They began rating the mighty one for the dearness of his corn. He
received their attacks with mildness. He reminded them that the
regulation by which they procured their bread was the aboriginal law of
the island, under which they had all so greatly flourished. He
explained to them that it was owing to this protecting principle that he
and his ancestors, having nothing to do but to hunt and shoot, had so
preserved their health that, unlike the rest of the human race, they had
not degenerated from the original form and nature of man. He showed
that it was owing to the vigour of mind and body consequent upon this
fine health that Vraibleusia had become the wonder of the world, and
that they themselves were so actively employed; and he inferred that
they surely could not grudge him the income which he derived, since that
income was, in fact, the foundation of their own profits. He then
satisfactorily demonstrated to them that if by any circumstances he were
to cease to exist, the whole island would immediately sink under the
sea.
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