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〃Don't you think we had better go back？〃 asked Bastin。
〃Evidently my words have touched them and their minds are melting
beneath the light of Truth。〃
〃Oh！ by all means；〃 replied Bickley with sarcasm； 〃for then
their spears will touch us； and our bodies will soon be melting
above the fires of that pit。〃
〃Perhaps you are right；〃 said Bastin； 〃at least； I admit that
you have made matters very difficult by your unjustifiable
homicide of that priest who I do not think meant to injure you
seriously； and really was not at all a bad fellow； though
opinionated in some ways。 Also； I do not suppose that anybody is
expected； as it were； to run his head into the martyr's crown。
When it settles there of itself it is another matter。〃
〃Like a butterfly！〃 exclaimed the enraged Bickley。
〃Yes； if you like to put it that way； though the simile seems a
very poor one； like a sunbeam would be better。〃
Here Bickley gave way with his paddle so vigorously that the
canoe was as nearly as possible upset into the lake。
In due course we reached the flat Rock of Offerings； which
proved to be quite as wide as a double croquet lawn and much
longer。
〃What are those？〃 I asked； pointing to certain knobs on the
edge of the rock at a spot where a curved projecting point made a
little harbour。
Bickley examined them； and answered：
〃I should say that they are the remains of stone mooring…posts
worn down by many thousands of years of weather。 Yes； look； there
is the cut of the cables upon the base of that one； and very big
cables they must have been。〃
We stared at one anotherthat is； Bickley and I did； for
Bastin was still engaged in contemplating the blackened head of
the god which he had overthrown。
Chapter IX
The Island in the Lake
We made the canoe fast and landed on the great rock； to
perceive that it was really a peninsula。 That is to say； it was
joined to the main land of the lake island by a broad roadway
quite fifty yards across； which appeared to end in the mouth of
the cave。 On this causeway we noted a very remarkable thing；
namely； two grooves separated by an exact distance of nine feet
which ran into the mouth of the cave and vanished there。
〃Explain！〃 said Bickley。
〃Paths；〃 I said； 〃worn by countless feet walking on them for
thousands of years。〃
〃You should cultivate the art of observation； Arbuthnot。 What
do you say； Bastin？〃
He stared at the grooves through his spectacles； and replied：
〃I don't say anything； except that I can't see anybody to make
paths here。 Indeed； the place seems quite unpopulated； and all
the Orofenans told me that they never landed on it because if
they did they would die。 It is a part of their superstitious
nonsense。 If you have any idea in your head you had better tell
us quickly before we breakfast。 I am very hungry。〃
〃You always are；〃 remarked Bickley； 〃even when most people's
appetites might have been affected。 Well； I think that this great
plateau was once a landing…place for flying machines； and that
there is the air…shed or garage。〃
Bastin stared at him。
〃Don't you think we had better breakfast？〃 he said。 〃There are
two roast pigs in that canoe； and lots of other food； enough to
last us a week； I should say。 Of course； I understand that the
blood you have shed has thrown you off your balance。 I believe it
has that effect； except on the most hardened。 Flying machines
were only invented a few years ago by the brothers Wright in
America。〃
〃Bastin；〃 said Bickley； 〃I begin to regret that I did not leave
you to take part in another breakfast yonderI mean as the
principal dish。〃
〃It was Providence； not you； who prevented it； Bickley；
doubtless because I am unworthy of such a glorious end。〃
〃Then it is lucky that Providence is a good shot with a pistol。
Stop talking nonsense and listen。 If those were paths worn by
feet they would run to the edge of the rock。 They do not。 They
begin there in that gentle depression and slope upwards somewhat
steeply。 The air machines； which were evidently large； lit in the
depression； possibly as a bird does； and then ran on wheels or
sledge skids along the grooves to the air…shed in the mountain。
Come to the cave and you will see。〃
〃Not till we have breakfast；〃 said Bastin。 〃I will get out a
pig。 As a matter of fact； I had no supper last night； as I was
taking a class of native boys and making some arrangements of my
own。〃
As for me； I only whistled。 It all seemed very feasible。 And
yet how could such things be？
We unloaded the canoe and ate。 Bastin's appetite was splendid。
Indeed； I had to ask him to remember that when this supply was
done I did not know where we should find any more。
〃Take no thought for the morrow；〃 he replied。 〃I have no doubt
it will come from somewhere；〃 and he helped himself to another
chop。
Never had I admired him so much。 Not a couple of hours before
he was about to be cruelly murdered and eaten。 But this did not
seem to affect him in the least。 Bastin was the only man I have
ever known with a really perfect faith。 It is a quality worth
having and one that makes for happiness。 What a great thing not
to care whether you are breakfasted on； or breakfast！
〃I see that there is lots of driftwood about here；〃 he
remarked； 〃but unfortunately we have no tea； so in this climate
it is of little use； unless indeed we can catch some fish and
cook them。〃
〃Stop talking about eating and help us to haul up the canoe；〃
said Bickley。
Between the three of us we dragged and carried the canoe a long
way from the lake； fearing lest the natives should come and bear
it off with our provisions。 Then； having given Tommy his
breakfast off the scraps； we walked to the cave。 I glanced at my
companions。 Bickley's face was alight with scientific eagerness。
Here are not dreams or speculations； but facts to be learned； it
seemed to say； and I will learn them。 The past is going to show
me some of its secrets； to tell me how men of long ago lived and
died and how far they had advanced to that point on the road of
civilisation at which I stand in my little hour of existence。
That of Bastin was mildly interested； no more。 Obviously； with
half his mind he was thinking of something else； probably of his
converts on the main island and of the school class fixed for
this hour which circumstances prevented him from attending。
Indeed； like Lot's wife he was casting glances behind him towards
the wicked place from which he had been forced to flee。
Neither the past nor the future had much real interest for
Bastin； any more than they had for Bickley； though for different
reasons。 The former was done with； the latter he was quite
content to leave in other hands。 If he had any clear idea
thereof； probably that undiscovered land appeared to him as a
big； pleasant place where are no unbelievers or erroneous
doctrines； and all sinners will be sternly repressed； in which；
clad in a white surplice with all proper ecclesiastical
trappings； he would argue eternally with the Early Fathers and in
due course utterly annihilate Bickley； that is in a moral sense。
Personally and as a man he was extremely attached to Bickley as a
necessary and wrong…headed nuisance to which he had become
accustomed。
And I！ What did I feel？ I do not know； I cannot describe。 An
extraordinary attraction； a semi…spiritual exaltation； I think。
That cave mouth might have been a magnet drawing my soul。 With my
body I should have been afraid； as I daresay I was； for our
circumstances were sufficiently desperate。 Here we were；
castaways upon an island； probably uncharted； one of thousands in
the recesses of a vast ocean； from which we had little chance of
escape。 More； having offended the religious instincts of the
primeval inhabitants of that island； we had been forced to flee
to a rocky mountain in the centre of a lake； where； after the
food we had brought with us by accident was consumed； we should
no doubt be forced to choose between death by starvation； or； if
we attempted to retreat； at the hands of justly infuriated
savages。 Yet these facts did not oppress me； for I was being
drawn； drawn to I knew not what； and if it were to doomwell； no
matter。
Therefore； none of us cared： Bastin because his faith was equal
to any emergency and there was always that white…robed heaven
waiting for him beyond which his imagination did not go （I often
wondered whether he pictured Mrs。 Bastin as also waiting； if so；
he never said anything about her）； Bickley because as a child of
the Present and a servant of knowledge he feared no future；
believing it to be for him non…existent； and was careless as to
when his strenuous hour of life should end； and I because I felt
that yonder lay my true future； yes； and my true past； even
though to discover them I must pass throu