第11章

stillcallher，foratthattimeIdidnotknowhername，rosefromthechair，and，leaningonme，totteredafewstepsforward。

Thenshestoodlookingattheskyandallthelovelypanoramaofnaturebeneath，andstretchingoutherarmsasthoughinworship。

Oh！howbeautifulsheseemedwiththesunlightshiningonherheavenlyface！

NowforthefirsttimeIheardhervoice。Itwassoftanddeep，yetinitwasacuriousbell—liketonethatseemedtovibratelikethesoundofchimesheardfromfaraway。NeverhaveI

listenedtosuchanothervoice。Shepointedtothesunwhereofthelightturnedherradianthairandgarmentstoakindofgoldenglory，andcalleditbysomenamethatIcouldnotunderstand。Ishookmyhead，whereonshegaveitadifferentnametaken，Isuppose，fromanotherlanguage。AgainIshookmyheadandshetriedathirdtime。TomydelightthiswordwaspracticallythesamethattheOrofenansusedfor"sun。"

"Yes，"Isaid，speakingveryslowly，"soitiscalledbythepeopleofthisland。"

Sheunderstood，forsheansweredinmuchthesamelanguage：

"What，then，doyoucallit？"

"SunintheEnglishtongue，"Ireplied。

"Sun。English，"sherepeatedafterme，thenadded，"Howareyounamed，Wanderer？"

"Humphrey，"Ianswered。

"Hum膄e—膔y！"shesaidasthoughshewerelearningtheword，"andthose？"

"BastinandBickley，"Ireplied。

Overthesepatronymicssheshookherhead；asyettheyweretoomuchforher。

"Howareyounamed，Sleeper？"Iasked。

"Yva，"sheanswered。

"Abeautifulnameforonewhoisbeautiful，"Ideclaredwithenthusiasm，ofcoursealwaysintherichOrofenandialectwhichbynowIcouldtalkwellenough。

Sherepeatedthewordsonceortwice，thenofasuddencaughttheirmeaning，forshesmiledandevencoloured，sayinghastilywithawaveofherhandtowardstheAncientwhostoodatadistancebetweenBastinandBickley，"Myfather，Oro；greatman；

greatking；greatgod！"

AtthisinformationIstarted，foritwasstartlingtolearnthatherewastheoriginalOro，whowasstillworshippedbytheOrofenans，althoughofhisactualexistencetheyhadknownnothingforuncountedtime。AlsoIwasgladtolearnthathewasherfatherandnotheroldhusband，fortomethatwouldhavebeenhorrible，adesecrationtoodeepforwords。

"Howlongdidyousleep，Yva？"Iasked，pointingtowardsthesepulchreinthecave。

Afteralittlethoughtsheunderstoodandshookherheadhopelessly，thenbyanafterthought，shesaid，"StarstellOroto—night。"

SoOrowasanastronomeraswellasakingandagod。Ihadguessedasmuchfromthoseplatesinthecoffinwhichseemedtohavestarsengravedonthem。

Atthispointourconversationcametoanend，fortheAncienthimselfapproached，leaningonthearmofBickleywhowasengagedinananimatedargumentwithBastin。

"ForHeaven’ssake！"saidBickley，"keepyourtheologytoyourselfatpresent。Ifyouupsettheoldfellowandputhiminatemperhemaydie。"

"Ifamantellsmethatheisagoditismydutytotellhimthatheisaliar，"repliedBastinobstinately。

"Whichyoudid，Bastin，onlyfortunatelyhedidnotunderstandyou。ButforyourownsakeIadviseyounottotakeliberties。Heisnotone，Ithink，withwhomitiswisetotrifle。Ithinkheseemsthirsty。Goandgetsomewaterfromtherainpool，notfromthelake。"

Bastindepartedandpresentlyreturnedwithanaluminumjugfullofpurewaterandaglass。BickleypouredsomeofitintoaglassandhandedittoYvawhobentherheadinthanks。Thenshedidacuriousthing。Havingfirstliftedtheglasswithbothhandstotheskyandhelditsoforafewseconds，sheturnedandwithanobeisancepouredalittleofitonthegroundbeforeherfather’sfeet。

Alibation，thoughtItomyself，andevidentlyBastinagreedwithme，forIheardhimmutter，"Ibelievesheismakingaheathenoffering。"

Doubtlesswewereright，forOroacceptedthehomagebyalittlemotionofthehead。Afterthis，atasignfromhimshedrankthewater。ThentheglasswasrefilledandhandedtoOrowhoalsoheldittowardsthesky。He，however，madenolibationbutdrankatonce，twotumblersofitinrapidsuccession。

Bynowthedirectsunlightwaspassingfromthemouthofthecave，andthoughitwashotenough，bothofthemshiveredalittle。Theyspoketogetherinsomelanguageofwhichwecouldnotunderstandaword，asthoughtheyweredebatingwhattheircourseofactionshouldbe。Thedisputewaslongandearnest。Hadweknownwhatwaspassing，whichIlearnedafterwards，itwouldhavemadeussufficientlyanxious，forthepointatissuewasnothinglessthanwhetherweshouldorshouldnotbeforthwithdestroyed——anend，itappears，thatOrowasquitecapableofbringingaboutifhesopleased。Yva，however，hadveryclearviewsofherownonthematterand，asIgather，evendaredtothreatenthatshewouldprotectusbytheuseofcertainpowersathercommand，thoughwhatthesewereIdonotknow。

WhiletheeventhungdoubtfulTommy，whowasgrowingboredwiththeselongproceedings，pickedupaboughstillcoveredwithflowerswhich，aftertheirprettyfashion，theOrofenanshadplacedonthetopofoneofthebasketsoffood。ThissmallboughhebroughtandlaidatthefeetofOro，nodoubtinthehopethathewouldthrowitforhimtofetch，agameinwhichthedogdelighted。ForsomereasonOrosawanomeninthissimplecanineperformance，orhemayhavethoughtthatthedogwasmakinganofferingtohim，forheputhisthinhandtohisbrowandthoughtawhile，thenmotionedtoBastintopickuptheboughandgiveittohim。

Nexthespoketohisdaughterasthoughassentingtosomething，forIsawhersighinrelief。Nowonder，forhewasconveyinghisdecisiontospareourlivesandadmitustotheirfellowship。

Afterthisagaintheytalked，butinquiteadifferenttoneandmanner。ThentheGlitteringLadysaidtomeinherslowandarchaicOrofenan：

"Wegotorest。Youmustnotfollow。Wecomebackperhapstonight，perhapsnextnight。Wearequitesafe。YouarequitesafeunderthebeardofOro。SpiritofOrowatchyou。Youunderstand？"

IsaidIunderstood，whereonsheanswered：

"Good—bye，OHumfe—ry。"

"Good—bye，OYva，"Ireplied，bowing。

Thereontheyturnedandrefusingallassistancefromus，vanishedintothedarknessofthecaveleaninguponeachotherandwalkingslowly。

ChapterXII

TwoHundredandFiftyThousandYears！

"Youseemtohavemadethebestofyourtime，oldfellow，"saidBickleyinratherasourvoice。

"IneverknewpeoplebegintocalleachotherbytheirChristiannamessosoon，"addedBastin，lookingatmewithasuspiciouseye。

"Iknownoother，"Isaid。

"Perhapsnot，butatanyrateyouhaveanother，thoughyoudon’tseemtohavetoldittoher。Anyway，Iamgladtheyaregone，forIwasgettingtiredofbeingorderedbyeverybodytocarryaboutwoodandwaterforthem。AlsoIamterriblyhungryasIcan’teatbeforeitislight。TheyhavetakenmostofthebestfruittowhichIwaslookingforward，butthankgoodnesstheydonotseemtocareforpork。"

"SoamI，"saidBickley，whoreallylookedexhausted。"Getthefood，there’sagoodfellow。We’lltalkafterwards。"

Whenwehadeaten，somewhatsilently，IaskedBickleywhathemadeofthebusiness；alsowhitherhethoughtthesleepershadgone。

"IthinkIcananswerthelastquestion，"interruptedBastin。

"IexpectitistoaplacewellknowntostudentsoftheBiblewhichevenBickleymentionssometimeswhenheisangry。Atanyrate，theyseemtobeveryfondofheat，fortheywouldn’tpartfromitevenintheircoffins，andyouwilladmitthattheyarenotquitenatural，althoughthatGlitteringLadyissoattractiveasregardsherexterior。"

Bickleywavedtheseremarksasideandaddressedhimselftome。

"Idon’tknowwhattothinkofit，"hesaid；"butastheexperienceisnotnaturalandeverythingintheUniverse，sofarasweknowit，hasanaturalexplanation，Iaminclinedtothebeliefthatwearesufferingfromhallucinations，whichintheirwayarealsoquitenatural。Itdoesnotseempossiblethattwopeoplecanreallyhavebeenasleepforanunknownlengthoftimeenclosedinvesselsofglassorcrystal，keptwarmbyradiumorsomesuchsubstance，andthenemergefromthemcomparativelystrongandwell。Itiscontrarytonaturallaw。"

"Howaboutmicrobes？"Iasked。"Theyaresaidtolastpracticallyforever，andtheyarelivingthings。Sointheircaseyournaturallawbreaksdown。"

"Thatistrue，"heanswered。"Somemicrobesinasealedtubeandundercertainconditionsdoappeartopossessindefinitepowersoflife。Alsoradiumhasanindefinitelife，butthatisamineral。Onlythesepeoplearenotmicrobesnoraretheyminerals。Also，experiencetellsusthattheycouldnothavelivedformorethanafewmonthsattheoutsideinsuchcircumstancesasweseemedtofindthem。"

"Thenwhatdoyousuggest？"

"Isuggestthatwedidnotreallyfindthematall；thatwehaveallbeendreaming。Youknowthattherearecertaingaseswhichproduceillusions，laughinggasisoneofthem，andthatthesegasesaresometimesmetwithincaves。Nowtherewereverypeculiarodoursinthatplaceunderthestatue，whichmayhaveworkeduponourimaginationsinsomesuchway。Otherwiseweareupagainstamiracle，and，asyouknow，Idonotbelieveinmiracles。"

"Ido，"saidBastincalmly。"You’llfindallaboutitintheBibleifyouwillonlytakethetroubletoread。Whydoyoutalksuchrubbishaboutgases？"

"Becauseonlygas，orsomethingofthesort，couldhavemadeusimaginethem。"

"Nonsense，Bickley！Thosepeoplewerehererightenough。Didn’ttheyeatourfruitanddrinkthewaterIbroughtthemwithouteversayingthankyou？Only，theyarenothuman。Theyareevilspirits，andformypartIdon’twanttoseeanymoreofthem，thoughIhavenodoubtArbuthnotdoes，asthatGlitteringLadythrewherarmsroundhisneckwhenshewokeup，andalreadyheiscallingherbyherChristianname，ifthewordChristiancanbeusedinconnectionwithher。Theoldfellowhadtheimpudencetotellusthathewasagod，anditisremarkablethatheshouldhavecalledhimselfOro，seeingthatthedeviltheyworshipontheislandisalsocalledOroandtheplaceitselfisnamedOrofena。"

"Astowheretheyhavegone，"continuedBickley，takingnonoticeofBastin，"Ireallydon’tknow。Myexpectationis，however，thatwhenwegotolooktomorrowmorning——andIsuggestthatweshouldnotdosobeforetheninorderthatwemaygiveourmindstimetoclear——weshallfindthatsepulchreplacequiteempty，evenperhapswithoutthecrystalcoffinswehaveimaginedtostandthere。"

"Perhapsweshallfindthatthereisn’tacaveatallandthatwearenotsittingonaflatrockoutsideofit，"suggestedBastinwithheavysarcasm，adding，"Youarecleverinyourway，Bickley，butyoucantalkmorerubbishthananymanIeverknew。"

"Theytoldustheywouldcomebacktonightortomorrow，"I

said。"Iftheydo，whatwillyousaythen，Bickley？"

"Iwillwaittilltheycometoanswerthatquestion。Nowletusgoforawalkandtrytochangeourthoughts。Weareallover—strainedandscarcelyknowwhatwearesaying。"

"Onemorequestion，"Isaidaswerosetostart。"DidTommysufferfromhallucinationsaswellasourselves？"

"Whynot？"answeredBickley。"Heisananimaljustasweare，orperhapswethoughtwesawTommydothethingshedid。"

"Whenyoufoundthatbasketoffruit，Bastin，whichthenativesbroughtoverinthecanoe，wasthereaboughcoveredwithredflowerslyingonthetopofit？"

"Yes，Arbuthnot，oneboughonly；IthrewitdownontherockasitgotinthewaywhenIwascarryingthebasket。"

"WhichfloweringboughweallthoughtwesawtheSleeperOrocarryawayafterTommyhadbroughtittohim。"

"Yes；hemademepickitupandgiveittohim，"saidBastin。

"Well，ifwedidnotseethisitshouldstillbelyingontherock，astherehasbeennowindandtherearenoanimalsheretocarryitaway。Youwilladmitthat，Bickley？"

Henodded。

"Thenifithasgoneyouwilladmitalsothatthepresumptionisthatwesawwhatwethoughtwedidsee？"

"Idonotknowhowthatconclusioncanbeavoided，atanyratesofarastheincidentoftheboughisconcerned，"repliedBickleywithcaution。

Then，withoutmorewords，westartedtolook。Atthespotwheretheboughshouldhavebeen，therewasnobough，butontherocklayseveraloftheredflowers，bittenoff，Isuppose，byTommywhilehewascarryingit。Norwasthisall。IthinkIhavementionedthattheGlitteringLadyworesandalswhichwerefastenedwithredstudsthatlookedlikerubiesorcarbuncles。Ontherocklayoneofthesestuds。Ipickeditupandweexaminedit。Ithadbeensewntothesandal—strapwithgoldenthreadorsilk。Someofthissubstancehungfromtheholedrilledinthestonewhichservedforaneye。Itwasasrottenastinder，apparentlywithextremeage。Moreover，thehardgemitselfwaspittedasthoughthepassageoftimehadtakeneffectuponit，thoughthismayhavebeencausedbyotheragencies，suchastheactionoftheradiumrays。IsmiledatBickleywholookeddisconcertedandevensad。Inawayitispainfultoseetheeffectuponanableandearnestmanoftheupsettingofhislifelongtheories。

Wewentforourwalk，keepingtotheflatlandsatthefootofthevolcanocone，forweseemedtohavehadenoughofwondersandtodesiretoreassureourselves，asitwere，bythestudyofnaturalandfamiliarthings。Asitchanced，too，wewererewardedbysundryusefuldiscoveries。Thuswefoundaplacewherethebread—treeandotherfruits，mostofthemnowripe，grewinabundance，asdidtheyam。Also，wecametoaninletthatwenoticedwascrowdedwithlargeandbeautifulfishfromthelake，whichseemedtofinditafavouritespot。Perhapsthiswasbecausealittlestreamofexcellentwaterraninhere，overflowingfromthegreatpoolormerewhichfilledthecraterabove。

Atthesefindswerejoicedgreatly，fornowweknewthatweneednotfearstarvationevenshouldoursupplyoffoodfromthemainislandbecutoff。Indeed，byhelpofsomepalm—leafstalkswhichwewovetogetherroughly，Bastin，whowasrathercleveratthiskindofthing，managedtotrapfourfishweighingtwoorthreepoundsapiece，wadingintothewatertodoso。Itwascurioustoobservewithwhateaseheadaptedhimselftothemannersandcustomsofprimevalman，somuchso，indeed，thatBickleyremarkedthatifhecouldbelieveinre—incarnation，hewouldbeabsolutelycertainthatBastinwasatroglodyteinhislastsojournontheearth。

Howeverthismightbe，Bastin’sprimevalinstinctsandabilitieswereoftheutmostservicetous。Beforewehadbeenmanydaysonthatislandhehadbuiltusakindofnativehutorhouseroofedwithpalmleavesinwhich，untilprovidedwithabetter，ashappenedafterwards，weateandheandBickleyslept，leavingthetenttome。Moreover，hewoveanetofpalmfibrewithwhichhecaughtabundanceoffish，andmadefishing—linesofthesamematerial（fortunatelywehadsomehooks）whichhebaitedwithfreshwatermusselsandtheinsidesoffish。Bymeansofthesehesecuredsomeveritablemonstersofthecarpspeciesthatprovedmostexcellenteating。Hisgreatesttriumph，however，wasadecoywhichheconstructedofboughs，whereinhetrappedanumberofwaterfowl。Sothatsoonwekeptaverygoodtableofasort，especiallyafterhehadlearnedhowtocookourfooduponthenativeplanbymeansofhotstones。Thissuitedusadmirably，asitenabledBickleyandmyselftodevoteallourtimetoarchaeologicalandotherstudieswhichdidnotgreatlyinterestBastin。

Bythetimethatwegotbacktocampitwasdrawingtowardsevening，sowecookedourfoodandate，andthen，thoroughlyexhausted，madeourselvesascomfortableaswecouldandwenttosleep。EvenourmarvelousexperiencescouldnotkeepBickleyandmyselffromsleeping，andonBastinsuchthingshadnoeffect。Heacceptedthemandthatwasall，muchmorereadilythanwedid，indeed。Triple—armedashewasinthemailofachild—likefaith，hesnappedhisfingersatevilspiritswhichhesupposedtheSleeperstobe，andateverythingelsethatothermenmightdread。

Now，asIhavementioned，afterourtalkwithMarama，althoughwedidnotthinkitwisetoadventureourselvesamongthemagainatpresent，wehadlostallfearoftheOrofenans。Inthisattitude，sofarasMaramahimselfandthemajorityofhispeoplewereconcerned，wewerequitejustified，fortheywereourwarmfriends。Butinthecaseofthesorcerers，thepriestsandalltheirrascallyandsuperstitiousbrotherhood，wewerebynomeansjustified。TheyhadnotforgivenBastinhissacrilegeorforhisunderminingoftheirauthoritybythepreachingofnewdoctrineswhich，ifadopted，woulddestroythemasahierarchy。NorhadtheyforgivenBickleyforshootingoneoftheirnumber，oranyofusforourescapefromthevengeanceoftheirgod。

SoitcameaboutthattheymadeaplottoseizeusallandhaleusofftobesacrificedtoasubstitutedimageofOro，whichbynowtheyhadsetup。Theyknewexactlywherewesleptupontherock；indeed，ourfireshowedittothemandsofartheywerenotafraidtoventure，sinceheretheyhadbeenaccustomedforgenerationstolaytheirofferingstothegodoftheMountain。

Secretlyonthepreviousnight，withouttheknowledgeofMarama，theyhadcarriedtwomorecanoestothebordersofthelake。Nowonthisnight，justasthemoonwassettingaboutthreeinthemorning，theymadetheirattack，twenty—onemeninall，forthethreecanoeswerelarge，relyingonthefollowingdarknesstogetusawayandconveyustotheplaceofsacrificetobeofferedupatdawnandbeforeMaramacouldinterfere。

Thefirstweknewofthematter，formostfoolishlywehadneglectedtokeepawatch，wastheunpleasantsensationofbrawnysavageskneelingonusandtrussingusupwithpalm—fibreropes。