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。