arest 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.

"Well, I suppose it must be permitted," sighed Father Higgins. "Go on
wid yer sacrifice, me dear felly. I presume, av coorse, that it will be
in ordher for me to ate some av it. Let the fishes be well cooked,
by-the-way, and sarved wid some kind av sauce. I'd almost as lave be
devoured meself as devour raw fishes."

"Really, I have some scruples," smiled the mischievous professor. "You
might shock the devotional feelings of your new worshippers."

"I insist upon it, Heller. I tell ye I won't ate raw fishes to convart a
continent av haythins, much less a little bit island av 'um."

The fish being promptly broiled on the coals of the altar, were handed
up to Father Higgins on a large leaf, together with one of the
cocoa-nuts and a bread-fruit. The worthy man immediately proceeded to
make a hearty meal, vastly to the delight and confirmation in the faith
of his worshippers, they having never before been blessed with a god
who could fairly and squarely eat his dinner. After another brief speech
from the chief, and a benediction from the padre, the multitude
dispersed.

"Is it me unavoidable duty to live on this perch, Heller