\"Whatnonsense，\"ejaculatedBastin，\"therearenosuchthings。\"
\"Shutup，\"Isaid，\"wemustusesimileshere，\"towhichhereplied：
\"Idon’tlikesimilesthattamperwiththetruth。\"
\"RememberNeptuneandAeolus，\"Isuggested，andhelapsedintoconsiderationofthepoint。
\"Weknewthatyouwerecoming，\"saidMarama。\"Ourdoctorstoldusallaboutyouamoonago。Butwewishthatyouwouldcomemoregently，asyounearlywashedawayourcountry。\"
AfterlookingatmeBickleyreplied：
\"Howthankfulshouldyoubethatinourkindnesswehavesparedyou。\"
\"Whatdoyoucometodo？\"inquiredMaramaagain。AftertheusualformulaofconsultingmeBickleyanswered：
\"Wecometotakethatmountain（hemeantlump）offyourneckandmakeyoubeautiful；alsotocureallthesicknessamongyourpeople。\"
\"AndIcome，\"brokeinBastin，\"togiveyounewhearts。\"
Theseannouncementsevidentlycausedgreatexcitement。AfterconsultationMaramaanswered：
\"Wedonotwantnewheartsastheoldonesaregood，butwewishtoberidoflumpsandsicknesses。Ifyoucandothiswewillmakeyougodsandworshipyouandgiveyoumanywives。\"
（HereBastinhelduphishandsinhorror。）\"Whenwillyoubegintotakeawaythelumps？\"
\"To—morrow，\"saidBickley。\"Butlearnthatifyoutrytoharmuswewillbringanotherwavewhichwilldrownallyourcountry。\"
Nobodyseemedtodoubtourcapacitiesinthisdirection，butoneinquiringspiritinawickercratedidaskhowitcameaboutthatifwecontrolledtheoceanwehadarrivedinhalfacanoeinsteadofawholeone。
Bickleyrepliedtotheeffectthatitwasbecausethegodsalwaystravelledinhalf—canoestoshowtheirhighernature，whichseemedtosatisfyeveryone。Thenweannouncedthatwehadseenenoughofthemforthatdayandwouldretiretothink。
Meanwhileweshouldbeobligediftheywouldbuildusahouseandkeepussuppliedwithwhateverfoodtheyhad。
\"Dothegodseat？\"askedthescepticagain。
\"Thatfellowisaconfoundedradical，\"IwhisperedtoBickley。
\"TellhimthattheydowhentheycometoOrofena。\"
Hedidso，whereonthechiefsaid：
\"Wouldthegodslikeaniceyounggirlcooked？\"
AtthispointBastinretireddownthepath，realisingthathehadtodowithcannibals。Wesaidthatwepreferredtolookatthegirlsaliveandwouldmeetthemagainto—morrowmorning，whenwehopedthatthehousewouldbeready。
SoourfirstinterviewwiththeinhabitantsofOrofenacametoanend，onwhichwecongratulatedourselves。
OnreachingtheremainsoftheStaroftheSouthwesettoworktotakestockofwhatwaslefttous。Fortunatelyitprovedtobeaverygreatdeal。AsIthinkImentioned，allthepassengerpartoftheyachtlayforwardofthebridge，justinfrontofwhichthevesselhadbeenbrokenintwo，almostascleanlyasthoughshewereseveredbyagiganticknife。Furtherourstoreswereforwardandpracticallyeverythingelsethatbelongedtous，evendowntoBickley’sinstrumentsandmedicinesandBastin’sreligiousworks，tosaynothingofagreatquantityoftinnedfoodandgroceries。Lastlyonthedeckabovethesaloonhadstoodtwolargelifeboats。Althoughthesewereamplysecuredatthecommencementofthegaleoneofthem，thatontheportside，wassmashedtosmithers；probablysomesparhadfallenuponit。Thestarboardboat，however，remainedintactandsofaraswecouldjudge，seaworthy，althoughthebulwarkswerebrokenbythewaves。
\"There’ssomethingwecangetawayinifnecessary，\"Isaid。
\"Whereto？\"remarkedBastin。\"Wedon’tknowwhereweareorifthereisanyotherlandwithinathousandmiles。IthinkwehadbetterstophereasProvidenceseemstohaveintended，especiallywhenthereissomuchworktomyhand。\"
\"Becareful，\"answeredBickley，\"thattheworktoyourhanddoesnotendinthecuttingofallourthroats。Itisanawkwardthinginterferingwiththereligionofsavages，andIbelievethattheseuntutoredchildrenofNaturesometimeseatmissionaries。\"
\"Yes，Ihaveheardthat，\"saidBastin；\"theybakethemfirstastheydopigs。ButIdon’tknowthattheywouldcaretoeatme，\"
andheglancedathisbonylimbs，\"especiallywhenyouaremuchplumper。Anyhowonecan’tstopforariskofthatsort。\"
Deigningnoreply，Bickleywalkedawaytofetchsomefinefishwhichhadbeenwashedupbythetidalwaveandwerestillflappingaboutinalittlepoolofsaltwater。Thenwetookcounselastohowtomakethebestofourcircumstances，andasaresultsettoworktotidyupthesaloonandcabins，whichwasnotdifficultaswhatremainedoftheshiplayonanevenkeel。
Alsowegotoutsomenecessarystores，includingparaffinfortheswinginglampswithwhichtheshipwasfittedincaseofaccidenttotheelectriclight，candles，andthegunswehadbroughtwithussothattheymightbehandyintheeventofattack。Thisdone，bytheaidofthetoolsthatwereinthestorerooms，Bickley，whowasanexcellentcarpenter，repairedthesaloondoor，allthatwasnecessarytokeepusprivate，asthebulkheadstillremained。
\"Now，\"hesaidtriumphantlywhenhehadfinishedandgotthelockandboltstoworktohissatisfaction，\"wecanstandasiegeifneeded，forastheshipisironbuilttheycan’tevenburnusoutandthatteakdoorwouldtakesomeforcing。Alsowecanshoreitup。\"
\"Howaboutsomethingtoeat？Iwantmytea，\"saidBastin。
\"Then，myreverendfriend，\"repliedBickley，\"takeacoupleofthefirebucketsandfetchsomewaterfromthestream。Alsocollectdriftwoodofwhichthereisplentyabout，cleanthosefishandgrillthemoverthesaloonstove。\"
\"I’lltry，\"saidBastin，\"butIneverdidanycookingbefore。\"
\"No，\"repliedBickley，\"onsecondthoughtsIwillseetothatmyself，butyoucangetthefishready。\"
So，withdueprecautions，BastinandIfetchedwaterfromthestreamwhichwefoundflowedovertheedgeofthecliffquitecloseathandintoabeautifulcoralbasinthatmighthavebeendesignedforabathofthenymphs。Indeedoneatatime，whiletheotherwatched，weundressedandplungedintoit，andneverwasatubmorewelcomethanafterourlongdaysoftempest。ThenwereturnedtofindthatBickleyhadalreadysetthetableandwasengagedinfryingthefishveryskilfullyonthesaloonstove，whichprovedtobewelladaptedtothepurpose。Hewascross，however，whenhefoundthatwehadbathedandthatitwasnowtoolateforhimtodolikewise。
WhilehewascleaninghimselfaswellashecouldinhiscabinbasinandBastinwasboilingwaterfortea，suddenlyIrememberedtheletterfromtheDanishmateJacobsen。ConcludingthatitmightnowbeopenedaswehadcertainlypartedwithmostoftheStaroftheSouthforthelasttime，Ireadit。Itwasasfollows：
\"Thereason，honouredSir，thatIamleavingtheshipisthatonthenightItoreupthepaper，thespiritcontrollingtheplanchettewrotethesewords：’AfterleavingSamoatheStaroftheSouthwillbewreckedinahurricaneandeverybodyonboarddrownedexceptA。B。andB。Getoutofher！Getoutofher！Don’tbeafool，Jacob，unlessyouwanttocomeoverhereatonce。Takeouradviceandgetoutofherandyouwilllivetobeold。——
SKOLL。\"
\"Sir，IamnotacowardbutIknowthatthiswillhappen，forthatspiritwhichsignsitselfSkollnevertellsalie。IdidtrytogivethecaptainahinttostopatApia，buthehadbeendrinkingandopenlycursedmeandcalledmeasneakingcheat。SoIamgoingtorunaway，ofwhichIamverymuchashamed。ButIdonotwishtobedrownedyetasthereisagirlwhomIwanttomarry，andmymotherIsupport。YouwillbesafeandIhopeyouwillnotthinktoobadlyofme。——JACOBJACOBSEN。
\"P。S。——Itisanawfulthingtoknowthefuture。Nevertrytolearnthat。\"
IgavethislettertoBastinandBickleytoreadandaskedthemwhattheythoughtofit。
\"Coincidence，\"saidBickley。\"Themanisaweak—mindedidiotandheardinSamoathattheyexpectedahurricane。\"
\"Ithink，\"chimedinBastin，\"thatthedevilknowshowtolookafterhisownatanyrateforalittlewhile。Idaresayitwouldhavebeenmuchbetterforhimtobedrowned。\"
\"Atleastheisadeserterandfailedinhisduty。Ineverwishtohearofhimagain，\"Isaid。
AsamatteroffactIneverhave。ButtheincidentremainsquiteunexplainedeitherbyBickleyorBastin。
ChapterVII
TheOrofenansToourshamewehadaverypleasantsupperthatnightoffthegrilledfish，whichwasexcellent，andsometinnedmeat。Isaytoourshame，inasense，foronourcompanionsthesharksweresuppingandbyrightsweshouldhavebeensunkinwoe。Isupposethatthesenseofourownescapeintoxicatedus。Also，notwithstandinghisjoviality，noneofushadcaredmuchforthecaptain，andhispolicyhadbeentokeepussomewhatapartfromthecrew，ofwhomthereforeweknewbutlittle。ItistruethatBastinheldservicesonSundays，forsuchaswouldattend，andBickleyhaddoctoredafewofthemforminorailments，butthere，exceptforalittlecasualconversation，ourintercoursebeganandended。
Nowthesadfactisthatitishardtobeoverwhelmedwithgriefforthosewithwhomwearenotintimate。Wewereverysorryandthatisallthatcanbesaid，exceptthatBastin，beingHighChurch，announcedinamatter—of—factwaythathemeanttoputupsomepetitionsforthewelfareoftheirsouls。TothisBickleyretortedthatfromwhathehadseenoftheirbodieshewassuretheyneededthem。
Yes，itwasapleasantsupper，notmadelesssobyabottleofchampagnewhichBickleyandIshared。Bastinstucktohistea，notbecausehedidnotlikechampagne，butbecause，asheexplained，havingnowcomeincontactwiththeheathenitwouldneverdoforhimtosetthemanexampleintheuseofspirituousliquors。
\"Howevermuchwemaydiffer，Bastin，Irespectyouforthatsentiment，\"commentedBickley。
\"Idon’tknowwhyyoushould，\"answeredBastin；\"butifso，youmightfollowmyexample。\"
Thatnightwesleptlikelogs，trustingtoourteakdoorwhichwebarricaded，andtoTommy，whowasamostexcellentwatch—dog，toguardusagainstsurprise。Atanyratewetooktherisk。Asamatteroffact，nothinghappened，thoughbeforedawnTommydidgrowlagooddeal，forIheardhim，butashesankintoslumberagainonmybed，Ididnotgetup。InthemorningIfoundfromfreshfootprintsthattwoorthreemenhadbeenprowlingabouttheship，thoughatalittledistance。
Weroseearly，andtakingthenecessaryprecautions，bathedinthepool。Thenwebreakfasted，andhavingfilledeveryavailablereceptaclewithwater，whichtookusalongtimeastheseincludedalargetankthatsuppliedthebath，sothatwemighthaveatleastaweek’ssupplyincaseofsiege，wewentondeckanddebatedwhatweshoulddo。Intheendwedeterminedtostopwherewewereandawaitevents，because，asIpointedout，itwasnecessarythatweshoulddiscoverwhetherthesenativeswerehostileorfriendly。Intheformereventwecouldholdourownontheship，whereasawayfromitwemustbeoverwhelmed；inthelattertherewasalwaystimetomoveinland。
Aboutteno’clockwhenwewereseatedonstoolssmoking，withourgunsbyourside——forhere，owingtotheoverhangingcliffinwhichitwillberememberedtheprowoftheshipwasburied，wecouldnotbereachedbymissilesthrownfromabove——wesawnumbersoftheislandersadvancinguponusalongthebeachoneitherside。Theywereprecededasbeforebywomenwhoborefoodonplattersandinbaskets。Thesepeople，alltalkingexcitedlyandlaughingaftertheirfashion，stoppedatadistance，sowetooknonoticeofthem。PresentlyMarama，cladinhisfeathercloak，andagainaccompaniedbypriestsormedicine—men，appearedwalkingdownthepathonthecliffface，and，standingbelow，madesalutationsandenteredintoaconversationwithusofwhichIgivethesubstance——thatis，sofaraswecouldunderstandit。
Hereproachedusfornothavingcometohimasheexpectedwewoulddo。Werepliedthatwepreferredtoremainwherewewereuntilweweresureofourgreetingandaskedhimwhatwastheposition。Heexplainedthatonlyoncebefore，inthetimeofhisgrandfather，hadanypeoplereachedtheirshores，alsoduringagreatstormaswehaddone。Theyweredark—skinnedmenlikethemselves，threeofthem，butwhencetheycamewasneverknown，sincetheywereatonceseizedandsacrificedtothegodOro，whichwastherightthingtodoinsuchacase。
Weaskedwhetherhewouldconsideritrighttosacrificeus。Hereplied：
Certainly，unlessweweretoostrong，beinggodsourselves，orunlessanarrangementcouldbeconcluded。Weasked——whatarrangement？Herepliedthatwemustmakethemgifts；alsothatwemustdowhatwehadpromisedandcurehim——thechief——ofthediseasewhichhadtormentedhimforyears。Inthateventeverythingwouldbeatourdisposalandwe，withallourbelongings，shouldbecometaboo，holy，nottobetouched。Nonewouldattempttoharmus，nothingshouldbestolenunderpenaltyofdeath。
Weaskedhimtocomeuponthedeckwithonlyonecompanionthathissicknessmightbeascertained，andaftermuchhesitationheconsentedtodoso。Bickleymadeanexaminationofthegrowthandannouncedthathebelieveditcouldberemovedwithperfectsafetyastheattachmenttotheneckwasveryslight，butofcoursetherewasalwaysarisk。Thiswasexplainedtohimwithdifficulty，andmuchtalkfollowedbetweenhimandhisfollowerswhogatheredonthebeachbeneaththeship。Theyseemedadversetotheexperiment，tillMammagrewfuriouswiththemandatlastburstintotearssayingthathecouldnolongerdragthisterribleburdenaboutwithhim，andhetouchedthegrowth。Hewouldratherdie。Thentheygaveway。
IwilltelltherestasshortlyasIcan。
Ahideouswoodenidolwasbroughtonboard，wrappedinleavesandfeathers，anduponitthechiefandhisheadpeoplesworesafetytouswhetherhelivedordied，makingustheguestsoftheirland。Therewere，however，twoprovisosmade，orassuchweunderstoodthem。Theseseemedtobethatweshouldoffernoinsultorinjurytotheirgod，andsecondly，thatweshouldnotsetfootontheislandinthelake。Itwasnottillafterwardsthatitoccurredtomethatthismustrefertothemountaintopwhichappearedintheinlandsheetofwater。Tothosestipulationswemadenoanswer。Indeed，theOrofenansdidallthetalking。Finally，theyratifiedtheiroathsbyamanwho，I
suppose，wasaheadpriest，cuttinghisarmandrubbingthebloodfromitonthelipsoftheidol；alsouponthoseofthechief。I
shouldaddthatBastinhadretiredassoonashesawthatfalsegodappear，ofwhichIwasglad，sinceIfeltsurethathewouldmakeascene。
Theoperationtookplacethatafternoonandontheship，forwhenonceMaramahadmadeuphismindtotrustushedidsoverythoroughly。Itwasperformedondeckinthepresenceofanawedmultitudewhowatchedfromtheshore，andwhentheysawBickleyappearinacleannightshirtandwashhishands，utteredagroanofwonder。Evidentlytheyconsidereditamagicalandreligiousceremony；indeedeverafterwardstheycalledBickleytheGreatPriest，orsometimestheGreatHealerinlaterdays。ThiswasagrievancetoBastinwhoconsideredthathehadbeenrobbedofhispropertitle，especiallywhenhelearnedthatamongthemselveshewasonlyknownas\"theBellower，\"becauseoftheloudvoiceinwhichheaddressedthem。NordidBickleyparticularlyappreciatethecompliment。
Withmyhelpheadministeredthechloroform，whichwasdoneundershelterofasailforfearlestthepeopleshouldthinkthatweweresmotheringtheirchief。Thentheoperationwentontoasatisfactoryconclusion。Iomitthedetails，butanelectricbatteryandared—hotwirecameintoplay。
\"There，\"saidBickleytriumphantlywhenhehadfinishedtyingthevesselsandmadeeverythingneatandtidywithbandages，\"I
wasafraidhemightbleedtodeath，butIdon’tthinkthereisanyfearofthatnow，forIhavemadearealjobofit。\"Thenadvancingwiththehorridtumourinhishandsheshoweditintriumphtothecrowdbeneath，whogroanedagainandthrewthemselvesontotheirfaces。DoubtlessnowitisthemostsacredrelicofOrofena。
WhenMaramacameoutoftheanesthetic，Bickleygavehimsomethingwhichsenthimtosleepfortwelvehours，duringallwhichtimehispeoplewaitedbeneath。Thiswasourdangerousperiod，forourdifficultywastopersuadethemthathewasnotdead，althoughBickleyhadassuredthemthathewouldsleepforatimewhilethemagicworked。Still，Iwasverygladwhenhewokeuponthefollowingmorning，andtwoorthreeofhisleadingmencouldseethathewasalive。Therestwaslengthybutsimple，consistingmerelyinkeepinghimquietandonasuitabledietuntiltherewasnofearofthewoundopening。Weachieveditsomehowwiththehelpofanintelligentnativewomanwho，I
suppose，wasoneofhiswives，andfivedayslaterwereenabledtopresenthimhealed，thoughrathertottery，tohisaffectionatesubjects。
Itwasagreatscene，whichmaybeimagined。Theyborehimawayinalitterwiththenativewomantowatchhimandanothertocarrytherelicpreservedinabasket，andustheyacclaimedasgods。ThenceforwardwehadnothingtofearinOrofena——exceptBastin，thoughthiswedidnotknowatthetime。
Allthiswhilewehadbeenlivingonourshipandgrowingveryboredthere，althoughweemployedtheemptyhoursinconversationwithselectednatives，therebyimprovingourknowledgeofthelanguage。Bickleyhadthebestofit，sincealreadypatientsbegantoarrivewhichoccupiedhim。OneofthefirstwasthatmanwhomTommyhadbitten。Hewascarriedtousinanalmostcomatosestate，sufferingapparentlyfromthesymptomsofsnakepoisoning。
AfterwarditturnedoutthatheconceivedTommytobeadivinebutmostvenomouslizardthatcouldmakeaveryhorriblenoise，andbegantosufferasonemightdofromthebiteofsuchacreature。NothingthatBickleycoulddowasenoughtosavehimandultimatelyhediedinconvulsions，acircumstancethatenormouslyenhancedTommy’sreputation。Totellthetruth，wetookadvantageofittoexplainthatTommywasinfactasupernaturalanimal，asortoftamedemonwhichonlyharmedpeoplewhohadmalevolentintentionstowardsthoseheservedorwhotriedtostealanyoftheirpossessionsortointrudeuponthematinconvenienthours，especiallyinthedark。Soterriblewashe，indeed，thateventheskilloftheGreatPriest，i。e。，Bickley，couldnotavailtosaveanywhomoncehehadbitteninhisrage。Eventobebarkedatbyhimwasdangerousandconveyedacursethatmightlastforgenerations。
AllthiswesetoutwhenBastinwasnotthere。Hehadwanderedoff，ashesaid，tolookforshells，butasweknew，topractisereligiousorationsinthePolynesiantonguewiththewavesforaudience，asDemosthenesissaidtohavedonetoperfecthimselfasapoliticalorator。PersonallyIadmitthatIreliedmoreontheterrorsofTommytosafeguardusfromtheftandothertroublesthanIdiduponthoseofthenativetabooandthepriestlyoaths。
Theendofitallwasthatweleftourship，havingpadlockedupthedoor（thepadlock，weexplained，wasamagicalinstrumentthatbitworsethanTommy），andmovedinlandinakindoftriumphalprocession，priestsandsingersgoingbefore（theOrofenanssangextremelywell）andminstrelsfollowingafterplayinguponinstrumentslikeflutes，whilebehindcamethebearerscarryingsuchgoodsasweneeded。Theytookustoabeautifulplaceinagroveofpalmsonaridgewheregrewmanybreadfruittrees，thatcommandedaviewoftheoceanupononesideandofthelakewiththestrangebrownmountaintopontheother。Hereinthemidstofthenativegardenswefoundthatafinehousehadbeenbuiltforusofakindofmudbrickandthatchedwithpalmleaves，surroundedbyafencedcourtyardofbeatenearthandhavingwideoverhangingverandahs；averycomfortableplaceindeedinthatdeliciousclimate。Initwetookupourabode，visitingtheshipoccasionallytoseethatallwaswellthere，andawaitingevents。
ForBickleythesesoonbegantohappenintheshapeofanever—increasingstreamofpatients。Thepopulationoftheislandwasconsiderable，anythingbetweenfiveandtenthousand，sofaraswecouldjudge，andamongtheseofcoursetherewereanumberofsick。Ophthalmia，forinstance，wasaprevalentdisease，aswerethegrowthssuchasMaramahadsufferedfrom，tosaynothingofsurgicalcasesandthoseresultingfromaccidentorfromnervousailments。WithalloftheseBickleywascalledupontodeal，whichhedidwithremarkablesuccessbyhelpofhisbooksonTropicalDiseasesandhisamplesuppliesofmedicalnecessaries。
Atfirstheenjoyeditverymuch，butwhenwehadbeenestablishedinthehouseforaboutthreeweeksheremarked，afterputtinginasolidtenhoursofwork，thatforalltheholidayhewasgettinghemightaswellbebackathisoldpractice，withthedifferencethattherehewasearningseveralthousandsayear。Justthenapoorwomanarrivedwithababyinconvulsionstowhosenecessitieshewasobligedtosacrificehissupper，afterwhichcameamanwhohadfallenfromapalmtreeandbrokenhisleg。
NordidIescape，sincehavingsomehoworotherestablishedareputationforwisdom，assoonasIhadmasteredsufficientofthelanguage，everykindofknottycasewaslaidbeforemefordecision。Inshort，IbecameasortofChiefJustice——notaneasyofficeasitinvolvedtheacquirementofthenativelawwhichwasintricateandpeculiar，especiallyinmatrimonialcases。
AttheseoppressiveactivitiesBastinlookedonwithagloomyeye。
\"Youfellowsseemverybusy，\"hesaidoneevening；\"butIcanfindnothingtodo。Theydon’tseemtowantme，andmerelytosetagoodexamplebydrinkingwaterorteawhileyouswallowwhiskyandtheirpalmwine，orwhateveritis，isverynegativekindofwork，especiallyasIamgettingtiredofplantingthingsinthegardenandplayingpolicemanroundthewreckwhichnobodygoesnear。EvenTommyisbetteroff，foratleasthecanbarkandhuntrats。\"
\"Yousee，\"saidBickley，\"wearefollowingourtrades。
Arbuthnotisalawyerandactsasajudge。IamasurgeonandI
mayaddageneral——averygeneral——practitionerandworkatmedicineinanenormousandmuch—neglectedpractice。Therefore，you，beingaclergyman，shouldgoanddolikewise。Therearesometenthousandpeoplehere，butIdonotobservethatasyetyouhaveconverteda，singleone。\"
ThusspokeBickleyinalightandunguardedmomentwithhisusualobjectofwhatisknownas\"gettingarise\"outofBastin。
Littledidheguesswhathewasdoing。
Bastinthoughtawhileponderously，thensaid：
\"ItisverystrangefromwhatpeculiarsourcesProvidencesometimessendsinspirations。Ifwisdomflowsfrombabesandsucklings，whyshoulditnotdosofromthewellofagnosticsandmockers？\"
\"ThereisnoreasonwhichIcansee，\"scoffedBickley，\"exceptthatasarulewellsdonotflow。\"
\"Yourjestisill—timedandImayaddfoolish，\"continuedBastin。\"WhatIwasabouttoaddwasthatyouhavegivenmeanidea，asitwasnodoubtintendedthatyoushoulddo。Iwill，metaphoricallyspeaking，girdupmyloinsandtrytobearthelightintoallthisheathenblackness。\"
\"Thenitisoneofthefirstyoueverhad，oldfellow。Butwhat’stheneedofgirdingupyourloinsinthishotclimate？\"
inquiredBickleywithinnocence。\"Pyjamasandthatwhiteandgreenumbrellaofyourswoulddojustaswell。\"
Bastinvouchsafednoreplyandsatfortherestofthateveningplungedindeepthought。
OnthefollowingmorningheapproachedMaramaandaskedhisleavetoteachthepeopleaboutthegods。Thechiefreadilygrantedthis，thinking，Ibelieve，thathealludedtoourselves，andorderswereissuedaccordingly。TheyweretotheeffectthatBastinwastobeallowedtogoeverywhereunmolestedandtotalktowhomhewouldaboutwhathewould，towhichallmustlistenwithrespect。
ThushebeganhismissionarycareerinOrofena，workingatit，goodandearnestmanthathewas，inawaythatexcitedeventheadmirationofBickley。Hestartedaschoolforchildren，。whichwasheldunderafine，spreadingtree。Theselistenedwell，andbeingofexceedinglyquickintellectsoonbegantopickuptheelementsofknowledge。Butwhenhetriedtopersuadethemtoclothetheirlittlenakedbodieshisfailurewascomplete，althoughaftermuchsupplicationsomeofthebiggergirlsdidarrivewithachapletofflowers膔oundtheirnecks！
Alsohepreachedtotheadults，andhereagainwasverysuccessfulinaway，especiallyafterhebecamemorefamiliarwiththelanguage。Theylistened；toacertainextenttheyunderstood；theyarguedandputtopoorBastinthemostawfulquestionssuchasthewholeBenchofBishopscouldnothaveanswered。Stillhedidanswerthemsomehow，andtheypolitelyacceptedhisinterpretationoftheirtheologicalriddles。I
observedthathegotonbestwhenhewastellingthemstoriesoutoftheOldTestament，suchastheaccountofthecreationoftheworldandofhumanbeings，alsooftheDeluge，etc。Indeedoneoftheirelderssaid——Yes，thiswasquitetrue。Theyhadhearditallbeforefromtheirfathers，andthatoncetheDelugehadtakenplaceroundOrofena，swallowingupgreatcountries，butsparingthembecausetheyweresogood。