Part 8 (1/2)

The crowd advanced, we standing quite still looking as dignified as we could, I as the tallest in theat my feet

When they were about five and twenty yards away, however, that wretched little dog caught sight of the , 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 To a terrific howl I called hi that he was safe for a while the crowd reforain advanced

As they came we noted that they were a wonderfully handsoularly shaped features and nothing of the negro about theht even be called beautiful, though those ere elderly had become corpulent The feather-clothed chief, however, was roith a narrow stalk to it that hung from his neck and rested on his shoulder

”I'll have that off hi this deforreat professional interest

On they ca ahead On one of these hat looked like joints of baked pork, on another some plantains and pear-shaped fruits They knelt down and offered these to us We contean to rub his stomach with appropriate contortions Clearly they were quick-irls brought the platters to the chief and others, who took from them portions of the food at hazard and ate the their throats the while to ain and we took soh only Bickley ate, because, as I pointed out to hi a doctor who understood the use of antidotes; clearly he shouldhappened; 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 which--to a certain extent--he 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! soht spirit understood him and answered:

”Orofena”

”That means a hill, or an island, or a hill in an island,” whispered Bickley to ain

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 sa that he referred to hiular form doubtfully and shook their heads Then for the first ti 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 et his teeth into him and call them Oro's”

Another pause, after which the rowth on his neck that a servant was supporting, said:

”I am Marama, the chief of Orofena We have never seen ht you here and with you that fierce and terrible animal, or evil spirit which makes a noise and bites?”

Now Bickley pretended to consultandand 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”

”Reested, and he lapsed into consideration of the point