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will make you gods and worship you and give you many wives。〃
（Here Bastin held up his hands in horror。） 〃When will you begin
to take away the lumps？〃
〃To…morrow；〃 said Bickley。 〃But learn that if you try to harm
us we will bring another wave which will drown all your country。〃
Nobody seemed to doubt our capacities in this direction； but
one inquiring spirit in a wicker crate did ask how it came about
that if we controlled the ocean we had arrived in half a canoe
instead of a whole one。
Bickley replied to the effect that it was because the gods
always travelled in half…canoes to show their higher nature；
which seemed to satisfy everyone。 Then we announced that we had
seen enough of them for that day and would retire to think。
Meanwhile we should be obliged if they would build us a house and
keep us supplied with whatever food they had。
〃Do the gods eat？〃 asked the sceptic again。
〃That fellow is a confounded radical；〃 I whispered to Bickley。
〃Tell him that they do when they come to Orofena。〃
He did so； whereon the chief said：
〃Would the gods like a nice young girl cooked？〃
At this point Bastin retired down the path； realising that he
had to do with cannibals。 We said that we preferred to look at
the girls alive and would meet them again to…morrow morning； when
we hoped that the house would be ready。
So our first interview with the inhabitants of Orofena came to
an end； on which we congratulated ourselves。
On reaching the remains of the Star of the South we set to work
to take stock of what was left to us。 Fortunately it proved to be
a very great deal。 As I think I mentioned； all the passenger part
of the yacht lay forward of the bridge； just in front of which
the vessel had been broken in two； almost as cleanly as though
she were severed by a gigantic knife。 Further our stores were
forward and practically everything else that belonged to us； even
down to Bickley's instruments and medicines and Bastin's
religious works； to say nothing of a great quantity of tinned
food and groceries。 Lastly on the deck above the saloon had stood
two large lifeboats。 Although these were amply secured at the
commencement of the gale one of them； that on the port side； was
smashed to smithers； probably some spar had fallen upon it。 The
starboard boat； however； remained intact and so far as we could
judge； seaworthy； although the bulwarks were broken by the waves。
〃There's something we can get away in if necessary；〃 I said。
〃Where to？〃 remarked Bastin。 〃We don't know where we are or if
there is any other land within a thousand miles。 I think we had
better stop here as Providence seems to have intended； especially
when there is so much work to my hand。〃
〃Be careful；〃 answered Bickley； 〃that the work to your hand
does not end in the cutting of all our throats。 It is an awkward
thing interfering with the religion of savages； and I believe
that these untutored children of Nature sometimes eat
missionaries。〃
〃Yes； I have heard that；〃 said Bastin； 〃they bake them first as
they do pigs。 But I don't know that they would care to eat me；〃
and he glanced at his bony limbs； 〃especially when you are much
plumper。 Anyhow one can't stop for a risk of that sort。〃
Deigning no reply； Bickley walked away to fetch some fine fish
which had been washed up by the tidal wave and were still
flapping about in a little pool of salt water。 Then we took
counsel as to how to make the best of our circumstances； and as a
result set to work to tidy up the saloon and cabins； which was
not difficult as what remained of the ship lay on an even keel。
Also we got out some necessary stores； including paraffin for the
swinging lamps with which the ship was fitted in case of accident
to the electric light； candles； and the guns we had brought with
us so that they might be handy in the event of attack。 This done；
by the aid of the tools that were in the storerooms； Bickley； who
was an excellent carpenter； repaired the saloon door； all that
was necessary to keep us private； as the bulkhead still remained。
〃Now；〃 he said triumphantly when he had finished and got the
lock and bolts to work to his satisfaction； 〃we can stand a siege
if needed； for as the ship is iron built they can't even burn us
out and that teak door would take some forcing。 Also we can shore
it up。〃
〃How about something to eat？ I want my tea；〃 said Bastin。
〃Then； my reverend friend；〃 replied Bickley； 〃take a couple of
the fire buckets and fetch some water from the stream。 Also
collect driftwood of which there is plenty about； clean those
fish and grill them over the saloon stove。〃
〃I'll try；〃 said Bastin； 〃but I never did any cooking before。〃
〃No；〃 replied Bickley； 〃on second thoughts I will see to that
myself； but you can get the fish ready。〃
So； with due precautions； Bastin and I fetched water from the
stream which we found flowed over the edge of the cliff quite
close at hand into a beautiful coral basin that might have been
designed for a bath of the nymphs。 Indeed one at a time； while
the other watched； we undressed and plunged into it； and never
was a tub more welcome than after our long days of tempest。 Then
we returned to find that Bickley had already set the table and
was engaged in frying the fish very skilfully on the saloon
stove； which proved to be well adapted to the purpose。 He was
cross； however； when he found that we had bathed and that it was
now too late for him to do likewise。
While he was cleaning himself as well as he could in his cabin
basin and Bastin was boiling water for tea； suddenly I remembered
the letter from the Danish mate Jacobsen。 Concluding that it
might now be opened as we had certainly parted with most of the
Star of the South for the last time； I read it。 It was as
follows：
〃The reason； honoured Sir； that I am leaving the ship is that
on the night I tore up the paper； the spirit controlling the
planchette wrote these words： 'After leaving Samoa the Star of
the South will be wrecked in a hurricane and everybody on board
drowned except A。 B。 and B。 Get out of her！ Get out of her！ Don't
be a fool； Jacob； unless you want to come over here at once。 Take
our advice and get out of her and you will live to be old。
SKOLL。〃
〃Sir； I am not a coward but I know that this will happen； for
that spirit which signs itself Skoll never tells a lie。 I did try
to give the captain a hint to stop at Apia； but he had been
drinking and openly cursed me and called me a sneaking cheat。 So
I am going to run away； of which I am very much ashamed。 But I do
not wish to be drowned yet as there is a girl whom I want to
marry； and my mother I support。 You will be safe and I hope you
will not think too badly of me。JACOB JACOBSEN。
〃P。S。It is an awful thing to know the future。 Never try to
learn that。〃
I gave this letter to Bastin and Bickley to read and asked them