Bastin，surprised，askedthemwhohadcausedthedeluge。Theyreplied，Orowhichwasthenameoftheirgod，Orowhodweltyonderonthemountaininthelake，andwhoserepresentationtheyworshippedinidols。HesaidthatGoddweltinHeaven，towhichtheyrepliedwithcalmcertainty：
　　"No，no，hedwellsonthemountaininthelake，"whichwaswhytheyneverdaredtoapproachthatmountain。
　　IndeeditwasonlybygivingthenameOrototheDivinityandadmittingthatHemightdwellinthemountainaswellaseverywhereelse，thatBastinwasabletomakeprogress。Havingconcededthis，notwithoutscruples，however，hedidmakeconsiderableprogress，somuch，infact，thatIperceivedthatthepriestsofOrowerebeginningtogrowveryjealousofhimandofhisincreasingauthoritywiththepeople。Bastinwasnaturallytriumphant，andevenexclaimedexultinglythatwithinayearhewouldhavehalfofthepopulationbaptised。
　　"Withinayear，mydearfellow，"saidBickley，"youwillhaveyourthroatcutasasacrifice，andprobablyoursalso。Itisapity，too，aswithinthattimeIshouldhavestampedoutophthalmiaandsomeotherdiseasesintheisland。"
　　Here，leavingBastinandhisgoodworkasideforawhile，I
　　willsayalittleaboutthecountry。FrominformationwhichI
　　gatheredonsomejourneysthatImadeandbyinquiriesfromthechiefMarama，whohadbecomedevotedtous，IfoundthatOrofenawasquitealargeplace。Inshapetheislandwascircular，abroadbandofterritorysurroundingthegreatlakeofwhichI
　　havespoken，thatinitsturnsurroundedasmallerislandfromwhichrosethemountaintop。NootherlandwasknowntobeneartheshoresofOrofena，whichhadneverbeenvisitedbyanyoneexceptthestrangersahundredyearsagoorso，whoweresacrificedandeaten。Mostoftheislandwascoveredwithforestwhichtheinhabitantslackedtheenergy，andindeedhadnotools，tofell。Theywereanextremelylazypeopleandwouldonlycultivateenoughbananasandotherfoodtosatisfytheirimmediateneeds。Intruththeylivedmostlyuponbreadfruitandotherproductsofthewildtrees。
　　Thusitcameaboutthatinyearsofscarcitythroughdroughtorclimaticcauses，whichpreventedtheforesttreesfrombearing，theysufferedverymuchfromhunger。Insuchyearshundredsofthemwouldperishandtheremainderresortedtothedreadfulexpedientofcannibalism。Sometimes，too，theshoalsoffishavoidedtheirshores，reducingthemtogreatmisery。Theironlydomesticanimalwasthepigwhichroamedabouthalfwildandinnogreatnumbers，fortheyhadnevertakenthetroubletobreeditincaptivity。Theirresources，therefore，werelimited，whichaccountedforthecomparativesmallnessofthepopulation，furtherreducedasitwasbyawickedhabitofinfanticidepractisedinordertolightentheburdenofbringingupchildren。
　　Theyhadnotraditionsastohowtheyreachedthisland，theirbeliefbeingthattheyhadalwaysbeentherebutthattheirforefathersweremuchgreaterthanthey。Theywerepoetical，andsangsongsinalanguagewhichthemselvestheycouldnotunderstand；theysaidthatitwasthetonguetheirforefathershadspoken。Alsotheyhadseveralstrangecustomsofwhichtheydidnotknowtheorigin。Myownopinion，whichBickleyshared，wasthattheywereinfactashrunkenanddeterioratedremnantofsomehighracenowcomingtoitsendthroughageandinter—breeding。Aboutthemindeed，notwithstandingtheirprimitivesavagerywhichinitsqualitiesmuchresembledthatofotherPolynesians，therewasaverycuriousairofantiquity。Onefeltthattheyhadknowntheolderworldanditsmysteries，thoughnowbothwereforgotten。Alsotheirlanguage，whichintimewecametospeakperfectly，wascopious，musical，andexpressiveinitsidioms。
　　OnecircumstanceImustmention。InwalkingaboutthecountryI
　　observedalloveritenormousholes，someofthemmeasuringasmuchasahundredyardsacross，withadepthoffiftyfeetormore，andthisnotonalluviallandsalthoughtheretracesofthemexistedalso，butinsolidrock。WhatthisrockwasIdonotknowasnoneofusweregeologists，butitseemedtometopartakeofthenatureofgranite。Certainlyitwasnotcorallikethatonandaboutthecoast，butofaprimevalformation。
　　WhenIaskedMaramawhatcausedtheseholes，heonlyshruggedhisshouldersandsaidhedidnotknow，buttheirfathershaddeclaredthattheyweremadebystonesfallingfromheaven。This，ofcourse，suggestedmeteoritestomymind。IsubmittedtheideatoBickley，who，inoneofhisrareintervalsofleisure，camewithmetomakeanexamination。
　　"Iftheyweremeteorites，"hesaid，"ofwhichashowerstrucktheearthinsomepastgeologicalage，alllifemusthavebeendestroyedbythemandtheirremainsoughttoexistatthebottomoftheholes。Tometheylookmoreliketheeffectofhighexplosives，butthat，ofcourse，isimpossible，thoughIdon’tknowwhatelsecouldhavecausedsuchcraters。"
　　Thenhewentbacktohiswork，fornothingthathadtodowithantiquityinterestedBickleyverymuch。Thepresentanditsproblemswereenoughforhim，hewouldsay，whoneitherhadlivedinthepastnorexpectedtohaveanyshareinthefuture。
　　AsIremainedcuriousImadeanopportunitytoscrambletothebottomofoneofthesecraters，takingwithmesomeofthenativeswiththeirwoodentools。HereIfoundagooddealofsoileitherwasheddownfromthesurfaceorresultingfromthedecompositionoftherock，thoughoddlyenoughinitnothinggrew。Idirectedthemtodig。Afterawhiletomyastonishmentthereappearedacornerofagreatworkedstonequiteunlikethatofthecrater，indeeditseemedtometobeamarble。Furtherexaminationshowedthatthisblockwasmostbeautifullycarvedinbas—relief，apparentlywithadesignofleavesandflowers。InthedisturbedsoilalsoIpickedupalife—sizedmarblehandofawomanexquisitelyfinishedandapparentlybrokenfromastatuethatmighthavebeentheworkofoneofthegreatGreeksculptors。Moreover，onthethirdfingerofthishandwasarepresentationofaringwhereof，unfortunately，thebezelhadbeendestroyed。
　　Iputthehandinmypocket，butasdarknesswascomingon，I
　　couldnotpursuetheresearchanddisintertheblock。WhenI
　　wishedtoreturnthenextday，IwasinformedpolitelybyMaramathatitwouldnotbesafeformetodosoasthepriestsofOrodeclaredthatifIsoughttomeddlewiththe"buriedthingsthegodwouldgrowangryandbringdisasteronme。"
　　WhenIpersistedhesaidthatatleastImustgoalonesincenonativewouldaccompanyme，andaddedearnestlythatheprayedmenottogo。SotomygreatregretanddisappointmentIwasobligedtogiveuptheidea。
　　ChapterVIII
　　BastinAttemptstheMartyr’sCrownThatcarvedstoneandthemarblehandtookagreatholdofmyimagination。Whatdidtheymean？Howcouldtheyhavecometothebottomofthathole，unlessindeedtheywerepartofsomebuildinganditsornamentswhichhadbeendestroyedintheneighbourhood？Thestoneofwhichwehadonlyuncoveredacornerseemedfartoobigtohavebeencarriedtherefromanyship；itmusthaveweighedseveraltons。Besides，shipsdonotcarrysuchthingsabouttheworld，andnonehadvisitedthisislandduringthelasttwocenturiesatanyrate，orlocaltraditionwouldhaverecordedsowonderfulafact。Werethere，then，onceedificescoveredwithelegantcarvingstandingonthisplace，andweretheyadornedwithlovelystatuesthatwouldnothavedisgracedthebestperiodofGreekart？Thethingwasincredibleexceptonthesuppositionthatthesewererelicsofanutterlylostcivilisation。
　　Bickleywasasmuchpuzzledasmyself。Allhecouldsaywasthattheworldwasinfinitelyoldandmanythingsmighthavehappenedinitwhereofwehadnorecord。EvenBastinwasexcitedforalittlewhile，butashisimaginationwasrepresentedbyzero，allhecouldsaywas：
　　"Isupposesomeoneleftthemthere，andanyhowitdoesn’tmattermuch，doesit？"
　　ButI，whohavecertainleaningstowardstheancientandmysterious，couldnotbeputoffinthisfashion。Irememberedthatunapproachablemountaininthemidstofthelakeandthatonitappearedtobesomethingwhichlookedlikeruinsasseenfromthetopofthecliffthroughglasses。Atanyratethiswasapoint，thatImightclearup。
　　Sayingnothingtoanybody，onemorningIslippedawayandwalkedtotheedgeofthelake，adistanceoffiveorsixmilesoverroughcountry。HavingarrivedthereIperceivedthatthecone—shapedmountaininthecentre，whichwasaboutamilefromthelakeshore，wasmuchlargerthanIhadthought，quitethreehundredfeethighindeed，andwithaverylargecircumference。
　　Further，itssidesevidentlyoncehadbeenterraced，anditwasononeofthesebroadterraces，half—wayupandfacingtowardstherisingsun，thattheruin—likeremainswereheaped。I
　　examinedthemthroughmyglasses。Undoubtedlyitwasacyclopeanruinbuiltofgreatblocksofcolouredstonewhichseemedtohavebeenshatteredbyearthquakeorexplosion。Therewerethepillarsofamightygatewayandtheremainsofwalls。
　　ItrembledwithexcitementasIstaredandstared。CouldInotgettotheplaceandseeformyself？Iobservedthatfromtheflatbush—cladlandatthefootofthemountain，ranoutwhatseemedtobetheresidueofastonepierwhichendedinalargetable—toppedrockbetweentwoandthreehundredfeetacross。Buteventhiswastoofartoreachbyswimming，besidesforaughtI
　　knewtheremightbealligatorsinthatlake。Iwalkedupanddownitsborders，tillpresentlyIcametoapathwhichledintoapatchofsomevarietyofcottonpalm。
　　FollowingthispathIdiscoveredaboat—housethatchedoverwithpalmleaves。Insideitweretwogoodcanoeswiththeirpaddles，floatingandtiedtothestumpsoftreesbyfibreropes。
　　InstantlyImadeupmymindthatIwouldpaddletotheislandandinvestigate。JustasIwasabouttostepintooneofthecanoesthelightwascutoff。LookingupIsawthatamanwascrouchinginthedoor—placeoftheboat—houseinordertoenter，andpausedguiltily。
　　"Friend—from—the—Sea"（thatwasthenamethattheseislandershadgiventome），saidthevoiceofMarama，"say——whatareyoudoinghere？"
　　"Iamabouttotakearowonthelake，Chief，"Iansweredcarelessly。
　　"Indeed，Friend。Havewethentreatedyousobadlythatyouaretiredoflife？"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"Iasked。
　　"Comeoutintothesunlight，Friend，andIwillexplaintoyou。"
　　IhesitatedtillIsawMaramaliftingtheheavywoodenspearhecarriedandrememberedthatIwasunarmed。ThenIcameout。
　　"Whatdoesallthismean，Chief？"Iaskedangrilywhenwewereclearofthepatchofcottonpalm。
　　"Imean，Friend，thatyouhavebeenveryneartomakingalongerjourneythanyouthought。Havepatiencenowandlistentome。Isawyouleavingthevillagethismorningandfollowed，suspectingyourpurpose。Yes，Ifollowedalone，sayingnothingtothepriestsofOrowhofortunatelywereawaywatchingtheBellowerfortheirownreasons。Isawyousearchingoutthesecretsofthemountainwiththosemagictubesthatmakethingsbigthataresmall，andthingsthatarefaroffcomenear，andI
　　followedyoutothecanoes。"
　　"Allthatisplainenough，Marama。Butwhy？"
　　"HaveInottoldyou，Friend—from—the—Sea，thatyonderhillwhichiscalledOrofena，whencethisislandtakesitsname，issacred？"
　　"Yousaidso，butwhatofit？"
　　"This：tosetfootthereonistodieand，Isuppose，greatasyouare，you，too，candielikeothers。Atleast，althoughIloveyou，hadyounotcomeawayfromthatcanoeIwasabouttodiscoverwhetherthisisso。"
　　"Thenforwhatarethecanoesused？"Iaskedwithirritation。
　　"Youseethatflatrock，Friend，withtheholebeyond，whichisthemouthofacavethatappearedonlyinthegreatstormthatbroughtyoutoourland？Theyareusedtoconveyofferingswhicharelaidupontherock。Beyonditnomanmaygo，andsincethebeginningnomanhasevergone。"
　　"Offeringstowhom？"
　　"TotheOromatuas，thespiritsofthegreatdeadwholivethere。"
　　"Oromatuas？Oro！ItisalwayssomethingtodowithOro。WhoandwhatisOro？"
　　"Oroisagod，Friend，thoughitistruethatthepriestssaythatabovehimthereisagreatergodcalledDegai，theCreator，theFatewhomadeallthingsanddirectsallthings。"
　　"Verywell，butwhydoyousupposethatOro，theservantofDegai，livesinthatmountain？Ithoughtthathelivedinagroveyonderwhereyourpriests，asIamtold，haveanimageofhim。"
　　"Idonotknow，Friend—from—the—Sea，butsoithasbeenheldfromthebeginning。Theimageinthegroveisonlyvisitedbyhisspiritfromtimetotime。Now，Iprayyou，comebackandbeforethepriestsdiscoverthatyouhavebeenhere，andforgetthatthereareanycanoesuponthislake。"
　　So，thinkingitwisest，Iturnedthematterwithalaughandwalkedawaywithhimtothevillage。OnourroadItriedtoextractsomemoreinformationbutwithoutsuccess。Hedidnotknowwhobuilttheruinuponthemountain，orwhodestroyedit。
　　Hedidnotknowhowtheterracescamethere。AllheknewwasthatduringtheconvulsionofNaturewhichresultedinthetidalwavethathadthrownourshipupontheisland，themountainhadbeenseentoquiverlikeatreeinthewindasthoughwithinitgreatforceswereatwork。Thenitwasobservedtohaverisenagoodmanymorefeetabovethesurfaceofthelake，asmightbenotedbythewatermarkupontheshore，andthenalsothemouthofthecavehadappeared。ThepriestssaidthatallthiswasbecausetheOromatuaswhodwelttherewerestirring，whichportendedgreatthings。Indeedgreatthingshadhappened——forhadwenotarrivedintheirland？
　　Ithankedhimforwhathehadtoldme，and，astherewasnothingmoretobelearned，droppedthesubjectwhichwasnevermentionedbetweenusagain，atleastnotforalongwhile。ButinmyheartIdeterminedthatIwouldreachthatmountaineventhoughtodosoImustriskmylife。Somethingseemedtocallmetotheplace；itwasasthoughIwerebeingdrawnbyamagnet。
　　Asithappened，beforesoverylongIdidgotothemountain，notofmyownwillbutbecauseIwasobliged。Itcameaboutthus。
　　OnenightIaskedBastinhowhewasgettingonwithhismissionarywork。Hereplied：Verywellindeed，buttherewasonegreatobstacleinhispath，theidolintheGrove。WereitnotforthisaccursedimagehebelievedthatthewholeislandwouldbecomeChristian。Iaskedhimtobemoreplain。Heexplainedthatallhisworkwasthwartedbythisidol，sincehisconvertsdeclaredthattheydidnotdaretobebaptisedwhileitsatthereintheGrove。Iftheydid，thespiritthatwasinitwouldbewitchthemandperhapsstealoutatnightandmurderthem。
　　"Thespiritbeingourfriendsthesorcerers，"Isuggested。
　　"That’sit，Arbuthnot。Doyouknow，Ibelievethosedevilishmensometimesofferhumansacrificestothissatanicfetish，whenthereisadroughtoranythingofthatsort。"
　　"Icanquitebelieveit，"Ianswered，"butastheywillscarcelyremovetheirgodandwithittheirownlivelihoodandauthority，Iamafraidthataswedon’twanttobesacrificed，thereisnothingtobedone。"
　　AtthismomentIwascalledaway。AsIwentIheardBastinmutteringsomethingaboutmartyrs，butpaidnoattention。LittledidIguesswhatwasgoingoninhispiousbutobstinatemind。Ineffectitwasthis——thatifnooneelsewouldremovethatidolhewasquitereadytodoithimself。
　　However，hewasverycunningoverthatbusiness，almostJesuiticalindeed。Notoneworddidhebreatheofhisdarkplanstome，andstilllesstoBickley。Hejustwentonwithhisteaching，lamentingfromtimetotimethestumbling—blockoftheidolandexpressingwonderastohowitmightbecircumventedbyachangeintheheartsoftheislanders，orotherwise。Sadasitistorecord，infact，dearoldBastinwentasneartotellingafibinconnectionwiththismatterasIsupposehehadeverdoneinhislife。Ithappenedthus。OnedayBickley’ssharpeyecaughtsightofBastinwalkingaboutwithwhatlookedlikeabottleofwhiskyinhispocket。
　　"Hallo，oldfellow，"hesaid，"hastheself—denyingordinancebrokendown？Ididn’tknowthatyoutookpegsonthesly，"andhepointedtothebottle。
　　"Ifyouareinsinuating，Bickley，thatIabsorbspiritssurreptitiously，youaremoremistakenthanusual，whichissayingagooddeal。Thisbottlecontains，notScotchwhiskybutparaffin，althoughIadmitthatitslabelmayhavemisledyou，unintentionally，sofarasIamconcerned。"
　　"Whatareyougoingtodowiththeparaffin？"askedBickley。
　　Bastincolouredthroughhistanandrepliedawkwardly：
　　"Paraffinisverygoodtokeepawaymosquitoesifonecanstandthesmellofituponone’sskin。NotthatIhavebroughtitherewiththatsoleobject。ThetruthisthatIamanxioustoexperimentwithalampofmyowndesignmade——um——ofnativewood，"andhedepartedinahurry。
　　"WhennextoldBastinwantstotellalie，"commentedBickley，"heshouldmakeuphismindastowhatitistobe，andsticktoit。Iwonderwhatheisafterwiththatparaffin？Notgoingtodoseanyofmypatientswithit，Ihope。Hewasarguingtheotherdaythatitisagreatremedytakeninternally，beingquiteunawarethatthelampvarietyisnotusedforthatpurpose。"
　　"Perhapshemeanstoswallowsomehimself，justtoshowthatheisright，"Isuggested。
　　"Thestomach—pumpisathand，"saidBickley，andthematterdropped。
　　NextmorningIgotupbeforeitwaslight。Havingsomeelementaryknowledgeofthemainfactsofastronomy，whichremainedwithmefromboyhoodwhenIhadattendedlecturesonthesubject，whichIhadtriedtorefreshbyhelpofanencyclopediaIhadbroughtfromtheship，Iwishedtoattempttoobtainanideaofourpositionbyhelpofthestars。Inthisendeavour，I
　　maysay，Ifailedabsolutely，asIdidnotknowhowtotakeastellaroranyotherobservation。
　　OnmywayoutofournativehouseIobserved，bythelanternI
　　carried，thatthecompartmentofitoccupiedbyBastinwasempty，andwonderedwhitherhehadgoneatthathour。Onarrivingatmyobservation—post，arockyeminenceonopenground，where，withTommyatmyside，Itookmyseatwithatelescope，Iwasastonishedtoseeorrathertohearagreatnumberofthenativeswalkingpastthebaseofthemoundtowardsthebush。ThenI
　　rememberedthatsomeone，Marama，Ithink，hadinformedmethattherewastobeagreatsacrificetoOroatdawnonthatday。
　　AfterthisIthoughtnomoreofthematterbutoccupiedmyselfinafutilestudyoftheheavenlybodies。Atlengththedawnbrokeandputaperiodtomylabours。
　　GlancingroundmebeforeIdescendedfromthelittlehill，I
　　sawaflameoflightappearsuddenlyabouthalfamileormoreawayamongthosetreeswhichIknewconcealedtheimageofOro。
　　OnthispersonallyIhadneverhadthecuriositytolook，asI
　　knewthatitwasonlyahideousidolstuckoverwithfeathersandotherbedizenments。Theflameshotsuddenlystraightintothestillairandwasfollowedafewsecondslaterbythesoundofadullexplosion，afterwhichitwentout。Alsoitwasfollowedbysomethingelse——ascreamofragefromaninfuriatedmob。
　　AtthefootofthehillIstoppedtowonderwhatthesesoundsmightmean。ThenofasuddenappearedBickley，whohadbeenattendingsomeurgentcase，andaskedmewhowasexplodinggunpowder。ItoldhimthatIhadnoidea。
　　"ThenIhave，"heanswered。"ItisthatassBastinuptosomegame。NowIguesswhyhewantedthatparaffin。Listentotherow。
　　Whataretheyafter？"
　　"SacrificingBastin，perhaps，"Ireplied，halfinjest。"Haveyouyourrevolver？"
　　Henodded。Wealwaysworeourpistolsifwewentoutduringthedarkhours。
　　"Thenperhapswehadbettergotosee。"
　　Westarted，andhadnotcoveredahundredyardsbeforeagirl，whomIrecognisedasoneofBastin’sconverts，cameflyingtowardsusandscreamingout，"Help！Help！TheykilltheBellowerwithfire！Theycookhimlikeapig！"
　　"JustwhatIexpected，"saidBickley。
　　Thenweranhard，asevidentlytherewasnotimetolose。WhilewewentIextractedfromtheterrifiedgirl，whomweforcedtoshowustheway，thatasthesacrificewasabouttobeofferedBastinhadappeared，and，"makingfire，"appliedittothegodOro，whoinstantlyburstintoflame。Thenheranback，callingoutthatthedevilwasdead。AshedidsotherewasaloudexplosionandOroflewintopieces。Hisburningheadwentalongwayintotheairand，fallingontooneofthepriests，killedhim。ThereontheotherpriestsandthepeopleseizedtheBellowerandmadehimfast。Nowtheywereengagedinheatinganoveninwhichtoputhimtocook。WhenitwasreadytheywouldeathiminhonourofOro。
　　"Andservehimrighttoo！"gaspedBickley，who，beingstout，wasnotagoodrunner。"Whycan’theleaveotherpeople’sgodsaloneinsteadofblowingthemupwithgunpowder？"
　　"Don’tknow，"Ianswered。"Hopeweshallgetthereintime！"
　　"TobecookedandeatenwithBastin！"wheezedBickley，afterwhichhisbreathgaveout。
　　Asitchancedwedid，forthesestoneovenstakealongtimetoheat。Therebytheedgeofhisfierygravewithhishandsandlegsboundinpalm—fibreshackles，stoodBastin，quiteunmoved，smilingindeed，inasortofseraphicwaywhichirritatedusbothextremely。RoundhimdancedtheinfuriatedpriestsofOro，androundthem，shriekingandhowlingwithrage，wasmostofthepopulationofOrofena。Werushedupsosuddenlythatnonetriedtostopus，andtookourstandoneithersideofhim，producingourpistolsaswedidso。
　　"Thankyouforcoming，"saidBastininthesilencewhichfollowed；"thoughIdon’tthinkitistheleastuse。Icannotrecallthatanyoftheearlymartyrswereeverroastedandeaten，though，ofcourse，throwingthemintoboilingoilorwaterwasfairlycommon。Itakeitthattheriteissacrificialandeveninalowsense，sacramental，notmerelyoneofcommoncannibalism。"
　　Istaredathim，andBickleygaspedout：
　　"Ifyouaretobeeaten，whatdoesitmatterwhyyouareeaten？"
　　"Oh！"repliedBastin；"thereisallthedifferenceintheworld，thoughitisonethatIcannotexpectyoutoappreciate。
　　AndnowpleasebequietasIwishtosaymyprayers。Iimaginethatthosestoneswillbehotenoughtodotheirofficewithintwentyminutesorso，whichisnotverylong。"
　　AtthatmomentMaramaappeared，evidentlyinastateofgreatperturbation。WithhimweresomeofthepriestsorsorcererswhoweredancingaboutasIimaginethepriestsofBaalmusthavedone，andfilledwithfury。Theyrolledtheireyes，theystuckouttheirtongues，theyutteredweirdcriesandshooktheirwoodenknivesattheplacidBastin。
　　"Whatisthematter？"Iaskedsternlyofthechief。
　　"This，Friend—from—the—Sea。TheBellowerthere，whenthesacrificewasabouttobeofferedtoOroatthedawn，rushedforward，andhavingthrustsomethingbetweenthelegsoftheimageofthegod，pouredyellowwateroverit，andwithfirecausedittoburstintofierceflame。Thenheranawayandmockedthegodwhopresently，withaloudreport，flewintopiecesandkilledthatman。ThereforetheBellowermustbesacrificed。"
　　"Whatto？"Iasked。"TheimagehasgoneandthepieceofitthatascendedfellnotupontheBellower，aswouldhavehappenedifthegodhadbeenangrywithhim，butononeofitsownpriests，whomitkilled。Therefore，havingbeensacrificedbythegoditself，heitisthatshouldbeeaten，nottheBellower，whomerelydidwhathisSpiritbadehim。"
　　ThisingeniousargumentseemedtoproducesomeeffectuponMarama，buttothepriestsitdidnotatallappeal。
　　"Eatthemall！"thesecried。"TheyaretheenemiesofOroandhaveworkedsacrilege！"
　　Moreover，tojudgefromtheirdemeanour，thebulkofthepeopleseemedtoagreewiththem。Thingsbegantolookveryugly。Thepriestsrushedforward，threateninguswiththeirwoodenweapons，andoneofthemevenaimedablowatBickley，whichonlymissedhimbyaninchortwo。
　　"Lookhere，myfriend，"calledthedoctorwhosetemperwasrising，"younamemetheGreatPriestorGreatHealer，doyounot？Well，becareful，lestIshouldshowyouthatIcankillaswellasheal！"
　　Notintheleastintimidatedbythisthreattheman，agreatbedizenedfellowwholiterallywasfoamingatthemouthwithrage，rushedforwardagain，hisclubraised，apparentlywiththeobjectofdashingoutBickley’sbrains。
　　SuddenlyBickleyliftedhisrevolverandfired。Theman，shotthroughtheheart，sprangintotheairandfelluponhisface——
　　stonedead。Therewasconsternation，forthesepeoplehadneverseenusshootanythingbefore，andwerequiteunacquaintedwiththepropertiesoffirearms，whichtheysupposedtobemerelyinstrumentsformakinganoise。Theystared，theygaspedinfearandastonishment，andthentheyfled，pursuedbyTommy，barking，leavingusalonewiththetwodeadmen。
　　"Itwastimetoteachthemalesson，"saidBickleyashereplacedtheemptycartridge，and，seizingthedeadman，rolledhimintotheburningpit。
　　"Yes，"Ianswered；"butpresently，whentheyhavegotovertheirfright，theywillcomebacktoteachusone。"
　　Bastinsaidnothing；heseemedtoodazedattheturneventshadtaken。
　　"Whatdoyousuggest？"askedBickley。
　　"Flight，"Ianswered。
　　"Whereto——theship？Wemightholdthat。"
　　"No；thatiswhattheyexpect。Look！Theyarecuttingoffourroadthere。Totheislandinthelakewheretheydarenotfollowus，foritisholyground。"
　　"Howarewegoingtoliveontheisland？"askedBickley。
　　"Idon’tknow，"Ireplied；"butIamquitecertainthatifwestayhereweshalldie。"