"Verywell，"hesaid；"letustryit。"
　　WhilewewerespeakingIwascuttingBastin’sbonds。"Thankyou，"hesaid。"Itisagreatrelieftostretchone’sarmsaftertheyhavebeencompressedwithcords。Butatthesametime，IdonotknowthatIamreallygrateful。Themartyr’scrownwashangingaboveme，sotospeak，andnowithasvanishedintothepit，likethatmanwhomBickleymurdered。"
　　"Lookhere，"exclaimedtheexasperatedBickley，"ifyousaymuchmore，Bastin，I’llchuckyouintothepittoo，tolookforyourmartyr’scrown，forIthinkyouhavedoneenoughmischiefforonemorning。"
　　"Ifyouaretryingtoshifttheresponsibilityforthatunfortunateman’sdestructionontome——"
　　"Oh！shutitandtrot，"brokeinBickley。"Thoseinfernalsavagesarecomingwithyourblessedconvertsleadingthevan。"
　　Sowe"trotted"atnomeanpace。Aswepassedit，BastinstoopeddownandpickeduptheheadoftheimageofOro，muchasAtalantainAcademypicturesisrepresentedasdoingtotheapples，andboreitawayintriumph。
　　"Iknowitisscorched，"heejaculatedatintervals，"buttheymighttrimitupandstickitontoanewbodyastheoriginalfalsegod。Nowtheycan’t，forthere’snothingleft。"
　　Asamatteroffact，wewereneverinanyrealdanger，forourpursuitwasveryhalf—heartedindeed。Tobeginwith，nowthattheirfirstragewasover，theOrofenanswhowerefondofushadnoparticularwishtodoustodeath，whiletheardouroftheirsorcerers，whowishedthisverymuch，hadbeengreatlycooledbythemysteriousannihilationoftheiridolandtheviolentdeathsoftwooftheircompanions，whichtheythoughtmightbereduplicatedintheirownpersons。Soitcameaboutthatthechase，ifnoisy，wasneitherclosenoreager。
　　Wereachedtheedgeofthelakewherewastheboat—houseofwhichIhavespokenalready，travellingatlittlemorethanawalk。HerewemadeBastinunfastenthebetterofthetwocanoesthatbygoodluckwasalmostfilledwithofferings，whichdoubtless，accordingtocustom，mustbemadeuponthedayofthisfeasttoOro，whilewewatchedagainstsurpriseattheboat—housedoor。Whenhewasreadyweslippedinandtookourseats，Tommyjumpinginafterus，andpushedthecanoe，nowveryheavilyladen，outintothelake。
　　Here，atadistanceofaboutfortypaces，whichwejudgedtobebeyondwoodenspear—throw，weresteduponourpaddlestoseewhatwouldhappen。Allthecrowdofislandershadrushedtothelakeedgewheretheystoodstaringatusstupidly。Bastin，thinkingtheoccasionopportune，liftedthehideousheadoftheidolwhichhehadcarefullywashed，andbegantopreachonthedownfallof"thegodoftheGrove。"
　　Thisactionofhisappearedtoawakememoriesorforebodingsinthemindsofhiscongregation。Perhapssomeancientprophecywasconcerned——Idonotknow。Atanyrate，oneofthepriestsshoutedsomething，whereoneverybodybegantotalkatonce。Then，stoopingdown，theythrewwaterfromthelakeoverthemselvesandrubbeditssandandmudintotheirhair，allthewhilemakinggenuflexionstowardthemountaininthemiddle，afterwhichtheyturnedanddeparted。
　　"Don’tyouthinkwehadbettergoback？"askedBastin。
　　"EvidentlymywordshavetouchedthemandtheirmindsaremeltingbeneaththelightofTruth。"
　　"Oh！byallmeans，"repliedBickleywithsarcasm；"forthentheirspearswilltouchus，andourbodieswillsoonbemeltingabovethefiresofthatpit。"
　　"Perhapsyouareright，"saidBastin；"atleast，IadmitthatyouhavemademattersverydifficultbyyourunjustifiablehomicideofthatpriestwhoIdonotthinkmeanttoinjureyouseriously，andreallywasnotatallabadfellow，thoughopinionatedinsomeways。Also，Idonotsupposethatanybodyisexpected，asitwere，torunhisheadintothemartyr’scrown。
　　Whenitsettlesthereofitselfitisanothermatter。"
　　"Likeabutterfly！"exclaimedtheenragedBickley。
　　"Yes，ifyouliketoputitthatway，thoughthesimileseemsaverypoorone；likeasunbeamwouldbebetter。"
　　HereBickleygavewaywithhispaddlesovigorouslythatthecanoewasasnearlyaspossibleupsetintothelake。
　　InduecoursewereachedtheflatRockofOfferings，whichprovedtobequiteaswideasadoublecroquetlawnandmuchlonger。
　　"Whatarethose？"Iasked，pointingtocertainknobsontheedgeoftherockataspotwhereacurvedprojectingpointmadealittleharbour。
　　Bickleyexaminedthem，andanswered：
　　"Ishouldsaythattheyaretheremainsofstonemooring—postsworndownbymanythousandsofyearsofweather。Yes，look，thereisthecutofthecablesuponthebaseofthatone，andverybigcablestheymusthavebeen。"
　　Westaredatoneanother——thatis，BickleyandIdid，forBastinwasstillengagedincontemplatingtheblackenedheadofthegodwhichhehadoverthrown。
　　ChapterIX
　　TheIslandintheLakeWemadethecanoefastandlandedonthegreatrock，toperceivethatitwasreallyapeninsula。Thatistosay，itwasjoinedtothemainlandofthelakeislandbyabroadroadwayquitefiftyyardsacross，whichappearedtoendinthemouthofthecave。Onthiscausewaywenotedaveryremarkablething，namely，twogroovesseparatedbyanexactdistanceofninefeetwhichranintothemouthofthecaveandvanishedthere。
　　"Explain！"saidBickley。
　　"Paths，"Isaid，"wornbycountlessfeetwalkingonthemforthousandsofyears。"
　　"Youshouldcultivatetheartofobservation，Arbuthnot。Whatdoyousay，Bastin？"
　　Hestaredatthegroovesthroughhisspectacles，andreplied：
　　"Idon’tsayanything，exceptthatIcan’tseeanybodytomakepathshere。Indeed，theplaceseemsquiteunpopulated，andalltheOrofenanstoldmethattheyneverlandedonitbecauseiftheydidtheywoulddie。Itisapartoftheirsuperstitiousnonsense。Ifyouhaveanyideainyourheadyouhadbettertellusquicklybeforewebreakfast。Iamveryhungry。"
　　"Youalwaysare，"remarkedBickley；"evenwhenmostpeople’sappetitesmighthavebeenaffected。Well，Ithinkthatthisgreatplateauwasoncealanding—placeforflyingmachines，andthatthereistheair—shedorgarage。"
　　Bastinstaredathim。
　　"Don’tyouthinkwehadbetterbreakfast？"hesaid。"Therearetworoastpigsinthatcanoe，andlotsofotherfood，enoughtolastusaweek，Ishouldsay。Ofcourse，Iunderstandthatthebloodyouhaveshedhasthrownyouoffyourbalance。Ibelieveithasthateffect，exceptonthemosthardened。FlyingmachineswereonlyinventedafewyearsagobythebrothersWrightinAmerica。"
　　"Bastin，"saidBickley，"IbegintoregretthatIdidnotleaveyoutotakepartinanotherbreakfastyonder——Imeanastheprincipaldish。"
　　"ItwasProvidence，notyou，whopreventedit，Bickley，doubtlessbecauseIamunworthyofsuchagloriousend。"
　　"ThenitisluckythatProvidenceisagoodshotwithapistol。
　　Stoptalkingnonsenseandlisten。Ifthosewerepathswornbyfeettheywouldruntotheedgeoftherock。Theydonot。Theybeginthereinthatgentledepressionandslopeupwardssomewhatsteeply。Theairmachines，whichwereevidentlylarge，litinthedepression，possiblyasabirddoes，andthenranonwheelsorsledgeskidsalongthegroovestotheair—shedinthemountain。
　　Cometothecaveandyouwillsee。"
　　"Nottillwehavebreakfast，"saidBastin。"Iwillgetoutapig。Asamatteroffact，Ihadnosupperlastnight，asIwastakingaclassofnativeboysandmakingsomearrangementsofmyown。"
　　Asforme，Ionlywhistled。Itallseemedveryfeasible。Andyethowcouldsuchthingsbe？
　　Weunloadedthecanoeandate。Bastin’sappetitewassplendid。
　　Indeed，IhadtoaskhimtorememberthatwhenthissupplywasdoneIdidnotknowwhereweshouldfindanymore。
　　"Takenothoughtforthemorrow，"hereplied。"Ihavenodoubtitwillcomefromsomewhere，"andhehelpedhimselftoanotherchop。
　　NeverhadIadmiredhimsomuch。Notacoupleofhoursbeforehewasabouttobecruellymurderedandeaten。Butthisdidnotseemtoaffecthimintheleast。BastinwastheonlymanIhaveeverknownwithareallyperfectfaith。Itisaqualityworthhavingandonethatmakesforhappiness。Whatagreatthingnottocarewhetheryouarebreakfastedon，orbreakfast！
　　"Iseethatthereislotsofdriftwoodabouthere，"heremarked，"butunfortunatelywehavenotea，sointhisclimateitisoflittleuse，unlessindeedwecancatchsomefishandcookthem。"
　　"Stoptalkingabouteatingandhelpustohaulupthecanoe，"
　　saidBickley。
　　Betweenthethreeofuswedraggedandcarriedthecanoealongwayfromthelake，fearinglestthenativesshouldcomeandbearitoffwithourprovisions。Then，havinggivenTommyhisbreakfastoffthescraps，wewalkedtothecave。Iglancedatmycompanions。Bickley’sfacewasalightwithscientificeagerness。
　　Herearenotdreamsorspeculations，butfactstobelearned，itseemedtosay，andIwilllearnthem。Thepastisgoingtoshowmesomeofitssecrets，totellmehowmenoflongagolivedanddiedandhowfartheyhadadvancedtothatpointontheroadofcivilisationatwhichIstandinmylittlehourofexistence。
　　ThatofBastinwasmildlyinterested，nomore。Obviously，withhalfhismindhewasthinkingofsomethingelse，probablyofhisconvertsonthemainislandandoftheschoolclassfixedforthishourwhichcircumstancespreventedhimfromattending。
　　Indeed，likeLot’swifehewascastingglancesbehindhimtowardsthewickedplacefromwhichhehadbeenforcedtoflee。
　　NeitherthepastnorthefuturehadmuchrealinterestforBastin；anymorethantheyhadforBickley，thoughfordifferentreasons。Theformerwasdonewith；thelatterhewasquitecontenttoleaveinotherhands。Ifhehadanyclearideathereof，probablythatundiscoveredlandappearedtohimasabig，pleasantplacewherearenounbelieversorerroneousdoctrines，andallsinnerswillbesternlyrepressed，inwhich，cladinawhitesurplicewithallproperecclesiasticaltrappings，hewouldargueeternallywiththeEarlyFathersandinduecourseutterlyannihilateBickley，thatisinamoralsense。
　　PersonallyandasamanhewasextremelyattachedtoBickleyasanecessaryandwrong—headednuisancetowhichhehadbecomeaccustomed。
　　AndI！WhatdidIfeel？Idonotknow；Icannotdescribe。Anextraordinaryattraction，asemi—spiritualexaltation，Ithink。
　　Thatcavemouthmighthavebeenamagnetdrawingmysoul。WithmybodyIshouldhavebeenafraid，asIdaresayIwas，forourcircumstancesweresufficientlydesperate。Herewewere，castawaysuponanisland，probablyuncharted，oneofthousandsintherecessesofavastocean，fromwhichwehadlittlechanceofescape。More，havingoffendedthereligiousinstinctsoftheprimevalinhabitantsofthatisland，wehadbeenforcedtofleetoarockymountaininthecentreofalake，where，afterthefoodwehadbroughtwithusbyaccidentwasconsumed，weshouldnodoubtbeforcedtochoosebetweendeathbystarvation，or，ifweattemptedtoretreat，atthehandsofjustlyinfuriatedsavages。Yetthesefactsdidnotoppressme，forIwasbeingdrawn，drawntoIknewnotwhat，andifitweretodoom——well，nomatter。
　　Therefore，noneofuscared：Bastinbecausehisfaithwasequaltoanyemergencyandtherewasalwaysthatwhite—robedheavenwaitingforhimbeyondwhichhisimaginationdidnotgo（IoftenwonderedwhetherhepicturedMrs。Bastinasalsowaiting；ifso，heneversaidanythingabouther）；BickleybecauseasachildofthePresentandaservantofknowledgehefearednofuture，believingittobeforhimnon—existent，andwascarelessastowhenhisstrenuoushouroflifeshouldend；andIbecauseIfeltthatyonderlaymytruefuture；yes，andmytruepast，eventhoughtodiscoverthemImustpassthroughthatportalwhichweknowasDeath。
　　Wereachedthemouthofthecave。Itwasavastplace；perhapsthearchofitwasahundredfeethigh，andIcouldseethatonceallthisarchhadbeenadornedwithsculptures。Protectedasthesewerebytheoverhangingrock，forthesculpturedmouthofthecavewascutdeepintothemountainface，theywerestillsowornthatitwasimpossibletodiscerntheirdetails。Timehadeatenthemawaylikeanacid。Butwhatlengthoftime？Icouldnotguess，butitmusthavebeenstupendoustohaveworkedthusuponthathardandshelteredrock。
　　Thiscamehometomewithaddedforcewhen，fromsubsequentexamination，welearnedthattheentiremouthofthiscavehadbeensealedupforunnumberedages。ItwillberememberedthatMaramatoldmethemountaininthelakehadrisenmuchduringthefrightfulcycloneinwhichwewerewreckedandwithitthecavemouthwhichpreviouslyhadbeeninvisible。Fromthemarkingsonthemountainsideitwasobviousthatsomethingofthesorthadhappenedveryrecently，atanyrateonthiseasternface。Thatis，eithertheflatrockhadsunkorthevolcanohadbeenthrownupwards。
　　Onceinthefarpastthecavehadbeenasitwaswhenwefoundit。Thenithadgonedowninsuchawaythatthetable—rockentirelysealedtheentrance。Nowthisentrancewasoncemoreopen，andalthoughofcoursetherewasabreakinthem，thegroovesofwhichIhavespokenranonintothecaveatonlyaslightlydifferentlevelfromthatatwhichtheylayupontheflatrock。Andyet，althoughtheyhadbeenthusshelteredbyagreatstonecurtaininfrontofthem，stillthesesculptureswerewornawaybythetoothofTime。Ofcourse，however，thismayhavehappenedtothembeforetheywereburiedinsomeancientcataclysm，tobethusresurrectedatthehourofourarrivalupontheisland。
　　Withoutpausingtomakeanycloserexaminationofthesecrumbledcarvings，weenteredtheyawningmouthofthatgreatplace，followingandindeedwalkinginthedeepgroovesthatI
　　havementioned。Presentlyitseemedtoopenoutasacourtyardmightattheendofapassage；yes，toopenontosomevastplacewhereofinthatgloomwecouldnotseetherooforthelimits。
　　Allweknewwasthatitmustbeenormous——theechoesofourvoicesandfootstepstoldusasmuch，fortheseseemedtocomebacktousfromhigh，highaboveandfromfar，faraway。BickleyandIsaidnothing；weweretooovercome。ButBastinremarked：
　　"DidyouevergotoOlympia？Ididoncetoseeakindofplaywherethepeoplesaidnothing，onlyranaboutdressedup。Theytoldmeitwasreligious，thesortofthingaclergymanshouldstudy。Ididn’tthinkitreligiousatall。Itwasallaboutanunwhohadababy。"
　　"Well，whatofit？"snappedBickley。
　　"Nothingparticular，exceptthatnunsdon’thavebabies，oriftheydothefactshouldnotbeadvertised。ButIwasn’tthinkingofthat。IwasthinkingthatthisplaceislikeanundergroundOlympia。"
　　"Oh，bequiet！"Isaid，forthoughBastin’sdescriptionwasnotbad，hismonotonous，drawlingvoicejarredonmeinthatsolemnity。
　　"Becarefulwhereyouwalk，"whisperedBickley，forevenheseemedawed，"theremaybepitsinthisfloor。"
　　"Iwishwehadalight，"Isaid，halting。
　　"Ifcandlesareofanyuse，"brokeinBastin，"asithappensI
　　haveapacketinmypocket。Itookthemwithmethismorningforacertainpurpose。"
　　"Notunconnectedwiththeparaffinandtheburningoftheidol，Isuppose？"saidBickley。"Handthemover。"
　　"Yes；ifIhadbeenallowedalittlemoretimeIintended——"
　　"Nevermindwhatyouintended；weknowwhatyoudidandthat’senough，"saidBickleyashesnatchedthepacketfromBastin’shandandproceededtoundoit，adding，"Byheaven！Ihavenomatches，norhaveyou，Arbuthnot！"
　　"Ihaveadozenboxesofwaxvestasinmyotherpocket，"saidBastin。"Yousee，theyburnsowellwhenyouwanttogetupafireonadampidol。Asyoumayhavenoticed，thedewisveryheavyhere。"
　　Induecoursethesetoowereproduced。ItookpossessionofthemastheyweretoovaluabletobeleftinthechargeofBastin，and，extractingaboxfromthepacket，littwoofthecandleswhichwereoftheshortthickvariety，likethoseusedincarriage—lamps。
　　Presentlytheyburnedup，makingtwofaintstarsoflightwhich，however，werenotstrongenoughtoshowuseithertherooforthesidesofthatvastplace。Bytheiraidwepursuedourpath，stillfollowingthegroovestillsuddenlythesecametoanend。Nowallarounduswasaflatfloorofrockwhich，asweperceivedclearlywhenwepushedasidethedustthathadgatheredthicklyonitinthecourseofages，doubtlessfromthegradualdisintegrationofthestonywalls，hadoncebeenpolishedtillitresembledblackmarble。Indeed，certaincracksinthefloorappearedtohavebeenfilledinwithsomedark—colouredcement。I
　　stoodlookingatthemwhileBickleywanderedofftotherightandalittleforward，andpresentlycalledtome。Iwalkedtohim，BastinstickingclosetomeasIhadtheothercandle，asdidthelittledog，Tommy，whodidnotlikethesenewsurroundingsandwouldnotleavemyheels。
　　"Look，"saidBickley，holdinguphiscandle，"andtellme——
　　what’sthat？"
　　Beforeme，faintlyshown，wassomecuriousstructureofgleamingrodsmadeofyellowishmetal，whichrodsappearedtobeconnectedbywires。Thestructuremighthavebeenfortyfeethighandperhapsahundredlong。Itsbottompartwasburiedindust。
　　"Whatisthat？"askedBickleyagain。
　　Imadenoanswer，forIwasthinking。Bastin，however，replied：
　　"It’sdifficulttobesureinthislight，butIshouldthinkthatitmaybetheremainsofacageinwhichsomepeoplewholivedherekeptmonkeys，orperhapsitwasanaviary。Lookatthoselittleladdersforthemonkeystoclimbby，orpossiblyforthebirdstositon。"
　　"Areyousureitwasn’ttameangels？"askedBickley。
　　"Whataridiculousremark！Howcanyoukeepanangelinacage？
　　I——"
　　"Aeroplane！"IalmostwhisperedtoBickley。
　　"You’vegotit！"heanswered。"Theframeworkofanaeroplaneandajollylargeone，too。Onlywhyhasn’titoxidised？"
　　"Someindestructiblemetal，"Isuggested。"Gold，forinstance，doesnotoxidise。"
　　Henoddedandsaid：
　　"Weshallhavetodigitout。Thedustisfeetthickaboutit；
　　wecandonothingwithoutspades。Comeon。"
　　Wewentroundtotheendofthestructure，whateveritmightbe，andpresentlycametoanother。Againwewentonandcametoanother，allofthembeingberthedexactlyinline。
　　"WhatdidItellyou？"saidBickleyinavoiceoftriumph。"A
　　wholegaragefull，aregularfleetofaeroplanes！"
　　"Thatmustbenonsense，"saidBastin，"forIamquitesurethattheseOrofenanscannotmakesuchthings。Indeedtheyhavenometal，andevencutthethroatsofpigswithwoodenknives。"
　　NowIbegantowalkforward，bearingtotheleftsoastoregainourformerline。Wecoulddonothingwiththesemetalskeletons，andIfeltthattheremustbemoretofindbeyond。
　　PresentlyIsawsomethingloomingaheadofmeandquickenedmypace，onlytorecoil。Forthere，notthirtyfeetawayandperhapsthreehundredyardsfromthemouthofthecave，suddenlyappearedwhatlookedlikeagiganticman。Tommysawitalsoandbarkedasdogsdowhentheyarefrightened，andthesoundofhisyapsechoedendlesslyfromeveryquarter，whichscaredhimtosilence。
　　RecoveringmyselfIwentforward，fornowIguessedthetruth。Itwasnotamanbutastatue。
　　Thethingstooduponahugebasewhichlessenedbysuccessivesteps，eightofthem，Ithink，toitssummit。Thefootofthisbasemayhavebeenasquareoffiftyfeetorrathermore；therealsupportorpedestalofthestatue，however，wasonlyasquareofaboutsixfeet。Thefigureitselfwaslittleabovelife—size，oratanyrateaboveourlife—size，saysevenfeetinheight。Itwasverypeculiarinsundryways。
　　Tobeginwith，nothingofthebodywasvisible，foritwasswathedlikeacorpse。Fromthesewrappingsprojectedonearm，theright，inthehandofwhichwasthelikenessofalightedtorch。Theheadwasnotveiled。Itwasthatofaman，long—nosed，thin—lipped，stern—visaged；thecountenancepervadedbyanawfulandunutterablecalm，asdeepasthatofBuddhaonlylessbenign。
　　Onthebrowwasawreathedhead—dress，notunlikeanEasternturban，fromwhichsprangtwolittlewingsresemblinginsomedegreethoseonthefamousGreekheadofHypnos，lordofSleep。
　　Betweenthefoldsofthewrappingsonthebacksprangtwootherwings，enormouswingsbentlikethoseofabirdabouttotakeflight。Indeedthewholeattitudeofthefiguresuggestedthatitwasspringingfromearthtoair。Itwasexecutedinblackbasaltorsomestoneofthesort，andveryhighlyfinished。Forinstance，onthebarefeetandthearmwhichheldthetorchcouldbefelteverymuscleandevensomeoftheveins。Inthesamewaythedetailsoftheskullwereperfectlyperceptibletothetouch，althoughatfirstsightnotvisibleonthemarblesurface。Thiswasascertainedbyclimbingonthepedestalandfeelingthefacewithourhands。
　　HereImaysaythatitsmodellingaswellasthatofthefeetandthearmfilledBickley，who，ofcourse，wasahighlytrainedanatomist，withabsoluteamazement。Hesaidthathewouldneverhavethoughtitpossiblethatsuchaccuracycouldhavebeenreachedbyanartistworkinginsohardamaterial。
　　Whentheothershadarrivedwestudiedthisrelicascloselyasourtwocandleswouldallow，andinturnexpressedouropinionsofitssignificance。Bastinthoughtthatifthosethingsdowntherewerereallytheremainsofaeroplanes，whichhedidnotbelieve，thestatuehadsomethingtodowithflying，aswasshownbythefactthatithadwingsonitsheadandshoulders。Also，headded，afterexaminingtheface，theheadwasuncommonlylikethatoftheidolthathehadblownup。Ithadthesamelongnoseandsevereshutmouth。Ifhewasright，thiswasprobablyanothereffigyofOrowhichweshoulddowelltodestroyatoncebeforetheislanderscametoworshipit。
　　Bickleygroundhisteethashelistenedtohim。
　　"Destroythat！"hegasped。"Destroy！Oh！you，you——earlyChristian。"
　　HereImaystatethatBastinwasquiteright，asweprovedsubsequentlywhenwecomparedtheheadofthefetish，which，asitwillberemembered，hehadbroughtawaywithhim，withthatofthestatue。Allowingforanenormousdebasementofart，theywereessentiallyidenticalinthefacialcharacteristics。Thiswouldsuggestthedescentofatraditionthroughcountlessgenerations。
　　Orofcourseitmayhavebeenaccidental。IamsureIdonotknow，butIthinkitpossiblethatforunknowncenturiesotheroldstatuesmayhaveexistedinOrofenafromwhichtheidolwascopied。Orsomedaringandimpiousspiritmayhavefoundhiswaytothecaveinpastagesandfashionedthelocalgoduponthisancientmodel。
　　Bickleywasstruckatonce，asIhadbeen，withtheresemblanceofthefiguretothatoftheEgyptianOsiris。Ofcoursethereweredifferences。Forinstance，insteadofthecrookandthescourge，thisdivinityheldatorch。Again，inplaceofthecrownofEgyptitworeawingedhead—dress，thoughitistruethiswasnotveryfarremovedfromthewingeddiscofthatcountry。Thewingsthatsprangfromitsshoulders，however，suggestedBabyloniaratherthanEgypt，ortheAssyrianbullsthataresimilarlyadorned。Allofthesesymbolicalideasmighthavebeentakenfromthatfigure。Butwhatwasit？Whatwasit？
　　Inaflashtheanswercametome。ArepresentationofthespiritofDeath！Neithermorenorless。Therewastheshroud；
　　therethecold，inscrutablecountenancesuggestingmysteriesthatithid。Butthetorchandthewings？Well，thetorchwasthatwhichlightedsoulstotheotherworld，andonthewingstheyflewthither。Whoeverfashionedthatstatuehopedforanotherlife，orsoIwasconvinced。
　　Iexplainedmyideas。Bastinthoughtthemfancifulandpreferredhisnotionofaflyingman，sincebyconstitutionhewasunabletodiscoveranythingspiritualinanyreligionexcepthisown。Bickleyagreedthatitwasprobablyanallegoricalrepresentationofdeathbutsniffedatmyinterpretationofthewingsandthetorch，sincebyconstitutionhecouldnotbelievethatthefollyofabeliefinimmortalitycouldhavedevelopedsoearlyintheworld，thatis，amongahighlycivilisedpeoplesuchasmusthaveproducedthisstatue。
　　Whatwecouldnoneofusunderstandwaswhythisominousimagewithitsdead，coldfaceshouldhavebeenplacedinanaerodrome，norinfactdidweeverdiscover。Possiblyitwastherelongbeforethecavewasputtothisuse。Atfirsttheplacemayhavebeenatempleandhavesoremaineduntilcircumstancesforcedtheworshipperstochangetheirhabits，oreventheirFaith。
　　Weexaminedthiswondrousworkandthepedestalonwhichitstoodascloselyaswewereablebythedimlightofourcandles。