\"Verywell，\"hesaid；\"letustryit。\"
WhilewewerespeakingIwascuttingBastin’sbonds。\"Thankyou，\"hesaid。\"Itisagreatrelieftostretchone’sarmsaftertheyhavebeencompressedwithcords。Butatthesametime，IdonotknowthatIamreallygrateful。Themartyr’scrownwashangingaboveme，sotospeak，andnowithasvanishedintothepit，likethatmanwhomBickleymurdered。\"
\"Lookhere，\"exclaimedtheexasperatedBickley，\"ifyousaymuchmore，Bastin，I’llchuckyouintothepittoo，tolookforyourmartyr’scrown，forIthinkyouhavedoneenoughmischiefforonemorning。\"
\"Ifyouaretryingtoshifttheresponsibilityforthatunfortunateman’sdestructionontome——\"
\"Oh！shutitandtrot，\"brokeinBickley。\"Thoseinfernalsavagesarecomingwithyourblessedconvertsleadingthevan。\"
Sowe\"trotted\"atnomeanpace。Aswepassedit，BastinstoopeddownandpickeduptheheadoftheimageofOro，muchasAtalantainAcademypicturesisrepresentedasdoingtotheapples，andboreitawayintriumph。
\"Iknowitisscorched，\"heejaculatedatintervals，\"buttheymighttrimitupandstickitontoanewbodyastheoriginalfalsegod。Nowtheycan’t，forthere’snothingleft。\"
Asamatteroffact，wewereneverinanyrealdanger，forourpursuitwasveryhalf—heartedindeed。Tobeginwith，nowthattheirfirstragewasover，theOrofenanswhowerefondofushadnoparticularwishtodoustodeath，whiletheardouroftheirsorcerers，whowishedthisverymuch，hadbeengreatlycooledbythemysteriousannihilationoftheiridolandtheviolentdeathsoftwooftheircompanions，whichtheythoughtmightbereduplicatedintheirownpersons。Soitcameaboutthatthechase，ifnoisy，wasneitherclosenoreager。
Wereachedtheedgeofthelakewherewastheboat—houseofwhichIhavespokenalready，travellingatlittlemorethanawalk。HerewemadeBastinunfastenthebetterofthetwocanoesthatbygoodluckwasalmostfilledwithofferings，whichdoubtless，accordingtocustom，mustbemadeuponthedayofthisfeasttoOro，whilewewatchedagainstsurpriseattheboat—housedoor。Whenhewasreadyweslippedinandtookourseats，Tommyjumpinginafterus，andpushedthecanoe，nowveryheavilyladen，outintothelake。
Here，atadistanceofaboutfortypaces，whichwejudgedtobebeyondwoodenspear—throw，weresteduponourpaddlestoseewhatwouldhappen。Allthecrowdofislandershadrushedtothelakeedgewheretheystoodstaringatusstupidly。Bastin，thinkingtheoccasionopportune，liftedthehideousheadoftheidolwhichhehadcarefullywashed，andbegantopreachonthedownfallof\"thegodoftheGrove。\"
Thisactionofhisappearedtoawakememoriesorforebodingsinthemindsofhiscongregation。Perhapssomeancientprophecywasconcerned——Idonotknow。Atanyrate，oneofthepriestsshoutedsomething，whereoneverybodybegantotalkatonce。Then，stoopingdown，theythrewwaterfromthelakeoverthemselvesandrubbeditssandandmudintotheirhair，allthewhilemakinggenuflexionstowardthemountaininthemiddle，afterwhichtheyturnedanddeparted。
\"Don’tyouthinkwehadbettergoback？\"askedBastin。
\"EvidentlymywordshavetouchedthemandtheirmindsaremeltingbeneaththelightofTruth。\"
\"Oh！byallmeans，\"repliedBickleywithsarcasm；\"forthentheirspearswilltouchus，andourbodieswillsoonbemeltingabovethefiresofthatpit。\"
\"Perhapsyouareright，\"saidBastin；\"atleast，IadmitthatyouhavemademattersverydifficultbyyourunjustifiablehomicideofthatpriestwhoIdonotthinkmeanttoinjureyouseriously，andreallywasnotatallabadfellow，thoughopinionatedinsomeways。Also，Idonotsupposethatanybodyisexpected，asitwere，torunhisheadintothemartyr’scrown。
Whenitsettlesthereofitselfitisanothermatter。\"
\"Likeabutterfly！\"exclaimedtheenragedBickley。
\"Yes，ifyouliketoputitthatway，thoughthesimileseemsaverypoorone；likeasunbeamwouldbebetter。\"
HereBickleygavewaywithhispaddlesovigorouslythatthecanoewasasnearlyaspossibleupsetintothelake。
InduecoursewereachedtheflatRockofOfferings，whichprovedtobequiteaswideasadoublecroquetlawnandmuchlonger。
\"Whatarethose？\"Iasked，pointingtocertainknobsontheedgeoftherockataspotwhereacurvedprojectingpointmadealittleharbour。
Bickleyexaminedthem，andanswered：
\"Ishouldsaythattheyaretheremainsofstonemooring—postsworndownbymanythousandsofyearsofweather。Yes，look，thereisthecutofthecablesuponthebaseofthatone，andverybigcablestheymusthavebeen。\"
Westaredatoneanother——thatis，BickleyandIdid，forBastinwasstillengagedincontemplatingtheblackenedheadofthegodwhichhehadoverthrown。
ChapterIX
TheIslandintheLakeWemadethecanoefastandlandedonthegreatrock，toperceivethatitwasreallyapeninsula。Thatistosay，itwasjoinedtothemainlandofthelakeislandbyabroadroadwayquitefiftyyardsacross，whichappearedtoendinthemouthofthecave。Onthiscausewaywenotedaveryremarkablething，namely，twogroovesseparatedbyanexactdistanceofninefeetwhichranintothemouthofthecaveandvanishedthere。
\"Explain！\"saidBickley。
\"Paths，\"Isaid，\"wornbycountlessfeetwalkingonthemforthousandsofyears。\"
\"Youshouldcultivatetheartofobservation，Arbuthnot。Whatdoyousay，Bastin？\"
Hestaredatthegroovesthroughhisspectacles，andreplied：
\"Idon’tsayanything，exceptthatIcan’tseeanybodytomakepathshere。Indeed，theplaceseemsquiteunpopulated，andalltheOrofenanstoldmethattheyneverlandedonitbecauseiftheydidtheywoulddie。Itisapartoftheirsuperstitiousnonsense。Ifyouhaveanyideainyourheadyouhadbettertellusquicklybeforewebreakfast。Iamveryhungry。\"
\"Youalwaysare，\"remarkedBickley；\"evenwhenmostpeople’sappetitesmighthavebeenaffected。Well，Ithinkthatthisgreatplateauwasoncealanding—placeforflyingmachines，andthatthereistheair—shedorgarage。\"
Bastinstaredathim。
\"Don’tyouthinkwehadbetterbreakfast？\"hesaid。\"Therearetworoastpigsinthatcanoe，andlotsofotherfood，enoughtolastusaweek，Ishouldsay。Ofcourse，Iunderstandthatthebloodyouhaveshedhasthrownyouoffyourbalance。Ibelieveithasthateffect，exceptonthemosthardened。FlyingmachineswereonlyinventedafewyearsagobythebrothersWrightinAmerica。\"
\"Bastin，\"saidBickley，\"IbegintoregretthatIdidnotleaveyoutotakepartinanotherbreakfastyonder——Imeanastheprincipaldish。\"
\"ItwasProvidence，notyou，whopreventedit，Bickley，doubtlessbecauseIamunworthyofsuchagloriousend。\"
\"ThenitisluckythatProvidenceisagoodshotwithapistol。
Stoptalkingnonsenseandlisten。Ifthosewerepathswornbyfeettheywouldruntotheedgeoftherock。Theydonot。Theybeginthereinthatgentledepressionandslopeupwardssomewhatsteeply。Theairmachines，whichwereevidentlylarge，litinthedepression，possiblyasabirddoes，andthenranonwheelsorsledgeskidsalongthegroovestotheair—shedinthemountain。
Cometothecaveandyouwillsee。\"
\"Nottillwehavebreakfast，\"saidBastin。\"Iwillgetoutapig。Asamatteroffact，Ihadnosupperlastnight，asIwastakingaclassofnativeboysandmakingsomearrangementsofmyown。\"
Asforme，Ionlywhistled。Itallseemedveryfeasible。Andyethowcouldsuchthingsbe？
Weunloadedthecanoeandate。Bastin’sappetitewassplendid。
Indeed，IhadtoaskhimtorememberthatwhenthissupplywasdoneIdidnotknowwhereweshouldfindanymore。
\"Takenothoughtforthemorrow，\"hereplied。\"Ihavenodoubtitwillcomefromsomewhere，\"andhehelpedhimselftoanotherchop。
NeverhadIadmiredhimsomuch。Notacoupleofhoursbeforehewasabouttobecruellymurderedandeaten。Butthisdidnotseemtoaffecthimintheleast。BastinwastheonlymanIhaveeverknownwithareallyperfectfaith。Itisaqualityworthhavingandonethatmakesforhappiness。Whatagreatthingnottocarewhetheryouarebreakfastedon，orbreakfast！
\"Iseethatthereislotsofdriftwoodabouthere，\"heremarked，\"butunfortunatelywehavenotea，sointhisclimateitisoflittleuse，unlessindeedwecancatchsomefishandcookthem。\"
\"Stoptalkingabouteatingandhelpustohaulupthecanoe，\"
saidBickley。
Betweenthethreeofuswedraggedandcarriedthecanoealongwayfromthelake，fearinglestthenativesshouldcomeandbearitoffwithourprovisions。Then，havinggivenTommyhisbreakfastoffthescraps，wewalkedtothecave。Iglancedatmycompanions。Bickley’sfacewasalightwithscientificeagerness。
Herearenotdreamsorspeculations，butfactstobelearned，itseemedtosay，andIwilllearnthem。Thepastisgoingtoshowmesomeofitssecrets，totellmehowmenoflongagolivedanddiedandhowfartheyhadadvancedtothatpointontheroadofcivilisationatwhichIstandinmylittlehourofexistence。
ThatofBastinwasmildlyinterested，nomore。Obviously，withhalfhismindhewasthinkingofsomethingelse，probablyofhisconvertsonthemainislandandoftheschoolclassfixedforthishourwhichcircumstancespreventedhimfromattending。
Indeed，likeLot’swifehewascastingglancesbehindhimtowardsthewickedplacefromwhichhehadbeenforcedtoflee。
NeitherthepastnorthefuturehadmuchrealinterestforBastin；anymorethantheyhadforBickley，thoughfordifferentreasons。Theformerwasdonewith；thelatterhewasquitecontenttoleaveinotherhands。Ifhehadanyclearideathereof，probablythatundiscoveredlandappearedtohimasabig，pleasantplacewherearenounbelieversorerroneousdoctrines，andallsinnerswillbesternlyrepressed，inwhich，cladinawhitesurplicewithallproperecclesiasticaltrappings，hewouldargueeternallywiththeEarlyFathersandinduecourseutterlyannihilateBickley，thatisinamoralsense。
PersonallyandasamanhewasextremelyattachedtoBickleyasanecessaryandwrong—headednuisancetowhichhehadbecomeaccustomed。
AndI！WhatdidIfeel？Idonotknow；Icannotdescribe。Anextraordinaryattraction，asemi—spiritualexaltation，Ithink。
Thatcavemouthmighthavebeenamagnetdrawingmysoul。WithmybodyIshouldhavebeenafraid，asIdaresayIwas，forourcircumstancesweresufficientlydesperate。Herewewere，castawaysuponanisland，probablyuncharted，oneofthousandsintherecessesofavastocean，fromwhichwehadlittlechanceofescape。More，havingoffendedthereligiousinstinctsoftheprimevalinhabitantsofthatisland，wehadbeenforcedtofleetoarockymountaininthecentreofalake，where，afterthefoodwehadbroughtwithusbyaccidentwasconsumed，weshouldnodoubtbeforcedtochoosebetweendeathbystarvation，or，ifweattemptedtoretreat，atthehandsofjustlyinfuriatedsavages。Yetthesefactsdidnotoppressme，forIwasbeingdrawn，drawntoIknewnotwhat，andifitweretodoom——well，nomatter。
Therefore，noneofuscared：Bastinbecausehisfaithwasequaltoanyemergencyandtherewasalwaysthatwhite—robedheavenwaitingforhimbeyondwhichhisimaginationdidnotgo（IoftenwonderedwhetherhepicturedMrs。Bastinasalsowaiting；ifso，heneversaidanythingabouther）；BickleybecauseasachildofthePresentandaservantofknowledgehefearednofuture，believingittobeforhimnon—existent，andwascarelessastowhenhisstrenuoushouroflifeshouldend；andIbecauseIfeltthatyonderlaymytruefuture；yes，andmytruepast，eventhoughtodiscoverthemImustpassthroughthatportalwhichweknowasDeath。
Wereachedthemouthofthecave。Itwasavastplace；perhapsthearchofitwasahundredfeethigh，andIcouldseethatonceallthisarchhadbeenadornedwithsculptures。Protectedasthesewerebytheoverhangingrock，forthesculpturedmouthofthecavewascutdeepintothemountainface，theywerestillsowornthatitwasimpossibletodiscerntheirdetails。Timehadeatenthemawaylikeanacid。Butwhatlengthoftime？Icouldnotguess，butitmusthavebeenstupendoustohaveworkedthusuponthathardandshelteredrock。
Thiscamehometomewithaddedforcewhen，fromsubsequentexamination，welearnedthattheentiremouthofthiscavehadbeensealedupforunnumberedages。ItwillberememberedthatMaramatoldmethemountaininthelakehadrisenmuchduringthefrightfulcycloneinwhichwewerewreckedandwithitthecavemouthwhichpreviouslyhadbeeninvisible。Fromthemarkingsonthemountainsideitwasobviousthatsomethingofthesorthadhappenedveryrecently，atanyrateonthiseasternface。Thatis，eithertheflatrockhadsunkorthevolcanohadbeenthrownupwards。
Onceinthefarpastthecavehadbeenasitwaswhenwefoundit。Thenithadgonedowninsuchawaythatthetable—rockentirelysealedtheentrance。Nowthisentrancewasoncemoreopen，andalthoughofcoursetherewasabreakinthem，thegroovesofwhichIhavespokenranonintothecaveatonlyaslightlydifferentlevelfromthatatwhichtheylayupontheflatrock。Andyet，althoughtheyhadbeenthusshelteredbyagreatstonecurtaininfrontofthem，stillthesesculptureswerewornawaybythetoothofTime。Ofcourse，however，thismayhavehappenedtothembeforetheywereburiedinsomeancientcataclysm，tobethusresurrectedatthehourofourarrivalupontheisland。
Withoutpausingtomakeanycloserexaminationofthesecrumbledcarvings，weenteredtheyawningmouthofthatgreatplace，followingandindeedwalkinginthedeepgroovesthatI
havementioned。Presentlyitseemedtoopenoutasacourtyardmightattheendofapassage；yes，toopenontosomevastplacewhereofinthatgloomwecouldnotseetherooforthelimits。
Allweknewwasthatitmustbeenormous——theechoesofourvoicesandfootstepstoldusasmuch，fortheseseemedtocomebacktousfromhigh，highaboveandfromfar，faraway。BickleyandIsaidnothing；weweretooovercome。ButBastinremarked：
\"DidyouevergotoOlympia？Ididoncetoseeakindofplaywherethepeoplesaidnothing，onlyranaboutdressedup。Theytoldmeitwasreligious，thesortofthingaclergymanshouldstudy。Ididn’tthinkitreligiousatall。Itwasallaboutanunwhohadababy。\"
\"Well，whatofit？\"snappedBickley。
\"Nothingparticular，exceptthatnunsdon’thavebabies，oriftheydothefactshouldnotbeadvertised。ButIwasn’tthinkingofthat。IwasthinkingthatthisplaceislikeanundergroundOlympia。\"
\"Oh，bequiet！\"Isaid，forthoughBastin’sdescriptionwasnotbad，hismonotonous，drawlingvoicejarredonmeinthatsolemnity。
\"Becarefulwhereyouwalk，\"whisperedBickley，forevenheseemedawed，\"theremaybepitsinthisfloor。\"
\"Iwishwehadalight，\"Isaid，halting。
\"Ifcandlesareofanyuse，\"brokeinBastin，\"asithappensI
haveapacketinmypocket。Itookthemwithmethismorningforacertainpurpose。\"
\"Notunconnectedwiththeparaffinandtheburningoftheidol，Isuppose？\"saidBickley。\"Handthemover。\"
\"Yes；ifIhadbeenallowedalittlemoretimeIintended——\"
\"Nevermindwhatyouintended；weknowwhatyoudidandthat’senough，\"saidBickleyashesnatchedthepacketfromBastin’shandandproceededtoundoit，adding，\"Byheaven！Ihavenomatches，norhaveyou，Arbuthnot！\"
\"Ihaveadozenboxesofwaxvestasinmyotherpocket，\"saidBastin。\"Yousee，theyburnsowellwhenyouwanttogetupafireonadampidol。Asyoumayhavenoticed，thedewisveryheavyhere。\"
Induecoursethesetoowereproduced。ItookpossessionofthemastheyweretoovaluabletobeleftinthechargeofBastin，and，extractingaboxfromthepacket，littwoofthecandleswhichwereoftheshortthickvariety，likethoseusedincarriage—lamps。
Presentlytheyburnedup，makingtwofaintstarsoflightwhich，however，werenotstrongenoughtoshowuseithertherooforthesidesofthatvastplace。Bytheiraidwepursuedourpath，stillfollowingthegroovestillsuddenlythesecametoanend。Nowallarounduswasaflatfloorofrockwhich，asweperceivedclearlywhenwepushedasidethedustthathadgatheredthicklyonitinthecourseofages，doubtlessfromthegradualdisintegrationofthestonywalls，hadoncebeenpolishedtillitresembledblackmarble。Indeed，certaincracksinthefloorappearedtohavebeenfilledinwithsomedark—colouredcement。I
stoodlookingatthemwhileBickleywanderedofftotherightandalittleforward，andpresentlycalledtome。Iwalkedtohim，BastinstickingclosetomeasIhadtheothercandle，asdidthelittledog，Tommy，whodidnotlikethesenewsurroundingsandwouldnotleavemyheels。
\"Look，\"saidBickley，holdinguphiscandle，\"andtellme——
what’sthat？\"
Beforeme，faintlyshown，wassomecuriousstructureofgleamingrodsmadeofyellowishmetal，whichrodsappearedtobeconnectedbywires。Thestructuremighthavebeenfortyfeethighandperhapsahundredlong。Itsbottompartwasburiedindust。
\"Whatisthat？\"askedBickleyagain。
Imadenoanswer，forIwasthinking。Bastin，however，replied：
\"It’sdifficulttobesureinthislight，butIshouldthinkthatitmaybetheremainsofacageinwhichsomepeoplewholivedherekeptmonkeys，orperhapsitwasanaviary。Lookatthoselittleladdersforthemonkeystoclimbby，orpossiblyforthebirdstositon。\"
\"Areyousureitwasn’ttameangels？\"askedBickley。
\"Whataridiculousremark！Howcanyoukeepanangelinacage？
I——\"
\"Aeroplane！\"IalmostwhisperedtoBickley。
\"You’vegotit！\"heanswered。\"Theframeworkofanaeroplaneandajollylargeone，too。Onlywhyhasn’titoxidised？\"
\"Someindestructiblemetal，\"Isuggested。\"Gold，forinstance，doesnotoxidise。\"
Henoddedandsaid：
\"Weshallhavetodigitout。Thedustisfeetthickaboutit；
wecandonothingwithoutspades。Comeon。\"
Wewentroundtotheendofthestructure，whateveritmightbe，andpresentlycametoanother。Againwewentonandcametoanother，allofthembeingberthedexactlyinline。
\"WhatdidItellyou？\"saidBickleyinavoiceoftriumph。\"A
wholegaragefull，aregularfleetofaeroplanes！\"
\"Thatmustbenonsense，\"saidBastin，\"forIamquitesurethattheseOrofenanscannotmakesuchthings。Indeedtheyhavenometal，andevencutthethroatsofpigswithwoodenknives。\"
NowIbegantowalkforward，bearingtotheleftsoastoregainourformerline。Wecoulddonothingwiththesemetalskeletons，andIfeltthattheremustbemoretofindbeyond。
PresentlyIsawsomethingloomingaheadofmeandquickenedmypace，onlytorecoil。Forthere，notthirtyfeetawayandperhapsthreehundredyardsfromthemouthofthecave，suddenlyappearedwhatlookedlikeagiganticman。Tommysawitalsoandbarkedasdogsdowhentheyarefrightened，andthesoundofhisyapsechoedendlesslyfromeveryquarter，whichscaredhimtosilence。
RecoveringmyselfIwentforward，fornowIguessedthetruth。Itwasnotamanbutastatue。
Thethingstooduponahugebasewhichlessenedbysuccessivesteps，eightofthem，Ithink，toitssummit。Thefootofthisbasemayhavebeenasquareoffiftyfeetorrathermore；therealsupportorpedestalofthestatue，however，wasonlyasquareofaboutsixfeet。Thefigureitselfwaslittleabovelife—size，oratanyrateaboveourlife—size，saysevenfeetinheight。Itwasverypeculiarinsundryways。
Tobeginwith，nothingofthebodywasvisible，foritwasswathedlikeacorpse。Fromthesewrappingsprojectedonearm，theright，inthehandofwhichwasthelikenessofalightedtorch。Theheadwasnotveiled。Itwasthatofaman，long—nosed，thin—lipped，stern—visaged；thecountenancepervadedbyanawfulandunutterablecalm，asdeepasthatofBuddhaonlylessbenign。
Onthebrowwasawreathedhead—dress，notunlikeanEasternturban，fromwhichsprangtwolittlewingsresemblinginsomedegreethoseonthefamousGreekheadofHypnos，lordofSleep。
Betweenthefoldsofthewrappingsonthebacksprangtwootherwings，enormouswingsbentlikethoseofabirdabouttotakeflight。Indeedthewholeattitudeofthefiguresuggestedthatitwasspringingfromearthtoair。Itwasexecutedinblackbasaltorsomestoneofthesort，andveryhighlyfinished。Forinstance，onthebarefeetandthearmwhichheldthetorchcouldbefelteverymuscleandevensomeoftheveins。Inthesamewaythedetailsoftheskullwereperfectlyperceptibletothetouch，althoughatfirstsightnotvisibleonthemarblesurface。Thiswasascertainedbyclimbingonthepedestalandfeelingthefacewithourhands。
HereImaysaythatitsmodellingaswellasthatofthefeetandthearmfilledBickley，who，ofcourse，wasahighlytrainedanatomist，withabsoluteamazement。Hesaidthathewouldneverhavethoughtitpossiblethatsuchaccuracycouldhavebeenreachedbyanartistworkinginsohardamaterial。
Whentheothershadarrivedwestudiedthisrelicascloselyasourtwocandleswouldallow，andinturnexpressedouropinionsofitssignificance。Bastinthoughtthatifthosethingsdowntherewerereallytheremainsofaeroplanes，whichhedidnotbelieve，thestatuehadsomethingtodowithflying，aswasshownbythefactthatithadwingsonitsheadandshoulders。Also，headded，afterexaminingtheface，theheadwasuncommonlylikethatoftheidolthathehadblownup。Ithadthesamelongnoseandsevereshutmouth。Ifhewasright，thiswasprobablyanothereffigyofOrowhichweshoulddowelltodestroyatoncebeforetheislanderscametoworshipit。
Bickleygroundhisteethashelistenedtohim。
\"Destroythat！\"hegasped。\"Destroy！Oh！you，you——earlyChristian。\"
HereImaystatethatBastinwasquiteright，asweprovedsubsequentlywhenwecomparedtheheadofthefetish，which，asitwillberemembered，hehadbroughtawaywithhim，withthatofthestatue。Allowingforanenormousdebasementofart，theywereessentiallyidenticalinthefacialcharacteristics。Thiswouldsuggestthedescentofatraditionthroughcountlessgenerations。
Orofcourseitmayhavebeenaccidental。IamsureIdonotknow，butIthinkitpossiblethatforunknowncenturiesotheroldstatuesmayhaveexistedinOrofenafromwhichtheidolwascopied。Orsomedaringandimpiousspiritmayhavefoundhiswaytothecaveinpastagesandfashionedthelocalgoduponthisancientmodel。
Bickleywasstruckatonce，asIhadbeen，withtheresemblanceofthefiguretothatoftheEgyptianOsiris。Ofcoursethereweredifferences。Forinstance，insteadofthecrookandthescourge，thisdivinityheldatorch。Again，inplaceofthecrownofEgyptitworeawingedhead—dress，thoughitistruethiswasnotveryfarremovedfromthewingeddiscofthatcountry。Thewingsthatsprangfromitsshoulders，however，suggestedBabyloniaratherthanEgypt，ortheAssyrianbullsthataresimilarlyadorned。Allofthesesymbolicalideasmighthavebeentakenfromthatfigure。Butwhatwasit？Whatwasit？
Inaflashtheanswercametome。ArepresentationofthespiritofDeath！Neithermorenorless。Therewastheshroud；
therethecold，inscrutablecountenancesuggestingmysteriesthatithid。Butthetorchandthewings？Well，thetorchwasthatwhichlightedsoulstotheotherworld，andonthewingstheyflewthither。Whoeverfashionedthatstatuehopedforanotherlife，orsoIwasconvinced。
Iexplainedmyideas。Bastinthoughtthemfancifulandpreferredhisnotionofaflyingman，sincebyconstitutionhewasunabletodiscoveranythingspiritualinanyreligionexcepthisown。Bickleyagreedthatitwasprobablyanallegoricalrepresentationofdeathbutsniffedatmyinterpretationofthewingsandthetorch，sincebyconstitutionhecouldnotbelievethatthefollyofabeliefinimmortalitycouldhavedevelopedsoearlyintheworld，thatis，amongahighlycivilisedpeoplesuchasmusthaveproducedthisstatue。
Whatwecouldnoneofusunderstandwaswhythisominousimagewithitsdead，coldfaceshouldhavebeenplacedinanaerodrome，norinfactdidweeverdiscover。Possiblyitwastherelongbeforethecavewasputtothisuse。Atfirsttheplacemayhavebeenatempleandhavesoremaineduntilcircumstancesforcedtheworshipperstochangetheirhabits，oreventheirFaith。
Weexaminedthiswondrousworkandthepedestalonwhichitstoodascloselyaswewereablebythedimlightofourcandles。
