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he asked。 'Know that if you will not swear； the man dies。'
〃'I swear；' I answeredfor your sake； Humphreythough I did
not love the oath。
〃Then he gave me a certain medicine to mix with the Life…water；
and when you were almost gone that medicine cured you； though
Bickley does not know it； as nothing else could have done。 Now I
have told you the truth； for your own ear only； Humphrey。〃
〃Yva；〃 I asked； 〃why did you do all this for me？〃
〃Humphrey； I do not know；〃 she answered； 〃but I think because I
must。 Now sleep a while。〃
Chapter XIX
The Proposals of Bastin and Bickley
So far as my body was concerned I grew well with great
rapidity； though it was long before I got back my strength。 Thus
I could not walk far or endure any sustained exertion。 With my
mind it was otherwise。 I can not explain what had happened to it；
indeed I do not know； but in a sense it seemed to have become
detached and to have assumed a kind of personality of its own。 At
times it felt as though it were no longer an inhabitant of the
body； but rather its more or less independent partner。 I was
perfectly clear…headed and of insanity I experienced no symptoms。
Yet my mind； I use that term from lack of a better； was not
entirely under my control。 For one thing； at night it appeared to
wander far away； though whither it went and what it saw there I
could never remember。
I record this because possibly it explains certain mysterious
events； if they were events and not dreams； which shortly I must
set out。 I spoke to Bickley about the matter。 He put it by
lightly； saying that it was only a result of my long and most
severe illness and that I should steady down in time； especially
if we could escape from that island and its unnatural atmosphere。
Yet as he spoke he glanced at me shrewdly with his quick eyes；
and when he turned to go away I heard him mutter something to
himself about 〃unholy influences〃 and 〃that confounded old Oro。〃
The words were spoken to himself and quite beneath his breath；
and of course not meant to reach me。 But one of the curious
concomitants of my state was that all my senses； and especially
my hearing； had become most abnormally acute。 A whisper far away
was now to me like a loud remark made in a room。
Bickley's reflection； for I can scarcely call it more； set me
thinking。 Yva had said that Oro sent me medicine which was
administered to me without Bickley's knowledge； and as she
believed； saved my life； or certainly my reason。 What was in it？
I wondered。 Then there was that Life…water which Yva brought and
insisted upon my drinking every day。 Undoubtedly it was a
marvelous tonic and did me good。 But it had other effects also。
Thus； as she said would be the case； after a course of it I
conceived the greatest dislike； which I may add has never
entirely left me； of any form of meat； also of alcohol。 All I
seemed to want was this water with fruit； or such native
vegetables as there were。 Bickley disapproved and made me eat
fish occasionally； but even this revolted me； and since I gained
steadily in weight； as we found out by a simple contrivance； and
remained healthy in every other way； soon he allowed me to choose
my own diet。
About this time Oro began to pay me frequent visits。 He always
came at night； and what is more I knew when he was coming；
although he never gave me warning。 Here I should explain that
during my illness Bastin； who was so ingenious in such matters；
had built another hut in which he and Bickley slept； of course
when they were not watching me； leaving our old bed…chamber to
myself。
Well； I would wake up and be aware that Oro was coming。 Then he
appeared in a silent and mysterious way； as though he had
materialised in the room； for I never saw him pass the doorway。
In the moonlight； or the starlight； which flowed through the
entrance and the side of the hut that was only enclosed with
latticework； I perceived him seat himself upon a certain stool；
looking like a most majestic ghost with his flowing robes； long
white beard； hooked nose and hawk eyes。 In the day…time he much
resembled the late General Booth whom I had often seen； except
for certain added qualities of height and classic beauty of
countenance。 At night； however； he resembled no one but himself；
indeed there was something mighty and godlike in his appearance；
something that made one feel that he was not as are other men。
For a while he would sit and look at me。 Then he began to speak
in a low； vibrant voice。 What did he speak of？ Well； many
matters。 It was as though he were unburdening that hoary soul of
his because it could no longer endure the grandeur of its own
loneliness。 Amongst sundry secret things； he told me of the past
history of this world of ours； and of the mighty civilisations
which for uncounted ages he and his forefathers had ruled by the
strength of their will and knowledge； of the dwindling of their
race and of the final destruction of its enemies； although I
noticed that now he no longer said that this was his work alone。
One night I asked him if he did not miss all such pomp and power。
Then suddenly he broke out； and for the first time I really
learned what ambition can be when it utterly possesses the soul
of man。
〃Are you mad；〃 he asked； 〃that you suppose that I； Oro； the
King of kings； can be content to dwell solitary in a great cave
with none but the shadows of the dead to serve me？ Nay； I must
rule again and be even greater than before； or else I too will
die。 Better to face the future； even if it means oblivion； than
to remain thus a relic of a glorious past； still living and yet
dead； like that statue of the great god Fate which you saw in the
temple of my worship。〃
〃Bastin does not think that the future means oblivion；〃 I
remarked。
〃I know it。 I have studied his faith and find it too humble for
my taste； also too new。 Shall I； Oro； creep a suppliant before
any Power； and confess what Bastin is pleased to call my sins？
Nay； I who am great will be the equal of all greatness； or
nothing。〃
He paused a while； then went on：
〃Bastin speaks of 'eternity。' Where and what then is this
eternity which if it has no end can have had no beginning？ I know
the secret of the suns and their attendant worlds； and they are
no more eternal than the insect which glitters for an hour。 Out
of shapeless； rushing gases they gathered to live their day； and
into gases at last they dissolve again with all they bore。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃but they reform into new worlds。〃
〃That have no part with the old。 This world； too； will melt；
departing to whence it came； as your sacred writings say； and
what then of those who dwelt and dwell thereon？ No； Man of
today； give me Time in which I rule and keep your dreams of an
Eternity that is not； and in which you must still crawl and
serve； even if it were。 Yet； if I might； I confess it； I would
live on for ever； but as Master not as Slave。〃
On another night he began to tempt me； very subtly。 〃I see a
spark of greatness in you； Humphrey；〃 he said； 〃and it comes into
my heart that you； too； might learn to rule。 With Yva； the last
of my blood； it is otherwise。 She is the child of my age and of a
race outworn； too gentle； too much all womanly。 The soul that
triumphs must shine like steel in the sun； and cut if need be；
not merely be beauteous and shed perfume like a lily in the
shade。 Yet she is very wise and fair；〃 here he looked at me；
〃perchance of her might come children such as were their
forefathers； who again would wield the sceptre of the dominion of
the earth。〃
I made no answer； wondering what he meant exactly and thinking
it wisest to be silent。
〃You are of the short…lived races；〃 he went on； 〃yet very much
a man； not without intelligence； and by the arts I have I can so
strengthen your frame that it will endure the shocks of time for
three such lives as yours； or perchance for more； and then〃
Again he paused and went on：
〃The Daughter of kings likes you also； perhaps because you
resemble〃 here he fixed me with his piercing eyes； 〃a certain
kinglet of base blood whom once she also liked； but whom it was
my duty to destroy。 Well； I must think。 I must study this world
of yours also and therein you may help me。 Perhaps afterwards I
will tell you how。 Now sleep。〃
In another moment he was gone； but notwithstanding his powerful
command； for a while I could not sleep。 I understood that he was
offering Yva to me； but upon what terms？ That was the question。
With her was to go great dominion over the kingdoms of the earth。
I could not help remembering that always this has been and still
is Satan's favourite bait。 To me it did not particularly appeal。
I had been ambitious in my timewho is not that is worth his
salt？ I could have wished to excel in something； literature or
art； or wh