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would take him a day or two to appreciate the significance of our
discoveries。 At any rate； he wandered off； making no remarks
about them； to drink water； I suppose。
Presently he began to shout to us from the end of the
table…rock and we went to see the reason of his noise。 It proved
to be very satisfactory； for while we were in the cave the
Orofenans had brought absolutely everything belonging to us；
together with a large supply of food from the main island。 Not a
single article was missing； even our books； a can with the bottom
out； and the broken pieces of a little pocket mirror had been
religiously transported； and with these a few articles that had
been stolen from us； notably my pocket…knife。 Evidently a great
taboo had been laid upon all our possessions。 They were now
carefully arranged in one of the grooves of the rock that Bickley
supposed had been made by the wheels of aeroplanes； which was why
we had not seen them at once。
Each of us rushed for what we desired mostBastin for one of
the canisters of tea； I for my diaries； and Bickley for his chest
of instruments and medicines。 These were removed to the mouth of
the cave； and after them the other things and the food； also a
bell tent and some camp furniture that we had brought from the
ship。 Then Bastin made some tea of which he drank four large
pannikins； having first said grace over it with unwonted fervour。
Nor did we disdain our share of the beverage； although Bickley
preferred cocoa and I coffee。 Cocoa and coffee we had no time to
make then； and in view of that sepulchre in the cave； what had we
to do with cocoa and coffee？
So Bickley and I said to each other； and yet presently he
changed his mind and in a special metal machine carefully made
some extremely strong black coffee which he poured into a thermos
flask； previously warmed with hot water； adding thereto about a
claret glass of brandy。 Also he extracted certain drugs from his
medicine…chest； and with them； as I noted； a hypodermic syringe；
which he first boiled in a kettle and then shut up in a little
tube with a glass stopper。
These preparations finished； he called to Tommy to give him the
scraps of our meal。 But there was no Tommy。 The dog was missing；
and though we hunted everywhere we could not find him。 Finally we
concluded that he had wandered off down the beach on business of
his own and would return in due course。 We could not bother about
Tommy just then。
After making some further preparations and fidgeting about a
little； Bickley announced that as we had now some proper paraffin
lamps of the powerful sort which are known as 〃hurricane；〃 he
proposed by their aid to carry out further examinations in the
cave。
〃I think I shall stop where I am；〃 said Bastin； helping himself
from the kettle to a fifth pannikin of tea。 〃Those corpses are
very interesting； but I don't see any use in staring at them
again at present。 One can always do that at any time。 I have
missed Marama once already by being away in that cave； and I have
a lot to say to him about my people； I don't want to be absent in
case he should return。〃
〃To wash up the things； I suppose；〃 said Bickley with a sniff；
〃or perhaps to eat the tea…leaves。〃
〃Well； as a matter of fact； I have noticed that these natives
have a peculiar taste for tea…leaves。 I think they believe them
to be a medicine； but I don't suppose they would come so far for
them； though perhaps they might in the hope of getting the head
of Oro。 Anyhow； I am going to stop here。〃
〃Pray do；〃 said Bickley。 〃Are you ready； Humphrey？〃
I nodded； and he handed to me a felt…covered flask of the non…
conducting kind； filled with boiling water； a tin of preserved
milk； and a little bottle of meat extract of a most concentrated
sort。 Then； having lit two of the hurricane lamps and seen that
they were full of oil； we started back up the cave。
Chapter XI
Resurrection
We reached the sepulchre without stopping to look at the parked
machines or even the marvelous statue that stood above it； for
what did we care about machines or statues now？ As we approached
we were astonished to hear low and cavernous growlings。
〃There is some wild beast in there；〃 said Bickley； halting。
〃No； by George！ it's Tommy。 What can the dog be after？〃
We peeped in； and there sure enough was Tommy lying on the top
of the Glittering Lady's coffin and growling his very best with
the hair standing up upon his back。 When he saw who it was；
however； he jumped off and frisked round； licking my hand。
〃That's very strange；〃 I exclaimed。
〃Not stranger than everything else；〃 said Bickley。
〃What are you going to do？〃 I asked。
〃Open these coffins；〃 he answered； 〃beginning with that of the
old god； since I would rather experiment on him。 I expect he will
crumble into dust。 But if by chance he doesn't I'll jam a little
strychnine； mixed with some other drugs； of which you don't know
the names； into one of his veins and see if anything happens。 If
it doesn't； it won't hurt him； and if it doeswell； who knows？
Now give me a hand。〃
We went to the left…hand coffin and by inserting the hook on
the back of my knife； of which the real use is to pick stones out
of horses' hoofs； into one of the little air…holes I have
described； managed to raise the heavy crystal lid sufficiently to
enable us to force a piece of wood between it and the top。 The
rest was easy； for the hinges being of crystal had not corroded。
In two minutes it was open。
From the chest came an overpowering spicy odour； and with it a
veritable breath of warm air before which we recoiled a little。
Bickley took a pocket thermometer which he had at hand and
glanced at it。 It marked a temperature of 82 degrees in the
sepulchre。 Having noted this； he thrust it into the coffin
between the crystal wall and its occupant。 Then we went out and
waited a little while to give the odours time to dissipate； for
they made the head reel。
After five minutes or so we returned and examined the
thermometer。 It had risen to 98 degrees； the natural temperature
of the human body。
〃What do you make of that if the man is dead？〃 he whispered。
I shook my head； and as we had agreed； set to helping him to
lift the body from the coffin。 It was a good weight； quite eleven
stone I should say； moreover； it was not still； for the hip
joints bent。 We got it out and laid it on a blanket we had spread
on the floor of the sepulchre。 Whilst I was thus engaged I saw
something that nearly caused me to loose my hold from
astonishment。 Beneath the head； the centre of the back and the
feet were crystal boxes about eight inches square； or rather
crystal blocks； for in them I could see no opening； and these
boxes emitted a faint phosphorescent light。 I touched one of them
and found that it was quite warm。
〃Great heavens！〃 I exclaimed； 〃here's magic。〃
〃There's no suc