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Between the folds of the wrappings on the back sprang two other
wings； enormous wings bent like those of a bird about to take
flight。 Indeed the whole attitude of the figure suggested that it
was springing from earth to air。 It was executed in black basalt
or some stone of the sort； and very highly finished。 For
instance； on the bare feet and the arm which held the torch could
be felt every muscle and even some of the veins。 In the same way
the details of the skull were perfectly perceptible to the touch；
although at first sight not visible on the marble surface。 This
was ascertained by climbing on the pedestal and feeling the face
with our hands。
Here I may say that its modelling as well as that of the feet
and the arm filled Bickley； who； of course； was a highly trained
anatomist； with absolute amazement。 He said that he would never
have thought it possible that such accuracy could have been
reached by an artist working in so hard a material。
When the others had arrived we studied this relic as closely as
our two candles would allow； and in turn expressed our opinions
of its significance。 Bastin thought that if those things down
there were really the remains of aeroplanes； which he did not
believe； the statue had something to do with flying； as was shown
by the fact that it had wings on its head and shoulders。 Also； he
added； after examining the face； the head was uncommonly like
that of the idol that he had blown up。 It had the same long nose
and severe shut mouth。 If he was right； this was probably another
effigy of Oro which we should do well to destroy at once before
the islanders came to worship it。
Bickley ground his teeth as he listened to him。
〃Destroy that！〃 he gasped。 〃Destroy！ Oh！ you； youearly
Christian。〃
Here I may state that Bastin was quite right； as we proved
subsequently when we compared the head of the fetish； which； as
it will be remembered； he had brought away with him； with that of
the statue。 Allowing for an enormous debasement of art； they were
essentially identical in the facial characteristics。 This would
suggest the descent of a tradition through countless generations。
Or of course it may have been accidental。 I am sure I do not
know； but I think it possible that for unknown centuries other
old statues may have existed in Orofena from which the idol was
copied。 Or some daring and impious spirit may have found his way
to the cave in past ages and fashioned the local god upon this
ancient model。
Bickley was struck at once； as I had been； with the resemblance
of the figure to that of the Egyptian Osiris。 Of course there
were differences。 For instance； instead of the crook and the
scourge； this divinity held a torch。 Again； in place of the crown
of Egypt it wore a winged head…dress； though it is true this was
not very far removed from the winged disc of that country。 The
wings that sprang from its shoulders； however； suggested
Babylonia rather than Egypt； or the Assyrian bulls that are
similarly adorned。 All of these symbolical ideas might have been
taken from that figure。 But what was it？ What was it？
In a flash the answer came to me。 A representation of the
spirit of Death！ Neither more nor less。 There was the shroud；
there the cold； inscrutable countenance suggesting mysteries that
it hid。 But the torch and the wings？ Well； the torch was that
which lighted souls to the other world； and on the wings they
flew thither。 Whoever fashioned that statue hoped for another
life； or so I was convinced。
I explained my ideas。 Bastin thought them fanciful and
preferred his notion of a flying man； since by constitution he
was unable to discover anything spiritual in any religion except
his own。 Bickley agreed that it was probably an allegorical
representation of death but sniffed at my interpretation of the
wings and the torch； since by constitution he could not believe
that the folly of a belief in immortality could have developed so
early in the world； that is； among a highly civilised people such
as must have produced this statue。
What we could none of us understand was why this ominous image
with its dead； cold face should have been placed in an aerodrome；
nor in fact did we ever discover。 Possibly it was there long
before the cave was put to this use。 At first the place may have
been a temple and have so remained until circumstances forced the
worshippers to change their habits； or even their Faith。
We examined this wondrous work and the pedestal on which it
stood as closely as we were able by the dim light of our candles。
I was anxious to go further and see what lay beyond it； indeed we
did walk a few paces； twenty perhaps； onward into the recesses of
the cave。
Then Bickley discovered something that looked like the mouth of
a well down which he nearly tumbled； and Bastin began to complain
that he was hot and very thirsty； also to point out that he
wished for no more caves and idols at present。
〃Look here； Arbuthnot；〃 said Bickley； 〃these candles are
burning low and we don't want to use up more if we can prevent
it； for we may need what we have got very badly later on。 Now；
according to my pocket compass the mouth of this cave points due
east； probably at the beginning it was orientated to the rising
sun for purposes of astronomical observation or of worship at
certain periods of the year。 From the position of the sun when we
landed on the rock this morning I imagine that just now it rises
almost exactly opposite to the mouth of the cave。 If this is so；
to…morrow at dawn； for a time at least； the light should
penetrate as far as the statue； and perhaps further。 What I
suggest is that we should walt till then to explore。〃
I agreed with him； especially as I was feeling tired； being
exhausted by wonder； and wanted time to think。 So we turned back。
As we did so I missed Tommy and inquired anxiously where he was；
being afraid lest he might have tumbled down the well…like hole。
〃He's all right；〃 said Bastin。 〃I saw him sniffing at the base
of that statue。 I expect there is a rat in there； or perhaps a
snake。〃
Sure enough when we reached it there was Tommy with his black
nose pressed against the lowest of the tiers that formed the base
of the statue； and sniffing loudly。 Also he was scratching in the
dust as a dog does when he has winded a rabbit in a hole。 So
engrossed was he in this occupation that it was with difficulty
that I coaxed him to leave the place。
I did not think much of the incident at that time； but
afterwards it came back to me； and I determined to investigate
those stones at the first opportunity。
Passing the wrecks of the machines； we emerged on to the
causeway without accident。 After we had rested and washed we set
to work to draw our canoe with its precious burden of food right
into the mouth of the cave； where we hid it as well as we could。
This done we went for a walk round the base of the peak。 This
proved to be a great deal larger than we had imagined； over two
miles in circumference indeed。 All about it was a belt of fertile
land； as I suppose deposited there by the waters of the great
lake and resulting from the decay of vegetation。 Much of this
belt was covered with ancient forest ending in mud flats that
appeared to have been thrown up recently； perhaps at the time of
the tidal wave which bore us to Orofena。 On the higher part of
the belt were many of the extraordinary crater…like holes that I
have mentioned as being prevalent on the main island； indeed the
place had all the appearance of having been subjected to a
terrific and continuous bombardment。
When we had completed its circuit we set to work to climb the
peak in order to explore the terraces of which I have spoken and
the ruins which I had seen through my field…glasses。 It was quite
true； they were terraces cut with infinite labour out of the
solid rock； and on them had once stood a city； now pounded into
dust and fragments。 We struggled over the broken blocks of stone
to what we had taken for a temple； which stood near the lip of
the crater； for without doubt this mound was an extinct volcano；
or rather its crest。 All we could make out when we arrived was
that here had once stood some great building； for its courts
could still be traced； also there lay about fragments of steps
and pillars。
Apparently the latter had once been carved； but the passage of
innumerable ages had obliterated the work and we could not turn
these great blocks over to discover if any remained beneath。 It
was as though the god Thor had broken up the edifice with his
hammer； or Jove had shattered it with his thunderbolts； nothing
else would account for that utter wreck； except； as Bickley
remarked significantly； the scientific use of high explosives。
Following the line of what seemed to have been a road； we came
to the edge of the volcano and found； as w