stillcallher，foratthattimeIdidnotknowhername，rosefromthechair，and，leaningonme，totteredafewstepsforward。
　　Thenshestoodlookingattheskyandallthelovelypanoramaofnaturebeneath，andstretchingoutherarmsasthoughinworship。
　　Oh！howbeautifulsheseemedwiththesunlightshiningonherheavenlyface！
　　NowforthefirsttimeIheardhervoice。Itwassoftanddeep，yetinitwasacuriousbell—liketonethatseemedtovibratelikethesoundofchimesheardfromfaraway。NeverhaveI
　　listenedtosuchanothervoice。Shepointedtothesunwhereofthelightturnedherradianthairandgarmentstoakindofgoldenglory，andcalleditbysomenamethatIcouldnotunderstand。Ishookmyhead，whereonshegaveitadifferentnametaken，Isuppose，fromanotherlanguage。AgainIshookmyheadandshetriedathirdtime。TomydelightthiswordwaspracticallythesamethattheOrofenansusedfor"sun。"
　　"Yes，"Isaid，speakingveryslowly，"soitiscalledbythepeopleofthisland。"
　　Sheunderstood，forsheansweredinmuchthesamelanguage：
　　"What，then，doyoucallit？"
　　"SunintheEnglishtongue，"Ireplied。
　　"Sun。English，"sherepeatedafterme，thenadded，"Howareyounamed，Wanderer？"
　　"Humphrey，"Ianswered。
　　"Hum膄e—膔y！"shesaidasthoughshewerelearningtheword，"andthose？"
　　"BastinandBickley，"Ireplied。
　　Overthesepatronymicssheshookherhead；asyettheyweretoomuchforher。
　　"Howareyounamed，Sleeper？"Iasked。
　　"Yva，"sheanswered。
　　"Abeautifulnameforonewhoisbeautiful，"Ideclaredwithenthusiasm，ofcoursealwaysintherichOrofenandialectwhichbynowIcouldtalkwellenough。
　　Sherepeatedthewordsonceortwice，thenofasuddencaughttheirmeaning，forshesmiledandevencoloured，sayinghastilywithawaveofherhandtowardstheAncientwhostoodatadistancebetweenBastinandBickley，"Myfather，Oro；greatman；
　　greatking；greatgod！"
　　AtthisinformationIstarted，foritwasstartlingtolearnthatherewastheoriginalOro，whowasstillworshippedbytheOrofenans，althoughofhisactualexistencetheyhadknownnothingforuncountedtime。AlsoIwasgladtolearnthathewasherfatherandnotheroldhusband，fortomethatwouldhavebeenhorrible，adesecrationtoodeepforwords。
　　"Howlongdidyousleep，Yva？"Iasked，pointingtowardsthesepulchreinthecave。
　　Afteralittlethoughtsheunderstoodandshookherheadhopelessly，thenbyanafterthought，shesaid，"StarstellOroto—night。"
　　SoOrowasanastronomeraswellasakingandagod。Ihadguessedasmuchfromthoseplatesinthecoffinwhichseemedtohavestarsengravedonthem。
　　Atthispointourconversationcametoanend，fortheAncienthimselfapproached，leaningonthearmofBickleywhowasengagedinananimatedargumentwithBastin。
　　"ForHeaven’ssake！"saidBickley，"keepyourtheologytoyourselfatpresent。Ifyouupsettheoldfellowandputhiminatemperhemaydie。"
　　"Ifamantellsmethatheisagoditismydutytotellhimthatheisaliar，"repliedBastinobstinately。
　　"Whichyoudid，Bastin，onlyfortunatelyhedidnotunderstandyou。ButforyourownsakeIadviseyounottotakeliberties。Heisnotone，Ithink，withwhomitiswisetotrifle。Ithinkheseemsthirsty。Goandgetsomewaterfromtherainpool，notfromthelake。"
　　Bastindepartedandpresentlyreturnedwithanaluminumjugfullofpurewaterandaglass。BickleypouredsomeofitintoaglassandhandedittoYvawhobentherheadinthanks。Thenshedidacuriousthing。Havingfirstliftedtheglasswithbothhandstotheskyandhelditsoforafewseconds，sheturnedandwithanobeisancepouredalittleofitonthegroundbeforeherfather’sfeet。
　　Alibation，thoughtItomyself，andevidentlyBastinagreedwithme，forIheardhimmutter，"Ibelievesheismakingaheathenoffering。"
　　Doubtlesswewereright，forOroacceptedthehomagebyalittlemotionofthehead。Afterthis，atasignfromhimshedrankthewater。ThentheglasswasrefilledandhandedtoOrowhoalsoheldittowardsthesky。He，however，madenolibationbutdrankatonce，twotumblersofitinrapidsuccession。
　　Bynowthedirectsunlightwaspassingfromthemouthofthecave，andthoughitwashotenough，bothofthemshiveredalittle。Theyspoketogetherinsomelanguageofwhichwecouldnotunderstandaword，asthoughtheyweredebatingwhattheircourseofactionshouldbe。Thedisputewaslongandearnest。Hadweknownwhatwaspassing，whichIlearnedafterwards，itwouldhavemadeussufficientlyanxious，forthepointatissuewasnothinglessthanwhetherweshouldorshouldnotbeforthwithdestroyed——anend，itappears，thatOrowasquitecapableofbringingaboutifhesopleased。Yva，however，hadveryclearviewsofherownonthematterand，asIgather，evendaredtothreatenthatshewouldprotectusbytheuseofcertainpowersathercommand，thoughwhatthesewereIdonotknow。
　　WhiletheeventhungdoubtfulTommy，whowasgrowingboredwiththeselongproceedings，pickedupaboughstillcoveredwithflowerswhich，aftertheirprettyfashion，theOrofenanshadplacedonthetopofoneofthebasketsoffood。ThissmallboughhebroughtandlaidatthefeetofOro，nodoubtinthehopethathewouldthrowitforhimtofetch，agameinwhichthedogdelighted。ForsomereasonOrosawanomeninthissimplecanineperformance，orhemayhavethoughtthatthedogwasmakinganofferingtohim，forheputhisthinhandtohisbrowandthoughtawhile，thenmotionedtoBastintopickuptheboughandgiveittohim。
　　Nexthespoketohisdaughterasthoughassentingtosomething，forIsawhersighinrelief。Nowonder，forhewasconveyinghisdecisiontospareourlivesandadmitustotheirfellowship。
　　Afterthisagaintheytalked，butinquiteadifferenttoneandmanner。ThentheGlitteringLadysaidtomeinherslowandarchaicOrofenan：
　　"Wegotorest。Youmustnotfollow。Wecomebackperhapstonight，perhapsnextnight。Wearequitesafe。YouarequitesafeunderthebeardofOro。SpiritofOrowatchyou。Youunderstand？"
　　IsaidIunderstood，whereonsheanswered：
　　"Good—bye，OHumfe—ry。"
　　"Good—bye，OYva，"Ireplied，bowing。
　　Thereontheyturnedandrefusingallassistancefromus，vanishedintothedarknessofthecaveleaninguponeachotherandwalkingslowly。
　　ChapterXII
　　TwoHundredandFiftyThousandYears！
　　"Youseemtohavemadethebestofyourtime，oldfellow，"saidBickleyinratherasourvoice。
　　"IneverknewpeoplebegintocalleachotherbytheirChristiannamessosoon，"addedBastin，lookingatmewithasuspiciouseye。
　　"Iknownoother，"Isaid。
　　"Perhapsnot，butatanyrateyouhaveanother，thoughyoudon’tseemtohavetoldittoher。Anyway，Iamgladtheyaregone，forIwasgettingtiredofbeingorderedbyeverybodytocarryaboutwoodandwaterforthem。AlsoIamterriblyhungryasIcan’teatbeforeitislight。TheyhavetakenmostofthebestfruittowhichIwaslookingforward，butthankgoodnesstheydonotseemtocareforpork。"
　　"SoamI，"saidBickley，whoreallylookedexhausted。"Getthefood，there’sagoodfellow。We’lltalkafterwards。"
　　Whenwehadeaten，somewhatsilently，IaskedBickleywhathemadeofthebusiness；alsowhitherhethoughtthesleepershadgone。
　　"IthinkIcananswerthelastquestion，"interruptedBastin。
　　"IexpectitistoaplacewellknowntostudentsoftheBiblewhichevenBickleymentionssometimeswhenheisangry。Atanyrate，theyseemtobeveryfondofheat，fortheywouldn’tpartfromitevenintheircoffins，andyouwilladmitthattheyarenotquitenatural，althoughthatGlitteringLadyissoattractiveasregardsherexterior。"
　　Bickleywavedtheseremarksasideandaddressedhimselftome。
　　"Idon’tknowwhattothinkofit，"hesaid；"butastheexperienceisnotnaturalandeverythingintheUniverse，sofarasweknowit，hasanaturalexplanation，Iaminclinedtothebeliefthatwearesufferingfromhallucinations，whichintheirwayarealsoquitenatural。Itdoesnotseempossiblethattwopeoplecanreallyhavebeenasleepforanunknownlengthoftimeenclosedinvesselsofglassorcrystal，keptwarmbyradiumorsomesuchsubstance，andthenemergefromthemcomparativelystrongandwell。Itiscontrarytonaturallaw。"
　　"Howaboutmicrobes？"Iasked。"Theyaresaidtolastpracticallyforever，andtheyarelivingthings。Sointheircaseyournaturallawbreaksdown。"
　　"Thatistrue，"heanswered。"Somemicrobesinasealedtubeandundercertainconditionsdoappeartopossessindefinitepowersoflife。Alsoradiumhasanindefinitelife，butthatisamineral。Onlythesepeoplearenotmicrobesnoraretheyminerals。Also，experiencetellsusthattheycouldnothavelivedformorethanafewmonthsattheoutsideinsuchcircumstancesasweseemedtofindthem。"
　　"Thenwhatdoyousuggest？"
　　"Isuggestthatwedidnotreallyfindthematall；thatwehaveallbeendreaming。Youknowthattherearecertaingaseswhichproduceillusions，laughinggasisoneofthem，andthatthesegasesaresometimesmetwithincaves。Nowtherewereverypeculiarodoursinthatplaceunderthestatue，whichmayhaveworkeduponourimaginationsinsomesuchway。Otherwiseweareupagainstamiracle，and，asyouknow，Idonotbelieveinmiracles。"
　　"Ido，"saidBastincalmly。"You’llfindallaboutitintheBibleifyouwillonlytakethetroubletoread。Whydoyoutalksuchrubbishaboutgases？"
　　"Becauseonlygas，orsomethingofthesort，couldhavemadeusimaginethem。"
　　"Nonsense，Bickley！Thosepeoplewerehererightenough。Didn’ttheyeatourfruitanddrinkthewaterIbroughtthemwithouteversayingthankyou？Only，theyarenothuman。Theyareevilspirits，andformypartIdon’twanttoseeanymoreofthem，thoughIhavenodoubtArbuthnotdoes，asthatGlitteringLadythrewherarmsroundhisneckwhenshewokeup，andalreadyheiscallingherbyherChristianname，ifthewordChristiancanbeusedinconnectionwithher。Theoldfellowhadtheimpudencetotellusthathewasagod，anditisremarkablethatheshouldhavecalledhimselfOro，seeingthatthedeviltheyworshipontheislandisalsocalledOroandtheplaceitselfisnamedOrofena。"
　　"Astowheretheyhavegone，"continuedBickley，takingnonoticeofBastin，"Ireallydon’tknow。Myexpectationis，however，thatwhenwegotolooktomorrowmorning——andIsuggestthatweshouldnotdosobeforetheninorderthatwemaygiveourmindstimetoclear——weshallfindthatsepulchreplacequiteempty，evenperhapswithoutthecrystalcoffinswehaveimaginedtostandthere。"
　　"Perhapsweshallfindthatthereisn’tacaveatallandthatwearenotsittingonaflatrockoutsideofit，"suggestedBastinwithheavysarcasm，adding，"Youarecleverinyourway，Bickley，butyoucantalkmorerubbishthananymanIeverknew。"
　　"Theytoldustheywouldcomebacktonightortomorrow，"I
　　said。"Iftheydo，whatwillyousaythen，Bickley？"
　　"Iwillwaittilltheycometoanswerthatquestion。Nowletusgoforawalkandtrytochangeourthoughts。Weareallover—strainedandscarcelyknowwhatwearesaying。"
　　"Onemorequestion，"Isaidaswerosetostart。"DidTommysufferfromhallucinationsaswellasourselves？"
　　"Whynot？"answeredBickley。"Heisananimaljustasweare，orperhapswethoughtwesawTommydothethingshedid。"
　　"Whenyoufoundthatbasketoffruit，Bastin，whichthenativesbroughtoverinthecanoe，wasthereaboughcoveredwithredflowerslyingonthetopofit？"
　　"Yes，Arbuthnot，oneboughonly；IthrewitdownontherockasitgotinthewaywhenIwascarryingthebasket。"
　　"WhichfloweringboughweallthoughtwesawtheSleeperOrocarryawayafterTommyhadbroughtittohim。"
　　"Yes；hemademepickitupandgiveittohim，"saidBastin。
　　"Well，ifwedidnotseethisitshouldstillbelyingontherock，astherehasbeennowindandtherearenoanimalsheretocarryitaway。Youwilladmitthat，Bickley？"
　　Henodded。
　　"Thenifithasgoneyouwilladmitalsothatthepresumptionisthatwesawwhatwethoughtwedidsee？"
　　"Idonotknowhowthatconclusioncanbeavoided，atanyratesofarastheincidentoftheboughisconcerned，"repliedBickleywithcaution。
　　Then，withoutmorewords，westartedtolook。Atthespotwheretheboughshouldhavebeen，therewasnobough，butontherocklayseveraloftheredflowers，bittenoff，Isuppose，byTommywhilehewascarryingit。Norwasthisall。IthinkIhavementionedthattheGlitteringLadyworesandalswhichwerefastenedwithredstudsthatlookedlikerubiesorcarbuncles。Ontherocklayoneofthesestuds。Ipickeditupandweexaminedit。Ithadbeensewntothesandal—strapwithgoldenthreadorsilk。Someofthissubstancehungfromtheholedrilledinthestonewhichservedforaneye。Itwasasrottenastinder，apparentlywithextremeage。Moreover，thehardgemitselfwaspittedasthoughthepassageoftimehadtakeneffectuponit，thoughthismayhavebeencausedbyotheragencies，suchastheactionoftheradiumrays。IsmiledatBickleywholookeddisconcertedandevensad。Inawayitispainfultoseetheeffectuponanableandearnestmanoftheupsettingofhislifelongtheories。
　　Wewentforourwalk，keepingtotheflatlandsatthefootofthevolcanocone，forweseemedtohavehadenoughofwondersandtodesiretoreassureourselves，asitwere，bythestudyofnaturalandfamiliarthings。Asitchanced，too，wewererewardedbysundryusefuldiscoveries。Thuswefoundaplacewherethebread—treeandotherfruits，mostofthemnowripe，grewinabundance，asdidtheyam。Also，wecametoaninletthatwenoticedwascrowdedwithlargeandbeautifulfishfromthelake，whichseemedtofinditafavouritespot。Perhapsthiswasbecausealittlestreamofexcellentwaterraninhere，overflowingfromthegreatpoolormerewhichfilledthecraterabove。
　　Atthesefindswerejoicedgreatly，fornowweknewthatweneednotfearstarvationevenshouldoursupplyoffoodfromthemainislandbecutoff。Indeed，byhelpofsomepalm—leafstalkswhichwewovetogetherroughly，Bastin，whowasrathercleveratthiskindofthing，managedtotrapfourfishweighingtwoorthreepoundsapiece，wadingintothewatertodoso。Itwascurioustoobservewithwhateaseheadaptedhimselftothemannersandcustomsofprimevalman，somuchso，indeed，thatBickleyremarkedthatifhecouldbelieveinre—incarnation，hewouldbeabsolutelycertainthatBastinwasatroglodyteinhislastsojournontheearth。
　　Howeverthismightbe，Bastin’sprimevalinstinctsandabilitieswereoftheutmostservicetous。Beforewehadbeenmanydaysonthatislandhehadbuiltusakindofnativehutorhouseroofedwithpalmleavesinwhich，untilprovidedwithabetter，ashappenedafterwards，weateandheandBickleyslept，leavingthetenttome。Moreover，hewoveanetofpalmfibrewithwhichhecaughtabundanceoffish，andmadefishing—linesofthesamematerial（fortunatelywehadsomehooks）whichhebaitedwithfreshwatermusselsandtheinsidesoffish。Bymeansofthesehesecuredsomeveritablemonstersofthecarpspeciesthatprovedmostexcellenteating。Hisgreatesttriumph，however，wasadecoywhichheconstructedofboughs，whereinhetrappedanumberofwaterfowl。Sothatsoonwekeptaverygoodtableofasort，especiallyafterhehadlearnedhowtocookourfooduponthenativeplanbymeansofhotstones。Thissuitedusadmirably，asitenabledBickleyandmyselftodevoteallourtimetoarchaeologicalandotherstudieswhichdidnotgreatlyinterestBastin。
　　Bythetimethatwegotbacktocampitwasdrawingtowardsevening，sowecookedourfoodandate，andthen，thoroughlyexhausted，madeourselvesascomfortableaswecouldandwenttosleep。EvenourmarvelousexperiencescouldnotkeepBickleyandmyselffromsleeping，andonBastinsuchthingshadnoeffect。Heacceptedthemandthatwasall，muchmorereadilythanwedid，indeed。Triple—armedashewasinthemailofachild—likefaith，hesnappedhisfingersatevilspiritswhichhesupposedtheSleeperstobe，andateverythingelsethatothermenmightdread。
　　Now，asIhavementioned，afterourtalkwithMarama，althoughwedidnotthinkitwisetoadventureourselvesamongthemagainatpresent，wehadlostallfearoftheOrofenans。Inthisattitude，sofarasMaramahimselfandthemajorityofhispeoplewereconcerned，wewerequitejustified，fortheywereourwarmfriends。Butinthecaseofthesorcerers，thepriestsandalltheirrascallyandsuperstitiousbrotherhood，wewerebynomeansjustified。TheyhadnotforgivenBastinhissacrilegeorforhisunderminingoftheirauthoritybythepreachingofnewdoctrineswhich，ifadopted，woulddestroythemasahierarchy。NorhadtheyforgivenBickleyforshootingoneoftheirnumber，oranyofusforourescapefromthevengeanceoftheirgod。
　　SoitcameaboutthattheymadeaplottoseizeusallandhaleusofftobesacrificedtoasubstitutedimageofOro，whichbynowtheyhadsetup。Theyknewexactlywherewesleptupontherock；indeed，ourfireshowedittothemandsofartheywerenotafraidtoventure，sinceheretheyhadbeenaccustomedforgenerationstolaytheirofferingstothegodoftheMountain。
　　Secretlyonthepreviousnight，withouttheknowledgeofMarama，theyhadcarriedtwomorecanoestothebordersofthelake。Nowonthisnight，justasthemoonwassettingaboutthreeinthemorning，theymadetheirattack，twenty—onemeninall，forthethreecanoeswerelarge，relyingonthefollowingdarknesstogetusawayandconveyustotheplaceofsacrificetobeofferedupatdawnandbeforeMaramacouldinterfere。
　　Thefirstweknewofthematter，formostfoolishlywehadneglectedtokeepawatch，wastheunpleasantsensationofbrawnysavageskneelingonusandtrussingusupwithpalm—fibreropes。