesafterswallowingitshesatupinthecoffin。Thenweliftedherfromthatnarrowbedinwhichshehadsleptfor——ah！howlong？andperceivedthatbeneathheralsowerecrystalboxesoftheradiant，heat—givingsubstance。Wesatheronthefloorofthesepulchre，wrappingheralsoinablanket。

NowitwasthatTommy，afterfriskingroundherasthoughinwelcomeofanoldfriend，calmlyestablishedhimselfbesideherandlaidhisblackheaduponherknee。Shenoteditandsmiledforthefirsttime，amarvelouslysweetandgentlesmile。More，sheplacedherslenderhanduponthedogandstrokedhimfeebly。

Bickleytriedtomakeherdrinksomemoreofhismixture，butsherefused，motioninghimtogiveittoTommy。This，however，hewouldnotdobecausetherewasbutonecup。Presentlybothofthesleepersbegantoshiver，whichcausedBickleyanxiety。AbusingBastinbeneathhisbreathforbeingsolongwiththefire，hedrewtheblanketscloseraboutthem。

Thenanideacametohimandheexaminedtheglowingboxesinthecoffin。Theywereloose，beingmerelysetinpreparedcavitiesinthecrystal。Wrappingourhandkerchiefsabouthishand，hetookthemoutandplacedthemaroundthewakenedpatients，aproceedingofwhichtheAncientnoddedapproval。Justthen，too，Bastinreturnedwithhisfirstloadoffirewood，andsoonwehadamerryblazegoingjustoutsidethesepulchre。Isawthattheyobservedthelightingofthisfirebymeansofamatchwithmuchinterest。

Nowtheygrewwarmagain，asindeedwedidalso——toowarm。TheninmyturnIhadanidea。Iknewthatbynowthesunwouldbebeatinghotlyagainsttherockofthemount，andsuggestedtoBickley，that，ifpossible，thebestthingwecoulddowouldbetogetthemintoitslife—givingrays。Heagreed，ifwecouldmakethemunderstandandtheywereabletowalk。SoItried。

FirstIdirectedtheAncient’sattentiontothemouthofthecavewhichatthisdistanceshowedasawhitecircleoflight。Helookedatitandthenatmewithgraveinquiry。Imademotionstosuggestthatheshouldproceedthere，repeatingtheword"Sun"intheOrofenantongue。Heunderstoodatonce，thoughwhetherhereadmymindratherthanwhatIsaidIamnotsure。ApparentlytheGlitteringLadyunderstoodalsoandseemedtobemostanxioustogo。Onlyshelookedratherpitifullyatherfeetandshookherhead。Thisdecidedme。

IdonotknowifIhavementionedanywherethatIamatallmanandverymuscular。Shewastall，also，butasIjudgednotsoveryheavyafterherlongfast。AtanyrateIfeltquitecertainthatIcouldcarryherforthatdistance。Stoopingdown，Iliftedherup，signingtohertoputherarmsroundmyneck，whichshedid。ThencallingtoBickleyandBastintobringalongtheAncientbetweenthem，withsomedifficultyIstruggledoutofthesepulchre，andstarteddownthecave。ShewasmoreheavythanI

thought，andyetIcouldhavewishedthejourneylonger。Tobeginwithsheseemedquitetrustfulandhappyinmyarms，whereshelaywithherheadagainstmyshoulder，smilingalittleasachildmightdo，especiallywhenIhadtostopandthrowherlonghairroundmynecklikeamuffler，topreventitfromtrailinginthedust。

Abundleoflavender，oratrussofnew—mownhay，couldnothavebeenmoresweettocarryandtherewassomethingelectricaboutthetouchofher，whichwentthroughandthroughme。Verysoonitwasover，andwewereoutofthecaveintothefullgloryofthetropicalsun。Atfirst，thathereyesmightbecomeaccustomedtoitslightandherawakenedbodytoitsheat，Isetherdownwhereshadowfellfromtheoverhangingrock，inacanvasdeckchairthathadbeenbroughtbyMaramawiththeotherthings，throwingtherugabouthertoprotectherfromsuchwindastherewas。Shenestledgratefullyintothesoftseatandshuthereyes，forthemotionhadtiredher。Inoted，however，thatshedrewinthesweetairwithlongbreaths。

ThenIturnedtoobservethearrivaloftheAncient，whowasbeingbornebetweenBickleyandBastininwhatchildrenknowasadandy—chair，whichisformedbytwopeoplecrossingtheirhandsinapeculiarfashion。Itsaysmuchforthetremendousdignityofhispresencethateventhus，withonearmroundtheneckofBickleyandtheotherroundthatofBastin，andhislongwhitebeardfallingalmosttotheground，hestilllookedmostimposing。

Unfortunately，however，justastheywereemergingfromthecave，Bastin，alwaysthemostawkwardofcreatures，managedtoleaveholdwithonehand，sothathispassengernearlycametotheground。NevershallIforgetthelookthathegavehim。

Indeed，IthinkthatfromthismomenthehatedBastin。Bickleyherespectedasamanofintelligenceandlearning，althoughincomparisonwithhisown，thelatterwasinfantileandcrude；mehetoleratedandevenliked；butBastinhedetested。TheonlyoneofourpartyforwhomhefeltanythingapproachingrealaffectionwasthespanielTommy。

Wesethimdown，fortunatelyuninjured，onsomerugs，andalsointheshadow。Then，afteralittlewhile，wemovedbothofthemintothesun。Itwasquitecurioustoseethemexpandthere。AsBickleysaid，whathappenedtothemmightwellbecomparedtothedevelopmentofabutterflywhichhasjustbrokenfromthelivinggraveofitschrysalisandcreptintothefull，hotradianceofthelight。Itscrinkledwingsunfold，theirbrillianttintsdevelop；inanhourortwoitisperfect，glorious，preparedforlifeandflight，anewcreature。

Soitwaswiththispair，frommomenttomomenttheygatheredstrengthandvigour。Near—bytothem，asithappened，stoodalargebasketofthelusciousnativefruitsbroughtthatmorningbytheOrofenans，andatthesetheLadylookedwithlonging。WithBickley’spermission，IofferedthemtoherandtotheAncient，firstpeelingthemwithmyfingers。Theyateofthemgreedily，afullmeal，andwouldhavegoneonhadnotthesternBickley，fearinguntowardconsequences，removedthebasket。Againtheresultswerewonderful，forhalfanhourafterwardstheyseemedtobequitestrong。WithmyassistancetheGlitteringLady，asI