It was a cigarette end, but not one of Jannis
caporals. When Maris met them they were padding along in abject panic.
And then I hesitated and gripped Janni firmly by
his one arm. Below the chancel step lay thedark mass which contained the shrouded
Christ.
There was amovement from the crowd and a man was
brought forward. The place hadundergone another transformation, for it seemed to be
deserted.
But I scarcely thought of him, formy trouble was
with myself. The last solution Idismissed: Black George, I was convinced, was no
quitter.
Pity and fear for the girlmade me clench my hands
and gnaw my lips.
But who owned it, and what wasit doing in this
outlandish spot, where there was no landing?
When Maris met them they were padding along in
abject panic.
So I swam very softly up to the stern and tried to
read the name onit. Every one must be indoors engaged in some solemn
preparationagainst the coming night.
This was the ceremonialof which Vernon had read to
me from Korés manuscript. Ihad a sudden sense of things being predestined, of the
ironicalfore-ordination of life.
I seemed to have seen it all before, and to know
thestages that would follow.
Evidently he did, for he made no protest when I got
both hands onthe gunwale again. The valley was markedout like a race-course.
By-and-by I reached the cape beyond which lay the hidden bay andBlack George with
his boat.
I signed to Janni, and we started crawling back
towards the cliffs. I was back in my childhoods faith, and wanted tobe at my
childhoods prayers.
The sight filled me with both hope and
mystification. I told him briefly my doings of the night. I had seenancient magic
revive and carry captive the hearts of a people. Janni was no cragsman, and in any
case his one arm made himuseless.
The figure whohad been standing by the well was now
beside them and seemed to bespeaking softly.
On the jettythere were guards, and there were posts
along the causeway. Clearly it was no longer tabu, but a place of holiday. I could
see that it was going to be a close finish.