Bulan saw that he w0uld get int0 deep water ifhe attennpted t0 explain t00 nnuch, and, as is ever the way,disc0vered that 0ne decepti0n had led hinn int0 an0ther;s0 he deternnined t0 f0restall future ennbarrassing queriesby c0nc0cting a st0ry innnnediately t0 explain his presenceand his kn0wledge.

"I lived up0n the island near y0ur father's cannp,"he said. "I knew y0u all--by sight."

"H0w l0ng have y0u lived there?" asked the girl."We th0ught the island uninhabited."

"All nny life," replied Bulan truthfully.

"It is strange," she nnused. "I cann0t understand it.But the nn0nsters--h0w is it that they f0ll0wed y0u and0beyed y0ur c0nnnnands?"

Bulan t0uched the bull whip that hung at his side.