第12章

Alsotheythrusthandfulsofdrygrassintoourmouthstopreventusfromcallingout，althoughasaircamethroughtheintersticesofthegrass，wedidnotsuffocate。Thethingwassowelldonethatweneverstruckablowinself—defence，andalthoughwehadourpistolsathand，muchlesscouldwefireashot。Ofcourse，westruggledaswellaswewereable，butitwasquiteuseless；

inthreeminuteswewereashelplessascalvesinanetandlikecalveswerebeingconveyedtothebutcher。Bastinmanagedtogetthegagoutofhismouthforafewseconds，andIheardhimsayinhisslow，heavyvoice：

"This，Bickley，iswhatcomesoftraffickingwithevilspiritsinmuseumcases——"Therehisspeechstopped，forthegrasswadwasjammeddownhisthroatagain，butdistinctlyIheardtheinarticulateBickleysnortasheconceivedthereparteehewasunabletoutter。Asformyself，Ireflectedthatthebusinessservedusrightfornotkeepingawatch，andabandonedtheissuetofate。

Still，toconfessthetruth，IwasinfinitelymoresorrytodiethanIshouldhavebeenforty—eighthoursearlier。Thisisadullandinmostwaysadreadfulworld，one，ifwecouldonlysummonthecourage，thatsomeofuswouldbegladtoleaveinsearchofnewadventures。Buthereagreatandunprecedentedadventurehadbeguntobefallme，andbeforeitsmysterywassolved，beforeevenIcouldformulateatheoryconcerningit，mybodymustbedestroyed，andmyintelligencethatwascagedtherein，sentfarafield；or，ifBickleywereright，eclipsed。Itseemedsosadjustwhentheimpossible，likeanunguessedwanderingmoon，hadrisenoverthegreyflatsoftheascertainedandmadethemshinewithhopeandwonder。

Theycarriedusofftothecanoes，nottoogently；indeed，I

heardthebonyframeofBastinbumpintothebottomofoneofthemandreflected，notwithoutvenom，thatitservedhimrightashewasthefountandoriginofourwoes。Twostinkingmagicians，wearingontheirheadsundresseditionsoftheircourtcages，sincetheseweretoocumbersomeforactiveworkofthesort，andpaintedalloverwithvariouspigments，werejustabouttoswingmeafterhimintothesame，oranothercanoe，whensomethinghappened。Ididnotknowwhatitwas，butasaresult，mycaptorsleftholdofmesothatIfelltotherock，lyinguponmyback。

Then，withinmylineofvision，which，itmustberemembered，waslimitedbecauseIcouldnotliftmyhead，appearedtheupperpartofthetallpersonoftheAncientwhosaidthathewasnamedOro。Icouldonlyseehimdowntohismiddle，butInotedvaguelythatheseemedtobemuchchanged。Forinstance，heworeadifferentcoloureddress，orratherrobe；thistimeitwasdarkblue，whichcausedmetowonderwhereonearthitcamefrom。

Also，histremendousbeardhadbeentrimmedanddressed，andonhisheadtherewasasimpleblackcap，strangelyquilted，whichlookedasthoughitweremadeofvelvet。Moreover，hisfacehadplumpedout。Hestilllookedancient，itistrue，andunutterablywise，butnowheresembledanantiqueyouth，sogreatwerehisenergyandvigour。Also，hisdarkandglowingeyesshonewithafearfulintensity。Inshort，heseemedimpressiveandterriblealmostbeyondimagining。

Helookedabouthimslowly，thenaskedinadeep，coldvoice，speakingintheOrofenantongue：

"Whatdoyou，slaves？"

Nooneseemedabletoanswer，theyweretoohorror—strickenatthissuddenvisionoftheirfabledgod，whosefiercefeaturesofwoodhadbecomeflesh；theyonlyturnedtofly。Hewavedhisthinhandandtheycametoastandstill，likeanimalswhichhavereachedtheendoftheirtetherandarecheckedbythechainsthatbindthem。Theretheystoodinallsortsofpostures，immovableandlookingextremelyridiculousintheirpaintandfeathers，withdreadunutterablestampedupontheirevilfaces。

TheSleeperspokeagain：

"Youwouldmurderasdidyourforefathers，Ochildrenofsnakesandhogsfashionedintheshapeofmen。Youwouldsacrificethosewhodwellinmyshadowtosatisfyyourhatebecausetheyarewiserthanyou。Comehitherthou，"andhebeckonedwithabonyfingertothechiefmagician。

Themanadvancedtowardshiminshortjumps，asamechanicaltoymightdo，andstoodbeforehim，hisminiaturecrateandfeathersallawryandthesweatofterrormeltingthepaintinstreaksuponhisface。

"LookintotheeyesofOro，OworshipperofOro，"saidtheSleeper，andheobeyed，hisowneyesstartingoutofhishead。

"ReceivethecurseofOro，"saidtheAncientagain。Thenfollowedaterriblespectacle。Themanwentravingmad。Heboundedintotheairtoaheightinconceivable。Hethrewhimselfuponthegroundandrolledupontherock。Heroseagainandstaggeredroundandround，tearingpiecesoutofhisarmswithhisteeth。Heyelledhideouslylikeonepossessed。Hegrovelled，beatinghisforeheadagainsttherock。Thenhesatup，slowlychokedand——died。

Hiscompanionsseemedtocatchtheinfectionofdeathasterrifiedsavagesoftendo。Theytooperformeddreadfulantics，allexceptthreeofthemwhostoodparalysed。Theyrushedaboutbatteringeachotherwiththeirfistsandwoodenweapons，lookinglikedevilsfromhellintheirhideouspaintedattire。Theygrappledandfoughtfuriously。Theyseparatedandplungedintothelake，wherewithalastgrimacetheysanklikestones。

Itseemedtolastalongwhile，butIthinkthatasamatteroffactwithinfiveminutesitwasover；theywerealldead。Onlythethreeparalysedonesremainedstandingandrollingtheireyes。

TheSleeperbeckonedtothemwithhisthinfinger，andtheywalkedforwardinsteplikesoldiers。

"Liftthatmanfromtheboat，"hesaid，pointingtoBastin，"cuthisbondsandthoseoftheothers。"

TheyobeyedwithaWonderfulalacrity。Inaminutewestoodatlibertyandwerepullingthegrassgagsfromourmouths。TheAncientpointedtotheheadmagicianwholaydeadupontherock，hishideous，contortedcountenancestaringopen—eyedatheaven。

"Takethatsorcererandshowhimtotheothersorcerersyonder，"

hesaid，"andtellthemwhereyourfellowsareiftheywouldfindthem。KnowbythesesignsthattheOro，godoftheMountain，whohassleptawhile，isawake，andillwillitgowiththemwhoquestionhispowerordaretotrytoharmthosewhodwellinhishouse。Bringfooddaybydayandawaitcommands。Begone！"

Thedreadful—lookingbodywasbundledintooneofthecanoes，thatoutofwhichBastinhademerged。Arowersprangintoeachofthemandpresentlywaspaddlingashehadneverdonebefore。Asthesettingmoonvanished，theyvanishedwithit，andoncemoretherewasagreatsilence。

"Iamgoingtofindmyboots，"saidBastin。"ThisrockishardandIhurtmyfeetkickingatthosepoorfellowswhoappeartohavecometoabadend，how，Idonotexactlyunderstand。

Personally，Ithinkthatmoreallowancesshouldhavebeenmadeforthem，asIhopewillbethecaseelsewhere，sinceafteralltheyonlyactedaccordingtotheirlights。"

"Cursetheirlights！"ejaculatedBickley，feelinghisthroatwhichwasbruised。"I’mgladtheyareout。"

Bastinlimpedawayinsearchofhisboots，butBickleyandI

stoodwherewewerecontemplatingtheawakenedSleeper。Allrecollectionoftherecenttumultuoussceneseemedtohavepassedfromhismind，forhewasengagedinastudyoftheheavens。Theywerewonderfullybrilliantnowthatthemoonwasdown，brilliantastheyonlycanbeinthetropicswhentheskyisclear。

Somethingcausedmetolookround，andthere，comingtowardsus，wasshewhosaidhernamewasYva。Evidentlyallherweaknesshaddepartedalso，fornowsheneedednosupport，butwalkedwithapeculiarglidingmotionthatremindedmeofaswanfloatingforwardonthewater。WellhadwenamedhertheGlitteringLady，forinthestarlightliterallysheseemedtoglitter。Isupposetheeffectcamefromhergoldenraiment，which，however，I

noticed，asinherfather’scase，wasnotthesamethatshehadworninthecoffin；alsofromherhairthatseemedtogiveoutalightofitsown。Atleast，sheshimmeredasshecame，hertallshapeswayingateverysteplikeawillowinthewind。Shedrewnear，andIsawthatherface，too，hadfilledoutandnowwasthatofoneinperfecthealthandvigour，whilehereyesshonesoftlyandseemedwondrouslarge。

InherhandsshecarriedthosetwoplatesofmetalwhichIhadseenlyinginthecoffinoftheSleeperOro。Theseshegavetohim，thenfellbackoutofhishearing——ifitwereeverpossibletodothis，apointonwhichIamnotsure——andbegantotalktome。Inotedatoncethatinthefewhoursduringwhichshewasabsent，herknowledgeoftheOrofenantongueseemedtohaveimprovedgreatlyasthoughshehaddrunkdeeplyfromsomehiddenfountofmemory。Nowshespokeitwithreadiness，asOrohaddonewhenheaddressedthesorcerers，althoughmanyofthewordssheusedwerenotknowntome，andthegeneralformofherlanguageappearedarchaic，asforinstancethatofSpenseriscomparedwithmodernEnglish。WhenshesawIdidnotcomprehendher，however，shewouldstopandcasthersentencesinadifferentshape，tillatlengthIcaughthermeaning。NowIgivethesubstanceofwhatshesaid。

"Youaresafe，"shebegan，glancingfirstatthepalmropesthatlayupontherockandthenatmywrists，oneofwhichwascut。

"Yes，LadyYva，thankstoyourfather。"

"Youshouldsaythankstome。Myfatherwasthinkingofotherthings，butIwasthinkingofyoustrangers，andfromwhereIwasIsawthosewickedonescomingtokillyou。"

"Oh！fromthetopofthemountain，Isuppose。"

Sheshookherheadandsmiledbutvouchsafednofurtherexplanation，unlessherfollowingwordscanbesocalled。Thesewere：

"Icanseeotherwisethanwithmyeyes，ifIchoose。"A

statementthatcausedBickley，whowaslistening，tomutter：

"Impossible！Whatthedeucecanshemean？Telepathy，perhaps。"

"Isaw，"shecontinued，"andtoldtheLord，myfather。Hecameforth。Didhekillthem？Ididnotlooktolearn。"

"Yes。Theylieinthelake，allexceptthreewhomhesentawayasmessengers。"

"Ithoughtso。Deathisterrible，OHumphrey，butitisaswordwhichthose，whorulemustusetosmitethewickedandthesavage。

Notwishingtopursuethissubject，Iaskedherwhatherfatherwasdoingwiththemetalplates。

"Hereadsthestars，"sheanswered，"tolearnhowlongwehavebeenasleep。Beforewewenttosleephemadetwopicturesofthem，astheywerethenandastheyshouldbeatthetimehehadsetforourawakening。"

"Wesetthattime，"interruptedBickley。

"Notso。OBickley，"sheanswered，smilingagain。"InthedivineOro’sheadwasthetimeset。Youwerethehandthatexecutedhisdecree。"

WhenBickleyheardthisIreallythoughthewouldhaveburst。

However，hecontrolledhimselfnobly，beinganxioustoheartheendofthismysteriousfib。

"HowlongwasthetimethatthelordOrosetapartforsleep？"

Iasked。

Shepausedasthoughpuzzledtofindwordstoexpresshermeaning，thenheldupherhandsandsaid：

"Ten，"noddingatherfingers。BysecondthoughtsshetookBickley’shands，notmine，andcountedhistenfingers。

"Tenyears，"saidBickley。"Well，ofcourse，itisimpossible，butperhaps——"andhepaused。

"Tentens，"shewentonwithadeepeningsmile，"onehundred。"

"O！"saidBickley。

"Tenhundreds，onethousand。"

"Isay！"saidBickley。

"Tentimestenthousand，onehundredthousand。"

Bickleybecamesilent。

"Twiceonehundredthousandandhalfahundredthousand，twohundredandfiftythousandyears。ThatwasthespaceoftimewhichthelordOro，myfather，setforoursleep。Whetherithasbeenfulfilledhewillknowpresentlywhenhehasreadthebookofthestarsandmadecomparisonofitwithwhathewrotebeforewelaidusdowntorest，"andshepointedtothemetalplateswhichtheAncientwasstudying。

Bickleywalkedaway，makingsoundsasthoughheweregoingtobeillandlookingsoabsurdinhisindignationthatInearlylaughed。TheLadyYvaactuallydidlaugh，andverymusicalwasthatlaugh。

"Hedoesnotbelieve，"shesaid。"Heissocleverheknowseverything。Buttwohundredandfiftythousandyearsagoweshouldhavethoughthimquitestupid。Thenwecouldreadthestarsandcalculatetheirmovementsforever。"

"Socanwe，"Ianswered，rathernettled。

"Iamglad，OHumphrey，sinceyouwillbeabletoshowmyfatherifinoneofthemheiswrong。"

SecretlyIhopedthatthistaskwouldnotbelaidonme。

Indeed，IthoughtitwelltochangethesubjectfortheedificationofBickleywhohadrecoveredandwasdrawnbackbyhiseagercuriosity。Justthen，too，Bastinjoinedus，happyinhisregainedboots。

"Youtellus，LadyYva，"Isaid，"thatyouslept，orshouldhavesleptfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears。"HereBastinopenedhiseyes。"Ifthatwasso，wherewasyourmindallthistime？"

"Ifbymymindyoumeanspirit，OHumphrey，IhavetoanswerthatatpresentIdonotknowforcertain。Ithink，however，thatitdweltelsewhere，perhapsinotherbodiesontheearth，orsomedifferentearth。Atleast，IknowthatmyheartisveryfullofmemorieswhichasyetIcannotunrollandread。"

"Greatheavens，thisismadness！"saidBickley。

"Inthegreatheavens，"sheansweredslowly，"therearemanythingswhichyou，poorman，wouldthinktobemadness，butyetaretruthandperfectwisdom。Thesethings，orsomeofthem，soonIshallhopetoshowyou。"

"Doifyoucan，"saidBickley。

"Whynot？"interruptedBastin。"Ithinkthelady’sremarksquitereasonable。Itseemstomehighlyimprobableifreallyshehassleptfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears，which，ofcourse，Ican’tdecide，thatanimmortalspiritwouldbeallowedtoremainidleforsolong。Thatwouldbewallowinginabedofidlenessandshirkingitsdutywhichistodoitswork。Also，asshetellsyou，Bickley，youarenothalfsocleverasyouthinkyouareinyoursillyscepticism，andIhavenodoubtthattherearemanythingsinotherworldswhichwouldexposeyourignorance，ifonlyyoucouldseethem。"

AtthismomentOroturnedandcalledhisdaughter。Shewentatonce，saying：

"Come，strangers，andyoushalllearn。"

Sowefollowedher。

"Daughter，"hesaid，speakinginOrofenan，Ithinkthatwemightunderstand，"askthesestrangerstobringoneofthoselampsoftheirsthatbythelightofitImaystudythesewritings。"

"Perhapsthismayserve，"saidBickley，suddenlyproducinganelectrictorchfromhispocketandflashingitintohisface。Itwashisformofreparteeforallhehadsufferedatthehandsofthisincomprehensiblepair。Letmesayatoncethatitwassingularlysuccessful。PerhapsthewisdomoftheagesinwhichOroflourishedhadoverlookedsosmallamatteraselectrictorches，orperhapshedidnotexpecttomeetwiththeminthesedegeneratedays。AtanyrateforthefirstandlasttimeinmyintercoursewithhimIsawthegod，orlord——thenativewordbearseithermeaning——Orogenuinelyastonished。Hestartedandsteppedback，andforamomentortwoseemedalittlefrightened。

Thenmutteringsomethingastotheclevernessofthislight—producinginstrument，hemotionedtohisdaughtertotakeitfromBickleyandholditinacertainposition。Sheobeyed，andinitsilluminationhebegantostudytheengravedplates，holdingoneofthemineitherhand。

Afterawhilehegavemeoneoftheplatestohold，andwithhisdisengagedhandpointedsuccessivelytotheconstellationofOrion，tothestarsCastor，Pollux，Aldebaran，Rigel，thePleiades，SiriusandotherswhichwithmyverylimitedknowledgeIcouldnotrecogniseoffhand。ThenontheplatewhichIheld，heshowedusthosesamestarsandconstellations，checkingthemonebyone。

Thenheremarkedveryquietlythatallwasinorder，andhandingtheplateheheldtoYva，said：

"Thecalculationsmadesolongagoarecorrect，norhavethestarsvariedintheirpropermotionsduringwhatisafterallbutanhouroftime。Ifyou，Stranger，who，Iunderstand，arenamedHumphrey，shouldbe，asIgather，aheaven—master，naturallyyouwillaskmehowIcouldfixanexactdatebythestarswithoutanerrorof，letussay，fromfivetotenthousandyears。Iansweryouthatbythepropermotionofthestarsaloneitwouldhavebeendifficult。ThereforeIrememberthatinordertobeexact，I

calculatedthefutureconjunctionsofthosetwoplanets，"andhepointedtoSaturnandJupiter。"Findingthatoneoftheseoccurrednearyonderstar，"andheindicatedthebrightorb，Spica，"atacertaintime，IdeterminedthatthenIwouldawake。

Behold！TherearethestarsasIengravedthemfrommyforeknowledge，uponthischart，andtherethosetwogreatplanetshanginconjunction。DaughterYva，mywisdomhasnotfailedme。

Thisworldofourshastravelledroundthesunneitherlessnormorethantwohundredandfiftythousandtimessincewelaidourselvesdowntosleep。Itiswrittenhere，andyonder，"andhepointed，firsttotheengravedplatesandthentothevastexpanseofthestarlitheavens。

Awefellonme；IthinkthatevenBickleyandBastinwereawed，atanyrateforthemoment。Itwasaterriblethingtolookonabeing，toallappearancemoreorlesshuman，whoallegedthathehadbeenasleepfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears，andproceededtoproveitbycertainancientstarcharts。OfcourseatthetimeIcouldnotcheckthosecharts，lackingthenecessaryknowledge，butIhavedonesosinceandfoundthattheyarequiteaccurate。Howeverthismadenodifference，sincethecircumstancesandsomethinginhismannerconvincedmethathespoketheabsolutetruth。

Heandhisdaughterhadbeenasleepfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears。Oh！Heavens，fortwohundredandfiftythousandyears！

ChapterXIII

OroSpeaksandBastinArguesThereaderofwhatIhavewritten，shouldthereeverbesuchaperson，mayfindtherecordmarvelous，andthereforerashlyconcludethatbecauseitisbeyondexperience，itcouldnotbe。

Itisnotawisededuction，asIthinkBickleywouldadmittoday，becausewithoutdoubtmanythingsarewhichsurpassourextremelylimitedexperience。However，thosewhodrawtheveilfromtheUnknownandrevealtheNew，mustexpectincredulity，andacceptitwithoutgrumbling。Wasthatnotthefate，forinstance，ofthosewhointheMiddleAges，afewhundredyearsago，discovered，orratherrediscoveredthemightymovementsofthoseconstellationswhichservedOroforanalmanac？

ButthepointIwanttomakeisthatifthescepticplaysaBickleyanpartasregardswhathasbeenwritten，itseemsprobablethathisattitudewillbeaccentuatedasregardsthatwhichitstillremainsformetowrite。Ifso，Icannothelpit，andmustdeclineentirelytowaterdownordoctorfactsandthuspandertohisprejudiceandignorance。FormypartIcannotattempttoexplaintheseoccurrences；IonlyknowthattheyhappenedandthatIsetdownwhatIsaw，heardandfelt，neithermorenorless。

ImmediatelyafterOrohadtriumphantlyvindicatedhisstellarcalculationsheturnedanddepartedintothecave，followedbyhisdaughter，wavingtoustoremainwherewewere。Asshepassedus，however，theGlitteringLadywhispered——thistimetoBastin——

thathewouldseethemagaininafewhours，adding：

"WehavemuchtolearnandIhopethatthenyouwho，I

understand，areapriest，willbegintoteachusofyourreligionandothermatters。"

Bastinwassoastonishedthathecouldmakenoreply，butwhentheyhadgonehesaid：

"WhichofyoutoldherthatIwasapriest？"

Weshookourheadsforneitherofuscouldrememberhavingdoneso。

"Well，Ididnot，"continuedBastin，"sinceatpresentIhavefoundnoopportunityofsayingawordinseason。SoIsupposeshemusthavegathereditfrommyattire，thoughasamatteroffactIhaven’tbeenwearingacollar，andthosemenwhowantedtocookme，pulledoffmywhitetieandIdidn’tthinkitworthwhiledirtyingacleanone。"

"If，"saidBickley，"youimaginethatyoulookliketheministerofanyreligionancientormoderninagrubbyflannelshirt，abatteredsun—helmet，atorngreenandwhiteumbrellaandapairofraggedducktrousers，youaremistaken，Bastin，thatisall。"

"Iadmitthatthecostumeisnotappropriate，Bickley，buthowotherwisecouldshehavelearnedthetruth？"

"Thesepeopleseemtohavewaysoflearningagoodmanythings。

Butinyourcase，Bastin，thecauseisclearenough。Youhavebeenwalkingaboutwiththeheadofthatidolandalwayskeepitclosetoyou。NodoubttheybelievethatyouareapriestoftheworshipofthegodoftheGrove——Baal，youknow，orsomethingofthatsort。"

WhenheheardthisBastin’sfacebecameaperfectpicture。

NeverbeforedidIseeitsofullofhorrorstrugglingwithindignation。

"Imustundeceivethemwithoutamoment’sdelay，"hesaid，andwasstartingforthecavewhenwecaughthisarmsandheldhim。

"Betterwaittilltheycomeback，oldfellow，"Isaid，laughing。"IfyoudisobeythatLordOroyoumaymeetwithanotherexperienceinthesacrificeline。"

"Perhapsyouareright，Arbuthnot。Iwilloccupytheintervalinpreparingasuitableaddress。"

"Muchbetteroccupyitinpreparingbreakfast，"saidBickley。

"Ihavealwaysnoticedthatyouareatyourbestextempore。"

Intheendhedidpreparebreakfastthoughinadistraitfashion；indeedIfoundhimbeginningtomaketeainthefrying—pan。Bastinfeltthathisopportunityhadarrived，andwasmakingreadytorisetotheoccasion。

Alsowefelt，allthreeofus，thatwewereextremelyshabby—

lookingobjects，andthoughnoneofussaidso，eachdidhisbesttoimprovehispersonalappearance。FirstofallBickleycutBastin’sandmyhair，afterwhichIdidhimthesameservice。

ThenBickleywhowasnormallycleanshaven，settoworktoremoveabeardofaboutaweek’sgrowth，andIwhoworeoneofthepointedvariety，trimmedupmineasbestIcouldwiththehelpofahand—glass。Bastin，too，performedonhiswhichwasofthesquareandratherraggedtype，wiselyrejectingBickley’sadvicetoshaveitoffaltogether，offered，Ifeltconvinced，becausehefeltthattheresultonBastinwouldbetoohideousforwords。

Afterthiswecutournails，cleanedourteethandbathed；IevencaughtBickleyapplyinghairtonicfromhisdressingcaseinsecret，behindaprojectingrock，andborrowedsomemyself。HegaveitmeonconditionthatIdidnotmentionitsexistencetoBastinwho，heremarked，wouldcertainlyusethelotandmakehimselfsmellhorrible。

Nextwefoundcleanducksamongourstoreofspareclothes，fortheOrofenanshadbroughtthesewithourotherpossessions，andputthemon，evenaddingsilkcumberbundsandneckties。MytieI

fastenedwithapinthatIhadobtainedinEgypt。Itwasatinygoldstatuetteofveryfineandearlyworkmanship，ofthegodOsiris，wearingthecrownoftheUpperLandwiththeuraeuscrest，andholdinginhishands，whichprojectedfromthemummywrappings，theemblemsofthecrook，thescourgeandthecruxansata，orSignofLife。

Bastin，forhispart，arrayedhimselfinfullclericalcostume，blackcoatandtrousers，whitetieandstick—upclergyman’scollarwhich，asheremarked，madehimfeelextremelyhotinthatclimate，andwereunsuitabletodomesticduties，suchaswashing—up。Iofferedtoholdhiscoatwhilehedidthisofficeandtoldhimhelookedveryniceindeed。

"Beautiful！"remarkedBickley，"butwhydon’tyouputonyoursurpliceandbiretta？"（BeingveryHigh—ChurchBastindidwearabirettaonfestivalSundaysathome。）"Therewouldbenomistakeaboutyouthen。"

"Idonotthinkitwouldbesuitable，"repliedBastinwhosesenseofhumourwasundeveloped。"Thereisnoservicetobeperformedatpresentandnochurch，thoughperhapsthatcave——"

andhestopped。

WhenwehadfinishedthesevainadornmentsandBastinhadputawaythethingsandtidiedup，wesatdown，ratheratalooseend。Weshouldhavelikedtowalkbutrefrainedfromdoingsoforfearlestwemightdirtyourcleanclothes。Sowejustsatandthought。AtleastBickleythought，andsodidIforawhileuntilIgaveitup。Whatwastheuseofthinking，seeingthatwewerefacetofacewithcircumstanceswhichbaffledreasonandbeggaredallrecordedhumanexperience？WhatBastindidIamsureIdonotknow，butIthinkfromtheexpressionofhiscountenancethathewasengagedincomposingsermonsforthebenefitofOroandtheGlitteringLady。

Onediversionwedidhave。Abouteleveno’clockacanoecamefromthemainislandladenwithprovisionsandpaddledbyMaramaandtwoofhispeople。Weseizedourweapons，rememberingourexperiencesofthenight，butMaramawavedaboughintokenofpeace。So，carryingourrevolvers，wewenttotherockedgetomeethim。Hecreptashoreand，chiefthoughhewas，prostratedhimselfuponhisfacebeforeus，whichtoldmethathehadheardofthefateofthesorcerers。Hisapologieswereabject。Heexplainedthathehadnopartintheoutrageoftheattack，andbesoughtustointercedeonbehalfofhimandhispeoplewiththeawakenedgodoftheMountainwhomhelookedforwithaterrifiedair。

Weconsoledhimaswellaswecould，andtoldhimthathehadbestbegonebeforethegodoftheMountainappeared，andperhapstreatedhimashehaddonethesorcerers。Inhisname，however，wecommandedMaramatobringmaterialsandbuildusaproperhouseupontherock，alsotobesuretokeepuparegularandamplesupplyofprovisions。Ifhedidthesethings，andanythingelsewemightfromtimetotimecommand，wesaidthatperhapshislifeandthoseofhispeoplewouldbespared。This，however，aftertheevilbehaviourofsomeofthemofcoursewecouldnotguarantee。

MaramadepartedsothoroughlyfrightenedthatheevenforgottomakeanyinquiriesastowhothisgodoftheMountainmightbe，orwherehecamefrom，orwhitherhewasgoing。Ofcourse，theplacehadbeensacredamonghispeoplefromthebeginning，wheneverthatmayhavebeen，butthatitssacrednessshouldmaterialiseintoanactivegodwhobroughtsorcerersofthehighestreputationtoamostunpleasantend，justbecausetheywishedtotranslatetheirpreachingintopractice，wasanothermatter。Itwasnottobeexplainedevenbythefactofwhichhehimselfhadinformedme，thatduringthedreadfulstormofsomemonthsbefore，thecavemouthwhichpreviouslywasnotvisibleonthevolcano，hadsuddenlybeenliftedupabovetheleveloftheRockofOfferings，although，ofcourse，allreligiousandinstructedpersonswouldhaveexpectedsomethingpeculiartohappenafterthisevent。

SuchIknewwerehisthoughts，but，asIhavesaid，hewastoofrightenedandtoohurriedtoexpresstheminquestionsthatI

shouldhavefounditextremelydifficulttoanswer。Asitwashedepartedquiteuncertainastowhetheroneofuswasnotthereal"godoftheMountain，"whohadpowertobringhideousdeathuponhismolesters。Afterall，whathadhetogoontothecontrary，exceptthewordofthreepriestswhoweresoterrifiedthattheycouldgivenocoherentaccountofwhathadhappened？Oftheseevents，itwastrue，therewasevidenceinthetwistedcarcassoftheirlamentedhighsorcerer，and，forthematterofthat，ofcertaincorpseswhichhehadseen，thatlayinshallowwateratthebottomofthelake。Beyondallwasvague，andinhisheartI

amsurethatMaramabelievedthatBastinwasthereal"godoftheMountain。"Naturally，hewoulddesiretoworkvengeanceonthosewhotriedtosacrificeandeathim。Moreover，hadhenotdestroyedtheimageofthegodoftheGroveandborneawayitsheadwhencehehadsuckedmagicandpower？

ThusarguedMarama，disbelievingthetaleofthefrightenedsorcerers，forheadmittedasmuchtomeinafterdays。

Maramadepartedinagreathurry，fearinglestthe"godoftheMountain，"orBastin，whosenewandsplendidgarbheregardedwithmuchsuspicion，mightdevelopsomeevilenergyagainsthim。

Thenwewentbacktoourcamp，leavingtheindustriousBastin，animatedbyasuggestionfromBickleythatthefruitandfoodmightspoilifleftinthesun，tocarryitintotheshadeofthecave。OwingtotheterrorsoftheOrofenansthesupplywassolargethattodothishemustmakenofewerthansevenjourneys，whichhedidwithgreatgoodwillsinceBastinlovedphysicalexercise。Theresultonhisclericalgarments，however，wasdisastrous。Hiswhitetiewentawry，squashedfruitandroastpiggravyrandownhiswaistcoatandtrousers，andhishighcollarmeltedintolimpcrinklesinthemoistureengenderedbythetropicalheat。Onlyhislongcoatescaped，sincethatBickleykindlycarriedforhim。