Father Higgins, rather bothered by these statements, was about to ask further questions, when he was seized by four sturdy natives, who mounted him upon their naked shoulders, while four others uplifted the professor in like manner, all then setting off rapidly toward the village, followed by the whole crowd in procession.

“An’ what if I should tell ye I had conscientious scruples agenst lettin’ meself be adored for a heavenly personage?” objected the good Father.

“Don’t think of it,” counselled Heller.  “Being worshipped is infinitely more agreeable than being eaten.  Besides, consider the interests of the Church.  If you are set up as a god, you can use the position to sprinkle holy water on your adorers, and so convert the whole island without trouble.”

“Sure y’ are mighty well varsed in the precepts and customs av the Jesuit Fathers,” answered the priest, with a stare of wonder and admiration.  “I moind me now that the missionaries in Chaynee baptized lashins av haythin babies under pretinse av rubbin’ um with medicine.  An’ it’s a maxim that whin the ind is salvatory, the manes are justified.  It’s a maxim, also, that y’ ave no business to lead yer felly-crachurs into sin.  Now cannebalism is a sin; it ud be a sin capital for these fellies to ate us; an’, av coorse, it follies that it ud be a sin in me to timpt um to do it.  But, by sufferin’ meself to be worshipped I prevint that same.  So, I advise an’ counsel, Heller, that we go on as we are for a bit longer, until a proper time comes to expose the whole av the thrue faith.”

Beguiling the way with such like discourse, Father Higgins journeyed on to the nearest village, where his bearers halted before an unusually large hut, evidently serving as a temple.  In the door of this building the principal chief took post, and waving his hand toward the crowd, made the following speech: 

“Hear, O chiefs! hear, O priests of our religion ye men of Feejee, hear!  The god who can come over the waters is greater than the god who can only abide upon the land, and shall have his house and his sacrifices.  Whosoever disapproves of this, let him offer himself for the trial of the sacred poison; if he is not ready so to do, let him hereafter hold his peace and submit.”

No one objecting, the chief beckoned the bearers to follow him, and led the way into the temple.  Mounting a platform eight or ten feet high, he advanced to an ugly scarecrow of an idol, slapped it, kicked it, and toppled it to the ground.  Then, with vast labor and much joyful shouting, the ponderous form of Father Higgins was hoisted aloft, and installed in the seat of the dethroned deity.  Next Professor Heller was set down upon his feet beside an altar which stood in front of the platform.

“What are ye afther doin’, Heller?” inquired the clergyman from his eminence.

“I am about to sacrifice to your divinity two green cocoa-nuts, two roasted bread-fruit, and half a dozen fishes,” was the answer.