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do well to try to get out of this place。 Eliminating a great deal
of the marvelous with which we seem to have come in touch here；
it is still obvious that we find ourselves in very peculiar and
unhealthy surroundings。 I mean mentally unhealthy； indeed I think
that if we stay here much longer we shall probably go off our
heads。 Now that boat on the deck remains sound and seaworthy。 Why
should not we provision her and take our chance？ We know more or
less which way to steer。〃
Bastin and I looked at each other。 It was he who spoke first。
〃Wouldn't it be rather a risky job in an open boat？〃 he asked。
〃However； that doesn't matter much because I don't take any
account of risks； knowing that I am of more value than a sparrow
and that the hairs of my head are all numbered。〃
〃They might be numbered under water as well as above it；〃
muttered Bickley； 〃and I feel sure that on your own showing； you
would be as valuable dead as alive。〃
〃What I seem to feel；〃 went on Bastin； 〃is that I have work to
my hand here。 Also； the locum tenens at Fulcombe no doubt runs
the parish as well as I could。 Indeed I consider him a better man
for the place than I am。 That old Oro is a tough proposition； but
I do not despair of him yet； and besides him there is the
Glittering Lady； a most open…minded person； whom I have not yet
had any real opportunity of approaching in a spiritual sense。
Then there are all these natives who cannot learn without a
teacher。 So on the whole I think I would rather stay where I am
until Providence points out some other path。〃
〃I am of the same opinion； if for somewhat different reasons；〃
I said。 〃I do not suppose that it has often been the fortune of
men to come in touch with such things as we have found upon this
island。 They may be illusions； but at least they are very
interesting illusions。 One might live ten lifetimes and find
nothing else of the sort。 Therefore I should like to see the end
of the dream。〃
Bickley reflected a little； then said：
〃On the whole I agree with you。 Only my brain totters and I am
terribly afraid of madness。 I cannot believe what I seem to hear
and see； and that way madness lies。 It is better to die than to
go mad。〃
〃You'll do that anyway when your time comes； Bickley； I mean
decease； of course；〃 interrupted Bastin。 〃And who knows； perhaps
all this is an opportunity given by Providence to open your eyes；
which； I must say； are singularly blind。 You think you know
everything there is to learn； but the fact is that like the rest
of us； you know nothing at all； and good man though you are；
obstinately refuse to admit the truth and to seek support
elsewhere。 For my part I believe that you are afraid of falling
in love with that Glittering Lady and of being convinced by her
that you are wrong in your most unsatisfactory conclusions。〃
〃I am out…voted anyway；〃 said Bickley； 〃and for the rest；
Bastin； look after yourself and leave me alone。 I will add that
on the whole I think you are both right； and that it is wisest
for us to stop where we are； for after all we can only die once。〃
〃I am not so sure； Bickley。 There is a thing called the second
death； which is what is troubling that old scoundrel； Oro。 Now I
will go and look for those books。〃
So the idea of flight was abandoned； although I admit that even
to myself it had attractions。 For I felt that I was being wrapped
in a net of mysteries from which I saw no escape。 Yes； and of
more than mysteries； I who had sworn that I would never look upon
another woman； was learning to love this sweet and wondrous Yva；
and of that what could be the end？
We collected all we had come to seek； and started homewards
escorted by Marama and his people； including a number of young
women who danced before us in a light array of flowers。
Passing our old house； we came to the grove where the idol Oro
had stood and Bastin was so nearly sacrificed。 There was another
idol there now which he wished to examine； but in the end did not
as the natives so obviously objected。 Indeed Marama told me that
notwithstanding the mysterious death of the sorcerers on the Rock
of Offerings； there was still a strong party in the island who
would be glad to do us a mischief if any further affront were
offered to their hereditary god。
He questioned us also tentatively about the apparition； for
such he conceived it to be； which had appeared upon the rock and
killed the sorcerers； and I answered him as I thought wisest；
telling him that a terrible Power was afoot in the land； which he
would do well to obey。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃the God of the Mountain of whom the tradition
has come down to us from our forefathers。 He is awake again； he
sees； he hears and we are afraid。 Plead with him for us； O
Friend…from…the…Sea。〃
As he spoke we were passing through a little patch of thick
bush。 Suddenly from out of this bush； I saw a lad appear。 He wore
a mask upon his face； but from his shape could not have been more
than thirteen or fourteen years of age。 In his hand was a wooden
club。 He ran forward； stopped； and with a yell of hate hurled it；
I think at Bastin； but it hit me。 At any rate I felt a shock and
remembered no more。
Dreams。 Dreams。 Endless dreams！ What were they all about？ I do
not know。 It seemed to me that through them continually I saw the
stately figure of old Oro contemplating me gravely； as though he
were making up his mind about something in which I must play a
part。 Then there was another figure； that of the gracious but
imperial Yva； who from time to time； as I thought； leant over me
and whispered in my ear words of rest and comfort。 Nor was this
all； since her shape had a way of changing suddenly into that of
my lost wife who would speak with her voice。 Or perhaps my wife
would speak with Yva's voice。 To my disordered sense it was as
though they were one personality； having two shapes； either of
which could be assumed at will。 It was most strange and yet to me
most blessed； since in the living I seemed to have found the
dead； and in the dead the living。 More； I took journeys； or
rather some unknown part of me seemed to do so。 One of these I
remember； for its majestic character stamped itself upon my mind
in such a fashion that all the waters of delirium could not wash
it out nor all its winds blow away that memory。
I was travelling through space with Yva a thousand times faster
than light can flash。 We passed sun after sun。 They drew near；
they grew into enormous； flaming Glories round which circled
world upon world。 They became small； dwindled to points of light
and disappeared。
We found footing upon some far land and passed a marvelous
white city wherein were buildings with domes of crystal and
alabaster； in the latter of which were set windows made of great
jewels； sapphires or rubies they seemed to me。 We went on up a
lovely valley。 To the left were hills； down which tumbled
waterfalls； to the right was a river broad and deep that seemed
to overflow its banks as does the Nile。 Behind were high
mountains on the slopes of which grew forests of glorious trees；
some of them aflame with bloom； while far away up their crests
stood colossal golden statues set wide apart。 They looked like
guardian angels watching that city and that vale。 The land was
lit with a light such as that of the moon； only intensified and
of many colours。 Indeed looking up； I saw that above us floated
three moons； each of them bigger than our own at the full； and
gathered that here it was night。
We came to a house set amid scented gardens and having in front
of it terraces of flowers。 It seemed not unlike my own house at
home； but I took little note of it； because of a woman who sat
upon the verandah； if I may call it so。 She was clad in garments
of white silk fastened about her middle with a jewelled girdle。
On her neck also was a collar of jewels。 I forget the colour；
indeed this seemed to change continually as the light from the
different moons struck when she moved； but I think its prevailing
tinge was blue。 In her arms this woman nursed a beauteous；
sleeping child； singing happily as she rocked it to and fro。 Yva
went towards the woman who looked up at her step and uttered a
little cry。 Then for the first time I saw the woman's face。 It
was that of my dead wife！
As I followed in my dream； a little cloud of mist seemed to
cover both my wife and Yva； and when I reached the place Yva was
gone。 Only my wife remained； she and the child。 There she stood；
solemn and sweet。 While I drew near she laid down the child upon
the cushioned seat from which she had risen。 She stretched out
her arms and flung them about me。 She embraced me and I embraced
her in a rapture of reunion。 Then turning she lifted up the
child； it was a girl； for me to kiss。
〃See your daughter；〃 she said； 〃and behold all that I am making
ready for