observed that he got on best when he was telling them stories out
of the Old Testament, such as the account of the creation of the
world and of human beings, also of the Deluge, etc. Indeed one of
their elders said--Yes, this was quite true. They had heard it
all before from their fathers, and that once the Deluge had taken
place round Orofena, swallowing up great countries, but sparing
them because they were so good.

Bastin, surprised, asked them who had caused the deluge. They
replied, Oro which was the name of their god, Oro who dwelt
yonder on the mountain in the lake, and whose representation they
worshipped in idols. He said that God dwelt in Heaven, to which
they replied with calm certainty:

"No, no, he dwells on the mountain in the lake," which was why
they never dared to approach that mountain.

Indeed it was only by giving the name Oro to the Divinity and
admitting that He might dwell in the mountain as well as
everywhere else, that Bastin was able to make progress. Having
conceded this, not without scruples, however, he did make
considerable progress, so much, in fact, that I perceived that
the priests of Oro were beginning to grow very jealous of him and
of his increasing authority with the people. Bastin was naturally
triumphant, and even exclaimed exultingly that within a year he
would have half of the population baptised.

"Within a year, my dear fellow," said Bickley, "you will have
your throat cut as a sacrifice, and probably ours also. It is a
pity, too, as within that time I should have stamped out