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Oro； who instantly burst into flame。 Then he ran back； calling
out that the devil was dead。 As he did so there was a loud
explosion and Oro flew into pieces。 His burning head went a long
way into the air and； falling on to one of the priests； killed
him。 Thereon the other priests and the people seized the Bellower
and made him fast。 Now they were engaged in heating an oven in
which to put him to cook。 When it was ready they would eat him in
honour of Oro。
〃And serve him right too！〃 gasped Bickley； who； being stout；
was not a good runner。 〃Why can't he leave other people's gods
alone instead of blowing them up with gunpowder？〃
〃Don't know；〃 I answered。 〃Hope we shall get there in time！〃
〃To be cooked and eaten with Bastin！〃 wheezed Bickley； after
which his breath gave out。
As it chanced we did； for these stone ovens take a long time to
heat。 There by the edge of his fiery grave with his hands and
legs bound in palm…fibre shackles； stood Bastin； quite unmoved；
smiling indeed； in a sort of seraphic way which irritated us both
extremely。 Round him danced the infuriated priests of Oro； and
round them； shrieking and howling with rage； was most of the
population of Orofena。 We rushed up so suddenly that none tried
to stop us； and took our stand on either side of him； producing
our pistols as we did so。
〃Thank you for coming；〃 said Bastin in the silence which
followed； 〃though I don't think it is the least use。 I cannot
recall that any of the early martyrs were ever roasted and eaten；
though； of course； throwing them into boiling oil or water was
fairly common。 I take it that the rite is sacrificial and even in
a low sense； sacramental； not merely one of common cannibalism。〃
I stared at him； and Bickley gasped out：
〃If you are to be eaten； what does it matter why you are
eaten？〃
〃Oh！〃 replied Bastin； 〃there is all the difference in the
world； though it is one that I cannot expect you to appreciate。
And now please be quiet as I wish to say my prayers。 I imagine
that those stones will be hot enough to do their office within
twenty minutes or so； which is not very long。〃
At that moment Marama appeared； evidently in a state of great
perturbation。 With him were some of the priests or sorcerers who
were dancing about as I imagine the priests of Baal must have
done； and filled with fury。 They rolled their eyes； they stuck
out their tongues； they uttered weird cries and shook their
wooden knives at the placid Bastin。
〃What is the matter？〃 I asked sternly of the chief。
〃This； Friend…from…the…Sea。 The Bellower there； when the
sacrifice was about to be offered to Oro at the dawn； rushed
forward； and having thrust something between the legs of the
image of the god； poured yellow water over it； and with fire
caused it to burst into fierce flame。 Then he ran away and mocked
the god who presently； with a loud report； flew into pieces and
killed that man。 Therefore the Bellower must be sacrificed。〃
〃What to？〃 I asked。 〃The image has gone and the piece of it
that ascended fell not upon the Bellower； as would have happened
if the god had been angry with him； but on one of its own
priests； whom it killed。 Therefore； having been sacrificed by the
god itself； he it is that should be eaten； not the Bellower； who
merely did what his Spirit bade him。〃
This ingenious argument seemed to produce some effect upon
Marama； but to the priests it did not at all appeal。
〃Eat them all！〃 these cried。 〃They are the enemies of Oro and
have worked sacrilege！〃
Moreover； to judge from their demeanour； the bulk of the people
seemed to agree with them。 Things began to look very ugly。 The
priests rushed forward； threatening us with their wooden weapons；
and one of them even aimed a blow at Bickley； which only missed
him by an inch or two。
〃Look here； my friend；〃 called the doctor whose temper was
rising； 〃you name me the Great Priest or Great Healer； do you
not？ Well； be careful； lest I should show you that I can kill as
well as heal！〃
Not in the least intimidated by this threat the man； a great
bedizened fellow who literally was foaming at the mouth with
rage； rushed forward again； his club raised； apparently with the
object of dashing out Bickley's brains。
Suddenly Bickley lifted his revolver and fired。 The man； shot
through the heart； sprang into the air and fell upon his face
stone dead。 There was consternation； for these people had never
seen us shoot anything before； and were quite unacquainted with
the properties of firearms； which they supposed to be merely
instruments for making a noise。 They stared； they gasped in fear
and astonishment； and then they fled； pursued by Tommy； barking；
leaving us alone with the two dead men。
〃It was time to teach them a lesson；〃 said Bickley as he
replaced the empty cartridge； and； seizing the dead man； rolled
him into the burning pit。
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃but presently； when they have got over
their fright； they will come back to teach us one。〃
Bastin said nothing； he seemed too dazed at the turn events had
taken。
〃What do you suggest？〃 asked Bickley。
〃Flight；〃 I answered。
〃Where tothe ship？ We might hold that。〃
〃No； that is what they expect。 Look！ They are cutting off our
road there。 To the island in the lake where they dare not follow
us； for it is holy ground。〃
〃How are we going to live on the island？〃 asked Bickley。
〃I don't know；〃 I replied； 〃but I am quite certain that if we
stay here we shall die。〃
〃Very well；〃 he said； 〃let us try it。〃
While we were speaking I was cutting Bastin's bonds。 〃Thank
you；〃 he said。 〃It is a great relief to stretch one's arms after
they have been compressed with cords。 But at the same time； I do
not know that I am really grateful。 The martyr's crown was
hanging above me； so to speak； and now it has vanished into the
pit； like that man whom Bickley murdered。〃
〃Look here；〃 exclaimed the exasperated Bickley； 〃if you say
much more； Bastin； I'll chuck you into the pit too； to look for
your martyr's crown； for I think you have done enough mischief
for one morning。〃
〃If you are trying to shift the responsibility for that
unfortunate man's destruction on to me〃
〃Oh！ shut it and trot；〃 broke in Bickley。 〃Those infernal
savages are coming with your blessed converts leading the van。〃
So we 〃trotted〃 at no mean pace。 As we passed it； Bastin
stooped down and picked up the head of the image of Oro； much as
Atalanta in Academy pictures is represented as doing to the
apples； and bore it away in triumph。
〃I know it is scorched；〃 he ejaculated at intervals； 〃but they
might trim it up and stick it on to a new body as the original
false god。 Now they can't； for there's nothing left。〃
As a matter of fact； we were never in any real danger； for our
pursuit was very half…hearted indeed。 To begin with； now that
their first rage was over； the Orofenans who were fond of us had
no particular wish to do us to death； while the ardour of their
sorcerers； who wished this very much； had been greatly cooled by
the mysterious annihilation of their idol and the violent deaths
of two of their companions； which they thought might be
reduplicated in their own persons。 So it came about that the
chase； if noisy； was neither close nor eager。
We reached the edge of the lake where was the boat…house of
which I have spoken already； travelling at little more than a
walk。 Here we made Bastin unfasten the better of the two canoes
that by good luck was almost filled with offerings； which
doubtless； according to custom； must be made upon the day of this
feast to Oro； while we watched against surprise at the boat…house
door。 When he was ready we slipped in and took our seats； Tommy
jumping in after us； and pushed the canoe； now very heavily
laden； out into the lake。
Here； at a distance of about forty paces； which we judged to be
beyond wooden spear…throw； we rested upon our paddles to see what
would happen。 All the crowd of islanders had rushed to the lake
edge where they stood staring at us stupidly。 Bastin； thinking
the occasion opportune； lifted the hideous head of the idol which
he had carefully washed； and began to preach on the downfall of
〃the god of the Grove。〃
This action of his appeared to awake memories or forebodings in
the minds of his congregation。 Perhaps some ancient prophecy was
concernedI do not know。 At any rate； one of the priests shouted
something； whereon everybody began to talk at once。 Then；
stooping down； they threw water from the lake over themselves and
rubbed its sand and mud into their hair； all the while making
genuflexions toward the mountain in the middle； after which they
turned and departed。
〃Don't you think we had better go back？〃 asked Bastin。
〃Evidently my words have touched them and their minds are melting
beneath t