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〃What did he say to that？〃 I asked。
〃Do you know； I think it frightened him； if one could imagine
Oro being frightened。 At any rate he remarked that the truth or
falsity of what I said was an urgent matter for him； as he could
not expect to live more than a few hundred years longer； though
perhaps he might prolong the period by another spell of sleep。
Then he asked me why I thought him so wicked。 I replied because
he himself said that he had drowned millions of people； which
showed an evil heart and intention even if it were not a fact。 He
thought a long while and asked what could be done in the
circumstances。 I replied that repentance and reparation were the
only courses open to him。〃
〃Reparation！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Yes； reparation was what I said； though I think I made a
mistake there； as you will see。 As nearly as I can remember； he
answered that he was beginning to repent； as from all he had
learned from us； he gathered that the races which had arisen as a
consequence of his action； were worse than those which he had
destroyed。 As regards reparation； what he had done once he could
do again。 He would think the matter over seriously； and see if it
were possible and advisable to raise those parts of the world
which had been sunk； and sink those which had been raised。 If so；
he thought that would make very handsome amends to the departed
nations and set him quite right with any superior Power； if such
a thing existed。 What are you laughing at； Bickley？ I don't think
it a laughing matter； since such remarks do not seem to me to
indicate any real change in Oro's heart； which is what I was
trying to effect。〃
Bickley； who was convulsed with merriment； wiped his eyes and
said：
〃You dear old donkey； don't you see what you have done； or
rather would have done if there were a word of truth in all this
ridiculous story about a deluge？ You would be in the way of
making your precious pupil； who certainly is the most masterly
old liar in the world； repeat his offence and send Europe to the
bottom of the sea。〃
〃That did occur to me； but it doesn't much matter as I am quite
certain that such a thing would never be allowed。 Of course there
was a real deluge once； but Oro had no more to do with it than I
had。 Don't you agree； Arbuthnot？〃
〃I think so；〃 I answered cautiously； 〃but really in this place
I am beginning to lose count of what is or is not possible。 Also；
of course； there may have been many deluges； indeed the history
of the world shows that this was so； it is written in its
geological strata。 What was the end of it？〃
〃The end was that he took the South Sea Bible and； after I had
explained a little about our letters； seemed to be able to read
it at once。 I suppose he was acquainted with the art of printing
in his youth。 At any rate he said that he would study it； I don't
know how； unless he can read； and that in two days' time he would
let me know what he thought about the matter of my religion。 Then
he told me to go。 I said that I did not know the way and was
afraid of losing myself。 Thereupon he waved his hand； and I
really can't say what happened。〃
〃Did you levitate up here；〃 asked Bickley； 〃like the late
lamented Mr。 Home at the spiritualistic seances？〃
〃No； I did not exactly levitate； but something or someone
seemed to get a hold of me； and I was just rushed along in a most
tumultuous fashion。 The next thing I knew was that I was standing
at the door of that sepulchre； though I have no recollection of
going up in the lift； or whatever it is。 I believe those beastly
caves are full of ghosts； or devils； and the worst of it is that
they have kept my solar…tope； which I put on this morning
forgetting that it would be useless there。〃
〃The Lady Yva's Fourth Dimension in action；〃 I suggested； 〃only
it wouldn't work on solar…topes。〃
〃I don't know what you are talking about；〃 said Bastin； 〃but if
my hat had to be left； why not my boots and other garments？
Please stop your nonsense and pass the tea。 Thank goodness I
haven't got to go down there tomorrow； as he seems to have had
enough of me for the present； so I vote we all pay a visit to the
ship。 It will be a very pleasant change。 I couldn't stand two
days running with that old fiend； and his ghosts or devils in the
cave。〃
Next morning accordingly； fearing no harm from the Orofenans；
we took the canoe and rowed to the main island。 Marama had
evidently seen us coming； for he and a number of his people met
us with every demonstration of delight； and escorted us to the
ship。 Here we found things just as we had left them； for there
had been no attempt at theft or other mischief。
While we were in the cabin a fit of moral weakness seemed to
overcome Bickley； the first and I may add the last from which I
ever saw him suffer。
〃Do you know；〃 he said； addressing us； 〃I think that we should
do well to try to get out of this place。 Eliminating a great deal
of the marvelous with which we seem to have come in touch here；
it is still obvious that we find ourselves in very peculiar and
unhealthy surroundings。 I mean mentally unhealthy； indeed I think
that if we stay here much longer we shall probably go off our
heads。 Now that boat on the deck remains sound and seaworthy。 Why
should not we provision her and take our chance？ We know more or
less which way to steer。〃
Bastin and I looked at each other。 It was he who spoke first。
〃Wouldn't it be rather a risky job in an open boat？〃 he asked。
〃However； that doesn't matter much because I don't take any
account of risks； knowing that I am of more value than a sparrow
and that the hairs of my head are all numbered。〃
〃They might be numbered under water as well as above it；〃
muttered Bickley； 〃and I feel sure that on your own showing； you
would be as valuable dead as alive。〃
〃What I seem to feel；〃 went on Bastin； 〃is that I have work to
my hand here。 Also； the locum tenens at Fulcombe no doubt runs
the parish as well as I could。 Indeed I consider him a better man
for the place than I am。 That old Oro is a tough proposition； but
I do not despair of him yet； and besides him there is the
Glittering Lady； a most open…minded person； whom I have not yet
had any real opportunity of approaching in a spiritual sense。
Then there are all these natives who cannot learn without a
teacher。 So on the whole I think I would rather stay where I am
until Providence points out some other path。〃
〃I am of the same opinion； if for somewhat different reasons；〃
I said。 〃I do not suppose that it has often been the fortune of
men to come in touch with such things as we have found upon this
island。 They may be illusions； but at least they are very
interesting illusions。 One might live ten lifetimes and find
nothing else of the sort。 Therefore I should like to see the end
of the dream。〃
Bickley reflected a little； then said：
〃On the whole I agree with you