mentioned between us again, at least not for a long while. But in
my heart I determined that I would reach that mountain even
though to do so I must risk my life. Something seemed to call me
to the place; it was as though I were being drawn by a magnet.

As it happened, before so very long I did go to the mountain,
not of my own will but because I was obliged. It came about thus.
One night I asked Bastin how he was getting on with his
missionary work. He replied: Very well indeed, but there was one
great obstacle in his path, the idol in the Grove. Were it not
for this accursed image he believed that the whole island would
become Christian. I asked him to be more plain. He explained that
all his work was thwarted by this idol, since his converts
declared that they did not dare to be baptised while it sat there
in the Grove. If they did, the spirit that was in it would
bewitch them and perhaps steal out at night and murder them.

"The spirit being our friends the sorcerers," I suggested.

"That's it, Arbuthnot. Do you know, I believe those devilish
men sometimes offer human sacrifices to this satanic fetish, when
there is a drought or anything of that sort."

"I can quite believe it," I answered, "but as they will
scarcely remove their god and with it their own livelihood and
authority, I am afraid that as we don't want to be sacrificed,
there is nothing to be done."

At this moment I was called away. As I went I heard Bastin
muttering something about martyrs, but paid no attention. Little