when the world shook-第32节
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which we wove together roughly； Bastin； who was rather clever at
this kind of thing； managed to trap four fish weighing two or
three pounds apiece； wading into the water to do so。 It was
curious to observe with what ease he adapted himself to the
manners and customs of primeval man； so much so； indeed； that
Bickley remarked that if he could believe in re…incarnation； he
would be absolutely certain that Bastin was a troglodyte in his
last sojourn on the earth。
However this might be； Bastin's primeval instincts and
abilities were of the utmost service to us。 Before we had been
many days on that island he had built us a kind of native hut or
house roofed with palm leaves in which； until provided with a
better； as happened afterwards； we ate and he and Bickley slept；
leaving the tent to me。 Moreover； he wove a net of palm fibre
with which he caught abundance of fish； and made fishing…lines of
the same material （fortunately we had some hooks） which he baited
with freshwater mussels and the insides of fish。 By means of
these he secured some veritable monsters of the carp species that
proved most excellent eating。 His greatest triumph； however； was
a decoy which he constructed of boughs； wherein he trapped a
number of waterfowl。 So that soon we kept a very good table of a
sort； especially after he had learned how to cook our food upon
the native plan by means of hot stones。 This suited us admirably；
as it enabled Bickley and myself to devote all our time to
archaeological and other studies which did not greatly interest
Bastin。
By the time that we got back to camp it was drawing towards
evening； so we cooked our food and ate； and then； thoroughly
exhausted； made ourselves as comfortable as we could and went to
sleep。 Even our marvelous experiences could not keep Bickley and
myself from sleeping； and on Bastin such things had no effect。 He
accepted them and that was all； much more readily than we did；
indeed。 Triple…armed as he was in the mail of a child…like faith；
he snapped his fingers at evil spirits which he supposed the
Sleepers to be； and at everything else that other men might
dread。
Now； as I have mentioned； after our talk with Marama； although
we did not think it wise to adventure ourselves among them again
at present； we had lost all fear of the Orofenans。 In this
attitude； so far as Marama himself and the majority of his people
were concerned； we were quite justified； for they were our warm
friends。 But in the case of the sorcerers； the priests and all
their rascally and superstitious brotherhood； we were by no means
justified。 They had not forgiven Bastin his sacrilege or for his
undermining of their authority by the preaching of new doctrines
which； if adopted； would destroy them as a hierarchy。 Nor had
they forgiven Bickley for shooting one of their number； or any of
us for our escape from the vengeance of their god。
So it came about that they made a plot to seize us all and hale
us off to be sacrificed to a substituted image of Oro； which by
now they had set up。 They knew exactly where we slept upon the
rock； indeed； our fire showed it to them and so far they were not
afraid to venture； since here they had been accustomed for
generations to lay their offerings to the god of the Mountain。
Secretly on the previous night； without the knowledge of Marama；
they had carried two more canoes to the borders of the lake。 Now
on this night； just as the moon was setting about three in the
morning； they made their attack； twenty…one men in all； for the
three canoes were large； relying on the following darkness to get
us away and convey us to the place of sacrifice to be offered up
at dawn and before Marama could interfere。
The first we knew of the matter； for most foolishly we had
neglected to keep a watch； was the unpleasant sensation of brawny
savages kneeling on us and trussing us up with palm…fibre ropes。
Also they thrust handfuls of dry grass into our mouths to prevent
us from calling out； although as air came through the interstices
of the grass； we did not suffocate。 The thing was so well done
that we never struck a blow in self…defence； and although we had
our pistols at hand； much less could we fire a shot。 Of course；
we struggled as well as we were able； but it was quite useless；
in three minutes we were as helpless as calves in a net and like
calves were being conveyed to the butcher。 Bastin managed to get
the gag out of his mouth for a few seconds； and I heard him say
in his slow； heavy voice：
〃This； Bickley； is what comes of trafficking with evil spirits
in museum cases〃 There his speech stopped； for the grass wad
was jammed down his throat again； but distinctly I heard the
inarticulate Bickley snort as he conceived the repartee he was
unable to utter。 As for myself； I reflected that the business
served us right for not keeping a watch； and abandoned the issue
to fate。
Still； to confess the truth； I was infinitely more sorry to die
than I should have been forty…eight hours earlier。 This is a dull
and in most ways a dreadful world； one； if we could only summon
the courage； that some of us would be glad to leave in search of
new adventures。 But here a great and unprecedented adventure had
begun to befall me； and before its mystery was solved； before
even I could formulate a theory concerning it； my body must be
destroyed； and my intelligence that was caged therein； sent far
afield； or； if Bickley were right； eclipsed。 It seemed so sad
just when the impossible； like an unguessed wandering moon； had
risen over the grey flats of the ascertained and made them shine
with hope and wonder。
They carried us off to the canoes； not too gently； indeed； I
heard the bony frame of Bastin bump into the bottom of one of
them and reflected； not without venom； that it served him right
as he was the fount and origin of our woes。 Two stinking
magicians； wearing on their heads undress editions of their court
cages； since these were too cumbersome for active work of the
sort； and painted all over with various pigments； were just about
to swing me after him into the same； or another canoe； when
something happened。 I did not know what it was； but as a result；
my captors left hold of me so that I fell to the rock； lying upon
my back。
Then； within my line of vision； which； it must be remembered；
was limited because I could not lift my head； appeared the upper
part of the tall person of the Ancient who said that he was named
Oro。 I could only see him down to his middle； but I noted vaguely
that he seemed to be much changed。 For instance； he wore a
different coloured dress； or rather robe； this time it was dark
blue； which caused me to wonder where on earth it came from。
Also； his tremendous beard had been trimmed and dressed； and on
his head there was a simple black cap； strangely quilted； which
looked as though it were made of velvet。 Moreover； his face had
plumped out。 He still looked ancient； it is true； and unutterably
wise； but now he resembled an antique youth； so great were his
energy and vigour。 Also； his dark and glowing eyes shone with a
fearful intensity。 In short； he seemed impressive and terrible
almost beyond imagining。
He looked about him slowly； then asked in a deep； cold voice；
speaking in the Orofenan tongue：
〃What do you； slaves？〃
No one seemed able to answer； they were too horror…stricken at
this sudden vision of their fabled god； whose fierce features of
wood had become flesh； they only turned to fly。 He waved his thin
hand and they came to a standstill； like animals which have
reached the end of their tether and are checked by the chains
that bind them。 There they stood in all sorts of postures；
immovable and looking extremely ridiculous in their paint and
feathers； with dread unutterable stamped upon their evil faces。
The Sleeper spoke again：
〃You would murder as did your forefathers； O children of snakes
and hogs fashioned in the shape of men。 You would sacrifice those
who dwell in my shadow to satisfy your hate because they are
wiser than you。 Come hither thou；〃 and he beckoned with a bony
finger to the chief magician。
The man advanced towards him in short jumps； as a mechanical
toy might do； and stood before him； his miniature crate and
feathers all awry and the sweat of terror melting the paint in
streaks upon his face。
〃Look into the eyes of Oro； O worshipper of Oro；〃 said the
Sleeper； and he obeyed； his own eyes starting out of his head。
〃Receive the curse of Oro；〃 said the Ancient again。 Then
followed a terrible spectacle。 The man went raving mad。 He
bounded into the air to a height inconceivable。 He threw himself
upon the ground and rolled upon the rock。 He rose again and
staggered round and round； tearing pieces out of his arms with
his teeth。 He yelled hideously like one possessed。 He grovelled；
beating his forehead against
