"Iamverythirsty,"saidBastinpresently。"Thosesmellsseemtohavedriedmeup。Iamgoingtogetsometea——Imeanwater,asunfortunatelythereisnotea,"andhesetofftowardsthemouthofthecave。
  Wefollowedhim,Idon’tquiteknowwhy,exceptthatwewishedtobreathefreelyoutside,alsoweknewthatthesepulchreanditscontentswouldbeassafeastheyhadbeenfor——well,howlong?
  Itprovedtobeabeautifulmorningoutside。Wewalkedupanddownenjoyingitsub—consciously,forreallyour——thatisBickley’sandmyown——intelligenceswereconcentratedonthatsepulchreanditscontents。WhereBastin’smayhavebeenIdonotknow,perhapsinavisionaryteapot,sinceIwassurethatitwouldtakehimadayortwotoappreciatethesignificanceofourdiscoveries。Atanyrate,hewanderedoff,makingnoremarksaboutthem,todrinkwater,Isuppose。
  Presentlyhebegantoshouttousfromtheendofthetable—rockandwewenttoseethereasonofhisnoise。Itprovedtobeverysatisfactory,forwhilewewereinthecavetheOrofenanshadbroughtabsolutelyeverythingbelongingtous,togetherwithalargesupplyoffoodfromthemainisland。Notasinglearticlewasmissing;evenourbooks,acanwiththebottomout,andthebrokenpiecesofalittlepocketmirrorhadbeenreligiouslytransported,andwiththeseafewarticlesthathadbeenstolenfromus,notablymypocket—knife。Evidentlyagreattaboohadbeenlaiduponallourpossessions。TheywerenowcarefullyarrangedinoneofthegroovesoftherockthatBickleysupposedhadbeenmadebythewheelsofaeroplanes,whichwaswhywehadnotseenthematonce。
  Eachofusrushedforwhatwedesiredmost——Bastinforoneofthecanistersoftea,Iformydiaries,andBickleyforhischestofinstrumentsandmedicines。Thesewereremovedtothemouthofthecave,andafterthemtheotherthingsandthefood;alsoabelltentandsomecampfurniturethatwehadbroughtfromtheship。ThenBastinmadesometeaofwhichhedrankfourlargepannikins,havingfirstsaidgraceoveritwithunwontedfervour。
  Nordidwedisdainourshareofthebeverage,althoughBickleypreferredcocoaandIcoffee。Cocoaandcoffeewehadnotimetomakethen,andinviewofthatsepulchreinthecave,whathadwetodowithcocoaandcoffee?
  SoBickleyandIsaidtoeachother,andyetpresentlyhechangedhismindandinaspecialmetalmachinecarefullymadesomeextremelystrongblackcoffeewhichhepouredintoathermosflask,previouslywarmedwithhotwater,addingtheretoaboutaclaretglassofbrandy。Alsoheextractedcertaindrugsfromhismedicine—chest,andwiththem,asInoted,ahypodermicsyringe,whichhefirstboiledinakettleandthenshutupinalittletubewithaglassstopper。
  Thesepreparationsfinished,hecalledtoTommytogivehimthescrapsofourmeal。ButtherewasnoTommy。Thedogwasmissing,andthoughwehuntedeverywherewecouldnotfindhim。Finallyweconcludedthathehadwanderedoffdownthebeachonbusinessofhisownandwouldreturninduecourse。WecouldnotbotheraboutTommyjustthen。
  Aftermakingsomefurtherpreparationsandfidgetingaboutalittle,Bickleyannouncedthataswehadnowsomeproperparaffinlampsofthepowerfulsortwhichareknownas"hurricane,"heproposedbytheiraidtocarryoutfurtherexaminationsinthecave。
  "IthinkIshallstopwhereIam,"saidBastin,helpinghimselffromthekettletoafifthpannikinoftea。"Thosecorpsesareveryinteresting,butIdon’tseeanyuseinstaringatthemagainatpresent。Onecanalwaysdothatatanytime。IhavemissedMaramaoncealreadybybeingawayinthatcave,andIhavealottosaytohimaboutmypeople;Idon’twanttobeabsentincaseheshouldreturn。"
  "Towashupthethings,Isuppose,"saidBickleywithasniff;
  "orperhapstoeatthetea—leaves。"
  "Well,asamatteroffact,Ihavenoticedthatthesenativeshaveapeculiartastefortea—leaves。Ithinktheybelievethemtobeamedicine,butIdon’tsupposetheywouldcomesofarforthem,thoughperhapstheymightinthehopeofgettingtheheadofOro。Anyhow,Iamgoingtostophere。"
  "Praydo,"saidBickley。"Areyouready,Humphrey?"
  Inodded,andhehandedtomeafelt—coveredflaskofthenon—
  conductingkind,filledwithboilingwater,atinofpreservedmilk,andalittlebottleofmeatextractofamostconcentratedsort。Then,havinglittwoofthehurricanelampsandseenthattheywerefullofoil,westartedbackupthecave。
  ChapterXI
  ResurrectionWereachedthesepulchrewithoutstoppingtolookattheparkedmachinesoreventhemarvelousstatuethatstoodaboveit,forwhatdidwecareaboutmachinesorstatuesnow?Asweapproachedwewereastonishedtohearlowandcavernousgrowlings。
  "Thereissomewildbeastinthere,"saidBickley,halting。
  "No,byGeorge!it’sTommy。Whatcanthedogbeafter?"
  Wepeepedin,andtheresureenoughwasTommylyingonthetopoftheGlitteringLady’scoffinandgrowlinghisverybestwiththehairstandingupuponhisback。Whenhesawwhoitwas,however,hejumpedoffandfriskedround,lickingmyhand。
  "That’sverystrange,"Iexclaimed。
  "Notstrangerthaneverythingelse,"saidBickley。
  "Whatareyougoingtodo?"Iasked。
  "Openthesecoffins,"heanswered,"beginningwiththatoftheoldgod,sinceIwouldratherexperimentonhim。Iexpecthewillcrumbleintodust。Butifbychancehedoesn’tI’lljamalittlestrychnine,mixedwithsomeotherdrugs,ofwhichyoudon’tknowthenames,intooneofhisveinsandseeifanythinghappens。Ifitdoesn’t,itwon’thurthim,andifitdoes——well,whoknows?
  Nowgivemeahand。"
  Wewenttotheleft—handcoffinandbyinsertingthehookonthebackofmyknife,ofwhichtherealuseistopickstonesoutofhorses’hoofs,intooneofthelittleair—holesIhavedescribed,managedtoraisetheheavycrystallidsufficientlytoenableustoforceapieceofwoodbetweenitandthetop。Therestwaseasy,forthehingesbeingofcrystalhadnotcorroded。
  Intwominutesitwasopen。
  Fromthechestcameanoverpoweringspicyodour,andwithitaveritablebreathofwarmairbeforewhichwerecoiledalittle。
  Bickleytookapocketthermometerwhichhehadathandandglancedatit。Itmarkedatemperatureof82degreesinthesepulchre。Havingnotedthis,hethrustitintothecoffinbetweenthecrystalwallanditsoccupant。Thenwewentoutandwaitedalittlewhiletogivetheodourstimetodissipate,fortheymadetheheadreel。
  Afterfiveminutesorsowereturnedandexaminedthethermometer。Ithadrisento98degrees,thenaturaltemperatureofthehumanbody。
  "Whatdoyoumakeofthatifthemanisdead?"hewhispered。
  Ishookmyhead,andaswehadagreed,settohelpinghimtoliftthebodyfromthecoffin。Itwasagoodweight,quiteelevenstoneIshouldsay;moreover,itwasnotstill,forthehipjointsbent。Wegotitoutandlaiditonablanketwehadspreadonthefloorofthesepulchre。WhilstIwasthusengagedIsawsomethingthatnearlycausedmetoloosemyholdfromastonishment。Beneaththehead,thecentreofthebackandthefeetwerecrystalboxesabouteightinchessquare,orrathercrystalblocks,forinthemIcouldseenoopening,andtheseboxesemittedafaintphosphorescentlight。Itouchedoneofthemandfoundthatitwasquitewarm。
  "Greatheavens!"Iexclaimed,"here’smagic。"
  "There’snosuchthing,"answeredBickleyinhisusualformula。
  Thenanexplanationseemedtostrikehimandheadded,"Notmagicbutradiumorsomethingofthesort。That’showthetemperaturewaskeptup。Insufficientquantityitispracticallyindestructible,yousee。Myword!thisoldgentlemanknewathingortwo。"
  Againwewaitedalittlewhiletoseeifthebodybeguntocrumbleonexposuretotheair,Itakingtheopportunitytomakearoughsketchofitinmypocket—bookinanticipationofthatevent。Butitdidnot;itremainedquitesound。
  "Heregoes,"saidBickley。"Ifheshouldbealive,hewillcatchcoldinhislungsafterlyingforagesinthatbabyincubator,asIsupposehehasdone。Soitisnowornever。"
  Thenbiddingmeholdtheman’srightarm,hetookthesterilizedsyringewhichhehadprepared,andthrustingtheneedleintoaveinheselectedjustabovethewrist,injectedthecontents。
  "Itwouldhavebeenbetterovertheheart,"hewhispered,"butIthoughtIwouldtrythearmfirst。Idon’tlikeriskingchillsbyuncoveringhim。"
  Imadenoanswerandagainwewaitedandwatched。
  "Greatheavens,he’sstirring!"Igaspedpresently。
  Stirringhewas,forhisfingersbegantomove。
  Bickleybentdownandplacedhiseartotheheart——Iforgottosaythathehadtestedthisbeforewithastethoscope,buthadbeenunabletodetectanymovement。
  "Ibelieveitisbeginningtobeat,"hesaidinanawedvoice。
  Thenheappliedthestethoscope,andadded,"Itis,itis!"
  Nexthetookafilamentofcottonwoolandlaiditontheman’slips。Presentlyitmoved;hewasbreathing,thoughveryfaintly。
  Bickleytookmorecottonwoolandhavingpouredsomethingfromhismedicine—chestontoit,placeditoverthemouthbeneaththeman’snostrils——Ibelieveitwassalvolatile。
  Nothingfurtherhappenedforalittlewhile,andtorelievethestrainonmymindIstaredabsentlyintotheemptycoffin。HereI
  sawwhathadescapedournotice,twosmallplatesofwhitemetalandcutuponthemwhatItooktobestarmaps。BeyondtheseandtheglowingboxeswhichIhavementioned,therewasnothingelseinthecoffin。Ihadnotimetoexaminethem,foratthatmomenttheoldmanopenedhismouthandbegantobreathe,evidentlywithsomediscomfortandeffort,ashisemptylungsfilledthemselveswithair。Thenhiseyelidslifted,revealingawonderfulpairofdarkglowingeyesbeneath。Nexthetriedtositupbutwouldhavefallen,hadnotBickleysupportedhimwithhisarm。
  IdonotthinkhesawBickley,indeedheshuthiseyesagainasthoughthelighthurtthem,andwentintoakindoffaint。ThenitwasthatTommy,whoallthiswhilehadbeenwatchingtheproceedingswithgraveinterest,cameforward,wagginghistail,andlickedtheman’sface。Atthetouchofthedog’sredtongue,heopenedhiseyesforthesecondtime。Nowhesaw——notusbutTommy,foraftercontemplatinghimforafewseconds,somethinglikeasmileappeareduponhisfiercebutnobleface。More,heliftedhishandandlaiditonthedog’shead,asthoughtopatitkindly。Halfaminuteorsolaterhisawakeningsensesappreciatedourpresence。Theincipientsmilevanishedandwasreplacedbyasomewhatterriblefrown。
  MeanwhileBickleyhadpouredoutsomeofthehotcoffeelacedwithbrandyintothecupthatwasscrewedonthetopofthethermosflask。AdvancingtothemanwhomIsupported,heputittohislips。Hetastedandmadeawryface,butpresentlyhebegantosip,andultimatelyswalloweditall。Theeffectofthestimulantwaswonderful,forinafewminuteshecametolifecompletelyandwasevenabletositupwithoutsupport。
  Forquitealongwhilehegazedatusgravely,talkingusinandeverythingconnectedwithus。Forinstance,Bickley’smedicine—
  casewhichlayopenshowingthelittlevulcanitetubes,afewinstrumentsandotheroutfit,engagedhisparticularattention,andIsawatoncethatheunderstoodwhatitwas。Thushisarmstillsmartedwheretheneedlehadbeendriveninandontheblanketlaythesyringe。Helookedathisarm,thenlookedatthesyringe,andnodded。Theparaffinhurricanelampsalsoseemedtointerestandwinhisapproval。Wetwomen,asIthought,attractedhimleastofall;hejustsummedusupandourgarments,moreespeciallythegarments,withafewshrewdglances,andthenseemedtoturnhisthoughtstoTommy,whohadseatedhimselfquitecontentedlyathisside,evidentlyacceptinghimasanewadditiontoourparty。
  IconfessthatthisbehaviouronTommy’spartreassuredmenotalittle。Iamagreatbelieverintheinstinctsofanimals,especiallyofdogs,andIfeltcertainthatifthismanhadnotbeeninallessentialshumanlikeourselves,Tommywouldnothavetoleratedhim。Inthesamewaythesleeper’sclearlikingforTommy,atwhomhelookedmuchoftenerandwithgreaterkindnessthanhedidatus,suggestedthattherewasgoodnessinhimsomewhere,sincealthoughadoginitswonderfultolerancemayloveabadpersoninwhomitsmellsouthiddenvirtue,noreallybadpersoneverlovedadog,or,Imayadd,achildoraflower。
  Asamatteroffact,the"oldgod,"aswehadchristenedhimwhilehewasinhiscoffin,duringallourassociationwithhim,caredinfinitelymoreforTommythanhedidforanyofus,acircumstancethatultimatelywasnotwithoutitsinfluenceuponourfortunes。Butforthistherewasareasonaswelearnedafterwards,alsohewasnotreallysoamiableasIhoped。
  Whenwehadlookedateachotherforalongwhilethesleeperbegantoarrangehisbeard,ofwhichthelengthseemedtosurprisehim,especiallyasTommywasseatedononeendofit。
  FindingthisoutandapparentlynotwishingtodisturbTommy,hegaveuptheoccupation,andafteroneortwoattempts,forhistongueandlipsstillseemedtobestiff,addressedusinsomesonorousandmusicallanguage,unlikeanythatwehadeverheard。
  Weshookourheads。ThenbyanafterthoughtIsaid"Goodday"tohiminthelanguageoftheOrofenans。Hepuzzledoverthewordasthoughitweremoreorlessfamiliartohim,andwhenIrepeatedit,gaveitbacktomewithadifferenceindeed,butinawaywhichconvincedusthathequiteunderstoodwhatImeant。Theconversationwentnofurtheratthemomentbecausejustthensomememoryseemedtostrikehim。
  HewassittingwithhisbackagainstthecoffinoftheGlitteringLady,whomthereforehehadnotseen。Nowhebegantoturnround,andbeingtooweaktodoso,motionedmetohelphim。
  Iobeyed,whileBickley,guessinghispurpose,helduponeofthehurricanelampsthathemightseebetter。Withakindoffierceeagernesshesurveyedherwholaywithinthecoffin,andafterhehaddoneso,utteredasighasofintenserelief。
  Nexthepointedtothemetalcupoutofwhichhehaddrunk。
  Bickleyfilleditagainfromthethermosflask,whichIobservedexcitedhiskeeninterest,for,havingtouchedtheflaskwithhishandandfoundthatitwascool,heappearedtomarvelthatthefluidcomingfromitshouldbehotandsteaming。Presentlyhesmiledasthoughhehadgotthecluetothemystery,andswallowedhisseconddrinkofcoffeeandspirit。Thisdone,hemotionedtoustoliftthelidofthelady’scoffin,pointingoutacertaincatchintheboltswhichatfirstwecouldnotmaster,foritwillberememberedthatonthiscoffinthesewereshot。
  Intheend,bypursuingthesamemethodsthatwehadusedintheinstanceofhisown,weraisedthecoffinlidandoncemoreweredriventoretreatfromthesepulchreforawhilebytheoverpoweringodourliketothatofawholegreenhousefulloftuberoses,thatflowedoutofit,inducingakindofstupefactionfromwhichevenTommyfled。
  Whenwereturneditwastofindthemankneelingbythesideofthecoffin,forasyethecouldnotstand,withhisglowingeyesfixeduponthefaceofherwhosleptthereinandwavinghislongarmsaboveher。
  "Hypnoticbusiness!Wonderifitwillwork,"whisperedBickley。
  Thenheliftedthesyringeandlookedinquiringlyattheman,whoshookhishead,andwentonwithhismesmericpasses。
  Icreptroundhimandtookmystandbythesleeper’shead,thatImightwatchherface,whichwaswellworthwatching,whileBickley,withhismedicineathand,remainednearherfeet,I
  thinkengagedindisinfectingthesyringeinsomespiritoracid。
  Ibelievehewasabouttomakeanattempttouseitwhensuddenly,asthoughbeneaththeinfluenceofthehypnoticpasses,achangeappearedontheGlitteringLady’sface。Hitherto,beautifulasitwas,ithadbeenadeadfacethoughoneofapersonwhohadsuddenlybeencutoffwhileinfullhealthandvigourafewhours,oratthemostadayorsobefore。Nowitbegantoliveagain;itwasasthoughthespiritwerereturningfromafar,andnotwithouttoilandtribulation。
  Expressionafterexpressionflittedacrossthefeatures;indeedtheseseemedtochangesomuchfrommomenttomomentthattheymighthavebelongedtoseveraldifferentindividuals,thougheachwasbeautiful。ThefactoftheseremarkablechangeswiththesuggestionofmultiformpersonalitieswhichtheyconveyedimpressedbothBickleyandmyselfverymuchindeed。Thenthebreastheavedtumultuously;itevenappearedtostruggle。Nexttheeyesopened。Theywerefullofwonder,evenoffear,butoh!
  whatmarvelouseyes。Idonotknowhowtodescribethem,I
  cannotevenstatetheirexactcolour,exceptthatitwasdark,somethingliketheblueofsapphiresofthedeepesttint,andyetnotblack;large,too,andsoftasadeer’s。Theyshutagainasthoughthelighthurtthem,thenoncemoreopenedandwanderedabout,apparentlywithoutseeing。
  Atlengththeyfoundmyface,forIwasstillbendingoverher,and,restingthere,appearedtotakeitinbydegrees。More,itseemedtotouchandstirsomehumanspringinthestill—sleepingheart。Atleastthefearpassedfromherfeaturesandwasreplacedbyafaintsmile,suchasapatientsometimesgivestooneknownandwellloved,astheeffectsofchloroformpassaway。
  Forawhileshelookedatmewithanearnest,searchinggaze,thensuddenly,forthefirsttimemovingherarms,liftedthemandthrewthemroundmyneck。
  Theoldmanstared,bendinghisimperialbrowsintoalittlefrown,butdidnothing。Bickleystaredalsothroughhisglassesandsniffedasthoughindisapproval,whileIremainedquitestill,fightingwithawildimpulsetokissheronthelipsasonewouldanawakeningandbelovedchild。IdoubtifIcouldhavedoneso,however,forreallyIwasimmovable;myheartseemedtostopandallmymusclestobeparalysed。
  Idonotknowforhowlongthisendured,butIdoknowhowitended。PresentlyintheintensesilenceIheardBastin’sheavyvoiceandlookinground,sawhisbigheadprojectingintothesepulchre。
  "Well,Inever!"hesaid,"youseemtohavewokethemupwithavengeance。Ifyoubeginlikethatwiththelady,therewillbecomplicationsbeforeyouhavedone,Arbuthnot。"
  Talkofbeingbroughtbacktoearthwitharush!IcouldhavekilledBastin,andBickley,turningonhimlikeatiger,toldhimtobeoff,findwoodandlightalargefireinfrontofthestatue。IthinkhewasabouttoarguewhentheAncientgavehimaglanceofhisfierceeyes,whichalarmedhim,andhedeparted,bewildered,toreturnpresentlywiththewood。
  Butthesoundofhisvoicehadbrokenthespell。TheLadyletherarmsfallwithastart,andshuthereyesagain,seemingtofaint。Bickleysprangforwardwithhissalvolatileandappliedittohernostrils,theAncientnotinterfering,forheseemedtorecognisethathehadtodealwithamanofskillandonewhomeantwellbythem。
  Intheendwebroughtherroundagainand,toomitdetails,Bickleygaveher,notcoffeeandbrandy,butamixturehecompoundedofhotwater,preservedmilkandmeatessence。Theeffectofitonherwaswonderful,sinceafewminutesafterswallowingitshesatupinthecoffin。Thenweliftedherfromthatnarrowbedinwhichshehadsleptfor——ah!howlong?andperceivedthatbeneathheralsowerecrystalboxesoftheradiant,heat—givingsubstance。Wesatheronthefloorofthesepulchre,wrappingheralsoinablanket。
  NowitwasthatTommy,afterfriskingroundherasthoughinwelcomeofanoldfriend,calmlyestablishedhimselfbesideherandlaidhisblackheaduponherknee。Shenoteditandsmiledforthefirsttime,amarvelouslysweetandgentlesmile。More,sheplacedherslenderhanduponthedogandstrokedhimfeebly。
  Bickleytriedtomakeherdrinksomemoreofhismixture,butsherefused,motioninghimtogiveittoTommy。This,however,hewouldnotdobecausetherewasbutonecup。Presentlybothofthesleepersbegantoshiver,whichcausedBickleyanxiety。AbusingBastinbeneathhisbreathforbeingsolongwiththefire,hedrewtheblanketscloseraboutthem。
  Thenanideacametohimandheexaminedtheglowingboxesinthecoffin。Theywereloose,beingmerelysetinpreparedcavitiesinthecrystal。Wrappingourhandkerchiefsabouthishand,hetookthemoutandplacedthemaroundthewakenedpatients,aproceedingofwhichtheAncientnoddedapproval。Justthen,too,Bastinreturnedwithhisfirstloadoffirewood,andsoonwehadamerryblazegoingjustoutsidethesepulchre。Isawthattheyobservedthelightingofthisfirebymeansofamatchwithmuchinterest。
  Nowtheygrewwarmagain,asindeedwedidalso——toowarm。TheninmyturnIhadanidea。Iknewthatbynowthesunwouldbebeatinghotlyagainsttherockofthemount,andsuggestedtoBickley,that,ifpossible,thebestthingwecoulddowouldbetogetthemintoitslife—givingrays。Heagreed,ifwecouldmakethemunderstandandtheywereabletowalk。SoItried。
  FirstIdirectedtheAncient’sattentiontothemouthofthecavewhichatthisdistanceshowedasawhitecircleoflight。Helookedatitandthenatmewithgraveinquiry。Imademotionstosuggestthatheshouldproceedthere,repeatingtheword"Sun"intheOrofenantongue。Heunderstoodatonce,thoughwhetherhereadmymindratherthanwhatIsaidIamnotsure。ApparentlytheGlitteringLadyunderstoodalsoandseemedtobemostanxioustogo。Onlyshelookedratherpitifullyatherfeetandshookherhead。Thisdecidedme。
  IdonotknowifIhavementionedanywherethatIamatallmanandverymuscular。Shewastall,also,butasIjudgednotsoveryheavyafterherlongfast。AtanyrateIfeltquitecertainthatIcouldcarryherforthatdistance。Stoopingdown,Iliftedherup,signingtohertoputherarmsroundmyneck,whichshedid。ThencallingtoBickleyandBastintobringalongtheAncientbetweenthem,withsomedifficultyIstruggledoutofthesepulchre,andstarteddownthecave。ShewasmoreheavythanI
  thought,andyetIcouldhavewishedthejourneylonger。Tobeginwithsheseemedquitetrustfulandhappyinmyarms,whereshelaywithherheadagainstmyshoulder,smilingalittleasachildmightdo,especiallywhenIhadtostopandthrowherlonghairroundmynecklikeamuffler,topreventitfromtrailinginthedust。
  Abundleoflavender,oratrussofnew—mownhay,couldnothavebeenmoresweettocarryandtherewassomethingelectricaboutthetouchofher,whichwentthroughandthroughme。Verysoonitwasover,andwewereoutofthecaveintothefullgloryofthetropicalsun。Atfirst,thathereyesmightbecomeaccustomedtoitslightandherawakenedbodytoitsheat,Isetherdownwhereshadowfellfromtheoverhangingrock,inacanvasdeckchairthathadbeenbroughtbyMaramawiththeotherthings,throwingtherugabouthertoprotectherfromsuchwindastherewas。Shenestledgratefullyintothesoftseatandshuthereyes,forthemotionhadtiredher。Inoted,however,thatshedrewinthesweetairwithlongbreaths。
  ThenIturnedtoobservethearrivaloftheAncient,whowasbeingbornebetweenBickleyandBastininwhatchildrenknowasadandy—chair,whichisformedbytwopeoplecrossingtheirhandsinapeculiarfashion。Itsaysmuchforthetremendousdignityofhispresencethateventhus,withonearmroundtheneckofBickleyandtheotherroundthatofBastin,andhislongwhitebeardfallingalmosttotheground,hestilllookedmostimposing。
  Unfortunately,however,justastheywereemergingfromthecave,Bastin,alwaysthemostawkwardofcreatures,managedtoleaveholdwithonehand,sothathispassengernearlycametotheground。NevershallIforgetthelookthathegavehim。
  Indeed,IthinkthatfromthismomenthehatedBastin。Bickleyherespectedasamanofintelligenceandlearning,althoughincomparisonwithhisown,thelatterwasinfantileandcrude;mehetoleratedandevenliked;butBastinhedetested。TheonlyoneofourpartyforwhomhefeltanythingapproachingrealaffectionwasthespanielTommy。
  Wesethimdown,fortunatelyuninjured,onsomerugs,andalsointheshadow。Then,afteralittlewhile,wemovedbothofthemintothesun。Itwasquitecurioustoseethemexpandthere。AsBickleysaid,whathappenedtothemmightwellbecomparedtothedevelopmentofabutterflywhichhasjustbrokenfromthelivinggraveofitschrysalisandcreptintothefull,hotradianceofthelight。Itscrinkledwingsunfold,theirbrillianttintsdevelop;inanhourortwoitisperfect,glorious,preparedforlifeandflight,anewcreature。
  Soitwaswiththispair,frommomenttomomenttheygatheredstrengthandvigour。Near—bytothem,asithappened,stoodalargebasketofthelusciousnativefruitsbroughtthatmorningbytheOrofenans,andatthesetheLadylookedwithlonging。WithBickley’spermission,IofferedthemtoherandtotheAncient,firstpeelingthemwithmyfingers。Theyateofthemgreedily,afullmeal,andwouldhavegoneonhadnotthesternBickley,fearinguntowardconsequences,removedthebasket。Againtheresultswerewonderful,forhalfanhourafterwardstheyseemedtobequitestrong。WithmyassistancetheGlitteringLady,asI