Part 18 (1/2)

”For Heaven's sake!” said Bickley, ”keep your theology to yourself at present If you upset the old fellow and put him in a temper he may die”

”If a man tells me that he is a God it is my duty to tell him that he is a liar,” replied Bastin obstinately

”Which you did, Bastin, only fortunately he did not understand you But for your own sake I advise you not to take liberties He is not one, I think, hoet some water from the rain pool, not from the lake”

Bastin departed and presently returned with an alulass Bickley poured solass and handed it to Yva who bent her head in thanks Then she did a curious thing Having first lifted the glass with both hands to the sky and held it so for a few seconds, she turned and with an obeisance poured a little of it on the ground before her father's feet

A libation, thought I to reed witha heathen offering”

Doubtless ere right, for Oro accepted the hon frolass was refilled and handed to Oro who also held it towards the sky He, however, made no libation but drank at once, two tumblers of it in rapid succession

By now the direct sunlight was passing froh, both of thee of which we could not understand a word, as though they were debating what their course of action should be The dispute was long and earnest Had we knoas passing, which I learned afterwards, it would have made us sufficiently anxious, for the point at issue was nothing less than whether we should or should not be forthwith destroyed--an end, it appears, that Oro was quite capable of bringing about if he so pleased Yva, however, had very clear views of her own on the ather, even dared to threaten that she would protect us by the use of certain powers at her coh what these were I do not know

While the event hung doubtful Tos, picked up a bough still covered with flohich, after their pretty fashi+on, the Orofenans had placed on the top of one of the baskets of food This sht and laid at the feet of Oro, no doubt in the hope that he would throw it for hihted For some reason Oro saw an oht that the dog wasto hiht a while, then ive it to hi to soh in relief No wonder, for he was conveying his decision to spare our lives and adain they talked, but in quite a different tone andLady said to o to rest You ht, perhaps next night We are quite safe You are quite safe under the beard of Oro Spirit of Oro watch you You understand?”

I said I understood, whereon she answered:

”Good-bye, O Hu

Thereon they turned and refusing all assistance fro upon each other and walking slowly

Chapter XII Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Years!

”You seem to have made the best of your time, old fellow,” said Bickley in rather a sour voice

”I never knew people begin to call each other by their Christian na at me with a suspicious eye

”I know no other,” I said

”Perhaps not, but at any rate you have another, though you don't seeone, for I was getting tired of being ordered by everybody to carry about wood and water for theht They have takenforward, but thank goodness they do not seem to care for pork”

”So am I,” said Bickley, who really looked exhausted ”Get the food, there's a good fellow We'll talk afterwards”

When we had eaten, somewhat silently, I asked Bickley what he ht the sleepers had gone

”I think I can answer the last question,” interrupted Bastin ”I expect it is to a place well known to students of the Bible which even Bickley ry At any rate, they seem to be very fond of heat, for they wouldn't part from it even in their coffins, and you will ad Lady is so attractive as regards her exterior”