"Whatnonsense，"ejaculatedBastin，"therearenosuchthings。"
　　"Shutup，"Isaid，"wemustusesimileshere，"towhichhereplied：
　　"Idon’tlikesimilesthattamperwiththetruth。"
　　"RememberNeptuneandAeolus，"Isuggested，andhelapsedintoconsiderationofthepoint。
　　"Weknewthatyouwerecoming，"saidMarama。"Ourdoctorstoldusallaboutyouamoonago。Butwewishthatyouwouldcomemoregently，asyounearlywashedawayourcountry。"
　　AfterlookingatmeBickleyreplied：
　　"Howthankfulshouldyoubethatinourkindnesswehavesparedyou。"
　　"Whatdoyoucometodo？"inquiredMaramaagain。AftertheusualformulaofconsultingmeBickleyanswered：
　　"Wecometotakethatmountain（hemeantlump）offyourneckandmakeyoubeautiful；alsotocureallthesicknessamongyourpeople。"
　　"AndIcome，"brokeinBastin，"togiveyounewhearts。"
　　Theseannouncementsevidentlycausedgreatexcitement。AfterconsultationMaramaanswered：
　　"Wedonotwantnewheartsastheoldonesaregood，butwewishtoberidoflumpsandsicknesses。Ifyoucandothiswewillmakeyougodsandworshipyouandgiveyoumanywives。"
　　（HereBastinhelduphishandsinhorror。）"Whenwillyoubegintotakeawaythelumps？"
　　"To—morrow，"saidBickley。"Butlearnthatifyoutrytoharmuswewillbringanotherwavewhichwilldrownallyourcountry。"
　　Nobodyseemedtodoubtourcapacitiesinthisdirection，butoneinquiringspiritinawickercratedidaskhowitcameaboutthatifwecontrolledtheoceanwehadarrivedinhalfacanoeinsteadofawholeone。
　　Bickleyrepliedtotheeffectthatitwasbecausethegodsalwaystravelledinhalf—canoestoshowtheirhighernature，whichseemedtosatisfyeveryone。Thenweannouncedthatwehadseenenoughofthemforthatdayandwouldretiretothink。
　　Meanwhileweshouldbeobligediftheywouldbuildusahouseandkeepussuppliedwithwhateverfoodtheyhad。
　　"Dothegodseat？"askedthescepticagain。
　　"Thatfellowisaconfoundedradical，"IwhisperedtoBickley。
　　"TellhimthattheydowhentheycometoOrofena。"
　　Hedidso，whereonthechiefsaid：
　　"Wouldthegodslikeaniceyounggirlcooked？"
　　AtthispointBastinretireddownthepath，realisingthathehadtodowithcannibals。Wesaidthatwepreferredtolookatthegirlsaliveandwouldmeetthemagainto—morrowmorning，whenwehopedthatthehousewouldbeready。
　　SoourfirstinterviewwiththeinhabitantsofOrofenacametoanend，onwhichwecongratulatedourselves。
　　OnreachingtheremainsoftheStaroftheSouthwesettoworktotakestockofwhatwaslefttous。Fortunatelyitprovedtobeaverygreatdeal。AsIthinkImentioned，allthepassengerpartoftheyachtlayforwardofthebridge，justinfrontofwhichthevesselhadbeenbrokenintwo，almostascleanlyasthoughshewereseveredbyagiganticknife。Furtherourstoreswereforwardandpracticallyeverythingelsethatbelongedtous，evendowntoBickley’sinstrumentsandmedicinesandBastin’sreligiousworks，tosaynothingofagreatquantityoftinnedfoodandgroceries。Lastlyonthedeckabovethesaloonhadstoodtwolargelifeboats。Althoughthesewereamplysecuredatthecommencementofthegaleoneofthem，thatontheportside，wassmashedtosmithers；probablysomesparhadfallenuponit。Thestarboardboat，however，remainedintactandsofaraswecouldjudge，seaworthy，althoughthebulwarkswerebrokenbythewaves。
　　"There’ssomethingwecangetawayinifnecessary，"Isaid。
　　"Whereto？"remarkedBastin。"Wedon’tknowwhereweareorifthereisanyotherlandwithinathousandmiles。IthinkwehadbetterstophereasProvidenceseemstohaveintended，especiallywhenthereissomuchworktomyhand。"
　　"Becareful，"answeredBickley，"thattheworktoyourhanddoesnotendinthecuttingofallourthroats。Itisanawkwardthinginterferingwiththereligionofsavages，andIbelievethattheseuntutoredchildrenofNaturesometimeseatmissionaries。"
　　"Yes，Ihaveheardthat，"saidBastin；"theybakethemfirstastheydopigs。ButIdon’tknowthattheywouldcaretoeatme，"
　　andheglancedathisbonylimbs，"especiallywhenyouaremuchplumper。Anyhowonecan’tstopforariskofthatsort。"
　　Deigningnoreply，Bickleywalkedawaytofetchsomefinefishwhichhadbeenwashedupbythetidalwaveandwerestillflappingaboutinalittlepoolofsaltwater。Thenwetookcounselastohowtomakethebestofourcircumstances，andasaresultsettoworktotidyupthesaloonandcabins，whichwasnotdifficultaswhatremainedoftheshiplayonanevenkeel。
　　Alsowegotoutsomenecessarystores，includingparaffinfortheswinginglampswithwhichtheshipwasfittedincaseofaccidenttotheelectriclight，candles，andthegunswehadbroughtwithussothattheymightbehandyintheeventofattack。Thisdone，bytheaidofthetoolsthatwereinthestorerooms，Bickley，whowasanexcellentcarpenter，repairedthesaloondoor，allthatwasnecessarytokeepusprivate，asthebulkheadstillremained。
　　"Now，"hesaidtriumphantlywhenhehadfinishedandgotthelockandboltstoworktohissatisfaction，"wecanstandasiegeifneeded，forastheshipisironbuilttheycan’tevenburnusoutandthatteakdoorwouldtakesomeforcing。Alsowecanshoreitup。"
　　"Howaboutsomethingtoeat？Iwantmytea，"saidBastin。
　　"Then，myreverendfriend，"repliedBickley，"takeacoupleofthefirebucketsandfetchsomewaterfromthestream。Alsocollectdriftwoodofwhichthereisplentyabout，cleanthosefishandgrillthemoverthesaloonstove。"
　　"I’lltry，"saidBastin，"butIneverdidanycookingbefore。"
　　"No，"repliedBickley，"onsecondthoughtsIwillseetothatmyself，butyoucangetthefishready。"
　　So，withdueprecautions，BastinandIfetchedwaterfromthestreamwhichwefoundflowedovertheedgeofthecliffquitecloseathandintoabeautifulcoralbasinthatmighthavebeendesignedforabathofthenymphs。Indeedoneatatime，whiletheotherwatched，weundressedandplungedintoit，andneverwasatubmorewelcomethanafterourlongdaysoftempest。ThenwereturnedtofindthatBickleyhadalreadysetthetableandwasengagedinfryingthefishveryskilfullyonthesaloonstove，whichprovedtobewelladaptedtothepurpose。Hewascross，however，whenhefoundthatwehadbathedandthatitwasnowtoolateforhimtodolikewise。
　　WhilehewascleaninghimselfaswellashecouldinhiscabinbasinandBastinwasboilingwaterfortea，suddenlyIrememberedtheletterfromtheDanishmateJacobsen。ConcludingthatitmightnowbeopenedaswehadcertainlypartedwithmostoftheStaroftheSouthforthelasttime，Ireadit。Itwasasfollows：
　　"Thereason，honouredSir，thatIamleavingtheshipisthatonthenightItoreupthepaper，thespiritcontrollingtheplanchettewrotethesewords：’AfterleavingSamoatheStaroftheSouthwillbewreckedinahurricaneandeverybodyonboarddrownedexceptA。B。andB。Getoutofher！Getoutofher！Don’tbeafool，Jacob，unlessyouwanttocomeoverhereatonce。Takeouradviceandgetoutofherandyouwilllivetobeold。——
　　SKOLL。"
　　"Sir，IamnotacowardbutIknowthatthiswillhappen，forthatspiritwhichsignsitselfSkollnevertellsalie。IdidtrytogivethecaptainahinttostopatApia，buthehadbeendrinkingandopenlycursedmeandcalledmeasneakingcheat。SoIamgoingtorunaway，ofwhichIamverymuchashamed。ButIdonotwishtobedrownedyetasthereisagirlwhomIwanttomarry，andmymotherIsupport。YouwillbesafeandIhopeyouwillnotthinktoobadlyofme。——JACOBJACOBSEN。
　　"P。S。——Itisanawfulthingtoknowthefuture。Nevertrytolearnthat。"
　　IgavethislettertoBastinandBickleytoreadandaskedthemwhattheythoughtofit。
　　"Coincidence，"saidBickley。"Themanisaweak—mindedidiotandheardinSamoathattheyexpectedahurricane。"
　　"Ithink，"chimedinBastin，"thatthedevilknowshowtolookafterhisownatanyrateforalittlewhile。Idaresayitwouldhavebeenmuchbetterforhimtobedrowned。"
　　"Atleastheisadeserterandfailedinhisduty。Ineverwishtohearofhimagain，"Isaid。
　　AsamatteroffactIneverhave。ButtheincidentremainsquiteunexplainedeitherbyBickleyorBastin。
　　ChapterVII
　　TheOrofenansToourshamewehadaverypleasantsupperthatnightoffthegrilledfish，whichwasexcellent，andsometinnedmeat。Isaytoourshame，inasense，foronourcompanionsthesharksweresuppingandbyrightsweshouldhavebeensunkinwoe。Isupposethatthesenseofourownescapeintoxicatedus。Also，notwithstandinghisjoviality，noneofushadcaredmuchforthecaptain，andhispolicyhadbeentokeepussomewhatapartfromthecrew，ofwhomthereforeweknewbutlittle。ItistruethatBastinheldservicesonSundays，forsuchaswouldattend，andBickleyhaddoctoredafewofthemforminorailments，butthere，exceptforalittlecasualconversation，ourintercoursebeganandended。
　　Nowthesadfactisthatitishardtobeoverwhelmedwithgriefforthosewithwhomwearenotintimate。Wewereverysorryandthatisallthatcanbesaid，exceptthatBastin，beingHighChurch，announcedinamatter—of—factwaythathemeanttoputupsomepetitionsforthewelfareoftheirsouls。TothisBickleyretortedthatfromwhathehadseenoftheirbodieshewassuretheyneededthem。
　　Yes，itwasapleasantsupper，notmadelesssobyabottleofchampagnewhichBickleyandIshared。Bastinstucktohistea，notbecausehedidnotlikechampagne，butbecause，asheexplained，havingnowcomeincontactwiththeheathenitwouldneverdoforhimtosetthemanexampleintheuseofspirituousliquors。
　　"Howevermuchwemaydiffer，Bastin，Irespectyouforthatsentiment，"commentedBickley。
　　"Idon’tknowwhyyoushould，"answeredBastin；"butifso，youmightfollowmyexample。"
　　Thatnightwesleptlikelogs，trustingtoourteakdoorwhichwebarricaded，andtoTommy，whowasamostexcellentwatch—dog，toguardusagainstsurprise。Atanyratewetooktherisk。Asamatteroffact，nothinghappened，thoughbeforedawnTommydidgrowlagooddeal，forIheardhim，butashesankintoslumberagainonmybed，Ididnotgetup。InthemorningIfoundfromfreshfootprintsthattwoorthreemenhadbeenprowlingabouttheship，thoughatalittledistance。
　　Weroseearly，andtakingthenecessaryprecautions，bathedinthepool。Thenwebreakfasted，andhavingfilledeveryavailablereceptaclewithwater，whichtookusalongtimeastheseincludedalargetankthatsuppliedthebath，sothatwemighthaveatleastaweek’ssupplyincaseofsiege，wewentondeckanddebatedwhatweshoulddo。Intheendwedeterminedtostopwherewewereandawaitevents，because，asIpointedout，itwasnecessarythatweshoulddiscoverwhetherthesenativeswerehostileorfriendly。Intheformereventwecouldholdourownontheship，whereasawayfromitwemustbeoverwhelmed；inthelattertherewasalwaystimetomoveinland。
　　Aboutteno’clockwhenwewereseatedonstoolssmoking，withourgunsbyourside——forhere，owingtotheoverhangingcliffinwhichitwillberememberedtheprowoftheshipwasburied，wecouldnotbereachedbymissilesthrownfromabove——wesawnumbersoftheislandersadvancinguponusalongthebeachoneitherside。Theywereprecededasbeforebywomenwhoborefoodonplattersandinbaskets。Thesepeople，alltalkingexcitedlyandlaughingaftertheirfashion，stoppedatadistance，sowetooknonoticeofthem。PresentlyMarama，cladinhisfeathercloak，andagainaccompaniedbypriestsormedicine—men，appearedwalkingdownthepathonthecliffface，and，standingbelow，madesalutationsandenteredintoaconversationwithusofwhichIgivethesubstance——thatis，sofaraswecouldunderstandit。
　　Hereproachedusfornothavingcometohimasheexpectedwewoulddo。Werepliedthatwepreferredtoremainwherewewereuntilweweresureofourgreetingandaskedhimwhatwastheposition。Heexplainedthatonlyoncebefore，inthetimeofhisgrandfather，hadanypeoplereachedtheirshores，alsoduringagreatstormaswehaddone。Theyweredark—skinnedmenlikethemselves，threeofthem，butwhencetheycamewasneverknown，sincetheywereatonceseizedandsacrificedtothegodOro，whichwastherightthingtodoinsuchacase。
　　Weaskedwhetherhewouldconsideritrighttosacrificeus。Hereplied：
　　Certainly，unlessweweretoostrong，beinggodsourselves，orunlessanarrangementcouldbeconcluded。Weasked——whatarrangement？Herepliedthatwemustmakethemgifts；alsothatwemustdowhatwehadpromisedandcurehim——thechief——ofthediseasewhichhadtormentedhimforyears。Inthateventeverythingwouldbeatourdisposalandwe，withallourbelongings，shouldbecometaboo，holy，nottobetouched。Nonewouldattempttoharmus，nothingshouldbestolenunderpenaltyofdeath。
　　Weaskedhimtocomeuponthedeckwithonlyonecompanionthathissicknessmightbeascertained，andaftermuchhesitationheconsentedtodoso。Bickleymadeanexaminationofthegrowthandannouncedthathebelieveditcouldberemovedwithperfectsafetyastheattachmenttotheneckwasveryslight，butofcoursetherewasalwaysarisk。Thiswasexplainedtohimwithdifficulty，andmuchtalkfollowedbetweenhimandhisfollowerswhogatheredonthebeachbeneaththeship。Theyseemedadversetotheexperiment，tillMammagrewfuriouswiththemandatlastburstintotearssayingthathecouldnolongerdragthisterribleburdenaboutwithhim，andhetouchedthegrowth。Hewouldratherdie。Thentheygaveway。
　　IwilltelltherestasshortlyasIcan。
　　Ahideouswoodenidolwasbroughtonboard，wrappedinleavesandfeathers，anduponitthechiefandhisheadpeoplesworesafetytouswhetherhelivedordied，makingustheguestsoftheirland。Therewere，however，twoprovisosmade，orassuchweunderstoodthem。Theseseemedtobethatweshouldoffernoinsultorinjurytotheirgod，andsecondly，thatweshouldnotsetfootontheislandinthelake。Itwasnottillafterwardsthatitoccurredtomethatthismustrefertothemountaintopwhichappearedintheinlandsheetofwater。Tothosestipulationswemadenoanswer。Indeed，theOrofenansdidallthetalking。Finally，theyratifiedtheiroathsbyamanwho，I
　　suppose，wasaheadpriest，cuttinghisarmandrubbingthebloodfromitonthelipsoftheidol；alsouponthoseofthechief。I
　　shouldaddthatBastinhadretiredassoonashesawthatfalsegodappear，ofwhichIwasglad，sinceIfeltsurethathewouldmakeascene。
　　Theoperationtookplacethatafternoonandontheship，forwhenonceMaramahadmadeuphismindtotrustushedidsoverythoroughly。Itwasperformedondeckinthepresenceofanawedmultitudewhowatchedfromtheshore，andwhentheysawBickleyappearinacleannightshirtandwashhishands，utteredagroanofwonder。Evidentlytheyconsidereditamagicalandreligiousceremony；indeedeverafterwardstheycalledBickleytheGreatPriest，orsometimestheGreatHealerinlaterdays。ThiswasagrievancetoBastinwhoconsideredthathehadbeenrobbedofhispropertitle，especiallywhenhelearnedthatamongthemselveshewasonlyknownas"theBellower，"becauseoftheloudvoiceinwhichheaddressedthem。NordidBickleyparticularlyappreciatethecompliment。
　　Withmyhelpheadministeredthechloroform，whichwasdoneundershelterofasailforfearlestthepeopleshouldthinkthatweweresmotheringtheirchief。Thentheoperationwentontoasatisfactoryconclusion。Iomitthedetails，butanelectricbatteryandared—hotwirecameintoplay。
　　"There，"saidBickleytriumphantlywhenhehadfinishedtyingthevesselsandmadeeverythingneatandtidywithbandages，"I
　　wasafraidhemightbleedtodeath，butIdon’tthinkthereisanyfearofthatnow，forIhavemadearealjobofit。"Thenadvancingwiththehorridtumourinhishandsheshoweditintriumphtothecrowdbeneath，whogroanedagainandthrewthemselvesontotheirfaces。DoubtlessnowitisthemostsacredrelicofOrofena。
　　WhenMaramacameoutoftheanesthetic，Bickleygavehimsomethingwhichsenthimtosleepfortwelvehours，duringallwhichtimehispeoplewaitedbeneath。Thiswasourdangerousperiod，forourdifficultywastopersuadethemthathewasnotdead，althoughBickleyhadassuredthemthathewouldsleepforatimewhilethemagicworked。Still，Iwasverygladwhenhewokeuponthefollowingmorning，andtwoorthreeofhisleadingmencouldseethathewasalive。Therestwaslengthybutsimple，consistingmerelyinkeepinghimquietandonasuitabledietuntiltherewasnofearofthewoundopening。Weachieveditsomehowwiththehelpofanintelligentnativewomanwho，I
　　suppose，wasoneofhiswives，andfivedayslaterwereenabledtopresenthimhealed，thoughrathertottery，tohisaffectionatesubjects。
　　Itwasagreatscene，whichmaybeimagined。Theyborehimawayinalitterwiththenativewomantowatchhimandanothertocarrytherelicpreservedinabasket，andustheyacclaimedasgods。ThenceforwardwehadnothingtofearinOrofena——exceptBastin，thoughthiswedidnotknowatthetime。
　　Allthiswhilewehadbeenlivingonourshipandgrowingveryboredthere，althoughweemployedtheemptyhoursinconversationwithselectednatives，therebyimprovingourknowledgeofthelanguage。Bickleyhadthebestofit，sincealreadypatientsbegantoarrivewhichoccupiedhim。OneofthefirstwasthatmanwhomTommyhadbitten。Hewascarriedtousinanalmostcomatosestate，sufferingapparentlyfromthesymptomsofsnakepoisoning。
　　AfterwarditturnedoutthatheconceivedTommytobeadivinebutmostvenomouslizardthatcouldmakeaveryhorriblenoise，andbegantosufferasonemightdofromthebiteofsuchacreature。NothingthatBickleycoulddowasenoughtosavehimandultimatelyhediedinconvulsions，acircumstancethatenormouslyenhancedTommy’sreputation。Totellthetruth，wetookadvantageofittoexplainthatTommywasinfactasupernaturalanimal，asortoftamedemonwhichonlyharmedpeoplewhohadmalevolentintentionstowardsthoseheservedorwhotriedtostealanyoftheirpossessionsortointrudeuponthematinconvenienthours，especiallyinthedark。Soterriblewashe，indeed，thateventheskilloftheGreatPriest，i。e。，Bickley，couldnotavailtosaveanywhomoncehehadbitteninhisrage。Eventobebarkedatbyhimwasdangerousandconveyedacursethatmightlastforgenerations。
　　AllthiswesetoutwhenBastinwasnotthere。Hehadwanderedoff，ashesaid，tolookforshells，butasweknew，topractisereligiousorationsinthePolynesiantonguewiththewavesforaudience，asDemosthenesissaidtohavedonetoperfecthimselfasapoliticalorator。PersonallyIadmitthatIreliedmoreontheterrorsofTommytosafeguardusfromtheftandothertroublesthanIdiduponthoseofthenativetabooandthepriestlyoaths。
　　Theendofitallwasthatweleftourship，havingpadlockedupthedoor（thepadlock，weexplained，wasamagicalinstrumentthatbitworsethanTommy），andmovedinlandinakindoftriumphalprocession，priestsandsingersgoingbefore（theOrofenanssangextremelywell）andminstrelsfollowingafterplayinguponinstrumentslikeflutes，whilebehindcamethebearerscarryingsuchgoodsasweneeded。Theytookustoabeautifulplaceinagroveofpalmsonaridgewheregrewmanybreadfruittrees，thatcommandedaviewoftheoceanupononesideandofthelakewiththestrangebrownmountaintopontheother。Hereinthemidstofthenativegardenswefoundthatafinehousehadbeenbuiltforusofakindofmudbrickandthatchedwithpalmleaves，surroundedbyafencedcourtyardofbeatenearthandhavingwideoverhangingverandahs；averycomfortableplaceindeedinthatdeliciousclimate。Initwetookupourabode，visitingtheshipoccasionallytoseethatallwaswellthere，andawaitingevents。
　　ForBickleythesesoonbegantohappenintheshapeofanever—increasingstreamofpatients。Thepopulationoftheislandwasconsiderable，anythingbetweenfiveandtenthousand，sofaraswecouldjudge，andamongtheseofcoursetherewereanumberofsick。Ophthalmia，forinstance，wasaprevalentdisease，aswerethegrowthssuchasMaramahadsufferedfrom，tosaynothingofsurgicalcasesandthoseresultingfromaccidentorfromnervousailments。WithalloftheseBickleywascalledupontodeal，whichhedidwithremarkablesuccessbyhelpofhisbooksonTropicalDiseasesandhisamplesuppliesofmedicalnecessaries。
　　Atfirstheenjoyeditverymuch，butwhenwehadbeenestablishedinthehouseforaboutthreeweeksheremarked，afterputtinginasolidtenhoursofwork，thatforalltheholidayhewasgettinghemightaswellbebackathisoldpractice，withthedifferencethattherehewasearningseveralthousandsayear。Justthenapoorwomanarrivedwithababyinconvulsionstowhosenecessitieshewasobligedtosacrificehissupper，afterwhichcameamanwhohadfallenfromapalmtreeandbrokenhisleg。
　　NordidIescape，sincehavingsomehoworotherestablishedareputationforwisdom，assoonasIhadmasteredsufficientofthelanguage，everykindofknottycasewaslaidbeforemefordecision。Inshort，IbecameasortofChiefJustice——notaneasyofficeasitinvolvedtheacquirementofthenativelawwhichwasintricateandpeculiar，especiallyinmatrimonialcases。
　　AttheseoppressiveactivitiesBastinlookedonwithagloomyeye。
　　"Youfellowsseemverybusy，"hesaidoneevening；"butIcanfindnothingtodo。Theydon’tseemtowantme，andmerelytosetagoodexamplebydrinkingwaterorteawhileyouswallowwhiskyandtheirpalmwine，orwhateveritis，isverynegativekindofwork，especiallyasIamgettingtiredofplantingthingsinthegardenandplayingpolicemanroundthewreckwhichnobodygoesnear。EvenTommyisbetteroff，foratleasthecanbarkandhuntrats。"
　　"Yousee，"saidBickley，"wearefollowingourtrades。
　　Arbuthnotisalawyerandactsasajudge。IamasurgeonandI
　　mayaddageneral——averygeneral——practitionerandworkatmedicineinanenormousandmuch—neglectedpractice。Therefore，you，beingaclergyman，shouldgoanddolikewise。Therearesometenthousandpeoplehere，butIdonotobservethatasyetyouhaveconverteda，singleone。"
　　ThusspokeBickleyinalightandunguardedmomentwithhisusualobjectofwhatisknownas"gettingarise"outofBastin。
　　Littledidheguesswhathewasdoing。
　　Bastinthoughtawhileponderously，thensaid：
　　"ItisverystrangefromwhatpeculiarsourcesProvidencesometimessendsinspirations。Ifwisdomflowsfrombabesandsucklings，whyshoulditnotdosofromthewellofagnosticsandmockers？"
　　"ThereisnoreasonwhichIcansee，"scoffedBickley，"exceptthatasarulewellsdonotflow。"
　　"Yourjestisill—timedandImayaddfoolish，"continuedBastin。"WhatIwasabouttoaddwasthatyouhavegivenmeanidea，asitwasnodoubtintendedthatyoushoulddo。Iwill，metaphoricallyspeaking，girdupmyloinsandtrytobearthelightintoallthisheathenblackness。"
　　"Thenitisoneofthefirstyoueverhad，oldfellow。Butwhat’stheneedofgirdingupyourloinsinthishotclimate？"
　　inquiredBickleywithinnocence。"Pyjamasandthatwhiteandgreenumbrellaofyourswoulddojustaswell。"
　　Bastinvouchsafednoreplyandsatfortherestofthateveningplungedindeepthought。
　　OnthefollowingmorningheapproachedMaramaandaskedhisleavetoteachthepeopleaboutthegods。Thechiefreadilygrantedthis，thinking，Ibelieve，thathealludedtoourselves，andorderswereissuedaccordingly。TheyweretotheeffectthatBastinwastobeallowedtogoeverywhereunmolestedandtotalktowhomhewouldaboutwhathewould，towhichallmustlistenwithrespect。
　　ThushebeganhismissionarycareerinOrofena，workingatit，goodandearnestmanthathewas，inawaythatexcitedeventheadmirationofBickley。Hestartedaschoolforchildren，。whichwasheldunderafine，spreadingtree。Theselistenedwell，andbeingofexceedinglyquickintellectsoonbegantopickuptheelementsofknowledge。Butwhenhetriedtopersuadethemtoclothetheirlittlenakedbodieshisfailurewascomplete，althoughaftermuchsupplicationsomeofthebiggergirlsdidarrivewithachapletofflowers膔oundtheirnecks！
　　Alsohepreachedtotheadults，andhereagainwasverysuccessfulinaway，especiallyafterhebecamemorefamiliarwiththelanguage。Theylistened；toacertainextenttheyunderstood；theyarguedandputtopoorBastinthemostawfulquestionssuchasthewholeBenchofBishopscouldnothaveanswered。Stillhedidanswerthemsomehow，andtheypolitelyacceptedhisinterpretationoftheirtheologicalriddles。I
　　observedthathegotonbestwhenhewastellingthemstoriesoutoftheOldTestament，suchastheaccountofthecreationoftheworldandofhumanbeings，alsooftheDeluge，etc。Indeedoneoftheirelderssaid——Yes，thiswasquitetrue。Theyhadhearditallbeforefromtheirfathers，andthatoncetheDelugehadtakenplaceroundOrofena，swallowingupgreatcountries，butsparingthembecausetheyweresogood。