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a beard of about a week's growth； and I who wore one of the
pointed variety； trimmed up mine as best I could with the help of
a hand…glass。 Bastin； too； performed on his which was of the
square and rather ragged type； wisely rejecting Bickley's advice
to shave it off altogether； offered； I felt convinced； because he
felt that the result on Bastin would be too hideous for words。
After this we cut our nails； cleaned our teeth and bathed； I even
caught Bickley applying hair tonic from his dressing case in
secret； behind a projecting rock； and borrowed some myself。 He
gave it me on condition that I did not mention its existence to
Bastin who； he remarked； would certainly use the lot and make
himself smell horrible。
Next we found clean ducks among our store of spare clothes； for
the Orofenans had brought these with our other possessions； and
put them on； even adding silk cumberbunds and neckties。 My tie I
fastened with a pin that I had obtained in Egypt。 It was a tiny
gold statuette of very fine and early workmanship； of the god
Osiris； wearing the crown of the Upper Land with the uraeus
crest； and holding in his hands； which projected from the mummy
wrappings； the emblems of the crook； the scourge and the crux
ansata； or Sign of Life。
Bastin； for his part； arrayed himself in full clerical costume；
black coat and trousers； white tie and stick…up clergyman's
collar which； as he remarked； made him feel extremely hot in that
climate； and were unsuitable to domestic duties； such as
washing…up。 I offered to hold his coat while he did this office
and told him he looked very nice indeed。
〃Beautiful！〃 remarked Bickley； 〃but why don't you put on your
surplice and biretta？〃 （Being very High…Church Bastin did wear a
biretta on festival Sundays at home。） 〃There would be no mistake
about you then。〃
〃I do not think it would be suitable；〃 replied Bastin whose
sense of humour was undeveloped。 〃There is no service to be
performed at present and no church； though perhaps that cave〃
and he stopped。
When we had finished these vain adornments and Bastin had put
away the things and tidied up； we sat down； rather at a loose
end。 We should have liked to walk but refrained from doing so for
fear lest we might dirty our clean clothes。 So we just sat and
thought。 At least Bickley thought； and so did I for a while until
I gave it up。 What was the use of thinking； seeing that we were
face to face with circumstances which baffled reason and beggared
all recorded human experience？ What Bastin did I am sure I do not
know； but I think from the expression of his countenance that he
was engaged in composing sermons for the benefit of Oro and the
Glittering Lady。
One diversion we did have。 About eleven o'clock a canoe came
from the main island laden with provisions and paddled by Marama
and two of his people。 We seized our weapons； remembering our
experiences of the night； but Marama waved a bough in token of
peace。 So； carrying our revolvers； we went to the rock edge to
meet him。 He crept ashore and； chief though he was； prostrated
himself upon his face before us； which told me that he had heard
of the fate of the sorcerers。 His apologies were abject。 He
explained that he had no part in the outrage of the attack； and
besought us to intercede on behalf of him and his people with the
awakened god of the Mountain whom he looked for with a terrified
air。
We consoled him as well as we could； and told him that he had
best be gone before the god of the Mountain appeared； and perhaps
treated him as he had done the sorcerers。 In his name； however；
we commanded Marama to bring materials and build us a proper
house upon the rock； also to be sure to keep up a regular and
ample supply of provisions。 If he did these things； and anything
else we might from time to time command； we said that perhaps his
life and those of his people would be spared。 This； however；
after the evil behaviour of some of them of course we could not
guarantee。
Marama departed so thoroughly frightened that he even forgot to
make any inquiries as to who this god of the Mountain might be；
or where he came from； or whither he was going。 Of course； the
place had been sacred among his people from the beginning；
whenever that may have been； but that its sacredness should
materialise into an active god who brought sorcerers of the
highest reputation to a most unpleasant end； just because they
wished to translate their preaching into practice； was another
matter。 It was not to be explained even by the fact of which he
himself had informed me； that during the dreadful storm of some
months before； the cave mouth which previously was not visible on
the volcano； had suddenly been lifted up above the level of the
Rock of Offerings； although； of course； all religious and
instructed persons would have expected something peculiar to
happen after this event。
Such I knew were his thoughts； but； as I have said； he was too
frightened and too hurried to express them in questions that I
should have found it extremely difficult to answer。 As it was he
departed quite uncertain as to whether one of us was not the real
〃god of the Mountain；〃 who had power to bring hideous death upon
his molesters。 After all； what had he to go on to the contrary；
except the word of three priests who were so terrified that they
could give no coherent account of what had happened？ Of these
events； it was true； there was evidence in the twisted carcass of
their lamented high sorcerer； and； for the matter of that； of
certain corpses which he had seen； that lay in shallow water at
the bottom of the lake。 Beyond all was vague； and in his heart I
am sure that Marama believed that Bastin was the real 〃god of the
Mountain。〃 Naturally； he would desire to work vengeance on those
who tried to sacrifice and eat him。 Moreover； had he not
destroyed the image of the god of the Grove and borne away its
head whence he had sucked magic and power？
Thus argued Marama； disbelieving the tale of the frightened
sorcerers； for he admitted as much to me in after days。
Marama departed in a great hurry； fearing lest the 〃god of the
Mountain；〃 or Bastin； whose new and splendid garb he regarded
with much suspicion； might develop some evil energy against him。
Then we went back to our camp； leaving the industrious Bastin；
animated by a suggestion from Bickley that the fruit and food
might spoil if left in the sun； to carry it into the shade of the
cave。 Owing to the terrors of the Orofenans the supply was so
large that to do this he must make no fewer than seven journeys；
which he did with great good will since Bastin loved physical
exercise。 The result on his clerical garments； however； was
disastrous。 His white tie went awry； squashed fruit and roast pig
gravy ran down his waistcoat and trousers； and his high collar
melted into limp crinkles in the moisture engendered by the
tropical heat。 Only his long coat escaped； since that Bickley
kindly carried for him。
It was just as he arrived with the seventh load in this
extremely dishevelled condition that Oro and his daughter emerged
from the cave。 Indeed Bastin； who； being shortsighted； always
wore spectacles that； owing to his heated state were covered with
mist； not seeing that dignitary； dumped down the last basket on
to his toes； exclaiming：
〃There； you lazy beggar； I told you I would bring it all； and I
have。〃
In fact he thought he was addressing Bickley and playing off on
him a troglodytic practical joke。
Oro； however； who at his age did not appreciate jokes； resented
it and was about to do something unpleasant when with
extraordinary tact his daughter remarked：
〃Bastin the priest makes you offerings。 Thank him； O Lord my
father。〃
So Oro thanked him； not too cordially for evidently he still
had feeling in his toes； and once more Bastin escaped。 Becoming
aware of his error； he began to apologise profusely in English；
while the lady Yva studied him carefully。
〃Is that the costume of the priests of your religion； O
Bastin？〃 she asked； surveying his dishevelled form。 〃If so； you
were better without it。〃
Then Bastin retired to straighten his tie； and grabbing his
coat from Bickley； who handed it to him with a malicious smile；
forced his perspiring arms into it in a peculiarly awkward and
elephantine fashion。
Meanwhile Bickley and I produced two camp chairs which we had
made ready； and on these the wondrous pair seated themselves side
by side。
〃We have come to learn；〃 said Oro。 〃Teach！〃
〃Not so； Father；〃 interrupted Yva； who； I noted； was clothed in
yet a third costume； though whence these came I could not
imagine。 〃First I would ask a question。 Whence are you；
Strangers； and how came you here？〃
〃We are from the country called England and a great storm
shipwrecked us here； that； I think； which raised the m