when the world shook-第15节
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Look how it curves to north and south and at the slope running
down to the lake。〃
I nodded。
〃Lucky that the tidal wave did not get over the cliff；〃 I said。
〃If it had the people here would have all been drowned out。 I
wonder where they have gone？〃
As I spoke Bastin pointed to the edge of the bush some hundreds
of yards away； where we perceived brown figures slipping about
among the trees。 I suggested that we should go back to the mouth
of our path； so as to have a line of retreat open in case of
necessity； and await events。 So we did and there stood still。 By
degrees the brown figures emerged on to the plain to the number
of some hundreds； and we saw that they were both male and female。
The women were clothed in nothing except flowers and a little
girdle； the men were all armed with wooden weapons and also wore
a girdle but no flowers。 The children； of whom there were many；
were quite naked。
Among these people we observed a tall person clothed in what
seemed to be a magnificent feather cloak； and； walking around and
about him； a number of grotesque forms adorned with hideous masks
and basket…like head…dresses that were surmounted by plumes。
〃The king or chief and his priests or medicine…men！ This is
splendid；〃 said Bickley triumphantly。
Bastin also contemplated them with enthusiasm as raw material
upon which he hoped to get to work。
By degrees and very cautiously they approached us。 To our joy；
we perceived that behind them walked several young women who bore
wooden trays of food or fruit。
〃That looks well；〃 I said。 〃They would not make offerings
unless they were friendly。〃
〃The food may be poisoned；〃 remarked Bickley suspiciously。
The crowd advanced； we standing quite still looking as
dignified as we could； I as the tallest in the middle； with Tommy
sitting at my feet。 When they were about five and twenty yards
away； however； that wretched little dog caught sight of the
masked priests。 He growled and then rushed at them barking； his
long black ears flapping as he went。
The effect was instantaneous。 One and all they turned and fled
precipitately； who evidently had never before seen a dog and
looked upon it as a deadly creature。 Yes； even the tall chief and
his masked medicine…men fled like hares pursued by Tommy； who bit
one of them in the leg； evoking a terrific howl。 I called him
back and took him into my arms。 Seeing that he was safe for a
while the crowd reformed and once again advanced。
As they came we noted that they were a wonderfully handsome
people； tall and straight with regularly shaped features and
nothing of the negro about them。 Some of the young women might
even be called beautiful； though those who were elderly had
become corpulent。 The feather…clothed chief； however； was much
disfigured by a huge growth with a narrow stalk to it that hung
from his neck and rested on his shoulder。
〃I'll have that off him before he is a week older；〃 said
Bickley； surveying this deformity with great professional
interest。
On they came； the girls with the platters walking ahead。 On one
of these were what looked like joints of baked pork； on another
some plantains and pear…shaped fruits。 They knelt down and
offered these to us。 We contemplated them for a while。 Then
Bickley shook his head and began to rub his stomach with
appropriate contortions。 Clearly they were quick…minded enough for
they saw the point。 At some words the girls brought the platters
to the chief and others； who took from them portions of the food
at hazard and ate them to show that it was not poisoned； we
watching their throats the while to make sure that it was
swallowed。 Then they returned again and we took some of the food
though only Bickley ate； because； as I pointed out to him； being
a doctor who understood the use of antidotes； clearly he should
make the experiment。 However； nothing happened； indeed he said
that it was very good。
After this there came a pause。 Then suddenly Bastin took up his
parable in the Polynesian tongue whichto a certain extenthe
had acquired with so much pains。
〃What is this place called？〃 he asked slowly and distinctly；
pausing between each word。
His audience shook their heads and he tried again； putting the
accents on different syllables。 Behold！ some bright spirit
understood him and answered：
〃Orofena。〃
〃That means a hill； or an island； or a hill in an island；〃
whispered Bickley to me。
〃Who is your God？〃 asked Bastin again。
The point seemed one upon which they were a little doubtful；
but at last the chief answered； 〃Oro。 He who fights。〃
〃In other words； Mars；〃 said Bickley。
〃I will give you a better one；〃 said Bastin in the same slow
fashion。
Thinking that he referred to himself these children of Nature
contemplated his angular form doubtfully and shook their heads。
Then for the first time one of the men who was wearing a mask and
a wicker crate on his head； spoke in a hollow voice； saying：
〃If you try Oro will eat you up。〃
〃Head priest！〃 said Bickley； nudging me。 〃Old Bastin had better
be careful or he will get his teeth into him and call them
Oro's。〃
Another pause； after which the man in a feather cloak with the
growth on his neck that a servant was supporting； said：
〃I am Marama； the chief of Orofena。 We have never seen men like
you before； if you are men。 What brought you here and with you
that fierce and terrible animal； or evil spirit which makes a
noise and bites？〃
Now Bickley pretended to consult me who stood brooding and
majestic； that is if I can be majestic。 I whispered something and
he answered：
〃The gods of the wind and the sea。〃
〃What nonsense；〃 ejaculated Bastin； 〃there are no such things。〃
〃Shut up；〃 I said； 〃we must use similes here；〃 to which he
replied：
〃I don't like similes that tamper with the truth。〃
〃Remember Neptune and Aeolus；〃 I suggested； and he lapsed into
consideration of the point。
〃We knew that you were coming；〃 said Marama。 〃Our doctors told
us all about you a moon ago。 But we wish that you would come more
gently； as you nearly washed away our country。〃
After looking at me Bickley replied：
〃How thankful should you be that in our kindness we have spared
you。〃
〃What do you come to do？〃 inquired Marama again。 After the
usual formula of consulting me Bickley answered：
〃We come to take that mountain （he meant lump） off your neck
and make you beautiful； also to cure all the sickness among your
people。〃
〃And I come；〃 broke in Bastin； 〃to give you new hearts。〃
These announcements evidently caused great excitement。 After
consultation Marama answered：
〃We do not want new hearts as the old ones are good； but we
wish to be rid of lumps and sicknesses。 If you can do this we
will make you gods and worship you and give you many wives。〃
（Here Bastin held up his hands in horror。） 〃When will you begin
to take away the lumps？〃
〃To…morrow；〃 said Bickley。 〃But learn that if you try to harm
us we will bring another wave which will drown all your country。〃
Nobody seemed to doubt our capacities in this direction； but
one inquiring spirit in a wicker crate did ask how it came about
that if we controlled the ocean we had arrived in half a canoe
instead of a whole one。
Bickley replied to the effect that it was because the gods
always travelled in half…canoes to show their higher nature；
which seemed to satisfy everyone。 Then we announced that we had
seen enough of them for that day and would retire to think。
Meanwhile we should be obliged if they would build us a house and
keep us supplied with whatever food they had。
〃Do the gods eat？〃 asked the sceptic again。
〃That fellow is a confounded radical；〃 I whispered to Bickley。
〃Tell him that they do when they come to Orofena。〃
He did so； whereon the chief said：
〃Would the gods like a nice young girl cooked？〃
At this point Bastin retired down the path； realising that he
had to do with cannibals。 We said that we preferred to look at
the girls alive and would meet them again to…morrow morning； when
we hoped that the house would be ready。
So our first interview with the inhabitants of Orofena came to
an end； on which we congratulated ourselves。
On reaching the remains of the Star of the South we set to work
to take stock of what was left to us。 Fortunately it proved to be
a very great deal。 As I think I mentioned； all the passenger part
of the yacht lay forward of the bridge； just in front of which
the vessel had been broken in two； almost as cleanly as though
she were severed by a gigantic knife。 Further our stores were
forward and practically everything else that belonged to us； even
down to Bickley's instruments and medicines and Bastin's
religious works； to say nothing of a great quantity of tinned
food and
