Alsotheythrusthandfulsofdrygrassintoourmouthstopreventusfromcallingout，althoughasaircamethroughtheintersticesofthegrass，wedidnotsuffocate。Thethingwassowelldonethatweneverstruckablowinself—defence，andalthoughwehadourpistolsathand，muchlesscouldwefireashot。Ofcourse，westruggledaswellaswewereable，butitwasquiteuseless；
inthreeminuteswewereashelplessascalvesinanetandlikecalveswerebeingconveyedtothebutcher。Bastinmanagedtogetthegagoutofhismouthforafewseconds，andIheardhimsayinhisslow，heavyvoice：
\"This，Bickley，iswhatcomesoftraffickingwithevilspiritsinmuseumcases——\"Therehisspeechstopped，forthegrasswadwasjammeddownhisthroatagain，butdistinctlyIheardtheinarticulateBickleysnortasheconceivedthereparteehewasunabletoutter。Asformyself，Ireflectedthatthebusinessservedusrightfornotkeepingawatch，andabandonedtheissuetofate。
Still，toconfessthetruth，IwasinfinitelymoresorrytodiethanIshouldhavebeenforty—eighthoursearlier。Thisisadullandinmostwaysadreadfulworld，one，ifwecouldonlysummonthecourage，thatsomeofuswouldbegladtoleaveinsearchofnewadventures。Buthereagreatandunprecedentedadventurehadbeguntobefallme，andbeforeitsmysterywassolved，beforeevenIcouldformulateatheoryconcerningit，mybodymustbedestroyed，andmyintelligencethatwascagedtherein，sentfarafield；or，ifBickleywereright，eclipsed。Itseemedsosadjustwhentheimpossible，likeanunguessedwanderingmoon，hadrisenoverthegreyflatsoftheascertainedandmadethemshinewithhopeandwonder。
Theycarriedusofftothecanoes，nottoogently；indeed，I
heardthebonyframeofBastinbumpintothebottomofoneofthemandreflected，notwithoutvenom，thatitservedhimrightashewasthefountandoriginofourwoes。Twostinkingmagicians，wearingontheirheadsundresseditionsoftheircourtcages，sincetheseweretoocumbersomeforactiveworkofthesort，andpaintedalloverwithvariouspigments，werejustabouttoswingmeafterhimintothesame，oranothercanoe，whensomethinghappened。Ididnotknowwhatitwas，butasaresult，mycaptorsleftholdofmesothatIfelltotherock，lyinguponmyback。
Then，withinmylineofvision，which，itmustberemembered，waslimitedbecauseIcouldnotliftmyhead，appearedtheupperpartofthetallpersonoftheAncientwhosaidthathewasnamedOro。Icouldonlyseehimdowntohismiddle，butInotedvaguelythatheseemedtobemuchchanged。Forinstance，heworeadifferentcoloureddress，orratherrobe；thistimeitwasdarkblue，whichcausedmetowonderwhereonearthitcamefrom。
Also，histremendousbeardhadbeentrimmedanddressed，andonhisheadtherewasasimpleblackcap，strangelyquilted，whichlookedasthoughitweremadeofvelvet。Moreover，hisfacehadplumpedout。Hestilllookedancient，itistrue，andunutterablywise，butnowheresembledanantiqueyouth，sogreatwerehisenergyandvigour。Also，hisdarkandglowingeyesshonewithafearfulintensity。Inshort，heseemedimpressiveandterriblealmostbeyondimagining。
Helookedabouthimslowly，thenaskedinadeep，coldvoice，speakingintheOrofenantongue：
\"Whatdoyou，slaves？\"
Nooneseemedabletoanswer，theyweretoohorror—strickenatthissuddenvisionoftheirfabledgod，whosefiercefeaturesofwoodhadbecomeflesh；theyonlyturnedtofly。Hewavedhisthinhandandtheycametoastandstill，likeanimalswhichhavereachedtheendoftheirtetherandarecheckedbythechainsthatbindthem。Theretheystoodinallsortsofpostures，immovableandlookingextremelyridiculousintheirpaintandfeathers，withdreadunutterablestampedupontheirevilfaces。
TheSleeperspokeagain：
\"Youwouldmurderasdidyourforefathers，Ochildrenofsnakesandhogsfashionedintheshapeofmen。Youwouldsacrificethosewhodwellinmyshadowtosatisfyyourhatebecausetheyarewiserthanyou。Comehitherthou，\"andhebeckonedwithabonyfingertothechiefmagician。
Themanadvancedtowardshiminshortjumps，asamechanicaltoymightdo，andstoodbeforehim，hisminiaturecrateandfeathersallawryandthesweatofterrormeltingthepaintinstreaksuponhisface。
\"LookintotheeyesofOro，OworshipperofOro，\"saidtheSleeper，andheobeyed，hisowneyesstartingoutofhishead。
\"ReceivethecurseofOro，\"saidtheAncientagain。Thenfollowedaterriblespectacle。Themanwentravingmad。Heboundedintotheairtoaheightinconceivable。Hethrewhimselfuponthegroundandrolledupontherock。Heroseagainandstaggeredroundandround，tearingpiecesoutofhisarmswithhisteeth。Heyelledhideouslylikeonepossessed。Hegrovelled，beatinghisforeheadagainsttherock。Thenhesatup，slowlychokedand——died。
Hiscompanionsseemedtocatchtheinfectionofdeathasterrifiedsavagesoftendo。Theytooperformeddreadfulantics，allexceptthreeofthemwhostoodparalysed。Theyrushedaboutbatteringeachotherwiththeirfistsandwoodenweapons，lookinglikedevilsfromhellintheirhideouspaintedattire。Theygrappledandfoughtfuriously。Theyseparatedandplungedintothelake，wherewithalastgrimacetheysanklikestones。
Itseemedtolastalongwhile，butIthinkthatasamatteroffactwithinfiveminutesitwasover；theywerealldead。Onlythethreeparalysedonesremainedstandingandrollingtheireyes。
TheSleeperbeckonedtothemwithhisthinfinger，andtheywalkedforwardinsteplikesoldiers。
\"Liftthatmanfromtheboat，\"hesaid，pointingtoBastin，\"cuthisbondsandthoseoftheothers。\"
TheyobeyedwithaWonderfulalacrity。Inaminutewestoodatlibertyandwerepullingthegrassgagsfromourmouths。TheAncientpointedtotheheadmagicianwholaydeadupontherock，hishideous，contortedcountenancestaringopen—eyedatheaven。
\"Takethatsorcererandshowhimtotheothersorcerersyonder，\"
hesaid，\"andtellthemwhereyourfellowsareiftheywouldfindthem。KnowbythesesignsthattheOro，godoftheMountain，whohassleptawhile，isawake，andillwillitgowiththemwhoquestionhispowerordaretotrytoharmthosewhodwellinhishouse。Bringfooddaybydayandawaitcommands。Begone！\"
Thedreadful—lookingbodywasbundledintooneofthecanoes，thatoutofwhichBastinhademerged。Arowersprangintoeachofthemandpresentlywaspaddlingashehadneverdonebefore。Asthesettingmoonvanished，theyvanishedwithit，andoncemoretherewasagreatsilence。
\"Iamgoingtofindmyboots，\"saidBastin。\"ThisrockishardandIhurtmyfeetkickingatthosepoorfellowswhoappeartohavecometoabadend，how，Idonotexactlyunderstand。
Personally，Ithinkthatmoreallowancesshouldhavebeenmadeforthem，asIhopewillbethecaseelsewhere，sinceafteralltheyonlyactedaccordingtotheirlights。\"
\"Cursetheirlights！\"ejaculatedBickley，feelinghisthroatwhichwasbruised。\"I’mgladtheyareout。\"
Bastinlimpedawayinsearchofhisboots，butBickleyandI
stoodwherewewerecontemplatingtheawakenedSleeper。Allrecollectionoftherecenttumultuoussceneseemedtohavepassedfromhismind，forhewasengagedinastudyoftheheavens。Theywerewonderfullybrilliantnowthatthemoonwasdown，brilliantastheyonlycanbeinthetropicswhentheskyisclear。
Somethingcausedmetolookround，andthere，comingtowardsus，wasshewhosaidhernamewasYva。Evidentlyallherweaknesshaddepartedalso，fornowsheneedednosupport，butwalkedwithapeculiarglidingmotionthatremindedmeofaswanfloatingforwardonthewater。WellhadwenamedhertheGlitteringLady，forinthestarlightliterallysheseemedtoglitter。Isupposetheeffectcamefromhergoldenraiment，which，however，I
noticed，asinherfather’scase，wasnotthesamethatshehadworninthecoffin；alsofromherhairthatseemedtogiveoutalightofitsown。Atleast，sheshimmeredasshecame，hertallshapeswayingateverysteplikeawillowinthewind。Shedrewnear，andIsawthatherface，too，hadfilledoutandnowwasthatofoneinperfecthealthandvigour，whilehereyesshonesoftlyandseemedwondrouslarge。
InherhandsshecarriedthosetwoplatesofmetalwhichIhadseenlyinginthecoffinoftheSleeperOro。Theseshegavetohim，thenfellbackoutofhishearing——ifitwereeverpossibletodothis，apointonwhichIamnotsure——andbegantotalktome。Inotedatoncethatinthefewhoursduringwhichshewasabsent，herknowledgeoftheOrofenantongueseemedtohaveimprovedgreatlyasthoughshehaddrunkdeeplyfromsomehiddenfountofmemory。Nowshespokeitwithreadiness，asOrohaddonewhenheaddressedthesorcerers，althoughmanyofthewordssheusedwerenotknowntome，andthegeneralformofherlanguageappearedarchaic，asforinstancethatofSpenseriscomparedwithmodernEnglish。WhenshesawIdidnotcomprehendher，however，shewouldstopandcasthersentencesinadifferentshape，tillatlengthIcaughthermeaning。NowIgivethesubstanceofwhatshesaid。
\"Youaresafe，\"shebegan，glancingfirstatthepalmropesthatlayupontherockandthenatmywrists，oneofwhichwascut。
\"Yes，LadyYva，thankstoyourfather。\"
\"Youshouldsaythankstome。Myfatherwasthinkingofotherthings，butIwasthinkingofyoustrangers，andfromwhereIwasIsawthosewickedonescomingtokillyou。\"
\"Oh！fromthetopofthemountain，Isuppose。\"
Sheshookherheadandsmiledbutvouchsafednofurtherexplanation，unlessherfollowingwordscanbesocalled。Thesewere：
\"Icanseeotherwisethanwithmyeyes，ifIchoose。\"A
statementthatcausedBickley，whowaslistening，tomutter：
\"Impossible！Whatthedeucecanshemean？Telepathy，perhaps。\"
\"Isaw，\"shecontinued，\"andtoldtheLord，myfather。Hecameforth。Didhekillthem？Ididnotlooktolearn。\"
\"Yes。Theylieinthelake，allexceptthreewhomhesentawayasmessengers。\"
\"Ithoughtso。Deathisterrible，OHumphrey，butitisaswordwhichthose，whorulemustusetosmitethewickedandthesavage。
Notwishingtopursuethissubject，Iaskedherwhatherfatherwasdoingwiththemetalplates。
\"Hereadsthestars，\"sheanswered，\"tolearnhowlongwehavebeenasleep。Beforewewenttosleephemadetwopicturesofthem，astheywerethenandastheyshouldbeatthetimehehadsetforourawakening。\"
\"Wesetthattime，\"interruptedBickley。
\"Notso。OBickley，\"sheanswered，smilingagain。\"InthedivineOro’sheadwasthetimeset。Youwerethehandthatexecutedhisdecree。\"
WhenBickleyheardthisIreallythoughthewouldhaveburst。
However，hecontrolledhimselfnobly，beinganxioustoheartheendofthismysteriousfib。
\"HowlongwasthetimethatthelordOrosetapartforsleep？\"
Iasked。
Shepausedasthoughpuzzledtofindwordstoexpresshermeaning，thenheldupherhandsandsaid：
\"Ten，\"noddingatherfingers。BysecondthoughtsshetookBickley’shands，notmine，andcountedhistenfingers。
\"Tenyears，\"saidBickley。\"Well，ofcourse，itisimpossible，butperhaps——\"andhepaused。
\"Tentens，\"shewentonwithadeepeningsmile，\"onehundred。\"
\"O！\"saidBickley。
\"Tenhundreds，onethousand。\"
\"Isay！\"saidBickley。
\"Tentimestenthousand，onehundredthousand。\"
Bickleybecamesilent。
\"Twiceonehundredthousandandhalfahundredthousand，twohundredandfiftythousandyears。ThatwasthespaceoftimewhichthelordOro，myfather，setforoursleep。Whetherithasbeenfulfilledhewillknowpresentlywhenhehasreadthebookofthestarsandmadecomparisonofitwithwhathewrotebeforewelaidusdowntorest，\"andshepointedtothemetalplateswhichtheAncientwasstudying。
Bickleywalkedaway，makingsoundsasthoughheweregoingtobeillandlookingsoabsurdinhisindignationthatInearlylaughed。TheLadyYvaactuallydidlaugh，andverymusicalwasthatlaugh。
\"Hedoesnotbelieve，\"shesaid。\"Heissocleverheknowseverything。Buttwohundredandfiftythousandyearsagoweshouldhavethoughthimquitestupid。Thenwecouldreadthestarsandcalculatetheirmovementsforever。\"
\"Socanwe，\"Ianswered，rathernettled。
\"Iamglad，OHumphrey，sinceyouwillbeabletoshowmyfatherifinoneofthemheiswrong。\"
SecretlyIhopedthatthistaskwouldnotbelaidonme。
Indeed，IthoughtitwelltochangethesubjectfortheedificationofBickleywhohadrecoveredandwasdrawnbackbyhiseagercuriosity。Justthen，too，Bastinjoinedus，happyinhisregainedboots。
\"Youtellus，LadyYva，\"Isaid，\"thatyouslept，orshouldhavesleptfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears。\"HereBastinopenedhiseyes。\"Ifthatwasso，wherewasyourmindallthistime？\"
\"Ifbymymindyoumeanspirit，OHumphrey，IhavetoanswerthatatpresentIdonotknowforcertain。Ithink，however，thatitdweltelsewhere，perhapsinotherbodiesontheearth，orsomedifferentearth。Atleast，IknowthatmyheartisveryfullofmemorieswhichasyetIcannotunrollandread。\"
\"Greatheavens，thisismadness！\"saidBickley。
\"Inthegreatheavens，\"sheansweredslowly，\"therearemanythingswhichyou，poorman，wouldthinktobemadness，butyetaretruthandperfectwisdom。Thesethings，orsomeofthem，soonIshallhopetoshowyou。\"
\"Doifyoucan，\"saidBickley。
\"Whynot？\"interruptedBastin。\"Ithinkthelady’sremarksquitereasonable。Itseemstomehighlyimprobableifreallyshehassleptfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears，which，ofcourse，Ican’tdecide，thatanimmortalspiritwouldbeallowedtoremainidleforsolong。Thatwouldbewallowinginabedofidlenessandshirkingitsdutywhichistodoitswork。Also，asshetellsyou，Bickley，youarenothalfsocleverasyouthinkyouareinyoursillyscepticism，andIhavenodoubtthattherearemanythingsinotherworldswhichwouldexposeyourignorance，ifonlyyoucouldseethem。\"
AtthismomentOroturnedandcalledhisdaughter。Shewentatonce，saying：
\"Come，strangers，andyoushalllearn。\"
Sowefollowedher。
\"Daughter，\"hesaid，speakinginOrofenan，Ithinkthatwemightunderstand，\"askthesestrangerstobringoneofthoselampsoftheirsthatbythelightofitImaystudythesewritings。\"
\"Perhapsthismayserve，\"saidBickley，suddenlyproducinganelectrictorchfromhispocketandflashingitintohisface。Itwashisformofreparteeforallhehadsufferedatthehandsofthisincomprehensiblepair。Letmesayatoncethatitwassingularlysuccessful。PerhapsthewisdomoftheagesinwhichOroflourishedhadoverlookedsosmallamatteraselectrictorches，orperhapshedidnotexpecttomeetwiththeminthesedegeneratedays。AtanyrateforthefirstandlasttimeinmyintercoursewithhimIsawthegod，orlord——thenativewordbearseithermeaning——Orogenuinelyastonished。Hestartedandsteppedback，andforamomentortwoseemedalittlefrightened。
Thenmutteringsomethingastotheclevernessofthislight—producinginstrument，hemotionedtohisdaughtertotakeitfromBickleyandholditinacertainposition。Sheobeyed，andinitsilluminationhebegantostudytheengravedplates，holdingoneofthemineitherhand。
Afterawhilehegavemeoneoftheplatestohold，andwithhisdisengagedhandpointedsuccessivelytotheconstellationofOrion，tothestarsCastor，Pollux，Aldebaran，Rigel，thePleiades，SiriusandotherswhichwithmyverylimitedknowledgeIcouldnotrecogniseoffhand。ThenontheplatewhichIheld，heshowedusthosesamestarsandconstellations，checkingthemonebyone。
Thenheremarkedveryquietlythatallwasinorder，andhandingtheplateheheldtoYva，said：
\"Thecalculationsmadesolongagoarecorrect，norhavethestarsvariedintheirpropermotionsduringwhatisafterallbutanhouroftime。Ifyou，Stranger，who，Iunderstand，arenamedHumphrey，shouldbe，asIgather，aheaven—master，naturallyyouwillaskmehowIcouldfixanexactdatebythestarswithoutanerrorof，letussay，fromfivetotenthousandyears。Iansweryouthatbythepropermotionofthestarsaloneitwouldhavebeendifficult。ThereforeIrememberthatinordertobeexact，I
calculatedthefutureconjunctionsofthosetwoplanets，\"andhepointedtoSaturnandJupiter。\"Findingthatoneoftheseoccurrednearyonderstar，\"andheindicatedthebrightorb，Spica，\"atacertaintime，IdeterminedthatthenIwouldawake。
Behold！TherearethestarsasIengravedthemfrommyforeknowledge，uponthischart，andtherethosetwogreatplanetshanginconjunction。DaughterYva，mywisdomhasnotfailedme。
Thisworldofourshastravelledroundthesunneitherlessnormorethantwohundredandfiftythousandtimessincewelaidourselvesdowntosleep。Itiswrittenhere，andyonder，\"andhepointed，firsttotheengravedplatesandthentothevastexpanseofthestarlitheavens。
Awefellonme；IthinkthatevenBickleyandBastinwereawed，atanyrateforthemoment。Itwasaterriblethingtolookonabeing，toallappearancemoreorlesshuman，whoallegedthathehadbeenasleepfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears，andproceededtoproveitbycertainancientstarcharts。OfcourseatthetimeIcouldnotcheckthosecharts，lackingthenecessaryknowledge，butIhavedonesosinceandfoundthattheyarequiteaccurate。Howeverthismadenodifference，sincethecircumstancesandsomethinginhismannerconvincedmethathespoketheabsolutetruth。
Heandhisdaughterhadbeenasleepfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears。Oh！Heavens，fortwohundredandfiftythousandyears！
ChapterXIII
OroSpeaksandBastinArguesThereaderofwhatIhavewritten，shouldthereeverbesuchaperson，mayfindtherecordmarvelous，andthereforerashlyconcludethatbecauseitisbeyondexperience，itcouldnotbe。
Itisnotawisededuction，asIthinkBickleywouldadmittoday，becausewithoutdoubtmanythingsarewhichsurpassourextremelylimitedexperience。However，thosewhodrawtheveilfromtheUnknownandrevealtheNew，mustexpectincredulity，andacceptitwithoutgrumbling。Wasthatnotthefate，forinstance，ofthosewhointheMiddleAges，afewhundredyearsago，discovered，orratherrediscoveredthemightymovementsofthoseconstellationswhichservedOroforanalmanac？
ButthepointIwanttomakeisthatifthescepticplaysaBickleyanpartasregardswhathasbeenwritten，itseemsprobablethathisattitudewillbeaccentuatedasregardsthatwhichitstillremainsformetowrite。Ifso，Icannothelpit，andmustdeclineentirelytowaterdownordoctorfactsandthuspandertohisprejudiceandignorance。FormypartIcannotattempttoexplaintheseoccurrences；IonlyknowthattheyhappenedandthatIsetdownwhatIsaw，heardandfelt，neithermorenorless。
ImmediatelyafterOrohadtriumphantlyvindicatedhisstellarcalculationsheturnedanddepartedintothecave，followedbyhisdaughter，wavingtoustoremainwherewewere。Asshepassedus，however，theGlitteringLadywhispered——thistimetoBastin——
thathewouldseethemagaininafewhours，adding：
\"WehavemuchtolearnandIhopethatthenyouwho，I
understand，areapriest，willbegintoteachusofyourreligionandothermatters。\"
Bastinwassoastonishedthathecouldmakenoreply，butwhentheyhadgonehesaid：
\"WhichofyoutoldherthatIwasapriest？\"
Weshookourheadsforneitherofuscouldrememberhavingdoneso。
\"Well，Ididnot，\"continuedBastin，\"sinceatpresentIhavefoundnoopportunityofsayingawordinseason。SoIsupposeshemusthavegathereditfrommyattire，thoughasamatteroffactIhaven’tbeenwearingacollar，andthosemenwhowantedtocookme，pulledoffmywhitetieandIdidn’tthinkitworthwhiledirtyingacleanone。\"
\"If，\"saidBickley，\"youimaginethatyoulookliketheministerofanyreligionancientormoderninagrubbyflannelshirt，abatteredsun—helmet，atorngreenandwhiteumbrellaandapairofraggedducktrousers，youaremistaken，Bastin，thatisall。\"
\"Iadmitthatthecostumeisnotappropriate，Bickley，buthowotherwisecouldshehavelearnedthetruth？\"
\"Thesepeopleseemtohavewaysoflearningagoodmanythings。
Butinyourcase，Bastin，thecauseisclearenough。Youhavebeenwalkingaboutwiththeheadofthatidolandalwayskeepitclosetoyou。NodoubttheybelievethatyouareapriestoftheworshipofthegodoftheGrove——Baal，youknow，orsomethingofthatsort。\"
WhenheheardthisBastin’sfacebecameaperfectpicture。
NeverbeforedidIseeitsofullofhorrorstrugglingwithindignation。
\"Imustundeceivethemwithoutamoment’sdelay，\"hesaid，andwasstartingforthecavewhenwecaughthisarmsandheldhim。
\"Betterwaittilltheycomeback，oldfellow，\"Isaid，laughing。\"IfyoudisobeythatLordOroyoumaymeetwithanotherexperienceinthesacrificeline。\"
\"Perhapsyouareright，Arbuthnot。Iwilloccupytheintervalinpreparingasuitableaddress。\"
\"Muchbetteroccupyitinpreparingbreakfast，\"saidBickley。
\"Ihavealwaysnoticedthatyouareatyourbestextempore。\"
Intheendhedidpreparebreakfastthoughinadistraitfashion；indeedIfoundhimbeginningtomaketeainthefrying—pan。Bastinfeltthathisopportunityhadarrived，andwasmakingreadytorisetotheoccasion。
Alsowefelt，allthreeofus，thatwewereextremelyshabby—
lookingobjects，andthoughnoneofussaidso，eachdidhisbesttoimprovehispersonalappearance。FirstofallBickleycutBastin’sandmyhair，afterwhichIdidhimthesameservice。
ThenBickleywhowasnormallycleanshaven，settoworktoremoveabeardofaboutaweek’sgrowth，andIwhoworeoneofthepointedvariety，trimmedupmineasbestIcouldwiththehelpofahand—glass。Bastin，too，performedonhiswhichwasofthesquareandratherraggedtype，wiselyrejectingBickley’sadvicetoshaveitoffaltogether，offered，Ifeltconvinced，becausehefeltthattheresultonBastinwouldbetoohideousforwords。
Afterthiswecutournails，cleanedourteethandbathed；IevencaughtBickleyapplyinghairtonicfromhisdressingcaseinsecret，behindaprojectingrock，andborrowedsomemyself。HegaveitmeonconditionthatIdidnotmentionitsexistencetoBastinwho，heremarked，wouldcertainlyusethelotandmakehimselfsmellhorrible。
Nextwefoundcleanducksamongourstoreofspareclothes，fortheOrofenanshadbroughtthesewithourotherpossessions，andputthemon，evenaddingsilkcumberbundsandneckties。MytieI
fastenedwithapinthatIhadobtainedinEgypt。Itwasatinygoldstatuetteofveryfineandearlyworkmanship，ofthegodOsiris，wearingthecrownoftheUpperLandwiththeuraeuscrest，andholdinginhishands，whichprojectedfromthemummywrappings，theemblemsofthecrook，thescourgeandthecruxansata，orSignofLife。
Bastin，forhispart，arrayedhimselfinfullclericalcostume，blackcoatandtrousers，whitetieandstick—upclergyman’scollarwhich，asheremarked，madehimfeelextremelyhotinthatclimate，andwereunsuitabletodomesticduties，suchaswashing—up。Iofferedtoholdhiscoatwhilehedidthisofficeandtoldhimhelookedveryniceindeed。
\"Beautiful！\"remarkedBickley，\"butwhydon’tyouputonyoursurpliceandbiretta？\"（BeingveryHigh—ChurchBastindidwearabirettaonfestivalSundaysathome。）\"Therewouldbenomistakeaboutyouthen。\"
\"Idonotthinkitwouldbesuitable，\"repliedBastinwhosesenseofhumourwasundeveloped。\"Thereisnoservicetobeperformedatpresentandnochurch，thoughperhapsthatcave——\"
andhestopped。
WhenwehadfinishedthesevainadornmentsandBastinhadputawaythethingsandtidiedup，wesatdown，ratheratalooseend。Weshouldhavelikedtowalkbutrefrainedfromdoingsoforfearlestwemightdirtyourcleanclothes。Sowejustsatandthought。AtleastBickleythought，andsodidIforawhileuntilIgaveitup。Whatwastheuseofthinking，seeingthatwewerefacetofacewithcircumstanceswhichbaffledreasonandbeggaredallrecordedhumanexperience？WhatBastindidIamsureIdonotknow，butIthinkfromtheexpressionofhiscountenancethathewasengagedincomposingsermonsforthebenefitofOroandtheGlitteringLady。
Onediversionwedidhave。Abouteleveno’clockacanoecamefromthemainislandladenwithprovisionsandpaddledbyMaramaandtwoofhispeople。Weseizedourweapons，rememberingourexperiencesofthenight，butMaramawavedaboughintokenofpeace。So，carryingourrevolvers，wewenttotherockedgetomeethim。Hecreptashoreand，chiefthoughhewas，prostratedhimselfuponhisfacebeforeus，whichtoldmethathehadheardofthefateofthesorcerers。Hisapologieswereabject。Heexplainedthathehadnopartintheoutrageoftheattack，andbesoughtustointercedeonbehalfofhimandhispeoplewiththeawakenedgodoftheMountainwhomhelookedforwithaterrifiedair。
Weconsoledhimaswellaswecould，andtoldhimthathehadbestbegonebeforethegodoftheMountainappeared，andperhapstreatedhimashehaddonethesorcerers。Inhisname，however，wecommandedMaramatobringmaterialsandbuildusaproperhouseupontherock，alsotobesuretokeepuparegularandamplesupplyofprovisions。Ifhedidthesethings，andanythingelsewemightfromtimetotimecommand，wesaidthatperhapshislifeandthoseofhispeoplewouldbespared。This，however，aftertheevilbehaviourofsomeofthemofcoursewecouldnotguarantee。
MaramadepartedsothoroughlyfrightenedthatheevenforgottomakeanyinquiriesastowhothisgodoftheMountainmightbe，orwherehecamefrom，orwhitherhewasgoing。Ofcourse，theplacehadbeensacredamonghispeoplefromthebeginning，wheneverthatmayhavebeen，butthatitssacrednessshouldmaterialiseintoanactivegodwhobroughtsorcerersofthehighestreputationtoamostunpleasantend，justbecausetheywishedtotranslatetheirpreachingintopractice，wasanothermatter。Itwasnottobeexplainedevenbythefactofwhichhehimselfhadinformedme，thatduringthedreadfulstormofsomemonthsbefore，thecavemouthwhichpreviouslywasnotvisibleonthevolcano，hadsuddenlybeenliftedupabovetheleveloftheRockofOfferings，although，ofcourse，allreligiousandinstructedpersonswouldhaveexpectedsomethingpeculiartohappenafterthisevent。
SuchIknewwerehisthoughts，but，asIhavesaid，hewastoofrightenedandtoohurriedtoexpresstheminquestionsthatI
shouldhavefounditextremelydifficulttoanswer。Asitwashedepartedquiteuncertainastowhetheroneofuswasnotthereal\"godoftheMountain，\"whohadpowertobringhideousdeathuponhismolesters。Afterall，whathadhetogoontothecontrary，exceptthewordofthreepriestswhoweresoterrifiedthattheycouldgivenocoherentaccountofwhathadhappened？Oftheseevents，itwastrue，therewasevidenceinthetwistedcarcassoftheirlamentedhighsorcerer，and，forthematterofthat，ofcertaincorpseswhichhehadseen，thatlayinshallowwateratthebottomofthelake。Beyondallwasvague，andinhisheartI
amsurethatMaramabelievedthatBastinwasthereal\"godoftheMountain。\"Naturally，hewoulddesiretoworkvengeanceonthosewhotriedtosacrificeandeathim。Moreover，hadhenotdestroyedtheimageofthegodoftheGroveandborneawayitsheadwhencehehadsuckedmagicandpower？
ThusarguedMarama，disbelievingthetaleofthefrightenedsorcerers，forheadmittedasmuchtomeinafterdays。
Maramadepartedinagreathurry，fearinglestthe\"godoftheMountain，\"orBastin，whosenewandsplendidgarbheregardedwithmuchsuspicion，mightdevelopsomeevilenergyagainsthim。
Thenwewentbacktoourcamp，leavingtheindustriousBastin，animatedbyasuggestionfromBickleythatthefruitandfoodmightspoilifleftinthesun，tocarryitintotheshadeofthecave。OwingtotheterrorsoftheOrofenansthesupplywassolargethattodothishemustmakenofewerthansevenjourneys，whichhedidwithgreatgoodwillsinceBastinlovedphysicalexercise。Theresultonhisclericalgarments，however，wasdisastrous。Hiswhitetiewentawry，squashedfruitandroastpiggravyrandownhiswaistcoatandtrousers，andhishighcollarmeltedintolimpcrinklesinthemoistureengenderedbythetropicalheat。Onlyhislongcoatescaped，sincethatBickleykindlycarriedforhim。