"AndrememberallthatIhavetaughtyou，"shoutedBastin。
　　Maramashivered，thoughwhetheratthementionofthegodOro，ofwhosepowerstheOrofenanshadsopainfularecollection，orattheresultofBastin’steachings，Idonotknow。Andthatwasthelastweshalleverseeofeachotherinthisworld。
　　Theislandfadedbehindusand，soreatheartbecauseofallthatwehadfoundandlostagain，forthreedayswesailednorthwardwithafairandsteadywind。Onthefourtheveningbyanextraordinarystrokeoffortune，wefellinwithanAmericantrampsteamer，tradingfromtheSouthSeaIslandstoSanFrancisco。Tothecaptain，whotreatedusverykindly，wesaidsimplythatwewereapartyofEnglishmenwhoseyachthadbeenwreckedonasmallislandseveralhundredsofmilesaway，ofwhichweknewneitherthename，ifithadone，northeposition。
　　Thisstorywasacceptedwithoutquestion，forsuchthingsoftenhappeninthoselatitudes，andinduecoursewewerelandedatSanFrancisco，wherewemadecertaindepositionsbeforetheBritishConsulastothelossoftheyachtStaroftheSouth。
　　ThenwecrossedAmerica，havingobtainedfundsbycable，andsailedforEnglandinasteamerflyingtheflagoftheUnitedStates。
　　OfthegreatwarwhichmadethisdesirableIdonotspeaksinceithasnothing，orratherlittle，todowiththishistory。IntheendwearrivedsafelyatLiverpool，andthencetravelledtoourhomesinDevonshire。
　　ThusendedthehistoryofourdealingswithOro，thesuper—manwhobeganhislifemorethantwohundredandfiftythousandyearsago，andwithhisdaughter，Yva，whomBastinstilloftencallstheGlitteringLady。
　　ChapterXXVII
　　BastinDiscoversaResemblanceThereislittlemoretotell。
　　ShortlyafterourreturnBickley，likeapatrioticEnglishman，volunteeredforserviceatthefrontanddepartedintheuniformoftheR。A。M。C。BeforehelefthetooktheopportunityofexplainingtoBastinhowmuchbetteritwasinsuchanationalemergencyasexisted，tobelongtoaprofessioninwhichamancoulddosomethingtohelpthebodiesofhiscountrymenthathadbeenbrokeninthecommoncause，thantoonelikehisinwhichitwasonlypossibletopeltthemwithvainwords。
　　"Youthinkthat，doyou，Bickley？"answeredBastin。"Well，I
　　holdthatitisbettertohealsoulsthanbodies，because，asevenyouwillhavelearnedoutthereinOrofena，theylastsomuchlonger。"
　　"IamnotcertainthatIlearnedanythingofthesort，"saidBickley，"oreventhatOrowasmorethananordinaryoldman。Hesaidthathehadlivedathousandyears，butwhatwastheretoprovethisexcepthisword，whichisworthnothing？"
　　"TherewastheLadyYva’swordalso，whichisworthagreatdeal，Bickley。"
　　"Yes，butshemayhavemeantathousandmoons。Further，asaccordingtoherownshowingshewasstillquiteyoung，howcouldsheknowherfather’sage？"
　　"Quiteso，Bickley。Butallsheactuallysaidwasthatshewasofthesameageasoneofourwomenoftwenty—seven，whichmayhavemeanttwohundredandseventyforallIknow。However，puttingthatasideyouwilladmitthattheyhadbothsleptfortwohundredandfiftythousandyears。"
　　"Iadmitthattheyslept，Bastin，becauseIhelpedtoawakenthem，butforhowlongthereisnothingtoshow，exceptthosestarmapswhichareprobablyquiteinaccurate。"
　　"Theyarenotinaccurate，"Ibrokein，"forIhavehadthemcheckedbyleadingastronomerswhosaythattheyshowamarvelousknowledgeoftheheavensastheseweretwohundredandfiftythousandyearsago，andaretoday。"
　　HereIshouldstatethatthosetwometalmapsandtheringwhichIgavetoYvaandfoundagainafterthecatastrophe，wereabsolutelytheonlythingsconnectedwithherorwithOrothatwebroughtawaywithus。TheformerIwouldneverpartwith，feelingtheirvalueasevidence。Therefore，whenwedescendedtothecityNyoandthedepthsbeneath，Itookthemwithmewrappedinclothinmypocket。Thustheywerepreserved。EverythingelsewentwhentheRockofOfferingsandthecavemouthsankbeneaththewatersofthelake。
　　Thismayhavehappenedeitherintheearthtremor，whichnodoubtwascausedbytheadvanceoftheterrificworld—balance，orwhentheelectricpower，thoughdiffusedandturnedbyYva’sinsulatedbody，struckthegreatgyroscope’stravellingfootwithsufficientstrength，nottoshiftitindeedontotheright—handpathasOrohaddesigned，butstilltocauseittostaggerandevenperhapstohaltforthefractionofasecond。Eventhispausemayhavebeenenoughtocauseconvulsionsoftheearthabove；indeed，IgatheredfromMaramaandotherOrofenansthatsuchconvulsionshadoccurredonandaroundtheislandatwhatmusthavecorrespondedwiththatmomentoftheloosingoftheforce。
　　ThislossofourbelongingsinthehouseoftheRockofOfferingswasthemoregrievousbecauseamongthemweresomeKodakphotographswhichIhadtaken，includingportraitsofOroandoneofYvathatwasreallyexcellent，tosaynothingofpicturesofthemouthofthecaveandoftheruinsandcraterlakeabove。HowbitterlyIregretthatIdidnotkeepthesephotographsinmypocketwiththemap—plates。
　　"Evenifthestar—mapsarecorrect，stillitprovesnothing，"
　　saidBickley，"sincepossiblyOro’sastronomicalskillmighthaveenabledhimtodrawthatoftheskyatanyperiod，thoughIallowthisisimpossible。"
　　"Idoubthistakingsomuchtroublemerelytodeceivethreewandererswholackedtheknowledgeeventocheckthem，"Isaid。
　　"Butallthismissesthepoint，Bickley。Howeverlongtheyhadslept，thatmanandwomandidarisefromseemingdeath。Theydiddwellinthosemarvelouscaveswiththeirevidencesofdepartedcivilisations，andtheydidshowusthatfearful，world—wanderinggyroscope。Thesethingswesaw。"
　　"Iadmitthatwesawthem，Arbuthnot，andIadmitthattheyareoneandallbeyondhumancomprehension。TothatextentIamconverted，and，Imayadd，humbled，"saidBickley。
　　"Soyououghttobe，"exclaimedBastin，"seeingthatyoualwayssworethattherewasnothingintheworldthatisnotcapableofaperfectlynaturalexplanation。"
　　"Ofwhichallthesethingsmaybecapable，Bastin，ifonlyweheldthekey。"
　　"Verywell，Bickley，buthowdoyouexplainwhattheLadyYvadid？Imaytellyounowwhatshecommandedmetoconcealatthetime，namely，thatshebecameaChristian；somuchsothatbyherownwill，Ibaptisedandconfirmedherontheverymorningofhersacrifice。Doubtlessitwasthisthatchangedherheartsomuchthatshebecamewilling，ofcoursewithoutmyknowledge，toleaveeverythingshecaredfor，"herehelookedhardatme，"andlaydownherlifetosavetheworld，halfofwhichshebelievedwasabouttobedrownedbyOro。Now，consideringherhistoryandupbringing，Icallthisaspiritualmarvel，muchgreaterthananyyounowadmit，andoneyoucan’texplain，Bickley。"
　　"No，Icannotexplain，or，atanyrate，Iwillnottry，"heanswered，alsostaringhardatme。"Whatevershebelieved，ordidnotbelieve，andwhateverwouldorwouldnothavehappened，shewasagreatandwonderfulwomanwhosememoryIworship。"
　　"Quiteso，Bickley，andnowperhapsyouseemypoint，thatwhatyoudescribeasmerevainwordsmayalsobehelpfultomankind；
　　moreso，indeed，thanyoursurgicalinstrumentsandpills。"
　　"Youcouldn’tconvertOro，anyway，"exclaimedBickley，withirritation。
　　"No，Bickley；butthenIhavealwaysunderstoodthatthedevilisbeyondconversionbecauseheisbeyondrepentance。Yousee，I
　　thinkthatifthatoldscoundrelwasnotthedevilhimself，atanyratehewasabitofhim，and，ifIamright，Iamnotashamedtohavefailedinhiscase。"
　　"EvenOrowasnotutterlybad，Bastin，"Isaid，reflectingoncertaintraitsofmercythathehadshown，orthatIdreamedhimtohaveshowninthecourseofourmysteriousmidnightjourneystovariouspartsoftheearth。AlsoIrememberedthathehadlovedTommyandforhissakehadsparedourlives。Lastly，Idonotaltogetherwonderthathecametocertainhastyconclusionsastothevalueofourmoderncivilisations。
　　"Iamverygladtohearit，Humphrey，sincewhilethereisasparkleftthewholefiremayburnupagain，andIbelievethattotheDivinemercytherearenolimits，thoughOrowillhavealongroadtotravelbeforehefindsit。AndnowIhavesomethingtosay。IthastroubledmeverymuchthatIwasobligedtoleavethoseOrofenanswanderinginakindofreligioustwilight。"
　　"Youcouldn’thelpthat，"saidBickley，"seeingthatifyouhadstopped，bynowyouwouldhavebeenwanderinginreligiouslight。"
　　"Still，IamnotsurethatIoughtnottohavestopped。Iseemtohavedesertedafieldthatwasopentome。However，itcan’tbehelped，sinceitiscertainthatwecouldneverfindthatislandagain，evenifOrohasnotsunkitbeneaththesea，asheisquitecapableofdoing，tocoverhistracks，sotospeak。SoI
　　meantodomybestinanotherfieldbywayofatonement。"
　　"Youarenotgoingtobecomeamissionary？"Isaid。
　　"No，butwiththeconsentoftheBishop，who，Ithink，believesthatmylocumgotonbetterintheparishthanIdo，asnodoubtwasthecase，I，too，havevolunteeredfortheFront，andbeenacceptedasachaplainofthe201stDivision。"
　　"Why，that’smine！"saidBickley。
　　"Isit？Iamveryglad，sincenowweshallbeabletopursueourpleasantargumentsandtodoourbesttoopeneachother’sminds。"
　　"YoufellowsaremorefortunatethanIam，"Iremarked。"Ialsovolunteered，buttheywouldn’ttakeme，evenasaTommy，althoughImisstatedmyage。Theytoldme，oratleastaspecialistwhomI
　　sawdidafterwards，thattheblowIgotontheheadfromthatsorcerer’sboy——"
　　"Iknow，Iknow！"brokeinBickleyalmostroughly。"Ofcourse，thingsmightgowrongatanytime。Butwithcareyoumaylivetooldage。"
　　"Iamsorrytohearit，"Isaidwithasigh，"atleastIthinkIam。Meanwhile，fortunatelythereismuchthatIcandoathome；
　　indeedacourseofactionhasbeensuggestedtomebyanoldfriendwhoisnowinauthority。"
　　OncemoreBickleyandBastinintheirwar—staineduniformswerediningatmytableandontheverynightoftheirreturnfromtheFront，whichwasunexpected。IndeedTommynearlydiedofjoyonhearingtheirvoicesinthehall。They，whoplayedaworthypartinthegreatstruggle，hadmuchtotellme，andnaturallytheirmorerecentexperienceshadoverlaidtosomeextentthosewhichwesharedinthemysteriousislandofOrofena。Indeedwedidnotspeakoftheseuntil，justastheyweregoingaway，Bastinpausedbeneathaverybeautifulportraitofmylatewife，theworkofanartistfamousforhispowerofbringingouttheinnercharacter，orwhatsomemightcallthesoul，ofthesitter。Hestaredatitforawhileinhisshort—sightedway，thensaid："Doyouknow，Arbuthnot，ithassometimesoccurredtome，andnevermorethanatthismoment，thatalthoughtheyweredifferentinheightandsoon，therewasareallycuriousphysicalresemblancebetweenyourlatewifeandtheLadyYva。"
　　"Yes，"Ianswered。"Ithinksotoo。"
　　Bickleyalsoexaminedtheportraitverycarefully，andashedidsoIsawhimstart。Thenheturnedaway，sayingnothing。
　　Suchisthesummaryofallthathasbeenimportantinmylife。
　　Itis，Iadmit，anoddstoryandonewhichsuggestsproblemsthatIcannotsolve。Bastindealswithsuchthingsbythatacceptancewhichistheprivilegeandhall—markoffaith；Bickleydisposes，orusedtodispose，ofthembyablankdenialwhichcarriesnoconviction，andleastofalltohimself。
　　Whatislifetomostofuswho，likeBickley，thinkourselveslearned？Around，shortbutstillwithtimeandtosparewhereintobedullandlonesome；afatefultreadmilltowhichwewerecondemnedweknownothow，butapparentlythroughthecasualpassionsofthosewhowentbeforeusandarenowforgotten，causingus，astheBiblesays，tobeborninsin；upwhichwewalkwearilyweknownotwhy，seemingnevertomakeprogress；offwhichwefalloutwornweknownotwhenorwhither。
　　Suchuponthesurfaceitappearstobe，norinfactdoesourascertainedknowledge，asBickleywouldsumitup，takeusmuchfurther。Noprophethasyetarisenwhoattemptedtodefineeithertheoriginorthereasonsoflife。EventheveryGreatestofthemHimselfisquitesilentonthismatter。Wearetemptedtowonderwhy。Isitbecauselifeasexpressedinthehigherofhumanbeings，is，orwillbetoovast，toomultiformandtoogloriousforanydefinitionwhichwecouldunderstand？Isitbecauseintheenditwillinvolveforsome，ifnotforall，majestyonunfathomedmajesty，andgloryuponunimaginableglorysuchasatpresentfaroutpassthelimitsofourthought？
　　TheexperienceswhichIhaverecordedinthesepagesawakeinmyheartahopethatthismaybeso。Bastiniswont，likemanyothers，totalkinalightfashionofEternitywithoutintheleastcomprehendingwhathemeansbythatgiganticterm。ItisnottoomuchtosaythatEternity，somethingwithoutbeginningandwithoutend，andinvolving，itwouldappear，aneverlastingchangelessness，isastatebeyondhumancomprehension。Asamatteroffactwemortalsdonotthinkinconstellations，sotospeak，orinaeons，butbythemeasuresofourownsmallearthandofourfewdaysthereon。Wecannotreallyconceiveofanexistencestretchingoverevenonethousandyears，suchasthatwhichOroclaimedandtheBibleaccordstoacertainearlyraceofmen，omittingofcoursehistwothousandfivehundredcenturiesofsleep。Andyetwhatisthisbutonegraininthehourglassoftime，onedayinthelostrecordofourearth，ofitssisterstheplanetsanditsfatherthesun，tosaynothingoftheuniversesbeyond？
　　ItisbecauseIhavecomeintouchwithaprolongedthoughperfectlyfiniteexistenceofthesort，thatItrytopassonthereflectionswhichthefactofitawokeinme。ThereareotherreflectionsconnectedwithYvaandthemarvelofherloveanditsvariousmanifestationswhicharisealso。ButtheseIkeeptomyself。Theyconcernthewonderofwoman’sheart，whichisamicrocosmofthehopesandfearsanddesiresanddespairsofthishumanityofourswhereoffromagetoagesheisthemother。
　　HUMPHREYARBUTHNOT。
　　NOTE
　　ByJ。R。Bickley，M。R。C。S。
　　WITHINaboutsixmonthsofthedateonwhichhewrotethelastwordsofthishistoryofourjointadventures，mydearfriend，HumphreyArbuthnot，diedsuddenly，asIhadforeseenthatprobablyhewoulddo，fromtheresultsoftheinjuryhereceivedintheislandofOrofena。
　　Heleftmethesoleexecutortohiswill，underwhichhedividedhispropertyintothreeparts。Onethirdhebequeathedtome，onethird（whichisstrictlytiedup）toBastin，andonethirdtobedevoted，undermydirection，totheadvancementofScience。
　　Hisendappearstohavebeeninstantaneous，resultingfromaneffusionofblooduponthebrain。WhenIwassummonedIfoundhimlyingdeadbythewritingdeskinhislibraryatFulcombePriory。
　　Hehadbeenwritingatthedesk，foronitwasapieceofpaperonwhichappearthesewords："Ihaveseenher。I——"Therethewritingends，notstatingwhomhethoughthehadseeninthemomentsofmentaldisturbanceordelusionwhichprecededhisdecease。
　　Saveforcertainverbalcorrections，Ipublishthismanuscriptwithoutcommentasthewilldirects，onlyaddingthatitsetsoutourmutualexperiencesveryfaithfully，thoughArbuthnot’sdeductionsfromthemarenotalwaysmyown。
　　IwouldsayalsothatIamcontemplatinganothervisittotheSouthSeaIslands，whereIwishtomakesomefurtherinvestigations。Idaresay，however，thatthesewillbebarrenofresults，asthefountainofLife—waterisburiedforever，nor，asIthink，willanyhumanbeingstandagainintheHades—likehallsofNyo。ItisprobablealsothatitwouldproveimpossibletorediscovertheislandofOrofena，ifindeedthatvolcaniclandstillremainsabovethewatersofthedeep。
　　Nowthatheisaverywealthyman，Bastintalksofaccompanyingmeforpurposesquitedifferentfrommyown，butonthewholeI
　　hopehewillabandonthisidea。Imayaddthatwhenhelearnedofhisunexpectedinheritancehetalkedmuchofthe"deceitfulnessofriches，"butthathehasnotasyettakenanystepstoescapetheirgoldensnare。Indeedhenowconversesofhisadded"opportunitiesofusefulness，"Igatherinconnectionwithmissionaryenterprise。
　　J。R。BICKLEY。
　　P。S。——IforgottostatethatthespanielTommydiedwithinthreedaysofhisowner。ThepoorlittlebeastwaspresentintheroomatthetimeofArbuthnot’spassingaway，andwhenfoundseemedtobesufferingfromshock。FromthatmomentTommyrefusedfoodandfinallywasdiscoveredquitedeadandlyingbythebodyonMarama’sfeathercloak，whichArbuthnotoftenusedasadressing—gown。AsBastinraisedsomereligiousobjections，I
　　arrangedwithouthisknowledgethatthedog’sashesshouldrestnotfarfromthoseofthemasterandmistresswhomitlovedsowell。
　　J。R。B。
　　End