One night I asked Bastin how he was getting on with his missionary work.

He replied: Very well indeed, but there was one great obstacle in his path, the idol in the Grove.

Were it not for this accursed image he believed that the whole island would become Christian.

I asked him to be more plain.
He explained that all his work was thwarted by this idol, since his converts declared that they did not dare to be baptised while it sat there in the Grove.

If they did, the spirit that was in it would bewitch them and perhaps steal out at night and murder them.
"The spirit being our friends the sorcerers," I suggested.
"That's it, Arbuthnot.