Nightmare！Imagination！No，thesepalebeforethatscenewhichitwasgiventoourhumaneyestowitness。
Andallthewhile，bending，bowingtowardsus——awayfromus——
makingobeisancetothepathinfrontasthoughingreeting，tothepathbehindasthoughinfarewell；instinctwithahorriblelife，withahideousandgiganticgrace，thattitanicTerrorwhirledonwardstothemarkoffate。
Atthemomentnothingcouldpersuademethatitwasnotaliveanddidnotknowitsawfulmission。Visionsflashedacrossmymind。Ithoughtofthepeoplesoftheworldsleepingintheirbeds，orgoingabouttheirbusiness，orengagedevenintheworkofwar。Ithoughtoftheshipsupontheseassteamingsteadilytowardstheirfar—offports。ThenIthoughtofwhatpresentlymighthappentothem，ofthetremorsfollowedbyconvulsions，ofthesuddencrashingdownofcities，suchaswehadseeninthepictureYvashowedusintheTemple，oftheinflowofthewatersofthedeeppiledupinmightywaves，ofthewoeanddesolationasoftheendoftheworld，andofthequiet，followingdeath。SoIthoughtandinmyheartprayedtothegreatArch—ArchitectoftheUniversetostretchoutHisArmtoavertthisfearsomeruinofHishandiwork。
Oroglared，histhinfingerstightenedtheirgripupontherod，hishairandlongbeardseemedtobristlewithfuriousanddelightedexcitement。Thepurple—fringedrimoftheMonsterhadlongovershadowedthewhitedpatchofrock；itsgrindingfootwasscarcetenyardsaway。OromademoresignstoYvawho，beneaththeshelterofhershield，againbentdownanddidsomethingthatIcouldnotsee。Then，asthoughherpartwereplayed，sherose，drewthegreyhoodofhercloakallaboutherfacesothathereyesaloneremainedvisible，tookonesteptowardsmeandinthebrokenEnglishwehadtaughther，calledintomyear。
\"Humphrey，Godyoubless！Humphrey，wemeetsoon。Forgetnotme！\"
ShesteppedbackagainbeforeIcouldattempttoanswer，andnextinstantwithahideous，concentratedeffort，Orobendinghimselfdouble，thrustupontherod，asIcouldseefromhisopenmouth，shoutingwhilehethrust。
Atthesamemoment，withaswiftspring，Yvaleaptimmediatelyinfrontofthelensorwindow，sothatthemetallicshieldwithwhichshecoveredherselfpressedagainstitssubstance。
SimultaneouslyOroflunguphisarmsasthoughinhorror。
Toolate！Theshutterfellandfrombehindittheresprangoutarushoflivingflame。ItstruckonYva’sshieldandexpandedtorightandleft。Theinsulatedshieldandgarmentsthatsheworeseemedtoresistit。Forafractionoftimeshestoodtherelikeaglowingangel，wrappedinfire。
Thenshewassweptoutwardsandupwardsandatalittledistancedissolvedlikeaghostandvanishedfromoursight。
Yvawasashes！Yvawasgone！Thesacrificewasconsummated！
Andnotinvain！Notinvain！Onherpoorbreastshehadreceivedthefullblastofthathellishlightningflash。Yetwhilstdestroying，itturnedawayfromher，seekingthefreepathsoftheair。Soitcameaboutthatitsobstructedstrengthstruckthefootofthetravellinggyroscope，diffusedanddidnotsufficetothrustitthatonenecessaryinchonwhichdependedthefateofhalftheworld，ormissingitaltogether，passedawayoneitherside。Evensothehuge，gleamingmountainrockedandtrembled。Once，twice，thrice，itboweditselftowardsusasthoughinmajestichomagetogreatnesspassedaway。Forasecond，too，itscoursewaschecked，andatthechecktheearthquakedandtrembled。Yes，thentheworldshook，andtheblueglobesoffirewentout，whileIwasthrowntotheground。
Whentheyreturnedagain，theflamingmonsterwasoncemoresailingmajesticallyuponitswayanddowntheaccustomedleft—handpath！
Indeedthesacrificewasnotinvain。Theworldshook——butYvahadsavedtheworld！
ChapterXXVI
TommyIlaystillawhile，onmybackasIhadfallen，andbeneaththeshield—likedefencewhichYvahadgiventome。
Notwithstandingthefire—resisting，metalisedstuffofwhichitwasmade，Inotedthatitwastwistedandalmostburntthrough。
Doubtlessthestored—upelectricityorearthmagnetism，orwhateveritmayhavebeenthathadleaptoutofthathole，beingdiffusedbytheresistancewithwhichitwasmet，hadgrazedmewithitsouteredge，andhaditnotbeenfortheshieldandcloak，Ialsoshouldhavebeenburnedup。Iwished，oh！howI
wishedthatithadbeenso。Then，bynowallmusthavefinishedandIshouldhaveknownthetruthastowhatawaitsusbeyondthechange：sleep，ordreams，orperchancethefullestlife。AlsoI
shouldnothavelearnedalone。
Lyingtherethus，idly，asthoughinahalf—sleep，IfeltTommylickingmyface，andthrowingmyarmaboutthepoorlittlefrightenedbeast，Iwatchedthegreatworld—balanceasitretreatedonitseternaljourney。Atonetimeitsvastprojectingrimhadovershadowedusandalmostseemedtotouchthecliffofrockagainstwhichweleant。Irememberthattheeffectofthatshiningarchathousandfeetorsoaboveourheadswaswonderful。
Itremindedmeofacanopyofblackestthundercloudssupporteduponaframeworkofwheelingrainbows，whilebeneathitallthechildrenofthedevilshoutedtogetherinjoy。InotedthiseffectonlyafewsecondsbeforeYvaspoketomeandleaptintothepathoftheflash。
Now，however，itwasfaraway，amereflamingwheelthatbecamegraduallysmaller，anditsSatanicvoicesweregrowingfaint。AsIhavesaid，Iwatcheditsdisappearanceidly，reflectingthatI
shouldneverlookuponitslikeagain；alsothatitwassomethingwellworthgoingforthtosee。ThenIbecameawarethatthehumming，howlingdinhaddecreasedsufficientlytoenablemetohearhumanvoiceswithouteffort。BastinwasaddressingBickley——
likemyselftheywerebothupontheground。
\"Hertranslation，asyoumayhavenoticed，Bickley，ifyouwerenottoofrightened，wasreallyveryremarkable。Nodoubtitwillhaveremindedyou，asitdidme，ofthatofElijah。ShehadexactlytheappearanceofapersongoinguptoHeaveninavehicleoffire。Thedestinationwascertainlythesame，andeventhecloaksheworeaddedafamiliartouchandincreasedthesimilarity。\"
\"Atanyrateitdidnotfalluponyou，\"answeredBickleywithsomethinglikeasob，inavoiceofmingledaweandexasperation。
\"Forgoodness’sake！Bastin，stopyourBiblicalparallelsandletusadore，yes，letusadorethedivinestcreaturethattheearthhasborne！\"
NeverhaveIlovedBickleymorethanwhenIheardhimutterthosewords。
\"’Divinest’isalargeterm，Bickley，andonetowhichI
hesitatetosubscribe，rememberingasIdocertainoftheprophetsandtheEarlyFatherswithalltheirfaults，notofcoursetomentiontheApostles。But——\"herehepaused，forsuddenlyallthreeofusbecameawareofOro。
Healsohasbeenthrowntothegroundbythestrengthoftheprisonedforceswhichhegatheredandloosedupontheirunholyerrand，but，asIrejoicedtoobserve，hadsufferedfromthemmuchmorethanourselves。Doubtlessthiswasowingtothefactthathehadsprungforwardinalastwildefforttosavehisdaughter，ortopreventherfrominterferingwithhisexperiment，Iknownotwhich。Asaresulthisrightcheekwasmuchscorched，hisrightarmwaswitheredandhelpless，andhismagnificentbeardwashalfburntoffhim。Further，veryevidentlyhewassufferingfromsevereshock，forherockeduponhisfeetandshooklikeanaspenleaf。Allthis，however，didnotinterferewiththelivelinessofhisgriefandrage。
Therehestood，atoweringshape，likealightning—smittenstatue，andcursedus，especiallyBastin。
\"Mydaughterhasgone！\"hecried，\"burnedupbythefierypowerthatismyservant。Nothingremainsofherbutdust，and，Priest，thisisyourdoing。Youpoisonedherheartwithyourchildishdoctrinesofmercyandsacrifice，andtherest，sothatshethrewherselfintothepathoftheflashtosavesomemiserableracesthatshehadneverevenknown。\"
Hepausedexhausted，whereonBastinansweredhimwithspirit：
\"Yes，Oro，shebeingaholywoman，hasgonewhereyouwillneverfollowher。Alsoitisyourownfaultsinceyoushouldhavelistenedtoherentreatiesinsteadofboxingherearslikethebruteyouare。\"
\"Mydaughterisgone，\"wentonOro，recoveringhisstrength，\"andmygreatdesignsareruined。Yetonlyforawhile，\"headded，\"fortheworld—balancewillreturnagain，ifnottilllongafteryourlife—spansaredone。\"
\"Ifyoudon’tdoctoryourself，LordOro，\"saidBickley，alsorising，\"Imaytellyouasonewhounderstandssuchthings，thatmostlikelyitwillbeafteryourlife—spanisdonealso。Althoughtheireffectmaybedelayed，severeshocksfromburnsandover—
excitementareapttoprovefataltotheaged。\"
Orosnarledathim；nootherworddescribesit。
\"Andthereareotherthings，Physician，\"hesaid，\"whichareapttoprovefataltotheyoung。Atleastnowyouwillnolongerdenymypower。\"
\"Iamnotsosure，\"answeredBickley，\"sinceitseemsthatthereisagreaterPower，namelythatofawoman’sloveandsacrifice。\"
\"Andagreaterstill，\"interruptedBastin，\"Whichputthoseideasintoherhead。\"
\"Asforyou，Humphrey，\"wentonOro，\"Irejoicetothinkthatyouatleasthavelosttwothingsthatmandesiresaboveallotherthings——thewomanyousoughtandthefuturekingshipoftheworld。\"
Istoodupandfacedhim。
\"ThefirstIhavegained，althoughhow，youdonotunderstand，Oro，\"Ianswered。\"Andofthesecond，seeingthatitwouldhavecomethroughyou，onyourconditions，Iamindeedgladtoberid。
Iwishnopowerthatspringsfrommurder，andnogiftsfromonewhoansweredhisdaughter’sprayerwithblows。\"
Foramomentheseemedremorseful。
\"Shevexedmewithherfoolishness，\"hesaid。Thenhisrageblazedupagain：
\"Anditwasyouwhotaughtittoher，\"hewenton。\"Youareguilty，allthreeofyou，andthereforeIamleftwithnonetoservemeinmyage；thereforealsomymightyschemesareoverthrown。\"
\"Also，Oro，ifyouspeaktruth，thereforehalftheworldissaved，\"Iaddedquietly，\"andonehasleftitofwhomitwasunworthy。\"
\"Youthinkthatthesecivilisationsofyours，asyouarepleasedtocallthem，aresaved，doyou？\"hesneered。\"Yet，evenifBickleywererightandIshoulddieandbecomepowerless，I
tellyouthattheyarealreadydamned。Ihavestudiedtheminyourbooksandseenthemwithmyeyes，andIsaythattheyarerottenbeforeevertheyareripe，andthattheirendshallbetheendoftheSonsofWisdom，todieforlackofincrease。ThatiswhyIwouldhavesavedtheEast，becauseinitalonethereisincrease，andthencealonecanrisethegreatlastraceofmanwhichIwouldhavegiventoyourchildrenforanheritage。
Moreover，thinknotthatyouWesternershavedonewithwars。I
tellyouthattheyarebutbegunandthattheswordshalleatyouup，andwhattheswordsparesclassshallsnatchfromclassinthestruggleforsupremacyandease。\"
ThushespokewithextraordinaryandconcentratedbitternessthatIconfesswouldhavefrightenedme，hadIbeencapableoffear，whichatthemomentIwasnot。Whoisafraidwhenhehaslostall？
NorwasBastinalarmed，ifforotherreasons。
\"Ithinkitrighttotellyou，Oro，\"hesaid，\"thattheonlyfutureyouneedtroubleaboutisyourown。GodAlmightywilllookafterthewesterncivilisationsinwhateverwayHemaythinkbest，asyoumayrememberHedidjustnow。OnlyIamsureyouwon’tbeheretoseehowitisdone。\"
AgainfuryblazedinOro’seyes。
\"AtleastIwilllookafteryou，youhalf—breddogs，whoyapoutill—omenedpropheciesofdeathintomyface。Sincethethreeofyoulovedmydaughterwhomyoubroughttoherdoom，andwerebyherbeloved，ifdifferently，Ithinkitbestthatyoushouldfollowonherroad。How？Thatisthequestion？ShallIleaveyoutostarveinthesegreatcaves？——Nay，looknottowardstheroadofescapewhichdoubtlessshepointedouttoyou，for，asHumphreyknows，IcantravelswiftlyandIwillmakesurethatyoufinditblocked。OrshallI——\"andheglancedupwardsatthegreatglobesofwanderingfire，asthoughhepurposedtosummonthemtobeourdeath，asdoubtlesshecouldhavedone。
\"Idonotcarewhatyoudo，\"Iansweredwearily。\"OnlyIwouldbegyoutostrikequickly。YetformyfriendsIamsorry，sinceitwasIwholedthemonthisquest，andforyou，too，Tommy，\"I
added，lookingatthepoorlittlehound。\"Youwerefoolish，Tommy，\"Iwenton，\"whenyouscentedoutthatoldtyrantinhiscoffin，atleastforourownsake。\"
Indeedthedogwasterriblyscared。Hewhinedcontinuallyandfromtimetotimeranalittlewayandthenreturnedtous，suggestingthatweshouldgofromthishorror—hauntedspot。
Lastly，asthoughheunderstoodthatitwasOrowhokeptusthere，hewenttohimandjumpingup，lickedhishandinabeseechingfashion。
Thesuper—manlookedatthedogandashelookedtheragewentoutofhisfaceandwasreplacedbysomethingresemblingpity。
\"Idonotwishthebeasttodie，\"hemutteredtohimselfinlowreflectivetones，asthoughhethoughtaloud，\"forofthemallitalonelikedanddidnotfearme。Imighttakeitwithmebutstillitwouldperishofgriefinthelonelinessofthecaves。Moreover，sheloveditwhomIshallseenomore；yes，Yva——\"ashespokethenamehisvoicebrokealittle。\"YetifI
sufferthemtoescapetheywilltellmystorytotheworldandmakemealaughingstock。Well，iftheydo，whatdoesitmatter？
NoneofthoseWesternfoolswouldbelieveit；thinkingthattheyknewall；likeBickleytheywouldmockandsaythattheyweremad，orliars。\"
AgainTommylickedhishand，butmoreconfidently，asthoughinstincttoldhimsomethingofwhatwaspassinginOro’smind。I
watchedwithanidlewonder，marvellingwhetheritwerepossiblethatthismercilessbeingwouldafterallspareusforthesakeofthedog。
So，strangetosay，itcameabout，forsuddenlyOrolookedupandsaid：
\"Getyougone，andquickly，beforemymoodchanges。Thehoundhassavedyou。ForitssakeIgiveyouyourlives，whootherwiseshouldcertainlyhavedied。Shewhohasgonepointedouttoyou，Idoubtnot，aroadthatrunstotheupperair。Ithinkthatitisstillopen。Indeed，\"headded，closinghiseyesforamoment，\"Iseethatitisstillopen，iflonganddifficult。Followit，andshouldyouwinthrough，takeyourboatandsailawayasswiftlyasyoucan。WhetheryoudieorliveIcarenothing，butmyhandswillbecleanofyourblood，althoughyoursarestainedwithYva’s。Begone！andmycursegowithyou。\"
Withoutwaitingforfurtherwordswewenttofetchourlanterns，water—bottlesandbagoffoodwhichwehadlaiddownatalittledistance。AsweapproachedthemIlookedupandsawOrostandingsomewayoff。Thelightfromoneoftheblueglobesoffirewhichpassedcloseabovehishead，shoneuponhimandmadehimghastly。Moreover，itseemedtomeasthoughapproachingdeathhadwrittenitsnameuponhismalevolentcountenance。
Iturnedmyheadaway，forabouthisaspectinthosesinistersurroundingstherewassomethinghorrible，somethingmenacingandrepellenttomanandofhimIwishedtoseenomore。NorindeeddidI，forwhenIglancedinthatdirectionagainOrowasgone。I
supposethathehadretreatedintotheshadowswherenolightplayed。
Wegatheredupourgear，andwhiletheotherswererelightingthelanterns，IwalkedafewpacesforwardtothespotwhereYvahadbeendissolvedinthedevouringfire。Somethingcaughtmyeyeupontherockyfloor。Ipickeditup。Itwasthering，orrathertheremainsoftheringthatIhadgivenheronthatnightwhenwedeclaredourloveamidsttheruinsbythecraterlake。Shehadneverwornitonherhandbutforherownreasons，asshetoldme，suspendedituponherbreastbeneathherrobe。ItwasanancientringthatIhadboughtinEgypt，fashionedofgoldinwhichwassetaveryhardbasaltorotherblackstone。Onthiswasengravedtheankorloopedcross，whichwastheEgyptiansymbolofLife，androunditasnake，thesymbolofEternity。Thegoldwasforthemostpartmelted，butthestone，beingsohardandprotectedbytheshieldandasbestoscloak，forsuchI
supposeitwas，hadresistedthefuryoftheflash。Onlynowitwaswhiteinsteadofblack，likeaburntonyxthathadknownthefuneralpyre。Indeed，perhapsitwasanonyx。Ikisseditandhiditaway，foritseemedtometoconveyagreetingandwithitapromise。
Thenwestarted，averysadanddejectedtrio。Leavingwithashudderthatvastplacewherethebluelightsplayedeternally，wecametotheshaftupanddownwhichthetravellingstonepursueditsendlesspath，andsawitarriveanddepartagain。
\"Iwonderhedidnotsendusthatway，\"saidBickley，pointingtoit。
\"IamsureIamverygladitneveroccurredtohim，\"answeredBastin，\"forIamcertainthatwecouldnothavemadethejourneyagainwithoutourguide，Yva。\"
Ilookedathimandheceased。SomehowIcouldnotbear，asyet，tohearherbelovednamespokenbyotherlips。
Thenweenteredthepassagethatshepointedouttous，andbeganamostterriblejourneywhich，sofaraswecouldjudge，forwelostanyexactcountoftime，tookusaboutsixtyhours。
Theroad，itistrue，wassmoothandunblocked，buttheascentwasfearfullysteepandslippery；somuchsothatoftenwewereobligedtopulleachotherupitandliedowntorest。
Haditnotbeenforthoselarge，felt—coveredbottlesofLife—
water，Iamsureweshouldneverhavewonthrough。Butthismarvelouselixir，drunkalittleatatime，alwaysre—
invigoratedusandgaveusstrengthtopushon。Alsowehadsomefood，andfortunatelyourspareoilheldout，forthedarknessinthattunnelwascomplete。Tommybecamesoexhaustedthatatlengthwemustcarryhimbyturns。Hewouldhavediedhaditnotbeenforthewater；indeedIthoughtthathewasgoingtodie。
Afterourlastrestandashortsleep，however，heseemedtobegintorecover，andgenerallytherewassomethinginhismannerwhichsuggestedtousthatheknewhimselftobenotfarfromthesurfaceoftheearthtowardswhichwehadcrawledupwardsforthousandsuponthousandsoffeet，fortunatelywithoutmeetingwithanyzoneofheatwhichwasnotbearable。
Wewereright，forwhenwehadstaggeredforwardalittlefurther，suddenlyTommyranaheadofusandvanished。Thenweheardhimbarkingbutwherewecouldnotsee，sincethetunnelappearedtotakeaturnandcontinue，butthistimeonadownwardcourse，whilethesoundofthebarkscamefromourright。Wesearchedwiththelanternswhichwerenowbeginningtodieandfoundalittleholealmostfilledwithfallenpiecesofrock。Wescoopedtheseawaywithourhands，makinganaperturelargeenoughtocreepthrough。Afewmoreyardsandwesawlight，theblessedlightofthemoon，andinitstoodTommybarkinghoarsely。Nextweheardthesoundofthesea。Westruggledondesperatelyandpresentlypushedourwaythroughbushesandvegetationontoasteepdeclivity。Downthiswerolledandscrambled，tofindourselvesatlastlyinguponasandybeach，whilstaboveusthefullmoonshoneintheheavens。
Here，withaprayerofthankfulness，weflungourselvesdownandslept。
IfithadnotbeenforTommyandwehadgonefurtheralongthetunnel，whichIhavelittledoubtstretchedonbeneaththesea，where，Iwonder，shouldwehavesleptthatnight？
Whenwewokethesunwasshininghighintheheavens。Evidentlytherehadbeenraintowardsthedawn，thoughaswewerelyingbeneaththeshelterofsomebroad—leavedtree，fromitwehadsufferedlittleinconvenience。Oh！howbeautiful，afteroursojourninthoseunholycaves，werethesunandtheseaandthesweetairandtheraindropshangingontheleaves。
Wedidnotwakeofourselves；indeedifwehadbeenleftaloneIamsurethatweshouldhaveslepttheclockround，forwewereterriblyexhausted。WhatwokeuswasthechatterofacrowdofOrofenanswhoweregatheredatadistancefromthetreeandengagedinstaringatusinafrightenedway，alsothebarksofTommywhoobjectedtotheirintrusion。AmongthepeopleI
recognisedouroldfriendthechiefMaramabyhisfeathercloak，andsittingup，beckonedtohimtoapproach。Afteragooddealofhesitationhecame，walkingdelicatelylikeAgag，andstoppingfromtimetotimetostudyus，asthoughhewerenotsurethatwewerereal。
\"Whatfrightensyou，Marama？\"Iaskedhim。
\"Youfrightenus，OFriend—from—the—Sea。WhencedidyouandtheHealerandtheBellowercomeandwhydoyourfaceslooklikethoseofghostsandwhyisthelittleblackbeastsolarge—eyedandsothin？Overthelakeweknowyoudidnotcome，forwehavewatcheddayandnight；moreoverthereisnocanoeupontheshore。
Alsoitwouldnothavebeenpossible。\"
\"Whynot？\"Iaskedidly。
\"Comeandsee，\"heanswered。
Risingstifflyweemergedfrombeneaththetreeandperceivedthatwewereatthefootofthecliffagainstwhichtheremainsoftheyachthadbeenbornebythegreattempest。Indeedthereitwaswithinacoupleofhundredyardsofus。
FollowingMaramaweclimbedtheslopingpathwhichranupthecliffandascendedaknollwhencewecouldseethelakeandtheconeofthevolcanoinitscentre。Atleastweusedtobeabletoseethiscone，butnow，atanyratewiththenakedeye，wecouldmakeoutnothing，exceptasmallbrownspotinthemidstofthewatersofthelake。
\"ThemountainwhichroseupmanyfeetinthatstormwhichbroughtyoutoOrofena，Friend—from—the—Sea，hasnowsunktillonlytheverytopofitistobeseen，\"saidMaramasolemnly。
\"EventheRockofOfferingshasvanishedbeneaththewater，andwithitthehousethatwebuiltforyou。\"
\"Yes，\"Isaid，affectingnosurprise。\"Butwhendidthathappen？\"
\"Fivenightsagotheworldshook，Friend—from—the—Sea，andwhenthesunrosewesawthatthemouthofthecavewhichappearedonthedayofyourcoming，hadvanished，andthattheholymountainitselfhadsunkdeep，sothatnowonlythecrestofitisleftabovethewater。\"
\"Suchthingshappen，\"Irepliedcarelessly。
\"Yes，Friend—from—the—Sea。Likemanyothermarvelstheyhappenwhereyouandyourcompanionsare。Thereforewebegyouwhocanariseoutoftheearthlikespirits，toleaveusatoncebeforeourislandandallofuswhodwellthereonaredrownedbeneaththeocean。Leaveusbeforewekillyou，ifindeedyoubemen，ordieatyourhandsif，aswethink，youbeevilspiritswhocanthrowupmountainsanddragthemdown，andcreategodsthatslay，andmoveaboutinthebowelsoftheworld。\"
\"Thatisourintention，forourbusinesshereisdone，\"I
answeredcalmly。\"Comenowandhelpustodepart。Butfirstbringusfood。Bringitinplenty，forwemustvictualourboat。\"
Maramabowedandissuedthenecessaryorders。Indeedfoodsufficientforourimmediateneedswasalreadythereasanoffering，andofitweatewiththankfulness。
Thenweboardedtheshipandexaminedthelifeboat。Thankstoourprecautionsitwasstillinveryfairorderandonlyneededsomelittlecaulkingwhichwedidwithgrassfibreandpitchfromthestores。AfterthiswiththehelpoftheOrofenanswhoworkedhardintheirdesperatedesiretoberidofus，wedrewtheboatintothesea，andprovisionedherwithstoresfromtheship，andwithanamplesupplyofwater。Everythingbeingreadyatlast，wewaitedfortheeveningwindwhichalwaysblewoffshore，tostart。Asitwasnotdueforhalfanhourormore，Iwalkedbacktothetreeunderwhichwehadsleptandtriedtofindtheholewhencewehademergedfromthetunnelontothefaceofthecliff。
Myhurriedsearchproveduseless。Thedeclivityofthecliffwascoveredwithtropicalgrowth，andtheheavyrainhadwashedawayeverytraceofourdescent，andverylikelyfilledtheholeitselfwithearth。Atanyrate，ofitIcoulddiscovernothing。
ThenasthebreezebegantoblowIreturnedtotheboatandherebadeadieutoMarama，whogavemehisfeathercloakasafarewellgift。
\"Good—bye，Friend—from—the—Sea，\"hesaidtome。\"Wearegladtohaveseenyouandthankyouformanythings。Butwedonotwishtoseeyouanymore。\"
\"Good—bye，Marama，\"Ianswered。\"Whatyousay，weecho。Atleastyouhavenownogreatlumpuponyourneckandwehaveridyouofyourwizards。ButbewareofthegodOrowhodwellsinthemountain，forifyouangerhimhewillsinkyourislandbeneaththesea。\"