tation
for wisdom, as soon as I had mastered sufficient of the language, every
kind of knotty case was laid before me for decision. In short, I
became a sort of Chief Justice--not an easy office as it involved
the acquirement of the native law which was intricate and peculiar,
especially in matrimonial cases.

At these oppressive activities Bastin looked on with a gloomy eye.

"You fellows seem very busy," he said one evening; "but I can find
nothing to do. They don't seem to want me, and merely to set a good
example by drinking water or tea while you swallow whisky and their palm
wine, or whatever it is, is very negative kind of work, especially as I
am getting tired of planting things in the garden and playing policeman
round the wreck which nobody goes near. Even Tommy is better off, for at
least he can bark and hunt rats."

"You see," said Bickley, "we are following our trades. Arbuthnot is a
lawyer and acts as a judge. I am a surgeon and I may add a general--a
very general--practitioner and work at medicine in an enormous and
much-neglected practice. Therefore, you, being a clergyman, should go
and do likewise. There are some ten thousand people here, but I do not
observe that as yet you have converted a single one."

Thus spoke Bickley in a light and unguarded moment with his usual object
of what is known as "getting a rise" out of Bastin. Little did he guess
what he was doing.

Bastin thought a while ponderously, then said:

"It is very strange from what peculiar sources Providence sometimes
sends inspirations. If wisdom flows from babes and sucklings, why should
it not do so from the well of agnostics and mockers?"

"There is no reason which I can see," scoffed Bickley, "except that as a
rule wells do not flow."

"Your jest is ill-timed and I may add foolish," continued Bastin. "What
I was about to add was that you have given me an idea, as it was no
doubt intended that you should do. I will, metaphorically speaking, gird
up my loins and try to bear the light into all this heathen blackness."

"Then it is one of the first you ever had, old fellow. But what's the
need of girding up your loins in this hot climate?" inquired Bickley
with innocence. "Pyjamas and that white and green umbrella of yours
would do just as well."

Bastin vouchsafed no reply and sat for the rest of that evening plunged
in deep thought.

On the following morning he approached Marama and asked his leave
to teach the people abou