“The mountain which rose up many feet in that storm which brought you to Orofena, Friend-from-the-Sea, has now sunk till only the very top of it is to be seen,” said Marama solemnly.  “Even the Rock of Offerings has vanished beneath the water, and with it the house that we built for you.”

“Yes,” I said, affecting no surprise.  “But when did that happen?”

“Five nights ago the world shook, Friend-from-the-Sea, and when the sun rose we saw that the mouth of the cave which appeared on the day of your coming, had vanished, and that the holy mountain itself had sunk deep, so that now only the crest of it is left above the water.”

“Such things happen,” I replied carelessly.

“Yes, Friend-from-the-Sea.  Like many other marvels they happen where you and your companions are.  Therefore we beg you who can arise out of the earth like spirits, to leave us at once before our island and all of us who dwell thereon are drowned beneath the ocean.  Leave us before we kill you, if indeed you be men, or die at your hands if, as we think, you be evil spirits who can throw up mountains and drag them down, and create gods that slay, and move about in the bowels of the world.”

“That is our intention, for our business here is done,” I answered calmly.  “Come now and help us to depart.  But first bring us food.  Bring it in plenty, for we must victual our boat.”

Marama bowed and issued the necessary orders.  Indeed food sufficient for our immediate needs was already there as an offering, and of it we ate with thankfulness.

Then we boarded the ship and examined the lifeboat.  Thanks to our precautions it was still in very fair order and only needed some little caulking which we did with grass fibre and pitch from the stores.  After this with the help of the Orofenans who worked hard in their desperate desire to be rid of us, we drew the boat into the sea, and provisioned her with stores from the ship, and with an ample supply of water.  Everything being ready at last, we waited for the evening wind which always blew off shore, to start.  As it was not due for half an hour or more, I walked back to the tree under which we had slept and tried to find the hole whence we had emerged from the tunnel on to the face of the cliff.

My hurried search proved useless.  The declivity of the cliff was covered with tropical growth, and the heavy rain had washed away every trace of our descent, and very likely filled the hole itself with earth.  At any rate, of it I could discover nothing.  Then as the breeze began to blow I returned to the boat and here bade adieu to Marama, who gave me his feather cloak as a farewell gift.

“Good-bye, Friend-from-the-Sea,” he said to me.  “We are glad to have seen you and thank you for many things.  But we do not wish to see you any more.”

“Good-bye, Marama,” I answered.  “What you say, we echo.  At least you have now no great lump upon your neck and we have rid you of your wizards.  But beware of the god Oro who dwells in the mountain, for if you anger him he will sink your island beneath the sea.”