按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
thousands upon thousands of feet； fortunately without meeting
with any zone of heat which was not bearable。
We were right； for when we had staggered forward a little
further； suddenly Tommy ran ahead of us and vanished。 Then we
heard him barking but where we could not see； since the tunnel
appeared to take a turn and continue； but this time on a downward
course； while the sound of the barks came from our right。 We
searched with the lanterns which were now beginning to die and
found a little hole almost filled with fallen pieces of rock。 We
scooped these away with our hands； making an aperture large
enough to creep through。 A few more yards and we saw light； the
blessed light of the moon； and in it stood Tommy barking
hoarsely。 Next we heard the sound of the sea。 We struggled on
desperately and presently pushed our way through bushes and
vegetation on to a steep declivity。 Down this we rolled and
scrambled； to find ourselves at last lying upon a sandy beach；
whilst above us the full moon shone in the heavens。
Here； with a prayer of thankfulness； we flung ourselves down
and slept。
If it had not been for Tommy and we had gone further along the
tunnel； which I have little doubt stretched on beneath the sea；
where； I wonder； should we have slept that night？
When we woke the sun was shining high in the heavens。 Evidently
there had been rain towards the dawn； though as we were lying
beneath the shelter of some broad…leaved tree； from it we had
suffered little inconvenience。 Oh！ how beautiful； after our
sojourn in those unholy caves； were the sun and the sea and the
sweet air and the raindrops hanging on the leaves。
We did not wake of ourselves； indeed if we had been left alone
I am sure that we should have slept the clock round； for we were
terribly exhausted。 What woke us was the chatter of a crowd of
Orofenans who were gathered at a distance from the tree and
engaged in staring at us in a frightened way； also the barks of
Tommy who objected to their intrusion。 Among the people I
recognised our old friend the chief Marama by his feather cloak；
and sitting up； beckoned to him to approach。 After a good deal of
hesitation he came； walking delicately like Agag； and stopping
from time to time to study us； as though he were not sure that we
were real。
〃What frightens you； Marama？〃 I asked him。
〃You frighten us； O Friend…from…the…Sea。 Whence did you and the
Healer and the Bellower come and why do your faces look like
those of ghosts and why is the little black beast so large…eyed
and so thin？ Over the lake we know you did not come； for we have
watched day and night； moreover there is no canoe upon the shore。
Also it would not have been possible。〃
〃Why not？〃 I asked idly。
〃Come and see；〃 he answered。
Rising stiffly we emerged from beneath the tree and perceived
that we were at the foot of the cliff against which the remains
of the yacht had been borne by the great tempest。 Indeed there it
was within a couple of hundred yards of us。
Following Marama we climbed the sloping path which ran up the
cliff and ascended a knoll whence we could see the lake and the
cone of the volcano in its centre。 At least we used to be able to
see this cone； but now； at any rate with the naked eye； we could
make out nothing； except a small brown spot in the midst of the
waters of the lake。
〃The mountain which rose up many feet in that storm which
brought you to Orofena； Friend…from…the…Sea； has now sunk till
only the very top of it is to be seen；〃 said Marama solemnly。
〃Even the Rock of Offerings has vanished beneath the water； and
with it the house that we built for you。〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； affecting no surprise。 〃But when did that
happen？〃
〃Five nights ago the world shook； Friend…from…the…Sea； and when
the sun rose we saw that the mouth of the cave which appeared on
the day of your coming； had vanished； and that the holy mountain
itself had sunk deep； so that now only the crest of it is left
above the water。〃
〃Such things happen；〃 I replied carelessly。
〃Yes； Friend…from…the…Sea。 Like many other marvels they happen
where you and your companions are。 Therefore we beg you who can
arise out of the earth like spirits； to leave us at once before
our island and all of us who dwell thereon are drowned beneath
the ocean。 Leave us before we kill you； if indeed you be men； or
die at your hands if； as we think； you be evil spirits who can
throw up mountains and drag them down； and create gods that slay；
and move about in the bowels of the world。〃
〃That is our intention； for our business here is done；〃 I
answered calmly。 〃Come now and help us to depart。 But first bring
us food。 Bring it in plenty； for we must victual our boat。〃
Marama bowed and issued the necessary orders。 Indeed food
sufficient for our immediate needs was already there as an
offering； and of it we ate with thankfulness。
Then we boarded the ship and examined the lifeboat。 Thanks to
our precautions it was still in very fair order and only needed
some little caulking which we did with grass fibre and pitch from
the stores。 After this with the help of the Orofenans who worked
hard in their desperate desire to be rid of us； we drew the boat
into the sea； and provisioned her with stores from the ship； and
with an ample supply of water。 Everything being ready at last； we
waited for the evening wind which always blew off shore； to
start。 As it was not due for half an hour or more； I walked back
to the tree under which we had slept and tried to find the hole
whence we had emerged from the tunnel on to the face of the
cliff。
My hurried search proved useless。 The declivity of the cliff
was covered with tropical growth； and the heavy rain had washed
away every trace of our descent； and very likely filled the hole
itself with earth。 At any rate； of it I could discover nothing。
Then as the breeze began to blow I returned to the boat and here
bade adieu to Marama； who gave me his feather cloak as a farewell
gift。
〃Good…bye； Friend…from…the…Sea；〃 he said to me。 〃We are glad to
have seen you and thank you for many things。 But we do not wish
to see you any more。〃
〃Good…bye； Marama；〃 I answered。 〃What you say； we echo。 At
least you have now no great lump upon your neck and we have rid
you of your wizards。 But beware of the god Oro who dwells in the
mountain； for if you anger him he will sink your island beneath
the sea。〃
〃And remember all that I have taught you；〃 shouted Bastin。
Marama shivered； though whether at the mention of the god Oro；
of whose powers the Orofenans had so painful a recollection； or
at the result of Bastin's teachings； I do not know。 And that was
the last we shall ever see of each other in this world。
The island faded behind us and； sore at heart because of all
that we had found and lost again； for three days we sailed
northward with a fair and steady wind。 On th