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。\"