"That’sthelowestglassIeversawinthePolynesianoranyotherseasduringthirtyyears。It’sright，too，forIhavetesteditbythreeothers，"hesaid。
　　"Whatdoesitmean？"Iaskedratheranxiously。
　　"SouthSeacycloneoftheworstbreed，"hereplied。"ThatcursedDaneknewitwascomingandthat’swhyhelefttheship。
　　Prayasyouneverprayedbefore，"andagainhestretchedouthishandtowardsthewhiskybottle。ButIsteppedbetweenhimandit，shakingmyhead。Thereonhelaughedforthethirdtimeandleftthecabin。ThoughIsawhimonceortwiceafterwards，thesewerereallythelastwordsofintelligibleconversationthatIeverhadwithCaptainAstley。
　　"Itseemsthatweareinsomedanger，"saidBastin，inanunmovedkindofway。"Ithinkthatwasagoodideaofthecaptain’s，toputupapetition，Imean，butasBickleywillscarcelycaretojoininitIwillgointothecabinanddosomyself。"
　　Bickleysnorted，thensaid：
　　"Confoundthatcaptain！Whydidheplaysuchatrickuponusaboutthebarometer？Humphrey，Ibelievehehadbeendrinking。"
　　"SodoI，"Isaid，lookingatthewhiskybottle。"Otherwise，aftertakingthoseprecautionstokeepusinthedark，hewouldnothaveletonlikethat。"
　　"Well，"saidBickley，"hecan’tgettotheliquor，exceptthroughthissaloon，asitislockedupforwardwiththeotherstores。"
　　"That’snothing，"Ireplied，"asdoubtlesshehasasupplyofhisown；rum，Iexpect。Wemusttakeourchance。"
　　Bickleynodded，andsuggestedthatweshouldgoondecktoseewhatwashappening。Sowewent。Notabreathofwindwasstirring，andeventheseaseemedtobesettlingdownalittle。
　　Atleast，sowejudgedfromthemotion，forwecouldnotseeeitheritorthesky；everythingwasasblackaspitch。Weheardthesailors，however，engagedinriggingguideropesforeandaft，andbatteningdownthehatcheswithextratarpaulinsbythelightoflanterns。Alsotheywereputtingropesroundtheboatsanddoingsomethingtothesparsandtopmasts。
　　PresentlyBastinjoinedus，having，Isuppose，finishedhisdevotions。
　　"Really，itisquitepleasanthere，"hesaid。"Oneneverknowshowdisagreeablesomuchwindisuntilitstops。"
　　Ilitmypipe，makingnoanswer，andthematchburnedquitesteadilythereintheopenair。
　　"Whatisthat？"exclaimedBickley，staringatsomethingwhichnowIsawforthefirsttime。Itlookedlikealineofwhiteapproachingthroughthegloom。Withitcameahissingsound，andalthoughtherewasstillnowind，theriggingbegantomoanmysteriouslylikeathinginpain。Abigdropofwateralsofellfromthesidesintomypipeandputitout。Thenoneofthesailorscriedinahoarsevoice：
　　"Getdownbelow，governors，unlessyouwanttogoouttosea！"
　　"Why？"inquiredBastin。
　　"Why？Becosthe’urricaneiscoming，that’sall。Comingasthoughthedevilhadkickeditoutof’ell。"
　　Bastinseemedinclinedtoremonstrateatthissortoflanguage，butwepushedhimdownthecompanionandfollowed，propellingthespanielTommyinfrontofus。NextmomentIheardthesailorsbatteningthehatchwithhurriedblows，andwhenthiswasdonetotheirsatisfaction，heardtheirfeetalsoastheyranintoshelter。
　　AnotherinstantandwewerealllyinginaheaponthecabinfloorwithpoorTommyontopofus。Thecyclonehadstrucktheship！Abovethewashofwaterandthescreamingofthegaleweheardothermysterioussounds，whichdoubtlesswerecausedbytheyardshittingtheseas，fortheyachtwaslyingonherside。I
　　thoughtthatallwasover，butpresentlytherecamearending，crashingnoise。Themasts，oroneofthem，hadgone，andbydegreeswerighted。
　　"Nearthing！"saidBickley。"Goodheavens，what’sthat？"
　　Ilistened，fortheelectriclighthadtemporarilygoneout，owing，Isuppose，tothedynamohavingstoppedforamoment。A
　　mostunholyandhollowsoundwasrisingfromthecabinfloor。Itmighthavebeencausedbyabullockwithitswindpipecut，tryingtogetitsbreathandgroaning。ThenthelightcameonagainandwesawBastinlyingatfulllengthonthecarpet。
　　"He’sbrokenhisneckorsomething，"Isaid。
　　Bickleycrepttohimandhavinglooked，sangout：
　　"It’sallright！He’sonlysea—sick。Ithoughtitwouldcometothatifhedranksomuchtea。"
　　"Sea—sick，"Isaidfaintly——"sea—sick？"
　　"That’sall，"saidBickley。"Thenervesofthestomachactingonthebrainorvice—versa——thatis，ifBastinhasabrain，"headdedsottovoce。
　　"Oh！"groanedtheprostrateclergyman。"IwishthatIweredead！"
　　"Don’ttroubleaboutthat，"answeredBickley。"Iexpectyousoonwillbe。Here，drinksomewhisky，youdonkey。"
　　Bastinsatupandobeyed，outofthebottle，foritwasimpossibletopouranythingintoaglass，withresultstoodreadfultonarrate。
　　"Icallthatadirtytrick，"hesaidpresently，inafeeblevoice，gloweringatBickley。
　　"IexpectIshallhavetoplayyouadirtierbeforelong，foryouareaprettybadcase，oldfellow。"
　　Asamatteroffacthehad，foronceBastinhadbegunreallywethoughtthathewasgoingtodie。Somehowwegothimintohiscabin，whichopenedoffthesaloon，andashecoulddrinknothingmore，Bickleymanagedtoinjectmorphiaorsomeothercompoundintohim，whichmadehiminsensibleforalongwhile。
　　"Hemustbeinapoorway，"hesaid，"fortheneedlewentmorethanaquarterofaninchintohim，andhenevercriedoutorstirred。Couldn’thelpitinthatrolling。"
　　ButnowIcouldheartheenginesworking，andIthinkthatthebowofthevesselwasgotheadontotheseas，forinsteadofrollingwepitched，orrathertheshipstoodfirstupononeendandthenupontheother。Thiscontinuedforawhileuntilthefirstburstofthecyclonehadgoneby。Thensuddenlytheenginesstopped；Isupposethattheyhadbrokendown，butIneverlearned，andweseemedtoveerabout，nearlysinkingintheprocess，andtorunbeforethehurricaneatterrificspeed。
　　"Iwonderwherewearegoingto？"IsaidtoBickley。"Tothelandofsleep，Humphrey，Iimagine，"herepliedinamoregentlevoicethanIhadoftenheardhimuse，adding："Good—bye，oldboy，wehavebeenrealfriends，haven’twe，notwithstandingmypeculiarities？IonlywishthatIcouldthinkthattherewasanythinginBastin’sviews。ButIcan’t，Ican’t。It’sgoodnightforuspoorcreatures！"
　　ChapterVI
　　LandAtlasttheelectriclightreallywentout。Ihadlookedatmywatchjustbeforethishappenedandwounditup，which，Bickleyremarked，wassuperfluousandawasteofenergy。Itthenmarked3。20inthemorning。WehadwedgedBastin，whowasnowsnoringcomfortably，intohisberth，withpillows，andmanagedtotieacordoverhim——no，itwasalargebathtowel，fixingoneendofittothelittlerackoverhisbedandtheothertoitsframework。Asforourselves，welaydownonthefloorbetweenthetablelegs，which，ofcourse，werescrewed，andthesettee，protectingourselvesasbestwewereablebyhelpofthecushions，etc。，betweentwoofwhichwethrusttheterrifiedTommywhohadbeenslidingupanddownthecabinfloor。Thusweremained，expectingdeatheverymomenttillthelightofday，averydimlight，strugglingthroughaport—holeofwhichtheironcoverhadsomehowbeenwrenchedoff。Orperhapsitwasnevershut，Idonotremember。
　　Aboutthistimetherecamealullinthehellish，howlinghurricane；thefactbeing，Isuppose，thatwehadreachedthecentreofthecyclone。Isuggestedthatweshouldtrytogoondeckandseewhatwashappening。Sowestarted，onlytofindtheentrancetothecompanionsofaithfullysecuredthatwecouldnotbyanymeansgetout。Weknockedandshouted，butnooneanswered。Mybeliefisthatatthistimeeveryoneontheyachtexceptourselveshadbeenwashedawayanddrowned。
　　Thenwereturnedtothesaloon，which，exceptforalittlewatertricklingaboutthefloor，wasmarvelouslydry，and，beinghungry，retrievedsomebitsoffoodandbiscuitfromitscornersandate。Atthismomentthecyclonebegantoblowagainworsethanever，butitseemedtous，fromanotherdirection，andbeforeitspedourpoorderelictbarque。ItblewalldaytillformypartIgrewutterlywearyandevenlongedfortheinevitableend。IfmyviewswerenotquitethoseofBastin，certainlytheywerenotthoseofBickley。Ihadbelievedfrommyyouthupthattheindividualityofman，theego，sotospeak，doesnotdiewhenlifegoesoutofhispoorbody，andthisfaithdidnotdesertmethen。Therefore，Iwishedtohaveitoverandlearnwhattheremightbeupontheotherside。
　　Wecouldnotspeakmuchbecauseofthehowlingofthewind，butBickleydidmanagetoshouttomesomethingtotheeffectthathispartnerswould，inhisopinion，makeanendoftheirgreatpracticewithintwoyears，which，headded，wasapity。Inoddedmyhead，notcaringtwopencewhathappenedtoBickley’spartnersortheirbusiness，ortomyownproperty，ortoanythingelse。
　　Whendeathisathandmostofusdonotthinkmuchofsuchthingsbecausethenwerealisehowsmalltheyare。IndeedIwaswonderingwhetherwithinafewminutesorhoursIshouldorshouldnotseeNatalieagain，andifthisweretheendtowhichshehadseemedtobeckonmeinthatdream。
　　Onwesped，andon。AboutfourintheafternoonweheardsoundsfromBastin’scabinwhichfaintlyremindedmeofsometune。I
　　crepttothedoorandlistened。Evidentlyhehadawakenedandwassingingortryingtosing，formusicwasnotoneofhisstrongpoints，"Forthoseinperilonthesea。"DevoutlydidIwishthatitmightbeheard。Presentlyitceased，soIsupposehewenttosleepagain。
　　Thedarknessgatheredoncemore。Thenofasuddensomethingfearfulhappened。TherewerestupendousnoisesofakindIhadneverheard；therewereconvulsions。Itseemedtousthattheshipwasflungrightupintotheairahundredfeetormore。
　　"Tidalwave，Iexpect，"shoutedBickley。
　　Almostashespokeshecamedownwiththemostappallingcrashontosomethinghardandnearlyjarredthesensesoutofus。Nextthesaloonwaswhirlingroundandroundandyetbeingcarriedforward，andwefeltairblowinguponus。Thenoursensesleftus。AsIclaspedTommytomyside，whimperingandlickingmyface，mylastthoughtwasthatallwasover，andthatpresentlyI
　　shouldlearneverythingornothing。
　　Iwokeupfeelingverybruisedandsoreandperceivedthatlightwasflowingintothesaloon。Thedoorwasstillshut，butithadbeenwrenchedoffitshinges，andthatwaswherethelightcamein；alsosomeoftheteakplanksofthedecking，jaggedandsplintered，werestickingupthroughthecarpet。Thetablehadbrokenfromitsfasteningsandlayuponitsside。Everythingelsewasoneconfusion。IlookedatBickley。Apparentlyhehadnotawakened。Hewasstretchedoutstillwedgedinwithhiscushionsandbleedingfromawoundinhishead。Icrepttohiminterrorandlistened。Hewasnotdead，forhisbreathingwasregularandnatural。Thewhiskybottlewhichhadbeencorkedwasuponthefloorunbrokenandaboutathirdfull。Itookagoodpullatthespirit；tomeittastedlikenectarfromthegods。ThenItriedtoforcesomedownBickley’sthroatbutcouldnot，soIpouredalittleuponthecutonhishead。Thesmartofitwokehiminahurry。
　　"Wherearewenow？"heexclaimed。"Youdon’tmeantotellmethatBastinisrightafterallandthatweliveagainsomewhereelse？Oh！Icouldneverbearthatignominy。"
　　"Idon’tknowaboutlivingsomewhereelse，"Isaid，"althoughmyopinionsonthatmatterdifferfromyours。ButIdoknowthatyouandIarestillonearthinwhatremainsofthesaloonoftheStaroftheSouth。"
　　"ThankGodforthat！Let’sgoandlookforoldBastin，"saidBickley。"Idopraythatheisallrightalso。"
　　"Itismostillogicalofyou，Bickley，andindeedwrong，"
　　groanedadeepvoicefromtheothersideofthecabindoor，"tothankaGodinWhomyoudonotbelieve，andtotalkofprayingforoneoftheworstandmostinefficientofHisservantswhenyouhavenofaithinprayer。
　　"Gotyouthere，myfriend，"Isaid。
　　Bickleymurmuredsomethingaboutforceofhabit，andlookedsmallerthanIhadeverseenhimdobefore。
　　Somehowweforcedthatdooropen；itwasnoteasybecauseithadjammed。Withinthecabin，hangingoneithersideofthebathtowelwhichhadstoodthestrainnobly，somethinglikeadampgarmentoveralinenline，wasBastinmostofwhosebunkseemedtohavedisappeared。Yes——Bastin，paleanddishevelledandlookingshrunk，withhishairtouzledandhisbeardapparentlygrowingallways，butstillBastinalive，ifveryweak。
　　Bickleyranathimandmadeacursoryexaminationwithhisfingers。
　　"Nothingbroken，"hesaidtriumphantly。"He’sallright。"
　　"Ifyouhadhungoveratowelformanyhoursinmostviolentweatheryouwouldnotsaythat，"groanedBastin。"Myinsideisapulp。Butperhapsyouwouldbekindenoughtountieme。"
　　"Bosh！"saidBickleyasheobeyed。"Allyouwantissomethingtoeat。Meanwhile，drinkthis，"andhehandedhimtheremainsofthewhisky。
　　Bastinswallowediteverydrop，murmuringsomethingabouttakingalittlewineforhisstomach’ssake，"oneofthePaulineinjunctions，youknow，"afterwhichhewasmuchmorecheerful。
　　Thenwehuntedaboutandfoundsomemoreofthebiscuitsandotherfoodwithwhichwefilledourselvesafterafashion。
　　"Iwonderwhathashappened，"saidBastin。"Isupposethat，thankstotheskillofthecaptain，wehaveafterallreachedthehavenwherewewouldbe。"
　　Herehestopped，rubbedhiseyesandlookedtowardsthesaloondoorwhich，asIhavesaid，hadbeenwrenchedoffitshinges，butappearedtohaveopenedwiderthanwhenIobserveditlast。AlsoTommy，whowasrecoveringhisspirits，utteredaseriesoflowgrowls。
　　"Itisamostcuriousthing，"hewenton，"andIsupposeImustbesufferingfromhallucinations，butIcouldswearthatjustnowIsawlookingthroughthatdoorthesameimproperyoungwomanclothedinafewflowersandnothingelse，whosephotographinthatabominableandlibellousbookwasindirectlythecauseofourtempestuousvoyage。"
　　"Indeed！"repliedBickley。"Well，solongasshehasnotgotonthebroken—downstaysandtheSalvationArmybonnetwithoutacrown，whichyoumayremembersheworeaftershehadfallenintothehandsofyourfraternity，IamsureIdonotmind。InfactI
　　shouldbedelightedtoseeanythingsopleasant。"
　　Atthismomentadistinctsoundoffemaletitteringarosefrombeyondthedoor。TommybarkedandBickleysteppedtowardsit，butIcalledtohim。
　　"Lookout！Wheretherearewomentherearesuretobemen。Letusbereadyagainstaccidents。"
　　Sowearmedourselveswithpistols，thatisBickleyandIdid，BastinbeingfortifiedsolelywithaBible。
　　Thenweadvanced，aremarkableanddilapidatedtrio，anddraggedthedoorwide。Instantlytherewasascurryandwecaughtsightofwomen’sformswearingonlyflowers，andbutfewofthese，runningoverwhitesandtowardsgroupsofmenarmedwithodd—lookingclubs，someofwhichwerefashionedtotheshapesofswordsandspears。TomakeanimpressionIfiredtwoshotswithmyrevolverintotheair，whereuponbothmenandwomenfledintogrovesoftreesandvanished。
　　"Theydon’tseemtobeaccustomedtowhitepeople，"saidBickley。"Isitpossiblethatwehavefoundashoreuponwhichnomissionaryhassetafoot？"
　　"Ihopeso，"saidBastin，"seeingthatunworthyasIam，thentheopportunitiesformewouldbeverygreat。"
　　Westoodstillandlookedaboutus。Thiswaswhatwesaw。Alltheafterpartoftheshipfromforwardofthebridgehadvanishedutterly；therewasnotatraceofit；shehadasitwerebeencutintwo。More，weweresomeconsiderabledistancefromtheseawhichwasstillragingoveraquarterofamileawaywheregreatwhitecombersstruckuponareefandspoutedintotheair。Behinduswasacliff，apparentlyofrockbutcoveredwithearthandvegetation，andagainstthiscliff，inwhichtheprowoftheshipwasburied，she，orwhatremainedofher，hadcometoanchorforthelasttime。
　　"Youseewhathashappened，"Isaid。"Agreattidalwavehascarriedusuphereandretreated。"
　　"That’sit，"exclaimedBickley。"Lookatthedebris，"andhepointedtotorn—uppalms，bushesandseaweedpiledintoheapswhichstillransaltwater；alsotoanumberofdeadfishthatlayaboutamongthem，adding，"Well，wearesavedanyhow。"
　　"AndyettherearepeoplelikeyouwhosaythatthereisnoProvidence！"ejaculatedBastin。
　　"IwonderwhattheviewsofCaptainAstleyandthecreware，orratherwere，uponthatmatter，"interruptedBickley。
　　"Idon’tknow，"answeredBastin，lookingabouthimvaguely。"ItistruethatIcan’tseeanyofthem，butiftheyaredrownednodoubtitisbecausetheirperiodofusefulnessinthisworldhadended。"
　　"Let’sgetdownandlookaboutus，"Iremarked，beinganxioustoavoidfurtherargument。
　　Sowescrambledfromtheremnantoftheship，likeNoahdescendingoutoftheark，asBastinsaid，ontothebeachbeneath，whereTommyrushedtoandfro，gambollingforjoy。Herewediscoveredapathwhichrandiagonallyupthesideofacliffwhichwasnowheremorethanfiftyorsixtyfeetinheight，andpossiblyhadonceformedtheshoreofthisland，orperhapsthatofalake。Upthispathwewent，followingthetracksofmanyhumanfeet，andreachingthecrestofthecliff，lookedaboutus，baskingaswedidsointhebeautifulmorningsun，fortheskywasnowclearofcloudsandwiththatlastawfuleffort，whichdestroyedourship，thecyclonehadpassedaway。
　　WewerestandingonaplaindownwhichranalittlestreamofgoodwaterwhereofTommydrankgreedily，wefollowinghisexample。Totherightandleftofthisplain，furtherthanwecouldsee，stretchedbushlandoverwhichtoweredmanypalms，ratherraggednowbecauseofthelashingofthegale。Lookinginlandweperceivedthatthegroundslopedgentlydownwards，endingatadistanceofsomemilesinalargelake。Faroutinthislakesomethinglikethetopofamountainofabrowncolourroseabovethewater，andontheedgeofitwaswhatfromthatdistanceappearedtobeatumbledruin。
　　"Thisisallveryinteresting，"IsaidtoBickley。"Whatdoyoumakeofit？"
　　"Idon’tquiteknow。AtfirstsightIshouldsaythatwearestandingonthelipofacraterofsomevastextinctvolcano。
　　Lookhowitcurvestonorthandsouthandatthesloperunningdowntothelake。"
　　Inodded。
　　"Luckythatthetidalwavedidnotgetoverthecliff，"Isaid。
　　"Ifithadthepeopleherewouldhaveallbeendrownedout。I
　　wonderwheretheyhavegone？"
　　AsIspokeBastinpointedtotheedgeofthebushsomehundredsofyardsaway，whereweperceivedbrownfiguresslippingaboutamongthetrees。Isuggestedthatweshouldgobacktothemouthofourpath，soastohavealineofretreatopenincaseofnecessity，andawaitevents。Sowedidandtherestoodstill。Bydegreesthebrownfiguresemergedontotheplaintothenumberofsomehundreds，andwesawthattheywerebothmaleandfemale。
　　Thewomenwereclothedinnothingexceptflowersandalittlegirdle；themenwereallarmedwithwoodenweaponsandalsoworeagirdlebutnoflowers。Thechildren，ofwhomthereweremany，werequitenaked。
　　Amongthesepeopleweobservedatallpersonclothedinwhatseemedtobeamagnificentfeathercloak，and，walkingaroundandabouthim，anumberofgrotesqueformsadornedwithhideousmasksandbasket—likehead—dressesthatweresurmountedbyplumes。
　　"Thekingorchiefandhispriestsormedicine—men！Thisissplendid，"saidBickleytriumphantly。
　　Bastinalsocontemplatedthemwithenthusiasmasrawmaterialuponwhichhehopedtogettowork。
　　Bydegreesandverycautiouslytheyapproachedus。Toourjoy，weperceivedthatbehindthemwalkedseveralyoungwomenwhoborewoodentraysoffoodorfruit。
　　"Thatlookswell，"Isaid。"Theywouldnotmakeofferingsunlesstheywerefriendly。"
　　"Thefoodmaybepoisoned，"remarkedBickleysuspiciously。
　　Thecrowdadvanced，westandingquitestilllookingasdignifiedaswecould，Iasthetallestinthemiddle，withTommysittingatmyfeet。Whentheywereaboutfiveandtwentyyardsaway，however，thatwretchedlittledogcaughtsightofthemaskedpriests。Hegrowledandthenrushedatthembarking，hislongblackearsflappingashewent。
　　Theeffectwasinstantaneous。Oneandalltheyturnedandfledprecipitately，whoevidentlyhadneverbeforeseenadogandlookeduponitasadeadlycreature。Yes，eventhetallchiefandhismaskedmedicine—menfledlikeharespursuedbyTommy，whobitoneofthemintheleg，evokingaterrifichowl。Icalledhimbackandtookhimintomyarms。Seeingthathewassafeforawhilethecrowdreformedandonceagainadvanced。
　　Astheycamewenotedthattheywereawonderfullyhandsomepeople，tallandstraightwithregularlyshapedfeaturesandnothingofthenegroaboutthem。Someoftheyoungwomenmightevenbecalledbeautiful，thoughthosewhowereelderlyhadbecomecorpulent。Thefeather—clothedchief，however，wasmuchdisfiguredbyahugegrowthwithanarrowstalktoitthathungfromhisneckandrestedonhisshoulder。
　　"I’llhavethatoffhimbeforeheisaweekolder，"saidBickley，surveyingthisdeformitywithgreatprofessionalinterest。
　　Ontheycame，thegirlswiththeplatterswalkingahead。Ononeofthesewerewhatlookedlikejointsofbakedpork，onanothersomeplantainsandpear—shapedfruits。Theykneltdownandofferedthesetous。Wecontemplatedthemforawhile。ThenBickleyshookhisheadandbegantorubhisstomachwithappropriatecontortions。Clearlytheywerequick—mindedenoughfortheysawthepoint。Atsomewordsthegirlsbroughttheplatterstothechiefandothers，whotookfromthemportionsofthefoodathazardandatethemtoshowthatitwasnotpoisoned，wewatchingtheirthroatsthewhiletomakesurethatitwasswallowed。ThentheyreturnedagainandwetooksomeofthefoodthoughonlyBickleyate，because，asIpointedouttohim，beingadoctorwhounderstoodtheuseofantidotes；clearlyheshouldmaketheexperiment。However，nothinghappened；indeedhesaidthatitwasverygood。
　　Afterthistherecameapause。ThensuddenlyBastintookuphisparableinthePolynesiantonguewhich——toacertainextent——hehadacquiredwithsomuchpains。
　　"Whatisthisplacecalled？"heaskedslowlyanddistinctly，pausingbetweeneachword。
　　Hisaudienceshooktheirheadsandhetriedagain，puttingtheaccentsondifferentsyllables。Behold！somebrightspiritunderstoodhimandanswered：
　　"Orofena。"
　　"Thatmeansahill，oranisland，orahillinanisland，"
　　whisperedBickleytome。
　　"WhoisyourGod？"askedBastinagain。
　　Thepointseemedoneuponwhichtheywerealittledoubtful，butatlastthechiefanswered，"Oro。Hewhofights。"
　　"Inotherwords，Mars，"saidBickley。
　　"Iwillgiveyouabetterone，"saidBastininthesameslowfashion。
　　ThinkingthathereferredtohimselfthesechildrenofNaturecontemplatedhisangularformdoubtfullyandshooktheirheads。
　　Thenforthefirsttimeoneofthemenwhowaswearingamaskandawickercrateonhishead，spokeinahollowvoice，saying：
　　"IfyoutryOrowilleatyouup。"
　　"Headpriest！"saidBickley，nudgingme。"OldBastinhadbetterbecarefulorhewillgethisteethintohimandcallthemOro’s。"
　　Anotherpause，afterwhichthemaninafeathercloakwiththegrowthonhisneckthataservantwassupporting，said：
　　"IamMarama，thechiefofOrofena。Wehaveneverseenmenlikeyoubefore，ifyouaremen。Whatbroughtyouhereandwithyouthatfierceandterribleanimal，orevilspiritwhichmakesanoiseandbites？"
　　NowBickleypretendedtoconsultmewhostoodbroodingandmajestic，thatisifIcanbemajestic。Iwhisperedsomethingandheanswered：
　　"Thegodsofthewindandthesea。"