\"That’sthelowestglassIeversawinthePolynesianoranyotherseasduringthirtyyears。It’sright，too，forIhavetesteditbythreeothers，\"hesaid。
\"Whatdoesitmean？\"Iaskedratheranxiously。
\"SouthSeacycloneoftheworstbreed，\"hereplied。\"ThatcursedDaneknewitwascomingandthat’swhyhelefttheship。
Prayasyouneverprayedbefore，\"andagainhestretchedouthishandtowardsthewhiskybottle。ButIsteppedbetweenhimandit，shakingmyhead。Thereonhelaughedforthethirdtimeandleftthecabin。ThoughIsawhimonceortwiceafterwards，thesewerereallythelastwordsofintelligibleconversationthatIeverhadwithCaptainAstley。
\"Itseemsthatweareinsomedanger，\"saidBastin，inanunmovedkindofway。\"Ithinkthatwasagoodideaofthecaptain’s，toputupapetition，Imean，butasBickleywillscarcelycaretojoininitIwillgointothecabinanddosomyself。\"
Bickleysnorted，thensaid：
\"Confoundthatcaptain！Whydidheplaysuchatrickuponusaboutthebarometer？Humphrey，Ibelievehehadbeendrinking。\"
\"SodoI，\"Isaid，lookingatthewhiskybottle。\"Otherwise，aftertakingthoseprecautionstokeepusinthedark，hewouldnothaveletonlikethat。\"
\"Well，\"saidBickley，\"hecan’tgettotheliquor，exceptthroughthissaloon，asitislockedupforwardwiththeotherstores。\"
\"That’snothing，\"Ireplied，\"asdoubtlesshehasasupplyofhisown；rum，Iexpect。Wemusttakeourchance。\"
Bickleynodded，andsuggestedthatweshouldgoondecktoseewhatwashappening。Sowewent。Notabreathofwindwasstirring，andeventheseaseemedtobesettlingdownalittle。
Atleast，sowejudgedfromthemotion，forwecouldnotseeeitheritorthesky；everythingwasasblackaspitch。Weheardthesailors，however，engagedinriggingguideropesforeandaft，andbatteningdownthehatcheswithextratarpaulinsbythelightoflanterns。Alsotheywereputtingropesroundtheboatsanddoingsomethingtothesparsandtopmasts。
PresentlyBastinjoinedus，having，Isuppose，finishedhisdevotions。
\"Really，itisquitepleasanthere，\"hesaid。\"Oneneverknowshowdisagreeablesomuchwindisuntilitstops。\"
Ilitmypipe，makingnoanswer，andthematchburnedquitesteadilythereintheopenair。
\"Whatisthat？\"exclaimedBickley，staringatsomethingwhichnowIsawforthefirsttime。Itlookedlikealineofwhiteapproachingthroughthegloom。Withitcameahissingsound，andalthoughtherewasstillnowind，theriggingbegantomoanmysteriouslylikeathinginpain。Abigdropofwateralsofellfromthesidesintomypipeandputitout。Thenoneofthesailorscriedinahoarsevoice：
\"Getdownbelow，governors，unlessyouwanttogoouttosea！\"
\"Why？\"inquiredBastin。
\"Why？Becosthe’urricaneiscoming，that’sall。Comingasthoughthedevilhadkickeditoutof’ell。\"
Bastinseemedinclinedtoremonstrateatthissortoflanguage，butwepushedhimdownthecompanionandfollowed，propellingthespanielTommyinfrontofus。NextmomentIheardthesailorsbatteningthehatchwithhurriedblows，andwhenthiswasdonetotheirsatisfaction，heardtheirfeetalsoastheyranintoshelter。
AnotherinstantandwewerealllyinginaheaponthecabinfloorwithpoorTommyontopofus。Thecyclonehadstrucktheship！Abovethewashofwaterandthescreamingofthegaleweheardothermysterioussounds，whichdoubtlesswerecausedbytheyardshittingtheseas，fortheyachtwaslyingonherside。I
thoughtthatallwasover，butpresentlytherecamearending，crashingnoise。Themasts，oroneofthem，hadgone，andbydegreeswerighted。
\"Nearthing！\"saidBickley。\"Goodheavens，what’sthat？\"
Ilistened，fortheelectriclighthadtemporarilygoneout，owing，Isuppose，tothedynamohavingstoppedforamoment。A
mostunholyandhollowsoundwasrisingfromthecabinfloor。Itmighthavebeencausedbyabullockwithitswindpipecut，tryingtogetitsbreathandgroaning。ThenthelightcameonagainandwesawBastinlyingatfulllengthonthecarpet。
\"He’sbrokenhisneckorsomething，\"Isaid。
Bickleycrepttohimandhavinglooked，sangout：
\"It’sallright！He’sonlysea—sick。Ithoughtitwouldcometothatifhedranksomuchtea。\"
\"Sea—sick，\"Isaidfaintly——\"sea—sick？\"
\"That’sall，\"saidBickley。\"Thenervesofthestomachactingonthebrainorvice—versa——thatis，ifBastinhasabrain，\"headdedsottovoce。
\"Oh！\"groanedtheprostrateclergyman。\"IwishthatIweredead！\"
\"Don’ttroubleaboutthat，\"answeredBickley。\"Iexpectyousoonwillbe。Here，drinksomewhisky，youdonkey。\"
Bastinsatupandobeyed，outofthebottle，foritwasimpossibletopouranythingintoaglass，withresultstoodreadfultonarrate。
\"Icallthatadirtytrick，\"hesaidpresently，inafeeblevoice，gloweringatBickley。
\"IexpectIshallhavetoplayyouadirtierbeforelong，foryouareaprettybadcase，oldfellow。\"
Asamatteroffacthehad，foronceBastinhadbegunreallywethoughtthathewasgoingtodie。Somehowwegothimintohiscabin，whichopenedoffthesaloon，andashecoulddrinknothingmore，Bickleymanagedtoinjectmorphiaorsomeothercompoundintohim，whichmadehiminsensibleforalongwhile。
\"Hemustbeinapoorway，\"hesaid，\"fortheneedlewentmorethanaquarterofaninchintohim，andhenevercriedoutorstirred。Couldn’thelpitinthatrolling。\"
ButnowIcouldheartheenginesworking，andIthinkthatthebowofthevesselwasgotheadontotheseas，forinsteadofrollingwepitched，orrathertheshipstoodfirstupononeendandthenupontheother。Thiscontinuedforawhileuntilthefirstburstofthecyclonehadgoneby。Thensuddenlytheenginesstopped；Isupposethattheyhadbrokendown，butIneverlearned，andweseemedtoveerabout，nearlysinkingintheprocess，andtorunbeforethehurricaneatterrificspeed。
\"Iwonderwherewearegoingto？\"IsaidtoBickley。\"Tothelandofsleep，Humphrey，Iimagine，\"herepliedinamoregentlevoicethanIhadoftenheardhimuse，adding：\"Good—bye，oldboy，wehavebeenrealfriends，haven’twe，notwithstandingmypeculiarities？IonlywishthatIcouldthinkthattherewasanythinginBastin’sviews。ButIcan’t，Ican’t。It’sgoodnightforuspoorcreatures！\"
ChapterVI
LandAtlasttheelectriclightreallywentout。Ihadlookedatmywatchjustbeforethishappenedandwounditup，which，Bickleyremarked，wassuperfluousandawasteofenergy。Itthenmarked3。20inthemorning。WehadwedgedBastin，whowasnowsnoringcomfortably，intohisberth，withpillows，andmanagedtotieacordoverhim——no，itwasalargebathtowel，fixingoneendofittothelittlerackoverhisbedandtheothertoitsframework。Asforourselves，welaydownonthefloorbetweenthetablelegs，which，ofcourse，werescrewed，andthesettee，protectingourselvesasbestwewereablebyhelpofthecushions，etc。，betweentwoofwhichwethrusttheterrifiedTommywhohadbeenslidingupanddownthecabinfloor。Thusweremained，expectingdeatheverymomenttillthelightofday，averydimlight，strugglingthroughaport—holeofwhichtheironcoverhadsomehowbeenwrenchedoff。Orperhapsitwasnevershut，Idonotremember。
Aboutthistimetherecamealullinthehellish，howlinghurricane；thefactbeing，Isuppose，thatwehadreachedthecentreofthecyclone。Isuggestedthatweshouldtrytogoondeckandseewhatwashappening。Sowestarted，onlytofindtheentrancetothecompanionsofaithfullysecuredthatwecouldnotbyanymeansgetout。Weknockedandshouted，butnooneanswered。Mybeliefisthatatthistimeeveryoneontheyachtexceptourselveshadbeenwashedawayanddrowned。
Thenwereturnedtothesaloon，which，exceptforalittlewatertricklingaboutthefloor，wasmarvelouslydry，and，beinghungry，retrievedsomebitsoffoodandbiscuitfromitscornersandate。Atthismomentthecyclonebegantoblowagainworsethanever，butitseemedtous，fromanotherdirection，andbeforeitspedourpoorderelictbarque。ItblewalldaytillformypartIgrewutterlywearyandevenlongedfortheinevitableend。IfmyviewswerenotquitethoseofBastin，certainlytheywerenotthoseofBickley。Ihadbelievedfrommyyouthupthattheindividualityofman，theego，sotospeak，doesnotdiewhenlifegoesoutofhispoorbody，andthisfaithdidnotdesertmethen。Therefore，Iwishedtohaveitoverandlearnwhattheremightbeupontheotherside。
Wecouldnotspeakmuchbecauseofthehowlingofthewind，butBickleydidmanagetoshouttomesomethingtotheeffectthathispartnerswould，inhisopinion，makeanendoftheirgreatpracticewithintwoyears，which，headded，wasapity。Inoddedmyhead，notcaringtwopencewhathappenedtoBickley’spartnersortheirbusiness，ortomyownproperty，ortoanythingelse。
Whendeathisathandmostofusdonotthinkmuchofsuchthingsbecausethenwerealisehowsmalltheyare。IndeedIwaswonderingwhetherwithinafewminutesorhoursIshouldorshouldnotseeNatalieagain，andifthisweretheendtowhichshehadseemedtobeckonmeinthatdream。
Onwesped，andon。AboutfourintheafternoonweheardsoundsfromBastin’scabinwhichfaintlyremindedmeofsometune。I
crepttothedoorandlistened。Evidentlyhehadawakenedandwassingingortryingtosing，formusicwasnotoneofhisstrongpoints，\"Forthoseinperilonthesea。\"DevoutlydidIwishthatitmightbeheard。Presentlyitceased，soIsupposehewenttosleepagain。
Thedarknessgatheredoncemore。Thenofasuddensomethingfearfulhappened。TherewerestupendousnoisesofakindIhadneverheard；therewereconvulsions。Itseemedtousthattheshipwasflungrightupintotheairahundredfeetormore。
\"Tidalwave，Iexpect，\"shoutedBickley。
Almostashespokeshecamedownwiththemostappallingcrashontosomethinghardandnearlyjarredthesensesoutofus。Nextthesaloonwaswhirlingroundandroundandyetbeingcarriedforward，andwefeltairblowinguponus。Thenoursensesleftus。AsIclaspedTommytomyside，whimperingandlickingmyface，mylastthoughtwasthatallwasover，andthatpresentlyI
shouldlearneverythingornothing。
Iwokeupfeelingverybruisedandsoreandperceivedthatlightwasflowingintothesaloon。Thedoorwasstillshut，butithadbeenwrenchedoffitshinges，andthatwaswherethelightcamein；alsosomeoftheteakplanksofthedecking，jaggedandsplintered，werestickingupthroughthecarpet。Thetablehadbrokenfromitsfasteningsandlayuponitsside。Everythingelsewasoneconfusion。IlookedatBickley。Apparentlyhehadnotawakened。Hewasstretchedoutstillwedgedinwithhiscushionsandbleedingfromawoundinhishead。Icrepttohiminterrorandlistened。Hewasnotdead，forhisbreathingwasregularandnatural。Thewhiskybottlewhichhadbeencorkedwasuponthefloorunbrokenandaboutathirdfull。Itookagoodpullatthespirit；tomeittastedlikenectarfromthegods。ThenItriedtoforcesomedownBickley’sthroatbutcouldnot，soIpouredalittleuponthecutonhishead。Thesmartofitwokehiminahurry。
\"Wherearewenow？\"heexclaimed。\"Youdon’tmeantotellmethatBastinisrightafterallandthatweliveagainsomewhereelse？Oh！Icouldneverbearthatignominy。\"
\"Idon’tknowaboutlivingsomewhereelse，\"Isaid，\"althoughmyopinionsonthatmatterdifferfromyours。ButIdoknowthatyouandIarestillonearthinwhatremainsofthesaloonoftheStaroftheSouth。\"
\"ThankGodforthat！Let’sgoandlookforoldBastin，\"saidBickley。\"Idopraythatheisallrightalso。\"
\"Itismostillogicalofyou，Bickley，andindeedwrong，\"
groanedadeepvoicefromtheothersideofthecabindoor，\"tothankaGodinWhomyoudonotbelieve，andtotalkofprayingforoneoftheworstandmostinefficientofHisservantswhenyouhavenofaithinprayer。
\"Gotyouthere，myfriend，\"Isaid。
Bickleymurmuredsomethingaboutforceofhabit，andlookedsmallerthanIhadeverseenhimdobefore。
Somehowweforcedthatdooropen；itwasnoteasybecauseithadjammed。Withinthecabin，hangingoneithersideofthebathtowelwhichhadstoodthestrainnobly，somethinglikeadampgarmentoveralinenline，wasBastinmostofwhosebunkseemedtohavedisappeared。Yes——Bastin，paleanddishevelledandlookingshrunk，withhishairtouzledandhisbeardapparentlygrowingallways，butstillBastinalive，ifveryweak。
Bickleyranathimandmadeacursoryexaminationwithhisfingers。
\"Nothingbroken，\"hesaidtriumphantly。\"He’sallright。\"
\"Ifyouhadhungoveratowelformanyhoursinmostviolentweatheryouwouldnotsaythat，\"groanedBastin。\"Myinsideisapulp。Butperhapsyouwouldbekindenoughtountieme。\"
\"Bosh！\"saidBickleyasheobeyed。\"Allyouwantissomethingtoeat。Meanwhile，drinkthis，\"andhehandedhimtheremainsofthewhisky。
Bastinswallowediteverydrop，murmuringsomethingabouttakingalittlewineforhisstomach’ssake，\"oneofthePaulineinjunctions，youknow，\"afterwhichhewasmuchmorecheerful。
Thenwehuntedaboutandfoundsomemoreofthebiscuitsandotherfoodwithwhichwefilledourselvesafterafashion。
\"Iwonderwhathashappened，\"saidBastin。\"Isupposethat，thankstotheskillofthecaptain，wehaveafterallreachedthehavenwherewewouldbe。\"
Herehestopped，rubbedhiseyesandlookedtowardsthesaloondoorwhich，asIhavesaid，hadbeenwrenchedoffitshinges，butappearedtohaveopenedwiderthanwhenIobserveditlast。AlsoTommy，whowasrecoveringhisspirits，utteredaseriesoflowgrowls。
\"Itisamostcuriousthing，\"hewenton，\"andIsupposeImustbesufferingfromhallucinations，butIcouldswearthatjustnowIsawlookingthroughthatdoorthesameimproperyoungwomanclothedinafewflowersandnothingelse，whosephotographinthatabominableandlibellousbookwasindirectlythecauseofourtempestuousvoyage。\"
\"Indeed！\"repliedBickley。\"Well，solongasshehasnotgotonthebroken—downstaysandtheSalvationArmybonnetwithoutacrown，whichyoumayremembersheworeaftershehadfallenintothehandsofyourfraternity，IamsureIdonotmind。InfactI
shouldbedelightedtoseeanythingsopleasant。\"
Atthismomentadistinctsoundoffemaletitteringarosefrombeyondthedoor。TommybarkedandBickleysteppedtowardsit，butIcalledtohim。
\"Lookout！Wheretherearewomentherearesuretobemen。Letusbereadyagainstaccidents。\"
Sowearmedourselveswithpistols，thatisBickleyandIdid，BastinbeingfortifiedsolelywithaBible。
Thenweadvanced，aremarkableanddilapidatedtrio，anddraggedthedoorwide。Instantlytherewasascurryandwecaughtsightofwomen’sformswearingonlyflowers，andbutfewofthese，runningoverwhitesandtowardsgroupsofmenarmedwithodd—lookingclubs，someofwhichwerefashionedtotheshapesofswordsandspears。TomakeanimpressionIfiredtwoshotswithmyrevolverintotheair，whereuponbothmenandwomenfledintogrovesoftreesandvanished。
\"Theydon’tseemtobeaccustomedtowhitepeople，\"saidBickley。\"Isitpossiblethatwehavefoundashoreuponwhichnomissionaryhassetafoot？\"
\"Ihopeso，\"saidBastin，\"seeingthatunworthyasIam，thentheopportunitiesformewouldbeverygreat。\"
Westoodstillandlookedaboutus。Thiswaswhatwesaw。Alltheafterpartoftheshipfromforwardofthebridgehadvanishedutterly；therewasnotatraceofit；shehadasitwerebeencutintwo。More，weweresomeconsiderabledistancefromtheseawhichwasstillragingoveraquarterofamileawaywheregreatwhitecombersstruckuponareefandspoutedintotheair。Behinduswasacliff，apparentlyofrockbutcoveredwithearthandvegetation，andagainstthiscliff，inwhichtheprowoftheshipwasburied，she，orwhatremainedofher，hadcometoanchorforthelasttime。
\"Youseewhathashappened，\"Isaid。\"Agreattidalwavehascarriedusuphereandretreated。\"
\"That’sit，\"exclaimedBickley。\"Lookatthedebris，\"andhepointedtotorn—uppalms，bushesandseaweedpiledintoheapswhichstillransaltwater；alsotoanumberofdeadfishthatlayaboutamongthem，adding，\"Well，wearesavedanyhow。\"
\"AndyettherearepeoplelikeyouwhosaythatthereisnoProvidence！\"ejaculatedBastin。
\"IwonderwhattheviewsofCaptainAstleyandthecreware，orratherwere，uponthatmatter，\"interruptedBickley。
\"Idon’tknow，\"answeredBastin，lookingabouthimvaguely。\"ItistruethatIcan’tseeanyofthem，butiftheyaredrownednodoubtitisbecausetheirperiodofusefulnessinthisworldhadended。\"
\"Let’sgetdownandlookaboutus，\"Iremarked，beinganxioustoavoidfurtherargument。
Sowescrambledfromtheremnantoftheship，likeNoahdescendingoutoftheark，asBastinsaid，ontothebeachbeneath，whereTommyrushedtoandfro，gambollingforjoy。Herewediscoveredapathwhichrandiagonallyupthesideofacliffwhichwasnowheremorethanfiftyorsixtyfeetinheight，andpossiblyhadonceformedtheshoreofthisland，orperhapsthatofalake。Upthispathwewent，followingthetracksofmanyhumanfeet，andreachingthecrestofthecliff，lookedaboutus，baskingaswedidsointhebeautifulmorningsun，fortheskywasnowclearofcloudsandwiththatlastawfuleffort，whichdestroyedourship，thecyclonehadpassedaway。
WewerestandingonaplaindownwhichranalittlestreamofgoodwaterwhereofTommydrankgreedily，wefollowinghisexample。Totherightandleftofthisplain，furtherthanwecouldsee，stretchedbushlandoverwhichtoweredmanypalms，ratherraggednowbecauseofthelashingofthegale。Lookinginlandweperceivedthatthegroundslopedgentlydownwards，endingatadistanceofsomemilesinalargelake。Faroutinthislakesomethinglikethetopofamountainofabrowncolourroseabovethewater，andontheedgeofitwaswhatfromthatdistanceappearedtobeatumbledruin。
\"Thisisallveryinteresting，\"IsaidtoBickley。\"Whatdoyoumakeofit？\"
\"Idon’tquiteknow。AtfirstsightIshouldsaythatwearestandingonthelipofacraterofsomevastextinctvolcano。
Lookhowitcurvestonorthandsouthandatthesloperunningdowntothelake。\"
Inodded。
\"Luckythatthetidalwavedidnotgetoverthecliff，\"Isaid。
\"Ifithadthepeopleherewouldhaveallbeendrownedout。I
wonderwheretheyhavegone？\"
AsIspokeBastinpointedtotheedgeofthebushsomehundredsofyardsaway，whereweperceivedbrownfiguresslippingaboutamongthetrees。Isuggestedthatweshouldgobacktothemouthofourpath，soastohavealineofretreatopenincaseofnecessity，andawaitevents。Sowedidandtherestoodstill。Bydegreesthebrownfiguresemergedontotheplaintothenumberofsomehundreds，andwesawthattheywerebothmaleandfemale。
Thewomenwereclothedinnothingexceptflowersandalittlegirdle；themenwereallarmedwithwoodenweaponsandalsoworeagirdlebutnoflowers。Thechildren，ofwhomthereweremany，werequitenaked。
Amongthesepeopleweobservedatallpersonclothedinwhatseemedtobeamagnificentfeathercloak，and，walkingaroundandabouthim，anumberofgrotesqueformsadornedwithhideousmasksandbasket—likehead—dressesthatweresurmountedbyplumes。
\"Thekingorchiefandhispriestsormedicine—men！Thisissplendid，\"saidBickleytriumphantly。
Bastinalsocontemplatedthemwithenthusiasmasrawmaterialuponwhichhehopedtogettowork。
Bydegreesandverycautiouslytheyapproachedus。Toourjoy，weperceivedthatbehindthemwalkedseveralyoungwomenwhoborewoodentraysoffoodorfruit。
\"Thatlookswell，\"Isaid。\"Theywouldnotmakeofferingsunlesstheywerefriendly。\"
\"Thefoodmaybepoisoned，\"remarkedBickleysuspiciously。
Thecrowdadvanced，westandingquitestilllookingasdignifiedaswecould，Iasthetallestinthemiddle，withTommysittingatmyfeet。Whentheywereaboutfiveandtwentyyardsaway，however，thatwretchedlittledogcaughtsightofthemaskedpriests。Hegrowledandthenrushedatthembarking，hislongblackearsflappingashewent。
Theeffectwasinstantaneous。Oneandalltheyturnedandfledprecipitately，whoevidentlyhadneverbeforeseenadogandlookeduponitasadeadlycreature。Yes，eventhetallchiefandhismaskedmedicine—menfledlikeharespursuedbyTommy，whobitoneofthemintheleg，evokingaterrifichowl。Icalledhimbackandtookhimintomyarms。Seeingthathewassafeforawhilethecrowdreformedandonceagainadvanced。
Astheycamewenotedthattheywereawonderfullyhandsomepeople，tallandstraightwithregularlyshapedfeaturesandnothingofthenegroaboutthem。Someoftheyoungwomenmightevenbecalledbeautiful，thoughthosewhowereelderlyhadbecomecorpulent。Thefeather—clothedchief，however，wasmuchdisfiguredbyahugegrowthwithanarrowstalktoitthathungfromhisneckandrestedonhisshoulder。
\"I’llhavethatoffhimbeforeheisaweekolder，\"saidBickley，surveyingthisdeformitywithgreatprofessionalinterest。
Ontheycame，thegirlswiththeplatterswalkingahead。Ononeofthesewerewhatlookedlikejointsofbakedpork，onanothersomeplantainsandpear—shapedfruits。Theykneltdownandofferedthesetous。Wecontemplatedthemforawhile。ThenBickleyshookhisheadandbegantorubhisstomachwithappropriatecontortions。Clearlytheywerequick—mindedenoughfortheysawthepoint。Atsomewordsthegirlsbroughttheplatterstothechiefandothers，whotookfromthemportionsofthefoodathazardandatethemtoshowthatitwasnotpoisoned，wewatchingtheirthroatsthewhiletomakesurethatitwasswallowed。ThentheyreturnedagainandwetooksomeofthefoodthoughonlyBickleyate，because，asIpointedouttohim，beingadoctorwhounderstoodtheuseofantidotes；clearlyheshouldmaketheexperiment。However，nothinghappened；indeedhesaidthatitwasverygood。
Afterthistherecameapause。ThensuddenlyBastintookuphisparableinthePolynesiantonguewhich——toacertainextent——hehadacquiredwithsomuchpains。
\"Whatisthisplacecalled？\"heaskedslowlyanddistinctly，pausingbetweeneachword。
Hisaudienceshooktheirheadsandhetriedagain，puttingtheaccentsondifferentsyllables。Behold！somebrightspiritunderstoodhimandanswered：
\"Orofena。\"
\"Thatmeansahill，oranisland，orahillinanisland，\"
whisperedBickleytome。
\"WhoisyourGod？\"askedBastinagain。
Thepointseemedoneuponwhichtheywerealittledoubtful，butatlastthechiefanswered，\"Oro。Hewhofights。\"
\"Inotherwords，Mars，\"saidBickley。
\"Iwillgiveyouabetterone，\"saidBastininthesameslowfashion。
ThinkingthathereferredtohimselfthesechildrenofNaturecontemplatedhisangularformdoubtfullyandshooktheirheads。
Thenforthefirsttimeoneofthemenwhowaswearingamaskandawickercrateonhishead，spokeinahollowvoice，saying：
\"IfyoutryOrowilleatyouup。\"
\"Headpriest！\"saidBickley，nudgingme。\"OldBastinhadbetterbecarefulorhewillgethisteethintohimandcallthemOro’s。\"
Anotherpause，afterwhichthemaninafeathercloakwiththegrowthonhisneckthataservantwassupporting，said：
\"IamMarama，thechiefofOrofena。Wehaveneverseenmenlikeyoubefore，ifyouaremen。Whatbroughtyouhereandwithyouthatfierceandterribleanimal，orevilspiritwhichmakesanoiseandbites？\"
NowBickleypretendedtoconsultmewhostoodbroodingandmajestic，thatisifIcanbemajestic。Iwhisperedsomethingandheanswered：
\"Thegodsofthewindandthesea。\"
