re singularly blind. You think you know everything there is to learn,
but the fact is that like the rest of us, you know nothing at all, and
good man though you are, obstinately refuse to admit the truth and to
seek support elsewhere. For my part I believe that you are afraid of
falling in love with that Glittering Lady and of being convinced by her
that you are wrong in your most unsatisfactory conclusions."

"I am out-voted anyway," said Bickley, "and for the rest, Bastin, look
after yourself and leave me alone. I will add that on the whole I think
you are both right, and that it is wisest for us to stop where we are,
for after all we can only die once."

"I am not so sure, Bickley. There is a thing called the second death,
which is what is troubling that old scoundrel, Oro. Now I will go and
look for those books."

So the idea of flight was abandoned, although I admit that even to
myself it had attractions. For I felt that I was being wrapped in a
net of mysteries from which I saw no escape. Yes, and of more than
mysteries; I who had sworn that I would never look upon another woman,
was learning to love this sweet and wondrous Yva, and of that what could
be the end?

We collected all we had come to seek, and started homewards escorted
by Marama and his people, including a number of young women who danced
before us in a light array of flowers.

Passing our old house, we came to the grove where the idol Oro had stood
and Bastin was so nearly sacrificed. There was another idol there now
which he wished to examine, but in the end did not as the natives so
obviously objected. Indeed Marama told me that notwithstanding the
mysterious death of the sorcerers on the Rock of Offerings, there was
still a strong party in the island who would be glad to do us a mischief
if any further affront were offered to their hereditary god.

He questioned us also tentatively about the apparition, for such he
conceived it to be, which had appeared upon the rock and killed the
sorcerers, and I answered him as I thought wisest, telling him that a
terrible Power was afoot in the land, which he would do well to obey.

"Yes," he said; "the God of the Mountain of whom the tradition has come
down to us from our forefathers. He is awake again; he sees, he hears
and we are afraid. Plead with him for us, O Friend-from-the-Sea."

As he spoke we were passing through a little patch of thick bush.
Suddenly from out of this bush, I saw a lad appe