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did not know the origin。 My own opinion； which Bickley shared；
was that they were in fact a shrunken and deteriorated remnant of
some high race now coming to its end through age and
inter…breeding。 About them indeed； notwithstanding their
primitive savagery which in its qualities much resembled that of
other Polynesians； there was a very curious air of antiquity。 One
felt that they had known the older world and its mysteries；
though now both were forgotten。 Also their language； which in
time we came to speak perfectly； was copious； musical； and
expressive in its idioms。
One circumstance I must mention。 In walking about the country I
observed all over it enormous holes； some of them measuring as
much as a hundred yards across； with a depth of fifty feet or
more； and this not on alluvial lands although there traces of
them existed also； but in solid rock。 What this rock was I do not
know as none of us were geologists； but it seemed to me to
partake of the nature of granite。 Certainly it was not coral like
that on and about the coast； but of a primeval formation。
When I asked Marama what caused these holes； he only shrugged
his shoulders and said he did not know； but their fathers had
declared that they were made by stones falling from heaven。 This；
of course； suggested meteorites to my mind。 I submitted the idea
to Bickley； who； in one of his rare intervals of leisure； came
with me to make an examination。
〃If they were meteorites；〃 he said； 〃of which a shower struck
the earth in some past geological age； all life must have been
destroyed by them and their remains ought to exist at the bottom
of the holes。 To me they look more like the effect of high
explosives； but that； of course； is impossible； though I don't
know what else could have caused such craters。〃
Then he went back to his work； for nothing that had to do with
antiquity interested Bickley very much。 The present and its
problems were enough for him； he would say； who neither had lived
in the past nor expected to have any share in the future。
As I remained curious I made an opportunity to scramble to the
bottom of one of these craters； taking with me some of the
natives with their wooden tools。 Here I found a good deal of soil
either washed down from the surface or resulting from the
decomposition of the rock； though oddly enough in it nothing
grew。 I directed them to dig。 After a while to my astonishment
there appeared a corner of a great worked stone quite unlike that
of the crater； indeed it seemed to me to be a marble。 Further
examination showed that this block was most beautifully carved in
bas…relief； apparently with a design of leaves and flowers。 In
the disturbed soil also I picked up a life…sized marble hand of a
woman exquisitely finished and apparently broken from a statue
that might have been the work of one of the great Greek
sculptors。 Moreover； on the third finger of this hand was a
representation of a ring whereof； unfortunately； the bezel had
been destroyed。
I put the hand in my pocket； but as darkness was coming on； I
could not pursue the research and disinter the block。 When I
wished to return the next day； I was informed politely by Marama
that it would not be safe for me to do so as the priests of Oro
declared that if I sought to meddle with the 〃buried things the
god would grow angry and bring disaster on me。〃
When I persisted he said that at least I must go alone since no
native would accompany me； and added earnestly that he prayed me
not to go。 So to my great regret and disappointment I was obliged
to give up the idea。
Chapter VIII
Bastin Attempts the Martyr's Crown
That carved stone and the marble hand took a great hold of my
imagination。 What did they mean？ How could they have come to the
bottom of that hole； unless indeed they were part of some
building and its ornaments which had been destroyed in the
neighbourhood？ The stone of which we had only uncovered a corner
seemed far too big to have been carried there from any ship； it
must have weighed several tons。 Besides； ships do not carry such
things about the world； and none had visited this island during
the last two centuries at any rate； or local tradition would have
recorded so wonderful a fact。 Were there； then； once edifices
covered with elegant carving standing on this place； and were
they adorned with lovely statues that would not have disgraced
the best period of Greek art？ The thing was incredible except on
the supposition that these were relics of an utterly lost
civilisation。
Bickley was as much puzzled as myself。 All he could say was
that the world was infinitely old and many things might have
happened in it whereof we had no record。 Even Bastin was excited
for a little while； but as his imagination was represented by
zero； all he could say was：
〃I suppose someone left them there； and anyhow it doesn't
matter much； does it？〃
But I； who have certain leanings towards the ancient and
mysterious； could not be put off in this fashion。 I remembered
that unapproachable mountain in the midst of the lake and that on
it appeared to be something which looked like ruins as seen from
the top of the cliff through glasses。 At any rate this was a
point； that I might clear up。
Saying nothing to anybody； one morning I slipped away and
walked to the edge of the lake； a distance of five or six miles
over rough country。 Having arrived there I perceived that the
cone…shaped mountain in the centre； which was about a mile from
the lake shore； was much larger than I had thought； quite three
hundred feet high indeed； and with a very large circumference。
Further； its sides evidently once had been terraced； and it was
on one of these broad terraces； half…way up and facing towards
the rising sun； that the ruin…like remains were heaped。 I
examined them through my glasses。 Undoubtedly it was a cyclopean
ruin built of great blocks of coloured stone which seemed to have
been shattered by earthquake or explosion。 There were the pillars
of a mighty gateway and the remains of walls。
I trembled with excitement as I stared and stared。 Could I not
get to the place and see for myself？ I observed that from the
flat bush…clad land at the foot of the mountain； ran out what
seemed to be the residue of a stone pier which ended in a large
table…topped rock between two and three hundred feet across。 But
even this was too far to reach by swimming； besides for aught I
knew there might be alligators in that lake。 I walked up and down
its borders； till presently I came to a path which led into a
patch of some variety of cotton palm。
Following this path I discovered a boat…house thatched over
with palm leaves。 Inside it were two good canoes with their
paddles； floating and tied to the stumps of trees by fibre ropes。
Instantly I made up my mind that I would paddle to the island and
investigate。 Just as I was about to step into one of the canoes
the light was cut off。 Looking up I saw that a man was crouching
in the door…place of the boat…house in order to enter； and paused
guiltily。
〃Friend…from…the…Sea〃 （that was the name that these islanders
had given to me）； said the voice of Marama； 〃saywhat are you
doing here？〃
〃I am about to take a row on the lake； Chief；〃 I answered
carelessly。
〃Indeed； Friend。 Have we then treated you so badly that you are
tired of life？〃
〃What do you mean？〃 I asked。
〃Come out into the sunlight； Friend； and I will explain to
you。〃
I hesitated till I saw Marama lifting the heavy wooden spear he
carried and remembered that I was unarmed。 Then I came out。
〃What does all this mean； Chief？〃 I asked angrily when we were
clear of the patch of cotton palm。
〃I mean； Friend； that you have been very near to making a
longer journey than you thought。 Have patience now and listen to
me。 I saw you leaving the village this morning and followed；
suspecting your purpose。 Yes； I followed alone； saying nothing to
the priests of Oro who fortunately were away watching the
Bellower for their own reasons。 I saw you searching out the
secrets of the mountain with those magic tubes that make things
big that are small； and things that are far off come near； and I
followed you to the canoes。〃
〃All that is plain enough； Marama。 But why？〃
〃Have I not told you； Friend…from…the…Sea； that yonder hill
which is called Orofena； whence this island takes its name； is
sacred？〃
〃You said so； but what of it？〃
〃This： to set foot thereon is to die and； I suppose； great as
you are； you； too； can die like others。 At least； although I love
you； had you not come away from that canoe I was about to
discover whether this is so。〃
〃Then for what are the canoes used？〃 I asked with irritation。
〃You see that flat rock； Friend； with the hole beyond； which is
the mouth of a cave that appeare