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talking。 Finally； they ratified their oaths by a man who； I
suppose； was a head priest； cutting his arm and rubbing the blood
from it on the lips of the idol； also upon those of the chief。 I
should add that Bastin had retired as soon as he saw that false
god appear； of which I was glad； since I felt sure that he would
make a scene。
The operation took place that afternoon and on the ship； for
when once Marama had made up his mind to trust us he did so very
thoroughly。 It was performed on deck in the presence of an awed
multitude who watched from the shore； and when they saw Bickley
appear in a clean nightshirt and wash his hands； uttered a groan
of wonder。 Evidently they considered it a magical and religious
ceremony； indeed ever afterwards they called Bickley the Great
Priest； or sometimes the Great Healer in later days。 This was a
grievance to Bastin who considered that he had been robbed of his
proper title； especially when he learned that among themselves he
was only known as 〃the Bellower；〃 because of the loud voice in
which he addressed them。 Nor did Bickley particularly appreciate
the compliment。
With my help he administered the chloroform； which was done
under shelter of a sail for fear lest the people should think
that we were smothering their chief。 Then the operation went on
to a satisfactory conclusion。 I omit the details； but an electric
battery and a red…hot wire came into play。
〃There；〃 said Bickley triumphantly when he had finished tying
the vessels and made everything neat and tidy with bandages； 〃I
was afraid he might bleed to death； but I don't think there is
any fear of that now； for I have made a real job of it。〃 Then
advancing with the horrid tumour in his hands he showed it in
triumph to the crowd beneath； who groaned again and threw
themselves on to their faces。 Doubtless now it is the most sacred
relic of Orofena。
When Marama came out of the anesthetic； Bickley gave him
something which sent him to sleep for twelve hours； during all
which time his people waited beneath。 This was our dangerous
period； for our difficulty was to persuade them that he was not
dead； although Bickley had assured them that he would sleep for a
time while the magic worked。 Still； I was very glad when he woke
up on the following morning； and two or three of his leading men
could see that he was alive。 The rest was lengthy but simple；
consisting merely in keeping him quiet and on a suitable diet
until there was no fear of the wound opening。 We achieved it
somehow with the help of an intelligent native woman who； I
suppose； was one of his wives； and five days later were enabled
to present him healed； though rather tottery； to his affectionate
subjects。
It was a great scene； which may be imagined。 They bore him away
in a litter with the native woman to watch him and another to
carry the relic preserved in a basket； and us they acclaimed as
gods。 Thenceforward we had nothing to fear in Orofenaexcept
Bastin； though this we did not know at the time。
All this while we had been living on our ship and growing very
bored there； although we employed the empty hours in conversation
with selected natives； thereby improving our knowledge of the
language。 Bickley had the best of it； since already patients
began to arrive which occupied him。 One of the first was that man
whom Tommy had bitten。 He was carried to us in an almost comatose
state； suffering apparently from the symptoms of snake poisoning。
Afterward it turned out that he conceived Tommy to be a divine
but most venomous lizard that could make a very horrible noise；
and began to suffer as one might do from the bite of such a
creature。 Nothing that Bickley could do was enough to save him
and ultimately he died in convulsions； a circumstance that
enormously enhanced Tommy's reputation。 To tell the truth； we
took advantage of it to explain that Tommy was in fact a
supernatural animal； a sort of tame demon which only harmed
people who had malevolent intentions towards those he served or
who tried to steal any of their possessions or to intrude upon
them at inconvenient hours； especially in the dark。 So terrible
was he； indeed； that even the skill of the Great Priest； i。e。；
Bickley； could not avail to save any whom once he had bitten in
his rage。 Even to be barked at by him was dangerous and conveyed
a curse that might last for generations。
All this we set out when Bastin was not there。 He had wandered
off； as he said； to look for shells； but as we knew； to practise
religious orations in the Polynesian tongue with the waves for
audience； as Demosthenes is said to have done to perfect himself
as a political orator。 Personally I admit that I relied more on
the terrors of Tommy to safeguard us from theft and other
troubles than I did upon those of the native taboo and the
priestly oaths。
The end of it all was that we left our ship； having padlocked
up the door （the padlock； we explained； was a magical instrument
that bit worse than Tommy）； and moved inland in a kind of
triumphal procession； priests and singers going before （the
Orofenans sang extremely well） and minstrels following after
playing upon instruments like flutes； while behind came the
bearers carrying such goods as we needed。 They took us to a
beautiful place in a grove of palms on a ridge where grew many
breadfruit trees； that commanded a view of the ocean upon one
side and of the lake with the strange brown mountain top on the
other。 Here in the midst of the native gardens we found that a
fine house had been built for us of a kind of mud brick and
thatched with palm leaves； surrounded by a fenced courtyard of
beaten earth and having wide overhanging verandahs； a very
comfortable place indeed in that delicious climate。 In it we took
up our abode； visiting the ship occasionally to see that all was
well there； and awaiting events。
For Bickley these soon began to happen in the shape of an
ever…increasing stream of patients。 The population of the island
was considerable； anything between five and ten thousand； so far
as we could judge； and among these of course there were a number
of sick。 Ophthalmia； for instance； was a prevalent disease； as
were the growths such as Marama had suffered from； to say nothing
of surgical cases and those resulting from accident or from
nervous ailments。 With all of these Bickley was called upon to
deal； which he did with remarkable success by help of his books
on Tropical Diseases and his ample supplies of medical
necessaries。
At first he enjoyed it very much； but when we had been
established in the house for about three weeks he remarked； after
putting in a solid ten hours of work； that for all the holiday he
was getting he might as well be back at his old practice； with
the difference that there he was earning several thousands a
year。 Just then a poor woman arrived with a baby in convulsions
to whose necessities he was obl