when the world shook-第29章

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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　mouth　of　the

cave　above　the　level　of　this　rock；〃　I　answered。



〃The　time　appointed　having　come　when　it　should　be　raised；〃　said

Oro　as　though　to　himself。



〃Where　is　England？〃　asked　Yva。



Now　among　the　books　we　had　with　us　was　a　pocket　atlas；　quite　a

good　one　of　its　sort。　By　way　of　answer　I　opened　it　at　the　map　of

the　world　and　showed　her　England。　Also　I　showed；　to　within　a

thousand　miles　or　so；　that　spot　on　the　earth's　surface　where　we

spoke　together。



The　sight　of　this　atlas　excited　the　pair　greatly。　They　had　not

the　slightest　difficulty　in　understanding　everything　about　it　and

the　shape　of　the　world　with　its　division　into　hemispheres　seemed

to　be　quite　familiar　to　them。　What　appeared　chiefly　to　interest

them；　and　especially　Oro；　were　the　relative　areas　and　positions

of　land　and　sea。



〃Of　this；　Strangers；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　map；　〃I　shall

have　much　to　say　to　you　when　I　have　studied　the　pictures　of　your

book　and　compared　them　with　others　of　my　own。〃



〃So　he　has　got　maps；〃　said　Bickley　in　English；　〃as　well　as　star

charts。　I　wonder　where　he　keeps　them。〃



〃With　his　clothes；　I　expect；〃　suggested　Bastin。



Meanwhile　Oro　had　hidden　the　atlas　in　his　ample　robe　and

motioned　to　his　daughter　to　proceed。



〃Why　do　you　come　here　from　England　so　far　away？〃　the　Lady　Yva

asked；　a　question　to　which　each　of　us　had　an　answer。



〃To　see　new　countries；〃　I　said。



〃Because　the　cyclone　brought　us；〃　said　Bickley。



〃To　convert　the　heathen　to　my　own　Christian　religion；〃　said

Bastin；　which　was　not　strictly　true。



It　was　on　this。　last　reply　that　she　fixed。



〃What　does　your　religion　teach？〃　she　asked。



〃It　teaches　that　those　who　accept　it　and　obey　its　commands　will

live　again　after　death　for　ever　in　a　better　world　where　is

neither　sorrow　nor　sin；〃　he　answered。



When　he　heard　this　saying　I　saw　Oro　start　as　though　struck　by　a

new　thought　and　look　at　Bastin　with　a　curious　intentness。



〃Who　are　the　heathen？〃　Yva　asked　again　after　a　pause；　for　she

also　seemed　to　be　impressed。



〃All　who　do　not　agree　with　Bastin's　spiritual　views；〃　answered

Bickley。



〃Those　who；　whether　from　lack　of　instruction　or　from　hardness

of　heart；　do　not　follow　the　true　faith。　For　instance；　I　suppose

that　your　father　and　you　are　heathen；〃　replied　Bastin　stoutly。



This　seemed　to　astonish　them；　but　presently　Yva　caught　his

meaning　and　smiled；　while　Oro　said：



〃Of　this　great　matter　of　faith　we　will　talk　later。　It　is　an　old

question　in　the　world。〃



〃Why；〃　went　on　Yva；　〃if　you　wished　to　travel　so　far　did　you

come　in　a　ship　that　so　easily　is　wrecked？　Why　did　you　not　journey

through　the　air；　or　better　still；　pass　through　space；　leaving

your　bodies　asleep；　as；　being　instructed；　doubtless　you　can　do？〃



〃As　regards　your　first　question；〃　I　answered；　〃there　are　no

aircraft　known　that　can　make　so　long　a　journey。〃



〃And　as　regards　the　second；〃　broke　in　Bickley；　〃we　did　not　do

so　because　it　is　impossible　for　men　to　transfer　themselves　to

other　places　through　space　either　with　or　without　their　bodies。〃。



At　this　information　the　Glittering　Lady　lifted　her　arched

eyebrows　and　smiled　a　little；　while　Oro　said：



〃I　perceive　that　the　new　world　has　advanced　but　a　little　way　on

the　road　of　knowledge。〃



Fearing　that　Bastin　was　about　to　commence　an　argument；　I　began

to　ask　questions　in　my　turn。



〃Lord　Oro　and　Lady　Yva；〃　I　said；　〃we　have　told　you　something　of

ourselves　and　will　tell　you　more　when　you　desire　it。　But　pardon

us　if　first　we　pray　you　to　tell　us　what　we　burn　to　know。　Who　are

you？　Of　what　race　and　country？　And　how　came　it　that　we　found　you

sleeping　yonder？〃



〃If　it　be　your　pleasure；　answer；　my　Father；〃　said　Yva。



Oro　thought　a　moment；　then　replied　in　a　calm　voice：



〃I　am　a　king　who　once　ruled　most　of　the　world　as　it　was　in　my

day；　though　it　is　true　that　much　of　it　rebelled　against　me；　my

council