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diff --git a/old/13720-0.txt b/old/13720-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6cd7813 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13720-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11763 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, by Herman Melville + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Mardi: and A Voyage Thither + Vol. I (of II) + +Author: Herman Melville + +Release Date: October 12, 2004 [eBook #13720] +[Most recently updated: June 14, 2022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Geoff Palmer + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER *** + + + + +MARDI: +AND A VOYAGE THITHER + +By Herman Melville + +In Two Volumes + +Vol. I + +1864 + + + + +DEDICATED +TO +My Brother, +ALLAN MELVILLE. + + + + +CONTENTS + + PREFACE + MARDI + CHAPTER I — Foot in Stirrup + CHAPTER II — A Calm + CHAPTER III — A King for a Comrade + CHAPTER IV — A Chat in the Clouds + CHAPTER V — Seats secured and Portmanteaus packed + CHAPTER VI — Eight Bells + CHAPTER VII — A Pause + CHAPTER VIII — They push off, Velis et Remis + CHAPTER IX — The Watery World is all before Them + CHAPTER X — They arrange their Canopies And Lounges, and try to Make Things comfortable + CHAPTER XI — Jarl afflicted with the Lockjaw + CHAPTER XII — More about being in an open Boat + CHAPTER XIII — Of the Chondropterygii, and other uncouth Hordes infesting the South Seas + CHAPTER XIV — Jarl’s Misgivings + CHAPTER XV — A Stitch in time saves Nine + CHAPTER XVI — They are Becalmed + CHAPTER XVII — In high Spirits, they push on for the Terra Incognita + CHAPTER XVIII — My Lord Shark and his Pages + CHAPTER XIX — Who goes there? + CHAPTER XX — Noises and Portents + CHAPTER XXI — Man ho! + CHAPTER XXII — What befel the Brigantine at the Pearl Shell Islands + CHAPTER XXIII — Sailing from the Island they pillage the Cabin + CHAPTER XXIV — Dedicated to the College of Physicians and Surgeons + CHAPTER XXV — Peril A Peace-Maker + CHAPTER XXVI — Containing a Pennyweight Of Philosophy + CHAPTER XXVII — In which the past History of the Parki is concluded + CHAPTER XXVIII — Suspicions laid, and something about the Calmuc + CHAPTER XXIX — What they lighted upon in further searching the Craft, and the Resolution they came to + CHAPTER XXX — Hints for a full length of Samoa + CHAPTER XXXI — Rovings Alow and Aloft + CHAPTER XXXII — Xiphius Platypterus + CHAPTER XXXIII — Otard + CHAPTER XXXIV — How they steered on their Way + CHAPTER XXXV — Ah, Annatoo! + CHAPTER XXXVI — The Parki gives up the Ghost + CHAPTER XXXVII — Once more they take to the Chamois + CHAPTER XXXVIII — The Sea on Fire + CHAPTER XXXIX — They fall in with Strangers + CHAPTER XL — Sire and Sons + CHAPTER XLI — A Fray + CHAPTER XLII — Remorse + CHAPTER XLIII — The Tent entered + CHAPTER XLIV — Away! + CHAPTER XLV — Reminiscences + CHAPTER XLVI — The Chamois with a roving Commission + CHAPTER XLVII — Yillah, Jarl, and Samoa + CHAPTER XLVIII — Something under the Surface + CHAPTER XLIX — Yillah + CHAPTER L — Yillah in Ardair + CHAPTER LI — The Dream begins to fade + CHAPTER LII — World ho! + CHAPTER LIII — The Chamois Ashore + CHAPTER LIV — A Gentleman from the Sun + CHAPTER LV — Tiffin in a Temple + CHAPTER LVI — King Media a Host + CHAPTER LVII — Taji takes Counsel with himself + CHAPTER LVIII — Mardi by Night and Yillah by Day + CHAPTER LIX — Their Morning Meal + CHAPTER LX — Belshazzar on the Bench + CHAPTER LXI — An Incognito + CHAPTER LXII — Taji retires from the World + CHAPTER LXIII — Odo and its Lord + CHAPTER LXIV — Yillah a Phantom + CHAPTER LXV — Taji makes three Acquaintances + CHAPTER LXVI — With a fair Wind, at Sunrise they sail + CHAPTER LXVII — Little King Peepi + CHAPTER LXVIII — How Teeth were regarded in Valapee + CHAPTER LXIX — The Company discourse, and Braid-Beard rehearses a Legend + CHAPTER LXX — The Minstrel leads off with a Paddle-Song; and a Message is received from Abroad + CHAPTER LXXI — They land upon the Island of Juam + CHAPTER LXXII — A Book from the Chronicles of Mohi + CHAPTER LXXIII — Something more of the Prince + CHAPTER LXXIV — Advancing deeper into the Vale, they encounter Donjalolo + CHAPTER LXXV — Time and Temples + CHAPTER LXXVI — A pleasant Place for a Lounge + CHAPTER LXXVII — The House of the Afternoon + CHAPTER LXXVIII — Babbalanja solus + CHAPTER LXXIX — The Center of many Circumferences + CHAPTER LXXX — Donjalolo in the Bosom of his Family + CHAPTER LXXXI — Wherein Babbalanja relates the Adventure of one Karkeke in the Land of Shades + CHAPTER LXXXII — How Donjalolo, sent Agents to the Surrounding Isles; with the Result + CHAPTER LXXXIII — They visit the Tributary Islets + CHAPTER LXXXIV — Taji sits down to Dinner with five-And-Twenty Kings, and a royal Time they have + CHAPTER LXXXV — After Dinner + CHAPTER LXXXVI — Of those Scamps the Plujii + CHAPTER LXXXVII — Nora-Bamma + CHAPTER LXXXVIII — In a Calm, Hautia’s Heralds approach + CHAPTER LXXXIX — Braid-Beard rehearses the Origin of the Isle of Rogues + CHAPTER XC — Rare Sport at Ohonoo + CHAPTER XCI — Of King Uhia and his Subjects + CHAPTER XCII — The God Keevi and the Precipice of Mondo + CHAPTER XCIII — Babbalanja steps in between Mohi and Yoomy; and Yoomy relates a Legend + CHAPTER XCIV — Of that jolly old Lord, Borabolla; and that jolly Island of his, Mondoldo; and of the Fish-Ponds, and the Hereafters of Fish + CHAPTER XCV — That jolly old Lord Borabolla laughs on both Sides of his Face + CHAPTER XCVI — Samoa a Surgeon + CHAPTER XCVII — Faith and Knowledge + CHAPTER XCVIII — The Tale of a Traveler + CHAPTER XCIX — “Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee” + CHAPTER C — The Pursuer himself is pursued + CHAPTER CI — The Iris + CHAPTER CII — They depart from Mondoldo + CHAPTER CIII — As they sail + CHAPTER CIV — Wherein Babbalanja broaches a diabolical Theory, and in his Own Person proves it + + + + +PREFACE + + +Not long ago, having published two narratives of voyages in the +Pacific, which, in many quarters, were received with incredulity, the +thought occurred to me, of indeed writing a romance of Polynesian +adventure, and publishing it as such; to see whether, the fiction might +not, possibly, be received for a verity: in some degree the reverse of +my previous experience. + +This thought was the germ of others, which have resulted in Mardi. New +York, January, 1849. + + + + +MARDI + + + + +CHAPTER I. +Foot In Stirrup + + +We are off! The courses and topsails are set: the coral-hung anchor +swings from the bow: and together, the three royals are given to the +breeze, that follows us out to sea like the baying of a hound. Out +spreads the canvas—alow, aloft-boom-stretched, on both sides, with many +a stun’ sail; till like a hawk, with pinions poised, we shadow the sea +with our sails, and reelingly cleave the brine. + +But whence, and whither wend ye, mariners? + +We sail from Ravavai, an isle in the sea, not very far northward from +the tropic of Capricorn, nor very far westward from Pitcairn’s island, +where the mutineers of the Bounty settled. At Ravavai I had stepped +ashore some few months previous; and now was embarked on a cruise for +the whale, whose brain enlightens the world. + +And from Ravavai we sail for the Gallipagos, otherwise called the +Enchanted Islands, by reason of the many wild currents and eddies there +met. + +Now, round about those isles, which Dampier once trod, where the +Spanish bucaniers once hived their gold moidores, the Cachalot, or +sperm whale, at certain seasons abounds. + +But thither, from Ravavai, your craft may not fly, as flies the +sea-gull, straight to her nest. For, owing to the prevalence of the +trade winds, ships bound to the northeast from the vicinity of Ravavai +are fain to take something of a circuit; a few thousand miles or so. +First, in pursuit of the variable winds, they make all haste to the +south; and there, at length picking up a stray breeze, they stand for +the main: then, making their easting, up helm, and away down the coast, +toward the Line. + +This round-about way did the Arcturion take; and in all conscience a +weary one it was. Never before had the ocean appeared so monotonous; +thank fate, never since. + +But bravo! in two weeks’ time, an event. Out of the gray of the +morning, and right ahead, as we sailed along, a dark object rose out of +the sea; standing dimly before us, mists wreathing and curling aloft, +and creamy breakers frothing round its base.—We turned aside, and, at +length, when day dawned, passed Massafuero. With a glass, we spied two +or three hermit goats winding down to the sea, in a ravine; and +presently, a signal: a tattered flag upon a summit beyond. Well +knowing, however, that there was nobody on the island but two or three +noose-fulls of runaway convicts from Chili, our captain had no mind to +comply with their invitation to land. Though, haply, he may have erred +in not sending a boat off with his card. + +A few days more and we “took the trades.” Like favors snappishly +conferred, they came to us, as is often the case, in a very sharp +squall; the shock of which carried away one of our spars; also our fat +old cook off his legs; depositing him plump in the scuppers to leeward. + +In good time making the desired longitude upon the equator, a few +leagues west of the Gallipagos, we spent several weeks chassezing +across the Line, to and fro, in unavailing search for our prey. For +some of their hunters believe, that whales, like the silver ore in +Peru, run in veins through the ocean. So, day after day, daily; and +week after week, weekly, we traversed the self-same longitudinal +intersection of the self-same Line; till we were almost ready to swear +that we felt the ship strike every time her keel crossed that imaginary +locality. + +At length, dead before the equatorial breeze, we threaded our way +straight along the very Line itself. Westward sailing; peering right, +and peering left, but seeing naught. + +It was during this weary time, that I experienced the first symptoms of +that bitter impatience of our monotonous craft, which ultimately led to +the adventures herein recounted. + +But hold you! Not a word against that rare old ship, nor its crew. The +sailors were good fellows all, the half, score of pagans we had shipped +at the islands included. Nevertheless, they were not precisely to my +mind. There was no soul a magnet to mine; none with whom to mingle +sympathies; save in deploring the calms with which we were now and then +overtaken; or in hailing the breeze when it came. Under other and +livelier auspices the tarry knaves might have developed qualities more +attractive. Had we sprung a leak, been “stove” by a whale, or been +blessed with some despot of a captain against whom to stir up some +spirited revolt, these shipmates of mine might have proved limber lads, +and men of mettle. But as it was, there was naught to strike fire from +their steel. + +There were other things, also, tending to make my lot on ship-board +very hard to be borne. True, the skipper himself was a trump; stood +upon no quarter-deck dignity; and had a tongue for a sailor. Let me do +him justice, furthermore: he took a sort of fancy for me in particular; +was sociable, nay, loquacious, when I happened to stand at the helm. +But what of that? Could he talk sentiment or philosophy? Not a bit. His +library was eight inches by four: Bowditch, and Hamilton Moore. + +And what to me, thus pining for some one who could page me a quotation +from Burton on Blue Devils; what to me, indeed, were flat repetitions +of long-drawn yarns, and the everlasting stanzas of Black-eyed Susan +sung by our full forecastle choir? Staler than stale ale. + +Ay, ay, Arcturion! I say it in no malice, but thou wast exceedingly +dull. Not only at sailing: hard though it was, that I could have borne; +but in every other respect. The days went slowly round and round, +endless and uneventful as cycles in space. Time, and time- pieces; How +many centuries did my hammock tell, as pendulum-like it swung to the +ship’s dull roll, and ticked the hours and ages. Sacred forever be the +Arcturion’s fore-hatch—alas! sea-moss is over it now—and rusty forever +the bolts that held together that old sea hearth-stone, about which we +so often lounged. Nevertheless, ye lost and leaden hours, I will rail +at ye while life lasts. + +Well: weeks, chronologically speaking, went by. Bill Marvel’s stories +were told over and over again, till the beginning and end dovetailed +into each other, and were united for aye. Ned Ballad’s songs were sung +till the echoes lurked in the very tops, and nested in the bunts of the +sails. My poor patience was clean gone. + +But, at last after some time sailing due westward we quitted the Line +in high disgust; having seen there, no sign of a whale. + +But whither now? To the broiling coast of Papua? That region of +sun-strokes, typhoons, and bitter pulls after whales unattainable. Far +worse. We were going, it seemed, to illustrate the Whistonian theory +concerning the damned and the comets;—hurried from equinoctial heats to +arctic frosts. To be short, with the true fickleness of his tribe, our +skipper had abandoned all thought of the Cachalot. In desperation, he +was bent upon bobbing for the Right whale on the Nor’-West Coast and in +the Bay of Kamschatska. + +To the uninitiated in the business of whaling, my feelings at this +juncture may perhaps be hard to understand. But this much let me say: +that Right whaling on the Nor’-West Coast, in chill and dismal fogs, +the sullen inert monsters rafting the sea all round like Hartz forest +logs on the Rhine, and submitting to the harpoon like half-stunned +bullocks to the knife; this horrid and indecent Right whaling, I say, +compared to a spirited hunt for the gentlemanly Cachalot in southern +and more genial seas, is as the butchery of white bears upon blank +Greenland icebergs to zebra hunting in Caffraria, where the lively +quarry bounds before you through leafy glades. + +Now, this most unforeseen determination on the part of my captain to +measure the arctic circle was nothing more nor less than a tacit +contravention of the agreement between us. That agreement needs not to +be detailed. And having shipped but for a single cruise, I had embarked +aboard his craft as one might put foot in stirrup for a day’s following +of the hounds. And here, Heaven help me, he was going to carry me off +to the Pole! And on such a vile errand too! For there was something +degrading in it. Your true whaleman glories in keeping his harpoon +unspotted by blood of aught but Cachalot. By my halidome, it touched +the knighthood of a tar. Sperm and spermaceti! It was unendurable. + +“Captain,” said I, touching my sombrero to him as I stood at the wheel +one day, “It’s very hard to carry me off this way to purgatory. I +shipped to go elsewhere.” + +“Yes, and so did I,” was his reply. “But it can’t be helped. Sperm +whales are not to be had. We’ve been out now three years, and something +or other must be got; for the ship is hungry for oil, and her hold a +gulf to look into. But cheer up my boy; once in the Bay of Kamschatka, +and we’ll be all afloat with what we want, though it be none of the +best.” + +Worse and worse! The oleaginous prospect extended into an immensity of +Macassar. “Sir,” said I, “I did not ship for it; put me ashore +somewhere, I beseech.” He stared, but no answer vouchsafed; and for a +moment I thought I had roused the domineering spirit of the +sea-captain, to the prejudice of the more kindly nature of the man. + +But not so. Taking three turns on the deck, he placed his hand on the +wheel, and said, “Right or wrong, my lad, go with us you must. Putting +you ashore is now out of the question. I make no port till this ship is +full to the combings of her hatchways. However, you may leave her if +you can.” And so saying he entered his cabin, like Julius Caesar into +his tent. + +He may have meant little by it, but that last sentence rung in my ear +like a bravado. It savored of the turnkey’s compliments to the prisoner +in Newgate, when he shoots to the bolt on him. + +“Leave the ship if I can!” Leave the ship when neither sail nor shore +was in sight! Ay, my fine captain, stranger things have been done. For +on board that very craft, the old Arcturion, were four tall fellows, +whom two years previous our skipper himself had picked up in an open +boat, far from the farthest shoal. To be sure, they spun a long yarn +about being the only survivors of an Indiaman burnt down to the water’s +edge. But who credited their tale? Like many others, they were keepers +of a secret: had doubtless contracted a disgust for some ugly craft +still afloat and hearty, and stolen away from her, off soundings. Among +seamen in the Pacific such adventures not seldom occur. Nor are they +accounted great wonders. They are but incidents, not events, in the +career of the brethren of the order of South Sea rovers. For what +matters it, though hundreds of miles from land, if a good whale-boat be +under foot, the Trades behind, and mild, warm seas before? And herein +lies the difference between the Atlantic and Pacific:—that once within +the Tropics, the bold sailor who has a mind to quit his ship round Cape +Horn, waits not for port. He regards that ocean as one mighty harbor. + +Nevertheless, the enterprise hinted at was no light one; and I resolved +to weigh well the chances. It’s worth noticing, this way we all have of +pondering for ourselves the enterprise, which, for others, we hold a +bagatelle. + +My first thoughts were of the boat to be obtained, and the right or +wrong of abstracting it, under the circumstances. But to split no hairs +on this point, let me say, that were I placed in the same situation +again, I would repeat the thing I did then. The captain well knew that +he was going to detain me unlawfully: against our agreement; and it was +he himself who threw out the very hint, which I merely adopted, with +many thanks to him. + +In some such willful mood as this, I went aloft one day, to stand my +allotted two hours at the mast-head. It was toward the close of a day, +serene and beautiful. There I stood, high upon the mast, and away, +away, illimitably rolled the ocean beneath. Where we then were was +perhaps the most unfrequented and least known portion of these seas. +Westward, however, lay numerous groups of islands, loosely laid down +upon the charts, and invested with all the charms of dream-land. But +soon these regions would be past; the mild equatorial breeze exchanged +for cold, fierce squalls, and all the horrors of northern voyaging. + +I cast my eyes downward to the brown planks of the dull, plodding ship, +silent from stem to stern; then abroad. + +In the distance what visions were spread! The entire western horizon +high piled with gold and crimson clouds; airy arches, domes, and +minarets; as if the yellow, Moorish sun were setting behind some vast +Alhambra. Vistas seemed leading to worlds beyond. To and fro, and all +over the towers of this Nineveh in the sky, flew troops of birds. +Watching them long, one crossed my sight, flew through a low arch, and +was lost to view. My spirit must have sailed in with it; for directly, +as in a trance, came upon me the cadence of mild billows laving a beach +of shells, the waving of boughs, and the voices of maidens, and the +lulled beatings of my own dissolved heart, all blended together. + +Now, all this, to be plain, was but one of the many visions one has up +aloft. But coming upon me at this time, it wrought upon me so, that +thenceforth my desire to quit the Arcturion became little short of a +frenzy. + + + + +CHAPTER II. +A Calm + + +Next day there was a calm, which added not a little to my impatience of +the ship. And, furthermore, by certain nameless associations revived in +me my old impressions upon first witnessing as a landsman this +phenomenon of the sea. Those impressions may merit a page. + +To a landsman a calm is no joke. It not only revolutionizes his +abdomen, but unsettles his mind; tempts him to recant his belief in the +eternal fitness of things; in short, almost makes an infidel of him. + +At first he is taken by surprise, never having dreamt of a state of +existence where existence itself seems suspended. He shakes himself in +his coat, to see whether it be empty or no. He closes his eyes, to test +the reality of the glassy expanse. He fetches a deep breath, by way of +experiment, and for the sake of witnessing the effect. If a reader of +books, Priestley on Necessity occurs to him; and he believes in that +old Sir Anthony Absolute to the very last chapter. His faith in Malte +Brun, however, begins to fail; for the geography, which from boyhood he +had implicitly confided in, always assured him, that though expatiating +all over the globe, the sea was at least margined by land. That over +against America, for example, was Asia. But it is a calm, and he grows +madly skeptical. + +To his alarmed fancy, parallels and meridians become emphatically what +they are merely designated as being: imaginary lines drawn round the +earth’s surface. + +The log assures him that he is in such a place; but the log is a liar; +for no place, nor any thing possessed of a local angularity, is to be +lighted upon in the watery waste. + +At length horrible doubts overtake him as to the captain’s competency +to navigate his ship. The ignoramus must have lost his way, and drifted +into the outer confines of creation, the region of the everlasting +lull, introductory to a positive vacuity. + +Thoughts of eternity thicken. He begins to feel anxious concerning his +soul. + +The stillness of the calm is awful. His voice begins to grow strange +and portentous. He feels it in him like something swallowed too big for +the esophagus. It keeps up a sort of involuntary interior humming in +him, like a live beetle. His cranium is a dome full of reverberations. +The hollows of his very bones are as whispering galleries. He is afraid +to speak loud, lest he be stunned; like the man in the bass drum. + +But more than all else is the consciousness of his utter helplessness. +Succor or sympathy there is none. Penitence for embarking avails not. +The final satisfaction of despairing may not be his with a relish. Vain +the idea of idling out the calm. He may sleep if he can, or purposely +delude himself into a crazy fancy, that he is merely at leisure. All +this he may compass; but he may not lounge; for to lounge is to be +idle; to be idle implies an absence of any thing to do; whereas there +is a calm to be endured: enough to attend to, Heaven knows. + +His physical organization, obviously intended for locomotion, becomes a +fixture; for where the calm leaves him, there he remains. Even his +undoubted vested rights, comprised in his glorious liberty of volition, +become as naught. For of what use? He wills to go: to get away from the +calm: as ashore he would avoid the plague. But he can not; and how +foolish to revolve expedients. It is more hopeless than a bad marriage +in a land where there is no Doctors’ Commons. He has taken the ship to +wife, for better or for worse, for calm or for gale; and she is not to +be shuffled off. With yards akimbo, she says unto him scornfully, as +the old beldam said to the little dwarf:—“Help yourself” + +And all this, and more than this, is a calm. + + + + +CHAPTER III. +A King For A Comrade + + +At the time I now write of, we must have been something more than sixty +degrees to the west of the Gallipagos. And having attained a desirable +longitude, we were standing northward for our arctic destination: +around us one wide sea. + +But due west, though distant a thousand miles, stretched north and +south an almost endless Archipelago, here and there inhabited, but +little known; and mostly unfrequented, even by whalemen, who go almost +every where. Beginning at the southerly termination of this great +chain, it comprises the islands loosely known as Ellice’s group; then, +the Kingsmill isles; then, the Radack and Mulgrave clusters. These +islands had been represented to me as mostly of coral formation, low +and fertile, and abounding in a variety of fruits. The language of the +people was said to be very similar to that or the Navigator’s islands, +from which, their ancestors are supposed to have emigrated. + +And thus much being said, all has been related that I then knew of the +islands in question. Enough, however, that they existed at all; and +that our path thereto lay over a pleasant sea, and before a reliable +Trade-wind. The distance, though great, was merely an extension of +water; so much blankness to be sailed over; and in a craft, too, that +properly managed has been known to outlive great ships in a gale. For +this much is true of a whale-boat, the cunningest thing in its way ever +fabricated by man. + +Upon one of the Kingsmill islands, then, I determined to plant my foot, +come what come would. And I was equally determined that one of the +ship’s boats should float me thither. But I had no idea of being +without a companion. It would be a weary watch to keep all by myself, +with naught but the horizon in sight. + +Now, among the crew was a fine old seaman, one Jarl; how old, no one +could tell, not even himself. Forecastle chronology is ever vague and +defective. “Man and boy,” said honest Jarl, “I have lived ever since I +can remember.” And truly, who may call to mind when he was not? To +ourselves, we all seem coeval with creation. Whence it comes, that it +is so hard to die, ere the world itself is departed. + +Jarl hailed from the isle of Skye, one of the constellated Hebrides. +Hence, they often called him the Skyeman. And though he was far from +being piratical of soul, he was yet an old Norseman to behold. His +hands were brawny as the paws of a bear; his voice hoarse as a storm +roaring round the old peak of Mull; and his long yellow hair waved +round his head like a sunset. My life for it, Jarl, thy ancestors were +Vikings, who many a time sailed over the salt German sea and the +Baltic; who wedded their Brynhildas in Jutland; and are now quaffing +mead in the halls of Valhalla, and beating time with their cans to the +hymns of the Scalds. Ah! how the old Sagas run through me! + +Yet Jarl, the descendant of heroes and kings, was a lone, friendless +mariner on the main, only true to his origin in the sea-life that he +led. But so it has been, and forever will be. What yeoman shall swear +that he is not descended from Alfred? what dunce, that he is not sprung +of old Homer? King Noah, God bless him! fathered us all. Then hold up +your heads, oh ye Helots, blood potential flows through your veins. All +of us have monarchs and sages for kinsmen; nay, angels and archangels +for cousins; since in antediluvian days, the sons of God did verily wed +with our mothers, the irresistible daughters of Eve. Thus all +generations are blended: and heaven and earth of one kin: the +hierarchies of seraphs in the uttermost skies; the thrones and +principalities in the zodiac; the shades that roam throughout space; +the nations and families, flocks and folds of the earth; one and all, +brothers in essence—oh, be we then brothers indeed! All things form but +one whole; the universe a Judea, and God Jehovah its head. Then no more +let us start with affright. In a theocracy, what is to fear? Let us +compose ourselves to death as fagged horsemen sleep in the saddle. Let +us welcome even ghosts when they rise. Away with our stares and +grimaces. The New Zealander’s tattooing is not a prodigy; nor the +Chinaman’s ways an enigma. No custom is strange; no creed is absurd; no +foe, but who will in the end prove a friend. In heaven, at last, our +good, old, white-haired father Adam will greet all alike, and sociality +forever prevail. Christian shall join hands between Gentile and Jew; +grim Dante forget his Infernos, and shake sides with fat Rabelais; and +monk Luther, over a flagon of old nectar, talk over old times with Pope +Leo. Then, shall we sit by the sages, who of yore gave laws to the +Medes and Persians in the sun; by the cavalry captains in Perseus, who +cried, “To horse!” when waked by their Last Trump sounding to the +charge; by the old hunters, who eternities ago, hunted the moose in +Orion; by the minstrels, who sang in the Milky Way when Jesus our +Saviour was born. Then shall we list to no shallow gossip of Magellans +and Drakes; but give ear to the voyagers who have circumnavigated the +Ecliptic; who rounded the Polar Star as Cape Horn. Then shall the +Stagirite and Kant be forgotten, and another folio than theirs be +turned over for wisdom; even the folio now spread with horoscopes as +yet undeciphered, the heaven of heavens on high. + +Now, in old Jarl’s lingo there was never an idiom. Your aboriginal tar +is too much of a cosmopolitan for that. Long companionship with seamen +of all tribes: Manilla-men, Anglo-Saxons, Cholos, Lascars, and Danes, +wear away in good time all mother-tongue stammerings. You sink your +clan; down goes your nation; you speak a world’s language, jovially +jabbering in the Lingua-Franca of the forecastle. + +True to his calling, the Skyeman was very illiterate; witless of +Salamanca, Heidelberg, or Brazen-Nose; in Delhi, had never turned over +the books of the Brahmins. For geography, in which sailors should be +adepts, since they are forever turning over and over the great globe of +globes, poor Jarl was deplorably lacking. According to his view of the +matter, this terraqueous world had been formed in the manner of a tart; +the land being a mere marginal crust, within which rolled the watery +world proper. Such seemed my good Viking’s theory of cosmography. As +for other worlds, he weened not of them; yet full as much as +Chrysostom. + +Ah, Jarl! an honest, earnest Wight; so true and simple, that the secret +operations of thy soul were more inscrutable than the subtle workings +of Spinoza’s. + +Thus much be said of the Skyeman; for he was exceedingly taciturn, and +but seldom will speak for himself. + +Now, higher sympathies apart, for Jarl I had a wonderful liking; for he +loved me; from the first had cleaved to me. + +It is sometimes the case, that an old mariner like him will conceive a +very strong attachment for some young sailor, his shipmate; an +attachment so devoted, as to be wholly inexplicable, unless originating +in that heart-loneliness which overtakes most seamen as they grow aged; +impelling them to fasten upon some chance object of regard. But however +it was, my Viking, thy unbidden affection was the noblest homage ever +paid me. And frankly, I am more inclined to think well of myself, as in +some way deserving thy devotion, than from the rounded compliments of +more cultivated minds. + +Now, at sea, and in the fellowship of sailors, all men appear as they +are. No school like a ship for studying human nature. The contact of +one man with another is too near and constant to favor deceit. You wear +your character as loosely as your flowing trowsers. Vain all endeavors +to assume qualities not yours; or to conceal those you possess. +Incognitos, however desirable, are out of the question. And thus aboard +of all ships in which I have sailed, I have invariably been known by a +sort of thawing-room title. Not,—let me hurry to say,—that I put hand +in tar bucket with a squeamish air, or ascended the rigging with a +Chesterfieldian mince. No, no, I was never better than my vocation; and +mine have been many. I showed as brown a chest, and as hard a hand, as +the tarriest tar of them all. And never did shipmate of mine upbraid me +with a genteel disinclination to duty, though it carried me to truck of +main-mast, or jib-boom-end, in the most wolfish blast that ever howled. + +Whence then, this annoying appellation? for annoying it most assuredly +was. It was because of something in me that could not be hidden; +stealing out in an occasional polysyllable; an otherwise +incomprehensible deliberation in dining; remote, unguarded allusions to +Belles-Lettres affairs; and other trifles superfluous to mention. + +But suffice it to say, that it had gone abroad among the Arcturion’s +crew, that at some indefinite period of my career, I had been a “nob.” +But Jarl seemed to go further. He must have taken me for one of the +House of Hanover in disguise; or, haply, for bonneted Charles Edward +the Pretender, who, like the Wandering Jew, may yet be a vagrant. At +any rate, his loyalty was extreme. Unsolicited, he was my laundress and +tailor; a most expert one, too; and when at meal-times my turn came +round to look out at the mast-head, or stand at the wheel, he catered +for me among the “kids” in the forecastle with unwearied assiduity. +Many’s the good lump of “duff” for which I was indebted to my good +Viking’s good care of me. And like Sesostris I was served by a monarch. +Yet in some degree the obligation was mutual. For be it known that, in +sea-parlance, we were _chummies._ + +Now this _chummying_ among sailors is like the brotherhood subsisting +between a brace of collegians (chums) rooming together. It is a +Fidus-Achates-ship, a league of offense and defense, a copartnership of +chests and toilets, a bond of love and good feeling, and a mutual +championship of the absent one. True, my nautical reminiscenses remind +me of sundry lazy, ne’er-do-well, unprofitable, and abominable +chummies; chummies, who at meal times were last at the “kids,” when +their unfortunate partners were high upon the spars; chummies, who +affected awkwardness at the needle, and conscientious scruples about +dabbling in the suds; so that chummy the simple was made to do all the +work of the firm, while chummy the cunning played the sleeping partner +in his hammock. Out upon such chummies! + +But I appeal to thee, honest Jarl, if I was ever chummy the cunning. +Never mind if thou didst fabricate my tarpaulins; and with Samaritan +charity bind up the rents, and pour needle and thread into the +frightful gashes that agonized my hapless nether integuments, which +thou calledst “ducks;”—Didst thou not expressly declare, that all these +things, and more, thou wouldst do for me, despite my own quaint +thimble, fashioned from the ivory tusk of a whale? Nay; could I even +wrest from thy willful hands my very shirt, when once thou hadst it +steaming in an unsavory pickle in thy capacious vat, a decapitated +cask? Full well thou knowest, Jarl, that these things are true; and I +am bound to say it, to disclaim any lurking desire to reap advantage +from thy great good nature. + +Now my Viking for me, thought I, when I cast about for a comrade; and +my Viking alone. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. +A Chat In The Clouds + + +The Skyeman seemed so earnest and upright a seaman, that to tell the +plain truth, in spite of his love for me, I had many misgivings as to +his readiness to unite in an undertaking which apparently savored of a +moral dereliction. But all things considered, I deemed my own +resolution quite venial; and as for inducing another to join me, it +seemed a precaution so indispensable, as to outweigh all other +considerations. + +Therefore I resolved freely to open my heart to him; for that special +purpose paying him a visit, when, like some old albatross in the air, +he happened to be perched at the foremast-head, all by himself, on the +lookout for whales never seen. + +Now this standing upon a bit of stick 100 feet aloft for hours at a +time, swiftly sailing over the sea, is very much like crossing the +Channel in a balloon. Manfred-like, you talk to the clouds: you have a +fellow feeling for the sun. And when Jarl and I got conversing up +there, smoking our dwarfish “dudeens,” any sea-gull passing by might +have taken us for Messrs. Blanchard and Jeffries, socially puffing +their after-dinner Bagdads, bound to Calais, via Heaven, from Dover. +Honest Jarl, I acquainted with all: my conversation with the captain, +the hint implied in his last words, my firm resolve to quit the ship in +one of her boats, and the facility with which I thought the thing could +be done. Then I threw out many inducements, in the shape of pleasant +anticipations of bearing right down before the wind upon the sunny +isles under our lee. + +He listened attentively; but so long remained silent that I almost +fancied there was something in Jarl which would prove too much for me +and my eloquence. + +At last he very bluntly declared that the scheme was a crazy one; he +had never known of such a thing but thrice before; and in every case +the runaways had never afterwards been heard of. He entreated me to +renounce my determination, not be a boy, pause and reflect, stick to +the ship, and go home in her like a man. Verily, my Viking talked to me +like my uncle. + +But to all this I turned a deaf ear; affirming that my mind was made +up; and that as he refused to accompany me, and I fancied no one else +for a comrade, I would go stark alone rather than not at all. Upon +this, seeing my resolution immovable, he bluntly swore that he would +follow me through thick and thin. + +Thanks, Jarl! thou wert one of those devoted fellows who will wrestle +hard to convince one loved of error; but failing, forthwith change +their wrestling to a sympathetic hug. + +But now his elderly prudence came into play. Casting his eye over the +boundless expanse below, he inquired how far off were the islands in +question. + +“A thousand miles and no less.” + +“With a fair trade breeze, then, and a boat sail, that is a good twelve +days’ passage, but calms and currents may make it a month, perhaps +more.” So saying, he shook his old head, and his yellow hair streamed. + +But trying my best to chase away these misgivings, he at last gave them +over. He assured me I might count upon him to his uttermost keel. + +My Viking secured, I felt more at ease; and thoughtfully considered how +the enterprise might best be accomplished. + +There was no time to be lost. Every hour was carrying us farther and +farther from the parallel most desirable for us to follow in our route +to the westward. So, with all possible dispatch, I matured my plans, +and communicated them to Jarl, who gave several old hints—having +ulterior probabilities in view—which were not neglected. + +Strange to relate, it was not till my Viking, with a rueful face, +reminded me of the fact, that I bethought me of a circumstance somewhat +alarming at the first blush. We must push off without chart or +quadrant; though, as will shortly be seen, a compass was by no means +out of the question. The chart, to be sure, I did not so much lay to +heart; but a quadrant was more than desirable. Still, it was by no +means indispensable. For this reason. When we started, our latitude +would be exactly known; and whether, on our voyage westward, we drifted +north or south therefrom, we could not, by any possibility, get so far +out of our reckoning, as to fail in striking some one of a long chain +of islands, which, for many degrees, on both sides of the equator, +stretched right across our track. + +For much the same reason, it mattered little, whether on our passage we +daily knew our longitude; for no known land lay between us and the +place we desired to reach. So what could be plainer than this: that if +westward we patiently held on our way, we must eventually achieve our +destination? + +As for intervening shoals or reefs, if any there were, they intimidated +us not. In a boat that drew but a few inches of water, but an +indifferent look-out would preclude all danger on that score. At all +events, the thing seemed feasible enough, notwithstanding old Jarl’s +superstitious reverence for nautical instruments, and the philosophical +objections which might have been urged by a pedantic disciple of +Mercator. + +Very often, as the old maxim goes, the simplest things are the most +startling, and that, too, from their very simplicity. So cherish no +alarms, if thus we addressed the setting sun—“Be thou, old pilot, our +guide!” + + + + +CHAPTER V. +Seats Secured And Portmanteaus Packed + + +But thoughts of sextants and quadrants were the least of our cares. + +Right from under the very arches of the eyebrows of thirty men—captain, +mates, and crew—a boat was to be abstracted; they knowing nothing of +the event, until all knowledge would prove unavailing. + +Hark ye: + +At sea, the boats of a South Sea-man (generally four in number, spare +ones omitted,) are suspended by tackles, hooked above, to curved +timbers called “davits,” vertically fixed to the ship’s sides. + +Now, no fair one with golden locks is more assiduously waited upon, or +more delicately handled by her tire-women, than the slender whale- boat +by her crew. And out of its element, it seems fragile enough to justify +the utmost solicitude. For truly, like a fine lady, the fine whale-boat +is most delicate when idle, though little coy at a pinch. + +Besides the “davits,” the following supports are provided Two small +cranes are swung under the keel, on which the latter rests, preventing +the settling of the boat’s middle, while hanging suspended by the bow +and stern. A broad, braided, hempen band, usually worked in a tasteful +pattern, is also passed round both gunwales; and secured to the ship’s +bulwarks, firmly lashes the craft to its place. Being elevated above +the ship’s rail, the boats are in plain sight from all parts of the +deck. + +Now, one of these boats was to be made way with. No facile matter, +truly. Harder than for any dashing young Janizary to run off with a +sultana from the Grand Turk’s seraglio. Still, the thing could be done, +for, by Jove, it had been. + +What say you to slyly loosing every thing by day; and when night comes, +cast off the band and swing in the cranes? But how lower the tackles, +even in the darkest night, without a creaking more fearful than the +death rattle? Easily avoided. Anoint the ropes, and they will travel +deftly through the subtle windings of the blocks. + +But though I had heard of this plan being pursued, there was a degree +of risk in it, after all, which I was far from fancying. Another plan +was hit upon; still bolder; and hence more safe. What it was, in the +right place will be seen. + +In selecting my craft for this good voyage, I would fain have traversed +the deck, and eyed the boats like a cornet choosing his steed from out +a goodly stud. But this was denied me. And the “bow boat” was, +perforce, singled out, as the most remote from the quarter-deck, that +region of sharp eyes and relentless purposes. + +Then, our larder was to be thought of; also, an abundant supply of +water; concerning which last I determined to take good heed. There were +but two to be taken care of; but I resolved to lay in sufficient store +of both meat and drink for four; at the same time that the supplemental +twain thus provided for were but imaginary. And if it came to the last +dead pinch, of which we had no fear, however, I was food for no man but +Jarl. + +Little time was lost in catering for our mess. Biscuit and salt beef +were our sole resource; and, thanks to the generosity of the +Arcturion’s owners, our ship’s company had a plentiful supply. Casks of +both, with heads knocked out, were at the service of all. In bags which +we made for the purpose, a sufficiency of the biscuit was readily +stored away, and secreted in a corner of easy access. The salt beef was +more difficult to obtain; but, little by little, we managed to smuggle +out of the cask enough to answer our purpose. + +As for water, most luckily a day or two previous several “breakers” of +it had been hoisted from below for the present use of the ship’s +company. + +These “breakers” are casks, long and slender, but very strong. Of +various diameters, they are made on purpose to stow into spaces +intervening between the immense butts in a ship’s hold. + +The largest we could find was selected, first carefully examining it to +detect any leak. On some pretense or other, we then rolled them all +over to that side of the vessel where our boat was suspended, the +selected breaker being placed in their middle. + +Our compendious wardrobes were snugly packed into bundles and laid +aside for the present. And at last, by due caution, we had every thing +arranged preliminary to the final start. Let me say, though, perhaps to +the credit of Jarl, that whenever the most strategy was necessary, he +seemed ill at ease, and for the most part left the matter to me. It was +well that he did; for as it was, by his untimely straight-forwardness, +he once or twice came near spoiling every thing. Indeed, on one +occasion he was so unseasonably blunt, that curiously enough, I had +almost suspected him of taking that odd sort of interest in one’s +welfare, which leads a philanthropist, all other methods failing, to +frustrate a project deemed bad; by pretending clumsily to favor it. But +no inuendoes; Jarl was a Viking, frank as his fathers; though not so +much of a bucanier. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. +Eight Bells + + +The moon must be monstrous coy, or some things fall out opportunely, or +else almanacs are consulted by nocturnal adventurers; but so it is, +that when Cynthia shows a round and chubby disk, few daring deeds are +done. Though true it may be, that of moonlight nights, jewelers’ +caskets and maidens’ hearts have been burglariously broken into—and +rifled, for aught Copernicus can tell. + +The gentle planet was in her final quarter, and upon her slender horn I +hung my hopes of withdrawing from the ship undetected. + +Now, making a tranquil passage across the ocean, we kept at this time +what are called among whalemen “boatscrew-watches.” That is, instead of +the sailors being divided at night into two bands, alternately on deck +every four hours, there were four watches, each composed of a boat’s +crew, the “headsman” (always one of the mates) excepted. To the +officers, this plan gives uninterrupted repose—“all-night-in,” as they +call it, and of course greatly lightens the duties of the crew. + +The harpooneers head the boats’ crews, and are responsible for the ship +during the continuance of their watches. + +Now, my Viking being a stalwart seaman, pulled the midship oar of the +boat of which I was bowsman. Hence, we were in the same watch; to +which, also, three others belonged, including Mark, the harpooner. One +of these seamen, however, being an invalid, there were only two left +for us to manage. + +Voyaging in these seas, you may glide along for weeks without starting +tack or sheet, hardly moving the helm a spoke, so mild and constant are +the Trades. At night, the watch seldom trouble themselves with keeping +much of a look-out; especially, as a strange sail is almost a prodigy +in these lonely waters. In some ships, for weeks in and weeks out, you +are puzzled to tell when your nightly turn on deck really comes round; +so little heed is given to the standing of watches, where in the +license of presumed safety, nearly every one nods without fear. + +But remiss as you may be in the boats-crew-watch of a heedless +whaleman, the man who heads it is bound to maintain his post on the +quarter-deck until regularly relieved. Yet drowsiness being incidental +to all natures, even to Napoleon, beside his own sentry napping in the +snowy bivouac; so, often, in snowy moonlight, or ebon eclipse, dozed +Mark, our harpooneer. Lethe be his portion this blessed night, thought +I, as during the morning which preceded our enterprise, I eyed the man +who might possibly cross my plans. + +But let me come closer to this part of my story. During what are called +at sea the “dog-watches” (between four o’clock and eight in the +evening), sailors are quite lively and frolicsome; their spirits even +flow far into the first of the long “night-watches;” but upon its +expiration at “eight bells” (midnight), silence begins to reign; if you +hear a voice it is no cherub’s: all exclamations are oaths. + +At eight bells, the mariners on deck, now relieved from their cares, +crawl out from their sleepy retreats in old monkey jackets, or coils of +rigging, and hie to their hammocks, almost without interrupting their +dreams: while the sluggards below lazily drag themselves up the ladder +to resume their slumbers in the open air. + +For these reasons then, the moonless sea midnight was just the time to +escape. Hence, we suffered a whole day to pass unemployed; waiting for +the night, when the star board-quarter-boats’-watch, to which we +belonged, would be summoned on deck at the eventful eight of the bell. + +But twenty-four hours soon glide away; and “Starboleens ahoy; eight +bells there below;” at last started me from a troubled doze. + +I sprang from my hammock, and would have lighted my pipe. But the +forecastle lamp had gone out. An old sea-dog was talking about sharks +in his sleep. Jarl and our solitary watch-mate were groping their way +into their trowsers. And little was heard but the humming of the still +sails aloft; the dash of the waves against the bow; and the deep +breathing of the dreaming sailors around. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. +A Pause + + +Good old Arcturion! Maternal craft; that rocked me so often in thy +heart of oak, I grieve to tell how I deserted thee on the broad deep. +So far from home, with such a motley crew, so many islanders, whose +heathen babble echoing through thy Christian hull, must have grated +harshly on every carline. + +Old ship! where sails thy lone ghost now? For of the stout Arcturion no +word was ever heard, from the dark hour we pushed from her fated +planks. In what time of tempest, to what seagull’s scream, the drowning +eddies did their work, knows no mortal man. Sunk she silently, +helplessly, into the calm depths of that summer sea, assassinated by +the ruthless blade of the swordfish? Such things have been. Or was hers +a better fate? Stricken down while gallantly battling with the blast; +her storm-sails set; helm manned; and every sailor at his post; as sunk +the Hornet, her men at quarters, in some distant gale. + +But surmises are idle. A very old craft, she may have foundered; or +laid her bones upon some treacherous reef; but as with many a far +rover, her fate is a mystery. + +Pray Heaven, the spirit of that lost vessel roaming abroad through the +troubled mists of midnight gales—as old mariners believe of missing +ships—may never haunt my future path upon the waves. Peacefully may she +rest at the bottom of the sea; and sweetly sleep my shipmates in the +lowest watery zone, where prowling sharks come not, nor billows roll. + +By quitting the Arcturion when we did, Jarl and I unconsciously eluded +a sailor’s grave. We hear of providential deliverances. Was this one? +But life is sweet to all, death comes as hard. And for myself I am +almost tempted to hang my head, that I escaped the fate of my +shipmates; something like him who blushed to have escaped the fell +carnage at Thermopylae. + +Though I can not repress a shudder when I think of that old ship’s end, +it is impossible for me so much as to imagine, that our deserting her +could have been in any way instrumental in her loss. Nevertheless, I +would to heaven the Arcturion still floated; that it was given me once +more to tread her familiar decks. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +They Push Off, Velis Et Remis + + +And now to tell how, tempted by devil or good angel, and a thousand +miles from land, we embarked upon this western voyage. + +It was midnight, mark you, when our watch began; and my turn at the +helm now coming on was of course to be avoided. On some plausible +pretense, I induced our solitary watchmate to assume it; thus leaving +myself untrammeled, and at the same time satisfactorily disposing of +him. For being a rather fat fellow, an enormous consumer of “duff,” and +with good reason supposed to be the son of a farmer, I made no doubt, +he would pursue his old course and fall to nodding over the wheel. As +for the leader of the watch—our harpooner—he fell heir to the nest of +old jackets, under the lee of the mizzen-mast, left nice and warm by +his predecessor. + +The night was even blacker than we had anticipated; there was no trace +of a moon; and the dark purple haze, sometimes encountered at night +near the Line, half shrouded the stars from view. + +Waiting about twenty minutes after the last man of the previous watch +had gone below, I motioned to Jarl, and we slipped our shoes from our +feet. He then descended into the forecastle, and I sauntered aft toward +the quarter-deck. All was still. Thrice did I pass my hand full before +the face of the slumbering lubber at the helm, and right between him +and the light of the binnacle. + +Mark, the harpooneer, was not so easily sounded. I feared to approach +him. He lay quietly, though; but asleep or awake, no more delay. Risks +must be run, when time presses. And our ears were a pointer’s to catch +a sound. + +To work we went, without hurry, but swiftly and silently. Our various +stores were dragged from their lurking-places, and placed in the boat, +which hung from the ship’s lee side, the side depressed in the water, +an indispensable requisite to an attempt at escape. And though at +sundown the boat was to windward, yet, as we had foreseen, the vessel +having been tacked during the first watch, brought it to leeward. + +Endeavoring to manhandle our clumsy breaker, and lift it into the boat, +we found, that by reason of the intervention of the shrouds, it could +not be done without, risking a jar; besides straining the craft in +lowering. An expedient, however, though at the eleventh hour, was hit +upon. Fastening a long rope to the breaker, which was perfectly tight, +we cautiously dropped it overboard; paying out enough line, to insure +its towing astern of the ship, so as not to strike against the copper. +The other end of the line we then secured to the boat’s stern. + +Fortunately, this was the last thing to be done; for the breaker, +acting as a clog to the vessel’s way in the water, so affected her +steering as to fling her perceptibly into the wind. And by causing the +helm to work, this must soon rouse the lubber there stationed, if not +already awake. But our dropping overboard the breaker greatly aided us +in this respect: it diminished the ship’s headway; which owing to the +light breeze had not been very great at any time during the night. Had +it been so, all hope of escaping without first arresting the vessel’s +progress, would have been little short of madness. As it was, the sole +daring of the deed that night achieved, consisted in our lowering away +while the ship yet clove the brine, though but moderately. + +All was now ready: the cranes swung in, the lashings adrift, and the +boat fairly suspended; when, seizing the ends of the tackle ropes, we +silently stepped into it, one at each end. The dead weight of the +breaker astern now dragged the craft horizontally through the air, so +that her tackle ropes strained hard. She quivered like a dolphin. +Nevertheless, had we not feared her loud splash upon striking the wave, +we might have quitted the ship almost as silently as the breath the +body. But this was out of the question, and our plans were laid +accordingly. + +“All ready, Jarl?” + +“Ready.” + +“A man overboard!” I shouted at the top of my compass; and like +lightning the cords slid through our blistering hands, and with a +tremendous shock the boat bounded on the sea’s back. One mad sheer and +plunge, one terrible strain on the tackles as we sunk in the trough of +the waves, tugged upon by the towing breaker, and our knives severed +the tackle ropes—we hazarded not unhooking the blocks—our oars were +out, and the good boat headed round, with prow to leeward. + +“Man overboard!” was now shouted from stem to stern. And directly we +heard the confused tramping and shouting of the sailors, as they rushed +from their dreams into the almost inscrutable darkness. + +“Man overboard! Man overboard!” My heart smote me as the human cry of +horror came out of the black vaulted night. + +“Down helm!” was soon heard from the chief mate. “Back the main-yard! +Quick to the boats! How’s this? One down already? Well done! Hold on, +then, those other boats!” + +Meanwhile several seamen were shouting as they strained at the braces. + +“Cut! cut all! Lower away! lower away!” impatiently cried the sailors, +who already had leaped into the boats. + +“Heave the ship to, and hold fast every thing,” cried the captain, +apparently just springing to the deck. “One boat’s enough. Steward; +show a light there from the mizzen-top. Boat ahoy!—Have you got that +man?” + +No reply. The voice came out of a cloud; the ship dimly showing like a +ghost. We had desisted from rowing, and hand over hand were now hauling +in upon the rope attached to the breaker, which we soon lifted into the +boat, instantly resuming our oars. + +“Pull! pull, men! and save him!” again shouted the captain. + +“Ay, ay, sir,” answered Jarl instinctively, “pulling as hard as ever we +can, sir.” + +And pull we did, till nothing could be heard from the ship but a +confused tumult; and, ever and anon, the hoarse shout of the captain, +too distant to be understood. + +We now set our sail to a light air; and right into the darkness, and +dead to leeward, we rowed and sailed till morning dawned. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. +The Watery World Is All Before Them + + +At sea in an open boat, and a thousand miles from land! + +Shortly after the break of day, in the gray transparent light, a speck +to windward broke the even line of the horizon. It was the ship wending +her way north-eastward. + +Had I not known the final indifference of sailors to such disasters as +that which the Arcturion’s crew must have imputed to the night past +(did not the skipper suspect the truth) I would have regarded that +little speck with many compunctions of conscience. Nor, as it was, did +I feel in any very serene humor. For the consciousness of being deemed +dead, is next to the presumable unpleasantness of being so in reality. +One feels like his own ghost unlawfully tenanting a defunct carcass. +Even Jarl’s glance seemed so queer, that I begged him to look another +way. + +Secure now from all efforts of the captain to recover those whom he +most probably supposed lost; and equally cut off from all hope of +returning to the ship even had we felt so inclined; the resolution that +had thus far nerved me, began to succumb in a measure to the awful +loneliness of the scene. Ere this, I had regarded the ocean as a slave, +the steed that bore me whither I listed, and whose vicious +propensities, mighty though they were, often proved harmless, when +opposed to the genius of man. But now, how changed! In our frail boat, +I would fain have built an altar to Neptune. + +What a mere toy we were to the billows, that jeeringly shouldered us +from crest to crest, as from hand to hand lost souls may be tossed +along by the chain of shades which enfilade the route to Tartarus. + +But drown or swim, here’s overboard with care! Cheer up, Jarl! Ha! Ha! +how merrily, yet terribly, we sail! Up, up—slowly up—toiling up the +long, calm wave; then balanced on its summit a while, like a plank on a +rail; and down, we plunge headlong into the seething abyss, till +arrested, we glide upward again. And thus did we go. Now buried in +watery hollows—our sail idly flapping; then lifted aloft—canvas +bellying; and beholding the furthest horizon. + +Had not our familiarity with the business of whaling divested our +craft’s wild motions of its first novel horrors, we had been but a +rueful pair. But day-long pulls after whales, the ship left miles +astern; and entire dark nights passed moored to the monsters, killed +too late to be towed to the ship far to leeward:—all this, and much +more, accustoms one to strange things. Death, to be sure, has a mouth +as black as a wolf’s, and to be thrust into his jaws is a serious +thing. But true it most certainly is—and I speak from no hearsay—that +to sailors, as a class, the grisly king seems not half so hideous as he +appears to those who have only regarded him on shore, and at a +deferential distance. Like many ugly mortals, his features grow less +frightful upon acquaintance; and met over often and sociably, the old +adage holds true, about familiarity breeding contempt. Thus too with +soldiers. Of the quaking recruit, three pitched battles make a grim +grenadier; and he who shrank from the muzzle of a cannon, is now ready +to yield his mustache for a sponge. + +And truly, since death is the last enemy of all, valiant souls will +taunt him while they may. Yet rather, should the wise regard him as the +inflexible friend, who, even against our own wills, from life’s evils +triumphantly relieves us. + +And there is but little difference in the manner of dying. To die, is +all. And death has been gallantly encountered by those who never beheld +blood that was red, only its light azure seen through the veins. And to +yield the ghost proudly, and march out of your fortress with all the +honors of war, is not a thing of sinew and bone. Though in prison, +Geoffry Hudson, the dwarf, died more bravely than Goliah, the giant; +and the last end of a butterfly shames us all. Some women have lived +nobler lives, and died nobler deaths, than men. Threatened with the +stake, mitred Cranmer recanted; but through her fortitude, the lorn +widow of Edessa stayed the tide of Valens’ persecutions. ’Tis no great +valor to perish sword in hand, and bravado on lip; cased all in panoply +complete. For even the alligator dies in his mail, and the swordfish +never surrenders. To expire, mild-eyed, in one’s bed, transcends the +death of Epaminondas. + + + + +CHAPTER X. +They Arrange Their Canopies And Lounges, And Try To Make Things +Comfortable + + +Our little craft was soon in good order. From the spare rigging brought +along, we made shrouds to the mast, and converted the boat- hook into a +handy boom for the jib. Going large before the wind, we set this sail +wing-and-wing with the main-sail. The latter, in accordance with the +customary rig of whale-boats, was worked with a sprit and sheet. It +could be furled or set in an instant. The bags of bread we stowed away +in the covered space about the loggerhead, a useless appurtenance now, +and therefore removed. At night, Jarl used it for a pillow; saying, +that when the boat rolled it gave easy play to his head. The precious +breaker we lashed firmly amidships; thereby much improving our sailing. + +Now, previous to leaving the ship, we had seen to it well, that our +craft was supplied with all those equipments, with which, by the +regulations of the fishery, a whale-boat is constantly provided: night +and day, afloat or suspended. Hanging along our gunwales inside, were +six harpoons, three lances, and a blubber-spade; all keen as razors, +and sheathed with leather. Besides these, we had three waifs, a couple +of two-gallon water-kegs, several bailers, the boat-hatchet for cutting +the whale-line, two auxiliary knives for the like purpose, and several +minor articles, also employed in hunting the leviathan. The line and +line-tub, however, were on ship-board. + +And here it may be mentioned, that to prevent the strain upon the boat +when suspended to the ship’s side, the heavy whale-line, over two +hundred fathoms in length, and something more than an inch in diameter, +when not in use is kept on ship-board, coiled away like an endless +snake in its tub. But this tub is always in readiness to be launched +into the boat. Now, having no use for the line belonging to our craft, +we had purposely left it behind. + +But well had we marked that by far the most important item of a +whale-boat’s furniture was snugly secured in its place. This was the +water-tight keg, at both ends firmly headed, containing a small +compass, tinder-box and flint, candles, and a score or two of biscuit. +This keg is an invariable precaution against what so frequently occurs +in pursuing the sperm whale—prolonged absence from the ship, losing +sight of her, or never seeing her more, till years after you reach home +again. In this same keg of ours seemed coopered up life and death, at +least so seemed it to honest Jarl. No sooner had we got clear from the +Arcturion, than dropping his oar for an instant, he clutched at it in +the dark. + +And when day at last came, we knocked out the head of the keg with the +little hammer and chisel, always attached to it for that purpose, and +removed the compass, that glistened to us like a human eye. Then +filling up the vacancy with biscuit, we again made all tight, driving +down the hoops till they would budge no more. + +At first we were puzzled to fix our compass. But at last the Skyeman +out knife, and cutting a round hole in the after-most thwart, or seat +of the boat, there inserted the little brass case containing the +needle. + +Over the stern of the boat, with some old canvas which my Viking’s +forethought had provided, we spread a rude sort of awning, or rather +counterpane. This, however, proved but little or no protection from the +glare of the sun; for the management of the main-sail forbade any +considerable elevation of the shelter. And when the breeze was fresh, +we were fain to strike it altogether; for the wind being from aft, and +getting underneath the canvas, almost lifted the light boat’s stem into +the air, vexing the counterpane as if it were a petticoat turning a +gusty corner. But when a mere breath rippled the sea, and the sun was +fiery hot, it was most pleasant to lounge in this shady asylum. It was +like being transferred from the roast to cool in the cupboard. And +Jarl, much the toughest fowl of the two, out of an abundant kindness +for his comrade, during the day voluntarily remained exposed at the +helm, almost two hours to my one. No lady-like scruples had he, the old +Viking, about marring his complexion, which already was more than +bronzed. Over the ordinary tanning of the sailor, he seemed masked by a +visor of japanning, dotted all over with freckles, so intensely yellow, +and symmetrically circular, that they seemed scorched there by a +burning glass. + +In the tragico-comico moods which at times overtook me, I used to look +upon the brown Skyeman with humorous complacency. If we fall in with +cannibals, thought I, then, ready-roasted Norseman that thou art, shall +I survive to mourn thee; at least, during the period I revolve upon the +spit. + +But of such a fate, it needs hardly be said, we had no apprehension. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. +Jarl Afflicted With The Lockjaw + + +If ever again I launch whale-boat from sheer-plank of ship at sea, I +shall take good heed, that my comrade be a sprightly fellow, with a +rattle-box head. Be he never so silly, his very silliness, so long as +he be lively at it, shall be its own excuse. + +Upon occasion, who likes not a lively loon, one of your giggling, +gamesome oafs, whose mouth is a grin? Are not such, well-ordered +dispensations of Providence? filling up vacuums, in intervals of social +stagnation relieving the tedium of existing? besides keeping up, here +and there, in very many quarters indeed, sundry people’s good opinion +of themselves? What, if at times their speech is insipid as water after +wine? What, if to ungenial and irascible souls, their very “mug” is an +exasperation to behold, their clack an inducement to suicide? Let us +not be hard upon them for this; but let them live on for the good they +may do. + +But Jarl, dear, dumb Jarl, thou wert none of these. Thou didst carry a +phiz like an excommunicated deacon’s. And no matter what happened, it +was ever the same. Quietly, in thyself, thou didst revolve upon thine +own sober axis, like a wheel in a machine which forever goes round, +whether you look at it or no. Ay, Jarl! wast thou not forever intent +upon minding that which so many neglect—thine own especial business? +Wast thou not forever at it, too, with no likelihood of ever winding up +thy moody affairs, and striking a balance sheet? + +But at times how wearisome to me these everlasting reveries in my one +solitary companion. I longed for something enlivening; a burst of +words; human vivacity of one kind or other. After in vain essaying to +get something of this sort out of Jarl, I tried it all by myself; +playing upon my body as upon an instrument; singing, halloing, and +making empty gestures, till my Viking stared hard; and I myself paused +to consider whether I had run crazy or no. + +But how account for the Skyeman’s gravity? Surely, it was based upon no +philosophic taciturnity; he was nothing of an idealist; an aerial +architect; a constructor of flying buttresses. It was inconceivable, +that his reveries were Manfred-like and exalted, reminiscent of +unutterable deeds, too mysterious even to be indicated by the remotest +of hints. Suppositions all out of the question. + +His ruminations were a riddle. I asked him anxiously, whether, in any +part of the world, Savannah, Surat, or Archangel, he had ever a wife to +think of; or children, that he carried so lengthy a phiz. Nowhere +neither. Therefore, as by his own confession he had nothing to think of +but himself, and there was little but honesty in him (having which, by +the way, he may be thought full to the brim), what could I fall back +upon but my original theory: namely, that in repose, his intellects +stepped out, and left his body to itself. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. +More About Being In An Open Boat + + +On the third morning, at break of day, I sat at the steering oar, an +hour or two previous having relieved Jarl, now fast asleep. Somehow, +and suddenly, a sense of peril so intense, came over me, that it could +hardly have been aggravated by the completest solitude. + +On a ship’s deck, the mere feeling of elevation above the water, and +the reach of prospect you command, impart a degree of confidence which +disposes you to exult in your fancied security. But in an open boat, +brought down to the very plane of the sea, this feeling almost wholly +deserts you. Unless the waves, in their gambols, toss you and your chip +upon one of their lordly crests, your sphere of vision is little larger +than it would be at the bottom of a well. At best, your most extended +view in any one direction, at least, is in a high, slow-rolling sea; +when you descend into the dark, misty spaces, between long and uniform +swells. Then, for the moment, it is like looking up and down in a +twilight glade, interminable; where two dawns, one on each hand, seem +struggling through the semi-transparent tops of the fluid mountains. + +But, lingering not long in those silent vales, from watery cliff to +cliff, a sea-chamois, sprang our solitary craft,—a goat among the Alps! + +How undulated the horizon; like a vast serpent with ten thousand folds +coiled all round the globe; yet so nigh, apparently, that it seemed as +if one’s hand might touch it. + +What loneliness; when the sun rose, and spurred up the heavens, we +hailed him as a wayfarer in Sahara the sight of a distant horseman. +Save ourselves, the sun and the Chamois seemed all that was left of +life in the universe. We yearned toward its jocund disk, as in strange +lands the traveler joyfully greets a face from home, which there had +passed unheeded. And was not the sun a fellow-voyager? were we not both +wending westward? But how soon he daily overtook and passed us; +hurrying to his journey’s end. + +When a week had gone by, sailing steadily on, by day and by night, and +nothing in sight but this self-same sea, what wonder if disquieting +thoughts at last entered our hearts? If unknowingly we should pass the +spot where, according to our reckoning, our islands lay, upon what +shoreless sea would we launch? At times, these forebodings bewildered +my idea of the positions of the groups beyond. All became vague and +confused; so that westward of the Kingsmil isles and the Radack chain, +I fancied there could be naught but an endless sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. +Of The Chondropterygii, And Other Uncouth Hordes Infesting The South +Seas + + +At intervals in our lonely voyage, there were sights which diversified +the scene; especially when the constellation Pisces was in the +ascendant. + +It’s famous botanizing, they say, in Arkansas’ boundless prairies; I +commend the student of Ichthyology to an open boat, and the ocean moors +of the Pacific. As your craft glides along, what strange monsters float +by. Elsewhere, was never seen their like. And nowhere are they found in +the books of the naturalists. + +Though America be discovered, the Cathays of the deep are unknown. And +whoso crosses the Pacific might have read lessons to Buffon. The +sea-serpent is not a fable; and in the sea, that snake is but a garden +worm. There are more wonders than the wonders rejected, and more sights +unrevealed than you or I ever ever dreamt of. Moles and bats alone +should be skeptics; and the only true infidelity is for a live man to +vote himself dead. Be Sir Thomas Brown our ensample; who, while +exploding “Vulgar Errors,” heartily hugged all the mysteries in the +Pentateuch. + +But look! fathoms down in the sea; where ever saw you a phantom like +that? An enormous crescent with antlers like a reindeer, and a Delta of +mouths. Slowly it sinks, and is seen no more. + +Doctor Faust saw the devil; but you have seen the “Devil Fish.” + +Look again! Here comes another. Jarl calls it a Bone Shark. Full as +large as a whale, it is spotted like a leopard; and tusk-like teeth +overlap its jaws like those of the walrus. To seamen, nothing strikes +more terror than the near vicinity of a creature like this. Great ships +steer out of its path. And well they may; since the good craft Essex, +and others, have been sunk by sea-monsters, as the alligator thrusts +his horny snout through a Carribean canoe. + +Ever present to us, was the apprehension of some sudden disaster from +the extraordinary zoological specimens we almost hourly passed. + +For the sharks, we saw them, not by units, nor by tens, nor by +hundreds; but by thousands and by myriads. Trust me, there are more +sharks in the sea than mortals on land. + +And of these prolific fish there are full as many species as of dogs. +But by the German naturalists Muller and Henle, who, in christening the +sharks, have bestowed upon them the most heathenish names, they are +classed under one family; which family, according to Muller, +king-at-arms, is an undoubted branch of the ancient and famous tribe of +the Chondropterygii. + +To begin. There is the ordinary Brown Shark, or sea attorney, so called +by sailors; a grasping, rapacious varlet, that in spite of the hard +knocks received from it, often snapped viciously at our steering oar. +At times, these gentry swim in herds; especially about the remains of a +slaughtered whale. They are the vultures of the deep. + +Then we often encountered the dandy Blue Shark, a long, taper and +mighty genteel looking fellow, with a slender waist, like a Bond- +street beau, and the whitest tiers of teeth imaginable. This dainty +spark invariably lounged by with a careless fin and an indolent tail. +But he looked infernally heartless. + +How his cold-blooded, gentlemanly air, contrasted with the rude, savage +swagger of the Tiger Shark; a round, portly gourmand; with distended +mouth and collapsed conscience, swimming about seeking whom he might +devour. These gluttons are the scavengers of navies, following ships in +the South Seas, picking up odds and ends of garbage, and sometimes a +tit-bit, a stray sailor. No wonder, then, that sailors denounce them. +In substance, Jarl once assured me, that under any temporary +misfortune, it was one of his sweetest consolations to remember, that +in his day, he had murdered, not killed, shoals of Tiger Sharks. + +Yet this is all wrong. As well hate a seraph, as a shark. Both were +made by the same hand. And that sharks are lovable, witness their +domestic endearments. No Fury so ferocious, as not to have some amiable +side. In the wild wilderness, a leopard-mother caresses her cub, as +Hagar did Ishmael; or a queen of France the dauphin. We know not what +we do when we hate. And I have the word of my gentlemanly friend +Stanhope, for it; that he who declared he loved a good hater was but a +respectable sort of Hottentot, at best. No very genteel epithet this, +though coming from the genteelest of men. But when the digger of +dictionaries said that saying of his, he was assuredly not much of a +Christian. However, it is hard for one given up to constitutional hypos +like him; to be filled with the milk and meekness of the gospels. Yet, +with deference, I deny that my old uncle Johnson really believed in the +sentiment ascribed to him. Love a hater, indeed! Who smacks his lips +over gall? Now hate is a thankless thing. So, let us only hate hatred; +and once give love play, we will fall in love with a unicorn. Ah! the +easiest way is the best; and to hate, a man must work hard. Love is a +delight; but hate a torment. And haters are thumbscrews, Scotch boots, +and Spanish inquisitions to themselves. In five words—would they were a +Siamese diphthong—he who hates is a fool. + +For several days our Chamois was followed by two of these aforesaid +Tiger Sharks. A brace of confidential inseparables, jogging along in +our wake, side by side, like a couple of highwaymen, biding their time +till you come to the cross-roads. But giving it up at last, for a +bootless errand, they dropped farther and farther astern, until +completely out of sight. Much to the Skyeman’s chagrin; who long stood +in the stern, lance poised for a dart. + +But of all sharks, save me from the ghastly White Shark. For though we +should hate naught, yet some dislikes are spontaneous; and disliking is +not hating. And never yet could I bring myself to be loving, or even +sociable, with a White Shark. He is not the sort of creature to enlist +young affections. + +This ghost of a fish is not often encountered, and shows plainer by +night than by day. Timon-like, he always swims by himself; gliding +along just under the surface, revealing a long, vague shape, of a milky +hue; with glimpses now and then of his bottomless white pit of teeth. +No need of a dentist hath he. Seen at night, stealing along like a +spirit in the water, with horrific serenity of aspect, the White Shark +sent many a thrill to us twain in the Chamois. + +By day, and in the profoundest calms, oft were we startled by the +ponderous sigh of the grampus, as lazily rising to the surface, he +fetched a long breath after napping below. + +And time and again we watched the darting albicore, the fish with the +chain-plate armor and golden scales; the Nimrod of the seas, to whom so +many flying fish fall a prey. Flying from their pursuers, many of them +flew into our boat. But invariably they died from the shock. No nursing +could restore them. One of their wings I removed, spreading it out to +dry under a weight. In two days’ time the thin membrane, all over +tracings like those of a leaf, was transparent as isinglass, and tinted +with brilliant hues, like those of a changing silk. + +Almost every day, we spied Black Fish; coal-black and glossy. They +seemed to swim by revolving round and round in the water, like a wheel; +their dorsal fins, every now and then shooting into view, like spokes. + +Of a somewhat similar species, but smaller, and clipper-built about the +nose, were the Algerines; so called, probably, from their corsair +propensities; waylaying peaceful fish on the high seas, and plundering +them of body and soul at a gulp. Atrocious Turks! a crusade should be +preached against them. + +Besides all these, we encountered Killers and Thrashers, by far the +most spirited and “spunky” of the finny tribes. Though little larger +than a porpoise, a band of them think nothing of assailing leviathan +himself. They bait the monster, as dogs a bull. The Killers seizing the +Right whale by his immense, sulky lower lip, and the Thrashers +fastening on to his back, and beating him with their sinewy tails. +Often they come off conquerors, worrying the enemy to death. Though, +sooth to say, if leviathan gets but one sweep al them with his terrible +tail, they go flying into the air, as if tossed from Taurus’ horn. + +This sight we beheld. Had old Wouvermans, who once painted a bull bait, +been along with us, a rare chance, that, for his pencil. And Gudin or +Isabey might have thrown the blue rolling sea into the picture. Lastly, +one of Claude’s setting summer suns would have glorified the whole. Oh, +believe me, God’s creatures fighting, fin for fin, a thousand miles +from land, and with the round horizon for an arena; is no ignoble +subject for a masterpiece. + +Such are a few of the sights of the great South Sea. But there is no +telling all. The Pacific is populous as China. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. +Jarl’s Misgivings + + +About this time an event took place. My good Viking opened his mouth, +and spoke. The prodigy occurred, as, jacknife in hand, he was bending +over the midship oar; on the loom, or handle, of which he kept our +almanac; making a notch for every set sun. For some forty-eight hours +past, the wind had been light and variable. It was more than suspected +that a current was sweeping us northward. + +Now, marking these things, Jarl threw out the thought, that the more +wind, and the less current, the better; and if a long calm came on, of +which there was some prospect, we had better take to our oars. + +Take to our oars! as if we were crossing a ferry, and no ocean leagues +to traverse. The idea indirectly suggested all possible horrors. To be +rid of them forthwith, I proceeded to dole out our morning meal. For to +make away with such things, there is nothing better than bolting +something down on top of them; albeit, oft repeated, the plan is very +apt to beget dyspepsia; and the dyspepsia the blues. + +But what of our store of provisions? So far as enough to eat was +concerned, we felt not the slightest apprehension; our supplies proving +more abundant than we had anticipated. But, curious to tell, we felt +but little inclination for food. It was water, bright water, cool, +sparkling water, alone, that we craved. And of this, also, our store at +first seemed ample. But as our voyage lengthened, and breezes blew +faint, and calms fell fast, the idea of being deprived of the precious +fluid grew into something little short of a mono- mania; especially +with Jarl. + +Every hour or two with the hammer and chisel belonging to the tinder +box keg, he tinkered away at the invaluable breaker; driving down the +hoops, till in his over solicitude, I thought he would burst them +outright. + +Now the breaker lay on its bilge, in the middle of the boat, where more +or less sea-water always collected. And ever and anon, dipping his +finger therein, my Viking was troubled with the thought, that this +sea-water tasted less brackish than that alongside. Of course the +breaker must be leaking. So, he would turn it over, till its wet side +came uppermost; when it would quickly become dry as a bone. But now, +with his knife, he would gently probe the joints of the staves; shake +his head; look up; look down; taste of the water in the bottom of the +boat; then that of the sea; then lift one end of the breaker; going +through with every test of leakage he could dream of. Nor was he ever +fully satisfied, that the breaker was in all respects sound. But in +reality it was tight as the drum-heads that beat at Cerro- Gordo. Oh! +Jarl, Jarl: to me in the boat’s quiet stern, steering and +philosophizing at one time and the same, thou and thy breaker were a +study. + +Besides the breaker, we had, full of water, the two boat-kegs, +previously alluded to. These were first used. We drank from them by +their leaden spouts; so many swallows three times in the day; having no +other means of measuring an allowance. But when we came to the breaker, +which had only a bung-hole, though a very large one, dog- like, it was +so many laps apiece; jealously counted by the observer. This plan, +however, was only good for a single day; the water then getting beyond +the reach of the tongue. We therefore daily poured from the breaker +into one of the kegs; and drank from its spout. But to obviate the +absorption inseparable from decanting, we at last hit upon something +better,—my comrade’s shoe, which, deprived of its quarters, narrowed at +the heel, and diligently rinsed out in the sea, was converted into a +handy but rather limber ladle. This we kept suspended in the bung-hole +of the breaker, that it might never twice absorb the water. + +Now pewter imparts flavor to ale; a Meerschaum bowl, the same to the +tobacco of Smyrna; and goggle green glasses are deemed indispensable to +the bibbing of Hock. What then shall be said of a leathern goblet for +water? Try it, ye mariners who list. + +One morning, taking his wonted draught, Jarl fished up in his ladle a +deceased insect; something like a Daddy-long-legs, only more corpulent. +Its fate? A sea-toss? Believe it not; with all those precious drops +clinging to its lengthy legs. It was held over the ladle till the last +globule dribbled; and even then, being moist, honest Jarl was but loth +to drop it overboard. + +For our larder, we could not endure the salt beef; it was raw as a live +Abyssinian steak, and salt as Cracow. Besides, the Feegee simile would +not have held good with respect to it. It was far from being “tender as +a dead man.” The biscuit only could we eat; not to be wondered at; for +even on shipboard, seamen in the tropics are but sparing feeders. + +And here let not, a suggestion be omitted, most valuable to any future +castaway or sailaway as the case may be. Eat not your biscuit dry; but +dip it in the sea: which makes it more bulky and palatable. During meal +times it was soak and sip with Jarl and me: one on each side of the +Chamois dipping our biscuit in the brine. This plan obviated +finger-glasses at the conclusion of our repast. Upon the whole, +dwelling upon the water is not so bad after all. The Chinese are no +fools. In the operation of making your toilet, how handy to float in +your ewer! + + + + +CHAPTER XV. +A Stitch In Time Saves Nine + + +Like most silent earnest sort of people, my good Viking was a pattern +of industry. When in the boats after whales, I have known him carry +along a roll of sinnate to stitch into a hat. And the boats lying +motionless for half an hour or so, waiting the rising of the chase, his +fingers would be plying at their task, like an old lady knitting. Like +an experienced old-wife too, his digits had become so expert and +conscientious, that his eyes left them alone; deeming optic supervision +unnecessary. And on this trip of ours, when not otherwise engaged, he +was quite as busy with his fingers as ever: unraveling old Cape Horn +hose, for yarn wherewith to darn our woolen frocks; with great patches +from the skirts of a condemned reefing jacket, panneling the seats of +our “ducks;” in short, veneering our broken garments with all manner of +choice old broadcloths. + +With the true forethought of an old tar, he had brought along with him +nearly the whole contents of his chest. His precious “Ditty Bag,” +containing his sewing utensils, had been carefully packed away in the +bottom of one of his bundles; of which he had as many as an old maid on +her travels. In truth, an old salt is very much of an old maid, though, +strictly speaking, far from deserving that misdeemed appellative. +Better be an old maid, a woman with herself for a husband, than the +wife of a fool; and Solomon more than hints that all men are fools; and +every wise man knows himself to be one. When playing the sempstress, +Jarl’s favorite perch was the triangular little platform in the bow; +which being the driest and most elevated part of the boat, was best +adapted to his purpose. Here for hours and hours together the honest +old tailor would sit darning and sewing away, heedless of the wide +ocean around; while forever, his slouched Guayaquil hat kept bobbing up +and down against the horizon before us. + +It was a most solemn avocation with him. Silently he nodded like the +still statue in the opera of Don Juan. Indeed he never spoke, unless to +give pithy utterance to the wisdom of keeping one’s wardrobe in repair. +But herein my Viking at times waxed oracular. And many’s the hour we +glided along, myself deeply pondering in the stem, hand upon helm; +while crosslegged at the other end of the boat Jarl laid down patch +upon patch, and at long intervals precept upon precept; here several +saws, and there innumerable stitches. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. +They Are Becalmed + + +On the eighth day there was a calm. + +It came on by night: so that waking at daybreak, and folding my arms +over the gunwale, I looked out upon a scene very hard to describe. The +sun was still beneath the horizon; perhaps not yet out of sight from +the plains of Paraguay. But the dawn was too strong for the stars; +which, one by one, had gone out, like waning lamps after a ball. + +Now, as the face of a mirror is a blank, only borrowing character from +what it reflects; so in a calm in the Tropics, a colorless sky +overhead, the ocean, upon its surface, hardly presents a sign of +existence. The deep blue is gone; and the glassy element lies tranced; +almost viewless as the air. + +But that morning, the two gray firmaments of sky and water seemed +collapsed into a vague ellipsis. And alike, the Chamois seemed drifting +in the atmosphere as in the sea. Every thing was fused into the calm: +sky, air, water, and all. Not a fish was to be seen. The silence was +that of a vacuum. No vitality lurked in the air. And this inert +blending and brooding of all things seemed gray chaos in conception. + +This calm lasted four days and four nights; during which, but a few +cat’s-paws of wind varied the scene. They were faint as the breath of +one dying. + +At times the heat was intense. The heavens, at midday, glowing like an +ignited coal mine. Our skin curled up like lint; our vision became dim; +the brain dizzy. + +To our consternation, the water in the breaker became lukewarm, +brackish, and slightly putrescent; notwithstanding we kept our spare +clothing piled upon the breaker, to shield it from the sun. At last, +Jarl enlarged the vent, carefully keeping it exposed. To this +precaution, doubtless, we owed more than we then thought. It was now +deemed wise to reduce our allowance of water to the smallest modicum +consistent with the present preservation of life; strangling all desire +for more. + +Nor was this all. The upper planking of the boat began to warp; here +and there, cracking and splintering. But though we kept it moistened +with brine, one of the plank-ends started from its place; and the +sharp, sudden sound, breaking the scorching silence, caused us both to +spring to our feet. Instantly the sea burst in; but we made shift to +secure the rebellious plank with a cord, not having a nail; we then +bailed out the boat, nearly half full of water. + +On the second day of the calm, we unshipped the mast, to prevent its +being pitched out by the occasional rolling of the vast smooth swells +now overtaking us. Leagues and leagues away, after its fierce raging, +some tempest must have been sending to us its last dying waves. For as +a pebble dropped into a pond ruffles it to its marge; so, on all sides, +a sea-gale operates as if an asteroid had fallen into the brine; making +ringed mountain billows, interminably expanding, instead of ripples. + +The great September waves breaking at the base of the Neversink +Highlands, far in advance of the swiftest pilot-boat, carry tidings. +And full often, they know the last secret of many a stout ship, never +heard of from the day she left port. Every wave in my eyes seems a +soul. + +As there was no steering to be done, Jarl and I sheltered ourselves as +well as we could under the awning. And for the first two days, one at a +time, and every three or four hours, we dropped overboard for a bath, +clinging to the gun-wale; a sharp look-out being kept for prowling +sharks. A foot or two below the surface, the water felt cool and +refreshing. + +On the third day a change came over us. We relinquished bathing, the +exertion taxing us too much. Sullenly we laid ourselves down; turned +our backs to each other; and were impatient of the slightest casual +touch of our persons. What sort of expression my own countenance wore, +I know not; but I hated to look at Jarl’s. When I did it was a glare, +not a glance. I became more taciturn than he. I can not tell what it +was that came over me, but I wished I was alone. I felt that so long as +the calm lasted, we were without help; that neither could assist the +other; and above all, that for one, the water would hold out longer +than for two. I felt no remorse, not the slightest, for these thoughts. +It was instinct. Like a desperado giving up the ghost, I desired to +gasp by myself. + +From being cast away with a brother, good God deliver me! + +The four days passed. And on the morning of the fifth, thanks be to +Heaven, there came a breeze. Dancingly, mincingly it came, just +rippling the sea, until it struck our sails, previously set at the very +first token of its advance. At length it slightly freshened; and our +poor Chamois seemed raised from the dead. + +Beyond expression delightful! Once more we heard the low humming of the +sea under our bow, as our boat, like a bird, went singing on its way. + +How changed the scene! Overhead, a sweet blue haze, distilling sunlight +in drops. And flung abroad over the visible creation was the +sun-spangled, azure, rustling robe of the ocean, ermined with wave +crests; all else, infinitely blue. Such a cadence of musical sounds! +Waves chasing each other, and sporting and frothing in frolicsome foam: +painted fish rippling past; and anon the noise of wings as sea- fowls +flew by. + +Oh, Ocean, when thou choosest to smile, more beautiful thou art than +flowery mead or plain! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. +In High Spirits, They Push On For The Terra Incognita + + +There were now fourteen notches on the loom of the Skyeman’s oar:—So +many days since we had pushed from the fore-chains of the Arcturion. +But as yet, no floating bough, no tern, noddy, nor reef-bird, to denote +our proximity to land. In that long calm, whither might not the +currents have swept us? + +Where we were precisely, we knew not; but according to our reckoning, +the loose estimation of the knots run every hour, we must have sailed +due west but little more than one hundred and fifty leagues; for the +most part having encountered but light winds, and frequent intermitting +calms, besides that prolonged one described. But spite of past calms +and currents, land there must be to the westward. Sun, compass, stout +hearts, and steady breezes, pointed our prow thereto. So courage! my +Viking, and never say drown! + +At this time, our hearts were much lightened by discovering that our +water was improving in taste. It seemed to have been undergoing anew +that sort of fermentation, or working, occasionally incident to ship +water shortly after being taken on board. Sometimes, for a period, it +is more or less offensive to taste and smell; again, however, becoming +comparatively limpid. + +But as our water improved, we grew more and more miserly of so +priceless a treasure. + +And here it may be well to make mention of another little circumstance, +however unsentimental. Thorough-paced tar that he was, my Viking was an +inordinate consumer of the Indian weed. From the Arcturion, he had +brought along with him a small half-keg, at bottom impacted with a +solitary layer of sable Negrohead, fossil- marked, like the primary +stratum of the geologists. It was the last tier of his abundant supply +for the long whaling voyage upon which he had embarked upwards of three +years previous. Now during the calm, and for some days after, poor +Jarl’s accustomed quid was no longer agreeable company. To pun: he +eschewed his chew. I asked him wherefore. He replied that it puckered +up his mouth, above all provoked thirst, and had somehow grown every +way distasteful. I was sorry; for the absence of his before ever +present wad impaired what little fullness there was left in his cheek; +though, sooth to say, I no longer called upon him as of yore to shift +over the enormous morsel to starboard or larboard, and so trim our +craft. + +The calm gone by, once again my sea-tailor plied needle and thread; or +turning laundress, hung our raiment to dry on oars peaked obliquely in +the thole-pins. All of which tattered pennons, the wind being astern, +helped us gayly on our way; as jolly poor devils, with rags flying in +the breeze, sail blithely through life; and are merry although they are +poor! + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. +My Lord Shark And His Pages + + +There is a fish in the sea that evermore, like a surly lord, only goes +abroad attended by his suite. It is the Shovel-nosed Shark. A clumsy +lethargic monster, unshapely as his name, and the last species of his +kind, one would think, to be so bravely waited upon, as he is. His +suite is composed of those dainty little creatures called Pilot fish by +sailors. But by night his retinue is frequently increased by the +presence of several small luminous fish, running in advance, and +flourishing their flambeaux like link-boys lighting the monster’s way. +Pity there were no ray-fish in rear, page-like, to carry his caudal +train. + +Now the relation subsisting between the Pilot fish above mentioned and +their huge ungainly lord, seems one of the most inscrutable things in +nature. At any rate, it poses poor me to comprehend. That a monster so +ferocious, should suffer five or six little sparks, hardly fourteen +inches long, to gambol about his grim hull with the utmost impunity, is +of itself something strange. But when it is considered, that by a +reciprocal understanding, the Pilot fish seem to act as scouts to the +shark, warning him of danger, and apprising him of the vicinity of +prey; and moreover, in case of his being killed, evincing their anguish +by certain agitations, otherwise inexplicable; the whole thing becomes +a mystery unfathomable. Truly marvels abound. It needs no dead man to +be raised, to convince us of some things. Even my Viking marveled full +as much at those Pilot fish as he would have marveled at the Pentecost. + +But perhaps a little incident, occurring about this period, will best +illustrate the matter in hand. + +We were gliding along, hardly three knots an hour, when my comrade, who +had been dozing over the gunwale, suddenly started to his feet, and +pointed out an immense Shovel-nosed Shark, less than a boat’s length +distant, and about half a fathom beneath the surface. A lance was at +once snatched from its place; and true to his calling, Jarl was about +to dart it at the fish, when, interested by the sight of its radiant +little scouts, I begged him to desist. + +One of them was right under the shark, nibbling at his ventral fin; +another above, hovering about his dorsal appurtenance; one on each +flank; and a frisking fifth pranking about his nose, seemingly having +something to say of a confidential nature. They were of a bright, +steel-blue color, alternated with jet black stripes; with glistening +bellies of a silver-white. Clinging to the back of the shark, were four +or five Remoras, or sucking-fish; snaky parasites, impossible to remove +from whatever they adhere to, without destroying their lives. The +Remora has little power in swimming; hence its sole locomotion is on +the backs of larger fish. Leech-like, it sticketh closer than a false +brother in prosperity; closer than a beggar to the benevolent; closer +than Webster to the Constitution. But it feeds upon what it clings to; +its feelers having a direct communication with the esophagus. + +The shark swam sluggishly; creating no sign of a ripple, but ever and, +anon shaking his Medusa locks, writhing and curling with horrible life. +Now and then, the nimble Pilot fish darted from his side—this way and +that—mostly toward our boat; but previous to taking a fresh start ever +returning to their liege lord to report progress. + +A thought struck me. Baiting a rope’s end with a morsel of our almost +useless salt beef, I suffered it to trail in the sea. Instantly the +foremost scout swam toward it; hesitated; paused; but at last +advancing, briskly snuffed at the line, and taking one finical little +nibble, retreated toward the shark. Another moment, and the great +Tamerlane himself turned heavily about; pointing his black, cannon-like +nose directly toward our broadside. Meanwhile, the little Pilot fish +darted hither and thither; keeping up a mighty fidgeting, like men of +small minds in a state of nervous agitation. + +Presently, Tamerlane swam nearer and nearer, all the while lazily +eyeing the Chamois, as a wild boar a kid. Suddenly making a rush for +it, in the foam he made away with the bait. But the next instant, the +uplifted lance sped at his skull; and thrashing his requiem with his +sinewy tail, he sunk slowly, through his own blood, out of sight. Down +with him swam the terrified Pilot fish; but soon after, three of them +were observed close to the boat, gliding along at a uniform pace; one +an each side, and one in advance; even as they had attended their lord. +Doubtless, one was under our keel. + +“A good omen,” said Jarl; “no harm will befall us so long as they +stay.” + +But however that might be, follow us they did, for many days after: +until an event occurred, which necessitated their withdrawal. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. +Who Goes There? + + +Jarl’s oar showed sixteen notches on the loom, when one evening, as the +expanded sun touched the horizon’s rim, a ship’s uppermost spars were +observed, traced like a spider’s web against its crimson disk. It +looked like a far-off craft on fire. + +In bright weather at sea, a sail, invisible in the full flood of noon, +becomes perceptible toward sunset. It is the reverse in the morning. In +sight at gray dawn, the distant vessel, though in reality approaching, +recedes from view, as the sun rises higher and higher. This holds true, +till its vicinity makes it readily fall within the ordinary scope of +vision. And thus, too, here and there, with other distant things: the +more light you throw on them, the more you obscure. Some revelations +show best in a twilight. + +The sight of the stranger not a little surprised us. But brightening +up, as if the encounter were welcome, Jarl looked happy and expectant. +He quickly changed his demeanor, however, upon perceiving that I was +bent upon shunning a meeting. + +Instantly our sails were struck; and calling upon Jarl, who was +somewhat backward to obey, I shipped the oars; and, both rowing, we +stood away obliquely from our former course. + +I divined that the vessel was a whaler; and hence, that by help of the +glass, with which her look-outs must be momentarily sweeping the +horizon, they might possibly have descried us; especially, as we were +due east from the ship; a direction, which at sunset is the one most +favorable for perceiving a far-off object at sea. Furthermore, our +canvas was snow-white and conspicuous. To be sure, we could not be +certain what kind of a vessel it was; but whatever it might be, I, for +one, had no mind to risk an encounter; for it was quite plain, that if +the stranger came within hailing distance, there would be no resource +but to link our fortunes with hers; whereas I desired to pursue none +but the Chamois’. As for the Skyeman, he kept looking wistfully over +his shoulder; doubtless, praying Heaven, that we might not escape what +I sought to avoid. + +Now, upon a closer scrutiny, being pretty well convinced that the +stranger, after all, was steering a nearly westerly course—right away +from us—we reset our sail; and as night fell, my Viking’s entreaties, +seconded by my own curiosity, induced me to resume our original course; +and so follow after the vessel, with a view of obtaining a nearer +glimpse, without danger of detection. So, boldly we steered for the +sail. + +But not gaining much upon her, spite of the lightness of the breeze (a +circumstance in our favor: the chase being a ship, and we but a boat), +at my comrade’s instigation, we added oars to sails, readily guiding +our way by the former, though the helm was left to itself. + +As we came nearer, it was plain that the vessel was no whaler; but a +small, two-masted craft; in short, a brigantine. Her sails were in a +state of unaccountable disarray, only the foresail, mainsail, and jib +being set. The first was much tattered; and the jib was hoisted but +half way up the stay, where it idly flapped, the breeze coming from +over the taffrail. She continually yawed in her course; now almost +presenting her broadside, then showing her stern. + +Striking our sails once more, we lay on our oars, and watched her in +the starlight. Still she swung from side to side, and still sailed on. + +Not a little terrified at the sight, superstitious Jarl more than +insinuated that the craft must be a gold-huntress, haunted. But I told +him, that if such were the case, we must board her, come gold or +goblins. In reality, however, I began to think that she must have been +abandoned by her crew; or else, that from sickness, those on board were +incapable of managing her. + +After a long and anxious reconnoiter, we came still nearer, using our +oars, but very reluctantly on Jarl’s part; who, while rowing, kept his +eyes over his shoulder, as if about to beach the little Chamois on the +back of a whale as of yore. Indeed, he seemed full as impatient to quit +the vicinity of the vessel, as before he had been anxiously courting +it. + +Now, as the silent brigantine again swung round her broadside, I hailed +her loudly. No return. Again. But all was silent. With a few vigorous +strokes, we closed with her, giving yet another unanswered hail; when, +laying the Chamois right alongside, I clutched at the main-chains. +Instantly we felt her dragging us along. Securing our craft by its +painter, I sprang over the rail, followed by Jarl, who had snatched his +harpoon, his favorite arms. Long used with that weapon to overcome the +monsters of the deep, he doubted not it would prove equally serviceable +in any other encounter. + +The deck was a complete litter. Tossed about were pearl oyster shells, +husks of cocoa-nuts, empty casks, and cases. The deserted tiller was +lashed; which accounted for the vessel’s yawing. But we could not +conceive, how going large before the wind; the craft could, for any +considerable time, at least, have guided herself without the help of a +hand. Still, the breeze was light and steady. + +Now, seeing the helm thus lashed, I could not but distrust the silence +that prevailed. It conjured up the idea of miscreants concealed below, +and meditating treachery; unscrupulous mutineers—Lascars, or +Manilla-men; who, having murdered the Europeans of the crew, might not +be willing to let strangers depart unmolested. Or yet worse, the entire +ship’s company might have been swept away by a fever, its infection +still lurking in the poisoned hull. And though the first conceit, as +the last, was a mere surmise, it was nevertheless deemed prudent to +secure the hatches, which for the present we accordingly barred down +with the oars of our boat. This done, we went about the deck in search +of water. And finding some in a clumsy cask, drank long and freely, and +to our thirsty souls’ content. + +The wind now freshening, and the rent sails like to blow from the +yards, we brought the brigantine to the wind, and brailed up the +canvas. This left us at liberty to examine the craft, though, +unfortunately, the night was growing hazy. + +All this while our boat was still towing alongside; and I was about to +drop it astern, when Jarl, ever cautious, declared it safer where it +was; since, if there were people on board, they would most likely be +down in the cabin, from the dead-lights of which, mischief might be +done to the Chamois. + +It was then, that my comrade observed, that the brigantine had no +boats, a circumstance most unusual in any sort of a vessel at sea. But +marking this, I was exceedingly gratified. It seemed to indicate, as I +had opined, that from some cause or other, she must have been abandoned +of her crew. And in a good measure this dispelled my fears of foul +play, and the apprehension of contagion. Encouraged by these +reflections, I now resolved to descend, and explore the cabin, though +sorely against Jarl’s counsel. To be sure, as he earnestly said, this +step might have been deferred till daylight; but it seemed too +wearisome to wait. So bethinking me of our tinder-box and candles, I +sent him into the boat for them. Presently, two candles were lit; one +of which the Skyeman tied up and down the barbed end of his harpoon; so +that upon going below, the keen steel might not be far off, should the +light be blown out by a dastard. + +Unfastening the cabin scuttle, we stepped downward into the smallest +and murkiest den in the world. The altar-like transom, surmounted by +the closed dead-lights in the stem, together with the dim little sky- +light overhead, and the somber aspect of every thing around, gave the +place the air of some subterranean oratory, say a Prayer Room of Peter +the Hermit. But coils of rigging, bolts of canvas, articles of +clothing, and disorderly heaps of rubbish, harmonized not with this +impression. Two doors, one on each side, led into wee little state- +rooms, the berths of which also were littered. Among other things, was +a large box, sheathed with iron and stoutly clamped, containing a keg +partly filled with powder, the half of an old cutlass, a pouch of +bullets, and a case for a sextant—a brass plate on the lid, with the +maker’s name. London. The broken blade of the cutlass was very rusty +and stained; and the iron hilt bent in. It looked so tragical that I +thrust it out of sight. + +Removing a small trap-door, opening into the space beneath, called the +“run,” we lighted upon sundry cutlasses and muskets, lying together at +sixes and sevens, as if pitched down in a hurry. + +Casting round a hasty glance, and satisfying ourselves, that through +the bulkhead of the cabin, there was no passage to the forward part of +the hold, we caught up the muskets and cutlasses, the powder keg and +the pouch of bullets, and bundling them on deck, prepared to visit the +other end of the vessel. Previous to so doing, however, I loaded a +musket, and belted a cutlass to my side. But my Viking preferred his +harpoon. + +In the forecastle reigned similar confusion. But there was a snug +little lair, cleared away in one corner, and furnished with a grass mat +and bolster, like those used among the Islanders of these seas. This +little lair looked to us as if some leopard had crouched there. And as +it turned out, we were not far from right. Forming one side of this +retreat, was a sailor’s chest, stoutly secured by a lock, and monstrous +heavy withal. Regardless of Jarl’s entreaties, I managed to burst the +lid; thereby revealing a motley assemblage of millinery, and outlandish +knick-knacks of all sorts; together with sundry rude Calico +contrivances, which though of unaccountable cut, nevertheless possessed +a certain petticoatish air, and latitude of skirt, betokening them the +habiliments of some feminine creature; most probably of the human +species. + +In this strong box, also, was a canvas bag, jingling with rusty old +bell-buttons, gangrened copper bolts, and sheathing nails; damp, +greenish Carolus dollars (true coin all), besides divers iron screws, +and battered, chisels, and belaying-pins. Sounded on the chest lid, the +dollars rang clear as convent bells. These were put aside by Jarl the +sight of substantial dollars doing away, for the nonce, with his +superstitious Misgivings. True to his kingship, he loved true coin; +though abroad on the sea, and no land but dollarless dominions ground, +all this silver was worthless as charcoal or diamonds. Nearly one and +the same thing, say the chemists; but tell that to the marines, say the +illiterate Jews and the jewelers. Go, buy a house, or a ship, if you +can, with your charcoal! Yea, all the woods in Canada charred down to +cinders would not be worth the one famed Brazilian diamond, though no +bigger than the egg of a carrier pigeon. Ah! but these chemists are +liars, and Sir Humphrey Davy a cheat. Many’s the poor devil they’ve +deluded into the charcoal business, who otherwise might have made his +fortune with a mattock. + +Groping again into the chest, we brought to light a queer little hair +trunk, very bald and rickety. At every corner was a mighty clamp, the +weight of which had no doubt debilitated the box. It was jealously +secured with a padlock, almost as big as itself; so that it was almost +a question, which was meant to be security to the other. Prying at it +hard, we at length effected an entrance; but saw no golden moidores, no +ruddy doubloons; nothing under heaven but three pewter mugs, such as +are used in a ship’s cabin, several brass screws, and brass plates, +which must have belonged to a quadrant; together with a famous lot of +glass beads, and brass rings; while, pasted on the inside of the cover, +was a little colored print, representing the harlots, the shameless +hussies, having a fine time with the Prodigal Son. + +It should have been mentioned ere now, that while we were busy in the +forecastle, we were several times startled by strange sounds aloft. And +just after, crashing into the little hair trunk, down came a great +top-block, right through the scuttle, narrowly missing my Viking’s +crown; a much stronger article, by the way, than your goldsmiths turn +out in these days. This startled us much; particularly Jarl, as one +might suppose; but accustomed to the strange creakings and wheezings of +the masts and yards of old vessels at sea, and having many a time +dodged stray blocks accidentally falling from aloft, I thought little +more of the matter; though my comrade seemed to think the noises +somewhat different from any thing of that kind he had even heard +before. + +After a little more turning over of the rubbish in the forecastle, and +much marveling thereat, we ascended to the deck; where we found every +thing so silent, that, as we moved toward the taffrail, the Skyeman +unconsciously addressed me in a whisper. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. +Noises And Portents + + +I longed for day. For however now inclined to believe that the +brigantine was untenanted, I desired the light of the sun to place that +fact beyond a misgiving. + +Now, having observed, previous to boarding the vessel, that she lay +rather low in the water, I thought proper to sound the well. But there +being no line-and-sinker at hand, I sent Jarl to hunt them up in the +arm-chest on the quarter-deck, where doubtless they must be kept. +Meanwhile I searched for the “breaks,” or pump-handles, which, as it +turned out, could not have been very recently used; for they were found +lashed up and down to the main-mast. + +Suddenly Jarl came running toward me, whispering that all doubt was +dispelled;—there were spirits on board, to a dead certainty. He had +overheard a supernatural sneeze. But by this time I was all but +convinced, that we were alone in the brigantine. Since, if otherwise, I +could assign no earthly reason for the crew’s hiding away from a couple +of sailors, whom, were they so minded, they might easily have mastered. +And furthermore, this alleged disturbance of the atmosphere aloft by a +sneeze, Jarl averred to have taken place in the main-top; directly +underneath which I was all this time standing, and had heard nothing. +So complimenting my good Viking upon the exceeding delicacy of his +auriculars, I bade him trouble himself no more with his piratical +ghosts and goblins, which existed nowhere but in his own imagination. + +Not finding the line-and-sinker, with the spare end of a bowline we +rigged a substitute; and sounding the well, found nothing to excite our +alarm. Under certain circumstances, however, this sounding a ship’s +well is a nervous sort of business enough. ’Tis like feeling your own +pulse in the last stage of a fever. + +At the Skyeman’s suggestion, we now proceeded to throw round the +brigantine’s head on the other tack. For until daylight we desired to +alter the vessel’s position as little as possible, fearful of coming +unawares upon reefs. + +And here be it said, that for all his superstitious misgivings about +the brigantine; his imputing to her something equivalent to a purely +phantom-like nature, honest Jarl was nevertheless exceedingly downright +and practical in all hints and proceedings concerning her. Wherein, he +resembled my Right Reverend friend, Bishop Berkeley—truly, one of your +lords spiritual—who, metaphysically speaking, holding all objects to be +mere optical delusions, was, notwith- standing, extremely +matter-of-fact in all matters touching matter itself. Besides being +pervious to the points of pins, and possessing a palate capable of +appreciating plum-puddings:—which sentence reads off like a pattering +of hailstones. + +Now, while we were employed bracing round the yards, whispering Jarl +must needs pester me again with his confounded suspicions of goblins on +board. He swore by the main-mast, that when the fore-yard swung round, +he had heard a half-stifled groan from that quarter; as if one of his +bugbears had been getting its aerial legs jammed. I laughed:—hinting +that goblins were incorporeal. Whereupon he besought me to ascend the +fore-rigging and test the matter for myself But here my mature judgment +got the better of my first crude opinion. I civilly declined. For +assuredly, there was still a possibility, that the fore-top might be +tenanted, and that too by living miscreants; and a pretty hap would be +mine, if, with hands full of rigging, and legs dangling in air, while +surmounting the oblique futtock- shrouds, some unseen arm should all at +once tumble me overboard. Therefore I held my peace; while Jarl went on +to declare, that with regard to the character of the brigantine, his +mind was now pretty fully made up;—she was an arrant impostor, a shade +of a ship, full of sailors’ ghosts, and before we knew where we were, +would dissolve in a supernatural squall, and leave us twain in the +water. In short, Jarl, the descendant of the superstitious old +Norsemen, was full of old Norse conceits, and all manner of Valhalla +marvels concerning the land of goblins and goblets. No wonder then, +that with this catastrophe in prospect, he again entreated me to quit +the ill-starred craft, carrying off nothing from her ghostly hull. But +I refused. + +One can not relate every thing at once. While in the cabin, we came +across a “barge” of biscuit, and finding its contents of a quality much +superior to our own, we had filled our pockets and occasionally regaled +ourselves in the intervals of rummaging. Now this sea cake- basket we +had brought on deck. And for the first time since bidding adieu to the +Arcturion having fully quenched our thirst, our appetite returned with +a rush; and having nothing better to do till day dawned, we planted the +bread-barge in the middle of the quarter-deck; and crossing our legs +before it, laid close seige thereto, like the Grand Turk and his Vizier +Mustapha sitting down before Vienna. + +Our castle, the Bread-Barge was of the common sort; an oblong oaken +box, much battered and bruised, and like the Elgin Marbles, all over +inscriptions and carving:—foul anchors, skewered hearts, almanacs, +Burton-blocks, love verses, links of cable, Kings of Clubs; and divers +mystic diagrams in chalk, drawn by old Finnish mariners; in casting +horoscopes and prophecies. Your old tars are all Daniels. There was a +round hole in one side, through which, in getting at the bread, invited +guests thrust their hands. + +And mighty was the thrusting of hands that night; also, many and +earnest the glances of Mustapha at every sudden creaking of the spars +or rigging. Like Belshazzar, my royal Viking ate with great fear and +trembling; ever and anon pausing to watch the wild shadows flitting +along the bulwarks. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. +Man Ho! + + +Slowly, fitfully, broke the morning in the East, showing the desolate +brig forging heavily through the water, which sluggishly thumped under +her bows. While leaping from sea to sea, our faithful Chamois, like a +faithful dog, still gamboled alongside, confined to the main- chains by +its painter. At times, it would long lag behind; then, pushed by a wave +like lightning dash forward; till bridled by its leash, it again fell +in rear. + +As the gray light came on, anxiously we scrutinized the features of the +craft, as one by one they became more plainly revealed. Every thing +seemed stranger now, than when partially visible in the dingy night. +The stanchions, or posts of the bulwarks, were of rough stakes, still +incased in the bark. The unpainted sides were of a dark-colored, +heathenish looking wood. The tiller was a wry-necked, elbowed bough, +thrusting itself through the deck, as if the tree itself was fast +rooted in the hold. The binnacle, containing the compass, was defended +at the sides by yellow matting. The rigging—shrouds, halyards and +all—was of “Kaiar,” or cocoa-nut fibres; and here and there the sails +were patched with plaited rushes. + +But this was not all. Whoso will pry, must needs light upon matters for +suspicion. Glancing over the side, in the wake of every scupper- hole, +we beheld a faded, crimson stain, which Jarl averred to be blood. +Though now he betrayed not the slightest trepidation; for what he saw +pertained not to ghosts; and all his fears hitherto had been of the +super-natural. + +Indeed, plucking up a heart, with the dawn of the day my Viking looked +bold as a lion; and soon, with the instinct of an old seaman cast his +eyes up aloft. + +Directly, he touched my arm,—“Look: what stirs in the main-top?” + +Sure enough, something alive was there. + +Fingering our arms, we watched it; till as the day came on, a crouching +stranger was beheld. + +Presenting my piece, I hailed him to descend or be shot. There was +silence for a space, when the black barrel of a musket was thrust +forth, leveled at my head. Instantly, Jarl’s harpoon was presented at a +dart;—two to one;—and my hail was repeated. But no reply. + +“Who are you?” + +“Samoa,” at length said a clear, firm voice. + +“Come down from the rigging. We are friends.” + +Another pause; when, rising to his feet, the stranger slowly descended, +holding on by one hand to the rigging, for but one did he have; his +musket partly slung from his back, and partly griped under the stump of +his mutilated arm. + +He alighted about six paces from where we stood; and balancing his +weapon, eyed us bravely as the Cid. + +He was a tall, dark Islander, a very devil to behold, theatrically +arrayed in kilt and turban; the kilt of a gay calico print, the turban +of a red China silk. His neck was jingling with strings of beads. + +“Who else is on board?” I asked; while Jarl, thus far covering the +stranger with his weapon, now dropped it to the deck. + +“Look there:—Annatoo!” was his reply in broken English, pointing aloft +to the fore-top. And lo! a woman, also an Islander; and barring her +skirts, dressed very much like Samoa, was beheld descending. + +“Any more?” + +“No more.” + +“Who are _you_ then; and what craft is this?” + +“Ah, ah—you are no ghost;—but are you my friend?” he cried, advancing +nearer as he spoke; while the woman having gained the deck, also +approached, eagerly glancing. + +We said we were friends; that we meant no harm; but desired to know +what craft this was; and what disaster had befallen her; for that +something untoward had occurred, we were certain. + +Whereto, Samoa made answer, that it was true that something dreadful +had happened; and that he would gladly tell us all, and tell us the +truth. And about it he went. + +Now, this story of his was related in the mixed phraseology of a +Polynesian sailor. With a few random reflections, in substance, it will +be found in the six following chapters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. +What Befel The Brigantine At The Pearl Shell Islands + + +The vessel was the Parki, of Lahina, a village and harbor on the coast +of Mowee, one of the Hawaian isles, where she had been miserably +cobbled together with planks of native wood, and fragments of a wreck, +there drifted ashore. + +Her appellative had been bestowed in honor of a high chief, the tallest +and goodliest looking gentleman in all the Sandwich Islands. With a +mixed European and native crew, about thirty in number (but only four +whites in all, captain included), the Parki, some four months previous, +had sailed from her port on a voyage southward, in quest of pearls, and +pearl oyster shells, sea-slugs, and other matters of that sort. + +Samoa, a native of the Navigator Islands, had long followed the sea, +and was well versed in the business of oyster diving and its submarine +mysteries. The native Lahineese on board were immediately subordinate +to him; the captain having bargained with Samoa for their services as +divers. + +The woman, Annatoo, was a native of a far-off, anonymous island to the +westward: whence, when quite young, she had been carried by the +commander of a ship, touching there on a passage from Macao to +Valparaiso. At Valparaiso her protector put her ashore; most probably, +as I afterward had reason to think, for a nuisance. + +By chance it came to pass that when Annatoo’s first virgin bloom had +departed, leaving nothing but a lusty frame and a lustier soul, Samoa, +the Navigator, had fallen desperately in love with her. And thinking +the lady to his mind, being brave like himself, and doubtless well +adapted to the vicissitudes of matrimony at sea, he meditated suicide—I +would have said, wedlock—and the twain became one. And some time after, +in capacity of wife, Annatoo the dame, accompanied in the brigantine, +Samoa her lord. Now, as Antony flew to the refuse embraces of Caesar, +so Samoa solaced himself in the arms of this discarded fair one. And +the sequel was the same. For not harder the life Cleopatra led my fine +frank friend, poor Mark, than Queen Annatoo did lead this captive of +her bow and her spear. But all in good time. + +They left their port; and crossing the Tropic and the Line, fell in +with a cluster of islands, where the shells they sought were found in +round numbers. And here—not at all strange to tell besides the natives, +they encountered a couple of Cholos, or half-breed Spaniards, from the +Main; one half Spanish, the other half quartered between the wild +Indian and the devil; a race, that from Baldivia to Panama are +notorious for their unscrupulous villainy. + +Now, the half-breeds having long since deserted a ship at these +islands, had risen to high authority among the natives. This hearing, +the Parki’s captain was much gratified; he, poor ignorant, never before +having fallen in with any of their treacherous race. And, no doubt, he +imagined that their influence over the Islanders would tend to his +advantage. At all events, he made presents to the Cholos; who, in turn, +provided him with additional divers from among the natives. Very +kindly, also, they pointed out the best places for seeking the oysters. +In a word, they were exceedingly friendly; often coming off to the +brigantine, and sociably dining with the captain in the cabin; placing +the salt between them and him. + +All things went on very pleasantly until, one morning, the half- breeds +prevailed upon the captain to go with them, in his whale-boat, to a +shoal on the thither side of the island, some distance from the spot +where lay the brigantine. They so managed it, moreover, that none but +the Lahineese under Samoa, in whom the captain much confided, were left +in custody of the Parki; the three white men going along to row; for +there happened to be little or no wind for a sail. + +Now, the fated brig lay anchored within a deep, smooth, circular +lagoon, margined on all sides but one by the most beautiful groves. On +that side, was the outlet to the sea; perhaps a cable’s length or more +from where the brigantine had been moored. An hour or two after the +party were gone, and when the boat was completely out of sight, the +natives in shoals were perceived coming off from the shore; some in +canoes, and some swimming. The former brought bread fruit and bananas, +ostentatiously piled up in their proas; the latter dragged after them +long strings of cocoanuts; for all of which, on nearing the vessel, +they clamorously demanded knives and hatchets in barter. + +From their actions, suspecting some treachery, Samoa stood in the +gangway, and warned them off; saying that no barter could take place +until the captain’s return. But presently one of the savages stealthily +climbed up from the water, and nimbly springing from the bob-stays to +the bow-sprit, darted a javelin full at the foremast, where it +vibrated. The signal of blood! With terrible outcries, the rest, +pulling forth their weapons, hitherto concealed in the canoes, or under +the floating cocoanuts, leaped into the low chains of the brigantine; +sprang over the bulwarks; and, with clubs and spears, attacked the +aghast crew with the utmost ferocity. + +After one faint rally, the Lahineese scrambled for the rigging; but to +a man were overtaken and slain. + +At the first alarm, Annatoo, however, had escaped to the +fore-top-gallant-yard, higher than which she could not climb, and +whither the savages durst not venture. For though after their nuts +these Polynesians will climb palm trees like squirrels; yet, at the +first blush, they decline a ship’s mast like Kennebec farmers. + +Upon the first token of an onslaught, Samoa, having rushed toward the +cabin scuttle for arms, was there fallen upon by two young savages. But +after a desperate momentary fray, in which his arm was mangled, he made +shift to spring below, instantly securing overhead the slide of the +scuttle. In the cabin, while yet the uproar of butchery prevailed, he +quietly bound up his arm; then laying on the transom the captain’s +three loaded muskets, undauntedly awaited an assault. + +The object of the natives, it seems, was to wreck the brigantine upon +the sharp coral beach of the lagoon. And with this intent, one of their +number had plunged into the water, and cut the cable, which was of +hemp. But the tide ebbing, cast the Parki’s head seaward—toward the +outlet; and the savages, perceiving this, clumsily boarded the +fore-tack, and hauled aft the sheet; thus setting, after a fashion, the +fore-sail, previously loosed to dry. + +Meanwhile, a gray-headed old chief stood calmly at the tiller, +endeavoring to steer the vessel shoreward. But not managing the helm +aright, the brigantine, now gliding apace through the water, only made +more way toward the outlet. Seeing which, the ringleaders, six or eight +in number, ran to help the old graybeard at the helm. But it was a +black hour for them. Of a sudden, while they were handling the tiller, +three muskets were rapidly discharged upon them from the cabin +skylight. Two of the savages dropped dead. The old steersman, clutching +wildly at the helm, fell over it, mortally wounded; and in a wild panic +at seeing their leaders thus unaccountably slain, the rest of the +natives leaped overboard and made for the shore. + +Hearing the slashing, Samoa flew on deck; and beholding the foresail +set, and the brigantine heading right out to sea, he cried out to +Annatoo, still aloft, to descend to the topsail-yard, and loose the +canvas there. His command was obeyed. Annatoo deserved a gold medal for +what she did that day. Hastening down the rigging, after loosing the +topsail, she strained away at the sheets; in which operation she was +assisted by Samoa, who snatched an instant from the helm. + +The foresail and fore-topsail were now tolerably well set; and as the +craft drew seaward, the breeze freshened. And well that it did; for, +recovered from their alarm, the savages were now in hot pursuit; some +in canoes, and some swimming as before. But soon the main-topsail was +given to the breeze, which still freshening, came from over the +quarter. And with this brave show of canvas, the Parki made gallantly +for the outlet; and loud shouted Samoa as she shot by the reef, and +parted the long swells without. Against these, the savages could not +swim. And at that turn of the tide, paddling a canoe therein was almost +equally difficult. But the fugitives were not yet safe. In full chase +now came in sight the whale-boat manned by the Cholos, and four or five +Islanders. Whereat, making no doubt, that all the whites who left the +vessel that morning had been massacred through the treachery of the +half-breeds; and that the capture of the brigantine had been +premeditated; Samoa now saw no other resource than to point his craft +dead away from the land. + +Now on came the devils buckling to their oars. Meantime Annatoo was +still busy aloft, loosing the smaller sails—t’gallants and royals, +which she managed partially to set. + +The strong breeze from astern now filling the ill-set sails, they +bellied, and rocked in the air, like balloons, while, from the novel +strain upon it, every spar quivered and sprung. And thus, like a +frightened gull fleeing from sea-hawks, the little Parki swooped along, +and bravely breasted the brine. + +His shattered arm in a hempen sling, Samoa stood at the helm, the +muskets reloaded, and planted full before him on the binnacle. For a +time, so badly did the brigantine steer, by reason of her ill- adjusted +sails, made still more unmanageable by the strength of the breeze,—that +it was doubtful, after all, notwithstanding her start, whether the +fugitives would not yet fall a prey to their hunters. The craft wildly +yawed, and the boat drew nearer and nearer. Maddened by the sight, and +perhaps thinking more of revenge for the past, than of security for the +future, Samoa, yielding the helm to Annatoo, rested his muskets on the +bulwarks, and taking long, sure aim, discharged them, one by one at the +advancing foe. + +The three reports were answered by loud jeers from the savages, who +brandished their spears, and made gestures of derision; while with +might and main the Cholos tugged at their oars. + +The boat still gaining on the brigantine, the muskets were again +reloaded. And as the next shot sped, there was a pause; when, like +lightning, the headmost Cholo bounded upwards from his seat, and oar in +hand, fell into the sea. A fierce yell; and one of the natives +springing into the water, caught the sinking body by its long hair; and +the dead and the living were dragged into the boat. Taking heart from +this fatal shot, Samoa fired yet again; but not with the like sure +result; merely grazing the remaining half-breed, who, crouching behind +his comrades, besought them to turn the boat round, and make for the +shore. Alarmed at the fate of his brother, and seemingly distrustful of +the impartiality of Samoa’s fire, the pusillanimous villain refused to +expose a limb above the gunwale. + +Fain now would the pursuers have made good their escape; but an +accident forbade. In the careening of the boat, when the stricken Cholo +sprung overboard, two of their oars had slid into the water; and +together with that death-griped by the half-breed, were now floating +off; occasionally lost to view, as they sunk in the trough of the sea. +Two of the Islanders swam to recover them; but frightened by the +whirring of a shot over their heads, as they unavoidably struck out +towards the Parki, they turned quickly about; just in time to see one +of their comrades smite his body with his hand, as he received a bullet +from Samoa. + +Enough: darting past the ill-fated boat, they swam rapidly for land, +followed by the rest; who plunged overboard, leaving in the boat the +surviving Cholo—who it seems could not swim—the wounded savage, and the +dead man. + +“Load away now, and take thy revenge, my fine fellow,” said Samoa to +himself. But not yet. Seeing all at his mercy, and having none, he +quickly laid his fore-topsail to the mast; “hove to” the brigantine; +and opened fire anew upon the boat; every swell of the sea heaving it +nearer and nearer. Vain all efforts to escape. The wounded man paddled +wildly with his hands the dead one rolled from side to side; and the +Cholo, seizing the solitary oar, in his frenzied heedlessness, spun the +boat round and round; while all the while shot followed shot, Samoa +firing as fast as Annatoo could load. At length both Cholo and savage +fell dead upon their comrades, canting the boat over sideways, till +well nigh awash; in which manner she drifted off. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. +Sailing From The Island They Pillage The Cabin + + +There was a small carronade on the forecastle, unshipped from its +carriage, and lashed down to ringbolts on the deck. This Samoa now +loaded; and with an ax knocking off the round knob upon the breech, +rammed it home in the tube. When, running the cannon out at one of the +ports, and studying well his aim, he let fly, sunk the boat, and buried +his dead. + +It was now late in the afternoon; and for the present bent upon +avoiding land, and gaining the shoreless sea, never mind where, Samoa +again forced round his craft before the wind, leaving the island +astern. The decks were still cumbered with the bodies of the Lahineese, +which heel to point and crosswise, had, log-like, been piled up on the +main-hatch. These, one by one, were committed to the sea; after which, +the decks were washed down. + +At sunrise next morning, finding themselves out of sight of land, with +little or no wind, they stopped their headway, and lashed the tiller +alee, the better to enable them to overhaul the brigantine; especially +the recesses of the cabin. For there, were stores of goods adapted for +barter among the Islanders; also several bags of dollars. + +Now, nothing can exceed the cupidity of the Polynesian, when, through +partial commerce with the whites, his eyes are opened to his nakedness, +and he perceives that in some things they are richer than himself. + +The poor skipper’s wardrobe was first explored; his chests of clothes +being capsized, and their contents strown about the cabin floor. + +Then took place the costuming. Samoa and Annatoo trying on coats and +pantaloons, shirts and drawers, and admiring themselves in the little +mirror panneled in the bulk-head. Then, were broken open boxes and +bales; rolls of printed cotton were inspected, and vastly admired; +insomuch, that the trumpery found in the captain’s chests was +disdainfully doffed: and donned were loose folds of calico, more +congénial to their tastes. + +As case after case was opened and overturned, slippery grew the cabin +deck with torrents of glass beads; and heavy the necks of Samoa and +Annatoo with goodly bunches thereof. + +Among other things, came to light brass jewelry,—Rag Fair gewgaws and +baubles a plenty, more admired than all; Annatoo, bedecking herself +like, a tragedy queen: one blaze of brass. Much mourned the married +dame, that thus arrayed, there was none to admire but Samoa her +husband; but he was all the while admiring himself, and not her. + +And here must needs be related, what has hitherto remained unsaid. Very +often this husband and wife were no Darby and Joan. Their married life +was one long campaign, whereof the truces were only by night. They +billed and they cooed on their arms, rising fresh in the morning to +battle, and often Samoa got more than a hen-pecking. To be short, +Annatoo was a Tartar, a regular Calmuc, and Samoa—Heaven help him—her +husband. + +Yet awhile, joined together by a sense of common danger, and long +engrossed in turning over their tinsel acquisitions without present +thought of proprietorship, the pair refrained from all squabbles. But +soon burst the storm. Having given every bale and every case a good +shaking, Annatoo, making an estimate of the whole, very coolly +proceeded to set apart for herself whatever she fancied. To this, Samoa +objected; to which objection Annatoo objected; and then they went at +it. + +The lady vowed that the things were no more Samoa’s than hers; nay, not +so much; and that whatever she wanted, that same would she have. And +furthermore, by way of codicil, she declared that she was slave to +nobody. + +Now, Samoa, sad to tell, stood in no little awe of his bellicose +spouse. What, though a hero in other respects; what, though he had +slain his savages, and gallantly carried his craft from their +clutches:—Like the valiant captains Marlborough and Belisarius, he was +a poltroon to his wife. And Annatoo was worse than either Sarah or +Antonina. + +However, like every thing partaking of the nature of a scratch, most +conjugal squabbles are quickly healed; for if they healed not, they +would never anew break out: which is the beauty of the thing. So at +length they made up but the treaty stipulations of Annatoo told much +against the interests of Samoa. Nevertheless, ostensibly, it was agreed +upon, that they should strictly go halves; the lady, however, laying +special claim to certain valuables, more particularly fancied. But as a +set-off to this, she generously renounced all claims upon the spare +rigging; all claims upon the fore-mast and mainmast; and all claims +upon the captain’s arms and ammunition. Of the latter, by the way, Dame +Antonina stood in no need. Her voice was a park of artillery; her +talons a charge of bayonets. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. +Dedicated To The College Of Physicians And Surgeons + + +By this time Samoa’s wounded arm was in such a state, that amputation +became necessary. Among savages, severe personal injuries are, for the +most part, accounted but trifles. When a European would be taking to +his couch in despair, the savage would disdain to recline. + +More yet. In Polynesia, every man is his own barber and surgeon, +cutting off his beard or arm, as occasion demands. No unusual thing, +for the warriors of Varvoo to saw off their own limbs, desperately +wounded in battle. But owing to the clumsiness of the instrument +employed—a flinty, serrated shell—the operation has been known to last +several days. Nor will they suffer any friend to help them; +maintaining, that a matter so nearly concerning a warrior is far better +attended to by himself. Hence it may be said, that they amputate +themselves at their leisure, and hang up their tools when tired. But, +though thus beholden to no one for aught connected with the practice of +surgery, they never cut off their own heads, that ever I heard; a +species of amputation to which, metaphorically speaking, many would-be +independent sort of people in civilized lands are addicted. + +Samoa’s operation was very summary. A fire was kindled in the little +caboose, or cook-house, and so made as to produce much smoke. He then +placed his arm upon one of the windlass bitts (a short upright timber, +breast-high), and seizing the blunt cook’s ax would have struck the +blow; but for some reason distrusting the precision of his aim, Annatoo +was assigned to the task. Three strokes, and the limb, from just above +the elbow, was no longer Samoa’s; and he saw his own bones; which many +a centenarian can not say. The very clumsiness of the operation was +safety to the subject. The weight and bluntness of the instrument both +deadened the pain and lessened the hemorrhage. The wound was then +scorched, and held over the smoke of the fire, till all signs of blood +vanished. From that day forward it healed, and troubled Samoa but +little. + +But shall the sequel be told? How that, superstitiously averse to +burying in the sea the dead limb of a body yet living; since in that +case Samoa held, that he must very soon drown and follow it; and how, +that equally dreading to keep the thing near him, he at last hung it +aloft from the topmast-stay; where yet it was suspended, bandaged over +and over in cerements. The hand that must have locked many others in +friendly clasp, or smote a foe, was no food, thought Samoa, for fowls +of the air nor fishes of the sea. + +Now, which was Samoa? The dead arm swinging high as Haman? Or the +living trunk below? Was the arm severed from the body, or the body from +the arm? The residual part of Samoa was alive, and therefore we say it +was he. But which of the writhing sections of a ten times severed worm, +is the worm proper? + +For myself, I ever regarded Samoa as but a large fragment of a man, not +a man complete. For was he not an entire limb out of pocket? And the +action at Teneriffe over, great Nelson himself—physiologically +speaking—was but three-quarters of a man. And the smoke of Waterloo +blown by, what was Anglesea but the like? After Saratoga, what Arnold? +To say nothing of Mutius Scaevola minus a hand, General Knox a thumb, +and Hannibal an eye; and that old Roman grenadier, Dentatus, nothing +more than a bruised and battered trunk, a knotty sort of hemlock of a +warrior, hard to hack and hew into chips, though much marred in +symmetry by battle-ax blows. Ah! but these warriors, like anvils, will +stand a deal of hard hammering. Especially in the old knight-errant +times. For at the battle of Brevieux in Flanders, my glorious old +gossiping ancestor, Froissart, informs me, that ten good knights, being +suddenly unhorsed, fell stiff and powerless to the plain, fatally +encumbered by their armor. Whereupon, the rascally burglarious +peasants, their foes, fell to picking their visors; as burglars, locks; +or oystermen, oysters; to get at their lives. But all to no purpose. +And at last they were fain to ask aid of a blacksmith; and not till +then, were the inmates of the armor dispatched. Now it was deemed very +hard, that the mysterious state- prisoner of France should be riveted +in an iron mask; but these knight-errants did voluntarily prison +themselves in their own iron Bastiles; and thus helpless were murdered +there-in. Days of chivalry these, when gallant chevaliers died +chivalric deaths! + +And this was the epic age, over whose departure my late eloquent and +prophetic friend and correspondent, Edmund Burke, so movingly mourned. +Yes, they were glorious times. But no sensible man, given to quiet +domestic delights, would exchange his warm fireside and muffins, for a +heroic bivouac, in a wild beechen wood, of a raw gusty morning in +Normandy; every knight blowing his steel-gloved fingers, and vainly +striving to cook his cold coffee in his helmet. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. +Peril A Peace-Maker + + +A few days passed: the brigantine drifting hither and thither, and +nothing in sight but the sea, when forth again on its stillness rung +Annatoo’s domestic alarum. The truce was up. Most egregiously had the +lady infringed it; appropriating to herself various objects previously +disclaimed in favor of Samoa. Besides, forever on the prowl, she was +perpetually going up and down; with untiring energy, exploring every +nook and cranny; carrying off her spoils and diligently secreting them. +Having little idea of feminine adaptations, she pilfered whatever came +handy:—iron hooks, dollars, bolts, hatchets, and stopping not at balls +of marline and sheets of copper. All this, poor Samoa would have borne +with what patience he might, rather than again renew the war, were it +not, that the audacious dame charged him with peculations upon her own +private stores; though of any such thing he was innocent as the +bowsprit. + +This insulting impeachment got the better of the poor islander’s +philosophy. He keenly resented it. And the consequence was, that seeing +all domineering useless, Annatoo flew off at a tangent; declaring that, +for the future, Samoa might stay by himself; she would have nothing +more to do with him. Save when unavoidable in managing the brigantine, +she would not even speak to him, that she wouldn’t, the monster! She +then boldly demanded the forecastle—in the brig’s case, by far the +pleasantest end of the ship—for her own independent suite of +apartments. As for hapless Belisarius, he might do what he pleased in +his dark little den of a cabin. + +Concerning the division of the spoils, the termagant succeeded in +carrying the day; also, to her quarters, bale after bale of goods, +together with numerous odds and ends, sundry and divers. Moreover, she +laid in a fine stock of edibles, so as, in all respects possible, to +live independent of her spouse. + +Unlovely Annatoo! Unfortunate Samoa! Thus did the pair make a divorce +of it; the lady going upon a separate maintenance,—and Belisarius +resuming his bachelor loneliness. In the captain’s state room, all cold +and comfortless, he slept; his lady whilome retiring to her forecastle +boudoir; beguiling the hours in saying her pater-nosters, and tossing +over and assorting her ill-gotten trinkets and finery; like Madame De +Maintenon dedicating her last days and nights to continence and +calicoes. + +But think you this was the quiet end of their conjugal quarrels? Ah, +no! No end to those feuds, till one or t’other gives up the ghost. + +Now, exiled from the nuptial couch, Belisarius bore the hardship +without a murmur. And hero that he was, who knows that he felt not like +a soldier on a furlough? But as for Antonina, she could neither get +along with Belisarius, nor without him. She made advances. But of what +sort? Why, breaking into the cabin and purloining sundry goods +therefrom; in artful hopes of breeding a final reconciliation out of +the temporary outburst that might ensue. + +Then followed a sad scene of altercation; interrupted at last by a +sudden loud roaring of the sea. Rushing to the deck, they beheld +themselves sweeping head-foremost toward a shoal making out from a +cluster of low islands, hitherto, by banks of clouds, shrouded from +view. + +The helm was instantly shifted; and the yards braced about. But for +several hours, owing to the freshness of the breeze, the set of the +currents, and the irregularity and extent of the shoal, it seemed +doubtful whether they would escape a catastrophe. But Samoa’s +seamanship, united to Annatoo’s industry, at last prevailed; and the +brigantine was saved. + +Of the land where they came so near being wrecked, they knew nothing; +and for that reason, they at once steered away. For after the fatal +events which had overtaken the Parki at the Pearl Shell islands, so +fearful were they of encountering any Islanders, that from the first +they had resolved to keep open sea, shunning every appearance of land; +relying upon being eventually picked up by some passing sail. + +Doubtless this resolution proved their salvation. For to the navigator +in these seas, no risk so great, as in approaching the isles; which +mostly are so guarded by outpost reefs, and far out from their margins +environed by perils, that the green flowery field within, lies like a +rose among thorns; and hard to be reached as the heart of proud maiden. +Though once attained, all three—red rose, bright shore, and soft +heart—are full of love, bloom, and all manner of delights. The Pearl +Shell islands excepted. + +Besides, in those generally tranquil waters, Samoa’s little craft, +though hundreds of miles from land, was very readily managed by himself +and Annatoo. So small was the Parki, that one hand could brace the +main-yard; and a very easy thing it was, even to hoist the small +top-sails; for after their first clumsy attempt to perform that +operation by hand, they invariably led the halyards to the windlass, +and so managed it, with the utmost facility. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. +Containing A Pennyweight Of Philosophy + + +Still many days passed and the Parki yet floated. The little flying- +fish got used to her familiar, loitering hull; and like swallows +building their nests in quiet old trees, they spawned in the great +green barnacles that clung to her sides. + +The calmer the sea, the more the barnacles grow. In the tropical +Pacific, but a few weeks suffice thus to encase your craft in shell +armor. Vast bunches adhere to the very cutwater, and if not stricken +off, much impede the ship’s sailing. And, at intervals, this clearing +away of barnacles was one of Annatoo’s occupations. For be it known, +that, like most termagants, the dame was tidy at times, though +capriciously; loving cleanliness by fits and starts. Wherefore, these +barnacles oftentimes troubled her; and with a long pole she would go +about, brushing them aside. It beguiled the weary hours, if nothing +more; and then she would return to her beads and her trinkets; telling +them all over again; murmuring forth her devotions, and marking whether +Samoa had been pilfering from her store. + +Now, the escape from the shoal did much once again to heal the +differences of the good lady and her spouse. And keeping house, as they +did, all alone by themselves, in that lonely craft, a marvel it is, +that they should ever have quarreled. And then to divorce, and yet +dwell in the same tenement, was only aggravating the evil. So +Belisarius and Antonina again came together. But now, grown wise by +experience, they neither loved over-keenly, nor hated; but took things +as they were; found themselves joined, without hope of a sundering, and +did what they could to make a match of the mate. Annatoo concluded that +Samoa was not wholly to be enslaved; and Samoa thought best to wink at +Annatoo’s foibles, and let her purloin when she pleased. + +But as in many cases, all this philosophy about wedlock is not proof +against the perpetual contact of the parties concerned; and as it is +far better to revive the old days of courtship, when men’s mouths are +honey-combs: and, to make them still sweeter, the ladies the bees which +there store their sweets; when fathomless raptures glimmer far down in +the lover’s fond eye; and best of all, when visits are alternated by +absence: so, like my dignified lord duke and his duchess, Samoa and +Annatoo, man and wife, dwelling in the same house, still kept up their +separate quarters. Marlborough visiting Sarah; and Sarah, Marlborough, +whenever the humor suggested. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. +In Which The Past History Of The Parki Is Concluded + + +Still days, days, days sped by; and steering now this way, now that, to +avoid the green treacherous shores, which frequently rose into view, +the Parki went to and fro in the sea; till at last, it seemed hard to +tell, in what watery world she floated. Well knowing the risks they +ran, Samoa desponded. But blessed be ignorance. For in the day of his +despondency, the lively old lass his wife bade him be of stout heart, +cheer up, and steer away manfully for the setting sun; following which, +they must inevitably arrive at her own dear native island, where all +their cares would be over. So squaring their yards, away they glided; +far sloping down the liquid sphere. + +Upon the afternoon of the day we caught sight of them in our boat, they +had sighted a cluster of low islands, which put them in no small panic, +because of their resemblance to those where the massacre had taken +place. Whereas, they must have been full five hundred leagues from that +fearful vicinity. However, they altered their course to avoid it; and a +little before sunset, dropping the islands astern, resumed their +previous track. But very soon after, they espied our little sea-goat, +bounding over the billows from afar. + +This they took for a canoe giving chase to them. It renewed and +augmented their alarm. + +And when at last they perceived that the strange object was a boat, +their fears, instead of being allayed, only so much the more increased. +For their wild superstitions led them to conclude, that a white man’s +craft coming upon them so suddenly, upon the open sea, and by night, +could be naught but a phantom. Furthermore, marking two of us in the +Chamois, they fancied us the ghosts of the Cholos. A conceit which +effectually damped Samoa’s courage, like my Viking’s, only proof +against things tangible. So seeing us bent upon boarding the +brigantine; after a hurried over-turning of their chattels, with a view +of carrying the most valuable aloft for safe keeping, they secreted +what they could; and together made for the fore-top; the man with a +musket, the woman with a bag of beads. Their endeavoring to secure +these treasures against ghostly appropriation originated in no real +fear, that otherwise they would be stolen: it was simply incidental to +the vacant panic into which they were thrown. No reproach this, to +Belisarius’ heart of game; for the most intrepid Feegee warrior, he who +has slain his hecatombs, will not go ten yards in the dark alone, for +fear of ghosts. + +Their purpose was to remain in the top until daylight; by which time, +they counted upon the withdrawal of their visitants; who, sure enough, +at last sprang on board, thus verifying their worst apprehensions. + +They watched us long and earnestly. But curious to tell, in that very +strait of theirs, perched together in that airy top, their domestic +differences again broke forth; most probably, from their being suddenly +forced into such very close contact. + +However that might be, taking advantage of our descent into the cabin, +Samoa, in desperation fled from his wife, and one-armed as he was, +sailor-like, shifted himself over by the fore and aft-stays to the +main-top, his musket being slung to his back. And thus divided, though +but a few yards intervened, the pair were as much asunder as if at the +opposite Poles. + +During the live-long night they were both in great perplexity as to the +extraordinary goblins on board. Such inquisitive, meddlesome spirits, +had never before been encountered. So cool and systematic; sagaciously +stopping the vessel’s headway the better to rummage;—the very plan they +themselves had adopted. But what most surprised them, was our striking +a light, a thing of which no true ghost would be guilty. Then, our +eating and drinking on the quarter- deck including the deliberate +investment of Vienna; and many other actions equally strange, almost +led Samoa to fancy that we were no shades, after all, but a couple of +men from the moon. + +Yet they had dimly caught sight of the frocks and trowsers we wore, +similar to those which the captain of the Parki had bestowed upon the +two Cholos, and in which those villains had been killed. This, with the +presence of the whale boat, united to chase away the conceit of our +lunar origin. But these considerations renewed their first +superstitious impressions of our being the ghosts of the murderous +half-breeds. + +Nevertheless, while during the latter part of the night we were +reclining beneath him, munching our biscuit, Samoa eyeing us intently, +was half a mind to open fire upon us by way of testing our +corporeality. But most luckily, he concluded to defer so doing till +sunlight; if by that time we should not have evaporated. + +For dame Annatoo, almost from our first boarding the brigantine, +something in our manner had bred in her a lurking doubt as to the +genuineness of our atmospheric organization; and abandoned to her +speculations when Samoa fled from her side, her incredulity waxed +stronger and stronger. Whence we came she knew not; enough, that we +seemed bent upon pillaging her own precious purloinings. Alas! thought +she, my buttons, my nails, my tappa, my dollars, my beads, and my +boxes! + +Wrought up to desperation by these dismal forebodings, she at length +shook the ropes leading from her own perch to Samoa’s; adopting this +method of arousing his attention to the heinousness of what was in all +probability going on in the cabin, a prelude most probably to the +invasion of her own end of the vessel. Had she dared raise her voice, +no doubt she would have suggested the expediency of shooting us so soon +as we emerged from the cabin. But failing to shake Samoa into an +understanding of her views on the subject, her malice proved futile. + +When her worst fears were confirmed, however, and we actually descended +into the forecastle; there ensued such a reckless shaking of the ropes, +that Samoa was fain to hold on hard, for fear of being tossed out of +the rigging. And it was this violent rocking that caused the loud +creaking of the yards, so often heard by us while below in Annatoo’s +apartment. + +And the fore-top being just over the open forecastle scuttle, the dame +could look right down upon us; hence our proceedings were plainly +revealed by the lights that we carried. Upon our breaking open her +strong-box, her indignation almost completely overmastered her fears. +Unhooking a top-block, down it came into the forecastle, charitably +commissioned with the demolition of Jarl’s cocoa-nut, then more exposed +to the view of an aerial observer than my own. But of it turned out, no +harm was done to our porcelain. + +At last, morning dawned; when ensued Jarl’s discovery as the occupant +of the main-top; which event, with what followed, has been duly +recounted. + +And such, in substance, was the first, second, third and fourth acts of +the Parki drama. The fifth and last, including several scenes, now +follows. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. +Suspicions Laid, And Something About The Calmuc + + +Though abounding in details full of the savor of reality, Samoa’s +narrative did not at first appear altogether satisfactory. Not that it +was so strange; for stranger recitals I had heard. + +But one reason, perhaps, was that I had anticipated a narrative quite +different; something agreeing with my previous surmises. + +Not a little puzzling, also, was his account of having seen islands the +day preceding; though, upon reflection, that might have been the case, +and yet, from his immediately altering the Parki’s course, the Chamois, +unknowingly might have sailed by their vicinity. Still, those islands +could form no part of the chain we were seeking. They must have been +some region hitherto undiscovered. + +But seems it likely, thought I, that one, who, according to his own +account, has conducted himself so heroically in rescuing the +brigantine, should be the victim of such childish terror at the mere +glimpse of a couple of sailors in an open boat, so well supplied, too, +with arms, as he was, to resist their capturing his craft, if such +proved their intention? On the contrary, would it not have been more +natural, in his dreary situation, to have hailed our approach with the +utmost delight? But then again, we were taken for phantoms, not flesh +and blood. Upon the whole, I regarded the narrator of these things +somewhat distrustfully. But he met my gaze like a man. While Annatoo, +standing by, looked so expressively the Amazonian character imputed to +her, that my doubts began to waver. And recalling all the little +incidents of their story, so hard to be conjured up on the spur of a +presumed necessity to lie; nay, so hard to be conjured up at all; my +suspicions at last gave way. And I could no longer harbor any +misgivings. + +For, to be downright, what object could Samoa have, in fabricating such +a narrative of horrors—those of the massacre, I mean—unless to conceal +some tragedy, still more atrocious, in which he himself had been +criminally concerned? A supposition, which, for obvious reasons, seemed +out of the question. True, instances were known to me of half- +civilized beings, like Samoa, forming part of the crews of ships in +these seas, rising suddenly upon their white ship-mates, and murdering +them, for the sake of wrecking the ship on the shore of some island +near by, and plundering her hull, when stranded. + +But had this been purposed with regard to the Parki, where the rest of +the mutineers? There was no end to my conjectures; the more I indulged +in them, the more they multiplied. So, unwilling to torment myself, +when nothing could be learned, but what Samoa related, and stuck to +like a hero; I gave over conjecturing at all; striving hard to repose +full faith in the Islander. + +Jarl, however, was skeptical to the last; and never could be brought +completely to credit the tale. He stoutly maintained that the +hobgoblins must have had something or other to do with the Parki. + +My own curiosity satisfied with respect to the brigantine, Samoa +himself turned inquisitor. He desired to know who we were; and whence +we came in our marvelous boat. But on these heads I thought best to +withhold from him the truth; among other things, fancying that if +disclosed, it would lessen his deference for us, as men superior to +himself. I therefore spoke vaguely of our adventures, and assumed the +decided air of a master; which I perceived was not lost upon the rude +Islander. As for Jarl, and what he might reveal, I embraced the first +opportunity to impress upon him the importance of never divulging our +flight from the Arcturion; nor in any way to commit himself on that +head: injunctions which he faithfully promised to observe. + +If not wholly displeased with the fine form of Samoa, despite his +savage lineaments, and mutilated member, I was much less conciliated by +the person of Annatoo; who, being sinewy of limb, and neither young, +comely, nor amiable, was exceedingly distasteful in my eyes. Besides, +she was a tigress. Yet how avoid admiring those Penthesilian qualities +which so signally had aided Samoa, in wresting the Parki from its +treacherous captors. Nevertheless, it was indispensable that she should +at once be brought under prudent subjection; and made to know, once for +all, that though conjugally a rebel, she must be nautically submissive. +For to keep the sea with a Calmuc on board, seemed next to impossible. +In most military marines, they are prohibited by law; no officer may +take his Pandora and her bandbox off soundings. + +By the way, this self-same appellative, Pandora, has been bestowed upon +vessels. There was a British ship by that name, dispatched in quest of +the mutineers of the Bounty. But any old tar might have prophesied her +fate. Bound home she was wrecked on a reef off New South Wales. +Pandora, indeed! A pretty name for a ship: fairly smiting Fate in the +face. But in this matter of christening ships of war, Christian nations +are but too apt to be dare-devils. Witness the following: British names +all—The Conqueror, the Defiance, the Revenge, the Spitfire, the +Dreadnaught, the Thunderer, and the Tremendous; not omitting the Etna, +which, in the Roads of Corfu, was struck by lightning, coming nigh +being consumed by fire from above. But almost potent as Moses’ rod, +Franklin’s proved her salvation. + +With the above catalogue, compare we the Frenchman’s; quite +characteristic of the aspirations of Monsieur:—The Destiny, the +Glorious, the Magnanimous, the Magnificent, the Conqueror, the +Triumphant, the Indomitable, the Intrepid, the Mont-Blanc. Lastly, the +Dons; who have ransacked the theology of the religion of peace for fine +names for their fighting ships; stopping not at designating one of +their three-deckers, The Most Holy Trinity. But though, at Trafalgar, +the Santissima Trinidada thundered like Sinai, her thunders were +silenced by the victorious cannonade of the Victory. + +And without being blown into splinters by artillery, how many of these +Redoubtables and Invincibles have succumbed to the waves, and like +braggarts gone down before hurricanes, with their bravadoes broad on +their bows. + +Much better the American names (barring Scorpions, Hornets, and Wasps;) +Ohio, Virginia, Carolina, Vermont. And if ever these Yankees fight +great sea engagements—which Heaven forefend!—how glorious, poetically +speaking, to range up the whole federated fleet, and pour forth a +broadside from Florida to Maine. Ay, ay, very glorious indeed! yet in +that proud crowing of cannon, how shall the shade of peace-loving Penn +be astounded, to see the mightiest murderer of them all, the great +Pennsylvania, a very namesake of his. Truly, the Pennsylvania’s guns +should be the wooden ones, called by men-of- war’s-men, Quakers. + +But all this is an episode, made up of digressions. Time to tack ship, +and return. + +Now, in its proper place, I omitted to mention, that shortly after +descending from the rigging, and while Samoa was rehearsing his +adventures, dame Annatoo had stolen below into the forecastle, intent +upon her chattels. And finding them all in mighty disarray, she +returned to the deck prodigiously, excited, and glancing angrily toward +Jarl and me, showered a whole torrent of objurgations into both ears of +Samoa. + +This contempt of my presence surprised me at first; but perhaps women +are less apt to be impressed by a pretentious demeanor, than men. + +Now, to use a fighting phrase, there is nothing like boarding an enemy +in the smoke. And therefore, upon this first token of Annatoo’s +termagant qualities, I gave her to understand—craving her pardon—that +neither the vessel nor aught therein was hers; but that every thing +belonged to the owners in Lahina. I added, that at all hazards, a stop +must be put to her pilferings. Rude language for feminine ears; but how +to be avoided? Here was an infatuated woman, who, according to Samoa’s +account, had been repeatedly detected in the act of essaying to draw +out the screw-bolts which held together the planks. Tell me; was she +not worse than the Load-Stone Rock, sailing by which a stout ship fell +to pieces? + +During this scene, Samoa said little. Perhaps he was secretly pleased +that his matrimonial authority was reinforced by myself and my Viking, +whose views of the proper position of wives at sea, so fully +corresponded with his own; however difficult to practice, those purely +theoretical ideas of his had hitherto proved. + +Once more turning to Annatoo, now looking any thing but amiable, I +observed, that all her clamors would be useless; and that if it came to +the worst, the Parki had a hull that would hold her. + +In the end she went off in a fit of the sulks; sitting down on the +windlass and glaring; her arms akimbo, and swaying from side to side; +while ever and anon she gave utterance to a dismal chant. It sounded +like an invocation to the Cholos to rise and dispatch us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. +What They Lighted Upon In Further Searching The Craft, And The +Resolution They Came To + + +Descending into the cabin with Samoa, I bade him hunt up the +brigantine’s log, the captain’s writing-desk, and nautical instruments; +in a word, aught that could throw light on the previous history of the +craft, or aid in navigating her homeward. + +But nearly every thing of the kind had disappeared: log, quadrant, and +ship’s papers. Nothing was left but the sextant-case, which Jarl and I +had lighted upon in the state-room. + +Upon this, vague though they were, my suspicions returned; and I +closely questioned the Islander concerning the disappearance of these +important articles. In reply, he gave me to understand, that the +nautical instruments had been clandestinely carried down into the +forecastle by Annatoo; and by that indefatigable and inquisitive dame +they had been summarily taken apart for scientific inspection. It was +impossible to restore them; for many of the fixtures were lost, +including the colored glasses, sights, and little mirrors; and many +parts still recoverable, were so battered and broken as to be entirely +useless. For several days afterward, we now and then came across bits +of the quadrant or sextant; but it was only to mourn over their fate. + +However, though sextant and quadrant were both unattainable, I did not +so quickly renounce all hope of discovering a chronometer, which, if in +good order, though at present not ticking, might still be made in some +degree serviceable. But no such instrument was to be seen. No: nor to +be heard of; Samoa himself professing utter ignorance. + +Annatoo, I threatened and coaxed; describing the chronometer—a live, +round creature like a toad, that made a strange noise, which I +imitated; but she knew nothing about it. Whether she had lighted upon +it unbeknown to Samoa, and dissected it as usual, there was now no way +to determine. Indeed, upon this one point, she maintained an air of +such inflexible stupidity, that if she were really fibbing, her +dead-wall countenance superseded the necessity for verbal deceit. + +It may be, however, that in this particular she was wronged; for, as +with many small vessels, the Parki might never have possessed the +instrument in question. All thought, therefore, of feeling our way, as +we should penetrate farther and farther into the watery wilderness, was +necessarily abandoned. + +The log book had also formed a portion of Annatoo’s pilferings. It +seems she had taken it into her studio to ponder over. But after +amusing herself by again and again counting over the leaves, and +wondering how so many distinct surfaces could be compacted together in +so small a compass, she had very suddenly conceived an aversion to +literature, and dropped the book overboard as worthless. Doubtless, it +met the fate of many other ponderous tomes; sinking quickly and +profoundly. What Camden or Stowe hereafter will dive for it? + +One evening Samoa brought me a quarto half-sheet of yellowish, ribbed +paper, much soiled and tarry, which he had discovered in a dark hole of +the forecastle. It had plainly formed part of the lost log; but all the +writing thereon, at present decipherable, conveyed no information upon +the subject then nearest my heart. + +But one could not but be struck by a tragical occurrence, which the +page very briefly recounted; as well, as by a noteworthy pictorial +illustration of the event in the margin of the text. Save the cut, +there was no further allusion to the matter than the following:— “This +day, being calm, Tooboi, one of the Lahina men, went overboard for a +bath, and was eaten up by a shark. Immediately sent forward for his +bag.” + +Now, this last sentence was susceptible of two meanings. It is truth, +that immediately upon the decease of a friendless sailor at sea, his +shipmates oftentimes seize upon his effects, and divide them; though +the dead man’s clothes are seldom worn till a subsequent voyage. This +proceeding seems heartless. But sailors reason thus: Better we, than +the captain. For by law, either scribbled or unscribbled, the effects +of a mariner, dying on shipboard, should be held in trust by that +officer. But as sailors are mostly foundlings and castaways, and carry +all their kith and kin in their arms and their legs, there hardly ever +appears any heir-at-law to claim their estate; seldom worth inheriting, +like Esterhazy’s. Wherefore, the withdrawal of a dead man’s “kit” from +the forecastle to the cabin, is often held tantamount to its virtual +appropriation by the captain. At any rate, in small ships on long +voyages, such things have been done. + +Thus much being said, then, the sentence above quoted from the Parki’s +log, may be deemed somewhat ambiguous. At the time it struck me as +singular; for the poor diver’s grass bag could not have contained much +of any thing valuable unless, peradventure, he had concealed therein +some Cleopatra pearls, feloniously abstracted from the shells brought +up from the sea. + +Aside of the paragraph, copied above, was a pen-and-ink sketch of the +casualty, most cruelly executed; the poor fellow’s legs being +represented half way in the process of deglutition; his arms firmly +grasping the monster’s teeth, as if heroically bent upon making as +tough a morsel of himself as possible. + +But no doubt the honest captain sketched this cenotaph to the departed +in all sincerity of heart; perhaps, during the melancholy leisure which +followed the catastrophe. Half obliterated were several stains upon the +page; seemingly, lingering traces of a salt tear or two. + +From this unwonted embellishment of the text, I was led to infer, that +the designer, at one time or other, must have been engaged in the +vocation of whaling. For, in India ink, the logs of certain whalemen +are decorated by somewhat similar illustrations. + +When whales are seen, but not captured, the fact is denoted by an +outline figure representing the creature’s flukes, the broad, curving +lobes of his tail. But in those cases where the monster is both chased +and killed, this outline is filled up jet black; one for every whale +slain; presenting striking objects in turning over the log; and so +facilitating reference. Hence, it is quite imposing to behold, all in a +row, three or four, sometime five or six, of these drawings; showing +that so many monsters that day jetted their last spout. And the chief +mate, whose duty it is to keep the ship’s record, generally prides +himself upon the beauty, and flushy likeness to life, of his flukes; +though, sooth to say, many of these artists are no Landseers. + +After vainly searching the cabin for those articles we most needed, we +proceeded to explore the hold, into which as yet we had not penetrated. +Here, we found a considerable quantity of pearl shells; cocoanuts; an +abundance of fresh water in casks; spare sails and rigging; and some +fifty barrels or more of salt beef and biscuit. Unromantic as these +last mentioned objects were, I lingered over them long, and in a +revery. Branded upon each barrel head was the name of a place in +America, with which I was very familiar. It is from America chiefly, +that ship’s stores are originally procured for the few vessels sailing +out of the Hawaiian Islands. + +Having now acquainted myself with all things respecting the Parki, +which could in any way be learned, I repaired to the quarter-deck, and +summoning round me Samoa, Annatoo, and Jarl, gravely addressed them. + +I said, that nothing would give me greater satisfaction than forthwith +to return to the scene of the massacre, and chastise its surviving +authors. But as there were only four of us in all; and the place of +those islands was wholly unknown to me; and even if known, would be +altogether out of our reach, since we possessed no instruments of +navigation; it was quite plain that all thought of returning thither +was entirely useless. The last mentioned reason, also, prevented our +voyaging to the Hawaiian group, where the vessel belonged; though that +would have been the most advisable step, resulting, as it would, if +successful, in restoring the ill-fated craft to her owners. + +But all things considered, it seemed best, I added, cautiously to hold +on our way to the westward. It was our easiest course; for we would +ever have the wind from astern; and though we could not so much as hope +to arrive at any one spot previously designated, there was still a +positive certainty, if we floated long enough, of falling in with +islands whereat to refresh ourselves; and whence, if we thought fit, we +might afterward embark for more agreeable climes. I then reminded them +of the fact, that so long as we kept the sea, there was always some +prospect of encountering a friendly sail; in which event, our +solicitude would be over. + +All this I said in the mild, firm tone of a superior; being anxious, at +once to assume the unquestioned supremacy. For, otherwise, Jarl and I +might better quit the vessel forthwith, than remain on board subject to +the outlandish caprices of Annatoo, who through Samoa would then have +the sway. But I was sure of my Viking; and if Samoa proved docile, had +no fear of his dame. + +And therefore during my address, I steadfastly eyed him; thereby +learning enough to persuade me, that though he deferred to me at +present, he was, notwithstanding, a man who, without precisely +meditating mischief, could upon occasion act an ugly part. But of his +courage, and savage honor, such as it was, I had little doubt. Then, +wild buffalo that he was, tamed down in the yoke matrimonial, I could +not but fancy, that if upon no other account, our society must please +him, as rendering less afflictive the tyranny of his spouse. + +For a hen-pecked husband, by the way, Samoa was a most terrible fellow +to behold. And though, after all, I liked him; it was as you fancy a +fiery steed with mane disheveled, as young Alexander fancied +Bucephalus; which wild horse, when he patted, he preferred holding by +the bridle. But more of Samoa anon. + +Our course determined, and the command of the vessel tacitly yielded up +to myself, the next thing done was to put every thing in order. The +tattered sails were replaced by others, dragged up from the sail- room +below; in several places, new running-rigging was rove; blocks +restrapped; and the slackened stays and shrouds set taught. For all of +which, we were mostly indebted to my Viking’s unwearied and skillful +marling-spike, which he swayed like a scepter. + +The little Parki’s toilet being thus thoroughly made for the first time +since the massacre, we gave her new raiment to the breeze, and daintily +squaring her yards, she gracefully glided away; honest old Jarl at the +helm, watchfully guiding her path, like some devoted old foster-father. + +As I stood by his side like a captain, or walked up and down on the +quarter-deck, I felt no little importance upon thus assuming for the +first time in my life, the command of a vessel at sea. The novel +circumstances of the case only augmented this feeling; the wild and +remote seas where we were; the character of my crew, and the +consideration, that to all purposes, I was owner, as well as commander +of the craft I sailed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. +Hints For A Full Length Of Samoa + + +My original intention to touch at the Kingsmill Chain, or the countries +adjacent, was greatly strengthened by thus encountering Samoa; and the +more I had to do with my Belisarius, the more I was pleased with him. +Nor could I avoid congratulating myself, upon having fallen in with a +hero, who in various ways, could not fail of proving exceedingly +useful. + +Like any man of mark, Samoa best speaks for himself; but we may as well +convey some idea of his person. Though manly enough, nay, an obelisk in +stature, the savage was far from being sentimentally prepossessing. Be +not alarmed; but he wore his knife in the lobe of his dexter ear, +which, by constant elongation almost drooped upon his shoulder. A mode +of sheathing it exceedingly handy, and far less brigandish than the +Highlander’s dagger concealed in his leggins. + +But it was the mother of Samoa, who at a still earlier day had +punctured him through and through in still another direction. The +middle cartilage of his nose was slightly pendent, peaked, and Gothic, +and perforated with a hole; in which, like a Newfoundland dog carrying +a cane, Samoa sported a trinket: a well polished nail. + +In other respects he was equally a coxcomb. In his style of tattooing, +for instance, which seemed rather incomplete; his marks embracing but a +vertical half of his person, from crown to sole; the other side being +free from the slightest stain. Thus clapped together, as it were, he +looked like a union of the unmatched moieties of two distinct beings; +and your fancy was lost in conjecturing, where roamed the absent ones. +When he turned round upon you suddenly, you thought you saw some one +else, not him whom you had been regarding before. + +But there was one feature in Samoa beyond the reach of the innovations +of art:—his eye; which in civilized man or savage, ever shines in the +head, just as it shone at birth. Truly, our eyes are miraculous things. +But alas, that in so many instances, these divine organs should be mere +lenses inserted into the socket, as glasses in spectacle rims. + +But my Islander had a soul in his eye; looking out upon you there, like +somebody in him. What an eye, to be sure! At times, brilliantly +changeful as opal; in anger, glowing like steel at white heat. + +Belisarius, be it remembered, had but very recently lost an arm. But +you would have thought he had been born without it; so Lord Nelson- +like and cavalierly did he sport the honorable stump. + +But no more of Samoa; only this: that his name had been given him by a +sea-captain; to whom it had been suggested by the native designation of +the islands to which he belonged; the Saviian or Samoan group, +otherwise known as the Navigator Islands. The island of Upolua, one of +that cluster, claiming the special honor of his birth, as Corsica does +Napoleon’s, we shall occasionally hereafter speak of Samoa as the +Upoluan; by which title he most loved to be called. + +It is ever ungallant to pass over a lady. But what shall be said of +Annatoo? As I live, I can make no pleasing portrait of the dame; for as +in most ugly subjects, flattering would but make the matter worse. +Furthermore, unalleviated ugliness should ever go unpainted, as +something unnecessary to duplicate. But the only ugliness is that of +the heart, seen through the face. And though beauty be obvious, the +only loveliness is invisible. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. +Rovings Alow And Aloft + + +Every one knows what a fascination there is in wandering up and down in +a deserted old tenement in some warm, dreamy country; where the vacant +halls seem echoing of silence, and the doors creak open like the +footsteps of strangers; and into every window the old garden trees +thrust their dark boughs, like the arms of night-burglars; and ever and +anon the nails start from the wainscot; while behind it the mice rattle +like dice. Up and down in such old specter houses one loves to wander; +and so much the more, if the place be haunted by some marvelous story. + +And during the drowsy stillness of the tropical sea-day, very much such +a fancy had I, for prying about our little brigantine, whose tragic +hull was haunted by the memory of the massacre, of which it still bore +innumerable traces. + +And so far as the indulgence of quiet strolling and reverie was +concerned, it was well nigh the same as if I were all by myself. For +Samoa, for a time, was rather reserved, being occupied with thoughts of +his own. And Annatoo seldom troubled me with her presence. She was +taken up with her calicoes and jewelry; which I had permitted her to +retain, to keep her in good humor if possible. And as for My royal old +Viking, he was one of those individuals who seldom speak, unless +personally addressed. + +Besides, all that by day was necessary to navigating the Parki was, +that—somebody should stand at the helm; the craft being so small, and +the grating, whereon the steersman stood, so elevated, that he +commanded a view far beyond the bowsprit; thus keeping Argus eyes on +the sea, as he steered us along. In all other respects we left the +brigantine to the guardianship of the gentle winds. + +My own turn at the helm—for though commander, I felt constrained to do +duty with the rest—came but once in the twenty-four hours. And not only +did Jarl and Samoa, officiate as helmsmen, but also Dame Annatoo, who +had become quite expert at the business. Though Jarl always maintained +that there was a slight drawback upon her usefulness in this vocation. +Too much taken up by her lovely image partially reflected in the glass +of the binnacle before her, Annatoo now and then neglected her duty, +and led us some devious dances. Nor was she, I ween, the first woman +that ever led men into zigzags. + +For the reasons above stated, I had many spare hours to myself. At +times, I mounted aloft, and lounging in the slings of the topsail +yard—one of the many snug nooks in a ship’s rigging—I gazed broad off +upon the blue boundless sea, and wondered what they were doing in that +unknown land, toward which we were fated to be borne. Or feeling less +meditative, I roved about hither and thither; slipping over, by the +stays, from one mast to the other; climbing up to the truck; or +lounging out to the ends of the yards; exploring wherever there was a +foothold. It was like climbing about in some mighty old oak, and +resting in the crotches. + +To a sailor, a ship’s ropes are a study. And to me, every rope-yarn of +the Parki’s was invested with interest. The outlandish fashion of her +shrouds, the collars of her stays, the stirrups, seizings, +Flemish-horses, gaskets,—all the wilderness of her rigging, bore +unequivocal traces of her origin. + +But, perhaps, my pleasantest hours were those which I spent, stretched +out on a pile of old sails, in the fore-top; lazily dozing to the +craft’s light roll. + +Frequently, I descended to the cabin: for the fiftieth time, exploring +the lockers and state-rooms for some new object of curiosity. And +often, with a glimmering light, I went into the midnight hold, as into +old vaults and catacombs; and creeping between damp ranges of casks, +penetrated into its farthest recesses. + +Sometimes, in these under-ground burrowings, I lighted upon sundry +out-of-the-way hiding places of Annatoo’s; where were snugly secreted +divers articles, with which she had been smitten. In truth, no small +portion of the hull seemed a mine of stolen goods, stolen out of its +own bowels. I found a jaunty shore-cap of the captain’s, hidden away in +the hollow heart of a coil of rigging; covered over in a manner most +touchingly natural, with a heap of old ropes; and near by, in a +breaker, discovered several entire pieces of calico, heroically tied +together with cords almost strong enough to sustain the mainmast. + +Near the stray light, which, when the hatch was removed, gleamed down +into this part of the hold, was a huge ground-tier butt, headless as +Charles the First. And herein was a mat nicely spread for repose; a +discovery which accounted for what had often proved an enigma. Not +seldom Annatoo had been among the missing; and though, from stem to +stern, loudly invoked to come forth and relieve the poignant distress +of her anxious friends, the dame remained perdu; silent and invisible +as a spirit. But in her own good time, she would mysteriously emerge; +or be suddenly espied lounging quietly in the forecastle, as if she had +been there from all eternity. + +Useless to inquire, “Where hast thou been, sweet Annatoo?” For no sweet +rejoinder would she give. + +But now the problem was solved. Here, in this silent cask in the hold, +Annatoo was wont to coil herself away, like a garter-snake under a +stone. + +Whether-she-thus stood sentry over her goods secreted round about: +whether she here performed penance like a nun in her cell; or was moved +to this unaccountable freak by the powers of the air; no one could +tell. Can you? + +Verily, her ways were as the ways of the inscrutable penguins in +building their inscrutable nests, which baffle all science, and make a +fool of a sage. + +Marvelous Annatoo! who shall expound thee? + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. +Xiphius Platypterus + + +About this time, the loneliness of our voyage was relieved by an event +worth relating. + +Ever since leaving the Pearl Shell Islands, the Parki had been followed +by shoals of small fish, pleasantly enlivening the sea, and socially +swimming by her side. But in vain did Jarl and I search among their +ranks for the little, steel-blue Pilot fish, so long outriders of the +Chamois. But perhaps since the Chamois was now high and dry on the +Parki’s deck, our bright little avant-couriers were lurking out of +sight, far down in the brine; racing along close to the keel. + +But it is not with the Pilot fish that we now have to do. + +One morning our attention was attracted to a mighty commotion in the +water. The shoals of fish were darting hither and thither, and leaping +into the air in the utmost affright. Samoa declared, that their deadly +foe the Sword fish must be after them. + +And here let me say, that, since of all the bullies, and braggarts, and +bravoes, and free-booters, and Hectors, and fish-at-arms, and +knight-errants, and moss-troopers, and assassins, and foot-pads, and +gallant soldiers, and immortal heroes that swim the seas, the Indian +Sword fish is by far the most remarkable, I propose to dedicate this +chapter to a special description of the warrior. In doing which, I but +follow the example of all chroniclers and historians, my Peloponnesian +friend Thucydides and others, who are ever mindful of devoting much +space to accounts of eminent destroyers; for the purpose, no doubt, of +holding them up as ensamples to the world. + +Now, the fish here treated of is a very different creature from the +Sword fish frequenting the Northern Atlantic; being much larger every +way, and a more dashing varlet to boot. Furthermore, he is denominated +the Indian Sword fish, in contradistinction from his namesake above +mentioned. But by seamen in the Pacific, he is more commonly known as +the Bill fish; while for those who love science and hard names, be it +known, that among the erudite naturalists he goeth by the outlandish +appellation of “_Xiphius Platypterus_.” + +But I waive for my hero all these his cognomens, and substitute a much +better one of my own: namely, the Chevalier. And a Chevalier he is, by +good right and title. A true gentleman of Black Prince Edward’s bright +day, when all gentlemen were known by their swords; whereas, in times +present, the Sword fish excepted, they are mostly known by their high +polished boots and rattans. + +A right valiant and jaunty Chevalier is our hero; going about with his +long Toledo perpetually drawn. Rely upon it, he will fight you to the +hilt, for his bony blade has never a scabbard. He himself sprang from +it at birth; yea, at the very moment he leaped into the Battle of Life; +as we mortals ourselves spring all naked and scabbardless into the +world. Yet, rather, are we scabbards to our souls. And the drawn soul +of genius is more glittering than the drawn cimeter of Saladin. But how +many let their steel sleep, till it eat up the scabbard itself, and +both corrode to rust-chips. Saw you ever the hillocks of old Spanish +anchors, and anchor-stocks of ancient galleons, at the bottom of Callao +Bay? The world is full of old Tower armories, and dilapidated Venetian +arsenals, and rusty old rapiers. But true warriors polish their good +blades by the bright beams of the morning; and gird them on to their +brave sirloins; and watch for rust spots as for foes; and by many stout +thrusts and stoccadoes keep their metal lustrous and keen, as the +spears of the Northern Lights charging over Greenland. + +Fire from the flint is our Chevalier enraged. He takes umbrage at the +cut of some ship’s keel crossing his road; and straightway runs a tilt +at it; with one mad lounge thrusting his Andrea Ferrara clean through +and through; not seldom breaking it short off at the haft, like a bravo +leaving his poignard in the vitals of his foe. + +In the case of the English ship Foxhound, the blade penetrated through +the most solid part of her hull, the bow; going completely through the +copper plates and timbers, and showing for several inches in the hold. +On the return of the ship to London, it was carefully sawn out; and, +imbedded in the original wood, like a fossil, is still preserved. But +this was a comparatively harmless onslaught of the valiant Chevalier. +With the Rousseau, of Nantucket, it fared worse. She was almost +mortally stabbed; her assailant withdrawing his blade. And it was only +by keeping the pumps clanging, that she managed to swim into a Tahitian +harbor, “heave down,” and have her wound dressed by a ship-surgeon with +tar and oakum. This ship I met with at sea, shortly after the disaster. + +At what armory our Chevalier equips himself after one of his spiteful +tilting-matches, it would not be easy to say. But very hard for him, if +ever after he goes about in the lists, swordless and disarmed, at the +mercy of any caitiff shark he may meet. + +Now, seeing that our fellow-voyagers, the little fish along-side, were +sorely tormented and thinned out by the incursions of a pertinacious +Chevalier, bent upon making a hearty breakfast out of them, I +determined to interfere in their behalf, and capture the enemy. + +With shark-hook and line I succeeded, and brought my brave gentleman to +the deck. He made an emphatic landing; lashing the planks with his +sinewy tail; while a yard and a half in advance of his eyes, reached +forth his terrible blade. + +As victor, I was entitled to the arms of the vanquished; so, quickly +dispatching him, and sawing off his Toledo, I bore it away for a +trophy. It was three-sided, slightly concave on each, like a bayonet; +and some three inches through at the base, it tapered from thence to a +point. + +And though tempered not in Tagus or Guadalquiver, it yet revealed upon +its surface that wavy grain and watery fleckiness peculiar to tried +blades of Spain. It was an aromatic sword; like the ancient caliph’s, +giving out a peculiar musky odor by friction. But far different from +steel of Tagus or Damascus, it was inflexible as Crocket’s rifle tube; +no doubt, as deadly. + +Long hung that rapier over the head of my hammock. Was it not storied +as the good trenchant blade of brave Bayard, that other chevalier? The +knight’s may have slain its scores, or fifties; but the weapon I +preserved had, doubtless, run through and riddled its thousands. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. +Otard + + +And here is another little incident. + +One afternoon while all by myself curiously penetrating into the hold, +I most unexpectedly obtained proof, that the ill-fated captain of the +Parki had been a man of sound judgment and most excellent taste. In +brief, I lighted upon an aromatic cask of prime old Otard. + +Now, I mean not to speak lightly of any thing immediately connected +with the unfortunate captain. Nor, on the other hand, would I resemble +the inconsolable mourner, who among other tokens of affliction, bound +in funereal crape his deceased friend’s copy of Joe Miller. Is there +not a fitness in things? + +But let that pass. I found the Otard, and drank there-of; finding it, +moreover, most pleasant to the palate, and right cheering to the soul. +My next impulse was to share my prize with my shipmates. But here a +judicious reflection obtruded. From the sea-monarchs, his ancestors, my +Viking had inherited one of their cardinal virtues, a detestation and +abhorrence of all vinous and spirituous beverages; insomuch, that he +never could see any, but he instantly quaffed it out of sight. To be +short, like Alexander the Great and other royalties, Jarl was prone to +overmuch bibing. And though at sea more sober than a Fifth Monarchy +Elder, it was only because he was then removed from temptation. But +having thus divulged my Viking’s weak; side, I earnestly entreat, that +it may not disparage him in any charitable man’s estimation. Only +think, how many more there are like him to say nothing further of +Alexander the Great—especially among his own class; and consider, I +beseech, that the most capacious-souled fellows, for that very reason, +are the most apt to be too liberal in their libations; since, being so +large-hearted, they hold so much more good cheer than others. + +For Samoa, from his utter silence hitherto as to aught inebriating on +board, I concluded, that, along with his other secrets, the departed +captain had very wisely kept his Otard to himself. + +Nor did I doubt, but that the Upoluan, like all Polynesians, much loved +getting high of head; and in that state, would be more intractable than +a Black Forest boar. And concerning Annatoo, I shuddered to think, how +that Otard might inflame her into a Fury more fierce than the foremost +of those that pursued Orestes. + +In good time, then, bethinking me of the peril of publishing my +discovery;—bethinking me of the quiet, lazy, ever-present perils of the +voyage, of all circumstances, the very worst under which to introduce +an intoxicating beverage to my companions, I resolved to withhold it +from them altogether. + +So impressed was I with all this, that for a moment, I was almost +tempted to roll over the cask on its bilge, remove the stopper, and +suffer its contents to mix with the foul water at the bottom of the +hold. + +But no, no: What: dilute the brine with the double distilled soul of +the precious grape? Haft himself would have haunted me! + +Then again, it might come into play medicinally; and Paracelsus himself +stands sponsor for every cup drunk for the good of the abdomen. So at +last, I determined to let it remain where it was: visiting it +occasionally, by myself, for inspection. + +But by way of advice to all ship-masters, let me say, that if your +Otard magazine be exposed to view—then, in the evil hour of wreck, +stave in your spirit-casks, ere rigging the life-boat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. +How They Steered On Their Way + + +When we quitted the Chamois for the brigantine, we must have been at +least two hundred leagues to the westward of the spot, where we had +abandoned the Arcturion. Though how far we might then have been, North +or South of the Equator, I could not with any certainty divine. + +But that we were not removed any considerable distance from the Line, +seemed obvious. For in the starriest night no sign of the extreme Polar +constellations was visible; though often we scanned the northern and +southern horizon in search of them. So far as regards the aspect of the +skies near the ocean’s rim, the difference of several degrees in one’s +latitude at sea, is readily perceived by a person long accustomed to +surveying the heavens. + +If correct in my supposition, concerning our longitude at the time here +alluded to, and allowing for what little progress we had been making in +the Parki, there now remained some one hundred leagues to sail, ere the +country we sought would be found. But for obvious reasons, how long +precisely we might continue to float out of sight of land, it was +impossible to say. Calms, light breezes, and currents made every thing +uncertain. Nor had we any method of estimating our due westward +progress, except by what is called Dead Reckoning,—the computation of +the knots run hourly; allowances’ being made for the supposed +deviations from our course, by reason of the ocean streams; which at +times in this quarter of the Pacific run with very great velocity. + +Now, in many respects we could not but feel safer aboard the Parki than +in the Chamois. The sense of danger is less vivid, the greater the +number of lives involved. He who is ready to despair in solitary peril, +plucks up a heart in the presence of another. In a plurality of +comrades is much countenance and consolation. + +Still, in the brigantine there were many sources of uneasiness and +anxiety unknown to me in the whale-boat. True, we had now between us +and the deep, five hundred good planks to one lath in our buoyant +little chip. But the Parki required more care and attention; especially +by night, when a vigilant look-out was indispensable. With impunity, in +our whale-boat, we might have run close to shoal or reef; whereas, +similar carelessness or temerity now, might prove fatal to all +concerned. + +Though in the joyous sunlight, sailing through the sparkling sea, I was +little troubled with serious misgivings; in the hours of darkness it +was quite another thing. And the apprehensions, nay terrors I felt, +were much augmented by the remissness of both Jarl and Samoa, in +keeping their night-watches. Several times I was seized with a deadly +panic, and earnestly scanned the murky horizon, when rising from +slumber I found the steersman, in whose hands for the time being were +life and death, sleeping upright against the tiller, as much of a +fixture there, as the open-mouthed dragon rudely carved on our prow. + +Were it not, that on board of other vessels, I myself had many a time +dozed at the helm, spite of all struggles, I would have been almost at +a loss to account for this heedlessness in my comrades. But it seemed +as if the mere sense of our situation, should have been sufficient to +prevent the like conduct in all on board our craft. + +Samoa’s aspect, sleeping at the tiller, was almost appalling. His large +opal eyes were half open; and turned toward the light of the binnacle, +gleamed between the lids like bars of flame. And added to all, was his +giant stature and savage lineaments. + +It was in vain, that I remonstrated, begged, or threatened: the +occasional drowsiness of my fellow-voyagers proved incurable. To no +purpose, I reminded my Viking that sleeping in the night-watch in a +craft like ours, was far different from similar heedlessness on board +the Arcturion. For there, our place upon the ocean was always known, +and our distance from land; so that when by night the seamen were +permitted to be drowsy, it was mostly, because the captain well knew +that strict watchfulness could be dispensed with. + +Though in all else, the Skyeman proved a most faithful ally, in this +one thing he was either perversely obtuse, or infatuated. Or, perhaps, +finding himself once more in a double-decked craft, which rocked him as +of yore, he was lulled into a deceitful security. + +For Samoa, his drowsiness was the drowsiness of one beat on sleep, come +dreams or death. He seemed insensible to the peril we ran. Often I sent +the sleepy savage below, sad, steered myself till morning. At last I +made a point of slumbering much by day, the better to stand watch by +night; though I made Samoa and Jarl regularly go through with their +allotted four hours each. + +It has been mentioned, that Annatoo took her turn at the helm; but it +was only by day. And in justice to the lady, I must affirm, that upon +the whole she acquitted herself well. For notwithstanding the syren +face in the binnacle, which dimly allured her glances, Annatoo after +all was tolerably heedful of her steering. Indeed she took much pride +therein; always ready for her turn; with marvelous exactitude +calculating the approaching hour, as it came on in regular rotation. +Her time-piece was ours, the sun. By night it must have been her +guardian star; for frequently she gazed up at a particular section of +the heavens, like one regarding the dial in a tower. + +By some odd reasoning or other, she had cajoled herself into the +notion, that whoever steered the brigantine, for that period was +captain. Wherefore, she gave herself mighty airs at the tiller; with +extravagant gestures issuing unintelligible orders about trimming the +sails, or pitching overboard something to see how fast we were going. +All this much diverted my Viking, who several times was delivered of a +laugh; a loud and healthy one to boot: a phenomenon worthy the +chronicling. + +And thus much for Annatoo, preliminary to what is further to be said. +Seeing the drowsiness of Jarl and Samoa, which so often kept me from my +hammock at night, forcing me to repose by day, when I far preferred +being broad awake, I decided to let Annatoo take her turn at the night +watches; which several times she had solicited me to do; railing at the +sleepiness of her spouse; though abstaining from all reflections upon +Jarl, toward whom she had of late grown exceedingly friendly. + +Now the Calmuc stood her first night watch to admiration; if any thing, +was altogether too wakeful. The mere steering of the craft employed not +sufficiently her active mind. Ever and anon she must needs rush from +the tiller to take a parenthetical pull at the fore- brace, the end of +which led down to the bulwarks near by; then refreshing herself with a +draught or two of water and a biscuit, she would continue to steer +away, full of the importance of her office. At any unusual flapping of +the sails, a violent stamping on deck announced the fact to the +startled crew. Finding her thus indefatigable, I readily induced her to +stand two watches to Jarl’s and Samoa’s one; and when she was at the +helm, I permitted myself to doze on a pile of old sails, spread every +evening on the quarter-deck. + +It was the Skyeman, who often admonished me to “heave the ship to” +every night, thus stopping her headway till morning; a plan which, +under other circumstances, might have perhaps warranted the slumbers of +all. But as it was, such a course would have been highly imprudent. For +while making no onward progress through the water, the rapid currents +we encountered would continually be drifting us eastward; since, +contrary to our previous experience, they seemed latterly to have +reversed their flow, a phenomenon by no means unusual in the vicinity +of the Line in the Pacific. And this it was that so prolonged our +passage to the westward. Even in a moderate breeze, I sometimes +fancied, that the impulse of the wind little more than counteracted the +glide of the currents; so that with much show of sailing, we were in +reality almost a fixture on the sea. + +The equatorial currents of the South Seas may be regarded as among the +most mysterious of the mysteries of the deep. Whence they come, whither +go, who knows? Tell us, what hidden law regulates their flow. +Regardless of the theory which ascribes to them a nearly uniform course +from east to west, induced by the eastwardly winds of the Line, and the +collateral action of the Polar streams; these currents are forever +shifting. Nor can the period of their revolutions be at all relied upon +or predicted. + +But however difficult it may be to assign a specific cause for the +ocean streams, in any part of the world, one of the wholesome effects +thereby produced would seem obvious enough. And though the circumstance +here alluded to is perhaps known to every body, it may be questioned, +whether it is generally invested with the importance it deserves. +Reference is here made to the constant commingling and purification of +the sea-water by reason of the currents. + +For, that the ocean, according to the popular theory, possesses a +special purifying agent in its salts, is somewhat to be doubted. Nor +can it be explicitly denied, that those very salts might corrupt it, +were it not for the brisk circulation of its particles consequent upon +the flow of the streams. It is well known to seamen, that a bucket of +sea-water, left standing in a tropical climate, very soon becomes +highly offensive; which is not the case with rainwater. + +But I build no theories. And by way of obstructing the one, which might +possibly be evolved from the statement above, let me add, that the +offensiveness of sea-water left standing, may arise in no small degree +from the presence of decomposed animal matter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. +Ah, Annatoo! + + +In order to a complete revelation, I must needs once again discourse of +Annatoo and her pilferings; and to what those pilferings led. In the +simplicity of my soul, I fancied that the dame, so much flattered as +she needs must have been, by the confidence I began to repose in her, +would now mend her ways, and abstain from her larcenies. But not so. +She was possessed by some scores of devils, perpetually her to mischief +on their own separate behoof, and not less for many of her pranks were +of no earthly advantage to her, present or prospective. + +One day the log-reel was missing. Summon Annatoo. She came; but knew +nothing about it. Jarl spent a whole morning in contriving a +substitute; and a few days after, pop, we came upon the lost: article +hidden away in the main-top. + +Another time, discovering the little vessel to “gripe” hard in +steering, as if some one under water were jerking her backward, we +instituted a diligent examination, to see what was the matter. When lo; +what should we find but a rope, cunningly attached to one of the +chain-plates under the starboard main-channel. It towed heavily in the +water. Upon dragging it up—much as you would the cord of a ponderous +bucket far down in a well—a stout wooden box was discovered at the end; +which opened, disclosed sundry knives, hatchets, and ax-heads. + +Called to the stand, the Upoluan deposed, that thrice he had rescued +that identical box from Annatoo’s all-appropriating clutches. + +Now, here were four human beings shut up in this little oaken craft, +and, for the time being, their interests the same. What sane mortal, +then, would forever be committing thefts, without rhyme or reason. It +was like stealing silver from one pocket and decanting it into the +other. And what might it not lead to in the end? + +Why, ere long, in good sooth, it led to the abstraction of the compass +from the binnacle; so that we were fain to substitute for it, the one +brought along in the Chamois. + +It was Jarl that first published this last and alarming theft. Annatoo +being at the helm at dawn, he had gone to relieve her; and looking to +see how we headed, was horror-struck at the emptiness of the binnacle. + +I started to my feet; sought out the woman, and ferociously demanded +the compass. But her face was a blank; every word a denial. + +Further lenity was madness. I summoned Samoa, told him what had +happened, and affirmed that there was no safety for us except in the +nightly incarceration of his spouse. To this he privily assented; and +that very evening, when Annatoo descended into the forecastle, we +barred over her the scuttle-slide. Long she clamored, but unavailingly. +And every night this was repeated; the dame saying her vespers most +energetically. + +It has somewhere been hinted, that Annatoo occasionally cast sheep’s +eyes at Jarl. So I was not a little surprised when her manner toward +him decidedly changed. Pulling at the ropes with us, she would give him +sly pinches, and then look another way, innocent as a lamb. Then again, +she would refuse to handle the same piece of rigging with him; with wry +faces, rinsed out the wooden can at the water cask, if it so chanced +that my Viking had previously been drinking therefrom. At other times, +when the honest Skyeman came up from below, she would set up a shout of +derision, and loll out her tongue; accompanying all this by certain +indecorous and exceedingly unladylike gestures, significant of the +profound contempt in which she held him. + +Yet, never did Jarl heed her ill-breeding; but patiently overlooked and +forgave it. Inquiring the reason of the dame’s singular conduct, I +learned, that with eye averted, she had very lately crept close to my +Viking, and met with no tender reception. + +Doubtless, Jarl, who was much of a philosopher, innocently imagined +that ere long the lady would forgive and forget him. But what knows a +philosopher about women? + +Ere long, so outrageous became Annatoo’s detestation of him, that the +honest old tar could stand it no longer, and like most good-natured men +when once fairly roused, he was swept through and through with a +terrible typhoon of passion. He proposed, that forthwith the woman +should be sacked and committed to the deep; he could stand it no +longer. + +Murder is catching. At first I almost jumped at the proposition; but as +quickly rejected it. Ah! Annatoo: Woman unendurable: deliver me, ye +gods, from being shut up in a ship with such a hornet again. + +But are we yet through with her? Not yet. Hitherto she had continued to +perform the duties of the office assigned her since the commencement of +the voyage: namely, those of the culinary department. From this she was +now deposed. Her skewer was broken. My Viking solemnly averring, that +he would eat nothing more of her concocting, for fear of being +poisoned. For myself, I almost believed, that there was malice enough +in the minx to give us our henbane broth. + +But what said Samoa to all this? Passing over the matter of the +cookery, will it be credited, that living right among us as he did, he +was yet blind to the premeditated though unachieved peccadilloes of his +spouse? Yet so it was. And thus blind was Belisarius himself, +concerning the intrigues of Antonina. + +Witness that noble dame’s affair with the youth Theodosius; when her +deluded lord charged upon the scandal-mongers with the very horns she +had bestowed upon him. + +Upon one occasion, seized with a sudden desire to palliate Annatoo’s +thievings, Samoa proudly intimated, that the lady was the most virtuous +of her sex. + +But alas, poor Annatoo, why say more? And bethinking me of the hard +fate that so soon overtook thee, I almost repent what has already and +too faithfully been portrayed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. +The Parki Gives Up The Ghost + + +A long calm in the boat, and now, God help us, another in the +brigantine. It was airless and profound. + +In that hot calm, we lay fixed and frozen in like Parry at the Pole. +The sun played upon the glassy sea like the sun upon the glaciers. + +At the end of two days we lifted up our eyes and beheld a low, +creeping, hungry cloud expanding like an army, wing and wing, along the +eastern horizon. Instantly Jarl bode me take heed. + +Here be it said, that though for weeks and weeks reign over the +equatorial latitudes of the Pacific, the mildest and sunniest of days; +that nevertheless, when storms do come, they come in their strength: +spending in a few, brief blasts their concentrated rage. They come like +the Mamelukes: they charge, and away. + +It wanted full an hour to sunset; but the sun was well nigh obscured. +It seemed toiling among bleak Scythian steeps in the hazy background. +Above the storm-cloud flitted ominous patches of scud, rapidly +advancing and receding: Attila’s skirmishers, thrown forward in the van +of his Huns. Beneath, a fitful shadow slid along the surface. As we +gazed, the cloud came nearer; accelerating its approach. + +With all haste we proceeded to furl the sails, which, owing to the +calm, had been hanging loose in the brails. And by help of a spare +boom, used on the forecastle-deck sit a sweep or great oar, we +endeavored to cast the brigantine’s head toward the foe. + +The storm seemed about to overtake us; but we felt no breeze. The +noiseless cloud stole on; its advancing shadow lowering over a distinct +and prominent milk-white crest upon the surface of the ocean. But now +this line of surging foam came rolling down upon us like a white charge +of cavalry: mad Hotspur and plumed Murat at its head; pouring right +forward in a continuous frothy cascade, which curled over, and fell +upon the glassy sea before it. + +Still, no breath of air. But of a sudden, like a blow from a man’s +hand, and before our canvas could be secured, the stunned craft, giving +one lurch to port, was stricken down on her beam-ends; the roaring tide +dashed high up against her windward side, and drops of brine fell upon +the deck, heavy as drops of gore. + +It was all a din and a mist; a crashing of spars and of ropes; a +horrible blending of sights and of sounds; as for an instant we seemed +in the hot heart of the gale; our cordage, like harp-strings, shrieking +above the fury of the blast. The masts rose, and swayed, and dipped +their trucks in the sea. And like unto some stricken buffalo brought +low to the plain, the brigantine’s black hull, shaggy with sea-weed, +lay panting on its flank in the foam. + +Frantically we clung to the uppermost bulwarks. And now, loud above the +roar of the sea, was suddenly heard a sharp, splintering sound, as of a +Norway woodman felling a pine in the forest. It was brave Jarl, who +foremost of all had snatched from its rack against the mainmast, the +ax, always there kept. + +“Cut the lanyards to windward!” he cried; and again buried his ax into +the mast. He was quickly obeyed. And upon cutting the third lanyard of +the five, he shouted for us to pause. Dropping his ax, he climbed up to +windward. As he clutched the rail, the wounded mast snapped in twain +with a report like a cannon. A slight smoke was perceptible where it +broke. The remaining lanyards parted. From the violent strain upon +them, the two shrouds flew madly into the air, and one of the great +blocks at their ends, striking Annatoo upon the forehead, she let go +her hold upon a stanchion, and sliding across the aslant deck, was +swallowed up in the whirlpool under our lea. Samoa shrieked. But there +was no time to mourn; no hand could reach to save. + +By the connecting stays, the mainmast carried over with it the +foremast; when we instantly righted, and for the time were saved; my +own royal Viking our saviour. + +The first fury of the gale was gone. But far to leeward was seen the +even, white line of its onset, pawing the ocean into foam. All round +us, the sea boiled like ten thousand caldrons; and through eddy, wave, +and surge, our almost water-logged craft waded heavily; every dead +clash ringing hollow against her hull, like blows upon a coffin. + +We floated a wreck. With every pitch we lifted our dangling jib-boom +into the air; and beating against the side, were the shattered +fragments of the masts. From these we made all haste to be free, by +cutting the rigging that held them. + +Soon, the worst of the gale was blown over. But the sea ran high. Yet +the rack and scud of the tempest, its mad, tearing foam, was subdued +into immense, long-extended, and long-rolling billows; the white cream +on their crests like snow on the Andes. Ever and anon we hung poised on +their brows; when the furrowed ocean all round looked like a panorama +from Chimborazo. + +A few hours more, and the surges went down. There was a moderate sea, a +steady breeze, and a clear, starry sky. Such was the storm that came +after our calm. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. +Once More They Take To The Chamois + + +Try the pumps. We dropped the sinker, and found the Parki bleeding at +every pore. Up from her well, the water, spring-like, came bubbling, +pure and limpid as the water of Saratoga. Her time had come. But by +keeping two hands at the pumps, we had no doubt she would float till +daylight; previous to which we liked not to abandon her. + +The interval was employed in clanging at the pump-breaks, and preparing +the Chamois for our reception. So soon as the sea permitted, we lowered +it over the side; and letting it float under the stern, stowed it with +water and provisions, together with various other things, including +muskets and cutlasses. + +Shortly after daylight, a violent jostling and thumping under foot +showed that the water, gaining rapidly in the, hold, spite of all +pumping, had floated the lighter casks up-ward to the deck, against +which they were striking. + +Now, owing to the number of empty butts in the hold, there would have +been, perhaps, but small danger of the vessel’s sinking outright—all +awash as her decks would soon be—were it not, that many of her timbers +were of a native wood, which, like the Teak of India, is specifically +heavier than water. This, with the pearl shells on board, counteracted +the buoyancy of the casks. + +At last, the sun—long waited for—arose; the Parki meantime sinking +lower and lower. + +All things being in readiness, we proceeded to embark from the wreck, +as from a wharf. + +But not without some show of love for our poor brigantine. + +To a seaman, a ship is no piece of mechanism merely; but a creature of +thoughts and fancies, instinct with life. Standing at her vibrating +helm, you feel her beating pulse. I have loved ships, as I have loved +men. + +To abandon the poor Parki was like leaving to its fate something that +could feel. It was meet that she should die decently and bravely. + +All this thought the Skyeman. Samoa and I were in the boat, calling +upon him to enter quickly, lest the vessel should sink, and carry us +down in the eddies; for already she had gone round twice. But cutting +adrift the last fragments of her broken shrouds, and putting her decks +in order, Jarl buried his ax in the splintered stump of the mainmast, +and not till then did he join us. + +We slowly cheered, and sailed away. + +Not ten minutes after, the hull rolled convulsively in the sea; went +round once more; lifted its sharp prow as a man with arms pointed for a +dive; gave a long seething plunge; and went down. + +Many of her old planks were twice wrecked; once strown upon ocean’s +beach; now dropped into its lowermost vaults, with the bones of drowned +ships and drowned men. + +Once more afloat in our shell! But not with the intrepid spirit that +shoved off with us from the deck of the Arcturion. A bold deed done +from impulse, for the time carries few or no misgivings along with it. +But forced upon you, its terrors stare you in the face. So now. I had +pushed from the Arcturion with a stout heart; but quitting the sinking +Parki, my heart sunk with her. + +With a fair wind, we held on our way westward, hoping to see land +before many days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. +The Sea On Fire + + +The night following our abandonment of the Parki, was made memorable by +a remarkable spectacle. + +Slumbering in the bottom of the boat, Jarl and I were suddenly awakened +by Samoa. Starting, we beheld the ocean of a pallid white color, +corruscating all over with tiny golden sparkles. But the pervading hue +of the water cast a cadaverous gleam upon the boat, so that we looked +to each other like ghosts. For many rods astern our wake was revealed +in a line of rushing illuminated foam; while here and there beneath the +surface, the tracks of sharks were denoted by vivid, greenish trails, +crossing and recrossing each other in every direction. Farther away, +and distributed in clusters, floated on the sea, like constellations in +the heavens, innumerable Medusae, a species of small, round, refulgent +fish, only to be met with in the South Seas and the Indian Ocean. + +Suddenly, as we gazed, there shot high into the air a bushy jet of +flashes, accompanied by the unmistakable deep breathing sound of a +sperm whale. Soon, the sea all round us spouted in fountains of fire; +and vast forms, emitting a glare from their flanks, and ever and anon +raising their heads above water, and shaking off the sparkles, showed +where an immense shoal of Cachalots had risen from below to sport in +these phosphorescent billows. + +The vapor jetted forth was far more radiant than any portion of the +sea; ascribable perhaps to the originally luminous fluid contracting +still more brilliancy from its passage through the spouting canal of +the whales. + +We were in great fear, lest without any vicious intention the +Leviathans might destroy us, by coming into close contact with our +boat. We would have shunned them; but they were all round and round us. +Nevertheless we were safe; for as we parted the pallid brine, the +peculiar irradiation which shot from about our keel seemed to deter +them. Apparently discovering us of a sudden, many of them plunged +headlong down into the water, tossing their fiery tails high into the +air, and leaving the sea still more sparkling from the violent surging +of their descent. + +Their general course seemed the same as our own; to the westward. To +remove from them, we at last out oars, and pulled toward the north. So +doing, we were steadily pursued by a solitary whale, that must have +taken our Chamois for a kindred fish. Spite of all our efforts, he drew +nearer and nearer; at length rubbing his fiery flank against the +Chamois’ gunwale, here and there leaving long strips of the glossy +transparent substance which thin as gossamer invests the body of the +Cachalot. + +In terror at a sight so new, Samoa shrank. But Jarl and I, more used to +the intimate companionship of the whales, pushed the boat away from it +with our oars: a thing often done in the fishery. + +The close vicinity of the whale revived in the so long astute Skyeman +all the enthusiasm of his daring vocation. However quiet by nature, a +thorough-bred whaleman betrays no little excitement in sight of his +game. And it required some persuasion to prevent Jarl from darting his +harpoon: insanity under present circumstances; and of course without +object. But “Oh! for a dart,” cried my Viking. And “Where’s now our old +ship?” he added reminiscently. + +But to my great joy the monster at last departed; rejoining the shoal, +whose lofty spoutings of flame were still visible upon the distant line +of the horizon; showing there, like the fitful starts of the Aurora +Borealis. + +The sea retained its luminosity for about three hours; at the +expiration of half that period beginning to fade; and excepting +occasional faint illuminations consequent upon the rapid darting of +fish under water, the phenomenon at last wholly disappeared. + +Heretofore, I had beheld several exhibitions of marine phosphorescence, +both in the Atlantic and Pacific. But nothing in comparison with what +was seen that night. In the Atlantic, there is very seldom any portion +of the ocean luminous, except the crests of the waves; and these mostly +appear so during wet, murky weather. Whereas, in the Pacific, all +instances of the sort, previously corning under my notice, had been +marked by patches of greenish light, unattended with any pallidness of +sea. Save twice on the coast of Peru, where I was summoned from my +hammock to the alarming midnight cry of “All hands ahoy! tack ship!” +And rushing on deck, beheld the sea white as a shroud; for which reason +it was feared we were on soundings. + +Now, sailors love marvels, and love to repeat them. And from many an +old shipmate I have heard various sage opinings, concerning the +phenomenon in question. Dismissing, as destitute of sound philosophic +probability, the extravagant notion of one of my nautical friends—no +less a philosopher than my Viking himself—namely: that the +phosphoresence of the sea is caused by a commotion among the mermaids, +whose golden locks, all torn and disheveled, do irradiate the waters at +such times; I proceed to record more reliable theories. + +Faraday might, perhaps, impute the phenomenon to a peculiarly +electrical condition of the atmosphere; and to that solely. But herein, +my scientific friend would be stoutly contradicted by many intelligent +seamen, who, in part, impute it to the presence of large quantities of +putrescent animal matter; with which the sea is well known to abound. + +And it would seem not unreasonable to suppose, that it is by this means +that the fluid itself becomes charged with the luminous principle. Draw +a bucket of water from the phosphorescent ocean, and it still retains +traces of fire; but, standing awhile, this soon subsides. Now pour it +along the deck, and it is a stream of flame; caused by its renewed +agitation. Empty the bucket, and for a space sparkles cling to it +tenaciously; and every stave seems ignited. + +But after all, this seeming ignition of the sea can not be wholly +produced by dead matter therein. There are many living fish, +phosphorescent; and, under certain conditions, by a rapid throwing off +of luminous particles must largely contribute to the result. Not to +particularize this circumstance as true of divers species of sharks, +cuttle-fish, and many others of the larger varieties of the finny +tribes; the myriads of microscopic mollusca, well known to swarm off +soundings, might alone be deemed almost sufficient to kindle a fire in +the brine. + +But these are only surmises; likely, but uncertain. + +After science comes sentiment. + +A French naturalist maintains, that the nocturnal radiance of the +fire-fly is purposely intended as an attraction to the opposite sex; +that the artful insect illuminates its body for a beacon to love. Thus: +perched upon the edge of a leaf, and waiting the approach of her +Leander, who comes buffeting with his wings the aroma of the flowers, +some insect Hero may show a torch to her gossamer gallant. + +But alas, thrice alas, for the poor little fire-fish of the sea, whose +radiance but reveals them to their foes, and lights the way to their +destruction. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. +They Fall In With Strangers + + +After quitting the Parki, we had much calm weather, varied by light +breezes. And sailing smoothly over a sea, so recently one sheet of +foam, I could not avoid bethinking me, how fortunate it was, that the +gale had overtaken us in the brigantine, and not in the Chamois. For +deservedly high as the whale-shallop ranks as a sea boat; still, in a +severe storm, the larger your craft the greater your sense of security. +Wherefore, the thousand reckless souls tenanting a line-of- battle ship +scoff at the most awful hurricanes; though, in reality, they may be +less safe in their wooden-walled Troy, than those who contend with the +gale in a clipper. + +But not only did I congratulate myself upon salvation from the past, +but upon the prospect for the future. For storms happening so seldom in +these seas, one just blown over is almost a sure guarantee of very many +weeks’ calm weather to come. + +Now sun followed sun; and no land. And at length it almost seemed as if +we must have sailed past the remotest presumable westerly limit of the +chain of islands we sought; a lurking suspicion which I sedulously kept +to myself However, I could not but nourish a latent faith that all +would yet be well. + +On the ninth day my forebodings were over. In the gray of the dawn, +perched upon the peak of our sail, a noddy was seen fast asleep. This +freak was true to the nature of that curious fowl, whose name is +significant of its drowsiness. Its plumage was snow-white, its bill and +legs blood-red; the latter looking like little pantalettes. In a sly +attempt at catching the bird, Samoa captured three tail- feathers; the +alarmed creature flying away with a scream, and leaving its quills in +his hand. + +Sailing on, we gradually broke in upon immense low-sailing flights of +other aquatic fowls, mostly of those species which are seldom found far +from land: terns, frigate-birds, mollymeaux, reef-pigeons, boobies, +gulls, and the like. They darkened the air; their wings making overhead +an incessant rustling like the simultaneous turning over of ten +thousand leaves. The smaller sort skimmed the sea like pebbles sent +skipping from the shore. Over these, flew myriads of birds of broader +wing. While high above all, soared in air the daring “Diver,” or +sea-kite, the power of whose vision is truly wonderful. It perceives +the little flying-fish in the water, at a height which can not be less +than four hundred feet. Spirally wheeling and screaming as it goes, the +sea-kite, bill foremost, darts downward, swoops into the water, and for +a moment altogether disappearing, emerges at last; its prey firmly +trussed in its claws. But bearing it aloft, the bold bandit is quickly +assailed by other birds of prey, that strive to wrest from him his +booty. And snatched from his talons, you see the fish falling through +the air, till again caught up in the very act of descent, by the +fleetest of its pursuers. + +Leaving these sights astern, we presently picked up the slimy husk of a +cocoanut, all over green barnacles. And shortly after, passed two or +three limbs of trees, and the solitary trunk of a palm; which, upon +sailing nearer, seemed but very recently started on its endless voyage. +As noon came on; the dark purple land-haze, which had been dimly +descried resting upon the western horizon, was very nearly obscured. +Nevertheless, behind that dim drapery we doubted not bright boughs were +waving. + +We were now in high spirits. Samoa between times humming to himself +some heathenish ditty, and Jarl ten times more intent on his silence +than ever; yet his eye full of expectation and gazing broad off from +our bow. Of a sudden, shading his face with his hand, he gazed fixedly +for an instant, and then springing to his feet, uttered the long-drawn +sound—“Sail ho!” + +Just tipping the furthest edge of the sky was a little speck, dancing +into view every time we rose upon the swells. It looked like one of +many birds; for half intercepting our view, fell showers of plumage: a +flight of milk-white noddies flying downward to the sea. + +But soon the birds are seen no more. Yet there remains the speck; +plainly a sail; but too small for a ship. Was it a boat after a whale? +The vessel to which it belonged far astern, and shrouded by the haze? +So it seemed. + +Quietly, however, we waited the stranger’s nearer approach; confident, +that for some time he would not be able to perceive us, owing to our +being in what mariners denominate the “sun-glade,” or that part of the +ocean upon which the sun’s rays flash with peculiar intensity. + +As the sail drew nigh, its failing to glisten white led us to doubt +whether it was indeed a whale-boat. Presently, it showed yellow; and +Samoa declared, that it must be the sail of some island craft. True. +The stranger proving a large double-canoe, like those used by the +Polynesians in making passages between distant islands. + +The Upoluan was now clamorous for a meeting, to which Jarl was averse. +Deliberating a moment, I directed the muskets to be loaded; then +setting the sail the wind on our quarter—we headed away for the canoe, +now sailing at right angles with our previous course. + +Here it must be mentioned, that from the various gay cloths and other +things provided for barter by the captain of the Parki, I had very +strikingly improved my costume; making it free, flowing, and eastern. I +looked like an Emir. Nor had my Viking neglected to follow my example; +though with some few modifications of his own. With his long tangled +hair and harpoon, he looked like the sea-god, that boards ships, for +the first time crossing the Equator. For tatooed Samoa, he yet sported +both kilt and turban, reminding one of a tawny leopard, though his +spots were all in one place. Besides this raiment of ours, against +emergencies we had provided our boat with divers nankeens and silks. + +But now into full view comes a yoke of huge clumsy prows, shaggy with +carving, and driving through the water with considerable velocity; the +immense sprawling sail holding the wind like a bag. She seemed full of +men; and from the dissonant cries borne over to us, and the canoe’s +widely yawing, it was plain that we had occasioned no small sensation. +They seemed undetermined what course to pursue: whether to court a +meeting, or avoid it; whether to regard us as friends or foes. + +As we came still nearer, distinctly beholding their faces, we loudly +hailed them, inviting them to furl their sails, and allow us to board +them. But no answer was returned; their confusion increasing. And now, +within less than two ships’-lengths, they swept right across our bow, +gazing at us with blended curiosity and fear. + +Their craft was about thirty feet long, consisting of a pair of +parallel canoes, very narrow, and at the distance of a yard or so, +lengthwise, united by stout cross-timbers, lashed across the four +gunwales. Upon these timbers was a raised platform or dais, quite dry; +and astern an arched cabin or tent; behind which, were two broad-bladed +paddles terminating in rude shark-tails, by which the craft was +steered. + +The yard, spreading a yellow sail, was a crooked bough, supported +obliquely in the crotch of a mast, to which the green bark was still +clinging. Here and there were little tufts of moss. The high, beaked +prow of that canoe in which the mast was placed, resembled a rude +altar; and all round it was suspended a great variety of fruits, +including scores of cocoanuts, unhusked. This prow was railed off, +forming a sort of chancel within. + +The foremost beam, crossing the gunwales, extended some twelve feet +beyond the side of the dais; and at regular intervals hereupon, stout +cords were fastened, which, leading up to the head of the mast, +answered the purpose of shrouds. The breeze was now streaming fresh; +and, as if to force down into the water the windward side of the craft, +five men stood upon this long beam, grasping five shrouds. Yet they +failed to counterbalance the pressure of the sail; and owing to the +opposite inclination of the twin canoes, these living statues were +elevated high above the water; their appearance rendered still more +striking by their eager attitudes, and the apparent peril of their +position, as the mad spray from the bow dashed over them. Suddenly, the +Islanders threw their craft into the wind; while, for ourselves, we lay +on our oars, fearful of alarming them by now coming nearer. But hailing +them again, we said we were friends; and had friendly gifts for them, +if they would peaceably permit us to approach. This understood, there +ensued a mighty clamor; insomuch, that I bade Jarl and Samoa out oars, +and row very gently toward the strangers. Whereupon, amid a storm of +vociferations, some of them hurried to the furthest side of their dais; +standing with arms arched over their heads, as if for a dive; others +menacing us with clubs and spears; and one, an old man with a bamboo +trellis on his head forming a sort of arbor for his hair, planted +himself full before the tent, stretching behind him a wide plaited +sling. + +Upon this hostile display, Samoa dropped his oar, and brought his piece +to bear upon the old man, who, by his attitude, seemed to menace us +with the fate of the great braggart of Gath. But I quickly knocked down +the muzzle of his musket, and forbade the slightest token of hostility; +enjoining it upon my companions, nevertheless, to keep well on their +guard. + +We now ceased rowing, and after a few minutes’ uproar in the canoe, +they ran to the steering-paddles, and forcing round their craft before +the wind, rapidly ran away from us. With all haste we set our sail, and +pulling also at our oars, soon overtook them, determined upon coming +into closer communion. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. +Sire And Sons + + +Seeing flight was useless, the Islanders again stopped their canoe, and +once more we cautiously drew nearer; myself crying out to them not to +be fearful; and Samoa, with the odd humor of his race, averring that he +had known every soul of them from his infancy. + +We approached within two or three yards; when we paused, which somewhat +allayed their alarm. Fastening a red China handkerchief to the blade of +our long mid-ship oar, I waved it in the air. A lively clapping of +hands, and many wild exclamations. + +While yet waving the flag, I whispered to Jarl to give the boat a sheer +toward the canoe, which being adroitly done, brought the bow, where I +stood, still nearer to the Islanders. I then dropped the silk among +them; and the Islander, who caught it, at once handed it to the warlike +old man with the sling; who, on seating himself, spread it before him; +while the rest crowding round, glanced rapidly from the wonderful gift, +to the more wonderful donors. + +This old man was the superior of the party. And Samoa asserted, that he +must be a priest of the country to which the Islanders belonged; that +the craft could be no other than one of their sacred canoes, bound on +some priestly voyage. All this he inferred from the altar- like prow, +and there being no women on board. + +Bent upon conciliating the old priest, I dropped into the canoe another +silk handkerchief; while Samoa loudly exclaimed, that we were only +three men, and were peaceably inclined. Meantime, old Aaron, fastening +the two silks crosswise over his shoulders, like a brace of Highland +plaids, crosslegged sat, and eyed us. + +It was a curious sight. The old priest, like a scroll of old parchment, +covered all over with hieroglyphical devices, harder to interpret, I’ll +warrant, than any old Sanscrit manuscript. And upon his broad brow, +deep-graven in wrinkles, were characters still more mysterious, which +no Champollion nor gipsy could have deciphered. He looked old as the +elderly hills; eyes sunken, though bright; and head white as the summit +of Mont Blanc. + +The rest were a youthful and comely set: their complexion that of Gold +Sherry, and all tattooed after this pattern: two broad cross- stripes +on the chest and back; reaching down to the waist, like a +foot-soldier’s harness. Their faces were full of expression; and their +mouths were full of fine teeth; so that the parting of their lips, was +as the opening of pearl oysters. Marked, here and there, after the +style of Tahiti, with little round figures in blue, dotted in the +middle with a spot of vermilion, their brawny brown thighs looked not +unlike the gallant hams of Westphalia, spotted with the red dust of +Cayenne. + +But what a marvelous resemblance in the features of all. Were they born +at one birth? This resemblance was heightened by their uniform marks. +But it was subsequently ascertained, that they were the children of one +sire; and that sire, old Aaron; who, no doubt, reposed upon his sons, +as an old general upon the trophies of his youth. + +They were the children of as many mothers; and he was training them up +for the priesthood. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. +A Fray + + +So bent were the strangers upon concealing who they were, and the +object of their voyage, that it was some time ere we could obtain the +information we desired. + +They pointed toward the tent, as if it contained their Eleusinian +mysteries. And the old priest gave us to know, that it would be +profanation to enter it. + +But all this only roused my curiosity to unravel the wonder. + +At last I succeeded. + +In that mysterious tent was concealed a beautiful maiden. And, in +pursuance of a barbarous custom, by Aleema, the priest, she was being +borne an offering from the island of Amma to the gods of Tedaidee. + +Now, hearing of the maiden, I waited for no more. Need I add, how +stirred was my soul toward this invisible victim; and how hotly I +swore, that precious blood of hers should never smoke upon an altar. If +we drowned for it, I was bent upon rescuing the captive. But as yet, no +gentle signal of distress had been waved to us from the tent. Thence, +no sound could be heard, but an occasional rustle of the matting. Was +it possible, that one about to be immolated could proceed thus +tranquilly to her fate? + +But desperately as I resolved to accomplish the deliverance of the +maiden, it was best to set heedfully about it. I desired no shedding of +blood; though the odds were against us. + +The old priest seemed determined to prevent us from boarding his craft. +But being equally determined the other way, I cautiously laid the bow +of the Chamois against the canoe’s quarter, so as to present the +smallest possible chance for a hostile entrance into our boat. Then, +Samoa, knife in ear, and myself with a cutlass, stepped upon the dais, +leaving Jarl in the boat’s head, equipped with his harpoon; three +loaded muskets lying by his side. He was strictly enjoined to resist +the slightest demonstration toward our craft. + +As we boarded the canoe, the Islanders slowly retreated; meantime +earnestly conferring in whispers; all but the old priest, who, still +seated, presented an undaunted though troubled front. To our surprise, +he motioned us to sit down by him; which we did; taking care, however, +not to cut off our communication with Jarl. + +With the hope of inspiring good will, I now unfolded a roll of printed +cotton, and spreading it before the priest, directed his attention to +the pictorial embellishments thereon, representing some hundreds of +sailor boys simultaneously ascending some hundreds of uniform sections +of a ship’s rigging. Glancing at them a moment, by a significant sign, +he gave me to know, that long previous he himself had ascended the +shrouds of a ship. Making this allusion, his countenance was overcast +with a ferocious expression, as if something terrific was connected +with the reminiscence. But it soon passed away, and somewhat abruptly +he assumed an air of much merriment. + +While we were thus sitting together, and my whole soul full of the +thoughts of the captive, and how best to accomplish my purpose, and +often gazing toward the tent; I all at once noticed a movement among +the strangers. Almost in the same instant, Samoa, right across the face +of Aleema, and in his ordinary tones, bade me take heed to myself, for +mischief was brewing. Hardly was this warning uttered, when, with +carved clubs in their hands, the Islanders completely surrounded us. +Then up rose the old priest, and gave us to know, that we were wholly +in his power, and if we did not swear to depart in our boat forthwith, +and molest him no more, the peril be ours. + +“Depart and you live; stay and you die.” + +Fifteen to three. Madness to gainsay his mandate. Yet a beautiful +maiden was at stake. + +The knife before dangling in Samoa’s ear was now in his hand. Jarl +cried out for us to regain the boat, several of the Islanders making a +rush for it. No time to think. All passed quicker than it can be said. +They closed in upon us, to push us from the canoe: Rudely the old +priest flung me from his side, menacing me with his dagger, the sharp +spine of a fish. A thrust and a threat! Ere I knew it, my cutlass made +a quick lunge. A curse from the priest’s mouth; red blood from his +side; he tottered, stared about him, and fell over like a brown hemlock +into the sea. A yell of maledictions rose on the air. A wild cry was +heard from the tent. Making a dead breach among the crowd, we now +dashed side by side for the boat. Springing into it, we found Jarl +battling with two Islanders; while the rest were still howling upon the +dais. Rage and grief had almost disabled them. + +With one stroke of my cutlass, I now parted the line that held us to +the canoe, and with Samoa falling upon the two Islanders, by Jarl’s +help, we quickly mastered them; forcing them down into the bottom of +the boat. + +The Skyeman and Samoa holding passive the captives, I quickly set our +sail, and snatching the sheet at the cavil, we rapidly shot from the +canoe. The strangers defying us with their spears; several couching +them as if to dart; while others held back their hands, as if to +prevent them from jeopardizing the lives of their countrymen in the +Chamois. + +Seemingly untoward events oftentimes lead to successful results: Far +from destroying all chance of rescuing the captive, our temporary +flight, indispensable for the safety of Jarl, only made the success of +our enterprise more probable. For having made prisoners two of the +strangers, I determined to retain them as hostages, through whom to +effect my plans without further bloodshed. + +And here it must needs be related, that some of the natives were +wounded in the fray: while all three of their assailants had received +several bruises. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. +Remorse + + +During the skirmish not a single musket had been discharged. The first +snatched by Jarl had missed fire, and ere he could seize another, it +was close quarters with him, and no gestures to spare. His harpoon was +his all. And truly, there is nothing like steel in a fray. It comes and +it goes with a will, and is never a-weary. Your sword is your life, and +that of your foe; to keep or to take as it happens. Closer home does it +go than a rammer; and fighting with steel is a play without ever an +interlude. There are points more deadly than bullets; and stocks packed +full of subtle tubes, whence comes an impulse more reliable than +powder. + +Binding our prisoners lengthwise across the boat’s seats, we rowed for +the canoe, making signs of amity. + +Now, if there be any thing fitted to make a high tide ebb in the veins, +it is the sight of a vanquished foe, inferior to yourself in powers of +destruction; but whom some necessity has forced you to subdue. All +victories are not triumphs, nor all who conquer, heroes. + +As we drew near the canoe, it was plain, that the loss of their sire +had again for the instant overcome the survivors. Raising hands, they +cursed us; and at intervals sent forth a low, piercing wail, peculiar +to their race. As before, faint cries were heard from the tent. And all +the while rose and fell on the sea, the ill-fated canoe. + +As I gazed at this sight, what iron mace fell on my soul; what curse +rang sharp in my ear! It was I, who was the author of the deed that +caused the shrill wails that I heard. By this hand, the dead man had +died. Remorse smote me hard; and like lightning I asked myself, whether +the death-deed I had done was sprung of a virtuous motive, the rescuing +a captive from thrall; or whether beneath that pretense, I had engaged +in this fatal affray for some other, and selfish purpose; the +companionship of a beautiful maid. But throttling the thought, I swore +to be gay. Am I not rescuing the maiden? Let them go down who withstand +me. + +At the dismal spectacle before him, Jarl, hitherto menacing our +prisoners with his weapon, in order to intimidate their countrymen, +honest Jarl dropped his harpoon. But shaking his knife in the air, +Samoa yet defied the strangers; nor could we prevent him. His +heathenish blood was up. + +Standing foremost in the boat, I now assured the strangers, that all we +sought at their hands was the maiden in the tent. That captive +surrendered, our own, unharmed, should be restored. If not, they must +die. With a cry, they started to their feet, and brandished their +clubs; but, seeing Jarl’s harpoon quivering over the hearts of our +prisoners, they quickly retreated; at last signifying their +acquiescence in my demand. Upon this, I sprang to the dais, and across +it indicating a line near the bow, signed the Islanders to retire +beyond it. Then, calling upon them one by one to deliver their weapons, +they were passed into the boat. + +The Chamois was now brought round to the canoe’s stern; and leaving +Jarl to defend it as before, the Upoluan rejoined me on the dais. By +these precautions—the hostages still remaining bound hand and foot in +the boat—we deemed ourselves entirely secure. + +Attended by Samoa, I stood before the tent, now still as the grave. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. +The Tent Entered + + +By means of thin spaces between the braids of matting, the place was +open to the air, but not to view. There was also a round opening on one +side, only large enough, however, to admit the arm; but this aperture +was partially closed from within. In front, a deep-dyed rug of osiers, +covering the entrance way, was intricately laced to the standing part +of the tent. As I divided this lacing with my cutlass, there arose an +outburst of voices from the Islanders. And they covered their faces, as +the interior was revealed to my gaze. + +Before me crouched a beautiful girl. Her hands were drooping. And, like +a saint from a shrine, she looked sadly out from her long, fair hair. A +low wail issued from her lips, and she trembled like a sound. There +were tears on her cheek, and a rose-colored pearl on her bosom. + +Did I dream?—A snow-white skin: blue, firmament eyes: Golconda locks. +For an instant spell-bound I stood; while with a slow, apprehensive +movement, and still gazing fixedly, the captive gathered more closely +about her a gauze-like robe. Taking one step within, and partially +dropping the curtain of the tent, I so stood, as to have both sight and +speech of Samoa, who tarried without; while the maiden, crouching in +the farther corner of the retreat, was wholly screened from all eyes +but mine. + +Crossing my hands before me, I now stood without speaking. For the soul +of me, I could not link this mysterious creature with the tawny +strangers. She seemed of another race. So powerful was this impression, +that unconsciously, I addressed her in my own tongue. She started, and +bending over, listened intently, as if to the first faint echo of +something dimly remembered. Again I spoke, when throwing back her hair, +the maiden looked up with a piercing, bewildered gaze. But her eyes +soon fell, and bending over once more, she resumed her former attitude. +At length she slowly chanted to herself several musical words, unlike +those of the Islanders; but though I knew not what they meant, they +vaguely seemed familiar. + +Impatient to learn her story, I now questioned her in Polynesian. But +with much earnestness, she signed me to address her as before. Soon +perceiving, however, that without comprehending the meaning of the +words I employed, she seemed merely touched by something pleasing in +their sound, I once more addressed her in Polynesian; saying that I was +all eagerness to hear her history. + +After much hesitation she complied; starting with alarm at every sound +from without; yet all the while deeply regarding me. + +Broken as these disclosures were at the time, they are here presented +in the form in which they were afterward more fully narrated. + +So unearthly was the story, that at first I little comprehended it; and +was almost persuaded that the luckless maiden was some beautiful +maniac. + +She declared herself more than mortal, a maiden from Oroolia, the +Island of Delights, somewhere in the paradisiacal archipelago of the +Polynesians. To this isle, while yet an infant, by some mystical power, +she had been spirited from Amma, the place of her nativity. Her name +was Yillah. And hardly had the waters of Oroolia washed white her olive +skin, and tinged her hair with gold, when one day strolling in the +woodlands, she was snared in the tendrils of a vine. Drawing her into +its bowers, it gently transformed her into one of its blossoms, leaving +her conscious soul folded up in the transparent petals. + +Here hung Yillah in a trance, the world without all tinged with the +rosy hue of her prison. At length when her spirit was about to burst +forth in the opening flower, the blossom was snapped from its stem; and +borne by a soft wind to the sea; where it fell into the opening valve +of a shell; which in good time was cast upon the beach of the Island of +Amma. + +In a dream, these events were revealed to Aleema the priest; who by a +spell unlocking its pearly casket, took forth the bud, which now showed +signs of opening in the reviving air, and bore faint shadowy +revealings, as of the dawn behind crimson clouds. Suddenly expanding, +the blossom exhaled away in perfumes; floating a rosy mist in the air. +Condensing at last, there emerged from this mist the same radiant young +Yillah as before; her locks all moist, and a rose- colored pearl on her +bosom. Enshrined as a goddess, the wonderful child now tarried in the +sacred temple of Apo, buried in a dell; never beheld of mortal eyes +save Aleema’s. + +Moon after moon passed away, and at last, only four days gone by, +Aleema came to her with a dream; that the spirits in Oroolia had +recalled her home by the way of Tedaidee, on whose coast gurgled up in +the sea an enchanted spring; which streaming over upon the brine, +flowed on between blue watery banks; and, plunging into a vortex, went +round and round, descending into depths unknown. Into this whirlpool +Yillah was to descend in a canoe, at last to well up in an inland +fountain of Oroolia. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. +Away! + + +Though clothed in language of my own, the maiden’s story is in +substance the same as she related. Yet were not these things narrated +as past events; she merely recounted them as impressions of her +childhood, and of her destiny yet unaccomplished. And mystical as the +tale most assuredly was, my knowledge of the strange arts of the island +priesthood, and the rapt fancies indulged in by many of their victims, +deprived it in good part of the effect it otherwise would have +produced. + +For ulterior purposes connected with their sacerdotal supremacy, the +priests of these climes oftentimes secrete mere infants in their +temples; and jealously secluding them from all intercourse with the +world, craftily delude them, as they grow up, into the wildest +conceits. + +Thus wrought upon, their pupils almost lose their humanity in the +constant indulgence of seraphic imaginings. In many cases becoming +inspired as oracles; and as such, they are sometimes resorted to by +devotees; always screened from view, however, in the recesses of the +temples. But in every instance, their end is certain. Beguiled with +some fairy tale about revisiting the islands of Paradise, they are led +to the secret sacrifice, and perish unknown to their kindred. + +But, would that all this had been hidden from me at the time. For +Yillah was lovely enough to be really divine; and so I might have been +tranced into a belief of her mystical legends. + +But with what passionate exultation did I find myself the deliverer of +this beautiful maiden; who, thinking no harm, and rapt in a dream, was +being borne to her fate on the coast of Tedaidee. Nor now, for a +moment, did the death of Aleema her guardian seem to hang heavy upon my +heart. I rejoiced that I had sent him to his gods; that in place of the +sea moss growing over sweet Yillah drowned in the sea, the vile priest +himself had sunk to the bottom. + +But though he had sunk in the deep, his ghost sunk not in the deep +waters of my soul. However in exultations its surface foamed up, at +bottom guilt brooded. Sifted out, my motives to this enterprise +justified not the mad deed, which, in a moment of rage, I had done: +though, those motives had been covered with a gracious pretense; +concealing myself from myself. But I beat down the thought. + +In relating her story, the maiden frequently interrupted it with +questions concerning myself:—Whence I came: being white, from Oroolia? +Whither I was going: to Amma? And what had happened to Aleema? For she +had been dismayed at the fray, though knowing not what it could mean; +and she had heard the priest’s name called upon in lamentations. These +questions for the time I endeavored to evade; only inducing her to +fancy me some gentle demigod, that had come over the sea from her own +fabulous Oroolia. And all this she must verily have believed. For whom, +like me, ere this could she have beheld? Still fixed she her eyes upon +me strangely, and hung upon the accents of my voice. + +While this scene was passing, the strangers began to show signs of +impatience, and a voice from the Chamois repeatedly hailed us to +accelerate our movements. + +My course was quickly decided. The only obstacle to be encountered was +the possibility of Yillah’s alarm at being suddenly borne into my prow. +For this event I now sought to prepare her. I informed the damsel that +Aleema had been dispatched on a long errand to Oroolia; leaving to my +care, for the present, the guardianship of the lovely Yillah; and that +therefore, it was necessary to carry her tent into my own canoe, then +waiting to receive it. + +This intelligence she received with the utmost concern; and not knowing +to what her perplexity might lead, I thought fit to transport her into +the Chamois, while yet overwhelmed by the announcement of my intention. + +Quitting her retreat, I apprised Jarl of my design; and then, no more +delay! + +At bottom, the tent was attached to a light framework of bamboos; and +from its upper corners, four cords, like those of a marquee, confined +it to the dais. These, Samoa’s knife soon parted; when lifting the +light tent, we speedily transferred it to the Chamois; a wild yell +going up from the Islanders, which drowned the faint cries of the +maiden. But we heeded not the din. Toss in the fruit, hanging from the +altar-prow! It was done; and then running up our sail, we glided +away;—Chamois, tent, hostages, and all. Rushing to the now vacant stern +of their canoe, the Islanders once more lifted up their hands and their +voices in curses. + +A suitable distance gained, we paused to fling overboard the arms we +had taken; and Jarl proceeded to liberate the hostages. + +Meanwhile, I entered the tent, and by many tokens, sought to allay the +maiden’s alarm. Thus engaged, violent plunges were heard: our prisoners +taking to the sea to regain their canoe. All dripping, they were +received by their brethren with wild caresses. + +From something now said by the captives, the rest seemed suddenly +inspirited with hopes of revenge; again wildly shaking their spears, +just before picked up from the sea. With great clamor and confusion +they soon set their mat-sail; and instead of sailing southward for +Tedaidee, or northward for Amma their home, they steered straight after +us, in our wake. + +Foremost in the prow stood three; javelins poised for a dart; at +intervals, raising a yell. + +Did they mean to pursue me? Full in my rear they came on, baying like +hounds on their game. Yillah trembled at their cries. My own heart beat +hard with undefinable dread. The corpse of Aleema seemed floating +before: its avengers were raging behind. + +But soon these phantoms departed. For very soon it appeared that in +vain the pagans pursued. Their craft, our fleet Chamois outleaped. And +farther and farther astern dropped the evil-boding canoe, till at last +but a speck; when a great swell of the sea surged up before it, and it +was seen no more. Samoa swore that it must have swamped, and gone down. +But however it was, my heart lightened apace. I saw none but ourselves +on the sea: I remembered that our keel left no track as it sailed. + +Let the Oregon Indian through brush, bramble, and brier, hunt his +enemy’s trail, far over the mountains and down in the vales; comes he +to the water, he snuffs idly in air. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. +Reminiscences + + +In resecuing the gentle Yillah from the hands of the Islanders, a +design seemed accomplished. But what was now to be done? Here, in our +adventurous Chamois, was a damsel more lovely than the flushes of +morning; and for companions, whom had she but me and my comrades? +Besides, her bosom still throbbed with alarms, her fancies all roving +through mazes. + +How subdue these dangerous imaginings? How gently dispel them? + +But one way there was: to lead her thoughts toward me, as her friend +and preserver; and a better and wiser than Aleema the priest. Yet could +not this be effected but by still maintaining my assumption of a divine +origin in the blessed isle of Oroolia; and thus fostering in her heart +the mysterious interest, with which from the first she had regarded me. +But if punctilious reserve on the part of her deliverer should teach +her to regard him as some frigid stranger from the Arctic Zone, what +sympathy could she have for him? and hence, what peace of mind, having +no one else to cling to? + +Now re-entering the tent, she again inquired where tarried Aleema. + +“Think not of him, sweet Yillah,” I cried. “Look on me. Am I not white +like yourself? Behold, though since quitting Oroolia the sun has dyed +my cheek, am I not even as you? Am I brown like the dusky Aleema? They +snatched you away from your isle in the sea, too early for you to +remember me there. But you have not been forgotten by me, sweetest +Yillah. Ha! ha! shook we not the palm-trees together, and chased we not +the rolling nuts down the glen? Did we not dive into the grotto on the +sea-shore, and come up together in the cool cavern in the hill? In my +home in Oroolia, dear Yillah, I have a lock of your hair, ere yet it +was golden: a little dark tress like a ring. How your cheeks were then +changing from olive to white. And when shall I forget the hour, that I +came upon you sleeping among the flowers, with roses and lilies for +cheeks. Still forgetful? Know you not my voice? Those little spirits in +your eyes have seen me before. They mimic me now as they sport in their +lakes. All the past a dim blank? Think of the time when we ran up and +down in our arbor, where the green vines grew over the great ribs of +the stranded whale. Oh Yillah, little Yillah, has it all come to this? +am I forever forgotten? Yet over the wide watery world have I sought +thee: from isle to isle, from sea to sea. And now we part not. Aleema +is gone. My prow shall keep kissing the waves, till it kisses the beach +at Oroolia. Yillah, look up.” + +Sunk the ghost of Aleema: Sweet Yillah was mine! + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. +The Chamois With A Roving Commission + + +Through the assiduity of my Viking, ere nightfall our Chamois was again +in good order. And with many subtle and seamanlike splices the light +tent was lashed in its place; the sail taken up by a reef. + +My comrades now questioned me, as to my purposes; whether they had been +modified by the events of the day. I replied that our destination was +still the islands to the westward. + +But from these we had steadily been drifting all the morning long; so +that now no loom of the land was visible. But our prow was kept +pointing as before. + +As evening came on, my comrades fell fast asleep, leaving me at the +helm. + +How soft and how dreamy the light of the hour. The rays of the sun, +setting behind golden-barred clouds, came to me like the gleaming of a +shaded light behind a lattice. And the low breeze, pervaded with the +peculiar balm of the mid-Pacific near land, was fragrant as the breath +of a bride. + +Such was the scene; so still and witching that the hand of Yillah in +mine seemed no hand, but a touch. Visions flitted before me and in me; +something hummed in my ear; all the air was a lay. + +And now entered a thought into my heart. I reflected how serenely we +might thus glide along, far removed from all care and anxiety. And +then, what different scenes might await us upon any of the shores +roundabout. But there seemed no danger in the balmy sea; the assured +vicinity of land imparting a sense of security. We had ample supplies +for several days more, and thanks to the Pagan canoe, an abundance of +fruit. + +Besides, what cared I now for the green groves and bright shore? Was +not Yillah my shore and my grove? my meadow, my mead, my soft shady +vine, and my arbor? Of all things desirable and delightful, the full- +plumed sheaf, and my own right arm the band? Enough: no shore for me +yet. One sweep of the helm, and our light prow headed round toward the +vague land of song, sun, and vine: the fabled South. + +As we glided along, strange Yillah gazed down in the sea, and would +fain have had me plunge into it with her, to rove through its depths. +But I started dismayed; in fancy, I saw the stark body of the priest +drifting by. Again that phantom obtruded; again guilt laid his red hand +on my soul. But I laughed. Was not Yillah my own? by my arm rescued +from ill? To do her a good, I had periled myself. So down, down, +Aleema. + +When next morning, starting from slumber, my comrades beheld the sun on +our beam, instead of astern as before at that hour, they eagerly +inquired, “Whither now?” But very briefly I gave them to know, that +after devoting the night to the due consideration of a matter so +important, I had determined upon voyaging for the island Tedaidee, in +place of the land to the westward. + +At this, they were not displeased. But to tell the plain truth, I +harbored some shadowy purpose of merely hovering about for a while, +till I felt more landwardly inclined. + +But had I not declared to Yillah, that our destination was the fairy +isle she spoke of, even Oroolia? Yet that shore was so exceedingly +remote, and the folly of endeavoring to reach it in a craft built with +hands, so very apparent, that what wonder I really nourished no thought +of it? + +So away floated the Chamois, like a vagrant cloud in the heavens: +bound, no one knew whither. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. +Yillah, Jarl, And Samoa + + +But time to tell, how Samoa and Jarl regarded this mystical Yillah; and +how Yillah regarded them. + +As Beauty from the Beast, so at first shrank the damsel from my one- +armed companion. But seeing my confidence in the savage, a reaction +soon followed. And in accordance with that curious law, by which, under +certain conditions, the ugliest mortals become only amiably hideous, +Yillah at length came to look upon Samoa as a sort of harmless and +good-natured goblin. Whence came he, she cared not; or what was his +history; or in what manner his fortunes were united to mine. + +May be, she held him a being of spontaneous origin. + +Now, as every where women are the tamers of the menageries of men; so +Yillah in good time tamed down Samoa to the relinquishment of that +horrible thing in his ear, and persuaded him to substitute a vacancy +for the bauble in his nose. On his part, however, all this was +conditional. He stipulated for the privilege of restoring both trinkets +upon suitable occasions. + +But if thus gayly the damsel sported with Samoa; how different his +emotions toward her? The fate to which she had been destined, and every +nameless thing about her, appealed to all his native superstitions, +which ascribed to beings of her complexion a more than terrestrial +origin. When permitted to approach her, he looked timid and awkwardly +strange; suggesting the likeness of some clumsy satyr, drawing in his +horns; slowly wagging his tail; crouching abashed before some radiant +spirit. + +And this reverence of his was most pleasing to me, Bravo! thought I; be +a pagan forever. No more than myself; for, after a different fashion, +Yillah was an idol to both. + +But what of my Viking? Why, of good Jarl I grieve to say, that the +old-fashioned interest he took in my affairs led him to look upon +Yillah as a sort of intruder, an Ammonite syren, who might lead me +astray. This would now and then provoke a phillipic; but he would only +turn toward my resentment his devotion; and then I was silent. + +Unsophisticated as a wild flower in the germ, Yillah seemed incapable +of perceiving the contrasted lights in which she was regarded by our +companions. And like a true beauty seemed to cherish the presumption, +that it was quite impossible for such a person as hers to prove +otherwise than irresistible to all. + +She betrayed much surprise at my Vikings appearance. But most of all +was she struck by a characteristic device upon the arm of the wonderful +mariner—our Saviour on the cross, in blue; with the crown of thorns, +and three drops of blood in vermilion, falling one by one from each +hand and foot. + +Now, honest Jarl did vastly pride himself upon this ornament. It was +the only piece of vanity about him. And like a lady keeping gloveless +her hand to show off a fine Turquoise ring, he invariably wore that +sleeve of his frock rolled up, the better to display the embellishment. + +And round and round would Yillah turn Jarl’s arm, till Jarl was fain to +stand firm, for fear of revolving all over. How such untutored homage +would have thrilled the heart of the ingenious artist! + +Eventually, through the Upoluan, she made overtures to the Skyeman, +concerning the possession of his picture in her own proper right. In +her very simplicity, little heeding, that like a landscape in fresco, +it could not be removed. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. +Something Under The Surface + + +Not to omit an occurrence of considerable interest, we must needs here +present some account of a curious retinue of fish which overtook our +Chamois, a day or two after parting with the canoe. + +A violent creaming and frothing in our rear announced their approach. +Soon we found ourselves the nucleus of an incredible multitude of finny +creatures, mostly anonymous. + +First, far in advance of our prow, swam the helmeted Silver-heads; side +by side, in uniform ranks, like an army. Then came the Boneetas, with +their flashing blue flanks. Then, like a third distinct regiment, +wormed and twisted through the water like Archimedean screws, the +quivering Wriggle-tails; followed in turn by the rank and file of the +Trigger-fish—so called from their quaint dorsal fins being set in their +backs with a comical curve, as if at half-cock. Far astern the rear was +brought up by endless battalions of Yellow- backs, right martially +vested in buff. + +And slow sailing overhead were flights of birds; a wing in the air for +every fin in the sea. + +But let the sea-fowls fly on: turn we to the fish. + +Their numbers were amazing; countless as the tears shed for perfidious +lovers. Far abroad on both flanks, they swam in long lines, tier above +tier; the water alive with their hosts. Locusts of the sea, +peradventure, going to fall with a blight upon some green, mossy +province of Neptune. And tame and fearless they were, as the first fish +that swam in Euphrates; hardly evading the hand; insomuch that Samoa +caught many without lure or line. + +They formed a decorous escort; paddling along by our barnacled sides, +as if they had been with us from the very beginning; neither scared by +our craft’s surging in the water; nor in the least sympathetic at +losing a comrade by the hand of Samoa. They closed in their ranks and +swam on. + +How innocent, yet heartless they looked! Had a plank dropped out of our +boat, we had sunk to the bottom; and belike, our cheerful retinue would +have paid the last rites to our remains. + +But still we kept company; as sociably as you please; Samoa helping +himself when he listed, and Yillah clapping her hands as the radiant +creatures, by a simultaneous turning round on their silvery bellies, +caused the whole sea to glow like a burnished shield. + +But what has befallen this poor little Boneeta astern, that he swims so +toilingly on, with gills showing purple? What has he there, towing +behind? It is tangled sea-kelp clinging to its fins. But the clogged +thing strains to keep up with its fellows. Yet little they heed. Away +they go; every fish for itself, and any fish for Samoa. + +At last the poor Boneeta is seen no more. The myriad fins swim on; a +lonely waste, where the lost one drops behind. + +Strange fish! All the live-long day, they were there by our side; and +at night still tarried and shone; more crystal and scaly in the pale +moonbeams, than in the golden glare of the sun. + +How prettily they swim; all silver life; darting hither and thither +between their long ranks, and touching their noses, and scraping +acquaintance. No mourning they wear for the Boneeta left far astern; +nor for those so cruelly killed by Samoa. No, no; all is glee, fishy +glee, and frolicking fun; light hearts and light fins; gay backs and +gay spirits.—Swim away, swim away! my merry fins all. Let us roam the +flood; let us follow this monster fish with the barnacled sides; this +strange-looking fish, so high out of water; that goes without fins. +What fish can it be? What rippling is that? Dost hear the great monster +breathe? Why, ’tis sharp at both ends; a tail either way; nor eyes has +it any, nor mouth. What a curious fish! what a comical fish! But more +comical far, those creatures above, on its hollow back, clinging +thereto like the snaky eels, that cling and slide on the back of the +Sword fish, our terrible foe. But what curious eels these are! Do they +deem themselves pretty as we? No, no; for sure, they behold our limber +fins, our speckled and beautiful scales. Poor, powerless things! How +they must wish they were we, that roam the flood, and scour the seas +with a wish. Swim away; merry fins, swim away! Let him drop, that +fellow that halts; make a lane; close in, and fill up. Let him drown, +if he can not keep pace. No laggards for us:— + +We fish, we fish, we merrily swim, +We care not for friend nor for foe: + Our fins are stout, + Our tails are out, +As through the seas we go. + +Fish, Fish, we are fish with red gills; + Naught disturbs us, our blood is at zero: +We are buoyant because of our bags, + Being many, each fish is a hero. +We care not what is it, this life + That we follow, this phantom unknown: +To swim, it’s exceedingly pleasant,— + So swim away, making a foam. +This strange looking thing by our side, + Not for safety, around it we flee:— +Its shadow’s so shady, that’s all,— + We only swim under its lee. +And as for the eels there above, + And as for the fowls in the air, +We care not for them nor their ways, + As we cheerily glide afar! + +We fish, we fish, we merrily swim, +We care not for friend nor for foe: + Our fins are stout, + Our tails are out, +As through the seas we go. + + +But how now, my fine fish! what alarms your long ranks, and tosses them +all into a hubbub of scales and of foam? Never mind that long knave +with the spear there, astern. Pipe away, merry fish, and give us a +stave or two more, keeping time with your doggerel tails. But no, no! +their singing was over. Grim death, in the shape of a Chevalier, was +after them. + +How they changed their boastful tune! How they hugged the vilified +boat! How they wished they were in it, the braggarts! And how they all +tingled with fear! + +For, now here, now there, is heard a terrific rushing sound under +water, betokening the onslaught of the dread fish of prey, that with +spear ever in rest, charges in upon the out-skirts of the shoal, +transfixing the fish on his weapon. Re-treating and shaking them off, +the Chevalier devours them; then returns to the charge. + +Hugging the boat to desperation, the poor fish fairly crowded +themselves up to the surface, and floundered upon each other, as men +are lifted off their feet in a mob. They clung to us thus, out of a +fancied security in our presence. Knowing this, we felt no little alarm +for ourselves, dreading lest the Chevalier might despise our boat, full +as much as his prey; and in pursuing the fish, run through the poor +Chamois with a lunge. A jacket, rolled up, was kept in readiness to be +thrust into the first opening made; while as the thousand fins audibly +patted against our slender planks, we felt nervously enough; as if +treading upon thin, crackling ice. + +At length, to our no small delight, the enemy swam away; and again by +our side merrily paddled our escort; ten times merrier than ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. +Yillah + + +While for a few days, now this way, now that, as our craft glides +along, surrounded by these locusts of the deep, let the story of Yillah +flow on. + +Of her beauty say I nothing. It was that of a crystal lake in a +fathomless wood: all light and shade; full of fleeting revealings; now +shadowed in depths; now sunny in dimples; but all sparkling and +shifting, and blending together. + +But her wild beauty was a vail to things still more strange. As often +she gazed so earnestly into my eyes, like some pure spirit looking far +down into my soul, and seeing therein some upturned faces, I started in +amaze, and asked what spell was on me, that thus she gazed. + +Often she entreated me to repeat over and over again certain syllables +of my language. These she would chant to herself, pausing now and then, +as if striving to discover wherein lay their charm. + +In her accent, there was something very different from that of the +people of the canoe. Wherein lay the difference. I knew not; but it +enabled her to pronounce with readiness all the words which I taught +her; even as if recalling sounds long forgotten. + +If all this filled me with wonder, how much was that wonder increased, +and yet baffled again, by considering her complexion, and the cast of +her features. + +After endeavoring in various ways to account for these things, I was +led to imagine, that the damsel must be an Albino (Tulla) occasionally +to be met with among the people of the Pacific. These persons are of an +exceedingly delicate white skin, tinted with a faint rose hue, like the +lips of a shell. Their hair is golden. But, unlike the Albinos of other +climes, their eyes are invariably blue, and no way intolerant of light. + +As a race, the Tullas die early. And hence the belief, that they +pertain to some distant sphere, and only through irregularities in the +providence of the gods, come to make their appearance upon earth: +whence, the oversight discovered, they are hastily snatched. And it is +chiefly on this account, that in those islands where human sacrifices +are offered, the Tullas are deemed the most suitable oblations for the +altar, to which from their birth many are prospectively devoted. It was +these considerations, united to others, which at times induced me to +fancy, that by the priest, Yillah was regarded as one of these beings. +So mystical, however, her revelations concerning her past history, that +often I knew not what to divine. But plainly they showed that she had +not the remotest conception of her real origin. + +But these conceits of a state of being anterior to an earthly existence +may have originated in one of those celestial visions seen +transparently stealing over the face of a slumbering child. And +craftily drawn forth and re-echoed by another, and at times repeated +over to her with many additions, these imaginings must at length have +assumed in her mind a hue of reality, heightened into conviction by the +dreamy seclusion of her life. + +But now, let her subsequent and more credible history be related, as +from time to time she rehearsed it. + + + + +CHAPTER L. +Yillah In Ardair + + +In the verdant glen of Ardair, far in the silent interior of Amma, shut +in by hoar old cliffs, Yillah the maiden abode. + +So small and so deep was this glen, so surrounded on all sides by steep +acclivities, and so vividly green its verdure, and deceptive the +shadows that played there; that, from above, it seemed more like a lake +of cool, balmy air, than a glen: its woodlands and grasses gleaming +shadowy all, like sea groves and mosses beneath the calm sea. + +Here, none came but Aleema the priest, who at times was absent for days +together. But at certain seasons, an unseen multitude with loud chants +stood upon the verge of the neighboring precipices, and traversing +those shaded wilds, slowly retreated; their voices lessening and +lessening, as they wended their way through the more distant groves. + +At other times, Yillah being immured in the temple of Apo, a band of +men entering the vale, surrounded her retreat, dancing there till +evening came. Meanwhile, heaps of fruit, garlands of flowers, and +baskets of fish, were laid upon an altar without, where stood Aleema, +arrayed in white tappa, and muttering to himself, as the offerings were +laid at his feet. + +When Aleema was gone, Yillah went forth into the glen, and wandered +among the trees, and reposed by the banks of the stream. And ever as +she strolled, looked down upon her the grim old cliffs, bearded with +trailing moss. + +Toward the lower end of the vale, its lofty walls advancing and +overhanging their base, almost met in mid air. And a great rock, hurled +from an adjacent height, and falling into the space intercepted, there +remained fixed. Aerial trees shot up from its surface; birds nested in +its clefts; and strange vines roved abroad, overrunning the tops of the +trees, lying thereon in coils and undulations, like anacondas basking +in the light. Beneath this rock, was a lofty wall of ponderous stones. +Between its crevices, peeps were had of a long and leafy arcade, +quivering far away to where the sea rolled in the sun. Lower down, +these crevices gave an outlet to the waters of the brook, which, in a +long cascade, poured over sloping green ledges near the foot of the +wall, into a deep shady pool; whose rocky sides, by the perpetual +eddying of the water, had been worn into a grotesque resemblance to a +group of giants, with heads submerged, indolently reclining about the +basin. + +In this pool, Yillah would bathe. And once, emerging, she heard the +echoes of a voice, and called aloud. But the only reply, was the +rustling of branches, as some one, invisible, fled down the valley +beyond. Soon after, a stone rolled inward, and Aleema the priest stood +before her; saying that the voice she had heard was his. But it was +not. + +At last the weary days grew, longer and longer, and the maiden pined +for companionship. When the breeze blew not, but slept in the caves of +the mountains, and all the leaves of the trees stood motionless as +tears in the eye, Yillah would sadden, and call upon the spirits in her +soul to awaken. She sang low airs, she thought she had heard in +Oroolia; but started affrighted, as from dingles and dells, came back +to her strains more wild than hers. And ever, when sad, Aleema would +seek to cheer her soul, by calling to mind the bright scenes of Oroolia +the Blest, to which place, he averred, she was shortly to return, never +more to depart. + +Now, at the head of the vale of Ardair, rose a tall, dark peak, +presenting at the top the grim profile of a human face; whose shadow, +every afternoon, crept down the verdant side of the mountain: a silent +phantom, stealing all over the bosom of the glen. + +At times, when the phantom drew near, Aleema would take Yillah forth, +and waiting its approach, lay her down by the shadow, disposing her +arms in a caress; saying, “Oh, Apo! dost accept thy bride?” And at +last, when it crept beyond the place where he stood, and buried the +whole valley in gloom; Aleema would say, “Arise Yillah; Apo hath +stretched himself to sleep in Ardair. Go, slumber where thou wilt; for +thou wilt slumber in his arms.” + +And so, every night, slept the maiden in the arms of grim Apo. + +One day when Yillah had come to love the wild shadow, as something that +every day moved before her eyes, where all was so deathfully still; she +went forth alone to watch it, as softly it slid down from the peak. Of +a sudden, when its face was just edging a chasm, that made it to look +as if parting its lips, she heard a loud voice, and thought it was Apo +calling “Yillah! Yillah!” But now it seemed like the voice she had +heard while bathing in the pool. Glancing upward, she beheld a +beautiful open-armed youth, gazing down upon her from an inaccessible +crag. But presently, there was a rustling in the groves behind, and +swift as thought, something darted through the air. The youth bounded +forward. Yillah opened her arms to receive him; but he fell upon the +cliff, and was seen no more. As alarmed, and in tears, she fled from +the scene, some one out of sight ran before her through the wood. + +Upon recounting this adventure to Aleema, he said, that the being she +had seen, must have been a bad spirit come to molest her; and that Apo +had slain him. + +The sight of this youth, filled Yillah with wild yearnings to escape +from her lonely retreat; for a glimpse of some one beside the priest +and the phantom, suggested vague thoughts of worlds of fair beings, in +regions beyond Ardair. But Aleema sought to put away these conceits; +saying, that ere long she would be journeying to Oroolia, there to +rejoin the spirits she dimly remembered. + +Soon after, he came to her with a shell—one of those ever moaning of +ocean—and placing it to her ear, bade her list to the being within, +which in that little shell had voyaged from Oroolia to bear her company +in Amma. + +Now, the maiden oft held it to her ear, and closing her eyes, listened +and listened to its soft inner breathings, till visions were born of +the sound, and her soul lay for hours in a trance of delight. + +And again the priest came, and brought her a milk-white bird, with a +bill jet-black, and eyes like stars. “In this, lurks the soul of a +maiden; it hath flown from Oroolia to greet you.” The soft stranger +willingly nestled in her bosom; turning its bright eyes upon hers, and +softly warbling. + +Many days passed; and Yillah, the bird, and the shell were inseparable. +The bird grew familiar; pecked seeds from her mouth; perched upon her +shoulder, and sang in her ear; and at night, folded its wings in her +bosom, and, like a sea-fowl, went softly to sleep: rising and falling +upon the maiden’s heart. And every morning it flew from its nest, and +fluttered and chirped; and sailed to and fro; and blithely sang; and +brushed Yillah’s cheek till she woke. Then came to her hand: and +Yillah, looking earnestly in its eyes, saw strange faces there; and +said to herself as she gazed—“These are two souls, not one.” + +But at last, going forth into the groves with the bird, it suddenly +flew from her side, and perched in a bough; and throwing back its white +downy throat, there gushed from its bill a clear warbling jet, like a +little fountain in air. Now the song ceased; when up and away toward +the head of the vale, flew the bird. “Lil! Lil! come back, leave me +not, blest souls of the maidens.” But on flew the bird, far up a +defile, winging its way till a speck. + +It was shortly after this, and upon the evening of a day which had been +tumultuous with sounds of warfare beyond the lower wall of the glen; +that Aleema came to Yillah in alarm; saying—“Yillah, the time has come +to follow thy bird; come, return to thy home in Oroolia.” And he told +her the way she would voyage there: by the vortex on the coast of +Tedaidee. That night, being veiled and placed in the tent, the maiden +was borne to the sea-side, where the canoe was in waiting. And setting +sail quickly, by next morning the island of Amma was no longer in +sight. + +And this was the voyage, whose sequel has already been recounted. + + + + +CHAPTER LI. +The Dream Begins To Fade + + +Stripped of the strange associations, with which a mind like Yillah’s +must have invested every incident of her life, the story of her abode +in Ardair seemed not incredible. + +But so etherealized had she become from the wild conceits she +nourished, that she verily believed herself a being of the lands of +dreams. Her fabulous past was her present. + +Yet as our intimacy grew closer and closer, these fancies seemed to be +losing their hold. And often she questioned me concerning my own +reminiscences of her shadowy isle. And cautiously I sought to produce +the impression, that whatever I had said of that clime, had been +revealed to me in dreams; but that in these dreams, her own lineaments +had smiled upon me; and hence the impulse which had sent me roving +after the substance of this spiritual image. + +And true it was to say so; and right it was to swear it, upon her white +arms crossed. For oh, Yillah; were you not the earthly semblance of +that sweet vision, that haunted my earliest thoughts? + +At first she had wildly believed, that the nameless affinities between +us, were owing to our having in times gone by dwelt together in the +same ethereal region. But thoughts like these were fast dying out. Yet +not without many strange scrutinies. More intently than ever she gazed +into my eyes; rested her ear against my heart, and listened to its +beatings. And love, which in the eye of its object ever seeks to invest +itself with some rare superiority, love, sometimes induced me to prop +my failing divinity; though it was I myself who had undermined it. + +But if it was with many regrets, that in the sight of Yillah, I +perceived myself thus dwarfing down to a mortal; it was with quite +contrary emotions, that I contemplated the extinguishment in her heart +of the notion of her own spirituality. For as such thoughts were chased +away, she clung the more closely to me, as unto one without whom she +would be desolate indeed. + +And now, at intervals, she was sad, and often gazed long and fixedly +into the sea. Nor would she say why it was, that she did so; until at +length she yielded; and replied, that whatever false things Aleema +might have instilled into her mind; of this much she was certain: that +the whirlpool on the coast of Tedaidee prefigured her fate; that in the +waters she saw lustrous eyes, and beckoning phantoms, and strange +shapes smoothing her a couch among the mosses. + +Her dreams seemed mine. Many visions I had of the green corse of the +priest, outstretching its arms in the water, to receive pale Yillah, as +she sunk in the sea. + +But these forebodings departed, no happiness in the universe like ours. +We lived and we loved; life and love were united; in gladness glided +our days. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. +World Ho! + + +Five suns rose and set. And Yillah pining for the shore, we turned our +prow due west, and next morning came in sight of land. + +It was innumerable islands; lifting themselves bluely through the azure +air, and looking upon the distant sea, like haycocks in a hazy field. +Towering above all, and mid-most, rose a mighty peak; one fleecy cloud +sloping against its summit; a column wreathed. Beyond, like purple +steeps in heaven at set of sun, stretched far away, what seemed lands +on lands, in infinite perspective. + +Gliding on, the islands grew more distinct; rising up from the billows +to greet us; revealing hills, vales, and peaks, grouped within a +milk-white zone of reef, so vast, that in the distance all was dim. The +jeweled vapors, ere-while hovering over these violet shores, now seemed +to be shedding their gems; and as the almost level rays of the sun, +shooting through the air like a variegated prism, touched the verdant +land, it trembled all over with dewy sparkles. + +Still nearer we came: our sail faintly distended as the breeze died +away from our vicinity to the isles. The billows rolled listlessly by, +as if conscious that their long task was nigh done; while gleamed the +white reef, like the trail of a great fish in a calm. But as yet, no +sign of paddle or canoe; no distant smoke; no shining thatch. Bravo! +good comrades, we’ve discovered some new constellation in the sea. + +Sweet Yillah, no more of Oroolia; see you not this flowery land? +Nevermore shall we desire to roam. + +Voyaging along the zone, we came to an opening; and quitting the +firmament blue of the open sea, we glided in upon the still, green +waters of the wide lagoon. Mapped out in the broad shadows of the +isles, and tinted here and there with the reflected hues of the sun +clouds, the mild waters stretched all around us like another sky. Near +by the break in the reef, was a little island, with palm trees harping +in the breeze; an aviary of alluring sounds, that seemed calling upon +us to land. And here, Yillah, whom the sight of the verdure had made +glad, threw out a merry suggestion. Nothing less, than to plant our +mast, sail-set, upon the highest hill; and fly away, island and all; +trees rocking, birds caroling, flowers springing; away, away, across +the wide waters, to Oroolia! But alas! how weigh the isle’s coral +anchor, leagues down in the fathomless sea? + +We glanced around; but all the islands seemed slumbering in the +flooding light. + +“A canoe! a canoe!” cried Samoa, as three proas showed themselves +rounding a neighboring shore. Instantly we sailed for them; but after +shooting to and fro for a time, and standing up and gazing at us, the +Islanders retreated behind the headland. Hardly were they out of sight, +when from many a shore roundabout, other proas pushed off. Soon the +water all round us was enlivened by fleets of canoes, darting hither +and thither like frighted water-fowls. Presently they all made for one +island. + +From their actions we argued that these people could have had but +little or no intercourse with whites; and most probably knew not how to +account for our appearance among them. Desirous, therefore, of a +friendly meeting, ere any hostile suspicions might arise, we pointed +our craft for the island, whither all the canoes were now hastening. +Whereupon, those which had not yet reached their destination, turned +and fled; while the occupants of the proas that had landed, ran into +the groves, and were lost to view. + +Crossing the distinct outer line of the isle’s shadow on the water, we +gained the shore; and gliding along its margin, passing canoe after +canoe, hauled up on the silent beach, which otherwise seemed entirely +innocent of man. + +A dilemma. But I decided at last upon disembarking Jarl and Samoa, to +seek out and conciliate the natives. So, landing them upon a jutting +buttress of coral, whence they waded to the shore; I pushed off with +Yillah into the water beyond, to await the event. + +Full an hour must have elapsed; when, to our great joy, loud shouts +were heard; and there burst into view a tumultuous crowd, in the midst +of which my Viking was descried, mounted upon the shoulders of two +brawny natives; while the Upoluan, striding on in advance, seemed +resisting a similar attempt to elevate him in the world. + +Good omens both. + +“Come ashore!” cried Jarl. “Aramai!” cried Samoa; while storms of +interjections went up from the Islanders who with extravagant gestures +danced about the beach. + +Further caution seemed needless: I pointed our prow for the shore. No +sooner was this perceived, than, raising an applauding shout, the +Islanders ran up to their waists in the sea. And skimming like a gull +over the smooth lagoon, the light shallop darted in among them. Quick +as thought, fifty hands were on the gunwale: and, with all its +contents, lifted bodily into the air, the little Chamois, upon many a +dripping shoulder, was borne deep into the groves. Yillah shrieked at +the rocking motion, and when the boughs of the trees brushed against +the tent. + +With his staff, an old man now pointed to a couple of twin-like trees, +some four paces apart; and a little way from the ground conveniently +crotched. + +And here, eftsoons, they deposited their burden; lowering the Chamois +gently between the forks of the trees, whose willow-like foliage +fringed the tent and its inmate. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. +The Chamois Ashore + + +Until now, enveloped in her robe, and crouching like a fawn, Yillah had +been well nigh hidden from view. But presently she withdrew her hood. + +What saw the Islanders, that they so gazed and adored in silence: some +retreating, some creeping nearer, and the women all in a flutter? Long +they gazed; and following Samoa’s example, stretched forth their arms +in reverence. + +The adoration of the maiden was extended to myself. Indeed, from the +singular gestures employed, I had all along suspected, that we were +being received with unwonted honors. + +I now sought to get speech of my comrades. But so obstreperous was the +crowd, that it was next to impossible. Jarl was still in his perch in +the air; his enthusiastic bearers not yet suffering him to alight. +Samoa, however, who had managed to keep out of the saddle, by-and-by +contrived to draw nearer to the Chamois. + +He advised me, by no means to descend for the present; since in any +event we were sure of remaining unmolested therein; the Islanders +regarding it as sacred. + +The Upoluan attracted a great deal of attention; chiefly from his style +of tattooing, which, together with other peculiarities, so interested +the natives, that they were perpetually hanging about him, putting +eager questions, and all the time keeping up a violent clamor. + +But despite the large demand upon his lungs, Samoa made out to inform +me, that notwithstanding the multitude assembled, there was no high +chief, or person of consequence present; the king of the place, also +those of the islands adjacent, being absent at a festival in another +quarter of the Archipelago. But upon the first distant glimpse of the +Chamois, fleet canoes had been dispatched to announce the surprising +event that had happened. + +In good time, the crowd becoming less tumultuous, and abandoning the +siege of Samoa, I availed myself of this welcome lull, and called upon +him and my Viking to enter the Chamois; desirous of condensing our +forces against all emergencies. + +Samoa now gave me to understand, that from all he could learn, the +Islanders regarded me as a superior being. They had inquired of him, +whether I was not white Taji, a sort of half-and-half deity, now and +then an Avatar among them, and ranking among their inferior ex- officio +demi-gods. To this, Samoa had said ay; adding, moreover, all he could +to encourage the idea. + +He now entreated me, at the first opportunity, to announce myself as +Taji: declaring that if once received under that title, the unbounded +hospitality of our final reception would be certain; and our persons +fenced about from all harm. + +Encouraging this. But it was best to be wary. For although among some +barbarians the first strangers landing upon their shores, are +frequently hailed as divine; and in more than one wild land have been +actually styled gods, as a familiar designation; yet this has not +exempted the celestial visitants from peril, when too much presuming +upon the reception extended to them. In sudden tumults they have been +slain outright, and while full faith in their divinity had in no wise +abated. The sad fate of an eminent navigator is a well-known +illustration of this unaccountable waywardness. + +With no small anxiety, therefore, we awaited the approach of some of +the dignitaries of Mardi; for by this collective appellation, the +people informed us, their islands were known. + +We waited not long. Of a sudden, from the sea-side, a single shrill cry +was heard. A moment more, and the blast of numerous conch shells +startled the air; a confused clamor drew nearer and nearer; and flying +our eyes in the direction of these sounds, we impatiently awaited what +was to follow. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. +A Gentleman From The Sun + + +Never before had I seen the deep foliage of woodlands navigated by +canoes. But on they came sailing through the leaves; two abreast; borne +on men’s shoulders; in each a chief, carried along to the measured +march of his bearers; paddle blades reversed under arms. As they +emerged, the multitude made gestures of homage. At the distance of some +eight or ten paces the procession halted; when the kings alighted to +the ground. + +They were fine-looking men, arrayed in various garbs. Rare the show of +stained feathers, and jewels, and other adornments. Brave the floating +of dyed mantles. + +The regal bearing of these personages, the deference paid them, and +their entire self-possession, not a little surprised me. And it seemed +preposterous, to assume a divine dignity in the presence of these +undoubted potentates of _terra firma_. Taji seemed oozing from my +fingers’ ends. But courage! and erecting my crest, I strove to look +every inch the character I had determined to assume. + +For a time, it was almost impossible to tell with what emotions +precisely the chiefs were regarding me. They said not a word. + +But plucking up heart of grace, I crossed my cutlass on my chest, and +reposing my hand on the hilt, addressed their High Mightinesses thus. +“Men of Mardi, I come from the sun. When this morning it rose and +touched the wave, I pushed my shallop from its golden beach, and hither +sailed before its level rays. I am Taji.” + +More would have been added, but I paused for the effect of my exordium. + +Stepping back a pace or two, the chiefs eagerly conversed. + +Emboldened, I returned to the charge, and labored hard to impress them +with just such impressions of me and mine, as I deemed desirable. The +gentle Yillah was a seraph from the sun; Samoa I had picked off a reef +in my route from that orb; and as for the Skyeman, why, as his name +imported, he came from above. In a word, we were all strolling +divinities. + +Advancing toward the Chamois, one of the kings, a calm old man, now +addressed me as follows:—“Is this indeed Taji? he, who according to a +tradition, was to return to us after five thousand moons? But that +period is yet unexpired. What bring’st thou hither then, Taji, before +thy time? Thou wast but a quarrelsome demi-god, say the legends, when +thou dwelt among our sires. But wherefore comest thou, Taji? Truly, +thou wilt interfere with the worship of thy images, and we have plenty +of gods besides thee. But comest thou to fight?—We have plenty of +spears, and desire not thine. Comest thou to dwell?—Small are the +houses of Mardi. Or comest thou to fish in the sea? Tell us, Taji.” + +Now, all this was a series of posers hard to be answered; furnishing a +curious example, moreover, of the reception given to strange demi- gods +when they travel without their portmanteaus; and also of the familiar +manner in which these kings address the immortals. Much I mourned that +I had not previously studied better my part, and learned the precise +nature of my previous existence in the land. + +But nothing like carrying it bravely. + +“Attend. Taji comes, old man, because it pleases him to come. And Taji +will depart when it suits him. Ask the shades of your sires whether +Taji thus scurvily greeted them, when they came stalking into his +presence in the land of spirits. No. Taji spread the banquet. He +removed their mantles. He kindled a fire to drive away the damp. He +said not, ‘Come you to fight, you fogs and vapors? come you to dwell? +or come you to fish in the sea?’ Go to, then, kings of Mardi!” + +Upon this, the old king fell back; and his place was supplied by a +noble chief, of a free, frank bearing. Advancing quickly toward the +boat, he exclaimed—“I am Media, the son of Media. Thrice welcome, Taji. +On my island of Odo hast thou an altar. I claim thee for my guest.” He +then reminded the rest, that the strangers had voyaged far, and needed +repose. And, furthermore, that he proposed escorting them forthwith to +his own dominions; where, next day, he would be happy to welcome all +visitants. + +And good as his word, he commanded his followers to range themselves +under the Chamois. Springing out of our prow, the Upoluan was followed +by Jarl; leaving Yillah and Taji to be borne therein toward the sea. + +Soon, we were once more afloat; by our side, Media sociably seated; six +of his paddlers, perched upon the gunwale, swiftly urging us over the +lagoon. + +The transition from the grove to the sea was instantaneous. All seemed +a dream. + +The place to which we were hastening, being some distance away, as we +rounded isle after isle, the extent of the Archipelago grew upon us +greatly. + + + + +CHAPTER LV. +Tiffin In A Temple + + +Upon at last drawing nigh to Odo, its appearance somewhat disappointed +me. A small island, of moderate elevation. + +But plumb not the height of the house that feasts you. The beach was +lined with expectant natives, who, lifting the Chamois, carried us up +the beach. + +Alighting, as they were bearing us along, King Media, designating a +canoe-house hard by, ordered our craft to be deposited therein. This +being done, we stepped upon the soil. It was the first we had pressed +in very many days. It sent a sympathetic thrill through our frames. + +Turning his steps inland, Media signed us to follow. + +Soon we came to a rude sort of inclosure, fenced in by an imposing +wall. Here a halt was sounded, and in great haste the natives proceeded +to throw down a portion of the stones. This accomplished, we were +signed to enter the fortress thus carried by storm. Upon an artificial +mound, opposite the breach, stood a small structure of bamboo, open in +front. Within, was a long pedestal, like a settee, supporting three +images, also of wood, and about the size of men; bearing, likewise, a +remote resemblance to that species of animated nature. Before these +idols was an altar, and at its base many fine mats. + +Entering the temple, as if he felt very much at home, Media disposed +these mats so as to form a very pleasant lounge; where he deferentially +entreated Yillah to recline. Then deliberately removing the first idol, +he motioned me to seat myself in its place. Setting aside the middle +one, he quietly established himself in its stead. The displaced +ciphers, meanwhile, standing upright before us, and their blank faces +looking upon this occasion unusually expressive. As yet, not a syllable +as to the meaning of this cavalier treatment of their wooden godships. + +We now tranquilly awaited what next might happen, and I earnestly +prayed, that if sacrilege was being committed, the vengeance of the +gods might be averted from an ignoramus like me; notwithstanding the +petitioner himself hailed from the other world. Perfect silence was +preserved: Jarl and Samoa standing a little without the temple; the +first looking quite composed, but his comrade casting wondering glances +at my sociable apotheosis with Media. + +Now happening to glance upon the image last removed, I was not long in +detecting a certain resemblance between it and our host. Both were +decorated in the same manner; the carving on the idol exactly +corresponding with the tattooing of the king. + +Presently, the silence was relieved by a commotion without: and a +butler approached, staggering under an immense wooden trencher; which, +with profound genuflexions, he deposited upon the altar before us. The +tray was loaded like any harvest wain; heaped up with good things +sundry and divers: Bread-fruit, and cocoanuts, and plantains, and +guavas; all pleasant to the eye, and furnishing good earnest of +something equally pleasant to the palate. + +Transported at the sight of these viands, after so long an estrangement +from full indulgence in things green, I was forthwith proceeding to +help Yillah and myself, when, like lightning, a most unwelcome query +obtruded. Did deities dine? Then also recurred what Media had declared +about my shrine in Odo. Was this it? Self- sacrilegious demigod that I +was, was I going to gluttonize on the very offerings, laid before me in +my own sacred fane? Give heed to thy ways, oh Taji, lest thou stumble +and be lost. + +But hereupon, what saw we, but his cool majesty of Odo tranquilly +proceeding to lunch in the temple? + +How now? Was Media too a god? Egad, it must be so. Else, why his image +here in the fane, and the original so entirely at his ease, with legs +full cosily tucked away under the very altar itself. This put to flight +all appalling apprehensions of the necessity of starving to keep up the +assumption of my divinity. So without more ado I helped myself right +and left; taking the best care of Yillah; who over fed her flushed +beauty with juicy fruits, thereby transferring to her cheek the sweet +glow of the guava. + +Our hunger appeased, and Media in token thereof celestially laying his +hand upon the appropriate region, we proceeded to quit the inclosure. +But coming to the wall where the breach had been made, lo, and behold, +no breach was to be seen. But down it came tumbling again, and forth we +issued. + +This overthrowing of walls, be it known, is an incidental compliment +paid distinguished personages in this part of Mardi. It would seem to +signify, that such gentry can go nowhere without creating an +impression; even upon the most obdurate substances. + +But to return to our ambrosial lunch. + +Sublimate, as you will, the idea of our ethereality as intellectual +beings; no sensible man can harbor a doubt, but that there is a vast +deal of satisfaction in dining. More: there is a savor of life and +immortality in substantial fare. Like balloons, we are nothing till +filled. + +And well knowing this, nature has provided this jolly round board, our +globe, which in an endless sequence of courses and crops, spreads a +perpetual feast. Though, as with most public banquets, there is no +small crowding, and many go away famished from plenty. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. +King Media A Host + + +Striking into a grove, about sunset we emerged upon a fine, clear +space, and spied a city in the woods. + +In the middle of all, like a generalissimo’s marquee among tents, was a +structure more imposing than the rest. Here, abode King Media. + +Disposed round a space some fifty yards square, were many palm posts +staked firmly in the earth. A man’s height from the ground, these +supported numerous horizontal trunks, upon which lay a flooring of +habiscus. High over this dais, but resting upon independent supports +beyond, a gable-ended roof sloped away to within a short distance of +the ground. + +Such was the palace. + +We entered it by an arched, arbored entrance, at one of its +palmetto-thatched ends. But not through this exclusive portal entered +the Islanders. Humbly stooping, they found ingress under the drooping +eaves. A custom immemorial, and well calculated to remind all +contumacious subjects of the dignity of the habitation thus entered. + +Three steps led to the summit of the dais, where piles of soft mats, +and light pillows of woven grass, stuffed with the golden down of a +wild thistle, invited all loiterers to lounge. + +How pleasant the twilight that welled up from under the low eaves, +above which we were seated. And how obvious now the design of the roof. +No shade more grateful and complete; the garish sun lingering without +like some lackey in waiting. + +But who is this in the corner, gaping at us like a butler in a +quandary? Media’s household deity, in the guise of a plethoric monster, +his enormous head lolling back, and wide, gaping mouth stuffed full of +fresh fruits and green leaves. Truly, had the idol possessed a soul +under his knotty ribs, how tantalizing to hold so glorious a mouthful +without the power of deglutition. Far worse than the inexorable +lock-jaw, which will not admit of the step preliminary to a swallow. + +This jolly Josh image was that of an inferior deity, the god of Good +Cheer, and often after, we met with his merry round mouth in many other +abodes in Mardi. Daily, his jaws are replenished, as a flower vase in +summer. + +But did the demi-divine Media thus brook the perpetual presence of a +subaltern divinity? Still more; did he render it homage? But ere long +the Mardian mythology will be discussed, thereby making plain what may +now seem anomalous. + +Politely escorting us into his palace, Media did the honors by inviting +his guests to recline. He then seemed very anxious to impress us with +the fact, that, by bringing us to his home, and thereby charging the +royal larder with our maintenance, he had taken no hasty or imprudent +step. His merry butlers kept piling round us viands, till we were well +nigh walled in. At every fresh deposit, Media directing our attention +to the same, as yet additional evidence of his ample resources as a +host. The evidence was finally closed by dragging under the eaves a +felled plantain tree, the spike of red ripe fruit, sprouting therefrom, +blushing all over, at so rude an introduction to the notice of +strangers. + +During this scene, Jarl was privily nudging Samoa, in wonderment, to +know what upon earth it all meant. But Samoa, scarcely deigning to +notice interrogatories propounded through the elbow, only let drop a +vague hint or two. + +It was quite amusing, what airs Samoa now gave himself, at least toward +my Viking. Among the Mardians he was at home. And who, when there, +stretches not out his legs, and says unto himself, “Who is greater than +I?” + +To be plain: concerning himself and the Skyeman, the tables were +turned. At sea, Jarl had been the oracle: an old sea-sage, learned in +hemp and helm. But our craft high and dry, the Upoluan lifted his crest +as the erudite pagan; master of Gog and Magog, expounder of all things +heathenish and obscure. + +An hour or two was now laughed away in very charming conversation with +Media; when I hinted, that a couch and solitude would be acceptable. +Whereupon, seizing a taper, our host escorted us without the palace. +And ushering us into a handsome unoccupied mansion, gave me to +understand that the same was mine. Mounting to the dais, he then +instituted a vigorous investigation, to discern whether every thing was +in order. Not fancying something about the mats, he rolled them up into +bundles, and one by one sent them flying at the heads of his servitors; +who, upon that gentle hint made off with them, soon after returning +with fresh ones. These, with mathematical precision, Media in person +now spread on the dais; looking carefully to the fringes or ruffles +with which they were bordered, as if striving to impart to them a +sentimental expression. + +This done, he withdrew. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. +Taji Takes Counsel With Himself + + +My brief intercourse with our host, had by this time enabled me to form +a pretty good notion of the light, in which I was held by him and his +more intelligent subjects. + +His free and easy carriage evinced, that though acknowledging my +assumptions, he was no way overawed by them; treating me as familiarly, +indeed, as if I were a mere mortal, one of the abject generation of +mushrooms. + +The scene in the temple, however, had done much toward explaining this +demeanor of his. A demi-god in his own proper person, my claims to a +similar dignity neither struck him with wonder, nor lessened his good +opinion of himself. + +As for any thing foreign in my aspect, and my ignorance of Mardian +customs—-all this, instead of begetting a doubt unfavorable to my +pretensions, but strengthened the conviction of them as verities. Thus +has it been in similar instances; but to a much greater extent. The +celebrated navigator referred to in a preceding chapter, was hailed by +the Hawaiians as one of their demi-gods, returned to earth, after a +wide tour of the universe. And they worshiped him as such, though +incessantly he was interrogating them, as to who under the sun his +worshipers were; how their ancestors came on the island; and whether +they would have the kindness to provide his followers with plenty of +pork during his stay. + +But a word or two concerning the idols in the shrine at Odo. Superadded +to the homage rendered him as a temporal prince, Media was there +worshiped as a spiritual being. In his corporeal absence, his effigy +receiving all oblations intended for him. And in the days of his +boyhood, listening to the old legends of the Mardian mythology, Media +had conceived a strong liking for the fabulous Taji; a deity whom he +had often declared was worthy a niche in any temple extant. Hence he +had honored my image with a place in his own special shrine; placing it +side by side with his worshipful likeness. + +I appreciated the compliment. But of the close companionship of the +other image there, I was heartily ashamed. And with reason. The +nuisance in question being the image of a deified maker of plantain- +pudding, lately deceased; who had been famed far and wide as the most +notable fellow of his profession in the whole Archipelago. During his +sublunary career, having been attached to the household of Media, his +grateful master had afterward seen fit to crown his celebrity by this +posthumous distinction: a circumstance sadly subtracting from the +dignity of an apotheosis. Nor must it here be omitted, that in this +part of Mardi culinary artists are accounted worthy of high +consideration. For among these people of Odo, the matter of eating and +drinking is held a matter of life and of death. “Drag away my queen +from my arms,” said old Tyty when overcome of Adommo, “but leave me my +cook.” + +Now, among the Mardians there were plenty of incarnated deities to keep +me in countenance. Most of the kings of the Archipelago, besides Media, +claiming homage as demi-gods; and that, too, by virtue of hereditary +descent, the divine spark being transmissable from father to son. In +illustration of this, was the fact, that in several instances the +people of the land addressed the supreme god Oro, in the very same +terms employed in the political adoration of their sublunary rulers. + +Ay: there were deities in Mardi far greater and taller than I: right +royal monarchs to boot, living in jolly round tabernacles of jolly +brown clay; and feasting, and roystering, and lording it in yellow +tabernacles of bamboo. These demi-gods had wherewithal to sustain their +lofty pretensions. If need were, could crush out of him the infidelity +of a non-conformist. And by this immaculate union of church and state, +god and king, in their own proper persons reigned supreme Caesars over +the souls and bodies of their subjects. + +Beside these mighty magnates, I and my divinity shrank into nothing. In +their woodland ante-chambers plebeian deities were kept lingering. For +be it known, that in due time we met with several decayed, broken down +demi-gods: magnificos of no mark in Mardi; having no temples wherein to +feast personal admirers, or spiritual devotees. They wandered about +forlorn and friendless. And oftentimes in their dinnerless despair +hugely gluttonized, and would fain have grown fat, by reflecting upon +the magnificence of their genealogies. But poor fellows! like shabby +Scotch lords in London in King James’s time, the very multitude of them +confounded distinction. And since they could show no rent-roll, they +were permitted to fume unheeded. + +Upon the whole, so numerous were living and breathing gods in Mardi, +that I held my divinity but cheaply. And seeing such a host of +immortals, and hearing of multitudes more, purely spiritual in their +nature, haunting woodlands and streams; my views of theology grew +strangely confused; I began to bethink me of the Jew that rejected the +Talmud, and his all-permeating principle, to which Goethe and others +have subscribed. + +Instead, then, of being struck with the audacity of endeavoring to palm +myself off as a god—the way in which the thing first impressed me—I now +perceived that I might be a god as much as I pleased, and yet not whisk +a lion’s tail after all at least on that special account. + +As for Media’s reception, its graciousness was not wholly owing to the +divine character imputed to me. His, he believed to be the same. But to +a whim, a freakishness in his soul, which led him to fancy me as one +among many, not as one with no peer. + +But the apparent unconcern of King Media with respect to my godship, by +no means so much surprised me, as his unaffected indifference to my +amazing voyage from the sun; his indifference to the sun itself; and +all the wonderful circumstances that must have attended my departure. +Whether he had ever been there himself, that he regarded a solar trip +with so much unconcern, almost became a question in my mind. Certain it +is, that as a mere traveler he must have deemed me no very great +prodigy. + +My surprise at these things was enhanced by reflecting, that to the +people of the Archipelago the map of Mardi was the map of the world. +With the exception of certain islands out of sight and at an indefinite +distance, they had no certain knowledge of any isles but their own. + +And, no long time elapsed ere I had still additional reasons to cease +wondering at the easy faith accorded to the story which I had given of +myself. For these Mardians were familiar with still greater marvels +than mine; verily believing in prodigies of all sorts. Any one of them +put my exploits to the blush. + +Look to thy ways then, Taji, thought I, and carry not thy crest too +high. Of a surety, thou hast more peers than inferiors. Thou art +overtopped all round. Bear thyself discreetly and not haughtily, Taji. +It will not answer to give thyself airs. Abstain from all consequential +allusions to the other world, and the genteel deities among whom thou +hast circled. Sport not too jauntily thy raiment, because it is novel +in Mardi; nor boast of the fleetness of thy Chamois, because it is +unlike a canoe. Vaunt not of thy pedigree, Taji; for Media himself will +measure it with thee there by the furlong. Be not a “snob,” Taji. + +So then, weighing all things well, and myself severely, I resolved to +follow my Mentor’s wise counsel; neither arrogating aught, nor abating +of just dues; but circulating freely, sociably, and frankly, among the +gods, heroes, high priests, kings, and gentlemen, that made up the +principalities of Mardi. + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. +Mardi By Night And Yillah By Day + + +During the night following our arrival, many dreams were no doubt +dreamt in Odo. But my thoughts were wakeful. And while all others +slept, obeying a restless impulse, I stole without into the magical +starlight. There are those who in a strange land ever love to view it +by night. + +It has been said, that the opening in the groves where was situated +Media’s city, was elevated above the surrounding plains. Hence was +commanded a broad reach of prospect. + +Far and wide was deep low-sobbing repose of man and nature. The groves +were motionless; and in the meadows, like goblins, the shadows advanced +and retreated. Full before me, lay the Mardian fleet of isles, +profoundly at anchor within their coral harbor. Near by was one belted +round by a frothy luminous reef, wherein it lay, like Saturn in its +ring. + +From all their summits, went up a milk-white smoke, as from Indian +wigwams in the hazy harvest-moon. And floating away, these vapors +blended with the faint mist, as of a cataract, hovering over the +circumvallating reef. Far beyond all, and far into the infinite night, +surged the jet-black ocean. + +But how tranquil the wide lagoon, which mirrored the burning spots in +heaven! Deep down into its innermost heart penetrated the slanting rays +of Hesperus like a shaft of light, sunk far into mysterious Golcondas, +where myriad gnomes seemed toiling. Soon a light breeze rippled the +water, and the shaft was seen no more. But the moon’s bright wake was +still revealed: a silver track, tipping every wave-crest in its course, +till each seemed a pearly, scroll-prowed nautilus, buoyant with some +elfin crew. + +From earth to heaven! High above me was Night’s shadowy bower, +traversed, vine-like, by the Milky Way, and heavy with golden +clusterings. Oh stars! oh eyes, that see me, wheresoe’er I roam: +serene, intent, inscrutable for aye, tell me Sybils, what I +am.—Wondrous worlds on worlds! Lo, round and round me, shining, awful +spells: all glorious, vivid constellations, God’s diadem ye are! To +you, ye stars, man owes his subtlest raptures, thoughts unspeakable, +yet full of faith. + +But how your mild effulgence stings the boding heart. Am I a murderer, +stars? + +Hours pass. The starry trance is departed. Long waited for, the dawn +now comes. + +First, breaking along the waking face; peeping from out the languid +lids; then shining forth in longer glances; till, like the sun, up +comes the soul, and sheds its rays abroad. + +When thus my Yillah did daily dawn, how she lit up my world; tinging +more rosily the roseate clouds, that in her summer cheek played to and +fro, like clouds in Italian air. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. +Their Morning Meal + + +Not wholly is our world made up of bright stars and bright eyes: so now +to our story. + +A conscientious host should ever be up betimes, to look after the +welfare of his guests, and see to it that their day begin auspiciously. +King Media announced the advent of the sun, by rustling at my bower’s +eaves in person. + +A repast was spread in an adjoining arbor, which Media’s pages had +smoothed for our reception, and where his subordinate chiefs were in +attendance. Here we reclined upon mats. Balmy and fresh blew the breath +of the morning; golden vapors were upon the mountains, silver sheen +upon the grass; and the birds were at matins in the groves; their +bright plumage flashing into view, here and there, as if some rainbow +were crouching in the foliage. + +Spread before us were viands, served in quaint-shaped, curiously-dyed +gourds, not Sevres, but almost as tasteful; and like true porcelain, +fire had tempered them. Green and yielding, they are plucked from the +tree; and emptied of their pulp, are scratched over with minute marks, +like those of a line engraving. The ground prepared, the various +figures are carefully etched. And the outlines filled up with delicate +punctures, certain vegetable oils are poured over them, for coloring. +Filled with a peculiar species of earth, the gourd is now placed in an +oven in the ground. And in due time exhumed, emptied of its contents, +and washed in the stream, it presents a deep-dyed exterior; every +figure distinctly traced and opaque, but the ground semi-transparent. +In some cases, owing to the variety of dyes employed, each figure is of +a different hue. + +More glorious goblets than these for the drinking of wine, went never +from hand to mouth. Capacious as pitchers, they almost superseded +decanters. + +Now, in a tropical climate, fruit, with light wines, forms the only fit +meal of a morning. And with orchards and vineyards forever in sight, +who but the Hetman of the Cossacs would desire more? We had plenty of +the juice of the grape. But of this hereafter; there are some fine old +cellars, and plenty of good cheer in store. + +During the repast, Media, for a time, was much taken up with our +raiment. He begged me to examine for a moment the texture of his right +royal robe, and observe how much superior it was to my own. It put my +mantle to the blush; being tastefully stained with rare devices in red +and black; and bordered with dyed fringes of feathers, and tassels of +red birds’ claws. + +Next came under observation the Skyeman’s Guayaquil hat; at whose +preposterous shape, our host laughed in derision; clapping a great +conical calabash upon the head of an attendant, and saying that now he +was Jarl. At this, and all similar sallies, Samoa was sure to roar +louder than any; though mirth was no constitutional thing with him. But +he seemed rejoiced at the opportunity of turning upon us the ridicule, +which as a barbarian among whites, he himself had so often experienced. + +These pleasantries over, King Media very slightly drew himself up, as +if to make amends for his previous unbending. He discoursed imperially +with his chiefs; nodded his sovereign will to his pages; called for +another gourd of wine; in all respects carrying his royalty bravely. + +The repast concluded, we journeyed to the canoe-house, where we found +the little Chamois stabled like a steed. One solitary depredation had +been committed. Its sides and bottom had been completely denuded of the +minute green barnacles, and short sea-grass, which, like so many +leeches, had fastened to our planks during our long, lazy voyage. + +By the people they had been devoured as dainties. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. +Belshazzar On The Bench + + +Now, Media was king of Odo. And from the simplicity of his manners +hitherto, and his easy, frank demeanor toward ourselves, had we +foolishly doubted that fact, no skepticism could have survived an +illustration of it, which this very day we witnessed at noon. + +For at high noon, Media was wont to don his dignity with his symbols of +state; and sit on his judgment divan or throne, to hear and try all +causes brought before him, and fulminate his royal decrees. + +This divan was elevated at one end of a spacious arbor, formed by an +avenue of regal palms, which in brave state, held aloft their +majestical canopy. + +The crown of the island prince was of the primitive old Eastern style; +in shape, similar, perhaps, to that jauntily sported as a foraging cap +by his sacred majesty King Nimrod, who so lustily followed the hounds. +It was a plaited turban of red tappa, radiated by the pointed and +polished white bones of the Ray-fish. These diverged from a bandeau or +fillet of the most precious pearls; brought up from the sea by the +deepest diving mermen of Mardi. From the middle of the crown rose a +tri-foiled spear-head. And a spear- headed scepter graced the right +hand of the king. + +Now, for all the rant of your democrats, a fine king on a throne is a +very fine sight to behold. He looks very much like a god. No wonder +that his more dutiful subjects so swore, that their good lord and +master King Media was demi-divine. + +A king on his throne! Ah, believe me, ye Gracchi, ye Acephali, ye +Levelers, it is something worth seeing, be sure; whether beheld at +Babylon the Tremendous, when Nebuchadnezzar was crowned; at old Scone +in the days of Macbeth; at Rheims, among Oriflammes, at the coronation +of Louis le Grand; at Westminster Abbey, when the gentlemanly George +doffed his beaver for a diadem; or under the soft shade of palm trees +on an isle in the sea. + +Man lording it over man, man kneeling to man, is a spectacle that +Gabriel might well travel hitherward to behold; for never did he behold +it in heaven. But Darius giving laws to the Medes and the Persians, or +the conqueror of Bactria with king-cattle yoked to his car, was not a +whit more sublime, than Beau Brummel magnificently ringing for his +valet. + +A king on his throne! It is Jupiter nodding in the councils of Olympus; +Satan, seen among the coronets in Hell. + +A king on his throne! It is the sun over a mountain; the sun over +law-giving Sinai; the sun in our system: planets, duke-like, dancing +attendance, and baronial satellites in waiting. + +A king on his throne! After all, but a gentleman seated. And thus sat +the good lord, King Media. + +Time passed. And after trying and dismissing several minor affairs, +Media called for certain witnesses to testify concerning one Jiromo, a +foolhardy wight, who had been silly enough to plot against the majesty +now sitting judge and jury upon him. + +His guilt was clear. And the witnesses being heard, from a bunch of +palm plumes Media taking a leaf, placed it in the hand of a runner or +pursuivant, saying, “This to Jiromo, where he is prisoned; with his +king’s compliments; say we here wait for his head.” + +It was doffed like a turban before a Dey, and brought back on the +instant. + +Now came certain lean-visaged, poverty-stricken, and hence +suspicious-looking varlets, grumbling and growling, and amiable as +Bruin. They came muttering some wild jargon about “bulwarks,” +“bulkheads,” “cofferdams,” “safeguards,” “noble charters,” “shields,” +and “paladiums,” “great and glorious birthrights,” and other +unintelligible gibberish. + +Of the pursuivants, these worthies asked audience of Media. + +“Go, kneel at the throne,” was the answer. + +“Our knee-pans are stiff with sciatics,” was the rheumatic reply. + +“An artifice to keep on your legs,” said the pursuivants. + +And advancing they salamed, and told Media the excuse of those +sour-looking varlets. Whereupon my lord commanded them to down on their +marrow-bones instanter, either before him or the headsman, whichsoever +they pleased. + +They preferred the former. And as they there kneeled, in vain did men +with sharp ears (who abound in all courts) prick their auriculars, to +list to that strange crackling and firing off of bone balls and +sockets, ever incident to the genuflections of rheumatic courtiers. + +In a row, then, these selfsame knee-pans did kneel before the king; who +eyed them as eagles in air do goslings on dunghills; or hunters, hounds +crouching round their calves. + +“Your prayer?” said Media. + +It was a petition, that thereafter all differences between man and man +in Ode, together with all alleged offenses against the state, might be +tried by twelve good men and true. These twelve to be unobnoxious to +the party or parties concerned; their peers; and previously unbiased +touching the matter at issue. Furthermore, that unanimity in these +twelve should be indispensable to a verdict; and no dinner be +vouchsafed till unanimity came. + +Loud and long laughed King Media in scorn. + +“This be your judge,” he cried, swaying his scepter. “What! are twelve +wise men more wise than one? or will twelve fools, put together, make +one sage? Are twelve honest men more honest than one? or twelve knaves +less knavish than one? And if, of twelve men, three be fools, and three +wise, three knaves, and three upright, how obtain real unanimity from +such? + +“But if twelve judges be better than one, then are twelve hundred +better than twelve. But take the whole populace for a judge, and you +will long wait for a unanimous verdict. + +“If upon a thing dubious, there be little unanimity in the conflicting +opinions of one man’s mind, how expect it in the uproar of twelve +puzzled brains? though much unanimity be found in twelve hungry +stomachs. + +“Judges unobnoxious to the accused! Apply it to a criminal case. Ha! +ha! if peradventure a Cacti be rejected, because he had seen the +accused commit the crime for which he is arraigned. Then, his mind +would be biased: no impartiality from him! Or your testy accused might +object to another, because of his tomahawk nose, or a cruel squint of +the eye. + +“Of all follies the most foolish! Know ye from me, that true peers +render not true verdicts. Jiromo was a rebel. Had I tried him by his +peers, I had tried him by rebels; and the rebel had rebelled to some +purpose. + +“Away! As unerring justice dwells in a unity, and as one judge will at +last judge the world beyond all appeal; so—though often here below +justice be hard to attain—does man come nearest the mark, when he +imitates that model divine. Hence, one judge is better than twelve.” + +“And as Justice, in ideal, is ever painted high lifted above the crowd; +so, from the exaltation of his rank, an honest king is the best of +those unical judges, which individually are better than twelve. And +therefore am I, King Media, the best judge in this land.” + +“Subjects! so long as I live, I will rule you and judge you alone. And +though you here kneeled before me till you grew into the ground, and +there took root, no yea to your petition will you get from this throne. +I am king: ye are slaves. Mine to command: yours to obey. And this hour +I decree, that henceforth no gibberish of bulwarks and bulkheads be +heard in this land. For a dead bulwark and a bulkhead, to dam off +sedition, will I make of that man, who again but breathes those bulky +words. Ho! spears! see that these knee-pans here kneel till set of +sun.” + +High noon was now passed; and removing his crown, and placing it on the +dais for the kneelers to look at during their devotions, King Media +departed from that place, and once more played the agreeable host. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. +An Incognito + + +For the rest of that day, and several that followed, we were +continually receiving visits from the neighboring islands; whose +inhabitants in fleets and flotillas flocked round Odo to behold the +guests of its lord. Among them came many messengers from the +neighboring kings with soft speeches and gifts. + +But it were needless to detail our various interviews, or relate in +what manifold ways, the royal strangers gave token of their interest +concerning us. + +Upon the third day, however, there was noticed a mysterious figure, +like the inscrutable incognitos sometimes encountered, crossing the +tower-shadowed Plaza of Assignations at Lima. It was enveloped in a +dark robe of tappa, so drawn and plaited about the limbs; and with one +hand, so wimpled about the face, as only to expose a solitary eye. But +that eye was a world. Now it was fixed upon Yillah with a sinister +glance, and now upon me, but with a different expression. However great +the crowd, however tumultuous, that fathomless eye gazed on; till at +last it seemed no eye, but a spirit, forever prying into my soul. Often +I strove to approach it, but it would evade me, soon reappearing. + +Pointing out the apparition to Media, I intreated him to take means to +fix it, that my suspicions might be dispelled, as to its being +incorporeal. He replied that, by courtesy, incognitos were sacred. +Insomuch that the close-plaited robe and the wimple were secure as a +castle. At last, to my relief, the phantom disappeared, and was seen no +more. + +Numerous and fervent the invitations received to return the calls +wherewith we were honored. But for the present we declined them; +preferring to establish ourselves firmly in the heart of Media, ere +encountering the vicissitudes of roaming. In a multitude of +acquaintances is less security, than in one faithful friend. + +Now, while these civilities were being received, and on the fourth +morning after our arrival, there landed on the beach three black-eyed +damsels, deep brunettes, habited in long variegated robes, and with gay +blossoms on their heads. + +With many salams, the strangers were ushered into my presence by an old +white-haired servitor of Media’s, who with a parting congé murmured, +“From Queen Hautia,” then departed. Surprised, I stood mute, and +welcomed them. + +The first, with many smiles and blandishments, waved before me a +many-tinted Iris: the flag-flower streaming with pennons. Advancing, +the second then presented three rose-hued purple-veined Circea flowers, +the dew still clinging to them. The third placed in my hand a moss-rose +bud; then, a Venus-car. + +“Thanks for your favors! now your message.” + +Starting at this reception, graciously intended, they conferred a +moment; when the Iris-bearer said in winning phrase, “We come from +Hautia, whose moss-rose you hold.” + +“All thanks to Hautia then; the bud is very fragrant.” + +Then she pointed to the Venus-car. + +“This too is sweet; thanks to Hautia for her flowers. Pray, bring me +more.” + +“He mocks our mistress,” and gliding from me, they waved witch- hazels, +leaving me alone and wondering. + +Informing Media of this scene, he smiled; threw out queer hints of +Hautia; but knew not what her message meant. + +At first this affair occasioned me no little uneasiness, with much +matter for marveling; but in the novel pleasure of our sojourn in Odo, +it soon slipped from my mind; nor for some time, did I again hear aught +of Queen Hautia. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. +Taji Retires From The World + + +After a while, when the strangers came not in shoals as before, I +proposed to our host, a stroll over his dominions; desirous of +beholding the same, and secretly induced by the hope of selecting an +abode, more agreeable to my fastidious taste, than the one already +assigned me. + +The ramble over—a pleasant one it was—it resulted in a determination on +my part to quit Odo. Yet not to go very far; only ten or twelve yards, +to a little green tuft of an islet; one of many, which here and there, +all round the island, nestled like birds’ nests in the branching boughs +of the coral grove, whose roots laid hold of the foundations of the +deep. Between these islets and the shore, extended shelving ledges, +with shallows above, just sufficient to float a canoe. One of these +islets was wooded and wined; an arbor in the sea. And here, Media +permitting, I decided to dwell. + +Not long was Media in complying; nor long, ere my retreat was in +readiness. Laced together, the twisting boughs were closely thatched. +And thatched were the sides also, with deep crimson pandannus leaves; +whose long, forked spears, lifted by the breeze, caused the whole place +to blaze, as with flames. Canes, laid on palm trunks, formed the floor. +How elastic! In vogue all over Odo, among the chiefs, it imparted such +a buoyancy to the person, that to this special cause may be imputed in +good part the famous fine spirits of the nobles. + +Hypochondriac! essay the elastic flooring! It shall so pleasantly and +gently jolt thee, as to shake up, and pack off the stagnant humors +mantling thy pool-like soul. + +Such was my dwelling. But I make no mention of sundry little +appurtenances of tropical housekeeping: calabashes, cocoanut shells, +and rolls of fine tappa; till with Yillah seated at last in my arbor, I +looked round, and wanted for naught. + +But what of Jarl and Samoa? Why Jarl must needs be fanciful, as well as +myself. Like a bachelor in chambers, he settled down right opposite to +me, on the main land, in a little wigwam in the grove. + +But Samoa, following not his comrade’s example, still tarried in the +camp of the Hittites and Jebusites of Odo. Beguiling men of their +leisure by his marvelous stories: and maidens of their hearts by his +marvelous wiles. + +When I chose, I was completely undisturbed in my arbor; an ukase of +Media’s forbidding indiscriminate intrusion. But thrice in the day came +a garrulous old man with my viands. + +Thus sequestered, however, I could not entirely elude the pryings of +the people of the neighboring islands; who often passed by, slowly +paddling, and earnestly regarding my retreat. But gliding along at a +distance, and never essaying a landing, their occasional vicinity +troubled me but little. But now and then of an evening, when thick and +fleet the shadows were falling, dim glimpses of a canoe would be spied; +hovering about the place like a ghost. And once, in the stillness of +the night, hearing the near ripple of a prow, I sallied forth, but the +phantom quickly departed. + +That night, Yillah shuddered as she slept. “The whirl-pool,” she +murmured, “sweet mosses.” Next day she was lost in reveries, plucking +pensive hyacinths, or gazing intently into the lagoon. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. +Odo And Its Lord + + +Time now to enter upon some further description of the island and its +lord. + +And first for Media: a gallant gentleman and king. From a goodly stock +he came. In his endless pedigree, reckoning deities by decimals, +innumerable kings, and scores of great heroes, chiefs, and priests. Nor +in person, did he belie his origin. No far-descended dwarf was he, the +least of a receding race. He stood like a palm tree; about whose +acanthus capital droops not more gracefully the silken fringes, than +Media’s locks upon his noble brow. Strong was his arm to wield the +club, or hurl the javelin; and potent, I ween, round a maiden’s waist. + +Thus much here for Media. Now comes his isle. + +Our pleasant ramble found it a little round world by itself; full of +beauties as a garden; chequered by charming groves; watered by roving +brooks; and fringed all round by a border of palm trees, whose roots +drew nourishment from the water. But though abounding in other quarters +of the Archipelago, not a solitary bread-fruit grew in Odo. A +noteworthy circumstance, observable in these regions, where islands +close adjoining, so differ in their soil, that certain fruits growing +genially in one, are foreign to another. But Odo was famed for its +guavas, whose flavor was likened to the flavor of new-blown lips; and +for its grapes, whose juices prompted many a laugh and many a groan. + +Beside the city where Media dwelt, there were few other clusters of +habitations in Odo. The higher classes living, here and there, in +separate households; but not as eremites. Some buried themselves in the +cool, quivering bosoms of the groves. Others, fancying a marine +vicinity, dwelt hard by the beach in little cages of bamboo; whence of +mornings they sallied out with jocund cries, and went plunging into the +refreshing bath, whose frothy margin was the threshold of their +dwellings. Others still, like birds, built their nests among the sylvan +nooks of the elevated interior; whence all below, and hazy green, lay +steeped in languor the island’s throbbing heart. + +Thus dwelt the chiefs and merry men of mark. The common sort, including +serfs, and Helots, war-captives held in bondage, lived in secret +places, hard to find. Whence it came, that, to a stranger, the whole +isle looked care-free and beautiful. Deep among the ravines and the +rocks, these beings lived in noisome caves, lairs for beasts, not human +homes; or built them coops of rotten boughs—living trees were banned +them—whose mouldy hearts hatched vermin. Fearing infection of some +plague, born of this filth, the chiefs of Odo seldom passed that way +and looking round within their green retreats, and pouring out their +wine, and plucking from orchards of the best, marveled how these swine +could grovel in the mire, and wear such sallow cheeks. But they offered +no sweet homes; from that mire they never sought to drag them out; they +open threw no orchard; and intermitted not the mandates that condemned +their drudges to a life of deaths. Sad sight! to see those +round-shouldered Helots, stooping in their trenches: artificial, three +in number, and concentric: the isle well nigh surrounding. And herein, +fed by oozy loam, and kindly dew from heaven, and bitter sweat from +men, grew as in hot-beds the nutritious Taro. + +Toil is man’s allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a grief +that’s more than either, the grief and sin of idleness. But when man +toils and slays himself for masters who withhold the life he gives to +them—then, then, the soul screams out, and every sinew cracks. So with +these poor serfs. And few of them could choose but be the brutes they +seemed. + +Now needs it to be said, that Odo was no land of pleasure unalloyed, +and plenty without a pause?—Odo, in whose lurking-places infants turned +from breasts, whence flowed no nourishment.—Odo, in whose inmost +haunts, dark groves were brooding, passing which you heard most dismal +cries, and voices cursing Media. There, men were scourged; their crime, +a heresy; the heresy, that Media was no demigod. For this they +shrieked. Their fathers shrieked before; their fathers, who, tormented, +said, “Happy we to groan, that our children’s children may be glad.” +But their children’s children howled. Yet these, too, echoed previous +generations, and loudly swore, “The pit that’s dug for us may prove +another’s grave.” + +But let all pass. To look at, and to roam about of holidays, Odo seemed +a happy land. The palm-trees waved—though here and there you marked one +sear and palsy-smitten; the flowers bloomed—though dead ones moldered +in decay; the waves ran up the strand in glee—though, receding, they +sometimes left behind bones mixed with shells. + +But else than these, no sign of death was seen throughout the isle. Did +men in Odo live for aye? Was Ponce de Leon’s fountain there? For near +and far, you saw no ranks and files of graves, no generations harvested +in winrows. In Odo, no hard-hearted nabob slept beneath a gentle +epitaph; no requiescat-in-pace mocked a sinner damned; no memento-mori +admonished men to live while yet they might. Here Death hid his skull; +and hid it in the sea, the common sepulcher of Odo. Not dust to dust, +but dust to brine; not hearses but canoes. For all who died upon that +isle were carried out beyond the outer reef, and there were buried with +their sires’ sires. Hence came the thought, that of gusty nights, when +round the isles, and high toward heaven, flew the white reef’s rack and +foam, that then and there, kept chattering watch and ward, the myriads +that were ocean-tombed. + +But why these watery obsequies? + +Odo was but a little isle, and must the living make way for the dead, +and Life’s small colony be dislodged by Death’s grim hosts; as the +gaunt tribes of Tamerlane o’erspread the tented pastures of the Khan? + +And now, what follows, said these Islanders: “Why sow corruption in the +soil which yields us life? We would not pluck our grapes from over +graves. This earth’s an urn for flowers, not for ashes.” + +They said that Oro, the supreme, had made a cemetery of the sea. + +And what more glorious grave? Was Mausolus more sublimely urned? Or do +the minster-lamps that burn before the tomb of Charlemagne, show more +of pomp, than all the stars, that blaze above the shipwrecked mariner? + +But no more of the dead; men shrug their shoulders, and love not their +company; though full soon we shall all have them for fellows. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. +Yillah A Phantom + + +For a time we were happy in Odo: Yillah and I in our islet. Nor did the +pearl on her bosom glow more rosily than the roses in her cheeks; +though at intervals they waned and departed; and deadly pale was her +glance, when she murmured of the whirlpool and mosses. As pale my soul, +bethinking me of Aleema the priest. + +But day by day, did her spell weave round me its magic, and all the +hidden things of her being grew more lovely and strange. Did I commune +with a spirit? Often I thought that Paradise had overtaken me on earth, +and that Yillah was verily an angel, and hence the mysteries that +hallowed her. + +But how fleeting our joys. Storms follow bright dawnings.—Long memories +of short-lived scenes, sad thoughts of joyous hours—how common are ye +to all mankind. When happy, do we pause and say—“Lo, thy felicity, my +soul?” No: happiness seldom seems happiness, except when looked back +upon from woes. A flowery landscape, you must come out of, to behold. + +Sped the hours, the days, the one brief moment of our joys. Fairy bower +in the fair lagoon, scene of sylvan ease and heart’s repose,—Oh, +Yillah, Yillah! All the woods repeat the sound, the wild, wild woods of +my wild soul. Yillah! Yillah! cry the small strange voices in me, and +evermore, and far and deep, they echo on. + +Days passed. When one morning I found the arbor vacant. Gone! A dream. +I closed my eyes, and would have dreamed her back. In vain. Starting, I +called upon her name; but none replied. Fleeing from the islet, I +gained the neighboring shore, and searched among the woods; and my +comrades meeting, besought their aid. But idle all. No glimpse of +aught, save trees and flowers. Then Media was sought out; the event +made known; and quickly, bands were summoned to range the isle. + +Noon came; but no Yillah. When Media averred she was no longer in Odo. +Whither she was gone, or how, he knew not; nor could any imagine. + +At this juncture, there chanced to arrive certain messengers from +abroad; who, presuming that all was well with Taji, came with renewed +invitations to visit various pleasant places round about. Among these, +came Queen Hautia’s heralds, with their Iris flag, once more bringing +flowers. But they came and went unheeded. + +Setting out to return, these envoys were accompanied by numerous +followers of Media, dispatched to the neighboring islands, to seek out +the missing Yillah. But three days passed; and, one by one, they all +returned; and stood before me silently. + +For a time I raved. Then, falling into outer repose, lived for a space +in moods and reveries, with eyes that knew no closing, one glance +forever fixed. + +They strove to rouse me. Girls danced and sang; and tales of fairy +times were told; of monstrous imps, and youths enchanted; of groves and +gardens in the sea. Yet still I moved not, hearing all, yet noting +naught. Media cried, “For shame, oh Taji; thou, a god?” and placed a +spear in my nerveless hand. And Jarl loud called upon me to awake. +Samoa marveled. + +Still sped the days. And at length, my memory was restored. The +thoughts of things broke over me like returning billows on a beach long +bared. A rush, a foam of recollections!—Sweet Yillah gone, and I +bereaved. + +Another interval, and that mood was past. Misery became a memory. The +keen pang a deep vibration. The remembrance seemed the thing +remembered; though bowed with sadness. There are thoughts that lie and +glitter deep: tearful pearls beneath life’s sea, that surges still, and +rolls sunlit, whatever it may hide. Common woes, like fluids, mix all +round. Not so with that other grief. Some mourners load the air with +lamentations; but the loudest notes are struck from hollows. Their +tears flow fast: but the deep spring only wells. + +At last I turned to Media, saying I must hie from Odo, and rove +throughout all Mardi; for Yillah might yet be found. + +But hereafter, in words, little more of the maiden, till perchance her +fate be learned. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. +Taji Makes Three Acquaintances + + +Down to this period, I had restrained Samoa from wandering to the +neighboring islands, though he had much desired it, in compliance with +the invitations continually received. But now I informed both him, and +his comrade, of the tour I purposed; desiring their company. + +Upon the announcement of my intention to depart, to my no small +surprise Media also proposed to accompany me: a proposition gladly +embraced. It seems, that for some reason, he had not as yet extended +his travels to the more distant islands. Hence the voyage in prospect +was particularly agreeable to him. Nor did he forbear any pains to +insure its prosperity; assuring me, furthermore, that its object must +eventually be crowned with success. “I myself am interested in this +pursuit,” said he; “and trust me, Yillah will be found.” + +For the tour of the lagoon, the docile Chamois was proposed; but Media +dissented; saying, that it befitted not the lord of Odo to voyage in +the equipage of his guest. Therefore, three canoes were selected from +his own royal fleet. + +One for ourselves, and a trio of companions whom he purposed +introducing to my notice; the rest were reserved for attendants. + +Thanks to Media’s taste and heedfulness, the strangers above mentioned +proved truly acceptable. + +The first was Mohi, or Braid-Beard, so called from the manner in which +he wore that appendage, exceedingly long and gray. He was a venerable +teller of stories and legends, one of the Keepers of the Chronicles of +the Kings of Mardi. + +The second was Babbalanja, a man of a mystical aspect, habited in a +voluminous robe. He was learned in Mardian lore; much given to +quotations from ancient and obsolete authorities: the Ponderings of Old +Bardianna: the Pandects of Alla-Malolla. + +Third and last, was Yoomy, or the Warbler. A youthful, long-haired, +blue-eyed minstrel; all fits and starts; at times, absent of mind, and +wan of cheek; but always very neat and pretty in his apparel; wearing +the most becoming of turbans, a Bird of Paradise feather its plume, and +sporting the gayest of sashes. Most given was Yoomy to amorous +melodies, and rondos, and roundelays, very witching to hear. But at +times disdaining the oaten reed, like a clarion he burst forth with +lusty lays of arms and battle; or, in mournful strains, sounded elegies +for departed bards and heroes. + +Thus much for Yoomy as a minstrel. In other respects, it would be hard +to depict him. He was so capricious a mortal; so swayed by contrary +moods; so lofty, so humble, so sad, so merry; so made up of a thousand +contradictions, that we must e’en let him depict himself as our story +progresses. And herein it is hoped he will succeed; since no one in +Mardi comprehended him. + +Now the trio, thus destined for companions on our voyage, had for some +time been anxious to take the tour of the Archipelago. In particular, +Babbalanja had often expressed the most ardent desire to visit every +one of the isles, in quest of some object, mysteriously hinted. He +murmured deep concern for my loss, the sincerest sympathy; and pressing +my hand more than once, said lowly, “Your pursuit is mine, noble Taji. +Where’er you search, I follow.” + +So, too, Yoomy addressed me; but with still more feeling. And something +like this, also, Braid-Beard repeated. + +But to my sorrow, I marked that both Mohi and Babbalanja, especially +the last, seemed not so buoyant of hope, concerning lost Yillah, as the +youthful Yoomy, and his high-spirited lord, King Media. + +As our voyage would embrace no small period of time, it behoved King +Media to appoint some trustworthy regent, to rule during his absence. +This regent was found in Almanni, a stem-eyed, resolute warrior, a +kinsman of the king. + +All things at last in readiness, and the ensuing morning appointed for +a start, Media, on the beach, at eventide, when both light and water +waned, drew a rude map of the lagoon, to compensate for the +obstructions in the way of a comprehensive glance at it from Odo. + +And thus was sketched the plan of our voyage; which islands first to +visit; and which to touch at, when we should be homeward bound. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. +With A Fair Wind, At Sunrise They Sail + + +True each to his word, up came the sun, and round to my isle came +Media. + +How glorious a morning! The new-born clouds all dappled with gold, and +streaked with violet; the sun in high spirits; and the pleasant air +cooled overnight by the blending circumambient fountains, forever +playing all round the reef; the lagoon within, the coral-rimmed basin, +into which they poured, subsiding, hereabouts, into green tranquillity. + +But what monsters of canoes! Would they devour an innocent voyager? +their great black prows curling aloft, and thrown back like trunks of +elephants; a dark, snaky length behind, like the sea-serpent’s train. + +The prow of the foremost terminated in a large, open, shark’s mouth, +garnished with ten rows of pearly human teeth, curiously inserted into +the sculptured wood. The gunwale was ornamented with rows of rich +spotted Leopard and Tiger-shells; here and there, varied by others, +flat and round, and spirally traced; gay serpents petrified in coils. +These were imbedded in a grooved margin, by means of a resinous +compound, exhaling such spices, that the canoes were odoriferous as the +Indian chests of the Maldives. + +The likeness of the foremost canoe to an elephant, was helped by a sort +of canopied Howdah in its stern, of heavy, russet-dyed tappa, tasselled +at the corners with long bunches of cocoanut fibres, stained red. These +swayed to and fro, like the fox-tails on a Tuscarora robe. + +But what is this, in the head of the canoe, just under the shark’s +mouth? A grinning little imp of an image; a ring in its nose; cowrie +shells jingling at its ears; with an abominable leer, like that of +Silenus reeling on his ass. It was taking its ease; cosily smoking a +pipe; its bowl, a duodecimo edition of the face of the smoker. This +image looked sternward; everlastingly mocking us. + +Of these canoes, it may be well to state, that although during our stay +in Odo, so many barges and shallops had touched there, nothing similar +to Media’s had been seen. But inquiring whence his sea- equipage came, +we were thereupon taught to reverence the same as antiquities and +heir-looms; claw-keeled, dragon-prowed crafts of a bygone generation; +at present, superseded in general use by the more swan-like canoes, +significant of the advanced stage of marine architecture in Mardi. No +sooner was this known, than what had seemed almost hideous in my eyes, +became merely grotesque. Nor could I help being greatly delighted with +the good old family pride of our host. + +The upper corners of our sails displayed the family crest of Media; +three upright boars’ tusks, in an heraldic field argent. A fierce +device: Whom rends he? + +All things in readiness, we glided away: the multitude waving adieu; +and our flotilla disposed in the following order. + +First went the royal Elephant, carrying Media, myself, Jarl, and Samoa; +Mohi the Teller of Legends, Babbalanja, and Yoomy, and six vivacious +paddlers; their broad paddle-blades carved with the royal boars’ tusks, +the same tattooed on their chests for a livery. + +And thus, as Media had promised, we voyaged in state. To crown all, +seated sideways in the high, open shark’s-mouth of our prow was a +little dwarf of a boy, one of Media’s pages, a red conch-shell, +bugle-wise suspended at his side. Among various other offices, it was +the duty of little Vee-Vee to announce the advent of his master, upon +drawing near to the islands in our route. Two short bars, projecting +from one side of the prow, furnished him the means of ascent to his +perch. + +As we gained the open lagoon with bellied sails, and paddles playing, a +sheaf of foam borne upright at our prow; Yoomy, standing where the +spicy spray flew over him, stretched forth his hand and cried—“The dawn +of day is passed, and Mardi lies all before us: all her isles, and all +her lakes; all her stores of good and evil. Storms may come, our barks +may drown. But blow before us, all ye winds; give us a lively blast, +good clarion; rally round us all our wits; and be this voyage full +gayly sailed, for Yillah will yet be found.” + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. +Little King Peepi + + +Valapee, or the Isle of Yams, being within plain sight of Media’s +dominions, we were not very long in drawing nigh to its shores. + +Two long parallel elevations, rising some three arrow-flights into the +air, double-ridge the island’s entire length, lapping between, a +widening vale, so level withal, that at either extremity, the green of +its groves blends with the green of the lagoon; and the isle seems +divided by a strait. + +Within several paces of the beach, our canoes keeled the bottom, and +camel-like mutely hinted that we voyagers must dismount. + +Hereupon, the assembled islanders ran into the water, and with bent +shoulders obsequiously desired the honor of transporting us to land. +The beach gained, all present wearing robes instantly stripped them to +the waist; a naked chest being their salute to kings. Very convenient +for the common people, this; their half-clad forms presenting a +perpetual and profound salutation. + +Presently, Peepi, the ruler of Valapee drew near: a boy, hardly ten +years old, striding the neck of a burly mute, bearing a long spear +erect before him, to which was attached a canopy of five broad banana +leaves, new plucked. Thus shaded, little Peepi advanced, steadying +himself by the forelock of his bearer. + +Besides his bright red robe, the young prince wore nothing but the +symbol of Valapeean royalty; a string of small, close-fitting, concave +shells, coiled and ambushed in his profuse, curly hair; one end falling +over his ear, revealing a serpent’s head, curiously carved from a +nutmeg. + +Quite proverbial, the unembarrassed air of young slips of royalty. But +there was something so surprisingly precocious in this young Peepi, +that at first one hardly knew what to conclude. + +The first compliments over, the company were invited inland to a shady +retreat. + +As we pursued the path, walking between old Mohi the keeper of +chronicles and Samoa the Upoluan, Babbalanja besought the former to +enlighten a stranger concerning the history of this curious Peepi. +Whereupon the chronicler gave us the following account; for all of +which he alone is responsible. + +Peepi, it seems, had been proclaimed king before he was born; his sire +dying some few weeks previous to that event; and vacating his divan, +declared that he left a monarch behind. + +Marvels were told of Peepi. Along with the royal dignity, and +superadded to the soul possessed in his own proper person, the infant +monarch was supposed to have inherited the valiant spirits of some +twenty heroes, sages, simpletons, and demi-gods, previously lodged in +his sire. + +Most opulent in spiritual gifts was this lord of Valapee; the legatee, +moreover, of numerous anonymous souls, bequeathed to him by their late +loyal proprietors. By a slavish act of his convocation of chiefs, he +also possessed the reversion of all and singular the immortal spirits, +whose first grantees might die intestate in Valapee. Servile, yet +audacious senators! thus prospectively to administrate away the +inalienable rights of posterity. But while yet unborn, the people of +Valapee had been deprived of more than they now sought to wrest from +their descendants. And former Peepies, infant and adult, had received +homage more profound, than Peepi the Present. Witness the demeanor of +the chieftains of old, upon every new investiture of the royal serpent. +In a fever of loyalty, they were wont to present themselves before the +heir to the isle, to go through with the court ceremony of the Pupera; +a curious proceeding, so called: inverted endeavors to assume an erect +posture: the nasal organ the base. + +It was to the frequent practice of this ceremony, that most intelligent +observers imputed the flattened noses of the elderly chiefs of the +island; who, nevertheless, much gloried therein. + +It was these chiefs, also, who still observed the old-fashioned custom +of retiring from the presence of royalty with their heads between their +thighs; so that while advancing in the contrary direction, their faces +might be still deferentially turned toward their lord and master. A +fine view of him did they obtain. All objects look well through an +arch. + +But to return to Peepi, the inheritor of souls and subjects. It was an +article of faith with the people of Valapee, that Peepi not only +actually possessed the souls bequeathed to him; but that his own was +enriched by their peculiar qualities: The headlong valor of the late +Tongatona; the pusillanimous discretion of Blandoo; the cunning of +Voyo; the simplicity of Raymonda; the prodigality of Zonoree; the +thrift of Titonti. + +But had all these, and similar opposite qualities, simultaneously acted +as motives upon Peepi, certes, he would have been a most pitiable +mortal, in a ceaseless eddy of resolves, incapable of a solitary act. + +But blessed be the gods, it was otherwise. Though it fared little +better for his subjects as it was. His assorted souls were uppermost +and active in him, one by one. Today, valiant Tongatona ruled the isle, +meditating wars and invasions; tomorrow, thrice discreet Blandoo, who, +disbanding the levies, turned his attention to the terraces of yams. +And so on in rotation to the end. + +Whence, though capable of action, Peepi, by reason of these revolving +souls in him, was one of the most unreliable of beings. What the +open-handed Zonoree promised freely to-day, the parsimonious Titonti +withheld to-morrow; and forever Raymonda was annulling the doings of +Voyo; and Voyo the doings of Raymonda. + +What marvel then, that in Valapee all was legislative uproar and +confusion; advance and retreat; abrogations and revivals; foundations +without superstructures; nothing permanent but the island itself. + +Nor were there those in the neighboring countries, who failed to reap +profit from this everlasting transition state of the affairs of the +kingdom. All boons from Peepi were entreated when the prodigal Zonoree +was lord of the ascendant. And audacious claims were urged upon the +state when the pusillanimous Blandoo shrank from the thought of +resisting them. + +Thus subject to contrary impulses, over which he had not the faintest +control, Peepi was plainly denuded of all moral obligation to virtue. +He was no more a free agent, than the heart which beat in his bosom. +Wherefore, his complaisant parliament had passed a law, recognizing +that curious, but alarming fact; solemnly proclaiming, that King Peepi +was minus a conscience. Agreeable to truth. But when they went further, +and vowed by statute, that Peepi could do no wrong, they assuredly did +violence to the truth; besides, making a sad blunder in their logic. +For far from possessing an absolute aversion to evil, by his very +nature it was the hardest thing in the world for Peepi to do right. + +Taking all these things into consideration, then, no wonder that this +wholly irresponsible young prince should be a lad of considerable +assurance, and the easiest manners imaginable. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. +How Teeth Were Regarded In Valapee + + +Coiling through the thickets, like the track of a serpent, wound along +the path we pursued. And ere long we came to a spacious grove, +embowering an oval arbor. Here, we reclined at our ease, and +refreshments were served. + +Little worthy of mention occurred, save this. Happening to catch a +glimpse of the white even teeth of Hohora one of our attendants, King +Peepi coolly begged of Media the favor, to have those same dentals +drawn on the spot, and presented to him. + +Now human teeth, extracted, are reckoned among the most valuable +ornaments in Mardi. So open wide thy strong box, Hohora, and show thy +treasures. What a gallant array! standing shoulder to shoulder, without +a hiatus between. A complete set of jewelry, indeed, thought Peepi. +But, it seems, not destined for him; Media leaving it to the present +proprietor, whether his dentals should change owners or not. + +And here, to prepare the way for certain things hereafter to be +narrated, something farther needs be said concerning the light in which +men’s molars are regarded in Mardi. + +Strung together, they are sported for necklaces, or hung in drops from +the ear; they are wrought into dice; in lieu of silken locks, are +exchanged for love tokens. + +As in all lands, men smite their breasts, and tear their hair, when +transported with grief; so, in some countries, teeth are stricken out +under the sway of similar emotions. To a very great extent, this was +once practiced in the Hawaiian Islands, ere idol and altar went down. +Still living in Oahu, are many old chiefs, who were present at the +famous obsequies of their royal old generalissimo, Tammahammaha, when +there is no telling how many pounds of ivory were cast upon his grave. + +Ah! had the regal white elephants of Siam been there, doubtless they +had offered up their long, hooked tusks, whereon they impale the +leopards, their foes; and the unicorn had surrendered that fixed +bayonet in his forehead; and the imperial Cachalot-whale, the long +chain of white towers in his jaw; yea, over that grim warrior’s grave, +the mooses, and elks, and stags, and fallow-deer had stacked their +antlers, as soldiers their arms on the field. + +Terrific shade of tattooed Tammahammaha! if, from a vile dragon’s +molars, rose mailed men, what heroes shall spring from the cannibal +canines once pertaining to warriors themselves!—Am I the witch of +Endor, that I conjure up this ghost? Or, King Saul, that I so quake at +the sight? For, lo! roundabout me Tammahammaha’s tattooing expands, +till all the sky seems a tiger’s skin. But now, the spotted phantom +sweeps by; as a man-of-war’s main-sail, cloud-like, blown far to +leeward in a gale. + +Banquo down, we return. + +In Valapee, prevails not the barbarous Hindoo custom of offering up +widows to the shades of their lords; for, bereaved, the widows there +marry again. Nor yet prevails the savage Hawaiian custom of offering up +teeth to the manes of the dead; for, at the decease of a friend, the +people rob not their own mouths to testify their woe. On the contrary, +they extract the teeth from the departed, distributing them among the +mourners for memorial legacies; as elsewhere, silver spoons are +bestowed. + +From the high value ascribed to dentals throughout the archipelago of +Mardi, and also from their convenient size, they are circulated as +money; strings of teeth being regarded by these people very much as +belts of wampum among the Winnebagoes of the North; or cowries, among +the Bengalese. So, that in Valapee the very beggars are born with a +snug investment in their mouths; too soon, however, to be appropriated +by their lords; leaving them toothless for the rest of their days, and +forcing them to diet on poee-pudding and banana blanc-mange. + +As a currency, teeth are far less clumsy than cocoanuts; which, among +certain remote barbarians, circulate for coin; one nut being +equivalent, perhaps, to a penny. The voyager who records the fact, +chuckles over it hugely; as evincing the simplicity of those heathens; +not knowing that he himself was the simpleton; since that currency of +theirs was purposely devised by the men, to check the extravagance of +their women; cocoanuts, for spending money, being such a burden to +carry. + +It only remains to be added, that the most solemn oath of a native of +Valapee is that sworn by his tooth. “By this tooth,” said Bondo to +Noojoomo, “by this tooth I swear to be avenged upon thee, oh Noojoomo!” + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. +The Company Discourse, And Braid-Beard Rehearses A Legend + + +Finding in Valapee no trace of her whom we sought, and but little +pleased with the cringing demeanor of the people, and the wayward +follies of Peepi their lord, we early withdrew from the isle. + +As we glided away, King Media issued a sociable decree. He declared it +his royal pleasure, that throughout the voyage, all stiffness and state +etiquette should be suspended: nothing must occur to mar the freedom of +the party. To further this charming plan, he doffed his symbols of +royalty, put off his crown, laid aside his scepter, and assured us that +he would not wear them again, except when we landed; and not +invariably, then. + +“Are we not all now friends and companions?” he said. “So companions +and friends let us be. I unbend my bow; do ye likewise.” + +“But are we not to be dignified?” asked Babbalanja. + +“If dignity be free and natural, be as dignified as you please; but +away with rigidities.” + +“Away they go,” said Babbalanja; “and, my lord, now that you mind me of +it, I have often thought, that it is all folly and vanity for any man +to attempt a dignified carriage. Why, my lord,”—frankly crossing his +legs where he lay—“the king, who receives his ambassadors with a +majestic toss of the head, may have just recovered from the tooth- +ache. That thought should cant over the spine he bears so bravely.” + +“Have a care, sir! there is a king within hearing.” + +“Pardon, my lord; I was merely availing myself of the immunity bestowed +upon the company. Hereafter, permit a subject to rebel against your +sociable decrees. I will not be so frank any more.” + +“Well put, Babbalanja; come nearer; here, cross your legs by mine; you +have risen a cubit in my regard. Vee-Vee, bring us that gourd of wine; +so, pass it round with the cups. Now, Yoomy, a song!” + +And a song was sung. + +And thus did we sail; pleasantly reclining on the mats stretched out +beneath the canopied howdah. + +At length, we drew nigh to a rock, called Pella, or The Theft. A high, +green crag, toppling over its base, and flinging a cavernous shadow +upon the lagoon beneath, bubbling with the moisture that dropped. + +Passing under this cliff was like finding yourself, as some sea- +hunters unexpectedly have, beneath the open, upper jaw of a whale; +which, descending, infallibly entombs you. But familiar with the rock, +our paddlers only threw back their heads, to catch the cool, pleasant +tricklings from the mosses above. + +Wiping away several glittering beads from his beard, old Mohi turning +round where he sat, just outside the canopy, solemnly affirmed, that +the drinking of that water had cured many a man of ambition. + +“How so, old man?” demanded Media. + +“Because of its passing through the ashes of ten kings, of yore buried +in a sepulcher, hewn in the heart of the rock.” + +“Mighty kings, and famous, doubtless,” said Babbalanja, “whose bones +were thought worthy of so noble and enduring as urn. Pray, Mohi, their +names and terrible deeds.” + +“Alas! their sepulcher only remains.” + +“And, no doubt, like many others, they made that sepul for themselves. +They sleep sound, my word for it, old man. But I very much question, +if, were the rock rent, any ashes would be found. Mohi, I deny that +those kings ever had any bones to bury.” + +“Why, Babbalanja,” said Media, “since you intimate that they never had +ghosts to give up, you ignore them in toto; denying the very fact of +their being even defunct.” + +“Ten thousand pardons, my lord, no such discourtesy would I do the +anonymous memory of the illustrious dead. But whether they ever lived +or not, it is all the same with them now. Yet, grant that they lived; +then, if death be a deaf-and-dumb death, a triumphal procession over +their graves would concern them not. If a birth into brightness, then +Mardi must seem to them the most trivial of reminiscences. Or, perhaps, +theirs may be an utter lapse of memory concerning sublunary things; and +they themselves be not themselves, as the butterfly is not the larva.” + +Said Yoomy, “Then, Babbalanja, you account that a fit illustration of +the miraculous change to be wrought in man after death?” + +“No; for the analogy has an unsatisfactory end. From its chrysalis +state, the silkworm but becomes a moth, that very quickly expires. Its +longest existence is as a worm. All vanity, vanity, Yoomy, to seek in +nature for positive warranty to these aspirations of ours. Through all +her provinces, nature seems to promise immortality to life, but +destruction to beings. Or, as old Bardianna has it, if not against us, +nature is not for us.” + +Said Media, rising, “Babbalanja, you have indeed put aside the +courtier; talking of worms and caterpillars to me, a king and a demi- +god! To renown, for your theme: a more agreeable topic.” + +“Pardon, once again, my lord. And since you will, let us discourse of +that subject. First, I lay it down for an indubitable maxim, that in +itself all posthumous renown, which is the only renown, is valueless. +Be not offended, my lord. To the nobly ambitious, renown hereafter may +be something to anticipate. But analyzed, that feverish typhoid feeling +of theirs may be nothing more than a flickering fancy, that now, while +living, they are recognized as those who will be as famous in their +shrouds, as in their girdles.” + +Said Yoomy, “But those great and good deeds, Babbalanja, of which the +philosophers so often discourse: must it not be sweet to believe that +their memory will long survive us; and we ourselves in them?” + +“I speak now,” said Babbalanja, “of the ravening for fame which even +appeased, like thirst slaked in the desert, yields no felicity, but +only relief; and which discriminates not in aught that will satisfy its +cravings. But let me resume. Not an hour ago, Braid-Beard was telling +us that story of prince Ottimo, who inodorous while living, expressed +much delight at the prospect of being perfumed and embalmed, when dead. +But was not Ottimo the most eccentric of mortals? For few men issue +orders for their shrouds, to inspect their quality beforehand. Far more +anxious are they about the texture of the sheets in which their living +limbs lie. And, my lord, with some rare exceptions, does not all Mardi, +by its actions, declare, that it is far better to be notorious now, +than famous hereafter?” + +“A base sentiment, my lord,” said Yoomy. “Did not poor Bonja, the +unappreciated poet, console himself for the neglect of his +contemporaries, by inspiriting thoughts of the future?” + +“In plain words by bethinking him of the glorious harvest of bravos his +ghost would reap for him,” said Babbalanja; “but Banjo,—Bonjo,—Binjo,—I +never heard of him.” + +“Nor I,” said Mohi. + +“Nor I,” said Media. + +“Poor fellow!” cried Babbalanja; “I fear me his harvest is not yet +ripe.” + +“Alas!” cried Yoomy; “he died more than a century ago.” + +“But now that you speak of unappreciated poets, Yoomy,” said +Babbalanja, “Shall I give you a piece of my mind?” “Do,” said Mohi, +stroking his beard. + +“He, who on all hands passes for a cypher to-day, if at all remembered +hereafter, will be sure to pass for the same. For there is more +likelihood of being overrated while living, than of being underrated +when dead. And to insure your fame, you must die.” + +“A rather discouraging thought for your race. But answer: I assume that +King Media is but a mortal like you; now, how may I best perpetuate my +name?” + +Long pondered Babbalanja; then said, “Carve it, my lord, deep into a +ponderous stone, and sink it, face downward, into the sea; for the +unseen foundations of the deep are more enduring than the palpable tops +of the mountains.” + +Sailing past Pella, we gained a view of its farther side; and seated in +a lofty cleft, beheld a lonely fisherman; solitary as a seal on an +iceberg; his motionless line in the water. + +“What recks he of the ten kings,” said Babbalanja. + +“Mohi,” said Media, “methinks there is another tradition concerning +that rock: let us have it.” + +“In old times of genii and giants, there dwelt in barren lands, not +very remote from our outer reef, but since submerged, a band of evil- +minded, envious goblins, furlongs in stature, and with immeasurable +arms; who from time to time cast covetous glances upon our blooming +isles. Long they lusted; till at last, they waded through the sea, +strode over the reef, and seizing the nearest islet, rolled it over and +over, toward an adjoining outlet. + +“But the task was hard; and day-break surprised them in the midst of +their audacious thieving; while in the very act of giving the devoted +land another doughty surge and Somerset. Leaving it bottom upward and +midway poised, gardens under water, its foundations in air, they +precipitately fled; in their great haste, deserting a comrade, vainly +struggling to liberate his foot caught beneath the overturned land.” + +“This poor fellow now raised such an outcry, as to awaken the god Upi, +or the Archer, stretched out on a long cloud in the East; who forthwith +resolved to make an example of the unwilling lingerer. Snatching his +bow, he let fly an arrow. But overshooting its mark, it pierced through +and through, the lofty promontory of a neighboring island; making an +arch in it, which remaineth even unto this day. A second arrow, +however, accomplished its errand: the slain giant sinking prone to the +bottom.” + +“And now,” added Mohi, “glance over the gunwale, and you will see his +remains petrified into white ribs of coral.” + +“Ay, there they are,” said Yoomy, looking down into the water where +they gleamed. “A fanciful legend, Braid-beard.” + +“Very entertaining,” said Media. + +“Even so,” said Babbalanja. “But perhaps we lost time in listening to +it; for though we know it, we are none the wiser.” + +“Be not a cynic,” said Media. “No pastime is lost time.” + +Musing a moment, Babbalanja replied, “My lord, that maxim may be good +as it stands; but had you made six words of it, instead of six +syllables, you had uttered a better and a deeper.” + + + + +CHAPTER LXX. +The Minstrel Leads Off With A Paddle-Song; And A Message Is Received +From Abroad + + +From seaward now came a breeze so blithesome and fresh, that it made us +impatient of Babbalanja’s philosophy, and Mohi’s incredible legends. +One and all, we called upon the minstrel Yoomy to give us something in +unison with the spirited waves wide-foaming around us. + +“If my lord will permit, we will give Taji the Paddle-Chant of the +warriors of King Bello.” + +“By all means,” said Media. + +So the three canoes were brought side to side; their sails rolled up; +and paddles in hand, our paddlers seated themselves sideways on the +gunwales; Yoomy, as leader, occupying the place of the foremast, or +Bow-Paddler of the royal barge. + +Whereupon the six rows of paddle-blades being uplifted, and every eye +on the minstrel, this song was sung, with actions corresponding; the +canoes at last shooting through the water, with a violent roll. + + (All.) + Thrice waved on high, + Our paddles fly: +Thrice round the head, thrice dropt to feet: + And then well timed, + Of one stout mind, +All fall, and back the waters heap! + + (Bow-Paddler.) + Who lifts this chant? + Who sounds this vaunt? + + (All.) +The wild sea song, to the billows’ throng, + Rising, falling, + Hoarsely calling, +Now high, now low, as fast we go, +Fast on our flying foe! + + (Bow-Paddler.) + Who lifts this chant? + Who sounds this vaunt? + + (All.) +Dip, dip, in the brine our paddles dip, +Dip, dip, the fins of our swimming ship! + How the waters part, + As on we dart; + Our sharp prows fly, + And curl on high, +As the upright fin of the rushing shark, +Rushing fast and far on his flying mark! + Like him we prey; + Like him we slay; + Swim on the fog, + Our prow a blow! + + (Bow-Paddler.) + Who lifts this chant? + Who sounds this vaunt? + + (All.) +Heap back; heap back; the waters back! +Pile them high astern, in billows black; + Till we leave our wake, + In the slope we make; + And rush and ride, + On the torrent’s tide! + + +Here we were overtaken by a swift gliding canoe, which, bearing down +upon us before the wind, lowered its sail when close by: its occupants +signing our paddlers to desist. + +I started. + +The strangers were three hooded damsels the enigmatical Queen Hautia’s +heralds. + +Their pursuit surprised and perplexed me. Nor was there wanting a vague +feeling of alarm to heighten these emotions. But perhaps I was +mistaken, and this time they meant not me. + +Seated in the prow, the foremost waved her Iris flag. Cried Yoomy, +“Some message! Taji, that Iris points to you.” + +It was then, I first divined, that some meaning must have lurked in +those flowers they had twice brought me before. + +The second damsel now flung over to me Circe flowers; then, a faded +jonquil, buried in a tuft of wormwood leaves. + +The third sat in the shallop’s stern, and as it glided from us, thrice +waved oleanders. + +“What dumb show is this?” cried Media. “But it looks like poetry: +minstrel, you should know.” + +“Interpret then,” said I. + +“Shall I, then, be your Flora’s flute, and Hautia’s dragoman? Held +aloft, the Iris signified a message. These purple-woven Circe flowers +mean that some spell is weaving. That golden, pining jonquil, which you +hold, buried in those wormwood leaves, says plainly to you—Bitter love +in absence.” + +Said Media, “Well done, Taji, you have killed a queen.” “Yet no Queen +Hautia have these eyes beheld.” + +Said Babbalanja, “The thrice waved oleanders, Yoomy; what meant they?” + +“Beware—beware—beware.” + +“Then that, at least, seems kindly meant,” said Babbalanja; “Taji, +beware of Hautia.” + + + + +CHAPTER LXXI. +They Land Upon The Island Of Juam + + +Crossing the lagoon, our course now lay along the reef to Juam; a name +bestowed upon one of the largest islands hereabout; and also, +collectively, upon several wooded isles engulfing it, which together +were known as the dominions of one monarch. That monarch was Donjalolo. +Just turned of twenty-five, he was accounted not only the handsomest +man in his dominions, but throughout the lagoon. His comeliness, +however, was so feminine, that he was sometimes called “Fonoo,” or the +Girl. + +Our first view of Juam was imposing. A dark green pile of cliffs, +towering some one hundred toises; at top, presenting a range of steep, +gable-pointed projections; as if some Titanic hammer and chisel had +shaped the mass. + +Sailing nearer, we perceived an extraordinary rolling of the sea; which +bursting into the lagoon through an adjoining breach in the reef, +surged toward Juam in enormous billows. At last, dashing against the +wall of the cliff; they played there in unceasing fountains. But under +the brow of a beetling crag, the spray came and went unequally. There, +the blue billows seemed swallowed up, and lost. + +Right regally was Juam guarded. For, at this point, the rock was +pierced by a cave, into which the great waves chased each other like +lions; after a hollow, subterraneous roaring issuing forth with manes +disheveled. + +Cautiously evading the dangerous currents here ruffling the lagoon, we +rounded the wall of cliff; and shot upon a smooth expanse; on one side, +hemmed in by the long, verdent, northern shore of Juam; and across the +water, sentineled by its tributary islets. + +With sonorous Vee-Vee in the shark’s mouth, we swept toward the beach, +tumultuous with a throng. + +Our canoes were secured. And surrounded by eager glances, we passed the +lower ends of several populous valleys; and crossing a wide, open +meadow, gradually ascending, came to a range of light-green bluffs. +Here, we wended our way down a narrow defile, almost cleaving this +quarter of the island to its base. Black crags frowned overhead: among +them the shouts of the Islanders reverberated. Yet steeper grew the +defile, and more overhanging the crags till at last, the keystone of +the arch seemed dropped into its place. We found ourselves in a +subterranean tunnel, dimly lighted by a span of white day at the end. + +Emerging, what a scene was revealed! All round, embracing a circuit of +some three leagues, stood heights inaccessible, here and there, forming +buttresses, sheltering deep recesses between. The bosom of the place +was vivid with verdure. + +Shining aslant into this wild hollow, the afternoon sun lighted up its +eastern side with tints of gold. But opposite, brooded a somber shadow, +double-shading the secret places between the salient spurs of the +mountains. Thus cut in twain by masses of day and night, it seemed as +if some Last Judgment had been enacted in the glen. + +No sooner did we emerge from the defile, than we became sensible of a +dull, jarring sound; and Yoomy was almost tempted to turn and flee, +when informed that the sea-cavern, whose mouth we had passed, was +believed to penetrate deep into the opposite hills; and that the +surface of the amphitheater was depressed beneath that of the lagoon. +But all over the lowermost hillsides, and sloping into the glen, stood +grand old groves; still and stately, as if no insolent waves were +throbbing in the mountain’s heart. + +Such was Willamilla, the hereditary abode of the young monarch of Juam. + +Was Yillah immured in this strange retreat? But from those around us +naught could we learn. + +Our attention was now directed to the habitations of the glen; +comprised in two handsome villages; one to the west, the other to the +east; both stretching along the base of the cliffs. + +Said Media, “Had we arrived at Willamilla in the morning, we had found +Donjalolo and his court in the eastern village; but being afternoon, we +must travel farther, and seek him in his western retreat; for that is +now in the shade.” + +Wending our way, Media added, that aside from his elevated station as a +monarch, Donjalolo was famed for many uncommon traits; but more +especially for certain peculiar deprivations, under which he labored. + +Whereupon Braid-Beard unrolled his old chronicles; and regaled us with +the history, which will be found in the following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXII. +A Book From The Chronicles Of Mohi + + +Many ages ago, there reigned in Juam a king called Teei. This Teei’s +succession to the sovereignty was long disputed by his brother Marjora; +who at last rallying round him an army, after many vicissitudes, +defeated the unfortunate monarch in a stout fight of clubs on the +beach. + +In those days, Willamilla during a certain period of the year was a +place set apart for royal games and diversions; and was furnished with +suitable accommodations for king and court. From its peculiar position, +moreover, it was regarded as the last stronghold of the Juam monarchy: +in remote times having twice withstood the most desperate assaults from +without. And when Roonoonoo, a famous upstart, sought to subdue all the +isles in this part of the Archipelago, it was to Willamilla that the +banded kings had repaired to take counsel together; and while there +conferring, were surprised at the sudden onslaught of Roonoonoo in +person. But in the end, the rebel was captured, he and all his army, +and impaled on the tops of the hills. + +Now, defeated and fleeing for his life, Teei with his surviving +followers was driven across the plain toward the mountains. But to cut +him off from all escape to inland Willamilla, Marjora dispatched a +fleet band of warriors to occupy the entrance of the defile. +Nevertheless, Teei the pursued ran faster than his pursuers; first +gained the spot; and with his chiefs, fled swiftly down the gorge, +closely hunted by Marjora’s men. But arriving at the further end, they +in vain sought to defend it. And after much desperate fighting, the +main body of the foe corning up with great slaughter the fugitives were +driven into the glen. + +They ran to the opposite wall of cliff; where turning, they fought at +bay, blood for blood, and life for life, till at last, overwhelmed by +numbers, they were all put to the point of the spear. + +With fratricidal hate, singled out by the ferocious Marjora, Teei fell +by that brother’s hand. When stripping from the body the regal girdle, +the victor wound it round his own loins; thus proclaiming himself king +over Juam. + +Long torn by this intestine war, the island acquiesced in the new +sovereignty. But at length a sacred oracle declared, that since the +conqueror had slain his brother in deep Willamilla, so that Teei never +more issued from that refuge of death; therefore, the same fate should +be Marjora’s; for never, thenceforth, from that glen, should he go +forth; neither Marjora; nor any son of his girdled loins; nor his son’s +sons; nor the uttermost scion of his race. + +But except this denunciation, naught was denounced against the usurper; +who, mindful of the tenure by which he reigned, ruled over the island +for many moons; at his death bequeathing the girdle to his son. + +In those days, the wildest superstitions concerning the interference of +the gods in things temporal, prevailed to a much greater extent than at +present. Hence Marjora himself, called sometimes in the traditions of +the island, The-Heart-of-Black-Coral, even unscrupulous Marjora had +quailed before the oracle. “He bowed his head,” say the legends. Nor +was it then questioned, by his most devoted adherents, that had he +dared to act counter to that edict, he had dropped dead, the very +instant he went under the shadow of the defile. This persuasion also +guided the conduct of the son of Marjora, and that of his grandson. + +But there at last came to pass a change in the popular fancies +concerning this ancient anathema. The penalty denounced against the +posterity of the usurper should they issue from the glen, came to be +regarded as only applicable to an invested monarch, not to his +relatives, or heirs. + +A most favorable construction of the ban; for all those related to the +king, freely passed in and out of Willamilla. + +From the time of the usurpation, there had always been observed a +certain ceremony upon investing the heir to the sovereignty with the +girdle of Teei. Upon these occasions, the chief priests of the island +were present, acting an important part. For the space of as many days, +as there had reigned kings of Marjora’s dynasty, the inner mouth of the +defile remained sealed; the new monarch placing the last stone in the +gap. This symbolized his relinquishment forever of all purpose of +passing out of the glen. And without this observance, was no king +girdled in Juam. + +It was likewise an invariable custom, for the heir to receive the regal +investiture immediately upon the decease of his sire. No delay was +permitted. And instantly upon being girdled, he proceeded to take part +in the ceremony of closing the cave; his predecessor yet remaining +uninterred on the purple mat where he died. + +In the history of the island, three instances were recorded; wherein, +upon the vacation of the sovereignty, the immediate heir had +voluntarily renounced all claim to the succession, rather than +surrender the privilege of roving, to which he had been entitled, as a +prince of the blood. + +Said Rani, one of these young princes, in reply to the remonstrances of +his friends, “What! shall I be a king, only to be a slave? Teei’s +girdle would clasp my waist less tightly, than my soul would be banded +by the mountains of Willamilla. A subject, I am free. No slave in Juam +but its king; for all the tassels round his loins.” + +To guard against a similar resolution in the mind of his only son, the +wise sire of Donjalolo, ardently desirous of perpetuating his dignities +in a child so well beloved, had from his earliest infancy, restrained +the boy from passing out of the glen, to contract in the free air of +the Archipelago, tastes and predilections fatal to the inheritance of +the girdle. + +But as he grew in years, so impatient became young Donjalolo of the +king his father’s watchfulness over him, though hitherto a most dutiful +son, that at last he was prevailed upon by his youthful companions to +appoint a day, on which to go abroad, and visit Mardi. Hearing this +determination, the old king sought to vanquish it. But in vain. And +early on the morning of the day, that Donjalolo was to set out, he +swallowed poison, and died; in order to force his son into the instant +assumption of the honors thus suddenly inherited. + +The event, but not its dreadful circumstances, was communicated to the +prince; as with a gay party of young chiefs, he was about to enter the +mouth of the defile. + +“My sire dead!” cried Donjalolo. “So sudden, it seems a bolt from +Heaven.” And bursting into exclamations of grief, he wept upon the +bosom of Talara his friend. + +But starting from his side:—“My fate converges to a point. If I but +cross that shadow, my kingdom is lost. One lifting of my foot, and the +girdle goes to my proud uncle Darfi, who would so joy to be my master. +Haughty Dwarf! Oh Oro! would that I had ere this passed thee, fatal +cavern; and seen for myself, what outer Mardi is. Say ye true, +comrades, that Willamilla is less lovely than the valleys without? that +there is bright light in the eyes of the maidens of Mina? and wisdom in +the hearts of the old priests of Maramma; that it is pleasant to tread +the green earth where you will; and breathe the free ocean air? Would, +oh would, that I were but the least of yonder sun-clouds, that look +down alike on Willamilla and all places besides, that I might determine +aright. Yet why do I pause? did not Rani, and Atama, and Mardonna, my +ancestors, each see for himself, free Mardi; and did they not fly the +proffered girdle; choosing rather to be free to come and go, than bury +themselves forever in this fatal glen? Oh Mardi! Mardi! art thou then +so fair to see? Is liberty a thing so glorious? Yet can I be no king, +and behold thee! Too late, too late, to view thy charms and then +return. My sire! my sire! thou hast wrung my heart with this agony of +doubt. Tell me, comrades,—for ye have seen it,—is Mardi sweeter to +behold, than it is royal to reign over Juam? Silent, are ye? Knowing +what ye do, were ye me, would ye be kings? Tell me, Talara.—No king: no +king:—that were to obey, and not command. And none hath Donjalolo ere +obeyed but the king his father. A king, and my voice may be heard in +farthest Mardi, though I abide in narrow Willamilla. My sire! my sire! +Ye flying clouds, what look ye down upon? Tell me, what ye see abroad? +Methinks sweet spices breathe from out the cave.” + +“Hail, Donjalolo, King of Juam,” now sounded with acclamations from the +groves. + +Starting, the young prince beheld a multitude approaching: warriors +with spears, and maidens with flowers; and Kubla, a priest, lifting on +high the tasseled girdle of Teei, and waving it toward him. + +The young chiefs fell back. Kubla, advancing, came close to the prince, +and unclasping the badge of royalty, exclaimed, “Donjalolo, this +instant it is king or subject with thee: wilt thou be girdled monarch?” + +Gazing one moment up the dark defile, then staring vacantly, Donjalolo +turned and met the eager gaze of Darfi. Stripping off his mantle, the +next instant he was a king. + +Loud shouted the multitude, and exulted; but after mutely assisting at +the closing of the cavern, the new-girdled monarch retired sadly to his +dwelling, and was not seen again for many days. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIII. +Something More Of The Prince + + +Previous to recording our stay in his dominions, it only remains to be +related of Donjalolo, that after assuming the girdle, a change came +over him. + +During the lifetime of his father, he had been famed for his temperance +and discretion. But when Mardi was forever shut out; and he remembered +the law of his isle, interdicting abdication to its kings; he gradually +fell into desperate courses, to drown the emotions at times distracting +him. + +His generous spirit thirsting after some energetic career, found itself +narrowed down within the little glen of Willamilla, where ardent +impulses seemed idle. But these are hard to die; and repulsed all +round, recoil upon themselves. + +So with Donjalolo; who, in many a riotous scene, wasted the powers +which might have compassed the noblest designs. + +Not many years had elapsed since the death of the king, his father. But +the still youthful prince was no longer the bright-eyed and elastic boy +who at the dawn of day had sallied out to behold the landscapes of the +neighboring isles. + +Not more effeminate Sardanapalus, than he. And, at intervals, he was +the victim of unaccountable vagaries; haunted by specters, and beckoned +to by the ghosts of his sires. + +At times, loathing his vicious pursuits, which brought him no solid +satisfaction, but ever filled him with final disgust, he would resolve +to amend his ways; solacing himself for his bitter captivity, by the +society of the wise and discreet. + +But brief the interval of repentance. Anew, he burst into excesses, a +hundred fold more insane than ever. + +Thus vacillating between virtue and vice; to neither constant, and +upbraided by both; his mind, like his person in the glen, was +continually passing and repassing between opposite extremes. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV. +Advancing Deeper Into The Vale, They Encounter Donjalolo + + +From the mouth of the cavern, a broad shaded way over-arched by +fraternal trees embracing in mid-air, conducted us to a cross-path, on +either hand leading to the opposite cliffs, shading the twin villages +before mentioned. + +Level as a meadow, was the bosom of the glen. Here, nodding with green +orchards of the Bread-fruit and the Palm; there, flashing with golden +plantations of the Banana. Emerging from these, we came out upon a +grassy mead, skirting a projection of the mountain. And soon we crossed +a bridge of boughs, spanning a trench, thickly planted with roots of +the Tara, like alligators, or Hollanders, reveling in the soft +alluvial. Strolling on, the wild beauty of the mountains excited our +attention. The topmost crags poured over with vines; which, undulating +in the air, seemed leafy cascades; their sources the upland groves. + +Midway up the precipice, along a shelf of rock, sprouted the +multitudinous roots of an apparently trunkless tree. Shooting from +under the shallow soil, they spread all over the rocks below, covering +them with an intricate net-work. While far aloft, great boughs—each a +copse—clambered to the very summit of the mountain; then bending over, +struck anew into the soil; forming along the verge an interminable +colonnade; all manner of antic architecture standing against the sky. + +According to Mohi, this tree was truly wonderful; its seed having been +dropped from the moon; where were plenty more similar forests, causing +the dark spots on its surface. + +Here and there, the cool fluid in the veins of the mountains gushed +forth in living springs; their waters received in green mossy tanks, +half buried in grasses. + +In one place, a considerable stream, bounding far out from a wooded +height, ere reaching the ground was dispersed in a wide misty shower, +falling so far from the base of the cliff; that walking close +underneath, you felt little moisture. Passing this fall of vapors, we +spied many Islanders taking a bath. + +But what is yonder swaying of the foliage? And what now issues forth, +like a habitation astir? Donjalolo drawing nigh to his guests. + +He came in a fair sedan; a bower, resting upon three long, parallel +poles, borne by thirty men, gayly attired; five at each pole-end. +Decked with dyed tappas, and looped with garlands of newly-plucked +flowers, from which, at every step, the fragrant petals were blown; +with a sumptuous, elastic motion the gay sedan came on; leaving behind +it a long, rosy wake of fluttering leaves and odors. + +Drawing near, it revealed a slender, enervate youth, of pallid beauty, +reclining upon a crimson mat, near the festooned arch of the bower. His +anointed head was resting against the bosom of a girl; another stirred +the air, with a fan of Pintado plumes. The pupils of his eyes were as +floating isles in the sea. In a soft low tone he murmured “Media!” + +The bearers paused; and Media advancing; the Island Kings bowed their +foreheads together. + +Through tubes ignited at the end, Donjaloln’s reclining attendants now +blew an aromatic incense around him. These were composed of the +stimulating leaves of the “Aina,” mixed with the long yellow blades of +a sweet-scented upland grass; forming a hollow stem. In general, the +agreeable fumes of the “Aina” were created by one’s own inhalations; +but Donjalolo deeming the solace too dearly purchased by any exertion +of the royal lungs, regaled himself through those of his attendants, +whose lips were as moss-rose buds after a shower. + +In silence the young prince now eyed us attentively; meanwhile gently +waving his hand, to obtain a better view through the wreaths of vapor. +He was about to address us, when chancing to catch a glimpse of Samoa, +he suddenly started; averted his glance; and wildly commanded the +warrior out of sight. Upon this, his attendants would have soothed him; +and Media desired the Upoluan to withdraw. + +While we were yet lost in wonder at this scene, Donjalolo, with eyes +closed, fell back into the arms of his damsels. Recovering, he fetched +a deep sigh, and gazed vacantly around. + +It seems, that he had fancied Samoa the noon-day specter of his +ancestor Marjora; the usurper having been deprived of an arm in the +battle which gained him the girdle. Poor prince: this was one of those +crazy conceits, so puzzling to his subjects. + +Media now hastened to assure Donjalolo, that Samoa, though no cherub to +behold, was good flesh and blood, nevertheless. And soon the king +unconcernedly gazed; his monomania having departed as a dream. + +But still suffering from the effects of an overnight feast, he +presently murmured forth a desire to be left to his women; adding that +his people would not fail to provide for the entertainment of his +guests. + +The curtains of the sedan were now drawn; and soon it disappeared in +the groves. Journeying on, ere long we arrived at the western side of +the glen; where one of the many little arbors scattered among the +trees, was assigned for our abode. Here, we reclined to an agreeable +repast. After which, we strolled forth to view the valley at large; +more especially the far-famed palaces of the prince. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXV. +Time And Temples + + +In the oriental Pilgrimage of the pious old Purchas, and in the fine +old folio Voyages of Hakluyt, Thevenot, Ramusio, and De Bry, we read of +many glorious old Asiatic temples, very long in erecting. And veracious +Gaudentia di Lucca hath a wondrous narration of the time consumed in +rearing that mighty three-hundred-and-seventy-five- pillared Temple of +the Year, somewhere beyond Libya; whereof, the columns did signify +days, and all round fronted upon concentric zones of palaces, cross-cut +by twelve grand avenues symbolizing the signs of the zodiac, all +radiating from the sun-dome in their midst. And in that wild eastern +tale of his, Marco Polo tells us, how the Great Mogul began him a +pleasure-palace on so imperial a scale, that his grandson had much ado +to complete it. + +But no matter for marveling all this: great towers take time to +construct. + +And so of all else. + +And that which long endures full-fledged, must have long lain in the +germ. And duration is not of the future, but of the past; and eternity +is eternal, because it has been, and though a strong new monument be +builded to-day, it only is lasting because its blocks are old as the +sun. It is not the Pyramids that are ancient, but the eternal granite +whereof they are made; which had been equally ancient though yet in the +quarry. For to make an eternity, we must build with eternities; whence, +the vanity of the cry for any thing alike durable and new; and the +folly of the reproach—Your granite hath come from the old-fashioned +hills. For we are not gods and creators; and the controversialists have +debated, whether indeed the All-Plastic Power itself can do more than +mold. In all the universe is but one original; and the very suns must +to their source for their fire; and we Prometheuses must to them for +ours; which, when had, only perpetual Vestal tending will keep alive. + +But let us back from fire to store. No fine firm fabric ever yet grew +like a gourd. Nero’s House of Gold was not raised in a day; nor the +Mexican House of the Sun; nor the Alhambra; nor the Escurial; nor +Titus’s Amphitheater; nor the Illinois Mounds; nor Diana’s great +columns at Ephesus; nor Pompey’s proud Pillar; nor the Parthenon; nor +the Altar of Belus; nor Stonehenge; nor Solomon’s Temple; nor Tadmor’s +towers; nor Susa’s bastions; nor Persepolis’ pediments. Round and +round, the Moorish turret at Seville was not wound heavenward in the +revolution of a day; and from its first founding, five hundred years +did circle, ere Strasbourg’s great spire lifted its five hundred feet +into the air. No: nor were the great grottos of Elephanta hewn out in +an hour; nor did the Troglodytes dig Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave in a sun; +nor that of Trophonius, nor Antiparos; nor the Giant’s Causeway. Nor +were the subterranean arched sewers of Etruria channeled in a trice; +nor the airy arched aqueducts of Nerva thrown over their values in the +ides of a month. Nor was Virginia’s Natural Bridge worn under in a +year; nor, in geology, were the eternal Grampians upheaved in an age. +And who shall count the cycles that revolved ere earth’s interior +sedimentary strata were crystalized into stone. Nor Peak of Piko, nor +Teneriffe, were chiseled into obelisks in a decade; nor had Mount Athos +been turned into Alexander’s statue so soon. And the bower of +Artaxerxes took a whole Persian summer to grow; and the Czar’s Ice +Palace a long Muscovite winter to congéal. No, no: nor was the Pyramid +of Cheops masoned in a month; though, once built, the sands left by the +deluge might not have submerged such a pile. Nor were the broad boughs +of Charles’ Oak grown in a spring; though they outlived the royal +dynasties of Tudor and Stuart. Nor were the parts of the great Iliad +put together in haste; though old Homer’s temple shall lift up its +dome, when St. Peter’s is a legend. Even man himself lives months ere +his Maker deems him fit to be born; and ere his proud shaft gains its +full stature, twenty-one long Julian years must elapse. And his whole +mortal life brings not his immortal soul to maturity; nor will all +eternity perfect him. Yea, with uttermost reverence, as to human +understanding, increase of dominion seems increase of power; and day by +day new planets are being added to elder-born Saturn, even as six +thousand years ago our own Earth made one more in this system; so, in +incident, not in essence, may the Infinite himself be not less than +more infinite now, than when old Aldebaran rolled forth from his hand. +And if time was, when this round Earth, which to innumerable mortals +has seemed an empire never to be wholly explored; which, in its seas, +concealed all the Indies over four thousand five hundred years; if time +was, when this great quarry of Assyrias and Romes was not extant; then, +time may have been, when the whole material universe lived its Dark +Ages; yea, when the Ineffable Silence, proceeding from its unimaginable +remoteness, espied it as an isle in the sea. And herein is no +derogation. For the Immeasurable’s altitude is not heightened by the +arches of Mahomet’s heavens; and were all space a vacuum, yet would it +be a fullness; for to Himself His own universe is He. + +Thus deeper and deeper into Time’s endless tunnel, does the winged +soul, like a night-hawk, wend her wild way; and finds eternities before +and behind; and her last limit is her everlasting beginning. + +But sent over the broad flooded sphere, even Noah’s dove came back, and +perched on his hand. So comes back my spirit to me, and folds up her +wings. + +Thus, then, though Time be the mightiest of Alarics, yet is he the +mightiest mason of all. And a tutor, and a counselor, and a physician, +and a scribe, and a poet, and a sage, and a king. + +Yea, and a gardener, as ere long will be shown. + +But first must we return to the glen. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVI. +A Pleasant Place For A Lounge + + +Whether the hard condition of their kingly state, very naturally +demanding some luxurious requital, prevailed upon the monarchs of Juam +to house themselves so delightfully as they did; whether buried alive +in their glen, they sought to center therein a secret world of +enjoyment; however it may have been, throughout the Archipelago this +saying was a proverb—“You are lodged like the king in Willamilla.” +Hereby was expressed the utmost sumptuousness of a palace. + +A well warranted saying; for of all the bright places, where my soul +loves to linger, the haunts of Donjalolo are most delicious. + +In the eastern quarter of the glen was the House of the Morning. This +fanciful palace was raised upon a natural mound, many rods square, +almost completely filling up a deep recess between deep-green and +projecting cliffs, overlooking many abodes distributed in the shadows +of the groves beyond. + +Now, if it indeed be, that from the time employed in its construction, +any just notion may be formed of the stateliness of an edifice, it must +needs be determined, that this retreat of Donjalolo could not be +otherwise than imposing. + +Full five hundred moons was the palace in completing; for by some +architectural arborist, its quadrangular foundations had been laid in +seed-cocoanuts, requiring that period to sprout up into pillars. In +front, these were horizontally connected, by elaborately carved beams, +of a scarlet hue, inserted into the vital wood; which, swelling out, +and over lapping, firmly secured them. The beams supported the rafters, +inclining from the rear; while over the aromatic grasses covering the +roof, waved the tufted tops of the Palms, green capitals to their dusky +shafts. + +Through and through this vibrating verdure, bright birds flitted and +sang; the scented and variegated thatch seemed a hanging-garden; and +between it and the Palm tops, was leaf-hung an arbor in the air. + +Without these columns, stood a second and third colonnade, forming the +most beautiful bowers; advancing through which, you fancied that the +palace beyond must be chambered in a fountain, or frozen in a crystal. +Three sparkling rivulets flowing from the heights were led across its +summit, through great trunks half buried in the thatch; and emptying +into a sculptured channel, running along the eaves, poured over in one +wide sheet, plaited and transparent. Received into a basin beneath, +they were thence conducted down the vale. + +The sides of the palace were hedged by Diomi bushes bearing a flower, +from its perfume, called Lenora, or Sweet Breath; and within these +odorous hedges, were heavy piles of mats, richly dyed and embroidered. + +Here lounging of a glowing noon, the plaited cascade playing, the +verdure waving, and the birds melodious, it was hard to say, whether +you were an inmate of a garden in the glen, or a grotto in the sea. + +But enough for the nonce, of the House of the Morning. Cross we the +hollow, to the House of the Afternoon. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII. +The House Of The Afternoon + + +For the most part, the House of the Afternoon was but a wing built +against a mansion wrought by the hand of Nature herself; a grotto +running into the side of the mountain. From high over the mouth of this +grotto, sloped a long arbor, supported by great blocks of stone, rudely +chiseled into the likeness of idols, each bearing a carved lizard on +its chest: a sergeant’s guard of the gods condescendingly doing duty as +posts. + +From the grotto thus vestibuled, issued hilariously forth the most +considerable stream of the glen; which, seemingly overjoyed to find +daylight in Willamilla, sprang into the arbor with a cheery, white +bound. But its youthful enthusiasm was soon repressed; its waters being +caught in a large stone basin, scooped out of the natural rock; whence, +staid and decorous, they traversed sundry moats; at last meandering +away, to join floods with the streams trained to do service at the +other end of the vale. + +Truant streams: the livelong day wending their loitering path to the +subterraneous outlet, flowing into which, they disappeared. But no +wonder they loitered; passing such ravishing landscapes. Thus with +life: man bounds out of night; runs and babbles in the sun; then +returns to his darkness again; though, peradventure, once more to +emerge. + +But the grotto was not a mere outlet to the stream. Flowing through a +dark flume in the rock, on both sides it left a dry, elevated shelf, to +which you ascend from the arbor by three artificially-wrought steps, +sideways disposed, to avoid the spray of the rejoicing cataract. +Mounting these, and pursuing the edge of the flume, the grotto +gradually expands and heightens; your way lighted by rays in the inner +distance. At last you come to a lofty subterraneous dome, lit from +above by a cleft in the mountain; while full before you, in the +opposite wall, from a low, black arch, midway up, and inaccessible, the +stream, with a hollow ring and a dash, falls in a long, snowy column +into a bottomless pool, whence, after many an eddy and whirl, it +entered the flume, and away with a rush. Half hidden from view by an +overhanging brow of the rock, the white fall looked like the sheeted +ghost of the grotto. + +Yet gallantly bedecked was the cave, as any old armorial hall hung +round with banners and arras. Streaming from the cleft, vines swung in +the air; or crawled along the rocks, wherever a tendril could be fixed. +High up, their leaves were green; but lower down, they were shriveled; +and dyed of many colors; and tattered and torn with much rustling; as +old banners again; sore raveled with much triumphing. + +In the middle of this hall in the hill was incarcerated the stone image +of one Demi, the tutelar deity of Willamina. All green and oozy like a +stone under water, poor Demi looked as if sore harassed with sciatics +and lumbagos. + +But he was cheered from aloft, by the promise of receiving a garland +all blooming on his crown; the Dryads sporting in the woodlands above, +forever peeping down the cleft, and essaying to drop him a coronal. + +Now, the still, panting glen of Willamilla, nested so close by the +mountains, and a goodly green mark for the archer in the sun, would +have been almost untenable were it not for the grotto. Hereby, it +breathed the blessed breezes of Omi; a mountain promontory buttressing +the island to the east, receiving the cool stream of the upland Trades; +much pleasanter than the currents beneath. + +At all times, even in the brooding noon-day, a gush of cool air came +hand-in-hand with the cool waters, that burst with a shout into the +palace of Donjalolo. And as, after first refreshing the king, as in +loyalty bound, the stream flowed at large through the glen, and bathed +its verdure; so, the blessed breezes of Omi, not only made pleasant the +House of the Afternoon; but finding ample outlet in its wide, open +front, blew forth upon the bosom of all Willamilla. + +“Come let us take the air of Omi,” was a very common saying in the +glen. And the speaker would hie with his comrade toward the grotto; and +flinging himself on the turf, pass his hand through his locks, and +recline; making a joy and a business of breathing; for truly the +breezes of Omi were as air-wine to the lungs. + +Yet was not this breeze over-cool; though at times the zephyrs grew +boisterous. Especially at the season of high sea, when the strong +Trades drawn down the cleft in the mountain, rushed forth from the +grotto with wonderful force. Crossing it then, you had much ado to keep +your robe on your back. + +Thus much for the House of the Afternoon. Whither—after spending the +shady morning under the eastern cliffs of the glen—daily, at a certain +hour, Donjalolo in his palanquin was borne; there, finding new shades; +and there tarrying till evening; when again he was transported whence +he came: thereby anticipating the revolution of the sun. Thus dodging +day’s luminary through life, the prince hied to and fro in his +dominions; on his smooth, spotless brow Sol’s rays never shining. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII. +Babbalanja Solus + + +Of the House of the Afternoon something yet remains to be said. + +It was chiefly distinguished by its pavement, where, according to the +strange customs of the isle, were inlaid the reputed skeletons of +Donjalolo’s sires; each surrounded by a mosaic of corals,—red, white, +and black, intermixed with vitreous stones fallen from the skies in a +meteoric shower. These delineated the tattooing of the departed. Near +by, were imbedded their arms: mace, bow, and spear, in similar +marquetry; and over each skull was the likeness of a scepter. + +First and conspicuous lay the half-decayed remains of Marjora, the +father of these Coral Kings; by his side, the storied, sickle-shaped +weapon, wherewith he slew his brother Teei. + +“Line of kings and row of scepters,” said Babbalanja as he gazed. +“Donjalolo, come forth and ponder on thy sires. Here they lie, from +dread Marjora down to him who fathered thee. Here are their bones, +their spears, and their javelins; their scepters, and the very fashion +of their tattooing: all that can be got together of what they were. +Tell me, oh king, what are thy thoughts? Dotest thou on these thy +sires? Art thou more truly royal, that they were kings? Or more a man, +that they were men? Is it a fable, or a verity about Marjora and the +murdered Teei? But here is the mighty conqueror,—ask him. Speak to him: +son to sire: king to king. Prick him; beg; buffet; entreat; spurn; +split the globe, he will not budge. Walk over and over thy whole +ancestral line, and they will not start. They are not here. Ay, the +dead are not to be found, even in their graves. Nor have they simply +departed; for they willed not to go; they died not by choice; +whithersoever they have gone, thither have they been dragged; and if so +be, they are extinct, their nihilities went not more against their +grain, than their forced quitting of Mardi. Either way, something has +become of them that they sought not. Truly, had stout-hearted Marjora +sworn to live here in Willamilla for ay, and kept the vow, that would +have been royalty indeed; but here he lies. Marjora! rise! Juam +revolteth! Lo, I stamp upon thy scepter; base menials tread upon thee +where thou hest! Up, king, up! What? no reply? Are not these bones +thine? Oh, how the living triumph over the dead! Marjora! answer. Art +thou? or art thou not? I see thee not; I hear thee not; I feel thee +not; eyes, ears, hands, are worthless to test thy being; and if thou +art, thou art something beyond all human thought to compass. We must +have other faculties to know thee by. Why, thou art not even a +sightless sound; not the echo of an echo; here are thy bones. +Donjalolo, methinks I see thee fallen upon by assassins:—which of thy +fathers riseth to the rescue? I see thee dying:—which of them telleth +thee what cheer beyond the grave? But they have gone to the land +unknown. Meet phrase. Where is it? Not one of Oro’s priests telleth a +straight story concerning it; ’twill be hard finding their paradises. +Touching the life of Alma, in Mohi’s chronicles, ’tis related, that a +man was once raised from the tomb. But rubbed he not his eyes, and +stared he not most vacantly? Not one revelation did he make. Ye gods! +to have been a bystander there! + +“At best, ’tis but a hope. But will a longing bring the thing desired? +Doth dread avert its object? An instinct is no preservative. The fire I +shrink from, may consume me.—But dead, and yet alive; alive, yet +dead;—thus say the sages of Maramma. But die we then living? Yet if our +dead fathers somewhere and somehow live, why not our unborn sons? For +backward or forward, eternity is the same; already have we been the +nothing we dread to be. Icy thought! But bring it home,—it will not +stay. What ho, hot heart of mine: to beat thus lustily awhile, to feel +in the red rushing blood, and then be ashes,—can this be so? But peace, +peace, thou liar in me, telling me I am immortal—shall I not be as +these bones? To come to this! But the balsam-dropping palms, whose +boles run milk, whose plumes wave boastful in the air, they perish in +their prime, and bow their blasted trunks. Nothing abideth; the river +of yesterday floweth not to-day; the sun’s rising is a setting; living +is dying; the very mountains melt; and all revolve:—systems and +asteroids; the sun wheels through the zodiac, and the zodiac is a +revolution. Ah gods! in all this universal stir, am I to prove one +stable thing? + +“Grim chiefs in skeletons, avaunt! Ye are but dust; belike the dust of +beggars; for on this bed, paupers may lie down with kings, and filch +their skulls. This, great Marjora’s arm? No, some old paralytic’s. Ye, +kings? ye, men? Where are your vouchers? I do reject your brother-hood, +ye libelous remains. But no, no; despise them not, oh Babbalanja! Thy +own skeleton, thou thyself dost carry with thee, through this mortal +life; and aye would view it, but for kind nature’s screen; thou art +death alive; and e’en to what’s before thee wilt thou come. Ay, thy +children’s children will walk over thee: thou, voiceless as a calm.” + +And over the Coral Kings, Babbalanja paced in profound meditation. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX. +The Center Of Many Circumferences + + +Like Donjalolo himself, we hie to and fro; for back now must we pace to +the House of the Morning. + +In its rear, there diverged three separate arbors, leading to less +public apartments. + +Traversing the central arbor, and fancying it will soon lead you to +open ground, you suddenly come upon the most private retreat of the +prince: a square structure; plain as a pyramid; and without, as +inscrutable. Down to the very ground, its walls are thatched; but on +the farther side a passage-way opens, which you enter. But not yet are +you within. Scarce a yard distant, stands an inner thatched wall, blank +as the first. Passing along the intervening corridor, lighted by narrow +apertures, you reach the opposite side, and a second opening is +revealed. This entering, another corridor; lighted as the first, but +more dim, and a third blank wall. And thus, three times three, you worm +round and round, the twilight lessening as you proceed; until at last, +you enter the citadel itself: the innermost arbor of a nest; whereof, +each has its roof, distinct from the rest. + +The heart of the place is but small; illuminated by a range of open +sky-lights, downward contracting. + +Innumerable as the leaves of an endless folio, multitudinous mats cover +the floor; whereon reclining by night, like Pharaoh on the top of his +patrimonial pile, the inmate looks heavenward, and heavenward only; +gazing at the torchlight processions in the skies, when, in state, the +suns march to be crowned. + +And here, in this impenetrable retreat, centrally slumbered the +universe-rounded, zodiac-belted, horizon-zoned, sea-girt, reef- sashed, +mountain-locked, arbor-nested, royalty-girdled, arm-clasped, +self-hugged, indivisible Donjalolo, absolute monarch of Juam:—the +husk-inhusked meat in a nut; the innermost spark in a ruby; the +juice-nested seed in a goldenrinded orange; the red royal stone in an +effeminate peach; the insphered sphere of spheres. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXX. +Donjalolo In The Bosom Of His Family + + +To pretend to relate the manner in which Juam’s ruler passed his +captive days, without making suitable mention of his harem, would be to +paint one’s full-length likeness and omit the face. For it was his +harem that did much to stamp the character of Donjalolo. + +And had he possessed but a single spouse, most discourteous, surely, to +have overlooked the princess; much more, then, as it is; and by +how-much the more, a plurality exceeds a unit. + +Exclusive of the female attendants, by day waiting upon the person of +the king, he had wives thirty in number, corresponding in name to the +nights of the moon. For, in Juam, time is not reckoned by days, but by +nights; each night of the lunar month having its own designation; +which, relatively only, is extended to the day. + +In uniform succession, the thirty wives ruled queen of the king’s +heart. An arrangement most wise and judicious; precluding much of that +jealousy and confusion prevalent in ill-regulated seraglios. For as +thirty spouses must be either more desirable, or less desirable than +one; so is a harem thirty times more difficult to manage than an +establishment with one solitary mistress. But Donjalolo’s wives were so +nicely drilled, that for the most part, things went on very smoothly. +Nor were his brows much furrowed with wrinkles referable to domestic +cares and tribulations. Although, as in due time will be seen, from +these he was not altogether exempt. + +Now, according to Braid-Beard, who, among other abstruse political +researches, had accurately informed himself concerning the internal +administration of Donjalolo’s harem, the following was the method +pursued therein. + +On the Aquella, or First Night of the month, the queen of that name +assumes her diadem, and reigns. So too with Azzolino the Second, and +Velluvi the Third Night of the Moon; and so on, even unto the utter +eclipse thereof; through Calends, Nones, and Ides. + +For convenience, the king is furnished with a card, whereon are copied +the various ciphers upon the arms of his queens; and parallel thereto, +the hieroglyphics significant of the corresponding Nights of the month. +Glancing over this, Donjalolo predicts the true time of the rising and +setting of all his stars. + +This Moon of wives was lodged in two spacious seraglios, which few +mortals beheld. For, so deeply were they buried in a grove; so +overpowered with verdure; so overrun with vines; and so hazy with the +incense of flowers; that they were almost invisible, unless closely +approached. Certain it was, that it demanded no small enterprise, +diligence, and sagacity, to explore the mysterious wood in search of +them. Though a strange, sweet, humming sound, as of the clustering and +swarming of warm bees among roses, at last hinted the royal honey at +hand. High in air, toward the summit of the cliff, overlooking this +side of the glen, a narrow ledge of rocks might have been seen, from +which, rumor whispered, was to be caught an angular peep at the tip of +the apex of the roof of the nearest seraglio. But this wild report had +never been established. Nor, indeed, was it susceptible of a test. For +was not that rock inaccessible as the eyrie of young eagles? But to +guard against the possibility of any visual profanation, Donjalolo had +authorized an edict, forever tabooing that rock to foot of man or +pinion of fowl. Birds and bipeds both trembled and obeyed; taking a +wide circuit to avoid the spot. + +Access to the seraglios was had by corresponding arbors leading from +the palace. The seraglio to the right was denominated “Ravi” (Before), +that to the left “Zono” (After). The meaning of which was, that upon +the termination of her reign the queen wended her way to the Zono; +there tarrying with her predecessors till the Ravi was emptied; when +the entire Moon of wives, swallow-like, migrated back whence they came; +and the procession was gone over again. + +In due order, the queens reposed upon mats inwoven with their +respective ciphers. In the Ravi, the mat of the queen-apparent, or next +in succession, was spread by the portal. In the Zono, the newly- +widowed queen reposed furthest from it. + +But alas for all method where thirty wives are concerned. +Notwithstanding these excellent arrangements, the mature result of ages +of progressive improvement in the economy of the royal seraglios in +Willamilla, it must needs be related, that at times the order of +precedence became confused, and was very hard to restore. + +At intervals, some one of the wives was weeded out, to the no small +delight of the remainder; but to their equal vexation her place would +soon after be supplied by some beautiful stranger; who assuming the +denomination of the vacated Night of the Moon, thenceforth commenced +her monthly revolutions in the king’s infallible calendar. + +In constant attendance, was a band of old men; woe-begone, thin of leg, +and puny of frame; whose grateful task it was, to tarry in the garden +of Donjalolo’s delights, without ever touching the roses. Along with +innumerable other duties, they were perpetually kept coming and going +upon ten thousand errands; for they had it in strict charge to obey the +slightest behests of the damsels; and with all imaginable expedition to +run, fly, swim, or dissolve into impalpable air, at the shortest +possible notice. + +So laborious their avocations, that none could discharge them for more +than a twelvemonth, at the end of that period giving up the ghost out +of pure exhaustion of the locomotive apparatus. It was this constant +drain upon the stock of masculine old age in the glen, that so +bethinned its small population of gray-beards and hoary-heads. And any +old man hitherto exempted, who happened to receive a summons to repair +to the palace, and there wait the pleasure of the king: this +unfortunate, at once suspecting his doom, put his arbor in order; oiled +and suppled his joints; took a long farewell of his friends; selected +his burial-place; and going resigned to his fate, in due time expired +like the rest. + +Had any one of them cast about for some alleviating circumstance, he +might possibly have derived some little consolation from the thought, +that though a slave to the whims of thirty princesses, he was +nevertheless one of their guardians, and as such, he might ingeniously +have concluded, their superior. But small consolation this. For the +damsels were as blithe as larks, more playful than kittens; never +looking sad and sentimental, projecting clandestine escapes. But +supplied with the thirtieth part of all that Aspasia could desire; +glorying in being the spouses of a king; nor in the remotest degree +anxious about eventual dowers; they were care-free, content, and +rejoicing, as the rays of the morning. + +Poor old men, then; it would be hard to distill out of your fate, one +drop of the balm of consolation. For, commissioned to watch over those +who forever kept you on the trot, affording you no time to hunt up +peccadilloes; was not this circumstance an aggravation of hard times? a +sharpening and edge-giving to the steel in your souls? + +But much yet remains unsaid. + +To dwell no more upon the eternal wear-and-tear incident to these +attenuated old warders, they were intensely hated by the damsels. +Inasmuch, as it was archly opined, for what ulterior purposes they were +retained. + +Nightly couching, on guard, round the seraglio, like fangless old +bronze dragons round a fountain enchanted, the old men ever and anon +cried out mightily, by reason of sore pinches and scratches received in +the dark: And tri-trebly-tri-triply girt about as he was, Donjalolo +himself started from his slumbers, raced round and round through his +ten thousand corridors; at last bursting all dizzy among his +twenty-nine queens, to see what under the seventh-heavens was the +matter. When, lo and behold! there lay the innocents all sound asleep; +the dragons moaning over their mysterious bruises. + +Ah me! his harem, like all large families, was the delight and the +torment of the days and nights of Donjalolo. + +And in one special matter was he either eminently miserable, or +otherwise: for all his multiplicity of wives, he had never an heir. Not +his, the proud paternal glance of the Grand Turk Solyman, looking round +upon a hundred sons, all bone of his bone, and squinting with his +squint. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXI. +Wherein Babbalanja Relates The Adventure Of One Karkeke In The Land Of +Shades + + +At our morning repast on the second day of our stay in the hollow, our +party indulged in much lively discourse. + +“Samoa,” said I, “those isles of yours, of whose beauty you so often +make vauntful mention, can those isles, good Samoa, furnish a valley in +all respects equal to Willamilla?” + +Disdainful answer was made, that Willamilla might be endurable enough +for a sojourn, but as a permanent abode, any glen of his own natal isle +was unspeakably superior. + +“In the great valley of Savaii,” cried Samoa, “for every leaf grown +here in Willamilla, grows a stately tree; and for every tree here +waving, in Savaii flourishes a goodly warrior.” + +Immeasurable was the disgust of the Upoluan for the enervated subjects +of Donjalolo; and for Donjalolo himself; though it was shrewdly +divined, that his annoying reception at the hands of the royalty of +Juam, had something to do with his disdain. + +To Jarl, no similar question was put; for he was sadly deficient in a +taste for the picturesque. But he cursorily observed, that in his +blue-water opinion, Willamilla was next to uninhabitable, all view of +the sea being intercepted. + +And here it may be well to relate a comical blunder on the part of +honest Jarl; concerning which, Samoa, the savage, often afterward +twitted him; as indicating a rusticity, and want of polish in his +breeding. It rather originated, however, in his not heeding the +conventionalities of the strange people among whom he was thrown. + +The anecdote is not an epic; but here it is. + +Reclining in our arbor, we breakfasted upon a marble slab; so +frost-white, and flowingly traced with blue veins, that it seemed a +little lake sheeted over with ice: Diana’s virgin bosom congéaled. + +Before each guest was a richly carved bowl and gourd, fruit and wine +freighted also the empty hemisphere of a small nut, the purpose of +which was a problem. Now, King Jarl scorned to admit the slightest +degree of under-breeding in the matter of polite feeding. So nothing +was a problem to him. At once reminded of the morsel of Arvaroot in his +mouth, a substitute for another sort of sedative then unattainable, he +was instantly illuminated concerning the purpose of the nut; and very +complacently introduced each to the other; in the innocence of his +ignorance making no doubt that he had acquitted himself with +discretion; the little hemisphere plainly being intended as a place of +temporary deposit for the Arva of the guests. + +The company were astounded: Samoa more than all. King Jarl, meanwhile, +looking at all present with the utmost serenity. At length, one of the +horrified attendants, using two sticks for a forceps, disappeared with +the obnoxious nut, Upon which, the meal proceeded. + +This attendant was not seen again for many days; which gave rise to the +supposition, that journeying to the sea-side, he had embarked for some +distant strand; there, to bury out of sight the abomination with which +he was freighted. + +Upon this, his egregious misadventure, calculated to do discredit to +our party, and bring Media himself into contempt, Babbalanja had no +scruples in taking Jarl roundly to task. He assured him, that it argued +but little brains to evince a desire to be thought familiar with all +things; that however desirable as incidental attainments, +conventionalities, in themselves, were the very least of arbitrary +trifles; the knowledge of them, innate with no man. “Moreover Jarl,” he +added, “in essence, conventionalities are but mimickings, at which +monkeys succeed best. Hence, when you find yourself at a loss in these +matters, wait patiently, and mark what the other monkeys do: and then +follow suit. And by so doing, you will gain a vast reputation as an +accomplished ape. Above all things, follow not the silly example of the +young spark Karkeke, of whom Mohi was telling me. Dying, and entering +the other world with a mincing gait, and there finding certain customs +quite strange and new; such as friendly shades passing through each +other by way of a salutation;—Karkeke, nevertheless, resolved to show +no sign of embarrassment. Accosted by a phantom, with wings folded +pensively, plumes interlocked across its chest, he off head; and stood +obsequiously before it. Staring at him for an instant, the spirit cut +him dead; murmuring to itself, ‘Ah, some terrestrial bumpkin, I fancy,’ +and passed on with its celestial nose in the highly rarified air. But +silly Karkeke undertaking to replace his head, found that it would no +more stay on; but forever tumbled off; even in the act of nodding a +salute; which calamity kept putting him out of countenance. And thus +through all eternity is he punished for his folly, in having pretended +to be wise, wherein he was ignorant. Head under arm, he wanders about, +the scorn and ridicule of the other world.” + +Our repast concluded, messengers arrived from the prince, courteously +inviting our presence at the House of the Morning. Thither we went; +journeying in sedans, sent across the hollow, for that purpose, by +Donjalolo. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXII. +How Donjalolo, Sent Agents To The Surrounding Isles; With The Result + + +Ere recounting what was beheld on entering the House of the Morning, +some previous information is needful. Though so many of Donjalolo’s +days were consumed by sloth and luxury, there came to him certain +intervals of thoughtfulness, when all his curiosity concerning the +things of outer Mardi revived with augmented intensity. In these moods, +he would send abroad deputations, inviting to Willamilla the kings of +the neighboring islands; together with the most celebrated priests, +bards, story-tellers, magicians, and wise men; that he might hear them +converse of those things, which he could not behold for himself. + +But at last, he bethought him, that the various narrations he had +heard, could not have been otherwise than unavoidably faulty; by reason +that they had been principally obtained from the inhabitants of the +countries described; who, very naturally, must have been inclined to +partiality or uncandidness in their statements. Wherefore he had very +lately dispatched to the isles special agents of his own; honest of +heart, keen of eye, and shrewd of understanding; to seek out every +thing that promised to illuminate him concerning the places they +visited, and also to collect various specimens of interesting objects; +so that at last he might avail himself of the researches of others, and +see with their eyes. + +But though two observers were sent to every one of the neighboring +lands; yet each was to act independently; make his own inquiries; form +his own conclusions; and return with his own specimens; wholly +regardless of the proceedings of the other. + +It so came to pass, that on the very day of our arrival in the glen, +these pilgrims returned from their travels. And Donjalolo had set apart +the following morning to giving them a grand public reception. And it +was to this, that our party had been invited, as related in the chapter +preceding. + +In the great Palm-hall of the House of the Morning, we were assigned +distinguished mats, to the right of the prince; his chiefs, attendants, +and subjects assembled in the open colonnades without. + +When all was in readiness, in marched the company of savans and +travelers; and humbly standing in a semi-circle before the king, their +numerous hampers were deposited at their feet. + +Donjalolo was now in high spirits, thinking of the rich store of +reliable information about to be furnished. + +“Zuma,” said he, addressing the foremost of the company, “you and +Varnopi were directed to explore the island of Rafona. Proceed now, and +relate all you know of that place. Your narration heard, we will list +to Varnopi.” + +With a profound inclination the traveler obeyed. + +But soon Donjalolo interrupted him. “What say you, Zuma, about the +secret cavern, and the treasures therein? A very different account, +this, from all I have heard hitherto; but perhaps yours is the true +version. Go on.” + +But very soon, poor Zuma was again interrupted by exclamations of +surprise. Nay, even to the very end of his mountings. + +But when he had done, Donjalolo observed, that if from any cause Zuma +was in error or obscure, Varnopi would not fail to set him right. + +So Varnopi was called upon. + +But not long had Varnopi proceeded, when Donjalolo changed color. + +“What!” he exclaimed, “will ye contradict each other before our very +face. Oh Oro! how hard is truth to be come at by proxy! Fifty accounts +have I had of Rafona; none of which wholly agreed; and here, these two +varlets, sent expressly to behold and report, these two lying knaves, +speak crookedly both. How is it? Are the lenses in their eyes +diverse-hued, that objects seem different to both; for undeniable is +it, that the things they thus clashingly speak of are to be known for +the same; though represented with unlike colors and qualities. But dumb +things can not lie nor err. Unpack thy hampers, Zuma. Here, bring them +close: now: what is this?” + +“That,” tremblingly replied Zuma, “is a specimen of the famous reef- +bar on the west side of the island of Rafona; your highness perceives +its deep red dyes.” + +Said Donjalolo, “Varnopi, hast thou a piece of this coral, also?” + +“I have, your highness,” said Varnopi; “here it is.” + +Taking it from his hand, Donjalolo gazed at its bleached, white hue; +then dashing it to the pavement, “Oh mighty Oro! Truth dwells in her +fountains; where every one must drink for himself. For me, vain all +hope of ever knowing Mardi! Away! Better know nothing, than be +deceived. Break up!” + +And Donjalolo rose, and retired. + +All present now broke out in a storm of vociferation; some siding with +Zuma; others with Varnopi; each of whom, in turn, was declared the man +to be relied upon. + +Marking all this, Babbalanja, who had been silently looking on, leaning +against one of the palm pillars, quietly observed to Media:— “My lord, +I have seen this same reef at Rafona. In various places, it is of +various hues. As for Zuma and Varnopi, both are wrong, and both are +right.” + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII. +They Visit The Tributary Islets + + +In Willamilla, no Yillah being found, on the third day we took leave of +Donjalolo; who lavished upon us many caresses and, somewhat reluctantly +on Media’s part, we quitted the vale. + +One by one, we now visited the outer villages of Juam; and crossing the +waters, wandered several days among its tributary isles. There we saw +the viceroys of him who reigned in the hollow: chieftains of whom +Donjalolo was proud; so honest, humble, and faithful; so bent upon +ameliorating the condition of those under their rule. For, be it said, +Donjalolo was a charitable prince; in his serious intervals, ever +seeking the welfare of his subjects, though after an imperial view of +his own. But alas, in that sunny donjon among the mountains, where he +dwelt, how could Donjalolo be sure, that the things he decreed were +executed in regions forever remote from his view. Ah! very bland, very +innocent, very pious, the faces his viceroys presented during their +monthly visits to Willamilla. But as cruel their visage, when, returned +to their islets, they abandoned themselves to all the license of +tyrants; like Verres reveling down the rights of the Sicilians. + +Like Carmelites, they came to Donjalolo, barefooted; but in their +homes, their proud latchets were tied by their slaves. Before their +king-belted prince, they stood rope-girdled like self-abased monks of +St. Francis; but with those ropes, before their palaces, they hung +Innocence and Truth. + +As still seeking Yillah, and still disappointed, we roved through the +lands which these chieftains ruled, Babbalanja exclaimed—“Let us +depart; idle our search, in isles that have viceroys for kings.” + +At early dawn, about embarking for a distant land, there came to us +certain messengers of Donjalolo, saying that their lord the king, +repenting of so soon parting company with Media and Taji, besought them +to return with all haste; for that very morning, in Willamilla, a regal +banquet was preparing; to which many neighboring kings had been +invited, most of whom had already arrived. + +Declaring that there was no alternative but compliance, Media acceded; +and with the king’s messengers we returned to the glen. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV. +Taji Sits Down To Dinner With Five-And-Twenty Kings, And A Royal Time +They Have + + +It was afternoon when we emerged from the defile. And informed that our +host was receiving his guests in the House of the Afternoon, thither we +directed our steps. + +Soft in our face, blew the blessed breezes of Omi, stirring the leaves +overhead; while, here and there, through the trees, showed the +idol-bearers of the royal retreat, hand in hand, linked with festoons +of flowers. Still beyond, on a level, sparkled the nodding crowns of +the kings, like the constellation Corona-Borealis, the horizon just +gained. + +Close by his noon-tide friend, the cascade at the mouth of the grotto, +reposed on his crimson mat, Donjalolo:—arrayed in a vestment of the +finest white tappa of Mardi, figured all over with bright yellow +lizards, so curiously stained in the gauze, that he seemed overrun, as +with golden mice. + +Marjora’s girdle girdled his loins, tasseled with the congregated teeth +of his sires. A jeweled turban-tiara, milk-white, surmounted his brow, +over which waved a copse of Pintado plumes. + +But what sways in his hand? A scepter, similar to those likenesses of +scepters, imbedded among the corals at his feet. A polished thigh- +bone; by Braid-Beard declared once Teei’s the Murdered. For to +emphasize his intention utterly to rule, Marjora himself had selected +this emblem of dominion over mankind. + +But even this last despite done to dead Teei had once been transcended. +In the usurper’s time, prevailed the belief, that the saliva of kings +must never touch ground; and Mohi’s Chronicles made mention, that +during the life time of Marjora, Teei’s skull had been devoted to the +basest of purposes: Marjora’s, the hate no turf could bury. + +Yet, traditions like these ever seem dubious. There be many who deny +the hump, moral and physical, of Gloster Richard. + +Still advancing unperceived, in social hilarity we descried their +Highnesses, chatting together like the most plebeian of mortals; full +as merry as the monks of old. But marking our approach, all changed. A +pair of potentates, who had been playfully trifling, hurriedly adjusted +their diadems, threw themselves into attitudes, looking stately as +statues. Phidias turned not out his Jupiter so soon. + +In various-dyed robes the five-and-twenty kings were arrayed; and +various their features, as the rows of lips, eyes and ears in John +Caspar Lavater’s physiognomical charts. Nevertheless, to a king, all +their noses were aquiline. + +There were long fox-tail beards of silver gray, and enameled chins, +like those of girls; bald pates and Merovingian locks; smooth brows and +wrinkles: forms erect and stooping; an eye that squinted; one king was +deaf; by his side, another that was halt; and not far off, a dotard. +They were old and young, tall and short, handsome and ugly, fat and +lean, cunning and simple. + +With animated courtesy our host received us; assigning a neighboring +bower for Babbalanja and the rest; and among so many right-royal, +demi-divine guests, how could the demi-gods Media and Taji be otherwise +than at home? + +The unwonted sprightliness of Donjalolo surprised us. But he was in one +of those relapses of desperate gayety in-variably following his +failures in efforts to amend his life. And the bootless issue of his +late mission to outer Mardi had thrown him into a mood for revelry. Nor +had he lately shunned a wild wine, called Morando. + +A slave now appearing with a bowl of this beverage, it circulated +freely. + +Not to gainsay the truth, we fancied the Morando much. A nutty, pungent +flavor it had; like some kinds of arrack distilled in the Philippine +isles. And a marvelous effect did it have, in dissolving the +crystalization of the brain; leaving nothing but precious little drops +of good humor, beading round the bowl of the cranium. + +Meanwhile, garlanded boys, climbing the limbs of the idol-pillars, and +stirruping their feet in their most holy mouths, suspended hangings of +crimson tappa all round the hall; so that sweeping the pavement they +rustled in the breeze from the grot. + +Presently, stalwart slaves advanced; bearing a mighty basin of a +porphyry hue, deep-hollowed out of a tree. Outside, were innumerable +grotesque conceits; conspicuous among which, for a border, was an +endless string of the royal lizards circumnavigating the basin in +inverted chase of their tails. + +Peculiar to the groves of Willamilla, the yellow lizard formed part of +the arms of Juam. And when Donjalolo’s messenger went abroad, they +carried its effigy, as the emblem of their royal master; themselves +being known, as the Gentlemen of the Golden Lizard. + +The porphyry-hued basin planted full in our midst, the attendants +forthwith filled the same with the living waters from the cascade; a +proceeding, for which some of the company were at a loss to account, +unless his highness, our host, with all the coolness of royalty, +purposed cooling himself still further, by taking a bath in presence of +his guests. A conjecture, most premature; for directly, the basin being +filled to within a few inches of the lizards, the attendants fell to +launching therein divers goodly sized trenchers, all laden with choice +viands:—wild boar meat; humps of grampuses; embrowned bread-fruit, +roasted in odoriferous fires of sandal wood, but suffered to cool; gold +fish, dressed with the fragrant juices of berries; citron sauce; rolls +of the baked paste of yams; juicy bananas, steeped in a saccharine oil; +marmalade of plantains; jellies of guava; confections of the treacle of +palm sap; and many other dainties; besides numerous stained calabashes +of Morando, and other beverages, fixed in carved floats to make them +buoyant. + +The guests assigned seats, by the woven handles attached to his purple +mat, the prince, our host, was now gently moved by his servitors to the +head of the porphyry-hued basin. Where, flanked by lofty crowned-heads, +white-tiaraed, and radiant with royalty, he sat; like snow-turbaned +Mont Blanc, at sunrise presiding over the head waters of the Rhone; to +right and left, looming the gilded summits of the Simplon, the Gothard, +the Jungfrau, the Great St. Bernard, and the Grand Glockner. + +Yet turbid from the launching of its freight, Lake Como tossed to and +fro its navies of good cheer, the shadows of the king-peaks wildly +flitting thereupon. + +But no frigid wine and fruit cooler, Lake Como; as at first it did +seem; but a tropical dining table, its surface a slab of light blue St. +Pons marble in a state of fluidity. + +Now, many a crown was doffed; scepters laid aside; girdles slackened; +and among those verdant viands the bearded kings like goats did browse; +or tusking their wild boar’s meat, like mastiffs ate. + +And like unto some well-fought fight, beginning calmly, but pressing +forward to a fiery rush, this well-fought feast did now wax warm. + +A few royal epicures, however, there were: epicures intent upon +concoctions, admixtures, and masterly compoundings; who comported +themselves with all due deliberation and dignity; hurrying themselves +into no reckless deglutition of the dainties. Ah! admirable conceit, +Lake Como: superseding attendants. For, from hand to hand the trenchers +sailed; no sooner gaining one port, than dispatched over sea to +another. + +Well suited they were for the occasion; sailing high out of water, to +resist the convivial swell at times ruffling the sociable sea; and +sharp at both ends, still better adapting them to easy navigation. + +But soon, the Morando, in triumphant decanters, went round, reeling +like barks before a breeze. But their voyages were brief; and ere long, +in certain havens, the accumulation of empty vessels threatened to +bridge the lake with pontoons. In those directions, Trade winds were +setting. But full soon, cut out were all unladen and unprofitable +gourds; and replaced by jolly-bellied calabashes, for a time sailing +deep, yawing heavily to the push. + +At last, the whole flotilla of trenchers—wrecks and all—were sent +swimming to the further end of Lake Como; and thence removed, gave +place to ruddy hillocks of fruit, and floating islands of flowers. +Chief among the former, a quince-like, golden sphere, that filled the +air with such fragrance, you thought you were tasting its flavor. + +Nor did the wine cease flowing. That day the Juam grape did bleed; that +day the tendril ringlets of the vines, did all uncurl and grape by +grape, in sheer dismay, the sun ripe clusters dropped. Grape-glad were +five-and-twenty kings: five-and-twenty kings were merry. + +Morando’s vintage had no end; nor other liquids, in the royal cellar +stored, somewhere secret in the grot. Oh! where’s the endless Niger’s +source? Search ye here, or search ye there; on, on, through ravine, +vega, vale—no head waters will ye find. But why need gain the hidden +spring, when its lavish stream flows by? At three-fold mouths that +Delta-grot discharged; rivers golden, white, and red. + +But who may sing for aye? Down I come, and light upon the old and prosy +plain. + +Among other decanters set afloat, was a pompous, lordly-looking +demijohn, but old and reverend withal, that sailed about, consequential +as an autocrat going to be crowned, or a treasure- freighted argosie +bound home before the wind. It looked solemn, however, though it +reeled; peradventure, far gone with its own potent contents. + +Oh! russet shores of Rhine and Rhone! oh, mellow memories of ripe old +vintages! oh, cobwebs in the Pyramids! oh, dust on Pharaoh’s tomb!—all, +all recur, as I bethink me of that glorious gourd, its contents cogent +as Tokay, itself as old as Mohi’s legends; more venerable to look at +than his beard. Whence came it? Buried in vases, so saith the label, +with the heart of old Marjora, now dead one hundred thousand moons. +Exhumed at last, it looked no wine, but was shrunk into a subtile +syrup. + +This special calabash was distinguished by numerous trappings, +caparisoned like the sacred bay steed led before the Great Khan of +Tartary. A most curious and betasseled network encased it; and the +royal lizard was jealously twisted about its neck, like a hand on a +throat containing some invaluable secret. + +All Hail, Marzilla! King’s Own Royal Particular! A vinous Percy! Dating +back to the Conquest! Distilled of yore from purple berries growing in +the purple valley of Ardair! Thrice hail. + +But the imperial Marzilla was not for all; gods only could partake; the +Kings and demigods of the isles; excluding left-handed descendants of +sad rakes of immortals, in old times breaking heads and hearts in +Mardi, bequeathing bars-sinister to many mortals, who now in vain might +urge a claim to a cup-full of right regal Marzilla. + +The Royal Particular was pressed upon me, by the now jovial Donjalolo. +With his own sceptered hand charging my flagon to the brim, he declared +his despotic pleasure, that I should quaff it off to the last lingering +globule. No hard calamity, truly; for the drinking of this wine was as +the singing of a mighty ode, or frenzied lyric to the soul. + +“Drink, Taji,” cried Donjalolo, “drink deep. In this wine a king’s +heart is dissolved. Drink long; in this wine lurk the seeds of the life +everlasting. Drink deep; drink long: thou drinkest wisdom and valor at +every draught. Drink forever, oh Taji, for thou drinkest that which +will enable thee to stand up and speak out before mighty Oro himself.” + +“Borabolla,” he added, turning round upon a domed old king at his left, +“Was it not the god Xipho, who begged of my great-great- grandsire a +draught of this same wine, saying he was about to beget a hero?” + +“Even so. And thy glorious Marzilla produced thrice valiant Ononna, who +slew the giants of the reef.” + +“Ha, ha, hear’st that, oh Taji?” And Donjalolo drained another cup. + +Amazing! the flexibility of the royal elbow, and the rigidity of the +royal spine! More especially as we had been impressed with a notion of +their debility. But, sometimes these seemingly enervated young blades +approve themselves steadier of limb, than veteran revelers of very long +standing. + +“Discharge the basin, and refill it with wine,” cried Donjalolo. “Break +all empty gourds! Drink, kings, and dash your cups at every draught.” + +So saying, he started from his purple mat; and with one foot planted +unknowingly upon the skull of Marjora; while all the skeletons grinned +at him from the pavement; Donjalolo, holding on high his blood-red +goblet, burst forth with the following invocation:— + +Ha, ha, gods and kings; fill high, one and all; +Drink, drink! shout and drink! mad respond to the call! +Fill fast, and fill frill; ’gainst the goblet ne’er sin; +Quaff there, at high tide, to the uttermost rim:— + Flood-tide, and soul-tide to the brim! + +Who with wine in him fears? who thinks of his cares? +Who sighs to be wise, when wine in him flares? +Water sinks down below, in currents full slow; +But wine mounts on high with its genial glow:— + Welling up, till the brain overflow! + +As the spheres, with a roll, some fiery of soul, +Others golden, with music, revolve round the pole; + +So let our cups, radiant with many hued wines, +Round and round in groups circle, our Zodiac’s Signs:— + Round reeling, and ringing their chimes! + +Then drink, gods and kings; wine merriment brings; +It bounds through the veins; there, jubilant sings. +Let it ebb, then, and flow; wine never grows dim; +Drain down that bright tide at the foam beaded rim:— + Fill up, every cup, to the brim! + + +Caught by all present, the chorus resounded again and again. The beaded +wine danced on many a beard; the cataract lifted higher its voice; the +grotto sent back a shout; the ghosts of the Coral Monarchs seemed +starting from their insulted bones. But ha, ha, ha, roared forth the +five-and-twenty kings—alive, not dead—holding both hands to their +girdles, and baying out their laughter from abysses; like Nimrod’s +hounds over some fallen elk. + +Mad and crazy revelers, how ye drank and roared! but kings no more: +vestures loosed; and scepters rolling on the ground. + +Glorious agrarian, thou wine! bringing all hearts on a level, and at +last all legs to the earth; even those of kings, who, to do them +justice, have been much maligned for imputed qualities not theirs. For +whoso has touched flagons with monarchs, bear they their back bones +never so stiffly on the throne, well know the rascals, to be at bottom +royal good fellows; capable of a vinous frankness exceeding that of +base-born men. Was not Alexander a boon companion? And daft Cambyses? +and what of old Rowley, as good a judge of wine and other matters, as +ever sipped claret or kisses. + +If ever Taji joins a club, be it a Beef-Steak Club of Kings! + +Donjalolo emptied yet another cup. + +The mirth now blew a gale; like a ship’s shrouds in a Typhoon, every +tendon vibrated; the breezes of Omi came forth with a rush; the +hangings shook; the goblets danced fandangos; and Donjalolo, clapping +his hands, called before him his dancing women. + +Forth came from the grotto a reed-like burst of song, making all start, +and look that way to behold such enchanting strains. Sounds heralding +sights! Swimming in the air, emerged the nymphs, lustrous arms +interlocked like Indian jugglers’ glittering snakes. Round the cascade +they thronged; then paused in its spray. Of a sudden, seemed to spring +from its midst, a young form of foam, that danced into the soul like a +thought. At last, sideways floating off, it subsided into the grotto, a +wave. Evening drawing on apace, the crimson draperies were lifted, and +festooned to the arms of the idol-pillars, admitting the rosy light of +the even. + +Yielding to the re-action of the banquet, the kings now reclined; and +two mute damsels entered: one with a gourd of scented waters; the other +with napkins. Bending over Donjalolo’s steaming head, the first let +fall a shower of aromatic drops, slowly aborbed by her companion. Thus, +in turn, all were served; nothing heard but deep breathing. + +In a marble vase they now kindled some incense: a handful of spices. + +Shortly after, came three of the king’s beautiful smokers; who, +lighting their tubes at this odorous fire, blew over the company the +sedative fumes of the Aina. + +Steeped in languor, I strove against it long; essayed to struggle out +of the enchanted mist. But a syren hand seemed ever upon me, pressing +me back. + +Half-revealed, as in a dream, and the last sight that I saw, was +Donjalolo:—eyes closed, face pale, locks moist, borne slowly to his +sedan, to cross the hollow, and wake in the seclusion of his harem. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXV. +After Dinner + + +As in dreams I behold thee again, Willamila! as in dreams, once again I +stroll through thy cool shady groves, oh fairest of the vallies of +Mardi! the thought of that mad merry feasting steals over my soul till +I faint. + +Prostrate here and there over the bones of Donjalolo’s sires, the royal +bacchanals lay slumbering till noon. + +“Which are the deadest?” said Babbalanja, peeping in, “the live kings, +or the dead ones?” + +But the former were drooping flowers sought to be revived by watering. +At intervals the sedulous attendants went to and fro, besprinkling +their heads with the scented contents of their vases. + +At length, one by one, the five-and-twenty kings lifted their ambrosial +curls; and shaking the dew therefrom, like eagles opened their right +royal eyes, and dilated their aquiline nostrils, full upon the golden +rays of the sun. + +But why absented himself, Donjalolo? Had he cavalierly left them to +survive the banquet by themselves? But this apparent incivility was +soon explained by heralds, announcing to their prone majesties, that +through the over solicitude of his slaves, their lord the king had been +borne to his harem, without being a party to the act. But to make +amends, in his sedan, Donjalolo was even now drawing nigh. Not, +however, again to make merry; but socially to sleep in company with his +guests; for, together they had all got high, and together they must all +lie low. + +So at it they went: each king to his bones, and slumbered like heroes +till evening; when, availing themselves of the cool moonlight +approaching, the royal guests bade adieu to their host; and summoning +their followers, quitted the glen. + +Early next day, having determined to depart for our canoes, we +proceeded to the House of the Morning, to take leave of Donjalolo. + +An amazing change, one night of solitude had wrought! Pale and languid, +we found him reclining: one hand on his throbbing temples. + +Near an overturned vessel of wine, the royal girdle lay tossed at his +feet. He had waved off his frightened attendants, who crouched out of +sight. + +We advanced. + +“Do ye too leave me? Ready enough are ye to partake of my banquetings, +which, to such as ye, are but mad incidents in one round of more +tranquil diversions. But heed me not, Media;—I am mad. Oh, ye gods! am +I forever a captive?—Ay, free king of Odo, when you list, condescend to +visit the poor slave in Willamilla. I account them but charity, your +visits; would fain allure ye by sumptuous fare. Go, leave me; go, and +be rovers again throughout blooming Mardi. For, me, I am here for +aye.—Bring me wine, slaves! quick! that I may pledge my guests fitly. +Alas, Media, at the bottom of this cup are no sparkles as at top. Oh, +treacherous, treacherous friend! full of smiles and daggers. Yet for +such as me, oh wine, thou art e’en a prop, though it pierce the side; +for man must lean. Thou wine art the friend of the friendless, though a +foe to all. King Media, let us drink. More cups!—And now, farewell.” + +Falling back, he averted his face; and silently we quitted the palace. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI. +Of Those Scamps The Plujii + + +The beach gained, we embarked. + +In good time our party recovered from the seriousness into which we had +been thrown; and a rather long passage being now before us, we whiled +away the hours as best we might. + +Among many entertaining, narrations, old Braid-Beard, crossing his +calves, and peaking his beard, regaled us with some account of certain +invisible spirits, ycleped the Plujii, arrant little knaves as ever +gulped moonshine. + +They were spoken of as inhabiting the island of Quelquo, in a remote +corner of the lagoon; the innocent people of which island were sadly +fretted and put out by their diabolical proceedings. Not to be wondered +at; since, dwelling as they did in the air, and completely +inaccessible, these spirits were peculiarly provocative of ire. + +Detestable Plujii! With malice aforethought, they brought about high +winds that destroyed the banana plantations, and tumbled over the heads +of its occupants many a bamboo dwelling. They cracked the calabashes; +soured the “poee;” induced the colic; begat the spleen; and almost rent +people in twain with stitches in the side. In short, from whatever +evil, the cause of which the Islanders could not directly impute to +their gods, or in their own opinion was not referable to themselves,—of +that very thing must the invisible Plujii be guilty. With horrible +dreams, and blood-thirsty gnats, they invaded the most innocent +slumbers. + +All things they bedeviled. A man with a wry neck ascribed it to the +Plujii; he with a bad memory railed against the Plujii; and the boy, +bruising his finger, also cursed those abominable spirits. + +Nor, to some minds, at least, was there wanting strong presumptive +evidence, that at times, with invisible fingers, the above mentioned +Plujii did leave direct and tangible traces of their presence; pinching +and pounding the unfortunate Islanders; pulling their hair; plucking +their ears, and tweaking their beards and their noses. And thus +perpetually vexing, incensing, tormenting, and exasperating their +helpless victims, the atrocious Plujii reveled in their malicious +dominion over the souls and bodies of the people of Quelquo. + +What it was, that induced them to enact such a part, Oro only knew; and +never but once, it seems, did old Mohi endeavor to find out. + +Once upon a time, visiting Quelquo, he chanced to encounter an old +woman almost doubled together, both hands upon her abdomen; in that +manner running about distracted. + +“My good woman,” said he, “what under the firmament is the matter?” + +“The Plujii! the Plujii!” affectionately caressing the field of their +operations. + +“But why do they torment you?” he soothingly inquired. “How should I +know? and what good would it do me if I did?” + +And on she ran. + +At this part of his narration, Mohi was interrupted by Media; who, much +to the surprise of all present, observed, that, unbeknown to him +(Braid-Beard), he happened to have been on that very island, at that +very time, and saw that identical old lady in the very midst of those +abdominal tribulations. + +“That she was really in great distress,” he went on to say, “was +plainly to be seen; but that in that particular instance, your Plujii +had any hand in tormenting her, I had some boisterous doubts. For, +hearing that an hour or two previous she had been partaking of some +twenty unripe bananas, I rather fancied that that circumstance might +have had something to do with her sufferings. But however it was, all +the herb-leeches on the island would not have altered her own opinions +on the subject.” + +“No,” said Braid-Beard; “a post-mortem examination would not have +satisfied her ghost.” + +“Curious to relate,” he continued, “the people of that island never +abuse the Plujii, notwithstanding all they suffer at their hands, +unless under direct provocation; and a settled matter of faith is it, +that at such times all bitter words and hasty objurgations are entirely +overlooked, nay, pardoned on the spot, by the unseen genii against whom +they are directed.” + +“Magnanimous Plujii!” cried Media. “But, Babbalanja, do you, who run a +tilt at all things, suffer this silly conceit to be uttered with +impunity in your presence? Why so silent?” + +“I have been thinking, my lord,” said Babbalanja, “that though the +people of that island may at times err, in imputing their calamities to +the Plujii, that, nevertheless, upon the whole, they indulge in a +reasonable belief. For, Plujii or no Plujii, it is undeniable, that in +ten thousand ways, as if by a malicious agency, we mortals are woefully +put out and tormented; and that, too, by things in themselves so +exceedingly trivial, that it would seem almost impiety to ascribe them +to the august gods. No; there must exist some greatly inferior spirits; +so insignificant, comparatively, as to be overlooked by the supernal +powers; and through them it must be, that we are thus grievously +annoyed. At any rate; such a theory would supply a hiatus in my system +of meta-physics.” + +“Well, peace to the Plujii,” said Media; “they trouble not me.” + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII. +Nora-Bamma + + +Still onward gliding, the lagoon a calm. + +Hours pass; and full before us, round and green, a Moslem turban by us +floats—Nora-Bamma, Isle of Nods. + +Noon-tide rolls its flood. Vibrates the air, and trembles. And by +illusion optical, thin-draped in azure haze, drift here and there the +brilliant lands: swans, peacock-plumaged, sailing through the sky. Down +to earth hath heaven come; hard telling sun-clouds from the isles. + +And high in air nods Nora-Bamma. Nid-nods its tufted summit like three +ostrich plumes; its beetling crags, bent poppies, shadows, willowy +shores, all nod; its streams are murmuring down the hills; its wavelets +hush the shore. + +Who dwells in Nora-Bamma? Dreamers, hypochondriacs, somnambulists; who, +from the cark and care of outer Mardi fleeing, in the poppy’s jaded +odors, seek oblivion for the past, and ecstasies to come. + +Open-eyed, they sleep and dream; on their roof-trees, grapes unheeded +drop. In Nora-Bamma, whispers are as shouts; and at a zephyr’s breath, +from the woodlands shake the leaves, as of humming-birds, a flight. + +All this spake Braid-Beard, of the isle. How that none ere touched its +strand, without rendering instant tribute of a nap; how that those who +thither voyaged, in golden quest of golden gourds, fast dropped asleep, +ere one was plucked; waking not till night; how that you must needs rub +hard your eyes, would you wander through the isle; and how that silent +specters would be met, haunting twilight groves, and dreamy meads; +hither gliding, thither fading, end or purpose none. + +True or false, so much for Mohi’s Nora Bamma. + +But as we floated on, it looked the place described. We yawned, and +yawned, as crews of vessels may; as in warm Indian seas, their +winnowing sails all swoon, when by them glides some opium argosie. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII. +In A Calm, Hautia’s Heralds Approach + + +“How still!” cried Babbalanja. “This calm is like unto Oro’s +everlasting serenity, and like unto man’s last despair.” + +But now the silence was broken by a strange, distant, intermitted +melody in the water. + +Gazing over the side, we saw naught but a far-darting ray in its +depths. + +Then Yoomy, before buried in a reverie, burst forth with a verse, +sudden as a jet from a Geyser. + +Like the fish of the bright and twittering fin, + Bright fish! diving deep as high soars the lark, +So, far, far, far, doth the maiden swim, + Wild song, wild light, in still ocean’s dark. + + +“What maiden, minstrel?” cried Media. + +“None of these,” answered Yoomy, pointing out a shallop gliding near. + +“The damsels three:—Taji, they pursue you yet.” That still canoe drew +nigh, the Iris in its prow. + +Gliding slowly by, one damsel flung a Venus-car, the leaves yet fresh. + +Said Yoomy—“Fly to love.” + +The second maiden flung a pallid blossom, buried in hemlock leaves. + +Said Yoomy, starting—“I have wrought a death.” + +Then came showering Venus-cars, and glorious moss-roses numberless, and +odorous handfuls of Verbena. + +Said Yoomy—“Yet fly, oh fly to me: all rosy joys and sweets are mine.” + +Then the damsels floated on. + +“Was ever queen more enigmatical?” cried Media—“Love,—death,—joy,—fly +to me? But what says Taji?” + +“That I turn not back for Hautia; whoe’er she be, that wild witch I +contemn.” + +“Then spread our pinions wide! a breeze! up sails! ply paddles all! +Come, Flora’s flute, float forth a song.” + +To pieces picking the thorny roses culled from Hautia’s gifts, and +holding up their blighted cores, thus plumed and turbaned Yoomy sang, +leaning against the mast:— + +Oh! royal is the rose, + But barbed with many a dart; +Beware, beware the rose, + ’Tis cankered at the heart. + + Sweet, sweet the sunny down, +Oh! lily, lily, lily down! + Sweet, sweet, Verbena’s bloom! +Oh! pleasant, gentle, musky bloom! + +Dread, dread the sunny down; + Lo! lily-hooded asp; +Blooms, blooms no more Verbena; + White-withered in your clasp. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX. +Braid-Beard Rehearses The Origin Of The Isle Of Rogues + + +Judge not things by their names. This, the maxim illustrated respecting +the isle toward which we were sailing. + +Ohonoo was its designation, in other words the Land of Rogues. So what +but a nest of villains and pirates could one fancy it to be: a +downright Tortuga, swarming with “Brethren of the coast,”—such as +Montbars, L’Ollonais, Bartolomeo, Peter of Dieppe, and desperadoes of +that kidney. But not so. The men of Ohonoo were as honest as any in +Mardi. They had a suspicious appellative for their island, true; but +not thus seemed it to them. For, upon nothing did they so much plume +themselves as upon this very name. Why? Its origin went back to old +times; and being venerable they gloried therein; though they disclaimed +its present applicability to any of their race; showing, that words are +but algebraic signs, conveying no meaning except what you please. And +to be called one thing, is oftentimes to be another. + +But how came the Ohonoose by their name? + +Listen, and Braid-Beard, our Herodotus, will tell. + +Long and long ago, there were banished to Ohonoo all the bucaniers, +flibustiers, thieves, and malefactors of the neighboring islands; who, +becoming at last quite a numerous community, resolved to make a stand +for their dignity, and number one among the nations of Mardi. And even +as before they had been weeded out of the surrounding countries; so +now, they went to weeding out themselves; banishing all objectionable +persons to still another island. + +These events happened at a period so remote, that at present it was +uncertain whether those twice banished, were thrust into their second +exile by reason of their superlative knavery, or because of their +comparative honesty. If the latter, then must the residue have been a +precious enough set of scoundrels. + +However it was, the commonwealth of knaves now mustered together their +gray-beards, and wise-pates, and knowing-ones, of which last there was +a plenty, chose a king to rule over them, and went to political +housekeeping for themselves. + +And in the fullness of time, this people became numerous and mighty. +And the more numerous and mighty they waxed, by so much the more did +they take pride and glory in their origin, frequently reverting to it +with manifold boastings. The proud device of their monarch was a hand +with the forefinger crooked, emblematic of the peculatory propensities +of his ancestors. + +And all this, at greater length, said Mohi. + +“It would seem, then, my lord,” said Babbalanja, reclining, “as if +these men of Ohonoo had canonized the derelictions of their +progenitors, though the same traits are deemed scandalous among +themselves. But it is time that makes the difference. The knave of a +thousand years ago seems a fine old fellow full of spirit and fun, +little malice in his soul; whereas, the knave of to-day seems a sour- +visaged wight, with nothing to redeem him. Many great scoundrels of our +Chronicler’s chronicles are heroes to us:—witness, Marjora the usurper. +Ay, time truly works wonders. It sublimates wine; it sublimates fame; +nay, is the creator thereof; it enriches and darkens our spears of the +Palm; enriches and enlightens the mind; it ripens cherries and young +lips; festoons old ruins, and ivies old heads; imparts a relish to old +yams, and a pungency to the Ponderings of old Bardianna; of fables +distills truths; and finally, smooths, levels, glosses, softens, melts, +and meliorates all things. Why, my lord, round Mardi itself is all the +better for its antiquity, and the more to be revered; to the +cozy-minded, more comfortable to dwell in. Ah! if ever it lay in embryo +like a green seed in the pod, what a damp, shapeless thing it must have +been, and how unpleasant from the traces of its recent creation. The +first man, quoth old Bardianna, must have felt like one going into a +new habitation, where the bamboos are green. Is there not a legend in +Maramma, that his family were long troubled with influenzas and +catarrhs?” + +“Oh Time, Time, Time!” cried Yoomy—“it is Time, old midsummer Time, +that has made the old world what it is. Time hoared the old mountains, +and balded their old summits, and spread the old prairies, and built +the old forests, and molded the old vales. It is Time that has worn +glorious old channels for the glorious old rivers, and rounded the old +lakes, and deepened the old sea! It is Time—” + +“Ay, full time to cease,” cried Media. “What have you to do with +cogitations not in verse, minstrel? Leave prose to Babbalanja, who is +prosy enough.” + +“Even so,” said Babbalanja, “Yoomy, you have overstepped your province. +My lord Media well knows, that your business is to make the metal in +you jingle in tags, not ring in the ingot.” + + + + +CHAPTER XC. +Rare Sport At Ohonoo + + +Approached from the northward, Ohonoo, midway cloven down to the sea, +one half a level plain; the other, three mountain terraces—Ohonoo looks +like the first steps of a gigantic way to the sun. And such, if +Braid-Beard spoke truth, it had formerly been. + +“Ere Mardi was made,” said that true old chronicler, “Vivo, one of the +genii, built a ladder of mountains whereby to go up and go down. And of +this ladder, the island of Ohonoo was the base. But wandering here and +there, incognito in a vapor, so much wickedness did Vivo spy out, that +in high dudgeon he hurried up his ladder, knocking the mountains from +under him as he went. These here and there fell into the lagoon, +forming many isles, now green and luxuriant; which, with those +sprouting from seeds dropped by a bird from the moon, comprise all the +groups in the reef.” + +Surely, oh, surely, if I live till Mardi be forgotten by Mardi, I shall +not forget the sight that greeted us, as we drew nigh the shores of +this same island of Ohonoo; for was not all Ohonoo bathing in the surf +of the sea? + +But let the picture be painted. + +Where eastward the ocean rolls surging against the outer reef of Mardi, +there, facing a flood-gate in the barrier, stands cloven Ohonoo; her +plains sloping outward to the sea, her mountains a bulwark behind. As +at Juam, where the wild billows from seaward roll in upon its cliffs; +much more at Ohonoo, in billowy battalions charge they hotly into the +lagoon, and fall on the isle like an army from the deep. But charge +they never so boldly, and charge they forever, old Ohonoo gallantly +throws them back till all before her is one scud and rack. So charged +the bright billows of cuirassiers at Waterloo: so hurled them off the +long line of living walls, whose base was as the sea-beach, +wreck-strown, in a gale. + +Without the break in the reef wide banks of coral shelve off, creating +the bar, where the waves muster for the onset, thundering in +water-bolts, that shake the whole reef, till its very spray trembles. +And then is it, that the swimmers of Ohonoo most delight to gambol in +the surf. + +For this sport, a surf-board is indispensable: some five feet in +length; the width of a man’s body; convex on both sides; highly +polished; and rounded at the ends. It is held in high estimation; +invariably oiled after use; and hung up conspicuously in the dwelling +of the owner. + +Ranged on the beach, the bathers, by hundreds dash in; and diving under +the swells, make straight for the outer sea, pausing not till the +comparatively smooth expanse beyond has been gained. Here, throwing +themselves upon their boards, tranquilly they wait for a billow that +suits. Snatching them up, it hurries them landward, volume and speed +both increasing, till it races along a watery wall, like the smooth, +awful verge of Niagara. Hanging over this scroll, looking down from it +as from a precipice, the bathers halloo; every limb in motion to +preserve their place on the very crest of the wave. Should they fall +behind, the squadrons that follow would whelm them; dismounted, and +thrown forward, as certainly would they be run over by the steed they +ride. ’Tis like charging at the head of cavalry: you must on. + +An expert swimmer shifts his position on his plank; now half striding +it; and anon, like a rider in the ring, poising himself upright in the +scud, coming on like a man in the air. + +At last all is lost in scud and vapor, as the overgrown billow bursts +like a bomb. Adroitly emerging, the swimmers thread their way out; and +like seals at the Orkneys, stand dripping upon the shore. + +Landing in smooth water, some distance from the scene, we strolled +forward; and meeting a group resting, inquired for Uhia, their king. He +was pointed out in the foam. But presently drawing nigh, he embraced +Media, bidding all welcome. + +The bathing over, and evening at hand, Uhia and his subjects repaired +to their canoes; and we to ours. + +Landing at another quarter of the island, we journeyed up a valley +called Monlova, and were soon housed in a very pleasant retreat of our +host. + +Soon supper was spread. But though the viands were rare, and the red +wine went round and round like a foaming bay horse in the ring; yet we +marked, that despite the stimulus of his day’s good sport, and the +stimulus of his brave good cheer, Uhia our host was moody and still. + +Said Babbalanja “My lord, he fills wine cups for others to quaff.” + +But whispered King Media, “Though Uhia be sad, be we merry, merry men.” + +And merry some were, and merrily went to their mats. + + + + +CHAPTER XCI. +Of King Uhia And His Subjects + + +As beseemed him, Uhia was royally lodged. Ample his roof. Beneath it a +hundred attendants nightly laying their heads. But long since, he had +disbanded his damsels. + +Springing from syren embrace—“They shall sap and mine me no more” he +cried “my destiny commands me. I will don my manhood. By Keevi! no more +will I clasp a waist.” + +“From that time forth,” said Braid-Beard, “young Uhia spread like the +tufted top of the Palm; his thigh grew brawny as the limb of the +Banian; his arm waxed strong as the back bone of the shark; yea, his +voice grew sonorous as a conch.” + +“And now he bent his whole soul to the accomplishment of the destiny +believed to be his. Nothing less than bodily to remove Ohonoo to the +center of the lagoon, in fulfillment of an old prophecy running +thus—When a certain island shall stir from its foundations and stand in +the middle of the still water, then shall the ruler of that island be +ruler of all Mardi.” + +The task was hard, but how glorious the reward! So at it he went, and +all Ohonoo helped him. Not by hands, but by calling in the magicians. +Thus far, nevertheless, in vain. But Uhia had hopes. + +Now, informed of all this, said Babbalanja to Media, “My lord, if the +continual looking-forward to something greater, be better than an +acquiescence in things present; then, wild as it is, this belief of +Uhia’s he should hug to his heart, as erewhile his wives. But my lord, +this faith it is, that robs his days of peace; his nights of sweet +unconsciousness. For holding himself foreordained to the dominion of +the entire Archipelago, he upbraids the gods for laggards, and curses +himself as deprived of his rights; nay, as having had wrested from him, +what he never possessed. Discontent dwarfs his horizon till he spans it +with his hand. ‘Most miserable of demi-gods,’ he cries, ‘here am I +cooped up in this insignificant islet, only one hundred leagues by +fifty, when scores of broad empires own me not for their lord.’ Yet +Uhia himself is envied. ‘Ah!’ cries Karrolono, one of his chieftains, +master of a snug little glen, ‘Here am I cabined in this paltry cell +among the mountains, when that great King Uhia is lord of the whole +island, and every cubic mile of matter therein.’ But this same +Karrolono is envied. ‘Hard, oh beggarly lot is mine,’ cries Donno, one +of his retainers. ‘Here am I fixed and screwed down to this paltry +plantation, when my lord Karrolono owns the whole glen, ten long +parasangs from cliff to sea.’ But Donno too is envied. ‘Alas, cursed +fate!’ cries his servitor Flavona. ‘Here am I made to trudge, sweat, +and labor all day, when Donno my master does nothing but command.’ But +others envy Flavona; and those who envy him are envied in turn; even +down to poor bed- ridden Manta, who dying of want, groans forth, +‘Abandoned wretch that I am! here I miserably perish, while so many +beggars gad about and live!’ But surely; none envy Manta! Yes; great +Uhia himself. ‘Ah!’ cries the king. ‘Here am I vexed and tormented by +ambition; no peace night nor day; my temples chafed sore by this cursed +crown that I wear; while that ignoble wight Manta, gives up the ghost +with none to molest him.’” + +In vain we wandered up and down in this isle, and peered into its +innermost recesses: no Yillah was there. + + + + +CHAPTER XCII. +The God Keevi And The Precipice Of Mondo + + +One object of interest in Ohonoo was the original image of Keevi the +god of Thieves; hence, from time immemorial, the tutelar deity of the +isle. + +His shrine was a natural niche in a cliff, walling in the valley of +Monlova And here stood Keevi, with his five eyes, ten hands, and three +pair of legs, equipped at all points for the vocation over which he +presided. Of mighty girth, his arms terminated in hands, every finger a +limb, spreading in multiplied digits: palms twice five, and fifty +fingers. + +According to the legend, Keevi fell from a golden cloud, burying +himself to the thighs in the earth, tearing up the soil all round. +Three meditative mortals, strolling by at the time, had a narrow +escape. + +A wonderful recital; but none of us voyagers durst flout it. Did they +not show us the identical spot where the idol fell? We descended into +the hollow, now verdant. Questionless, Keevi himself would have vouched +for the truth of the miracle, had he not been unfortunately dumb. But +by far the most cogent, and pointed argument advanced in support of +this story, is a spear which the priests of Keevi brought forth, for +Babbalanja to view. + +“Let me look at it closer,” said Babbalanja. + +And turning it over and over and curiously inspecting it, “Wonderful +spear,” he cried. “Doubtless, my reverends, this self-same spear must +have persuaded many recusants!” + +“Nay, the most stubborn,” they answered. + +“And all afterward quoted as additional authority for the truth of the +legend?” + +“Assuredly.” + +From the sea to the shrine of this god, the fine valley of Monlova +ascends with a gentle gradation, hardly perceptible; but upon turning +round toward the water, one is surprised to find himself high elevated +above its surface. Pass on, and the same silent ascent deceives you; +and the valley contracts; and on both sides the cliffs advance; till at +last you come to a narrow space, shouldered by buttresses of rock. +Beyond, through this cleft, all is blue sky. If the Trades blow high, +and you came unawares upon the spot, you would think Keevi himself +pushing you forward with all his hands; so powerful is the current of +air rushing through this elevated defile. But expostulate not with the +tornado that blows you along; sail on; but soft; look down; the land +breaks off in one sheer descent of a thousand feet, right down to the +wide plain below. So sudden and profound this precipice, that you seem +to look off from one world to another. In a dreamy, sunny day, the +spangled plain beneath assumes an uncertain fleeting aspect. Had you a +deep-sea-lead you would almost be tempted to sound the ocean-haze at +your feet. + +This, mortal! is the precipice of Mondo. + +From this brink, spear in hand, sprang fifty rebel warriors, driven +back into the vale by a superior force. Finding no spot to stand at +bay, with a fierce shout they took the fatal leap. + +Said Mohi, “Their souls ascended, ere their bodies touched.” + +This tragical event took place many generations gone by, and now a +dizzy, devious way conducts one, firm of foot, from the verge to the +plain. But none ever ascended. So perilous, indeed, is the descent +itself, that the islanders venture not the feat, without invoking +supernatural aid. Flanking the precipice beneath beetling rocks, stand +the guardian deities of Mondo; and on altars before them, are placed +the propitiatory offerings of the traveler. + +To the right of the brink of the precipice, and far over it, projects a +narrow ledge. The test of legitimacy in the Ohonoo monarchs is to stand +hereon, arms folded, and javelins darting by. + +And there in his youth Uhia stood. + +“How felt you, cousin?” asked Media. + +“Like the King of Ohonoo,” he replied. “As I shall again feel; when +King of all Mardi.” + + + + +CHAPTER XCIII. +Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And Yoomy Relates A Legend + + +Embarking from Ohonoo, we at length found ourselves gliding by the +pleasant shores of Tupia, an islet which according to Braid-Beard had +for ages remained uninhabited by man. Much curiosity being expressed to +know more of the isle, Mohi was about to turn over his chronicles, +when, with modesty, the minstrel Yoomy interposed; saying, that if my +Lord Media permitted, he himself would relate the legend. From its +nature, deeming the same pertaining to his province as poet; though, as +yet, it had not been versified. But he added, that true pearl shells +rang musically, though not strung upon a cord. + +Upon this presumptuous interference, Mohi looked highly offended; and +nervously twitching his beard, uttered something invidious about +frippery young poetasters being too full of silly imaginings to tell a +plain tale. + +Said Yoomy, in reply, adjusting his turban, “Old Mohi, let us not +clash. I honor your calling; but, with submission, your chronicles are +more wild than my cantos. I deal in pure conceits of my own; which have +a shapeliness and a unity, however unsubstantial; but you, Braid-Beard, +deal in mangled realities. In all your chapters, you yourself grope in +the dark. Much truth is not in thee, historian. Besides, Mohi: my songs +perpetuate many things which you sage scribes entirely overlook. Have +you not oftentimes come to me, and my ever dewy ballads for +information, in which you and your musty old chronicles were +deficient?” + +“In much that is precious, Mohi, we poets are the true historians; we +embalm; you corrode.” + +To this Mohi, with some ire, was about to make answer, when, flinging +over his shoulder a new fold of his mantle, Babbalanja spoke thus: +“Peace, rivals. As Bardianna has it, like all who dispute upon +pretensions of their own, you are each nearest the right, when you +speak of the other; and furthest therefrom, when you speak of +yourselves.” + +Said Mohi and Yoomy in a breath, “Who sought your opinion, philosopher? +you filcher from old Bardianna, and monger of maxims!” + +“You, who have so long marked the vices of Mardi, that you flatter +yourself you have none of your own,” added Braid-Beard. + +“You, who only seem wise, because of the contrasting follies of others, +and not of any great wisdom in yourself,” continued the minstrel, with +unwonted asperity.” + +“Now here,” said Babballanja, “am I charged upon by a bearded old ram, +and a lamb. One butting with his carious and brittle old frontlet; the +other pushing with its silly head before its horns are sprouted. But +this comes of being impartial. Had I espoused the cause of Yoomy versus +Mohi, or that of Mohi versus Yoomy, I had been sure to have had at +least one voice in my favor. The impartialist insulteth all sides, +saith old Bardianna; but smite with but one hand, and the other shall +be kissed.—Oh incomparable Bardianna!” + +“Will no one lay that troubled old ghost,” exclaimed Media, devoutly. +“Proceed with thy legend, Yoomy; and see to it, that it be brief; for I +mistrust me, these legends do but test the patience of the hearers. But +draw a long breath, and begin.” + +“A long bow,” muttered Mohi. + +And Yoomy began. + +“It is now about ten hundred thousand moons—” + +“Great Oro! How long since, say you?” cried Mohi, making Gothic arches +of his brows. + +Looking at him disdainfully, but vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy began over +again. + +“It is now above ten hundred thousand moons, since there died the last +of a marvelous race, once inhabiting the very shores by which we are +sailing. They were a very diminutive people, only a few inches high—” + +“Stop, minstrel,” cried Mohi; “how many pennyweights did they weigh?” + +Continued Yoomy, unheedingly, “They were covered all over with a soft, +silky down, like that on the rind of the Avee; and there grew upon +their heads a green, lance-leaved vine, of a most delicate texture. For +convenience, the manikins reduced their tendrils, sporting, nothing but +coronals. Whereas, priding themselves upon the redundancy of their +tresses, the little maidens assiduously watered them with the early dew +of the morning; so that all wreathed and festooned with verdure, they +moved about in arbors, trailing after them trains.” + +“I can hear no more,” exclaimed Mohi, stopping his ears. + +Continued Yoomy, “The damsels lured to their bowers, certain red- +plumaged insect-birds, and taught them to nestle therein, and warble; +which, with the pleasant vibrating of the leaves, when the little +maidens moved, produced a strange blending of sweet, singing sounds. +The little maidens embraced not with their arms, but with their viny +locks; whose tendrils instinctively twined about their lovers, till +both were lost in the bower.” + +“And what then?” asked Mohi, who, notwithstanding the fingers in his +ears, somehow contrived to listen; “What then?” + +Vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy went on. + +“At a certain age, but while yet the maidens were very young, their +vines bore blossoms. Ah! fatal symptoms. For soon as they burst, the +maidens died in their arbors; and were buried in the valleys; and their +vines spread forth; and the flowers bloomed; but the maidens themselves +were no more. And now disdaining the earth, the vines shot upward: +climbing to the topmost boughs of the trees; and flowering in the +sunshine forever and aye.” + +Yoomy here paused for a space; but presently continued: + +“The little eyes of the people of Tupia were very strange to behold: +full of stars, that shone from within, like the Pleiades, deep- bosomed +in blue. And like the stars, they were intolerant of sunlight; and +slumbering through the day, the people of Tupia only went abroad by +night. But it was chiefly when the moon was at full, that they were +mostly in spirits. + +“Then the little manikins would dive down into the sea, and rove about +in the coral groves, making love to the mermaids. Or, racing round, +make a mad merry night of it with the sea-urchins:—plucking the +reverend mullets by the beard; serenading the turtles in their cells; +worrying the sea-nettles; or tormenting with their antics the touchy +torpedos. Sometimes they went prying about with the starfish, that have +an eye at the end of each ray; and often with coral files in their +hands stole upon slumbering swordfish, slyly blunting their weapons. In +short, these stout little manikins were passionately fond of the sea, +and swore by wave and billow, that sooner or later they would embark +thereon in nautilus shells, and spend the rest of their roving days +thousands of inches from Tupia. Too true, they were shameless little +rakes. Oft would they return to their sweethearts, sporting musky +girdles of sea-kelp, tasseled with green little pouches of grass, +brimful of seed-pearls; and jingling their coin in the ears of the +damsels, throw out inuendoes about the beautiful and bountiful +mermaids: how wealthy and amorous they were, and how they delighted in +the company of the brave gallants of Tupia. Ah! at such heartless +bravadoes, how mourned the poor little nymphs. Deep into their arbors +they went; and their little hearts burst like rose-buds, and filled the +whole air with an odorous grief. But when their lovers were gentle and +true, no happier maidens haunted the lilies than they. By some mystical +process they wrought minute balls of light: touchy, mercurial globules, +very hard to handle; and with these, at pitch and toss, they played in +the groves. Or mischievously inclined, they toiled all night long at +braiding the moon-beams together, and entangling the plaited end to a +bough; so that at night, the poor planet had much ado to set.” + +Here Yoomy once more was mute. + +“Pause you to invent as you go on?” said old Mohi, elevating his chin, +till his beard was horizontal. + +Yoomy resumed. + +“Little or nothing more, my masters, is extant of the legend; only it +must be mentioned, that these little people were very tasteful in their +personal adornings; the manikins wearing girdles of fragrant leaves, +and necklaces of aromatic seeds; and the little damsels, not content +with their vines, and their verdure, sporting pearls in their ears; +bracelets of wee little porpoise teeth; and oftentimes dancing with +their mates in the moonlit glades, coquettishly fanned themselves with +the transparent wings of the flying fish.” + +“Now, I appeal to you, royal Media; to you, noble Taji; to you, +Babbalanja;” said the chronicler, with an impressive gesture, “whether +this seems a credible history: Yoomy has invented.” + +“But perhaps he has entertained, old Mohi,” said Babbalanja. + +“He has not spoken the truth,” persisted the chronicler. + +“Mohi,” said Babbalanja, “truth is in things, and not in words: truth +is voiceless; so at least saith old Bardianna. And I, Babbalanja, +assert, that what are vulgarly called fictions are as much realities as +the gross mattock of Dididi, the digger of trenches; for things visible +are but conceits of the eye: things imaginative, conceits of the fancy. +If duped by one, we are equally duped by the other.” + +“Clear as this water,” said Yoomy. + +“Opaque as this paddle,” said Mohi, “But, come now, thou oracle, if all +things are deceptive, tell us what is truth?” + +“The old interrogatory; did they not ask it when the world began? But +ask it no more. As old Bardianna hath it, that question is more final +than any answer.” + + + + +CHAPTER XCIV. +Of That Jolly Old Lord, Borabolla; And That Jolly Island Of His, +Mondoldo; And Of The Fish-Ponds, And The Hereafters Of Fish + + +Drawing near Mondoldo, our next place of destination, we were greeted +by six fine canoes, gayly tricked out with streamers, and all alive +with the gestures of their occupants. King Borabolla and court were +hastening to welcome our approach; Media, unbeknown to all, having +notified him at the Banquet of the Five-and-Twenty Kings, of our +intention to visit his dominions. + +Soon, side by side, these canoes floated with ours; each barge of Odo +courteously flanked by those of Mondoldo. + +Not long were we in identifying Borabolla: the portly, pleasant old +monarch, seated cross-legged upon a dais, projecting over the bow of +the largest canoe of the six, close-grappling to the side of the Sea +Elephant. + +Was he not a goodly round sight to behold? Round all over; round of eye +and of head; and like the jolly round Earth, roundest and biggest about +the Equator. A girdle of red was his Equinoctial Line, giving a +compactness to his plumpness. + +This old Borabolla permitted naught to come between his head and the +sun; not even gray hairs. Bald as a gourd, right down on his brazen +skull, the rays of the luminary converged. + +He was all hilarity; full of allusions to the feast at Willamilla, +where he had done royal execution. Rare old Borabolla! thou wert made +for dining out; thy ample mouth an inlet for good cheer, and a +sally-port for good humor. + +Bustling about on his dais, he now gave orders for the occupants of our +canoes to be summarily emptied into his own; saying, that in that +manner only did he allow guests to touch the beach of Mondoldo. + +So, with no little trouble—for the waves were grown somewhat riotous—we +proceeded to comply; bethinking ourselves all the while, how annoying +is sometimes an over-strained act of hospitality. + +We were now but little less than a mile from the shore. But what of +that? There was plenty of time, thought Borabolla, for a hasty lunch, +and the getting of a subsequent appetite ere we effected a landing. So +viands were produced; to which the guests were invited to pay heedful +attention; or take the consequences, and famish till the long voyage in +prospect was ended. + +Soon the water shoaled (approaching land is like nearing truth in +metaphysics), and ere we yet touched the beach, Borabolla declared, +that we were already landed. Which paradoxical assertion implied, that +the hospitality of Mondoldo was such, that in all directions it +radiated far out upon the lagoon, embracing a great circle; so that no +canoe could sail by the island, without its occupants being so long its +guests. + +In most hospitable vicinity to the water, was a fine large structure, +inclosed by a stockade; both rather dilapidated; as if the cost of +entertaining its guests, prevented outlays for repairing the place. But +it was one of Borabolla’s maxims, that generally your tumble-down old +homesteads yield the most entertainment; their very dilapidation +betokening their having seen good service in hospitality; whereas, +spruce-looking, finical portals, have a phiz full of meaning; for +niggards are oftentimes neat. + +Now, after what has been said, who so silly as to fancy, that because +Borabolla’s mansion was inclosed by a stockade, that the same was +intended as a defense against guests? By no means. In the palisade was +a mighty breach, not an entrance-way, wide enough to admit six Daniel +Lamberts abreast. + +“Look,” cried Borabolla, as landing we stepped toward the place. “Look +Media! look all. These gates, you here see, lashed back with osiers, +have been so lashed during my life-time; and just where they stand, +shall they rot; ay, they shall perish wide open.” + +“But why have them at all?” inquired Media. + +“Ah! there you have old Borabolla,” cried the other. + +“No,” said Babbalanja, “a fence whose gate is ever kept open, seems +unnecessary, I grant; nevertheless, it gives a notable hint, otherwise +not so aptly conveyed; for is not the open gate the sign of the open +heart?” + +“Right, right,” cried Borabolla; “so enter both, cousin Media;” and +with one hand smiting his chest, with the other he waved us on. + +But if the stockade seemed all open gate, the structure within seemed +only a roof; for nothing but a slender pillar here and there, supported +it. + +“This is my mode of building,” said Borabolla; “I will have no outside +to my palaces. Walls are superfluous. And to a high-minded guest, the +entering a narrow doorway is like passing under a yoke; every time he +goes in, or comes out, it reminds him, that he is being entertained at +the cost of another. So storm in all round.” + +Within, was one wide field-bed; where reclining, we looked up to +endless rows of brown calabashes, and trenchers suspended along the +rafters; promissory of ample cheer as regiments of old hams in a +baronial refectory. + +They were replenished with both meat and drink; the trenchers readily +accessible by means of cords; but the gourds containing arrack, +suspended neck downward, were within easy reach where they swung. + +Seeing all these indications of hard roystering; like a cautious young +bridegroom at his own marriage merry-making, Taji stood on his guard. +And when Borabolla urged him to empty a gourd or two, by way of making +room in him for the incidental repast about to be served, Taji civilly +declined; not wishing to cumber the floor, before the cloth was laid. + +Jarl, however, yielding to importunity, and unmindful of the unities of +time and place, went freely about, from gourd to gourd, concocting in +him a punch. At which, Samoa expressed much surprise, that he should be +so unobservant as not to know, that in Mardi, guests might be pressed +to demean themselves, without its being expected that so they would do. +A true toss-pot himself, he bode his time. + +The second lunch over, Borabolla placed both hands to the ground, and +giving the sigh of the fat man, after three vigorous efforts, succeeded +in gaining his pins; which pins of his, were but small for his body; +insomuch that they hugely staggered about, under the fine old load they +carried. + +The specific object of his thus striving after an erect posture, was to +put himself in motion, and conduct us to his fish-ponds, famous +throughout the Archipelago as the hobby of the king of Mondoldo. +Furthermore, as the great repast of the day, yet to take place, was to +be a grand piscatory one, our host was all anxiety, that we should have +a glimpse of our fish, while yet alive and hearty. + +We were alarmed at perceiving, that certain servitors were preparing to +accompany us with trenchers of edibles. It begat the notion, that our +trip to the fish-ponds was to prove a long journey. But they were not +three hundred yards distant; though Borabolla being a veteran traveler, +never stirred from his abode without his battalion of butlers. + +The ponds were four in number, close bordering the water, embracing +about an acre each, and situated in a low fen, draining several +valleys. The excavated soil was thrown up in dykes, made tight by being +beaten all over, while in a soft state, with the heavy, flat ends of +Palm stalks. Lying side by side, by three connecting trenches, these +ponds could be made to communicate at pleasure; while two additional +canals afforded means of letting in upon them the salt waters of the +lagoon on one hand, or those of an inland stream on the other. And by a +third canal with four branches, together or separately, they could be +partially drained. Thus, the waters could be mixed to suit any gills; +and the young fish taken from the sea, passed through a stated process +of freshening; so that by the time they graduated, the salt was well +out of them, like the brains out of some diplomaed collegians. + +Fresh-water fish are only to be obtained in Mondoldo by the artificial +process above mentioned; as the streams and brooks abound not in trout +or other Waltonian prey. + +Taken all floundering from the sea, Borabolla’s fish, passing through +their regular training for the table, and daily tended by their +keepers, in course of time became quite tame and communicative. To +prove which, calling his Head Ranger, the king bade him administer the +customary supply of edibles. + +Accordingly, mouthfuls were thrown into the ponds. Whereupon, the fish +darted in a shoal toward the margin; some leaping out of the water in +their eagerness. Crouching on the bank, the Ranger now called several +by name, patted their scales, carrying on some heathenish nursery-talk, +like St. Anthony, in ancient Coptic, instilling virtuous principles +into his finny flock on the sea shore. + +But alas, for the hair-shirted old dominie’s backsliding disciples. +For, of all nature’s animated kingdoms, fish are the most unchristian, +inhospitable, heartless, and cold-blooded of creatures. At least, so +seem they to strangers; though at bottom, somehow, they must be all +right. And truly it is not to be wondered at, that the very reverend +Anthony strove after the conversion of fish. For, whoso shall +Christianize, and by so doing, humanize the sharks, will do a greater +good, by the saving of human life in all time to come, than though he +made catechumens of the head-hunting Dyaks of Borneo, or the +blood-bibbing Battas of Sumatra. And are these Dyaks and Battas one +whit better than tiger-sharks? Nay, are they so good? Were a Batta your +intimate friend, you would often mistake an orang-outang for him; and +have orang-outangs immortal souls? True, the Battas believe in a +hereafter; but of what sort? Full of Blue-Beards and bloody bones. So, +also, the sharks; who hold that Paradise is one vast Pacific, ploughed +by navies of mortals, whom an endless gale forever drops into their +maws. + +Not wholly a surmise. For, does it not appear a little unreasonable to +imagine, that there is any creature, fish, flesh, or fowl, so little in +love with life, as not to cherish hopes of a future state? Why does man +believe in it? One reason, reckoned cogent, is, that he desires it. Who +shall say, then, that the leviathan this day harpooned on the coast of +Japan, goes not straight to his ancestor, who rolled all Jonah, as a +sweet morsel, under his tongue? + +Though herein, some sailors are slow believers, or at best hold +themselves in a state of philosophical suspense. Say they—“That +catastrophe took place in the Mediterranean; and the only whales +frequenting the Mediterranean, are of a sort having not a swallow large +enough to pass a man entire; for those Mediterranean whales feed upon +small things, as horses upon oats.” But hence, the sailors draw a rash +inference. Are not the Straits of Gibralter wide enough to admit a +sperm-whale, even though none have sailed through, since Nineveh and +the gourd in its suburbs dried up? + +As for the possible hereafter of the whales; a creature eighty feet +long without stockings, and thirty feet round the waist before dinner, +is not inconsiderately to be consigned to annihilation. + + + + +CHAPTER XCV. +That Jolly Old Lord Borabolla Laughs On Both Sides Of His Face + + +“A very good palace, this, coz, for you and me,” said waddling old +Borabolla to Media, as, returned from our excursion, he slowly lowered +himself down to his mat, sighing like a grampus. + +By this, he again made known the vastness of his hospitality, which led +him for the nonce to parcel out his kingdom with his guests. + +But apart from these extravagant expressions of good feeling, Borabolla +was the prince of good fellows. His great tun of a person was +indispensable to the housing of his bullock-heart; under which, any +lean wight would have sunk. But alas! unlike Media and Taji, Borabolla, +though a crowned king, was accounted no demi-god; his obesity excluding +him from that honor. Indeed, in some quarters of Mardi, certain pagans +maintain, that no fat man can be even immortal. A dogma! truly, which +should be thrown to the dogs. For fat men are the salt and savor of the +earth; full of good humor, high spirits, fun, and all manner of +jollity. Their breath clears the atmosphere: their exhalations air the +world. Of men, they are the good measures; brimmed, heaped, pressed +down, piled up, and running over. They are as ships from Teneriffe; +swimming deep, full of old wine, and twenty steps down into their +holds. Soft and susceptible, all round they are easy of entreaty. +Wherefore, for all their rotundity, they are too often circumnavigated +by hatchet-faced knaves. Ah! a fat uncle, with a fat paunch, and a fat +purse, is a joy and a delight to all nephews; to philosophers, a +subject of endless speculation, as to how many droves of oxen and Lake +Eries of wine might have run through his great mill during the full +term of his mortal career. Fat men not immortal! This very instant, old +Lambert is rubbing his jolly abdomen in Paradise. + +Now, to the fact of his not being rated a demi-god, was perhaps +ascribable the circumstance, that Borabolla comported himself with less +dignity, than was the wont of their Mardian majesties. And truth to +say, to have seen him regaling himself with one of his favorite +cuttle-fish, its long snaky arms and feelers instinctively twining +round his head as he ate; few intelligent observers would have opined +that the individual before them was the sovereign lord of Mondoldo. + +But what of the banquet of fish? Shall we tell how the old king +ungirdled himself thereto; how as the feast waxed toward its close, +with one sad exception, he still remained sunny-sided all round; his +disc of a face joyous as the South Side of Madeira in the hilarious +season of grapes? Shall we tell how we all grew glad and frank; and how +the din of the dinner was heard far into night? + +We will. + +When Media ate slowly, Borabolla took him to task, bidding him dispatch +his viands more speedily. + +Whereupon said Media “But Borabolla, my round fellow, that would +abridge the pleasure.” + +“Not at all, my dear demi-god; do like me: eat fast and eat long.” + +In the middle of the feast, a huge skin of wine was brought in. The +portly peltry of a goat; its horns embattling its effigy head; its +mouth the nozzle; and its long beard flowed to its jet-black hoofs. +With many ceremonial salams, the attendants bore it along, placing it +at one end of the convivial mats, full in front of Borabolla; where +seated upon its haunches it made one of the party. + +Brimming a ram’s horn, the mellowest of bugles, Borabolla bowed to his +silent guest, and thus spoke—“In this wine, which yet smells of the +grape, I pledge you my reverend old toper, my lord Capricornus; you +alone have enough; and here’s full skins to the rest!” + +“How jolly he is,” whispered Media to Babbalanja. + +“Ay, his lungs laugh loud; but is laughing, rejoicing?” + +“Help! help!” cried Borabolla “lay me down! lay me down! good gods, +what a twinge!” + +The goblet fell from his hand; the purple flew from his wine to his +face; and Borabolla fell back into the arms of his servitors. “That +gout! that gout!” he groaned. “Lord! lord! no more cursed wine will I +drink!” + +Then at ten paces distant, a clumsy attendant let fall a trencher—“Take +it off my foot, you knave!” + +Afar off another entered gallanting a calabash—“Look out for my toe, +you hound!” + +During all this, the attendants tenderly nursed him. And in good time, +with its thousand fangs, the gout-fiend departed for a while. + +Reprieved, the old king brightened up; by degrees becoming jolly as +ever. + +“Come! let us be merry again,” he cried, “what shall we eat? and what +shall we drink? that infernal gout is gone; come, what will your +worships have?” + +So at it once more we went. + +But of our feast, little more remains to be related than this;—that out +of it, grew a wondrous kindness between Borabolla and Jarl. Strange to +tell, from the first our fat host had regarded my Viking with a most +friendly eye. Still stranger to add, this feeling was returned. But +though they thus fancied each other, they were very unlike; Borabolla +and Jarl. Nevertheless, thus is it ever. And as the convex fits not +into the convex, but into the concave; so do men fit into their +opposites; and so fitted Borabolla’s arched paunch into Jarl’s, +hollowed out to receive it. + +But how now? Borabolla was jolly and loud: Jarl demure and silent; +Borabolla a king: Jarl only a Viking;—how came they together? Very +plain, to repeat:—because they were heterogeneous; and hence the +affinity. But as the affinity between those chemical opposites chlorine +and hydrogen, is promoted by caloric; so the affinity between Borabolla +and Jarl was promoted by the warmth of the wine that they drank at this +feast. For of all blessed fluids, the juice of the grape is the +greatest foe to cohesion. True, it tightens the girdle; but then it +loosens the tongue, and opens the heart. + +In sum, Borabolla loved Jarl; and Jarl, pleased with this sociable +monarch, for all his garrulity, esteemed him the most sensible old +gentleman and king he had as yet seen in Mardi. For this reason, +perhaps; that his talkativeness favored that silence in listeners, +which was my Viking’s delight in himself. + +Repeatedly during the banquet, our host besought Taji to allow his +henchman to remain on the island, after the rest of our party should +depart; and he faithfully promised to surrender Jarl, whenever we +should return to claim him. + +But though I harbored no distrust of Borabolla’s friendly intentions, I +could not so readily consent to his request; for with Jarl for my one +only companion, had I not both famished and feasted? was he not my only +link to things past? + +Things past!—Ah Yillah! for all its mirth, and though we hunted wide, +we found thee not in Mondoldo. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVI. +Samoa A Surgeon + + +The second day of our stay in Mondoldo was signalized by a noteworthy +exhibition of the surgical skill of Samoa; who had often boasted, that +though well versed in the science of breaking men’s heads, he was +equally an adept in mending their crockery. + +Overnight, Borabolla had directed his corps of sea-divers to repair +early on the morrow, to a noted section of the great Mardian reef, for +the purpose of procuring for our regalement some of the fine +Hawk’s-bill turtle, whose secret retreats were among the cells and +galleries of that submerged wall of coral, from whose foamy coping no +plummet dropped ever yet touched bottom. + +These turtles were only to be obtained by diving far down under the +surface; and then swimming along horizontally, and peering into the +coral honeycomb; snatching at a flipper when seen, as at a pinion in a +range of billing dove-cotes. + +As the king’s divers were thus employed, one of them, Karhownoo by +name, perceived a Devil-shark, so called, swimming wistfully toward him +from out his summer grotto in the reef. No way petrified by the sight, +and pursuing the usual method adopted by these divers in such +emergencies, Karhownoo, splashing the water, instantly swam toward the +stranger. But the shark, undaunted, advanced: a thing so unusual, and +fearful, that, in an agony of fright, the diver shot up for the +surface. Heedless, he looked not up as he went; and when within a few +inches of the open air, dashed his head against a projection of the +reef. He would have sank into the live tomb beneath, were it not that +three of his companions, standing on the brink, perceived his peril, +and dragged him into safety. + +Seeing the poor fellow was insensible, they endeavored, ineffectually, +to revive him; and at last, placing him in their canoe, made all haste +for the shore. Here a crowd soon gathered, and the diver was borne to a +habitation, close adjoining Borabolla’s; whence, hearing of the +disaster, we sallied out to render assistance. + +Upon entering the hut, the benevolent old king commanded it to be +cleared; and then proceeded to examine the sufferer. + +The skull proved to be very badly fractured; in one place, splintered. + +“Let me mend it,” said Samoa, with ardor. + +And being told of his experience in such matters, Borabolla surrendered +the patient. + +With a gourd of water, and a tappa cloth, the one-armed Upoluan +carefully washed the wound; and then calling for a sharp splinter of +bamboo, and a thin, semi-transparent cup of cocoa-nut shell, he went +about the operation: nothing less than the “Tomoti” (head-mending), in +other words the trepan. + +The patient still continuing insensible, the fragments were disengaged +by help of a bamboo scalpel; when a piece of the drinking +cup—previously dipped in the milk of a cocoanut—was nicely fitted into +the vacancy, the skin as nicely adjusted over it, and the operation was +complete. + +And now, while all present were crying out in admiration of Samoa’s +artistic skill, and Samoa himself stood complacently regarding his +workmanship, Babbalanja suggested, that it might be well to ascertain +whether the patient survived. When, upon sounding his heart, the diver +was found to be dead. + +The bystanders loudly lamented; but declared the surgeon a man of +marvelous science. + +Returning to Borabolla’s, much conversation ensued, concerning the sad +scene we had witnessed, which presently branched into a learned +discussion upon matters of surgery at large. + +At length, Samoa regaled the company with a story; for the truth of +which no one but him can vouch, for no one but him was by, at the time; +though there is testimony to show that it involves nothing at variance +with the customs of certain barbarous tribes. + +Read on. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVII. +Faith And Knowledge + + +A thing incredible is about to be related; but a thing may be +incredible and still be true; sometimes it is incredible because it is +true. And many infidels but disbelieve the least incredible things; and +many bigots reject the most obvious. But let us hold fast to all we +have; and stop all leaks in our faith; lest an opening, but of a hand’s +breadth, should sink our seventy-fours. The wide Atlantic can rush in +at one port-hole; and if we surrender a plank, we surrender the fleet. +Panoplied in all the armor of St. Paul, morion, hauberk, and greaves, +let us fight the Turks inch by inch, and yield them naught but our +corpse. + +But let us not turn round upon friends, confounding them with foes. For +dissenters only assent to more than we. Though Milton was a heretic to +the creed of Athanasius, his faith exceeded that of Athanasius himself; +and the faith of Athanasius that of Thomas, the disciple, who with his +own eyes beheld the mark of the nails. Whence it comes that though we +be all Christians now, the best of us had perhaps been otherwise in the +days of Thomas. + +The higher the intelligence, the more faith, and the less credulity: +Gabriel rejects more than we, but out-believes us all. The greatest +marvels are first truths; and first truths the last unto which we +attain. Things nearest are furthest off. Though your ear be next-door +to your brain, it is forever removed from your sight. Man has a more +comprehensive view of the moon, than the man in the moon himself. We +know the moon is round; he only infers it. It is because we ourselves +are in ourselves, that we know ourselves not. And it is only of our +easy faith, that we are not infidels throughout; and only of our lack +of faith, that we believe what we do. + +In some universe-old truths, all mankind are disbelievers. Do you +believe that you lived three thousand years ago? That you were at the +taking of Tyre, were overwhelmed in Gomorrah? No. But for me, I was at +the subsiding of the Deluge, and helped swab the ground, and build the +first house. With the Israelites, I fainted in the wilderness; was in +court, when Solomon outdid all the judges before him. I, it was, who +suppressed the lost work of Manetho, on the Egyptian theology, as +containing mysteries not to be revealed to posterity, and things at war +with the canonical scriptures; I, who originated the conspiracy against +that purple murderer, Domitian; I, who in the senate moved, that great +and good Aurelian be emperor. I instigated the abdication of +Diocletian, and Charles the Fifth; I touched Isabella’s heart, that she +hearkened to Columbus. I am he, that from the king’s minions hid the +Charter in the old oak at Hartford; I harbored Goffe and Whalley: I am +the leader of the Mohawk masks, who in the Old Commonwealth’s harbor, +overboard threw the East India Company’s Souchong; I am the Vailed +Persian Prophet; I, the man in the iron mask; I, Junius. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVIII. +The Tale Of A Traveler + + +It was Samoa, who told the incredible tale; and he told it as a +traveler. But stay-at-homes say travelers lie. Yet a voyage to Ethiopia +would cure them of that; for few skeptics are travelers; fewer +travelers liars, though the proverb respecting them lies. It is false, +as some say, that Bruce was cousin-german to Baron Munchausen; but +true, as Bruce said, that the Abysinnians cut live steaks from their +cattle. It was, in good part, his villainous transcribers, who made +monstrosities of Mandeville’s travels. And though all liars go to +Gehenna; yet, assuming that Mandeville died before Dante; still, though +Dante took the census of Hell, we find not Sir John, under the likeness +of a roasted neat’s tongue, in that infernalest of infernos, The +Inferno. + +But let not the truth be postponed. To the stand, Samoa, and through +your interpreter, speak. + +Once upon a time, during his endless sea-rovings, the Upoluan was +called upon to cobble the head of a friend, grievously hurt in a +desperate fight of slings. + +Upon examination, that part of the brain proving as much injured as the +cranium itself, a young pig was obtained; and preliminaries being over, +part of its live brain was placed in the cavity, the trepan +accomplished with cocoanut shell, and the scalp drawn over and secured. + +This man died not, but lived. But from being a warrior of great sense +and spirit, he became a perverse-minded and piggish fellow, showing +many of the characteristics of his swinish grafting. He survived the +operation more than a year; at the end of that period, however, going +mad, and dying in his delirium. + +Stoutly backed by the narrator, this anecdote was credited by some +present. But Babbalanja held out to the last. + +“Yet, if this story be true,” said he, “and since it is well settled, +that our brains are somehow the organs of sense; then, I see not why +human reason could not be put into a pig, by letting into its cranium +the contents of a man’s. I have long thought, that men, pigs, and +plants, are but curious physiological experiments; and that science +would at last enable philosophers to produce new species of beings, by +somehow mixing, and concocting the essential ingredients of various +creatures; and so forming new combinations. My friend Atahalpa, the +astrologer and alchymist, has long had a jar, in which he has been +endeavoring to hatch a fairy, the ingredients being compounded +according to a receipt of his own.” + +But little they heeded Babbalanja. It was the traveler’s tale that most +arrested attention. + +Tough the thews, and tough the tales of Samoa. + + + + +CHAPTER XCIX. +“Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee” + + +During the afternoon of the day of the diver’s decease, preparations +were making for paying the last rites to his remains, and carrying them +by torch-light to their sepulcher, the sea; for, as in Odo, so was the +custom here. + +Meanwhile, all over the isle, to and fro went heralds, dismally +arrayed, beating shark-skin drums; and, at intervals, crying—“A man is +dead; let no fires be kindled; have mercy, oh Oro!—Let no canoes put to +sea till the burial. This night, oh Oro!—Let no food be cooked.” + +And ever and anon, passed and repassed these, others in brave attire; +with castanets of pearl shells, making gay music; and these sang— + +Be merry, oh men of Mondoldo, + A maiden this night is to wed: +Be merry, oh damsels of Mardi,— + Flowers, flowers for the bridal bed. + + +Informed that the preliminary rites were about being rendered, we +repaired to the arbor, whither the body had been removed. + +Arrayed in white, it was laid out on a mat; its arms mutely crossed, +between its lips an asphodel; at the feet, a withered hawthorn bough. + +The relatives were wailing, and cutting themselves with shells, so that +blood flowed, and spotted their vesture. + +Upon remonstrating with the most abandoned of these mourners, the wife +of the diver, she exclaimed, “Yes; great is the pain, but greater my +affliction.” + +Another, the deaf sire of the dead, went staggering about, and groping; +saying, that he was now quite blind; for some months previous he had +lost one eye in the death of his eldest son and now the other was gone. + +“I am childless,” he cried; “henceforth call me Roi Mori,” that is, +Twice-Blind. + +While the relatives were thus violently lamenting, the rest of the +company occasionally scratched themselves with their shells; but very +slightly, and mostly on the soles of their feet; from long exposure, +quite callous. This was interrupted, however, when the real mourners +averted their eyes; though at no time was there any deviation in the +length of their faces. + +But on all sides, lamentations afresh broke forth, upon the appearance +of a person who had been called in to assist in solemnizing the +obsequies, and also to console the afflicted. + +In rotundity, he was another Borabolla. He puffed and panted. + +As he approached the corpse, a sobbing silence ensued; when holding the +hand of the dead, between his, the stranger thus spoke:— + +“Mourn not, oh friends of Karhownoo, that this your brother lives not. +His wounded head pains him no more; he would not feel it, did a javelin +pierce him. Yea; Karhownoo is exempt from all the ills and evils of +this miserable Mardi!” + +Hereupon, the Twice-Blind, who being deaf, heard not what was said, +tore his gray hair, and cried, “Alas! alas! my boy; thou wert the +merriest man in Mardi, and now thy pranks are over!” + +But the other proceeded—“Mourn not, I say, oh friends of Karhownoo; the +dead whom ye deplore is happier than the living; is not his spirit in +the aerial isles?” + +“True! true!” responded the raving wife, mingling her blood with her +tears, “my own poor hapless Karhownoo is thrice happy in Paradise!” And +anew she wailed, and lacerated her cheeks. + +“Rave not, I say.” + +But she only raved the more. + +And now the good stranger departed; saying, he must hie to a wedding, +waiting his presence in an arbor adjoining. + +Understanding that the removal of the body would not take place till +midnight, we thought to behold the mode of marrying in Mondoldo. + +Drawing near the place, we were greeted by merry voices, and much +singing, which greatly increased when the good stranger was perceived. + +Gayly arrayed in fine robes, with plumes on their heads, the bride and +groom stood in the middle of a joyous throng, in readiness for the +nuptial bond to be tied. + +Standing before them, the stranger was given a cord, so bedecked with +flowers, as to disguise its stout fibers; and taking: the bride’s +hands, he bound them together to a ritual chant; about her neck, in +festoons, disposing the flowery ends of the cord. Then turning to the +groom, he was given another, also beflowered; but attached thereto was +a great stone, very much carved, and stained; indeed, so every way +disguised, that a person not knowing what it was, and lifting it, would +be greatly amazed at its weight. This cord being attached to the waist +of the groom, he leaned over toward the bride, by reason of the burden +of the drop. + +All present now united in a chant, and danced about the happy pair, who +meanwhile looked ill at ease; the one being so bound by the hands, and +the other solely weighed down by his stone. + +A pause ensuing, the good stranger, turning them back to back, thus +spoke:— + +“By thy flowery gyves, oh bride, I make thee a wife; and by thy +burdensome stone, oh groom, I make thee a husband. Live and be happy, +both; for the wise and good Oro hath placed us in Mardi to be glad. +Doth not all nature rejoice in her green groves and her flowers? and +woo and wed not the fowls of the air, trilling their bliss in their +bowers? Live then, and be happy, oh bride and groom; for Oro is +offended with the unhappy, since he meant them to be gay.” + +And the ceremony ended with a joyful feast. + +But not all nuptials in Mardi were like these. Others were wedded with +different rites; without the stone and flowery gyves. These were they +who plighted their troth with tears not smiles, and made responses in +the heart. + +Returning from the house of the merry to the house of the mournful, we +lingered till midnight to witness the issuing forth of the body. + +By torch light, numerous canoes, with paddlers standing by, were drawn +up on the beach, to accommodate those who purposed following the poor +diver to his home. + +The remains embarked, some confusion ensued concerning the occupancy of +the rest of the shallops. At last the procession glided off, our party +included. Two by two, forming a long line of torches trailing round the +isle, the canoes all headed toward the opening in the reef. + +For a time, a decorous silence was preserved; but presently, some +whispering was heard; perhaps melancholy discoursing touching the close +of the diver’s career. But we were shocked to discover, that poor +Karhownoo was not much in their thoughts; they were conversing about +the next bread-fruit harvest, and the recent arrival of King Media and +party at Mondoldo. From far in advance, however, were heard the +lamentations of the true mourners, the relatives of the diver. + +Passing the reef, and sailing a little distance therefrom, the canoes +were disposed in a circle; the one bearing the corpse in the center. +Certain ceremonies over, the body was committed to the waves; the white +foam lighting up the last, long plunge of the diver, to see sights more +strange than ever he saw in the brooding cells of the Turtle Reef. + +And now, while in the still midnight, all present were gazing down into +the ocean, watching the white wake of the corpse, ever and anon +illuminated by sparkles, an unknown voice was heard, and all started +and vacantly stared, as this wild song was sung:— + +We drop our dead in the sea, + The bottomless, bottomless sea; +Each bubble a hollow sigh, + As it sinks forever and aye. + +We drop our dead in the sea,— + The dead reek not of aught; +We drop our dead in the sea,— + The sea ne’er gives it a thought. + +Sink, sink, oh corpse, still sink, + Far down in the bottomless sea, +Where the unknown forms do prowl, + Down, down in the bottomless sea. + +’Tis night above, and night all round, + And night will it be with thee; +As thou sinkest, and sinkest for aye, + Deeper down in the bottomless sea. + + +The mysterious voice died away; no sign of the corpse was now seen; and +mute with amaze, the company long listed to the low moan of the billows +and the sad sough of the breeze. + +At last, without speaking, the obsequies were concluded by sliding into +the ocean a carved tablet of Palmetto, to mark the place of the burial. +But a wave-crest received it, and fast it floated away. + +Returning to the isle, long silence prevailed. But at length, as if the +scene in which they had just taken part, afresh reminded them of the +mournful event which had called them together, the company again +recurred to it; some present, sadly and incidentally alluding to +Borabolla’s banquet of turtle, thereby postponed. + + + + +CHAPTER C. +The Pursuer Himself Is Pursued + + +Next morning, when much to the chagrin of Borabolla we were preparing +to quit his isle, came tidings to the palace, of a wonderful event, +occurring in one of the “Motoos,” or little islets of the great reef; +which “Motoo” was included in the dominions of the king. + +The men who brought these tidings were highly excited; and no sooner +did they make known what they knew, than all Mondoldo was in a tumult +of marveling. + +Their story was this. + +Going at day break to the Motoo to fish, they perceived a strange proa +beached on its seaward shore; and presently were hailed by voices; and +saw among the palm trees, three specter-like men, who were not of +Mardi. + +The first amazement of the fishermen over, in reply to their eager +questions, the strangers related, that they were the survivors of a +company of men, natives of some unknown island to the northeast; whence +they had embarked for another country, distant three days’ sail to the +southward of theirs. But falling in with a terrible adventure, in which +their sire had been slain, they altered their course to pursue the +fugitive who murdered him; one and all vowing, never more to see home, +until their father’s fate was avenged. The murderer’s proa outsailing +theirs, soon ran out of sight; yet after him they blindly steered by +day and by night: steering by the blood- red star in Bootes. Soon, a +violent gale overtook them; driving them to and fro; leaving them they +knew not where. But still struggling against strange currents, at times +counteracting their sailing, they drifted on their way; nigh to +famishing for water; and no shore in sight. In long calms, in vain they +held up their dry gourds to heaven, and cried “send us a breeze, sweet +gods!” The calm still brooded; and ere it was gone, all but three +gasped; and dead from thirst, were plunged into the sea. The breeze +which followed the calm, soon brought them in sight of a low, +uninhabited isle; where tarrying many days, they laid in good store of +cocoanuts and water, and again embarked. + +The next land they saw was Mardi; and they landed on the Motoo, still +intent on revenge. + +This recital filled Taji with horror. + +Who could these avengers be, but the sons of him I had slain. I had +thought them far hence, and myself forgotten; and now, like adders, +they started up in my path, as I hunted for Yillah. + +But I dissembled my thoughts. + +Without waiting to hear more, Borabolla, all curiosity to behold the +strangers, instantly dispatched to the Motoo one of his fleetest +canoes, with orders to return with the voyagers. + +Ere long they came in sight; and perceiving that strange pros in tow of +the king’s, Samoa cried out: “Lo! Taji, the canoe that was going to +Tedaidee!” + +Too true; the same double-keeled craft, now sorely broken, the fatal +dais in wild disarray: the canoe, the canoe of Aleema! And with it came +the spearmen three, who, when the Chamois was fleeing from their bow, +had poised their javelins. But so wan their aspect now, their faces +looked like skulls. + +Then came over me the wild dream of Yillah; and, for a space, like a +madman, I raved. It seemed as if the mysterious damsel must still be +there; the rescue yet to be achieved. In my delirium I rushed upon the +skeletons, as they landed—“Hide not the maiden!” But interposing, Media +led me aside; when my transports abated. + +Now, instantly, the strangers knew who I was; and, brandishing their +javelins, they rushed upon me, as I had on them, with a yell. But +deeming us all mad, the crowd held us apart; when, writhing in the arms +that restrained them, the pale specters foamed out their curses again +and again: “Oh murderer! white curses upon thee! Bleached be thy soul +with our hate! Living, our brethren cursed thee; and dying, dry-lipped, +they cursed thee again. They died not through famishing for water, but +for revenge upon thee! Thy blood, their thirst would have slaked!” + +I lay fainting against the hard-throbbing heart of Samoa, while they +showered their yells through the air. Once more, in my thoughts, the +green corpse of the priest drifted by. + +Among the people of Mondoldo, a violent commotion now raged. They were +amazed at Taji’s recognition by the strangers, and at the deadly +ferocity they betrayed. + +Rallying upon this, and perceiving that by divulging all they knew, +these sons of Aleema might stir up the Islanders against me, I resolved +to anticipate their story; and, turning to Borabolla, said— “In these +strangers, oh, king! you behold the survivors of a band we encountered +on our voyage. From them I rescued a maiden, called Yillah, whom they +were carrying captive. Little more of their history do I know.” + +“Their maledictions?” exclaimed Borabolla. + +“Are they not delirious with suffering?” I cried. “They know not what +they say.” + +So, moved by all this, he commanded them to be guarded, and conducted +within his palisade; and having supplied them with cheer, entered into +earnest discourse. Yet all the while, the pale strangers on me fixed +their eyes; deep, dry, crater-like hollows, lurid with flames, +reflected from the fear-frozen glacier, my soul. + +But though their hatred appalled, spite of that spell, again the sweet +dream of Yillah stole over me, with all the mysterious things by her +narrated, but left unexplained. And now, before me were those who might +reveal the lost maiden’s whole history, previous to the fatal affray. + +Thus impelled, I besought them to disclose what they knew. + +But, “Where now is your Yillah?” they cried. “Is the murderer wedded +and merry? Bring forth the maiden!” + +Yet, though they tore out my heart’s core, I told them not of my loss. + +Then, anxious, to learn the history of Yillah, all present commanded +them to divulge it; and breathlessly I heard what follows. + +“Of Yillah, we know only this:—that many moons ago, a mighty canoe, +full of beings, white, like this murderer Taji, touched at our island +of Amma. Received with wonder, they were worshiped as gods; were +feasted all over the land. Their chief was a tower to behold; and with +him, was a being, whose cheeks were of the color of the red coral; her +eye, tender as the blue of the sky. Every day our people brought her +offerings of fruit and flowers; which last she would not retain for +herself; but hung them round the neck of her child, Yillah; then only +an infant in her mother’s arms; a bud, nestling close to a flower, +full-blown. All went well between our people and the gods, till at last +they slew three of our countrymen, charged with stealing from their +great canoe. Our warriors retired to the hills, brooding over revenge. +Three days went by; when by night, descending to the plain, in silence +they embarked; gained the great vessel, and slaughtered every soul but +Yillah. The bud was torn from the flower; and, by our father Aleema, +was carried to the Valley of Ardair; there set apart as a sacred +offering for Apo, our deity. Many moons passed; and there arose a +tumult, hostile to our sire’s longer holding custody of Yillah; when, +foreseeing that the holy glen would ere long be burst open, he embarked +the maiden in yonder canoe, to accelerate her sacrifice at the great +shrine of Apo, in Tedaidee.—The rest thou knowest, murderer!” + +“Yillah! Yillah!” now hunted again that sound through my soul. “Oh, +Yillah! too late, too late have I learned what thou art!” + +Apprised of the disappearance of their former captive, the meager +strangers exulted; declaring that Apo had taken her to himself. For me, +ere long, my blood they would quaff from my skull. + +But though I shrunk from their horrible threats, I dissembled anew; and +turning, again swore that they raved. + +“Ay!” they retorted, “we rave and raven for you; and your white heart +will we have!” + +Perceiving the violence of their rage, and persuaded from what I said, +that much suffering at sea must have maddened them; Borabolla thought +fit to confine them for the present; so that they could not molest me. + + + + +CHAPTER CI. +The Iris + + +That evening, in the groves, came to me three gliding forms:—Hautia’s +heralds: the Iris mixed with nettles. Said Yoomy, “A cruel message!” + +With the right hand, the second syren presented glossy, green wax- +myrtle berries, those that burn like tapers; the third, a lily of the +valley, crushed in its own broad leaf. + +This done, they earnestly eyed Yoomy; who, after much pondering, +said—“I speak for Hautia; who by these berries says, I will enlighten +you.” + +“Oh, give me then that light! say, where is Yillah?” and I rushed upon +the heralds. + +But eluding me, they looked reproachfully at Yoomy; and seemed +offended. + +“Then, I am wrong,” said Yoomy. “It is thus:—Taji, you have been +enlightened, but the lily you seek is crushed.” + +Then fell my heart, and the phantoms nodded; flinging upon me +bilberries, like rose pearls, which bruised against my skin, left +stains. + +Waving oleanders, they retreated. + +“Harm! treachery! beware!” cried Yoomy. + +Then they glided through the wood: one showering dead leaves along the +path I trod, the others gayly waving bunches of spring-crocuses, +yellow, white, and purple; and thus they vanished. + +Said Yoomy, “Sad your path, but merry Hautia’s.” + +“Then merry may she be, whoe’er she is; and though woe be mine, I turn +not from that to Hautia; nor ever will I woo her, though she woo me +till I die;—though Yillah never bless my eyes.” + + + + +CHAPTER CII. +They Depart From Mondoldo + + +Night passed; and next morning we made preparations for leaving +Mondoldo that day. + +But fearing anew, lest after our departure, the men of Amma might stir +up against me the people of the isle, I determined to yield to the +earnest solicitations of Borabolla, and leave Jarl behind, for a +remembrance of Taji; if necessary, to vindicate his name. Apprised +hereof, my follower was loth to acquiesce. His guiltless spirit feared +not the strangers: less selfish considerations prevailed. He was +willing to remain on the island for a time, but not without me. Yet, +setting forth my reasons; and assuring him, that our tour would not be +long in completing, when we would not fail to return, previous to +sailing for Odo, he at last, but reluctantly, assented. + +At Mondoldo, we also parted with Samoa. Whether it was, that he feared +the avengers, whom he may have thought would follow on my track; or +whether the islands of Mardi answered not in attractiveness to the +picture his fancy had painted; or whether the restraint put upon him by +the domineering presence of King Media, was too irksome withal; or +whether, indeed, he relished not those disquisitions with which +Babbalanja regaled us: however it may have been, certain it was, that +Samoa was impatient of the voyage. He besought permission to return to +Odo, there to await my return; and a canoe of Mondoldo being about to +proceed in that direction, permission was granted; and departing for +the other side of the island, from thence he embarked. + +Long after, dark tidings came, that at early dawn he had been found +dead in the canoe: three arrows in his side. + +Yoomy was at a loss to account for the departure of Samoa; who, while +ashore, had expressed much desire to roam. + +Media, however, declared that he must be returning to some inamorata. + +But Babbalanja averred, that the Upoluan was not the first man, who had +turned back, after beginning a voyage like our own. + +To this, after musing, Yoomy assented. Indeed, I had noticed, that +already the Warbler had abated those sanguine assurances of success, +with which he had departed from Odo. The futility of our search thus +far, seemed ominous to him, of the end. + +On the eve of embarking, we were accompanied to the beach by Borabolla; +who, with his own hand, suspended from the shark’s mouth of Media’s +canoe, three red-ripe bunches of plantains, a farewell gift to his +guests. + +Though he spoke not a word, Jarl was long in taking leave. His eyes +seemed to say, I will see you no more. + +At length we pushed from the strand; Borabolla waving his adieus with a +green leaf of banana; our comrade ruefully eyeing the receding canoes; +and the multitude loudly invoking for us a prosperous voyage. + +But to my horror, there suddenly dashed through the crowd, the three +specter sons of Aleema, escaped from their prison. With clenched hands, +they stood in the water, and cursed me anew. And with that curse in our +sails, we swept off. + + + + +CHAPTER CIII. +As They Sail + + +As the canoes now glided across the lagoon, I gave myself up to +reverie; and revolving over all that the men of Amma had rehearsed of +the history of Yillah, I one by one unriddled the mysteries, before so +baffling. Now, all was made plain: no secret remaining, but the +subsequent event of her disappearance. Yes, Hautia! enlightened I had +been but where was Yillah? + +Then I recalled that last interview with Hautia’s messengers, so full +of enigmas; and wondered, whether Yoomy had interpreted aright. Unseen, +and unsolicited; still pursuing me with omens, with taunts, and with +wooings, mysterious Hautia appalled me. Vaguely I began to fear her. +And the thought, that perhaps again and again, her heralds would haunt +me, filled me with a nameless dread, which I almost shrank from +acknowledging. Inwardly I prayed, that never more they might appear. + +While full of these thoughts, Media interrupted them by saying, that +the minstrel was about to begin one of his chants, a thing of his own +composing; and therefore, as he himself said, all critics must be +lenient; for Yoomy, at times, not always, was a timid youth, +distrustful of his own sweet genius for poesy. + +The words were about a curious hereafter, believed in by some people in +Mardi: a sort of nocturnal Paradise, where the sun and its heat are +excluded: one long, lunar day, with twinkling stars to keep company. + +THE SONG +Far off in the sea is Marlena, +A land of shades and streams, +A land of many delights. +Dark and bold, thy shores, +Marlena; But green, and timorous, thy soft knolls, +Crouching behind the woodlands. +All shady thy hills; all gleaming thy springs, +Like eyes in the earth looking at you. +How charming thy haunts Marlena!— +Oh, the waters that flow through Onimoo: +Oh, the leaves that rustle through Ponoo: +Oh, the roses that blossom in Tarma: +Come, and see the valley of Vina: +How sweet, how sweet, the Isles from Hind: +’Tis aye afternoon of the full, full moon, +And ever the season of fruit, +And ever the hour of flowers, +And never the time of rains and gales, +All in and about Marlena. +Soft sigh the boughs in the stilly air, +Soft lap the beach the billows there; +And in the woods or by the streams, +You needs must nod in the Land of Dreams. + + +“Yoomy,” said old Mohi with a yawn, “you composed that song, then, did +you?” + +“I did,” said Yoomy, placing his turban a little to one side. + +“Then, minstrel, you shall sing me to sleep every night, especially +with that song of Marlena; it is soporific as the airs of Nora-Bamma.” + +“Mean you, old man, that my lines, setting forth the luxurious repose +to be enjoyed hereafter, are composed with such skill, that the +description begets the reality; or would you ironically suggest, that +the song is a sleepy thing itself?” + +“An important discrimination,” said Media; “which mean you, Mohi?” + +“Now, are you not a silly boy,” said Babbalanja, “when from the +ambiguity of his speech, you could so easily have derived something +flattering, thus to seek to extract unpleasantness from it? Be wise, +Yoomy; and hereafter, whenever a remark like that seems equivocal, be +sure to wrest commendation from it, though you torture it to the +quick.” + +“And most sure am I, that I would ever do so; but often I so incline to +a distrust of my powers, that I am far more keenly alive to censure, +than to praise; and always deem it the more sincere of the two; and no +praise so much elates me, as censure depresses.” + + + + +CHAPTER CIV. +Wherein Babbalanja Broaches A Diabolical Theory, And In His Own Person +Proves It + + +“A truce!” cried Media, “here comes a gallant before the wind.—Look, +Taji!” + +Turning, we descried a sharp-prowed canoe, dashing on, under the +pressure of an immense triangular sail, whose outer edges were +streaming with long, crimson pennons. Flying before it, were several +small craft, belonging to the poorer sort of Islanders. + +“Out of his way there, ye laggards,” cried Media, “or that mad prince, +Tribonnora, will ride over ye with a rush!” + +“And who is Tribonnora,” said Babbalanja, “that he thus bravely diverts +himself, running down innocent paddlers?” + +“A harum-scarum young chief,” replied Media, “heir to three islands; he +likes nothing better than the sport you now see see him at.” + +“He must be possessed by a devil,” said Mohi. + +Said Babbalanja, “Then he is only like all of us.” “What say you?” +cried Media. + +“I say, as old Bardianna in the Nine hundred and ninety ninth book of +his immortal Ponderings saith, that all men—” + +“As I live, my lord, he has swamped three canoes,” cried Mohi, pointing +off the beam. + +But just then a fiery fin-back whale, having broken into the paddock of +the lagoon, threw up a high fountain of foam, almost under Tribonnora’s +nose; who, quickly turning about his canoe, cur-like slunk off; his +steering-paddle between his legs. + +Comments over; “Babbalanja, you were going to quote,” said Media. +“Proceed.” + +“Thank you, my lord. Says old Bardianna, ‘All men are possessed by +devils; but as these devils are sent into men, and kept in them, for an +additional punishment; not garrisoning a fortress, but limboed in a +bridewell; so, it may be more just to say, that the devils themselves +are possessed by men, not men by them.’” + +“Faith!” cried Media, “though sometimes a bore, your old Bardianna is a +trump.” + +“I have long been of that mind, my lord. But let me go on. Says +Bardianna, ‘Devils are divers;—strong devils, and weak devils; knowing +devils, and silly devils; mad devils, and mild devils; devils, merely +devils; devils, themselves bedeviled; devils, doubly bedeviled.” + +“And in the devil’s name, what sort of a devil is yours?” cried Mohi. + +“Of him anon; interrupt me not, old man. Thus, then, my lord, as devils +are divers, divers are the devils in men. Whence, the wide difference +we see. But after all, the main difference is this:—that one man’s +devil is only more of a devil than another’s; and be bedeviled as much +as you will; yet, may you perform the most bedeviled of actions with +impunity, so long as you only bedevil yourself. For it is only when +your deviltry injures another, that the other devils conspire to +confine yours for a mad one. That is to say, if you be easily handled. +For there are many bedeviled Bedlamites in Mardi, doing an infinity of +mischief, who are too brawny in the arms to be tied.” + +“A very devilish doctrine that,” cried Mohi. “I don’t believe it.” + +“My lord,” said Babbalanja, “here’s collateral proof;—the sage lawgiver +Yamjamma, who flourished long before Bardianna, roundly asserts, that +all men who knowingly do evil are bedeviled; for good is happiness; +happiness the object of living; and evil is not good.” + +“If the sage Yamjamma said that,” said old Mohi, “the sage Yamjamma +might have bettered the saying; it’s not quite so plain as it might +be.” + +“Yamjamma disdained to be plain; he scorned to be fully comprehended by +mortals. Like all oracles, he dealt in dark sayings. But old Bardianna +was of another sort; he spoke right out, going straight to the point +like a javelin; especially when he laid it down for a universal maxim, +that minus exceptions, all men are bedeviled.” + +“Of course, then,” said Media, “you include yourself among the number.” + +“Most assuredly; and so did old Bardianna; who somewhere says, that +being thoroughly bedeviled himself, he was so much the better qualified +to discourse upon the deviltries of his neighbors. But in another place +he seems to contradict himself, by asserting, that he is not so +sensible of his own deviltry as of other people’s.” + +“Hold!” cried Media, “who have we here?” and he pointed ahead of our +prow to three men in the water, urging themselves along, each with a +paddle. + +We made haste to overtake them. + +“Who are you?” said Media, “where from, and where bound?” + +“From Variora,” they answered, “and bound to Mondoldo.” “And did that +devil Tribonnora swamp your canoe?” asked Media, offering to help them +into ours. + +“We had no such useless incumbrance to lose,” they replied, resting on +their backs, and panting with their exertions. “If we had had a canoe, +we would have had to paddle it along with us; whereas we have only our +bodies to paddle.” + +“You are a parcel of loons,” exclaimed Media. “But go your ways, if you +are satisfied with your locomotion, well and good.” + +“Now, it is an extreme case, I grant,” said Babbalanja, “but those poor +devils there, help to establish old Bardianna’s position. They belong +to that species of our bedeviled race, called simpletons; but their +devils harming none but themselves, are permitted to be at large with +the fish. Whereas, Tribonnora’s devil, who daily runs down canoes, +drowning their occupants, belongs to the species of out and out devils; +but being high in station, and strongly backed by kith and kin, +Tribonnora can not be mastered, and put in a strait jacket. For myself, +I think my devil is some where between these two extremes; at any rate, +he belongs to that class of devils who harm not other devils.” + +“I am not so sure of that,” retorted Media. “Methinks this doctrine of +yours, about all mankind being bedeviled, will work a deal of mischief; +seeing that by implication it absolves you mortals from moral +accountability. Further-more; as your doctrine is exceedingly evil, by +Yamjamma’s theory it follows, that you must be proportionably +bedeviled; and since it harms others, your devil is of the number of +those whom it is best to limbo; and since he is one of those that can +be limboed, limboed he shall be in you.” + +And so saying, he humorously commanded his attendants to lay hands upon +the bedeviled philosopher, and place a bandage upon his mouth, that he +might no more disseminate his devilish doctrine. + +Against this, Babbalanja demurred, protesting that he was no +orang-outang, to be so rudely handled. + +“Better and better,” said Media, “you but illustrate Bardianna’s +theory; that men are not sensible of their being bedeviled.” + +Thus tantalized, Babbalanja displayed few signs of philosophy. + +Whereupon, said Media, “Assuredly his devil is foaming; behold his +mouth!” And he commanded him to be bound hand and foot. + +At length, seeing all resistance ineffectual, Babbalanja submitted; but +not without many objurgations. + +Presently, however, they released him; when Media inquired, how he +relished the application of his theory; and whether he was still’ of +old Bardianna’s mind? + +To which, haughtily adjusting his robe, Babbalanja replied, “The strong +arm, my lord, is no argument, though it overcomes all logic.” + + END OF VOL. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Mardi: and A Voyage Thither<br /> + Vol. I (of II)</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Herman Melville</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: October 12, 2004 [eBook #13720]<br /> +[Most recently updated: June 14, 2022]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Geoff Palmer</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER ***</div> + +<h1>MARDI:<br /> +AND A VOYAGE THITHER</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">By Herman Melville</h2> + +<h4>In Two Volumes</h4> + +<h3>Vol. I</h3> + +<h4>1864</h4> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h4>DEDICATED<br /> +TO<br /> +My Brother,<br /> +ALLAN MELVILLE.</h4> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_PREF">PREFACE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0003">MARDI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0001">CHAPTER I — Foot in Stirrup</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0002">CHAPTER II — A Calm</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0003">CHAPTER III — A King for a Comrade</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0004">CHAPTER IV — A Chat in the Clouds</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0005">CHAPTER V — Seats secured and Portmanteaus packed</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0006">CHAPTER VI — Eight Bells</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0007">CHAPTER VII — A Pause</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0008">CHAPTER VIII — They push off, Velis et Remis</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0009">CHAPTER IX — The Watery World is all before Them</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0010">CHAPTER X — They arrange their Canopies And Lounges, and try to Make Things comfortable</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0011">CHAPTER XI — Jarl afflicted with the Lockjaw</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0012">CHAPTER XII — More about being in an open Boat</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0013">CHAPTER XIII — Of the Chondropterygii, and other uncouth Hordes infesting the South Seas</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0014">CHAPTER XIV — Jarl’s Misgivings</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0015">CHAPTER XV — A Stitch in time saves Nine</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0016">CHAPTER XVI — They are Becalmed</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0017">CHAPTER XVII — In high Spirits, they push on for the Terra Incognita</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0018">CHAPTER XVIII — My Lord Shark and his Pages</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0019">CHAPTER XIX — Who goes there?</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0020">CHAPTER XX — Noises and Portents</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0021">CHAPTER XXI — Man ho!</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0022">CHAPTER XXII — What befel the Brigantine at the Pearl Shell Islands</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0023">CHAPTER XXIII — Sailing from the Island they pillage the Cabin</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0024">CHAPTER XXIV — Dedicated to the College of Physicians and Surgeons</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0025">CHAPTER XXV — Peril A Peace-Maker</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0026">CHAPTER XXVI — Containing a Pennyweight Of Philosophy</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0027">CHAPTER XXVII — In which the past History of the Parki is concluded</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0028">CHAPTER XXVIII — Suspicions laid, and something about the Calmuc</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0029">CHAPTER XXIX — What they lighted upon in further searching the Craft, and the Resolution they came to</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0030">CHAPTER XXX — Hints for a full length of Samoa</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0031">CHAPTER XXXI — Rovings Alow and Aloft</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0032">CHAPTER XXXII — Xiphius Platypterus</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0033">CHAPTER XXXIII — Otard</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0034">CHAPTER XXXIV — How they steered on their Way</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0035">CHAPTER XXXV — Ah, Annatoo!</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0036">CHAPTER XXXVI — The Parki gives up the Ghost</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0037">CHAPTER XXXVII — Once more they take to the Chamois</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0038">CHAPTER XXXVIII — The Sea on Fire</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0039">CHAPTER XXXIX — They fall in with Strangers</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0040">CHAPTER XL — Sire and Sons</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0041">CHAPTER XLI — A Fray</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0042">CHAPTER XLII — Remorse</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0043">CHAPTER XLIII — The Tent entered</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0044">CHAPTER XLIV — Away!</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0045">CHAPTER XLV — Reminiscences</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0046">CHAPTER XLVI — The Chamois with a roving Commission</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0047">CHAPTER XLVII — Yillah, Jarl, and Samoa</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0048">CHAPTER XLVIII — Something under the Surface</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0049">CHAPTER XLIX — Yillah</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0050">CHAPTER L — Yillah in Ardair</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0051">CHAPTER LI — The Dream begins to fade</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0052">CHAPTER LII — World ho!</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0053">CHAPTER LIII — The Chamois Ashore</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0054">CHAPTER LIV — A Gentleman from the Sun</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0055">CHAPTER LV — Tiffin in a Temple</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0056">CHAPTER LVI — King Media a Host</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0057">CHAPTER LVII — Taji takes Counsel with himself</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0058">CHAPTER LVIII — Mardi by Night and Yillah by Day</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0059">CHAPTER LIX — Their Morning Meal</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0060">CHAPTER LX — Belshazzar on the Bench</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0061">CHAPTER LXI — An Incognito</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0062">CHAPTER LXII — Taji retires from the World</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0063">CHAPTER LXIII — Odo and its Lord</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0064">CHAPTER LXIV — Yillah a Phantom</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0065">CHAPTER LXV — Taji makes three Acquaintances</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0066">CHAPTER LXVI — With a fair Wind, at Sunrise they sail</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0067">CHAPTER LXVII — Little King Peepi</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0068">CHAPTER LXVIII — How Teeth were regarded in Valapee</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0069">CHAPTER LXIX — The Company discourse, and Braid-Beard rehearses a Legend</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0070">CHAPTER LXX — The Minstrel leads off with a Paddle-Song; and a Message is received from Abroad</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0071">CHAPTER LXXI — They land upon the Island of Juam</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0072">CHAPTER LXXII — A Book from the Chronicles of Mohi</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0073">CHAPTER LXXIII — Something more of the Prince</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0074">CHAPTER LXXIV — Advancing deeper into the Vale, they encounter Donjalolo</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0075">CHAPTER LXXV — Time and Temples</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0076">CHAPTER LXXVI — A pleasant Place for a Lounge</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0077">CHAPTER LXXVII — The House of the Afternoon</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0078">CHAPTER LXXVIII — Babbalanja solus</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0079">CHAPTER LXXIX — The Center of many Circumferences</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0080">CHAPTER LXXX — Donjalolo in the Bosom of his Family</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0081">CHAPTER LXXXI — Wherein Babbalanja relates the Adventure of one Karkeke in the Land of Shades</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0082">CHAPTER LXXXII — How Donjalolo, sent Agents to the Surrounding Isles; with the Result</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0083">CHAPTER LXXXIII — They visit the Tributary Islets</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0084">CHAPTER LXXXIV — Taji sits down to Dinner with five-And-Twenty Kings, and a royal Time they have</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0085">CHAPTER LXXXV — After Dinner</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0086">CHAPTER LXXXVI — Of those Scamps the Plujii</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0087">CHAPTER LXXXVII — Nora-Bamma</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0088">CHAPTER LXXXVIII — In a Calm, Hautia’s Heralds approach</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0089">CHAPTER LXXXIX — Braid-Beard rehearses the Origin of the Isle of Rogues</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0090">CHAPTER XC — Rare Sport at Ohonoo</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0091">CHAPTER XCI — Of King Uhia and his Subjects</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0092">CHAPTER XCII — The God Keevi and the Precipice of Mondo</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0093">CHAPTER XCIII — Babbalanja steps in between Mohi and Yoomy; and Yoomy relates a Legend</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0094">CHAPTER XCIV — Of that jolly old Lord, Borabolla; and that jolly Island of his, Mondoldo; and of the Fish-Ponds, and the Hereafters of Fish</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0095">CHAPTER XCV — That jolly old Lord Borabolla laughs on both Sides of his Face</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0096">CHAPTER XCVI — Samoa a Surgeon</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0097">CHAPTER XCVII — Faith and Knowledge</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0098">CHAPTER XCVIII — The Tale of a Traveler</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0099">CHAPTER XCIX — “Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee”</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0100">CHAPTER C — The Pursuer himself is pursued</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0101">CHAPTER CI — The Iris</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0102">CHAPTER CII — They depart from Mondoldo</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0103">CHAPTER CIII — As they sail</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0104">CHAPTER CIV — Wherein Babbalanja broaches a diabolical Theory, and in his Own Person proves it</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_PREF"></a> +PREFACE</h2> + +<p> +Not long ago, having published two narratives of voyages in the Pacific, which, +in many quarters, were received with incredulity, the thought occurred to me, +of indeed writing a romance of Polynesian adventure, and publishing it as such; +to see whether, the fiction might not, possibly, be received for a verity: in +some degree the reverse of my previous experience. +</p> + +<p> +This thought was the germ of others, which have resulted in Mardi. New York, +January, 1849. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0003"></a> +MARDI </h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0001"></a> +CHAPTER I.<br/> +Foot In Stirrup</h2> + +<p> +We are off! The courses and topsails are set: the coral-hung anchor swings from +the bow: and together, the three royals are given to the breeze, that follows +us out to sea like the baying of a hound. Out spreads the canvas—alow, +aloft-boom-stretched, on both sides, with many a stun’ sail; till like a +hawk, with pinions poised, we shadow the sea with our sails, and reelingly +cleave the brine. +</p> + +<p> +But whence, and whither wend ye, mariners? +</p> + +<p> +We sail from Ravavai, an isle in the sea, not very far northward from the +tropic of Capricorn, nor very far westward from Pitcairn’s island, where +the mutineers of the Bounty settled. At Ravavai I had stepped ashore some few +months previous; and now was embarked on a cruise for the whale, whose brain +enlightens the world. +</p> + +<p> +And from Ravavai we sail for the Gallipagos, otherwise called the Enchanted +Islands, by reason of the many wild currents and eddies there met. +</p> + +<p> +Now, round about those isles, which Dampier once trod, where the Spanish +bucaniers once hived their gold moidores, the Cachalot, or sperm whale, at +certain seasons abounds. +</p> + +<p> +But thither, from Ravavai, your craft may not fly, as flies the sea-gull, +straight to her nest. For, owing to the prevalence of the trade winds, ships +bound to the northeast from the vicinity of Ravavai are fain to take something +of a circuit; a few thousand miles or so. First, in pursuit of the variable +winds, they make all haste to the south; and there, at length picking up a +stray breeze, they stand for the main: then, making their easting, up helm, and +away down the coast, toward the Line. +</p> + +<p> +This round-about way did the Arcturion take; and in all conscience a weary one +it was. Never before had the ocean appeared so monotonous; thank fate, never +since. +</p> + +<p> +But bravo! in two weeks’ time, an event. Out of the gray of the morning, +and right ahead, as we sailed along, a dark object rose out of the sea; +standing dimly before us, mists wreathing and curling aloft, and creamy +breakers frothing round its base.—We turned aside, and, at length, when +day dawned, passed Massafuero. With a glass, we spied two or three hermit goats +winding down to the sea, in a ravine; and presently, a signal: a tattered flag +upon a summit beyond. Well knowing, however, that there was nobody on the +island but two or three noose-fulls of runaway convicts from Chili, our captain +had no mind to comply with their invitation to land. Though, haply, he may have +erred in not sending a boat off with his card. +</p> + +<p> +A few days more and we “took the trades.” Like favors snappishly +conferred, they came to us, as is often the case, in a very sharp squall; the +shock of which carried away one of our spars; also our fat old cook off his +legs; depositing him plump in the scuppers to leeward. +</p> + +<p> +In good time making the desired longitude upon the equator, a few leagues west +of the Gallipagos, we spent several weeks chassezing across the Line, to and +fro, in unavailing search for our prey. For some of their hunters believe, that +whales, like the silver ore in Peru, run in veins through the ocean. So, day +after day, daily; and week after week, weekly, we traversed the self-same +longitudinal intersection of the self-same Line; till we were almost ready to +swear that we felt the ship strike every time her keel crossed that imaginary +locality. +</p> + +<p> +At length, dead before the equatorial breeze, we threaded our way straight +along the very Line itself. Westward sailing; peering right, and peering left, +but seeing naught. +</p> + +<p> +It was during this weary time, that I experienced the first symptoms of that +bitter impatience of our monotonous craft, which ultimately led to the +adventures herein recounted. +</p> + +<p> +But hold you! Not a word against that rare old ship, nor its crew. The sailors +were good fellows all, the half, score of pagans we had shipped at the islands +included. Nevertheless, they were not precisely to my mind. There was no soul a +magnet to mine; none with whom to mingle sympathies; save in deploring the +calms with which we were now and then overtaken; or in hailing the breeze when +it came. Under other and livelier auspices the tarry knaves might have +developed qualities more attractive. Had we sprung a leak, been +“stove” by a whale, or been blessed with some despot of a captain +against whom to stir up some spirited revolt, these shipmates of mine might +have proved limber lads, and men of mettle. But as it was, there was naught to +strike fire from their steel. +</p> + +<p> +There were other things, also, tending to make my lot on ship-board very hard +to be borne. True, the skipper himself was a trump; stood upon no quarter-deck +dignity; and had a tongue for a sailor. Let me do him justice, furthermore: he +took a sort of fancy for me in particular; was sociable, nay, loquacious, when +I happened to stand at the helm. But what of that? Could he talk sentiment or +philosophy? Not a bit. His library was eight inches by four: Bowditch, and +Hamilton Moore. +</p> + +<p> +And what to me, thus pining for some one who could page me a quotation from +Burton on Blue Devils; what to me, indeed, were flat repetitions of long-drawn +yarns, and the everlasting stanzas of Black-eyed Susan sung by our full +forecastle choir? Staler than stale ale. +</p> + +<p> +Ay, ay, Arcturion! I say it in no malice, but thou wast exceedingly dull. Not +only at sailing: hard though it was, that I could have borne; but in every +other respect. The days went slowly round and round, endless and uneventful as +cycles in space. Time, and time- pieces; How many centuries did my hammock +tell, as pendulum-like it swung to the ship’s dull roll, and ticked the +hours and ages. Sacred forever be the Arcturion’s fore-hatch—alas! +sea-moss is over it now—and rusty forever the bolts that held together +that old sea hearth-stone, about which we so often lounged. Nevertheless, ye +lost and leaden hours, I will rail at ye while life lasts. +</p> + +<p> +Well: weeks, chronologically speaking, went by. Bill Marvel’s stories +were told over and over again, till the beginning and end dovetailed into each +other, and were united for aye. Ned Ballad’s songs were sung till the +echoes lurked in the very tops, and nested in the bunts of the sails. My poor +patience was clean gone. +</p> + +<p> +But, at last after some time sailing due westward we quitted the Line in high +disgust; having seen there, no sign of a whale. +</p> + +<p> +But whither now? To the broiling coast of Papua? That region of sun-strokes, +typhoons, and bitter pulls after whales unattainable. Far worse. We were going, +it seemed, to illustrate the Whistonian theory concerning the damned and the +comets;—hurried from equinoctial heats to arctic frosts. To be short, +with the true fickleness of his tribe, our skipper had abandoned all thought of +the Cachalot. In desperation, he was bent upon bobbing for the Right whale on +the Nor’-West Coast and in the Bay of Kamschatska. +</p> + +<p> +To the uninitiated in the business of whaling, my feelings at this juncture may +perhaps be hard to understand. But this much let me say: that Right whaling on +the Nor’-West Coast, in chill and dismal fogs, the sullen inert monsters +rafting the sea all round like Hartz forest logs on the Rhine, and submitting +to the harpoon like half-stunned bullocks to the knife; this horrid and +indecent Right whaling, I say, compared to a spirited hunt for the gentlemanly +Cachalot in southern and more genial seas, is as the butchery of white bears +upon blank Greenland icebergs to zebra hunting in Caffraria, where the lively +quarry bounds before you through leafy glades. +</p> + +<p> +Now, this most unforeseen determination on the part of my captain to measure +the arctic circle was nothing more nor less than a tacit contravention of the +agreement between us. That agreement needs not to be detailed. And having +shipped but for a single cruise, I had embarked aboard his craft as one might +put foot in stirrup for a day’s following of the hounds. And here, Heaven +help me, he was going to carry me off to the Pole! And on such a vile errand +too! For there was something degrading in it. Your true whaleman glories in +keeping his harpoon unspotted by blood of aught but Cachalot. By my halidome, +it touched the knighthood of a tar. Sperm and spermaceti! It was unendurable. +</p> + +<p> +“Captain,” said I, touching my sombrero to him as I stood at the +wheel one day, “It’s very hard to carry me off this way to +purgatory. I shipped to go elsewhere.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, and so did I,” was his reply. “But it can’t be +helped. Sperm whales are not to be had. We’ve been out now three years, +and something or other must be got; for the ship is hungry for oil, and her +hold a gulf to look into. But cheer up my boy; once in the Bay of Kamschatka, +and we’ll be all afloat with what we want, though it be none of the +best.” +</p> + +<p> +Worse and worse! The oleaginous prospect extended into an immensity of +Macassar. “Sir,” said I, “I did not ship for it; put me +ashore somewhere, I beseech.” He stared, but no answer vouchsafed; and +for a moment I thought I had roused the domineering spirit of the sea-captain, +to the prejudice of the more kindly nature of the man. +</p> + +<p> +But not so. Taking three turns on the deck, he placed his hand on the wheel, +and said, “Right or wrong, my lad, go with us you must. Putting you +ashore is now out of the question. I make no port till this ship is full to the +combings of her hatchways. However, you may leave her if you can.” And so +saying he entered his cabin, like Julius Caesar into his tent. +</p> + +<p> +He may have meant little by it, but that last sentence rung in my ear like a +bravado. It savored of the turnkey’s compliments to the prisoner in +Newgate, when he shoots to the bolt on him. +</p> + +<p> +“Leave the ship if I can!” Leave the ship when neither sail nor +shore was in sight! Ay, my fine captain, stranger things have been done. For on +board that very craft, the old Arcturion, were four tall fellows, whom two +years previous our skipper himself had picked up in an open boat, far from the +farthest shoal. To be sure, they spun a long yarn about being the only +survivors of an Indiaman burnt down to the water’s edge. But who credited +their tale? Like many others, they were keepers of a secret: had doubtless +contracted a disgust for some ugly craft still afloat and hearty, and stolen +away from her, off soundings. Among seamen in the Pacific such adventures not +seldom occur. Nor are they accounted great wonders. They are but incidents, not +events, in the career of the brethren of the order of South Sea rovers. For +what matters it, though hundreds of miles from land, if a good whale-boat be +under foot, the Trades behind, and mild, warm seas before? And herein lies the +difference between the Atlantic and Pacific:—that once within the +Tropics, the bold sailor who has a mind to quit his ship round Cape Horn, waits +not for port. He regards that ocean as one mighty harbor. +</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless, the enterprise hinted at was no light one; and I resolved to +weigh well the chances. It’s worth noticing, this way we all have of +pondering for ourselves the enterprise, which, for others, we hold a bagatelle. +</p> + +<p> +My first thoughts were of the boat to be obtained, and the right or wrong of +abstracting it, under the circumstances. But to split no hairs on this point, +let me say, that were I placed in the same situation again, I would repeat the +thing I did then. The captain well knew that he was going to detain me +unlawfully: against our agreement; and it was he himself who threw out the very +hint, which I merely adopted, with many thanks to him. +</p> + +<p> +In some such willful mood as this, I went aloft one day, to stand my allotted +two hours at the mast-head. It was toward the close of a day, serene and +beautiful. There I stood, high upon the mast, and away, away, illimitably +rolled the ocean beneath. Where we then were was perhaps the most unfrequented +and least known portion of these seas. Westward, however, lay numerous groups +of islands, loosely laid down upon the charts, and invested with all the charms +of dream-land. But soon these regions would be past; the mild equatorial breeze +exchanged for cold, fierce squalls, and all the horrors of northern voyaging. +</p> + +<p> +I cast my eyes downward to the brown planks of the dull, plodding ship, silent +from stem to stern; then abroad. +</p> + +<p> +In the distance what visions were spread! The entire western horizon high piled +with gold and crimson clouds; airy arches, domes, and minarets; as if the +yellow, Moorish sun were setting behind some vast Alhambra. Vistas seemed +leading to worlds beyond. To and fro, and all over the towers of this Nineveh +in the sky, flew troops of birds. Watching them long, one crossed my sight, +flew through a low arch, and was lost to view. My spirit must have sailed in +with it; for directly, as in a trance, came upon me the cadence of mild billows +laving a beach of shells, the waving of boughs, and the voices of maidens, and +the lulled beatings of my own dissolved heart, all blended together. +</p> + +<p> +Now, all this, to be plain, was but one of the many visions one has up aloft. +But coming upon me at this time, it wrought upon me so, that thenceforth my +desire to quit the Arcturion became little short of a frenzy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0002"></a> +CHAPTER II.<br/> +A Calm</h2> + +<p> +Next day there was a calm, which added not a little to my impatience of the +ship. And, furthermore, by certain nameless associations revived in me my old +impressions upon first witnessing as a landsman this phenomenon of the sea. +Those impressions may merit a page. +</p> + +<p> +To a landsman a calm is no joke. It not only revolutionizes his abdomen, but +unsettles his mind; tempts him to recant his belief in the eternal fitness of +things; in short, almost makes an infidel of him. +</p> + +<p> +At first he is taken by surprise, never having dreamt of a state of existence +where existence itself seems suspended. He shakes himself in his coat, to see +whether it be empty or no. He closes his eyes, to test the reality of the +glassy expanse. He fetches a deep breath, by way of experiment, and for the +sake of witnessing the effect. If a reader of books, Priestley on Necessity +occurs to him; and he believes in that old Sir Anthony Absolute to the very +last chapter. His faith in Malte Brun, however, begins to fail; for the +geography, which from boyhood he had implicitly confided in, always assured +him, that though expatiating all over the globe, the sea was at least margined +by land. That over against America, for example, was Asia. But it is a calm, +and he grows madly skeptical. +</p> + +<p> +To his alarmed fancy, parallels and meridians become emphatically what they are +merely designated as being: imaginary lines drawn round the earth’s +surface. +</p> + +<p> +The log assures him that he is in such a place; but the log is a liar; for no +place, nor any thing possessed of a local angularity, is to be lighted upon in +the watery waste. +</p> + +<p> +At length horrible doubts overtake him as to the captain’s competency to +navigate his ship. The ignoramus must have lost his way, and drifted into the +outer confines of creation, the region of the everlasting lull, introductory to +a positive vacuity. +</p> + +<p> +Thoughts of eternity thicken. He begins to feel anxious concerning his soul. +</p> + +<p> +The stillness of the calm is awful. His voice begins to grow strange and +portentous. He feels it in him like something swallowed too big for the +esophagus. It keeps up a sort of involuntary interior humming in him, like a +live beetle. His cranium is a dome full of reverberations. The hollows of his +very bones are as whispering galleries. He is afraid to speak loud, lest he be +stunned; like the man in the bass drum. +</p> + +<p> +But more than all else is the consciousness of his utter helplessness. Succor +or sympathy there is none. Penitence for embarking avails not. The final +satisfaction of despairing may not be his with a relish. Vain the idea of +idling out the calm. He may sleep if he can, or purposely delude himself into a +crazy fancy, that he is merely at leisure. All this he may compass; but he may +not lounge; for to lounge is to be idle; to be idle implies an absence of any +thing to do; whereas there is a calm to be endured: enough to attend to, Heaven +knows. +</p> + +<p> +His physical organization, obviously intended for locomotion, becomes a +fixture; for where the calm leaves him, there he remains. Even his undoubted +vested rights, comprised in his glorious liberty of volition, become as naught. +For of what use? He wills to go: to get away from the calm: as ashore he would +avoid the plague. But he can not; and how foolish to revolve expedients. It is +more hopeless than a bad marriage in a land where there is no Doctors’ +Commons. He has taken the ship to wife, for better or for worse, for calm or +for gale; and she is not to be shuffled off. With yards akimbo, she says unto +him scornfully, as the old beldam said to the little dwarf:—“Help +yourself” +</p> + +<p> +And all this, and more than this, is a calm. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0003"></a> +CHAPTER III.<br/> +A King For A Comrade</h2> + +<p> +At the time I now write of, we must have been something more than sixty degrees +to the west of the Gallipagos. And having attained a desirable longitude, we +were standing northward for our arctic destination: around us one wide sea. +</p> + +<p> +But due west, though distant a thousand miles, stretched north and south an +almost endless Archipelago, here and there inhabited, but little known; and +mostly unfrequented, even by whalemen, who go almost every where. Beginning at +the southerly termination of this great chain, it comprises the islands loosely +known as Ellice’s group; then, the Kingsmill isles; then, the Radack and +Mulgrave clusters. These islands had been represented to me as mostly of coral +formation, low and fertile, and abounding in a variety of fruits. The language +of the people was said to be very similar to that or the Navigator’s +islands, from which, their ancestors are supposed to have emigrated. +</p> + +<p> +And thus much being said, all has been related that I then knew of the islands +in question. Enough, however, that they existed at all; and that our path +thereto lay over a pleasant sea, and before a reliable Trade-wind. The +distance, though great, was merely an extension of water; so much blankness to +be sailed over; and in a craft, too, that properly managed has been known to +outlive great ships in a gale. For this much is true of a whale-boat, the +cunningest thing in its way ever fabricated by man. +</p> + +<p> +Upon one of the Kingsmill islands, then, I determined to plant my foot, come +what come would. And I was equally determined that one of the ship’s +boats should float me thither. But I had no idea of being without a companion. +It would be a weary watch to keep all by myself, with naught but the horizon in +sight. +</p> + +<p> +Now, among the crew was a fine old seaman, one Jarl; how old, no one could +tell, not even himself. Forecastle chronology is ever vague and defective. +“Man and boy,” said honest Jarl, “I have lived ever since I +can remember.” And truly, who may call to mind when he was not? To +ourselves, we all seem coeval with creation. Whence it comes, that it is so +hard to die, ere the world itself is departed. +</p> + +<p> +Jarl hailed from the isle of Skye, one of the constellated Hebrides. Hence, +they often called him the Skyeman. And though he was far from being piratical +of soul, he was yet an old Norseman to behold. His hands were brawny as the +paws of a bear; his voice hoarse as a storm roaring round the old peak of Mull; +and his long yellow hair waved round his head like a sunset. My life for it, +Jarl, thy ancestors were Vikings, who many a time sailed over the salt German +sea and the Baltic; who wedded their Brynhildas in Jutland; and are now +quaffing mead in the halls of Valhalla, and beating time with their cans to the +hymns of the Scalds. Ah! how the old Sagas run through me! +</p> + +<p> +Yet Jarl, the descendant of heroes and kings, was a lone, friendless mariner on +the main, only true to his origin in the sea-life that he led. But so it has +been, and forever will be. What yeoman shall swear that he is not descended +from Alfred? what dunce, that he is not sprung of old Homer? King Noah, God +bless him! fathered us all. Then hold up your heads, oh ye Helots, blood +potential flows through your veins. All of us have monarchs and sages for +kinsmen; nay, angels and archangels for cousins; since in antediluvian days, +the sons of God did verily wed with our mothers, the irresistible daughters of +Eve. Thus all generations are blended: and heaven and earth of one kin: the +hierarchies of seraphs in the uttermost skies; the thrones and principalities +in the zodiac; the shades that roam throughout space; the nations and families, +flocks and folds of the earth; one and all, brothers in essence—oh, be we +then brothers indeed! All things form but one whole; the universe a Judea, and +God Jehovah its head. Then no more let us start with affright. In a theocracy, +what is to fear? Let us compose ourselves to death as fagged horsemen sleep in +the saddle. Let us welcome even ghosts when they rise. Away with our stares and +grimaces. The New Zealander’s tattooing is not a prodigy; nor the +Chinaman’s ways an enigma. No custom is strange; no creed is absurd; no +foe, but who will in the end prove a friend. In heaven, at last, our good, old, +white-haired father Adam will greet all alike, and sociality forever prevail. +Christian shall join hands between Gentile and Jew; grim Dante forget his +Infernos, and shake sides with fat Rabelais; and monk Luther, over a flagon of +old nectar, talk over old times with Pope Leo. Then, shall we sit by the sages, +who of yore gave laws to the Medes and Persians in the sun; by the cavalry +captains in Perseus, who cried, “To horse!” when waked by their +Last Trump sounding to the charge; by the old hunters, who eternities ago, +hunted the moose in Orion; by the minstrels, who sang in the Milky Way when +Jesus our Saviour was born. Then shall we list to no shallow gossip of +Magellans and Drakes; but give ear to the voyagers who have circumnavigated the +Ecliptic; who rounded the Polar Star as Cape Horn. Then shall the Stagirite and +Kant be forgotten, and another folio than theirs be turned over for wisdom; +even the folio now spread with horoscopes as yet undeciphered, the heaven of +heavens on high. +</p> + +<p> +Now, in old Jarl’s lingo there was never an idiom. Your aboriginal tar is +too much of a cosmopolitan for that. Long companionship with seamen of all +tribes: Manilla-men, Anglo-Saxons, Cholos, Lascars, and Danes, wear away in +good time all mother-tongue stammerings. You sink your clan; down goes your +nation; you speak a world’s language, jovially jabbering in the +Lingua-Franca of the forecastle. +</p> + +<p> +True to his calling, the Skyeman was very illiterate; witless of Salamanca, +Heidelberg, or Brazen-Nose; in Delhi, had never turned over the books of the +Brahmins. For geography, in which sailors should be adepts, since they are +forever turning over and over the great globe of globes, poor Jarl was +deplorably lacking. According to his view of the matter, this terraqueous world +had been formed in the manner of a tart; the land being a mere marginal crust, +within which rolled the watery world proper. Such seemed my good Viking’s +theory of cosmography. As for other worlds, he weened not of them; yet full as +much as Chrysostom. +</p> + +<p> +Ah, Jarl! an honest, earnest Wight; so true and simple, that the secret +operations of thy soul were more inscrutable than the subtle workings of +Spinoza’s. +</p> + +<p> +Thus much be said of the Skyeman; for he was exceedingly taciturn, and but +seldom will speak for himself. +</p> + +<p> +Now, higher sympathies apart, for Jarl I had a wonderful liking; for he loved +me; from the first had cleaved to me. +</p> + +<p> +It is sometimes the case, that an old mariner like him will conceive a very +strong attachment for some young sailor, his shipmate; an attachment so +devoted, as to be wholly inexplicable, unless originating in that +heart-loneliness which overtakes most seamen as they grow aged; impelling them +to fasten upon some chance object of regard. But however it was, my Viking, thy +unbidden affection was the noblest homage ever paid me. And frankly, I am more +inclined to think well of myself, as in some way deserving thy devotion, than +from the rounded compliments of more cultivated minds. +</p> + +<p> +Now, at sea, and in the fellowship of sailors, all men appear as they are. No +school like a ship for studying human nature. The contact of one man with +another is too near and constant to favor deceit. You wear your character as +loosely as your flowing trowsers. Vain all endeavors to assume qualities not +yours; or to conceal those you possess. Incognitos, however desirable, are out +of the question. And thus aboard of all ships in which I have sailed, I have +invariably been known by a sort of thawing-room title. Not,—let me hurry +to say,—that I put hand in tar bucket with a squeamish air, or ascended +the rigging with a Chesterfieldian mince. No, no, I was never better than my +vocation; and mine have been many. I showed as brown a chest, and as hard a +hand, as the tarriest tar of them all. And never did shipmate of mine upbraid +me with a genteel disinclination to duty, though it carried me to truck of +main-mast, or jib-boom-end, in the most wolfish blast that ever howled. +</p> + +<p> +Whence then, this annoying appellation? for annoying it most assuredly was. It +was because of something in me that could not be hidden; stealing out in an +occasional polysyllable; an otherwise incomprehensible deliberation in dining; +remote, unguarded allusions to Belles-Lettres affairs; and other trifles +superfluous to mention. +</p> + +<p> +But suffice it to say, that it had gone abroad among the Arcturion’s +crew, that at some indefinite period of my career, I had been a +“nob.” But Jarl seemed to go further. He must have taken me for one +of the House of Hanover in disguise; or, haply, for bonneted Charles Edward the +Pretender, who, like the Wandering Jew, may yet be a vagrant. At any rate, his +loyalty was extreme. Unsolicited, he was my laundress and tailor; a most expert +one, too; and when at meal-times my turn came round to look out at the +mast-head, or stand at the wheel, he catered for me among the +“kids” in the forecastle with unwearied assiduity. Many’s the +good lump of “duff” for which I was indebted to my good +Viking’s good care of me. And like Sesostris I was served by a monarch. +Yet in some degree the obligation was mutual. For be it known that, in +sea-parlance, we were <i>chummies.</i> +</p> + +<p> +Now this <i>chummying</i> among sailors is like the brotherhood subsisting +between a brace of collegians (chums) rooming together. It is a +Fidus-Achates-ship, a league of offense and defense, a copartnership of chests +and toilets, a bond of love and good feeling, and a mutual championship of the +absent one. True, my nautical reminiscenses remind me of sundry lazy, +ne’er-do-well, unprofitable, and abominable chummies; chummies, who at +meal times were last at the “kids,” when their unfortunate partners +were high upon the spars; chummies, who affected awkwardness at the needle, and +conscientious scruples about dabbling in the suds; so that chummy the simple +was made to do all the work of the firm, while chummy the cunning played the +sleeping partner in his hammock. Out upon such chummies! +</p> + +<p> +But I appeal to thee, honest Jarl, if I was ever chummy the cunning. Never mind +if thou didst fabricate my tarpaulins; and with Samaritan charity bind up the +rents, and pour needle and thread into the frightful gashes that agonized my +hapless nether integuments, which thou calledst +“ducks;”—Didst thou not expressly declare, that all these +things, and more, thou wouldst do for me, despite my own quaint thimble, +fashioned from the ivory tusk of a whale? Nay; could I even wrest from thy +willful hands my very shirt, when once thou hadst it steaming in an unsavory +pickle in thy capacious vat, a decapitated cask? Full well thou knowest, Jarl, +that these things are true; and I am bound to say it, to disclaim any lurking +desire to reap advantage from thy great good nature. +</p> + +<p> +Now my Viking for me, thought I, when I cast about for a comrade; and my Viking +alone. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0004"></a> +CHAPTER IV.<br/> +A Chat In The Clouds</h2> + +<p> +The Skyeman seemed so earnest and upright a seaman, that to tell the plain +truth, in spite of his love for me, I had many misgivings as to his readiness +to unite in an undertaking which apparently savored of a moral dereliction. But +all things considered, I deemed my own resolution quite venial; and as for +inducing another to join me, it seemed a precaution so indispensable, as to +outweigh all other considerations. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore I resolved freely to open my heart to him; for that special purpose +paying him a visit, when, like some old albatross in the air, he happened to be +perched at the foremast-head, all by himself, on the lookout for whales never +seen. +</p> + +<p> +Now this standing upon a bit of stick 100 feet aloft for hours at a time, +swiftly sailing over the sea, is very much like crossing the Channel in a +balloon. Manfred-like, you talk to the clouds: you have a fellow feeling for +the sun. And when Jarl and I got conversing up there, smoking our dwarfish +“dudeens,” any sea-gull passing by might have taken us for Messrs. +Blanchard and Jeffries, socially puffing their after-dinner Bagdads, bound to +Calais, via Heaven, from Dover. Honest Jarl, I acquainted with all: my +conversation with the captain, the hint implied in his last words, my firm +resolve to quit the ship in one of her boats, and the facility with which I +thought the thing could be done. Then I threw out many inducements, in the +shape of pleasant anticipations of bearing right down before the wind upon the +sunny isles under our lee. +</p> + +<p> +He listened attentively; but so long remained silent that I almost fancied +there was something in Jarl which would prove too much for me and my eloquence. +</p> + +<p> +At last he very bluntly declared that the scheme was a crazy one; he had never +known of such a thing but thrice before; and in every case the runaways had +never afterwards been heard of. He entreated me to renounce my determination, +not be a boy, pause and reflect, stick to the ship, and go home in her like a +man. Verily, my Viking talked to me like my uncle. +</p> + +<p> +But to all this I turned a deaf ear; affirming that my mind was made up; and +that as he refused to accompany me, and I fancied no one else for a comrade, I +would go stark alone rather than not at all. Upon this, seeing my resolution +immovable, he bluntly swore that he would follow me through thick and thin. +</p> + +<p> +Thanks, Jarl! thou wert one of those devoted fellows who will wrestle hard to +convince one loved of error; but failing, forthwith change their wrestling to a +sympathetic hug. +</p> + +<p> +But now his elderly prudence came into play. Casting his eye over the boundless +expanse below, he inquired how far off were the islands in question. +</p> + +<p> +“A thousand miles and no less.” +</p> + +<p> +“With a fair trade breeze, then, and a boat sail, that is a good twelve +days’ passage, but calms and currents may make it a month, perhaps +more.” So saying, he shook his old head, and his yellow hair streamed. +</p> + +<p> +But trying my best to chase away these misgivings, he at last gave them over. +He assured me I might count upon him to his uttermost keel. +</p> + +<p> +My Viking secured, I felt more at ease; and thoughtfully considered how the +enterprise might best be accomplished. +</p> + +<p> +There was no time to be lost. Every hour was carrying us farther and farther +from the parallel most desirable for us to follow in our route to the westward. +So, with all possible dispatch, I matured my plans, and communicated them to +Jarl, who gave several old hints—having ulterior probabilities in +view—which were not neglected. +</p> + +<p> +Strange to relate, it was not till my Viking, with a rueful face, reminded me +of the fact, that I bethought me of a circumstance somewhat alarming at the +first blush. We must push off without chart or quadrant; though, as will +shortly be seen, a compass was by no means out of the question. The chart, to +be sure, I did not so much lay to heart; but a quadrant was more than +desirable. Still, it was by no means indispensable. For this reason. When we +started, our latitude would be exactly known; and whether, on our voyage +westward, we drifted north or south therefrom, we could not, by any +possibility, get so far out of our reckoning, as to fail in striking some one +of a long chain of islands, which, for many degrees, on both sides of the +equator, stretched right across our track. +</p> + +<p> +For much the same reason, it mattered little, whether on our passage we daily +knew our longitude; for no known land lay between us and the place we desired +to reach. So what could be plainer than this: that if westward we patiently +held on our way, we must eventually achieve our destination? +</p> + +<p> +As for intervening shoals or reefs, if any there were, they intimidated us not. +In a boat that drew but a few inches of water, but an indifferent look-out +would preclude all danger on that score. At all events, the thing seemed +feasible enough, notwithstanding old Jarl’s superstitious reverence for +nautical instruments, and the philosophical objections which might have been +urged by a pedantic disciple of Mercator. +</p> + +<p> +Very often, as the old maxim goes, the simplest things are the most startling, +and that, too, from their very simplicity. So cherish no alarms, if thus we +addressed the setting sun—“Be thou, old pilot, our guide!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0005"></a> +CHAPTER V.<br/> +Seats Secured And Portmanteaus Packed</h2> + +<p> +But thoughts of sextants and quadrants were the least of our cares. +</p> + +<p> +Right from under the very arches of the eyebrows of thirty men—captain, +mates, and crew—a boat was to be abstracted; they knowing nothing of the +event, until all knowledge would prove unavailing. +</p> + +<p> +Hark ye: +</p> + +<p> +At sea, the boats of a South Sea-man (generally four in number, spare ones +omitted,) are suspended by tackles, hooked above, to curved timbers called +“davits,” vertically fixed to the ship’s sides. +</p> + +<p> +Now, no fair one with golden locks is more assiduously waited upon, or more +delicately handled by her tire-women, than the slender whale- boat by her crew. +And out of its element, it seems fragile enough to justify the utmost +solicitude. For truly, like a fine lady, the fine whale-boat is most delicate +when idle, though little coy at a pinch. +</p> + +<p> +Besides the “davits,” the following supports are provided Two small +cranes are swung under the keel, on which the latter rests, preventing the +settling of the boat’s middle, while hanging suspended by the bow and +stern. A broad, braided, hempen band, usually worked in a tasteful pattern, is +also passed round both gunwales; and secured to the ship’s bulwarks, +firmly lashes the craft to its place. Being elevated above the ship’s +rail, the boats are in plain sight from all parts of the deck. +</p> + +<p> +Now, one of these boats was to be made way with. No facile matter, truly. +Harder than for any dashing young Janizary to run off with a sultana from the +Grand Turk’s seraglio. Still, the thing could be done, for, by Jove, it +had been. +</p> + +<p> +What say you to slyly loosing every thing by day; and when night comes, cast +off the band and swing in the cranes? But how lower the tackles, even in the +darkest night, without a creaking more fearful than the death rattle? Easily +avoided. Anoint the ropes, and they will travel deftly through the subtle +windings of the blocks. +</p> + +<p> +But though I had heard of this plan being pursued, there was a degree of risk +in it, after all, which I was far from fancying. Another plan was hit upon; +still bolder; and hence more safe. What it was, in the right place will be +seen. +</p> + +<p> +In selecting my craft for this good voyage, I would fain have traversed the +deck, and eyed the boats like a cornet choosing his steed from out a goodly +stud. But this was denied me. And the “bow boat” was, perforce, +singled out, as the most remote from the quarter-deck, that region of sharp +eyes and relentless purposes. +</p> + +<p> +Then, our larder was to be thought of; also, an abundant supply of water; +concerning which last I determined to take good heed. There were but two to be +taken care of; but I resolved to lay in sufficient store of both meat and drink +for four; at the same time that the supplemental twain thus provided for were +but imaginary. And if it came to the last dead pinch, of which we had no fear, +however, I was food for no man but Jarl. +</p> + +<p> +Little time was lost in catering for our mess. Biscuit and salt beef were our +sole resource; and, thanks to the generosity of the Arcturion’s owners, +our ship’s company had a plentiful supply. Casks of both, with heads +knocked out, were at the service of all. In bags which we made for the purpose, +a sufficiency of the biscuit was readily stored away, and secreted in a corner +of easy access. The salt beef was more difficult to obtain; but, little by +little, we managed to smuggle out of the cask enough to answer our purpose. +</p> + +<p> +As for water, most luckily a day or two previous several “breakers” +of it had been hoisted from below for the present use of the ship’s +company. +</p> + +<p> +These “breakers” are casks, long and slender, but very strong. Of +various diameters, they are made on purpose to stow into spaces intervening +between the immense butts in a ship’s hold. +</p> + +<p> +The largest we could find was selected, first carefully examining it to detect +any leak. On some pretense or other, we then rolled them all over to that side +of the vessel where our boat was suspended, the selected breaker being placed +in their middle. +</p> + +<p> +Our compendious wardrobes were snugly packed into bundles and laid aside for +the present. And at last, by due caution, we had every thing arranged +preliminary to the final start. Let me say, though, perhaps to the credit of +Jarl, that whenever the most strategy was necessary, he seemed ill at ease, and +for the most part left the matter to me. It was well that he did; for as it +was, by his untimely straight-forwardness, he once or twice came near spoiling +every thing. Indeed, on one occasion he was so unseasonably blunt, that +curiously enough, I had almost suspected him of taking that odd sort of +interest in one’s welfare, which leads a philanthropist, all other +methods failing, to frustrate a project deemed bad; by pretending clumsily to +favor it. But no inuendoes; Jarl was a Viking, frank as his fathers; though not +so much of a bucanier. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0006"></a> +CHAPTER VI.<br/> +Eight Bells</h2> + +<p> +The moon must be monstrous coy, or some things fall out opportunely, or else +almanacs are consulted by nocturnal adventurers; but so it is, that when +Cynthia shows a round and chubby disk, few daring deeds are done. Though true +it may be, that of moonlight nights, jewelers’ caskets and maidens’ +hearts have been burglariously broken into—and rifled, for aught +Copernicus can tell. +</p> + +<p> +The gentle planet was in her final quarter, and upon her slender horn I hung my +hopes of withdrawing from the ship undetected. +</p> + +<p> +Now, making a tranquil passage across the ocean, we kept at this time what are +called among whalemen “boatscrew-watches.” That is, instead of the +sailors being divided at night into two bands, alternately on deck every four +hours, there were four watches, each composed of a boat’s crew, the +“headsman” (always one of the mates) excepted. To the officers, +this plan gives uninterrupted repose—“all-night-in,” as they +call it, and of course greatly lightens the duties of the crew. +</p> + +<p> +The harpooneers head the boats’ crews, and are responsible for the ship +during the continuance of their watches. +</p> + +<p> +Now, my Viking being a stalwart seaman, pulled the midship oar of the boat of +which I was bowsman. Hence, we were in the same watch; to which, also, three +others belonged, including Mark, the harpooner. One of these seamen, however, +being an invalid, there were only two left for us to manage. +</p> + +<p> +Voyaging in these seas, you may glide along for weeks without starting tack or +sheet, hardly moving the helm a spoke, so mild and constant are the Trades. At +night, the watch seldom trouble themselves with keeping much of a look-out; +especially, as a strange sail is almost a prodigy in these lonely waters. In +some ships, for weeks in and weeks out, you are puzzled to tell when your +nightly turn on deck really comes round; so little heed is given to the +standing of watches, where in the license of presumed safety, nearly every one +nods without fear. +</p> + +<p> +But remiss as you may be in the boats-crew-watch of a heedless whaleman, the +man who heads it is bound to maintain his post on the quarter-deck until +regularly relieved. Yet drowsiness being incidental to all natures, even to +Napoleon, beside his own sentry napping in the snowy bivouac; so, often, in +snowy moonlight, or ebon eclipse, dozed Mark, our harpooneer. Lethe be his +portion this blessed night, thought I, as during the morning which preceded our +enterprise, I eyed the man who might possibly cross my plans. +</p> + +<p> +But let me come closer to this part of my story. During what are called at sea +the “dog-watches” (between four o’clock and eight in the +evening), sailors are quite lively and frolicsome; their spirits even flow far +into the first of the long “night-watches;” but upon its expiration +at “eight bells” (midnight), silence begins to reign; if you hear a +voice it is no cherub’s: all exclamations are oaths. +</p> + +<p> +At eight bells, the mariners on deck, now relieved from their cares, crawl out +from their sleepy retreats in old monkey jackets, or coils of rigging, and hie +to their hammocks, almost without interrupting their dreams: while the +sluggards below lazily drag themselves up the ladder to resume their slumbers +in the open air. +</p> + +<p> +For these reasons then, the moonless sea midnight was just the time to escape. +Hence, we suffered a whole day to pass unemployed; waiting for the night, when +the star board-quarter-boats’-watch, to which we belonged, would be +summoned on deck at the eventful eight of the bell. +</p> + +<p> +But twenty-four hours soon glide away; and “Starboleens ahoy; eight bells +there below;” at last started me from a troubled doze. +</p> + +<p> +I sprang from my hammock, and would have lighted my pipe. But the forecastle +lamp had gone out. An old sea-dog was talking about sharks in his sleep. Jarl +and our solitary watch-mate were groping their way into their trowsers. And +little was heard but the humming of the still sails aloft; the dash of the +waves against the bow; and the deep breathing of the dreaming sailors around. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0007"></a> +CHAPTER VII.<br/> +A Pause</h2> + +<p> +Good old Arcturion! Maternal craft; that rocked me so often in thy heart of +oak, I grieve to tell how I deserted thee on the broad deep. So far from home, +with such a motley crew, so many islanders, whose heathen babble echoing +through thy Christian hull, must have grated harshly on every carline. +</p> + +<p> +Old ship! where sails thy lone ghost now? For of the stout Arcturion no word +was ever heard, from the dark hour we pushed from her fated planks. In what +time of tempest, to what seagull’s scream, the drowning eddies did their +work, knows no mortal man. Sunk she silently, helplessly, into the calm depths +of that summer sea, assassinated by the ruthless blade of the swordfish? Such +things have been. Or was hers a better fate? Stricken down while gallantly +battling with the blast; her storm-sails set; helm manned; and every sailor at +his post; as sunk the Hornet, her men at quarters, in some distant gale. +</p> + +<p> +But surmises are idle. A very old craft, she may have foundered; or laid her +bones upon some treacherous reef; but as with many a far rover, her fate is a +mystery. +</p> + +<p> +Pray Heaven, the spirit of that lost vessel roaming abroad through the troubled +mists of midnight gales—as old mariners believe of missing +ships—may never haunt my future path upon the waves. Peacefully may she +rest at the bottom of the sea; and sweetly sleep my shipmates in the lowest +watery zone, where prowling sharks come not, nor billows roll. +</p> + +<p> +By quitting the Arcturion when we did, Jarl and I unconsciously eluded a +sailor’s grave. We hear of providential deliverances. Was this one? But +life is sweet to all, death comes as hard. And for myself I am almost tempted +to hang my head, that I escaped the fate of my shipmates; something like him +who blushed to have escaped the fell carnage at Thermopylae. +</p> + +<p> +Though I can not repress a shudder when I think of that old ship’s end, +it is impossible for me so much as to imagine, that our deserting her could +have been in any way instrumental in her loss. Nevertheless, I would to heaven +the Arcturion still floated; that it was given me once more to tread her +familiar decks. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0008"></a> +CHAPTER VIII.<br/> +They Push Off, Velis Et Remis</h2> + +<p> +And now to tell how, tempted by devil or good angel, and a thousand miles from +land, we embarked upon this western voyage. +</p> + +<p> +It was midnight, mark you, when our watch began; and my turn at the helm now +coming on was of course to be avoided. On some plausible pretense, I induced +our solitary watchmate to assume it; thus leaving myself untrammeled, and at +the same time satisfactorily disposing of him. For being a rather fat fellow, +an enormous consumer of “duff,” and with good reason supposed to be +the son of a farmer, I made no doubt, he would pursue his old course and fall +to nodding over the wheel. As for the leader of the watch—our +harpooner—he fell heir to the nest of old jackets, under the lee of the +mizzen-mast, left nice and warm by his predecessor. +</p> + +<p> +The night was even blacker than we had anticipated; there was no trace of a +moon; and the dark purple haze, sometimes encountered at night near the Line, +half shrouded the stars from view. +</p> + +<p> +Waiting about twenty minutes after the last man of the previous watch had gone +below, I motioned to Jarl, and we slipped our shoes from our feet. He then +descended into the forecastle, and I sauntered aft toward the quarter-deck. All +was still. Thrice did I pass my hand full before the face of the slumbering +lubber at the helm, and right between him and the light of the binnacle. +</p> + +<p> +Mark, the harpooneer, was not so easily sounded. I feared to approach him. He +lay quietly, though; but asleep or awake, no more delay. Risks must be run, +when time presses. And our ears were a pointer’s to catch a sound. +</p> + +<p> +To work we went, without hurry, but swiftly and silently. Our various stores +were dragged from their lurking-places, and placed in the boat, which hung from +the ship’s lee side, the side depressed in the water, an indispensable +requisite to an attempt at escape. And though at sundown the boat was to +windward, yet, as we had foreseen, the vessel having been tacked during the +first watch, brought it to leeward. +</p> + +<p> +Endeavoring to manhandle our clumsy breaker, and lift it into the boat, we +found, that by reason of the intervention of the shrouds, it could not be done +without, risking a jar; besides straining the craft in lowering. An expedient, +however, though at the eleventh hour, was hit upon. Fastening a long rope to +the breaker, which was perfectly tight, we cautiously dropped it overboard; +paying out enough line, to insure its towing astern of the ship, so as not to +strike against the copper. The other end of the line we then secured to the +boat’s stern. +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately, this was the last thing to be done; for the breaker, acting as a +clog to the vessel’s way in the water, so affected her steering as to +fling her perceptibly into the wind. And by causing the helm to work, this must +soon rouse the lubber there stationed, if not already awake. But our dropping +overboard the breaker greatly aided us in this respect: it diminished the +ship’s headway; which owing to the light breeze had not been very great +at any time during the night. Had it been so, all hope of escaping without +first arresting the vessel’s progress, would have been little short of +madness. As it was, the sole daring of the deed that night achieved, consisted +in our lowering away while the ship yet clove the brine, though but moderately. +</p> + +<p> +All was now ready: the cranes swung in, the lashings adrift, and the boat +fairly suspended; when, seizing the ends of the tackle ropes, we silently +stepped into it, one at each end. The dead weight of the breaker astern now +dragged the craft horizontally through the air, so that her tackle ropes +strained hard. She quivered like a dolphin. Nevertheless, had we not feared her +loud splash upon striking the wave, we might have quitted the ship almost as +silently as the breath the body. But this was out of the question, and our +plans were laid accordingly. +</p> + +<p> +“All ready, Jarl?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ready.” +</p> + +<p> +“A man overboard!” I shouted at the top of my compass; and like +lightning the cords slid through our blistering hands, and with a tremendous +shock the boat bounded on the sea’s back. One mad sheer and plunge, one +terrible strain on the tackles as we sunk in the trough of the waves, tugged +upon by the towing breaker, and our knives severed the tackle ropes—we +hazarded not unhooking the blocks—our oars were out, and the good boat +headed round, with prow to leeward. +</p> + +<p> +“Man overboard!” was now shouted from stem to stern. And directly +we heard the confused tramping and shouting of the sailors, as they rushed from +their dreams into the almost inscrutable darkness. +</p> + +<p> +“Man overboard! Man overboard!” My heart smote me as the human cry +of horror came out of the black vaulted night. +</p> + +<p> +“Down helm!” was soon heard from the chief mate. “Back the +main-yard! Quick to the boats! How’s this? One down already? Well done! +Hold on, then, those other boats!” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile several seamen were shouting as they strained at the braces. +</p> + +<p> +“Cut! cut all! Lower away! lower away!” impatiently cried the +sailors, who already had leaped into the boats. +</p> + +<p> +“Heave the ship to, and hold fast every thing,” cried the captain, +apparently just springing to the deck. “One boat’s enough. Steward; +show a light there from the mizzen-top. Boat ahoy!—Have you got that +man?” +</p> + +<p> +No reply. The voice came out of a cloud; the ship dimly showing like a ghost. +We had desisted from rowing, and hand over hand were now hauling in upon the +rope attached to the breaker, which we soon lifted into the boat, instantly +resuming our oars. +</p> + +<p> +“Pull! pull, men! and save him!” again shouted the captain. +</p> + +<p> +“Ay, ay, sir,” answered Jarl instinctively, “pulling as hard +as ever we can, sir.” +</p> + +<p> +And pull we did, till nothing could be heard from the ship but a confused +tumult; and, ever and anon, the hoarse shout of the captain, too distant to be +understood. +</p> + +<p> +We now set our sail to a light air; and right into the darkness, and dead to +leeward, we rowed and sailed till morning dawned. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0009"></a> +CHAPTER IX.<br/> +The Watery World Is All Before Them</h2> + +<p> +At sea in an open boat, and a thousand miles from land! +</p> + +<p> +Shortly after the break of day, in the gray transparent light, a speck to +windward broke the even line of the horizon. It was the ship wending her way +north-eastward. +</p> + +<p> +Had I not known the final indifference of sailors to such disasters as that +which the Arcturion’s crew must have imputed to the night past (did not +the skipper suspect the truth) I would have regarded that little speck with +many compunctions of conscience. Nor, as it was, did I feel in any very serene +humor. For the consciousness of being deemed dead, is next to the presumable +unpleasantness of being so in reality. One feels like his own ghost unlawfully +tenanting a defunct carcass. Even Jarl’s glance seemed so queer, that I +begged him to look another way. +</p> + +<p> +Secure now from all efforts of the captain to recover those whom he most +probably supposed lost; and equally cut off from all hope of returning to the +ship even had we felt so inclined; the resolution that had thus far nerved me, +began to succumb in a measure to the awful loneliness of the scene. Ere this, I +had regarded the ocean as a slave, the steed that bore me whither I listed, and +whose vicious propensities, mighty though they were, often proved harmless, +when opposed to the genius of man. But now, how changed! In our frail boat, I +would fain have built an altar to Neptune. +</p> + +<p> +What a mere toy we were to the billows, that jeeringly shouldered us from crest +to crest, as from hand to hand lost souls may be tossed along by the chain of +shades which enfilade the route to Tartarus. +</p> + +<p> +But drown or swim, here’s overboard with care! Cheer up, Jarl! Ha! Ha! +how merrily, yet terribly, we sail! Up, up—slowly up—toiling up the +long, calm wave; then balanced on its summit a while, like a plank on a rail; +and down, we plunge headlong into the seething abyss, till arrested, we glide +upward again. And thus did we go. Now buried in watery hollows—our sail +idly flapping; then lifted aloft—canvas bellying; and beholding the +furthest horizon. +</p> + +<p> +Had not our familiarity with the business of whaling divested our craft’s +wild motions of its first novel horrors, we had been but a rueful pair. But +day-long pulls after whales, the ship left miles astern; and entire dark nights +passed moored to the monsters, killed too late to be towed to the ship far to +leeward:—all this, and much more, accustoms one to strange things. Death, +to be sure, has a mouth as black as a wolf’s, and to be thrust into his +jaws is a serious thing. But true it most certainly is—and I speak from +no hearsay—that to sailors, as a class, the grisly king seems not half +so hideous as he appears to those who have only regarded him on shore, and at a +deferential distance. Like many ugly mortals, his features grow less frightful +upon acquaintance; and met over often and sociably, the old adage holds true, +about familiarity breeding contempt. Thus too with soldiers. Of the quaking +recruit, three pitched battles make a grim grenadier; and he who shrank from +the muzzle of a cannon, is now ready to yield his mustache for a sponge. +</p> + +<p> +And truly, since death is the last enemy of all, valiant souls will taunt him +while they may. Yet rather, should the wise regard him as the inflexible +friend, who, even against our own wills, from life’s evils triumphantly +relieves us. +</p> + +<p> +And there is but little difference in the manner of dying. To die, is all. And +death has been gallantly encountered by those who never beheld blood that was +red, only its light azure seen through the veins. And to yield the ghost +proudly, and march out of your fortress with all the honors of war, is not a +thing of sinew and bone. Though in prison, Geoffry Hudson, the dwarf, died more +bravely than Goliah, the giant; and the last end of a butterfly shames us all. +Some women have lived nobler lives, and died nobler deaths, than men. +Threatened with the stake, mitred Cranmer recanted; but through her fortitude, +the lorn widow of Edessa stayed the tide of Valens’ persecutions. +’Tis no great valor to perish sword in hand, and bravado on lip; cased +all in panoply complete. For even the alligator dies in his mail, and the +swordfish never surrenders. To expire, mild-eyed, in one’s bed, +transcends the death of Epaminondas. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0010"></a> +CHAPTER X.<br/> +They Arrange Their Canopies And Lounges, And Try To Make Things Comfortable</h2> + +<p> +Our little craft was soon in good order. From the spare rigging brought along, +we made shrouds to the mast, and converted the boat- hook into a handy boom for +the jib. Going large before the wind, we set this sail wing-and-wing with the +main-sail. The latter, in accordance with the customary rig of whale-boats, was +worked with a sprit and sheet. It could be furled or set in an instant. The +bags of bread we stowed away in the covered space about the loggerhead, a +useless appurtenance now, and therefore removed. At night, Jarl used it for a +pillow; saying, that when the boat rolled it gave easy play to his head. The +precious breaker we lashed firmly amidships; thereby much improving our +sailing. +</p> + +<p> +Now, previous to leaving the ship, we had seen to it well, that our craft was +supplied with all those equipments, with which, by the regulations of the +fishery, a whale-boat is constantly provided: night and day, afloat or +suspended. Hanging along our gunwales inside, were six harpoons, three lances, +and a blubber-spade; all keen as razors, and sheathed with leather. Besides +these, we had three waifs, a couple of two-gallon water-kegs, several bailers, +the boat-hatchet for cutting the whale-line, two auxiliary knives for the like +purpose, and several minor articles, also employed in hunting the leviathan. +The line and line-tub, however, were on ship-board. +</p> + +<p> +And here it may be mentioned, that to prevent the strain upon the boat when +suspended to the ship’s side, the heavy whale-line, over two hundred +fathoms in length, and something more than an inch in diameter, when not in use +is kept on ship-board, coiled away like an endless snake in its tub. But this +tub is always in readiness to be launched into the boat. Now, having no use for +the line belonging to our craft, we had purposely left it behind. +</p> + +<p> +But well had we marked that by far the most important item of a +whale-boat’s furniture was snugly secured in its place. This was the +water-tight keg, at both ends firmly headed, containing a small compass, +tinder-box and flint, candles, and a score or two of biscuit. This keg is an +invariable precaution against what so frequently occurs in pursuing the sperm +whale—prolonged absence from the ship, losing sight of her, or never +seeing her more, till years after you reach home again. In this same keg of +ours seemed coopered up life and death, at least so seemed it to honest Jarl. +No sooner had we got clear from the Arcturion, than dropping his oar for an +instant, he clutched at it in the dark. +</p> + +<p> +And when day at last came, we knocked out the head of the keg with the little +hammer and chisel, always attached to it for that purpose, and removed the +compass, that glistened to us like a human eye. Then filling up the vacancy +with biscuit, we again made all tight, driving down the hoops till they would +budge no more. +</p> + +<p> +At first we were puzzled to fix our compass. But at last the Skyeman out knife, +and cutting a round hole in the after-most thwart, or seat of the boat, there +inserted the little brass case containing the needle. +</p> + +<p> +Over the stern of the boat, with some old canvas which my Viking’s +forethought had provided, we spread a rude sort of awning, or rather +counterpane. This, however, proved but little or no protection from the glare +of the sun; for the management of the main-sail forbade any considerable +elevation of the shelter. And when the breeze was fresh, we were fain to strike +it altogether; for the wind being from aft, and getting underneath the canvas, +almost lifted the light boat’s stem into the air, vexing the counterpane +as if it were a petticoat turning a gusty corner. But when a mere breath +rippled the sea, and the sun was fiery hot, it was most pleasant to lounge in +this shady asylum. It was like being transferred from the roast to cool in the +cupboard. And Jarl, much the toughest fowl of the two, out of an abundant +kindness for his comrade, during the day voluntarily remained exposed at the +helm, almost two hours to my one. No lady-like scruples had he, the old Viking, +about marring his complexion, which already was more than bronzed. Over the +ordinary tanning of the sailor, he seemed masked by a visor of japanning, +dotted all over with freckles, so intensely yellow, and symmetrically circular, +that they seemed scorched there by a burning glass. +</p> + +<p> +In the tragico-comico moods which at times overtook me, I used to look upon the +brown Skyeman with humorous complacency. If we fall in with cannibals, thought +I, then, ready-roasted Norseman that thou art, shall I survive to mourn thee; +at least, during the period I revolve upon the spit. +</p> + +<p> +But of such a fate, it needs hardly be said, we had no apprehension. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0011"></a> +CHAPTER XI.<br/> +Jarl Afflicted With The Lockjaw</h2> + +<p> +If ever again I launch whale-boat from sheer-plank of ship at sea, I shall take +good heed, that my comrade be a sprightly fellow, with a rattle-box head. Be he +never so silly, his very silliness, so long as he be lively at it, shall be its +own excuse. +</p> + +<p> +Upon occasion, who likes not a lively loon, one of your giggling, gamesome +oafs, whose mouth is a grin? Are not such, well-ordered dispensations of +Providence? filling up vacuums, in intervals of social stagnation relieving the +tedium of existing? besides keeping up, here and there, in very many quarters +indeed, sundry people’s good opinion of themselves? What, if at times +their speech is insipid as water after wine? What, if to ungenial and irascible +souls, their very “mug” is an exasperation to behold, their clack +an inducement to suicide? Let us not be hard upon them for this; but let them +live on for the good they may do. +</p> + +<p> +But Jarl, dear, dumb Jarl, thou wert none of these. Thou didst carry a phiz +like an excommunicated deacon’s. And no matter what happened, it was ever +the same. Quietly, in thyself, thou didst revolve upon thine own sober axis, +like a wheel in a machine which forever goes round, whether you look at it or +no. Ay, Jarl! wast thou not forever intent upon minding that which so many +neglect—thine own especial business? Wast thou not forever at it, too, +with no likelihood of ever winding up thy moody affairs, and striking a balance +sheet? +</p> + +<p> +But at times how wearisome to me these everlasting reveries in my one solitary +companion. I longed for something enlivening; a burst of words; human vivacity +of one kind or other. After in vain essaying to get something of this sort out +of Jarl, I tried it all by myself; playing upon my body as upon an instrument; +singing, halloing, and making empty gestures, till my Viking stared hard; and I +myself paused to consider whether I had run crazy or no. +</p> + +<p> +But how account for the Skyeman’s gravity? Surely, it was based upon no +philosophic taciturnity; he was nothing of an idealist; an aerial architect; a +constructor of flying buttresses. It was inconceivable, that his reveries were +Manfred-like and exalted, reminiscent of unutterable deeds, too mysterious even +to be indicated by the remotest of hints. Suppositions all out of the question. +</p> + +<p> +His ruminations were a riddle. I asked him anxiously, whether, in any part of +the world, Savannah, Surat, or Archangel, he had ever a wife to think of; or +children, that he carried so lengthy a phiz. Nowhere neither. Therefore, as by +his own confession he had nothing to think of but himself, and there was little +but honesty in him (having which, by the way, he may be thought full to the +brim), what could I fall back upon but my original theory: namely, that in +repose, his intellects stepped out, and left his body to itself. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0012"></a> +CHAPTER XII.<br/> +More About Being In An Open Boat</h2> + +<p> +On the third morning, at break of day, I sat at the steering oar, an hour or +two previous having relieved Jarl, now fast asleep. Somehow, and suddenly, a +sense of peril so intense, came over me, that it could hardly have been +aggravated by the completest solitude. +</p> + +<p> +On a ship’s deck, the mere feeling of elevation above the water, and the +reach of prospect you command, impart a degree of confidence which disposes you +to exult in your fancied security. But in an open boat, brought down to the +very plane of the sea, this feeling almost wholly deserts you. Unless the +waves, in their gambols, toss you and your chip upon one of their lordly +crests, your sphere of vision is little larger than it would be at the bottom +of a well. At best, your most extended view in any one direction, at least, is +in a high, slow-rolling sea; when you descend into the dark, misty spaces, +between long and uniform swells. Then, for the moment, it is like looking up +and down in a twilight glade, interminable; where two dawns, one on each hand, +seem struggling through the semi-transparent tops of the fluid mountains. +</p> + +<p> +But, lingering not long in those silent vales, from watery cliff to cliff, a +sea-chamois, sprang our solitary craft,—a goat among the Alps! +</p> + +<p> +How undulated the horizon; like a vast serpent with ten thousand folds coiled +all round the globe; yet so nigh, apparently, that it seemed as if one’s +hand might touch it. +</p> + +<p> +What loneliness; when the sun rose, and spurred up the heavens, we hailed him +as a wayfarer in Sahara the sight of a distant horseman. Save ourselves, the +sun and the Chamois seemed all that was left of life in the universe. We +yearned toward its jocund disk, as in strange lands the traveler joyfully +greets a face from home, which there had passed unheeded. And was not the sun a +fellow-voyager? were we not both wending westward? But how soon he daily +overtook and passed us; hurrying to his journey’s end. +</p> + +<p> +When a week had gone by, sailing steadily on, by day and by night, and nothing +in sight but this self-same sea, what wonder if disquieting thoughts at last +entered our hearts? If unknowingly we should pass the spot where, according to +our reckoning, our islands lay, upon what shoreless sea would we launch? At +times, these forebodings bewildered my idea of the positions of the groups +beyond. All became vague and confused; so that westward of the Kingsmil isles +and the Radack chain, I fancied there could be naught but an endless sea. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0013"></a> +CHAPTER XIII.<br/> +Of The Chondropterygii, And Other Uncouth Hordes Infesting The South Seas</h2> + +<p> +At intervals in our lonely voyage, there were sights which diversified the +scene; especially when the constellation Pisces was in the ascendant. +</p> + +<p> +It’s famous botanizing, they say, in Arkansas’ boundless prairies; +I commend the student of Ichthyology to an open boat, and the ocean moors of +the Pacific. As your craft glides along, what strange monsters float by. +Elsewhere, was never seen their like. And nowhere are they found in the books +of the naturalists. +</p> + +<p> +Though America be discovered, the Cathays of the deep are unknown. And whoso +crosses the Pacific might have read lessons to Buffon. The sea-serpent is not a +fable; and in the sea, that snake is but a garden worm. There are more wonders +than the wonders rejected, and more sights unrevealed than you or I ever ever +dreamt of. Moles and bats alone should be skeptics; and the only true +infidelity is for a live man to vote himself dead. Be Sir Thomas Brown our +ensample; who, while exploding “Vulgar Errors,” heartily hugged all +the mysteries in the Pentateuch. +</p> + +<p> +But look! fathoms down in the sea; where ever saw you a phantom like that? An +enormous crescent with antlers like a reindeer, and a Delta of mouths. Slowly +it sinks, and is seen no more. +</p> + +<p> +Doctor Faust saw the devil; but you have seen the “Devil Fish.” +</p> + +<p> +Look again! Here comes another. Jarl calls it a Bone Shark. Full as large as a +whale, it is spotted like a leopard; and tusk-like teeth overlap its jaws like +those of the walrus. To seamen, nothing strikes more terror than the near +vicinity of a creature like this. Great ships steer out of its path. And well +they may; since the good craft Essex, and others, have been sunk by +sea-monsters, as the alligator thrusts his horny snout through a Carribean +canoe. +</p> + +<p> +Ever present to us, was the apprehension of some sudden disaster from the +extraordinary zoological specimens we almost hourly passed. +</p> + +<p> +For the sharks, we saw them, not by units, nor by tens, nor by hundreds; but by +thousands and by myriads. Trust me, there are more sharks in the sea than +mortals on land. +</p> + +<p> +And of these prolific fish there are full as many species as of dogs. But by +the German naturalists Muller and Henle, who, in christening the sharks, have +bestowed upon them the most heathenish names, they are classed under one +family; which family, according to Muller, king-at-arms, is an undoubted branch +of the ancient and famous tribe of the Chondropterygii. +</p> + +<p> +To begin. There is the ordinary Brown Shark, or sea attorney, so called by +sailors; a grasping, rapacious varlet, that in spite of the hard knocks +received from it, often snapped viciously at our steering oar. At times, these +gentry swim in herds; especially about the remains of a slaughtered whale. They +are the vultures of the deep. +</p> + +<p> +Then we often encountered the dandy Blue Shark, a long, taper and mighty +genteel looking fellow, with a slender waist, like a Bond- street beau, and the +whitest tiers of teeth imaginable. This dainty spark invariably lounged by with +a careless fin and an indolent tail. But he looked infernally heartless. +</p> + +<p> +How his cold-blooded, gentlemanly air, contrasted with the rude, savage swagger +of the Tiger Shark; a round, portly gourmand; with distended mouth and +collapsed conscience, swimming about seeking whom he might devour. These +gluttons are the scavengers of navies, following ships in the South Seas, +picking up odds and ends of garbage, and sometimes a tit-bit, a stray sailor. +No wonder, then, that sailors denounce them. In substance, Jarl once assured +me, that under any temporary misfortune, it was one of his sweetest +consolations to remember, that in his day, he had murdered, not killed, shoals +of Tiger Sharks. +</p> + +<p> +Yet this is all wrong. As well hate a seraph, as a shark. Both were made by the +same hand. And that sharks are lovable, witness their domestic endearments. No +Fury so ferocious, as not to have some amiable side. In the wild wilderness, a +leopard-mother caresses her cub, as Hagar did Ishmael; or a queen of France the +dauphin. We know not what we do when we hate. And I have the word of my +gentlemanly friend Stanhope, for it; that he who declared he loved a good hater +was but a respectable sort of Hottentot, at best. No very genteel epithet this, +though coming from the genteelest of men. But when the digger of dictionaries +said that saying of his, he was assuredly not much of a Christian. However, it +is hard for one given up to constitutional hypos like him; to be filled with +the milk and meekness of the gospels. Yet, with deference, I deny that my old +uncle Johnson really believed in the sentiment ascribed to him. Love a hater, +indeed! Who smacks his lips over gall? Now hate is a thankless thing. So, let +us only hate hatred; and once give love play, we will fall in love with a +unicorn. Ah! the easiest way is the best; and to hate, a man must work hard. +Love is a delight; but hate a torment. And haters are thumbscrews, Scotch +boots, and Spanish inquisitions to themselves. In five words—would they +were a Siamese diphthong—he who hates is a fool. +</p> + +<p> +For several days our Chamois was followed by two of these aforesaid Tiger +Sharks. A brace of confidential inseparables, jogging along in our wake, side +by side, like a couple of highwaymen, biding their time till you come to the +cross-roads. But giving it up at last, for a bootless errand, they dropped +farther and farther astern, until completely out of sight. Much to the +Skyeman’s chagrin; who long stood in the stern, lance poised for a dart. +</p> + +<p> +But of all sharks, save me from the ghastly White Shark. For though we should +hate naught, yet some dislikes are spontaneous; and disliking is not hating. +And never yet could I bring myself to be loving, or even sociable, with a White +Shark. He is not the sort of creature to enlist young affections. +</p> + +<p> +This ghost of a fish is not often encountered, and shows plainer by night than +by day. Timon-like, he always swims by himself; gliding along just under the +surface, revealing a long, vague shape, of a milky hue; with glimpses now and +then of his bottomless white pit of teeth. No need of a dentist hath he. Seen +at night, stealing along like a spirit in the water, with horrific serenity of +aspect, the White Shark sent many a thrill to us twain in the Chamois. +</p> + +<p> +By day, and in the profoundest calms, oft were we startled by the ponderous +sigh of the grampus, as lazily rising to the surface, he fetched a long breath +after napping below. +</p> + +<p> +And time and again we watched the darting albicore, the fish with the +chain-plate armor and golden scales; the Nimrod of the seas, to whom so many +flying fish fall a prey. Flying from their pursuers, many of them flew into our +boat. But invariably they died from the shock. No nursing could restore them. +One of their wings I removed, spreading it out to dry under a weight. In two +days’ time the thin membrane, all over tracings like those of a leaf, was +transparent as isinglass, and tinted with brilliant hues, like those of a +changing silk. +</p> + +<p> +Almost every day, we spied Black Fish; coal-black and glossy. They seemed to +swim by revolving round and round in the water, like a wheel; their dorsal +fins, every now and then shooting into view, like spokes. +</p> + +<p> +Of a somewhat similar species, but smaller, and clipper-built about the nose, +were the Algerines; so called, probably, from their corsair propensities; +waylaying peaceful fish on the high seas, and plundering them of body and soul +at a gulp. Atrocious Turks! a crusade should be preached against them. +</p> + +<p> +Besides all these, we encountered Killers and Thrashers, by far the most +spirited and “spunky” of the finny tribes. Though little larger +than a porpoise, a band of them think nothing of assailing leviathan himself. +They bait the monster, as dogs a bull. The Killers seizing the Right whale by +his immense, sulky lower lip, and the Thrashers fastening on to his back, and +beating him with their sinewy tails. Often they come off conquerors, worrying +the enemy to death. Though, sooth to say, if leviathan gets but one sweep al +them with his terrible tail, they go flying into the air, as if tossed from +Taurus’ horn. +</p> + +<p> +This sight we beheld. Had old Wouvermans, who once painted a bull bait, been +along with us, a rare chance, that, for his pencil. And Gudin or Isabey might +have thrown the blue rolling sea into the picture. Lastly, one of +Claude’s setting summer suns would have glorified the whole. Oh, believe +me, God’s creatures fighting, fin for fin, a thousand miles from land, +and with the round horizon for an arena; is no ignoble subject for a +masterpiece. +</p> + +<p> +Such are a few of the sights of the great South Sea. But there is no telling +all. The Pacific is populous as China. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0014"></a> +CHAPTER XIV.<br/> +Jarl’s Misgivings</h2> + +<p> +About this time an event took place. My good Viking opened his mouth, and +spoke. The prodigy occurred, as, jacknife in hand, he was bending over the +midship oar; on the loom, or handle, of which he kept our almanac; making a +notch for every set sun. For some forty-eight hours past, the wind had been +light and variable. It was more than suspected that a current was sweeping us +northward. +</p> + +<p> +Now, marking these things, Jarl threw out the thought, that the more wind, and +the less current, the better; and if a long calm came on, of which there was +some prospect, we had better take to our oars. +</p> + +<p> +Take to our oars! as if we were crossing a ferry, and no ocean leagues to +traverse. The idea indirectly suggested all possible horrors. To be rid of them +forthwith, I proceeded to dole out our morning meal. For to make away with such +things, there is nothing better than bolting something down on top of them; +albeit, oft repeated, the plan is very apt to beget dyspepsia; and the +dyspepsia the blues. +</p> + +<p> +But what of our store of provisions? So far as enough to eat was concerned, we +felt not the slightest apprehension; our supplies proving more abundant than we +had anticipated. But, curious to tell, we felt but little inclination for food. +It was water, bright water, cool, sparkling water, alone, that we craved. And +of this, also, our store at first seemed ample. But as our voyage lengthened, +and breezes blew faint, and calms fell fast, the idea of being deprived of the +precious fluid grew into something little short of a mono- mania; especially +with Jarl. +</p> + +<p> +Every hour or two with the hammer and chisel belonging to the tinder box keg, +he tinkered away at the invaluable breaker; driving down the hoops, till in his +over solicitude, I thought he would burst them outright. +</p> + +<p> +Now the breaker lay on its bilge, in the middle of the boat, where more or less +sea-water always collected. And ever and anon, dipping his finger therein, my +Viking was troubled with the thought, that this sea-water tasted less brackish +than that alongside. Of course the breaker must be leaking. So, he would turn +it over, till its wet side came uppermost; when it would quickly become dry as +a bone. But now, with his knife, he would gently probe the joints of the +staves; shake his head; look up; look down; taste of the water in the bottom of +the boat; then that of the sea; then lift one end of the breaker; going through +with every test of leakage he could dream of. Nor was he ever fully satisfied, +that the breaker was in all respects sound. But in reality it was tight as the +drum-heads that beat at Cerro- Gordo. Oh! Jarl, Jarl: to me in the boat’s +quiet stern, steering and philosophizing at one time and the same, thou and thy +breaker were a study. +</p> + +<p> +Besides the breaker, we had, full of water, the two boat-kegs, previously +alluded to. These were first used. We drank from them by their leaden spouts; +so many swallows three times in the day; having no other means of measuring an +allowance. But when we came to the breaker, which had only a bung-hole, though +a very large one, dog- like, it was so many laps apiece; jealously counted by +the observer. This plan, however, was only good for a single day; the water +then getting beyond the reach of the tongue. We therefore daily poured from the +breaker into one of the kegs; and drank from its spout. But to obviate the +absorption inseparable from decanting, we at last hit upon something +better,—my comrade’s shoe, which, deprived of its quarters, +narrowed at the heel, and diligently rinsed out in the sea, was converted into +a handy but rather limber ladle. This we kept suspended in the bung-hole of the +breaker, that it might never twice absorb the water. +</p> + +<p> +Now pewter imparts flavor to ale; a Meerschaum bowl, the same to the tobacco of +Smyrna; and goggle green glasses are deemed indispensable to the bibbing of +Hock. What then shall be said of a leathern goblet for water? Try it, ye +mariners who list. +</p> + +<p> +One morning, taking his wonted draught, Jarl fished up in his ladle a deceased +insect; something like a Daddy-long-legs, only more corpulent. Its fate? A +sea-toss? Believe it not; with all those precious drops clinging to its lengthy +legs. It was held over the ladle till the last globule dribbled; and even then, +being moist, honest Jarl was but loth to drop it overboard. +</p> + +<p> +For our larder, we could not endure the salt beef; it was raw as a live +Abyssinian steak, and salt as Cracow. Besides, the Feegee simile would not have +held good with respect to it. It was far from being “tender as a dead +man.” The biscuit only could we eat; not to be wondered at; for even on +shipboard, seamen in the tropics are but sparing feeders. +</p> + +<p> +And here let not, a suggestion be omitted, most valuable to any future castaway +or sailaway as the case may be. Eat not your biscuit dry; but dip it in the +sea: which makes it more bulky and palatable. During meal times it was soak and +sip with Jarl and me: one on each side of the Chamois dipping our biscuit in +the brine. This plan obviated finger-glasses at the conclusion of our repast. +Upon the whole, dwelling upon the water is not so bad after all. The Chinese +are no fools. In the operation of making your toilet, how handy to float in +your ewer! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0015"></a> +CHAPTER XV.<br/> +A Stitch In Time Saves Nine</h2> + +<p> +Like most silent earnest sort of people, my good Viking was a pattern of +industry. When in the boats after whales, I have known him carry along a roll +of sinnate to stitch into a hat. And the boats lying motionless for half an +hour or so, waiting the rising of the chase, his fingers would be plying at +their task, like an old lady knitting. Like an experienced old-wife too, his +digits had become so expert and conscientious, that his eyes left them alone; +deeming optic supervision unnecessary. And on this trip of ours, when not +otherwise engaged, he was quite as busy with his fingers as ever: unraveling +old Cape Horn hose, for yarn wherewith to darn our woolen frocks; with great +patches from the skirts of a condemned reefing jacket, panneling the seats of +our “ducks;” in short, veneering our broken garments with all +manner of choice old broadcloths. +</p> + +<p> +With the true forethought of an old tar, he had brought along with him nearly +the whole contents of his chest. His precious “Ditty Bag,” +containing his sewing utensils, had been carefully packed away in the bottom of +one of his bundles; of which he had as many as an old maid on her travels. In +truth, an old salt is very much of an old maid, though, strictly speaking, far +from deserving that misdeemed appellative. Better be an old maid, a woman with +herself for a husband, than the wife of a fool; and Solomon more than hints +that all men are fools; and every wise man knows himself to be one. When +playing the sempstress, Jarl’s favorite perch was the triangular little +platform in the bow; which being the driest and most elevated part of the boat, +was best adapted to his purpose. Here for hours and hours together the honest +old tailor would sit darning and sewing away, heedless of the wide ocean +around; while forever, his slouched Guayaquil hat kept bobbing up and down +against the horizon before us. +</p> + +<p> +It was a most solemn avocation with him. Silently he nodded like the still +statue in the opera of Don Juan. Indeed he never spoke, unless to give pithy +utterance to the wisdom of keeping one’s wardrobe in repair. But herein +my Viking at times waxed oracular. And many’s the hour we glided along, +myself deeply pondering in the stem, hand upon helm; while crosslegged at the +other end of the boat Jarl laid down patch upon patch, and at long intervals +precept upon precept; here several saws, and there innumerable stitches. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0016"></a> +CHAPTER XVI.<br/> +They Are Becalmed</h2> + +<p> +On the eighth day there was a calm. +</p> + +<p> +It came on by night: so that waking at daybreak, and folding my arms over the +gunwale, I looked out upon a scene very hard to describe. The sun was still +beneath the horizon; perhaps not yet out of sight from the plains of Paraguay. +But the dawn was too strong for the stars; which, one by one, had gone out, +like waning lamps after a ball. +</p> + +<p> +Now, as the face of a mirror is a blank, only borrowing character from what it +reflects; so in a calm in the Tropics, a colorless sky overhead, the ocean, +upon its surface, hardly presents a sign of existence. The deep blue is gone; +and the glassy element lies tranced; almost viewless as the air. +</p> + +<p> +But that morning, the two gray firmaments of sky and water seemed collapsed +into a vague ellipsis. And alike, the Chamois seemed drifting in the atmosphere +as in the sea. Every thing was fused into the calm: sky, air, water, and all. +Not a fish was to be seen. The silence was that of a vacuum. No vitality lurked +in the air. And this inert blending and brooding of all things seemed gray +chaos in conception. +</p> + +<p> +This calm lasted four days and four nights; during which, but a few +cat’s-paws of wind varied the scene. They were faint as the breath of one +dying. +</p> + +<p> +At times the heat was intense. The heavens, at midday, glowing like an ignited +coal mine. Our skin curled up like lint; our vision became dim; the brain +dizzy. +</p> + +<p> +To our consternation, the water in the breaker became lukewarm, brackish, and +slightly putrescent; notwithstanding we kept our spare clothing piled upon the +breaker, to shield it from the sun. At last, Jarl enlarged the vent, carefully +keeping it exposed. To this precaution, doubtless, we owed more than we then +thought. It was now deemed wise to reduce our allowance of water to the +smallest modicum consistent with the present preservation of life; strangling +all desire for more. +</p> + +<p> +Nor was this all. The upper planking of the boat began to warp; here and there, +cracking and splintering. But though we kept it moistened with brine, one of +the plank-ends started from its place; and the sharp, sudden sound, breaking +the scorching silence, caused us both to spring to our feet. Instantly the sea +burst in; but we made shift to secure the rebellious plank with a cord, not +having a nail; we then bailed out the boat, nearly half full of water. +</p> + +<p> +On the second day of the calm, we unshipped the mast, to prevent its being +pitched out by the occasional rolling of the vast smooth swells now overtaking +us. Leagues and leagues away, after its fierce raging, some tempest must have +been sending to us its last dying waves. For as a pebble dropped into a pond +ruffles it to its marge; so, on all sides, a sea-gale operates as if an +asteroid had fallen into the brine; making ringed mountain billows, +interminably expanding, instead of ripples. +</p> + +<p> +The great September waves breaking at the base of the Neversink Highlands, far +in advance of the swiftest pilot-boat, carry tidings. And full often, they know +the last secret of many a stout ship, never heard of from the day she left +port. Every wave in my eyes seems a soul. +</p> + +<p> +As there was no steering to be done, Jarl and I sheltered ourselves as well as +we could under the awning. And for the first two days, one at a time, and every +three or four hours, we dropped overboard for a bath, clinging to the gun-wale; +a sharp look-out being kept for prowling sharks. A foot or two below the +surface, the water felt cool and refreshing. +</p> + +<p> +On the third day a change came over us. We relinquished bathing, the exertion +taxing us too much. Sullenly we laid ourselves down; turned our backs to each +other; and were impatient of the slightest casual touch of our persons. What +sort of expression my own countenance wore, I know not; but I hated to look at +Jarl’s. When I did it was a glare, not a glance. I became more taciturn +than he. I can not tell what it was that came over me, but I wished I was +alone. I felt that so long as the calm lasted, we were without help; that +neither could assist the other; and above all, that for one, the water would +hold out longer than for two. I felt no remorse, not the slightest, for these +thoughts. It was instinct. Like a desperado giving up the ghost, I desired to +gasp by myself. +</p> + +<p> +From being cast away with a brother, good God deliver me! +</p> + +<p> +The four days passed. And on the morning of the fifth, thanks be to Heaven, +there came a breeze. Dancingly, mincingly it came, just rippling the sea, until +it struck our sails, previously set at the very first token of its advance. At +length it slightly freshened; and our poor Chamois seemed raised from the dead. +</p> + +<p> +Beyond expression delightful! Once more we heard the low humming of the sea +under our bow, as our boat, like a bird, went singing on its way. +</p> + +<p> +How changed the scene! Overhead, a sweet blue haze, distilling sunlight in +drops. And flung abroad over the visible creation was the sun-spangled, azure, +rustling robe of the ocean, ermined with wave crests; all else, infinitely +blue. Such a cadence of musical sounds! Waves chasing each other, and sporting +and frothing in frolicsome foam: painted fish rippling past; and anon the noise +of wings as sea- fowls flew by. +</p> + +<p> +Oh, Ocean, when thou choosest to smile, more beautiful thou art than flowery +mead or plain! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0017"></a> +CHAPTER XVII.<br/> +In High Spirits, They Push On For The Terra Incognita</h2> + +<p> +There were now fourteen notches on the loom of the Skyeman’s +oar:—So many days since we had pushed from the fore-chains of the +Arcturion. But as yet, no floating bough, no tern, noddy, nor reef-bird, to +denote our proximity to land. In that long calm, whither might not the currents +have swept us? +</p> + +<p> +Where we were precisely, we knew not; but according to our reckoning, the loose +estimation of the knots run every hour, we must have sailed due west but little +more than one hundred and fifty leagues; for the most part having encountered +but light winds, and frequent intermitting calms, besides that prolonged one +described. But spite of past calms and currents, land there must be to the +westward. Sun, compass, stout hearts, and steady breezes, pointed our prow +thereto. So courage! my Viking, and never say drown! +</p> + +<p> +At this time, our hearts were much lightened by discovering that our water was +improving in taste. It seemed to have been undergoing anew that sort of +fermentation, or working, occasionally incident to ship water shortly after +being taken on board. Sometimes, for a period, it is more or less offensive to +taste and smell; again, however, becoming comparatively limpid. +</p> + +<p> +But as our water improved, we grew more and more miserly of so priceless a +treasure. +</p> + +<p> +And here it may be well to make mention of another little circumstance, however +unsentimental. Thorough-paced tar that he was, my Viking was an inordinate +consumer of the Indian weed. From the Arcturion, he had brought along with him +a small half-keg, at bottom impacted with a solitary layer of sable Negrohead, +fossil- marked, like the primary stratum of the geologists. It was the last +tier of his abundant supply for the long whaling voyage upon which he had +embarked upwards of three years previous. Now during the calm, and for some +days after, poor Jarl’s accustomed quid was no longer agreeable company. +To pun: he eschewed his chew. I asked him wherefore. He replied that it +puckered up his mouth, above all provoked thirst, and had somehow grown every +way distasteful. I was sorry; for the absence of his before ever present wad +impaired what little fullness there was left in his cheek; though, sooth to +say, I no longer called upon him as of yore to shift over the enormous morsel +to starboard or larboard, and so trim our craft. +</p> + +<p> +The calm gone by, once again my sea-tailor plied needle and thread; or turning +laundress, hung our raiment to dry on oars peaked obliquely in the thole-pins. +All of which tattered pennons, the wind being astern, helped us gayly on our +way; as jolly poor devils, with rags flying in the breeze, sail blithely +through life; and are merry although they are poor! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0018"></a> +CHAPTER XVIII.<br/> +My Lord Shark And His Pages</h2> + +<p> +There is a fish in the sea that evermore, like a surly lord, only goes abroad +attended by his suite. It is the Shovel-nosed Shark. A clumsy lethargic +monster, unshapely as his name, and the last species of his kind, one would +think, to be so bravely waited upon, as he is. His suite is composed of those +dainty little creatures called Pilot fish by sailors. But by night his retinue +is frequently increased by the presence of several small luminous fish, running +in advance, and flourishing their flambeaux like link-boys lighting the +monster’s way. Pity there were no ray-fish in rear, page-like, to carry +his caudal train. +</p> + +<p> +Now the relation subsisting between the Pilot fish above mentioned and their +huge ungainly lord, seems one of the most inscrutable things in nature. At any +rate, it poses poor me to comprehend. That a monster so ferocious, should +suffer five or six little sparks, hardly fourteen inches long, to gambol about +his grim hull with the utmost impunity, is of itself something strange. But +when it is considered, that by a reciprocal understanding, the Pilot fish seem +to act as scouts to the shark, warning him of danger, and apprising him of the +vicinity of prey; and moreover, in case of his being killed, evincing their +anguish by certain agitations, otherwise inexplicable; the whole thing becomes +a mystery unfathomable. Truly marvels abound. It needs no dead man to be +raised, to convince us of some things. Even my Viking marveled full as much at +those Pilot fish as he would have marveled at the Pentecost. +</p> + +<p> +But perhaps a little incident, occurring about this period, will best +illustrate the matter in hand. +</p> + +<p> +We were gliding along, hardly three knots an hour, when my comrade, who had +been dozing over the gunwale, suddenly started to his feet, and pointed out an +immense Shovel-nosed Shark, less than a boat’s length distant, and about +half a fathom beneath the surface. A lance was at once snatched from its place; +and true to his calling, Jarl was about to dart it at the fish, when, +interested by the sight of its radiant little scouts, I begged him to desist. +</p> + +<p> +One of them was right under the shark, nibbling at his ventral fin; another +above, hovering about his dorsal appurtenance; one on each flank; and a +frisking fifth pranking about his nose, seemingly having something to say of a +confidential nature. They were of a bright, steel-blue color, alternated with +jet black stripes; with glistening bellies of a silver-white. Clinging to the +back of the shark, were four or five Remoras, or sucking-fish; snaky parasites, +impossible to remove from whatever they adhere to, without destroying their +lives. The Remora has little power in swimming; hence its sole locomotion is on +the backs of larger fish. Leech-like, it sticketh closer than a false brother +in prosperity; closer than a beggar to the benevolent; closer than Webster to +the Constitution. But it feeds upon what it clings to; its feelers having a +direct communication with the esophagus. +</p> + +<p> +The shark swam sluggishly; creating no sign of a ripple, but ever and, anon +shaking his Medusa locks, writhing and curling with horrible life. Now and +then, the nimble Pilot fish darted from his side—this way and +that—mostly toward our boat; but previous to taking a fresh start ever +returning to their liege lord to report progress. +</p> + +<p> +A thought struck me. Baiting a rope’s end with a morsel of our almost +useless salt beef, I suffered it to trail in the sea. Instantly the foremost +scout swam toward it; hesitated; paused; but at last advancing, briskly snuffed +at the line, and taking one finical little nibble, retreated toward the shark. +Another moment, and the great Tamerlane himself turned heavily about; pointing +his black, cannon-like nose directly toward our broadside. Meanwhile, the +little Pilot fish darted hither and thither; keeping up a mighty fidgeting, +like men of small minds in a state of nervous agitation. +</p> + +<p> +Presently, Tamerlane swam nearer and nearer, all the while lazily eyeing the +Chamois, as a wild boar a kid. Suddenly making a rush for it, in the foam he +made away with the bait. But the next instant, the uplifted lance sped at his +skull; and thrashing his requiem with his sinewy tail, he sunk slowly, through +his own blood, out of sight. Down with him swam the terrified Pilot fish; but +soon after, three of them were observed close to the boat, gliding along at a +uniform pace; one an each side, and one in advance; even as they had attended +their lord. Doubtless, one was under our keel. +</p> + +<p> +“A good omen,” said Jarl; “no harm will befall us so long as +they stay.” +</p> + +<p> +But however that might be, follow us they did, for many days after: until an +event occurred, which necessitated their withdrawal. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0019"></a> +CHAPTER XIX.<br/> +Who Goes There?</h2> + +<p> +Jarl’s oar showed sixteen notches on the loom, when one evening, as the +expanded sun touched the horizon’s rim, a ship’s uppermost spars +were observed, traced like a spider’s web against its crimson disk. It +looked like a far-off craft on fire. +</p> + +<p> +In bright weather at sea, a sail, invisible in the full flood of noon, becomes +perceptible toward sunset. It is the reverse in the morning. In sight at gray +dawn, the distant vessel, though in reality approaching, recedes from view, as +the sun rises higher and higher. This holds true, till its vicinity makes it +readily fall within the ordinary scope of vision. And thus, too, here and +there, with other distant things: the more light you throw on them, the more +you obscure. Some revelations show best in a twilight. +</p> + +<p> +The sight of the stranger not a little surprised us. But brightening up, as if +the encounter were welcome, Jarl looked happy and expectant. He quickly changed +his demeanor, however, upon perceiving that I was bent upon shunning a meeting. +</p> + +<p> +Instantly our sails were struck; and calling upon Jarl, who was somewhat +backward to obey, I shipped the oars; and, both rowing, we stood away obliquely +from our former course. +</p> + +<p> +I divined that the vessel was a whaler; and hence, that by help of the glass, +with which her look-outs must be momentarily sweeping the horizon, they might +possibly have descried us; especially, as we were due east from the ship; a +direction, which at sunset is the one most favorable for perceiving a far-off +object at sea. Furthermore, our canvas was snow-white and conspicuous. To be +sure, we could not be certain what kind of a vessel it was; but whatever it +might be, I, for one, had no mind to risk an encounter; for it was quite plain, +that if the stranger came within hailing distance, there would be no resource +but to link our fortunes with hers; whereas I desired to pursue none but the +Chamois’. As for the Skyeman, he kept looking wistfully over his +shoulder; doubtless, praying Heaven, that we might not escape what I sought to +avoid. +</p> + +<p> +Now, upon a closer scrutiny, being pretty well convinced that the stranger, +after all, was steering a nearly westerly course—right away from +us—we reset our sail; and as night fell, my Viking’s entreaties, +seconded by my own curiosity, induced me to resume our original course; and so +follow after the vessel, with a view of obtaining a nearer glimpse, without +danger of detection. So, boldly we steered for the sail. +</p> + +<p> +But not gaining much upon her, spite of the lightness of the breeze (a +circumstance in our favor: the chase being a ship, and we but a boat), at my +comrade’s instigation, we added oars to sails, readily guiding our way by +the former, though the helm was left to itself. +</p> + +<p> +As we came nearer, it was plain that the vessel was no whaler; but a small, +two-masted craft; in short, a brigantine. Her sails were in a state of +unaccountable disarray, only the foresail, mainsail, and jib being set. The +first was much tattered; and the jib was hoisted but half way up the stay, +where it idly flapped, the breeze coming from over the taffrail. She +continually yawed in her course; now almost presenting her broadside, then +showing her stern. +</p> + +<p> +Striking our sails once more, we lay on our oars, and watched her in the +starlight. Still she swung from side to side, and still sailed on. +</p> + +<p> +Not a little terrified at the sight, superstitious Jarl more than insinuated +that the craft must be a gold-huntress, haunted. But I told him, that if such +were the case, we must board her, come gold or goblins. In reality, however, I +began to think that she must have been abandoned by her crew; or else, that +from sickness, those on board were incapable of managing her. +</p> + +<p> +After a long and anxious reconnoiter, we came still nearer, using our oars, but +very reluctantly on Jarl’s part; who, while rowing, kept his eyes over +his shoulder, as if about to beach the little Chamois on the back of a whale as +of yore. Indeed, he seemed full as impatient to quit the vicinity of the +vessel, as before he had been anxiously courting it. +</p> + +<p> +Now, as the silent brigantine again swung round her broadside, I hailed her +loudly. No return. Again. But all was silent. With a few vigorous strokes, we +closed with her, giving yet another unanswered hail; when, laying the Chamois +right alongside, I clutched at the main-chains. Instantly we felt her dragging +us along. Securing our craft by its painter, I sprang over the rail, followed +by Jarl, who had snatched his harpoon, his favorite arms. Long used with that +weapon to overcome the monsters of the deep, he doubted not it would prove +equally serviceable in any other encounter. +</p> + +<p> +The deck was a complete litter. Tossed about were pearl oyster shells, husks of +cocoa-nuts, empty casks, and cases. The deserted tiller was lashed; which +accounted for the vessel’s yawing. But we could not conceive, how going +large before the wind; the craft could, for any considerable time, at least, +have guided herself without the help of a hand. Still, the breeze was light and +steady. +</p> + +<p> +Now, seeing the helm thus lashed, I could not but distrust the silence that +prevailed. It conjured up the idea of miscreants concealed below, and +meditating treachery; unscrupulous mutineers—Lascars, or Manilla-men; +who, having murdered the Europeans of the crew, might not be willing to let +strangers depart unmolested. Or yet worse, the entire ship’s company +might have been swept away by a fever, its infection still lurking in the +poisoned hull. And though the first conceit, as the last, was a mere surmise, +it was nevertheless deemed prudent to secure the hatches, which for the present +we accordingly barred down with the oars of our boat. This done, we went about +the deck in search of water. And finding some in a clumsy cask, drank long and +freely, and to our thirsty souls’ content. +</p> + +<p> +The wind now freshening, and the rent sails like to blow from the yards, we +brought the brigantine to the wind, and brailed up the canvas. This left us at +liberty to examine the craft, though, unfortunately, the night was growing +hazy. +</p> + +<p> +All this while our boat was still towing alongside; and I was about to drop it +astern, when Jarl, ever cautious, declared it safer where it was; since, if +there were people on board, they would most likely be down in the cabin, from +the dead-lights of which, mischief might be done to the Chamois. +</p> + +<p> +It was then, that my comrade observed, that the brigantine had no boats, a +circumstance most unusual in any sort of a vessel at sea. But marking this, I +was exceedingly gratified. It seemed to indicate, as I had opined, that from +some cause or other, she must have been abandoned of her crew. And in a good +measure this dispelled my fears of foul play, and the apprehension of +contagion. Encouraged by these reflections, I now resolved to descend, and +explore the cabin, though sorely against Jarl’s counsel. To be sure, as +he earnestly said, this step might have been deferred till daylight; but it +seemed too wearisome to wait. So bethinking me of our tinder-box and candles, I +sent him into the boat for them. Presently, two candles were lit; one of which +the Skyeman tied up and down the barbed end of his harpoon; so that upon going +below, the keen steel might not be far off, should the light be blown out by a +dastard. +</p> + +<p> +Unfastening the cabin scuttle, we stepped downward into the smallest and +murkiest den in the world. The altar-like transom, surmounted by the closed +dead-lights in the stem, together with the dim little sky- light overhead, and +the somber aspect of every thing around, gave the place the air of some +subterranean oratory, say a Prayer Room of Peter the Hermit. But coils of +rigging, bolts of canvas, articles of clothing, and disorderly heaps of +rubbish, harmonized not with this impression. Two doors, one on each side, led +into wee little state- rooms, the berths of which also were littered. Among +other things, was a large box, sheathed with iron and stoutly clamped, +containing a keg partly filled with powder, the half of an old cutlass, a pouch +of bullets, and a case for a sextant—a brass plate on the lid, with the +maker’s name. London. The broken blade of the cutlass was very rusty and +stained; and the iron hilt bent in. It looked so tragical that I thrust it out +of sight. +</p> + +<p> +Removing a small trap-door, opening into the space beneath, called the +“run,” we lighted upon sundry cutlasses and muskets, lying together +at sixes and sevens, as if pitched down in a hurry. +</p> + +<p> +Casting round a hasty glance, and satisfying ourselves, that through the +bulkhead of the cabin, there was no passage to the forward part of the hold, we +caught up the muskets and cutlasses, the powder keg and the pouch of bullets, +and bundling them on deck, prepared to visit the other end of the vessel. +Previous to so doing, however, I loaded a musket, and belted a cutlass to my +side. But my Viking preferred his harpoon. +</p> + +<p> +In the forecastle reigned similar confusion. But there was a snug little lair, +cleared away in one corner, and furnished with a grass mat and bolster, like +those used among the Islanders of these seas. This little lair looked to us as +if some leopard had crouched there. And as it turned out, we were not far from +right. Forming one side of this retreat, was a sailor’s chest, stoutly +secured by a lock, and monstrous heavy withal. Regardless of Jarl’s +entreaties, I managed to burst the lid; thereby revealing a motley assemblage +of millinery, and outlandish knick-knacks of all sorts; together with sundry +rude Calico contrivances, which though of unaccountable cut, nevertheless +possessed a certain petticoatish air, and latitude of skirt, betokening them +the habiliments of some feminine creature; most probably of the human species. +</p> + +<p> +In this strong box, also, was a canvas bag, jingling with rusty old +bell-buttons, gangrened copper bolts, and sheathing nails; damp, greenish +Carolus dollars (true coin all), besides divers iron screws, and battered, +chisels, and belaying-pins. Sounded on the chest lid, the dollars rang clear as +convent bells. These were put aside by Jarl the sight of substantial dollars +doing away, for the nonce, with his superstitious Misgivings. True to his +kingship, he loved true coin; though abroad on the sea, and no land but +dollarless dominions ground, all this silver was worthless as charcoal or +diamonds. Nearly one and the same thing, say the chemists; but tell that to the +marines, say the illiterate Jews and the jewelers. Go, buy a house, or a ship, +if you can, with your charcoal! Yea, all the woods in Canada charred down to +cinders would not be worth the one famed Brazilian diamond, though no bigger +than the egg of a carrier pigeon. Ah! but these chemists are liars, and Sir +Humphrey Davy a cheat. Many’s the poor devil they’ve deluded into +the charcoal business, who otherwise might have made his fortune with a +mattock. +</p> + +<p> +Groping again into the chest, we brought to light a queer little hair trunk, +very bald and rickety. At every corner was a mighty clamp, the weight of which +had no doubt debilitated the box. It was jealously secured with a padlock, +almost as big as itself; so that it was almost a question, which was meant to +be security to the other. Prying at it hard, we at length effected an entrance; +but saw no golden moidores, no ruddy doubloons; nothing under heaven but three +pewter mugs, such as are used in a ship’s cabin, several brass screws, +and brass plates, which must have belonged to a quadrant; together with a +famous lot of glass beads, and brass rings; while, pasted on the inside of the +cover, was a little colored print, representing the harlots, the shameless +hussies, having a fine time with the Prodigal Son. +</p> + +<p> +It should have been mentioned ere now, that while we were busy in the +forecastle, we were several times startled by strange sounds aloft. And just +after, crashing into the little hair trunk, down came a great top-block, right +through the scuttle, narrowly missing my Viking’s crown; a much stronger +article, by the way, than your goldsmiths turn out in these days. This startled +us much; particularly Jarl, as one might suppose; but accustomed to the strange +creakings and wheezings of the masts and yards of old vessels at sea, and +having many a time dodged stray blocks accidentally falling from aloft, I +thought little more of the matter; though my comrade seemed to think the noises +somewhat different from any thing of that kind he had even heard before. +</p> + +<p> +After a little more turning over of the rubbish in the forecastle, and much +marveling thereat, we ascended to the deck; where we found every thing so +silent, that, as we moved toward the taffrail, the Skyeman unconsciously +addressed me in a whisper. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0020"></a> +CHAPTER XX.<br/> +Noises And Portents</h2> + +<p> +I longed for day. For however now inclined to believe that the brigantine was +untenanted, I desired the light of the sun to place that fact beyond a +misgiving. +</p> + +<p> +Now, having observed, previous to boarding the vessel, that she lay rather low +in the water, I thought proper to sound the well. But there being no +line-and-sinker at hand, I sent Jarl to hunt them up in the arm-chest on the +quarter-deck, where doubtless they must be kept. Meanwhile I searched for the +“breaks,” or pump-handles, which, as it turned out, could not have +been very recently used; for they were found lashed up and down to the +main-mast. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly Jarl came running toward me, whispering that all doubt was +dispelled;—there were spirits on board, to a dead certainty. He had +overheard a supernatural sneeze. But by this time I was all but convinced, that +we were alone in the brigantine. Since, if otherwise, I could assign no earthly +reason for the crew’s hiding away from a couple of sailors, whom, were +they so minded, they might easily have mastered. And furthermore, this alleged +disturbance of the atmosphere aloft by a sneeze, Jarl averred to have taken +place in the main-top; directly underneath which I was all this time standing, +and had heard nothing. So complimenting my good Viking upon the exceeding +delicacy of his auriculars, I bade him trouble himself no more with his +piratical ghosts and goblins, which existed nowhere but in his own imagination. +</p> + +<p> +Not finding the line-and-sinker, with the spare end of a bowline we rigged a +substitute; and sounding the well, found nothing to excite our alarm. Under +certain circumstances, however, this sounding a ship’s well is a nervous +sort of business enough. ’Tis like feeling your own pulse in the last +stage of a fever. +</p> + +<p> +At the Skyeman’s suggestion, we now proceeded to throw round the +brigantine’s head on the other tack. For until daylight we desired to +alter the vessel’s position as little as possible, fearful of coming +unawares upon reefs. +</p> + +<p> +And here be it said, that for all his superstitious misgivings about the +brigantine; his imputing to her something equivalent to a purely phantom-like +nature, honest Jarl was nevertheless exceedingly downright and practical in all +hints and proceedings concerning her. Wherein, he resembled my Right Reverend +friend, Bishop Berkeley—truly, one of your lords spiritual—who, +metaphysically speaking, holding all objects to be mere optical delusions, was, +notwith- standing, extremely matter-of-fact in all matters touching matter +itself. Besides being pervious to the points of pins, and possessing a palate +capable of appreciating plum-puddings:—which sentence reads off like a +pattering of hailstones. +</p> + +<p> +Now, while we were employed bracing round the yards, whispering Jarl must needs +pester me again with his confounded suspicions of goblins on board. He swore by +the main-mast, that when the fore-yard swung round, he had heard a half-stifled +groan from that quarter; as if one of his bugbears had been getting its aerial +legs jammed. I laughed:—hinting that goblins were incorporeal. Whereupon +he besought me to ascend the fore-rigging and test the matter for myself But +here my mature judgment got the better of my first crude opinion. I civilly +declined. For assuredly, there was still a possibility, that the fore-top might +be tenanted, and that too by living miscreants; and a pretty hap would be mine, +if, with hands full of rigging, and legs dangling in air, while surmounting the +oblique futtock- shrouds, some unseen arm should all at once tumble me +overboard. Therefore I held my peace; while Jarl went on to declare, that with +regard to the character of the brigantine, his mind was now pretty fully made +up;—she was an arrant impostor, a shade of a ship, full of sailors’ +ghosts, and before we knew where we were, would dissolve in a supernatural +squall, and leave us twain in the water. In short, Jarl, the descendant of the +superstitious old Norsemen, was full of old Norse conceits, and all manner of +Valhalla marvels concerning the land of goblins and goblets. No wonder then, +that with this catastrophe in prospect, he again entreated me to quit the +ill-starred craft, carrying off nothing from her ghostly hull. But I refused. +</p> + +<p> +One can not relate every thing at once. While in the cabin, we came across a +“barge” of biscuit, and finding its contents of a quality much +superior to our own, we had filled our pockets and occasionally regaled +ourselves in the intervals of rummaging. Now this sea cake- basket we had +brought on deck. And for the first time since bidding adieu to the Arcturion +having fully quenched our thirst, our appetite returned with a rush; and having +nothing better to do till day dawned, we planted the bread-barge in the middle +of the quarter-deck; and crossing our legs before it, laid close seige thereto, +like the Grand Turk and his Vizier Mustapha sitting down before Vienna. +</p> + +<p> +Our castle, the Bread-Barge was of the common sort; an oblong oaken box, much +battered and bruised, and like the Elgin Marbles, all over inscriptions and +carving:—foul anchors, skewered hearts, almanacs, Burton-blocks, love +verses, links of cable, Kings of Clubs; and divers mystic diagrams in chalk, +drawn by old Finnish mariners; in casting horoscopes and prophecies. Your old +tars are all Daniels. There was a round hole in one side, through which, in +getting at the bread, invited guests thrust their hands. +</p> + +<p> +And mighty was the thrusting of hands that night; also, many and earnest the +glances of Mustapha at every sudden creaking of the spars or rigging. Like +Belshazzar, my royal Viking ate with great fear and trembling; ever and anon +pausing to watch the wild shadows flitting along the bulwarks. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0021"></a> +CHAPTER XXI.<br/> +Man Ho!</h2> + +<p> +Slowly, fitfully, broke the morning in the East, showing the desolate brig +forging heavily through the water, which sluggishly thumped under her bows. +While leaping from sea to sea, our faithful Chamois, like a faithful dog, still +gamboled alongside, confined to the main- chains by its painter. At times, it +would long lag behind; then, pushed by a wave like lightning dash forward; till +bridled by its leash, it again fell in rear. +</p> + +<p> +As the gray light came on, anxiously we scrutinized the features of the craft, +as one by one they became more plainly revealed. Every thing seemed stranger +now, than when partially visible in the dingy night. The stanchions, or posts +of the bulwarks, were of rough stakes, still incased in the bark. The unpainted +sides were of a dark-colored, heathenish looking wood. The tiller was a +wry-necked, elbowed bough, thrusting itself through the deck, as if the tree +itself was fast rooted in the hold. The binnacle, containing the compass, was +defended at the sides by yellow matting. The rigging—shrouds, halyards +and all—was of “Kaiar,” or cocoa-nut fibres; and here and +there the sails were patched with plaited rushes. +</p> + +<p> +But this was not all. Whoso will pry, must needs light upon matters for +suspicion. Glancing over the side, in the wake of every scupper- hole, we +beheld a faded, crimson stain, which Jarl averred to be blood. Though now he +betrayed not the slightest trepidation; for what he saw pertained not to +ghosts; and all his fears hitherto had been of the super-natural. +</p> + +<p> +Indeed, plucking up a heart, with the dawn of the day my Viking looked bold as +a lion; and soon, with the instinct of an old seaman cast his eyes up aloft. +</p> + +<p> +Directly, he touched my arm,—“Look: what stirs in the +main-top?” +</p> + +<p> +Sure enough, something alive was there. +</p> + +<p> +Fingering our arms, we watched it; till as the day came on, a crouching +stranger was beheld. +</p> + +<p> +Presenting my piece, I hailed him to descend or be shot. There was silence for +a space, when the black barrel of a musket was thrust forth, leveled at my +head. Instantly, Jarl’s harpoon was presented at a dart;—two to +one;—and my hail was repeated. But no reply. +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Samoa,” at length said a clear, firm voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Come down from the rigging. We are friends.” +</p> + +<p> +Another pause; when, rising to his feet, the stranger slowly descended, holding +on by one hand to the rigging, for but one did he have; his musket partly slung +from his back, and partly griped under the stump of his mutilated arm. +</p> + +<p> +He alighted about six paces from where we stood; and balancing his weapon, eyed +us bravely as the Cid. +</p> + +<p> +He was a tall, dark Islander, a very devil to behold, theatrically arrayed in +kilt and turban; the kilt of a gay calico print, the turban of a red China +silk. His neck was jingling with strings of beads. +</p> + +<p> +“Who else is on board?” I asked; while Jarl, thus far covering the +stranger with his weapon, now dropped it to the deck. +</p> + +<p> +“Look there:—Annatoo!” was his reply in broken English, +pointing aloft to the fore-top. And lo! a woman, also an Islander; and barring +her skirts, dressed very much like Samoa, was beheld descending. +</p> + +<p> +“Any more?” +</p> + +<p> +“No more.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who are <i>you</i> then; and what craft is this?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, ah—you are no ghost;—but are you my friend?” he +cried, advancing nearer as he spoke; while the woman having gained the deck, +also approached, eagerly glancing. +</p> + +<p> +We said we were friends; that we meant no harm; but desired to know what craft +this was; and what disaster had befallen her; for that something untoward had +occurred, we were certain. +</p> + +<p> +Whereto, Samoa made answer, that it was true that something dreadful had +happened; and that he would gladly tell us all, and tell us the truth. And +about it he went. +</p> + +<p> +Now, this story of his was related in the mixed phraseology of a Polynesian +sailor. With a few random reflections, in substance, it will be found in the +six following chapters. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0022"></a> +CHAPTER XXII.<br/> +What Befel The Brigantine At The Pearl Shell Islands</h2> + +<p> +The vessel was the Parki, of Lahina, a village and harbor on the coast of +Mowee, one of the Hawaian isles, where she had been miserably cobbled together +with planks of native wood, and fragments of a wreck, there drifted ashore. +</p> + +<p> +Her appellative had been bestowed in honor of a high chief, the tallest and +goodliest looking gentleman in all the Sandwich Islands. With a mixed European +and native crew, about thirty in number (but only four whites in all, captain +included), the Parki, some four months previous, had sailed from her port on a +voyage southward, in quest of pearls, and pearl oyster shells, sea-slugs, and +other matters of that sort. +</p> + +<p> +Samoa, a native of the Navigator Islands, had long followed the sea, and was +well versed in the business of oyster diving and its submarine mysteries. The +native Lahineese on board were immediately subordinate to him; the captain +having bargained with Samoa for their services as divers. +</p> + +<p> +The woman, Annatoo, was a native of a far-off, anonymous island to the +westward: whence, when quite young, she had been carried by the commander of a +ship, touching there on a passage from Macao to Valparaiso. At Valparaiso her +protector put her ashore; most probably, as I afterward had reason to think, +for a nuisance. +</p> + +<p> +By chance it came to pass that when Annatoo’s first virgin bloom had +departed, leaving nothing but a lusty frame and a lustier soul, Samoa, the +Navigator, had fallen desperately in love with her. And thinking the lady to +his mind, being brave like himself, and doubtless well adapted to the +vicissitudes of matrimony at sea, he meditated suicide—I would have said, +wedlock—and the twain became one. And some time after, in capacity of +wife, Annatoo the dame, accompanied in the brigantine, Samoa her lord. Now, as +Antony flew to the refuse embraces of Caesar, so Samoa solaced himself in the +arms of this discarded fair one. And the sequel was the same. For not harder +the life Cleopatra led my fine frank friend, poor Mark, than Queen Annatoo did +lead this captive of her bow and her spear. But all in good time. +</p> + +<p> +They left their port; and crossing the Tropic and the Line, fell in with a +cluster of islands, where the shells they sought were found in round numbers. +And here—not at all strange to tell besides the natives, they encountered +a couple of Cholos, or half-breed Spaniards, from the Main; one half Spanish, +the other half quartered between the wild Indian and the devil; a race, that +from Baldivia to Panama are notorious for their unscrupulous villainy. +</p> + +<p> +Now, the half-breeds having long since deserted a ship at these islands, had +risen to high authority among the natives. This hearing, the Parki’s +captain was much gratified; he, poor ignorant, never before having fallen in +with any of their treacherous race. And, no doubt, he imagined that their +influence over the Islanders would tend to his advantage. At all events, he +made presents to the Cholos; who, in turn, provided him with additional divers +from among the natives. Very kindly, also, they pointed out the best places for +seeking the oysters. In a word, they were exceedingly friendly; often coming +off to the brigantine, and sociably dining with the captain in the cabin; +placing the salt between them and him. +</p> + +<p> +All things went on very pleasantly until, one morning, the half- breeds +prevailed upon the captain to go with them, in his whale-boat, to a shoal on +the thither side of the island, some distance from the spot where lay the +brigantine. They so managed it, moreover, that none but the Lahineese under +Samoa, in whom the captain much confided, were left in custody of the Parki; +the three white men going along to row; for there happened to be little or no +wind for a sail. +</p> + +<p> +Now, the fated brig lay anchored within a deep, smooth, circular lagoon, +margined on all sides but one by the most beautiful groves. On that side, was +the outlet to the sea; perhaps a cable’s length or more from where the +brigantine had been moored. An hour or two after the party were gone, and when +the boat was completely out of sight, the natives in shoals were perceived +coming off from the shore; some in canoes, and some swimming. The former +brought bread fruit and bananas, ostentatiously piled up in their proas; the +latter dragged after them long strings of cocoanuts; for all of which, on +nearing the vessel, they clamorously demanded knives and hatchets in barter. +</p> + +<p> +From their actions, suspecting some treachery, Samoa stood in the gangway, and +warned them off; saying that no barter could take place until the +captain’s return. But presently one of the savages stealthily climbed up +from the water, and nimbly springing from the bob-stays to the bow-sprit, +darted a javelin full at the foremast, where it vibrated. The signal of blood! +With terrible outcries, the rest, pulling forth their weapons, hitherto +concealed in the canoes, or under the floating cocoanuts, leaped into the low +chains of the brigantine; sprang over the bulwarks; and, with clubs and spears, +attacked the aghast crew with the utmost ferocity. +</p> + +<p> +After one faint rally, the Lahineese scrambled for the rigging; but to a man +were overtaken and slain. +</p> + +<p> +At the first alarm, Annatoo, however, had escaped to the fore-top-gallant-yard, +higher than which she could not climb, and whither the savages durst not +venture. For though after their nuts these Polynesians will climb palm trees +like squirrels; yet, at the first blush, they decline a ship’s mast like +Kennebec farmers. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the first token of an onslaught, Samoa, having rushed toward the cabin +scuttle for arms, was there fallen upon by two young savages. But after a +desperate momentary fray, in which his arm was mangled, he made shift to spring +below, instantly securing overhead the slide of the scuttle. In the cabin, +while yet the uproar of butchery prevailed, he quietly bound up his arm; then +laying on the transom the captain’s three loaded muskets, undauntedly +awaited an assault. +</p> + +<p> +The object of the natives, it seems, was to wreck the brigantine upon the sharp +coral beach of the lagoon. And with this intent, one of their number had +plunged into the water, and cut the cable, which was of hemp. But the tide +ebbing, cast the Parki’s head seaward—toward the outlet; and the +savages, perceiving this, clumsily boarded the fore-tack, and hauled aft the +sheet; thus setting, after a fashion, the fore-sail, previously loosed to dry. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, a gray-headed old chief stood calmly at the tiller, endeavoring to +steer the vessel shoreward. But not managing the helm aright, the brigantine, +now gliding apace through the water, only made more way toward the outlet. +Seeing which, the ringleaders, six or eight in number, ran to help the old +graybeard at the helm. But it was a black hour for them. Of a sudden, while +they were handling the tiller, three muskets were rapidly discharged upon them +from the cabin skylight. Two of the savages dropped dead. The old steersman, +clutching wildly at the helm, fell over it, mortally wounded; and in a wild +panic at seeing their leaders thus unaccountably slain, the rest of the natives +leaped overboard and made for the shore. +</p> + +<p> +Hearing the slashing, Samoa flew on deck; and beholding the foresail set, and +the brigantine heading right out to sea, he cried out to Annatoo, still aloft, +to descend to the topsail-yard, and loose the canvas there. His command was +obeyed. Annatoo deserved a gold medal for what she did that day. Hastening down +the rigging, after loosing the topsail, she strained away at the sheets; in +which operation she was assisted by Samoa, who snatched an instant from the +helm. +</p> + +<p> +The foresail and fore-topsail were now tolerably well set; and as the craft +drew seaward, the breeze freshened. And well that it did; for, recovered from +their alarm, the savages were now in hot pursuit; some in canoes, and some +swimming as before. But soon the main-topsail was given to the breeze, which +still freshening, came from over the quarter. And with this brave show of +canvas, the Parki made gallantly for the outlet; and loud shouted Samoa as she +shot by the reef, and parted the long swells without. Against these, the +savages could not swim. And at that turn of the tide, paddling a canoe therein +was almost equally difficult. But the fugitives were not yet safe. In full +chase now came in sight the whale-boat manned by the Cholos, and four or five +Islanders. Whereat, making no doubt, that all the whites who left the vessel +that morning had been massacred through the treachery of the half-breeds; and +that the capture of the brigantine had been premeditated; Samoa now saw no +other resource than to point his craft dead away from the land. +</p> + +<p> +Now on came the devils buckling to their oars. Meantime Annatoo was still busy +aloft, loosing the smaller sails—t’gallants and royals, which she +managed partially to set. +</p> + +<p> +The strong breeze from astern now filling the ill-set sails, they bellied, and +rocked in the air, like balloons, while, from the novel strain upon it, every +spar quivered and sprung. And thus, like a frightened gull fleeing from +sea-hawks, the little Parki swooped along, and bravely breasted the brine. +</p> + +<p> +His shattered arm in a hempen sling, Samoa stood at the helm, the muskets +reloaded, and planted full before him on the binnacle. For a time, so badly did +the brigantine steer, by reason of her ill- adjusted sails, made still more +unmanageable by the strength of the breeze,—that it was doubtful, after +all, notwithstanding her start, whether the fugitives would not yet fall a prey +to their hunters. The craft wildly yawed, and the boat drew nearer and nearer. +Maddened by the sight, and perhaps thinking more of revenge for the past, than +of security for the future, Samoa, yielding the helm to Annatoo, rested his +muskets on the bulwarks, and taking long, sure aim, discharged them, one by one +at the advancing foe. +</p> + +<p> +The three reports were answered by loud jeers from the savages, who brandished +their spears, and made gestures of derision; while with might and main the +Cholos tugged at their oars. +</p> + +<p> +The boat still gaining on the brigantine, the muskets were again reloaded. And +as the next shot sped, there was a pause; when, like lightning, the headmost +Cholo bounded upwards from his seat, and oar in hand, fell into the sea. A +fierce yell; and one of the natives springing into the water, caught the +sinking body by its long hair; and the dead and the living were dragged into +the boat. Taking heart from this fatal shot, Samoa fired yet again; but not +with the like sure result; merely grazing the remaining half-breed, who, +crouching behind his comrades, besought them to turn the boat round, and make +for the shore. Alarmed at the fate of his brother, and seemingly distrustful of +the impartiality of Samoa’s fire, the pusillanimous villain refused to +expose a limb above the gunwale. +</p> + +<p> +Fain now would the pursuers have made good their escape; but an accident +forbade. In the careening of the boat, when the stricken Cholo sprung +overboard, two of their oars had slid into the water; and together with that +death-griped by the half-breed, were now floating off; occasionally lost to +view, as they sunk in the trough of the sea. Two of the Islanders swam to +recover them; but frightened by the whirring of a shot over their heads, as +they unavoidably struck out towards the Parki, they turned quickly about; just +in time to see one of their comrades smite his body with his hand, as he +received a bullet from Samoa. +</p> + +<p> +Enough: darting past the ill-fated boat, they swam rapidly for land, followed +by the rest; who plunged overboard, leaving in the boat the surviving +Cholo—who it seems could not swim—the wounded savage, and the dead +man. +</p> + +<p> +“Load away now, and take thy revenge, my fine fellow,” said Samoa +to himself. But not yet. Seeing all at his mercy, and having none, he quickly +laid his fore-topsail to the mast; “hove to” the brigantine; and +opened fire anew upon the boat; every swell of the sea heaving it nearer and +nearer. Vain all efforts to escape. The wounded man paddled wildly with his +hands the dead one rolled from side to side; and the Cholo, seizing the +solitary oar, in his frenzied heedlessness, spun the boat round and round; +while all the while shot followed shot, Samoa firing as fast as Annatoo could +load. At length both Cholo and savage fell dead upon their comrades, canting +the boat over sideways, till well nigh awash; in which manner she drifted off. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0023"></a> +CHAPTER XXIII.<br/> +Sailing From The Island They Pillage The Cabin</h2> + +<p> +There was a small carronade on the forecastle, unshipped from its carriage, and +lashed down to ringbolts on the deck. This Samoa now loaded; and with an ax +knocking off the round knob upon the breech, rammed it home in the tube. When, +running the cannon out at one of the ports, and studying well his aim, he let +fly, sunk the boat, and buried his dead. +</p> + +<p> +It was now late in the afternoon; and for the present bent upon avoiding land, +and gaining the shoreless sea, never mind where, Samoa again forced round his +craft before the wind, leaving the island astern. The decks were still cumbered +with the bodies of the Lahineese, which heel to point and crosswise, had, +log-like, been piled up on the main-hatch. These, one by one, were committed to +the sea; after which, the decks were washed down. +</p> + +<p> +At sunrise next morning, finding themselves out of sight of land, with little +or no wind, they stopped their headway, and lashed the tiller alee, the better +to enable them to overhaul the brigantine; especially the recesses of the +cabin. For there, were stores of goods adapted for barter among the Islanders; +also several bags of dollars. +</p> + +<p> +Now, nothing can exceed the cupidity of the Polynesian, when, through partial +commerce with the whites, his eyes are opened to his nakedness, and he +perceives that in some things they are richer than himself. +</p> + +<p> +The poor skipper’s wardrobe was first explored; his chests of clothes +being capsized, and their contents strown about the cabin floor. +</p> + +<p> +Then took place the costuming. Samoa and Annatoo trying on coats and +pantaloons, shirts and drawers, and admiring themselves in the little mirror +panneled in the bulk-head. Then, were broken open boxes and bales; rolls of +printed cotton were inspected, and vastly admired; insomuch, that the trumpery +found in the captain’s chests was disdainfully doffed: and donned were +loose folds of calico, more congénial to their tastes. +</p> + +<p> +As case after case was opened and overturned, slippery grew the cabin deck with +torrents of glass beads; and heavy the necks of Samoa and Annatoo with goodly +bunches thereof. +</p> + +<p> +Among other things, came to light brass jewelry,—Rag Fair gewgaws and +baubles a plenty, more admired than all; Annatoo, bedecking herself like, a +tragedy queen: one blaze of brass. Much mourned the married dame, that thus +arrayed, there was none to admire but Samoa her husband; but he was all the +while admiring himself, and not her. +</p> + +<p> +And here must needs be related, what has hitherto remained unsaid. Very often +this husband and wife were no Darby and Joan. Their married life was one long +campaign, whereof the truces were only by night. They billed and they cooed on +their arms, rising fresh in the morning to battle, and often Samoa got more +than a hen-pecking. To be short, Annatoo was a Tartar, a regular Calmuc, and +Samoa—Heaven help him—her husband. +</p> + +<p> +Yet awhile, joined together by a sense of common danger, and long engrossed in +turning over their tinsel acquisitions without present thought of +proprietorship, the pair refrained from all squabbles. But soon burst the +storm. Having given every bale and every case a good shaking, Annatoo, making +an estimate of the whole, very coolly proceeded to set apart for herself +whatever she fancied. To this, Samoa objected; to which objection Annatoo +objected; and then they went at it. +</p> + +<p> +The lady vowed that the things were no more Samoa’s than hers; nay, not +so much; and that whatever she wanted, that same would she have. And +furthermore, by way of codicil, she declared that she was slave to nobody. +</p> + +<p> +Now, Samoa, sad to tell, stood in no little awe of his bellicose spouse. What, +though a hero in other respects; what, though he had slain his savages, and +gallantly carried his craft from their clutches:—Like the valiant +captains Marlborough and Belisarius, he was a poltroon to his wife. And Annatoo +was worse than either Sarah or Antonina. +</p> + +<p> +However, like every thing partaking of the nature of a scratch, most conjugal +squabbles are quickly healed; for if they healed not, they would never anew +break out: which is the beauty of the thing. So at length they made up but the +treaty stipulations of Annatoo told much against the interests of Samoa. +Nevertheless, ostensibly, it was agreed upon, that they should strictly go +halves; the lady, however, laying special claim to certain valuables, more +particularly fancied. But as a set-off to this, she generously renounced all +claims upon the spare rigging; all claims upon the fore-mast and mainmast; and +all claims upon the captain’s arms and ammunition. Of the latter, by the +way, Dame Antonina stood in no need. Her voice was a park of artillery; her +talons a charge of bayonets. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0024"></a> +CHAPTER XXIV.<br/> +Dedicated To The College Of Physicians And Surgeons</h2> + +<p> +By this time Samoa’s wounded arm was in such a state, that amputation +became necessary. Among savages, severe personal injuries are, for the most +part, accounted but trifles. When a European would be taking to his couch in +despair, the savage would disdain to recline. +</p> + +<p> +More yet. In Polynesia, every man is his own barber and surgeon, cutting off +his beard or arm, as occasion demands. No unusual thing, for the warriors of +Varvoo to saw off their own limbs, desperately wounded in battle. But owing to +the clumsiness of the instrument employed—a flinty, serrated +shell—the operation has been known to last several days. Nor will they +suffer any friend to help them; maintaining, that a matter so nearly concerning +a warrior is far better attended to by himself. Hence it may be said, that they +amputate themselves at their leisure, and hang up their tools when tired. But, +though thus beholden to no one for aught connected with the practice of +surgery, they never cut off their own heads, that ever I heard; a species of +amputation to which, metaphorically speaking, many would-be independent sort of +people in civilized lands are addicted. +</p> + +<p> +Samoa’s operation was very summary. A fire was kindled in the little +caboose, or cook-house, and so made as to produce much smoke. He then placed +his arm upon one of the windlass bitts (a short upright timber, breast-high), +and seizing the blunt cook’s ax would have struck the blow; but for some +reason distrusting the precision of his aim, Annatoo was assigned to the task. +Three strokes, and the limb, from just above the elbow, was no longer +Samoa’s; and he saw his own bones; which many a centenarian can not say. +The very clumsiness of the operation was safety to the subject. The weight and +bluntness of the instrument both deadened the pain and lessened the hemorrhage. +The wound was then scorched, and held over the smoke of the fire, till all +signs of blood vanished. From that day forward it healed, and troubled Samoa +but little. +</p> + +<p> +But shall the sequel be told? How that, superstitiously averse to burying in +the sea the dead limb of a body yet living; since in that case Samoa held, that +he must very soon drown and follow it; and how, that equally dreading to keep +the thing near him, he at last hung it aloft from the topmast-stay; where yet +it was suspended, bandaged over and over in cerements. The hand that must have +locked many others in friendly clasp, or smote a foe, was no food, thought +Samoa, for fowls of the air nor fishes of the sea. +</p> + +<p> +Now, which was Samoa? The dead arm swinging high as Haman? Or the living trunk +below? Was the arm severed from the body, or the body from the arm? The +residual part of Samoa was alive, and therefore we say it was he. But which of +the writhing sections of a ten times severed worm, is the worm proper? +</p> + +<p> +For myself, I ever regarded Samoa as but a large fragment of a man, not a man +complete. For was he not an entire limb out of pocket? And the action at +Teneriffe over, great Nelson himself—physiologically speaking—was +but three-quarters of a man. And the smoke of Waterloo blown by, what was +Anglesea but the like? After Saratoga, what Arnold? To say nothing of Mutius +Scaevola minus a hand, General Knox a thumb, and Hannibal an eye; and that old +Roman grenadier, Dentatus, nothing more than a bruised and battered trunk, a +knotty sort of hemlock of a warrior, hard to hack and hew into chips, though +much marred in symmetry by battle-ax blows. Ah! but these warriors, like +anvils, will stand a deal of hard hammering. Especially in the old +knight-errant times. For at the battle of Brevieux in Flanders, my glorious old +gossiping ancestor, Froissart, informs me, that ten good knights, being +suddenly unhorsed, fell stiff and powerless to the plain, fatally encumbered by +their armor. Whereupon, the rascally burglarious peasants, their foes, fell to +picking their visors; as burglars, locks; or oystermen, oysters; to get at +their lives. But all to no purpose. And at last they were fain to ask aid of a +blacksmith; and not till then, were the inmates of the armor dispatched. Now it +was deemed very hard, that the mysterious state- prisoner of France should be +riveted in an iron mask; but these knight-errants did voluntarily prison +themselves in their own iron Bastiles; and thus helpless were murdered +there-in. Days of chivalry these, when gallant chevaliers died chivalric +deaths! +</p> + +<p> +And this was the epic age, over whose departure my late eloquent and prophetic +friend and correspondent, Edmund Burke, so movingly mourned. Yes, they were +glorious times. But no sensible man, given to quiet domestic delights, would +exchange his warm fireside and muffins, for a heroic bivouac, in a wild beechen +wood, of a raw gusty morning in Normandy; every knight blowing his steel-gloved +fingers, and vainly striving to cook his cold coffee in his helmet. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0025"></a> +CHAPTER XXV.<br/> +Peril A Peace-Maker</h2> + +<p> +A few days passed: the brigantine drifting hither and thither, and nothing in +sight but the sea, when forth again on its stillness rung Annatoo’s +domestic alarum. The truce was up. Most egregiously had the lady infringed it; +appropriating to herself various objects previously disclaimed in favor of +Samoa. Besides, forever on the prowl, she was perpetually going up and down; +with untiring energy, exploring every nook and cranny; carrying off her spoils +and diligently secreting them. Having little idea of feminine adaptations, she +pilfered whatever came handy:—iron hooks, dollars, bolts, hatchets, and +stopping not at balls of marline and sheets of copper. All this, poor Samoa +would have borne with what patience he might, rather than again renew the war, +were it not, that the audacious dame charged him with peculations upon her own +private stores; though of any such thing he was innocent as the bowsprit. +</p> + +<p> +This insulting impeachment got the better of the poor islander’s +philosophy. He keenly resented it. And the consequence was, that seeing all +domineering useless, Annatoo flew off at a tangent; declaring that, for the +future, Samoa might stay by himself; she would have nothing more to do with +him. Save when unavoidable in managing the brigantine, she would not even speak +to him, that she wouldn’t, the monster! She then boldly demanded the +forecastle—in the brig’s case, by far the pleasantest end of the +ship—for her own independent suite of apartments. As for hapless +Belisarius, he might do what he pleased in his dark little den of a cabin. +</p> + +<p> +Concerning the division of the spoils, the termagant succeeded in carrying the +day; also, to her quarters, bale after bale of goods, together with numerous +odds and ends, sundry and divers. Moreover, she laid in a fine stock of +edibles, so as, in all respects possible, to live independent of her spouse. +</p> + +<p> +Unlovely Annatoo! Unfortunate Samoa! Thus did the pair make a divorce of it; +the lady going upon a separate maintenance,—and Belisarius resuming his +bachelor loneliness. In the captain’s state room, all cold and +comfortless, he slept; his lady whilome retiring to her forecastle boudoir; +beguiling the hours in saying her pater-nosters, and tossing over and assorting +her ill-gotten trinkets and finery; like Madame De Maintenon dedicating her +last days and nights to continence and calicoes. +</p> + +<p> +But think you this was the quiet end of their conjugal quarrels? Ah, no! No end +to those feuds, till one or t’other gives up the ghost. +</p> + +<p> +Now, exiled from the nuptial couch, Belisarius bore the hardship without a +murmur. And hero that he was, who knows that he felt not like a soldier on a +furlough? But as for Antonina, she could neither get along with Belisarius, nor +without him. She made advances. But of what sort? Why, breaking into the cabin +and purloining sundry goods therefrom; in artful hopes of breeding a final +reconciliation out of the temporary outburst that might ensue. +</p> + +<p> +Then followed a sad scene of altercation; interrupted at last by a sudden loud +roaring of the sea. Rushing to the deck, they beheld themselves sweeping +head-foremost toward a shoal making out from a cluster of low islands, +hitherto, by banks of clouds, shrouded from view. +</p> + +<p> +The helm was instantly shifted; and the yards braced about. But for several +hours, owing to the freshness of the breeze, the set of the currents, and the +irregularity and extent of the shoal, it seemed doubtful whether they would +escape a catastrophe. But Samoa’s seamanship, united to Annatoo’s +industry, at last prevailed; and the brigantine was saved. +</p> + +<p> +Of the land where they came so near being wrecked, they knew nothing; and for +that reason, they at once steered away. For after the fatal events which had +overtaken the Parki at the Pearl Shell islands, so fearful were they of +encountering any Islanders, that from the first they had resolved to keep open +sea, shunning every appearance of land; relying upon being eventually picked up +by some passing sail. +</p> + +<p> +Doubtless this resolution proved their salvation. For to the navigator in these +seas, no risk so great, as in approaching the isles; which mostly are so +guarded by outpost reefs, and far out from their margins environed by perils, +that the green flowery field within, lies like a rose among thorns; and hard to +be reached as the heart of proud maiden. Though once attained, all +three—red rose, bright shore, and soft heart—are full of love, +bloom, and all manner of delights. The Pearl Shell islands excepted. +</p> + +<p> +Besides, in those generally tranquil waters, Samoa’s little craft, though +hundreds of miles from land, was very readily managed by himself and Annatoo. +So small was the Parki, that one hand could brace the main-yard; and a very +easy thing it was, even to hoist the small top-sails; for after their first +clumsy attempt to perform that operation by hand, they invariably led the +halyards to the windlass, and so managed it, with the utmost facility. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0026"></a> +CHAPTER XXVI.<br/> +Containing A Pennyweight Of Philosophy</h2> + +<p> +Still many days passed and the Parki yet floated. The little flying- fish got +used to her familiar, loitering hull; and like swallows building their nests in +quiet old trees, they spawned in the great green barnacles that clung to her +sides. +</p> + +<p> +The calmer the sea, the more the barnacles grow. In the tropical Pacific, but a +few weeks suffice thus to encase your craft in shell armor. Vast bunches adhere +to the very cutwater, and if not stricken off, much impede the ship’s +sailing. And, at intervals, this clearing away of barnacles was one of +Annatoo’s occupations. For be it known, that, like most termagants, the +dame was tidy at times, though capriciously; loving cleanliness by fits and +starts. Wherefore, these barnacles oftentimes troubled her; and with a long +pole she would go about, brushing them aside. It beguiled the weary hours, if +nothing more; and then she would return to her beads and her trinkets; telling +them all over again; murmuring forth her devotions, and marking whether Samoa +had been pilfering from her store. +</p> + +<p> +Now, the escape from the shoal did much once again to heal the differences of +the good lady and her spouse. And keeping house, as they did, all alone by +themselves, in that lonely craft, a marvel it is, that they should ever have +quarreled. And then to divorce, and yet dwell in the same tenement, was only +aggravating the evil. So Belisarius and Antonina again came together. But now, +grown wise by experience, they neither loved over-keenly, nor hated; but took +things as they were; found themselves joined, without hope of a sundering, and +did what they could to make a match of the mate. Annatoo concluded that Samoa +was not wholly to be enslaved; and Samoa thought best to wink at +Annatoo’s foibles, and let her purloin when she pleased. +</p> + +<p> +But as in many cases, all this philosophy about wedlock is not proof against +the perpetual contact of the parties concerned; and as it is far better to +revive the old days of courtship, when men’s mouths are honey-combs: and, +to make them still sweeter, the ladies the bees which there store their sweets; +when fathomless raptures glimmer far down in the lover’s fond eye; and +best of all, when visits are alternated by absence: so, like my dignified lord +duke and his duchess, Samoa and Annatoo, man and wife, dwelling in the same +house, still kept up their separate quarters. Marlborough visiting Sarah; and +Sarah, Marlborough, whenever the humor suggested. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0027"></a> +CHAPTER XXVII.<br/> +In Which The Past History Of The Parki Is Concluded</h2> + +<p> +Still days, days, days sped by; and steering now this way, now that, to avoid +the green treacherous shores, which frequently rose into view, the Parki went +to and fro in the sea; till at last, it seemed hard to tell, in what watery +world she floated. Well knowing the risks they ran, Samoa desponded. But +blessed be ignorance. For in the day of his despondency, the lively old lass +his wife bade him be of stout heart, cheer up, and steer away manfully for the +setting sun; following which, they must inevitably arrive at her own dear +native island, where all their cares would be over. So squaring their yards, +away they glided; far sloping down the liquid sphere. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the afternoon of the day we caught sight of them in our boat, they had +sighted a cluster of low islands, which put them in no small panic, because of +their resemblance to those where the massacre had taken place. Whereas, they +must have been full five hundred leagues from that fearful vicinity. However, +they altered their course to avoid it; and a little before sunset, dropping the +islands astern, resumed their previous track. But very soon after, they espied +our little sea-goat, bounding over the billows from afar. +</p> + +<p> +This they took for a canoe giving chase to them. It renewed and augmented their +alarm. +</p> + +<p> +And when at last they perceived that the strange object was a boat, their +fears, instead of being allayed, only so much the more increased. For their +wild superstitions led them to conclude, that a white man’s craft coming +upon them so suddenly, upon the open sea, and by night, could be naught but a +phantom. Furthermore, marking two of us in the Chamois, they fancied us the +ghosts of the Cholos. A conceit which effectually damped Samoa’s courage, +like my Viking’s, only proof against things tangible. So seeing us bent +upon boarding the brigantine; after a hurried over-turning of their chattels, +with a view of carrying the most valuable aloft for safe keeping, they secreted +what they could; and together made for the fore-top; the man with a musket, the +woman with a bag of beads. Their endeavoring to secure these treasures against +ghostly appropriation originated in no real fear, that otherwise they would be +stolen: it was simply incidental to the vacant panic into which they were +thrown. No reproach this, to Belisarius’ heart of game; for the most +intrepid Feegee warrior, he who has slain his hecatombs, will not go ten yards +in the dark alone, for fear of ghosts. +</p> + +<p> +Their purpose was to remain in the top until daylight; by which time, they +counted upon the withdrawal of their visitants; who, sure enough, at last +sprang on board, thus verifying their worst apprehensions. +</p> + +<p> +They watched us long and earnestly. But curious to tell, in that very strait of +theirs, perched together in that airy top, their domestic differences again +broke forth; most probably, from their being suddenly forced into such very +close contact. +</p> + +<p> +However that might be, taking advantage of our descent into the cabin, Samoa, +in desperation fled from his wife, and one-armed as he was, sailor-like, +shifted himself over by the fore and aft-stays to the main-top, his musket +being slung to his back. And thus divided, though but a few yards intervened, +the pair were as much asunder as if at the opposite Poles. +</p> + +<p> +During the live-long night they were both in great perplexity as to the +extraordinary goblins on board. Such inquisitive, meddlesome spirits, had never +before been encountered. So cool and systematic; sagaciously stopping the +vessel’s headway the better to rummage;—the very plan they +themselves had adopted. But what most surprised them, was our striking a light, +a thing of which no true ghost would be guilty. Then, our eating and drinking +on the quarter- deck including the deliberate investment of Vienna; and many +other actions equally strange, almost led Samoa to fancy that we were no +shades, after all, but a couple of men from the moon. +</p> + +<p> +Yet they had dimly caught sight of the frocks and trowsers we wore, similar to +those which the captain of the Parki had bestowed upon the two Cholos, and in +which those villains had been killed. This, with the presence of the whale +boat, united to chase away the conceit of our lunar origin. But these +considerations renewed their first superstitious impressions of our being the +ghosts of the murderous half-breeds. +</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless, while during the latter part of the night we were reclining +beneath him, munching our biscuit, Samoa eyeing us intently, was half a mind to +open fire upon us by way of testing our corporeality. But most luckily, he +concluded to defer so doing till sunlight; if by that time we should not have +evaporated. +</p> + +<p> +For dame Annatoo, almost from our first boarding the brigantine, something in +our manner had bred in her a lurking doubt as to the genuineness of our +atmospheric organization; and abandoned to her speculations when Samoa fled +from her side, her incredulity waxed stronger and stronger. Whence we came she +knew not; enough, that we seemed bent upon pillaging her own precious +purloinings. Alas! thought she, my buttons, my nails, my tappa, my dollars, my +beads, and my boxes! +</p> + +<p> +Wrought up to desperation by these dismal forebodings, she at length shook the +ropes leading from her own perch to Samoa’s; adopting this method of +arousing his attention to the heinousness of what was in all probability going +on in the cabin, a prelude most probably to the invasion of her own end of the +vessel. Had she dared raise her voice, no doubt she would have suggested the +expediency of shooting us so soon as we emerged from the cabin. But failing to +shake Samoa into an understanding of her views on the subject, her malice +proved futile. +</p> + +<p> +When her worst fears were confirmed, however, and we actually descended into +the forecastle; there ensued such a reckless shaking of the ropes, that Samoa +was fain to hold on hard, for fear of being tossed out of the rigging. And it +was this violent rocking that caused the loud creaking of the yards, so often +heard by us while below in Annatoo’s apartment. +</p> + +<p> +And the fore-top being just over the open forecastle scuttle, the dame could +look right down upon us; hence our proceedings were plainly revealed by the +lights that we carried. Upon our breaking open her strong-box, her indignation +almost completely overmastered her fears. Unhooking a top-block, down it came +into the forecastle, charitably commissioned with the demolition of +Jarl’s cocoa-nut, then more exposed to the view of an aerial observer +than my own. But of it turned out, no harm was done to our porcelain. +</p> + +<p> +At last, morning dawned; when ensued Jarl’s discovery as the occupant of +the main-top; which event, with what followed, has been duly recounted. +</p> + +<p> +And such, in substance, was the first, second, third and fourth acts of the +Parki drama. The fifth and last, including several scenes, now follows. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0028"></a> +CHAPTER XXVIII.<br/> +Suspicions Laid, And Something About The Calmuc</h2> + +<p> +Though abounding in details full of the savor of reality, Samoa’s +narrative did not at first appear altogether satisfactory. Not that it was so +strange; for stranger recitals I had heard. +</p> + +<p> +But one reason, perhaps, was that I had anticipated a narrative quite +different; something agreeing with my previous surmises. +</p> + +<p> +Not a little puzzling, also, was his account of having seen islands the day +preceding; though, upon reflection, that might have been the case, and yet, +from his immediately altering the Parki’s course, the Chamois, +unknowingly might have sailed by their vicinity. Still, those islands could +form no part of the chain we were seeking. They must have been some region +hitherto undiscovered. +</p> + +<p> +But seems it likely, thought I, that one, who, according to his own account, +has conducted himself so heroically in rescuing the brigantine, should be the +victim of such childish terror at the mere glimpse of a couple of sailors in an +open boat, so well supplied, too, with arms, as he was, to resist their +capturing his craft, if such proved their intention? On the contrary, would it +not have been more natural, in his dreary situation, to have hailed our +approach with the utmost delight? But then again, we were taken for phantoms, +not flesh and blood. Upon the whole, I regarded the narrator of these things +somewhat distrustfully. But he met my gaze like a man. While Annatoo, standing +by, looked so expressively the Amazonian character imputed to her, that my +doubts began to waver. And recalling all the little incidents of their story, +so hard to be conjured up on the spur of a presumed necessity to lie; nay, so +hard to be conjured up at all; my suspicions at last gave way. And I could no +longer harbor any misgivings. +</p> + +<p> +For, to be downright, what object could Samoa have, in fabricating such a +narrative of horrors—those of the massacre, I mean—unless to +conceal some tragedy, still more atrocious, in which he himself had been +criminally concerned? A supposition, which, for obvious reasons, seemed out of +the question. True, instances were known to me of half- civilized beings, like +Samoa, forming part of the crews of ships in these seas, rising suddenly upon +their white ship-mates, and murdering them, for the sake of wrecking the ship +on the shore of some island near by, and plundering her hull, when stranded. +</p> + +<p> +But had this been purposed with regard to the Parki, where the rest of the +mutineers? There was no end to my conjectures; the more I indulged in them, the +more they multiplied. So, unwilling to torment myself, when nothing could be +learned, but what Samoa related, and stuck to like a hero; I gave over +conjecturing at all; striving hard to repose full faith in the Islander. +</p> + +<p> +Jarl, however, was skeptical to the last; and never could be brought completely +to credit the tale. He stoutly maintained that the hobgoblins must have had +something or other to do with the Parki. +</p> + +<p> +My own curiosity satisfied with respect to the brigantine, Samoa himself turned +inquisitor. He desired to know who we were; and whence we came in our marvelous +boat. But on these heads I thought best to withhold from him the truth; among +other things, fancying that if disclosed, it would lessen his deference for us, +as men superior to himself. I therefore spoke vaguely of our adventures, and +assumed the decided air of a master; which I perceived was not lost upon the +rude Islander. As for Jarl, and what he might reveal, I embraced the first +opportunity to impress upon him the importance of never divulging our flight +from the Arcturion; nor in any way to commit himself on that head: injunctions +which he faithfully promised to observe. +</p> + +<p> +If not wholly displeased with the fine form of Samoa, despite his savage +lineaments, and mutilated member, I was much less conciliated by the person of +Annatoo; who, being sinewy of limb, and neither young, comely, nor amiable, was +exceedingly distasteful in my eyes. Besides, she was a tigress. Yet how avoid +admiring those Penthesilian qualities which so signally had aided Samoa, in +wresting the Parki from its treacherous captors. Nevertheless, it was +indispensable that she should at once be brought under prudent subjection; and +made to know, once for all, that though conjugally a rebel, she must be +nautically submissive. For to keep the sea with a Calmuc on board, seemed next +to impossible. In most military marines, they are prohibited by law; no officer +may take his Pandora and her bandbox off soundings. +</p> + +<p> +By the way, this self-same appellative, Pandora, has been bestowed upon +vessels. There was a British ship by that name, dispatched in quest of the +mutineers of the Bounty. But any old tar might have prophesied her fate. Bound +home she was wrecked on a reef off New South Wales. Pandora, indeed! A pretty +name for a ship: fairly smiting Fate in the face. But in this matter of +christening ships of war, Christian nations are but too apt to be dare-devils. +Witness the following: British names all—The Conqueror, the Defiance, the +Revenge, the Spitfire, the Dreadnaught, the Thunderer, and the Tremendous; not +omitting the Etna, which, in the Roads of Corfu, was struck by lightning, +coming nigh being consumed by fire from above. But almost potent as +Moses’ rod, Franklin’s proved her salvation. +</p> + +<p> +With the above catalogue, compare we the Frenchman’s; quite +characteristic of the aspirations of Monsieur:—The Destiny, the Glorious, +the Magnanimous, the Magnificent, the Conqueror, the Triumphant, the +Indomitable, the Intrepid, the Mont-Blanc. Lastly, the Dons; who have ransacked +the theology of the religion of peace for fine names for their fighting ships; +stopping not at designating one of their three-deckers, The Most Holy Trinity. +But though, at Trafalgar, the Santissima Trinidada thundered like Sinai, her +thunders were silenced by the victorious cannonade of the Victory. +</p> + +<p> +And without being blown into splinters by artillery, how many of these +Redoubtables and Invincibles have succumbed to the waves, and like braggarts +gone down before hurricanes, with their bravadoes broad on their bows. +</p> + +<p> +Much better the American names (barring Scorpions, Hornets, and Wasps;) Ohio, +Virginia, Carolina, Vermont. And if ever these Yankees fight great sea +engagements—which Heaven forefend!—how glorious, poetically +speaking, to range up the whole federated fleet, and pour forth a broadside +from Florida to Maine. Ay, ay, very glorious indeed! yet in that proud crowing +of cannon, how shall the shade of peace-loving Penn be astounded, to see the +mightiest murderer of them all, the great Pennsylvania, a very namesake of his. +Truly, the Pennsylvania’s guns should be the wooden ones, called by +men-of- war’s-men, Quakers. +</p> + +<p> +But all this is an episode, made up of digressions. Time to tack ship, and +return. +</p> + +<p> +Now, in its proper place, I omitted to mention, that shortly after descending +from the rigging, and while Samoa was rehearsing his adventures, dame Annatoo +had stolen below into the forecastle, intent upon her chattels. And finding +them all in mighty disarray, she returned to the deck prodigiously, excited, +and glancing angrily toward Jarl and me, showered a whole torrent of +objurgations into both ears of Samoa. +</p> + +<p> +This contempt of my presence surprised me at first; but perhaps women are less +apt to be impressed by a pretentious demeanor, than men. +</p> + +<p> +Now, to use a fighting phrase, there is nothing like boarding an enemy in the +smoke. And therefore, upon this first token of Annatoo’s termagant +qualities, I gave her to understand—craving her pardon—that +neither the vessel nor aught therein was hers; but that every thing belonged to +the owners in Lahina. I added, that at all hazards, a stop must be put to her +pilferings. Rude language for feminine ears; but how to be avoided? Here was an +infatuated woman, who, according to Samoa’s account, had been repeatedly +detected in the act of essaying to draw out the screw-bolts which held together +the planks. Tell me; was she not worse than the Load-Stone Rock, sailing by +which a stout ship fell to pieces? +</p> + +<p> +During this scene, Samoa said little. Perhaps he was secretly pleased that his +matrimonial authority was reinforced by myself and my Viking, whose views of +the proper position of wives at sea, so fully corresponded with his own; +however difficult to practice, those purely theoretical ideas of his had +hitherto proved. +</p> + +<p> +Once more turning to Annatoo, now looking any thing but amiable, I observed, +that all her clamors would be useless; and that if it came to the worst, the +Parki had a hull that would hold her. +</p> + +<p> +In the end she went off in a fit of the sulks; sitting down on the windlass and +glaring; her arms akimbo, and swaying from side to side; while ever and anon +she gave utterance to a dismal chant. It sounded like an invocation to the +Cholos to rise and dispatch us. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0029"></a> +CHAPTER XXIX.<br/> +What They Lighted Upon In Further Searching The Craft, And The Resolution They +Came To</h2> + +<p> +Descending into the cabin with Samoa, I bade him hunt up the brigantine’s +log, the captain’s writing-desk, and nautical instruments; in a word, +aught that could throw light on the previous history of the craft, or aid in +navigating her homeward. +</p> + +<p> +But nearly every thing of the kind had disappeared: log, quadrant, and +ship’s papers. Nothing was left but the sextant-case, which Jarl and I +had lighted upon in the state-room. +</p> + +<p> +Upon this, vague though they were, my suspicions returned; and I closely +questioned the Islander concerning the disappearance of these important +articles. In reply, he gave me to understand, that the nautical instruments had +been clandestinely carried down into the forecastle by Annatoo; and by that +indefatigable and inquisitive dame they had been summarily taken apart for +scientific inspection. It was impossible to restore them; for many of the +fixtures were lost, including the colored glasses, sights, and little mirrors; +and many parts still recoverable, were so battered and broken as to be entirely +useless. For several days afterward, we now and then came across bits of the +quadrant or sextant; but it was only to mourn over their fate. +</p> + +<p> +However, though sextant and quadrant were both unattainable, I did not so +quickly renounce all hope of discovering a chronometer, which, if in good +order, though at present not ticking, might still be made in some degree +serviceable. But no such instrument was to be seen. No: nor to be heard of; +Samoa himself professing utter ignorance. +</p> + +<p> +Annatoo, I threatened and coaxed; describing the chronometer—a live, +round creature like a toad, that made a strange noise, which I imitated; but +she knew nothing about it. Whether she had lighted upon it unbeknown to Samoa, +and dissected it as usual, there was now no way to determine. Indeed, upon this +one point, she maintained an air of such inflexible stupidity, that if she were +really fibbing, her dead-wall countenance superseded the necessity for verbal +deceit. +</p> + +<p> +It may be, however, that in this particular she was wronged; for, as with many +small vessels, the Parki might never have possessed the instrument in question. +All thought, therefore, of feeling our way, as we should penetrate farther and +farther into the watery wilderness, was necessarily abandoned. +</p> + +<p> +The log book had also formed a portion of Annatoo’s pilferings. It seems +she had taken it into her studio to ponder over. But after amusing herself by +again and again counting over the leaves, and wondering how so many distinct +surfaces could be compacted together in so small a compass, she had very +suddenly conceived an aversion to literature, and dropped the book overboard as +worthless. Doubtless, it met the fate of many other ponderous tomes; sinking +quickly and profoundly. What Camden or Stowe hereafter will dive for it? +</p> + +<p> +One evening Samoa brought me a quarto half-sheet of yellowish, ribbed paper, +much soiled and tarry, which he had discovered in a dark hole of the +forecastle. It had plainly formed part of the lost log; but all the writing +thereon, at present decipherable, conveyed no information upon the subject then +nearest my heart. +</p> + +<p> +But one could not but be struck by a tragical occurrence, which the page very +briefly recounted; as well, as by a noteworthy pictorial illustration of the +event in the margin of the text. Save the cut, there was no further allusion to +the matter than the following:— “This day, being calm, Tooboi, one +of the Lahina men, went overboard for a bath, and was eaten up by a shark. +Immediately sent forward for his bag.” +</p> + +<p> +Now, this last sentence was susceptible of two meanings. It is truth, that +immediately upon the decease of a friendless sailor at sea, his shipmates +oftentimes seize upon his effects, and divide them; though the dead man’s +clothes are seldom worn till a subsequent voyage. This proceeding seems +heartless. But sailors reason thus: Better we, than the captain. For by law, +either scribbled or unscribbled, the effects of a mariner, dying on shipboard, +should be held in trust by that officer. But as sailors are mostly foundlings +and castaways, and carry all their kith and kin in their arms and their legs, +there hardly ever appears any heir-at-law to claim their estate; seldom worth +inheriting, like Esterhazy’s. Wherefore, the withdrawal of a dead +man’s “kit” from the forecastle to the cabin, is often held +tantamount to its virtual appropriation by the captain. At any rate, in small +ships on long voyages, such things have been done. +</p> + +<p> +Thus much being said, then, the sentence above quoted from the Parki’s +log, may be deemed somewhat ambiguous. At the time it struck me as singular; +for the poor diver’s grass bag could not have contained much of any thing +valuable unless, peradventure, he had concealed therein some Cleopatra pearls, +feloniously abstracted from the shells brought up from the sea. +</p> + +<p> +Aside of the paragraph, copied above, was a pen-and-ink sketch of the casualty, +most cruelly executed; the poor fellow’s legs being represented half way +in the process of deglutition; his arms firmly grasping the monster’s +teeth, as if heroically bent upon making as tough a morsel of himself as +possible. +</p> + +<p> +But no doubt the honest captain sketched this cenotaph to the departed in all +sincerity of heart; perhaps, during the melancholy leisure which followed the +catastrophe. Half obliterated were several stains upon the page; seemingly, +lingering traces of a salt tear or two. +</p> + +<p> +From this unwonted embellishment of the text, I was led to infer, that the +designer, at one time or other, must have been engaged in the vocation of +whaling. For, in India ink, the logs of certain whalemen are decorated by +somewhat similar illustrations. +</p> + +<p> +When whales are seen, but not captured, the fact is denoted by an outline +figure representing the creature’s flukes, the broad, curving lobes of +his tail. But in those cases where the monster is both chased and killed, this +outline is filled up jet black; one for every whale slain; presenting striking +objects in turning over the log; and so facilitating reference. Hence, it is +quite imposing to behold, all in a row, three or four, sometime five or six, of +these drawings; showing that so many monsters that day jetted their last spout. +And the chief mate, whose duty it is to keep the ship’s record, generally +prides himself upon the beauty, and flushy likeness to life, of his flukes; +though, sooth to say, many of these artists are no Landseers. +</p> + +<p> +After vainly searching the cabin for those articles we most needed, we +proceeded to explore the hold, into which as yet we had not penetrated. Here, +we found a considerable quantity of pearl shells; cocoanuts; an abundance of +fresh water in casks; spare sails and rigging; and some fifty barrels or more +of salt beef and biscuit. Unromantic as these last mentioned objects were, I +lingered over them long, and in a revery. Branded upon each barrel head was the +name of a place in America, with which I was very familiar. It is from America +chiefly, that ship’s stores are originally procured for the few vessels +sailing out of the Hawaiian Islands. +</p> + +<p> +Having now acquainted myself with all things respecting the Parki, which could +in any way be learned, I repaired to the quarter-deck, and summoning round me +Samoa, Annatoo, and Jarl, gravely addressed them. +</p> + +<p> +I said, that nothing would give me greater satisfaction than forthwith to +return to the scene of the massacre, and chastise its surviving authors. But as +there were only four of us in all; and the place of those islands was wholly +unknown to me; and even if known, would be altogether out of our reach, since +we possessed no instruments of navigation; it was quite plain that all thought +of returning thither was entirely useless. The last mentioned reason, also, +prevented our voyaging to the Hawaiian group, where the vessel belonged; though +that would have been the most advisable step, resulting, as it would, if +successful, in restoring the ill-fated craft to her owners. +</p> + +<p> +But all things considered, it seemed best, I added, cautiously to hold on our +way to the westward. It was our easiest course; for we would ever have the wind +from astern; and though we could not so much as hope to arrive at any one spot +previously designated, there was still a positive certainty, if we floated long +enough, of falling in with islands whereat to refresh ourselves; and whence, if +we thought fit, we might afterward embark for more agreeable climes. I then +reminded them of the fact, that so long as we kept the sea, there was always +some prospect of encountering a friendly sail; in which event, our solicitude +would be over. +</p> + +<p> +All this I said in the mild, firm tone of a superior; being anxious, at once to +assume the unquestioned supremacy. For, otherwise, Jarl and I might better quit +the vessel forthwith, than remain on board subject to the outlandish caprices +of Annatoo, who through Samoa would then have the sway. But I was sure of my +Viking; and if Samoa proved docile, had no fear of his dame. +</p> + +<p> +And therefore during my address, I steadfastly eyed him; thereby learning +enough to persuade me, that though he deferred to me at present, he was, +notwithstanding, a man who, without precisely meditating mischief, could upon +occasion act an ugly part. But of his courage, and savage honor, such as it +was, I had little doubt. Then, wild buffalo that he was, tamed down in the yoke +matrimonial, I could not but fancy, that if upon no other account, our society +must please him, as rendering less afflictive the tyranny of his spouse. +</p> + +<p> +For a hen-pecked husband, by the way, Samoa was a most terrible fellow to +behold. And though, after all, I liked him; it was as you fancy a fiery steed +with mane disheveled, as young Alexander fancied Bucephalus; which wild horse, +when he patted, he preferred holding by the bridle. But more of Samoa anon. +</p> + +<p> +Our course determined, and the command of the vessel tacitly yielded up to +myself, the next thing done was to put every thing in order. The tattered sails +were replaced by others, dragged up from the sail- room below; in several +places, new running-rigging was rove; blocks restrapped; and the slackened +stays and shrouds set taught. For all of which, we were mostly indebted to my +Viking’s unwearied and skillful marling-spike, which he swayed like a +scepter. +</p> + +<p> +The little Parki’s toilet being thus thoroughly made for the first time +since the massacre, we gave her new raiment to the breeze, and daintily +squaring her yards, she gracefully glided away; honest old Jarl at the helm, +watchfully guiding her path, like some devoted old foster-father. +</p> + +<p> +As I stood by his side like a captain, or walked up and down on the +quarter-deck, I felt no little importance upon thus assuming for the first time +in my life, the command of a vessel at sea. The novel circumstances of the case +only augmented this feeling; the wild and remote seas where we were; the +character of my crew, and the consideration, that to all purposes, I was owner, +as well as commander of the craft I sailed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0030"></a> +CHAPTER XXX.<br/> +Hints For A Full Length Of Samoa</h2> + +<p> +My original intention to touch at the Kingsmill Chain, or the countries +adjacent, was greatly strengthened by thus encountering Samoa; and the more I +had to do with my Belisarius, the more I was pleased with him. Nor could I +avoid congratulating myself, upon having fallen in with a hero, who in various +ways, could not fail of proving exceedingly useful. +</p> + +<p> +Like any man of mark, Samoa best speaks for himself; but we may as well convey +some idea of his person. Though manly enough, nay, an obelisk in stature, the +savage was far from being sentimentally prepossessing. Be not alarmed; but he +wore his knife in the lobe of his dexter ear, which, by constant elongation +almost drooped upon his shoulder. A mode of sheathing it exceedingly handy, and +far less brigandish than the Highlander’s dagger concealed in his +leggins. +</p> + +<p> +But it was the mother of Samoa, who at a still earlier day had punctured him +through and through in still another direction. The middle cartilage of his +nose was slightly pendent, peaked, and Gothic, and perforated with a hole; in +which, like a Newfoundland dog carrying a cane, Samoa sported a trinket: a well +polished nail. +</p> + +<p> +In other respects he was equally a coxcomb. In his style of tattooing, for +instance, which seemed rather incomplete; his marks embracing but a vertical +half of his person, from crown to sole; the other side being free from the +slightest stain. Thus clapped together, as it were, he looked like a union of +the unmatched moieties of two distinct beings; and your fancy was lost in +conjecturing, where roamed the absent ones. When he turned round upon you +suddenly, you thought you saw some one else, not him whom you had been +regarding before. +</p> + +<p> +But there was one feature in Samoa beyond the reach of the innovations of +art:—his eye; which in civilized man or savage, ever shines in the head, +just as it shone at birth. Truly, our eyes are miraculous things. But alas, +that in so many instances, these divine organs should be mere lenses inserted +into the socket, as glasses in spectacle rims. +</p> + +<p> +But my Islander had a soul in his eye; looking out upon you there, like +somebody in him. What an eye, to be sure! At times, brilliantly changeful as +opal; in anger, glowing like steel at white heat. +</p> + +<p> +Belisarius, be it remembered, had but very recently lost an arm. But you would +have thought he had been born without it; so Lord Nelson- like and cavalierly +did he sport the honorable stump. +</p> + +<p> +But no more of Samoa; only this: that his name had been given him by a +sea-captain; to whom it had been suggested by the native designation of the +islands to which he belonged; the Saviian or Samoan group, otherwise known as +the Navigator Islands. The island of Upolua, one of that cluster, claiming the +special honor of his birth, as Corsica does Napoleon’s, we shall +occasionally hereafter speak of Samoa as the Upoluan; by which title he most +loved to be called. +</p> + +<p> +It is ever ungallant to pass over a lady. But what shall be said of Annatoo? As +I live, I can make no pleasing portrait of the dame; for as in most ugly +subjects, flattering would but make the matter worse. Furthermore, unalleviated +ugliness should ever go unpainted, as something unnecessary to duplicate. But +the only ugliness is that of the heart, seen through the face. And though +beauty be obvious, the only loveliness is invisible. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0031"></a> +CHAPTER XXXI.<br/> +Rovings Alow And Aloft</h2> + +<p> +Every one knows what a fascination there is in wandering up and down in a +deserted old tenement in some warm, dreamy country; where the vacant halls seem +echoing of silence, and the doors creak open like the footsteps of strangers; +and into every window the old garden trees thrust their dark boughs, like the +arms of night-burglars; and ever and anon the nails start from the wainscot; +while behind it the mice rattle like dice. Up and down in such old specter +houses one loves to wander; and so much the more, if the place be haunted by +some marvelous story. +</p> + +<p> +And during the drowsy stillness of the tropical sea-day, very much such a fancy +had I, for prying about our little brigantine, whose tragic hull was haunted by +the memory of the massacre, of which it still bore innumerable traces. +</p> + +<p> +And so far as the indulgence of quiet strolling and reverie was concerned, it +was well nigh the same as if I were all by myself. For Samoa, for a time, was +rather reserved, being occupied with thoughts of his own. And Annatoo seldom +troubled me with her presence. She was taken up with her calicoes and jewelry; +which I had permitted her to retain, to keep her in good humor if possible. And +as for My royal old Viking, he was one of those individuals who seldom speak, +unless personally addressed. +</p> + +<p> +Besides, all that by day was necessary to navigating the Parki was, +that—somebody should stand at the helm; the craft being so small, and the +grating, whereon the steersman stood, so elevated, that he commanded a view far +beyond the bowsprit; thus keeping Argus eyes on the sea, as he steered us +along. In all other respects we left the brigantine to the guardianship of the +gentle winds. +</p> + +<p> +My own turn at the helm—for though commander, I felt constrained to do +duty with the rest—came but once in the twenty-four hours. And not only +did Jarl and Samoa, officiate as helmsmen, but also Dame Annatoo, who had +become quite expert at the business. Though Jarl always maintained that there +was a slight drawback upon her usefulness in this vocation. Too much taken up +by her lovely image partially reflected in the glass of the binnacle before +her, Annatoo now and then neglected her duty, and led us some devious dances. +Nor was she, I ween, the first woman that ever led men into zigzags. +</p> + +<p> +For the reasons above stated, I had many spare hours to myself. At times, I +mounted aloft, and lounging in the slings of the topsail yard—one of the +many snug nooks in a ship’s rigging—I gazed broad off upon the blue +boundless sea, and wondered what they were doing in that unknown land, toward +which we were fated to be borne. Or feeling less meditative, I roved about +hither and thither; slipping over, by the stays, from one mast to the other; +climbing up to the truck; or lounging out to the ends of the yards; exploring +wherever there was a foothold. It was like climbing about in some mighty old +oak, and resting in the crotches. +</p> + +<p> +To a sailor, a ship’s ropes are a study. And to me, every rope-yarn of +the Parki’s was invested with interest. The outlandish fashion of her +shrouds, the collars of her stays, the stirrups, seizings, Flemish-horses, +gaskets,—all the wilderness of her rigging, bore unequivocal traces of +her origin. +</p> + +<p> +But, perhaps, my pleasantest hours were those which I spent, stretched out on a +pile of old sails, in the fore-top; lazily dozing to the craft’s light +roll. +</p> + +<p> +Frequently, I descended to the cabin: for the fiftieth time, exploring the +lockers and state-rooms for some new object of curiosity. And often, with a +glimmering light, I went into the midnight hold, as into old vaults and +catacombs; and creeping between damp ranges of casks, penetrated into its +farthest recesses. +</p> + +<p> +Sometimes, in these under-ground burrowings, I lighted upon sundry +out-of-the-way hiding places of Annatoo’s; where were snugly secreted +divers articles, with which she had been smitten. In truth, no small portion of +the hull seemed a mine of stolen goods, stolen out of its own bowels. I found a +jaunty shore-cap of the captain’s, hidden away in the hollow heart of a +coil of rigging; covered over in a manner most touchingly natural, with a heap +of old ropes; and near by, in a breaker, discovered several entire pieces of +calico, heroically tied together with cords almost strong enough to sustain the +mainmast. +</p> + +<p> +Near the stray light, which, when the hatch was removed, gleamed down into this +part of the hold, was a huge ground-tier butt, headless as Charles the First. +And herein was a mat nicely spread for repose; a discovery which accounted for +what had often proved an enigma. Not seldom Annatoo had been among the missing; +and though, from stem to stern, loudly invoked to come forth and relieve the +poignant distress of her anxious friends, the dame remained perdu; silent and +invisible as a spirit. But in her own good time, she would mysteriously emerge; +or be suddenly espied lounging quietly in the forecastle, as if she had been +there from all eternity. +</p> + +<p> +Useless to inquire, “Where hast thou been, sweet Annatoo?” For no +sweet rejoinder would she give. +</p> + +<p> +But now the problem was solved. Here, in this silent cask in the hold, Annatoo +was wont to coil herself away, like a garter-snake under a stone. +</p> + +<p> +Whether-she-thus stood sentry over her goods secreted round about: whether she +here performed penance like a nun in her cell; or was moved to this +unaccountable freak by the powers of the air; no one could tell. Can you? +</p> + +<p> +Verily, her ways were as the ways of the inscrutable penguins in building their +inscrutable nests, which baffle all science, and make a fool of a sage. +</p> + +<p> +Marvelous Annatoo! who shall expound thee? +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0032"></a> +CHAPTER XXXII.<br/> +Xiphius Platypterus</h2> + +<p> +About this time, the loneliness of our voyage was relieved by an event worth +relating. +</p> + +<p> +Ever since leaving the Pearl Shell Islands, the Parki had been followed by +shoals of small fish, pleasantly enlivening the sea, and socially swimming by +her side. But in vain did Jarl and I search among their ranks for the little, +steel-blue Pilot fish, so long outriders of the Chamois. But perhaps since the +Chamois was now high and dry on the Parki’s deck, our bright little +avant-couriers were lurking out of sight, far down in the brine; racing along +close to the keel. +</p> + +<p> +But it is not with the Pilot fish that we now have to do. +</p> + +<p> +One morning our attention was attracted to a mighty commotion in the water. The +shoals of fish were darting hither and thither, and leaping into the air in the +utmost affright. Samoa declared, that their deadly foe the Sword fish must be +after them. +</p> + +<p> +And here let me say, that, since of all the bullies, and braggarts, and +bravoes, and free-booters, and Hectors, and fish-at-arms, and knight-errants, +and moss-troopers, and assassins, and foot-pads, and gallant soldiers, and +immortal heroes that swim the seas, the Indian Sword fish is by far the most +remarkable, I propose to dedicate this chapter to a special description of the +warrior. In doing which, I but follow the example of all chroniclers and +historians, my Peloponnesian friend Thucydides and others, who are ever mindful +of devoting much space to accounts of eminent destroyers; for the purpose, no +doubt, of holding them up as ensamples to the world. +</p> + +<p> +Now, the fish here treated of is a very different creature from the Sword fish +frequenting the Northern Atlantic; being much larger every way, and a more +dashing varlet to boot. Furthermore, he is denominated the Indian Sword fish, +in contradistinction from his namesake above mentioned. But by seamen in the +Pacific, he is more commonly known as the Bill fish; while for those who love +science and hard names, be it known, that among the erudite naturalists he +goeth by the outlandish appellation of “<i>Xiphius +Platypterus</i>.” +</p> + +<p> +But I waive for my hero all these his cognomens, and substitute a much better +one of my own: namely, the Chevalier. And a Chevalier he is, by good right and +title. A true gentleman of Black Prince Edward’s bright day, when all +gentlemen were known by their swords; whereas, in times present, the Sword fish +excepted, they are mostly known by their high polished boots and rattans. +</p> + +<p> +A right valiant and jaunty Chevalier is our hero; going about with his long +Toledo perpetually drawn. Rely upon it, he will fight you to the hilt, for his +bony blade has never a scabbard. He himself sprang from it at birth; yea, at +the very moment he leaped into the Battle of Life; as we mortals ourselves +spring all naked and scabbardless into the world. Yet, rather, are we scabbards +to our souls. And the drawn soul of genius is more glittering than the drawn +cimeter of Saladin. But how many let their steel sleep, till it eat up the +scabbard itself, and both corrode to rust-chips. Saw you ever the hillocks of +old Spanish anchors, and anchor-stocks of ancient galleons, at the bottom of +Callao Bay? The world is full of old Tower armories, and dilapidated Venetian +arsenals, and rusty old rapiers. But true warriors polish their good blades by +the bright beams of the morning; and gird them on to their brave sirloins; and +watch for rust spots as for foes; and by many stout thrusts and stoccadoes keep +their metal lustrous and keen, as the spears of the Northern Lights charging +over Greenland. +</p> + +<p> +Fire from the flint is our Chevalier enraged. He takes umbrage at the cut of +some ship’s keel crossing his road; and straightway runs a tilt at it; +with one mad lounge thrusting his Andrea Ferrara clean through and through; not +seldom breaking it short off at the haft, like a bravo leaving his poignard in +the vitals of his foe. +</p> + +<p> +In the case of the English ship Foxhound, the blade penetrated through the most +solid part of her hull, the bow; going completely through the copper plates and +timbers, and showing for several inches in the hold. On the return of the ship +to London, it was carefully sawn out; and, imbedded in the original wood, like +a fossil, is still preserved. But this was a comparatively harmless onslaught +of the valiant Chevalier. With the Rousseau, of Nantucket, it fared worse. She +was almost mortally stabbed; her assailant withdrawing his blade. And it was +only by keeping the pumps clanging, that she managed to swim into a Tahitian +harbor, “heave down,” and have her wound dressed by a ship-surgeon +with tar and oakum. This ship I met with at sea, shortly after the disaster. +</p> + +<p> +At what armory our Chevalier equips himself after one of his spiteful +tilting-matches, it would not be easy to say. But very hard for him, if ever +after he goes about in the lists, swordless and disarmed, at the mercy of any +caitiff shark he may meet. +</p> + +<p> +Now, seeing that our fellow-voyagers, the little fish along-side, were sorely +tormented and thinned out by the incursions of a pertinacious Chevalier, bent +upon making a hearty breakfast out of them, I determined to interfere in their +behalf, and capture the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +With shark-hook and line I succeeded, and brought my brave gentleman to the +deck. He made an emphatic landing; lashing the planks with his sinewy tail; +while a yard and a half in advance of his eyes, reached forth his terrible +blade. +</p> + +<p> +As victor, I was entitled to the arms of the vanquished; so, quickly +dispatching him, and sawing off his Toledo, I bore it away for a trophy. It was +three-sided, slightly concave on each, like a bayonet; and some three inches +through at the base, it tapered from thence to a point. +</p> + +<p> +And though tempered not in Tagus or Guadalquiver, it yet revealed upon its +surface that wavy grain and watery fleckiness peculiar to tried blades of +Spain. It was an aromatic sword; like the ancient caliph’s, giving out a +peculiar musky odor by friction. But far different from steel of Tagus or +Damascus, it was inflexible as Crocket’s rifle tube; no doubt, as deadly. +</p> + +<p> +Long hung that rapier over the head of my hammock. Was it not storied as the +good trenchant blade of brave Bayard, that other chevalier? The knight’s +may have slain its scores, or fifties; but the weapon I preserved had, +doubtless, run through and riddled its thousands. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0033"></a> +CHAPTER XXXIII.<br/> +Otard</h2> + +<p> +And here is another little incident. +</p> + +<p> +One afternoon while all by myself curiously penetrating into the hold, I most +unexpectedly obtained proof, that the ill-fated captain of the Parki had been a +man of sound judgment and most excellent taste. In brief, I lighted upon an +aromatic cask of prime old Otard. +</p> + +<p> +Now, I mean not to speak lightly of any thing immediately connected with the +unfortunate captain. Nor, on the other hand, would I resemble the inconsolable +mourner, who among other tokens of affliction, bound in funereal crape his +deceased friend’s copy of Joe Miller. Is there not a fitness in things? +</p> + +<p> +But let that pass. I found the Otard, and drank there-of; finding it, moreover, +most pleasant to the palate, and right cheering to the soul. My next impulse +was to share my prize with my shipmates. But here a judicious reflection +obtruded. From the sea-monarchs, his ancestors, my Viking had inherited one of +their cardinal virtues, a detestation and abhorrence of all vinous and +spirituous beverages; insomuch, that he never could see any, but he instantly +quaffed it out of sight. To be short, like Alexander the Great and other +royalties, Jarl was prone to overmuch bibing. And though at sea more sober than +a Fifth Monarchy Elder, it was only because he was then removed from +temptation. But having thus divulged my Viking’s weak; side, I earnestly +entreat, that it may not disparage him in any charitable man’s +estimation. Only think, how many more there are like him to say nothing further +of Alexander the Great—especially among his own class; and consider, I +beseech, that the most capacious-souled fellows, for that very reason, are the +most apt to be too liberal in their libations; since, being so large-hearted, +they hold so much more good cheer than others. +</p> + +<p> +For Samoa, from his utter silence hitherto as to aught inebriating on board, I +concluded, that, along with his other secrets, the departed captain had very +wisely kept his Otard to himself. +</p> + +<p> +Nor did I doubt, but that the Upoluan, like all Polynesians, much loved getting +high of head; and in that state, would be more intractable than a Black Forest +boar. And concerning Annatoo, I shuddered to think, how that Otard might +inflame her into a Fury more fierce than the foremost of those that pursued +Orestes. +</p> + +<p> +In good time, then, bethinking me of the peril of publishing my +discovery;—bethinking me of the quiet, lazy, ever-present perils of the +voyage, of all circumstances, the very worst under which to introduce an +intoxicating beverage to my companions, I resolved to withhold it from them +altogether. +</p> + +<p> +So impressed was I with all this, that for a moment, I was almost tempted to +roll over the cask on its bilge, remove the stopper, and suffer its contents to +mix with the foul water at the bottom of the hold. +</p> + +<p> +But no, no: What: dilute the brine with the double distilled soul of the +precious grape? Haft himself would have haunted me! +</p> + +<p> +Then again, it might come into play medicinally; and Paracelsus himself stands +sponsor for every cup drunk for the good of the abdomen. So at last, I +determined to let it remain where it was: visiting it occasionally, by myself, +for inspection. +</p> + +<p> +But by way of advice to all ship-masters, let me say, that if your Otard +magazine be exposed to view—then, in the evil hour of wreck, stave in +your spirit-casks, ere rigging the life-boat. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0034"></a> +CHAPTER XXXIV.<br/> +How They Steered On Their Way</h2> + +<p> +When we quitted the Chamois for the brigantine, we must have been at least two +hundred leagues to the westward of the spot, where we had abandoned the +Arcturion. Though how far we might then have been, North or South of the +Equator, I could not with any certainty divine. +</p> + +<p> +But that we were not removed any considerable distance from the Line, seemed +obvious. For in the starriest night no sign of the extreme Polar constellations +was visible; though often we scanned the northern and southern horizon in +search of them. So far as regards the aspect of the skies near the +ocean’s rim, the difference of several degrees in one’s latitude at +sea, is readily perceived by a person long accustomed to surveying the heavens. +</p> + +<p> +If correct in my supposition, concerning our longitude at the time here alluded +to, and allowing for what little progress we had been making in the Parki, +there now remained some one hundred leagues to sail, ere the country we sought +would be found. But for obvious reasons, how long precisely we might continue +to float out of sight of land, it was impossible to say. Calms, light breezes, +and currents made every thing uncertain. Nor had we any method of estimating +our due westward progress, except by what is called Dead Reckoning,—the +computation of the knots run hourly; allowances’ being made for the +supposed deviations from our course, by reason of the ocean streams; which at +times in this quarter of the Pacific run with very great velocity. +</p> + +<p> +Now, in many respects we could not but feel safer aboard the Parki than in the +Chamois. The sense of danger is less vivid, the greater the number of lives +involved. He who is ready to despair in solitary peril, plucks up a heart in +the presence of another. In a plurality of comrades is much countenance and +consolation. +</p> + +<p> +Still, in the brigantine there were many sources of uneasiness and anxiety +unknown to me in the whale-boat. True, we had now between us and the deep, five +hundred good planks to one lath in our buoyant little chip. But the Parki +required more care and attention; especially by night, when a vigilant look-out +was indispensable. With impunity, in our whale-boat, we might have run close to +shoal or reef; whereas, similar carelessness or temerity now, might prove fatal +to all concerned. +</p> + +<p> +Though in the joyous sunlight, sailing through the sparkling sea, I was little +troubled with serious misgivings; in the hours of darkness it was quite another +thing. And the apprehensions, nay terrors I felt, were much augmented by the +remissness of both Jarl and Samoa, in keeping their night-watches. Several +times I was seized with a deadly panic, and earnestly scanned the murky +horizon, when rising from slumber I found the steersman, in whose hands for the +time being were life and death, sleeping upright against the tiller, as much of +a fixture there, as the open-mouthed dragon rudely carved on our prow. +</p> + +<p> +Were it not, that on board of other vessels, I myself had many a time dozed at +the helm, spite of all struggles, I would have been almost at a loss to account +for this heedlessness in my comrades. But it seemed as if the mere sense of our +situation, should have been sufficient to prevent the like conduct in all on +board our craft. +</p> + +<p> +Samoa’s aspect, sleeping at the tiller, was almost appalling. His large +opal eyes were half open; and turned toward the light of the binnacle, gleamed +between the lids like bars of flame. And added to all, was his giant stature +and savage lineaments. +</p> + +<p> +It was in vain, that I remonstrated, begged, or threatened: the occasional +drowsiness of my fellow-voyagers proved incurable. To no purpose, I reminded my +Viking that sleeping in the night-watch in a craft like ours, was far different +from similar heedlessness on board the Arcturion. For there, our place upon the +ocean was always known, and our distance from land; so that when by night the +seamen were permitted to be drowsy, it was mostly, because the captain well +knew that strict watchfulness could be dispensed with. +</p> + +<p> +Though in all else, the Skyeman proved a most faithful ally, in this one thing +he was either perversely obtuse, or infatuated. Or, perhaps, finding himself +once more in a double-decked craft, which rocked him as of yore, he was lulled +into a deceitful security. +</p> + +<p> +For Samoa, his drowsiness was the drowsiness of one beat on sleep, come dreams +or death. He seemed insensible to the peril we ran. Often I sent the sleepy +savage below, sad, steered myself till morning. At last I made a point of +slumbering much by day, the better to stand watch by night; though I made Samoa +and Jarl regularly go through with their allotted four hours each. +</p> + +<p> +It has been mentioned, that Annatoo took her turn at the helm; but it was only +by day. And in justice to the lady, I must affirm, that upon the whole she +acquitted herself well. For notwithstanding the syren face in the binnacle, +which dimly allured her glances, Annatoo after all was tolerably heedful of her +steering. Indeed she took much pride therein; always ready for her turn; with +marvelous exactitude calculating the approaching hour, as it came on in regular +rotation. Her time-piece was ours, the sun. By night it must have been her +guardian star; for frequently she gazed up at a particular section of the +heavens, like one regarding the dial in a tower. +</p> + +<p> +By some odd reasoning or other, she had cajoled herself into the notion, that +whoever steered the brigantine, for that period was captain. Wherefore, she +gave herself mighty airs at the tiller; with extravagant gestures issuing +unintelligible orders about trimming the sails, or pitching overboard something +to see how fast we were going. All this much diverted my Viking, who several +times was delivered of a laugh; a loud and healthy one to boot: a phenomenon +worthy the chronicling. +</p> + +<p> +And thus much for Annatoo, preliminary to what is further to be said. Seeing +the drowsiness of Jarl and Samoa, which so often kept me from my hammock at +night, forcing me to repose by day, when I far preferred being broad awake, I +decided to let Annatoo take her turn at the night watches; which several times +she had solicited me to do; railing at the sleepiness of her spouse; though +abstaining from all reflections upon Jarl, toward whom she had of late grown +exceedingly friendly. +</p> + +<p> +Now the Calmuc stood her first night watch to admiration; if any thing, was +altogether too wakeful. The mere steering of the craft employed not +sufficiently her active mind. Ever and anon she must needs rush from the tiller +to take a parenthetical pull at the fore- brace, the end of which led down to +the bulwarks near by; then refreshing herself with a draught or two of water +and a biscuit, she would continue to steer away, full of the importance of her +office. At any unusual flapping of the sails, a violent stamping on deck +announced the fact to the startled crew. Finding her thus indefatigable, I +readily induced her to stand two watches to Jarl’s and Samoa’s one; +and when she was at the helm, I permitted myself to doze on a pile of old +sails, spread every evening on the quarter-deck. +</p> + +<p> +It was the Skyeman, who often admonished me to “heave the ship to” +every night, thus stopping her headway till morning; a plan which, under other +circumstances, might have perhaps warranted the slumbers of all. But as it was, +such a course would have been highly imprudent. For while making no onward +progress through the water, the rapid currents we encountered would continually +be drifting us eastward; since, contrary to our previous experience, they +seemed latterly to have reversed their flow, a phenomenon by no means unusual +in the vicinity of the Line in the Pacific. And this it was that so prolonged +our passage to the westward. Even in a moderate breeze, I sometimes fancied, +that the impulse of the wind little more than counteracted the glide of the +currents; so that with much show of sailing, we were in reality almost a +fixture on the sea. +</p> + +<p> +The equatorial currents of the South Seas may be regarded as among the most +mysterious of the mysteries of the deep. Whence they come, whither go, who +knows? Tell us, what hidden law regulates their flow. Regardless of the theory +which ascribes to them a nearly uniform course from east to west, induced by +the eastwardly winds of the Line, and the collateral action of the Polar +streams; these currents are forever shifting. Nor can the period of their +revolutions be at all relied upon or predicted. +</p> + +<p> +But however difficult it may be to assign a specific cause for the ocean +streams, in any part of the world, one of the wholesome effects thereby +produced would seem obvious enough. And though the circumstance here alluded to +is perhaps known to every body, it may be questioned, whether it is generally +invested with the importance it deserves. Reference is here made to the +constant commingling and purification of the sea-water by reason of the +currents. +</p> + +<p> +For, that the ocean, according to the popular theory, possesses a special +purifying agent in its salts, is somewhat to be doubted. Nor can it be +explicitly denied, that those very salts might corrupt it, were it not for the +brisk circulation of its particles consequent upon the flow of the streams. It +is well known to seamen, that a bucket of sea-water, left standing in a +tropical climate, very soon becomes highly offensive; which is not the case +with rainwater. +</p> + +<p> +But I build no theories. And by way of obstructing the one, which might +possibly be evolved from the statement above, let me add, that the +offensiveness of sea-water left standing, may arise in no small degree from the +presence of decomposed animal matter. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0035"></a> +CHAPTER XXXV.<br/> +Ah, Annatoo!</h2> + +<p> +In order to a complete revelation, I must needs once again discourse of Annatoo +and her pilferings; and to what those pilferings led. In the simplicity of my +soul, I fancied that the dame, so much flattered as she needs must have been, +by the confidence I began to repose in her, would now mend her ways, and +abstain from her larcenies. But not so. She was possessed by some scores of +devils, perpetually her to mischief on their own separate behoof, and not less +for many of her pranks were of no earthly advantage to her, present or +prospective. +</p> + +<p> +One day the log-reel was missing. Summon Annatoo. She came; but knew nothing +about it. Jarl spent a whole morning in contriving a substitute; and a few days +after, pop, we came upon the lost: article hidden away in the main-top. +</p> + +<p> +Another time, discovering the little vessel to “gripe” hard in +steering, as if some one under water were jerking her backward, we instituted a +diligent examination, to see what was the matter. When lo; what should we find +but a rope, cunningly attached to one of the chain-plates under the starboard +main-channel. It towed heavily in the water. Upon dragging it up—much as +you would the cord of a ponderous bucket far down in a well—a stout +wooden box was discovered at the end; which opened, disclosed sundry knives, +hatchets, and ax-heads. +</p> + +<p> +Called to the stand, the Upoluan deposed, that thrice he had rescued that +identical box from Annatoo’s all-appropriating clutches. +</p> + +<p> +Now, here were four human beings shut up in this little oaken craft, and, for +the time being, their interests the same. What sane mortal, then, would forever +be committing thefts, without rhyme or reason. It was like stealing silver from +one pocket and decanting it into the other. And what might it not lead to in +the end? +</p> + +<p> +Why, ere long, in good sooth, it led to the abstraction of the compass from the +binnacle; so that we were fain to substitute for it, the one brought along in +the Chamois. +</p> + +<p> +It was Jarl that first published this last and alarming theft. Annatoo being at +the helm at dawn, he had gone to relieve her; and looking to see how we headed, +was horror-struck at the emptiness of the binnacle. +</p> + +<p> +I started to my feet; sought out the woman, and ferociously demanded the +compass. But her face was a blank; every word a denial. +</p> + +<p> +Further lenity was madness. I summoned Samoa, told him what had happened, and +affirmed that there was no safety for us except in the nightly incarceration of +his spouse. To this he privily assented; and that very evening, when Annatoo +descended into the forecastle, we barred over her the scuttle-slide. Long she +clamored, but unavailingly. And every night this was repeated; the dame saying +her vespers most energetically. +</p> + +<p> +It has somewhere been hinted, that Annatoo occasionally cast sheep’s eyes +at Jarl. So I was not a little surprised when her manner toward him decidedly +changed. Pulling at the ropes with us, she would give him sly pinches, and then +look another way, innocent as a lamb. Then again, she would refuse to handle +the same piece of rigging with him; with wry faces, rinsed out the wooden can +at the water cask, if it so chanced that my Viking had previously been drinking +therefrom. At other times, when the honest Skyeman came up from below, she +would set up a shout of derision, and loll out her tongue; accompanying all +this by certain indecorous and exceedingly unladylike gestures, significant of +the profound contempt in which she held him. +</p> + +<p> +Yet, never did Jarl heed her ill-breeding; but patiently overlooked and forgave +it. Inquiring the reason of the dame’s singular conduct, I learned, that +with eye averted, she had very lately crept close to my Viking, and met with no +tender reception. +</p> + +<p> +Doubtless, Jarl, who was much of a philosopher, innocently imagined that ere +long the lady would forgive and forget him. But what knows a philosopher about +women? +</p> + +<p> +Ere long, so outrageous became Annatoo’s detestation of him, that the +honest old tar could stand it no longer, and like most good-natured men when +once fairly roused, he was swept through and through with a terrible typhoon of +passion. He proposed, that forthwith the woman should be sacked and committed +to the deep; he could stand it no longer. +</p> + +<p> +Murder is catching. At first I almost jumped at the proposition; but as quickly +rejected it. Ah! Annatoo: Woman unendurable: deliver me, ye gods, from being +shut up in a ship with such a hornet again. +</p> + +<p> +But are we yet through with her? Not yet. Hitherto she had continued to perform +the duties of the office assigned her since the commencement of the voyage: +namely, those of the culinary department. From this she was now deposed. Her +skewer was broken. My Viking solemnly averring, that he would eat nothing more +of her concocting, for fear of being poisoned. For myself, I almost believed, +that there was malice enough in the minx to give us our henbane broth. +</p> + +<p> +But what said Samoa to all this? Passing over the matter of the cookery, will +it be credited, that living right among us as he did, he was yet blind to the +premeditated though unachieved peccadilloes of his spouse? Yet so it was. And +thus blind was Belisarius himself, concerning the intrigues of Antonina. +</p> + +<p> +Witness that noble dame’s affair with the youth Theodosius; when her +deluded lord charged upon the scandal-mongers with the very horns she had +bestowed upon him. +</p> + +<p> +Upon one occasion, seized with a sudden desire to palliate Annatoo’s +thievings, Samoa proudly intimated, that the lady was the most virtuous of her +sex. +</p> + +<p> +But alas, poor Annatoo, why say more? And bethinking me of the hard fate that +so soon overtook thee, I almost repent what has already and too faithfully been +portrayed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0036"></a> +CHAPTER XXXVI.<br/> +The Parki Gives Up The Ghost</h2> + +<p> +A long calm in the boat, and now, God help us, another in the brigantine. It +was airless and profound. +</p> + +<p> +In that hot calm, we lay fixed and frozen in like Parry at the Pole. The sun +played upon the glassy sea like the sun upon the glaciers. +</p> + +<p> +At the end of two days we lifted up our eyes and beheld a low, creeping, hungry +cloud expanding like an army, wing and wing, along the eastern horizon. +Instantly Jarl bode me take heed. +</p> + +<p> +Here be it said, that though for weeks and weeks reign over the equatorial +latitudes of the Pacific, the mildest and sunniest of days; that nevertheless, +when storms do come, they come in their strength: spending in a few, brief +blasts their concentrated rage. They come like the Mamelukes: they charge, and +away. +</p> + +<p> +It wanted full an hour to sunset; but the sun was well nigh obscured. It seemed +toiling among bleak Scythian steeps in the hazy background. Above the +storm-cloud flitted ominous patches of scud, rapidly advancing and receding: +Attila’s skirmishers, thrown forward in the van of his Huns. Beneath, a +fitful shadow slid along the surface. As we gazed, the cloud came nearer; +accelerating its approach. +</p> + +<p> +With all haste we proceeded to furl the sails, which, owing to the calm, had +been hanging loose in the brails. And by help of a spare boom, used on the +forecastle-deck sit a sweep or great oar, we endeavored to cast the +brigantine’s head toward the foe. +</p> + +<p> +The storm seemed about to overtake us; but we felt no breeze. The noiseless +cloud stole on; its advancing shadow lowering over a distinct and prominent +milk-white crest upon the surface of the ocean. But now this line of surging +foam came rolling down upon us like a white charge of cavalry: mad Hotspur and +plumed Murat at its head; pouring right forward in a continuous frothy cascade, +which curled over, and fell upon the glassy sea before it. +</p> + +<p> +Still, no breath of air. But of a sudden, like a blow from a man’s hand, +and before our canvas could be secured, the stunned craft, giving one lurch to +port, was stricken down on her beam-ends; the roaring tide dashed high up +against her windward side, and drops of brine fell upon the deck, heavy as +drops of gore. +</p> + +<p> +It was all a din and a mist; a crashing of spars and of ropes; a horrible +blending of sights and of sounds; as for an instant we seemed in the hot heart +of the gale; our cordage, like harp-strings, shrieking above the fury of the +blast. The masts rose, and swayed, and dipped their trucks in the sea. And like +unto some stricken buffalo brought low to the plain, the brigantine’s +black hull, shaggy with sea-weed, lay panting on its flank in the foam. +</p> + +<p> +Frantically we clung to the uppermost bulwarks. And now, loud above the roar of +the sea, was suddenly heard a sharp, splintering sound, as of a Norway woodman +felling a pine in the forest. It was brave Jarl, who foremost of all had +snatched from its rack against the mainmast, the ax, always there kept. +</p> + +<p> +“Cut the lanyards to windward!” he cried; and again buried his ax +into the mast. He was quickly obeyed. And upon cutting the third lanyard of the +five, he shouted for us to pause. Dropping his ax, he climbed up to windward. +As he clutched the rail, the wounded mast snapped in twain with a report like a +cannon. A slight smoke was perceptible where it broke. The remaining lanyards +parted. From the violent strain upon them, the two shrouds flew madly into the +air, and one of the great blocks at their ends, striking Annatoo upon the +forehead, she let go her hold upon a stanchion, and sliding across the aslant +deck, was swallowed up in the whirlpool under our lea. Samoa shrieked. But +there was no time to mourn; no hand could reach to save. +</p> + +<p> +By the connecting stays, the mainmast carried over with it the foremast; when +we instantly righted, and for the time were saved; my own royal Viking our +saviour. +</p> + +<p> +The first fury of the gale was gone. But far to leeward was seen the even, +white line of its onset, pawing the ocean into foam. All round us, the sea +boiled like ten thousand caldrons; and through eddy, wave, and surge, our +almost water-logged craft waded heavily; every dead clash ringing hollow +against her hull, like blows upon a coffin. +</p> + +<p> +We floated a wreck. With every pitch we lifted our dangling jib-boom into the +air; and beating against the side, were the shattered fragments of the masts. +From these we made all haste to be free, by cutting the rigging that held them. +</p> + +<p> +Soon, the worst of the gale was blown over. But the sea ran high. Yet the rack +and scud of the tempest, its mad, tearing foam, was subdued into immense, +long-extended, and long-rolling billows; the white cream on their crests like +snow on the Andes. Ever and anon we hung poised on their brows; when the +furrowed ocean all round looked like a panorama from Chimborazo. +</p> + +<p> +A few hours more, and the surges went down. There was a moderate sea, a steady +breeze, and a clear, starry sky. Such was the storm that came after our calm. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0037"></a> +CHAPTER XXXVII.<br/> +Once More They Take To The Chamois</h2> + +<p> +Try the pumps. We dropped the sinker, and found the Parki bleeding at every +pore. Up from her well, the water, spring-like, came bubbling, pure and limpid +as the water of Saratoga. Her time had come. But by keeping two hands at the +pumps, we had no doubt she would float till daylight; previous to which we +liked not to abandon her. +</p> + +<p> +The interval was employed in clanging at the pump-breaks, and preparing the +Chamois for our reception. So soon as the sea permitted, we lowered it over the +side; and letting it float under the stern, stowed it with water and +provisions, together with various other things, including muskets and +cutlasses. +</p> + +<p> +Shortly after daylight, a violent jostling and thumping under foot showed that +the water, gaining rapidly in the, hold, spite of all pumping, had floated the +lighter casks up-ward to the deck, against which they were striking. +</p> + +<p> +Now, owing to the number of empty butts in the hold, there would have been, +perhaps, but small danger of the vessel’s sinking outright—all +awash as her decks would soon be—were it not, that many of her timbers +were of a native wood, which, like the Teak of India, is specifically heavier +than water. This, with the pearl shells on board, counteracted the buoyancy of +the casks. +</p> + +<p> +At last, the sun—long waited for—arose; the Parki meantime sinking +lower and lower. +</p> + +<p> +All things being in readiness, we proceeded to embark from the wreck, as from a +wharf. +</p> + +<p> +But not without some show of love for our poor brigantine. +</p> + +<p> +To a seaman, a ship is no piece of mechanism merely; but a creature of thoughts +and fancies, instinct with life. Standing at her vibrating helm, you feel her +beating pulse. I have loved ships, as I have loved men. +</p> + +<p> +To abandon the poor Parki was like leaving to its fate something that could +feel. It was meet that she should die decently and bravely. +</p> + +<p> +All this thought the Skyeman. Samoa and I were in the boat, calling upon him to +enter quickly, lest the vessel should sink, and carry us down in the eddies; +for already she had gone round twice. But cutting adrift the last fragments of +her broken shrouds, and putting her decks in order, Jarl buried his ax in the +splintered stump of the mainmast, and not till then did he join us. +</p> + +<p> +We slowly cheered, and sailed away. +</p> + +<p> +Not ten minutes after, the hull rolled convulsively in the sea; went round once +more; lifted its sharp prow as a man with arms pointed for a dive; gave a long +seething plunge; and went down. +</p> + +<p> +Many of her old planks were twice wrecked; once strown upon ocean’s +beach; now dropped into its lowermost vaults, with the bones of drowned ships +and drowned men. +</p> + +<p> +Once more afloat in our shell! But not with the intrepid spirit that shoved off +with us from the deck of the Arcturion. A bold deed done from impulse, for the +time carries few or no misgivings along with it. But forced upon you, its +terrors stare you in the face. So now. I had pushed from the Arcturion with a +stout heart; but quitting the sinking Parki, my heart sunk with her. +</p> + +<p> +With a fair wind, we held on our way westward, hoping to see land before many +days. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0038"></a> +CHAPTER XXXVIII.<br/> +The Sea On Fire</h2> + +<p> +The night following our abandonment of the Parki, was made memorable by a +remarkable spectacle. +</p> + +<p> +Slumbering in the bottom of the boat, Jarl and I were suddenly awakened by +Samoa. Starting, we beheld the ocean of a pallid white color, corruscating all +over with tiny golden sparkles. But the pervading hue of the water cast a +cadaverous gleam upon the boat, so that we looked to each other like ghosts. +For many rods astern our wake was revealed in a line of rushing illuminated +foam; while here and there beneath the surface, the tracks of sharks were +denoted by vivid, greenish trails, crossing and recrossing each other in every +direction. Farther away, and distributed in clusters, floated on the sea, like +constellations in the heavens, innumerable Medusae, a species of small, round, +refulgent fish, only to be met with in the South Seas and the Indian Ocean. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly, as we gazed, there shot high into the air a bushy jet of flashes, +accompanied by the unmistakable deep breathing sound of a sperm whale. Soon, +the sea all round us spouted in fountains of fire; and vast forms, emitting a +glare from their flanks, and ever and anon raising their heads above water, and +shaking off the sparkles, showed where an immense shoal of Cachalots had risen +from below to sport in these phosphorescent billows. +</p> + +<p> +The vapor jetted forth was far more radiant than any portion of the sea; +ascribable perhaps to the originally luminous fluid contracting still more +brilliancy from its passage through the spouting canal of the whales. +</p> + +<p> +We were in great fear, lest without any vicious intention the Leviathans might +destroy us, by coming into close contact with our boat. We would have shunned +them; but they were all round and round us. Nevertheless we were safe; for as +we parted the pallid brine, the peculiar irradiation which shot from about our +keel seemed to deter them. Apparently discovering us of a sudden, many of them +plunged headlong down into the water, tossing their fiery tails high into the +air, and leaving the sea still more sparkling from the violent surging of their +descent. +</p> + +<p> +Their general course seemed the same as our own; to the westward. To remove +from them, we at last out oars, and pulled toward the north. So doing, we were +steadily pursued by a solitary whale, that must have taken our Chamois for a +kindred fish. Spite of all our efforts, he drew nearer and nearer; at length +rubbing his fiery flank against the Chamois’ gunwale, here and there +leaving long strips of the glossy transparent substance which thin as gossamer +invests the body of the Cachalot. +</p> + +<p> +In terror at a sight so new, Samoa shrank. But Jarl and I, more used to the +intimate companionship of the whales, pushed the boat away from it with our +oars: a thing often done in the fishery. +</p> + +<p> +The close vicinity of the whale revived in the so long astute Skyeman all the +enthusiasm of his daring vocation. However quiet by nature, a thorough-bred +whaleman betrays no little excitement in sight of his game. And it required +some persuasion to prevent Jarl from darting his harpoon: insanity under +present circumstances; and of course without object. But “Oh! for a +dart,” cried my Viking. And “Where’s now our old ship?” +he added reminiscently. +</p> + +<p> +But to my great joy the monster at last departed; rejoining the shoal, whose +lofty spoutings of flame were still visible upon the distant line of the +horizon; showing there, like the fitful starts of the Aurora Borealis. +</p> + +<p> +The sea retained its luminosity for about three hours; at the expiration of +half that period beginning to fade; and excepting occasional faint +illuminations consequent upon the rapid darting of fish under water, the +phenomenon at last wholly disappeared. +</p> + +<p> +Heretofore, I had beheld several exhibitions of marine phosphorescence, both in +the Atlantic and Pacific. But nothing in comparison with what was seen that +night. In the Atlantic, there is very seldom any portion of the ocean luminous, +except the crests of the waves; and these mostly appear so during wet, murky +weather. Whereas, in the Pacific, all instances of the sort, previously corning +under my notice, had been marked by patches of greenish light, unattended with +any pallidness of sea. Save twice on the coast of Peru, where I was summoned +from my hammock to the alarming midnight cry of “All hands ahoy! tack +ship!” And rushing on deck, beheld the sea white as a shroud; for which +reason it was feared we were on soundings. +</p> + +<p> +Now, sailors love marvels, and love to repeat them. And from many an old +shipmate I have heard various sage opinings, concerning the phenomenon in +question. Dismissing, as destitute of sound philosophic probability, the +extravagant notion of one of my nautical friends—no less a philosopher +than my Viking himself—namely: that the phosphoresence of the sea is +caused by a commotion among the mermaids, whose golden locks, all torn and +disheveled, do irradiate the waters at such times; I proceed to record more +reliable theories. +</p> + +<p> +Faraday might, perhaps, impute the phenomenon to a peculiarly electrical +condition of the atmosphere; and to that solely. But herein, my scientific +friend would be stoutly contradicted by many intelligent seamen, who, in part, +impute it to the presence of large quantities of putrescent animal matter; with +which the sea is well known to abound. +</p> + +<p> +And it would seem not unreasonable to suppose, that it is by this means that +the fluid itself becomes charged with the luminous principle. Draw a bucket of +water from the phosphorescent ocean, and it still retains traces of fire; but, +standing awhile, this soon subsides. Now pour it along the deck, and it is a +stream of flame; caused by its renewed agitation. Empty the bucket, and for a +space sparkles cling to it tenaciously; and every stave seems ignited. +</p> + +<p> +But after all, this seeming ignition of the sea can not be wholly produced by +dead matter therein. There are many living fish, phosphorescent; and, under +certain conditions, by a rapid throwing off of luminous particles must largely +contribute to the result. Not to particularize this circumstance as true of +divers species of sharks, cuttle-fish, and many others of the larger varieties +of the finny tribes; the myriads of microscopic mollusca, well known to swarm +off soundings, might alone be deemed almost sufficient to kindle a fire in the +brine. +</p> + +<p> +But these are only surmises; likely, but uncertain. +</p> + +<p> +After science comes sentiment. +</p> + +<p> +A French naturalist maintains, that the nocturnal radiance of the fire-fly is +purposely intended as an attraction to the opposite sex; that the artful insect +illuminates its body for a beacon to love. Thus: perched upon the edge of a +leaf, and waiting the approach of her Leander, who comes buffeting with his +wings the aroma of the flowers, some insect Hero may show a torch to her +gossamer gallant. +</p> + +<p> +But alas, thrice alas, for the poor little fire-fish of the sea, whose radiance +but reveals them to their foes, and lights the way to their destruction. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0039"></a> +CHAPTER XXXIX.<br/> +They Fall In With Strangers</h2> + +<p> +After quitting the Parki, we had much calm weather, varied by light breezes. +And sailing smoothly over a sea, so recently one sheet of foam, I could not +avoid bethinking me, how fortunate it was, that the gale had overtaken us in +the brigantine, and not in the Chamois. For deservedly high as the +whale-shallop ranks as a sea boat; still, in a severe storm, the larger your +craft the greater your sense of security. Wherefore, the thousand reckless +souls tenanting a line-of- battle ship scoff at the most awful hurricanes; +though, in reality, they may be less safe in their wooden-walled Troy, than +those who contend with the gale in a clipper. +</p> + +<p> +But not only did I congratulate myself upon salvation from the past, but upon +the prospect for the future. For storms happening so seldom in these seas, one +just blown over is almost a sure guarantee of very many weeks’ calm +weather to come. +</p> + +<p> +Now sun followed sun; and no land. And at length it almost seemed as if we must +have sailed past the remotest presumable westerly limit of the chain of islands +we sought; a lurking suspicion which I sedulously kept to myself However, I +could not but nourish a latent faith that all would yet be well. +</p> + +<p> +On the ninth day my forebodings were over. In the gray of the dawn, perched +upon the peak of our sail, a noddy was seen fast asleep. This freak was true to +the nature of that curious fowl, whose name is significant of its drowsiness. +Its plumage was snow-white, its bill and legs blood-red; the latter looking +like little pantalettes. In a sly attempt at catching the bird, Samoa captured +three tail- feathers; the alarmed creature flying away with a scream, and +leaving its quills in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +Sailing on, we gradually broke in upon immense low-sailing flights of other +aquatic fowls, mostly of those species which are seldom found far from land: +terns, frigate-birds, mollymeaux, reef-pigeons, boobies, gulls, and the like. +They darkened the air; their wings making overhead an incessant rustling like +the simultaneous turning over of ten thousand leaves. The smaller sort skimmed +the sea like pebbles sent skipping from the shore. Over these, flew myriads of +birds of broader wing. While high above all, soared in air the daring +“Diver,” or sea-kite, the power of whose vision is truly wonderful. +It perceives the little flying-fish in the water, at a height which can not be +less than four hundred feet. Spirally wheeling and screaming as it goes, the +sea-kite, bill foremost, darts downward, swoops into the water, and for a +moment altogether disappearing, emerges at last; its prey firmly trussed in its +claws. But bearing it aloft, the bold bandit is quickly assailed by other birds +of prey, that strive to wrest from him his booty. And snatched from his talons, +you see the fish falling through the air, till again caught up in the very act +of descent, by the fleetest of its pursuers. +</p> + +<p> +Leaving these sights astern, we presently picked up the slimy husk of a +cocoanut, all over green barnacles. And shortly after, passed two or three +limbs of trees, and the solitary trunk of a palm; which, upon sailing nearer, +seemed but very recently started on its endless voyage. As noon came on; the +dark purple land-haze, which had been dimly descried resting upon the western +horizon, was very nearly obscured. Nevertheless, behind that dim drapery we +doubted not bright boughs were waving. +</p> + +<p> +We were now in high spirits. Samoa between times humming to himself some +heathenish ditty, and Jarl ten times more intent on his silence than ever; yet +his eye full of expectation and gazing broad off from our bow. Of a sudden, +shading his face with his hand, he gazed fixedly for an instant, and then +springing to his feet, uttered the long-drawn sound—“Sail +ho!” +</p> + +<p> +Just tipping the furthest edge of the sky was a little speck, dancing into view +every time we rose upon the swells. It looked like one of many birds; for half +intercepting our view, fell showers of plumage: a flight of milk-white noddies +flying downward to the sea. +</p> + +<p> +But soon the birds are seen no more. Yet there remains the speck; plainly a +sail; but too small for a ship. Was it a boat after a whale? The vessel to +which it belonged far astern, and shrouded by the haze? So it seemed. +</p> + +<p> +Quietly, however, we waited the stranger’s nearer approach; confident, +that for some time he would not be able to perceive us, owing to our being in +what mariners denominate the “sun-glade,” or that part of the ocean +upon which the sun’s rays flash with peculiar intensity. +</p> + +<p> +As the sail drew nigh, its failing to glisten white led us to doubt whether it +was indeed a whale-boat. Presently, it showed yellow; and Samoa declared, that +it must be the sail of some island craft. True. The stranger proving a large +double-canoe, like those used by the Polynesians in making passages between +distant islands. +</p> + +<p> +The Upoluan was now clamorous for a meeting, to which Jarl was averse. +Deliberating a moment, I directed the muskets to be loaded; then setting the +sail the wind on our quarter—we headed away for the canoe, now sailing at +right angles with our previous course. +</p> + +<p> +Here it must be mentioned, that from the various gay cloths and other things +provided for barter by the captain of the Parki, I had very strikingly improved +my costume; making it free, flowing, and eastern. I looked like an Emir. Nor +had my Viking neglected to follow my example; though with some few +modifications of his own. With his long tangled hair and harpoon, he looked +like the sea-god, that boards ships, for the first time crossing the Equator. +For tatooed Samoa, he yet sported both kilt and turban, reminding one of a +tawny leopard, though his spots were all in one place. Besides this raiment of +ours, against emergencies we had provided our boat with divers nankeens and +silks. +</p> + +<p> +But now into full view comes a yoke of huge clumsy prows, shaggy with carving, +and driving through the water with considerable velocity; the immense sprawling +sail holding the wind like a bag. She seemed full of men; and from the +dissonant cries borne over to us, and the canoe’s widely yawing, it was +plain that we had occasioned no small sensation. They seemed undetermined what +course to pursue: whether to court a meeting, or avoid it; whether to regard us +as friends or foes. +</p> + +<p> +As we came still nearer, distinctly beholding their faces, we loudly hailed +them, inviting them to furl their sails, and allow us to board them. But no +answer was returned; their confusion increasing. And now, within less than two +ships’-lengths, they swept right across our bow, gazing at us with +blended curiosity and fear. +</p> + +<p> +Their craft was about thirty feet long, consisting of a pair of parallel +canoes, very narrow, and at the distance of a yard or so, lengthwise, united by +stout cross-timbers, lashed across the four gunwales. Upon these timbers was a +raised platform or dais, quite dry; and astern an arched cabin or tent; behind +which, were two broad-bladed paddles terminating in rude shark-tails, by which +the craft was steered. +</p> + +<p> +The yard, spreading a yellow sail, was a crooked bough, supported obliquely in +the crotch of a mast, to which the green bark was still clinging. Here and +there were little tufts of moss. The high, beaked prow of that canoe in which +the mast was placed, resembled a rude altar; and all round it was suspended a +great variety of fruits, including scores of cocoanuts, unhusked. This prow was +railed off, forming a sort of chancel within. +</p> + +<p> +The foremost beam, crossing the gunwales, extended some twelve feet beyond the +side of the dais; and at regular intervals hereupon, stout cords were fastened, +which, leading up to the head of the mast, answered the purpose of shrouds. The +breeze was now streaming fresh; and, as if to force down into the water the +windward side of the craft, five men stood upon this long beam, grasping five +shrouds. Yet they failed to counterbalance the pressure of the sail; and owing +to the opposite inclination of the twin canoes, these living statues were +elevated high above the water; their appearance rendered still more striking by +their eager attitudes, and the apparent peril of their position, as the mad +spray from the bow dashed over them. Suddenly, the Islanders threw their craft +into the wind; while, for ourselves, we lay on our oars, fearful of alarming +them by now coming nearer. But hailing them again, we said we were friends; and +had friendly gifts for them, if they would peaceably permit us to approach. +This understood, there ensued a mighty clamor; insomuch, that I bade Jarl and +Samoa out oars, and row very gently toward the strangers. Whereupon, amid a +storm of vociferations, some of them hurried to the furthest side of their +dais; standing with arms arched over their heads, as if for a dive; others +menacing us with clubs and spears; and one, an old man with a bamboo trellis on +his head forming a sort of arbor for his hair, planted himself full before the +tent, stretching behind him a wide plaited sling. +</p> + +<p> +Upon this hostile display, Samoa dropped his oar, and brought his piece to bear +upon the old man, who, by his attitude, seemed to menace us with the fate of +the great braggart of Gath. But I quickly knocked down the muzzle of his +musket, and forbade the slightest token of hostility; enjoining it upon my +companions, nevertheless, to keep well on their guard. +</p> + +<p> +We now ceased rowing, and after a few minutes’ uproar in the canoe, they +ran to the steering-paddles, and forcing round their craft before the wind, +rapidly ran away from us. With all haste we set our sail, and pulling also at +our oars, soon overtook them, determined upon coming into closer communion. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0040"></a> +CHAPTER XL.<br/> +Sire And Sons</h2> + +<p> +Seeing flight was useless, the Islanders again stopped their canoe, and once +more we cautiously drew nearer; myself crying out to them not to be fearful; +and Samoa, with the odd humor of his race, averring that he had known every +soul of them from his infancy. +</p> + +<p> +We approached within two or three yards; when we paused, which somewhat allayed +their alarm. Fastening a red China handkerchief to the blade of our long +mid-ship oar, I waved it in the air. A lively clapping of hands, and many wild +exclamations. +</p> + +<p> +While yet waving the flag, I whispered to Jarl to give the boat a sheer toward +the canoe, which being adroitly done, brought the bow, where I stood, still +nearer to the Islanders. I then dropped the silk among them; and the Islander, +who caught it, at once handed it to the warlike old man with the sling; who, on +seating himself, spread it before him; while the rest crowding round, glanced +rapidly from the wonderful gift, to the more wonderful donors. +</p> + +<p> +This old man was the superior of the party. And Samoa asserted, that he must be +a priest of the country to which the Islanders belonged; that the craft could +be no other than one of their sacred canoes, bound on some priestly voyage. All +this he inferred from the altar- like prow, and there being no women on board. +</p> + +<p> +Bent upon conciliating the old priest, I dropped into the canoe another silk +handkerchief; while Samoa loudly exclaimed, that we were only three men, and +were peaceably inclined. Meantime, old Aaron, fastening the two silks crosswise +over his shoulders, like a brace of Highland plaids, crosslegged sat, and eyed +us. +</p> + +<p> +It was a curious sight. The old priest, like a scroll of old parchment, covered +all over with hieroglyphical devices, harder to interpret, I’ll warrant, +than any old Sanscrit manuscript. And upon his broad brow, deep-graven in +wrinkles, were characters still more mysterious, which no Champollion nor gipsy +could have deciphered. He looked old as the elderly hills; eyes sunken, though +bright; and head white as the summit of Mont Blanc. +</p> + +<p> +The rest were a youthful and comely set: their complexion that of Gold Sherry, +and all tattooed after this pattern: two broad cross- stripes on the chest and +back; reaching down to the waist, like a foot-soldier’s harness. Their +faces were full of expression; and their mouths were full of fine teeth; so +that the parting of their lips, was as the opening of pearl oysters. Marked, +here and there, after the style of Tahiti, with little round figures in blue, +dotted in the middle with a spot of vermilion, their brawny brown thighs looked +not unlike the gallant hams of Westphalia, spotted with the red dust of +Cayenne. +</p> + +<p> +But what a marvelous resemblance in the features of all. Were they born at one +birth? This resemblance was heightened by their uniform marks. But it was +subsequently ascertained, that they were the children of one sire; and that +sire, old Aaron; who, no doubt, reposed upon his sons, as an old general upon +the trophies of his youth. +</p> + +<p> +They were the children of as many mothers; and he was training them up for the +priesthood. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0041"></a> +CHAPTER XLI.<br/> +A Fray</h2> + +<p> +So bent were the strangers upon concealing who they were, and the object of +their voyage, that it was some time ere we could obtain the information we +desired. +</p> + +<p> +They pointed toward the tent, as if it contained their Eleusinian mysteries. +And the old priest gave us to know, that it would be profanation to enter it. +</p> + +<p> +But all this only roused my curiosity to unravel the wonder. +</p> + +<p> +At last I succeeded. +</p> + +<p> +In that mysterious tent was concealed a beautiful maiden. And, in pursuance of +a barbarous custom, by Aleema, the priest, she was being borne an offering from +the island of Amma to the gods of Tedaidee. +</p> + +<p> +Now, hearing of the maiden, I waited for no more. Need I add, how stirred was +my soul toward this invisible victim; and how hotly I swore, that precious +blood of hers should never smoke upon an altar. If we drowned for it, I was +bent upon rescuing the captive. But as yet, no gentle signal of distress had +been waved to us from the tent. Thence, no sound could be heard, but an +occasional rustle of the matting. Was it possible, that one about to be +immolated could proceed thus tranquilly to her fate? +</p> + +<p> +But desperately as I resolved to accomplish the deliverance of the maiden, it +was best to set heedfully about it. I desired no shedding of blood; though the +odds were against us. +</p> + +<p> +The old priest seemed determined to prevent us from boarding his craft. But +being equally determined the other way, I cautiously laid the bow of the +Chamois against the canoe’s quarter, so as to present the smallest +possible chance for a hostile entrance into our boat. Then, Samoa, knife in +ear, and myself with a cutlass, stepped upon the dais, leaving Jarl in the +boat’s head, equipped with his harpoon; three loaded muskets lying by his +side. He was strictly enjoined to resist the slightest demonstration toward our +craft. +</p> + +<p> +As we boarded the canoe, the Islanders slowly retreated; meantime earnestly +conferring in whispers; all but the old priest, who, still seated, presented an +undaunted though troubled front. To our surprise, he motioned us to sit down by +him; which we did; taking care, however, not to cut off our communication with +Jarl. +</p> + +<p> +With the hope of inspiring good will, I now unfolded a roll of printed cotton, +and spreading it before the priest, directed his attention to the pictorial +embellishments thereon, representing some hundreds of sailor boys +simultaneously ascending some hundreds of uniform sections of a ship’s +rigging. Glancing at them a moment, by a significant sign, he gave me to know, +that long previous he himself had ascended the shrouds of a ship. Making this +allusion, his countenance was overcast with a ferocious expression, as if +something terrific was connected with the reminiscence. But it soon passed +away, and somewhat abruptly he assumed an air of much merriment. +</p> + +<p> +While we were thus sitting together, and my whole soul full of the thoughts of +the captive, and how best to accomplish my purpose, and often gazing toward the +tent; I all at once noticed a movement among the strangers. Almost in the same +instant, Samoa, right across the face of Aleema, and in his ordinary tones, +bade me take heed to myself, for mischief was brewing. Hardly was this warning +uttered, when, with carved clubs in their hands, the Islanders completely +surrounded us. Then up rose the old priest, and gave us to know, that we were +wholly in his power, and if we did not swear to depart in our boat forthwith, +and molest him no more, the peril be ours. +</p> + +<p> +“Depart and you live; stay and you die.” +</p> + +<p> +Fifteen to three. Madness to gainsay his mandate. Yet a beautiful maiden was at +stake. +</p> + +<p> +The knife before dangling in Samoa’s ear was now in his hand. Jarl cried +out for us to regain the boat, several of the Islanders making a rush for it. +No time to think. All passed quicker than it can be said. They closed in upon +us, to push us from the canoe: Rudely the old priest flung me from his side, +menacing me with his dagger, the sharp spine of a fish. A thrust and a threat! +Ere I knew it, my cutlass made a quick lunge. A curse from the priest’s +mouth; red blood from his side; he tottered, stared about him, and fell over +like a brown hemlock into the sea. A yell of maledictions rose on the air. A +wild cry was heard from the tent. Making a dead breach among the crowd, we now +dashed side by side for the boat. Springing into it, we found Jarl battling +with two Islanders; while the rest were still howling upon the dais. Rage and +grief had almost disabled them. +</p> + +<p> +With one stroke of my cutlass, I now parted the line that held us to the canoe, +and with Samoa falling upon the two Islanders, by Jarl’s help, we quickly +mastered them; forcing them down into the bottom of the boat. +</p> + +<p> +The Skyeman and Samoa holding passive the captives, I quickly set our sail, and +snatching the sheet at the cavil, we rapidly shot from the canoe. The strangers +defying us with their spears; several couching them as if to dart; while others +held back their hands, as if to prevent them from jeopardizing the lives of +their countrymen in the Chamois. +</p> + +<p> +Seemingly untoward events oftentimes lead to successful results: Far from +destroying all chance of rescuing the captive, our temporary flight, +indispensable for the safety of Jarl, only made the success of our enterprise +more probable. For having made prisoners two of the strangers, I determined to +retain them as hostages, through whom to effect my plans without further +bloodshed. +</p> + +<p> +And here it must needs be related, that some of the natives were wounded in the +fray: while all three of their assailants had received several bruises. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0042"></a> +CHAPTER XLII.<br/> +Remorse</h2> + +<p> +During the skirmish not a single musket had been discharged. The first snatched +by Jarl had missed fire, and ere he could seize another, it was close quarters +with him, and no gestures to spare. His harpoon was his all. And truly, there +is nothing like steel in a fray. It comes and it goes with a will, and is never +a-weary. Your sword is your life, and that of your foe; to keep or to take as +it happens. Closer home does it go than a rammer; and fighting with steel is a +play without ever an interlude. There are points more deadly than bullets; and +stocks packed full of subtle tubes, whence comes an impulse more reliable than +powder. +</p> + +<p> +Binding our prisoners lengthwise across the boat’s seats, we rowed for +the canoe, making signs of amity. +</p> + +<p> +Now, if there be any thing fitted to make a high tide ebb in the veins, it is +the sight of a vanquished foe, inferior to yourself in powers of destruction; +but whom some necessity has forced you to subdue. All victories are not +triumphs, nor all who conquer, heroes. +</p> + +<p> +As we drew near the canoe, it was plain, that the loss of their sire had again +for the instant overcome the survivors. Raising hands, they cursed us; and at +intervals sent forth a low, piercing wail, peculiar to their race. As before, +faint cries were heard from the tent. And all the while rose and fell on the +sea, the ill-fated canoe. +</p> + +<p> +As I gazed at this sight, what iron mace fell on my soul; what curse rang sharp +in my ear! It was I, who was the author of the deed that caused the shrill +wails that I heard. By this hand, the dead man had died. Remorse smote me hard; +and like lightning I asked myself, whether the death-deed I had done was sprung +of a virtuous motive, the rescuing a captive from thrall; or whether beneath +that pretense, I had engaged in this fatal affray for some other, and selfish +purpose; the companionship of a beautiful maid. But throttling the thought, I +swore to be gay. Am I not rescuing the maiden? Let them go down who withstand +me. +</p> + +<p> +At the dismal spectacle before him, Jarl, hitherto menacing our prisoners with +his weapon, in order to intimidate their countrymen, honest Jarl dropped his +harpoon. But shaking his knife in the air, Samoa yet defied the strangers; nor +could we prevent him. His heathenish blood was up. +</p> + +<p> +Standing foremost in the boat, I now assured the strangers, that all we sought +at their hands was the maiden in the tent. That captive surrendered, our own, +unharmed, should be restored. If not, they must die. With a cry, they started +to their feet, and brandished their clubs; but, seeing Jarl’s harpoon +quivering over the hearts of our prisoners, they quickly retreated; at last +signifying their acquiescence in my demand. Upon this, I sprang to the dais, +and across it indicating a line near the bow, signed the Islanders to retire +beyond it. Then, calling upon them one by one to deliver their weapons, they +were passed into the boat. +</p> + +<p> +The Chamois was now brought round to the canoe’s stern; and leaving Jarl +to defend it as before, the Upoluan rejoined me on the dais. By these +precautions—the hostages still remaining bound hand and foot in the +boat—we deemed ourselves entirely secure. +</p> + +<p> +Attended by Samoa, I stood before the tent, now still as the grave. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0043"></a> +CHAPTER XLIII.<br/> +The Tent Entered</h2> + +<p> +By means of thin spaces between the braids of matting, the place was open to +the air, but not to view. There was also a round opening on one side, only +large enough, however, to admit the arm; but this aperture was partially closed +from within. In front, a deep-dyed rug of osiers, covering the entrance way, +was intricately laced to the standing part of the tent. As I divided this +lacing with my cutlass, there arose an outburst of voices from the Islanders. +And they covered their faces, as the interior was revealed to my gaze. +</p> + +<p> +Before me crouched a beautiful girl. Her hands were drooping. And, like a saint +from a shrine, she looked sadly out from her long, fair hair. A low wail issued +from her lips, and she trembled like a sound. There were tears on her cheek, +and a rose-colored pearl on her bosom. +</p> + +<p> +Did I dream?—A snow-white skin: blue, firmament eyes: Golconda locks. For +an instant spell-bound I stood; while with a slow, apprehensive movement, and +still gazing fixedly, the captive gathered more closely about her a gauze-like +robe. Taking one step within, and partially dropping the curtain of the tent, I +so stood, as to have both sight and speech of Samoa, who tarried without; while +the maiden, crouching in the farther corner of the retreat, was wholly screened +from all eyes but mine. +</p> + +<p> +Crossing my hands before me, I now stood without speaking. For the soul of me, +I could not link this mysterious creature with the tawny strangers. She seemed +of another race. So powerful was this impression, that unconsciously, I +addressed her in my own tongue. She started, and bending over, listened +intently, as if to the first faint echo of something dimly remembered. Again I +spoke, when throwing back her hair, the maiden looked up with a piercing, +bewildered gaze. But her eyes soon fell, and bending over once more, she +resumed her former attitude. At length she slowly chanted to herself several +musical words, unlike those of the Islanders; but though I knew not what they +meant, they vaguely seemed familiar. +</p> + +<p> +Impatient to learn her story, I now questioned her in Polynesian. But with much +earnestness, she signed me to address her as before. Soon perceiving, however, +that without comprehending the meaning of the words I employed, she seemed +merely touched by something pleasing in their sound, I once more addressed her +in Polynesian; saying that I was all eagerness to hear her history. +</p> + +<p> +After much hesitation she complied; starting with alarm at every sound from +without; yet all the while deeply regarding me. +</p> + +<p> +Broken as these disclosures were at the time, they are here presented in the +form in which they were afterward more fully narrated. +</p> + +<p> +So unearthly was the story, that at first I little comprehended it; and was +almost persuaded that the luckless maiden was some beautiful maniac. +</p> + +<p> +She declared herself more than mortal, a maiden from Oroolia, the Island of +Delights, somewhere in the paradisiacal archipelago of the Polynesians. To this +isle, while yet an infant, by some mystical power, she had been spirited from +Amma, the place of her nativity. Her name was Yillah. And hardly had the waters +of Oroolia washed white her olive skin, and tinged her hair with gold, when one +day strolling in the woodlands, she was snared in the tendrils of a vine. +Drawing her into its bowers, it gently transformed her into one of its +blossoms, leaving her conscious soul folded up in the transparent petals. +</p> + +<p> +Here hung Yillah in a trance, the world without all tinged with the rosy hue of +her prison. At length when her spirit was about to burst forth in the opening +flower, the blossom was snapped from its stem; and borne by a soft wind to the +sea; where it fell into the opening valve of a shell; which in good time was +cast upon the beach of the Island of Amma. +</p> + +<p> +In a dream, these events were revealed to Aleema the priest; who by a spell +unlocking its pearly casket, took forth the bud, which now showed signs of +opening in the reviving air, and bore faint shadowy revealings, as of the dawn +behind crimson clouds. Suddenly expanding, the blossom exhaled away in +perfumes; floating a rosy mist in the air. Condensing at last, there emerged +from this mist the same radiant young Yillah as before; her locks all moist, +and a rose- colored pearl on her bosom. Enshrined as a goddess, the wonderful +child now tarried in the sacred temple of Apo, buried in a dell; never beheld +of mortal eyes save Aleema’s. +</p> + +<p> +Moon after moon passed away, and at last, only four days gone by, Aleema came +to her with a dream; that the spirits in Oroolia had recalled her home by the +way of Tedaidee, on whose coast gurgled up in the sea an enchanted spring; +which streaming over upon the brine, flowed on between blue watery banks; and, +plunging into a vortex, went round and round, descending into depths unknown. +Into this whirlpool Yillah was to descend in a canoe, at last to well up in an +inland fountain of Oroolia. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0044"></a> +CHAPTER XLIV.<br/> +Away!</h2> + +<p> +Though clothed in language of my own, the maiden’s story is in substance +the same as she related. Yet were not these things narrated as past events; she +merely recounted them as impressions of her childhood, and of her destiny yet +unaccomplished. And mystical as the tale most assuredly was, my knowledge of +the strange arts of the island priesthood, and the rapt fancies indulged in by +many of their victims, deprived it in good part of the effect it otherwise +would have produced. +</p> + +<p> +For ulterior purposes connected with their sacerdotal supremacy, the priests of +these climes oftentimes secrete mere infants in their temples; and jealously +secluding them from all intercourse with the world, craftily delude them, as +they grow up, into the wildest conceits. +</p> + +<p> +Thus wrought upon, their pupils almost lose their humanity in the constant +indulgence of seraphic imaginings. In many cases becoming inspired as oracles; +and as such, they are sometimes resorted to by devotees; always screened from +view, however, in the recesses of the temples. But in every instance, their end +is certain. Beguiled with some fairy tale about revisiting the islands of +Paradise, they are led to the secret sacrifice, and perish unknown to their +kindred. +</p> + +<p> +But, would that all this had been hidden from me at the time. For Yillah was +lovely enough to be really divine; and so I might have been tranced into a +belief of her mystical legends. +</p> + +<p> +But with what passionate exultation did I find myself the deliverer of this +beautiful maiden; who, thinking no harm, and rapt in a dream, was being borne +to her fate on the coast of Tedaidee. Nor now, for a moment, did the death of +Aleema her guardian seem to hang heavy upon my heart. I rejoiced that I had +sent him to his gods; that in place of the sea moss growing over sweet Yillah +drowned in the sea, the vile priest himself had sunk to the bottom. +</p> + +<p> +But though he had sunk in the deep, his ghost sunk not in the deep waters of my +soul. However in exultations its surface foamed up, at bottom guilt brooded. +Sifted out, my motives to this enterprise justified not the mad deed, which, in +a moment of rage, I had done: though, those motives had been covered with a +gracious pretense; concealing myself from myself. But I beat down the thought. +</p> + +<p> +In relating her story, the maiden frequently interrupted it with questions +concerning myself:—Whence I came: being white, from Oroolia? Whither I +was going: to Amma? And what had happened to Aleema? For she had been dismayed +at the fray, though knowing not what it could mean; and she had heard the +priest’s name called upon in lamentations. These questions for the time I +endeavored to evade; only inducing her to fancy me some gentle demigod, that +had come over the sea from her own fabulous Oroolia. And all this she must +verily have believed. For whom, like me, ere this could she have beheld? Still +fixed she her eyes upon me strangely, and hung upon the accents of my voice. +</p> + +<p> +While this scene was passing, the strangers began to show signs of impatience, +and a voice from the Chamois repeatedly hailed us to accelerate our movements. +</p> + +<p> +My course was quickly decided. The only obstacle to be encountered was the +possibility of Yillah’s alarm at being suddenly borne into my prow. For +this event I now sought to prepare her. I informed the damsel that Aleema had +been dispatched on a long errand to Oroolia; leaving to my care, for the +present, the guardianship of the lovely Yillah; and that therefore, it was +necessary to carry her tent into my own canoe, then waiting to receive it. +</p> + +<p> +This intelligence she received with the utmost concern; and not knowing to what +her perplexity might lead, I thought fit to transport her into the Chamois, +while yet overwhelmed by the announcement of my intention. +</p> + +<p> +Quitting her retreat, I apprised Jarl of my design; and then, no more delay! +</p> + +<p> +At bottom, the tent was attached to a light framework of bamboos; and from its +upper corners, four cords, like those of a marquee, confined it to the dais. +These, Samoa’s knife soon parted; when lifting the light tent, we +speedily transferred it to the Chamois; a wild yell going up from the +Islanders, which drowned the faint cries of the maiden. But we heeded not the +din. Toss in the fruit, hanging from the altar-prow! It was done; and then +running up our sail, we glided away;—Chamois, tent, hostages, and all. +Rushing to the now vacant stern of their canoe, the Islanders once more lifted +up their hands and their voices in curses. +</p> + +<p> +A suitable distance gained, we paused to fling overboard the arms we had taken; +and Jarl proceeded to liberate the hostages. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, I entered the tent, and by many tokens, sought to allay the +maiden’s alarm. Thus engaged, violent plunges were heard: our prisoners +taking to the sea to regain their canoe. All dripping, they were received by +their brethren with wild caresses. +</p> + +<p> +From something now said by the captives, the rest seemed suddenly inspirited +with hopes of revenge; again wildly shaking their spears, just before picked up +from the sea. With great clamor and confusion they soon set their mat-sail; and +instead of sailing southward for Tedaidee, or northward for Amma their home, +they steered straight after us, in our wake. +</p> + +<p> +Foremost in the prow stood three; javelins poised for a dart; at intervals, +raising a yell. +</p> + +<p> +Did they mean to pursue me? Full in my rear they came on, baying like hounds on +their game. Yillah trembled at their cries. My own heart beat hard with +undefinable dread. The corpse of Aleema seemed floating before: its avengers +were raging behind. +</p> + +<p> +But soon these phantoms departed. For very soon it appeared that in vain the +pagans pursued. Their craft, our fleet Chamois outleaped. And farther and +farther astern dropped the evil-boding canoe, till at last but a speck; when a +great swell of the sea surged up before it, and it was seen no more. Samoa +swore that it must have swamped, and gone down. But however it was, my heart +lightened apace. I saw none but ourselves on the sea: I remembered that our +keel left no track as it sailed. +</p> + +<p> +Let the Oregon Indian through brush, bramble, and brier, hunt his enemy’s +trail, far over the mountains and down in the vales; comes he to the water, he +snuffs idly in air. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0045"></a> +CHAPTER XLV.<br/> +Reminiscences</h2> + +<p> +In resecuing the gentle Yillah from the hands of the Islanders, a design seemed +accomplished. But what was now to be done? Here, in our adventurous Chamois, +was a damsel more lovely than the flushes of morning; and for companions, whom +had she but me and my comrades? Besides, her bosom still throbbed with alarms, +her fancies all roving through mazes. +</p> + +<p> +How subdue these dangerous imaginings? How gently dispel them? +</p> + +<p> +But one way there was: to lead her thoughts toward me, as her friend and +preserver; and a better and wiser than Aleema the priest. Yet could not this be +effected but by still maintaining my assumption of a divine origin in the +blessed isle of Oroolia; and thus fostering in her heart the mysterious +interest, with which from the first she had regarded me. But if punctilious +reserve on the part of her deliverer should teach her to regard him as some +frigid stranger from the Arctic Zone, what sympathy could she have for him? and +hence, what peace of mind, having no one else to cling to? +</p> + +<p> +Now re-entering the tent, she again inquired where tarried Aleema. +</p> + +<p> +“Think not of him, sweet Yillah,” I cried. “Look on me. Am I +not white like yourself? Behold, though since quitting Oroolia the sun has dyed +my cheek, am I not even as you? Am I brown like the dusky Aleema? They snatched +you away from your isle in the sea, too early for you to remember me there. But +you have not been forgotten by me, sweetest Yillah. Ha! ha! shook we not the +palm-trees together, and chased we not the rolling nuts down the glen? Did we +not dive into the grotto on the sea-shore, and come up together in the cool +cavern in the hill? In my home in Oroolia, dear Yillah, I have a lock of your +hair, ere yet it was golden: a little dark tress like a ring. How your cheeks +were then changing from olive to white. And when shall I forget the hour, that +I came upon you sleeping among the flowers, with roses and lilies for cheeks. +Still forgetful? Know you not my voice? Those little spirits in your eyes have +seen me before. They mimic me now as they sport in their lakes. All the past a +dim blank? Think of the time when we ran up and down in our arbor, where the +green vines grew over the great ribs of the stranded whale. Oh Yillah, little +Yillah, has it all come to this? am I forever forgotten? Yet over the wide +watery world have I sought thee: from isle to isle, from sea to sea. And now we +part not. Aleema is gone. My prow shall keep kissing the waves, till it kisses +the beach at Oroolia. Yillah, look up.” +</p> + +<p> +Sunk the ghost of Aleema: Sweet Yillah was mine! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0046"></a> +CHAPTER XLVI.<br/> +The Chamois With A Roving Commission</h2> + +<p> +Through the assiduity of my Viking, ere nightfall our Chamois was again in good +order. And with many subtle and seamanlike splices the light tent was lashed in +its place; the sail taken up by a reef. +</p> + +<p> +My comrades now questioned me, as to my purposes; whether they had been +modified by the events of the day. I replied that our destination was still the +islands to the westward. +</p> + +<p> +But from these we had steadily been drifting all the morning long; so that now +no loom of the land was visible. But our prow was kept pointing as before. +</p> + +<p> +As evening came on, my comrades fell fast asleep, leaving me at the helm. +</p> + +<p> +How soft and how dreamy the light of the hour. The rays of the sun, setting +behind golden-barred clouds, came to me like the gleaming of a shaded light +behind a lattice. And the low breeze, pervaded with the peculiar balm of the +mid-Pacific near land, was fragrant as the breath of a bride. +</p> + +<p> +Such was the scene; so still and witching that the hand of Yillah in mine +seemed no hand, but a touch. Visions flitted before me and in me; something +hummed in my ear; all the air was a lay. +</p> + +<p> +And now entered a thought into my heart. I reflected how serenely we might thus +glide along, far removed from all care and anxiety. And then, what different +scenes might await us upon any of the shores roundabout. But there seemed no +danger in the balmy sea; the assured vicinity of land imparting a sense of +security. We had ample supplies for several days more, and thanks to the Pagan +canoe, an abundance of fruit. +</p> + +<p> +Besides, what cared I now for the green groves and bright shore? Was not Yillah +my shore and my grove? my meadow, my mead, my soft shady vine, and my arbor? Of +all things desirable and delightful, the full- plumed sheaf, and my own right +arm the band? Enough: no shore for me yet. One sweep of the helm, and our light +prow headed round toward the vague land of song, sun, and vine: the fabled +South. +</p> + +<p> +As we glided along, strange Yillah gazed down in the sea, and would fain have +had me plunge into it with her, to rove through its depths. But I started +dismayed; in fancy, I saw the stark body of the priest drifting by. Again that +phantom obtruded; again guilt laid his red hand on my soul. But I laughed. Was +not Yillah my own? by my arm rescued from ill? To do her a good, I had periled +myself. So down, down, Aleema. +</p> + +<p> +When next morning, starting from slumber, my comrades beheld the sun on our +beam, instead of astern as before at that hour, they eagerly inquired, +“Whither now?” But very briefly I gave them to know, that after +devoting the night to the due consideration of a matter so important, I had +determined upon voyaging for the island Tedaidee, in place of the land to the +westward. +</p> + +<p> +At this, they were not displeased. But to tell the plain truth, I harbored some +shadowy purpose of merely hovering about for a while, till I felt more +landwardly inclined. +</p> + +<p> +But had I not declared to Yillah, that our destination was the fairy isle she +spoke of, even Oroolia? Yet that shore was so exceedingly remote, and the folly +of endeavoring to reach it in a craft built with hands, so very apparent, that +what wonder I really nourished no thought of it? +</p> + +<p> +So away floated the Chamois, like a vagrant cloud in the heavens: bound, no one +knew whither. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0047"></a> +CHAPTER XLVII.<br/> +Yillah, Jarl, And Samoa</h2> + +<p> +But time to tell, how Samoa and Jarl regarded this mystical Yillah; and how +Yillah regarded them. +</p> + +<p> +As Beauty from the Beast, so at first shrank the damsel from my one- armed +companion. But seeing my confidence in the savage, a reaction soon followed. +And in accordance with that curious law, by which, under certain conditions, +the ugliest mortals become only amiably hideous, Yillah at length came to look +upon Samoa as a sort of harmless and good-natured goblin. Whence came he, she +cared not; or what was his history; or in what manner his fortunes were united +to mine. +</p> + +<p> +May be, she held him a being of spontaneous origin. +</p> + +<p> +Now, as every where women are the tamers of the menageries of men; so Yillah in +good time tamed down Samoa to the relinquishment of that horrible thing in his +ear, and persuaded him to substitute a vacancy for the bauble in his nose. On +his part, however, all this was conditional. He stipulated for the privilege of +restoring both trinkets upon suitable occasions. +</p> + +<p> +But if thus gayly the damsel sported with Samoa; how different his emotions +toward her? The fate to which she had been destined, and every nameless thing +about her, appealed to all his native superstitions, which ascribed to beings +of her complexion a more than terrestrial origin. When permitted to approach +her, he looked timid and awkwardly strange; suggesting the likeness of some +clumsy satyr, drawing in his horns; slowly wagging his tail; crouching abashed +before some radiant spirit. +</p> + +<p> +And this reverence of his was most pleasing to me, Bravo! thought I; be a pagan +forever. No more than myself; for, after a different fashion, Yillah was an +idol to both. +</p> + +<p> +But what of my Viking? Why, of good Jarl I grieve to say, that the +old-fashioned interest he took in my affairs led him to look upon Yillah as a +sort of intruder, an Ammonite syren, who might lead me astray. This would now +and then provoke a phillipic; but he would only turn toward my resentment his +devotion; and then I was silent. +</p> + +<p> +Unsophisticated as a wild flower in the germ, Yillah seemed incapable of +perceiving the contrasted lights in which she was regarded by our companions. +And like a true beauty seemed to cherish the presumption, that it was quite +impossible for such a person as hers to prove otherwise than irresistible to +all. +</p> + +<p> +She betrayed much surprise at my Vikings appearance. But most of all was she +struck by a characteristic device upon the arm of the wonderful +mariner—our Saviour on the cross, in blue; with the crown of thorns, and +three drops of blood in vermilion, falling one by one from each hand and foot. +</p> + +<p> +Now, honest Jarl did vastly pride himself upon this ornament. It was the only +piece of vanity about him. And like a lady keeping gloveless her hand to show +off a fine Turquoise ring, he invariably wore that sleeve of his frock rolled +up, the better to display the embellishment. +</p> + +<p> +And round and round would Yillah turn Jarl’s arm, till Jarl was fain to +stand firm, for fear of revolving all over. How such untutored homage would +have thrilled the heart of the ingenious artist! +</p> + +<p> +Eventually, through the Upoluan, she made overtures to the Skyeman, concerning +the possession of his picture in her own proper right. In her very simplicity, +little heeding, that like a landscape in fresco, it could not be removed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0048"></a> +CHAPTER XLVIII.<br/> +Something Under The Surface</h2> + +<p> +Not to omit an occurrence of considerable interest, we must needs here present +some account of a curious retinue of fish which overtook our Chamois, a day or +two after parting with the canoe. +</p> + +<p> +A violent creaming and frothing in our rear announced their approach. Soon we +found ourselves the nucleus of an incredible multitude of finny creatures, +mostly anonymous. +</p> + +<p> +First, far in advance of our prow, swam the helmeted Silver-heads; side by +side, in uniform ranks, like an army. Then came the Boneetas, with their +flashing blue flanks. Then, like a third distinct regiment, wormed and twisted +through the water like Archimedean screws, the quivering Wriggle-tails; +followed in turn by the rank and file of the Trigger-fish—so called from +their quaint dorsal fins being set in their backs with a comical curve, as if +at half-cock. Far astern the rear was brought up by endless battalions of +Yellow- backs, right martially vested in buff. +</p> + +<p> +And slow sailing overhead were flights of birds; a wing in the air for every +fin in the sea. +</p> + +<p> +But let the sea-fowls fly on: turn we to the fish. +</p> + +<p> +Their numbers were amazing; countless as the tears shed for perfidious lovers. +Far abroad on both flanks, they swam in long lines, tier above tier; the water +alive with their hosts. Locusts of the sea, peradventure, going to fall with a +blight upon some green, mossy province of Neptune. And tame and fearless they +were, as the first fish that swam in Euphrates; hardly evading the hand; +insomuch that Samoa caught many without lure or line. +</p> + +<p> +They formed a decorous escort; paddling along by our barnacled sides, as if +they had been with us from the very beginning; neither scared by our +craft’s surging in the water; nor in the least sympathetic at losing a +comrade by the hand of Samoa. They closed in their ranks and swam on. +</p> + +<p> +How innocent, yet heartless they looked! Had a plank dropped out of our boat, +we had sunk to the bottom; and belike, our cheerful retinue would have paid the +last rites to our remains. +</p> + +<p> +But still we kept company; as sociably as you please; Samoa helping himself +when he listed, and Yillah clapping her hands as the radiant creatures, by a +simultaneous turning round on their silvery bellies, caused the whole sea to +glow like a burnished shield. +</p> + +<p> +But what has befallen this poor little Boneeta astern, that he swims so +toilingly on, with gills showing purple? What has he there, towing behind? It +is tangled sea-kelp clinging to its fins. But the clogged thing strains to keep +up with its fellows. Yet little they heed. Away they go; every fish for itself, +and any fish for Samoa. +</p> + +<p> +At last the poor Boneeta is seen no more. The myriad fins swim on; a lonely +waste, where the lost one drops behind. +</p> + +<p> +Strange fish! All the live-long day, they were there by our side; and at night +still tarried and shone; more crystal and scaly in the pale moonbeams, than in +the golden glare of the sun. +</p> + +<p> +How prettily they swim; all silver life; darting hither and thither between +their long ranks, and touching their noses, and scraping acquaintance. No +mourning they wear for the Boneeta left far astern; nor for those so cruelly +killed by Samoa. No, no; all is glee, fishy glee, and frolicking fun; light +hearts and light fins; gay backs and gay spirits.—Swim away, swim away! +my merry fins all. Let us roam the flood; let us follow this monster fish with +the barnacled sides; this strange-looking fish, so high out of water; that goes +without fins. What fish can it be? What rippling is that? Dost hear the great +monster breathe? Why, ’tis sharp at both ends; a tail either way; nor +eyes has it any, nor mouth. What a curious fish! what a comical fish! But more +comical far, those creatures above, on its hollow back, clinging thereto like +the snaky eels, that cling and slide on the back of the Sword fish, our +terrible foe. But what curious eels these are! Do they deem themselves pretty +as we? No, no; for sure, they behold our limber fins, our speckled and +beautiful scales. Poor, powerless things! How they must wish they were we, that +roam the flood, and scour the seas with a wish. Swim away; merry fins, swim +away! Let him drop, that fellow that halts; make a lane; close in, and fill up. +Let him drown, if he can not keep pace. No laggards for us:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +We fish, we fish, we merrily swim,<br/> +We care not for friend nor for foe:<br/> + Our fins are stout,<br/> + Our tails are out,<br/> +As through the seas we go.<br/> +<br/> +Fish, Fish, we are fish with red gills;<br/> + Naught disturbs us, our blood is at zero:<br/> +We are buoyant because of our bags,<br/> + Being many, each fish is a hero.<br/> +We care not what is it, this life<br/> + That we follow, this phantom unknown:<br/> +To swim, it’s exceedingly pleasant,—<br/> + So swim away, making a foam.<br/> +This strange looking thing by our side,<br/> + Not for safety, around it we flee:—<br/> +Its shadow’s so shady, that’s all,—<br/> + We only swim under its lee.<br/> +And as for the eels there above,<br/> + And as for the fowls in the air,<br/> +We care not for them nor their ways,<br/> + As we cheerily glide afar!<br/> +<br/> +We fish, we fish, we merrily swim,<br/> +We care not for friend nor for foe:<br/> + Our fins are stout,<br/> + Our tails are out,<br/> +As through the seas we go. +</p> + +<p> +But how now, my fine fish! what alarms your long ranks, and tosses them all +into a hubbub of scales and of foam? Never mind that long knave with the spear +there, astern. Pipe away, merry fish, and give us a stave or two more, keeping +time with your doggerel tails. But no, no! their singing was over. Grim death, +in the shape of a Chevalier, was after them. +</p> + +<p> +How they changed their boastful tune! How they hugged the vilified boat! How +they wished they were in it, the braggarts! And how they all tingled with fear! +</p> + +<p> +For, now here, now there, is heard a terrific rushing sound under water, +betokening the onslaught of the dread fish of prey, that with spear ever in +rest, charges in upon the out-skirts of the shoal, transfixing the fish on his +weapon. Re-treating and shaking them off, the Chevalier devours them; then +returns to the charge. +</p> + +<p> +Hugging the boat to desperation, the poor fish fairly crowded themselves up to +the surface, and floundered upon each other, as men are lifted off their feet +in a mob. They clung to us thus, out of a fancied security in our presence. +Knowing this, we felt no little alarm for ourselves, dreading lest the +Chevalier might despise our boat, full as much as his prey; and in pursuing the +fish, run through the poor Chamois with a lunge. A jacket, rolled up, was kept +in readiness to be thrust into the first opening made; while as the thousand +fins audibly patted against our slender planks, we felt nervously enough; as if +treading upon thin, crackling ice. +</p> + +<p> +At length, to our no small delight, the enemy swam away; and again by our side +merrily paddled our escort; ten times merrier than ever. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0049"></a> +CHAPTER XLIX.<br/> +Yillah</h2> + +<p> +While for a few days, now this way, now that, as our craft glides along, +surrounded by these locusts of the deep, let the story of Yillah flow on. +</p> + +<p> +Of her beauty say I nothing. It was that of a crystal lake in a fathomless +wood: all light and shade; full of fleeting revealings; now shadowed in depths; +now sunny in dimples; but all sparkling and shifting, and blending together. +</p> + +<p> +But her wild beauty was a vail to things still more strange. As often she gazed +so earnestly into my eyes, like some pure spirit looking far down into my soul, +and seeing therein some upturned faces, I started in amaze, and asked what +spell was on me, that thus she gazed. +</p> + +<p> +Often she entreated me to repeat over and over again certain syllables of my +language. These she would chant to herself, pausing now and then, as if +striving to discover wherein lay their charm. +</p> + +<p> +In her accent, there was something very different from that of the people of +the canoe. Wherein lay the difference. I knew not; but it enabled her to +pronounce with readiness all the words which I taught her; even as if recalling +sounds long forgotten. +</p> + +<p> +If all this filled me with wonder, how much was that wonder increased, and yet +baffled again, by considering her complexion, and the cast of her features. +</p> + +<p> +After endeavoring in various ways to account for these things, I was led to +imagine, that the damsel must be an Albino (Tulla) occasionally to be met with +among the people of the Pacific. These persons are of an exceedingly delicate +white skin, tinted with a faint rose hue, like the lips of a shell. Their hair +is golden. But, unlike the Albinos of other climes, their eyes are invariably +blue, and no way intolerant of light. +</p> + +<p> +As a race, the Tullas die early. And hence the belief, that they pertain to +some distant sphere, and only through irregularities in the providence of the +gods, come to make their appearance upon earth: whence, the oversight +discovered, they are hastily snatched. And it is chiefly on this account, that +in those islands where human sacrifices are offered, the Tullas are deemed the +most suitable oblations for the altar, to which from their birth many are +prospectively devoted. It was these considerations, united to others, which at +times induced me to fancy, that by the priest, Yillah was regarded as one of +these beings. So mystical, however, her revelations concerning her past +history, that often I knew not what to divine. But plainly they showed that she +had not the remotest conception of her real origin. +</p> + +<p> +But these conceits of a state of being anterior to an earthly existence may +have originated in one of those celestial visions seen transparently stealing +over the face of a slumbering child. And craftily drawn forth and re-echoed by +another, and at times repeated over to her with many additions, these +imaginings must at length have assumed in her mind a hue of reality, heightened +into conviction by the dreamy seclusion of her life. +</p> + +<p> +But now, let her subsequent and more credible history be related, as from time +to time she rehearsed it. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0050"></a> +CHAPTER L.<br/> +Yillah In Ardair</h2> + +<p> +In the verdant glen of Ardair, far in the silent interior of Amma, shut in by +hoar old cliffs, Yillah the maiden abode. +</p> + +<p> +So small and so deep was this glen, so surrounded on all sides by steep +acclivities, and so vividly green its verdure, and deceptive the shadows that +played there; that, from above, it seemed more like a lake of cool, balmy air, +than a glen: its woodlands and grasses gleaming shadowy all, like sea groves +and mosses beneath the calm sea. +</p> + +<p> +Here, none came but Aleema the priest, who at times was absent for days +together. But at certain seasons, an unseen multitude with loud chants stood +upon the verge of the neighboring precipices, and traversing those shaded +wilds, slowly retreated; their voices lessening and lessening, as they wended +their way through the more distant groves. +</p> + +<p> +At other times, Yillah being immured in the temple of Apo, a band of men +entering the vale, surrounded her retreat, dancing there till evening came. +Meanwhile, heaps of fruit, garlands of flowers, and baskets of fish, were laid +upon an altar without, where stood Aleema, arrayed in white tappa, and +muttering to himself, as the offerings were laid at his feet. +</p> + +<p> +When Aleema was gone, Yillah went forth into the glen, and wandered among the +trees, and reposed by the banks of the stream. And ever as she strolled, looked +down upon her the grim old cliffs, bearded with trailing moss. +</p> + +<p> +Toward the lower end of the vale, its lofty walls advancing and overhanging +their base, almost met in mid air. And a great rock, hurled from an adjacent +height, and falling into the space intercepted, there remained fixed. Aerial +trees shot up from its surface; birds nested in its clefts; and strange vines +roved abroad, overrunning the tops of the trees, lying thereon in coils and +undulations, like anacondas basking in the light. Beneath this rock, was a +lofty wall of ponderous stones. Between its crevices, peeps were had of a long +and leafy arcade, quivering far away to where the sea rolled in the sun. Lower +down, these crevices gave an outlet to the waters of the brook, which, in a +long cascade, poured over sloping green ledges near the foot of the wall, into +a deep shady pool; whose rocky sides, by the perpetual eddying of the water, +had been worn into a grotesque resemblance to a group of giants, with heads +submerged, indolently reclining about the basin. +</p> + +<p> +In this pool, Yillah would bathe. And once, emerging, she heard the echoes of a +voice, and called aloud. But the only reply, was the rustling of branches, as +some one, invisible, fled down the valley beyond. Soon after, a stone rolled +inward, and Aleema the priest stood before her; saying that the voice she had +heard was his. But it was not. +</p> + +<p> +At last the weary days grew, longer and longer, and the maiden pined for +companionship. When the breeze blew not, but slept in the caves of the +mountains, and all the leaves of the trees stood motionless as tears in the +eye, Yillah would sadden, and call upon the spirits in her soul to awaken. She +sang low airs, she thought she had heard in Oroolia; but started affrighted, as +from dingles and dells, came back to her strains more wild than hers. And ever, +when sad, Aleema would seek to cheer her soul, by calling to mind the bright +scenes of Oroolia the Blest, to which place, he averred, she was shortly to +return, never more to depart. +</p> + +<p> +Now, at the head of the vale of Ardair, rose a tall, dark peak, presenting at +the top the grim profile of a human face; whose shadow, every afternoon, crept +down the verdant side of the mountain: a silent phantom, stealing all over the +bosom of the glen. +</p> + +<p> +At times, when the phantom drew near, Aleema would take Yillah forth, and +waiting its approach, lay her down by the shadow, disposing her arms in a +caress; saying, “Oh, Apo! dost accept thy bride?” And at last, when +it crept beyond the place where he stood, and buried the whole valley in gloom; +Aleema would say, “Arise Yillah; Apo hath stretched himself to sleep in +Ardair. Go, slumber where thou wilt; for thou wilt slumber in his arms.” +</p> + +<p> +And so, every night, slept the maiden in the arms of grim Apo. +</p> + +<p> +One day when Yillah had come to love the wild shadow, as something that every +day moved before her eyes, where all was so deathfully still; she went forth +alone to watch it, as softly it slid down from the peak. Of a sudden, when its +face was just edging a chasm, that made it to look as if parting its lips, she +heard a loud voice, and thought it was Apo calling “Yillah! +Yillah!” But now it seemed like the voice she had heard while bathing in +the pool. Glancing upward, she beheld a beautiful open-armed youth, gazing down +upon her from an inaccessible crag. But presently, there was a rustling in the +groves behind, and swift as thought, something darted through the air. The +youth bounded forward. Yillah opened her arms to receive him; but he fell upon +the cliff, and was seen no more. As alarmed, and in tears, she fled from the +scene, some one out of sight ran before her through the wood. +</p> + +<p> +Upon recounting this adventure to Aleema, he said, that the being she had seen, +must have been a bad spirit come to molest her; and that Apo had slain him. +</p> + +<p> +The sight of this youth, filled Yillah with wild yearnings to escape from her +lonely retreat; for a glimpse of some one beside the priest and the phantom, +suggested vague thoughts of worlds of fair beings, in regions beyond Ardair. +But Aleema sought to put away these conceits; saying, that ere long she would +be journeying to Oroolia, there to rejoin the spirits she dimly remembered. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after, he came to her with a shell—one of those ever moaning of +ocean—and placing it to her ear, bade her list to the being within, which +in that little shell had voyaged from Oroolia to bear her company in Amma. +</p> + +<p> +Now, the maiden oft held it to her ear, and closing her eyes, listened and +listened to its soft inner breathings, till visions were born of the sound, and +her soul lay for hours in a trance of delight. +</p> + +<p> +And again the priest came, and brought her a milk-white bird, with a bill +jet-black, and eyes like stars. “In this, lurks the soul of a maiden; it +hath flown from Oroolia to greet you.” The soft stranger willingly +nestled in her bosom; turning its bright eyes upon hers, and softly warbling. +</p> + +<p> +Many days passed; and Yillah, the bird, and the shell were inseparable. The +bird grew familiar; pecked seeds from her mouth; perched upon her shoulder, and +sang in her ear; and at night, folded its wings in her bosom, and, like a +sea-fowl, went softly to sleep: rising and falling upon the maiden’s +heart. And every morning it flew from its nest, and fluttered and chirped; and +sailed to and fro; and blithely sang; and brushed Yillah’s cheek till she +woke. Then came to her hand: and Yillah, looking earnestly in its eyes, saw +strange faces there; and said to herself as she gazed—“These are +two souls, not one.” +</p> + +<p> +But at last, going forth into the groves with the bird, it suddenly flew from +her side, and perched in a bough; and throwing back its white downy throat, +there gushed from its bill a clear warbling jet, like a little fountain in air. +Now the song ceased; when up and away toward the head of the vale, flew the +bird. “Lil! Lil! come back, leave me not, blest souls of the +maidens.” But on flew the bird, far up a defile, winging its way till a +speck. +</p> + +<p> +It was shortly after this, and upon the evening of a day which had been +tumultuous with sounds of warfare beyond the lower wall of the glen; that +Aleema came to Yillah in alarm; saying—“Yillah, the time has come +to follow thy bird; come, return to thy home in Oroolia.” And he told her +the way she would voyage there: by the vortex on the coast of Tedaidee. That +night, being veiled and placed in the tent, the maiden was borne to the +sea-side, where the canoe was in waiting. And setting sail quickly, by next +morning the island of Amma was no longer in sight. +</p> + +<p> +And this was the voyage, whose sequel has already been recounted. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0051"></a> +CHAPTER LI.<br/> +The Dream Begins To Fade</h2> + +<p> +Stripped of the strange associations, with which a mind like Yillah’s +must have invested every incident of her life, the story of her abode in Ardair +seemed not incredible. +</p> + +<p> +But so etherealized had she become from the wild conceits she nourished, that +she verily believed herself a being of the lands of dreams. Her fabulous past +was her present. +</p> + +<p> +Yet as our intimacy grew closer and closer, these fancies seemed to be losing +their hold. And often she questioned me concerning my own reminiscences of her +shadowy isle. And cautiously I sought to produce the impression, that whatever +I had said of that clime, had been revealed to me in dreams; but that in these +dreams, her own lineaments had smiled upon me; and hence the impulse which had +sent me roving after the substance of this spiritual image. +</p> + +<p> +And true it was to say so; and right it was to swear it, upon her white arms +crossed. For oh, Yillah; were you not the earthly semblance of that sweet +vision, that haunted my earliest thoughts? +</p> + +<p> +At first she had wildly believed, that the nameless affinities between us, were +owing to our having in times gone by dwelt together in the same ethereal +region. But thoughts like these were fast dying out. Yet not without many +strange scrutinies. More intently than ever she gazed into my eyes; rested her +ear against my heart, and listened to its beatings. And love, which in the eye +of its object ever seeks to invest itself with some rare superiority, love, +sometimes induced me to prop my failing divinity; though it was I myself who +had undermined it. +</p> + +<p> +But if it was with many regrets, that in the sight of Yillah, I perceived +myself thus dwarfing down to a mortal; it was with quite contrary emotions, +that I contemplated the extinguishment in her heart of the notion of her own +spirituality. For as such thoughts were chased away, she clung the more closely +to me, as unto one without whom she would be desolate indeed. +</p> + +<p> +And now, at intervals, she was sad, and often gazed long and fixedly into the +sea. Nor would she say why it was, that she did so; until at length she +yielded; and replied, that whatever false things Aleema might have instilled +into her mind; of this much she was certain: that the whirlpool on the coast of +Tedaidee prefigured her fate; that in the waters she saw lustrous eyes, and +beckoning phantoms, and strange shapes smoothing her a couch among the mosses. +</p> + +<p> +Her dreams seemed mine. Many visions I had of the green corse of the priest, +outstretching its arms in the water, to receive pale Yillah, as she sunk in the +sea. +</p> + +<p> +But these forebodings departed, no happiness in the universe like ours. We +lived and we loved; life and love were united; in gladness glided our days. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0052"></a> +CHAPTER LII.<br/> +World Ho!</h2> + +<p> +Five suns rose and set. And Yillah pining for the shore, we turned our prow due +west, and next morning came in sight of land. +</p> + +<p> +It was innumerable islands; lifting themselves bluely through the azure air, +and looking upon the distant sea, like haycocks in a hazy field. Towering above +all, and mid-most, rose a mighty peak; one fleecy cloud sloping against its +summit; a column wreathed. Beyond, like purple steeps in heaven at set of sun, +stretched far away, what seemed lands on lands, in infinite perspective. +</p> + +<p> +Gliding on, the islands grew more distinct; rising up from the billows to greet +us; revealing hills, vales, and peaks, grouped within a milk-white zone of +reef, so vast, that in the distance all was dim. The jeweled vapors, ere-while +hovering over these violet shores, now seemed to be shedding their gems; and as +the almost level rays of the sun, shooting through the air like a variegated +prism, touched the verdant land, it trembled all over with dewy sparkles. +</p> + +<p> +Still nearer we came: our sail faintly distended as the breeze died away from +our vicinity to the isles. The billows rolled listlessly by, as if conscious +that their long task was nigh done; while gleamed the white reef, like the +trail of a great fish in a calm. But as yet, no sign of paddle or canoe; no +distant smoke; no shining thatch. Bravo! good comrades, we’ve discovered +some new constellation in the sea. +</p> + +<p> +Sweet Yillah, no more of Oroolia; see you not this flowery land? Nevermore +shall we desire to roam. +</p> + +<p> +Voyaging along the zone, we came to an opening; and quitting the firmament blue +of the open sea, we glided in upon the still, green waters of the wide lagoon. +Mapped out in the broad shadows of the isles, and tinted here and there with +the reflected hues of the sun clouds, the mild waters stretched all around us +like another sky. Near by the break in the reef, was a little island, with palm +trees harping in the breeze; an aviary of alluring sounds, that seemed calling +upon us to land. And here, Yillah, whom the sight of the verdure had made glad, +threw out a merry suggestion. Nothing less, than to plant our mast, sail-set, +upon the highest hill; and fly away, island and all; trees rocking, birds +caroling, flowers springing; away, away, across the wide waters, to Oroolia! +But alas! how weigh the isle’s coral anchor, leagues down in the +fathomless sea? +</p> + +<p> +We glanced around; but all the islands seemed slumbering in the flooding light. +</p> + +<p> +“A canoe! a canoe!” cried Samoa, as three proas showed themselves +rounding a neighboring shore. Instantly we sailed for them; but after shooting +to and fro for a time, and standing up and gazing at us, the Islanders +retreated behind the headland. Hardly were they out of sight, when from many a +shore roundabout, other proas pushed off. Soon the water all round us was +enlivened by fleets of canoes, darting hither and thither like frighted +water-fowls. Presently they all made for one island. +</p> + +<p> +From their actions we argued that these people could have had but little or no +intercourse with whites; and most probably knew not how to account for our +appearance among them. Desirous, therefore, of a friendly meeting, ere any +hostile suspicions might arise, we pointed our craft for the island, whither +all the canoes were now hastening. Whereupon, those which had not yet reached +their destination, turned and fled; while the occupants of the proas that had +landed, ran into the groves, and were lost to view. +</p> + +<p> +Crossing the distinct outer line of the isle’s shadow on the water, we +gained the shore; and gliding along its margin, passing canoe after canoe, +hauled up on the silent beach, which otherwise seemed entirely innocent of man. +</p> + +<p> +A dilemma. But I decided at last upon disembarking Jarl and Samoa, to seek out +and conciliate the natives. So, landing them upon a jutting buttress of coral, +whence they waded to the shore; I pushed off with Yillah into the water beyond, +to await the event. +</p> + +<p> +Full an hour must have elapsed; when, to our great joy, loud shouts were heard; +and there burst into view a tumultuous crowd, in the midst of which my Viking +was descried, mounted upon the shoulders of two brawny natives; while the +Upoluan, striding on in advance, seemed resisting a similar attempt to elevate +him in the world. +</p> + +<p> +Good omens both. +</p> + +<p> +“Come ashore!” cried Jarl. “Aramai!” cried Samoa; while +storms of interjections went up from the Islanders who with extravagant +gestures danced about the beach. +</p> + +<p> +Further caution seemed needless: I pointed our prow for the shore. No sooner +was this perceived, than, raising an applauding shout, the Islanders ran up to +their waists in the sea. And skimming like a gull over the smooth lagoon, the +light shallop darted in among them. Quick as thought, fifty hands were on the +gunwale: and, with all its contents, lifted bodily into the air, the little +Chamois, upon many a dripping shoulder, was borne deep into the groves. Yillah +shrieked at the rocking motion, and when the boughs of the trees brushed +against the tent. +</p> + +<p> +With his staff, an old man now pointed to a couple of twin-like trees, some +four paces apart; and a little way from the ground conveniently crotched. +</p> + +<p> +And here, eftsoons, they deposited their burden; lowering the Chamois gently +between the forks of the trees, whose willow-like foliage fringed the tent and +its inmate. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0053"></a> +CHAPTER LIII.<br/> +The Chamois Ashore</h2> + +<p> +Until now, enveloped in her robe, and crouching like a fawn, Yillah had been +well nigh hidden from view. But presently she withdrew her hood. +</p> + +<p> +What saw the Islanders, that they so gazed and adored in silence: some +retreating, some creeping nearer, and the women all in a flutter? Long they +gazed; and following Samoa’s example, stretched forth their arms in +reverence. +</p> + +<p> +The adoration of the maiden was extended to myself. Indeed, from the singular +gestures employed, I had all along suspected, that we were being received with +unwonted honors. +</p> + +<p> +I now sought to get speech of my comrades. But so obstreperous was the crowd, +that it was next to impossible. Jarl was still in his perch in the air; his +enthusiastic bearers not yet suffering him to alight. Samoa, however, who had +managed to keep out of the saddle, by-and-by contrived to draw nearer to the +Chamois. +</p> + +<p> +He advised me, by no means to descend for the present; since in any event we +were sure of remaining unmolested therein; the Islanders regarding it as +sacred. +</p> + +<p> +The Upoluan attracted a great deal of attention; chiefly from his style of +tattooing, which, together with other peculiarities, so interested the natives, +that they were perpetually hanging about him, putting eager questions, and all +the time keeping up a violent clamor. +</p> + +<p> +But despite the large demand upon his lungs, Samoa made out to inform me, that +notwithstanding the multitude assembled, there was no high chief, or person of +consequence present; the king of the place, also those of the islands adjacent, +being absent at a festival in another quarter of the Archipelago. But upon the +first distant glimpse of the Chamois, fleet canoes had been dispatched to +announce the surprising event that had happened. +</p> + +<p> +In good time, the crowd becoming less tumultuous, and abandoning the siege of +Samoa, I availed myself of this welcome lull, and called upon him and my Viking +to enter the Chamois; desirous of condensing our forces against all +emergencies. +</p> + +<p> +Samoa now gave me to understand, that from all he could learn, the Islanders +regarded me as a superior being. They had inquired of him, whether I was not +white Taji, a sort of half-and-half deity, now and then an Avatar among them, +and ranking among their inferior ex- officio demi-gods. To this, Samoa had said +ay; adding, moreover, all he could to encourage the idea. +</p> + +<p> +He now entreated me, at the first opportunity, to announce myself as Taji: +declaring that if once received under that title, the unbounded hospitality of +our final reception would be certain; and our persons fenced about from all +harm. +</p> + +<p> +Encouraging this. But it was best to be wary. For although among some +barbarians the first strangers landing upon their shores, are frequently hailed +as divine; and in more than one wild land have been actually styled gods, as a +familiar designation; yet this has not exempted the celestial visitants from +peril, when too much presuming upon the reception extended to them. In sudden +tumults they have been slain outright, and while full faith in their divinity +had in no wise abated. The sad fate of an eminent navigator is a well-known +illustration of this unaccountable waywardness. +</p> + +<p> +With no small anxiety, therefore, we awaited the approach of some of the +dignitaries of Mardi; for by this collective appellation, the people informed +us, their islands were known. +</p> + +<p> +We waited not long. Of a sudden, from the sea-side, a single shrill cry was +heard. A moment more, and the blast of numerous conch shells startled the air; +a confused clamor drew nearer and nearer; and flying our eyes in the direction +of these sounds, we impatiently awaited what was to follow. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0054"></a> +CHAPTER LIV.<br/> +A Gentleman From The Sun</h2> + +<p> +Never before had I seen the deep foliage of woodlands navigated by canoes. But +on they came sailing through the leaves; two abreast; borne on men’s +shoulders; in each a chief, carried along to the measured march of his bearers; +paddle blades reversed under arms. As they emerged, the multitude made gestures +of homage. At the distance of some eight or ten paces the procession halted; +when the kings alighted to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +They were fine-looking men, arrayed in various garbs. Rare the show of stained +feathers, and jewels, and other adornments. Brave the floating of dyed mantles. +</p> + +<p> +The regal bearing of these personages, the deference paid them, and their +entire self-possession, not a little surprised me. And it seemed preposterous, +to assume a divine dignity in the presence of these undoubted potentates of +<i>terra firma</i>. Taji seemed oozing from my fingers’ ends. But +courage! and erecting my crest, I strove to look every inch the character I had +determined to assume. +</p> + +<p> +For a time, it was almost impossible to tell with what emotions precisely the +chiefs were regarding me. They said not a word. +</p> + +<p> +But plucking up heart of grace, I crossed my cutlass on my chest, and reposing +my hand on the hilt, addressed their High Mightinesses thus. “Men of +Mardi, I come from the sun. When this morning it rose and touched the wave, I +pushed my shallop from its golden beach, and hither sailed before its level +rays. I am Taji.” +</p> + +<p> +More would have been added, but I paused for the effect of my exordium. +</p> + +<p> +Stepping back a pace or two, the chiefs eagerly conversed. +</p> + +<p> +Emboldened, I returned to the charge, and labored hard to impress them with +just such impressions of me and mine, as I deemed desirable. The gentle Yillah +was a seraph from the sun; Samoa I had picked off a reef in my route from that +orb; and as for the Skyeman, why, as his name imported, he came from above. In +a word, we were all strolling divinities. +</p> + +<p> +Advancing toward the Chamois, one of the kings, a calm old man, now addressed +me as follows:—“Is this indeed Taji? he, who according to a +tradition, was to return to us after five thousand moons? But that period is +yet unexpired. What bring’st thou hither then, Taji, before thy time? +Thou wast but a quarrelsome demi-god, say the legends, when thou dwelt among +our sires. But wherefore comest thou, Taji? Truly, thou wilt interfere with the +worship of thy images, and we have plenty of gods besides thee. But comest thou +to fight?—We have plenty of spears, and desire not thine. Comest thou to +dwell?—Small are the houses of Mardi. Or comest thou to fish in the sea? +Tell us, Taji.” +</p> + +<p> +Now, all this was a series of posers hard to be answered; furnishing a curious +example, moreover, of the reception given to strange demi- gods when they +travel without their portmanteaus; and also of the familiar manner in which +these kings address the immortals. Much I mourned that I had not previously +studied better my part, and learned the precise nature of my previous existence +in the land. +</p> + +<p> +But nothing like carrying it bravely. +</p> + +<p> +“Attend. Taji comes, old man, because it pleases him to come. And Taji +will depart when it suits him. Ask the shades of your sires whether Taji thus +scurvily greeted them, when they came stalking into his presence in the land of +spirits. No. Taji spread the banquet. He removed their mantles. He kindled a +fire to drive away the damp. He said not, ‘Come you to fight, you fogs +and vapors? come you to dwell? or come you to fish in the sea?’ Go to, +then, kings of Mardi!” +</p> + +<p> +Upon this, the old king fell back; and his place was supplied by a noble chief, +of a free, frank bearing. Advancing quickly toward the boat, he +exclaimed—“I am Media, the son of Media. Thrice welcome, Taji. On +my island of Odo hast thou an altar. I claim thee for my guest.” He then +reminded the rest, that the strangers had voyaged far, and needed repose. And, +furthermore, that he proposed escorting them forthwith to his own dominions; +where, next day, he would be happy to welcome all visitants. +</p> + +<p> +And good as his word, he commanded his followers to range themselves under the +Chamois. Springing out of our prow, the Upoluan was followed by Jarl; leaving +Yillah and Taji to be borne therein toward the sea. +</p> + +<p> +Soon, we were once more afloat; by our side, Media sociably seated; six of his +paddlers, perched upon the gunwale, swiftly urging us over the lagoon. +</p> + +<p> +The transition from the grove to the sea was instantaneous. All seemed a dream. +</p> + +<p> +The place to which we were hastening, being some distance away, as we rounded +isle after isle, the extent of the Archipelago grew upon us greatly. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0055"></a> +CHAPTER LV.<br/> +Tiffin In A Temple</h2> + +<p> +Upon at last drawing nigh to Odo, its appearance somewhat disappointed me. A +small island, of moderate elevation. +</p> + +<p> +But plumb not the height of the house that feasts you. The beach was lined with +expectant natives, who, lifting the Chamois, carried us up the beach. +</p> + +<p> +Alighting, as they were bearing us along, King Media, designating a canoe-house +hard by, ordered our craft to be deposited therein. This being done, we stepped +upon the soil. It was the first we had pressed in very many days. It sent a +sympathetic thrill through our frames. +</p> + +<p> +Turning his steps inland, Media signed us to follow. +</p> + +<p> +Soon we came to a rude sort of inclosure, fenced in by an imposing wall. Here a +halt was sounded, and in great haste the natives proceeded to throw down a +portion of the stones. This accomplished, we were signed to enter the fortress +thus carried by storm. Upon an artificial mound, opposite the breach, stood a +small structure of bamboo, open in front. Within, was a long pedestal, like a +settee, supporting three images, also of wood, and about the size of men; +bearing, likewise, a remote resemblance to that species of animated nature. +Before these idols was an altar, and at its base many fine mats. +</p> + +<p> +Entering the temple, as if he felt very much at home, Media disposed these mats +so as to form a very pleasant lounge; where he deferentially entreated Yillah +to recline. Then deliberately removing the first idol, he motioned me to seat +myself in its place. Setting aside the middle one, he quietly established +himself in its stead. The displaced ciphers, meanwhile, standing upright before +us, and their blank faces looking upon this occasion unusually expressive. As +yet, not a syllable as to the meaning of this cavalier treatment of their +wooden godships. +</p> + +<p> +We now tranquilly awaited what next might happen, and I earnestly prayed, that +if sacrilege was being committed, the vengeance of the gods might be averted +from an ignoramus like me; notwithstanding the petitioner himself hailed from +the other world. Perfect silence was preserved: Jarl and Samoa standing a +little without the temple; the first looking quite composed, but his comrade +casting wondering glances at my sociable apotheosis with Media. +</p> + +<p> +Now happening to glance upon the image last removed, I was not long in +detecting a certain resemblance between it and our host. Both were decorated in +the same manner; the carving on the idol exactly corresponding with the +tattooing of the king. +</p> + +<p> +Presently, the silence was relieved by a commotion without: and a butler +approached, staggering under an immense wooden trencher; which, with profound +genuflexions, he deposited upon the altar before us. The tray was loaded like +any harvest wain; heaped up with good things sundry and divers: Bread-fruit, +and cocoanuts, and plantains, and guavas; all pleasant to the eye, and +furnishing good earnest of something equally pleasant to the palate. +</p> + +<p> +Transported at the sight of these viands, after so long an estrangement from +full indulgence in things green, I was forthwith proceeding to help Yillah and +myself, when, like lightning, a most unwelcome query obtruded. Did deities +dine? Then also recurred what Media had declared about my shrine in Odo. Was +this it? Self- sacrilegious demigod that I was, was I going to gluttonize on +the very offerings, laid before me in my own sacred fane? Give heed to thy +ways, oh Taji, lest thou stumble and be lost. +</p> + +<p> +But hereupon, what saw we, but his cool majesty of Odo tranquilly proceeding to +lunch in the temple? +</p> + +<p> +How now? Was Media too a god? Egad, it must be so. Else, why his image here in +the fane, and the original so entirely at his ease, with legs full cosily +tucked away under the very altar itself. This put to flight all appalling +apprehensions of the necessity of starving to keep up the assumption of my +divinity. So without more ado I helped myself right and left; taking the best +care of Yillah; who over fed her flushed beauty with juicy fruits, thereby +transferring to her cheek the sweet glow of the guava. +</p> + +<p> +Our hunger appeased, and Media in token thereof celestially laying his hand +upon the appropriate region, we proceeded to quit the inclosure. But coming to +the wall where the breach had been made, lo, and behold, no breach was to be +seen. But down it came tumbling again, and forth we issued. +</p> + +<p> +This overthrowing of walls, be it known, is an incidental compliment paid +distinguished personages in this part of Mardi. It would seem to signify, that +such gentry can go nowhere without creating an impression; even upon the most +obdurate substances. +</p> + +<p> +But to return to our ambrosial lunch. +</p> + +<p> +Sublimate, as you will, the idea of our ethereality as intellectual beings; no +sensible man can harbor a doubt, but that there is a vast deal of satisfaction +in dining. More: there is a savor of life and immortality in substantial fare. +Like balloons, we are nothing till filled. +</p> + +<p> +And well knowing this, nature has provided this jolly round board, our globe, +which in an endless sequence of courses and crops, spreads a perpetual feast. +Though, as with most public banquets, there is no small crowding, and many go +away famished from plenty. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0056"></a> +CHAPTER LVI.<br/> +King Media A Host</h2> + +<p> +Striking into a grove, about sunset we emerged upon a fine, clear space, and +spied a city in the woods. +</p> + +<p> +In the middle of all, like a generalissimo’s marquee among tents, was a +structure more imposing than the rest. Here, abode King Media. +</p> + +<p> +Disposed round a space some fifty yards square, were many palm posts staked +firmly in the earth. A man’s height from the ground, these supported +numerous horizontal trunks, upon which lay a flooring of habiscus. High over +this dais, but resting upon independent supports beyond, a gable-ended roof +sloped away to within a short distance of the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Such was the palace. +</p> + +<p> +We entered it by an arched, arbored entrance, at one of its palmetto-thatched +ends. But not through this exclusive portal entered the Islanders. Humbly +stooping, they found ingress under the drooping eaves. A custom immemorial, and +well calculated to remind all contumacious subjects of the dignity of the +habitation thus entered. +</p> + +<p> +Three steps led to the summit of the dais, where piles of soft mats, and light +pillows of woven grass, stuffed with the golden down of a wild thistle, invited +all loiterers to lounge. +</p> + +<p> +How pleasant the twilight that welled up from under the low eaves, above which +we were seated. And how obvious now the design of the roof. No shade more +grateful and complete; the garish sun lingering without like some lackey in +waiting. +</p> + +<p> +But who is this in the corner, gaping at us like a butler in a quandary? +Media’s household deity, in the guise of a plethoric monster, his +enormous head lolling back, and wide, gaping mouth stuffed full of fresh fruits +and green leaves. Truly, had the idol possessed a soul under his knotty ribs, +how tantalizing to hold so glorious a mouthful without the power of +deglutition. Far worse than the inexorable lock-jaw, which will not admit of +the step preliminary to a swallow. +</p> + +<p> +This jolly Josh image was that of an inferior deity, the god of Good Cheer, and +often after, we met with his merry round mouth in many other abodes in Mardi. +Daily, his jaws are replenished, as a flower vase in summer. +</p> + +<p> +But did the demi-divine Media thus brook the perpetual presence of a subaltern +divinity? Still more; did he render it homage? But ere long the Mardian +mythology will be discussed, thereby making plain what may now seem anomalous. +</p> + +<p> +Politely escorting us into his palace, Media did the honors by inviting his +guests to recline. He then seemed very anxious to impress us with the fact, +that, by bringing us to his home, and thereby charging the royal larder with +our maintenance, he had taken no hasty or imprudent step. His merry butlers +kept piling round us viands, till we were well nigh walled in. At every fresh +deposit, Media directing our attention to the same, as yet additional evidence +of his ample resources as a host. The evidence was finally closed by dragging +under the eaves a felled plantain tree, the spike of red ripe fruit, sprouting +therefrom, blushing all over, at so rude an introduction to the notice of +strangers. +</p> + +<p> +During this scene, Jarl was privily nudging Samoa, in wonderment, to know what +upon earth it all meant. But Samoa, scarcely deigning to notice interrogatories +propounded through the elbow, only let drop a vague hint or two. +</p> + +<p> +It was quite amusing, what airs Samoa now gave himself, at least toward my +Viking. Among the Mardians he was at home. And who, when there, stretches not +out his legs, and says unto himself, “Who is greater than I?” +</p> + +<p> +To be plain: concerning himself and the Skyeman, the tables were turned. At +sea, Jarl had been the oracle: an old sea-sage, learned in hemp and helm. But +our craft high and dry, the Upoluan lifted his crest as the erudite pagan; +master of Gog and Magog, expounder of all things heathenish and obscure. +</p> + +<p> +An hour or two was now laughed away in very charming conversation with Media; +when I hinted, that a couch and solitude would be acceptable. Whereupon, +seizing a taper, our host escorted us without the palace. And ushering us into +a handsome unoccupied mansion, gave me to understand that the same was mine. +Mounting to the dais, he then instituted a vigorous investigation, to discern +whether every thing was in order. Not fancying something about the mats, he +rolled them up into bundles, and one by one sent them flying at the heads of +his servitors; who, upon that gentle hint made off with them, soon after +returning with fresh ones. These, with mathematical precision, Media in person +now spread on the dais; looking carefully to the fringes or ruffles with which +they were bordered, as if striving to impart to them a sentimental expression. +</p> + +<p> +This done, he withdrew. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0057"></a> +CHAPTER LVII.<br/> +Taji Takes Counsel With Himself</h2> + +<p> +My brief intercourse with our host, had by this time enabled me to form a +pretty good notion of the light, in which I was held by him and his more +intelligent subjects. +</p> + +<p> +His free and easy carriage evinced, that though acknowledging my assumptions, +he was no way overawed by them; treating me as familiarly, indeed, as if I were +a mere mortal, one of the abject generation of mushrooms. +</p> + +<p> +The scene in the temple, however, had done much toward explaining this demeanor +of his. A demi-god in his own proper person, my claims to a similar dignity +neither struck him with wonder, nor lessened his good opinion of himself. +</p> + +<p> +As for any thing foreign in my aspect, and my ignorance of Mardian +customs—-all this, instead of begetting a doubt unfavorable to my +pretensions, but strengthened the conviction of them as verities. Thus has it +been in similar instances; but to a much greater extent. The celebrated +navigator referred to in a preceding chapter, was hailed by the Hawaiians as +one of their demi-gods, returned to earth, after a wide tour of the universe. +And they worshiped him as such, though incessantly he was interrogating them, +as to who under the sun his worshipers were; how their ancestors came on the +island; and whether they would have the kindness to provide his followers with +plenty of pork during his stay. +</p> + +<p> +But a word or two concerning the idols in the shrine at Odo. Superadded to the +homage rendered him as a temporal prince, Media was there worshiped as a +spiritual being. In his corporeal absence, his effigy receiving all oblations +intended for him. And in the days of his boyhood, listening to the old legends +of the Mardian mythology, Media had conceived a strong liking for the fabulous +Taji; a deity whom he had often declared was worthy a niche in any temple +extant. Hence he had honored my image with a place in his own special shrine; +placing it side by side with his worshipful likeness. +</p> + +<p> +I appreciated the compliment. But of the close companionship of the other image +there, I was heartily ashamed. And with reason. The nuisance in question being +the image of a deified maker of plantain- pudding, lately deceased; who had +been famed far and wide as the most notable fellow of his profession in the +whole Archipelago. During his sublunary career, having been attached to the +household of Media, his grateful master had afterward seen fit to crown his +celebrity by this posthumous distinction: a circumstance sadly subtracting from +the dignity of an apotheosis. Nor must it here be omitted, that in this part of +Mardi culinary artists are accounted worthy of high consideration. For among +these people of Odo, the matter of eating and drinking is held a matter of life +and of death. “Drag away my queen from my arms,” said old Tyty when +overcome of Adommo, “but leave me my cook.” +</p> + +<p> +Now, among the Mardians there were plenty of incarnated deities to keep me in +countenance. Most of the kings of the Archipelago, besides Media, claiming +homage as demi-gods; and that, too, by virtue of hereditary descent, the divine +spark being transmissable from father to son. In illustration of this, was the +fact, that in several instances the people of the land addressed the supreme +god Oro, in the very same terms employed in the political adoration of their +sublunary rulers. +</p> + +<p> +Ay: there were deities in Mardi far greater and taller than I: right royal +monarchs to boot, living in jolly round tabernacles of jolly brown clay; and +feasting, and roystering, and lording it in yellow tabernacles of bamboo. These +demi-gods had wherewithal to sustain their lofty pretensions. If need were, +could crush out of him the infidelity of a non-conformist. And by this +immaculate union of church and state, god and king, in their own proper persons +reigned supreme Caesars over the souls and bodies of their subjects. +</p> + +<p> +Beside these mighty magnates, I and my divinity shrank into nothing. In their +woodland ante-chambers plebeian deities were kept lingering. For be it known, +that in due time we met with several decayed, broken down demi-gods: magnificos +of no mark in Mardi; having no temples wherein to feast personal admirers, or +spiritual devotees. They wandered about forlorn and friendless. And oftentimes +in their dinnerless despair hugely gluttonized, and would fain have grown fat, +by reflecting upon the magnificence of their genealogies. But poor fellows! +like shabby Scotch lords in London in King James’s time, the very +multitude of them confounded distinction. And since they could show no +rent-roll, they were permitted to fume unheeded. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the whole, so numerous were living and breathing gods in Mardi, that I +held my divinity but cheaply. And seeing such a host of immortals, and hearing +of multitudes more, purely spiritual in their nature, haunting woodlands and +streams; my views of theology grew strangely confused; I began to bethink me of +the Jew that rejected the Talmud, and his all-permeating principle, to which +Goethe and others have subscribed. +</p> + +<p> +Instead, then, of being struck with the audacity of endeavoring to palm myself +off as a god—the way in which the thing first impressed me—I now +perceived that I might be a god as much as I pleased, and yet not whisk a +lion’s tail after all at least on that special account. +</p> + +<p> +As for Media’s reception, its graciousness was not wholly owing to the +divine character imputed to me. His, he believed to be the same. But to a whim, +a freakishness in his soul, which led him to fancy me as one among many, not as +one with no peer. +</p> + +<p> +But the apparent unconcern of King Media with respect to my godship, by no +means so much surprised me, as his unaffected indifference to my amazing voyage +from the sun; his indifference to the sun itself; and all the wonderful +circumstances that must have attended my departure. Whether he had ever been +there himself, that he regarded a solar trip with so much unconcern, almost +became a question in my mind. Certain it is, that as a mere traveler he must +have deemed me no very great prodigy. +</p> + +<p> +My surprise at these things was enhanced by reflecting, that to the people of +the Archipelago the map of Mardi was the map of the world. With the exception +of certain islands out of sight and at an indefinite distance, they had no +certain knowledge of any isles but their own. +</p> + +<p> +And, no long time elapsed ere I had still additional reasons to cease wondering +at the easy faith accorded to the story which I had given of myself. For these +Mardians were familiar with still greater marvels than mine; verily believing +in prodigies of all sorts. Any one of them put my exploits to the blush. +</p> + +<p> +Look to thy ways then, Taji, thought I, and carry not thy crest too high. Of a +surety, thou hast more peers than inferiors. Thou art overtopped all round. +Bear thyself discreetly and not haughtily, Taji. It will not answer to give +thyself airs. Abstain from all consequential allusions to the other world, and +the genteel deities among whom thou hast circled. Sport not too jauntily thy +raiment, because it is novel in Mardi; nor boast of the fleetness of thy +Chamois, because it is unlike a canoe. Vaunt not of thy pedigree, Taji; for +Media himself will measure it with thee there by the furlong. Be not a +“snob,” Taji. +</p> + +<p> +So then, weighing all things well, and myself severely, I resolved to follow my +Mentor’s wise counsel; neither arrogating aught, nor abating of just +dues; but circulating freely, sociably, and frankly, among the gods, heroes, +high priests, kings, and gentlemen, that made up the principalities of Mardi. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0058"></a> +CHAPTER LVIII.<br/> +Mardi By Night And Yillah By Day</h2> + +<p> +During the night following our arrival, many dreams were no doubt dreamt in +Odo. But my thoughts were wakeful. And while all others slept, obeying a +restless impulse, I stole without into the magical starlight. There are those +who in a strange land ever love to view it by night. +</p> + +<p> +It has been said, that the opening in the groves where was situated +Media’s city, was elevated above the surrounding plains. Hence was +commanded a broad reach of prospect. +</p> + +<p> +Far and wide was deep low-sobbing repose of man and nature. The groves were +motionless; and in the meadows, like goblins, the shadows advanced and +retreated. Full before me, lay the Mardian fleet of isles, profoundly at anchor +within their coral harbor. Near by was one belted round by a frothy luminous +reef, wherein it lay, like Saturn in its ring. +</p> + +<p> +From all their summits, went up a milk-white smoke, as from Indian wigwams in +the hazy harvest-moon. And floating away, these vapors blended with the faint +mist, as of a cataract, hovering over the circumvallating reef. Far beyond all, +and far into the infinite night, surged the jet-black ocean. +</p> + +<p> +But how tranquil the wide lagoon, which mirrored the burning spots in heaven! +Deep down into its innermost heart penetrated the slanting rays of Hesperus +like a shaft of light, sunk far into mysterious Golcondas, where myriad gnomes +seemed toiling. Soon a light breeze rippled the water, and the shaft was seen +no more. But the moon’s bright wake was still revealed: a silver track, +tipping every wave-crest in its course, till each seemed a pearly, +scroll-prowed nautilus, buoyant with some elfin crew. +</p> + +<p> +From earth to heaven! High above me was Night’s shadowy bower, traversed, +vine-like, by the Milky Way, and heavy with golden clusterings. Oh stars! oh +eyes, that see me, wheresoe’er I roam: serene, intent, inscrutable for +aye, tell me Sybils, what I am.—Wondrous worlds on worlds! Lo, round and +round me, shining, awful spells: all glorious, vivid constellations, +God’s diadem ye are! To you, ye stars, man owes his subtlest raptures, +thoughts unspeakable, yet full of faith. +</p> + +<p> +But how your mild effulgence stings the boding heart. Am I a murderer, stars? +</p> + +<p> +Hours pass. The starry trance is departed. Long waited for, the dawn now comes. +</p> + +<p> +First, breaking along the waking face; peeping from out the languid lids; then +shining forth in longer glances; till, like the sun, up comes the soul, and +sheds its rays abroad. +</p> + +<p> +When thus my Yillah did daily dawn, how she lit up my world; tinging more +rosily the roseate clouds, that in her summer cheek played to and fro, like +clouds in Italian air. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0059"></a> +CHAPTER LIX.<br/> +Their Morning Meal</h2> + +<p> +Not wholly is our world made up of bright stars and bright eyes: so now to our +story. +</p> + +<p> +A conscientious host should ever be up betimes, to look after the welfare of +his guests, and see to it that their day begin auspiciously. King Media +announced the advent of the sun, by rustling at my bower’s eaves in +person. +</p> + +<p> +A repast was spread in an adjoining arbor, which Media’s pages had +smoothed for our reception, and where his subordinate chiefs were in +attendance. Here we reclined upon mats. Balmy and fresh blew the breath of the +morning; golden vapors were upon the mountains, silver sheen upon the grass; +and the birds were at matins in the groves; their bright plumage flashing into +view, here and there, as if some rainbow were crouching in the foliage. +</p> + +<p> +Spread before us were viands, served in quaint-shaped, curiously-dyed gourds, +not Sevres, but almost as tasteful; and like true porcelain, fire had tempered +them. Green and yielding, they are plucked from the tree; and emptied of their +pulp, are scratched over with minute marks, like those of a line engraving. The +ground prepared, the various figures are carefully etched. And the outlines +filled up with delicate punctures, certain vegetable oils are poured over them, +for coloring. Filled with a peculiar species of earth, the gourd is now placed +in an oven in the ground. And in due time exhumed, emptied of its contents, and +washed in the stream, it presents a deep-dyed exterior; every figure distinctly +traced and opaque, but the ground semi-transparent. In some cases, owing to the +variety of dyes employed, each figure is of a different hue. +</p> + +<p> +More glorious goblets than these for the drinking of wine, went never from hand +to mouth. Capacious as pitchers, they almost superseded decanters. +</p> + +<p> +Now, in a tropical climate, fruit, with light wines, forms the only fit meal of +a morning. And with orchards and vineyards forever in sight, who but the Hetman +of the Cossacs would desire more? We had plenty of the juice of the grape. But +of this hereafter; there are some fine old cellars, and plenty of good cheer in +store. +</p> + +<p> +During the repast, Media, for a time, was much taken up with our raiment. He +begged me to examine for a moment the texture of his right royal robe, and +observe how much superior it was to my own. It put my mantle to the blush; +being tastefully stained with rare devices in red and black; and bordered with +dyed fringes of feathers, and tassels of red birds’ claws. +</p> + +<p> +Next came under observation the Skyeman’s Guayaquil hat; at whose +preposterous shape, our host laughed in derision; clapping a great conical +calabash upon the head of an attendant, and saying that now he was Jarl. At +this, and all similar sallies, Samoa was sure to roar louder than any; though +mirth was no constitutional thing with him. But he seemed rejoiced at the +opportunity of turning upon us the ridicule, which as a barbarian among whites, +he himself had so often experienced. +</p> + +<p> +These pleasantries over, King Media very slightly drew himself up, as if to +make amends for his previous unbending. He discoursed imperially with his +chiefs; nodded his sovereign will to his pages; called for another gourd of +wine; in all respects carrying his royalty bravely. +</p> + +<p> +The repast concluded, we journeyed to the canoe-house, where we found the +little Chamois stabled like a steed. One solitary depredation had been +committed. Its sides and bottom had been completely denuded of the minute green +barnacles, and short sea-grass, which, like so many leeches, had fastened to +our planks during our long, lazy voyage. +</p> + +<p> +By the people they had been devoured as dainties. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0060"></a> +CHAPTER LX.<br/> +Belshazzar On The Bench</h2> + +<p> +Now, Media was king of Odo. And from the simplicity of his manners hitherto, +and his easy, frank demeanor toward ourselves, had we foolishly doubted that +fact, no skepticism could have survived an illustration of it, which this very +day we witnessed at noon. +</p> + +<p> +For at high noon, Media was wont to don his dignity with his symbols of state; +and sit on his judgment divan or throne, to hear and try all causes brought +before him, and fulminate his royal decrees. +</p> + +<p> +This divan was elevated at one end of a spacious arbor, formed by an avenue of +regal palms, which in brave state, held aloft their majestical canopy. +</p> + +<p> +The crown of the island prince was of the primitive old Eastern style; in +shape, similar, perhaps, to that jauntily sported as a foraging cap by his +sacred majesty King Nimrod, who so lustily followed the hounds. It was a +plaited turban of red tappa, radiated by the pointed and polished white bones +of the Ray-fish. These diverged from a bandeau or fillet of the most precious +pearls; brought up from the sea by the deepest diving mermen of Mardi. From the +middle of the crown rose a tri-foiled spear-head. And a spear- headed scepter +graced the right hand of the king. +</p> + +<p> +Now, for all the rant of your democrats, a fine king on a throne is a very fine +sight to behold. He looks very much like a god. No wonder that his more dutiful +subjects so swore, that their good lord and master King Media was demi-divine. +</p> + +<p> +A king on his throne! Ah, believe me, ye Gracchi, ye Acephali, ye Levelers, it +is something worth seeing, be sure; whether beheld at Babylon the Tremendous, +when Nebuchadnezzar was crowned; at old Scone in the days of Macbeth; at +Rheims, among Oriflammes, at the coronation of Louis le Grand; at Westminster +Abbey, when the gentlemanly George doffed his beaver for a diadem; or under the +soft shade of palm trees on an isle in the sea. +</p> + +<p> +Man lording it over man, man kneeling to man, is a spectacle that Gabriel might +well travel hitherward to behold; for never did he behold it in heaven. But +Darius giving laws to the Medes and the Persians, or the conqueror of Bactria +with king-cattle yoked to his car, was not a whit more sublime, than Beau +Brummel magnificently ringing for his valet. +</p> + +<p> +A king on his throne! It is Jupiter nodding in the councils of Olympus; Satan, +seen among the coronets in Hell. +</p> + +<p> +A king on his throne! It is the sun over a mountain; the sun over law-giving +Sinai; the sun in our system: planets, duke-like, dancing attendance, and +baronial satellites in waiting. +</p> + +<p> +A king on his throne! After all, but a gentleman seated. And thus sat the good +lord, King Media. +</p> + +<p> +Time passed. And after trying and dismissing several minor affairs, Media +called for certain witnesses to testify concerning one Jiromo, a foolhardy +wight, who had been silly enough to plot against the majesty now sitting judge +and jury upon him. +</p> + +<p> +His guilt was clear. And the witnesses being heard, from a bunch of palm plumes +Media taking a leaf, placed it in the hand of a runner or pursuivant, saying, +“This to Jiromo, where he is prisoned; with his king’s compliments; +say we here wait for his head.” +</p> + +<p> +It was doffed like a turban before a Dey, and brought back on the instant. +</p> + +<p> +Now came certain lean-visaged, poverty-stricken, and hence suspicious-looking +varlets, grumbling and growling, and amiable as Bruin. They came muttering some +wild jargon about “bulwarks,” “bulkheads,” +“cofferdams,” “safeguards,” “noble +charters,” “shields,” and “paladiums,” +“great and glorious birthrights,” and other unintelligible +gibberish. +</p> + +<p> +Of the pursuivants, these worthies asked audience of Media. +</p> + +<p> +“Go, kneel at the throne,” was the answer. +</p> + +<p> +“Our knee-pans are stiff with sciatics,” was the rheumatic reply. +</p> + +<p> +“An artifice to keep on your legs,” said the pursuivants. +</p> + +<p> +And advancing they salamed, and told Media the excuse of those sour-looking +varlets. Whereupon my lord commanded them to down on their marrow-bones +instanter, either before him or the headsman, whichsoever they pleased. +</p> + +<p> +They preferred the former. And as they there kneeled, in vain did men with +sharp ears (who abound in all courts) prick their auriculars, to list to that +strange crackling and firing off of bone balls and sockets, ever incident to +the genuflections of rheumatic courtiers. +</p> + +<p> +In a row, then, these selfsame knee-pans did kneel before the king; who eyed +them as eagles in air do goslings on dunghills; or hunters, hounds crouching +round their calves. +</p> + +<p> +“Your prayer?” said Media. +</p> + +<p> +It was a petition, that thereafter all differences between man and man in Ode, +together with all alleged offenses against the state, might be tried by twelve +good men and true. These twelve to be unobnoxious to the party or parties +concerned; their peers; and previously unbiased touching the matter at issue. +Furthermore, that unanimity in these twelve should be indispensable to a +verdict; and no dinner be vouchsafed till unanimity came. +</p> + +<p> +Loud and long laughed King Media in scorn. +</p> + +<p> +“This be your judge,” he cried, swaying his scepter. “What! +are twelve wise men more wise than one? or will twelve fools, put together, +make one sage? Are twelve honest men more honest than one? or twelve knaves +less knavish than one? And if, of twelve men, three be fools, and three wise, +three knaves, and three upright, how obtain real unanimity from such? +</p> + +<p> +“But if twelve judges be better than one, then are twelve hundred better +than twelve. But take the whole populace for a judge, and you will long wait +for a unanimous verdict. +</p> + +<p> +“If upon a thing dubious, there be little unanimity in the conflicting +opinions of one man’s mind, how expect it in the uproar of twelve puzzled +brains? though much unanimity be found in twelve hungry stomachs. +</p> + +<p> +“Judges unobnoxious to the accused! Apply it to a criminal case. Ha! ha! +if peradventure a Cacti be rejected, because he had seen the accused commit the +crime for which he is arraigned. Then, his mind would be biased: no +impartiality from him! Or your testy accused might object to another, because +of his tomahawk nose, or a cruel squint of the eye. +</p> + +<p> +“Of all follies the most foolish! Know ye from me, that true peers render +not true verdicts. Jiromo was a rebel. Had I tried him by his peers, I had +tried him by rebels; and the rebel had rebelled to some purpose. +</p> + +<p> +“Away! As unerring justice dwells in a unity, and as one judge will at +last judge the world beyond all appeal; so—though often here below +justice be hard to attain—does man come nearest the mark, when he +imitates that model divine. Hence, one judge is better than twelve.” +</p> + +<p> +“And as Justice, in ideal, is ever painted high lifted above the crowd; +so, from the exaltation of his rank, an honest king is the best of those unical +judges, which individually are better than twelve. And therefore am I, King +Media, the best judge in this land.” +</p> + +<p> +“Subjects! so long as I live, I will rule you and judge you alone. And +though you here kneeled before me till you grew into the ground, and there took +root, no yea to your petition will you get from this throne. I am king: ye are +slaves. Mine to command: yours to obey. And this hour I decree, that henceforth +no gibberish of bulwarks and bulkheads be heard in this land. For a dead +bulwark and a bulkhead, to dam off sedition, will I make of that man, who again +but breathes those bulky words. Ho! spears! see that these knee-pans here kneel +till set of sun.” +</p> + +<p> +High noon was now passed; and removing his crown, and placing it on the dais +for the kneelers to look at during their devotions, King Media departed from +that place, and once more played the agreeable host. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0061"></a> +CHAPTER LXI.<br/> +An Incognito</h2> + +<p> +For the rest of that day, and several that followed, we were continually +receiving visits from the neighboring islands; whose inhabitants in fleets and +flotillas flocked round Odo to behold the guests of its lord. Among them came +many messengers from the neighboring kings with soft speeches and gifts. +</p> + +<p> +But it were needless to detail our various interviews, or relate in what +manifold ways, the royal strangers gave token of their interest concerning us. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the third day, however, there was noticed a mysterious figure, like the +inscrutable incognitos sometimes encountered, crossing the tower-shadowed Plaza +of Assignations at Lima. It was enveloped in a dark robe of tappa, so drawn and +plaited about the limbs; and with one hand, so wimpled about the face, as only +to expose a solitary eye. But that eye was a world. Now it was fixed upon +Yillah with a sinister glance, and now upon me, but with a different +expression. However great the crowd, however tumultuous, that fathomless eye +gazed on; till at last it seemed no eye, but a spirit, forever prying into my +soul. Often I strove to approach it, but it would evade me, soon reappearing. +</p> + +<p> +Pointing out the apparition to Media, I intreated him to take means to fix it, +that my suspicions might be dispelled, as to its being incorporeal. He replied +that, by courtesy, incognitos were sacred. Insomuch that the close-plaited robe +and the wimple were secure as a castle. At last, to my relief, the phantom +disappeared, and was seen no more. +</p> + +<p> +Numerous and fervent the invitations received to return the calls wherewith we +were honored. But for the present we declined them; preferring to establish +ourselves firmly in the heart of Media, ere encountering the vicissitudes of +roaming. In a multitude of acquaintances is less security, than in one faithful +friend. +</p> + +<p> +Now, while these civilities were being received, and on the fourth morning +after our arrival, there landed on the beach three black-eyed damsels, deep +brunettes, habited in long variegated robes, and with gay blossoms on their +heads. +</p> + +<p> +With many salams, the strangers were ushered into my presence by an old +white-haired servitor of Media’s, who with a parting congé murmured, +“From Queen Hautia,” then departed. Surprised, I stood mute, and +welcomed them. +</p> + +<p> +The first, with many smiles and blandishments, waved before me a many-tinted +Iris: the flag-flower streaming with pennons. Advancing, the second then +presented three rose-hued purple-veined Circea flowers, the dew still clinging +to them. The third placed in my hand a moss-rose bud; then, a Venus-car. +</p> + +<p> +“Thanks for your favors! now your message.” +</p> + +<p> +Starting at this reception, graciously intended, they conferred a moment; when +the Iris-bearer said in winning phrase, “We come from Hautia, whose +moss-rose you hold.” +</p> + +<p> +“All thanks to Hautia then; the bud is very fragrant.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she pointed to the Venus-car. +</p> + +<p> +“This too is sweet; thanks to Hautia for her flowers. Pray, bring me +more.” +</p> + +<p> +“He mocks our mistress,” and gliding from me, they waved witch- +hazels, leaving me alone and wondering. +</p> + +<p> +Informing Media of this scene, he smiled; threw out queer hints of Hautia; but +knew not what her message meant. +</p> + +<p> +At first this affair occasioned me no little uneasiness, with much matter for +marveling; but in the novel pleasure of our sojourn in Odo, it soon slipped +from my mind; nor for some time, did I again hear aught of Queen Hautia. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0062"></a> +CHAPTER LXII.<br/> +Taji Retires From The World</h2> + +<p> +After a while, when the strangers came not in shoals as before, I proposed to +our host, a stroll over his dominions; desirous of beholding the same, and +secretly induced by the hope of selecting an abode, more agreeable to my +fastidious taste, than the one already assigned me. +</p> + +<p> +The ramble over—a pleasant one it was—it resulted in a +determination on my part to quit Odo. Yet not to go very far; only ten or +twelve yards, to a little green tuft of an islet; one of many, which here and +there, all round the island, nestled like birds’ nests in the branching +boughs of the coral grove, whose roots laid hold of the foundations of the +deep. Between these islets and the shore, extended shelving ledges, with +shallows above, just sufficient to float a canoe. One of these islets was +wooded and wined; an arbor in the sea. And here, Media permitting, I decided to +dwell. +</p> + +<p> +Not long was Media in complying; nor long, ere my retreat was in readiness. +Laced together, the twisting boughs were closely thatched. And thatched were +the sides also, with deep crimson pandannus leaves; whose long, forked spears, +lifted by the breeze, caused the whole place to blaze, as with flames. Canes, +laid on palm trunks, formed the floor. How elastic! In vogue all over Odo, +among the chiefs, it imparted such a buoyancy to the person, that to this +special cause may be imputed in good part the famous fine spirits of the +nobles. +</p> + +<p> +Hypochondriac! essay the elastic flooring! It shall so pleasantly and gently +jolt thee, as to shake up, and pack off the stagnant humors mantling thy +pool-like soul. +</p> + +<p> +Such was my dwelling. But I make no mention of sundry little appurtenances of +tropical housekeeping: calabashes, cocoanut shells, and rolls of fine tappa; +till with Yillah seated at last in my arbor, I looked round, and wanted for +naught. +</p> + +<p> +But what of Jarl and Samoa? Why Jarl must needs be fanciful, as well as myself. +Like a bachelor in chambers, he settled down right opposite to me, on the main +land, in a little wigwam in the grove. +</p> + +<p> +But Samoa, following not his comrade’s example, still tarried in the camp +of the Hittites and Jebusites of Odo. Beguiling men of their leisure by his +marvelous stories: and maidens of their hearts by his marvelous wiles. +</p> + +<p> +When I chose, I was completely undisturbed in my arbor; an ukase of +Media’s forbidding indiscriminate intrusion. But thrice in the day came a +garrulous old man with my viands. +</p> + +<p> +Thus sequestered, however, I could not entirely elude the pryings of the people +of the neighboring islands; who often passed by, slowly paddling, and earnestly +regarding my retreat. But gliding along at a distance, and never essaying a +landing, their occasional vicinity troubled me but little. But now and then of +an evening, when thick and fleet the shadows were falling, dim glimpses of a +canoe would be spied; hovering about the place like a ghost. And once, in the +stillness of the night, hearing the near ripple of a prow, I sallied forth, but +the phantom quickly departed. +</p> + +<p> +That night, Yillah shuddered as she slept. “The whirl-pool,” she +murmured, “sweet mosses.” Next day she was lost in reveries, +plucking pensive hyacinths, or gazing intently into the lagoon. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0063"></a> +CHAPTER LXIII.<br/> +Odo And Its Lord</h2> + +<p> +Time now to enter upon some further description of the island and its lord. +</p> + +<p> +And first for Media: a gallant gentleman and king. From a goodly stock he came. +In his endless pedigree, reckoning deities by decimals, innumerable kings, and +scores of great heroes, chiefs, and priests. Nor in person, did he belie his +origin. No far-descended dwarf was he, the least of a receding race. He stood +like a palm tree; about whose acanthus capital droops not more gracefully the +silken fringes, than Media’s locks upon his noble brow. Strong was his +arm to wield the club, or hurl the javelin; and potent, I ween, round a +maiden’s waist. +</p> + +<p> +Thus much here for Media. Now comes his isle. +</p> + +<p> +Our pleasant ramble found it a little round world by itself; full of beauties +as a garden; chequered by charming groves; watered by roving brooks; and +fringed all round by a border of palm trees, whose roots drew nourishment from +the water. But though abounding in other quarters of the Archipelago, not a +solitary bread-fruit grew in Odo. A noteworthy circumstance, observable in +these regions, where islands close adjoining, so differ in their soil, that +certain fruits growing genially in one, are foreign to another. But Odo was +famed for its guavas, whose flavor was likened to the flavor of new-blown lips; +and for its grapes, whose juices prompted many a laugh and many a groan. +</p> + +<p> +Beside the city where Media dwelt, there were few other clusters of habitations +in Odo. The higher classes living, here and there, in separate households; but +not as eremites. Some buried themselves in the cool, quivering bosoms of the +groves. Others, fancying a marine vicinity, dwelt hard by the beach in little +cages of bamboo; whence of mornings they sallied out with jocund cries, and +went plunging into the refreshing bath, whose frothy margin was the threshold +of their dwellings. Others still, like birds, built their nests among the +sylvan nooks of the elevated interior; whence all below, and hazy green, lay +steeped in languor the island’s throbbing heart. +</p> + +<p> +Thus dwelt the chiefs and merry men of mark. The common sort, including serfs, +and Helots, war-captives held in bondage, lived in secret places, hard to find. +Whence it came, that, to a stranger, the whole isle looked care-free and +beautiful. Deep among the ravines and the rocks, these beings lived in noisome +caves, lairs for beasts, not human homes; or built them coops of rotten +boughs—living trees were banned them—whose mouldy hearts hatched +vermin. Fearing infection of some plague, born of this filth, the chiefs of Odo +seldom passed that way and looking round within their green retreats, and +pouring out their wine, and plucking from orchards of the best, marveled how +these swine could grovel in the mire, and wear such sallow cheeks. But they +offered no sweet homes; from that mire they never sought to drag them out; they +open threw no orchard; and intermitted not the mandates that condemned their +drudges to a life of deaths. Sad sight! to see those round-shouldered Helots, +stooping in their trenches: artificial, three in number, and concentric: the +isle well nigh surrounding. And herein, fed by oozy loam, and kindly dew from +heaven, and bitter sweat from men, grew as in hot-beds the nutritious Taro. +</p> + +<p> +Toil is man’s allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a grief +that’s more than either, the grief and sin of idleness. But when man +toils and slays himself for masters who withhold the life he gives to +them—then, then, the soul screams out, and every sinew cracks. So with +these poor serfs. And few of them could choose but be the brutes they seemed. +</p> + +<p> +Now needs it to be said, that Odo was no land of pleasure unalloyed, and plenty +without a pause?—Odo, in whose lurking-places infants turned from +breasts, whence flowed no nourishment.—Odo, in whose inmost haunts, dark +groves were brooding, passing which you heard most dismal cries, and voices +cursing Media. There, men were scourged; their crime, a heresy; the heresy, +that Media was no demigod. For this they shrieked. Their fathers shrieked +before; their fathers, who, tormented, said, “Happy we to groan, that our +children’s children may be glad.” But their children’s +children howled. Yet these, too, echoed previous generations, and loudly swore, +“The pit that’s dug for us may prove another’s grave.” +</p> + +<p> +But let all pass. To look at, and to roam about of holidays, Odo seemed a happy +land. The palm-trees waved—though here and there you marked one sear and +palsy-smitten; the flowers bloomed—though dead ones moldered in decay; +the waves ran up the strand in glee—though, receding, they sometimes left +behind bones mixed with shells. +</p> + +<p> +But else than these, no sign of death was seen throughout the isle. Did men in +Odo live for aye? Was Ponce de Leon’s fountain there? For near and far, +you saw no ranks and files of graves, no generations harvested in winrows. In +Odo, no hard-hearted nabob slept beneath a gentle epitaph; no +requiescat-in-pace mocked a sinner damned; no memento-mori admonished men to +live while yet they might. Here Death hid his skull; and hid it in the sea, the +common sepulcher of Odo. Not dust to dust, but dust to brine; not hearses but +canoes. For all who died upon that isle were carried out beyond the outer reef, +and there were buried with their sires’ sires. Hence came the thought, +that of gusty nights, when round the isles, and high toward heaven, flew the +white reef’s rack and foam, that then and there, kept chattering watch +and ward, the myriads that were ocean-tombed. +</p> + +<p> +But why these watery obsequies? +</p> + +<p> +Odo was but a little isle, and must the living make way for the dead, and +Life’s small colony be dislodged by Death’s grim hosts; as the +gaunt tribes of Tamerlane o’erspread the tented pastures of the Khan? +</p> + +<p> +And now, what follows, said these Islanders: “Why sow corruption in the +soil which yields us life? We would not pluck our grapes from over graves. This +earth’s an urn for flowers, not for ashes.” +</p> + +<p> +They said that Oro, the supreme, had made a cemetery of the sea. +</p> + +<p> +And what more glorious grave? Was Mausolus more sublimely urned? Or do the +minster-lamps that burn before the tomb of Charlemagne, show more of pomp, than +all the stars, that blaze above the shipwrecked mariner? +</p> + +<p> +But no more of the dead; men shrug their shoulders, and love not their company; +though full soon we shall all have them for fellows. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0064"></a> +CHAPTER LXIV.<br/> +Yillah A Phantom</h2> + +<p> +For a time we were happy in Odo: Yillah and I in our islet. Nor did the pearl +on her bosom glow more rosily than the roses in her cheeks; though at intervals +they waned and departed; and deadly pale was her glance, when she murmured of +the whirlpool and mosses. As pale my soul, bethinking me of Aleema the priest. +</p> + +<p> +But day by day, did her spell weave round me its magic, and all the hidden +things of her being grew more lovely and strange. Did I commune with a spirit? +Often I thought that Paradise had overtaken me on earth, and that Yillah was +verily an angel, and hence the mysteries that hallowed her. +</p> + +<p> +But how fleeting our joys. Storms follow bright dawnings.—Long memories +of short-lived scenes, sad thoughts of joyous hours—how common are ye to +all mankind. When happy, do we pause and say—“Lo, thy felicity, my +soul?” No: happiness seldom seems happiness, except when looked back upon +from woes. A flowery landscape, you must come out of, to behold. +</p> + +<p> +Sped the hours, the days, the one brief moment of our joys. Fairy bower in the +fair lagoon, scene of sylvan ease and heart’s repose,—Oh, Yillah, +Yillah! All the woods repeat the sound, the wild, wild woods of my wild soul. +Yillah! Yillah! cry the small strange voices in me, and evermore, and far and +deep, they echo on. +</p> + +<p> +Days passed. When one morning I found the arbor vacant. Gone! A dream. I closed +my eyes, and would have dreamed her back. In vain. Starting, I called upon her +name; but none replied. Fleeing from the islet, I gained the neighboring shore, +and searched among the woods; and my comrades meeting, besought their aid. But +idle all. No glimpse of aught, save trees and flowers. Then Media was sought +out; the event made known; and quickly, bands were summoned to range the isle. +</p> + +<p> +Noon came; but no Yillah. When Media averred she was no longer in Odo. Whither +she was gone, or how, he knew not; nor could any imagine. +</p> + +<p> +At this juncture, there chanced to arrive certain messengers from abroad; who, +presuming that all was well with Taji, came with renewed invitations to visit +various pleasant places round about. Among these, came Queen Hautia’s +heralds, with their Iris flag, once more bringing flowers. But they came and +went unheeded. +</p> + +<p> +Setting out to return, these envoys were accompanied by numerous followers of +Media, dispatched to the neighboring islands, to seek out the missing Yillah. +But three days passed; and, one by one, they all returned; and stood before me +silently. +</p> + +<p> +For a time I raved. Then, falling into outer repose, lived for a space in moods +and reveries, with eyes that knew no closing, one glance forever fixed. +</p> + +<p> +They strove to rouse me. Girls danced and sang; and tales of fairy times were +told; of monstrous imps, and youths enchanted; of groves and gardens in the +sea. Yet still I moved not, hearing all, yet noting naught. Media cried, +“For shame, oh Taji; thou, a god?” and placed a spear in my +nerveless hand. And Jarl loud called upon me to awake. Samoa marveled. +</p> + +<p> +Still sped the days. And at length, my memory was restored. The thoughts of +things broke over me like returning billows on a beach long bared. A rush, a +foam of recollections!—Sweet Yillah gone, and I bereaved. +</p> + +<p> +Another interval, and that mood was past. Misery became a memory. The keen pang +a deep vibration. The remembrance seemed the thing remembered; though bowed +with sadness. There are thoughts that lie and glitter deep: tearful pearls +beneath life’s sea, that surges still, and rolls sunlit, whatever it may +hide. Common woes, like fluids, mix all round. Not so with that other grief. +Some mourners load the air with lamentations; but the loudest notes are struck +from hollows. Their tears flow fast: but the deep spring only wells. +</p> + +<p> +At last I turned to Media, saying I must hie from Odo, and rove throughout all +Mardi; for Yillah might yet be found. +</p> + +<p> +But hereafter, in words, little more of the maiden, till perchance her fate be +learned. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0065"></a> +CHAPTER LXV.<br/> +Taji Makes Three Acquaintances</h2> + +<p> +Down to this period, I had restrained Samoa from wandering to the neighboring +islands, though he had much desired it, in compliance with the invitations +continually received. But now I informed both him, and his comrade, of the tour +I purposed; desiring their company. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the announcement of my intention to depart, to my no small surprise Media +also proposed to accompany me: a proposition gladly embraced. It seems, that +for some reason, he had not as yet extended his travels to the more distant +islands. Hence the voyage in prospect was particularly agreeable to him. Nor +did he forbear any pains to insure its prosperity; assuring me, furthermore, +that its object must eventually be crowned with success. “I myself am +interested in this pursuit,” said he; “and trust me, Yillah will be +found.” +</p> + +<p> +For the tour of the lagoon, the docile Chamois was proposed; but Media +dissented; saying, that it befitted not the lord of Odo to voyage in the +equipage of his guest. Therefore, three canoes were selected from his own royal +fleet. +</p> + +<p> +One for ourselves, and a trio of companions whom he purposed introducing to my +notice; the rest were reserved for attendants. +</p> + +<p> +Thanks to Media’s taste and heedfulness, the strangers above mentioned +proved truly acceptable. +</p> + +<p> +The first was Mohi, or Braid-Beard, so called from the manner in which he wore +that appendage, exceedingly long and gray. He was a venerable teller of stories +and legends, one of the Keepers of the Chronicles of the Kings of Mardi. +</p> + +<p> +The second was Babbalanja, a man of a mystical aspect, habited in a voluminous +robe. He was learned in Mardian lore; much given to quotations from ancient and +obsolete authorities: the Ponderings of Old Bardianna: the Pandects of +Alla-Malolla. +</p> + +<p> +Third and last, was Yoomy, or the Warbler. A youthful, long-haired, blue-eyed +minstrel; all fits and starts; at times, absent of mind, and wan of cheek; but +always very neat and pretty in his apparel; wearing the most becoming of +turbans, a Bird of Paradise feather its plume, and sporting the gayest of +sashes. Most given was Yoomy to amorous melodies, and rondos, and roundelays, +very witching to hear. But at times disdaining the oaten reed, like a clarion +he burst forth with lusty lays of arms and battle; or, in mournful strains, +sounded elegies for departed bards and heroes. +</p> + +<p> +Thus much for Yoomy as a minstrel. In other respects, it would be hard to +depict him. He was so capricious a mortal; so swayed by contrary moods; so +lofty, so humble, so sad, so merry; so made up of a thousand contradictions, +that we must e’en let him depict himself as our story progresses. And +herein it is hoped he will succeed; since no one in Mardi comprehended him. +</p> + +<p> +Now the trio, thus destined for companions on our voyage, had for some time +been anxious to take the tour of the Archipelago. In particular, Babbalanja had +often expressed the most ardent desire to visit every one of the isles, in +quest of some object, mysteriously hinted. He murmured deep concern for my +loss, the sincerest sympathy; and pressing my hand more than once, said lowly, +“Your pursuit is mine, noble Taji. Where’er you search, I +follow.” +</p> + +<p> +So, too, Yoomy addressed me; but with still more feeling. And something like +this, also, Braid-Beard repeated. +</p> + +<p> +But to my sorrow, I marked that both Mohi and Babbalanja, especially the last, +seemed not so buoyant of hope, concerning lost Yillah, as the youthful Yoomy, +and his high-spirited lord, King Media. +</p> + +<p> +As our voyage would embrace no small period of time, it behoved King Media to +appoint some trustworthy regent, to rule during his absence. This regent was +found in Almanni, a stem-eyed, resolute warrior, a kinsman of the king. +</p> + +<p> +All things at last in readiness, and the ensuing morning appointed for a start, +Media, on the beach, at eventide, when both light and water waned, drew a rude +map of the lagoon, to compensate for the obstructions in the way of a +comprehensive glance at it from Odo. +</p> + +<p> +And thus was sketched the plan of our voyage; which islands first to visit; and +which to touch at, when we should be homeward bound. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0066"></a> +CHAPTER LXVI.<br/> +With A Fair Wind, At Sunrise They Sail</h2> + +<p> +True each to his word, up came the sun, and round to my isle came Media. +</p> + +<p> +How glorious a morning! The new-born clouds all dappled with gold, and streaked +with violet; the sun in high spirits; and the pleasant air cooled overnight by +the blending circumambient fountains, forever playing all round the reef; the +lagoon within, the coral-rimmed basin, into which they poured, subsiding, +hereabouts, into green tranquillity. +</p> + +<p> +But what monsters of canoes! Would they devour an innocent voyager? their great +black prows curling aloft, and thrown back like trunks of elephants; a dark, +snaky length behind, like the sea-serpent’s train. +</p> + +<p> +The prow of the foremost terminated in a large, open, shark’s mouth, +garnished with ten rows of pearly human teeth, curiously inserted into the +sculptured wood. The gunwale was ornamented with rows of rich spotted Leopard +and Tiger-shells; here and there, varied by others, flat and round, and +spirally traced; gay serpents petrified in coils. These were imbedded in a +grooved margin, by means of a resinous compound, exhaling such spices, that the +canoes were odoriferous as the Indian chests of the Maldives. +</p> + +<p> +The likeness of the foremost canoe to an elephant, was helped by a sort of +canopied Howdah in its stern, of heavy, russet-dyed tappa, tasselled at the +corners with long bunches of cocoanut fibres, stained red. These swayed to and +fro, like the fox-tails on a Tuscarora robe. +</p> + +<p> +But what is this, in the head of the canoe, just under the shark’s mouth? +A grinning little imp of an image; a ring in its nose; cowrie shells jingling +at its ears; with an abominable leer, like that of Silenus reeling on his ass. +It was taking its ease; cosily smoking a pipe; its bowl, a duodecimo edition of +the face of the smoker. This image looked sternward; everlastingly mocking us. +</p> + +<p> +Of these canoes, it may be well to state, that although during our stay in Odo, +so many barges and shallops had touched there, nothing similar to Media’s +had been seen. But inquiring whence his sea- equipage came, we were thereupon +taught to reverence the same as antiquities and heir-looms; claw-keeled, +dragon-prowed crafts of a bygone generation; at present, superseded in general +use by the more swan-like canoes, significant of the advanced stage of marine +architecture in Mardi. No sooner was this known, than what had seemed almost +hideous in my eyes, became merely grotesque. Nor could I help being greatly +delighted with the good old family pride of our host. +</p> + +<p> +The upper corners of our sails displayed the family crest of Media; three +upright boars’ tusks, in an heraldic field argent. A fierce device: Whom +rends he? +</p> + +<p> +All things in readiness, we glided away: the multitude waving adieu; and our +flotilla disposed in the following order. +</p> + +<p> +First went the royal Elephant, carrying Media, myself, Jarl, and Samoa; Mohi +the Teller of Legends, Babbalanja, and Yoomy, and six vivacious paddlers; their +broad paddle-blades carved with the royal boars’ tusks, the same tattooed +on their chests for a livery. +</p> + +<p> +And thus, as Media had promised, we voyaged in state. To crown all, seated +sideways in the high, open shark’s-mouth of our prow was a little dwarf +of a boy, one of Media’s pages, a red conch-shell, bugle-wise suspended +at his side. Among various other offices, it was the duty of little Vee-Vee to +announce the advent of his master, upon drawing near to the islands in our +route. Two short bars, projecting from one side of the prow, furnished him the +means of ascent to his perch. +</p> + +<p> +As we gained the open lagoon with bellied sails, and paddles playing, a sheaf +of foam borne upright at our prow; Yoomy, standing where the spicy spray flew +over him, stretched forth his hand and cried—“The dawn of day is +passed, and Mardi lies all before us: all her isles, and all her lakes; all her +stores of good and evil. Storms may come, our barks may drown. But blow before +us, all ye winds; give us a lively blast, good clarion; rally round us all our +wits; and be this voyage full gayly sailed, for Yillah will yet be +found.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0067"></a> +CHAPTER LXVII.<br/> +Little King Peepi</h2> + +<p> +Valapee, or the Isle of Yams, being within plain sight of Media’s +dominions, we were not very long in drawing nigh to its shores. +</p> + +<p> +Two long parallel elevations, rising some three arrow-flights into the air, +double-ridge the island’s entire length, lapping between, a widening +vale, so level withal, that at either extremity, the green of its groves blends +with the green of the lagoon; and the isle seems divided by a strait. +</p> + +<p> +Within several paces of the beach, our canoes keeled the bottom, and camel-like +mutely hinted that we voyagers must dismount. +</p> + +<p> +Hereupon, the assembled islanders ran into the water, and with bent shoulders +obsequiously desired the honor of transporting us to land. The beach gained, +all present wearing robes instantly stripped them to the waist; a naked chest +being their salute to kings. Very convenient for the common people, this; their +half-clad forms presenting a perpetual and profound salutation. +</p> + +<p> +Presently, Peepi, the ruler of Valapee drew near: a boy, hardly ten years old, +striding the neck of a burly mute, bearing a long spear erect before him, to +which was attached a canopy of five broad banana leaves, new plucked. Thus +shaded, little Peepi advanced, steadying himself by the forelock of his bearer. +</p> + +<p> +Besides his bright red robe, the young prince wore nothing but the symbol of +Valapeean royalty; a string of small, close-fitting, concave shells, coiled and +ambushed in his profuse, curly hair; one end falling over his ear, revealing a +serpent’s head, curiously carved from a nutmeg. +</p> + +<p> +Quite proverbial, the unembarrassed air of young slips of royalty. But there +was something so surprisingly precocious in this young Peepi, that at first one +hardly knew what to conclude. +</p> + +<p> +The first compliments over, the company were invited inland to a shady retreat. +</p> + +<p> +As we pursued the path, walking between old Mohi the keeper of chronicles and +Samoa the Upoluan, Babbalanja besought the former to enlighten a stranger +concerning the history of this curious Peepi. Whereupon the chronicler gave us +the following account; for all of which he alone is responsible. +</p> + +<p> +Peepi, it seems, had been proclaimed king before he was born; his sire dying +some few weeks previous to that event; and vacating his divan, declared that he +left a monarch behind. +</p> + +<p> +Marvels were told of Peepi. Along with the royal dignity, and superadded to the +soul possessed in his own proper person, the infant monarch was supposed to +have inherited the valiant spirits of some twenty heroes, sages, simpletons, +and demi-gods, previously lodged in his sire. +</p> + +<p> +Most opulent in spiritual gifts was this lord of Valapee; the legatee, +moreover, of numerous anonymous souls, bequeathed to him by their late loyal +proprietors. By a slavish act of his convocation of chiefs, he also possessed +the reversion of all and singular the immortal spirits, whose first grantees +might die intestate in Valapee. Servile, yet audacious senators! thus +prospectively to administrate away the inalienable rights of posterity. But +while yet unborn, the people of Valapee had been deprived of more than they now +sought to wrest from their descendants. And former Peepies, infant and adult, +had received homage more profound, than Peepi the Present. Witness the demeanor +of the chieftains of old, upon every new investiture of the royal serpent. In a +fever of loyalty, they were wont to present themselves before the heir to the +isle, to go through with the court ceremony of the Pupera; a curious +proceeding, so called: inverted endeavors to assume an erect posture: the nasal +organ the base. +</p> + +<p> +It was to the frequent practice of this ceremony, that most intelligent +observers imputed the flattened noses of the elderly chiefs of the island; who, +nevertheless, much gloried therein. +</p> + +<p> +It was these chiefs, also, who still observed the old-fashioned custom of +retiring from the presence of royalty with their heads between their thighs; so +that while advancing in the contrary direction, their faces might be still +deferentially turned toward their lord and master. A fine view of him did they +obtain. All objects look well through an arch. +</p> + +<p> +But to return to Peepi, the inheritor of souls and subjects. It was an article +of faith with the people of Valapee, that Peepi not only actually possessed the +souls bequeathed to him; but that his own was enriched by their peculiar +qualities: The headlong valor of the late Tongatona; the pusillanimous +discretion of Blandoo; the cunning of Voyo; the simplicity of Raymonda; the +prodigality of Zonoree; the thrift of Titonti. +</p> + +<p> +But had all these, and similar opposite qualities, simultaneously acted as +motives upon Peepi, certes, he would have been a most pitiable mortal, in a +ceaseless eddy of resolves, incapable of a solitary act. +</p> + +<p> +But blessed be the gods, it was otherwise. Though it fared little better for +his subjects as it was. His assorted souls were uppermost and active in him, +one by one. Today, valiant Tongatona ruled the isle, meditating wars and +invasions; tomorrow, thrice discreet Blandoo, who, disbanding the levies, +turned his attention to the terraces of yams. And so on in rotation to the end. +</p> + +<p> +Whence, though capable of action, Peepi, by reason of these revolving souls in +him, was one of the most unreliable of beings. What the open-handed Zonoree +promised freely to-day, the parsimonious Titonti withheld to-morrow; and +forever Raymonda was annulling the doings of Voyo; and Voyo the doings of +Raymonda. +</p> + +<p> +What marvel then, that in Valapee all was legislative uproar and confusion; +advance and retreat; abrogations and revivals; foundations without +superstructures; nothing permanent but the island itself. +</p> + +<p> +Nor were there those in the neighboring countries, who failed to reap profit +from this everlasting transition state of the affairs of the kingdom. All boons +from Peepi were entreated when the prodigal Zonoree was lord of the ascendant. +And audacious claims were urged upon the state when the pusillanimous Blandoo +shrank from the thought of resisting them. +</p> + +<p> +Thus subject to contrary impulses, over which he had not the faintest control, +Peepi was plainly denuded of all moral obligation to virtue. He was no more a +free agent, than the heart which beat in his bosom. Wherefore, his complaisant +parliament had passed a law, recognizing that curious, but alarming fact; +solemnly proclaiming, that King Peepi was minus a conscience. Agreeable to +truth. But when they went further, and vowed by statute, that Peepi could do no +wrong, they assuredly did violence to the truth; besides, making a sad blunder +in their logic. For far from possessing an absolute aversion to evil, by his +very nature it was the hardest thing in the world for Peepi to do right. +</p> + +<p> +Taking all these things into consideration, then, no wonder that this wholly +irresponsible young prince should be a lad of considerable assurance, and the +easiest manners imaginable. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0068"></a> +CHAPTER LXVIII.<br/> +How Teeth Were Regarded In Valapee</h2> + +<p> +Coiling through the thickets, like the track of a serpent, wound along the path +we pursued. And ere long we came to a spacious grove, embowering an oval arbor. +Here, we reclined at our ease, and refreshments were served. +</p> + +<p> +Little worthy of mention occurred, save this. Happening to catch a glimpse of +the white even teeth of Hohora one of our attendants, King Peepi coolly begged +of Media the favor, to have those same dentals drawn on the spot, and presented +to him. +</p> + +<p> +Now human teeth, extracted, are reckoned among the most valuable ornaments in +Mardi. So open wide thy strong box, Hohora, and show thy treasures. What a +gallant array! standing shoulder to shoulder, without a hiatus between. A +complete set of jewelry, indeed, thought Peepi. But, it seems, not destined for +him; Media leaving it to the present proprietor, whether his dentals should +change owners or not. +</p> + +<p> +And here, to prepare the way for certain things hereafter to be narrated, +something farther needs be said concerning the light in which men’s +molars are regarded in Mardi. +</p> + +<p> +Strung together, they are sported for necklaces, or hung in drops from the ear; +they are wrought into dice; in lieu of silken locks, are exchanged for love +tokens. +</p> + +<p> +As in all lands, men smite their breasts, and tear their hair, when transported +with grief; so, in some countries, teeth are stricken out under the sway of +similar emotions. To a very great extent, this was once practiced in the +Hawaiian Islands, ere idol and altar went down. Still living in Oahu, are many +old chiefs, who were present at the famous obsequies of their royal old +generalissimo, Tammahammaha, when there is no telling how many pounds of ivory +were cast upon his grave. +</p> + +<p> +Ah! had the regal white elephants of Siam been there, doubtless they had +offered up their long, hooked tusks, whereon they impale the leopards, their +foes; and the unicorn had surrendered that fixed bayonet in his forehead; and +the imperial Cachalot-whale, the long chain of white towers in his jaw; yea, +over that grim warrior’s grave, the mooses, and elks, and stags, and +fallow-deer had stacked their antlers, as soldiers their arms on the field. +</p> + +<p> +Terrific shade of tattooed Tammahammaha! if, from a vile dragon’s molars, +rose mailed men, what heroes shall spring from the cannibal canines once +pertaining to warriors themselves!—Am I the witch of Endor, that I +conjure up this ghost? Or, King Saul, that I so quake at the sight? For, lo! +roundabout me Tammahammaha’s tattooing expands, till all the sky seems a +tiger’s skin. But now, the spotted phantom sweeps by; as a +man-of-war’s main-sail, cloud-like, blown far to leeward in a gale. +</p> + +<p> +Banquo down, we return. +</p> + +<p> +In Valapee, prevails not the barbarous Hindoo custom of offering up widows to +the shades of their lords; for, bereaved, the widows there marry again. Nor yet +prevails the savage Hawaiian custom of offering up teeth to the manes of the +dead; for, at the decease of a friend, the people rob not their own mouths to +testify their woe. On the contrary, they extract the teeth from the departed, +distributing them among the mourners for memorial legacies; as elsewhere, +silver spoons are bestowed. +</p> + +<p> +From the high value ascribed to dentals throughout the archipelago of Mardi, +and also from their convenient size, they are circulated as money; strings of +teeth being regarded by these people very much as belts of wampum among the +Winnebagoes of the North; or cowries, among the Bengalese. So, that in Valapee +the very beggars are born with a snug investment in their mouths; too soon, +however, to be appropriated by their lords; leaving them toothless for the rest +of their days, and forcing them to diet on poee-pudding and banana blanc-mange. +</p> + +<p> +As a currency, teeth are far less clumsy than cocoanuts; which, among certain +remote barbarians, circulate for coin; one nut being equivalent, perhaps, to a +penny. The voyager who records the fact, chuckles over it hugely; as evincing +the simplicity of those heathens; not knowing that he himself was the +simpleton; since that currency of theirs was purposely devised by the men, to +check the extravagance of their women; cocoanuts, for spending money, being +such a burden to carry. +</p> + +<p> +It only remains to be added, that the most solemn oath of a native of Valapee +is that sworn by his tooth. “By this tooth,” said Bondo to +Noojoomo, “by this tooth I swear to be avenged upon thee, oh +Noojoomo!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0069"></a> +CHAPTER LXIX.<br/> +The Company Discourse, And Braid-Beard Rehearses A Legend</h2> + +<p> +Finding in Valapee no trace of her whom we sought, and but little pleased with +the cringing demeanor of the people, and the wayward follies of Peepi their +lord, we early withdrew from the isle. +</p> + +<p> +As we glided away, King Media issued a sociable decree. He declared it his +royal pleasure, that throughout the voyage, all stiffness and state etiquette +should be suspended: nothing must occur to mar the freedom of the party. To +further this charming plan, he doffed his symbols of royalty, put off his +crown, laid aside his scepter, and assured us that he would not wear them +again, except when we landed; and not invariably, then. +</p> + +<p> +“Are we not all now friends and companions?” he said. “So +companions and friends let us be. I unbend my bow; do ye likewise.” +</p> + +<p> +“But are we not to be dignified?” asked Babbalanja. +</p> + +<p> +“If dignity be free and natural, be as dignified as you please; but away +with rigidities.” +</p> + +<p> +“Away they go,” said Babbalanja; “and, my lord, now that you +mind me of it, I have often thought, that it is all folly and vanity for any +man to attempt a dignified carriage. Why, my lord,”—frankly +crossing his legs where he lay—“the king, who receives his +ambassadors with a majestic toss of the head, may have just recovered from the +tooth- ache. That thought should cant over the spine he bears so +bravely.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have a care, sir! there is a king within hearing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon, my lord; I was merely availing myself of the immunity bestowed +upon the company. Hereafter, permit a subject to rebel against your sociable +decrees. I will not be so frank any more.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well put, Babbalanja; come nearer; here, cross your legs by mine; you +have risen a cubit in my regard. Vee-Vee, bring us that gourd of wine; so, pass +it round with the cups. Now, Yoomy, a song!” +</p> + +<p> +And a song was sung. +</p> + +<p> +And thus did we sail; pleasantly reclining on the mats stretched out beneath +the canopied howdah. +</p> + +<p> +At length, we drew nigh to a rock, called Pella, or The Theft. A high, green +crag, toppling over its base, and flinging a cavernous shadow upon the lagoon +beneath, bubbling with the moisture that dropped. +</p> + +<p> +Passing under this cliff was like finding yourself, as some sea- hunters +unexpectedly have, beneath the open, upper jaw of a whale; which, descending, +infallibly entombs you. But familiar with the rock, our paddlers only threw +back their heads, to catch the cool, pleasant tricklings from the mosses above. +</p> + +<p> +Wiping away several glittering beads from his beard, old Mohi turning round +where he sat, just outside the canopy, solemnly affirmed, that the drinking of +that water had cured many a man of ambition. +</p> + +<p> +“How so, old man?” demanded Media. +</p> + +<p> +“Because of its passing through the ashes of ten kings, of yore buried in +a sepulcher, hewn in the heart of the rock.” +</p> + +<p> +“Mighty kings, and famous, doubtless,” said Babbalanja, +“whose bones were thought worthy of so noble and enduring as urn. Pray, +Mohi, their names and terrible deeds.” +</p> + +<p> +“Alas! their sepulcher only remains.” +</p> + +<p> +“And, no doubt, like many others, they made that sepul for themselves. +They sleep sound, my word for it, old man. But I very much question, if, were +the rock rent, any ashes would be found. Mohi, I deny that those kings ever had +any bones to bury.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why, Babbalanja,” said Media, “since you intimate that they +never had ghosts to give up, you ignore them in toto; denying the very fact of +their being even defunct.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ten thousand pardons, my lord, no such discourtesy would I do the +anonymous memory of the illustrious dead. But whether they ever lived or not, +it is all the same with them now. Yet, grant that they lived; then, if death be +a deaf-and-dumb death, a triumphal procession over their graves would concern +them not. If a birth into brightness, then Mardi must seem to them the most +trivial of reminiscences. Or, perhaps, theirs may be an utter lapse of memory +concerning sublunary things; and they themselves be not themselves, as the +butterfly is not the larva.” +</p> + +<p> +Said Yoomy, “Then, Babbalanja, you account that a fit illustration of the +miraculous change to be wrought in man after death?” +</p> + +<p> +“No; for the analogy has an unsatisfactory end. From its chrysalis state, +the silkworm but becomes a moth, that very quickly expires. Its longest +existence is as a worm. All vanity, vanity, Yoomy, to seek in nature for +positive warranty to these aspirations of ours. Through all her provinces, +nature seems to promise immortality to life, but destruction to beings. Or, as +old Bardianna has it, if not against us, nature is not for us.” +</p> + +<p> +Said Media, rising, “Babbalanja, you have indeed put aside the courtier; +talking of worms and caterpillars to me, a king and a demi- god! To renown, for +your theme: a more agreeable topic.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon, once again, my lord. And since you will, let us discourse of +that subject. First, I lay it down for an indubitable maxim, that in itself all +posthumous renown, which is the only renown, is valueless. Be not offended, my +lord. To the nobly ambitious, renown hereafter may be something to anticipate. +But analyzed, that feverish typhoid feeling of theirs may be nothing more than +a flickering fancy, that now, while living, they are recognized as those who +will be as famous in their shrouds, as in their girdles.” +</p> + +<p> +Said Yoomy, “But those great and good deeds, Babbalanja, of which the +philosophers so often discourse: must it not be sweet to believe that their +memory will long survive us; and we ourselves in them?” +</p> + +<p> +“I speak now,” said Babbalanja, “of the ravening for fame +which even appeased, like thirst slaked in the desert, yields no felicity, but +only relief; and which discriminates not in aught that will satisfy its +cravings. But let me resume. Not an hour ago, Braid-Beard was telling us that +story of prince Ottimo, who inodorous while living, expressed much delight at +the prospect of being perfumed and embalmed, when dead. But was not Ottimo the +most eccentric of mortals? For few men issue orders for their shrouds, to +inspect their quality beforehand. Far more anxious are they about the texture +of the sheets in which their living limbs lie. And, my lord, with some rare +exceptions, does not all Mardi, by its actions, declare, that it is far better +to be notorious now, than famous hereafter?” +</p> + +<p> +“A base sentiment, my lord,” said Yoomy. “Did not poor Bonja, +the unappreciated poet, console himself for the neglect of his contemporaries, +by inspiriting thoughts of the future?” +</p> + +<p> +“In plain words by bethinking him of the glorious harvest of bravos his +ghost would reap for him,” said Babbalanja; “but +Banjo,—Bonjo,—Binjo,—I never heard of him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nor I,” said Mohi. +</p> + +<p> +“Nor I,” said Media. +</p> + +<p> +“Poor fellow!” cried Babbalanja; “I fear me his harvest is +not yet ripe.” +</p> + +<p> +“Alas!” cried Yoomy; “he died more than a century ago.” +</p> + +<p> +“But now that you speak of unappreciated poets, Yoomy,” said +Babbalanja, “Shall I give you a piece of my mind?” +“Do,” said Mohi, stroking his beard. +</p> + +<p> +“He, who on all hands passes for a cypher to-day, if at all remembered +hereafter, will be sure to pass for the same. For there is more likelihood of +being overrated while living, than of being underrated when dead. And to insure +your fame, you must die.” +</p> + +<p> +“A rather discouraging thought for your race. But answer: I assume that +King Media is but a mortal like you; now, how may I best perpetuate my +name?” +</p> + +<p> +Long pondered Babbalanja; then said, “Carve it, my lord, deep into a +ponderous stone, and sink it, face downward, into the sea; for the unseen +foundations of the deep are more enduring than the palpable tops of the +mountains.” +</p> + +<p> +Sailing past Pella, we gained a view of its farther side; and seated in a lofty +cleft, beheld a lonely fisherman; solitary as a seal on an iceberg; his +motionless line in the water. +</p> + +<p> +“What recks he of the ten kings,” said Babbalanja. +</p> + +<p> +“Mohi,” said Media, “methinks there is another tradition +concerning that rock: let us have it.” +</p> + +<p> +“In old times of genii and giants, there dwelt in barren lands, not very +remote from our outer reef, but since submerged, a band of evil- minded, +envious goblins, furlongs in stature, and with immeasurable arms; who from time +to time cast covetous glances upon our blooming isles. Long they lusted; till +at last, they waded through the sea, strode over the reef, and seizing the +nearest islet, rolled it over and over, toward an adjoining outlet. +</p> + +<p> +“But the task was hard; and day-break surprised them in the midst of +their audacious thieving; while in the very act of giving the devoted land +another doughty surge and Somerset. Leaving it bottom upward and midway poised, +gardens under water, its foundations in air, they precipitately fled; in their +great haste, deserting a comrade, vainly struggling to liberate his foot caught +beneath the overturned land.” +</p> + +<p> +“This poor fellow now raised such an outcry, as to awaken the god Upi, or +the Archer, stretched out on a long cloud in the East; who forthwith resolved +to make an example of the unwilling lingerer. Snatching his bow, he let fly an +arrow. But overshooting its mark, it pierced through and through, the lofty +promontory of a neighboring island; making an arch in it, which remaineth even +unto this day. A second arrow, however, accomplished its errand: the slain +giant sinking prone to the bottom.” +</p> + +<p> +“And now,” added Mohi, “glance over the gunwale, and you will +see his remains petrified into white ribs of coral.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ay, there they are,” said Yoomy, looking down into the water where +they gleamed. “A fanciful legend, Braid-beard.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very entertaining,” said Media. +</p> + +<p> +“Even so,” said Babbalanja. “But perhaps we lost time in +listening to it; for though we know it, we are none the wiser.” +</p> + +<p> +“Be not a cynic,” said Media. “No pastime is lost +time.” +</p> + +<p> +Musing a moment, Babbalanja replied, “My lord, that maxim may be good as +it stands; but had you made six words of it, instead of six syllables, you had +uttered a better and a deeper.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0070"></a> +CHAPTER LXX.<br/> +The Minstrel Leads Off With A Paddle-Song; And A Message Is Received From +Abroad</h2> + +<p> +From seaward now came a breeze so blithesome and fresh, that it made us +impatient of Babbalanja’s philosophy, and Mohi’s incredible +legends. One and all, we called upon the minstrel Yoomy to give us something in +unison with the spirited waves wide-foaming around us. +</p> + +<p> +“If my lord will permit, we will give Taji the Paddle-Chant of the +warriors of King Bello.” +</p> + +<p> +“By all means,” said Media. +</p> + +<p> +So the three canoes were brought side to side; their sails rolled up; and +paddles in hand, our paddlers seated themselves sideways on the gunwales; +Yoomy, as leader, occupying the place of the foremast, or Bow-Paddler of the +royal barge. +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon the six rows of paddle-blades being uplifted, and every eye on the +minstrel, this song was sung, with actions corresponding; the canoes at last +shooting through the water, with a violent roll. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + (All.)<br/> + Thrice waved on high,<br/> + Our paddles fly:<br/> +Thrice round the head, thrice dropt to feet:<br/> + And then well timed,<br/> + Of one stout mind,<br/> +All fall, and back the waters heap!<br/> +<br/> + (Bow-Paddler.)<br/> + Who lifts this chant?<br/> + Who sounds this vaunt?<br/> +<br/> + (All.)<br/> +The wild sea song, to the billows’ throng,<br/> + Rising, falling,<br/> + Hoarsely calling,<br/> +Now high, now low, as fast we go,<br/> +Fast on our flying foe!<br/> +<br/> + (Bow-Paddler.)<br/> + Who lifts this chant?<br/> + Who sounds this vaunt?<br/> +<br/> + (All.)<br/> +Dip, dip, in the brine our paddles dip,<br/> +Dip, dip, the fins of our swimming ship!<br/> + How the waters part,<br/> + As on we dart;<br/> + Our sharp prows fly,<br/> + And curl on high,<br/> +As the upright fin of the rushing shark,<br/> +Rushing fast and far on his flying mark!<br/> + Like him we prey;<br/> + Like him we slay;<br/> + Swim on the fog,<br/> + Our prow a blow!<br/> +<br/> + (Bow-Paddler.)<br/> + Who lifts this chant?<br/> + Who sounds this vaunt?<br/> +<br/> + (All.)<br/> +Heap back; heap back; the waters back!<br/> +Pile them high astern, in billows black;<br/> + Till we leave our wake,<br/> + In the slope we make;<br/> + And rush and ride,<br/> + On the torrent’s tide! +</p> + +<p> +Here we were overtaken by a swift gliding canoe, which, bearing down upon us +before the wind, lowered its sail when close by: its occupants signing our +paddlers to desist. +</p> + +<p> +I started. +</p> + +<p> +The strangers were three hooded damsels the enigmatical Queen Hautia’s +heralds. +</p> + +<p> +Their pursuit surprised and perplexed me. Nor was there wanting a vague feeling +of alarm to heighten these emotions. But perhaps I was mistaken, and this time +they meant not me. +</p> + +<p> +Seated in the prow, the foremost waved her Iris flag. Cried Yoomy, “Some +message! Taji, that Iris points to you.” +</p> + +<p> +It was then, I first divined, that some meaning must have lurked in those +flowers they had twice brought me before. +</p> + +<p> +The second damsel now flung over to me Circe flowers; then, a faded jonquil, +buried in a tuft of wormwood leaves. +</p> + +<p> +The third sat in the shallop’s stern, and as it glided from us, thrice +waved oleanders. +</p> + +<p> +“What dumb show is this?” cried Media. “But it looks like +poetry: minstrel, you should know.” +</p> + +<p> +“Interpret then,” said I. +</p> + +<p> +“Shall I, then, be your Flora’s flute, and Hautia’s dragoman? +Held aloft, the Iris signified a message. These purple-woven Circe flowers mean +that some spell is weaving. That golden, pining jonquil, which you hold, buried +in those wormwood leaves, says plainly to you—Bitter love in +absence.” +</p> + +<p> +Said Media, “Well done, Taji, you have killed a queen.” “Yet +no Queen Hautia have these eyes beheld.” +</p> + +<p> +Said Babbalanja, “The thrice waved oleanders, Yoomy; what meant +they?” +</p> + +<p> +“Beware—beware—beware.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then that, at least, seems kindly meant,” said Babbalanja; +“Taji, beware of Hautia.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0071"></a> +CHAPTER LXXI.<br/> +They Land Upon The Island Of Juam</h2> + +<p> +Crossing the lagoon, our course now lay along the reef to Juam; a name bestowed +upon one of the largest islands hereabout; and also, collectively, upon several +wooded isles engulfing it, which together were known as the dominions of one +monarch. That monarch was Donjalolo. Just turned of twenty-five, he was +accounted not only the handsomest man in his dominions, but throughout the +lagoon. His comeliness, however, was so feminine, that he was sometimes called +“Fonoo,” or the Girl. +</p> + +<p> +Our first view of Juam was imposing. A dark green pile of cliffs, towering some +one hundred toises; at top, presenting a range of steep, gable-pointed +projections; as if some Titanic hammer and chisel had shaped the mass. +</p> + +<p> +Sailing nearer, we perceived an extraordinary rolling of the sea; which +bursting into the lagoon through an adjoining breach in the reef, surged toward +Juam in enormous billows. At last, dashing against the wall of the cliff; they +played there in unceasing fountains. But under the brow of a beetling crag, the +spray came and went unequally. There, the blue billows seemed swallowed up, and +lost. +</p> + +<p> +Right regally was Juam guarded. For, at this point, the rock was pierced by a +cave, into which the great waves chased each other like lions; after a hollow, +subterraneous roaring issuing forth with manes disheveled. +</p> + +<p> +Cautiously evading the dangerous currents here ruffling the lagoon, we rounded +the wall of cliff; and shot upon a smooth expanse; on one side, hemmed in by +the long, verdent, northern shore of Juam; and across the water, sentineled by +its tributary islets. +</p> + +<p> +With sonorous Vee-Vee in the shark’s mouth, we swept toward the beach, +tumultuous with a throng. +</p> + +<p> +Our canoes were secured. And surrounded by eager glances, we passed the lower +ends of several populous valleys; and crossing a wide, open meadow, gradually +ascending, came to a range of light-green bluffs. Here, we wended our way down +a narrow defile, almost cleaving this quarter of the island to its base. Black +crags frowned overhead: among them the shouts of the Islanders reverberated. +Yet steeper grew the defile, and more overhanging the crags till at last, the +keystone of the arch seemed dropped into its place. We found ourselves in a +subterranean tunnel, dimly lighted by a span of white day at the end. +</p> + +<p> +Emerging, what a scene was revealed! All round, embracing a circuit of some +three leagues, stood heights inaccessible, here and there, forming buttresses, +sheltering deep recesses between. The bosom of the place was vivid with +verdure. +</p> + +<p> +Shining aslant into this wild hollow, the afternoon sun lighted up its eastern +side with tints of gold. But opposite, brooded a somber shadow, double-shading +the secret places between the salient spurs of the mountains. Thus cut in twain +by masses of day and night, it seemed as if some Last Judgment had been enacted +in the glen. +</p> + +<p> +No sooner did we emerge from the defile, than we became sensible of a dull, +jarring sound; and Yoomy was almost tempted to turn and flee, when informed +that the sea-cavern, whose mouth we had passed, was believed to penetrate deep +into the opposite hills; and that the surface of the amphitheater was depressed +beneath that of the lagoon. But all over the lowermost hillsides, and sloping +into the glen, stood grand old groves; still and stately, as if no insolent +waves were throbbing in the mountain’s heart. +</p> + +<p> +Such was Willamilla, the hereditary abode of the young monarch of Juam. +</p> + +<p> +Was Yillah immured in this strange retreat? But from those around us naught +could we learn. +</p> + +<p> +Our attention was now directed to the habitations of the glen; comprised in two +handsome villages; one to the west, the other to the east; both stretching +along the base of the cliffs. +</p> + +<p> +Said Media, “Had we arrived at Willamilla in the morning, we had found +Donjalolo and his court in the eastern village; but being afternoon, we must +travel farther, and seek him in his western retreat; for that is now in the +shade.” +</p> + +<p> +Wending our way, Media added, that aside from his elevated station as a +monarch, Donjalolo was famed for many uncommon traits; but more especially for +certain peculiar deprivations, under which he labored. +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon Braid-Beard unrolled his old chronicles; and regaled us with the +history, which will be found in the following chapter. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0072"></a> +CHAPTER LXXII.<br/> +A Book From The Chronicles Of Mohi</h2> + +<p> +Many ages ago, there reigned in Juam a king called Teei. This Teei’s +succession to the sovereignty was long disputed by his brother Marjora; who at +last rallying round him an army, after many vicissitudes, defeated the +unfortunate monarch in a stout fight of clubs on the beach. +</p> + +<p> +In those days, Willamilla during a certain period of the year was a place set +apart for royal games and diversions; and was furnished with suitable +accommodations for king and court. From its peculiar position, moreover, it was +regarded as the last stronghold of the Juam monarchy: in remote times having +twice withstood the most desperate assaults from without. And when Roonoonoo, a +famous upstart, sought to subdue all the isles in this part of the Archipelago, +it was to Willamilla that the banded kings had repaired to take counsel +together; and while there conferring, were surprised at the sudden onslaught of +Roonoonoo in person. But in the end, the rebel was captured, he and all his +army, and impaled on the tops of the hills. +</p> + +<p> +Now, defeated and fleeing for his life, Teei with his surviving followers was +driven across the plain toward the mountains. But to cut him off from all +escape to inland Willamilla, Marjora dispatched a fleet band of warriors to +occupy the entrance of the defile. Nevertheless, Teei the pursued ran faster +than his pursuers; first gained the spot; and with his chiefs, fled swiftly +down the gorge, closely hunted by Marjora’s men. But arriving at the +further end, they in vain sought to defend it. And after much desperate +fighting, the main body of the foe corning up with great slaughter the +fugitives were driven into the glen. +</p> + +<p> +They ran to the opposite wall of cliff; where turning, they fought at bay, +blood for blood, and life for life, till at last, overwhelmed by numbers, they +were all put to the point of the spear. +</p> + +<p> +With fratricidal hate, singled out by the ferocious Marjora, Teei fell by that +brother’s hand. When stripping from the body the regal girdle, the victor +wound it round his own loins; thus proclaiming himself king over Juam. +</p> + +<p> +Long torn by this intestine war, the island acquiesced in the new sovereignty. +But at length a sacred oracle declared, that since the conqueror had slain his +brother in deep Willamilla, so that Teei never more issued from that refuge of +death; therefore, the same fate should be Marjora’s; for never, +thenceforth, from that glen, should he go forth; neither Marjora; nor any son +of his girdled loins; nor his son’s sons; nor the uttermost scion of his +race. +</p> + +<p> +But except this denunciation, naught was denounced against the usurper; who, +mindful of the tenure by which he reigned, ruled over the island for many +moons; at his death bequeathing the girdle to his son. +</p> + +<p> +In those days, the wildest superstitions concerning the interference of the +gods in things temporal, prevailed to a much greater extent than at present. +Hence Marjora himself, called sometimes in the traditions of the island, +The-Heart-of-Black-Coral, even unscrupulous Marjora had quailed before the +oracle. “He bowed his head,” say the legends. Nor was it then +questioned, by his most devoted adherents, that had he dared to act counter to +that edict, he had dropped dead, the very instant he went under the shadow of +the defile. This persuasion also guided the conduct of the son of Marjora, and +that of his grandson. +</p> + +<p> +But there at last came to pass a change in the popular fancies concerning this +ancient anathema. The penalty denounced against the posterity of the usurper +should they issue from the glen, came to be regarded as only applicable to an +invested monarch, not to his relatives, or heirs. +</p> + +<p> +A most favorable construction of the ban; for all those related to the king, +freely passed in and out of Willamilla. +</p> + +<p> +From the time of the usurpation, there had always been observed a certain +ceremony upon investing the heir to the sovereignty with the girdle of Teei. +Upon these occasions, the chief priests of the island were present, acting an +important part. For the space of as many days, as there had reigned kings of +Marjora’s dynasty, the inner mouth of the defile remained sealed; the new +monarch placing the last stone in the gap. This symbolized his relinquishment +forever of all purpose of passing out of the glen. And without this observance, +was no king girdled in Juam. +</p> + +<p> +It was likewise an invariable custom, for the heir to receive the regal +investiture immediately upon the decease of his sire. No delay was permitted. +And instantly upon being girdled, he proceeded to take part in the ceremony of +closing the cave; his predecessor yet remaining uninterred on the purple mat +where he died. +</p> + +<p> +In the history of the island, three instances were recorded; wherein, upon the +vacation of the sovereignty, the immediate heir had voluntarily renounced all +claim to the succession, rather than surrender the privilege of roving, to +which he had been entitled, as a prince of the blood. +</p> + +<p> +Said Rani, one of these young princes, in reply to the remonstrances of his +friends, “What! shall I be a king, only to be a slave? Teei’s +girdle would clasp my waist less tightly, than my soul would be banded by the +mountains of Willamilla. A subject, I am free. No slave in Juam but its king; +for all the tassels round his loins.” +</p> + +<p> +To guard against a similar resolution in the mind of his only son, the wise +sire of Donjalolo, ardently desirous of perpetuating his dignities in a child +so well beloved, had from his earliest infancy, restrained the boy from passing +out of the glen, to contract in the free air of the Archipelago, tastes and +predilections fatal to the inheritance of the girdle. +</p> + +<p> +But as he grew in years, so impatient became young Donjalolo of the king his +father’s watchfulness over him, though hitherto a most dutiful son, that +at last he was prevailed upon by his youthful companions to appoint a day, on +which to go abroad, and visit Mardi. Hearing this determination, the old king +sought to vanquish it. But in vain. And early on the morning of the day, that +Donjalolo was to set out, he swallowed poison, and died; in order to force his +son into the instant assumption of the honors thus suddenly inherited. +</p> + +<p> +The event, but not its dreadful circumstances, was communicated to the prince; +as with a gay party of young chiefs, he was about to enter the mouth of the +defile. +</p> + +<p> +“My sire dead!” cried Donjalolo. “So sudden, it seems a bolt +from Heaven.” And bursting into exclamations of grief, he wept upon the +bosom of Talara his friend. +</p> + +<p> +But starting from his side:—“My fate converges to a point. If I but +cross that shadow, my kingdom is lost. One lifting of my foot, and the girdle +goes to my proud uncle Darfi, who would so joy to be my master. Haughty Dwarf! +Oh Oro! would that I had ere this passed thee, fatal cavern; and seen for +myself, what outer Mardi is. Say ye true, comrades, that Willamilla is less +lovely than the valleys without? that there is bright light in the eyes of the +maidens of Mina? and wisdom in the hearts of the old priests of Maramma; that +it is pleasant to tread the green earth where you will; and breathe the free +ocean air? Would, oh would, that I were but the least of yonder sun-clouds, +that look down alike on Willamilla and all places besides, that I might +determine aright. Yet why do I pause? did not Rani, and Atama, and Mardonna, my +ancestors, each see for himself, free Mardi; and did they not fly the proffered +girdle; choosing rather to be free to come and go, than bury themselves forever +in this fatal glen? Oh Mardi! Mardi! art thou then so fair to see? Is liberty a +thing so glorious? Yet can I be no king, and behold thee! Too late, too late, +to view thy charms and then return. My sire! my sire! thou hast wrung my heart +with this agony of doubt. Tell me, comrades,—for ye have seen +it,—is Mardi sweeter to behold, than it is royal to reign over Juam? +Silent, are ye? Knowing what ye do, were ye me, would ye be kings? Tell me, +Talara.—No king: no king:—that were to obey, and not command. And +none hath Donjalolo ere obeyed but the king his father. A king, and my voice +may be heard in farthest Mardi, though I abide in narrow Willamilla. My sire! +my sire! Ye flying clouds, what look ye down upon? Tell me, what ye see abroad? +Methinks sweet spices breathe from out the cave.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hail, Donjalolo, King of Juam,” now sounded with acclamations from +the groves. +</p> + +<p> +Starting, the young prince beheld a multitude approaching: warriors with +spears, and maidens with flowers; and Kubla, a priest, lifting on high the +tasseled girdle of Teei, and waving it toward him. +</p> + +<p> +The young chiefs fell back. Kubla, advancing, came close to the prince, and +unclasping the badge of royalty, exclaimed, “Donjalolo, this instant it +is king or subject with thee: wilt thou be girdled monarch?” +</p> + +<p> +Gazing one moment up the dark defile, then staring vacantly, Donjalolo turned +and met the eager gaze of Darfi. Stripping off his mantle, the next instant he +was a king. +</p> + +<p> +Loud shouted the multitude, and exulted; but after mutely assisting at the +closing of the cavern, the new-girdled monarch retired sadly to his dwelling, +and was not seen again for many days. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0073"></a> +CHAPTER LXXIII.<br/> +Something More Of The Prince</h2> + +<p> +Previous to recording our stay in his dominions, it only remains to be related +of Donjalolo, that after assuming the girdle, a change came over him. +</p> + +<p> +During the lifetime of his father, he had been famed for his temperance and +discretion. But when Mardi was forever shut out; and he remembered the law of +his isle, interdicting abdication to its kings; he gradually fell into +desperate courses, to drown the emotions at times distracting him. +</p> + +<p> +His generous spirit thirsting after some energetic career, found itself +narrowed down within the little glen of Willamilla, where ardent impulses +seemed idle. But these are hard to die; and repulsed all round, recoil upon +themselves. +</p> + +<p> +So with Donjalolo; who, in many a riotous scene, wasted the powers which might +have compassed the noblest designs. +</p> + +<p> +Not many years had elapsed since the death of the king, his father. But the +still youthful prince was no longer the bright-eyed and elastic boy who at the +dawn of day had sallied out to behold the landscapes of the neighboring isles. +</p> + +<p> +Not more effeminate Sardanapalus, than he. And, at intervals, he was the victim +of unaccountable vagaries; haunted by specters, and beckoned to by the ghosts +of his sires. +</p> + +<p> +At times, loathing his vicious pursuits, which brought him no solid +satisfaction, but ever filled him with final disgust, he would resolve to amend +his ways; solacing himself for his bitter captivity, by the society of the wise +and discreet. +</p> + +<p> +But brief the interval of repentance. Anew, he burst into excesses, a hundred +fold more insane than ever. +</p> + +<p> +Thus vacillating between virtue and vice; to neither constant, and upbraided by +both; his mind, like his person in the glen, was continually passing and +repassing between opposite extremes. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0074"></a> +CHAPTER LXXIV.<br/> +Advancing Deeper Into The Vale, They Encounter Donjalolo</h2> + +<p> +From the mouth of the cavern, a broad shaded way over-arched by fraternal trees +embracing in mid-air, conducted us to a cross-path, on either hand leading to +the opposite cliffs, shading the twin villages before mentioned. +</p> + +<p> +Level as a meadow, was the bosom of the glen. Here, nodding with green orchards +of the Bread-fruit and the Palm; there, flashing with golden plantations of the +Banana. Emerging from these, we came out upon a grassy mead, skirting a +projection of the mountain. And soon we crossed a bridge of boughs, spanning a +trench, thickly planted with roots of the Tara, like alligators, or Hollanders, +reveling in the soft alluvial. Strolling on, the wild beauty of the mountains +excited our attention. The topmost crags poured over with vines; which, +undulating in the air, seemed leafy cascades; their sources the upland groves. +</p> + +<p> +Midway up the precipice, along a shelf of rock, sprouted the multitudinous +roots of an apparently trunkless tree. Shooting from under the shallow soil, +they spread all over the rocks below, covering them with an intricate net-work. +While far aloft, great boughs—each a copse—clambered to the very +summit of the mountain; then bending over, struck anew into the soil; forming +along the verge an interminable colonnade; all manner of antic architecture +standing against the sky. +</p> + +<p> +According to Mohi, this tree was truly wonderful; its seed having been dropped +from the moon; where were plenty more similar forests, causing the dark spots +on its surface. +</p> + +<p> +Here and there, the cool fluid in the veins of the mountains gushed forth in +living springs; their waters received in green mossy tanks, half buried in +grasses. +</p> + +<p> +In one place, a considerable stream, bounding far out from a wooded height, ere +reaching the ground was dispersed in a wide misty shower, falling so far from +the base of the cliff; that walking close underneath, you felt little moisture. +Passing this fall of vapors, we spied many Islanders taking a bath. +</p> + +<p> +But what is yonder swaying of the foliage? And what now issues forth, like a +habitation astir? Donjalolo drawing nigh to his guests. +</p> + +<p> +He came in a fair sedan; a bower, resting upon three long, parallel poles, +borne by thirty men, gayly attired; five at each pole-end. Decked with dyed +tappas, and looped with garlands of newly-plucked flowers, from which, at every +step, the fragrant petals were blown; with a sumptuous, elastic motion the gay +sedan came on; leaving behind it a long, rosy wake of fluttering leaves and +odors. +</p> + +<p> +Drawing near, it revealed a slender, enervate youth, of pallid beauty, +reclining upon a crimson mat, near the festooned arch of the bower. His +anointed head was resting against the bosom of a girl; another stirred the air, +with a fan of Pintado plumes. The pupils of his eyes were as floating isles in +the sea. In a soft low tone he murmured “Media!” +</p> + +<p> +The bearers paused; and Media advancing; the Island Kings bowed their foreheads +together. +</p> + +<p> +Through tubes ignited at the end, Donjaloln’s reclining attendants now +blew an aromatic incense around him. These were composed of the stimulating +leaves of the “Aina,” mixed with the long yellow blades of a +sweet-scented upland grass; forming a hollow stem. In general, the agreeable +fumes of the “Aina” were created by one’s own inhalations; +but Donjalolo deeming the solace too dearly purchased by any exertion of the +royal lungs, regaled himself through those of his attendants, whose lips were +as moss-rose buds after a shower. +</p> + +<p> +In silence the young prince now eyed us attentively; meanwhile gently waving +his hand, to obtain a better view through the wreaths of vapor. He was about to +address us, when chancing to catch a glimpse of Samoa, he suddenly started; +averted his glance; and wildly commanded the warrior out of sight. Upon this, +his attendants would have soothed him; and Media desired the Upoluan to +withdraw. +</p> + +<p> +While we were yet lost in wonder at this scene, Donjalolo, with eyes closed, +fell back into the arms of his damsels. Recovering, he fetched a deep sigh, and +gazed vacantly around. +</p> + +<p> +It seems, that he had fancied Samoa the noon-day specter of his ancestor +Marjora; the usurper having been deprived of an arm in the battle which gained +him the girdle. Poor prince: this was one of those crazy conceits, so puzzling +to his subjects. +</p> + +<p> +Media now hastened to assure Donjalolo, that Samoa, though no cherub to behold, +was good flesh and blood, nevertheless. And soon the king unconcernedly gazed; +his monomania having departed as a dream. +</p> + +<p> +But still suffering from the effects of an overnight feast, he presently +murmured forth a desire to be left to his women; adding that his people would +not fail to provide for the entertainment of his guests. +</p> + +<p> +The curtains of the sedan were now drawn; and soon it disappeared in the +groves. Journeying on, ere long we arrived at the western side of the glen; +where one of the many little arbors scattered among the trees, was assigned for +our abode. Here, we reclined to an agreeable repast. After which, we strolled +forth to view the valley at large; more especially the far-famed palaces of the +prince. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0075"></a> +CHAPTER LXXV.<br/> +Time And Temples</h2> + +<p> +In the oriental Pilgrimage of the pious old Purchas, and in the fine old folio +Voyages of Hakluyt, Thevenot, Ramusio, and De Bry, we read of many glorious old +Asiatic temples, very long in erecting. And veracious Gaudentia di Lucca hath a +wondrous narration of the time consumed in rearing that mighty +three-hundred-and-seventy-five- pillared Temple of the Year, somewhere beyond +Libya; whereof, the columns did signify days, and all round fronted upon +concentric zones of palaces, cross-cut by twelve grand avenues symbolizing the +signs of the zodiac, all radiating from the sun-dome in their midst. And in +that wild eastern tale of his, Marco Polo tells us, how the Great Mogul began +him a pleasure-palace on so imperial a scale, that his grandson had much ado to +complete it. +</p> + +<p> +But no matter for marveling all this: great towers take time to construct. +</p> + +<p> +And so of all else. +</p> + +<p> +And that which long endures full-fledged, must have long lain in the germ. And +duration is not of the future, but of the past; and eternity is eternal, +because it has been, and though a strong new monument be builded to-day, it +only is lasting because its blocks are old as the sun. It is not the Pyramids +that are ancient, but the eternal granite whereof they are made; which had been +equally ancient though yet in the quarry. For to make an eternity, we must +build with eternities; whence, the vanity of the cry for any thing alike +durable and new; and the folly of the reproach—Your granite hath come +from the old-fashioned hills. For we are not gods and creators; and the +controversialists have debated, whether indeed the All-Plastic Power itself can +do more than mold. In all the universe is but one original; and the very suns +must to their source for their fire; and we Prometheuses must to them for ours; +which, when had, only perpetual Vestal tending will keep alive. +</p> + +<p> +But let us back from fire to store. No fine firm fabric ever yet grew like a +gourd. Nero’s House of Gold was not raised in a day; nor the Mexican +House of the Sun; nor the Alhambra; nor the Escurial; nor Titus’s +Amphitheater; nor the Illinois Mounds; nor Diana’s great columns at +Ephesus; nor Pompey’s proud Pillar; nor the Parthenon; nor the Altar of +Belus; nor Stonehenge; nor Solomon’s Temple; nor Tadmor’s towers; +nor Susa’s bastions; nor Persepolis’ pediments. Round and round, +the Moorish turret at Seville was not wound heavenward in the revolution of a +day; and from its first founding, five hundred years did circle, ere +Strasbourg’s great spire lifted its five hundred feet into the air. No: +nor were the great grottos of Elephanta hewn out in an hour; nor did the +Troglodytes dig Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave in a sun; nor that of Trophonius, +nor Antiparos; nor the Giant’s Causeway. Nor were the subterranean arched +sewers of Etruria channeled in a trice; nor the airy arched aqueducts of Nerva +thrown over their values in the ides of a month. Nor was Virginia’s +Natural Bridge worn under in a year; nor, in geology, were the eternal +Grampians upheaved in an age. And who shall count the cycles that revolved ere +earth’s interior sedimentary strata were crystalized into stone. Nor Peak +of Piko, nor Teneriffe, were chiseled into obelisks in a decade; nor had Mount +Athos been turned into Alexander’s statue so soon. And the bower of +Artaxerxes took a whole Persian summer to grow; and the Czar’s Ice Palace +a long Muscovite winter to congéal. No, no: nor was the Pyramid of Cheops +masoned in a month; though, once built, the sands left by the deluge might not +have submerged such a pile. Nor were the broad boughs of Charles’ Oak +grown in a spring; though they outlived the royal dynasties of Tudor and +Stuart. Nor were the parts of the great Iliad put together in haste; though old +Homer’s temple shall lift up its dome, when St. Peter’s is a +legend. Even man himself lives months ere his Maker deems him fit to be born; +and ere his proud shaft gains its full stature, twenty-one long Julian years +must elapse. And his whole mortal life brings not his immortal soul to +maturity; nor will all eternity perfect him. Yea, with uttermost reverence, as +to human understanding, increase of dominion seems increase of power; and day +by day new planets are being added to elder-born Saturn, even as six thousand +years ago our own Earth made one more in this system; so, in incident, not in +essence, may the Infinite himself be not less than more infinite now, than when +old Aldebaran rolled forth from his hand. And if time was, when this round +Earth, which to innumerable mortals has seemed an empire never to be wholly +explored; which, in its seas, concealed all the Indies over four thousand five +hundred years; if time was, when this great quarry of Assyrias and Romes was +not extant; then, time may have been, when the whole material universe lived +its Dark Ages; yea, when the Ineffable Silence, proceeding from its +unimaginable remoteness, espied it as an isle in the sea. And herein is no +derogation. For the Immeasurable’s altitude is not heightened by the +arches of Mahomet’s heavens; and were all space a vacuum, yet would it be +a fullness; for to Himself His own universe is He. +</p> + +<p> +Thus deeper and deeper into Time’s endless tunnel, does the winged soul, +like a night-hawk, wend her wild way; and finds eternities before and behind; +and her last limit is her everlasting beginning. +</p> + +<p> +But sent over the broad flooded sphere, even Noah’s dove came back, and +perched on his hand. So comes back my spirit to me, and folds up her wings. +</p> + +<p> +Thus, then, though Time be the mightiest of Alarics, yet is he the mightiest +mason of all. And a tutor, and a counselor, and a physician, and a scribe, and +a poet, and a sage, and a king. +</p> + +<p> +Yea, and a gardener, as ere long will be shown. +</p> + +<p> +But first must we return to the glen. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0076"></a> +CHAPTER LXXVI.<br/> +A Pleasant Place For A Lounge</h2> + +<p> +Whether the hard condition of their kingly state, very naturally demanding some +luxurious requital, prevailed upon the monarchs of Juam to house themselves so +delightfully as they did; whether buried alive in their glen, they sought to +center therein a secret world of enjoyment; however it may have been, +throughout the Archipelago this saying was a proverb—“You are +lodged like the king in Willamilla.” Hereby was expressed the utmost +sumptuousness of a palace. +</p> + +<p> +A well warranted saying; for of all the bright places, where my soul loves to +linger, the haunts of Donjalolo are most delicious. +</p> + +<p> +In the eastern quarter of the glen was the House of the Morning. This fanciful +palace was raised upon a natural mound, many rods square, almost completely +filling up a deep recess between deep-green and projecting cliffs, overlooking +many abodes distributed in the shadows of the groves beyond. +</p> + +<p> +Now, if it indeed be, that from the time employed in its construction, any just +notion may be formed of the stateliness of an edifice, it must needs be +determined, that this retreat of Donjalolo could not be otherwise than +imposing. +</p> + +<p> +Full five hundred moons was the palace in completing; for by some architectural +arborist, its quadrangular foundations had been laid in seed-cocoanuts, +requiring that period to sprout up into pillars. In front, these were +horizontally connected, by elaborately carved beams, of a scarlet hue, inserted +into the vital wood; which, swelling out, and over lapping, firmly secured +them. The beams supported the rafters, inclining from the rear; while over the +aromatic grasses covering the roof, waved the tufted tops of the Palms, green +capitals to their dusky shafts. +</p> + +<p> +Through and through this vibrating verdure, bright birds flitted and sang; the +scented and variegated thatch seemed a hanging-garden; and between it and the +Palm tops, was leaf-hung an arbor in the air. +</p> + +<p> +Without these columns, stood a second and third colonnade, forming the most +beautiful bowers; advancing through which, you fancied that the palace beyond +must be chambered in a fountain, or frozen in a crystal. Three sparkling +rivulets flowing from the heights were led across its summit, through great +trunks half buried in the thatch; and emptying into a sculptured channel, +running along the eaves, poured over in one wide sheet, plaited and +transparent. Received into a basin beneath, they were thence conducted down the +vale. +</p> + +<p> +The sides of the palace were hedged by Diomi bushes bearing a flower, from its +perfume, called Lenora, or Sweet Breath; and within these odorous hedges, were +heavy piles of mats, richly dyed and embroidered. +</p> + +<p> +Here lounging of a glowing noon, the plaited cascade playing, the verdure +waving, and the birds melodious, it was hard to say, whether you were an inmate +of a garden in the glen, or a grotto in the sea. +</p> + +<p> +But enough for the nonce, of the House of the Morning. Cross we the hollow, to +the House of the Afternoon. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0077"></a> +CHAPTER LXXVII.<br/> +The House Of The Afternoon</h2> + +<p> +For the most part, the House of the Afternoon was but a wing built against a +mansion wrought by the hand of Nature herself; a grotto running into the side +of the mountain. From high over the mouth of this grotto, sloped a long arbor, +supported by great blocks of stone, rudely chiseled into the likeness of idols, +each bearing a carved lizard on its chest: a sergeant’s guard of the gods +condescendingly doing duty as posts. +</p> + +<p> +From the grotto thus vestibuled, issued hilariously forth the most considerable +stream of the glen; which, seemingly overjoyed to find daylight in Willamilla, +sprang into the arbor with a cheery, white bound. But its youthful enthusiasm +was soon repressed; its waters being caught in a large stone basin, scooped out +of the natural rock; whence, staid and decorous, they traversed sundry moats; +at last meandering away, to join floods with the streams trained to do service +at the other end of the vale. +</p> + +<p> +Truant streams: the livelong day wending their loitering path to the +subterraneous outlet, flowing into which, they disappeared. But no wonder they +loitered; passing such ravishing landscapes. Thus with life: man bounds out of +night; runs and babbles in the sun; then returns to his darkness again; though, +peradventure, once more to emerge. +</p> + +<p> +But the grotto was not a mere outlet to the stream. Flowing through a dark +flume in the rock, on both sides it left a dry, elevated shelf, to which you +ascend from the arbor by three artificially-wrought steps, sideways disposed, +to avoid the spray of the rejoicing cataract. Mounting these, and pursuing the +edge of the flume, the grotto gradually expands and heightens; your way lighted +by rays in the inner distance. At last you come to a lofty subterraneous dome, +lit from above by a cleft in the mountain; while full before you, in the +opposite wall, from a low, black arch, midway up, and inaccessible, the stream, +with a hollow ring and a dash, falls in a long, snowy column into a bottomless +pool, whence, after many an eddy and whirl, it entered the flume, and away with +a rush. Half hidden from view by an overhanging brow of the rock, the white +fall looked like the sheeted ghost of the grotto. +</p> + +<p> +Yet gallantly bedecked was the cave, as any old armorial hall hung round with +banners and arras. Streaming from the cleft, vines swung in the air; or crawled +along the rocks, wherever a tendril could be fixed. High up, their leaves were +green; but lower down, they were shriveled; and dyed of many colors; and +tattered and torn with much rustling; as old banners again; sore raveled with +much triumphing. +</p> + +<p> +In the middle of this hall in the hill was incarcerated the stone image of one +Demi, the tutelar deity of Willamina. All green and oozy like a stone under +water, poor Demi looked as if sore harassed with sciatics and lumbagos. +</p> + +<p> +But he was cheered from aloft, by the promise of receiving a garland all +blooming on his crown; the Dryads sporting in the woodlands above, forever +peeping down the cleft, and essaying to drop him a coronal. +</p> + +<p> +Now, the still, panting glen of Willamilla, nested so close by the mountains, +and a goodly green mark for the archer in the sun, would have been almost +untenable were it not for the grotto. Hereby, it breathed the blessed breezes +of Omi; a mountain promontory buttressing the island to the east, receiving the +cool stream of the upland Trades; much pleasanter than the currents beneath. +</p> + +<p> +At all times, even in the brooding noon-day, a gush of cool air came +hand-in-hand with the cool waters, that burst with a shout into the palace of +Donjalolo. And as, after first refreshing the king, as in loyalty bound, the +stream flowed at large through the glen, and bathed its verdure; so, the +blessed breezes of Omi, not only made pleasant the House of the Afternoon; but +finding ample outlet in its wide, open front, blew forth upon the bosom of all +Willamilla. +</p> + +<p> +“Come let us take the air of Omi,” was a very common saying in the +glen. And the speaker would hie with his comrade toward the grotto; and +flinging himself on the turf, pass his hand through his locks, and recline; +making a joy and a business of breathing; for truly the breezes of Omi were as +air-wine to the lungs. +</p> + +<p> +Yet was not this breeze over-cool; though at times the zephyrs grew boisterous. +Especially at the season of high sea, when the strong Trades drawn down the +cleft in the mountain, rushed forth from the grotto with wonderful force. +Crossing it then, you had much ado to keep your robe on your back. +</p> + +<p> +Thus much for the House of the Afternoon. Whither—after spending the +shady morning under the eastern cliffs of the glen—daily, at a certain +hour, Donjalolo in his palanquin was borne; there, finding new shades; and +there tarrying till evening; when again he was transported whence he came: +thereby anticipating the revolution of the sun. Thus dodging day’s +luminary through life, the prince hied to and fro in his dominions; on his +smooth, spotless brow Sol’s rays never shining. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0078"></a> +CHAPTER LXXVIII.<br/> +Babbalanja Solus</h2> + +<p> +Of the House of the Afternoon something yet remains to be said. +</p> + +<p> +It was chiefly distinguished by its pavement, where, according to the strange +customs of the isle, were inlaid the reputed skeletons of Donjalolo’s +sires; each surrounded by a mosaic of corals,—red, white, and black, +intermixed with vitreous stones fallen from the skies in a meteoric shower. +These delineated the tattooing of the departed. Near by, were imbedded their +arms: mace, bow, and spear, in similar marquetry; and over each skull was the +likeness of a scepter. +</p> + +<p> +First and conspicuous lay the half-decayed remains of Marjora, the father of +these Coral Kings; by his side, the storied, sickle-shaped weapon, wherewith he +slew his brother Teei. +</p> + +<p> +“Line of kings and row of scepters,” said Babbalanja as he gazed. +“Donjalolo, come forth and ponder on thy sires. Here they lie, from dread +Marjora down to him who fathered thee. Here are their bones, their spears, and +their javelins; their scepters, and the very fashion of their tattooing: all +that can be got together of what they were. Tell me, oh king, what are thy +thoughts? Dotest thou on these thy sires? Art thou more truly royal, that they +were kings? Or more a man, that they were men? Is it a fable, or a verity about +Marjora and the murdered Teei? But here is the mighty conqueror,—ask him. +Speak to him: son to sire: king to king. Prick him; beg; buffet; entreat; +spurn; split the globe, he will not budge. Walk over and over thy whole +ancestral line, and they will not start. They are not here. Ay, the dead are +not to be found, even in their graves. Nor have they simply departed; for they +willed not to go; they died not by choice; whithersoever they have gone, +thither have they been dragged; and if so be, they are extinct, their +nihilities went not more against their grain, than their forced quitting of +Mardi. Either way, something has become of them that they sought not. Truly, +had stout-hearted Marjora sworn to live here in Willamilla for ay, and kept the +vow, that would have been royalty indeed; but here he lies. Marjora! rise! Juam +revolteth! Lo, I stamp upon thy scepter; base menials tread upon thee where +thou hest! Up, king, up! What? no reply? Are not these bones thine? Oh, how the +living triumph over the dead! Marjora! answer. Art thou? or art thou not? I see +thee not; I hear thee not; I feel thee not; eyes, ears, hands, are worthless to +test thy being; and if thou art, thou art something beyond all human thought to +compass. We must have other faculties to know thee by. Why, thou art not even a +sightless sound; not the echo of an echo; here are thy bones. Donjalolo, +methinks I see thee fallen upon by assassins:—which of thy fathers riseth +to the rescue? I see thee dying:—which of them telleth thee what cheer +beyond the grave? But they have gone to the land unknown. Meet phrase. Where is +it? Not one of Oro’s priests telleth a straight story concerning it; +’twill be hard finding their paradises. Touching the life of Alma, in +Mohi’s chronicles, ’tis related, that a man was once raised from +the tomb. But rubbed he not his eyes, and stared he not most vacantly? Not one +revelation did he make. Ye gods! to have been a bystander there! +</p> + +<p> +“At best, ’tis but a hope. But will a longing bring the thing +desired? Doth dread avert its object? An instinct is no preservative. The fire +I shrink from, may consume me.—But dead, and yet alive; alive, yet +dead;—thus say the sages of Maramma. But die we then living? Yet if our +dead fathers somewhere and somehow live, why not our unborn sons? For backward +or forward, eternity is the same; already have we been the nothing we dread to +be. Icy thought! But bring it home,—it will not stay. What ho, hot heart +of mine: to beat thus lustily awhile, to feel in the red rushing blood, and +then be ashes,—can this be so? But peace, peace, thou liar in me, telling +me I am immortal—shall I not be as these bones? To come to this! But the +balsam-dropping palms, whose boles run milk, whose plumes wave boastful in the +air, they perish in their prime, and bow their blasted trunks. Nothing abideth; +the river of yesterday floweth not to-day; the sun’s rising is a setting; +living is dying; the very mountains melt; and all revolve:—systems and +asteroids; the sun wheels through the zodiac, and the zodiac is a revolution. +Ah gods! in all this universal stir, am I to prove one stable thing? +</p> + +<p> +“Grim chiefs in skeletons, avaunt! Ye are but dust; belike the dust of +beggars; for on this bed, paupers may lie down with kings, and filch their +skulls. This, great Marjora’s arm? No, some old paralytic’s. Ye, +kings? ye, men? Where are your vouchers? I do reject your brother-hood, ye +libelous remains. But no, no; despise them not, oh Babbalanja! Thy own +skeleton, thou thyself dost carry with thee, through this mortal life; and aye +would view it, but for kind nature’s screen; thou art death alive; and +e’en to what’s before thee wilt thou come. Ay, thy children’s +children will walk over thee: thou, voiceless as a calm.” +</p> + +<p> +And over the Coral Kings, Babbalanja paced in profound meditation. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0079"></a> +CHAPTER LXXIX.<br/> +The Center Of Many Circumferences</h2> + +<p> +Like Donjalolo himself, we hie to and fro; for back now must we pace to the +House of the Morning. +</p> + +<p> +In its rear, there diverged three separate arbors, leading to less public +apartments. +</p> + +<p> +Traversing the central arbor, and fancying it will soon lead you to open +ground, you suddenly come upon the most private retreat of the prince: a square +structure; plain as a pyramid; and without, as inscrutable. Down to the very +ground, its walls are thatched; but on the farther side a passage-way opens, +which you enter. But not yet are you within. Scarce a yard distant, stands an +inner thatched wall, blank as the first. Passing along the intervening +corridor, lighted by narrow apertures, you reach the opposite side, and a +second opening is revealed. This entering, another corridor; lighted as the +first, but more dim, and a third blank wall. And thus, three times three, you +worm round and round, the twilight lessening as you proceed; until at last, you +enter the citadel itself: the innermost arbor of a nest; whereof, each has its +roof, distinct from the rest. +</p> + +<p> +The heart of the place is but small; illuminated by a range of open sky-lights, +downward contracting. +</p> + +<p> +Innumerable as the leaves of an endless folio, multitudinous mats cover the +floor; whereon reclining by night, like Pharaoh on the top of his patrimonial +pile, the inmate looks heavenward, and heavenward only; gazing at the +torchlight processions in the skies, when, in state, the suns march to be +crowned. +</p> + +<p> +And here, in this impenetrable retreat, centrally slumbered the +universe-rounded, zodiac-belted, horizon-zoned, sea-girt, reef- sashed, +mountain-locked, arbor-nested, royalty-girdled, arm-clasped, self-hugged, +indivisible Donjalolo, absolute monarch of Juam:—the husk-inhusked meat +in a nut; the innermost spark in a ruby; the juice-nested seed in a +goldenrinded orange; the red royal stone in an effeminate peach; the insphered +sphere of spheres. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0080"></a> +CHAPTER LXXX.<br/> +Donjalolo In The Bosom Of His Family</h2> + +<p> +To pretend to relate the manner in which Juam’s ruler passed his captive +days, without making suitable mention of his harem, would be to paint +one’s full-length likeness and omit the face. For it was his harem that +did much to stamp the character of Donjalolo. +</p> + +<p> +And had he possessed but a single spouse, most discourteous, surely, to have +overlooked the princess; much more, then, as it is; and by how-much the more, a +plurality exceeds a unit. +</p> + +<p> +Exclusive of the female attendants, by day waiting upon the person of the king, +he had wives thirty in number, corresponding in name to the nights of the moon. +For, in Juam, time is not reckoned by days, but by nights; each night of the +lunar month having its own designation; which, relatively only, is extended to +the day. +</p> + +<p> +In uniform succession, the thirty wives ruled queen of the king’s heart. +An arrangement most wise and judicious; precluding much of that jealousy and +confusion prevalent in ill-regulated seraglios. For as thirty spouses must be +either more desirable, or less desirable than one; so is a harem thirty times +more difficult to manage than an establishment with one solitary mistress. But +Donjalolo’s wives were so nicely drilled, that for the most part, things +went on very smoothly. Nor were his brows much furrowed with wrinkles referable +to domestic cares and tribulations. Although, as in due time will be seen, from +these he was not altogether exempt. +</p> + +<p> +Now, according to Braid-Beard, who, among other abstruse political researches, +had accurately informed himself concerning the internal administration of +Donjalolo’s harem, the following was the method pursued therein. +</p> + +<p> +On the Aquella, or First Night of the month, the queen of that name assumes her +diadem, and reigns. So too with Azzolino the Second, and Velluvi the Third +Night of the Moon; and so on, even unto the utter eclipse thereof; through +Calends, Nones, and Ides. +</p> + +<p> +For convenience, the king is furnished with a card, whereon are copied the +various ciphers upon the arms of his queens; and parallel thereto, the +hieroglyphics significant of the corresponding Nights of the month. Glancing +over this, Donjalolo predicts the true time of the rising and setting of all +his stars. +</p> + +<p> +This Moon of wives was lodged in two spacious seraglios, which few mortals +beheld. For, so deeply were they buried in a grove; so overpowered with +verdure; so overrun with vines; and so hazy with the incense of flowers; that +they were almost invisible, unless closely approached. Certain it was, that it +demanded no small enterprise, diligence, and sagacity, to explore the +mysterious wood in search of them. Though a strange, sweet, humming sound, as +of the clustering and swarming of warm bees among roses, at last hinted the +royal honey at hand. High in air, toward the summit of the cliff, overlooking +this side of the glen, a narrow ledge of rocks might have been seen, from +which, rumor whispered, was to be caught an angular peep at the tip of the apex +of the roof of the nearest seraglio. But this wild report had never been +established. Nor, indeed, was it susceptible of a test. For was not that rock +inaccessible as the eyrie of young eagles? But to guard against the possibility +of any visual profanation, Donjalolo had authorized an edict, forever tabooing +that rock to foot of man or pinion of fowl. Birds and bipeds both trembled and +obeyed; taking a wide circuit to avoid the spot. +</p> + +<p> +Access to the seraglios was had by corresponding arbors leading from the +palace. The seraglio to the right was denominated “Ravi” (Before), +that to the left “Zono” (After). The meaning of which was, that +upon the termination of her reign the queen wended her way to the Zono; there +tarrying with her predecessors till the Ravi was emptied; when the entire Moon +of wives, swallow-like, migrated back whence they came; and the procession was +gone over again. +</p> + +<p> +In due order, the queens reposed upon mats inwoven with their respective +ciphers. In the Ravi, the mat of the queen-apparent, or next in succession, was +spread by the portal. In the Zono, the newly- widowed queen reposed furthest +from it. +</p> + +<p> +But alas for all method where thirty wives are concerned. Notwithstanding these +excellent arrangements, the mature result of ages of progressive improvement in +the economy of the royal seraglios in Willamilla, it must needs be related, +that at times the order of precedence became confused, and was very hard to +restore. +</p> + +<p> +At intervals, some one of the wives was weeded out, to the no small delight of +the remainder; but to their equal vexation her place would soon after be +supplied by some beautiful stranger; who assuming the denomination of the +vacated Night of the Moon, thenceforth commenced her monthly revolutions in the +king’s infallible calendar. +</p> + +<p> +In constant attendance, was a band of old men; woe-begone, thin of leg, and +puny of frame; whose grateful task it was, to tarry in the garden of +Donjalolo’s delights, without ever touching the roses. Along with +innumerable other duties, they were perpetually kept coming and going upon ten +thousand errands; for they had it in strict charge to obey the slightest +behests of the damsels; and with all imaginable expedition to run, fly, swim, +or dissolve into impalpable air, at the shortest possible notice. +</p> + +<p> +So laborious their avocations, that none could discharge them for more than a +twelvemonth, at the end of that period giving up the ghost out of pure +exhaustion of the locomotive apparatus. It was this constant drain upon the +stock of masculine old age in the glen, that so bethinned its small population +of gray-beards and hoary-heads. And any old man hitherto exempted, who happened +to receive a summons to repair to the palace, and there wait the pleasure of +the king: this unfortunate, at once suspecting his doom, put his arbor in +order; oiled and suppled his joints; took a long farewell of his friends; +selected his burial-place; and going resigned to his fate, in due time expired +like the rest. +</p> + +<p> +Had any one of them cast about for some alleviating circumstance, he might +possibly have derived some little consolation from the thought, that though a +slave to the whims of thirty princesses, he was nevertheless one of their +guardians, and as such, he might ingeniously have concluded, their superior. +But small consolation this. For the damsels were as blithe as larks, more +playful than kittens; never looking sad and sentimental, projecting clandestine +escapes. But supplied with the thirtieth part of all that Aspasia could desire; +glorying in being the spouses of a king; nor in the remotest degree anxious +about eventual dowers; they were care-free, content, and rejoicing, as the rays +of the morning. +</p> + +<p> +Poor old men, then; it would be hard to distill out of your fate, one drop of +the balm of consolation. For, commissioned to watch over those who forever kept +you on the trot, affording you no time to hunt up peccadilloes; was not this +circumstance an aggravation of hard times? a sharpening and edge-giving to the +steel in your souls? +</p> + +<p> +But much yet remains unsaid. +</p> + +<p> +To dwell no more upon the eternal wear-and-tear incident to these attenuated +old warders, they were intensely hated by the damsels. Inasmuch, as it was +archly opined, for what ulterior purposes they were retained. +</p> + +<p> +Nightly couching, on guard, round the seraglio, like fangless old bronze +dragons round a fountain enchanted, the old men ever and anon cried out +mightily, by reason of sore pinches and scratches received in the dark: And +tri-trebly-tri-triply girt about as he was, Donjalolo himself started from his +slumbers, raced round and round through his ten thousand corridors; at last +bursting all dizzy among his twenty-nine queens, to see what under the +seventh-heavens was the matter. When, lo and behold! there lay the innocents +all sound asleep; the dragons moaning over their mysterious bruises. +</p> + +<p> +Ah me! his harem, like all large families, was the delight and the torment of +the days and nights of Donjalolo. +</p> + +<p> +And in one special matter was he either eminently miserable, or otherwise: for +all his multiplicity of wives, he had never an heir. Not his, the proud +paternal glance of the Grand Turk Solyman, looking round upon a hundred sons, +all bone of his bone, and squinting with his squint. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0081"></a> +CHAPTER LXXXI.<br/> +Wherein Babbalanja Relates The Adventure Of One Karkeke In The Land Of +Shades</h2> + +<p> +At our morning repast on the second day of our stay in the hollow, our party +indulged in much lively discourse. +</p> + +<p> +“Samoa,” said I, “those isles of yours, of whose beauty you +so often make vauntful mention, can those isles, good Samoa, furnish a valley +in all respects equal to Willamilla?” +</p> + +<p> +Disdainful answer was made, that Willamilla might be endurable enough for a +sojourn, but as a permanent abode, any glen of his own natal isle was +unspeakably superior. +</p> + +<p> +“In the great valley of Savaii,” cried Samoa, “for every leaf +grown here in Willamilla, grows a stately tree; and for every tree here waving, +in Savaii flourishes a goodly warrior.” +</p> + +<p> +Immeasurable was the disgust of the Upoluan for the enervated subjects of +Donjalolo; and for Donjalolo himself; though it was shrewdly divined, that his +annoying reception at the hands of the royalty of Juam, had something to do +with his disdain. +</p> + +<p> +To Jarl, no similar question was put; for he was sadly deficient in a taste for +the picturesque. But he cursorily observed, that in his blue-water opinion, +Willamilla was next to uninhabitable, all view of the sea being intercepted. +</p> + +<p> +And here it may be well to relate a comical blunder on the part of honest Jarl; +concerning which, Samoa, the savage, often afterward twitted him; as indicating +a rusticity, and want of polish in his breeding. It rather originated, however, +in his not heeding the conventionalities of the strange people among whom he +was thrown. +</p> + +<p> +The anecdote is not an epic; but here it is. +</p> + +<p> +Reclining in our arbor, we breakfasted upon a marble slab; so frost-white, and +flowingly traced with blue veins, that it seemed a little lake sheeted over +with ice: Diana’s virgin bosom congéaled. +</p> + +<p> +Before each guest was a richly carved bowl and gourd, fruit and wine freighted +also the empty hemisphere of a small nut, the purpose of which was a problem. +Now, King Jarl scorned to admit the slightest degree of under-breeding in the +matter of polite feeding. So nothing was a problem to him. At once reminded of +the morsel of Arvaroot in his mouth, a substitute for another sort of sedative +then unattainable, he was instantly illuminated concerning the purpose of the +nut; and very complacently introduced each to the other; in the innocence of +his ignorance making no doubt that he had acquitted himself with discretion; +the little hemisphere plainly being intended as a place of temporary deposit +for the Arva of the guests. +</p> + +<p> +The company were astounded: Samoa more than all. King Jarl, meanwhile, looking +at all present with the utmost serenity. At length, one of the horrified +attendants, using two sticks for a forceps, disappeared with the obnoxious nut, +Upon which, the meal proceeded. +</p> + +<p> +This attendant was not seen again for many days; which gave rise to the +supposition, that journeying to the sea-side, he had embarked for some distant +strand; there, to bury out of sight the abomination with which he was +freighted. +</p> + +<p> +Upon this, his egregious misadventure, calculated to do discredit to our party, +and bring Media himself into contempt, Babbalanja had no scruples in taking +Jarl roundly to task. He assured him, that it argued but little brains to +evince a desire to be thought familiar with all things; that however desirable +as incidental attainments, conventionalities, in themselves, were the very +least of arbitrary trifles; the knowledge of them, innate with no man. +“Moreover Jarl,” he added, “in essence, conventionalities are +but mimickings, at which monkeys succeed best. Hence, when you find yourself at +a loss in these matters, wait patiently, and mark what the other monkeys do: +and then follow suit. And by so doing, you will gain a vast reputation as an +accomplished ape. Above all things, follow not the silly example of the young +spark Karkeke, of whom Mohi was telling me. Dying, and entering the other world +with a mincing gait, and there finding certain customs quite strange and new; +such as friendly shades passing through each other by way of a +salutation;—Karkeke, nevertheless, resolved to show no sign of +embarrassment. Accosted by a phantom, with wings folded pensively, plumes +interlocked across its chest, he off head; and stood obsequiously before it. +Staring at him for an instant, the spirit cut him dead; murmuring to itself, +‘Ah, some terrestrial bumpkin, I fancy,’ and passed on with its +celestial nose in the highly rarified air. But silly Karkeke undertaking to +replace his head, found that it would no more stay on; but forever tumbled off; +even in the act of nodding a salute; which calamity kept putting him out of +countenance. And thus through all eternity is he punished for his folly, in +having pretended to be wise, wherein he was ignorant. Head under arm, he +wanders about, the scorn and ridicule of the other world.” +</p> + +<p> +Our repast concluded, messengers arrived from the prince, courteously inviting +our presence at the House of the Morning. Thither we went; journeying in +sedans, sent across the hollow, for that purpose, by Donjalolo. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0082"></a> +CHAPTER LXXXII.<br/> +How Donjalolo, Sent Agents To The Surrounding Isles; With The Result</h2> + +<p> +Ere recounting what was beheld on entering the House of the Morning, some +previous information is needful. Though so many of Donjalolo’s days were +consumed by sloth and luxury, there came to him certain intervals of +thoughtfulness, when all his curiosity concerning the things of outer Mardi +revived with augmented intensity. In these moods, he would send abroad +deputations, inviting to Willamilla the kings of the neighboring islands; +together with the most celebrated priests, bards, story-tellers, magicians, and +wise men; that he might hear them converse of those things, which he could not +behold for himself. +</p> + +<p> +But at last, he bethought him, that the various narrations he had heard, could +not have been otherwise than unavoidably faulty; by reason that they had been +principally obtained from the inhabitants of the countries described; who, very +naturally, must have been inclined to partiality or uncandidness in their +statements. Wherefore he had very lately dispatched to the isles special agents +of his own; honest of heart, keen of eye, and shrewd of understanding; to seek +out every thing that promised to illuminate him concerning the places they +visited, and also to collect various specimens of interesting objects; so that +at last he might avail himself of the researches of others, and see with their +eyes. +</p> + +<p> +But though two observers were sent to every one of the neighboring lands; yet +each was to act independently; make his own inquiries; form his own +conclusions; and return with his own specimens; wholly regardless of the +proceedings of the other. +</p> + +<p> +It so came to pass, that on the very day of our arrival in the glen, these +pilgrims returned from their travels. And Donjalolo had set apart the following +morning to giving them a grand public reception. And it was to this, that our +party had been invited, as related in the chapter preceding. +</p> + +<p> +In the great Palm-hall of the House of the Morning, we were assigned +distinguished mats, to the right of the prince; his chiefs, attendants, and +subjects assembled in the open colonnades without. +</p> + +<p> +When all was in readiness, in marched the company of savans and travelers; and +humbly standing in a semi-circle before the king, their numerous hampers were +deposited at their feet. +</p> + +<p> +Donjalolo was now in high spirits, thinking of the rich store of reliable +information about to be furnished. +</p> + +<p> +“Zuma,” said he, addressing the foremost of the company, “you +and Varnopi were directed to explore the island of Rafona. Proceed now, and +relate all you know of that place. Your narration heard, we will list to +Varnopi.” +</p> + +<p> +With a profound inclination the traveler obeyed. +</p> + +<p> +But soon Donjalolo interrupted him. “What say you, Zuma, about the secret +cavern, and the treasures therein? A very different account, this, from all I +have heard hitherto; but perhaps yours is the true version. Go on.” +</p> + +<p> +But very soon, poor Zuma was again interrupted by exclamations of surprise. +Nay, even to the very end of his mountings. +</p> + +<p> +But when he had done, Donjalolo observed, that if from any cause Zuma was in +error or obscure, Varnopi would not fail to set him right. +</p> + +<p> +So Varnopi was called upon. +</p> + +<p> +But not long had Varnopi proceeded, when Donjalolo changed color. +</p> + +<p> +“What!” he exclaimed, “will ye contradict each other before +our very face. Oh Oro! how hard is truth to be come at by proxy! Fifty accounts +have I had of Rafona; none of which wholly agreed; and here, these two varlets, +sent expressly to behold and report, these two lying knaves, speak crookedly +both. How is it? Are the lenses in their eyes diverse-hued, that objects seem +different to both; for undeniable is it, that the things they thus clashingly +speak of are to be known for the same; though represented with unlike colors +and qualities. But dumb things can not lie nor err. Unpack thy hampers, Zuma. +Here, bring them close: now: what is this?” +</p> + +<p> +“That,” tremblingly replied Zuma, “is a specimen of the +famous reef- bar on the west side of the island of Rafona; your highness +perceives its deep red dyes.” +</p> + +<p> +Said Donjalolo, “Varnopi, hast thou a piece of this coral, also?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have, your highness,” said Varnopi; “here it is.” +</p> + +<p> +Taking it from his hand, Donjalolo gazed at its bleached, white hue; then +dashing it to the pavement, “Oh mighty Oro! Truth dwells in her +fountains; where every one must drink for himself. For me, vain all hope of +ever knowing Mardi! Away! Better know nothing, than be deceived. Break +up!” +</p> + +<p> +And Donjalolo rose, and retired. +</p> + +<p> +All present now broke out in a storm of vociferation; some siding with Zuma; +others with Varnopi; each of whom, in turn, was declared the man to be relied +upon. +</p> + +<p> +Marking all this, Babbalanja, who had been silently looking on, leaning against +one of the palm pillars, quietly observed to Media:— “My lord, I +have seen this same reef at Rafona. In various places, it is of various hues. +As for Zuma and Varnopi, both are wrong, and both are right.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0083"></a> +CHAPTER LXXXIII.<br/> +They Visit The Tributary Islets</h2> + +<p> +In Willamilla, no Yillah being found, on the third day we took leave of +Donjalolo; who lavished upon us many caresses and, somewhat reluctantly on +Media’s part, we quitted the vale. +</p> + +<p> +One by one, we now visited the outer villages of Juam; and crossing the waters, +wandered several days among its tributary isles. There we saw the viceroys of +him who reigned in the hollow: chieftains of whom Donjalolo was proud; so +honest, humble, and faithful; so bent upon ameliorating the condition of those +under their rule. For, be it said, Donjalolo was a charitable prince; in his +serious intervals, ever seeking the welfare of his subjects, though after an +imperial view of his own. But alas, in that sunny donjon among the mountains, +where he dwelt, how could Donjalolo be sure, that the things he decreed were +executed in regions forever remote from his view. Ah! very bland, very +innocent, very pious, the faces his viceroys presented during their monthly +visits to Willamilla. But as cruel their visage, when, returned to their +islets, they abandoned themselves to all the license of tyrants; like Verres +reveling down the rights of the Sicilians. +</p> + +<p> +Like Carmelites, they came to Donjalolo, barefooted; but in their homes, their +proud latchets were tied by their slaves. Before their king-belted prince, they +stood rope-girdled like self-abased monks of St. Francis; but with those ropes, +before their palaces, they hung Innocence and Truth. +</p> + +<p> +As still seeking Yillah, and still disappointed, we roved through the lands +which these chieftains ruled, Babbalanja exclaimed—“Let us depart; +idle our search, in isles that have viceroys for kings.” +</p> + +<p> +At early dawn, about embarking for a distant land, there came to us certain +messengers of Donjalolo, saying that their lord the king, repenting of so soon +parting company with Media and Taji, besought them to return with all haste; +for that very morning, in Willamilla, a regal banquet was preparing; to which +many neighboring kings had been invited, most of whom had already arrived. +</p> + +<p> +Declaring that there was no alternative but compliance, Media acceded; and with +the king’s messengers we returned to the glen. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0084"></a> +CHAPTER LXXXIV.<br/> +Taji Sits Down To Dinner With Five-And-Twenty Kings, And A Royal Time They +Have</h2> + +<p> +It was afternoon when we emerged from the defile. And informed that our host +was receiving his guests in the House of the Afternoon, thither we directed our +steps. +</p> + +<p> +Soft in our face, blew the blessed breezes of Omi, stirring the leaves +overhead; while, here and there, through the trees, showed the idol-bearers of +the royal retreat, hand in hand, linked with festoons of flowers. Still beyond, +on a level, sparkled the nodding crowns of the kings, like the constellation +Corona-Borealis, the horizon just gained. +</p> + +<p> +Close by his noon-tide friend, the cascade at the mouth of the grotto, reposed +on his crimson mat, Donjalolo:—arrayed in a vestment of the finest white +tappa of Mardi, figured all over with bright yellow lizards, so curiously +stained in the gauze, that he seemed overrun, as with golden mice. +</p> + +<p> +Marjora’s girdle girdled his loins, tasseled with the congregated teeth +of his sires. A jeweled turban-tiara, milk-white, surmounted his brow, over +which waved a copse of Pintado plumes. +</p> + +<p> +But what sways in his hand? A scepter, similar to those likenesses of scepters, +imbedded among the corals at his feet. A polished thigh- bone; by Braid-Beard +declared once Teei’s the Murdered. For to emphasize his intention utterly +to rule, Marjora himself had selected this emblem of dominion over mankind. +</p> + +<p> +But even this last despite done to dead Teei had once been transcended. In the +usurper’s time, prevailed the belief, that the saliva of kings must never +touch ground; and Mohi’s Chronicles made mention, that during the life +time of Marjora, Teei’s skull had been devoted to the basest of purposes: +Marjora’s, the hate no turf could bury. +</p> + +<p> +Yet, traditions like these ever seem dubious. There be many who deny the hump, +moral and physical, of Gloster Richard. +</p> + +<p> +Still advancing unperceived, in social hilarity we descried their Highnesses, +chatting together like the most plebeian of mortals; full as merry as the monks +of old. But marking our approach, all changed. A pair of potentates, who had +been playfully trifling, hurriedly adjusted their diadems, threw themselves +into attitudes, looking stately as statues. Phidias turned not out his Jupiter +so soon. +</p> + +<p> +In various-dyed robes the five-and-twenty kings were arrayed; and various their +features, as the rows of lips, eyes and ears in John Caspar Lavater’s +physiognomical charts. Nevertheless, to a king, all their noses were aquiline. +</p> + +<p> +There were long fox-tail beards of silver gray, and enameled chins, like those +of girls; bald pates and Merovingian locks; smooth brows and wrinkles: forms +erect and stooping; an eye that squinted; one king was deaf; by his side, +another that was halt; and not far off, a dotard. They were old and young, tall +and short, handsome and ugly, fat and lean, cunning and simple. +</p> + +<p> +With animated courtesy our host received us; assigning a neighboring bower for +Babbalanja and the rest; and among so many right-royal, demi-divine guests, how +could the demi-gods Media and Taji be otherwise than at home? +</p> + +<p> +The unwonted sprightliness of Donjalolo surprised us. But he was in one of +those relapses of desperate gayety in-variably following his failures in +efforts to amend his life. And the bootless issue of his late mission to outer +Mardi had thrown him into a mood for revelry. Nor had he lately shunned a wild +wine, called Morando. +</p> + +<p> +A slave now appearing with a bowl of this beverage, it circulated freely. +</p> + +<p> +Not to gainsay the truth, we fancied the Morando much. A nutty, pungent flavor +it had; like some kinds of arrack distilled in the Philippine isles. And a +marvelous effect did it have, in dissolving the crystalization of the brain; +leaving nothing but precious little drops of good humor, beading round the bowl +of the cranium. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, garlanded boys, climbing the limbs of the idol-pillars, and +stirruping their feet in their most holy mouths, suspended hangings of crimson +tappa all round the hall; so that sweeping the pavement they rustled in the +breeze from the grot. +</p> + +<p> +Presently, stalwart slaves advanced; bearing a mighty basin of a porphyry hue, +deep-hollowed out of a tree. Outside, were innumerable grotesque conceits; +conspicuous among which, for a border, was an endless string of the royal +lizards circumnavigating the basin in inverted chase of their tails. +</p> + +<p> +Peculiar to the groves of Willamilla, the yellow lizard formed part of the arms +of Juam. And when Donjalolo’s messenger went abroad, they carried its +effigy, as the emblem of their royal master; themselves being known, as the +Gentlemen of the Golden Lizard. +</p> + +<p> +The porphyry-hued basin planted full in our midst, the attendants forthwith +filled the same with the living waters from the cascade; a proceeding, for +which some of the company were at a loss to account, unless his highness, our +host, with all the coolness of royalty, purposed cooling himself still further, +by taking a bath in presence of his guests. A conjecture, most premature; for +directly, the basin being filled to within a few inches of the lizards, the +attendants fell to launching therein divers goodly sized trenchers, all laden +with choice viands:—wild boar meat; humps of grampuses; embrowned +bread-fruit, roasted in odoriferous fires of sandal wood, but suffered to cool; +gold fish, dressed with the fragrant juices of berries; citron sauce; rolls of +the baked paste of yams; juicy bananas, steeped in a saccharine oil; marmalade +of plantains; jellies of guava; confections of the treacle of palm sap; and +many other dainties; besides numerous stained calabashes of Morando, and other +beverages, fixed in carved floats to make them buoyant. +</p> + +<p> +The guests assigned seats, by the woven handles attached to his purple mat, the +prince, our host, was now gently moved by his servitors to the head of the +porphyry-hued basin. Where, flanked by lofty crowned-heads, white-tiaraed, and +radiant with royalty, he sat; like snow-turbaned Mont Blanc, at sunrise +presiding over the head waters of the Rhone; to right and left, looming the +gilded summits of the Simplon, the Gothard, the Jungfrau, the Great St. +Bernard, and the Grand Glockner. +</p> + +<p> +Yet turbid from the launching of its freight, Lake Como tossed to and fro its +navies of good cheer, the shadows of the king-peaks wildly flitting thereupon. +</p> + +<p> +But no frigid wine and fruit cooler, Lake Como; as at first it did seem; but a +tropical dining table, its surface a slab of light blue St. Pons marble in a +state of fluidity. +</p> + +<p> +Now, many a crown was doffed; scepters laid aside; girdles slackened; and among +those verdant viands the bearded kings like goats did browse; or tusking their +wild boar’s meat, like mastiffs ate. +</p> + +<p> +And like unto some well-fought fight, beginning calmly, but pressing forward to +a fiery rush, this well-fought feast did now wax warm. +</p> + +<p> +A few royal epicures, however, there were: epicures intent upon concoctions, +admixtures, and masterly compoundings; who comported themselves with all due +deliberation and dignity; hurrying themselves into no reckless deglutition of +the dainties. Ah! admirable conceit, Lake Como: superseding attendants. For, +from hand to hand the trenchers sailed; no sooner gaining one port, than +dispatched over sea to another. +</p> + +<p> +Well suited they were for the occasion; sailing high out of water, to resist +the convivial swell at times ruffling the sociable sea; and sharp at both ends, +still better adapting them to easy navigation. +</p> + +<p> +But soon, the Morando, in triumphant decanters, went round, reeling like barks +before a breeze. But their voyages were brief; and ere long, in certain havens, +the accumulation of empty vessels threatened to bridge the lake with pontoons. +In those directions, Trade winds were setting. But full soon, cut out were all +unladen and unprofitable gourds; and replaced by jolly-bellied calabashes, for +a time sailing deep, yawing heavily to the push. +</p> + +<p> +At last, the whole flotilla of trenchers—wrecks and all—were sent +swimming to the further end of Lake Como; and thence removed, gave place to +ruddy hillocks of fruit, and floating islands of flowers. Chief among the +former, a quince-like, golden sphere, that filled the air with such fragrance, +you thought you were tasting its flavor. +</p> + +<p> +Nor did the wine cease flowing. That day the Juam grape did bleed; that day the +tendril ringlets of the vines, did all uncurl and grape by grape, in sheer +dismay, the sun ripe clusters dropped. Grape-glad were five-and-twenty kings: +five-and-twenty kings were merry. +</p> + +<p> +Morando’s vintage had no end; nor other liquids, in the royal cellar +stored, somewhere secret in the grot. Oh! where’s the endless +Niger’s source? Search ye here, or search ye there; on, on, through +ravine, vega, vale—no head waters will ye find. But why need gain the +hidden spring, when its lavish stream flows by? At three-fold mouths that +Delta-grot discharged; rivers golden, white, and red. +</p> + +<p> +But who may sing for aye? Down I come, and light upon the old and prosy plain. +</p> + +<p> +Among other decanters set afloat, was a pompous, lordly-looking demijohn, but +old and reverend withal, that sailed about, consequential as an autocrat going +to be crowned, or a treasure- freighted argosie bound home before the wind. It +looked solemn, however, though it reeled; peradventure, far gone with its own +potent contents. +</p> + +<p> +Oh! russet shores of Rhine and Rhone! oh, mellow memories of ripe old vintages! +oh, cobwebs in the Pyramids! oh, dust on Pharaoh’s tomb!—all, all +recur, as I bethink me of that glorious gourd, its contents cogent as Tokay, +itself as old as Mohi’s legends; more venerable to look at than his +beard. Whence came it? Buried in vases, so saith the label, with the heart of +old Marjora, now dead one hundred thousand moons. Exhumed at last, it looked no +wine, but was shrunk into a subtile syrup. +</p> + +<p> +This special calabash was distinguished by numerous trappings, caparisoned like +the sacred bay steed led before the Great Khan of Tartary. A most curious and +betasseled network encased it; and the royal lizard was jealously twisted about +its neck, like a hand on a throat containing some invaluable secret. +</p> + +<p> +All Hail, Marzilla! King’s Own Royal Particular! A vinous Percy! Dating +back to the Conquest! Distilled of yore from purple berries growing in the +purple valley of Ardair! Thrice hail. +</p> + +<p> +But the imperial Marzilla was not for all; gods only could partake; the Kings +and demigods of the isles; excluding left-handed descendants of sad rakes of +immortals, in old times breaking heads and hearts in Mardi, bequeathing +bars-sinister to many mortals, who now in vain might urge a claim to a cup-full +of right regal Marzilla. +</p> + +<p> +The Royal Particular was pressed upon me, by the now jovial Donjalolo. With his +own sceptered hand charging my flagon to the brim, he declared his despotic +pleasure, that I should quaff it off to the last lingering globule. No hard +calamity, truly; for the drinking of this wine was as the singing of a mighty +ode, or frenzied lyric to the soul. +</p> + +<p> +“Drink, Taji,” cried Donjalolo, “drink deep. In this wine a +king’s heart is dissolved. Drink long; in this wine lurk the seeds of the +life everlasting. Drink deep; drink long: thou drinkest wisdom and valor at +every draught. Drink forever, oh Taji, for thou drinkest that which will enable +thee to stand up and speak out before mighty Oro himself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Borabolla,” he added, turning round upon a domed old king at his +left, “Was it not the god Xipho, who begged of my great-great- grandsire +a draught of this same wine, saying he was about to beget a hero?” +</p> + +<p> +“Even so. And thy glorious Marzilla produced thrice valiant Ononna, who +slew the giants of the reef.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ha, ha, hear’st that, oh Taji?” And Donjalolo drained +another cup. +</p> + +<p> +Amazing! the flexibility of the royal elbow, and the rigidity of the royal +spine! More especially as we had been impressed with a notion of their +debility. But, sometimes these seemingly enervated young blades approve +themselves steadier of limb, than veteran revelers of very long standing. +</p> + +<p> +“Discharge the basin, and refill it with wine,” cried Donjalolo. +“Break all empty gourds! Drink, kings, and dash your cups at every +draught.” +</p> + +<p> +So saying, he started from his purple mat; and with one foot planted +unknowingly upon the skull of Marjora; while all the skeletons grinned at him +from the pavement; Donjalolo, holding on high his blood-red goblet, burst forth +with the following invocation:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Ha, ha, gods and kings; fill high, one and all;<br/> +Drink, drink! shout and drink! mad respond to the call!<br/> +Fill fast, and fill frill; ’gainst the goblet ne’er sin;<br/> +Quaff there, at high tide, to the uttermost rim:—<br/> + Flood-tide, and soul-tide to the brim!<br/> +<br/> +Who with wine in him fears? who thinks of his cares?<br/> +Who sighs to be wise, when wine in him flares?<br/> +Water sinks down below, in currents full slow;<br/> +But wine mounts on high with its genial glow:—<br/> + Welling up, till the brain overflow!<br/> +<br/> +As the spheres, with a roll, some fiery of soul,<br/> +Others golden, with music, revolve round the pole;<br/> +<br/> +So let our cups, radiant with many hued wines,<br/> +Round and round in groups circle, our Zodiac’s Signs:—<br/> + Round reeling, and ringing their chimes!<br/> +<br/> +Then drink, gods and kings; wine merriment brings;<br/> +It bounds through the veins; there, jubilant sings.<br/> +Let it ebb, then, and flow; wine never grows dim;<br/> +Drain down that bright tide at the foam beaded rim:—<br/> + Fill up, every cup, to the brim! +</p> + +<p> +Caught by all present, the chorus resounded again and again. The beaded wine +danced on many a beard; the cataract lifted higher its voice; the grotto sent +back a shout; the ghosts of the Coral Monarchs seemed starting from their +insulted bones. But ha, ha, ha, roared forth the five-and-twenty +kings—alive, not dead—holding both hands to their girdles, and +baying out their laughter from abysses; like Nimrod’s hounds over some +fallen elk. +</p> + +<p> +Mad and crazy revelers, how ye drank and roared! but kings no more: vestures +loosed; and scepters rolling on the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Glorious agrarian, thou wine! bringing all hearts on a level, and at last all +legs to the earth; even those of kings, who, to do them justice, have been much +maligned for imputed qualities not theirs. For whoso has touched flagons with +monarchs, bear they their back bones never so stiffly on the throne, well know +the rascals, to be at bottom royal good fellows; capable of a vinous frankness +exceeding that of base-born men. Was not Alexander a boon companion? And daft +Cambyses? and what of old Rowley, as good a judge of wine and other matters, as +ever sipped claret or kisses. +</p> + +<p> +If ever Taji joins a club, be it a Beef-Steak Club of Kings! +</p> + +<p> +Donjalolo emptied yet another cup. +</p> + +<p> +The mirth now blew a gale; like a ship’s shrouds in a Typhoon, every +tendon vibrated; the breezes of Omi came forth with a rush; the hangings shook; +the goblets danced fandangos; and Donjalolo, clapping his hands, called before +him his dancing women. +</p> + +<p> +Forth came from the grotto a reed-like burst of song, making all start, and +look that way to behold such enchanting strains. Sounds heralding sights! +Swimming in the air, emerged the nymphs, lustrous arms interlocked like Indian +jugglers’ glittering snakes. Round the cascade they thronged; then paused +in its spray. Of a sudden, seemed to spring from its midst, a young form of +foam, that danced into the soul like a thought. At last, sideways floating off, +it subsided into the grotto, a wave. Evening drawing on apace, the crimson +draperies were lifted, and festooned to the arms of the idol-pillars, admitting +the rosy light of the even. +</p> + +<p> +Yielding to the re-action of the banquet, the kings now reclined; and two mute +damsels entered: one with a gourd of scented waters; the other with napkins. +Bending over Donjalolo’s steaming head, the first let fall a shower of +aromatic drops, slowly aborbed by her companion. Thus, in turn, all were +served; nothing heard but deep breathing. +</p> + +<p> +In a marble vase they now kindled some incense: a handful of spices. +</p> + +<p> +Shortly after, came three of the king’s beautiful smokers; who, lighting +their tubes at this odorous fire, blew over the company the sedative fumes of +the Aina. +</p> + +<p> +Steeped in languor, I strove against it long; essayed to struggle out of the +enchanted mist. But a syren hand seemed ever upon me, pressing me back. +</p> + +<p> +Half-revealed, as in a dream, and the last sight that I saw, was +Donjalolo:—eyes closed, face pale, locks moist, borne slowly to his +sedan, to cross the hollow, and wake in the seclusion of his harem. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0085"></a> +CHAPTER LXXXV.<br/> +After Dinner</h2> + +<p> +As in dreams I behold thee again, Willamila! as in dreams, once again I stroll +through thy cool shady groves, oh fairest of the vallies of Mardi! the thought +of that mad merry feasting steals over my soul till I faint. +</p> + +<p> +Prostrate here and there over the bones of Donjalolo’s sires, the royal +bacchanals lay slumbering till noon. +</p> + +<p> +“Which are the deadest?” said Babbalanja, peeping in, “the +live kings, or the dead ones?” +</p> + +<p> +But the former were drooping flowers sought to be revived by watering. At +intervals the sedulous attendants went to and fro, besprinkling their heads +with the scented contents of their vases. +</p> + +<p> +At length, one by one, the five-and-twenty kings lifted their ambrosial curls; +and shaking the dew therefrom, like eagles opened their right royal eyes, and +dilated their aquiline nostrils, full upon the golden rays of the sun. +</p> + +<p> +But why absented himself, Donjalolo? Had he cavalierly left them to survive the +banquet by themselves? But this apparent incivility was soon explained by +heralds, announcing to their prone majesties, that through the over solicitude +of his slaves, their lord the king had been borne to his harem, without being a +party to the act. But to make amends, in his sedan, Donjalolo was even now +drawing nigh. Not, however, again to make merry; but socially to sleep in +company with his guests; for, together they had all got high, and together they +must all lie low. +</p> + +<p> +So at it they went: each king to his bones, and slumbered like heroes till +evening; when, availing themselves of the cool moonlight approaching, the royal +guests bade adieu to their host; and summoning their followers, quitted the +glen. +</p> + +<p> +Early next day, having determined to depart for our canoes, we proceeded to the +House of the Morning, to take leave of Donjalolo. +</p> + +<p> +An amazing change, one night of solitude had wrought! Pale and languid, we +found him reclining: one hand on his throbbing temples. +</p> + +<p> +Near an overturned vessel of wine, the royal girdle lay tossed at his feet. He +had waved off his frightened attendants, who crouched out of sight. +</p> + +<p> +We advanced. +</p> + +<p> +“Do ye too leave me? Ready enough are ye to partake of my banquetings, +which, to such as ye, are but mad incidents in one round of more tranquil +diversions. But heed me not, Media;—I am mad. Oh, ye gods! am I forever a +captive?—Ay, free king of Odo, when you list, condescend to visit the +poor slave in Willamilla. I account them but charity, your visits; would fain +allure ye by sumptuous fare. Go, leave me; go, and be rovers again throughout +blooming Mardi. For, me, I am here for aye.—Bring me wine, slaves! quick! +that I may pledge my guests fitly. Alas, Media, at the bottom of this cup are +no sparkles as at top. Oh, treacherous, treacherous friend! full of smiles and +daggers. Yet for such as me, oh wine, thou art e’en a prop, though it +pierce the side; for man must lean. Thou wine art the friend of the friendless, +though a foe to all. King Media, let us drink. More cups!—And now, +farewell.” +</p> + +<p> +Falling back, he averted his face; and silently we quitted the palace. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0086"></a> +CHAPTER LXXXVI.<br/> +Of Those Scamps The Plujii</h2> + +<p> +The beach gained, we embarked. +</p> + +<p> +In good time our party recovered from the seriousness into which we had been +thrown; and a rather long passage being now before us, we whiled away the hours +as best we might. +</p> + +<p> +Among many entertaining, narrations, old Braid-Beard, crossing his calves, and +peaking his beard, regaled us with some account of certain invisible spirits, +ycleped the Plujii, arrant little knaves as ever gulped moonshine. +</p> + +<p> +They were spoken of as inhabiting the island of Quelquo, in a remote corner of +the lagoon; the innocent people of which island were sadly fretted and put out +by their diabolical proceedings. Not to be wondered at; since, dwelling as they +did in the air, and completely inaccessible, these spirits were peculiarly +provocative of ire. +</p> + +<p> +Detestable Plujii! With malice aforethought, they brought about high winds that +destroyed the banana plantations, and tumbled over the heads of its occupants +many a bamboo dwelling. They cracked the calabashes; soured the +“poee;” induced the colic; begat the spleen; and almost rent people +in twain with stitches in the side. In short, from whatever evil, the cause of +which the Islanders could not directly impute to their gods, or in their own +opinion was not referable to themselves,—of that very thing must the +invisible Plujii be guilty. With horrible dreams, and blood-thirsty gnats, they +invaded the most innocent slumbers. +</p> + +<p> +All things they bedeviled. A man with a wry neck ascribed it to the Plujii; he +with a bad memory railed against the Plujii; and the boy, bruising his finger, +also cursed those abominable spirits. +</p> + +<p> +Nor, to some minds, at least, was there wanting strong presumptive evidence, +that at times, with invisible fingers, the above mentioned Plujii did leave +direct and tangible traces of their presence; pinching and pounding the +unfortunate Islanders; pulling their hair; plucking their ears, and tweaking +their beards and their noses. And thus perpetually vexing, incensing, +tormenting, and exasperating their helpless victims, the atrocious Plujii +reveled in their malicious dominion over the souls and bodies of the people of +Quelquo. +</p> + +<p> +What it was, that induced them to enact such a part, Oro only knew; and never +but once, it seems, did old Mohi endeavor to find out. +</p> + +<p> +Once upon a time, visiting Quelquo, he chanced to encounter an old woman almost +doubled together, both hands upon her abdomen; in that manner running about +distracted. +</p> + +<p> +“My good woman,” said he, “what under the firmament is the +matter?” +</p> + +<p> +“The Plujii! the Plujii!” affectionately caressing the field of +their operations. +</p> + +<p> +“But why do they torment you?” he soothingly inquired. “How +should I know? and what good would it do me if I did?” +</p> + +<p> +And on she ran. +</p> + +<p> +At this part of his narration, Mohi was interrupted by Media; who, much to the +surprise of all present, observed, that, unbeknown to him (Braid-Beard), he +happened to have been on that very island, at that very time, and saw that +identical old lady in the very midst of those abdominal tribulations. +</p> + +<p> +“That she was really in great distress,” he went on to say, +“was plainly to be seen; but that in that particular instance, your +Plujii had any hand in tormenting her, I had some boisterous doubts. For, +hearing that an hour or two previous she had been partaking of some twenty +unripe bananas, I rather fancied that that circumstance might have had +something to do with her sufferings. But however it was, all the herb-leeches +on the island would not have altered her own opinions on the subject.” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” said Braid-Beard; “a post-mortem examination would not +have satisfied her ghost.” +</p> + +<p> +“Curious to relate,” he continued, “the people of that island +never abuse the Plujii, notwithstanding all they suffer at their hands, unless +under direct provocation; and a settled matter of faith is it, that at such +times all bitter words and hasty objurgations are entirely overlooked, nay, +pardoned on the spot, by the unseen genii against whom they are +directed.” +</p> + +<p> +“Magnanimous Plujii!” cried Media. “But, Babbalanja, do you, +who run a tilt at all things, suffer this silly conceit to be uttered with +impunity in your presence? Why so silent?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have been thinking, my lord,” said Babbalanja, “that +though the people of that island may at times err, in imputing their calamities +to the Plujii, that, nevertheless, upon the whole, they indulge in a reasonable +belief. For, Plujii or no Plujii, it is undeniable, that in ten thousand ways, +as if by a malicious agency, we mortals are woefully put out and tormented; and +that, too, by things in themselves so exceedingly trivial, that it would seem +almost impiety to ascribe them to the august gods. No; there must exist some +greatly inferior spirits; so insignificant, comparatively, as to be overlooked +by the supernal powers; and through them it must be, that we are thus +grievously annoyed. At any rate; such a theory would supply a hiatus in my +system of meta-physics.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, peace to the Plujii,” said Media; “they trouble not +me.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0087"></a> +CHAPTER LXXXVII.<br/> +Nora-Bamma</h2> + +<p> +Still onward gliding, the lagoon a calm. +</p> + +<p> +Hours pass; and full before us, round and green, a Moslem turban by us +floats—Nora-Bamma, Isle of Nods. +</p> + +<p> +Noon-tide rolls its flood. Vibrates the air, and trembles. And by illusion +optical, thin-draped in azure haze, drift here and there the brilliant lands: +swans, peacock-plumaged, sailing through the sky. Down to earth hath heaven +come; hard telling sun-clouds from the isles. +</p> + +<p> +And high in air nods Nora-Bamma. Nid-nods its tufted summit like three ostrich +plumes; its beetling crags, bent poppies, shadows, willowy shores, all nod; its +streams are murmuring down the hills; its wavelets hush the shore. +</p> + +<p> +Who dwells in Nora-Bamma? Dreamers, hypochondriacs, somnambulists; who, from +the cark and care of outer Mardi fleeing, in the poppy’s jaded odors, +seek oblivion for the past, and ecstasies to come. +</p> + +<p> +Open-eyed, they sleep and dream; on their roof-trees, grapes unheeded drop. In +Nora-Bamma, whispers are as shouts; and at a zephyr’s breath, from the +woodlands shake the leaves, as of humming-birds, a flight. +</p> + +<p> +All this spake Braid-Beard, of the isle. How that none ere touched its strand, +without rendering instant tribute of a nap; how that those who thither voyaged, +in golden quest of golden gourds, fast dropped asleep, ere one was plucked; +waking not till night; how that you must needs rub hard your eyes, would you +wander through the isle; and how that silent specters would be met, haunting +twilight groves, and dreamy meads; hither gliding, thither fading, end or +purpose none. +</p> + +<p> +True or false, so much for Mohi’s Nora Bamma. +</p> + +<p> +But as we floated on, it looked the place described. We yawned, and yawned, as +crews of vessels may; as in warm Indian seas, their winnowing sails all swoon, +when by them glides some opium argosie. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0088"></a> +CHAPTER LXXXVIII.<br/> +In A Calm, Hautia’s Heralds Approach</h2> + +<p> +“How still!” cried Babbalanja. “This calm is like unto +Oro’s everlasting serenity, and like unto man’s last +despair.” +</p> + +<p> +But now the silence was broken by a strange, distant, intermitted melody in the +water. +</p> + +<p> +Gazing over the side, we saw naught but a far-darting ray in its depths. +</p> + +<p> +Then Yoomy, before buried in a reverie, burst forth with a verse, sudden as a +jet from a Geyser. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Like the fish of the bright and twittering fin,<br/> + Bright fish! diving deep as high soars the lark,<br/> +So, far, far, far, doth the maiden swim,<br/> + Wild song, wild light, in still ocean’s dark. +</p> + +<p> +“What maiden, minstrel?” cried Media. +</p> + +<p> +“None of these,” answered Yoomy, pointing out a shallop gliding +near. +</p> + +<p> +“The damsels three:—Taji, they pursue you yet.” That still +canoe drew nigh, the Iris in its prow. +</p> + +<p> +Gliding slowly by, one damsel flung a Venus-car, the leaves yet fresh. +</p> + +<p> +Said Yoomy—“Fly to love.” +</p> + +<p> +The second maiden flung a pallid blossom, buried in hemlock leaves. +</p> + +<p> +Said Yoomy, starting—“I have wrought a death.” +</p> + +<p> +Then came showering Venus-cars, and glorious moss-roses numberless, and odorous +handfuls of Verbena. +</p> + +<p> +Said Yoomy—“Yet fly, oh fly to me: all rosy joys and sweets are +mine.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the damsels floated on. +</p> + +<p> +“Was ever queen more enigmatical?” cried +Media—“Love,—death,—joy,—fly to me? But what +says Taji?” +</p> + +<p> +“That I turn not back for Hautia; whoe’er she be, that wild witch I +contemn.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then spread our pinions wide! a breeze! up sails! ply paddles all! Come, +Flora’s flute, float forth a song.” +</p> + +<p> +To pieces picking the thorny roses culled from Hautia’s gifts, and +holding up their blighted cores, thus plumed and turbaned Yoomy sang, leaning +against the mast:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Oh! royal is the rose,<br/> + But barbed with many a dart;<br/> +Beware, beware the rose,<br/> + ’Tis cankered at the heart.<br/> +<br/> + Sweet, sweet the sunny down,<br/> +Oh! lily, lily, lily down!<br/> + Sweet, sweet, Verbena’s bloom!<br/> +Oh! pleasant, gentle, musky bloom!<br/> +<br/> +Dread, dread the sunny down;<br/> + Lo! lily-hooded asp;<br/> +Blooms, blooms no more Verbena;<br/> + White-withered in your clasp. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0089"></a> +CHAPTER LXXXIX.<br/> +Braid-Beard Rehearses The Origin Of The Isle Of Rogues</h2> + +<p> +Judge not things by their names. This, the maxim illustrated respecting the +isle toward which we were sailing. +</p> + +<p> +Ohonoo was its designation, in other words the Land of Rogues. So what but a +nest of villains and pirates could one fancy it to be: a downright Tortuga, +swarming with “Brethren of the coast,”—such as Montbars, +L’Ollonais, Bartolomeo, Peter of Dieppe, and desperadoes of that kidney. +But not so. The men of Ohonoo were as honest as any in Mardi. They had a +suspicious appellative for their island, true; but not thus seemed it to them. +For, upon nothing did they so much plume themselves as upon this very name. +Why? Its origin went back to old times; and being venerable they gloried +therein; though they disclaimed its present applicability to any of their race; +showing, that words are but algebraic signs, conveying no meaning except what +you please. And to be called one thing, is oftentimes to be another. +</p> + +<p> +But how came the Ohonoose by their name? +</p> + +<p> +Listen, and Braid-Beard, our Herodotus, will tell. +</p> + +<p> +Long and long ago, there were banished to Ohonoo all the bucaniers, +flibustiers, thieves, and malefactors of the neighboring islands; who, becoming +at last quite a numerous community, resolved to make a stand for their dignity, +and number one among the nations of Mardi. And even as before they had been +weeded out of the surrounding countries; so now, they went to weeding out +themselves; banishing all objectionable persons to still another island. +</p> + +<p> +These events happened at a period so remote, that at present it was uncertain +whether those twice banished, were thrust into their second exile by reason of +their superlative knavery, or because of their comparative honesty. If the +latter, then must the residue have been a precious enough set of scoundrels. +</p> + +<p> +However it was, the commonwealth of knaves now mustered together their +gray-beards, and wise-pates, and knowing-ones, of which last there was a +plenty, chose a king to rule over them, and went to political housekeeping for +themselves. +</p> + +<p> +And in the fullness of time, this people became numerous and mighty. And the +more numerous and mighty they waxed, by so much the more did they take pride +and glory in their origin, frequently reverting to it with manifold boastings. +The proud device of their monarch was a hand with the forefinger crooked, +emblematic of the peculatory propensities of his ancestors. +</p> + +<p> +And all this, at greater length, said Mohi. +</p> + +<p> +“It would seem, then, my lord,” said Babbalanja, reclining, +“as if these men of Ohonoo had canonized the derelictions of their +progenitors, though the same traits are deemed scandalous among themselves. But +it is time that makes the difference. The knave of a thousand years ago seems a +fine old fellow full of spirit and fun, little malice in his soul; whereas, the +knave of to-day seems a sour- visaged wight, with nothing to redeem him. Many +great scoundrels of our Chronicler’s chronicles are heroes to +us:—witness, Marjora the usurper. Ay, time truly works wonders. It +sublimates wine; it sublimates fame; nay, is the creator thereof; it enriches +and darkens our spears of the Palm; enriches and enlightens the mind; it ripens +cherries and young lips; festoons old ruins, and ivies old heads; imparts a +relish to old yams, and a pungency to the Ponderings of old Bardianna; of +fables distills truths; and finally, smooths, levels, glosses, softens, melts, +and meliorates all things. Why, my lord, round Mardi itself is all the better +for its antiquity, and the more to be revered; to the cozy-minded, more +comfortable to dwell in. Ah! if ever it lay in embryo like a green seed in the +pod, what a damp, shapeless thing it must have been, and how unpleasant from +the traces of its recent creation. The first man, quoth old Bardianna, must +have felt like one going into a new habitation, where the bamboos are green. Is +there not a legend in Maramma, that his family were long troubled with +influenzas and catarrhs?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh Time, Time, Time!” cried Yoomy—“it is Time, old +midsummer Time, that has made the old world what it is. Time hoared the old +mountains, and balded their old summits, and spread the old prairies, and built +the old forests, and molded the old vales. It is Time that has worn glorious +old channels for the glorious old rivers, and rounded the old lakes, and +deepened the old sea! It is Time—” +</p> + +<p> +“Ay, full time to cease,” cried Media. “What have you to do +with cogitations not in verse, minstrel? Leave prose to Babbalanja, who is +prosy enough.” +</p> + +<p> +“Even so,” said Babbalanja, “Yoomy, you have overstepped your +province. My lord Media well knows, that your business is to make the metal in +you jingle in tags, not ring in the ingot.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0090"></a> +CHAPTER XC.<br/> +Rare Sport At Ohonoo</h2> + +<p> +Approached from the northward, Ohonoo, midway cloven down to the sea, one half +a level plain; the other, three mountain terraces—Ohonoo looks like the +first steps of a gigantic way to the sun. And such, if Braid-Beard spoke truth, +it had formerly been. +</p> + +<p> +“Ere Mardi was made,” said that true old chronicler, “Vivo, +one of the genii, built a ladder of mountains whereby to go up and go down. And +of this ladder, the island of Ohonoo was the base. But wandering here and +there, incognito in a vapor, so much wickedness did Vivo spy out, that in high +dudgeon he hurried up his ladder, knocking the mountains from under him as he +went. These here and there fell into the lagoon, forming many isles, now green +and luxuriant; which, with those sprouting from seeds dropped by a bird from +the moon, comprise all the groups in the reef.” +</p> + +<p> +Surely, oh, surely, if I live till Mardi be forgotten by Mardi, I shall not +forget the sight that greeted us, as we drew nigh the shores of this same +island of Ohonoo; for was not all Ohonoo bathing in the surf of the sea? +</p> + +<p> +But let the picture be painted. +</p> + +<p> +Where eastward the ocean rolls surging against the outer reef of Mardi, there, +facing a flood-gate in the barrier, stands cloven Ohonoo; her plains sloping +outward to the sea, her mountains a bulwark behind. As at Juam, where the wild +billows from seaward roll in upon its cliffs; much more at Ohonoo, in billowy +battalions charge they hotly into the lagoon, and fall on the isle like an army +from the deep. But charge they never so boldly, and charge they forever, old +Ohonoo gallantly throws them back till all before her is one scud and rack. So +charged the bright billows of cuirassiers at Waterloo: so hurled them off the +long line of living walls, whose base was as the sea-beach, wreck-strown, in a +gale. +</p> + +<p> +Without the break in the reef wide banks of coral shelve off, creating the bar, +where the waves muster for the onset, thundering in water-bolts, that shake the +whole reef, till its very spray trembles. And then is it, that the swimmers of +Ohonoo most delight to gambol in the surf. +</p> + +<p> +For this sport, a surf-board is indispensable: some five feet in length; the +width of a man’s body; convex on both sides; highly polished; and rounded +at the ends. It is held in high estimation; invariably oiled after use; and +hung up conspicuously in the dwelling of the owner. +</p> + +<p> +Ranged on the beach, the bathers, by hundreds dash in; and diving under the +swells, make straight for the outer sea, pausing not till the comparatively +smooth expanse beyond has been gained. Here, throwing themselves upon their +boards, tranquilly they wait for a billow that suits. Snatching them up, it +hurries them landward, volume and speed both increasing, till it races along a +watery wall, like the smooth, awful verge of Niagara. Hanging over this scroll, +looking down from it as from a precipice, the bathers halloo; every limb in +motion to preserve their place on the very crest of the wave. Should they fall +behind, the squadrons that follow would whelm them; dismounted, and thrown +forward, as certainly would they be run over by the steed they ride. ’Tis +like charging at the head of cavalry: you must on. +</p> + +<p> +An expert swimmer shifts his position on his plank; now half striding it; and +anon, like a rider in the ring, poising himself upright in the scud, coming on +like a man in the air. +</p> + +<p> +At last all is lost in scud and vapor, as the overgrown billow bursts like a +bomb. Adroitly emerging, the swimmers thread their way out; and like seals at +the Orkneys, stand dripping upon the shore. +</p> + +<p> +Landing in smooth water, some distance from the scene, we strolled forward; and +meeting a group resting, inquired for Uhia, their king. He was pointed out in +the foam. But presently drawing nigh, he embraced Media, bidding all welcome. +</p> + +<p> +The bathing over, and evening at hand, Uhia and his subjects repaired to their +canoes; and we to ours. +</p> + +<p> +Landing at another quarter of the island, we journeyed up a valley called +Monlova, and were soon housed in a very pleasant retreat of our host. +</p> + +<p> +Soon supper was spread. But though the viands were rare, and the red wine went +round and round like a foaming bay horse in the ring; yet we marked, that +despite the stimulus of his day’s good sport, and the stimulus of his +brave good cheer, Uhia our host was moody and still. +</p> + +<p> +Said Babbalanja “My lord, he fills wine cups for others to quaff.” +</p> + +<p> +But whispered King Media, “Though Uhia be sad, be we merry, merry +men.” +</p> + +<p> +And merry some were, and merrily went to their mats. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0091"></a> +CHAPTER XCI.<br/> +Of King Uhia And His Subjects</h2> + +<p> +As beseemed him, Uhia was royally lodged. Ample his roof. Beneath it a hundred +attendants nightly laying their heads. But long since, he had disbanded his +damsels. +</p> + +<p> +Springing from syren embrace—“They shall sap and mine me no +more” he cried “my destiny commands me. I will don my manhood. By +Keevi! no more will I clasp a waist.” +</p> + +<p> +“From that time forth,” said Braid-Beard, “young Uhia spread +like the tufted top of the Palm; his thigh grew brawny as the limb of the +Banian; his arm waxed strong as the back bone of the shark; yea, his voice grew +sonorous as a conch.” +</p> + +<p> +“And now he bent his whole soul to the accomplishment of the destiny +believed to be his. Nothing less than bodily to remove Ohonoo to the center of +the lagoon, in fulfillment of an old prophecy running thus—When a +certain island shall stir from its foundations and stand in the middle of the +still water, then shall the ruler of that island be ruler of all Mardi.” +</p> + +<p> +The task was hard, but how glorious the reward! So at it he went, and all +Ohonoo helped him. Not by hands, but by calling in the magicians. Thus far, +nevertheless, in vain. But Uhia had hopes. +</p> + +<p> +Now, informed of all this, said Babbalanja to Media, “My lord, if the +continual looking-forward to something greater, be better than an acquiescence +in things present; then, wild as it is, this belief of Uhia’s he should +hug to his heart, as erewhile his wives. But my lord, this faith it is, that +robs his days of peace; his nights of sweet unconsciousness. For holding +himself foreordained to the dominion of the entire Archipelago, he upbraids the +gods for laggards, and curses himself as deprived of his rights; nay, as having +had wrested from him, what he never possessed. Discontent dwarfs his horizon +till he spans it with his hand. ‘Most miserable of demi-gods,’ he +cries, ‘here am I cooped up in this insignificant islet, only one hundred +leagues by fifty, when scores of broad empires own me not for their +lord.’ Yet Uhia himself is envied. ‘Ah!’ cries Karrolono, one +of his chieftains, master of a snug little glen, ‘Here am I cabined in +this paltry cell among the mountains, when that great King Uhia is lord of the +whole island, and every cubic mile of matter therein.’ But this same +Karrolono is envied. ‘Hard, oh beggarly lot is mine,’ cries Donno, +one of his retainers. ‘Here am I fixed and screwed down to this paltry +plantation, when my lord Karrolono owns the whole glen, ten long parasangs from +cliff to sea.’ But Donno too is envied. ‘Alas, cursed fate!’ +cries his servitor Flavona. ‘Here am I made to trudge, sweat, and labor +all day, when Donno my master does nothing but command.’ But others envy +Flavona; and those who envy him are envied in turn; even down to poor bed- +ridden Manta, who dying of want, groans forth, ‘Abandoned wretch that I +am! here I miserably perish, while so many beggars gad about and live!’ +But surely; none envy Manta! Yes; great Uhia himself. ‘Ah!’ cries +the king. ‘Here am I vexed and tormented by ambition; no peace night nor +day; my temples chafed sore by this cursed crown that I wear; while that +ignoble wight Manta, gives up the ghost with none to molest him.’” +</p> + +<p> +In vain we wandered up and down in this isle, and peered into its innermost +recesses: no Yillah was there. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0092"></a> +CHAPTER XCII.<br/> +The God Keevi And The Precipice Of Mondo</h2> + +<p> +One object of interest in Ohonoo was the original image of Keevi the god of +Thieves; hence, from time immemorial, the tutelar deity of the isle. +</p> + +<p> +His shrine was a natural niche in a cliff, walling in the valley of Monlova And +here stood Keevi, with his five eyes, ten hands, and three pair of legs, +equipped at all points for the vocation over which he presided. Of mighty +girth, his arms terminated in hands, every finger a limb, spreading in +multiplied digits: palms twice five, and fifty fingers. +</p> + +<p> +According to the legend, Keevi fell from a golden cloud, burying himself to the +thighs in the earth, tearing up the soil all round. Three meditative mortals, +strolling by at the time, had a narrow escape. +</p> + +<p> +A wonderful recital; but none of us voyagers durst flout it. Did they not show +us the identical spot where the idol fell? We descended into the hollow, now +verdant. Questionless, Keevi himself would have vouched for the truth of the +miracle, had he not been unfortunately dumb. But by far the most cogent, and +pointed argument advanced in support of this story, is a spear which the +priests of Keevi brought forth, for Babbalanja to view. +</p> + +<p> +“Let me look at it closer,” said Babbalanja. +</p> + +<p> +And turning it over and over and curiously inspecting it, “Wonderful +spear,” he cried. “Doubtless, my reverends, this self-same spear +must have persuaded many recusants!” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, the most stubborn,” they answered. +</p> + +<p> +“And all afterward quoted as additional authority for the truth of the +legend?” +</p> + +<p> +“Assuredly.” +</p> + +<p> +From the sea to the shrine of this god, the fine valley of Monlova ascends with +a gentle gradation, hardly perceptible; but upon turning round toward the +water, one is surprised to find himself high elevated above its surface. Pass +on, and the same silent ascent deceives you; and the valley contracts; and on +both sides the cliffs advance; till at last you come to a narrow space, +shouldered by buttresses of rock. Beyond, through this cleft, all is blue sky. +If the Trades blow high, and you came unawares upon the spot, you would think +Keevi himself pushing you forward with all his hands; so powerful is the +current of air rushing through this elevated defile. But expostulate not with +the tornado that blows you along; sail on; but soft; look down; the land breaks +off in one sheer descent of a thousand feet, right down to the wide plain +below. So sudden and profound this precipice, that you seem to look off from +one world to another. In a dreamy, sunny day, the spangled plain beneath +assumes an uncertain fleeting aspect. Had you a deep-sea-lead you would almost +be tempted to sound the ocean-haze at your feet. +</p> + +<p> +This, mortal! is the precipice of Mondo. +</p> + +<p> +From this brink, spear in hand, sprang fifty rebel warriors, driven back into +the vale by a superior force. Finding no spot to stand at bay, with a fierce +shout they took the fatal leap. +</p> + +<p> +Said Mohi, “Their souls ascended, ere their bodies touched.” +</p> + +<p> +This tragical event took place many generations gone by, and now a dizzy, +devious way conducts one, firm of foot, from the verge to the plain. But none +ever ascended. So perilous, indeed, is the descent itself, that the islanders +venture not the feat, without invoking supernatural aid. Flanking the precipice +beneath beetling rocks, stand the guardian deities of Mondo; and on altars +before them, are placed the propitiatory offerings of the traveler. +</p> + +<p> +To the right of the brink of the precipice, and far over it, projects a narrow +ledge. The test of legitimacy in the Ohonoo monarchs is to stand hereon, arms +folded, and javelins darting by. +</p> + +<p> +And there in his youth Uhia stood. +</p> + +<p> +“How felt you, cousin?” asked Media. +</p> + +<p> +“Like the King of Ohonoo,” he replied. “As I shall again +feel; when King of all Mardi.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0093"></a> +CHAPTER XCIII.<br/> +Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And Yoomy Relates A Legend</h2> + +<p> +Embarking from Ohonoo, we at length found ourselves gliding by the pleasant +shores of Tupia, an islet which according to Braid-Beard had for ages remained +uninhabited by man. Much curiosity being expressed to know more of the isle, +Mohi was about to turn over his chronicles, when, with modesty, the minstrel +Yoomy interposed; saying, that if my Lord Media permitted, he himself would +relate the legend. From its nature, deeming the same pertaining to his province +as poet; though, as yet, it had not been versified. But he added, that true +pearl shells rang musically, though not strung upon a cord. +</p> + +<p> +Upon this presumptuous interference, Mohi looked highly offended; and nervously +twitching his beard, uttered something invidious about frippery young +poetasters being too full of silly imaginings to tell a plain tale. +</p> + +<p> +Said Yoomy, in reply, adjusting his turban, “Old Mohi, let us not clash. +I honor your calling; but, with submission, your chronicles are more wild than +my cantos. I deal in pure conceits of my own; which have a shapeliness and a +unity, however unsubstantial; but you, Braid-Beard, deal in mangled realities. +In all your chapters, you yourself grope in the dark. Much truth is not in +thee, historian. Besides, Mohi: my songs perpetuate many things which you sage +scribes entirely overlook. Have you not oftentimes come to me, and my ever dewy +ballads for information, in which you and your musty old chronicles were +deficient?” +</p> + +<p> +“In much that is precious, Mohi, we poets are the true historians; we +embalm; you corrode.” +</p> + +<p> +To this Mohi, with some ire, was about to make answer, when, flinging over his +shoulder a new fold of his mantle, Babbalanja spoke thus: “Peace, rivals. +As Bardianna has it, like all who dispute upon pretensions of their own, you +are each nearest the right, when you speak of the other; and furthest +therefrom, when you speak of yourselves.” +</p> + +<p> +Said Mohi and Yoomy in a breath, “Who sought your opinion, philosopher? +you filcher from old Bardianna, and monger of maxims!” +</p> + +<p> +“You, who have so long marked the vices of Mardi, that you flatter +yourself you have none of your own,” added Braid-Beard. +</p> + +<p> +“You, who only seem wise, because of the contrasting follies of others, +and not of any great wisdom in yourself,” continued the minstrel, with +unwonted asperity.” +</p> + +<p> +“Now here,” said Babballanja, “am I charged upon by a bearded +old ram, and a lamb. One butting with his carious and brittle old frontlet; the +other pushing with its silly head before its horns are sprouted. But this comes +of being impartial. Had I espoused the cause of Yoomy versus Mohi, or that of +Mohi versus Yoomy, I had been sure to have had at least one voice in my favor. +The impartialist insulteth all sides, saith old Bardianna; but smite with but +one hand, and the other shall be kissed.—Oh incomparable +Bardianna!” +</p> + +<p> +“Will no one lay that troubled old ghost,” exclaimed Media, +devoutly. “Proceed with thy legend, Yoomy; and see to it, that it be +brief; for I mistrust me, these legends do but test the patience of the +hearers. But draw a long breath, and begin.” +</p> + +<p> +“A long bow,” muttered Mohi. +</p> + +<p> +And Yoomy began. +</p> + +<p> +“It is now about ten hundred thousand moons—” +</p> + +<p> +“Great Oro! How long since, say you?” cried Mohi, making Gothic +arches of his brows. +</p> + +<p> +Looking at him disdainfully, but vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy began over again. +</p> + +<p> +“It is now above ten hundred thousand moons, since there died the last of +a marvelous race, once inhabiting the very shores by which we are sailing. They +were a very diminutive people, only a few inches high—” +</p> + +<p> +“Stop, minstrel,” cried Mohi; “how many pennyweights did they +weigh?” +</p> + +<p> +Continued Yoomy, unheedingly, “They were covered all over with a soft, +silky down, like that on the rind of the Avee; and there grew upon their heads +a green, lance-leaved vine, of a most delicate texture. For convenience, the +manikins reduced their tendrils, sporting, nothing but coronals. Whereas, +priding themselves upon the redundancy of their tresses, the little maidens +assiduously watered them with the early dew of the morning; so that all +wreathed and festooned with verdure, they moved about in arbors, trailing after +them trains.” +</p> + +<p> +“I can hear no more,” exclaimed Mohi, stopping his ears. +</p> + +<p> +Continued Yoomy, “The damsels lured to their bowers, certain red- +plumaged insect-birds, and taught them to nestle therein, and warble; which, +with the pleasant vibrating of the leaves, when the little maidens moved, +produced a strange blending of sweet, singing sounds. The little maidens +embraced not with their arms, but with their viny locks; whose tendrils +instinctively twined about their lovers, till both were lost in the +bower.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what then?” asked Mohi, who, notwithstanding the fingers in +his ears, somehow contrived to listen; “What then?” +</p> + +<p> +Vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy went on. +</p> + +<p> +“At a certain age, but while yet the maidens were very young, their vines +bore blossoms. Ah! fatal symptoms. For soon as they burst, the maidens died in +their arbors; and were buried in the valleys; and their vines spread forth; and +the flowers bloomed; but the maidens themselves were no more. And now +disdaining the earth, the vines shot upward: climbing to the topmost boughs of +the trees; and flowering in the sunshine forever and aye.” +</p> + +<p> +Yoomy here paused for a space; but presently continued: +</p> + +<p> +“The little eyes of the people of Tupia were very strange to behold: full +of stars, that shone from within, like the Pleiades, deep- bosomed in blue. And +like the stars, they were intolerant of sunlight; and slumbering through the +day, the people of Tupia only went abroad by night. But it was chiefly when the +moon was at full, that they were mostly in spirits. +</p> + +<p> +“Then the little manikins would dive down into the sea, and rove about in +the coral groves, making love to the mermaids. Or, racing round, make a mad +merry night of it with the sea-urchins:—plucking the reverend mullets by +the beard; serenading the turtles in their cells; worrying the sea-nettles; or +tormenting with their antics the touchy torpedos. Sometimes they went prying +about with the starfish, that have an eye at the end of each ray; and often +with coral files in their hands stole upon slumbering swordfish, slyly blunting +their weapons. In short, these stout little manikins were passionately fond of +the sea, and swore by wave and billow, that sooner or later they would embark +thereon in nautilus shells, and spend the rest of their roving days thousands +of inches from Tupia. Too true, they were shameless little rakes. Oft would +they return to their sweethearts, sporting musky girdles of sea-kelp, tasseled +with green little pouches of grass, brimful of seed-pearls; and jingling their +coin in the ears of the damsels, throw out inuendoes about the beautiful and +bountiful mermaids: how wealthy and amorous they were, and how they delighted +in the company of the brave gallants of Tupia. Ah! at such heartless bravadoes, +how mourned the poor little nymphs. Deep into their arbors they went; and their +little hearts burst like rose-buds, and filled the whole air with an odorous +grief. But when their lovers were gentle and true, no happier maidens haunted +the lilies than they. By some mystical process they wrought minute balls of +light: touchy, mercurial globules, very hard to handle; and with these, at +pitch and toss, they played in the groves. Or mischievously inclined, they +toiled all night long at braiding the moon-beams together, and entangling the +plaited end to a bough; so that at night, the poor planet had much ado to +set.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Yoomy once more was mute. +</p> + +<p> +“Pause you to invent as you go on?” said old Mohi, elevating his +chin, till his beard was horizontal. +</p> + +<p> +Yoomy resumed. +</p> + +<p> +“Little or nothing more, my masters, is extant of the legend; only it +must be mentioned, that these little people were very tasteful in their +personal adornings; the manikins wearing girdles of fragrant leaves, and +necklaces of aromatic seeds; and the little damsels, not content with their +vines, and their verdure, sporting pearls in their ears; bracelets of wee +little porpoise teeth; and oftentimes dancing with their mates in the moonlit +glades, coquettishly fanned themselves with the transparent wings of the flying +fish.” +</p> + +<p> +“Now, I appeal to you, royal Media; to you, noble Taji; to you, +Babbalanja;” said the chronicler, with an impressive gesture, +“whether this seems a credible history: Yoomy has invented.” +</p> + +<p> +“But perhaps he has entertained, old Mohi,” said Babbalanja. +</p> + +<p> +“He has not spoken the truth,” persisted the chronicler. +</p> + +<p> +“Mohi,” said Babbalanja, “truth is in things, and not in +words: truth is voiceless; so at least saith old Bardianna. And I, Babbalanja, +assert, that what are vulgarly called fictions are as much realities as the +gross mattock of Dididi, the digger of trenches; for things visible are but +conceits of the eye: things imaginative, conceits of the fancy. If duped by +one, we are equally duped by the other.” +</p> + +<p> +“Clear as this water,” said Yoomy. +</p> + +<p> +“Opaque as this paddle,” said Mohi, “But, come now, thou +oracle, if all things are deceptive, tell us what is truth?” +</p> + +<p> +“The old interrogatory; did they not ask it when the world began? But ask +it no more. As old Bardianna hath it, that question is more final than any +answer.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0094"></a> +CHAPTER XCIV.<br/> +Of That Jolly Old Lord, Borabolla; And That Jolly Island Of His, Mondoldo; And +Of The Fish-Ponds, And The Hereafters Of Fish </h2> + +<p> +Drawing near Mondoldo, our next place of destination, we were greeted by six +fine canoes, gayly tricked out with streamers, and all alive with the gestures +of their occupants. King Borabolla and court were hastening to welcome our +approach; Media, unbeknown to all, having notified him at the Banquet of the +Five-and-Twenty Kings, of our intention to visit his dominions. +</p> + +<p> +Soon, side by side, these canoes floated with ours; each barge of Odo +courteously flanked by those of Mondoldo. +</p> + +<p> +Not long were we in identifying Borabolla: the portly, pleasant old monarch, +seated cross-legged upon a dais, projecting over the bow of the largest canoe +of the six, close-grappling to the side of the Sea Elephant. +</p> + +<p> +Was he not a goodly round sight to behold? Round all over; round of eye and of +head; and like the jolly round Earth, roundest and biggest about the Equator. A +girdle of red was his Equinoctial Line, giving a compactness to his plumpness. +</p> + +<p> +This old Borabolla permitted naught to come between his head and the sun; not +even gray hairs. Bald as a gourd, right down on his brazen skull, the rays of +the luminary converged. +</p> + +<p> +He was all hilarity; full of allusions to the feast at Willamilla, where he had +done royal execution. Rare old Borabolla! thou wert made for dining out; thy +ample mouth an inlet for good cheer, and a sally-port for good humor. +</p> + +<p> +Bustling about on his dais, he now gave orders for the occupants of our canoes +to be summarily emptied into his own; saying, that in that manner only did he +allow guests to touch the beach of Mondoldo. +</p> + +<p> +So, with no little trouble—for the waves were grown somewhat +riotous—we proceeded to comply; bethinking ourselves all the while, how +annoying is sometimes an over-strained act of hospitality. +</p> + +<p> +We were now but little less than a mile from the shore. But what of that? There +was plenty of time, thought Borabolla, for a hasty lunch, and the getting of a +subsequent appetite ere we effected a landing. So viands were produced; to +which the guests were invited to pay heedful attention; or take the +consequences, and famish till the long voyage in prospect was ended. +</p> + +<p> +Soon the water shoaled (approaching land is like nearing truth in metaphysics), +and ere we yet touched the beach, Borabolla declared, that we were already +landed. Which paradoxical assertion implied, that the hospitality of Mondoldo +was such, that in all directions it radiated far out upon the lagoon, embracing +a great circle; so that no canoe could sail by the island, without its +occupants being so long its guests. +</p> + +<p> +In most hospitable vicinity to the water, was a fine large structure, inclosed +by a stockade; both rather dilapidated; as if the cost of entertaining its +guests, prevented outlays for repairing the place. But it was one of +Borabolla’s maxims, that generally your tumble-down old homesteads yield +the most entertainment; their very dilapidation betokening their having seen +good service in hospitality; whereas, spruce-looking, finical portals, have a +phiz full of meaning; for niggards are oftentimes neat. +</p> + +<p> +Now, after what has been said, who so silly as to fancy, that because +Borabolla’s mansion was inclosed by a stockade, that the same was +intended as a defense against guests? By no means. In the palisade was a mighty +breach, not an entrance-way, wide enough to admit six Daniel Lamberts abreast. +</p> + +<p> +“Look,” cried Borabolla, as landing we stepped toward the place. +“Look Media! look all. These gates, you here see, lashed back with +osiers, have been so lashed during my life-time; and just where they stand, +shall they rot; ay, they shall perish wide open.” +</p> + +<p> +“But why have them at all?” inquired Media. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! there you have old Borabolla,” cried the other. +</p> + +<p> +“No,” said Babbalanja, “a fence whose gate is ever kept open, +seems unnecessary, I grant; nevertheless, it gives a notable hint, otherwise +not so aptly conveyed; for is not the open gate the sign of the open +heart?” +</p> + +<p> +“Right, right,” cried Borabolla; “so enter both, cousin +Media;” and with one hand smiting his chest, with the other he waved us +on. +</p> + +<p> +But if the stockade seemed all open gate, the structure within seemed only a +roof; for nothing but a slender pillar here and there, supported it. +</p> + +<p> +“This is my mode of building,” said Borabolla; “I will have +no outside to my palaces. Walls are superfluous. And to a high-minded guest, +the entering a narrow doorway is like passing under a yoke; every time he goes +in, or comes out, it reminds him, that he is being entertained at the cost of +another. So storm in all round.” +</p> + +<p> +Within, was one wide field-bed; where reclining, we looked up to endless rows +of brown calabashes, and trenchers suspended along the rafters; promissory of +ample cheer as regiments of old hams in a baronial refectory. +</p> + +<p> +They were replenished with both meat and drink; the trenchers readily +accessible by means of cords; but the gourds containing arrack, suspended neck +downward, were within easy reach where they swung. +</p> + +<p> +Seeing all these indications of hard roystering; like a cautious young +bridegroom at his own marriage merry-making, Taji stood on his guard. And when +Borabolla urged him to empty a gourd or two, by way of making room in him for +the incidental repast about to be served, Taji civilly declined; not wishing to +cumber the floor, before the cloth was laid. +</p> + +<p> +Jarl, however, yielding to importunity, and unmindful of the unities of time +and place, went freely about, from gourd to gourd, concocting in him a punch. +At which, Samoa expressed much surprise, that he should be so unobservant as +not to know, that in Mardi, guests might be pressed to demean themselves, +without its being expected that so they would do. A true toss-pot himself, he +bode his time. +</p> + +<p> +The second lunch over, Borabolla placed both hands to the ground, and giving +the sigh of the fat man, after three vigorous efforts, succeeded in gaining his +pins; which pins of his, were but small for his body; insomuch that they hugely +staggered about, under the fine old load they carried. +</p> + +<p> +The specific object of his thus striving after an erect posture, was to put +himself in motion, and conduct us to his fish-ponds, famous throughout the +Archipelago as the hobby of the king of Mondoldo. Furthermore, as the great +repast of the day, yet to take place, was to be a grand piscatory one, our host +was all anxiety, that we should have a glimpse of our fish, while yet alive and +hearty. +</p> + +<p> +We were alarmed at perceiving, that certain servitors were preparing to +accompany us with trenchers of edibles. It begat the notion, that our trip to +the fish-ponds was to prove a long journey. But they were not three hundred +yards distant; though Borabolla being a veteran traveler, never stirred from +his abode without his battalion of butlers. +</p> + +<p> +The ponds were four in number, close bordering the water, embracing about an +acre each, and situated in a low fen, draining several valleys. The excavated +soil was thrown up in dykes, made tight by being beaten all over, while in a +soft state, with the heavy, flat ends of Palm stalks. Lying side by side, by +three connecting trenches, these ponds could be made to communicate at +pleasure; while two additional canals afforded means of letting in upon them +the salt waters of the lagoon on one hand, or those of an inland stream on the +other. And by a third canal with four branches, together or separately, they +could be partially drained. Thus, the waters could be mixed to suit any gills; +and the young fish taken from the sea, passed through a stated process of +freshening; so that by the time they graduated, the salt was well out of them, +like the brains out of some diplomaed collegians. +</p> + +<p> +Fresh-water fish are only to be obtained in Mondoldo by the artificial process +above mentioned; as the streams and brooks abound not in trout or other +Waltonian prey. +</p> + +<p> +Taken all floundering from the sea, Borabolla’s fish, passing through +their regular training for the table, and daily tended by their keepers, in +course of time became quite tame and communicative. To prove which, calling his +Head Ranger, the king bade him administer the customary supply of edibles. +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly, mouthfuls were thrown into the ponds. Whereupon, the fish darted +in a shoal toward the margin; some leaping out of the water in their eagerness. +Crouching on the bank, the Ranger now called several by name, patted their +scales, carrying on some heathenish nursery-talk, like St. Anthony, in ancient +Coptic, instilling virtuous principles into his finny flock on the sea shore. +</p> + +<p> +But alas, for the hair-shirted old dominie’s backsliding disciples. For, +of all nature’s animated kingdoms, fish are the most unchristian, +inhospitable, heartless, and cold-blooded of creatures. At least, so seem they +to strangers; though at bottom, somehow, they must be all right. And truly it +is not to be wondered at, that the very reverend Anthony strove after the +conversion of fish. For, whoso shall Christianize, and by so doing, humanize +the sharks, will do a greater good, by the saving of human life in all time to +come, than though he made catechumens of the head-hunting Dyaks of Borneo, or +the blood-bibbing Battas of Sumatra. And are these Dyaks and Battas one whit +better than tiger-sharks? Nay, are they so good? Were a Batta your intimate +friend, you would often mistake an orang-outang for him; and have orang-outangs +immortal souls? True, the Battas believe in a hereafter; but of what sort? Full +of Blue-Beards and bloody bones. So, also, the sharks; who hold that Paradise +is one vast Pacific, ploughed by navies of mortals, whom an endless gale +forever drops into their maws. +</p> + +<p> +Not wholly a surmise. For, does it not appear a little unreasonable to imagine, +that there is any creature, fish, flesh, or fowl, so little in love with life, +as not to cherish hopes of a future state? Why does man believe in it? One +reason, reckoned cogent, is, that he desires it. Who shall say, then, that the +leviathan this day harpooned on the coast of Japan, goes not straight to his +ancestor, who rolled all Jonah, as a sweet morsel, under his tongue? +</p> + +<p> +Though herein, some sailors are slow believers, or at best hold themselves in a +state of philosophical suspense. Say they—“That catastrophe took +place in the Mediterranean; and the only whales frequenting the Mediterranean, +are of a sort having not a swallow large enough to pass a man entire; for those +Mediterranean whales feed upon small things, as horses upon oats.” But +hence, the sailors draw a rash inference. Are not the Straits of Gibralter wide +enough to admit a sperm-whale, even though none have sailed through, since +Nineveh and the gourd in its suburbs dried up? +</p> + +<p> +As for the possible hereafter of the whales; a creature eighty feet long +without stockings, and thirty feet round the waist before dinner, is not +inconsiderately to be consigned to annihilation. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0095"></a> +CHAPTER XCV.<br/> +That Jolly Old Lord Borabolla Laughs On Both Sides Of His Face</h2> + +<p> +“A very good palace, this, coz, for you and me,” said waddling old +Borabolla to Media, as, returned from our excursion, he slowly lowered himself +down to his mat, sighing like a grampus. +</p> + +<p> +By this, he again made known the vastness of his hospitality, which led him for +the nonce to parcel out his kingdom with his guests. +</p> + +<p> +But apart from these extravagant expressions of good feeling, Borabolla was the +prince of good fellows. His great tun of a person was indispensable to the +housing of his bullock-heart; under which, any lean wight would have sunk. But +alas! unlike Media and Taji, Borabolla, though a crowned king, was accounted no +demi-god; his obesity excluding him from that honor. Indeed, in some quarters +of Mardi, certain pagans maintain, that no fat man can be even immortal. A +dogma! truly, which should be thrown to the dogs. For fat men are the salt and +savor of the earth; full of good humor, high spirits, fun, and all manner of +jollity. Their breath clears the atmosphere: their exhalations air the world. +Of men, they are the good measures; brimmed, heaped, pressed down, piled up, +and running over. They are as ships from Teneriffe; swimming deep, full of old +wine, and twenty steps down into their holds. Soft and susceptible, all round +they are easy of entreaty. Wherefore, for all their rotundity, they are too +often circumnavigated by hatchet-faced knaves. Ah! a fat uncle, with a fat +paunch, and a fat purse, is a joy and a delight to all nephews; to +philosophers, a subject of endless speculation, as to how many droves of oxen +and Lake Eries of wine might have run through his great mill during the full +term of his mortal career. Fat men not immortal! This very instant, old Lambert +is rubbing his jolly abdomen in Paradise. +</p> + +<p> +Now, to the fact of his not being rated a demi-god, was perhaps ascribable the +circumstance, that Borabolla comported himself with less dignity, than was the +wont of their Mardian majesties. And truth to say, to have seen him regaling +himself with one of his favorite cuttle-fish, its long snaky arms and feelers +instinctively twining round his head as he ate; few intelligent observers would +have opined that the individual before them was the sovereign lord of Mondoldo. +</p> + +<p> +But what of the banquet of fish? Shall we tell how the old king ungirdled +himself thereto; how as the feast waxed toward its close, with one sad +exception, he still remained sunny-sided all round; his disc of a face joyous +as the South Side of Madeira in the hilarious season of grapes? Shall we tell +how we all grew glad and frank; and how the din of the dinner was heard far +into night? +</p> + +<p> +We will. +</p> + +<p> +When Media ate slowly, Borabolla took him to task, bidding him dispatch his +viands more speedily. +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon said Media “But Borabolla, my round fellow, that would abridge +the pleasure.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not at all, my dear demi-god; do like me: eat fast and eat long.” +</p> + +<p> +In the middle of the feast, a huge skin of wine was brought in. The portly +peltry of a goat; its horns embattling its effigy head; its mouth the nozzle; +and its long beard flowed to its jet-black hoofs. With many ceremonial salams, +the attendants bore it along, placing it at one end of the convivial mats, full +in front of Borabolla; where seated upon its haunches it made one of the party. +</p> + +<p> +Brimming a ram’s horn, the mellowest of bugles, Borabolla bowed to his +silent guest, and thus spoke—“In this wine, which yet smells of the +grape, I pledge you my reverend old toper, my lord Capricornus; you alone have +enough; and here’s full skins to the rest!” +</p> + +<p> +“How jolly he is,” whispered Media to Babbalanja. +</p> + +<p> +“Ay, his lungs laugh loud; but is laughing, rejoicing?” +</p> + +<p> +“Help! help!” cried Borabolla “lay me down! lay me down! good +gods, what a twinge!” +</p> + +<p> +The goblet fell from his hand; the purple flew from his wine to his face; and +Borabolla fell back into the arms of his servitors. “That gout! that +gout!” he groaned. “Lord! lord! no more cursed wine will I +drink!” +</p> + +<p> +Then at ten paces distant, a clumsy attendant let fall a +trencher—“Take it off my foot, you knave!” +</p> + +<p> +Afar off another entered gallanting a calabash—“Look out for my +toe, you hound!” +</p> + +<p> +During all this, the attendants tenderly nursed him. And in good time, with its +thousand fangs, the gout-fiend departed for a while. +</p> + +<p> +Reprieved, the old king brightened up; by degrees becoming jolly as ever. +</p> + +<p> +“Come! let us be merry again,” he cried, “what shall we eat? +and what shall we drink? that infernal gout is gone; come, what will your +worships have?” +</p> + +<p> +So at it once more we went. +</p> + +<p> +But of our feast, little more remains to be related than this;—that out +of it, grew a wondrous kindness between Borabolla and Jarl. Strange to tell, +from the first our fat host had regarded my Viking with a most friendly eye. +Still stranger to add, this feeling was returned. But though they thus fancied +each other, they were very unlike; Borabolla and Jarl. Nevertheless, thus is it +ever. And as the convex fits not into the convex, but into the concave; so do +men fit into their opposites; and so fitted Borabolla’s arched paunch +into Jarl’s, hollowed out to receive it. +</p> + +<p> +But how now? Borabolla was jolly and loud: Jarl demure and silent; Borabolla a +king: Jarl only a Viking;—how came they together? Very plain, to +repeat:—because they were heterogeneous; and hence the affinity. But as +the affinity between those chemical opposites chlorine and hydrogen, is +promoted by caloric; so the affinity between Borabolla and Jarl was promoted by +the warmth of the wine that they drank at this feast. For of all blessed +fluids, the juice of the grape is the greatest foe to cohesion. True, it +tightens the girdle; but then it loosens the tongue, and opens the heart. +</p> + +<p> +In sum, Borabolla loved Jarl; and Jarl, pleased with this sociable monarch, for +all his garrulity, esteemed him the most sensible old gentleman and king he had +as yet seen in Mardi. For this reason, perhaps; that his talkativeness favored +that silence in listeners, which was my Viking’s delight in himself. +</p> + +<p> +Repeatedly during the banquet, our host besought Taji to allow his henchman to +remain on the island, after the rest of our party should depart; and he +faithfully promised to surrender Jarl, whenever we should return to claim him. +</p> + +<p> +But though I harbored no distrust of Borabolla’s friendly intentions, I +could not so readily consent to his request; for with Jarl for my one only +companion, had I not both famished and feasted? was he not my only link to +things past? +</p> + +<p> +Things past!—Ah Yillah! for all its mirth, and though we hunted wide, we +found thee not in Mondoldo. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0096"></a> +CHAPTER XCVI.<br/> +Samoa A Surgeon</h2> + +<p> +The second day of our stay in Mondoldo was signalized by a noteworthy +exhibition of the surgical skill of Samoa; who had often boasted, that though +well versed in the science of breaking men’s heads, he was equally an +adept in mending their crockery. +</p> + +<p> +Overnight, Borabolla had directed his corps of sea-divers to repair early on +the morrow, to a noted section of the great Mardian reef, for the purpose of +procuring for our regalement some of the fine Hawk’s-bill turtle, whose +secret retreats were among the cells and galleries of that submerged wall of +coral, from whose foamy coping no plummet dropped ever yet touched bottom. +</p> + +<p> +These turtles were only to be obtained by diving far down under the surface; +and then swimming along horizontally, and peering into the coral honeycomb; +snatching at a flipper when seen, as at a pinion in a range of billing +dove-cotes. +</p> + +<p> +As the king’s divers were thus employed, one of them, Karhownoo by name, +perceived a Devil-shark, so called, swimming wistfully toward him from out his +summer grotto in the reef. No way petrified by the sight, and pursuing the +usual method adopted by these divers in such emergencies, Karhownoo, splashing +the water, instantly swam toward the stranger. But the shark, undaunted, +advanced: a thing so unusual, and fearful, that, in an agony of fright, the +diver shot up for the surface. Heedless, he looked not up as he went; and when +within a few inches of the open air, dashed his head against a projection of +the reef. He would have sank into the live tomb beneath, were it not that three +of his companions, standing on the brink, perceived his peril, and dragged him +into safety. +</p> + +<p> +Seeing the poor fellow was insensible, they endeavored, ineffectually, to +revive him; and at last, placing him in their canoe, made all haste for the +shore. Here a crowd soon gathered, and the diver was borne to a habitation, +close adjoining Borabolla’s; whence, hearing of the disaster, we sallied +out to render assistance. +</p> + +<p> +Upon entering the hut, the benevolent old king commanded it to be cleared; and +then proceeded to examine the sufferer. +</p> + +<p> +The skull proved to be very badly fractured; in one place, splintered. +</p> + +<p> +“Let me mend it,” said Samoa, with ardor. +</p> + +<p> +And being told of his experience in such matters, Borabolla surrendered the +patient. +</p> + +<p> +With a gourd of water, and a tappa cloth, the one-armed Upoluan carefully +washed the wound; and then calling for a sharp splinter of bamboo, and a thin, +semi-transparent cup of cocoa-nut shell, he went about the operation: nothing +less than the “Tomoti” (head-mending), in other words the trepan. +</p> + +<p> +The patient still continuing insensible, the fragments were disengaged by help +of a bamboo scalpel; when a piece of the drinking cup—previously dipped +in the milk of a cocoanut—was nicely fitted into the vacancy, the skin as +nicely adjusted over it, and the operation was complete. +</p> + +<p> +And now, while all present were crying out in admiration of Samoa’s +artistic skill, and Samoa himself stood complacently regarding his workmanship, +Babbalanja suggested, that it might be well to ascertain whether the patient +survived. When, upon sounding his heart, the diver was found to be dead. +</p> + +<p> +The bystanders loudly lamented; but declared the surgeon a man of marvelous +science. +</p> + +<p> +Returning to Borabolla’s, much conversation ensued, concerning the sad +scene we had witnessed, which presently branched into a learned discussion upon +matters of surgery at large. +</p> + +<p> +At length, Samoa regaled the company with a story; for the truth of which no +one but him can vouch, for no one but him was by, at the time; though there is +testimony to show that it involves nothing at variance with the customs of +certain barbarous tribes. +</p> + +<p> +Read on. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0097"></a> +CHAPTER XCVII.<br/> +Faith And Knowledge</h2> + +<p> +A thing incredible is about to be related; but a thing may be incredible and +still be true; sometimes it is incredible because it is true. And many infidels +but disbelieve the least incredible things; and many bigots reject the most +obvious. But let us hold fast to all we have; and stop all leaks in our faith; +lest an opening, but of a hand’s breadth, should sink our seventy-fours. +The wide Atlantic can rush in at one port-hole; and if we surrender a plank, we +surrender the fleet. Panoplied in all the armor of St. Paul, morion, hauberk, +and greaves, let us fight the Turks inch by inch, and yield them naught but our +corpse. +</p> + +<p> +But let us not turn round upon friends, confounding them with foes. For +dissenters only assent to more than we. Though Milton was a heretic to the +creed of Athanasius, his faith exceeded that of Athanasius himself; and the +faith of Athanasius that of Thomas, the disciple, who with his own eyes beheld +the mark of the nails. Whence it comes that though we be all Christians now, +the best of us had perhaps been otherwise in the days of Thomas. +</p> + +<p> +The higher the intelligence, the more faith, and the less credulity: Gabriel +rejects more than we, but out-believes us all. The greatest marvels are first +truths; and first truths the last unto which we attain. Things nearest are +furthest off. Though your ear be next-door to your brain, it is forever removed +from your sight. Man has a more comprehensive view of the moon, than the man in +the moon himself. We know the moon is round; he only infers it. It is because +we ourselves are in ourselves, that we know ourselves not. And it is only of +our easy faith, that we are not infidels throughout; and only of our lack of +faith, that we believe what we do. +</p> + +<p> +In some universe-old truths, all mankind are disbelievers. Do you believe that +you lived three thousand years ago? That you were at the taking of Tyre, were +overwhelmed in Gomorrah? No. But for me, I was at the subsiding of the Deluge, +and helped swab the ground, and build the first house. With the Israelites, I +fainted in the wilderness; was in court, when Solomon outdid all the judges +before him. I, it was, who suppressed the lost work of Manetho, on the Egyptian +theology, as containing mysteries not to be revealed to posterity, and things +at war with the canonical scriptures; I, who originated the conspiracy against +that purple murderer, Domitian; I, who in the senate moved, that great and good +Aurelian be emperor. I instigated the abdication of Diocletian, and Charles the +Fifth; I touched Isabella’s heart, that she hearkened to Columbus. I am +he, that from the king’s minions hid the Charter in the old oak at +Hartford; I harbored Goffe and Whalley: I am the leader of the Mohawk masks, +who in the Old Commonwealth’s harbor, overboard threw the East India +Company’s Souchong; I am the Vailed Persian Prophet; I, the man in the +iron mask; I, Junius. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0098"></a> +CHAPTER XCVIII.<br/> +The Tale Of A Traveler</h2> + +<p> +It was Samoa, who told the incredible tale; and he told it as a traveler. But +stay-at-homes say travelers lie. Yet a voyage to Ethiopia would cure them of +that; for few skeptics are travelers; fewer travelers liars, though the proverb +respecting them lies. It is false, as some say, that Bruce was cousin-german to +Baron Munchausen; but true, as Bruce said, that the Abysinnians cut live steaks +from their cattle. It was, in good part, his villainous transcribers, who made +monstrosities of Mandeville’s travels. And though all liars go to +Gehenna; yet, assuming that Mandeville died before Dante; still, though Dante +took the census of Hell, we find not Sir John, under the likeness of a roasted +neat’s tongue, in that infernalest of infernos, The Inferno. +</p> + +<p> +But let not the truth be postponed. To the stand, Samoa, and through your +interpreter, speak. +</p> + +<p> +Once upon a time, during his endless sea-rovings, the Upoluan was called upon +to cobble the head of a friend, grievously hurt in a desperate fight of slings. +</p> + +<p> +Upon examination, that part of the brain proving as much injured as the cranium +itself, a young pig was obtained; and preliminaries being over, part of its +live brain was placed in the cavity, the trepan accomplished with cocoanut +shell, and the scalp drawn over and secured. +</p> + +<p> +This man died not, but lived. But from being a warrior of great sense and +spirit, he became a perverse-minded and piggish fellow, showing many of the +characteristics of his swinish grafting. He survived the operation more than a +year; at the end of that period, however, going mad, and dying in his delirium. +</p> + +<p> +Stoutly backed by the narrator, this anecdote was credited by some present. But +Babbalanja held out to the last. +</p> + +<p> +“Yet, if this story be true,” said he, “and since it is well +settled, that our brains are somehow the organs of sense; then, I see not why +human reason could not be put into a pig, by letting into its cranium the +contents of a man’s. I have long thought, that men, pigs, and plants, are +but curious physiological experiments; and that science would at last enable +philosophers to produce new species of beings, by somehow mixing, and +concocting the essential ingredients of various creatures; and so forming new +combinations. My friend Atahalpa, the astrologer and alchymist, has long had a +jar, in which he has been endeavoring to hatch a fairy, the ingredients being +compounded according to a receipt of his own.” +</p> + +<p> +But little they heeded Babbalanja. It was the traveler’s tale that most +arrested attention. +</p> + +<p> +Tough the thews, and tough the tales of Samoa. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0099"></a> +CHAPTER XCIX.<br/> +“Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee”</h2> + +<p> +During the afternoon of the day of the diver’s decease, preparations were +making for paying the last rites to his remains, and carrying them by +torch-light to their sepulcher, the sea; for, as in Odo, so was the custom +here. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, all over the isle, to and fro went heralds, dismally arrayed, +beating shark-skin drums; and, at intervals, crying—“A man is dead; +let no fires be kindled; have mercy, oh Oro!—Let no canoes put to sea +till the burial. This night, oh Oro!—Let no food be cooked.” +</p> + +<p> +And ever and anon, passed and repassed these, others in brave attire; with +castanets of pearl shells, making gay music; and these sang— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Be merry, oh men of Mondoldo,<br/> + A maiden this night is to wed:<br/> +Be merry, oh damsels of Mardi,—<br/> + Flowers, flowers for the bridal bed. +</p> + +<p> +Informed that the preliminary rites were about being rendered, we repaired to +the arbor, whither the body had been removed. +</p> + +<p> +Arrayed in white, it was laid out on a mat; its arms mutely crossed, between +its lips an asphodel; at the feet, a withered hawthorn bough. +</p> + +<p> +The relatives were wailing, and cutting themselves with shells, so that blood +flowed, and spotted their vesture. +</p> + +<p> +Upon remonstrating with the most abandoned of these mourners, the wife of the +diver, she exclaimed, “Yes; great is the pain, but greater my +affliction.” +</p> + +<p> +Another, the deaf sire of the dead, went staggering about, and groping; saying, +that he was now quite blind; for some months previous he had lost one eye in +the death of his eldest son and now the other was gone. +</p> + +<p> +“I am childless,” he cried; “henceforth call me Roi +Mori,” that is, Twice-Blind. +</p> + +<p> +While the relatives were thus violently lamenting, the rest of the company +occasionally scratched themselves with their shells; but very slightly, and +mostly on the soles of their feet; from long exposure, quite callous. This was +interrupted, however, when the real mourners averted their eyes; though at no +time was there any deviation in the length of their faces. +</p> + +<p> +But on all sides, lamentations afresh broke forth, upon the appearance of a +person who had been called in to assist in solemnizing the obsequies, and also +to console the afflicted. +</p> + +<p> +In rotundity, he was another Borabolla. He puffed and panted. +</p> + +<p> +As he approached the corpse, a sobbing silence ensued; when holding the hand of +the dead, between his, the stranger thus spoke:— +</p> + +<p> +“Mourn not, oh friends of Karhownoo, that this your brother lives not. +His wounded head pains him no more; he would not feel it, did a javelin pierce +him. Yea; Karhownoo is exempt from all the ills and evils of this miserable +Mardi!” +</p> + +<p> +Hereupon, the Twice-Blind, who being deaf, heard not what was said, tore his +gray hair, and cried, “Alas! alas! my boy; thou wert the merriest man in +Mardi, and now thy pranks are over!” +</p> + +<p> +But the other proceeded—“Mourn not, I say, oh friends of Karhownoo; +the dead whom ye deplore is happier than the living; is not his spirit in the +aerial isles?” +</p> + +<p> +“True! true!” responded the raving wife, mingling her blood with +her tears, “my own poor hapless Karhownoo is thrice happy in +Paradise!” And anew she wailed, and lacerated her cheeks. +</p> + +<p> +“Rave not, I say.” +</p> + +<p> +But she only raved the more. +</p> + +<p> +And now the good stranger departed; saying, he must hie to a wedding, waiting +his presence in an arbor adjoining. +</p> + +<p> +Understanding that the removal of the body would not take place till midnight, +we thought to behold the mode of marrying in Mondoldo. +</p> + +<p> +Drawing near the place, we were greeted by merry voices, and much singing, +which greatly increased when the good stranger was perceived. +</p> + +<p> +Gayly arrayed in fine robes, with plumes on their heads, the bride and groom +stood in the middle of a joyous throng, in readiness for the nuptial bond to be +tied. +</p> + +<p> +Standing before them, the stranger was given a cord, so bedecked with flowers, +as to disguise its stout fibers; and taking: the bride’s hands, he bound +them together to a ritual chant; about her neck, in festoons, disposing the +flowery ends of the cord. Then turning to the groom, he was given another, also +beflowered; but attached thereto was a great stone, very much carved, and +stained; indeed, so every way disguised, that a person not knowing what it was, +and lifting it, would be greatly amazed at its weight. This cord being attached +to the waist of the groom, he leaned over toward the bride, by reason of the +burden of the drop. +</p> + +<p> +All present now united in a chant, and danced about the happy pair, who +meanwhile looked ill at ease; the one being so bound by the hands, and the +other solely weighed down by his stone. +</p> + +<p> +A pause ensuing, the good stranger, turning them back to back, thus +spoke:— +</p> + +<p> +“By thy flowery gyves, oh bride, I make thee a wife; and by thy +burdensome stone, oh groom, I make thee a husband. Live and be happy, both; for +the wise and good Oro hath placed us in Mardi to be glad. Doth not all nature +rejoice in her green groves and her flowers? and woo and wed not the fowls of +the air, trilling their bliss in their bowers? Live then, and be happy, oh +bride and groom; for Oro is offended with the unhappy, since he meant them to +be gay.” +</p> + +<p> +And the ceremony ended with a joyful feast. +</p> + +<p> +But not all nuptials in Mardi were like these. Others were wedded with +different rites; without the stone and flowery gyves. These were they who +plighted their troth with tears not smiles, and made responses in the heart. +</p> + +<p> +Returning from the house of the merry to the house of the mournful, we lingered +till midnight to witness the issuing forth of the body. +</p> + +<p> +By torch light, numerous canoes, with paddlers standing by, were drawn up on +the beach, to accommodate those who purposed following the poor diver to his +home. +</p> + +<p> +The remains embarked, some confusion ensued concerning the occupancy of the +rest of the shallops. At last the procession glided off, our party included. +Two by two, forming a long line of torches trailing round the isle, the canoes +all headed toward the opening in the reef. +</p> + +<p> +For a time, a decorous silence was preserved; but presently, some whispering +was heard; perhaps melancholy discoursing touching the close of the +diver’s career. But we were shocked to discover, that poor Karhownoo was +not much in their thoughts; they were conversing about the next bread-fruit +harvest, and the recent arrival of King Media and party at Mondoldo. From far +in advance, however, were heard the lamentations of the true mourners, the +relatives of the diver. +</p> + +<p> +Passing the reef, and sailing a little distance therefrom, the canoes were +disposed in a circle; the one bearing the corpse in the center. Certain +ceremonies over, the body was committed to the waves; the white foam lighting +up the last, long plunge of the diver, to see sights more strange than ever he +saw in the brooding cells of the Turtle Reef. +</p> + +<p> +And now, while in the still midnight, all present were gazing down into the +ocean, watching the white wake of the corpse, ever and anon illuminated by +sparkles, an unknown voice was heard, and all started and vacantly stared, as +this wild song was sung:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +We drop our dead in the sea,<br/> + The bottomless, bottomless sea;<br/> +Each bubble a hollow sigh,<br/> + As it sinks forever and aye.<br/> +<br/> +We drop our dead in the sea,—<br/> + The dead reek not of aught;<br/> +We drop our dead in the sea,—<br/> + The sea ne’er gives it a thought.<br/> +<br/> +Sink, sink, oh corpse, still sink,<br/> + Far down in the bottomless sea,<br/> +Where the unknown forms do prowl,<br/> + Down, down in the bottomless sea.<br/> +<br/> +’Tis night above, and night all round,<br/> + And night will it be with thee;<br/> +As thou sinkest, and sinkest for aye,<br/> + Deeper down in the bottomless sea. +</p> + +<p> +The mysterious voice died away; no sign of the corpse was now seen; and mute +with amaze, the company long listed to the low moan of the billows and the sad +sough of the breeze. +</p> + +<p> +At last, without speaking, the obsequies were concluded by sliding into the +ocean a carved tablet of Palmetto, to mark the place of the burial. But a +wave-crest received it, and fast it floated away. +</p> + +<p> +Returning to the isle, long silence prevailed. But at length, as if the scene +in which they had just taken part, afresh reminded them of the mournful event +which had called them together, the company again recurred to it; some present, +sadly and incidentally alluding to Borabolla’s banquet of turtle, thereby +postponed. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0100"></a> +CHAPTER C.<br/> +The Pursuer Himself Is Pursued</h2> + +<p> +Next morning, when much to the chagrin of Borabolla we were preparing to quit +his isle, came tidings to the palace, of a wonderful event, occurring in one of +the “Motoos,” or little islets of the great reef; which +“Motoo” was included in the dominions of the king. +</p> + +<p> +The men who brought these tidings were highly excited; and no sooner did they +make known what they knew, than all Mondoldo was in a tumult of marveling. +</p> + +<p> +Their story was this. +</p> + +<p> +Going at day break to the Motoo to fish, they perceived a strange proa beached +on its seaward shore; and presently were hailed by voices; and saw among the +palm trees, three specter-like men, who were not of Mardi. +</p> + +<p> +The first amazement of the fishermen over, in reply to their eager questions, +the strangers related, that they were the survivors of a company of men, +natives of some unknown island to the northeast; whence they had embarked for +another country, distant three days’ sail to the southward of theirs. But +falling in with a terrible adventure, in which their sire had been slain, they +altered their course to pursue the fugitive who murdered him; one and all +vowing, never more to see home, until their father’s fate was avenged. +The murderer’s proa outsailing theirs, soon ran out of sight; yet after +him they blindly steered by day and by night: steering by the blood- red star +in Bootes. Soon, a violent gale overtook them; driving them to and fro; leaving +them they knew not where. But still struggling against strange currents, at +times counteracting their sailing, they drifted on their way; nigh to famishing +for water; and no shore in sight. In long calms, in vain they held up their dry +gourds to heaven, and cried “send us a breeze, sweet gods!” The +calm still brooded; and ere it was gone, all but three gasped; and dead from +thirst, were plunged into the sea. The breeze which followed the calm, soon +brought them in sight of a low, uninhabited isle; where tarrying many days, +they laid in good store of cocoanuts and water, and again embarked. +</p> + +<p> +The next land they saw was Mardi; and they landed on the Motoo, still intent on +revenge. +</p> + +<p> +This recital filled Taji with horror. +</p> + +<p> +Who could these avengers be, but the sons of him I had slain. I had thought +them far hence, and myself forgotten; and now, like adders, they started up in +my path, as I hunted for Yillah. +</p> + +<p> +But I dissembled my thoughts. +</p> + +<p> +Without waiting to hear more, Borabolla, all curiosity to behold the strangers, +instantly dispatched to the Motoo one of his fleetest canoes, with orders to +return with the voyagers. +</p> + +<p> +Ere long they came in sight; and perceiving that strange pros in tow of the +king’s, Samoa cried out: “Lo! Taji, the canoe that was going to +Tedaidee!” +</p> + +<p> +Too true; the same double-keeled craft, now sorely broken, the fatal dais in +wild disarray: the canoe, the canoe of Aleema! And with it came the spearmen +three, who, when the Chamois was fleeing from their bow, had poised their +javelins. But so wan their aspect now, their faces looked like skulls. +</p> + +<p> +Then came over me the wild dream of Yillah; and, for a space, like a madman, I +raved. It seemed as if the mysterious damsel must still be there; the rescue +yet to be achieved. In my delirium I rushed upon the skeletons, as they +landed—“Hide not the maiden!” But interposing, Media led me +aside; when my transports abated. +</p> + +<p> +Now, instantly, the strangers knew who I was; and, brandishing their javelins, +they rushed upon me, as I had on them, with a yell. But deeming us all mad, the +crowd held us apart; when, writhing in the arms that restrained them, the pale +specters foamed out their curses again and again: “Oh murderer! white +curses upon thee! Bleached be thy soul with our hate! Living, our brethren +cursed thee; and dying, dry-lipped, they cursed thee again. They died not +through famishing for water, but for revenge upon thee! Thy blood, their thirst +would have slaked!” +</p> + +<p> +I lay fainting against the hard-throbbing heart of Samoa, while they showered +their yells through the air. Once more, in my thoughts, the green corpse of the +priest drifted by. +</p> + +<p> +Among the people of Mondoldo, a violent commotion now raged. They were amazed +at Taji’s recognition by the strangers, and at the deadly ferocity they +betrayed. +</p> + +<p> +Rallying upon this, and perceiving that by divulging all they knew, these sons +of Aleema might stir up the Islanders against me, I resolved to anticipate +their story; and, turning to Borabolla, said— “In these strangers, +oh, king! you behold the survivors of a band we encountered on our voyage. From +them I rescued a maiden, called Yillah, whom they were carrying captive. Little +more of their history do I know.” +</p> + +<p> +“Their maledictions?” exclaimed Borabolla. +</p> + +<p> +“Are they not delirious with suffering?” I cried. “They know +not what they say.” +</p> + +<p> +So, moved by all this, he commanded them to be guarded, and conducted within +his palisade; and having supplied them with cheer, entered into earnest +discourse. Yet all the while, the pale strangers on me fixed their eyes; deep, +dry, crater-like hollows, lurid with flames, reflected from the fear-frozen +glacier, my soul. +</p> + +<p> +But though their hatred appalled, spite of that spell, again the sweet dream of +Yillah stole over me, with all the mysterious things by her narrated, but left +unexplained. And now, before me were those who might reveal the lost +maiden’s whole history, previous to the fatal affray. +</p> + +<p> +Thus impelled, I besought them to disclose what they knew. +</p> + +<p> +But, “Where now is your Yillah?” they cried. “Is the murderer +wedded and merry? Bring forth the maiden!” +</p> + +<p> +Yet, though they tore out my heart’s core, I told them not of my loss. +</p> + +<p> +Then, anxious, to learn the history of Yillah, all present commanded them to +divulge it; and breathlessly I heard what follows. +</p> + +<p> +“Of Yillah, we know only this:—that many moons ago, a mighty canoe, +full of beings, white, like this murderer Taji, touched at our island of Amma. +Received with wonder, they were worshiped as gods; were feasted all over the +land. Their chief was a tower to behold; and with him, was a being, whose +cheeks were of the color of the red coral; her eye, tender as the blue of the +sky. Every day our people brought her offerings of fruit and flowers; which +last she would not retain for herself; but hung them round the neck of her +child, Yillah; then only an infant in her mother’s arms; a bud, nestling +close to a flower, full-blown. All went well between our people and the gods, +till at last they slew three of our countrymen, charged with stealing from +their great canoe. Our warriors retired to the hills, brooding over revenge. +Three days went by; when by night, descending to the plain, in silence they +embarked; gained the great vessel, and slaughtered every soul but Yillah. The +bud was torn from the flower; and, by our father Aleema, was carried to the +Valley of Ardair; there set apart as a sacred offering for Apo, our deity. Many +moons passed; and there arose a tumult, hostile to our sire’s longer +holding custody of Yillah; when, foreseeing that the holy glen would ere long +be burst open, he embarked the maiden in yonder canoe, to accelerate her +sacrifice at the great shrine of Apo, in Tedaidee.—The rest thou knowest, +murderer!” +</p> + +<p> +“Yillah! Yillah!” now hunted again that sound through my soul. +“Oh, Yillah! too late, too late have I learned what thou art!” +</p> + +<p> +Apprised of the disappearance of their former captive, the meager strangers +exulted; declaring that Apo had taken her to himself. For me, ere long, my +blood they would quaff from my skull. +</p> + +<p> +But though I shrunk from their horrible threats, I dissembled anew; and +turning, again swore that they raved. +</p> + +<p> +“Ay!” they retorted, “we rave and raven for you; and your +white heart will we have!” +</p> + +<p> +Perceiving the violence of their rage, and persuaded from what I said, that +much suffering at sea must have maddened them; Borabolla thought fit to confine +them for the present; so that they could not molest me. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0101"></a> +CHAPTER CI.<br/> +The Iris</h2> + +<p> +That evening, in the groves, came to me three gliding +forms:—Hautia’s heralds: the Iris mixed with nettles. Said Yoomy, +“A cruel message!” +</p> + +<p> +With the right hand, the second syren presented glossy, green wax- myrtle +berries, those that burn like tapers; the third, a lily of the valley, crushed +in its own broad leaf. +</p> + +<p> +This done, they earnestly eyed Yoomy; who, after much pondering, +said—“I speak for Hautia; who by these berries says, I will +enlighten you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, give me then that light! say, where is Yillah?” and I rushed +upon the heralds. +</p> + +<p> +But eluding me, they looked reproachfully at Yoomy; and seemed offended. +</p> + +<p> +“Then, I am wrong,” said Yoomy. “It is thus:—Taji, you +have been enlightened, but the lily you seek is crushed.” +</p> + +<p> +Then fell my heart, and the phantoms nodded; flinging upon me bilberries, like +rose pearls, which bruised against my skin, left stains. +</p> + +<p> +Waving oleanders, they retreated. +</p> + +<p> +“Harm! treachery! beware!” cried Yoomy. +</p> + +<p> +Then they glided through the wood: one showering dead leaves along the path I +trod, the others gayly waving bunches of spring-crocuses, yellow, white, and +purple; and thus they vanished. +</p> + +<p> +Said Yoomy, “Sad your path, but merry Hautia’s.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then merry may she be, whoe’er she is; and though woe be mine, I +turn not from that to Hautia; nor ever will I woo her, though she woo me till I +die;—though Yillah never bless my eyes.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0102"></a> +CHAPTER CII.<br/> +They Depart From Mondoldo</h2> + +<p> +Night passed; and next morning we made preparations for leaving Mondoldo that +day. +</p> + +<p> +But fearing anew, lest after our departure, the men of Amma might stir up +against me the people of the isle, I determined to yield to the earnest +solicitations of Borabolla, and leave Jarl behind, for a remembrance of Taji; +if necessary, to vindicate his name. Apprised hereof, my follower was loth to +acquiesce. His guiltless spirit feared not the strangers: less selfish +considerations prevailed. He was willing to remain on the island for a time, +but not without me. Yet, setting forth my reasons; and assuring him, that our +tour would not be long in completing, when we would not fail to return, +previous to sailing for Odo, he at last, but reluctantly, assented. +</p> + +<p> +At Mondoldo, we also parted with Samoa. Whether it was, that he feared the +avengers, whom he may have thought would follow on my track; or whether the +islands of Mardi answered not in attractiveness to the picture his fancy had +painted; or whether the restraint put upon him by the domineering presence of +King Media, was too irksome withal; or whether, indeed, he relished not those +disquisitions with which Babbalanja regaled us: however it may have been, +certain it was, that Samoa was impatient of the voyage. He besought permission +to return to Odo, there to await my return; and a canoe of Mondoldo being about +to proceed in that direction, permission was granted; and departing for the +other side of the island, from thence he embarked. +</p> + +<p> +Long after, dark tidings came, that at early dawn he had been found dead in the +canoe: three arrows in his side. +</p> + +<p> +Yoomy was at a loss to account for the departure of Samoa; who, while ashore, +had expressed much desire to roam. +</p> + +<p> +Media, however, declared that he must be returning to some inamorata. +</p> + +<p> +But Babbalanja averred, that the Upoluan was not the first man, who had turned +back, after beginning a voyage like our own. +</p> + +<p> +To this, after musing, Yoomy assented. Indeed, I had noticed, that already the +Warbler had abated those sanguine assurances of success, with which he had +departed from Odo. The futility of our search thus far, seemed ominous to him, +of the end. +</p> + +<p> +On the eve of embarking, we were accompanied to the beach by Borabolla; who, +with his own hand, suspended from the shark’s mouth of Media’s +canoe, three red-ripe bunches of plantains, a farewell gift to his guests. +</p> + +<p> +Though he spoke not a word, Jarl was long in taking leave. His eyes seemed to +say, I will see you no more. +</p> + +<p> +At length we pushed from the strand; Borabolla waving his adieus with a green +leaf of banana; our comrade ruefully eyeing the receding canoes; and the +multitude loudly invoking for us a prosperous voyage. +</p> + +<p> +But to my horror, there suddenly dashed through the crowd, the three specter +sons of Aleema, escaped from their prison. With clenched hands, they stood in +the water, and cursed me anew. And with that curse in our sails, we swept off. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0103"></a> +CHAPTER CIII.<br/> +As They Sail</h2> + +<p> +As the canoes now glided across the lagoon, I gave myself up to reverie; and +revolving over all that the men of Amma had rehearsed of the history of Yillah, +I one by one unriddled the mysteries, before so baffling. Now, all was made +plain: no secret remaining, but the subsequent event of her disappearance. Yes, +Hautia! enlightened I had been but where was Yillah? +</p> + +<p> +Then I recalled that last interview with Hautia’s messengers, so full of +enigmas; and wondered, whether Yoomy had interpreted aright. Unseen, and +unsolicited; still pursuing me with omens, with taunts, and with wooings, +mysterious Hautia appalled me. Vaguely I began to fear her. And the thought, +that perhaps again and again, her heralds would haunt me, filled me with a +nameless dread, which I almost shrank from acknowledging. Inwardly I prayed, +that never more they might appear. +</p> + +<p> +While full of these thoughts, Media interrupted them by saying, that the +minstrel was about to begin one of his chants, a thing of his own composing; +and therefore, as he himself said, all critics must be lenient; for Yoomy, at +times, not always, was a timid youth, distrustful of his own sweet genius for +poesy. +</p> + +<p> +The words were about a curious hereafter, believed in by some people in Mardi: +a sort of nocturnal Paradise, where the sun and its heat are excluded: one +long, lunar day, with twinkling stars to keep company. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +THE SONG<br/> +Far off in the sea is Marlena,<br/> +A land of shades and streams,<br/> +A land of many delights.<br/> +Dark and bold, thy shores,<br/> +Marlena; But green, and timorous, thy soft knolls,<br/> +Crouching behind the woodlands.<br/> +All shady thy hills; all gleaming thy springs,<br/> +Like eyes in the earth looking at you.<br/> +How charming thy haunts Marlena!—<br/> +Oh, the waters that flow through Onimoo:<br/> +Oh, the leaves that rustle through Ponoo:<br/> +Oh, the roses that blossom in Tarma:<br/> +Come, and see the valley of Vina:<br/> +How sweet, how sweet, the Isles from Hind:<br/> +’Tis aye afternoon of the full, full moon,<br/> +And ever the season of fruit,<br/> +And ever the hour of flowers,<br/> +And never the time of rains and gales,<br/> +All in and about Marlena.<br/> +Soft sigh the boughs in the stilly air,<br/> +Soft lap the beach the billows there;<br/> +And in the woods or by the streams,<br/> +You needs must nod in the Land of Dreams. +</p> + +<p> +“Yoomy,” said old Mohi with a yawn, “you composed that song, +then, did you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I did,” said Yoomy, placing his turban a little to one side. +</p> + +<p> +“Then, minstrel, you shall sing me to sleep every night, especially with +that song of Marlena; it is soporific as the airs of Nora-Bamma.” +</p> + +<p> +“Mean you, old man, that my lines, setting forth the luxurious repose to +be enjoyed hereafter, are composed with such skill, that the description begets +the reality; or would you ironically suggest, that the song is a sleepy thing +itself?” +</p> + +<p> +“An important discrimination,” said Media; “which mean you, +Mohi?” +</p> + +<p> +“Now, are you not a silly boy,” said Babbalanja, “when from +the ambiguity of his speech, you could so easily have derived something +flattering, thus to seek to extract unpleasantness from it? Be wise, Yoomy; and +hereafter, whenever a remark like that seems equivocal, be sure to wrest +commendation from it, though you torture it to the quick.” +</p> + +<p> +“And most sure am I, that I would ever do so; but often I so incline to a +distrust of my powers, that I am far more keenly alive to censure, than to +praise; and always deem it the more sincere of the two; and no praise so much +elates me, as censure depresses.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0104"></a> +CHAPTER CIV.<br/> +Wherein Babbalanja Broaches A Diabolical Theory, And In His Own Person Proves It</h2> + +<p> +“A truce!” cried Media, “here comes a gallant before the +wind.—Look, Taji!” +</p> + +<p> +Turning, we descried a sharp-prowed canoe, dashing on, under the pressure of an +immense triangular sail, whose outer edges were streaming with long, crimson +pennons. Flying before it, were several small craft, belonging to the poorer +sort of Islanders. +</p> + +<p> +“Out of his way there, ye laggards,” cried Media, “or that +mad prince, Tribonnora, will ride over ye with a rush!” +</p> + +<p> +“And who is Tribonnora,” said Babbalanja, “that he thus +bravely diverts himself, running down innocent paddlers?” +</p> + +<p> +“A harum-scarum young chief,” replied Media, “heir to three +islands; he likes nothing better than the sport you now see see him at.” +</p> + +<p> +“He must be possessed by a devil,” said Mohi. +</p> + +<p> +Said Babbalanja, “Then he is only like all of us.” “What say +you?” cried Media. +</p> + +<p> +“I say, as old Bardianna in the Nine hundred and ninety ninth book of his +immortal Ponderings saith, that all men—” +</p> + +<p> +“As I live, my lord, he has swamped three canoes,” cried Mohi, +pointing off the beam. +</p> + +<p> +But just then a fiery fin-back whale, having broken into the paddock of the +lagoon, threw up a high fountain of foam, almost under Tribonnora’s nose; +who, quickly turning about his canoe, cur-like slunk off; his steering-paddle +between his legs. +</p> + +<p> +Comments over; “Babbalanja, you were going to quote,” said Media. +“Proceed.” +</p> + +<p> +“Thank you, my lord. Says old Bardianna, ‘All men are possessed by +devils; but as these devils are sent into men, and kept in them, for an +additional punishment; not garrisoning a fortress, but limboed in a bridewell; +so, it may be more just to say, that the devils themselves are possessed by +men, not men by them.’” +</p> + +<p> +“Faith!” cried Media, “though sometimes a bore, your old +Bardianna is a trump.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have long been of that mind, my lord. But let me go on. Says +Bardianna, ‘Devils are divers;—strong devils, and weak devils; +knowing devils, and silly devils; mad devils, and mild devils; devils, merely +devils; devils, themselves bedeviled; devils, doubly bedeviled.” +</p> + +<p> +“And in the devil’s name, what sort of a devil is yours?” +cried Mohi. +</p> + +<p> +“Of him anon; interrupt me not, old man. Thus, then, my lord, as devils +are divers, divers are the devils in men. Whence, the wide difference we see. +But after all, the main difference is this:—that one man’s devil is +only more of a devil than another’s; and be bedeviled as much as you +will; yet, may you perform the most bedeviled of actions with impunity, so long +as you only bedevil yourself. For it is only when your deviltry injures +another, that the other devils conspire to confine yours for a mad one. That is +to say, if you be easily handled. For there are many bedeviled Bedlamites in +Mardi, doing an infinity of mischief, who are too brawny in the arms to be +tied.” +</p> + +<p> +“A very devilish doctrine that,” cried Mohi. “I don’t +believe it.” +</p> + +<p> +“My lord,” said Babbalanja, “here’s collateral +proof;—the sage lawgiver Yamjamma, who flourished long before Bardianna, +roundly asserts, that all men who knowingly do evil are bedeviled; for good is +happiness; happiness the object of living; and evil is not good.” +</p> + +<p> +“If the sage Yamjamma said that,” said old Mohi, “the sage +Yamjamma might have bettered the saying; it’s not quite so plain as it +might be.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yamjamma disdained to be plain; he scorned to be fully comprehended by +mortals. Like all oracles, he dealt in dark sayings. But old Bardianna was of +another sort; he spoke right out, going straight to the point like a javelin; +especially when he laid it down for a universal maxim, that minus exceptions, +all men are bedeviled.” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course, then,” said Media, “you include yourself among +the number.” +</p> + +<p> +“Most assuredly; and so did old Bardianna; who somewhere says, that being +thoroughly bedeviled himself, he was so much the better qualified to discourse +upon the deviltries of his neighbors. But in another place he seems to +contradict himself, by asserting, that he is not so sensible of his own +deviltry as of other people’s.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hold!” cried Media, “who have we here?” and he pointed +ahead of our prow to three men in the water, urging themselves along, each with +a paddle. +</p> + +<p> +We made haste to overtake them. +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you?” said Media, “where from, and where +bound?” +</p> + +<p> +“From Variora,” they answered, “and bound to Mondoldo.” +“And did that devil Tribonnora swamp your canoe?” asked Media, +offering to help them into ours. +</p> + +<p> +“We had no such useless incumbrance to lose,” they replied, resting +on their backs, and panting with their exertions. “If we had had a canoe, +we would have had to paddle it along with us; whereas we have only our bodies +to paddle.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are a parcel of loons,” exclaimed Media. “But go your +ways, if you are satisfied with your locomotion, well and good.” +</p> + +<p> +“Now, it is an extreme case, I grant,” said Babbalanja, “but +those poor devils there, help to establish old Bardianna’s position. They +belong to that species of our bedeviled race, called simpletons; but their +devils harming none but themselves, are permitted to be at large with the fish. +Whereas, Tribonnora’s devil, who daily runs down canoes, drowning their +occupants, belongs to the species of out and out devils; but being high in +station, and strongly backed by kith and kin, Tribonnora can not be mastered, +and put in a strait jacket. For myself, I think my devil is some where between +these two extremes; at any rate, he belongs to that class of devils who harm +not other devils.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am not so sure of that,” retorted Media. “Methinks this +doctrine of yours, about all mankind being bedeviled, will work a deal of +mischief; seeing that by implication it absolves you mortals from moral +accountability. Further-more; as your doctrine is exceedingly evil, by +Yamjamma’s theory it follows, that you must be proportionably bedeviled; +and since it harms others, your devil is of the number of those whom it is best +to limbo; and since he is one of those that can be limboed, limboed he shall be +in you.” +</p> + +<p> +And so saying, he humorously commanded his attendants to lay hands upon the +bedeviled philosopher, and place a bandage upon his mouth, that he might no +more disseminate his devilish doctrine. +</p> + +<p> +Against this, Babbalanja demurred, protesting that he was no orang-outang, to +be so rudely handled. +</p> + +<p> +“Better and better,” said Media, “you but illustrate +Bardianna’s theory; that men are not sensible of their being +bedeviled.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus tantalized, Babbalanja displayed few signs of philosophy. +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon, said Media, “Assuredly his devil is foaming; behold his +mouth!” And he commanded him to be bound hand and foot. +</p> + +<p> +At length, seeing all resistance ineffectual, Babbalanja submitted; but not +without many objurgations. +</p> + +<p> +Presently, however, they released him; when Media inquired, how he relished the +application of his theory; and whether he was still’ of old +Bardianna’s mind? +</p> + +<p> +To which, haughtily adjusting his robe, Babbalanja replied, “The strong +arm, my lord, is no argument, though it overcomes all logic.” +</p> + +<h3> END OF VOL. I. </h3> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I (of 2) + +Author: Herman Melville + +Release Date: October 12, 2004 [EBook #13720] +Last updated: July 25, 2020 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARDI I.: AND A VOYAGE THITHER, *** + + + + +Etext produced by Geoff Palmer + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER + </h1> + <h2> + By Herman Melville + </h2> + <h4> + In Two Volumes + </h4> + <h3> + Vol. I + </h3> + <h4> + 1864 + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h4> + DEDICATED TO My Brother, ALLAN MELVILLE. + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> MARDI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I — Foot In Stirrup </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II — A Calm </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III — A King For A Comrade </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV — A Chat In The Clouds </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V — Seats Secured And Portmanteaus + Packed </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI — Eight Bells </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII — A Pause </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII — They Push Off, Velis Et + Remis </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX — The Watery World Is All Before + Them </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X — They Arrange Their Canopies And + Lounges, And Try To Make Things </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI — Jarl Afflicted With The + Lockjaw </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII — More About Being In An Open + Boat </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII — Of The Chondropterygii, And + Other Uncouth Hordes Infesting The South Seas </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV — Jarl's Misgivings </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV — A Stitch In Time Saves Nine + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI — They Are Becalmed </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII — In High Spirits, They Push + On For The Terra Incognita </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII — My Lord Shark And His Pages + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX — Who Goes There? </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX — Noises And Portents </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI — Man Ho! </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII — What Befel The Brigantine At + The Pearl Shell Islands </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0023"> CHAPTER XXIII — Sailing From The Island + They Pillage The Cabin </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXIV — Dedicated To The College Of + Physicians And Surgeons </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0025"> CHAPTER XXV — Peril A Peace-Maker </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0026"> CHAPTER XXVI — Containing A Pennyweight Of + Philosophy </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0027"> CHAPTER XXVII — In Which The Past History + Op The Parki Is Concluded </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0028"> CHAPTER XXVIII — Suspicions Laid, And + Something About The Calmuc </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0029"> CHAPTER XXIX — What They Lighted Upon In + Further Searching The Craft, And The </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0030"> CHAPTER XXX — Hints For A Full Length Of + Samoa </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0031"> CHAPTER XXXI — Rovings Alow And Aloft </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0032"> CHAPTER XXXII — Xiphius Platypterus </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0033"> CHAPTER XXXIII — Otard </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0034"> CHAPTER XXXIV — How They Steered On Their + Way </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0035"> CHAPTER XXXV — Ah, Annatoo! </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0036"> CHAPTER XXXVI — The Parki Gives Up The + Ghost </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0037"> CHAPTER XXXVII — Once More They Take To The + Chamois </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0038"> CHAPTER XXXVIII — The Sea On Fire </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0039"> CHAPTER XXXIX — They Fall In With Strangers + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0040"> CHAPTER XL — Sire And Sons </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0041"> CHAPTER XLI — A Fray </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0042"> CHAPTER XLII — Remorse </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0043"> CHAPTER XLIII — The Tent Entered </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0044"> CHAPTER XLIV — Away </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0045"> CHAPTER XLV — Reminiscences </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0046"> CHAPTER XLVI — The Chamois With A Roving + Commission </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0047"> CHAPTER XLVII — Yillah, Jarl, And Samoa + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0048"> CHAPTER XLVIII — Something Under The + Surface </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0049"> CHAPTER XLIX — Yillah </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0050"> CHAPTER L — Yillah In Ardair </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0051"> CHAPTER LI — The Dream Begins To Fade </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0052"> CHAPTER LII — World Ho! </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0053"> CHAPTER LIII — The Chamois Ashore </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0054"> CHAPTER LIV — A Gentleman From The Sun </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0055"> CHAPTER LV — Tiffin In A Temple </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0056"> CHAPTER LVI — King Media A Host </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0057"> CHAPTER LVII — Taji Takes Counsel With + Himself </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0058"> CHAPTER LVIII — Mardi By Night And Yillah + By Day </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0059"> CHAPTER LIX — Their Morning Meal </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0060"> CHAPTER LX — Belshazzar On The Bench </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0061"> CHAPTER LXI — An Incognito </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0062"> CHAPTER LXII — Taji Retires From The World + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0063"> CHAPTER LXIII — Odo And Its Lord </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0064"> CHAPTER LXIV — Yillah A Phantom </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0065"> CHAPTER LXV — Taji Makes Three + Acquaintances </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0066"> CHAPTER LXVI — With A Fair Wind, At Sunrise + They Sail </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0067"> CHAPTER LXVII — Little King Peepi </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0068"> CHAPTER LXVIII — How Teeth Were Regarded In + Valapee </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0069"> CHAPTER LXIX — The Company Discourse, And + Braid-Beard Rehearses A Legend </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0070"> CHAPTER LXX — The Minstrel Leads Off With A + Paddle-Song; And A Message Is Received </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0071"> CHAPTER LXXI — They Land Upon The Island Of + Juam </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0072"> CHAPTER LXXII — A Book From The Chronicles + Of Mohi </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0073"> CHAPTER LXXIII — Something More Of The + Prince </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0074"> CHAPTER LXXIV — Advancing Deeper Into The + Vale, They Encounter Donjalolo </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0075"> CHAPTER LXXV — Time And Temples </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0076"> CHAPTER LXXVI — A Pleasant Place For A + Lounge </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0077"> CHAPTER LXXVII — The House Of The Afternoon + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0078"> CHAPTER LXXVIII — Babbalanja Solus </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0079"> CHAPTER LXXIX — The Center Of Many + Circumferences </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0080"> CHAPTER LXXX — Donjalolo In The Bosom Of + His Family </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0081"> CHAPTER LXXXI — Wherein Babbalanja Relates + The Adventure Of One Karkeke In The Land </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0082"> CHAPTER LXXXII — How Donjalolo, Sent Agents + To The Surrounding Isles; With The Result </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0083"> CHAPTER LXXXIII — They Visit The Tributary + Islets </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0084"> CHAPTER LXXXIV — Taji Sits Down To Dinner + With Five-And-Twenty Kings, And A Royal Time </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0085"> CHAPTER LXXXV — After Dinner </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0086"> CHAPTER LXXXVI — Of Those Scamps The Plujii + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0087"> CHAPTER LXXXVII — Nora-Bamma </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0088"> CHAPTER LXXXVIII — In A Calm, Hautia's + Heralds Approach </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0089"> CHAPTER LXXXIX — Braid-Beard Rehearses The + Origin Of The Isle Of Rogues </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0090"> CHAPTER XC — Rare Sport At Ohonoo </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0091"> CHAPTER XCI — Of King Uhia And His Subjects + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0092"> CHAPTER XCII — The God Keevi And The + Precipice Op Mondo </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0093"> CHAPTER XCIII — Babbalanja Steps In Between + Mohi And Yoomy; And Yoomy Relates A </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0094"> CHAPTER XCIV — Of That Jolly Old Lord, + Borabolla; And That Jolly Island Of His, </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0095"> CHAPTER XCV — That Jolly Old Lord Borabolla + Laughs On Both Sides Of His Face </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0096"> CHAPTER XCVI — Samoa A Surgeon </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0097"> CHAPTER XCVII — Faith And Knowledge </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0098"> CHAPTER XCVIII — The Tale Of A Traveler + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0099"> CHAPTER XCIX — "Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee" + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0100"> CHAPTER C — The Pursuer Himself Is Pursued + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0101"> CHAPTER CI — The Iris </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0102"> CHAPTER CII — They Depart From Mondoldo + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0103"> CHAPTER CIII — As They Sail </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0104"> CHAPTER CIV — Wherein Babbalanja Broaches A + Diabolical Theory, And, In His Own </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + Not long ago, having published two narratives of voyages in the Pacific, + which, in many quarters, were received with incredulity, the thought + occurred to me, of indeed writing a romance of Polynesian adventure, and + publishing it as such; to see whether, the fiction might not, possibly, be + received for a verity: in some degree the reverse of my previous + experience. + </p> + <p> + This thought was the germ of others, which have resulted in Mardi. New + York, January, 1849. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + MARDI + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I — Foot In Stirrup + </h2> + <p> + We are off! The courses and topsails are set: the coral-hung anchor swings + from the bow: and together, the three royals are given to the breeze, that + follows us out to sea like the baying of a hound. Out spreads the canvas—alow, + aloft-boom-stretched, on both sides, with many a stun' sail; till like a + hawk, with pinions poised, we shadow the sea with our sails, and reelingly + cleave the brine. + </p> + <p> + But whence, and whither wend ye, mariners? + </p> + <p> + We sail from Ravavai, an isle in the sea, not very far northward from the + tropic of Capricorn, nor very far westward from Pitcairn's island, where + the mutineers of the Bounty settled. At Ravavai I had stepped ashore some + few months previous; and now was embarked on a cruise for the whale, whose + brain enlightens the world. + </p> + <p> + And from Ravavai we sail for the Gallipagos, otherwise called the + Enchanted Islands, by reason of the many wild currents and eddies there + met. + </p> + <p> + Now, round about those isles, which Dampier once trod, where the Spanish + bucaniers once hived their gold moidores, the Cachalot, or sperm whale, at + certain seasons abounds. + </p> + <p> + But thither, from Ravavai, your craft may not fly, as flies the sea-gull, + straight to her nest. For, owing to the prevalence of the trade winds, + ships bound to the northeast from the vicinity of Ravavai are fain to take + something of a circuit; a few thousand miles or so. First, in pursuit of + the variable winds, they make all haste to the south; and there, at length + picking up a stray breeze, they stand for the main: then, making their + easting, up helm, and away down the coast, toward the Line. + </p> + <p> + This round-about way did the Arcturion take; and in all conscience a weary + one it was. Never before had the ocean appeared so monotonous; thank fate, + never since. + </p> + <p> + But bravo! in two weeks' time, an event. Out of the gray of the morning, + and right ahead, as we sailed along, a dark object rose out of the sea; + standing dimly before us, mists wreathing and curling aloft, and creamy + breakers frothing round its base.—We turned aside, and, at length, + when day dawned, passed Massafuero. With a glass, we spied two or three + hermit goats winding down to the sea, in a ravine; and presently, a + signal: a tattered flag upon a summit beyond. Well knowing, however, that + there was nobody on the island but two or three noose-fulls of runaway + convicts from Chili, our captain had no mind to comply with their + invitation to land. Though, haply, he may have erred in not sending a boat + off with his card. + </p> + <p> + A few days more and we "took the trades." Like favors snappishly + conferred, they came to us, as is often the case, in a very sharp squall; + the shock of which carried away one of our spars; also our fat old cook + off his legs; depositing him plump in the scuppers to leeward. + </p> + <p> + In good time making the desired longitude upon the equator, a few leagues + west of the Gallipagos, we spent several weeks chassezing across the Line, + to and fro, in unavailing search for our prey. For some of their hunters + believe, that whales, like the silver ore in Peru, run in veins through + the ocean. So, day after day, daily; and week after week, weekly, we + traversed the self-same longitudinal intersection of the self-same Line; + till we were almost ready to swear that we felt the ship strike every time + her keel crossed that imaginary locality. + </p> + <p> + At length, dead before the equatorial breeze, we threaded our way straight + along the very Line itself. Westward sailing; peering right, and peering + left, but seeing naught. + </p> + <p> + It was during this weary time, that I experienced the first symptoms of + that bitter impatience of our monotonous craft, which ultimately led to + the adventures herein recounted. + </p> + <p> + But hold you! Not a word against that rare old ship, nor its crew. The + sailors were good fellows all, the half, score of pagans we had shipped at + the islands included. Nevertheless, they were not precisely to my mind. + There was no soul a magnet to mine; none with whom to mingle sympathies; + save in deploring the calms with which we were now and then overtaken; or + in hailing the breeze when it came. Under other and livelier auspices the + tarry knaves might have developed qualities more attractive. Had we sprung + a leak, been "stove" by a whale, or been blessed with some despot of a + captain against whom to stir up some spirited revolt, these shipmates of + mine might have proved limber lads, and men of mettle. But as it was, + there was naught to strike fire from their steel. + </p> + <p> + There were other things, also, tending to make my lot on ship-board very + hard to be borne. True, the skipper himself was a trump; stood upon no + quarter-deck dignity; and had a tongue for a sailor. Let me do him + justice, furthermore: he took a sort of fancy for me in particular; was + sociable, nay, loquacious, when I happened to stand at the helm. But what + of that? Could he talk sentiment or philosophy? Not a bit. His library was + eight inches by four: Bowditch, and Hamilton Moore. + </p> + <p> + And what to me, thus pining for some one who could page me a quotation + from Burton on Blue Devils; what to me, indeed, were flat repetitions of + long-drawn yarns, and the everlasting stanzas of Black-eyed Susan sung by + our full forecastle choir? Staler than stale ale. + </p> + <p> + Ay, ay, Arcturion! I say it in no malice, but thou wast exceedingly dull. + Not only at sailing: hard though it was, that I could have borne; but in + every other respect. The days went slowly round and round, endless and + uneventful as cycles in space. Time, and time- pieces; How many centuries + did my hammock tell, as pendulum-like it swung to the ship's dull roll, + and ticked the hours and ages. Sacred forever be the Arcturion's + fore-hatch—alas! sea-moss is over it now—and rusty forever the + bolts that held together that old sea hearth-stone, about which we so + often lounged. Nevertheless, ye lost and leaden hours, I will rail at ye + while life lasts. + </p> + <p> + Well: weeks, chronologically speaking, went by. Bill Marvel's stories were + told over and over again, till the beginning and end dovetailed into each + other, and were united for aye. Ned Ballad's songs were sung till the + echoes lurked in the very tops, and nested in the bunts of the sails. My + poor patience was clean gone. + </p> + <p> + But, at last after some time sailing due westward we quitted the Line in + high disgust; having seen there, no sign of a whale. + </p> + <p> + But whither now? To the broiling coast of Papua? That region of +sun-strokes, typhoons, and bitter pulls after whales unattainable. Far worse. + We were going, it seemed, to illustrate the Whistonian theory concerning + the damned and the comets;—hurried from equinoctial heats to arctic + frosts. To be short, with the true fickleness of his tribe, our skipper + had abandoned all thought of the Cachalot. In desperation, he was bent + upon bobbing for the Right whale on the Nor'-West Coast and in the Bay of + Kamschatska. + </p> + <p> + To the uninitiated in the business of whaling, my feelings at this + juncture may perhaps be hard to understand. But this much let me say: that + Right whaling on the Nor'-West Coast, in chill and dismal fogs, the sullen + inert monsters rafting the sea all round like Hartz forest logs on the + Rhine, and submitting to the harpoon like half-stunned bullocks to the + knife; this horrid and indecent Right whaling, I say, compared to a + spirited hunt for the gentlemanly Cachalot in southern and more genial + seas, is as the butchery of white bears upon blank Greenland icebergs to + zebra hunting in Caffraria, where the lively quarry bounds before you + through leafy glades. + </p> + <p> + Now, this most unforeseen determination on the part of my captain to + measure the arctic circle was nothing more nor less than a tacit + contravention of the agreement between us. That agreement needs not to be + detailed. And having shipped but for a single cruise, I had embarked + aboard his craft as one might put foot in stirrup for a day's following of + the hounds. And here, Heaven help me, he was going to carry me off to the + Pole! And on such a vile errand too! For there was something degrading in + it. Your true whaleman glories in keeping his harpoon unspotted by blood + of aught but Cachalot. By my halidome, it touched the knighthood of a tar. + Sperm and spermaceti! It was unendurable. + </p> + <p> + "Captain," said I, touching my sombrero to him as I stood at the wheel one + day, "It's very hard to carry me off this way to purgatory. I shipped to + go elsewhere." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, and so did I," was his reply. "But it can't be helped. Sperm whales + are not to be had. We've been out now three years, and something or other + must be got; for the ship is hungry for oil, and her hold a gulf to look + into. But cheer up my boy; once in the Bay of Kamschatka, and we'll be all + afloat with what we want, though it be none of the best." + </p> + <p> + Worse and worse! The oleaginous prospect extended into an immensity of + Macassar. "Sir," said I, "I did not ship for it; put me ashore somewhere, + I beseech." He stared, but no answer vouchsafed; and for a moment I + thought I had roused the domineering spirit of the sea-captain, to the + prejudice of the more kindly nature of the man. + </p> + <p> + But not so. Taking three turns on the deck, he placed his hand on the + wheel, and said, "Right or wrong, my lad, go with us you must. Putting you + ashore is now out of the question. I make no port till this ship is full + to the combings of her hatchways. However, you may leave her if you can." + And so saying he entered his cabin, like Julius Caesar into his tent. + </p> + <p> + He may have meant little by it, but that last sentence rung in my ear like + a bravado. It savored of the turnkey's compliments to the prisoner in + Newgate, when he shoots to the bolt on him. + </p> + <p> + "Leave the ship if I can!" Leave the ship when neither sail nor shore was + in sight! Ay, my fine captain, stranger things have been done. For on + board that very craft, the old Arcturion, were four tall fellows, whom two + years previous our skipper himself had picked up in an open boat, far from + the farthest shoal. To be sure, they spun a long yarn about being the only + survivors of an Indiaman burnt down to the water's edge. But who credited + their tale? Like many others, they were keepers of a secret: had doubtless + contracted a disgust for some ugly craft still afloat and hearty, and + stolen away from her, off soundings. Among seamen in the Pacific such + adventures not seldom occur. Nor are they accounted great wonders. They + are but incidents, not events, in the career of the brethren of the order + of South Sea rovers. For what matters it, though hundreds of miles from + land, if a good whale-boat be under foot, the Trades behind, and mild, + warm seas before? And herein lies the difference between the Atlantic and + Pacific:—that once within the Tropics, the bold sailor who has a + mind to quit his ship round Cape Horn, waits not for port. He regards that + ocean as one mighty harbor. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, the enterprise hinted at was no light one; and I — + resolved to weigh well the chances. It's worth noticing, this way we all + have of pondering for ourselves the enterprise, which, for others, we hold + a bagatelle. + </p> + <p> + My first thoughts were of the boat to be obtained, and the right or wrong + of abstracting it, under the circumstances. But to split no hairs on this + point, let me say, that were I placed in the same situation again, I would + repeat the thing I did then. The captain well knew that he was going to + detain me unlawfully: against our agreement; and it was he himself who + threw out the very hint, which I merely adopted, with many thanks to him. + </p> + <p> + In some such willful mood as this, I went aloft one day, to stand my + allotted two hours at the mast-head. It was toward the close of a day, + serene and beautiful. There I stood, high upon the mast, and away, away, + illimitably rolled the ocean beneath. Where we then were was perhaps the + most unfrequented and least known portion of these seas. Westward, + however, lay numerous groups of islands, loosely laid down upon the + charts, and invested with all the charms of dream-land. But soon these + regions would be past; the mild equatorial breeze exchanged for cold, + fierce squalls, and all the horrors of northern voyaging. + </p> + <p> + I cast my eyes downward to the brown planks of the dull, plodding ship, + silent from stem to stern; then abroad. + </p> + <p> + In the distance what visions were spread! The entire western horizon high + piled with gold and crimson clouds; airy arches, domes, and minarets; as + if the yellow, Moorish sun were setting behind some vast Alhambra. Vistas + seemed leading to worlds beyond. To and fro, and all over the towers of + this Nineveh in the sky, flew troops of birds. Watching them long, one + crossed my sight, flew through a low arch, and was lost to view. My spirit + must have sailed in with it; for directly, as in a trance, came upon me + the cadence of mild billows laving a beach of shells, the waving of + boughs, and the voices of maidens, and the lulled beatings of my own + dissolved heart, all blended together. + </p> + <p> + Now, all this, to be plain, was but one of the many visions one has up + aloft. But coming upon me at this time, it wrought upon me so, that + thenceforth my desire to quit the Arcturion became little short of a + frenzy. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II — A Calm + </h2> + <p> + Next day there was a calm, which added not a little to my impatience of + the ship. And, furthermore, by certain nameless associations revived in me + my old impressions upon first witnessing as a landsman this phenomenon of + the sea. Those impressions may merit a page. + </p> + <p> + To a landsman a calm is no joke. It not only revolutionizes his abdomen, + but unsettles his mind; tempts him to recant his belief in the eternal + fitness of things; in short, almost makes an infidel of him. + </p> + <p> + At first he is taken by surprise, never having dreamt of a state of + existence where existence itself seems suspended. He shakes himself in his + coat, to see whether it be empty or no. He closes his eyes, to test the + reality of the glassy expanse. He fetches a deep breath, by way of + experiment, and for the sake of witnessing the effect. If a reader of + books, Priestley on Necessity occurs to him; and he believes in that old + Sir Anthony Absolute to the very last chapter. His faith in Malte Brun, + however, begins to fail; for the geography, which from boyhood he had + implicitly confided in, always assured him, that though expatiating all + over the globe, the sea was at least margined by land. That over against + America, for example, was Asia. But it is a calm, and he grows madly + skeptical. + </p> + <p> + To his alarmed fancy, parallels and meridians become emphatically what + they are merely designated as being: imaginary lines drawn round the + earth's surface. + </p> + <p> + The log assures him that he is in such a place; but the log is a liar; for + no place, nor any thing possessed of a local angularity, is to be lighted + upon in the watery waste. + </p> + <p> + At length horrible doubts overtake him as to the captain's competency to + navigate his ship. The ignoramus must have lost his way, and drifted into + the outer confines of creation, the region of the everlasting lull, + introductory to a positive vacuity. + </p> + <p> + Thoughts of eternity thicken. He begins to feel anxious concerning his + soul. + </p> + <p> + The stillness of the calm is awful. His voice begins to grow strange and + portentous. He feels it in him like something swallowed too big for the + esophagus. It keeps up a sort of involuntary interior humming in him, like + a live beetle. His cranium is a dome full of reverberations. The hollows + of his very bones are as whispering galleries. He is afraid to speak loud, + lest he be stunned; like the man in the bass drum. + </p> + <p> + But more than all else is the consciousness of his utter helplessness. + Succor or sympathy there is none. Penitence for embarking avails not. The + final satisfaction of despairing may not be his with a relish. Vain the + idea of idling out the calm. He may sleep if he can, or purposely delude + himself into a crazy fancy, that he is merely at leisure. All this he may + compass; but he may not lounge; for to lounge is to be idle; to be idle + implies an absence of any thing to do; whereas there is a calm to be + endured: enough to attend to, Heaven knows. + </p> + <p> + His physical organization, obviously intended for locomotion, becomes a + fixture; for where the calm leaves him, there he remains. Even his + undoubted vested rights, comprised in his glorious liberty of volition, + become as naught. For of what use? He wills to go: to get away from the + calm: as ashore he would avoid the plague. But he can not; and how foolish + to revolve expedients. It is more hopeless than a bad marriage in a land + where there is no Doctors' Commons. He has taken the ship to wife, for + better or for worse, for calm or for gale; and she is not to be shuffled + off. With yards akimbo, she says unto him scornfully, as the old beldam + said to the little dwarf:—"Help yourself" + </p> + <p> + And all this, and more than this, is a calm. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III — A King For A Comrade + </h2> + <p> + At the time I now write of, we must have been something more than sixty + degrees to the west of the Gallipagos. And having attained a desirable + longitude, we were standing northward for our arctic destination: around + us one wide sea. + </p> + <p> + But due west, though distant a thousand miles, stretched north and south + an almost endless Archipelago, here and there inhabited, but little known; + and mostly unfrequented, even by whalemen, who go almost every where. + Beginning at the southerly termination of this great chain, it comprises + the islands loosely known as Ellice's group; then, the Kingsmill isles; + then, the Radack and Mulgrave clusters. These islands had been represented + to me as mostly of coral formation, low and fertile, and abounding in a + variety of fruits. The language of the people was said to be very similar + to that or the Navigator's islands, from which, their ancestors are + supposed to have emigrated. + </p> + <p> + And thus much being said, all has been related that I then knew of the + islands in question. Enough, however, that they existed at all; and that + our path thereto lay over a pleasant sea, and before a reliable + Trade-wind. The distance, though great, was merely an extension of water; + so much blankness to be sailed over; and in a craft, too, that properly + managed has been known to outlive great ships in a gale. For this much is + true of a whale-boat, the cunningest thing in its way ever fabricated by + man. + </p> + <p> + Upon one of the Kingsmill islands, then, I determined to plant my foot, + come what come would. And I was equally determined that one of the ship's + boats should float me thither. But I had no idea of being without a + companion. It would be a weary watch to keep all by myself, with naught + but the horizon in sight. + </p> + <p> + Now, among the crew was a fine old seaman, one Jarl; how old, no one could + tell, not even himself. Forecastle chronology is ever vague and defective. + "Man and boy," said honest Jarl, "I have lived ever since I can remember." + And truly, who may call to mind when he was not? To ourselves, we all seem + coeval with creation. Whence it comes, that it is so hard to die, ere the + world itself is departed. + </p> + <p> + Jarl hailed from the isle of Skye, one of the constellated Hebrides. + Hence, they often called him the Skyeman. And though he was far from being + piratical of soul, he was yet an old Norseman to behold. His hands were + brawny as the paws of a bear; his voice hoarse as a storm roaring round + the old peak of Mull; and his long yellow hair waved round his head like a + sunset. My life for it, Jarl, thy ancestors were Vikings, who many a time + sailed over the salt German sea and the Baltic; who wedded their + Brynhildas in Jutland; and are now quaffing mead in the halls of Valhalla, + and beating time with their cans to the hymns of the Scalds. Ah! how the + old Sagas run through me! + </p> + <p> + Yet Jarl, the descendant of heroes and kings, was a lone, friendless + mariner on the main, only true to his origin in the sea-life that he led. + But so it has been, and forever will be. What yeoman shall swear that he + is not descended from Alfred? what dunce, that he is not sprung of old + Homer? King Noah, God bless him! fathered us all. Then hold up your heads, + oh ye Helots, blood potential flows through your veins. All of us have + monarchs and sages for kinsmen; nay, angels and archangels for cousins; + since in antediluvian days, the sons of God did verily wed with our + mothers, the irresistible daughters of Eve. Thus all generations are + blended: and heaven and earth of one kin: the hierarchies of seraphs in + the uttermost skies; the thrones and principalities in the zodiac; the + shades that roam throughout space; the nations and families, flocks and + folds of the earth; one and all, brothers in essence—oh, be we then + brothers indeed! All things form but one whole; the universe a Judea, and + God Jehovah its head. Then no more let us start with affright. In a + theocracy, what is to fear? Let us compose ourselves to death as fagged + horsemen sleep in the saddle. Let us welcome even ghosts when they rise. + Away with our stares and grimaces. The New Zealander's tattooing is not a + prodigy; nor the Chinaman's ways an enigma. No custom is strange; no creed + is absurd; no foe, but who will in the end prove a friend. In heaven, at + last, our good, old, white-haired father Adam will greet all alike, and + sociality forever prevail. Christian shall join hands between Gentile and + Jew; grim Dante forget his Infernos, and shake sides with fat Rabelais; + and monk Luther, over a flagon of old nectar, talk over old times with + Pope Leo. Then, shall we sit by the sages, who of yore gave laws to the + Medes and Persians in the sun; by the cavalry captains in Perseus, who + cried, "To horse!" when waked by their Last Trump sounding to the charge; + by the old hunters, who eternities ago, hunted the moose in Orion; by the + minstrels, who sang in the Milky Way when Jesus our Saviour was born. Then + shall we list to no shallow gossip of Magellans and Drakes; but give ear + to the voyagers who have circumnavigated the Ecliptic; who rounded the + Polar Star as Cape Horn. Then shall the Stagirite and Kant be forgotten, + and another folio than theirs be turned over for wisdom; even the folio + now spread with horoscopes as yet undeciphered, the heaven of heavens on + high. + </p> + <p> + Now, in old Jarl's lingo there was never an idiom. Your aboriginal tar is + too much of a cosmopolitan for that. Long companionship with seamen of all + tribes: Manilla-men, Anglo-Saxons, Cholos, Lascars, and Danes, wear away + in good time all mother-tongue stammerings. You sink your clan; down goes + your nation; you speak a world's language, jovially jabbering in the + Lingua-Franca of the forecastle. + </p> + <p> + True to his calling, the Skyeman was very illiterate; witless of + Salamanca, Heidelberg, or Brazen-Nose; in Delhi, had never turned over the + books of the Brahmins. For geography, in which sailors should be adepts, + since they are forever turning over and over the great globe of globes, + poor Jarl was deplorably lacking. According to his view of the matter, + this terraqueous world had been formed in the manner of a tart; the land + being a mere marginal crust, within which rolled the watery world proper. + Such seemed my good Viking's theory of cosmography. As for other worlds, + he weened not of them; yet full as much as Chrysostom. + </p> + <p> + Ah, Jarl! an honest, earnest Wight; so true and simple, that the secret + operations of thy soul were more inscrutable than the subtle workings of + Spinoza's. + </p> + <p> + Thus much be said of the Skyeman; for he was exceedingly taciturn, and but + seldom will speak for himself. + </p> + <p> + Now, higher sympathies apart, for Jarl I had a wonderful liking; for he + loved me; from the first had cleaved to me. + </p> + <p> + It is sometimes the case, that an old mariner like him will conceive a + very strong attachment for some young sailor, his shipmate; an attachment + so devoted, as to be wholly inexplicable, unless originating in that + heart-loneliness which overtakes most seamen as they grow aged; impelling + them to fasten upon some chance object of regard. But however it was, my + Viking, thy unbidden affection was the noblest homage ever paid me. And + frankly, I am more inclined to think well of myself, as in some way + deserving thy devotion, than from the rounded compliments of more + cultivated minds. + </p> + <p> + Now, at sea, and in the fellowship of sailors, all men appear as they are. + No school like a ship for studying human nature. The contact of one man + with another is too near and constant to favor deceit. You wear your + character as loosely as your flowing trowsers. Vain all endeavors to + assume qualities not yours; or to conceal those you possess. Incognitos, + however desirable, are out of the question. And thus aboard of all ships + in which I have sailed, I have invariably been known by a sort of + thawing-room title. Not,—let me hurry to say,—that I put hand + in tar bucket with a squeamish air, or ascended the rigging with a + Chesterfieldian mince. No, no, I was never better than my vocation; and + mine have been many. I showed as brown a chest, and as hard a hand, as the + tarriest tar of them all. And never did shipmate of mine upbraid me with a + genteel disinclination to duty, though it carried me to truck of + main-mast, or jib-boom-end, in the most wolfish blast that ever howled. + </p> + <p> + Whence then, this annoying appellation? for annoying it most assuredly + was. It was because of something in me that could not be hidden; stealing + out in an occasional polysyllable; an otherwise incomprehensible + deliberation in dining; remote, unguarded allusions to Belles-Lettres + affairs; and other trifles superfluous to mention. + </p> + <p> + But suffice it to say, that it had gone abroad among the Arcturion's crew, + that at some indefinite period of my career, I had been a "nob." But Jarl + seemed to go further. He must have taken me for one of the House of + Hanover in disguise; or, haply, for bonneted Charles Edward the Pretender, + who, like the Wandering Jew, may yet be a vagrant. At any rate, his + loyalty was extreme. Unsolicited, he was my laundress and tailor; a most + expert one, too; and when at meal-times my turn came round to look out at + the mast-head, or stand at the wheel, he catered for me among the "kids" + in the forecastle with unwearied assiduity. Many's the good lump of "duff" + for which I was indebted to my good Viking's good care of me. And like + Sesostris I — was served by a monarch. Yet in some degree the + obligation was mutual. For be it known that, in sea-parlance, we were <i>chummies.</i> + </p> + <p> + Now this <i>chummying</i> among sailors is like the brotherhood subsisting + between a brace of collegians (chums) rooming together. It is a + Fidus-Achates-ship, a league of offense and defense, a copartnership of + chests and toilets, a bond of love and good feeling, and a mutual + championship of the absent one. True, my nautical reminiscenses remind me + of sundry lazy, ne'er-do-well, unprofitable, and abominable chummies; + chummies, who at meal times were last at the "kids," when their + unfortunate partners were high upon the spars; chummies, who affected + awkwardness at the needle, and conscientious scruples about dabbling in + the suds; so that chummy the simple was made to do all the work of the + firm, while chummy the cunning played the sleeping partner in his hammock. + Out upon such chummies! + </p> + <p> + But I appeal to thee, honest Jarl, if I was ever chummy the cunning. Never + mind if thou didst fabricate my tarpaulins; and with Samaritan charity + bind up the rents, and pour needle and thread into the frightful gashes + that agonized my hapless nether integuments, which thou calledst "ducks;"—Didst + thou not expressly declare, that all these things, and more, thou wouldst + do for me, despite my own quaint thimble, fashioned from the ivory tusk of + a whale? Nay; could I even wrest from thy willful hands my very shirt, + when once thou hadst it steaming in an unsavory pickle in thy capacious + vat, a decapitated cask? Full well thou knowest, Jarl, that these things + are true; and I — am bound to say it, to disclaim any lurking desire + to reap advantage from thy great good nature. + </p> + <p> + Now my Viking for me, thought I, when I cast about for a comrade; and my + Viking alone. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV — A Chat In The Clouds + </h2> + <p> + The Skyeman seemed so earnest and upright a seaman, that to tell the plain + truth, in spite of his love for me, I had many misgivings as to his + readiness to unite in an undertaking which apparently savored of a moral + dereliction. But all things considered, I deemed my own resolution quite + venial; and as for inducing another to join me, it seemed a precaution so + indispensable, as to outweigh all other considerations. + </p> + <p> + Therefore I resolved freely to open my heart to him; for that special + purpose paying him a visit, when, like some old albatross in the air, he + happened to be perched at the foremast-head, all by himself, on the + lookout for whales never seen. + </p> + <p> + Now this standing upon a bit of stick 100 feet aloft for hours at a time, + swiftly sailing over the sea, is very much like crossing the Channel in a + balloon. Manfred-like, you talk to the clouds: you have a fellow feeling + for the sun. And when Jarl and I got conversing up there, smoking our + dwarfish "dudeens," any sea-gull passing by might have taken us for + Messrs. Blanchard and Jeffries, socially puffing their after-dinner + Bagdads, bound to Calais, via Heaven, from Dover. Honest Jarl, I + acquainted with all: my conversation with the captain, the hint implied in + his last words, my firm resolve to quit the ship in one of her boats, and + the facility with which I thought the thing could be done. Then I threw + out many inducements, in the shape of pleasant anticipations of bearing + right down before the wind upon the sunny isles under our lee. + </p> + <p> + He listened attentively; but so long remained silent that I almost fancied + there was something in Jarl which would prove too much for me and my + eloquence. + </p> + <p> + At last he very bluntly declared that the scheme was a crazy one; he had + never known of such a thing but thrice before; and in every case the + runaways had never afterwards been heard of. He entreated me to renounce + my determination, not be a boy, pause and reflect, stick to the ship, and + go home in her like a man. Verily, my Viking talked to me like my uncle. + </p> + <p> + But to all this I turned a deaf ear; affirming that my mind was made up; + and that as he refused to accompany me, and I fancied no one else for a + comrade, I would go stark alone rather than not at all. Upon this, seeing + my resolution immovable, he bluntly swore that he would follow me through + thick and thin. + </p> + <p> + Thanks, Jarl! thou wert one of those devoted fellows who will wrestle hard + to convince one loved of error; but failing, forthwith change their + wrestling to a sympathetic hug. + </p> + <p> + But now his elderly prudence came into play. Casting his eye over the + boundless expanse below, he inquired how far off were the islands in + question. + </p> + <p> + "A thousand miles and no less." + </p> + <p> + "With a fair trade breeze, then, and a boat sail, that is a good twelve + days' passage, but calms and currents may make it a month, perhaps more." + So saying, he shook his old head, and his yellow hair streamed. + </p> + <p> + But trying my best to chase away these misgivings, he at last gave them + over. He assured me I might count upon him to his uttermost keel. + </p> + <p> + My Viking secured, I felt more at ease; and thoughtfully considered how + the enterprise might best be accomplished. + </p> + <p> + There was no time to be lost. Every hour was carrying us farther and + farther from the parallel most desirable for us to follow in our route to + the westward. So, with all possible dispatch, I — matured my plans, + and communicated them to Jarl, who gave several old hints—having + ulterior probabilities in view—which were not neglected. + </p> + <p> + Strange to relate, it was not till my Viking, with a rueful face, reminded + me of the fact, that I bethought me of a circumstance somewhat alarming at + the first blush. We must push off without chart or quadrant; though, as + will shortly be seen, a compass was by no means out of the question. The + chart, to be sure, I did not so much lay to heart; but a quadrant was more + than desirable. Still, it was by no means indispensable. For this reason. + When we started, our latitude would be exactly known; and whether, on our + voyage westward, we drifted north or south therefrom, we could not, by any + possibility, get so far out of our reckoning, as to fail in striking some + one of a long chain of islands, which, for many degrees, on both sides of + the equator, stretched right across our track. + </p> + <p> + For much the same reason, it mattered little, whether on our passage we + daily knew our longitude; for no known land lay between us and the place + we desired to reach. So what could be plainer than this: that if westward + we patiently held on our way, we must eventually achieve our destination? + </p> + <p> + As for intervening shoals or reefs, if any there were, they intimidated us + not. In a boat that drew but a few inches of water, but an indifferent + look-out would preclude all danger on that score. At all events, the thing + seemed feasible enough, notwithstanding old Jarl's superstitious reverence + for nautical instruments, and the philosophical objections which might + have been urged by a pedantic disciple of Mercator. + </p> + <p> + Very often, as the old maxim goes, the simplest things are the most + startling, and that, too, from their very simplicity. So cherish no + alarms, if thus we addressed the setting sun—"Be thou, old pilot, + our guide!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V — Seats Secured And Portmanteaus Packed + </h2> + <p> + But thoughts of sextants and quadrants were the least of our cares. + </p> + <p> + Right from under the very arches of the eyebrows of thirty men— + captain, mates, and crew—a boat was to be abstracted; they knowing + nothing of the event, until all knowledge would prove unavailing. + </p> + <p> + Hark ye: + </p> + <p> + At sea, the boats of a South Sea-man (generally four in number, spare ones + omitted,) are suspended by tackles, hooked above, to curved timbers called + "davits," vertically fixed to the ship's sides. + </p> + <p> + Now, no fair one with golden locks is more assiduously waited upon, or + more delicately handled by her tire-women, than the slender whale- boat by + her crew. And out of its element, it seems fragile enough to justify the + utmost solicitude. For truly, like a fine lady, the fine whale-boat is + most delicate when idle, though little coy at a pinch. + </p> + <p> + Besides the "davits," the following supports are provided Two small cranes + are swung under the keel, on which the latter rests, preventing the + settling of the boat's middle, while hanging suspended by the bow and + stern. A broad, braided, hempen band, usually worked in a tasteful + pattern, is also passed round both gunwales; and secured to the ship's + bulwarks, firmly lashes the craft to its place. Being elevated above the + ship's rail, the boats are in plain sight from all parts of the deck. + </p> + <p> + Now, one of these boats was to be made way with. No facile matter, truly. + Harder than for any dashing young Janizary to run off with a sultana from + the Grand Turk's seraglio. Still, the thing could be done, for, by Jove, + it had been. + </p> + <p> + What say you to slyly loosing every thing by day; and when night comes, + cast off the band and swing in the cranes? But how lower the tackles, even + in the darkest night, without a creaking more fearful than the death + rattle? Easily avoided. Anoint the ropes, and they will travel deftly + through the subtle windings of the blocks. + </p> + <p> + But though I had heard of this plan being pursued, there was a degree of + risk in it, after all, which I was far from fancying. Another plan was hit + upon; still bolder; and hence more safe. What it was, in the right place + will be seen. + </p> + <p> + In selecting my craft for this good voyage, I would fain have traversed + the deck, and eyed the boats like a cornet choosing his steed from out a + goodly stud. But this was denied me. And the "bow boat" was, perforce, + singled out, as the most remote from the quarter-deck, that region of + sharp eyes and relentless purposes. + </p> + <p> + Then, our larder was to be thought of; also, an abundant supply of water; + concerning which last I determined to take good heed. There were but two + to be taken care of; but I resolved to lay in sufficient store of both + meat and drink for four; at the same time that the supplemental twain thus + provided for were but imaginary. And if it came to the last dead pinch, of + which we had no fear, however, I was food for no man but Jarl. + </p> + <p> + Little time was lost in catering for our mess. Biscuit and salt beef were + our sole resource; and, thanks to the generosity of the Arcturion's + owners, our ship's company had a plentiful supply. Casks of both, with + heads knocked out, were at the service of all. In bags which we made for + the purpose, a sufficiency of the biscuit was readily stored away, and + secreted in a corner of easy access. The salt beef was more difficult to + obtain; but, little by little, we managed to smuggle out of the cask + enough to answer our purpose. + </p> + <p> + As for water, most luckily a day or two previous several "breakers" of it + had been hoisted from below for the present use of the ship's company. + </p> + <p> + These "breakers" are casks, long and slender, but very strong. Of various + diameters, they are made on purpose to stow into spaces intervening + between the immense butts in a ship's hold. + </p> + <p> + The largest we could find was selected, first carefully examining it to + detect any leak. On some pretense or other, we then rolled them all over + to that side of the vessel where our boat was suspended, the selected + breaker being placed in their middle. + </p> + <p> + Our compendious wardrobes were snugly packed into bundles and laid aside + for the present. And at last, by due caution, we had every thing arranged + preliminary to the final start. Let me say, though, perhaps to the credit + of Jarl, that whenever the most strategy was necessary, he seemed ill at + ease, and for the most part left the matter to me. It was well that he + did; for as it was, by his untimely straight-forwardness, he once or twice + came near spoiling every thing. Indeed, on one occasion he was so + unseasonably blunt, that curiously enough, I had almost suspected him of + taking that odd sort of interest in one's welfare, which leads a + philanthropist, all other methods failing, to frustrate a project deemed + bad; by pretending clumsily to favor it. But no inuendoes; Jarl was a + Viking, frank as his fathers; though not so much of a bucanier. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI — Eight Bells + </h2> + <p> + The moon must be monstrous coy, or some things fall out opportunely, or + else almanacs are consulted by nocturnal adventurers; but so it is, that + when Cynthia shows a round and chubby disk, few daring deeds are done. + Though true it may be, that of moonlight nights, jewelers' caskets and + maidens' hearts have been burglariously broken into—and rifled, for + aught Copernicus can tell. + </p> + <p> + The gentle planet was in her final quarter, and upon her slender horn I + hung my hopes of withdrawing from the ship undetected. + </p> + <p> + Now, making a tranquil passage across the ocean, we kept at this time what + are called among whalemen "boatscrew-watches." That is, instead of the + sailors being divided at night into two bands, alternately on deck every + four hours, there were four watches, each composed of a boat's crew, the + "headsman" (always one of the mates) excepted. To the officers, this plan + gives uninterrupted repose—"all-night-in," as they call it, and of + course greatly lightens the duties of the crew. + </p> + <p> + The harpooneers head the boats' crews, and are responsible for the ship + during the continuance of their watches. + </p> + <p> + Now, my Viking being a stalwart seaman, pulled the midship oar of the boat + of which I was bowsman. Hence, we were in the same watch; to which, also, + three others belonged, including Mark, the harpooner. One of these seamen, + however, being an invalid, there were only two left for us to manage. + </p> + <p> + Voyaging in these seas, you may glide along for weeks without starting + tack or sheet, hardly moving the helm a spoke, so mild and constant are + the Trades. At night, the watch seldom trouble themselves with keeping + much of a look-out; especially, as a strange sail is almost a prodigy in + these lonely waters. In some ships, for weeks in and weeks out, you are + puzzled to tell when your nightly turn on deck really comes round; so + little heed is given to the standing of watches, where in the license of + presumed safety, nearly every one nods without fear. + </p> + <p> + But remiss as you may be in the boats-crew-watch of a heedless whaleman, + the man who heads it is bound to maintain his post on the quarter-deck + until regularly relieved. Yet drowsiness being incidental to all natures, + even to Napoleon, beside his own sentry napping in the snowy bivouac; so, + often, in snowy moonlight, or ebon eclipse, dozed Mark, our harpooneer. + Lethe be his portion this blessed night, thought I, as during the morning + which preceded our enterprise, I eyed the man who might possibly cross my + plans. + </p> + <p> + But let me come closer to this part of my story. During what are called at + sea the "dog-watches" (between four o'clock and eight in the evening), + sailors are quite lively and frolicsome; their spirits even flow far into + the first of the long "night-watches;" but upon its expiration at "eight + bells" (midnight), silence begins to reign; if you hear a voice it is no + cherub's: all exclamations are oaths. + </p> + <p> + At eight bells, the mariners on deck, now relieved from their cares, crawl + out from their sleepy retreats in old monkey jackets, or coils of rigging, + and hie to their hammocks, almost without interrupting their dreams: while + the sluggards below lazily drag themselves up the ladder to resume their + slumbers in the open air. + </p> + <p> + For these reasons then, the moonless sea midnight was just the time to + escape. Hence, we suffered a whole day to pass unemployed; waiting for the + night, when the star board-quarter-boats'-watch, to which we belonged, + would be summoned on deck at the eventful eight of the bell. + </p> + <p> + But twenty-four hours soon glide away; and "Starboleens ahoy; eight bells + there below;" at last started me from a troubled doze. + </p> + <p> + I sprang from my hammock, and would have lighted my pipe. But the + forecastle lamp had gone out. An old sea-dog was talking about sharks in + his sleep. Jarl and our solitary watch-mate were groping their way into + their trowsers. And little was heard but the humming of the still sails + aloft; the dash of the waves against the bow; and the deep breathing of + the dreaming sailors around. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII — A Pause + </h2> + <p> + Good old Arcturion! Maternal craft; that rocked me so often in thy heart + of oak, I grieve to tell how I deserted thee on the broad deep. So far + from home, with such a motley crew, so many islanders, whose heathen + babble echoing through thy Christian hull, must have grated harshly on + every carline. + </p> + <p> + Old ship! where sails thy lone ghost now? For of the stout Arcturion no + word was ever heard, from the dark hour we pushed from her fated planks. + In what time of tempest, to what seagull's scream, the drowning eddies did + their work, knows no mortal man. Sunk she silently, helplessly, into the + calm depths of that summer sea, assassinated by the ruthless blade of the + swordfish? Such things have been. Or was hers a better fate? Stricken down + while gallantly battling with the blast; her storm-sails set; helm manned; + and every sailor at his post; as sunk the Hornet, her men at quarters, in + some distant gale. + </p> + <p> + But surmises are idle. A very old craft, she may have foundered; or laid + her bones upon some treacherous reef; but as with many a far rover, her + fate is a mystery. + </p> + <p> + Pray Heaven, the spirit of that lost vessel roaming abroad through the + troubled mists of midnight gales—as old mariners believe of missing + ships—may never haunt my future path upon the waves. Peacefully may + she rest at the bottom of the sea; and sweetly sleep my shipmates in the + lowest watery zone, where prowling sharks come not, nor billows roll. + </p> + <p> + By quitting the Arcturion when we did, Jarl and I unconsciously eluded a + sailor's grave. We hear of providential deliverances. Was this one? But + life is sweet to all, death comes as hard. And for myself I am almost + tempted to hang my head, that I escaped the fate of my shipmates; + something like him who blushed to have escaped the fell carnage at + Thermopylae. + </p> + <p> + Though I can not repress a shudder when I think of that old ship's end, it + is impossible for me so much as to imagine, that our deserting her could + have been in any way instrumental in her loss. Nevertheless, I would to + heaven the Arcturion still floated; that it was given me once more to + tread her familiar decks. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII — They Push Off, Velis Et Remis + </h2> + <p> + And now to tell how, tempted by devil or good angel, and a thousand miles + from land, we embarked upon this western voyage. + </p> + <p> + It was midnight, mark you, when our watch began; and my turn at the helm + now coming on was of course to be avoided. On some plausible pretense, I + induced our solitary watchmate to assume it; thus leaving myself + untrammeled, and at the same time satisfactorily disposing of him. For + being a rather fat fellow, an enormous consumer of "duff," and with good + reason supposed to be the son of a farmer, I made no doubt, he would + pursue his old course and fall to nodding over the wheel. As for the + leader of the watch—our harpooner—he fell heir to the nest of + old jackets, under the lee of the mizzen-mast, left nice and warm by his + predecessor. + </p> + <p> + The night was even blacker than we had anticipated; there was no trace of + a moon; and the dark purple haze, sometimes encountered at night near the + Line, half shrouded the stars from view. + </p> + <p> + Waiting about twenty minutes after the last man of the previous watch had + gone below, I motioned to Jarl, and we slipped our shoes from our feet. He + then descended into the forecastle, and I sauntered aft toward the + quarter-deck. All was still. Thrice did I pass my hand full before the + face of the slumbering lubber at the helm, and right between him and the + light of the binnacle. + </p> + <p> + Mark, the harpooneer, was not so easily sounded. I feared to approach him. + He lay quietly, though; but asleep or awake, no more delay. Risks must be + run, when time presses. And our ears were a pointer's to catch a sound. + </p> + <p> + To work we went, without hurry, but swiftly and silently. Our various + stores were dragged from their lurking-places, and placed in the boat, + which hung from the ship's lee side, the side depressed in the water, an + indispensable requisite to an attempt at escape. And though at sundown the + boat was to windward, yet, as we had foreseen, the vessel having been + tacked during the first watch, brought it to leeward. + </p> + <p> + Endeavoring to manhandle our clumsy breaker, and lift it into the boat, we + found, that by reason of the intervention of the shrouds, it could not be + done without, risking a jar; besides straining the craft in lowering. An + expedient, however, though at the eleventh hour, was hit upon. Fastening a + long rope to the breaker, which was perfectly tight, we cautiously dropped + it overboard; paying out enough line, to insure its towing astern of the + ship, so as not to strike against the copper. The other end of the line we + then secured to the boat's stern. + </p> + <p> + Fortunately, this was the last thing to be done; for the breaker, acting + as a clog to the vessel's way in the water, so affected her steering as to + fling her perceptibly into the wind. And by causing the helm to work, this + must soon rouse the lubber there stationed, if not already awake. But our + dropping overboard the breaker greatly aided us in this respect: it + diminished the ship's headway; which owing to the light breeze had not + been very great at any time during the night. Had it been so, all hope of + escaping without first arresting the vessel's progress, would have been + little short of madness. As it was, the sole daring of the deed that night + achieved, consisted in our lowering away while the ship yet clove the + brine, though but moderately. + </p> + <p> + All was now ready: the cranes swung in, the lashings adrift, and the boat + fairly suspended; when, seizing the ends of the tackle ropes, we silently + stepped into it, one at each end. The dead weight of the breaker astern + now dragged the craft horizontally through the air, so that her tackle + ropes strained hard. She quivered like a dolphin. Nevertheless, had we not + feared her loud splash upon striking the wave, we might have quitted the + ship almost as silently as the breath the body. But this was out of the + question, and our plans were laid accordingly. + </p> + <p> + "All ready, Jarl?" + </p> + <p> + "Ready." + </p> + <p> + "A man overboard!" I shouted at the top of my compass; and like lightning + the cords slid through our blistering hands, and with a tremendous shock + the boat bounded on the sea's back. One mad sheer and plunge, one terrible + strain on the tackles as we sunk in the trough of the waves, tugged upon + by the towing breaker, and our knives severed the tackle ropes—we + hazarded not unhooking the blocks—our oars were out, and the good + boat headed round, with prow to leeward. + </p> + <p> + "Man overboard!" was now shouted from stem to stern. And directly we heard + the confused tramping and shouting of the sailors, as they rushed from + their dreams into the almost inscrutable darkness. + </p> + <p> + "Man overboard! Man overboard!" My heart smote me as the human cry of + horror came out of the black vaulted night. + </p> + <p> + "Down helm!" was soon heard from the chief mate. "Back the main-yard! + Quick to the boats! How's this? One down already? Well done! Hold on, + then, those other boats!" + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile several seamen were shouting as they strained at the braces. + </p> + <p> + "Cut! cut all! Lower away! lower away!" impatiently cried the sailors, who + already had leaped into the boats. + </p> + <p> + "Heave the ship to, and hold fast every thing," cried the captain, + apparently just springing to the deck. "One boat's enough. Steward; show a + light there from the mizzen-top. Boat ahoy!—Have you got that man?" + </p> + <p> + No reply. The voice came out of a cloud; the ship dimly showing like a + ghost. We had desisted from rowing, and hand over hand were now hauling in + upon the rope attached to the breaker, which we soon lifted into the boat, + instantly resuming our oars. + </p> + <p> + "Pull! pull, men! and save him!" again shouted the captain. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, ay, sir," answered Jarl instinctively, "pulling as hard as ever we + can, sir." + </p> + <p> + And pull we did, till nothing could be heard from the ship but a confused + tumult; and, ever and anon, the hoarse shout of the captain, too distant + to be understood. + </p> + <p> + We now set our sail to a light air; and right into the darkness, and dead + to leeward, we rowed and sailed till morning dawned. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX — The Watery World Is All Before Them + </h2> + <p> + At sea in an open boat, and a thousand miles from land! + </p> + <p> + Shortly after the break of day, in the gray transparent light, a speck to + windward broke the even line of the horizon. It was the ship wending her + way north-eastward. + </p> + <p> + Had I not known the final indifference of sailors to such disasters as + that which the Arcturion's crew must have imputed to the night past (did + not the skipper suspect the truth) I would have regarded that little speck + with many compunctions of conscience. Nor, as it was, did I feel in any + very serene humor. For the consciousness of being deemed dead, is next to + the presumable unpleasantness of being so in reality. One feels like his + own ghost unlawfully tenanting a defunct carcass. Even Jarl's glance + seemed so queer, that I begged him to look another way. + </p> + <p> + Secure now from all efforts of the captain to recover those whom he most + probably supposed lost; and equally cut off from all hope of returning to + the ship even had we felt so inclined; the resolution that had thus far + nerved me, began to succumb in a measure to the awful loneliness of the + scene. Ere this, I had regarded the ocean as a slave, the steed that bore + me whither I listed, and whose vicious propensities, mighty though they + were, often proved harmless, when opposed to the genius of man. But now, + how changed! In our frail boat, I would fain have built an altar to + Neptune. + </p> + <p> + What a mere toy we were to the billows, that jeeringly shouldered us from + crest to crest, as from hand to hand lost souls may be tossed along by the + chain of shades which enfilade the route to Tartarus. + </p> + <p> + But drown or swim, here's overboard with care! Cheer up, Jarl! Ha! Ha! how + merrily, yet terribly, we sail! Up, up—slowly up—toiling up + the long, calm wave; then balanced on its summit a while, like a plank on + a rail; and down, we plunge headlong into the seething abyss, till + arrested, we glide upward again. And thus did we go. Now buried in watery + hollows—our sail idly flapping; then lifted aloft— canvas + bellying; and beholding the furthest horizon. + </p> + <p> + Had not our familiarity with the business of whaling divested our craft's + wild motions of its first novel horrors, we had been but a rueful pair. + But day-long pulls after whales, the ship left miles astern; and entire + dark nights passed moored to the monsters, killed too late to be towed to + the ship far to leeward:—all this, and much more, accustoms one to + strange things. Death, to be sure, has a mouth as black as a wolf's, and + to be thrust into his jaws is a serious thing. But true it most certainly + is—and I speak from no hearsay— that to sailors, as a class, + the grisly king seems not half so hideous as he appears to those who have + only regarded him on shore, and at a deferential distance. Like many ugly + mortals, his features grow less frightful upon acquaintance; and met over + often and sociably, the old adage holds true, about familiarity breeding + contempt. Thus too with soldiers. Of the quaking recruit, three pitched + battles make a grim grenadier; and he who shrank from the muzzle of a + cannon, is now ready to yield his mustache for a sponge. + </p> + <p> + And truly, since death is the last enemy of all, valiant souls will taunt + him while they may. Yet rather, should the wise regard him as the + inflexible friend, who, even against our own wills, from life's evils + triumphantly relieves us. + </p> + <p> + And there is but little difference in the manner of dying. To die, is all. + And death has been gallantly encountered by those who never beheld blood + that was red, only its light azure seen through the veins. And to yield + the ghost proudly, and march out of your fortress with all the honors of + war, is not a thing of sinew and bone. Though in prison, Geoffry Hudson, + the dwarf, died more bravely than Goliah, the giant; and the last end of a + butterfly shames us all. Some women have lived nobler lives, and died + nobler deaths, than men. Threatened with the stake, mitred Cranmer + recanted; but through her fortitude, the lorn widow of Edessa stayed the + tide of Valens' persecutions. 'Tis no great valor to perish sword in hand, + and bravado on lip; cased all in panoply complete. For even the alligator + dies in his mail, and the swordfish never surrenders. To expire, + mild-eyed, in one's bed, transcends the death of Epaminondas. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X — They Arrange Their Canopies And Lounges, And Try To Make + Things + </h2> + <p> + Comfortable + </p> + <p> + Our little craft was soon in good order. From the spare rigging brought + along, we made shrouds to the mast, and converted the boat- hook into a + handy boom for the jib. Going large before the wind, we set this sail + wing-and-wing with the main-sail. The latter, in accordance with the + customary rig of whale-boats, was worked with a sprit and sheet. It could + be furled or set in an instant. The bags of bread we stowed away in the + covered space about the loggerhead, a useless appurtenance now, and + therefore removed. At night, Jarl used it for a pillow; saying, that when + the boat rolled it gave easy play to his head. The precious breaker we + lashed firmly amidships; thereby much improving our sailing. + </p> + <p> + Now, previous to leaving the ship, we had seen to it well, that our craft + was supplied with all those equipments, with which, by the regulations of + the fishery, a whale-boat is constantly provided: night and day, afloat or + suspended. Hanging along our gunwales inside, were six harpoons, three + lances, and a blubber-spade; all keen as razors, and sheathed with + leather. Besides these, we had three waifs, a couple of two-gallon + water-kegs, several bailers, the boat-hatchet for cutting the whale-line, + two auxiliary knives for the like purpose, and several minor articles, + also employed in hunting the leviathan. The line and line-tub, however, + were on ship-board. + </p> + <p> + And here it may be mentioned, that to prevent the strain upon the boat + when suspended to the ship's side, the heavy whale-line, over two hundred + fathoms in length, and something more than an inch in diameter, when not + in use is kept on ship-board, coiled away like an endless snake in its + tub. But this tub is always in readiness to be launched into the boat. + Now, having no use for the line belonging to our craft, we had purposely + left it behind. + </p> + <p> + But well had we marked that by far the most important item of a + whale-boat's furniture was snugly secured in its place. This was the + water-tight keg, at both ends firmly headed, containing a small compass, + tinder-box and flint, candles, and a score or two of biscuit. This keg is + an invariable precaution against what so frequently occurs in pursuing the + sperm whale—prolonged absence from the ship, losing sight of her, or + never seeing her more, till years after you reach home again. In this same + keg of ours seemed coopered up life and death, at least so seemed it to + honest Jarl. No sooner had we got clear from the Arcturion, than dropping + his oar for an instant, he clutched at it in the dark. + </p> + <p> + And when day at last came, we knocked out the head of the keg with the + little hammer and chisel, always attached to it for that purpose, and + removed the compass, that glistened to us like a human eye. Then filling + up the vacancy with biscuit, we again made all tight, driving down the + hoops till they would budge no more. + </p> + <p> + At first we were puzzled to fix our compass. But at last the Skyeman out + knife, and cutting a round hole in the after-most thwart, or seat of the + boat, there inserted the little brass case containing the needle. + </p> + <p> + Over the stern of the boat, with some old canvas which my Viking's + forethought had provided, we spread a rude sort of awning, or rather + counterpane. This, however, proved but little or no protection from the + glare of the sun; for the management of the main-sail forbade any + considerable elevation of the shelter. And when the breeze was fresh, we + were fain to strike it altogether; for the wind being from aft, and + getting underneath the canvas, almost lifted the light boat's stem into + the air, vexing the counterpane as if it were a petticoat turning a gusty + corner. But when a mere breath rippled the sea, and the sun was fiery hot, + it was most pleasant to lounge in this shady asylum. It was like being + transferred from the roast to cool in the cupboard. And Jarl, much the + toughest fowl of the two, out of an abundant kindness for his comrade, + during the day voluntarily remained exposed at the helm, almost two hours + to my one. No lady-like scruples had he, the old Viking, about marring his + complexion, which already was more than bronzed. Over the ordinary tanning + of the sailor, he seemed masked by a visor of japanning, dotted all over + with freckles, so intensely yellow, and symmetrically circular, that they + seemed scorched there by a burning glass. + </p> + <p> + In the tragico-comico moods which at times overtook me, I used to look + upon the brown Skyeman with humorous complacency. If we fall in with + cannibals, thought I, then, ready-roasted Norseman that thou art, shall I + survive to mourn thee; at least, during the period I — revolve upon + the spit. + </p> + <p> + But of such a fate, it needs hardly be said, we had no apprehension. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI — Jarl Afflicted With The Lockjaw + </h2> + <p> + If ever again I launch whale-boat from sheer-plank of ship at sea, I + — shall take good heed, that my comrade be a sprightly fellow, with + a rattle-box head. Be he never so silly, his very silliness, so long as he + be lively at it, shall be its own excuse. + </p> + <p> + Upon occasion, who likes not a lively loon, one of your giggling, gamesome + oafs, whose mouth is a grin? Are not such, well-ordered dispensations of + Providence? filling up vacuums, in intervals of social stagnation + relieving the tedium of existing? besides keeping up, here and there, in + very many quarters indeed, sundry people's good opinion of themselves? + What, if at times their speech is insipid as water after wine? What, if to + ungenial and irascible souls, their very "mug" is an exasperation to + behold, their clack an inducement to suicide? Let us not be hard upon them + for this; but let them live on for the good they may do. + </p> + <p> + But Jarl, dear, dumb Jarl, thou wert none of these. Thou didst carry a + phiz like an excommunicated deacon's. And no matter what happened, it was + ever the same. Quietly, in thyself, thou didst revolve upon thine own + sober axis, like a wheel in a machine which forever goes round, whether + you look at it or no. Ay, Jarl! wast thou not forever intent upon minding + that which so many neglect—thine own especial business? Wast thou + not forever at it, too, with no likelihood of ever winding up thy moody + affairs, and striking a balance sheet? + </p> + <p> + But at times how wearisome to me these everlasting reveries in my one + solitary companion. I longed for something enlivening; a burst of words; + human vivacity of one kind or other. After in vain essaying to get + something of this sort out of Jarl, I tried it all by myself; playing upon + my body as upon an instrument; singing, halloing, and making empty + gestures, till my Viking stared hard; and I myself paused to consider + whether I had run crazy or no. + </p> + <p> + But how account for the Skyeman's gravity? Surely, it was based upon no + philosophic taciturnity; he was nothing of an idealist; an aerial + architect; a constructor of flying buttresses. It was inconceivable, that + his reveries were Manfred-like and exalted, reminiscent of unutterable + deeds, too mysterious even to be indicated by the remotest of hints. + Suppositions all out of the question. + </p> + <p> + His ruminations were a riddle. I asked him anxiously, whether, in any part + of the world, Savannah, Surat, or Archangel, he had ever a wife to think + of; or children, that he carried so lengthy a phiz. Nowhere neither. + Therefore, as by his own confession he had nothing to think of but + himself, and there was little but honesty in him (having which, by the + way, he may be thought full to the brim), what could I — fall back + upon but my original theory: namely, that in repose, his intellects + stepped out, and left his body to itself. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII — More About Being In An Open Boat + </h2> + <p> + On the third morning, at break of day, I sat at the steering oar, an hour + or two previous having relieved Jarl, now fast asleep. Somehow, and + suddenly, a sense of peril so intense, came over me, that it could hardly + have been aggravated by the completest solitude. + </p> + <p> + On a ship's deck, the mere feeling of elevation above the water, and the + reach of prospect you command, impart a degree of confidence which + disposes you to exult in your fancied security. But in an open boat, + brought down to the very plane of the sea, this feeling almost wholly + deserts you. Unless the waves, in their gambols, toss you and your chip + upon one of their lordly crests, your sphere of vision is little larger + than it would be at the bottom of a well. At best, your most extended view + in any one direction, at least, is in a high, slow-rolling sea; when you + descend into the dark, misty spaces, between long and uniform swells. + Then, for the moment, it is like looking up and down in a twilight glade, + interminable; where two dawns, one on each hand, seem struggling through + the semi-transparent tops of the fluid mountains. + </p> + <p> + But, lingering not long in those silent vales, from watery cliff to cliff, + a sea-chamois, sprang our solitary craft,—a goat among the Alps! + </p> + <p> + How undulated the horizon; like a vast serpent with ten thousand folds + coiled all round the globe; yet so nigh, apparently, that it seemed as if + one's hand might touch it. + </p> + <p> + What loneliness; when the sun rose, and spurred up the heavens, we hailed + him as a wayfarer in Sahara the sight of a distant horseman. Save + ourselves, the sun and the Chamois seemed all that was left of life in the + universe. We yearned toward its jocund disk, as in strange lands the + traveler joyfully greets a face from home, which there had passed + unheeded. And was not the sun a fellow-voyager? were we not both wending + westward? But how soon he daily overtook and passed us; hurrying to his + journey's end. + </p> + <p> + When a week had gone by, sailing steadily on, by day and by night, and + nothing in sight but this self-same sea, what wonder if disquieting + thoughts at last entered our hearts? If unknowingly we should pass the + spot where, according to our reckoning, our islands lay, upon what + shoreless sea would we launch? At times, these forebodings bewildered my + idea of the positions of the groups beyond. All became vague and confused; + so that westward of the Kingsmil isles and the Radack chain, I fancied + there could be naught but an endless sea. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII — Of The Chondropterygii, And Other Uncouth Hordes + Infesting The South Seas + </h2> + <p> + At intervals in our lonely voyage, there were sights which diversified the + scene; especially when the constellation Pisces was in the ascendant. + </p> + <p> + It's famous botanizing, they say, in Arkansas' boundless prairies; I + — commend the student of Ichthyology to an open boat, and the ocean + moors of the Pacific. As your craft glides along, what strange monsters + float by. Elsewhere, was never seen their like. And nowhere are they found + in the books of the naturalists. + </p> + <p> + Though America be discovered, the Cathays of the deep are unknown. And + whoso crosses the Pacific might have read lessons to Buffon. The + sea-serpent is not a fable; and in the sea, that snake is but a garden + worm. There are more wonders than the wonders rejected, and more sights + unrevealed than you or I ever ever dreamt of. Moles and bats alone should + be skeptics; and the only true infidelity is for a live man to vote + himself dead. Be Sir Thomas Brown our ensample; who, while exploding + "Vulgar Errors," heartily hugged all the mysteries in the Pentateuch. + </p> + <p> + But look! fathoms down in the sea; where ever saw you a phantom like that? + An enormous crescent with antlers like a reindeer, and a Delta of mouths. + Slowly it sinks, and is seen no more. + </p> + <p> + Doctor Faust saw the devil; but you have seen the "Devil Fish." + </p> + <p> + Look again! Here comes another. Jarl calls it a Bone Shark. Full as large + as a whale, it is spotted like a leopard; and tusk-like teeth overlap its + jaws like those of the walrus. To seamen, nothing strikes more terror than + the near vicinity of a creature like this. Great ships steer out of its + path. And well they may; since the good craft Essex, and others, have been + sunk by sea-monsters, as the alligator thrusts his horny snout through a + Carribean canoe. + </p> + <p> + Ever present to us, was the apprehension of some sudden disaster from the + extraordinary zoological specimens we almost hourly passed. + </p> + <p> + For the sharks, we saw them, not by units, nor by tens, nor by hundreds; + but by thousands and by myriads. Trust me, there are more sharks in the + sea than mortals on land. + </p> + <p> + And of these prolific fish there are full as many species as of dogs. But + by the German naturalists Muller and Henle, who, in christening the + sharks, have bestowed upon them the most heathenish names, they are + classed under one family; which family, according to Muller, king-at-arms, + is an undoubted branch of the ancient and famous tribe of the + Chondropterygii. + </p> + <p> + To begin. There is the ordinary Brown Shark, or sea attorney, so called by + sailors; a grasping, rapacious varlet, that in spite of the hard knocks + received from it, often snapped viciously at our steering oar. At times, + these gentry swim in herds; especially about the remains of a slaughtered + whale. They are the vultures of the deep. + </p> + <p> + Then we often encountered the dandy Blue Shark, a long, taper and mighty + genteel looking fellow, with a slender waist, like a Bond- street beau, + and the whitest tiers of teeth imaginable. This dainty spark invariably + lounged by with a careless fin and an indolent tail. But he looked + infernally heartless. + </p> + <p> + How his cold-blooded, gentlemanly air, contrasted with the rude, savage + swagger of the Tiger Shark; a round, portly gourmand; with distended mouth + and collapsed conscience, swimming about seeking whom he might devour. + These gluttons are the scavengers of navies, following ships in the South + Seas, picking up odds and ends of garbage, and sometimes a tit-bit, a + stray sailor. No wonder, then, that sailors denounce them. In substance, + Jarl once assured me, that under any temporary misfortune, it was one of + his sweetest consolations to remember, that in his day, he had murdered, + not killed, shoals of Tiger Sharks. + </p> + <p> + Yet this is all wrong. As well hate a seraph, as a shark. Both were made + by the same hand. And that sharks are lovable, witness their domestic + endearments. No Fury so ferocious, as not to have some amiable side. In + the wild wilderness, a leopard-mother caresses her cub, as Hagar did + Ishmael; or a queen of France the dauphin. We know not what we do when we + hate. And I have the word of my gentlemanly friend Stanhope, for it; that + he who declared he loved a good hater was but a respectable sort of + Hottentot, at best. No very genteel epithet this, though coming from the + genteelest of men. But when the digger of dictionaries said that saying of + his, he was assuredly not much of a Christian. However, it is hard for one + given up to constitutional hypos like him; to be filled with the milk and + meekness of the gospels. Yet, with deference, I deny that my old uncle + Johnson really believed in the sentiment ascribed to him. Love a hater, + indeed! Who smacks his lips over gall? Now hate is a thankless thing. So, + let us only hate hatred; and once give love play, we will fall in love + with a unicorn. Ah! the easiest way is the best; and to hate, a man must + work hard. Love is a delight; but hate a torment. And haters are + thumbscrews, Scotch boots, and Spanish inquisitions to themselves. In five + words—would they were a Siamese diphthong—he who hates is a + fool. + </p> + <p> + For several days our Chamois was followed by two of these aforesaid Tiger + Sharks. A brace of confidential inseparables, jogging along in our wake, + side by side, like a couple of highwaymen, biding their time till you come + to the cross-roads. But giving it up at last, for a bootless errand, they + dropped farther and farther astern, until completely out of sight. Much to + the Skyeman's chagrin; who long stood in the stern, lance poised for a + dart. + </p> + <p> + But of all sharks, save me from the ghastly White Shark. For though we + should hate naught, yet some dislikes are spontaneous; and disliking is + not hating. And never yet could I bring myself to be loving, or even + sociable, with a White Shark. He is not the sort of creature to enlist + young affections. + </p> + <p> + This ghost of a fish is not often encountered, and shows plainer by night + than by day. Timon-like, he always swims by himself; gliding along just + under the surface, revealing a long, vague shape, of a milky hue; with + glimpses now and then of his bottomless white pit of teeth. No need of a + dentist hath he. Seen at night, stealing along like a spirit in the water, + with horrific serenity of aspect, the White Shark sent many a thrill to us + twain in the Chamois. + </p> + <p> + By day, and in the profoundest calms, oft were we startled by the + ponderous sigh of the grampus, as lazily rising to the surface, he fetched + a long breath after napping below. + </p> + <p> + And time and again we watched the darting albicore, the fish with the + chain-plate armor and golden scales; the Nimrod of the seas, to whom so + many flying fish fall a prey. Flying from their pursuers, many of them + flew into our boat. But invariably they died from the shock. No nursing + could restore them. One of their wings I removed, spreading it out to dry + under a weight. In two days' time the thin membrane, all over tracings + like those of a leaf, was transparent as isinglass, and tinted with + brilliant hues, like those of a changing silk. + </p> + <p> + Almost every day, we spied Black Fish; coal-black and glossy. They seemed + to swim by revolving round and round in the water, like a wheel; their + dorsal fins, every now and then shooting into view, like spokes. + </p> + <p> + Of a somewhat similar species, but smaller, and clipper-built about the + nose, were the Algerines; so called, probably, from their corsair + propensities; waylaying peaceful fish on the high seas, and plundering + them of body and soul at a gulp. Atrocious Turks! a crusade should be + preached against them. + </p> + <p> + Besides all these, we encountered Killers and Thrashers, by far the most + spirited and "spunky" of the finny tribes. Though little larger than a + porpoise, a band of them think nothing of assailing leviathan himself. + They bait the monster, as dogs a bull. The Killers seizing the Right whale + by his immense, sulky lower lip, and the Thrashers fastening on to his + back, and beating him with their sinewy tails. Often they come off + conquerors, worrying the enemy to death. Though, sooth to say, if + leviathan gets but one sweep al them with his terrible tail, they go + flying into the air, as if tossed from Taurus' horn. + </p> + <p> + This sight we beheld. Had old Wouvermans, who once painted a bull bait, + been along with us, a rare chance, that, for his pencil. And Gudin or + Isabey might have thrown the blue rolling sea into the picture. Lastly, + one of Claude's setting summer suns would have glorified the whole. Oh, + believe me, God's creatures fighting, fin for fin, a thousand miles from + land, and with the round horizon for an arena; is no ignoble subject for a + masterpiece. + </p> + <p> + Such are a few of the sights of the great South Sea. But there is no + telling all. The Pacific is populous as China. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV — Jarl's Misgivings + </h2> + <p> + About this time an event took place. My good Viking opened his mouth, and + spoke. The prodigy occurred, as, jacknife in hand, he was bending over the + midship oar; on the loom, or handle, of which he kept our almanac; making + a notch for every set sun. For some forty-eight hours past, the wind had + been light and variable. It was more than suspected that a current was + sweeping us northward. + </p> + <p> + Now, marking these things, Jarl threw out the thought, that the more wind, + and the less current, the better; and if a long calm came on, of which + there was some prospect, we had better take to our oars. + </p> + <p> + Take to our oars! as if we were crossing a ferry, and no ocean leagues to + traverse. The idea indirectly suggested all possible horrors. To be rid of + them forthwith, I proceeded to dole out our morning meal. For to make away + with such things, there is nothing better than bolting something down on + top of them; albeit, oft repeated, the plan is very apt to beget + dyspepsia; and the dyspepsia the blues. + </p> + <p> + But what of our store of provisions? So far as enough to eat was + concerned, we felt not the slightest apprehension; our supplies proving + more abundant than we had anticipated. But, curious to tell, we felt but + little inclination for food. It was water, bright water, cool, sparkling + water, alone, that we craved. And of this, also, our store at first seemed + ample. But as our voyage lengthened, and breezes blew faint, and calms + fell fast, the idea of being deprived of the precious fluid grew into + something little short of a mono- mania; especially with Jarl. + </p> + <p> + Every hour or two with the hammer and chisel belonging to the tinder box + keg, he tinkered away at the invaluable breaker; driving down the hoops, + till in his over solicitude, I thought he would burst them outright. + </p> + <p> + Now the breaker lay on its bilge, in the middle of the boat, where more or + less sea-water always collected. And ever and anon, dipping his finger + therein, my Viking was troubled with the thought, that this sea-water + tasted less brackish than that alongside. Of course the breaker must be + leaking. So, he would turn it over, till its wet side came uppermost; when + it would quickly become dry as a bone. But now, with his knife, he would + gently probe the joints of the staves; shake his head; look up; look down; + taste of the water in the bottom of the boat; then that of the sea; then + lift one end of the breaker; going through with every test of leakage he + could dream of. Nor was he ever fully satisfied, that the breaker was in + all respects sound. But in reality it was tight as the drum-heads that + beat at Cerro- Gordo. Oh! Jarl, Jarl: to me in the boat's quiet stern, + steering and philosophizing at one time and the same, thou and thy breaker + were a study. + </p> + <p> + Besides the breaker, we had, full of water, the two boat-kegs, previously + alluded to. These were first used. We drank from them by their leaden + spouts; so many swallows three times in the day; having no other means of + measuring an allowance. But when we came to the breaker, which had only a + bung-hole, though a very large one, dog- like, it was so many laps apiece; + jealously counted by the observer. This plan, however, was only good for a + single day; the water then getting beyond the reach of the tongue. We + therefore daily poured from the breaker into one of the kegs; and drank + from its spout. But to obviate the absorption inseparable from decanting, + we at last hit upon something better,—my comrade's shoe, which, + deprived of its quarters, narrowed at the heel, and diligently rinsed out + in the sea, was converted into a handy but rather limber ladle. This we + kept suspended in the bung-hole of the breaker, that it might never twice + absorb the water. + </p> + <p> + Now pewter imparts flavor to ale; a Meerschaum bowl, the same to the + tobacco of Smyrna; and goggle green glasses are deemed indispensable to + the bibbing of Hock. What then shall be said of a leathern goblet for + water? Try it, ye mariners who list. + </p> + <p> + One morning, taking his wonted draught, Jarl fished up in his ladle a + deceased insect; something like a Daddy-long-legs, only more corpulent. + Its fate? A sea-toss? Believe it not; with all those precious drops + clinging to its lengthy legs. It was held over the ladle till the last + globule dribbled; and even then, being moist, honest Jarl was but loth to + drop it overboard. + </p> + <p> + For our larder, we could not endure the salt beef; it was raw as a live + Abyssinian steak, and salt as Cracow. Besides, the Feegee simile would not + have held good with respect to it. It was far from being "tender as a dead + man." The biscuit only could we eat; not to be wondered at; for even on + shipboard, seamen in the tropics are but sparing feeders. + </p> + <p> + And here let not, a suggestion be omitted, most valuable to any future + castaway or sailaway as the case may be. Eat not your biscuit dry; but dip + it in the sea: which makes it more bulky and palatable. During meal times + it was soak and sip with Jarl and me: one on each side of the Chamois + dipping our biscuit in the brine. This plan obviated finger-glasses at the + conclusion of our repast. Upon the whole, dwelling upon the water is not + so bad after all. The Chinese are no fools. In the operation of making + your toilet, how handy to float in your ewer! + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV — A Stitch In Time Saves Nine + </h2> + <p> + Like most silent earnest sort of people, my good Viking was a pattern of + industry. When in the boats after whales, I have known him carry along a + roll of sinnate to stitch into a hat. And the boats lying motionless for + half an hour or so, waiting the rising of the chase, his fingers would be + plying at their task, like an old lady knitting. Like an experienced + old-wife too, his digits had become so expert and conscientious, that his + eyes left them alone; deeming optic supervision unnecessary. And on this + trip of ours, when not otherwise engaged, he was quite as busy with his + fingers as ever: unraveling old Cape Horn hose, for yarn wherewith to darn + our woolen frocks; with great patches from the skirts of a condemned + reefing jacket, panneling the seats of our "ducks;" in short, veneering + our broken garments with all manner of choice old broadcloths. + </p> + <p> + With the true forethought of an old tar, he had brought along with him + nearly the whole contents of his chest. His precious "Ditty Bag," + containing his sewing utensils, had been carefully packed away in the + bottom of one of his bundles; of which he had as many as an old maid on + her travels. In truth, an old salt is very much of an old maid, though, + strictly speaking, far from deserving that misdeemed appellative. Better + be an old maid, a woman with herself for a husband, than the wife of a + fool; and Solomon more than hints that all men are fools; and every wise + man knows himself to be one. When playing the sempstress, Jarl's favorite + perch was the triangular little platform in the bow; which being the + driest and most elevated part of the boat, was best adapted to his + purpose. Here for hours and hours together the honest old tailor would sit + darning and sewing away, heedless of the wide ocean around; while forever, + his slouched Guayaquil hat kept bobbing up and down against the horizon + before us. + </p> + <p> + It was a most solemn avocation with him. Silently he nodded like the still + statue in the opera of Don Juan. Indeed he never spoke, unless to give + pithy utterance to the wisdom of keeping one's wardrobe in repair. But + herein my Viking at times waxed oracular. And many's the hour we glided + along, myself deeply pondering in the stem, hand upon helm; while + crosslegged at the other end of the boat Jarl laid down patch upon patch, + and at long intervals precept upon precept; here several saws, and there + innumerable stitches. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI — They Are Becalmed + </h2> + <p> + On the eighth day there was a calm. + </p> + <p> + It came on by night: so that waking at daybreak, and folding my arms over + the gunwale, I looked out upon a scene very hard to describe. The sun was + still beneath the horizon; perhaps not yet out of sight from the plains of + Paraguay. But the dawn was too strong for the stars; which, one by one, + had gone out, like waning lamps after a ball. + </p> + <p> + Now, as the face of a mirror is a blank, only borrowing character from + what it reflects; so in a calm in the Tropics, a colorless sky overhead, + the ocean, upon its surface, hardly presents a sign of existence. The deep + blue is gone; and the glassy element lies tranced; almost viewless as the + air. + </p> + <p> + But that morning, the two gray firmaments of sky and water seemed + collapsed into a vague ellipsis. And alike, the Chamois seemed drifting in + the atmosphere as in the sea. Every thing was fused into the calm: sky, + air, water, and all. Not a fish was to be seen. The silence was that of a + vacuum. No vitality lurked in the air. And this inert blending and + brooding of all things seemed gray chaos in conception. + </p> + <p> + This calm lasted four days and four nights; during which, but a few + cat's-paws of wind varied the scene. They were faint as the breath of one + dying. + </p> + <p> + At times the heat was intense. The heavens, at midday, glowing like an + ignited coal mine. Our skin curled up like lint; our vision became dim; + the brain dizzy. + </p> + <p> + To our consternation, the water in the breaker became lukewarm, brackish, + and slightly putrescent; notwithstanding we kept our spare clothing piled + upon the breaker, to shield it from the sun. At last, Jarl enlarged the + vent, carefully keeping it exposed. To this precaution, doubtless, we owed + more than we then thought. It was now deemed wise to reduce our allowance + of water to the smallest modicum consistent with the present preservation + of life; strangling all desire for more. + </p> + <p> + Nor was this all. The upper planking of the boat began to warp; here and + there, cracking and splintering. But though we kept it moistened with + brine, one of the plank-ends started from its place; and the sharp, sudden + sound, breaking the scorching silence, caused us both to spring to our + feet. Instantly the sea burst in; but we made shift to secure the + rebellious plank with a cord, not having a nail; we then bailed out the + boat, nearly half full of water. + </p> + <p> + On the second day of the calm, we unshipped the mast, to prevent its being + pitched out by the occasional rolling of the vast smooth swells now + overtaking us. Leagues and leagues away, after its fierce raging, some + tempest must have been sending to us its last dying waves. For as a pebble + dropped into a pond ruffles it to its marge; so, on all sides, a sea-gale + operates as if an asteroid had fallen into the brine; making ringed + mountain billows, interminably expanding, instead of ripples. + </p> + <p> + The great September waves breaking at the base of the Neversink Highlands, + far in advance of the swiftest pilot-boat, carry tidings. And full often, + they know the last secret of many a stout ship, never heard of from the + day she left port. Every wave in my eyes seems a soul. + </p> + <p> + As there was no steering to be done, Jarl and I sheltered ourselves as + well as we could under the awning. And for the first two days, one at a + time, and every three or four hours, we dropped overboard for a bath, + clinging to the gun-wale; a sharp look-out being kept for prowling sharks. + A foot or two below the surface, the water felt cool and refreshing. + </p> + <p> + On the third day a change came over us. We relinquished bathing, the + exertion taxing us too much. Sullenly we laid ourselves down; turned our + backs to each other; and were impatient of the slightest casual touch of + our persons. What sort of expression my own countenance wore, I know not; + but I hated to look at Jarl's. When I did it was a glare, not a glance. I + became more taciturn than he. I can not tell what it was that came over + me, but I wished I was alone. I felt that so long as the calm lasted, we + were without help; that neither could assist the other; and above all, + that for one, the water would hold out longer than for two. I felt no + remorse, not the slightest, for these thoughts. It was instinct. Like a + desperado giving up the ghost, I desired to gasp by myself. + </p> + <p> + From being cast away with a brother, good God deliver me! + </p> + <p> + The four days passed. And on the morning of the fifth, thanks be to + Heaven, there came a breeze. Dancingly, mincingly it came, just rippling + the sea, until it struck our sails, previously set at the very first token + of its advance. At length it slightly freshened; and our poor Chamois + seemed raised from the dead. + </p> + <p> + Beyond expression delightful! Once more we heard the low humming of the + sea under our bow, as our boat, like a bird, went singing on its way. + </p> + <p> + How changed the scene! Overhead, a sweet blue haze, distilling sunlight in + drops. And flung abroad over the visible creation was the sun-spangled, + azure, rustling robe of the ocean, ermined with wave crests; all else, + infinitely blue. Such a cadence of musical sounds! Waves chasing each + other, and sporting and frothing in frolicsome foam: painted fish rippling + past; and anon the noise of wings as sea- fowls flew by. + </p> + <p> + Oh, Ocean, when thou choosest to smile, more beautiful thou art than + flowery mead or plain! + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII — In High Spirits, They Push On For The Terra Incognita + </h2> + <p> + There were now fourteen notches on the loom of the Skyeman's oar:—So + many days since we had pushed from the fore-chains of the Arcturion. But + as yet, no floating bough, no tern, noddy, nor reef-bird, to denote our + proximity to land. In that long calm, whither might not the currents have + swept us? + </p> + <p> + Where we were precisely, we knew not; but according to our reckoning, the + loose estimation of the knots run every hour, we must have sailed due west + but little more than one hundred and fifty leagues; for the most part + having encountered but light winds, and frequent intermitting calms, + besides that prolonged one described. But spite of past calms and + currents, land there must be to the westward. Sun, compass, stout hearts, + and steady breezes, pointed our prow thereto. So courage! my Viking, and + never say drown! + </p> + <p> + At this time, our hearts were much lightened by discovering that our water + was improving in taste. It seemed to have been undergoing anew that sort + of fermentation, or working, occasionally incident to ship water shortly + after being taken on board. Sometimes, for a period, it is more or less + offensive to taste and smell; again, however, becoming comparatively + limpid. + </p> + <p> + But as our water improved, we grew more and more miserly of so priceless a + treasure. + </p> + <p> + And here it may be well to make mention of another little circumstance, + however unsentimental. Thorough-paced tar that he was, my Viking was an + inordinate consumer of the Indian weed. From the Arcturion, he had brought + along with him a small half-keg, at bottom impacted with a solitary layer + of sable Negrohead, fossil- marked, like the primary stratum of the + geologists. It was the last tier of his abundant supply for the long + whaling voyage upon which he had embarked upwards of three years previous. + Now during the calm, and for some days after, poor Jarl's accustomed quid + was no longer agreeable company. To pun: he eschewed his chew. I asked him + wherefore. He replied that it puckered up his mouth, above all provoked + thirst, and had somehow grown every way distasteful. I was sorry; for the + absence of his before ever present wad impaired what little fullness there + was left in his cheek; though, sooth to say, I — no longer called + upon him as of yore to shift over the enormous morsel to starboard or + larboard, and so trim our craft. + </p> + <p> + The calm gone by, once again my sea-tailor plied needle and thread; or + turning laundress, hung our raiment to dry on oars peaked obliquely in the + thole-pins. All of which tattered pennons, the wind being astern, helped + us gayly on our way; as jolly poor devils, with rags flying in the breeze, + sail blithely through life; and are merry although they are poor! + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII — My Lord Shark And His Pages + </h2> + <p> + There is a fish in the sea that evermore, like a surly lord, only goes + abroad attended by his suite. It is the Shovel-nosed Shark. A clumsy + lethargic monster, unshapely as his name, and the last species of his + kind, one would think, to be so bravely waited upon, as he is. His suite + is composed of those dainty little creatures called Pilot fish by sailors. + But by night his retinue is frequently increased by the presence of + several small luminous fish, running in advance, and flourishing their + flambeaux like link-boys lighting the monster's way. Pity there were no + ray-fish in rear, page-like, to carry his caudal train. + </p> + <p> + Now the relation subsisting between the Pilot fish above mentioned and + their huge ungainly lord, seems one of the most inscrutable things in + nature. At any rate, it poses poor me to comprehend. That a monster so + ferocious, should suffer five or six little sparks, hardly fourteen inches + long, to gambol about his grim hull with the utmost impunity, is of itself + something strange. But when it is considered, that by a reciprocal + understanding, the Pilot fish seem to act as scouts to the shark, warning + him of danger, and apprising him of the vicinity of prey; and moreover, in + case of his being killed, evincing their anguish by certain agitations, + otherwise inexplicable; the whole thing becomes a mystery unfathomable. + Truly marvels abound. It needs no dead man to be raised, to convince us of + some things. Even my Viking marveled full as much at those Pilot fish as + he would have marveled at the Pentecost. + </p> + <p> + But perhaps a little incident, occurring about this period, will best + illustrate the matter in hand. + </p> + <p> + We were gliding along, hardly three knots an hour, when my comrade, who + had been dozing over the gunwale, suddenly started to his feet, and + pointed out an immense Shovel-nosed Shark, less than a boat's length + distant, and about half a fathom beneath the surface. A lance was at once + snatched from its place; and true to his calling, Jarl was about to dart + it at the fish, when, interested by the sight of its radiant little + scouts, I begged him to desist. + </p> + <p> + One of them was right under the shark, nibbling at his ventral fin; + another above, hovering about his dorsal appurtenance; one on each flank; + and a frisking fifth pranking about his nose, seemingly having something + to say of a confidential nature. They were of a bright, steel-blue color, + alternated with jet black stripes; with glistening bellies of a + silver-white. Clinging to the back of the shark, were four or five + Remoras, or sucking-fish; snaky parasites, impossible to remove from + whatever they adhere to, without destroying their lives. The Remora has + little power in swimming; hence its sole locomotion is on the backs of + larger fish. Leech-like, it sticketh closer than a false brother in + prosperity; closer than a beggar to the benevolent; closer than Webster to + the Constitution. But it feeds upon what it clings to; its feelers having + a direct communication with the esophagus. + </p> + <p> + The shark swam sluggishly; creating no sign of a ripple, but ever and, + anon shaking his Medusa locks, writhing and curling with horrible life. + Now and then, the nimble Pilot fish darted from his side—this way + and that—mostly toward our boat; but previous to taking a fresh + start ever returning to their liege lord to report progress. + </p> + <p> + A thought struck me. Baiting a rope's end with a morsel of our almost + useless salt beef, I suffered it to trail in the sea. Instantly the + foremost scout swam toward it; hesitated; paused; but at last advancing, + briskly snuffed at the line, and taking one finical little nibble, + retreated toward the shark. Another moment, and the great Tamerlane + himself turned heavily about; pointing his black, cannon-like nose + directly toward our broadside. Meanwhile, the little Pilot fish darted + hither and thither; keeping up a mighty fidgeting, like men of small minds + in a state of nervous agitation. + </p> + <p> + Presently, Tamerlane swam nearer and nearer, all the while lazily eyeing + the Chamois, as a wild boar a kid. Suddenly making a rush for it, in the + foam he made away with the bait. But the next instant, the uplifted lance + sped at his skull; and thrashing his requiem with his sinewy tail, he sunk + slowly, through his own blood, out of sight. Down with him swam the + terrified Pilot fish; but soon after, three of them were observed close to + the boat, gliding along at a uniform pace; one an each side, and one in + advance; even as they had attended their lord. Doubtless, one was under + our keel. + </p> + <p> + "A good omen," said Jarl; "no harm will befall us so long as they stay." + </p> + <p> + But however that might be, follow us they did, for many days after: until + an event occurred, which necessitated their withdrawal. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX — Who Goes There? + </h2> + <p> + Jarl's oar showed sixteen notches on the loom, when one evening, as the + expanded sun touched the horizon's rim, a ship's uppermost spars were + observed, traced like a spider's web against its crimson disk. It looked + like a far-off craft on fire. + </p> + <p> + In bright weather at sea, a sail, invisible in the full flood of noon, + becomes perceptible toward sunset. It is the reverse in the morning. In + sight at gray dawn, the distant vessel, though in reality approaching, + recedes from view, as the sun rises higher and higher. This holds true, + till its vicinity makes it readily fall within the ordinary scope of + vision. And thus, too, here and there, with other distant things: the more + light you throw on them, the more you obscure. Some revelations show best + in a twilight. + </p> + <p> + The sight of the stranger not a little surprised us. But brightening up, + as if the encounter were welcome, Jarl looked happy and expectant. He + quickly changed his demeanor, however, upon perceiving that I was bent + upon shunning a meeting. + </p> + <p> + Instantly our sails were struck; and calling upon Jarl, who was somewhat + backward to obey, I shipped the oars; and, both rowing, we stood away + obliquely from our former course. + </p> + <p> + I divined that the vessel was a whaler; and hence, that by help of the + glass, with which her look-outs must be momentarily sweeping the horizon, + they might possibly have descried us; especially, as we were due east from + the ship; a direction, which at sunset is the one most favorable for + perceiving a far-off object at sea. Furthermore, our canvas was snow-white + and conspicuous. To be sure, we could not be certain what kind of a vessel + it was; but whatever it might be, I, for one, had no mind to risk an + encounter; for it was quite plain, that if the stranger came within + hailing distance, there would be no resource but to link our fortunes with + hers; whereas I — desired to pursue none but the Chamois'. As for + the Skyeman, he kept looking wistfully over his shoulder; doubtless, + praying Heaven, that we might not escape what I sought to avoid. + </p> + <p> + Now, upon a closer scrutiny, being pretty well convinced that the + stranger, after all, was steering a nearly westerly course—right + away from us—we reset our sail; and as night fell, my Viking's + entreaties, seconded by my own curiosity, induced me to resume our + original course; and so follow after the vessel, with a view of obtaining + a nearer glimpse, without danger of detection. So, boldly we steered for + the sail. + </p> + <p> + But not gaining much upon her, spite of the lightness of the breeze (a + circumstance in our favor: the chase being a ship, and we but a boat), at + my comrade's instigation, we added oars to sails, readily guiding our way + by the former, though the helm was left to itself. + </p> + <p> + As we came nearer, it was plain that the vessel was no whaler; but a + small, two-masted craft; in short, a brigantine. Her sails were in a state + of unaccountable disarray, only the foresail, mainsail, and jib being set. + The first was much tattered; and the jib was hoisted but half way up the + stay, where it idly flapped, the breeze coming from over the taffrail. She + continually yawed in her course; now almost presenting her broadside, then + showing her stern. + </p> + <p> + Striking our sails once more, we lay on our oars, and watched her in the + starlight. Still she swung from side to side, and still sailed on. + </p> + <p> + Not a little terrified at the sight, superstitious Jarl more than + insinuated that the craft must be a gold-huntress, haunted. But I — + told him, that if such were the case, we must board her, come gold or + goblins. In reality, however, I began to think that she must have been + abandoned by her crew; or else, that from sickness, those on board were + incapable of managing her. + </p> + <p> + After a long and anxious reconnoiter, we came still nearer, using our + oars, but very reluctantly on Jarl's part; who, while rowing, kept his + eyes over his shoulder, as if about to beach the little Chamois on the + back of a whale as of yore. Indeed, he seemed full as impatient to quit + the vicinity of the vessel, as before he had been anxiously courting it. + </p> + <p> + Now, as the silent brigantine again swung round her broadside, I — + hailed her loudly. No return. Again. But all was silent. With a few + vigorous strokes, we closed with her, giving yet another unanswered hail; + when, laying the Chamois right alongside, I clutched at the main-chains. + Instantly we felt her dragging us along. Securing our craft by its + painter, I sprang over the rail, followed by Jarl, who had snatched his + harpoon, his favorite arms. Long used with that weapon to overcome the + monsters of the deep, he doubted not it would prove equally serviceable in + any other encounter. + </p> + <p> + The deck was a complete litter. Tossed about were pearl oyster shells, + husks of cocoa-nuts, empty casks, and cases. The deserted tiller was + lashed; which accounted for the vessel's yawing. But we could not + conceive, how going large before the wind; the craft could, for any + considerable time, at least, have guided herself without the help of a + hand. Still, the breeze was light and steady. + </p> + <p> + Now, seeing the helm thus lashed, I could not but distrust the silence + that prevailed. It conjured up the idea of miscreants concealed below, and + meditating treachery; unscrupulous mutineers— Lascars, or + Manilla-men; who, having murdered the Europeans of the crew, might not be + willing to let strangers depart unmolested. Or yet worse, the entire + ship's company might have been swept away by a fever, its infection still + lurking in the poisoned hull. And though the first conceit, as the last, + was a mere surmise, it was nevertheless deemed prudent to secure the + hatches, which for the present we accordingly barred down with the oars of + our boat. This done, we went about the deck in search of water. And + finding some in a clumsy cask, drank long and freely, and to our thirsty + souls' content. + </p> + <p> + The wind now freshening, and the rent sails like to blow from the yards, + we brought the brigantine to the wind, and brailed up the canvas. This + left us at liberty to examine the craft, though, unfortunately, the night + was growing hazy. + </p> + <p> + All this while our boat was still towing alongside; and I was about to + drop it astern, when Jarl, ever cautious, declared it safer where it was; + since, if there were people on board, they would most likely be down in + the cabin, from the dead-lights of which, mischief might be done to the + Chamois. + </p> + <p> + It was then, that my comrade observed, that the brigantine had no boats, a + circumstance most unusual in any sort of a vessel at sea. But marking + this, I was exceedingly gratified. It seemed to indicate, as I had opined, + that from some cause or other, she must have been abandoned of her crew. + And in a good measure this dispelled my fears of foul play, and the + apprehension of contagion. Encouraged by these reflections, I now resolved + to descend, and explore the cabin, though sorely against Jarl's counsel. + To be sure, as he earnestly said, this step might have been deferred till + daylight; but it seemed too wearisome to wait. So bethinking me of our + tinder-box and candles, I — sent him into the boat for them. + Presently, two candles were lit; one of which the Skyeman tied up and down + the barbed end of his harpoon; so that upon going below, the keen steel + might not be far off, should the light be blown out by a dastard. + </p> + <p> + Unfastening the cabin scuttle, we stepped downward into the smallest and + murkiest den in the world. The altar-like transom, surmounted by the + closed dead-lights in the stem, together with the dim little sky- light + overhead, and the somber aspect of every thing around, gave the place the + air of some subterranean oratory, say a Prayer Room of Peter the Hermit. + But coils of rigging, bolts of canvas, articles of clothing, and + disorderly heaps of rubbish, harmonized not with this impression. Two + doors, one on each side, led into wee little state- rooms, the berths of + which also were littered. Among other things, was a large box, sheathed + with iron and stoutly clamped, containing a keg partly filled with powder, + the half of an old cutlass, a pouch of bullets, and a case for a sextant—a + brass plate on the lid, with the maker's name. London. The broken blade of + the cutlass was very rusty and stained; and the iron hilt bent in. It + looked so tragical that I — thrust it out of sight. + </p> + <p> + Removing a small trap-door, opening into the space beneath, called the + "run," we lighted upon sundry cutlasses and muskets, lying together at + sixes and sevens, as if pitched down in a hurry. + </p> + <p> + Casting round a hasty glance, and satisfying ourselves, that through the + bulkhead of the cabin, there was no passage to the forward part of the + hold, we caught up the muskets and cutlasses, the powder keg and the pouch + of bullets, and bundling them on deck, prepared to visit the other end of + the vessel. Previous to so doing, however, I — loaded a musket, and + belted a cutlass to my side. But my Viking preferred his harpoon. + </p> + <p> + In the forecastle reigned similar confusion. But there was a snug little + lair, cleared away in one corner, and furnished with a grass mat and + bolster, like those used among the Islanders of these seas. This little + lair looked to us as if some leopard had crouched there. And as it turned + out, we were not far from right. Forming one side of this retreat, was a + sailor's chest, stoutly secured by a lock, and monstrous heavy withal. + Regardless of Jarl's entreaties, I — managed to burst the lid; + thereby revealing a motley assemblage of millinery, and outlandish + knick-knacks of all sorts; together with sundry rude Calico contrivances, + which though of unaccountable cut, nevertheless possessed a certain + petticoatish air, and latitude of skirt, betokening them the habiliments + of some feminine creature; most probably of the human species. + </p> + <p> + In this strong box, also, was a canvas bag, jingling with rusty old + bell-buttons, gangrened copper bolts, and sheathing nails; damp, greenish + Carolus dollars (true coin all), besides divers iron screws, and battered, + chisels, and belaying-pins. Sounded on the chest lid, the dollars rang + clear as convent bells. These were put aside by Jarl the sight of + substantial dollars doing away, for the nonce, with his superstitious + Misgivings. True to his kingship, he loved true coin; though abroad on the + sea, and no land but dollarless dominions ground, all this silver was + worthless as charcoal or diamonds. Nearly one and the same thing, say the + chemists; but tell that to the marines, say the illiterate Jews and the + jewelers. Go, buy a house, or a ship, if you can, with your charcoal! Yea, + all the woods in Canada charred down to cinders would not be worth the one + famed Brazilian diamond, though no bigger than the egg of a carrier + pigeon. Ah! but these chemists are liars, and Sir Humphrey Davy a cheat. + Many's the poor devil they've deluded into the charcoal business, who + otherwise might have made his fortune with a mattock. + </p> + <p> + Groping again into the chest, we brought to light a queer little hair + trunk, very bald and rickety. At every corner was a mighty clamp, the + weight of which had no doubt debilitated the box. It was jealously secured + with a padlock, almost as big as itself; so that it was almost a question, + which was meant to be security to the other. Prying at it hard, we at + length effected an entrance; but saw no golden moidores, no ruddy + doubloons; nothing under heaven but three pewter mugs, such as are used in + a ship's cabin, several brass screws, and brass plates, which must have + belonged to a quadrant; together with a famous lot of glass beads, and + brass rings; while, pasted on the inside of the cover, was a little + colored print, representing the harlots, the shameless hussies, having a + fine time with the Prodigal Son. + </p> + <p> + It should have been mentioned ere now, that while we were busy in the + forecastle, we were several times startled by strange sounds aloft. And + just after, crashing into the little hair trunk, down came a great + top-block, right through the scuttle, narrowly missing my Viking's crown; + a much stronger article, by the way, than your goldsmiths turn out in + these days. This startled us much; particularly Jarl, as one might + suppose; but accustomed to the strange creakings and wheezings of the + masts and yards of old vessels at sea, and having many a time dodged stray + blocks accidentally falling from aloft, I thought little more of the + matter; though my comrade seemed to think the noises somewhat different + from any thing of that kind he had even heard before. + </p> + <p> + After a little more turning over of the rubbish in the forecastle, and + much marveling thereat, we ascended to the deck; where we found every + thing so silent, that, as we moved toward the taffrail, the Skyeman + unconsciously addressed me in a whisper. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX — Noises And Portents + </h2> + <p> + I longed for day. For however now inclined to believe that the brigantine + was untenanted, I desired the light of the sun to place that fact beyond a + misgiving. + </p> + <p> + Now, having observed, previous to boarding the vessel, that she lay rather + low in the water, I thought proper to sound the well. But there being no + line-and-sinker at hand, I sent Jarl to hunt them up in the arm-chest on + the quarter-deck, where doubtless they must be kept. Meanwhile I searched + for the "breaks," or pump-handles, which, as it turned out, could not have + been very recently used; for they were found lashed up and down to the + main-mast. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly Jarl came running toward me, whispering that all doubt was + dispelled;—there were spirits on board, to a dead certainty. He had + overheard a supernatural sneeze. But by this time I was all but convinced, + that we were alone in the brigantine. Since, if otherwise, I could assign + no earthly reason for the crew's hiding away from a couple of sailors, + whom, were they so minded, they might easily have mastered. And + furthermore, this alleged disturbance of the atmosphere aloft by a sneeze, + Jarl averred to have taken place in the main-top; directly underneath + which I was all this time standing, and had heard nothing. So + complimenting my good Viking upon the exceeding delicacy of his + auriculars, I bade him trouble himself no more with his piratical ghosts + and goblins, which existed nowhere but in his own imagination. + </p> + <p> + Not finding the line-and-sinker, with the spare end of a bowline we rigged + a substitute; and sounding the well, found nothing to excite our alarm. + Under certain circumstances, however, this sounding a ship's well is a + nervous sort of business enough. 'Tis like feeling your own pulse in the + last stage of a fever. + </p> + <p> + At the Skyeman's suggestion, we now proceeded to throw round the + brigantine's head on the other tack. For until daylight we desired to + alter the vessel's position as little as possible, fearful of coming + unawares upon reefs. + </p> + <p> + And here be it said, that for all his superstitious misgivings about the + brigantine; his imputing to her something equivalent to a purely + phantom-like nature, honest Jarl was nevertheless exceedingly downright + and practical in all hints and proceedings concerning her. Wherein, he + resembled my Right Reverend friend, Bishop Berkeley— truly, one of + your lords spiritual—who, metaphysically speaking, holding all + objects to be mere optical delusions, was, notwith- standing, extremely + matter-of-fact in all matters touching matter itself. Besides being + pervious to the points of pins, and possessing a palate capable of + appreciating plum-puddings:—which sentence reads off like a + pattering of hailstones. + </p> + <p> + Now, while we were employed bracing round the yards, whispering Jarl must + needs pester me again with his confounded suspicions of goblins on board. + He swore by the main-mast, that when the fore-yard swung round, he had + heard a half-stifled groan from that quarter; as if one of his bugbears + had been getting its aerial legs jammed. I laughed:— hinting that + goblins were incorporeal. Whereupon he besought me to ascend the + fore-rigging and test the matter for myself But here my mature judgment + got the better of my first crude opinion. I civilly declined. For + assuredly, there was still a possibility, that the fore-top might be + tenanted, and that too by living miscreants; and a pretty hap would be + mine, if, with hands full of rigging, and legs dangling in air, while + surmounting the oblique futtock- shrouds, some unseen arm should all at + once tumble me overboard. Therefore I held my peace; while Jarl went on to + declare, that with regard to the character of the brigantine, his mind was + now pretty fully made up;—she was an arrant impostor, a shade of a + ship, full of sailors' ghosts, and before we knew where we were, would + dissolve in a supernatural squall, and leave us twain in the water. In + short, Jarl, the descendant of the superstitious old Norsemen, was full of + old Norse conceits, and all manner of Valhalla marvels concerning the land + of goblins and goblets. No wonder then, that with this catastrophe in + prospect, he again entreated me to quit the ill-starred craft, carrying + off nothing from her ghostly hull. But I refused. + </p> + <p> + One can not relate every thing at once. While in the cabin, we came across + a "barge" of biscuit, and finding its contents of a quality much superior + to our own, we had filled our pockets and occasionally regaled ourselves + in the intervals of rummaging. Now this sea cake- basket we had brought on + deck. And for the first time since bidding adieu to the Arcturion having + fully quenched our thirst, our appetite returned with a rush; and having + nothing better to do till day dawned, we planted the bread-barge in the + middle of the quarter-deck; and crossing our legs before it, laid close + seige thereto, like the Grand Turk and his Vizier Mustapha sitting down + before Vienna. + </p> + <p> + Our castle, the Bread-Barge was of the common sort; an oblong oaken box, + much battered and bruised, and like the Elgin Marbles, all over + inscriptions and carving:—foul anchors, skewered hearts, almanacs, + Burton-blocks, love verses, links of cable, Kings of Clubs; and divers + mystic diagrams in chalk, drawn by old Finnish mariners; in casting + horoscopes and prophecies. Your old tars are all Daniels. There was a + round hole in one side, through which, in getting at the bread, invited + guests thrust their hands. + </p> + <p> + And mighty was the thrusting of hands that night; also, many and earnest + the glances of Mustapha at every sudden creaking of the spars or rigging. + Like Belshazzar, my royal Viking ate with great fear and trembling; ever + and anon pausing to watch the wild shadows flitting along the bulwarks. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI — Man Ho! + </h2> + <p> + Slowly, fitfully, broke the morning in the East, showing the desolate brig + forging heavily through the water, which sluggishly thumped under her + bows. While leaping from sea to sea, our faithful Chamois, like a faithful + dog, still gamboled alongside, confined to the main- chains by its + painter. At times, it would long lag behind; then, pushed by a wave like + lightning dash forward; till bridled by its leash, it again fell in rear. + </p> + <p> + As the gray light came on, anxiously we scrutinized the features of the + craft, as one by one they became more plainly revealed. Every thing seemed + stranger now, than when partially visible in the dingy night. The + stanchions, or posts of the bulwarks, were of rough stakes, still incased + in the bark. The unpainted sides were of a dark-colored, heathenish + looking wood. The tiller was a wry-necked, elbowed bough, thrusting itself + through the deck, as if the tree itself was fast rooted in the hold. The + binnacle, containing the compass, was defended at the sides by yellow + matting. The rigging— shrouds, halyards and all—was of + "Kaiar," or cocoa-nut fibres; and here and there the sails were patched + with plaited rushes. + </p> + <p> + But this was not all. Whoso will pry, must needs light upon matters for + suspicion. Glancing over the side, in the wake of every scupper- hole, we + beheld a faded, crimson stain, which Jarl averred to be blood. Though now + he betrayed not the slightest trepidation; for what he saw pertained not + to ghosts; and all his fears hitherto had been of the super-natural. + </p> + <p> + Indeed, plucking up a heart, with the dawn of the day my Viking looked + bold as a lion; and soon, with the instinct of an old seaman cast his eyes + up aloft. + </p> + <p> + Directly, he touched my arm,—"Look: what stirs in the main-top?" + </p> + <p> + Sure enough, something alive was there. + </p> + <p> + Fingering our arms, we watched it; till as the day came on, a crouching + stranger was beheld. + </p> + <p> + Presenting my piece, I hailed him to descend or be shot. There was silence + for a space, when the black barrel of a musket was thrust forth, leveled + at my head. Instantly, Jarl's harpoon was presented at a dart;—two + to one;—and my hail was repeated. But no reply. + </p> + <p> + "Who are you?" + </p> + <p> + "Samoa," at length said a clear, firm voice. + </p> + <p> + "Come down from the rigging. We are friends." + </p> + <p> + Another pause; when, rising to his feet, the stranger slowly descended, + holding on by one hand to the rigging, for but one did he have; his musket + partly slung from his back, and partly griped under the stump of his + mutilated arm. + </p> + <p> + He alighted about six paces from where we stood; and balancing his weapon, + eyed us bravely as the Cid. + </p> + <p> + He was a tall, dark Islander, a very devil to behold, theatrically arrayed + in kilt and turban; the kilt of a gay calico print, the turban of a red + China silk. His neck was jingling with strings of beads. + </p> + <p> + "Who else is on board?" I asked; while Jarl, thus far covering the + stranger with his weapon, now dropped it to the deck. + </p> + <p> + "Look there:—Annatoo!" was his reply in broken English, pointing + aloft to the fore-top. And lo! a woman, also an Islander; and barring her + skirts, dressed very much like Samoa, was beheld descending. + </p> + <p> + "Any more?" + </p> + <p> + "No more." + </p> + <p> + "Who are <i>you</i> then; and what craft is this?" + </p> + <p> + "Ah, ah—you are no ghost;—but are you my friend?" he cried, + advancing nearer as he spoke; while the woman having gained the deck, also + approached, eagerly glancing. + </p> + <p> + We said we were friends; that we meant no harm; but desired to know what + craft this was; and what disaster had befallen her; for that something + untoward had occurred, we were certain. + </p> + <p> + Whereto, Samoa made answer, that it was true that something dreadful had + happened; and that he would gladly tell us all, and tell us the truth. And + about it he went. + </p> + <p> + Now, this story of his was related in the mixed phraseology of a + Polynesian sailor. With a few random reflections, in substance, it will be + found in the six following chapters. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII — What Befel The Brigantine At The Pearl Shell Islands + </h2> + <p> + The vessel was the Parki, of Lahina, a village and harbor on the coast of + Mowee, one of the Hawaian isles, where she had been miserably cobbled + together with planks of native wood, and fragments of a wreck, there + drifted ashore. + </p> + <p> + Her appellative had been bestowed in honor of a high chief, the tallest + and goodliest looking gentleman in all the Sandwich Islands. With a mixed + European and native crew, about thirty in number (but only four whites in + all, captain included), the Parki, some four months previous, had sailed + from her port on a voyage southward, in quest of pearls, and pearl oyster + shells, sea-slugs, and other matters of that sort. + </p> + <p> + Samoa, a native of the Navigator Islands, had long followed the sea, and + was well versed in the business of oyster diving and its submarine + mysteries. The native Lahineese on board were immediately subordinate to + him; the captain having bargained with Samoa for their services as divers. + </p> + <p> + The woman, Annatoo, was a native of a far-off, anonymous island to the + westward: whence, when quite young, she had been carried by the commander + of a ship, touching there on a passage from Macao to Valparaiso. At + Valparaiso her protector put her ashore; most probably, as I afterward had + reason to think, for a nuisance. + </p> + <p> + By chance it came to pass that when Annatoo's first virgin bloom had + departed, leaving nothing but a lusty frame and a lustier soul, Samoa, the + Navigator, had fallen desperately in love with her. And thinking the lady + to his mind, being brave like himself, and doubtless well adapted to the + vicissitudes of matrimony at sea, he meditated suicide—I would have + said, wedlock—and the twain became one. And some time after, in + capacity of wife, Annatoo the dame, accompanied in the brigantine, Samoa + her lord. Now, as Antony flew to the refuse embraces of Caesar, so Samoa + solaced himself in the arms of this discarded fair one. And the sequel was + the same. For not harder the life Cleopatra led my fine frank friend, poor + Mark, than Queen Annatoo did lead this captive of her bow and her spear. + But all in good time. + </p> + <p> + They left their port; and crossing the Tropic and the Line, fell in with a + cluster of islands, where the shells they sought were found in round + numbers. And here—not at all strange to tell besides the natives, + they encountered a couple of Cholos, or half-breed Spaniards, from the + Main; one half Spanish, the other half quartered between the wild Indian + and the devil; a race, that from Baldivia to Panama are notorious for + their unscrupulous villainy. + </p> + <p> + Now, the half-breeds having long since deserted a ship at these islands, + had risen to high authority among the natives. This hearing, the Parki's + captain was much gratified; he, poor ignorant, never before having fallen + in with any of their treacherous race. And, no doubt, he imagined that + their influence over the Islanders would tend to his advantage. At all + events, he made presents to the Cholos; who, in turn, provided him with + additional divers from among the natives. Very kindly, also, they pointed + out the best places for seeking the oysters. In a word, they were + exceedingly friendly; often coming off to the brigantine, and sociably + dining with the captain in the cabin; placing the salt between them and + him. + </p> + <p> + All things went on very pleasantly until, one morning, the half- breeds + prevailed upon the captain to go with them, in his whale-boat, to a shoal + on the thither side of the island, some distance from the spot where lay + the brigantine. They so managed it, moreover, that none but the Lahineese + under Samoa, in whom the captain much confided, were left in custody of + the Parki; the three white men going along to row; for there happened to + be little or no wind for a sail. + </p> + <p> + Now, the fated brig lay anchored within a deep, smooth, circular lagoon, + margined on all sides but one by the most beautiful groves. On that side, + was the outlet to the sea; perhaps a cable's length or more from where the + brigantine had been moored. An hour or two after the party were gone, and + when the boat was completely out of sight, the natives in shoals were + perceived coming off from the shore; some in canoes, and some swimming. + The former brought bread fruit and bananas, ostentatiously piled up in + their proas; the latter dragged after them long strings of cocoanuts; for + all of which, on nearing the vessel, they clamorously demanded knives and + hatchets in barter. + </p> + <p> + From their actions, suspecting some treachery, Samoa stood in the gangway, + and warned them off; saying that no barter could take place until the + captain's return. But presently one of the savages stealthily climbed up + from the water, and nimbly springing from the bob-stays to the bow-sprit, + darted a javelin full at the foremast, where it vibrated. The signal of + blood! With terrible outcries, the rest, pulling forth their weapons, + hitherto concealed in the canoes, or under the floating cocoanuts, leaped + into the low chains of the brigantine; sprang over the bulwarks; and, with + clubs and spears, attacked the aghast crew with the utmost ferocity. + </p> + <p> + After one faint rally, the Lahineese scrambled for the rigging; but to a + man were overtaken and slain. + </p> + <p> + At the first alarm, Annatoo, however, had escaped to the +fore-top-gallant-yard, higher than which she could not climb, and whither the + savages durst not venture. For though after their nuts these Polynesians + will climb palm trees like squirrels; yet, at the first blush, they + decline a ship's mast like Kennebec farmers. + </p> + <p> + Upon the first token of an onslaught, Samoa, having rushed toward the + cabin scuttle for arms, was there fallen upon by two young savages. But + after a desperate momentary fray, in which his arm was mangled, he made + shift to spring below, instantly securing overhead the slide of the + scuttle. In the cabin, while yet the uproar of butchery prevailed, he + quietly bound up his arm; then laying on the transom the captain's three + loaded muskets, undauntedly awaited an assault. + </p> + <p> + The object of the natives, it seems, was to wreck the brigantine upon the + sharp coral beach of the lagoon. And with this intent, one of their number + had plunged into the water, and cut the cable, which was of hemp. But the + tide ebbing, cast the Parki's head seaward—toward the outlet; and + the savages, perceiving this, clumsily boarded the fore-tack, and hauled + aft the sheet; thus setting, after a fashion, the fore-sail, previously + loosed to dry. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, a gray-headed old chief stood calmly at the tiller, endeavoring + to steer the vessel shoreward. But not managing the helm aright, the + brigantine, now gliding apace through the water, only made more way toward + the outlet. Seeing which, the ringleaders, six or eight in number, ran to + help the old graybeard at the helm. But it was a black hour for them. Of a + sudden, while they were handling the tiller, three muskets were rapidly + discharged upon them from the cabin skylight. Two of the savages dropped + dead. The old steersman, clutching wildly at the helm, fell over it, + mortally wounded; and in a wild panic at seeing their leaders thus + unaccountably slain, the rest of the natives leaped overboard and made for + the shore. + </p> + <p> + Hearing the slashing, Samoa flew on deck; and beholding the foresail set, + and the brigantine heading right out to sea, he cried out to Annatoo, + still aloft, to descend to the topsail-yard, and loose the canvas there. + His command was obeyed. Annatoo deserved a gold medal for what she did + that day. Hastening down the rigging, after loosing the topsail, she + strained away at the sheets; in which operation she was assisted by Samoa, + who snatched an instant from the helm. + </p> + <p> + The foresail and fore-topsail were now tolerably well set; and as the + craft drew seaward, the breeze freshened. And well that it did; for, + recovered from their alarm, the savages were now in hot pursuit; some in + canoes, and some swimming as before. But soon the main-topsail was given + to the breeze, which still freshening, came from over the quarter. And + with this brave show of canvas, the Parki made gallantly for the outlet; + and loud shouted Samoa as she shot by the reef, and parted the long swells + without. Against these, the savages could not swim. And at that turn of + the tide, paddling a canoe therein was almost equally difficult. But the + fugitives were not yet safe. In full chase now came in sight the + whale-boat manned by the Cholos, and four or five Islanders. Whereat, + making no doubt, that all the whites who left the vessel that morning had + been massacred through the treachery of the half-breeds; and that the + capture of the brigantine had been premeditated; Samoa now saw no other + resource than to point his craft dead away from the land. + </p> + <p> + Now on came the devils buckling to their oars. Meantime Annatoo was still + busy aloft, loosing the smaller sails—t'gallants and royals, which + she managed partially to set. + </p> + <p> + The strong breeze from astern now filling the ill-set sails, they bellied, + and rocked in the air, like balloons, while, from the novel strain upon + it, every spar quivered and sprung. And thus, like a frightened gull + fleeing from sea-hawks, the little Parki swooped along, and bravely + breasted the brine. + </p> + <p> + His shattered arm in a hempen sling, Samoa stood at the helm, the muskets + reloaded, and planted full before him on the binnacle. For a time, so + badly did the brigantine steer, by reason of her ill- adjusted sails, made + still more unmanageable by the strength of the breeze,—that it was + doubtful, after all, notwithstanding her start, whether the fugitives + would not yet fall a prey to their hunters. The craft wildly yawed, and + the boat drew nearer and nearer. Maddened by the sight, and perhaps + thinking more of revenge for the past, than of security for the future, + Samoa, yielding the helm to Annatoo, rested his muskets on the bulwarks, + and taking long, sure aim, discharged them, one by one at the advancing + foe. + </p> + <p> + The three reports were answered by loud jeers from the savages, who + brandished their spears, and made gestures of derision; while with might + and main the Cholos tugged at their oars. + </p> + <p> + The boat still gaining on the brigantine, the muskets were again reloaded. + And as the next shot sped, there was a pause; when, like lightning, the + headmost Cholo bounded upwards from his seat, and oar in hand, fell into + the sea. A fierce yell; and one of the natives springing into the water, + caught the sinking body by its long hair; and the dead and the living were + dragged into the boat. Taking heart from this fatal shot, Samoa fired yet + again; but not with the like sure result; merely grazing the remaining + half-breed, who, crouching behind his comrades, besought them to turn the + boat round, and make for the shore. Alarmed at the fate of his brother, + and seemingly distrustful of the impartiality of Samoa's fire, the + pusillanimous villain refused to expose a limb above the gunwale. + </p> + <p> + Fain now would the pursuers have made good their escape; but an accident + forbade. In the careening of the boat, when the stricken Cholo sprung + overboard, two of their oars had slid into the water; and together with + that death-griped by the half-breed, were now floating off; occasionally + lost to view, as they sunk in the trough of the sea. Two of the Islanders + swam to recover them; but frightened by the whirring of a shot over their + heads, as they unavoidably struck out towards the Parki, they turned + quickly about; just in time to see one of their comrades smite his body + with his hand, as he received a bullet from Samoa. + </p> + <p> + Enough: darting past the ill-fated boat, they swam rapidly for land, + followed by the rest; who plunged overboard, leaving in the boat the + surviving Cholo—who it seems could not swim—the wounded + savage, and the dead man. + </p> + <p> + "Load away now, and take thy revenge, my fine fellow," said Samoa to + himself. But not yet. Seeing all at his mercy, and having none, he quickly + laid his fore-topsail to the mast; "hove to" the brigantine; and opened + fire anew upon the boat; every swell of the sea heaving it nearer and + nearer. Vain all efforts to escape. The wounded man paddled wildly with + his hands the dead one rolled from side to side; and the Cholo, seizing + the solitary oar, in his frenzied heedlessness, spun the boat round and + round; while all the while shot followed shot, Samoa firing as fast as + Annatoo could load. At length both Cholo and savage fell dead upon their + comrades, canting the boat over sideways, till well nigh awash; in which + manner she drifted off. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII — Sailing From The Island They Pillage The Cabin + </h2> + <p> + There was a small carronade on the forecastle, unshipped from its + carriage, and lashed down to ringbolts on the deck. This Samoa now loaded; + and with an ax knocking off the round knob upon the breech, rammed it home + in the tube. When, running the cannon out at one of the ports, and + studying well his aim, he let fly, sunk the boat, and buried his dead. + </p> + <p> + It was now late in the afternoon; and for the present bent upon avoiding + land, and gaining the shoreless sea, never mind where, Samoa again forced + round his craft before the wind, leaving the island astern. The decks were + still cumbered with the bodies of the Lahineese, which heel to point and + crosswise, had, log-like, been piled up on the main-hatch. These, one by + one, were committed to the sea; after which, the decks were washed down. + </p> + <p> + At sunrise next morning, finding themselves out of sight of land, with + little or no wind, they stopped their headway, and lashed the tiller alee, + the better to enable them to overhaul the brigantine; especially the + recesses of the cabin. For there, were stores of goods adapted for barter + among the Islanders; also several bags of dollars. + </p> + <p> + Now, nothing can exceed the cupidity of the Polynesian, when, through + partial commerce with the whites, his eyes are opened to his nakedness, + and he perceives that in some things they are richer than himself. + </p> + <p> + The poor skipper's wardrobe was first explored; his chests of clothes + being capsized, and their contents strown about the cabin floor. + </p> + <p> + Then took place the costuming. Samoa and Annatoo trying on coats and + pantaloons, shirts and drawers, and admiring themselves in the little + mirror panneled in the bulk-head. Then, were broken open boxes and bales; + rolls of printed cotton were inspected, and vastly admired; insomuch, that + the trumpery found in the captain's chests was disdainfully doffed: and + donned were loose folds of calico, more congénial to their tastes. + </p> + <p> + As case after case was opened and overturned, slippery grew the cabin deck + with torrents of glass beads; and heavy the necks of Samoa and Annatoo + with goodly bunches thereof. + </p> + <p> + Among other things, came to light brass jewelry,—Rag Fair gewgaws + and baubles a plenty, more admired than all; Annatoo, bedecking herself + like, a tragedy queen: one blaze of brass. Much mourned the married dame, + that thus arrayed, there was none to admire but Samoa her husband; but he + was all the while admiring himself, and not her. + </p> + <p> + And here must needs be related, what has hitherto remained unsaid. Very + often this husband and wife were no Darby and Joan. Their married life was + one long campaign, whereof the truces were only by night. They billed and + they cooed on their arms, rising fresh in the morning to battle, and often + Samoa got more than a hen-pecking. To be short, Annatoo was a Tartar, a + regular Calmuc, and Samoa—Heaven help him—her husband. + </p> + <p> + Yet awhile, joined together by a sense of common danger, and long + engrossed in turning over their tinsel acquisitions without present + thought of proprietorship, the pair refrained from all squabbles. But soon + burst the storm. Having given every bale and every case a good shaking, + Annatoo, making an estimate of the whole, very coolly proceeded to set + apart for herself whatever she fancied. To this, Samoa objected; to which + objection Annatoo objected; and then they went at it. + </p> + <p> + The lady vowed that the things were no more Samoa's than hers; nay, not so + much; and that whatever she wanted, that same would she have. And + furthermore, by way of codicil, she declared that she was slave to nobody. + </p> + <p> + Now, Samoa, sad to tell, stood in no little awe of his bellicose spouse. + What, though a hero in other respects; what, though he had slain his + savages, and gallantly carried his craft from their clutches:—Like + the valiant captains Marlborough and Belisarius, he was a poltroon to his + wife. And Annatoo was worse than either Sarah or Antonina. + </p> + <p> + However, like every thing partaking of the nature of a scratch, most + conjugal squabbles are quickly healed; for if they healed not, they would + never anew break out: which is the beauty of the thing. So at length they + made up but the treaty stipulations of Annatoo told much against the + interests of Samoa. Nevertheless, ostensibly, it was agreed upon, that + they should strictly go halves; the lady, however, laying special claim to + certain valuables, more particularly fancied. But as a set-off to this, + she generously renounced all claims upon the spare rigging; all claims + upon the fore-mast and mainmast; and all claims upon the captain's arms + and ammunition. Of the latter, by the way, Dame Antonina stood in no need. + Her voice was a park of artillery; her talons a charge of bayonets. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV — Dedicated To The College Of Physicians And Surgeons + </h2> + <p> + By this time Samoa's wounded arm was in such a state, that amputation + became necessary. Among savages, severe personal injuries are, for the + most part, accounted but trifles. When a European would be taking to his + couch in despair, the savage would disdain to recline. + </p> + <p> + More yet. In Polynesia, every man is his own barber and surgeon, cutting + off his beard or arm, as occasion demands. No unusual thing, for the + warriors of Varvoo to saw off their own limbs, desperately wounded in + battle. But owing to the clumsiness of the instrument employed—a + flinty, serrated shell—the operation has been known to last several + days. Nor will they suffer any friend to help them; maintaining, that a + matter so nearly concerning a warrior is far better attended to by + himself. Hence it may be said, that they amputate themselves at their + leisure, and hang up their tools when tired. But, though thus beholden to + no one for aught connected with the practice of surgery, they never cut + off their own heads, that ever I heard; a species of amputation to which, + metaphorically speaking, many would-be independent sort of people in + civilized lands are addicted. + </p> + <p> + Samoa's operation was very summary. A fire was kindled in the little + caboose, or cook-house, and so made as to produce much smoke. He then + placed his arm upon one of the windlass bitts (a short upright timber, + breast-high), and seizing the blunt cook's ax would have struck the blow; + but for some reason distrusting the precision of his aim, Annatoo was + assigned to the task. Three strokes, and the limb, from just above the + elbow, was no longer Samoa's; and he saw his own bones; which many a + centenarian can not say. The very clumsiness of the operation was safety + to the subject. The weight and bluntness of the instrument both deadened + the pain and lessened the hemorrhage. The wound was then scorched, and + held over the smoke of the fire, till all signs of blood vanished. From + that day forward it healed, and troubled Samoa but little. + </p> + <p> + But shall the sequel be told? How that, superstitiously averse to burying + in the sea the dead limb of a body yet living; since in that case Samoa + held, that he must very soon drown and follow it; and how, that equally + dreading to keep the thing near him, he at last hung it aloft from the + topmast-stay; where yet it was suspended, bandaged over and over in + cerements. The hand that must have locked many others in friendly clasp, + or smote a foe, was no food, thought Samoa, for fowls of the air nor + fishes of the sea. + </p> + <p> + Now, which was Samoa? The dead arm swinging high as Haman? Or the living + trunk below? Was the arm severed from the body, or the body from the arm? + The residual part of Samoa was alive, and therefore we say it was he. But + which of the writhing sections of a ten times severed worm, is the worm + proper? + </p> + <p> + For myself, I ever regarded Samoa as but a large fragment of a man, not a + man complete. For was he not an entire limb out of pocket? And the action + at Teneriffe over, great Nelson himself—physiologically speaking—was + but three-quarters of a man. And the smoke of Waterloo blown by, what was + Anglesea but the like? After Saratoga, what Arnold? To say nothing of + Mutius Scaevola minus a hand, General Knox a thumb, and Hannibal an eye; + and that old Roman grenadier, Dentatus, nothing more than a bruised and + battered trunk, a knotty sort of hemlock of a warrior, hard to hack and + hew into chips, though much marred in symmetry by battle-ax blows. Ah! but + these warriors, like anvils, will stand a deal of hard hammering. + Especially in the old knight-errant times. For at the battle of Brevieux + in Flanders, my glorious old gossiping ancestor, Froissart, informs me, + that ten good knights, being suddenly unhorsed, fell stiff and powerless + to the plain, fatally encumbered by their armor. Whereupon, the rascally + burglarious peasants, their foes, fell to picking their visors; as + burglars, locks; or oystermen, oysters; to get at their lives. But all to + no purpose. And at last they were fain to ask aid of a blacksmith; and not + till then, were the inmates of the armor dispatched. Now it was deemed + very hard, that the mysterious state- prisoner of France should be riveted + in an iron mask; but these knight-errants did voluntarily prison + themselves in their own iron Bastiles; and thus helpless were murdered + there-in. Days of chivalry these, when gallant chevaliers died chivalric + deaths! + </p> + <p> + And this was the epic age, over whose departure my late eloquent and + prophetic friend and correspondent, Edmund Burke, so movingly mourned. + Yes, they were glorious times. But no sensible man, given to quiet + domestic delights, would exchange his warm fireside and muffins, for a + heroic bivouac, in a wild beechen wood, of a raw gusty morning in + Normandy; every knight blowing his steel-gloved fingers, and vainly + striving to cook his cold coffee in his helmet. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV — Peril A Peace-Maker + </h2> + <p> + A few days passed: the brigantine drifting hither and thither, and nothing + in sight but the sea, when forth again on its stillness rung Annatoo's + domestic alarum. The truce was up. Most egregiously had the lady infringed + it; appropriating to herself various objects previously disclaimed in + favor of Samoa. Besides, forever on the prowl, she was perpetually going + up and down; with untiring energy, exploring every nook and cranny; + carrying off her spoils and diligently secreting them. Having little idea + of feminine adaptations, she pilfered whatever came handy:—iron + hooks, dollars, bolts, hatchets, and stopping not at balls of marline and + sheets of copper. All this, poor Samoa would have borne with what patience + he might, rather than again renew the war, were it not, that the audacious + dame charged him with peculations upon her own private stores; though of + any such thing he was innocent as the bowsprit. + </p> + <p> + This insulting impeachment got the better of the poor islander's + philosophy. He keenly resented it. And the consequence was, that seeing + all domineering useless, Annatoo flew off at a tangent; declaring that, + for the future, Samoa might stay by himself; she would have nothing more + to do with him. Save when unavoidable in managing the brigantine, she + would not even speak to him, that she wouldn't, the monster! She then + boldly demanded the forecastle—in the brig's case, by far the + pleasantest end of the ship—for her own independent suite of + apartments. As for hapless Belisarius, he might do what he pleased in his + dark little den of a cabin. + </p> + <p> + Concerning the division of the spoils, the termagant succeeded in carrying + the day; also, to her quarters, bale after bale of goods, together with + numerous odds and ends, sundry and divers. Moreover, she laid in a fine + stock of edibles, so as, in all respects possible, to live independent of + her spouse. + </p> + <p> + Unlovely Annatoo! Unfortunate Samoa! Thus did the pair make a divorce of + it; the lady going upon a separate maintenance,—and Belisarius + resuming his bachelor loneliness. In the captain's state room, all cold + and comfortless, he slept; his lady whilome retiring to her forecastle + boudoir; beguiling the hours in saying her pater-nosters, and tossing over + and assorting her ill-gotten trinkets and finery; like Madame De Maintenon + dedicating her last days and nights to continence and calicoes. + </p> + <p> + But think you this was the quiet end of their conjugal quarrels? Ah, no! + No end to those feuds, till one or t'other gives up the ghost. + </p> + <p> + Now, exiled from the nuptial couch, Belisarius bore the hardship without a + murmur. And hero that he was, who knows that he felt not like a soldier on + a furlough? But as for Antonina, she could neither get along with + Belisarius, nor without him. She made advances. But of what sort? Why, + breaking into the cabin and purloining sundry goods therefrom; in artful + hopes of breeding a final reconciliation out of the temporary outburst + that might ensue. + </p> + <p> + Then followed a sad scene of altercation; interrupted at last by a sudden + loud roaring of the sea. Rushing to the deck, they beheld themselves + sweeping head-foremost toward a shoal making out from a cluster of low + islands, hitherto, by banks of clouds, shrouded from view. + </p> + <p> + The helm was instantly shifted; and the yards braced about. But for + several hours, owing to the freshness of the breeze, the set of the + currents, and the irregularity and extent of the shoal, it seemed doubtful + whether they would escape a catastrophe. But Samoa's seamanship, united to + Annatoo's industry, at last prevailed; and the brigantine was saved. + </p> + <p> + Of the land where they came so near being wrecked, they knew nothing; and + for that reason, they at once steered away. For after the fatal events + which had overtaken the Parki at the Pearl Shell islands, so fearful were + they of encountering any Islanders, that from the first they had resolved + to keep open sea, shunning every appearance of land; relying upon being + eventually picked up by some passing sail. + </p> + <p> + Doubtless this resolution proved their salvation. For to the navigator in + these seas, no risk so great, as in approaching the isles; which mostly + are so guarded by outpost reefs, and far out from their margins environed + by perils, that the green flowery field within, lies like a rose among + thorns; and hard to be reached as the heart of proud maiden. Though once + attained, all three—red rose, bright shore, and soft heart—are + full of love, bloom, and all manner of delights. The Pearl Shell islands + excepted. + </p> + <p> + Besides, in those generally tranquil waters, Samoa's little craft, though + hundreds of miles from land, was very readily managed by himself and + Annatoo. So small was the Parki, that one hand could brace the main-yard; + and a very easy thing it was, even to hoist the small top-sails; for after + their first clumsy attempt to perform that operation by hand, they + invariably led the halyards to the windlass, and so managed it, with the + utmost facility. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVI — Containing A Pennyweight Of Philosophy + </h2> + <p> + Still many days passed and the Parki yet floated. The little flying- fish + got used to her familiar, loitering hull; and like swallows building their + nests in quiet old trees, they spawned in the great green barnacles that + clung to her sides. + </p> + <p> + The calmer the sea, the more the barnacles grow. In the tropical Pacific, + but a few weeks suffice thus to encase your craft in shell armor. Vast + bunches adhere to the very cutwater, and if not stricken off, much impede + the ship's sailing. And, at intervals, this clearing away of barnacles was + one of Annatoo's occupations. For be it known, that, like most termagants, + the dame was tidy at times, though capriciously; loving cleanliness by + fits and starts. Wherefore, these barnacles oftentimes troubled her; and + with a long pole she would go about, brushing them aside. It beguiled the + weary hours, if nothing more; and then she would return to her beads and + her trinkets; telling them all over again; murmuring forth her devotions, + and marking whether Samoa had been pilfering from her store. + </p> + <p> + Now, the escape from the shoal did much once again to heal the differences + of the good lady and her spouse. And keeping house, as they did, all alone + by themselves, in that lonely craft, a marvel it is, that they should ever + have quarreled. And then to divorce, and yet dwell in the same tenement, + was only aggravating the evil. So Belisarius and Antonina again came + together. But now, grown wise by experience, they neither loved + over-keenly, nor hated; but took things as they were; found themselves + joined, without hope of a sundering, and did what they could to make a + match of the mate. Annatoo concluded that Samoa was not wholly to be + enslaved; and Samoa thought best to wink at Annatoo's foibles, and let her + purloin when she pleased. + </p> + <p> + But as in many cases, all this philosophy about wedlock is not proof + against the perpetual contact of the parties concerned; and as it is far + better to revive the old days of courtship, when men's mouths are + honey-combs: and, to make them still sweeter, the ladies the bees which + there store their sweets; when fathomless raptures glimmer far down in the + lover's fond eye; and best of all, when visits are alternated by absence: + so, like my dignified lord duke and his duchess, Samoa and Annatoo, man + and wife, dwelling in the same house, still kept up their separate + quarters. Marlborough visiting Sarah; and Sarah, Marlborough, whenever the + humor suggested. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVII — In Which The Past History Op The Parki Is Concluded + </h2> + <p> + Still days, days, days sped by; and steering now this way, now that, to + avoid the green treacherous shores, which frequently rose into view, the + Parki went to and fro in the sea; till at last, it seemed hard to tell, in + what watery world she floated. Well knowing the risks they ran, Samoa + desponded. But blessed be ignorance. For in the day of his despondency, + the lively old lass his wife bade him be of stout heart, cheer up, and + steer away manfully for the setting sun; following which, they must + inevitably arrive at her own dear native island, where all their cares + would be over. So squaring their yards, away they glided; far sloping down + the liquid sphere. + </p> + <p> + Upon the afternoon of the day we caught sight of them in our boat, they + had sighted a cluster of low islands, which put them in no small panic, + because of their resemblance to those where the massacre had taken place. + Whereas, they must have been full five hundred leagues from that fearful + vicinity. However, they altered their course to avoid it; and a little + before sunset, dropping the islands astern, resumed their previous track. + But very soon after, they espied our little sea-goat, bounding over the + billows from afar. + </p> + <p> + This they took for a canoe giving chase to them. It renewed and augmented + their alarm. + </p> + <p> + And when at last they perceived that the strange object was a boat, their + fears, instead of being allayed, only so much the more increased. For + their wild superstitions led them to conclude, that a white man's craft + coming upon them so suddenly, upon the open sea, and by night, could be + naught but a phantom. Furthermore, marking two of us in the Chamois, they + fancied us the ghosts of the Cholos. A conceit which effectually damped + Samoa's courage, like my Viking's, only proof against things tangible. So + seeing us bent upon boarding the brigantine; after a hurried over-turning + of their chattels, with a view of carrying the most valuable aloft for + safe keeping, they secreted what they could; and together made for the + fore-top; the man with a musket, the woman with a bag of beads. Their + endeavoring to secure these treasures against ghostly appropriation + originated in no real fear, that otherwise they would be stolen: it was + simply incidental to the vacant panic into which they were thrown. No + reproach this, to Belisarius' heart of game; for the most intrepid Feegee + warrior, he who has slain his hecatombs, will not go ten yards in the dark + alone, for fear of ghosts. + </p> + <p> + Their purpose was to remain in the top until daylight; by which time, they + counted upon the withdrawal of their visitants; who, sure enough, at last + sprang on board, thus verifying their worst apprehensions. + </p> + <p> + They watched us long and earnestly. But curious to tell, in that very + strait of theirs, perched together in that airy top, their domestic + differences again broke forth; most probably, from their being suddenly + forced into such very close contact. + </p> + <p> + However that might be, taking advantage of our descent into the cabin, + Samoa, in desperation fled from his wife, and one-armed as he was, + sailor-like, shifted himself over by the fore and aft-stays to the + main-top, his musket being slung to his back. And thus divided, though but + a few yards intervened, the pair were as much asunder as if at the + opposite Poles. + </p> + <p> + During the live-long night they were both in great perplexity as to the + extraordinary goblins on board. Such inquisitive, meddlesome spirits, had + never before been encountered. So cool and systematic; sagaciously + stopping the vessel's headway the better to rummage;—the very plan + they themselves had adopted. But what most surprised them, was our + striking a light, a thing of which no true ghost would be guilty. Then, + our eating and drinking on the quarter- deck including the deliberate + investment of Vienna; and many other actions equally strange, almost led + Samoa to fancy that we were no shades, after all, but a couple of men from + the moon. + </p> + <p> + Yet they had dimly caught sight of the frocks and trowsers we wore, + similar to those which the captain of the Parki had bestowed upon the two + Cholos, and in which those villains had been killed. This, with the + presence of the whale boat, united to chase away the conceit of our lunar + origin. But these considerations renewed their first superstitious + impressions of our being the ghosts of the murderous half-breeds. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, while during the latter part of the night we were reclining + beneath him, munching our biscuit, Samoa eyeing us intently, was half a + mind to open fire upon us by way of testing our corporeality. But most + luckily, he concluded to defer so doing till sunlight; if by that time we + should not have evaporated. + </p> + <p> + For dame Annatoo, almost from our first boarding the brigantine, something + in our manner had bred in her a lurking doubt as to the genuineness of our + atmospheric organization; and abandoned to her speculations when Samoa + fled from her side, her incredulity waxed stronger and stronger. Whence we + came she knew not; enough, that we seemed bent upon pillaging her own + precious purloinings. Alas! thought she, my buttons, my nails, my tappa, + my dollars, my beads, and my boxes! + </p> + <p> + Wrought up to desperation by these dismal forebodings, she at length shook + the ropes leading from her own perch to Samoa's; adopting this method of + arousing his attention to the heinousness of what was in all probability + going on in the cabin, a prelude most probably to the invasion of her own + end of the vessel. Had she dared raise her voice, no doubt she would have + suggested the expediency of shooting us so soon as we emerged from the + cabin. But failing to shake Samoa into an understanding of her views on + the subject, her malice proved futile. + </p> + <p> + When her worst fears were confirmed, however, and we actually descended + into the forecastle; there ensued such a reckless shaking of the ropes, + that Samoa was fain to hold on hard, for fear of being tossed out of the + rigging. And it was this violent rocking that caused the loud creaking of + the yards, so often heard by us while below in Annatoo's apartment. + </p> + <p> + And the fore-top being just over the open forecastle scuttle, the dame + could look right down upon us; hence our proceedings were plainly revealed + by the lights that we carried. Upon our breaking open her strong-box, her + indignation almost completely overmastered her fears. Unhooking a + top-block, down it came into the forecastle, charitably commissioned with + the demolition of Jarl's cocoa-nut, then more exposed to the view of an + aerial observer than my own. But of it turned out, no harm was done to our + porcelain. + </p> + <p> + At last, morning dawned; when ensued Jarl's discovery as the occupant of + the main-top; which event, with what followed, has been duly recounted. + </p> + <p> + And such, in substance, was the first, second, third and fourth acts of + the Parki drama. The fifth and last, including several scenes, now + follows. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVIII — Suspicions Laid, And Something About The Calmuc + </h2> + <p> + Though abounding in details full of the savor of reality, Samoa's + narrative did not at first appear altogether satisfactory. Not that it was + so strange; for stranger recitals I had heard. + </p> + <p> + But one reason, perhaps, was that I had anticipated a narrative quite + different; something agreeing with my previous surmises. + </p> + <p> + Not a little puzzling, also, was his account of having seen islands the + day preceding; though, upon reflection, that might have been the case, and + yet, from his immediately altering the Parki's course, the Chamois, + unknowingly might have sailed by their vicinity. Still, those islands + could form no part of the chain we were seeking. They must have been some + region hitherto undiscovered. + </p> + <p> + But seems it likely, thought I, that one, who, according to his own + account, has conducted himself so heroically in rescuing the brigantine, + should be the victim of such childish terror at the mere glimpse of a + couple of sailors in an open boat, so well supplied, too, with arms, as he + was, to resist their capturing his craft, if such proved their intention? + On the contrary, would it not have been more natural, in his dreary + situation, to have hailed our approach with the utmost delight? But then + again, we were taken for phantoms, not flesh and blood. Upon the whole, I + regarded the narrator of these things somewhat distrustfully. But he met + my gaze like a man. While Annatoo, standing by, looked so expressively the + Amazonian character imputed to her, that my doubts began to waver. And + recalling all the little incidents of their story, so hard to be conjured + up on the spur of a presumed necessity to lie; nay, so hard to be conjured + up at all; my suspicions at last gave way. And I could no longer harbor + any misgivings. + </p> + <p> + For, to be downright, what object could Samoa have, in fabricating such a + narrative of horrors—those of the massacre, I mean—unless to + conceal some tragedy, still more atrocious, in which he himself had been + criminally concerned? A supposition, which, for obvious reasons, seemed + out of the question. True, instances were known to me of half- civilized + beings, like Samoa, forming part of the crews of ships in these seas, + rising suddenly upon their white ship-mates, and murdering them, for the + sake of wrecking the ship on the shore of some island near by, and + plundering her hull, when stranded. + </p> + <p> + But had this been purposed with regard to the Parki, where the rest of the + mutineers? There was no end to my conjectures; the more I — indulged + in them, the more they multiplied. So, unwilling to torment myself, when + nothing could be learned, but what Samoa related, and stuck to like a + hero; I gave over conjecturing at all; striving hard to repose full faith + in the Islander. + </p> + <p> + Jarl, however, was skeptical to the last; and never could be brought + completely to credit the tale. He stoutly maintained that the hobgoblins + must have had something or other to do with the Parki. + </p> + <p> + My own curiosity satisfied with respect to the brigantine, Samoa himself + turned inquisitor. He desired to know who we were; and whence we came in + our marvelous boat. But on these heads I thought best to withhold from him + the truth; among other things, fancying that if disclosed, it would lessen + his deference for us, as men superior to himself. I therefore spoke + vaguely of our adventures, and assumed the decided air of a master; which + I perceived was not lost upon the rude Islander. As for Jarl, and what he + might reveal, I embraced the first opportunity to impress upon him the + importance of never divulging our flight from the Arcturion; nor in any + way to commit himself on that head: injunctions which he faithfully + promised to observe. + </p> + <p> + If not wholly displeased with the fine form of Samoa, despite his savage + lineaments, and mutilated member, I was much less conciliated by the + person of Annatoo; who, being sinewy of limb, and neither young, comely, + nor amiable, was exceedingly distasteful in my eyes. Besides, she was a + tigress. Yet how avoid admiring those Penthesilian qualities which so + signally had aided Samoa, in wresting the Parki from its treacherous + captors. Nevertheless, it was indispensable that she should at once be + brought under prudent subjection; and made to know, once for all, that + though conjugally a rebel, she must be nautically submissive. For to keep + the sea with a Calmuc on board, seemed next to impossible. In most + military marines, they are prohibited by law; no officer may take his + Pandora and her bandbox off soundings. + </p> + <p> + By the way, this self-same appellative, Pandora, has been bestowed upon + vessels. There was a British ship by that name, dispatched in quest of the + mutineers of the Bounty. But any old tar might have prophesied her fate. + Bound home she was wrecked on a reef off New South Wales. Pandora, indeed! + A pretty name for a ship: fairly smiting Fate in the face. But in this + matter of christening ships of war, Christian nations are but too apt to + be dare-devils. Witness the following: British names all—The + Conqueror, the Defiance, the Revenge, the Spitfire, the Dreadnaught, the + Thunderer, and the Tremendous; not omitting the Etna, which, in the Roads + of Corfu, was struck by lightning, coming nigh being consumed by fire from + above. But almost potent as Moses' rod, Franklin's proved her salvation. + </p> + <p> + With the above catalogue, compare we the Frenchman's; quite characteristic + of the aspirations of Monsieur:—The Destiny, the Glorious, the + Magnanimous, the Magnificent, the Conqueror, the Triumphant, the + Indomitable, the Intrepid, the Mont-Blanc. Lastly, the Dons; who have + ransacked the theology of the religion of peace for fine names for their + fighting ships; stopping not at designating one of their three-deckers, + The Most Holy Trinity. But though, at Trafalgar, the Santissima Trinidada + thundered like Sinai, her thunders were silenced by the victorious + cannonade of the Victory. + </p> + <p> + And without being blown into splinters by artillery, how many of these + Redoubtables and Invincibles have succumbed to the waves, and like + braggarts gone down before hurricanes, with their bravadoes broad on their + bows. + </p> + <p> + Much better the American names (barring Scorpions, Hornets, and Wasps;) + Ohio, Virginia, Carolina, Vermont. And if ever these Yankees fight great + sea engagements—which Heaven forefend!—how glorious, + poetically speaking, to range up the whole federated fleet, and pour forth + a broadside from Florida to Maine. Ay, ay, very glorious indeed! yet in + that proud crowing of cannon, how shall the shade of peace-loving Penn be + astounded, to see the mightiest murderer of them all, the great + Pennsylvania, a very namesake of his. Truly, the Pennsylvania's guns + should be the wooden ones, called by men-of- war's-men, Quakers. + </p> + <p> + But all this is an episode, made up of digressions. Time to tack ship, and + return. + </p> + <p> + Now, in its proper place, I omitted to mention, that shortly after + descending from the rigging, and while Samoa was rehearsing his + adventures, dame Annatoo had stolen below into the forecastle, intent upon + her chattels. And finding them all in mighty disarray, she returned to the + deck prodigiously, excited, and glancing angrily toward Jarl and me, + showered a whole torrent of objurgations into both ears of Samoa. + </p> + <p> + This contempt of my presence surprised me at first; but perhaps women are + less apt to be impressed by a pretentious demeanor, than men. + </p> + <p> + Now, to use a fighting phrase, there is nothing like boarding an enemy in + the smoke. And therefore, upon this first token of Annatoo's termagant + qualities, I gave her to understand—craving her pardon— that + neither the vessel nor aught therein was hers; but that every thing + belonged to the owners in Lahina. I added, that at all hazards, a stop + must be put to her pilferings. Rude language for feminine ears; but how to + be avoided? Here was an infatuated woman, who, according to Samoa's + account, had been repeatedly detected in the act of essaying to draw out + the screw-bolts which held together the planks. Tell me; was she not worse + than the Load-Stone Rock, sailing by which a stout ship fell to pieces? + </p> + <p> + During this scene, Samoa said little. Perhaps he was secretly pleased that + his matrimonial authority was reinforced by myself and my Viking, whose + views of the proper position of wives at sea, so fully corresponded with + his own; however difficult to practice, those purely theoretical ideas of + his had hitherto proved. + </p> + <p> + Once more turning to Annatoo, now looking any thing but amiable, I — + observed, that all her clamors would be useless; and that if it came to + the worst, the Parki had a hull that would hold her. + </p> + <p> + In the end she went off in a fit of the sulks; sitting down on the + windlass and glaring; her arms akimbo, and swaying from side to side; + while ever and anon she gave utterance to a dismal chant. It sounded like + an invocation to the Cholos to rise and dispatch us. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIX — What They Lighted Upon In Further Searching The + Craft, And The + </h2> + <p> + Resolution They Came To + </p> + <p> + Descending into the cabin with Samoa, I bade him hunt up the brigantine's + log, the captain's writing-desk, and nautical instruments; in a word, + aught that could throw light on the previous history of the craft, or aid + in navigating her homeward. + </p> + <p> + But nearly every thing of the kind had disappeared: log, quadrant, and + ship's papers. Nothing was left but the sextant-case, which Jarl and I had + lighted upon in the state-room. + </p> + <p> + Upon this, vague though they were, my suspicions returned; and I — + closely questioned the Islander concerning the disappearance of these + important articles. In reply, he gave me to understand, that the nautical + instruments had been clandestinely carried down into the forecastle by + Annatoo; and by that indefatigable and inquisitive dame they had been + summarily taken apart for scientific inspection. It was impossible to + restore them; for many of the fixtures were lost, including the colored + glasses, sights, and little mirrors; and many parts still recoverable, + were so battered and broken as to be entirely useless. For several days + afterward, we now and then came across bits of the quadrant or sextant; + but it was only to mourn over their fate. + </p> + <p> + However, though sextant and quadrant were both unattainable, I did not so + quickly renounce all hope of discovering a chronometer, which, if in good + order, though at present not ticking, might still be made in some degree + serviceable. But no such instrument was to be seen. No: nor to be heard + of; Samoa himself professing utter ignorance. + </p> + <p> + Annatoo, I threatened and coaxed; describing the chronometer—a live, + round creature like a toad, that made a strange noise, which I — + imitated; but she knew nothing about it. Whether she had lighted upon it + unbeknown to Samoa, and dissected it as usual, there was now no way to + determine. Indeed, upon this one point, she maintained an air of such + inflexible stupidity, that if she were really fibbing, her dead-wall + countenance superseded the necessity for verbal deceit. + </p> + <p> + It may be, however, that in this particular she was wronged; for, as with + many small vessels, the Parki might never have possessed the instrument in + question. All thought, therefore, of feeling our way, as we should + penetrate farther and farther into the watery wilderness, was necessarily + abandoned. + </p> + <p> + The log book had also formed a portion of Annatoo's pilferings. It seems + she had taken it into her studio to ponder over. But after amusing herself + by again and again counting over the leaves, and wondering how so many + distinct surfaces could be compacted together in so small a compass, she + had very suddenly conceived an aversion to literature, and dropped the + book overboard as worthless. Doubtless, it met the fate of many other + ponderous tomes; sinking quickly and profoundly. What Camden or Stowe + hereafter will dive for it? + </p> + <p> + One evening Samoa brought me a quarto half-sheet of yellowish, ribbed + paper, much soiled and tarry, which he had discovered in a dark hole of + the forecastle. It had plainly formed part of the lost log; but all the + writing thereon, at present decipherable, conveyed no information upon the + subject then nearest my heart. + </p> + <p> + But one could not but be struck by a tragical occurrence, which the page + very briefly recounted; as well, as by a noteworthy pictorial illustration + of the event in the margin of the text. Save the cut, there was no further + allusion to the matter than the following:— "This day, being calm, + Tooboi, one of the Lahina men, went overboard for a bath, and was eaten up + by a shark. Immediately sent forward for his bag." + </p> + <p> + Now, this last sentence was susceptible of two meanings. It is truth, that + immediately upon the decease of a friendless sailor at sea, his shipmates + oftentimes seize upon his effects, and divide them; though the dead man's + clothes are seldom worn till a subsequent voyage. This proceeding seems + heartless. But sailors reason thus: Better we, than the captain. For by + law, either scribbled or unscribbled, the effects of a mariner, dying on + shipboard, should be held in trust by that officer. But as sailors are + mostly foundlings and castaways, and carry all their kith and kin in their + arms and their legs, there hardly ever appears any heir-at-law to claim + their estate; seldom worth inheriting, like Esterhazy's. Wherefore, the + withdrawal of a dead man's "kit" from the forecastle to the cabin, is + often held tantamount to its virtual appropriation by the captain. At any + rate, in small ships on long voyages, such things have been done. + </p> + <p> + Thus much being said, then, the sentence above quoted from the Parki's + log, may be deemed somewhat ambiguous. At the time it struck me as + singular; for the poor diver's grass bag could not have contained much of + any thing valuable unless, peradventure, he had concealed therein some + Cleopatra pearls, feloniously abstracted from the shells brought up from + the sea. + </p> + <p> + Aside of the paragraph, copied above, was a pen-and-ink sketch of the + casualty, most cruelly executed; the poor fellow's legs being represented + half way in the process of deglutition; his arms firmly grasping the + monster's teeth, as if heroically bent upon making as tough a morsel of + himself as possible. + </p> + <p> + But no doubt the honest captain sketched this cenotaph to the departed in + all sincerity of heart; perhaps, during the melancholy leisure which + followed the catastrophe. Half obliterated were several stains upon the + page; seemingly, lingering traces of a salt tear or two. + </p> + <p> + From this unwonted embellishment of the text, I was led to infer, that the + designer, at one time or other, must have been engaged in the vocation of + whaling. For, in India ink, the logs of certain whalemen are decorated by + somewhat similar illustrations. + </p> + <p> + When whales are seen, but not captured, the fact is denoted by an outline + figure representing the creature's flukes, the broad, curving lobes of his + tail. But in those cases where the monster is both chased and killed, this + outline is filled up jet black; one for every whale slain; presenting + striking objects in turning over the log; and so facilitating reference. + Hence, it is quite imposing to behold, all in a row, three or four, + sometime five or six, of these drawings; showing that so many monsters + that day jetted their last spout. And the chief mate, whose duty it is to + keep the ship's record, generally prides himself upon the beauty, and + flushy likeness to life, of his flukes; though, sooth to say, many of + these artists are no Landseers. + </p> + <p> + After vainly searching the cabin for those articles we most needed, we + proceeded to explore the hold, into which as yet we had not penetrated. + Here, we found a considerable quantity of pearl shells; cocoanuts; an + abundance of fresh water in casks; spare sails and rigging; and some fifty + barrels or more of salt beef and biscuit. Unromantic as these last + mentioned objects were, I lingered over them long, and in a revery. + Branded upon each barrel head was the name of a place in America, with + which I was very familiar. It is from America chiefly, that ship's stores + are originally procured for the few vessels sailing out of the Hawaiian + Islands. + </p> + <p> + Having now acquainted myself with all things respecting the Parki, which + could in any way be learned, I repaired to the quarter-deck, and summoning + round me Samoa, Annatoo, and Jarl, gravely addressed them. + </p> + <p> + I said, that nothing would give me greater satisfaction than forthwith to + return to the scene of the massacre, and chastise its surviving authors. + But as there were only four of us in all; and the place of those islands + was wholly unknown to me; and even if known, would be altogether out of + our reach, since we possessed no instruments of navigation; it was quite + plain that all thought of returning thither was entirely useless. The last + mentioned reason, also, prevented our voyaging to the Hawaiian group, + where the vessel belonged; though that would have been the most advisable + step, resulting, as it would, if successful, in restoring the ill-fated + craft to her owners. + </p> + <p> + But all things considered, it seemed best, I added, cautiously to hold on + our way to the westward. It was our easiest course; for we would ever have + the wind from astern; and though we could not so much as hope to arrive at + any one spot previously designated, there was still a positive certainty, + if we floated long enough, of falling in with islands whereat to refresh + ourselves; and whence, if we thought fit, we might afterward embark for + more agreeable climes. I then reminded them of the fact, that so long as + we kept the sea, there was always some prospect of encountering a friendly + sail; in which event, our solicitude would be over. + </p> + <p> + All this I said in the mild, firm tone of a superior; being anxious, at + once to assume the unquestioned supremacy. For, otherwise, Jarl and I + might better quit the vessel forthwith, than remain on board subject to + the outlandish caprices of Annatoo, who through Samoa would then have the + sway. But I was sure of my Viking; and if Samoa proved docile, had no fear + of his dame. + </p> + <p> + And therefore during my address, I steadfastly eyed him; thereby learning + enough to persuade me, that though he deferred to me at present, he was, + notwithstanding, a man who, without precisely meditating mischief, could + upon occasion act an ugly part. But of his courage, and savage honor, such + as it was, I had little doubt. Then, wild buffalo that he was, tamed down + in the yoke matrimonial, I — could not but fancy, that if upon no + other account, our society must please him, as rendering less afflictive + the tyranny of his spouse. + </p> + <p> + For a hen-pecked husband, by the way, Samoa was a most terrible fellow to + behold. And though, after all, I liked him; it was as you fancy a fiery + steed with mane disheveled, as young Alexander fancied Bucephalus; which + wild horse, when he patted, he preferred holding by the bridle. But more + of Samoa anon. + </p> + <p> + Our course determined, and the command of the vessel tacitly yielded up to + myself, the next thing done was to put every thing in order. The tattered + sails were replaced by others, dragged up from the sail- room below; in + several places, new running-rigging was rove; blocks restrapped; and the + slackened stays and shrouds set taught. For all of which, we were mostly + indebted to my Viking's unwearied and skillful marling-spike, which he + swayed like a scepter. + </p> + <p> + The little Parki's toilet being thus thoroughly made for the first time + since the massacre, we gave her new raiment to the breeze, and daintily + squaring her yards, she gracefully glided away; honest old Jarl at the + helm, watchfully guiding her path, like some devoted old foster-father. + </p> + <p> + As I stood by his side like a captain, or walked up and down on the + quarter-deck, I felt no little importance upon thus assuming for the first + time in my life, the command of a vessel at sea. The novel circumstances + of the case only augmented this feeling; the wild and remote seas where we + were; the character of my crew, and the consideration, that to all + purposes, I was owner, as well as commander of the craft I sailed. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXX — Hints For A Full Length Of Samoa + </h2> + <p> + My original intention to touch at the Kingsmill Chain, or the countries + adjacent, was greatly strengthened by thus encountering Samoa; and the + more I had to do with my Belisarius, the more I was pleased with him. Nor + could I avoid congratulating myself, upon having fallen in with a hero, + who in various ways, could not fail of proving exceedingly useful. + </p> + <p> + Like any man of mark, Samoa best speaks for himself; but we may as well + convey some idea of his person. Though manly enough, nay, an obelisk in + stature, the savage was far from being sentimentally prepossessing. Be not + alarmed; but he wore his knife in the lobe of his dexter ear, which, by + constant elongation almost drooped upon his shoulder. A mode of sheathing + it exceedingly handy, and far less brigandish than the Highlander's dagger + concealed in his leggins. + </p> + <p> + But it was the mother of Samoa, who at a still earlier day had punctured + him through and through in still another direction. The middle cartilage + of his nose was slightly pendent, peaked, and Gothic, and perforated with + a hole; in which, like a Newfoundland dog carrying a cane, Samoa sported a + trinket: a well polished nail. + </p> + <p> + In other respects he was equally a coxcomb. In his style of tattooing, for + instance, which seemed rather incomplete; his marks embracing but a + vertical half of his person, from crown to sole; the other side being free + from the slightest stain. Thus clapped together, as it were, he looked + like a union of the unmatched moieties of two distinct beings; and your + fancy was lost in conjecturing, where roamed the absent ones. When he + turned round upon you suddenly, you thought you saw some one else, not him + whom you had been regarding before. + </p> + <p> + But there was one feature in Samoa beyond the reach of the innovations of + art:—his eye; which in civilized man or savage, ever shines in the + head, just as it shone at birth. Truly, our eyes are miraculous things. + But alas, that in so many instances, these divine organs should be mere + lenses inserted into the socket, as glasses in spectacle rims. + </p> + <p> + But my Islander had a soul in his eye; looking out upon you there, like + somebody in him. What an eye, to be sure! At times, brilliantly changeful + as opal; in anger, glowing like steel at white heat. + </p> + <p> + Belisarius, be it remembered, had but very recently lost an arm. But you + would have thought he had been born without it; so Lord Nelson- like and + cavalierly did he sport the honorable stump. + </p> + <p> + But no more of Samoa; only this: that his name had been given him by a + sea-captain; to whom it had been suggested by the native designation of + the islands to which he belonged; the Saviian or Samoan group, otherwise + known as the Navigator Islands. The island of Upolua, one of that cluster, + claiming the special honor of his birth, as Corsica does Napoleon's, we + shall occasionally hereafter speak of Samoa as the Upoluan; by which title + he most loved to be called. + </p> + <p> + It is ever ungallant to pass over a lady. But what shall be said of + Annatoo? As I live, I can make no pleasing portrait of the dame; for as in + most ugly subjects, flattering would but make the matter worse. + Furthermore, unalleviated ugliness should ever go unpainted, as something + unnecessary to duplicate. But the only ugliness is that of the heart, seen + through the face. And though beauty be obvious, the only loveliness is + invisible. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXI — Rovings Alow And Aloft + </h2> + <p> + Every one knows what a fascination there is in wandering up and down in a + deserted old tenement in some warm, dreamy country; where the vacant halls + seem echoing of silence, and the doors creak open like the footsteps of + strangers; and into every window the old garden trees thrust their dark + boughs, like the arms of night-burglars; and ever and anon the nails start + from the wainscot; while behind it the mice rattle like dice. Up and down + in such old specter houses one loves to wander; and so much the more, if + the place be haunted by some marvelous story. + </p> + <p> + And during the drowsy stillness of the tropical sea-day, very much such a + fancy had I, for prying about our little brigantine, whose tragic hull was + haunted by the memory of the massacre, of which it still bore innumerable + traces. + </p> + <p> + And so far as the indulgence of quiet strolling and reverie was concerned, + it was well nigh the same as if I were all by myself. For Samoa, for a + time, was rather reserved, being occupied with thoughts of his own. And + Annatoo seldom troubled me with her presence. She was taken up with her + calicoes and jewelry; which I had permitted her to retain, to keep her in + good humor if possible. And as for My royal old Viking, he was one of + those individuals who seldom speak, unless personally addressed. + </p> + <p> + Besides, all that by day was necessary to navigating the Parki was, that—somebody + should stand at the helm; the craft being so small, and the grating, + whereon the steersman stood, so elevated, that he commanded a view far + beyond the bowsprit; thus keeping Argus eyes on the sea, as he steered us + along. In all other respects we left the brigantine to the guardianship of + the gentle winds. + </p> + <p> + My own turn at the helm—for though commander, I felt constrained to + do duty with the rest—came but once in the twenty-four hours. And + not only did Jarl and Samoa, officiate as helmsmen, but also Dame Annatoo, + who had become quite expert at the business. Though Jarl always maintained + that there was a slight drawback upon her usefulness in this vocation. Too + much taken up by her lovely image partially reflected in the glass of the + binnacle before her, Annatoo now and then neglected her duty, and led us + some devious dances. Nor was she, I ween, the first woman that ever led + men into zigzags. + </p> + <p> + For the reasons above stated, I had many spare hours to myself. At times, + I mounted aloft, and lounging in the slings of the topsail yard—one + of the many snug nooks in a ship's rigging—I gazed broad off upon + the blue boundless sea, and wondered what they were doing in that unknown + land, toward which we were fated to be borne. Or feeling less meditative, + I roved about hither and thither; slipping over, by the stays, from one + mast to the other; climbing up to the truck; or lounging out to the ends + of the yards; exploring wherever there was a foothold. It was like + climbing about in some mighty old oak, and resting in the crotches. + </p> + <p> + To a sailor, a ship's ropes are a study. And to me, every rope-yarn of the + Parki's was invested with interest. The outlandish fashion of her shrouds, + the collars of her stays, the stirrups, seizings, Flemish-horses, gaskets,—all + the wilderness of her rigging, bore unequivocal traces of her origin. + </p> + <p> + But, perhaps, my pleasantest hours were those which I spent, stretched out + on a pile of old sails, in the fore-top; lazily dozing to the craft's + light roll. + </p> + <p> + Frequently, I descended to the cabin: for the fiftieth time, exploring the + lockers and state-rooms for some new object of curiosity. And often, with + a glimmering light, I went into the midnight hold, as into old vaults and + catacombs; and creeping between damp ranges of casks, penetrated into its + farthest recesses. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes, in these under-ground burrowings, I lighted upon sundry + out-of-the-way hiding places of Annatoo's; where were snugly secreted + divers articles, with which she had been smitten. In truth, no small + portion of the hull seemed a mine of stolen goods, stolen out of its own + bowels. I found a jaunty shore-cap of the captain's, hidden away in the + hollow heart of a coil of rigging; covered over in a manner most + touchingly natural, with a heap of old ropes; and near by, in a breaker, + discovered several entire pieces of calico, heroically tied together with + cords almost strong enough to sustain the mainmast. + </p> + <p> + Near the stray light, which, when the hatch was removed, gleamed down into + this part of the hold, was a huge ground-tier butt, headless as Charles + the First. And herein was a mat nicely spread for repose; a discovery + which accounted for what had often proved an enigma. Not seldom Annatoo + had been among the missing; and though, from stem to stern, loudly invoked + to come forth and relieve the poignant distress of her anxious friends, + the dame remained perdu; silent and invisible as a spirit. But in her own + good time, she would mysteriously emerge; or be suddenly espied lounging + quietly in the forecastle, as if she had been there from all eternity. + </p> + <p> + Useless to inquire, "Where hast thou been, sweet Annatoo?" For no sweet + rejoinder would she give. + </p> + <p> + But now the problem was solved. Here, in this silent cask in the hold, + Annatoo was wont to coil herself away, like a garter-snake under a stone. + </p> + <p> + Whether-she-thus stood sentry over her goods secreted round about: whether + she here performed penance like a nun in her cell; or was moved to this + unaccountable freak by the powers of the air; no one could tell. Can you? + </p> + <p> + Verily, her ways were as the ways of the inscrutable penguins in building + their inscrutable nests, which baffle all science, and make a fool of a + sage. + </p> + <p> + Marvelous Annatoo! who shall expound thee? + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0032" id="link2HCH0032"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXII — Xiphius Platypterus + </h2> + <p> + About this time, the loneliness of our voyage was relieved by an event + worth relating. + </p> + <p> + Ever since leaving the Pearl Shell Islands, the Parki had been followed by + shoals of small fish, pleasantly enlivening the sea, and socially swimming + by her side. But in vain did Jarl and I search among their ranks for the + little, steel-blue Pilot fish, so long outriders of the Chamois. But + perhaps since the Chamois was now high and dry on the Parki's deck, our + bright little avant-couriers were lurking out of sight, far down in the + brine; racing along close to the keel. + </p> + <p> + But it is not with the Pilot fish that we now have to do. + </p> + <p> + One morning our attention was attracted to a mighty commotion in the + water. The shoals of fish were darting hither and thither, and leaping + into the air in the utmost affright. Samoa declared, that their deadly foe + the Sword fish must be after them. + </p> + <p> + And here let me say, that, since of all the bullies, and braggarts, and + bravoes, and free-booters, and Hectors, and fish-at-arms, and + knight-errants, and moss-troopers, and assassins, and foot-pads, and + gallant soldiers, and immortal heroes that swim the seas, the Indian Sword + fish is by far the most remarkable, I propose to dedicate this chapter to + a special description of the warrior. In doing which, I — but follow + the example of all chroniclers and historians, my Peloponnesian friend + Thucydides and others, who are ever mindful of devoting much space to + accounts of eminent destroyers; for the purpose, no doubt, of holding them + up as ensamples to the world. + </p> + <p> + Now, the fish here treated of is a very different creature from the Sword + fish frequenting the Northern Atlantic; being much larger every way, and a + more dashing varlet to boot. Furthermore, he is denominated the Indian + Sword fish, in contradistinction from his namesake above mentioned. But by + seamen in the Pacific, he is more commonly known as the Bill fish; while + for those who love science and hard names, be it known, that among the + erudite naturalists he goeth by the outlandish appellation of "<i>Xiphius + Platypterus</i>." + </p> + <p> + But I waive for my hero all these his cognomens, and substitute a much + better one of my own: namely, the Chevalier. And a Chevalier he is, by + good right and title. A true gentleman of Black Prince Edward's bright + day, when all gentlemen were known by their swords; whereas, in times + present, the Sword fish excepted, they are mostly known by their high + polished boots and rattans. + </p> + <p> + A right valiant and jaunty Chevalier is our hero; going about with his + long Toledo perpetually drawn. Rely upon it, he will fight you to the + hilt, for his bony blade has never a scabbard. He himself sprang from it + at birth; yea, at the very moment he leaped into the Battle of Life; as we + mortals ourselves spring all naked and scabbardless into the world. Yet, + rather, are we scabbards to our souls. And the drawn soul of genius is + more glittering than the drawn cimeter of Saladin. But how many let their + steel sleep, till it eat up the scabbard itself, and both corrode to + rust-chips. Saw you ever the hillocks of old Spanish anchors, and + anchor-stocks of ancient galleons, at the bottom of Callao Bay? The world + is full of old Tower armories, and dilapidated Venetian arsenals, and + rusty old rapiers. But true warriors polish their good blades by the + bright beams of the morning; and gird them on to their brave sirloins; and + watch for rust spots as for foes; and by many stout thrusts and stoccadoes + keep their metal lustrous and keen, as the spears of the Northern Lights + charging over Greenland. + </p> + <p> + Fire from the flint is our Chevalier enraged. He takes umbrage at the cut + of some ship's keel crossing his road; and straightway runs a tilt at it; + with one mad lounge thrusting his Andrea Ferrara clean through and + through; not seldom breaking it short off at the haft, like a bravo + leaving his poignard in the vitals of his foe. + </p> + <p> + In the case of the English ship Foxhound, the blade penetrated through the + most solid part of her hull, the bow; going completely through the copper + plates and timbers, and showing for several inches in the hold. On the + return of the ship to London, it was carefully sawn out; and, imbedded in + the original wood, like a fossil, is still preserved. But this was a + comparatively harmless onslaught of the valiant Chevalier. With the + Rousseau, of Nantucket, it fared worse. She was almost mortally stabbed; + her assailant withdrawing his blade. And it was only by keeping the pumps + clanging, that she managed to swim into a Tahitian harbor, "heave down," + and have her wound dressed by a ship-surgeon with tar and oakum. This ship + I met with at sea, shortly after the disaster. + </p> + <p> + At what armory our Chevalier equips himself after one of his spiteful + tilting-matches, it would not be easy to say. But very hard for him, if + ever after he goes about in the lists, swordless and disarmed, at the + mercy of any caitiff shark he may meet. + </p> + <p> + Now, seeing that our fellow-voyagers, the little fish along-side, were + sorely tormented and thinned out by the incursions of a pertinacious + Chevalier, bent upon making a hearty breakfast out of them, I determined + to interfere in their behalf, and capture the enemy. + </p> + <p> + With shark-hook and line I succeeded, and brought my brave gentleman to + the deck. He made an emphatic landing; lashing the planks with his sinewy + tail; while a yard and a half in advance of his eyes, reached forth his + terrible blade. + </p> + <p> + As victor, I was entitled to the arms of the vanquished; so, quickly + dispatching him, and sawing off his Toledo, I bore it away for a trophy. + It was three-sided, slightly concave on each, like a bayonet; and some + three inches through at the base, it tapered from thence to a point. + </p> + <p> + And though tempered not in Tagus or Guadalquiver, it yet revealed upon its + surface that wavy grain and watery fleckiness peculiar to tried blades of + Spain. It was an aromatic sword; like the ancient caliph's, giving out a + peculiar musky odor by friction. But far different from steel of Tagus or + Damascus, it was inflexible as Crocket's rifle tube; no doubt, as deadly. + </p> + <p> + Long hung that rapier over the head of my hammock. Was it not storied as + the good trenchant blade of brave Bayard, that other chevalier? The + knight's may have slain its scores, or fifties; but the weapon I — + preserved had, doubtless, run through and riddled its thousands. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0033" id="link2HCH0033"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIII — Otard + </h2> + <p> + And here is another little incident. + </p> + <p> + One afternoon while all by myself curiously penetrating into the hold, I + most unexpectedly obtained proof, that the ill-fated captain of the Parki + had been a man of sound judgment and most excellent taste. In brief, I + lighted upon an aromatic cask of prime old Otard. + </p> + <p> + Now, I mean not to speak lightly of any thing immediately connected with + the unfortunate captain. Nor, on the other hand, would I — resemble + the inconsolable mourner, who among other tokens of affliction, bound in + funereal crape his deceased friend's copy of Joe Miller. Is there not a + fitness in things? + </p> + <p> + But let that pass. I found the Otard, and drank there-of; finding it, + moreover, most pleasant to the palate, and right cheering to the soul. My + next impulse was to share my prize with my shipmates. But here a judicious + reflection obtruded. From the sea-monarchs, his ancestors, my Viking had + inherited one of their cardinal virtues, a detestation and abhorrence of + all vinous and spirituous beverages; insomuch, that he never could see + any, but he instantly quaffed it out of sight. To be short, like Alexander + the Great and other royalties, Jarl was prone to overmuch bibing. And + though at sea more sober than a Fifth Monarchy Elder, it was only because + he was then removed from temptation. But having thus divulged my Viking's + weak; side, I earnestly entreat, that it may not disparage him in any + charitable man's estimation. Only think, how many more there are like him + to say nothing further of Alexander the Great—especially among his + own class; and consider, I beseech, that the most capacious-souled + fellows, for that very reason, are the most apt to be too liberal in their + libations; since, being so large-hearted, they hold so much more good + cheer than others. + </p> + <p> + For Samoa, from his utter silence hitherto as to aught inebriating on + board, I concluded, that, along with his other secrets, the departed + captain had very wisely kept his Otard to himself. + </p> + <p> + Nor did I doubt, but that the Upoluan, like all Polynesians, much loved + getting high of head; and in that state, would be more intractable than a + Black Forest boar. And concerning Annatoo, I — shuddered to think, + how that Otard might inflame her into a Fury more fierce than the foremost + of those that pursued Orestes. + </p> + <p> + In good time, then, bethinking me of the peril of publishing my discovery;—bethinking + me of the quiet, lazy, ever-present perils of the voyage, of all + circumstances, the very worst under which to introduce an intoxicating + beverage to my companions, I resolved to withhold it from them altogether. + </p> + <p> + So impressed was I with all this, that for a moment, I was almost tempted + to roll over the cask on its bilge, remove the stopper, and suffer its + contents to mix with the foul water at the bottom of the hold. + </p> + <p> + But no, no: What: dilute the brine with the double distilled soul of the + precious grape? Haft himself would have haunted me! + </p> + <p> + Then again, it might come into play medicinally; and Paracelsus himself + stands sponsor for every cup drunk for the good of the abdomen. So at + last, I determined to let it remain where it was: visiting it + occasionally, by myself, for inspection. + </p> + <p> + But by way of advice to all ship-masters, let me say, that if your Otard + magazine be exposed to view—then, in the evil hour of wreck, stave + in your spirit-casks, ere rigging the life-boat. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0034" id="link2HCH0034"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIV — How They Steered On Their Way + </h2> + <p> + When we quitted the Chamois for the brigantine, we must have been at least + two hundred leagues to the westward of the spot, where we had abandoned + the Arcturion. Though how far we might then have been, North or South of + the Equator, I could not with any certainty divine. + </p> + <p> + But that we were not removed any considerable distance from the Line, + seemed obvious. For in the starriest night no sign of the extreme Polar + constellations was visible; though often we scanned the northern and + southern horizon in search of them. So far as regards the aspect of the + skies near the ocean's rim, the difference of several degrees in one's + latitude at sea, is readily perceived by a person long accustomed to + surveying the heavens. + </p> + <p> + If correct in my supposition, concerning our longitude at the time here + alluded to, and allowing for what little progress we had been making in + the Parki, there now remained some one hundred leagues to sail, ere the + country we sought would be found. But for obvious reasons, how long + precisely we might continue to float out of sight of land, it was + impossible to say. Calms, light breezes, and currents made every thing + uncertain. Nor had we any method of estimating our due westward progress, + except by what is called Dead Reckoning,—the computation of the + knots run hourly; allowances' being made for the supposed deviations from + our course, by reason of the ocean streams; which at times in this quarter + of the Pacific run with very great velocity. + </p> + <p> + Now, in many respects we could not but feel safer aboard the Parki than in + the Chamois. The sense of danger is less vivid, the greater the number of + lives involved. He who is ready to despair in solitary peril, plucks up a + heart in the presence of another. In a plurality of comrades is much + countenance and consolation. + </p> + <p> + Still, in the brigantine there were many sources of uneasiness and anxiety + unknown to me in the whale-boat. True, we had now between us and the deep, + five hundred good planks to one lath in our buoyant little chip. But the + Parki required more care and attention; especially by night, when a + vigilant look-out was indispensable. With impunity, in our whale-boat, we + might have run close to shoal or reef; whereas, similar carelessness or + temerity now, might prove fatal to all concerned. + </p> + <p> + Though in the joyous sunlight, sailing through the sparkling sea, I + — was little troubled with serious misgivings; in the hours of + darkness it was quite another thing. And the apprehensions, nay terrors I + — felt, were much augmented by the remissness of both Jarl and + Samoa, in keeping their night-watches. Several times I was seized with a + deadly panic, and earnestly scanned the murky horizon, when rising from + slumber I found the steersman, in whose hands for the time being were life + and death, sleeping upright against the tiller, as much of a fixture + there, as the open-mouthed dragon rudely carved on our prow. + </p> + <p> + Were it not, that on board of other vessels, I myself had many a time + dozed at the helm, spite of all struggles, I would have been almost at a + loss to account for this heedlessness in my comrades. But it seemed as if + the mere sense of our situation, should have been sufficient to prevent + the like conduct in all on board our craft. + </p> + <p> + Samoa's aspect, sleeping at the tiller, was almost appalling. His large + opal eyes were half open; and turned toward the light of the binnacle, + gleamed between the lids like bars of flame. And added to all, was his + giant stature and savage lineaments. + </p> + <p> + It was in vain, that I remonstrated, begged, or threatened: the occasional + drowsiness of my fellow-voyagers proved incurable. To no purpose, I + reminded my Viking that sleeping in the night-watch in a craft like ours, + was far different from similar heedlessness on board the Arcturion. For + there, our place upon the ocean was always known, and our distance from + land; so that when by night the seamen were permitted to be drowsy, it was + mostly, because the captain well knew that strict watchfulness could be + dispensed with. + </p> + <p> + Though in all else, the Skyeman proved a most faithful ally, in this one + thing he was either perversely obtuse, or infatuated. Or, perhaps, finding + himself once more in a double-decked craft, which rocked him as of yore, + he was lulled into a deceitful security. + </p> + <p> + For Samoa, his drowsiness was the drowsiness of one beat on sleep, come + dreams or death. He seemed insensible to the peril we ran. Often I sent + the sleepy savage below, sad, steered myself till morning. At last I made + a point of slumbering much by day, the better to stand watch by night; + though I made Samoa and Jarl regularly go through with their allotted four + hours each. + </p> + <p> + It has been mentioned, that Annatoo took her turn at the helm; but it was + only by day. And in justice to the lady, I must affirm, that upon the + whole she acquitted herself well. For notwithstanding the syren face in + the binnacle, which dimly allured her glances, Annatoo after all was + tolerably heedful of her steering. Indeed she took much pride therein; + always ready for her turn; with marvelous exactitude calculating the + approaching hour, as it came on in regular rotation. Her time-piece was + ours, the sun. By night it must have been her guardian star; for + frequently she gazed up at a particular section of the heavens, like one + regarding the dial in a tower. + </p> + <p> + By some odd reasoning or other, she had cajoled herself into the notion, + that whoever steered the brigantine, for that period was captain. + Wherefore, she gave herself mighty airs at the tiller; with extravagant + gestures issuing unintelligible orders about trimming the sails, or + pitching overboard something to see how fast we were going. All this much + diverted my Viking, who several times was delivered of a laugh; a loud and + healthy one to boot: a phenomenon worthy the chronicling. + </p> + <p> + And thus much for Annatoo, preliminary to what is further to be said. + Seeing the drowsiness of Jarl and Samoa, which so often kept me from my + hammock at night, forcing me to repose by day, when I far preferred being + broad awake, I decided to let Annatoo take her turn at the night watches; + which several times she had solicited me to do; railing at the sleepiness + of her spouse; though abstaining from all reflections upon Jarl, toward + whom she had of late grown exceedingly friendly. + </p> + <p> + Now the Calmuc stood her first night watch to admiration; if any thing, + was altogether too wakeful. The mere steering of the craft employed not + sufficiently her active mind. Ever and anon she must needs rush from the + tiller to take a parenthetical pull at the fore- brace, the end of which + led down to the bulwarks near by; then refreshing herself with a draught + or two of water and a biscuit, she would continue to steer away, full of + the importance of her office. At any unusual flapping of the sails, a + violent stamping on deck announced the fact to the startled crew. Finding + her thus indefatigable, I readily induced her to stand two watches to + Jarl's and Samoa's one; and when she was at the helm, I permitted myself + to doze on a pile of old sails, spread every evening on the quarter-deck. + </p> + <p> + It was the Skyeman, who often admonished me to "heave the ship to" every + night, thus stopping her headway till morning; a plan which, under other + circumstances, might have perhaps warranted the slumbers of all. But as it + was, such a course would have been highly imprudent. For while making no + onward progress through the water, the rapid currents we encountered would + continually be drifting us eastward; since, contrary to our previous + experience, they seemed latterly to have reversed their flow, a phenomenon + by no means unusual in the vicinity of the Line in the Pacific. And this + it was that so prolonged our passage to the westward. Even in a moderate + breeze, I sometimes fancied, that the impulse of the wind little more than + counteracted the glide of the currents; so that with much show of sailing, + we were in reality almost a fixture on the sea. + </p> + <p> + The equatorial currents of the South Seas may be regarded as among the + most mysterious of the mysteries of the deep. Whence they come, whither + go, who knows? Tell us, what hidden law regulates their flow. Regardless + of the theory which ascribes to them a nearly uniform course from east to + west, induced by the eastwardly winds of the Line, and the collateral + action of the Polar streams; these currents are forever shifting. Nor can + the period of their revolutions be at all relied upon or predicted. + </p> + <p> + But however difficult it may be to assign a specific cause for the ocean + streams, in any part of the world, one of the wholesome effects thereby + produced would seem obvious enough. And though the circumstance here + alluded to is perhaps known to every body, it may be questioned, whether + it is generally invested with the importance it deserves. Reference is + here made to the constant commingling and purification of the sea-water by + reason of the currents. + </p> + <p> + For, that the ocean, according to the popular theory, possesses a special + purifying agent in its salts, is somewhat to be doubted. Nor can it be + explicitly denied, that those very salts might corrupt it, were it not for + the brisk circulation of its particles consequent upon the flow of the + streams. It is well known to seamen, that a bucket of sea-water, left + standing in a tropical climate, very soon becomes highly offensive; which + is not the case with rainwater. + </p> + <p> + But I build no theories. And by way of obstructing the one, which might + possibly be evolved from the statement above, let me add, that the + offensiveness of sea-water left standing, may arise in no small degree + from the presence of decomposed animal matter. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0035" id="link2HCH0035"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXV — Ah, Annatoo! + </h2> + <p> + In order to a complete revelation, I must needs once again discourse of + Annatoo and her pilferings; and to what those pilferings led. In the + simplicity of my soul, I fancied that the dame, so much flattered as she + needs must have been, by the confidence I began to repose in her, would + now mend her ways, and abstain from her larcenies. But not so. She was + possessed by some scores of devils, perpetually her to mischief on their + own separate behoof, and not less for many of her pranks were of no + earthly advantage to her, present or prospective. + </p> + <p> + One day the log-reel was missing. Summon Annatoo. She came; but knew + nothing about it. Jarl spent a whole morning in contriving a substitute; + and a few days after, pop, we came upon the lost: article hidden away in + the main-top. + </p> + <p> + Another time, discovering the little vessel to "gripe" hard in steering, + as if some one under water were jerking her backward, we instituted a + diligent examination, to see what was the matter. When lo; what should we + find but a rope, cunningly attached to one of the chain-plates under the + starboard main-channel. It towed heavily in the water. Upon dragging it up—much + as you would the cord of a ponderous bucket far down in a well—a + stout wooden box was discovered at the end; which opened, disclosed sundry + knives, hatchets, and ax-heads. + </p> + <p> + Called to the stand, the Upoluan deposed, that thrice he had rescued that + identical box from Annatoo's all-appropriating clutches. + </p> + <p> + Now, here were four human beings shut up in this little oaken craft, and, + for the time being, their interests the same. What sane mortal, then, + would forever be committing thefts, without rhyme or reason. It was like + stealing silver from one pocket and decanting it into the other. And what + might it not lead to in the end? + </p> + <p> + Why, ere long, in good sooth, it led to the abstraction of the compass + from the binnacle; so that we were fain to substitute for it, the one + brought along in the Chamois. + </p> + <p> + It was Jarl that first published this last and alarming theft. Annatoo + being at the helm at dawn, he had gone to relieve her; and looking to see + how we headed, was horror-struck at the emptiness of the binnacle. + </p> + <p> + I started to my feet; sought out the woman, and ferociously demanded the + compass. But her face was a blank; every word a denial. + </p> + <p> + Further lenity was madness. I summoned Samoa, told him what had happened, + and affirmed that there was no safety for us except in the nightly + incarceration of his spouse. To this he privily assented; and that very + evening, when Annatoo descended into the forecastle, we barred over her + the scuttle-slide. Long she clamored, but unavailingly. And every night + this was repeated; the dame saying her vespers most energetically. + </p> + <p> + It has somewhere been hinted, that Annatoo occasionally cast sheep's eyes + at Jarl. So I was not a little surprised when her manner toward him + decidedly changed. Pulling at the ropes with us, she would give him sly + pinches, and then look another way, innocent as a lamb. Then again, she + would refuse to handle the same piece of rigging with him; with wry faces, + rinsed out the wooden can at the water cask, if it so chanced that my + Viking had previously been drinking therefrom. At other times, when the + honest Skyeman came up from below, she would set up a shout of derision, + and loll out her tongue; accompanying all this by certain indecorous and + exceedingly unladylike gestures, significant of the profound contempt in + which she held him. + </p> + <p> + Yet, never did Jarl heed her ill-breeding; but patiently overlooked and + forgave it. Inquiring the reason of the dame's singular conduct, I + learned, that with eye averted, she had very lately crept close to my + Viking, and met with no tender reception. + </p> + <p> + Doubtless, Jarl, who was much of a philosopher, innocently imagined that + ere long the lady would forgive and forget him. But what knows a + philosopher about women? + </p> + <p> + Ere long, so outrageous became Annatoo's detestation of him, that the + honest old tar could stand it no longer, and like most good-natured men + when once fairly roused, he was swept through and through with a terrible + typhoon of passion. He proposed, that forthwith the woman should be sacked + and committed to the deep; he could stand it no longer. + </p> + <p> + Murder is catching. At first I almost jumped at the proposition; but as + quickly rejected it. Ah! Annatoo: Woman unendurable: deliver me, ye gods, + from being shut up in a ship with such a hornet again. + </p> + <p> + But are we yet through with her? Not yet. Hitherto she had continued to + perform the duties of the office assigned her since the commencement of + the voyage: namely, those of the culinary department. From this she was + now deposed. Her skewer was broken. My Viking solemnly averring, that he + would eat nothing more of her concocting, for fear of being poisoned. For + myself, I almost believed, that there was malice enough in the minx to + give us our henbane broth. + </p> + <p> + But what said Samoa to all this? Passing over the matter of the cookery, + will it be credited, that living right among us as he did, he was yet + blind to the premeditated though unachieved peccadilloes of his spouse? + Yet so it was. And thus blind was Belisarius himself, concerning the + intrigues of Antonina. + </p> + <p> + Witness that noble dame's affair with the youth Theodosius; when her + deluded lord charged upon the scandal-mongers with the very horns she had + bestowed upon him. + </p> + <p> + Upon one occasion, seized with a sudden desire to palliate Annatoo's + thievings, Samoa proudly intimated, that the lady was the most virtuous of + her sex. + </p> + <p> + But alas, poor Annatoo, why say more? And bethinking me of the hard fate + that so soon overtook thee, I almost repent what has already and too + faithfully been portrayed. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0036" id="link2HCH0036"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVI — The Parki Gives Up The Ghost + </h2> + <p> + A long calm in the boat, and now, God help us, another in the brigantine. + It was airless and profound. + </p> + <p> + In that hot calm, we lay fixed and frozen in like Parry at the Pole. The + sun played upon the glassy sea like the sun upon the glaciers. + </p> + <p> + At the end of two days we lifted up our eyes and beheld a low, creeping, + hungry cloud expanding like an army, wing and wing, along the eastern + horizon. Instantly Jarl bode me take heed. + </p> + <p> + Here be it said, that though for weeks and weeks reign over the equatorial + latitudes of the Pacific, the mildest and sunniest of days; that + nevertheless, when storms do come, they come in their strength: spending + in a few, brief blasts their concentrated rage. They come like the + Mamelukes: they charge, and away. + </p> + <p> + It wanted full an hour to sunset; but the sun was well nigh obscured. It + seemed toiling among bleak Scythian steeps in the hazy background. Above + the storm-cloud flitted ominous patches of scud, rapidly advancing and + receding: Attila's skirmishers, thrown forward in the van of his Huns. + Beneath, a fitful shadow slid along the surface. As we gazed, the cloud + came nearer; accelerating its approach. + </p> + <p> + With all haste we proceeded to furl the sails, which, owing to the calm, + had been hanging loose in the brails. And by help of a spare boom, used on + the forecastle-deck sit a sweep or great oar, we endeavored to cast the + brigantine's head toward the foe. + </p> + <p> + The storm seemed about to overtake us; but we felt no breeze. The + noiseless cloud stole on; its advancing shadow lowering over a distinct + and prominent milk-white crest upon the surface of the ocean. But now this + line of surging foam came rolling down upon us like a white charge of + cavalry: mad Hotspur and plumed Murat at its head; pouring right forward + in a continuous frothy cascade, which curled over, and fell upon the + glassy sea before it. + </p> + <p> + Still, no breath of air. But of a sudden, like a blow from a man's hand, + and before our canvas could be secured, the stunned craft, giving one + lurch to port, was stricken down on her beam-ends; the roaring tide dashed + high up against her windward side, and drops of brine fell upon the deck, + heavy as drops of gore. + </p> + <p> + It was all a din and a mist; a crashing of spars and of ropes; a horrible + blending of sights and of sounds; as for an instant we seemed in the hot + heart of the gale; our cordage, like harp-strings, shrieking above the + fury of the blast. The masts rose, and swayed, and dipped their trucks in + the sea. And like unto some stricken buffalo brought low to the plain, the + brigantine's black hull, shaggy with sea-weed, lay panting on its flank in + the foam. + </p> + <p> + Frantically we clung to the uppermost bulwarks. And now, loud above the + roar of the sea, was suddenly heard a sharp, splintering sound, as of a + Norway woodman felling a pine in the forest. It was brave Jarl, who + foremost of all had snatched from its rack against the mainmast, the ax, + always there kept. + </p> + <p> + "Cut the lanyards to windward!" he cried; and again buried his ax into the + mast. He was quickly obeyed. And upon cutting the third lanyard of the + five, he shouted for us to pause. Dropping his ax, he climbed up to + windward. As he clutched the rail, the wounded mast snapped in twain with + a report like a cannon. A slight smoke was perceptible where it broke. The + remaining lanyards parted. From the violent strain upon them, the two + shrouds flew madly into the air, and one of the great blocks at their + ends, striking Annatoo upon the forehead, she let go her hold upon a + stanchion, and sliding across the aslant deck, was swallowed up in the + whirlpool under our lea. Samoa shrieked. But there was no time to mourn; + no hand could reach to save. + </p> + <p> + By the connecting stays, the mainmast carried over with it the foremast; + when we instantly righted, and for the time were saved; my own royal + Viking our saviour. + </p> + <p> + The first fury of the gale was gone. But far to leeward was seen the even, + white line of its onset, pawing the ocean into foam. All round us, the sea + boiled like ten thousand caldrons; and through eddy, wave, and surge, our + almost water-logged craft waded heavily; every dead clash ringing hollow + against her hull, like blows upon a coffin. + </p> + <p> + We floated a wreck. With every pitch we lifted our dangling jib-boom into + the air; and beating against the side, were the shattered fragments of the + masts. From these we made all haste to be free, by cutting the rigging + that held them. + </p> + <p> + Soon, the worst of the gale was blown over. But the sea ran high. Yet the + rack and scud of the tempest, its mad, tearing foam, was subdued into + immense, long-extended, and long-rolling billows; the white cream on their + crests like snow on the Andes. Ever and anon we hung poised on their + brows; when the furrowed ocean all round looked like a panorama from + Chimborazo. + </p> + <p> + A few hours more, and the surges went down. There was a moderate sea, a + steady breeze, and a clear, starry sky. Such was the storm that came after + our calm. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0037" id="link2HCH0037"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVII — Once More They Take To The Chamois + </h2> + <p> + Try the pumps. We dropped the sinker, and found the Parki bleeding at + every pore. Up from her well, the water, spring-like, came bubbling, pure + and limpid as the water of Saratoga. Her time had come. But by keeping two + hands at the pumps, we had no doubt she would float till daylight; + previous to which we liked not to abandon her. + </p> + <p> + The interval was employed in clanging at the pump-breaks, and preparing + the Chamois for our reception. So soon as the sea permitted, we lowered it + over the side; and letting it float under the stern, stowed it with water + and provisions, together with various other things, including muskets and + cutlasses. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after daylight, a violent jostling and thumping under foot showed + that the water, gaining rapidly in the, hold, spite of all pumping, had + floated the lighter casks up-ward to the deck, against which they were + striking. + </p> + <p> + Now, owing to the number of empty butts in the hold, there would have + been, perhaps, but small danger of the vessel's sinking outright—all + awash as her decks would soon be—were it not, that many of her + timbers were of a native wood, which, like the Teak of India, is + specifically heavier than water. This, with the pearl shells on board, + counteracted the buoyancy of the casks. + </p> + <p> + At last, the sun—long waited for—arose; the Parki meantime + sinking lower and lower. + </p> + <p> + All things being in readiness, we proceeded to embark from the wreck, as + from a wharf. + </p> + <p> + But not without some show of love for our poor brigantine. + </p> + <p> + To a seaman, a ship is no piece of mechanism merely; but a creature of + thoughts and fancies, instinct with life. Standing at her vibrating helm, + you feel her beating pulse. I have loved ships, as I — have loved + men. + </p> + <p> + To abandon the poor Parki was like leaving to its fate something that + could feel. It was meet that she should die decently and bravely. + </p> + <p> + All this thought the Skyeman. Samoa and I were in the boat, calling upon + him to enter quickly, lest the vessel should sink, and carry us down in + the eddies; for already she had gone round twice. But cutting adrift the + last fragments of her broken shrouds, and putting her decks in order, Jarl + buried his ax in the splintered stump of the mainmast, and not till then + did he join us. + </p> + <p> + We slowly cheered, and sailed away. + </p> + <p> + Not ten minutes after, the hull rolled convulsively in the sea; went round + once more; lifted its sharp prow as a man with arms pointed for a dive; + gave a long seething plunge; and went down. + </p> + <p> + Many of her old planks were twice wrecked; once strown upon ocean's beach; + now dropped into its lowermost vaults, with the bones of drowned ships and + drowned men. + </p> + <p> + Once more afloat in our shell! But not with the intrepid spirit that + shoved off with us from the deck of the Arcturion. A bold deed done from + impulse, for the time carries few or no misgivings along with it. But + forced upon you, its terrors stare you in the face. So now. I — had + pushed from the Arcturion with a stout heart; but quitting the sinking + Parki, my heart sunk with her. + </p> + <p> + With a fair wind, we held on our way westward, hoping to see land before + many days. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0038" id="link2HCH0038"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVIII — The Sea On Fire + </h2> + <p> + The night following our abandonment of the Parki, was made memorable by a + remarkable spectacle. + </p> + <p> + Slumbering in the bottom of the boat, Jarl and I were suddenly awakened by + Samoa. Starting, we beheld the ocean of a pallid white color, corruscating + all over with tiny golden sparkles. But the pervading hue of the water + cast a cadaverous gleam upon the boat, so that we looked to each other + like ghosts. For many rods astern our wake was revealed in a line of + rushing illuminated foam; while here and there beneath the surface, the + tracks of sharks were denoted by vivid, greenish trails, crossing and + recrossing each other in every direction. Farther away, and distributed in + clusters, floated on the sea, like constellations in the heavens, + innumerable Medusae, a species of small, round, refulgent fish, only to be + met with in the South Seas and the Indian Ocean. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly, as we gazed, there shot high into the air a bushy jet of + flashes, accompanied by the unmistakable deep breathing sound of a sperm + whale. Soon, the sea all round us spouted in fountains of fire; and vast + forms, emitting a glare from their flanks, and ever and anon raising their + heads above water, and shaking off the sparkles, showed where an immense + shoal of Cachalots had risen from below to sport in these phosphorescent + billows. + </p> + <p> + The vapor jetted forth was far more radiant than any portion of the sea; + ascribable perhaps to the originally luminous fluid contracting still more + brilliancy from its passage through the spouting canal of the whales. + </p> + <p> + We were in great fear, lest without any vicious intention the Leviathans + might destroy us, by coming into close contact with our boat. We would + have shunned them; but they were all round and round us. Nevertheless we + were safe; for as we parted the pallid brine, the peculiar irradiation + which shot from about our keel seemed to deter them. Apparently + discovering us of a sudden, many of them plunged headlong down into the + water, tossing their fiery tails high into the air, and leaving the sea + still more sparkling from the violent surging of their descent. + </p> + <p> + Their general course seemed the same as our own; to the westward. To + remove from them, we at last out oars, and pulled toward the north. So + doing, we were steadily pursued by a solitary whale, that must have taken + our Chamois for a kindred fish. Spite of all our efforts, he drew nearer + and nearer; at length rubbing his fiery flank against the Chamois' + gunwale, here and there leaving long strips of the glossy transparent + substance which thin as gossamer invests the body of the Cachalot. + </p> + <p> + In terror at a sight so new, Samoa shrank. But Jarl and I, more used to + the intimate companionship of the whales, pushed the boat away from it + with our oars: a thing often done in the fishery. + </p> + <p> + The close vicinity of the whale revived in the so long astute Skyeman all + the enthusiasm of his daring vocation. However quiet by nature, a + thorough-bred whaleman betrays no little excitement in sight of his game. + And it required some persuasion to prevent Jarl from darting his harpoon: + insanity under present circumstances; and of course without object. But + "Oh! for a dart," cried my Viking. And "Where's now our old ship?" he + added reminiscently. + </p> + <p> + But to my great joy the monster at last departed; rejoining the shoal, + whose lofty spoutings of flame were still visible upon the distant line of + the horizon; showing there, like the fitful starts of the Aurora Borealis. + </p> + <p> + The sea retained its luminosity for about three hours; at the expiration + of half that period beginning to fade; and excepting occasional faint + illuminations consequent upon the rapid darting of fish under water, the + phenomenon at last wholly disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Heretofore, I had beheld several exhibitions of marine phosphorescence, + both in the Atlantic and Pacific. But nothing in comparison with what was + seen that night. In the Atlantic, there is very seldom any portion of the + ocean luminous, except the crests of the waves; and these mostly appear so + during wet, murky weather. Whereas, in the Pacific, all instances of the + sort, previously corning under my notice, had been marked by patches of + greenish light, unattended with any pallidness of sea. Save twice on the + coast of Peru, where I was summoned from my hammock to the alarming + midnight cry of "All hands ahoy! tack ship!" And rushing on deck, beheld + the sea white as a shroud; for which reason it was feared we were on + soundings. + </p> + <p> + Now, sailors love marvels, and love to repeat them. And from many an old + shipmate I have heard various sage opinings, concerning the phenomenon in + question. Dismissing, as destitute of sound philosophic probability, the + extravagant notion of one of my nautical friends—no less a + philosopher than my Viking himself—namely: that the phosphoresence + of the sea is caused by a commotion among the mermaids, whose golden + locks, all torn and disheveled, do irradiate the waters at such times; I + proceed to record more reliable theories. + </p> + <p> + Faraday might, perhaps, impute the phenomenon to a peculiarly electrical + condition of the atmosphere; and to that solely. But herein, my scientific + friend would be stoutly contradicted by many intelligent seamen, who, in + part, impute it to the presence of large quantities of putrescent animal + matter; with which the sea is well known to abound. + </p> + <p> + And it would seem not unreasonable to suppose, that it is by this means + that the fluid itself becomes charged with the luminous principle. Draw a + bucket of water from the phosphorescent ocean, and it still retains traces + of fire; but, standing awhile, this soon subsides. Now pour it along the + deck, and it is a stream of flame; caused by its renewed agitation. Empty + the bucket, and for a space sparkles cling to it tenaciously; and every + stave seems ignited. + </p> + <p> + But after all, this seeming ignition of the sea can not be wholly produced + by dead matter therein. There are many living fish, phosphorescent; and, + under certain conditions, by a rapid throwing off of luminous particles + must largely contribute to the result. Not to particularize this + circumstance as true of divers species of sharks, cuttle-fish, and many + others of the larger varieties of the finny tribes; the myriads of + microscopic mollusca, well known to swarm off soundings, might alone be + deemed almost sufficient to kindle a fire in the brine. + </p> + <p> + But these are only surmises; likely, but uncertain. + </p> + <p> + After science comes sentiment. + </p> + <p> + A French naturalist maintains, that the nocturnal radiance of the fire-fly + is purposely intended as an attraction to the opposite sex; that the + artful insect illuminates its body for a beacon to love. Thus: perched + upon the edge of a leaf, and waiting the approach of her Leander, who + comes buffeting with his wings the aroma of the flowers, some insect Hero + may show a torch to her gossamer gallant. + </p> + <p> + But alas, thrice alas, for the poor little fire-fish of the sea, whose + radiance but reveals them to their foes, and lights the way to their + destruction. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0039" id="link2HCH0039"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIX — They Fall In With Strangers + </h2> + <p> + After quitting the Parki, we had much calm weather, varied by light + breezes. And sailing smoothly over a sea, so recently one sheet of foam, I + could not avoid bethinking me, how fortunate it was, that the gale had + overtaken us in the brigantine, and not in the Chamois. For deservedly + high as the whale-shallop ranks as a sea boat; still, in a severe storm, + the larger your craft the greater your sense of security. Wherefore, the + thousand reckless souls tenanting a line-of- battle ship scoff at the most + awful hurricanes; though, in reality, they may be less safe in their + wooden-walled Troy, than those who contend with the gale in a clipper. + </p> + <p> + But not only did I congratulate myself upon salvation from the past, but + upon the prospect for the future. For storms happening so seldom in these + seas, one just blown over is almost a sure guarantee of very many weeks' + calm weather to come. + </p> + <p> + Now sun followed sun; and no land. And at length it almost seemed as if we + must have sailed past the remotest presumable westerly limit of the chain + of islands we sought; a lurking suspicion which I — sedulously kept + to myself However, I could not but nourish a latent faith that all would + yet be well. + </p> + <p> + On the ninth day my forebodings were over. In the gray of the dawn, + perched upon the peak of our sail, a noddy was seen fast asleep. This + freak was true to the nature of that curious fowl, whose name is + significant of its drowsiness. Its plumage was snow-white, its bill and + legs blood-red; the latter looking like little pantalettes. In a sly + attempt at catching the bird, Samoa captured three tail- feathers; the + alarmed creature flying away with a scream, and leaving its quills in his + hand. + </p> + <p> + Sailing on, we gradually broke in upon immense low-sailing flights of + other aquatic fowls, mostly of those species which are seldom found far + from land: terns, frigate-birds, mollymeaux, reef-pigeons, boobies, gulls, + and the like. They darkened the air; their wings making overhead an + incessant rustling like the simultaneous turning over of ten thousand + leaves. The smaller sort skimmed the sea like pebbles sent skipping from + the shore. Over these, flew myriads of birds of broader wing. While high + above all, soared in air the daring "Diver," or sea-kite, the power of + whose vision is truly wonderful. It perceives the little flying-fish in + the water, at a height which can not be less than four hundred feet. + Spirally wheeling and screaming as it goes, the sea-kite, bill foremost, + darts downward, swoops into the water, and for a moment altogether + disappearing, emerges at last; its prey firmly trussed in its claws. But + bearing it aloft, the bold bandit is quickly assailed by other birds of + prey, that strive to wrest from him his booty. And snatched from his + talons, you see the fish falling through the air, till again caught up in + the very act of descent, by the fleetest of its pursuers. + </p> + <p> + Leaving these sights astern, we presently picked up the slimy husk of a + cocoanut, all over green barnacles. And shortly after, passed two or three + limbs of trees, and the solitary trunk of a palm; which, upon sailing + nearer, seemed but very recently started on its endless voyage. As noon + came on; the dark purple land-haze, which had been dimly descried resting + upon the western horizon, was very nearly obscured. Nevertheless, behind + that dim drapery we doubted not bright boughs were waving. + </p> + <p> + We were now in high spirits. Samoa between times humming to himself some + heathenish ditty, and Jarl ten times more intent on his silence than ever; + yet his eye full of expectation and gazing broad off from our bow. Of a + sudden, shading his face with his hand, he gazed fixedly for an instant, + and then springing to his feet, uttered the long-drawn sound—"Sail + ho!" + </p> + <p> + Just tipping the furthest edge of the sky was a little speck, dancing into + view every time we rose upon the swells. It looked like one of many birds; + for half intercepting our view, fell showers of plumage: a flight of + milk-white noddies flying downward to the sea. + </p> + <p> + But soon the birds are seen no more. Yet there remains the speck; plainly + a sail; but too small for a ship. Was it a boat after a whale? The vessel + to which it belonged far astern, and shrouded by the haze? So it seemed. + </p> + <p> + Quietly, however, we waited the stranger's nearer approach; confident, + that for some time he would not be able to perceive us, owing to our being + in what mariners denominate the "sun-glade," or that part of the ocean + upon which the sun's rays flash with peculiar intensity. + </p> + <p> + As the sail drew nigh, its failing to glisten white led us to doubt + whether it was indeed a whale-boat. Presently, it showed yellow; and Samoa + declared, that it must be the sail of some island craft. True. The + stranger proving a large double-canoe, like those used by the Polynesians + in making passages between distant islands. + </p> + <p> + The Upoluan was now clamorous for a meeting, to which Jarl was averse. + Deliberating a moment, I directed the muskets to be loaded; then setting + the sail the wind on our quarter—we headed away for the canoe, now + sailing at right angles with our previous course. + </p> + <p> + Here it must be mentioned, that from the various gay cloths and other + things provided for barter by the captain of the Parki, I had very + strikingly improved my costume; making it free, flowing, and eastern. I + looked like an Emir. Nor had my Viking neglected to follow my example; + though with some few modifications of his own. With his long tangled hair + and harpoon, he looked like the sea-god, that boards ships, for the first + time crossing the Equator. For tatooed Samoa, he yet sported both kilt and + turban, reminding one of a tawny leopard, though his spots were all in one + place. Besides this raiment of ours, against emergencies we had provided + our boat with divers nankeens and silks. + </p> + <p> + But now into full view comes a yoke of huge clumsy prows, shaggy with + carving, and driving through the water with considerable velocity; the + immense sprawling sail holding the wind like a bag. She seemed full of + men; and from the dissonant cries borne over to us, and the canoe's widely + yawing, it was plain that we had occasioned no small sensation. They + seemed undetermined what course to pursue: whether to court a meeting, or + avoid it; whether to regard us as friends or foes. + </p> + <p> + As we came still nearer, distinctly beholding their faces, we loudly + hailed them, inviting them to furl their sails, and allow us to board + them. But no answer was returned; their confusion increasing. And now, + within less than two ships'-lengths, they swept right across our bow, + gazing at us with blended curiosity and fear. + </p> + <p> + Their craft was about thirty feet long, consisting of a pair of parallel + canoes, very narrow, and at the distance of a yard or so, lengthwise, + united by stout cross-timbers, lashed across the four gunwales. Upon these + timbers was a raised platform or dais, quite dry; and astern an arched + cabin or tent; behind which, were two broad-bladed paddles terminating in + rude shark-tails, by which the craft was steered. + </p> + <p> + The yard, spreading a yellow sail, was a crooked bough, supported + obliquely in the crotch of a mast, to which the green bark was still + clinging. Here and there were little tufts of moss. The high, beaked prow + of that canoe in which the mast was placed, resembled a rude altar; and + all round it was suspended a great variety of fruits, including scores of + cocoanuts, unhusked. This prow was railed off, forming a sort of chancel + within. + </p> + <p> + The foremost beam, crossing the gunwales, extended some twelve feet beyond + the side of the dais; and at regular intervals hereupon, stout cords were + fastened, which, leading up to the head of the mast, answered the purpose + of shrouds. The breeze was now streaming fresh; and, as if to force down + into the water the windward side of the craft, five men stood upon this + long beam, grasping five shrouds. Yet they failed to counterbalance the + pressure of the sail; and owing to the opposite inclination of the twin + canoes, these living statues were elevated high above the water; their + appearance rendered still more striking by their eager attitudes, and the + apparent peril of their position, as the mad spray from the bow dashed + over them. Suddenly, the Islanders threw their craft into the wind; while, + for ourselves, we lay on our oars, fearful of alarming them by now coming + nearer. But hailing them again, we said we were friends; and had friendly + gifts for them, if they would peaceably permit us to approach. This + understood, there ensued a mighty clamor; insomuch, that I bade Jarl and + Samoa out oars, and row very gently toward the strangers. Whereupon, amid + a storm of vociferations, some of them hurried to the furthest side of + their dais; standing with arms arched over their heads, as if for a dive; + others menacing us with clubs and spears; and one, an old man with a + bamboo trellis on his head forming a sort of arbor for his hair, planted + himself full before the tent, stretching behind him a wide plaited sling. + </p> + <p> + Upon this hostile display, Samoa dropped his oar, and brought his piece to + bear upon the old man, who, by his attitude, seemed to menace us with the + fate of the great braggart of Gath. But I quickly knocked down the muzzle + of his musket, and forbade the slightest token of hostility; enjoining it + upon my companions, nevertheless, to keep well on their guard. + </p> + <p> + We now ceased rowing, and after a few minutes' uproar in the canoe, they + ran to the steering-paddles, and forcing round their craft before the + wind, rapidly ran away from us. With all haste we set our sail, and + pulling also at our oars, soon overtook them, determined upon coming into + closer communion. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0040" id="link2HCH0040"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XL — Sire And Sons + </h2> + <p> + Seeing flight was useless, the Islanders again stopped their canoe, and + once more we cautiously drew nearer; myself crying out to them not to be + fearful; and Samoa, with the odd humor of his race, averring that he had + known every soul of them from his infancy. + </p> + <p> + We approached within two or three yards; when we paused, which somewhat + allayed their alarm. Fastening a red China handkerchief to the blade of + our long mid-ship oar, I waved it in the air. A lively clapping of hands, + and many wild exclamations. + </p> + <p> + While yet waving the flag, I whispered to Jarl to give the boat a sheer + toward the canoe, which being adroitly done, brought the bow, where I + stood, still nearer to the Islanders. I then dropped the silk among them; + and the Islander, who caught it, at once handed it to the warlike old man + with the sling; who, on seating himself, spread it before him; while the + rest crowding round, glanced rapidly from the wonderful gift, to the more + wonderful donors. + </p> + <p> + This old man was the superior of the party. And Samoa asserted, that he + must be a priest of the country to which the Islanders belonged; that the + craft could be no other than one of their sacred canoes, bound on some + priestly voyage. All this he inferred from the altar- like prow, and there + being no women on board. + </p> + <p> + Bent upon conciliating the old priest, I dropped into the canoe another + silk handkerchief; while Samoa loudly exclaimed, that we were only three + men, and were peaceably inclined. Meantime, old Aaron, fastening the two + silks crosswise over his shoulders, like a brace of Highland plaids, + crosslegged sat, and eyed us. + </p> + <p> + It was a curious sight. The old priest, like a scroll of old parchment, + covered all over with hieroglyphical devices, harder to interpret, I'll + warrant, than any old Sanscrit manuscript. And upon his broad brow, + deep-graven in wrinkles, were characters still more mysterious, which no + Champollion nor gipsy could have deciphered. He looked old as the elderly + hills; eyes sunken, though bright; and head white as the summit of Mont + Blanc. + </p> + <p> + The rest were a youthful and comely set: their complexion that of Gold + Sherry, and all tattooed after this pattern: two broad cross- stripes on + the chest and back; reaching down to the waist, like a foot-soldier's + harness. Their faces were full of expression; and their mouths were full + of fine teeth; so that the parting of their lips, was as the opening of + pearl oysters. Marked, here and there, after the style of Tahiti, with + little round figures in blue, dotted in the middle with a spot of + vermilion, their brawny brown thighs looked not unlike the gallant hams of + Westphalia, spotted with the red dust of Cayenne. + </p> + <p> + But what a marvelous resemblance in the features of all. Were they born at + one birth? This resemblance was heightened by their uniform marks. But it + was subsequently ascertained, that they were the children of one sire; and + that sire, old Aaron; who, no doubt, reposed upon his sons, as an old + general upon the trophies of his youth. + </p> + <p> + They were the children of as many mothers; and he was training them up for + the priesthood. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0041" id="link2HCH0041"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLI — A Fray + </h2> + <p> + So bent were the strangers upon concealing who they were, and the object + of their voyage, that it was some time ere we could obtain the information + we desired. + </p> + <p> + They pointed toward the tent, as if it contained their Eleusinian + mysteries. And the old priest gave us to know, that it would be + profanation to enter it. + </p> + <p> + But all this only roused my curiosity to unravel the wonder. + </p> + <p> + At last I succeeded. + </p> + <p> + In that mysterious tent was concealed a beautiful maiden. And, in + pursuance of a barbarous custom, by Aleema, the priest, she was being + borne an offering from the island of Amma to the gods of Tedaidee. + </p> + <p> + Now, hearing of the maiden, I waited for no more. Need I add, how stirred + was my soul toward this invisible victim; and how hotly I — swore, + that precious blood of hers should never smoke upon an altar. If we + drowned for it, I was bent upon rescuing the captive. But as yet, no + gentle signal of distress had been waved to us from the tent. Thence, no + sound could be heard, but an occasional rustle of the matting. Was it + possible, that one about to be immolated could proceed thus tranquilly to + her fate? + </p> + <p> + But desperately as I resolved to accomplish the deliverance of the maiden, + it was best to set heedfully about it. I desired no shedding of blood; + though the odds were against us. + </p> + <p> + The old priest seemed determined to prevent us from boarding his craft. + But being equally determined the other way, I cautiously laid the bow of + the Chamois against the canoe's quarter, so as to present the smallest + possible chance for a hostile entrance into our boat. Then, Samoa, knife + in ear, and myself with a cutlass, stepped upon the dais, leaving Jarl in + the boat's head, equipped with his harpoon; three loaded muskets lying by + his side. He was strictly enjoined to resist the slightest demonstration + toward our craft. + </p> + <p> + As we boarded the canoe, the Islanders slowly retreated; meantime + earnestly conferring in whispers; all but the old priest, who, still + seated, presented an undaunted though troubled front. To our surprise, he + motioned us to sit down by him; which we did; taking care, however, not to + cut off our communication with Jarl. + </p> + <p> + With the hope of inspiring good will, I now unfolded a roll of printed + cotton, and spreading it before the priest, directed his attention to the + pictorial embellishments thereon, representing some hundreds of sailor + boys simultaneously ascending some hundreds of uniform sections of a + ship's rigging. Glancing at them a moment, by a significant sign, he gave + me to know, that long previous he himself had ascended the shrouds of a + ship. Making this allusion, his countenance was overcast with a ferocious + expression, as if something terrific was connected with the reminiscence. + But it soon passed away, and somewhat abruptly he assumed an air of much + merriment. + </p> + <p> + While we were thus sitting together, and my whole soul full of the + thoughts of the captive, and how best to accomplish my purpose, and often + gazing toward the tent; I all at once noticed a movement among the + strangers. Almost in the same instant, Samoa, right across the face of + Aleema, and in his ordinary tones, bade me take heed to myself, for + mischief was brewing. Hardly was this warning uttered, when, with carved + clubs in their hands, the Islanders completely surrounded us. Then up rose + the old priest, and gave us to know, that we were wholly in his power, and + if we did not swear to depart in our boat forthwith, and molest him no + more, the peril be ours. + </p> + <p> + "Depart and you live; stay and you die." + </p> + <p> + Fifteen to three. Madness to gainsay his mandate. Yet a beautiful maiden + was at stake. + </p> + <p> + The knife before dangling in Samoa's ear was now in his hand. Jarl cried + out for us to regain the boat, several of the Islanders making a rush for + it. No time to think. All passed quicker than it can be said. They closed + in upon us, to push us from the canoe: Rudely the old priest flung me from + his side, menacing me with his dagger, the sharp spine of a fish. A thrust + and a threat! Ere I knew it, my cutlass made a quick lunge. A curse from + the priest's mouth; red blood from his side; he tottered, stared about + him, and fell over like a brown hemlock into the sea. A yell of + maledictions rose on the air. A wild cry was heard from the tent. Making a + dead breach among the crowd, we now dashed side by side for the boat. + Springing into it, we found Jarl battling with two Islanders; while the + rest were still howling upon the dais. Rage and grief had almost disabled + them. + </p> + <p> + With one stroke of my cutlass, I now parted the line that held us to the + canoe, and with Samoa falling upon the two Islanders, by Jarl's help, we + quickly mastered them; forcing them down into the bottom of the boat. + </p> + <p> + The Skyeman and Samoa holding passive the captives, I quickly set our + sail, and snatching the sheet at the cavil, we rapidly shot from the + canoe. The strangers defying us with their spears; several couching them + as if to dart; while others held back their hands, as if to prevent them + from jeopardizing the lives of their countrymen in the Chamois. + </p> + <p> + Seemingly untoward events oftentimes lead to successful results: Far from + destroying all chance of rescuing the captive, our temporary flight, + indispensable for the safety of Jarl, only made the success of our + enterprise more probable. For having made prisoners two of the strangers, + I determined to retain them as hostages, through whom to effect my plans + without further bloodshed. + </p> + <p> + And here it must needs be related, that some of the natives were wounded + in the fray: while all three of their assailants had received several + bruises. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0042" id="link2HCH0042"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLII — Remorse + </h2> + <p> + During the skirmish not a single musket had been discharged. The first + snatched by Jarl had missed fire, and ere he could seize another, it was + close quarters with him, and no gestures to spare. His harpoon was his + all. And truly, there is nothing like steel in a fray. It comes and it + goes with a will, and is never a-weary. Your sword is your life, and that + of your foe; to keep or to take as it happens. Closer home does it go than + a rammer; and fighting with steel is a play without ever an interlude. + There are points more deadly than bullets; and stocks packed full of + subtle tubes, whence comes an impulse more reliable than powder. + </p> + <p> + Binding our prisoners lengthwise across the boat's seats, we rowed for the + canoe, making signs of amity. + </p> + <p> + Now, if there be any thing fitted to make a high tide ebb in the veins, it + is the sight of a vanquished foe, inferior to yourself in powers of + destruction; but whom some necessity has forced you to subdue. All + victories are not triumphs, nor all who conquer, heroes. + </p> + <p> + As we drew near the canoe, it was plain, that the loss of their sire had + again for the instant overcome the survivors. Raising hands, they cursed + us; and at intervals sent forth a low, piercing wail, peculiar to their + race. As before, faint cries were heard from the tent. And all the while + rose and fell on the sea, the ill-fated canoe. + </p> + <p> + As I gazed at this sight, what iron mace fell on my soul; what curse rang + sharp in my ear! It was I, who was the author of the deed that caused the + shrill wails that I heard. By this hand, the dead man had died. Remorse + smote me hard; and like lightning I asked myself, whether the death-deed I + had done was sprung of a virtuous motive, the rescuing a captive from + thrall; or whether beneath that pretense, I had engaged in this fatal + affray for some other, and selfish purpose; the companionship of a + beautiful maid. But throttling the thought, I swore to be gay. Am I not + rescuing the maiden? Let them go down who withstand me. + </p> + <p> + At the dismal spectacle before him, Jarl, hitherto menacing our prisoners + with his weapon, in order to intimidate their countrymen, honest Jarl + dropped his harpoon. But shaking his knife in the air, Samoa yet defied + the strangers; nor could we prevent him. His heathenish blood was up. + </p> + <p> + Standing foremost in the boat, I now assured the strangers, that all we + sought at their hands was the maiden in the tent. That captive + surrendered, our own, unharmed, should be restored. If not, they must die. + With a cry, they started to their feet, and brandished their clubs; but, + seeing Jarl's harpoon quivering over the hearts of our prisoners, they + quickly retreated; at last signifying their acquiescence in my demand. + Upon this, I sprang to the dais, and across it indicating a line near the + bow, signed the Islanders to retire beyond it. Then, calling upon them one + by one to deliver their weapons, they were passed into the boat. + </p> + <p> + The Chamois was now brought round to the canoe's stern; and leaving Jarl + to defend it as before, the Upoluan rejoined me on the dais. By these + precautions—the hostages still remaining bound hand and foot in the + boat—we deemed ourselves entirely secure. + </p> + <p> + Attended by Samoa, I stood before the tent, now still as the grave. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0043" id="link2HCH0043"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLIII — The Tent Entered + </h2> + <p> + By means of thin spaces between the braids of matting, the place was open + to the air, but not to view. There was also a round opening on one side, + only large enough, however, to admit the arm; but this aperture was + partially closed from within. In front, a deep-dyed rug of osiers, + covering the entrance way, was intricately laced to the standing part of + the tent. As I divided this lacing with my cutlass, there arose an + outburst of voices from the Islanders. And they covered their faces, as + the interior was revealed to my gaze. + </p> + <p> + Before me crouched a beautiful girl. Her hands were drooping. And, like a + saint from a shrine, she looked sadly out from her long, fair hair. A low + wail issued from her lips, and she trembled like a sound. There were tears + on her cheek, and a rose-colored pearl on her bosom. + </p> + <p> + Did I dream?—A snow-white skin: blue, firmament eyes: Golconda + locks. For an instant spell-bound I stood; while with a slow, apprehensive + movement, and still gazing fixedly, the captive gathered more closely + about her a gauze-like robe. Taking one step within, and partially + dropping the curtain of the tent, I so stood, as to have both sight and + speech of Samoa, who tarried without; while the maiden, crouching in the + farther corner of the retreat, was wholly screened from all eyes but mine. + </p> + <p> + Crossing my hands before me, I now stood without speaking. For the soul of + me, I could not link this mysterious creature with the tawny strangers. + She seemed of another race. So powerful was this impression, that + unconsciously, I addressed her in my own tongue. She started, and bending + over, listened intently, as if to the first faint echo of something dimly + remembered. Again I spoke, when throwing back her hair, the maiden looked + up with a piercing, bewildered gaze. But her eyes soon fell, and bending + over once more, she resumed her former attitude. At length she slowly + chanted to herself several musical words, unlike those of the Islanders; + but though I knew not what they meant, they vaguely seemed familiar. + </p> + <p> + Impatient to learn her story, I now questioned her in Polynesian. But with + much earnestness, she signed me to address her as before. Soon perceiving, + however, that without comprehending the meaning of the words I employed, + she seemed merely touched by something pleasing in their sound, I once + more addressed her in Polynesian; saying that I — was all eagerness + to hear her history. + </p> + <p> + After much hesitation she complied; starting with alarm at every sound + from without; yet all the while deeply regarding me. + </p> + <p> + Broken as these disclosures were at the time, they are here presented in + the form in which they were afterward more fully narrated. + </p> + <p> + So unearthly was the story, that at first I little comprehended it; and + was almost persuaded that the luckless maiden was some beautiful maniac. + </p> + <p> + She declared herself more than mortal, a maiden from Oroolia, the Island + of Delights, somewhere in the paradisiacal archipelago of the Polynesians. + To this isle, while yet an infant, by some mystical power, she had been + spirited from Amma, the place of her nativity. Her name was Yillah. And + hardly had the waters of Oroolia washed white her olive skin, and tinged + her hair with gold, when one day strolling in the woodlands, she was + snared in the tendrils of a vine. Drawing her into its bowers, it gently + transformed her into one of its blossoms, leaving her conscious soul + folded up in the transparent petals. + </p> + <p> + Here hung Yillah in a trance, the world without all tinged with the rosy + hue of her prison. At length when her spirit was about to burst forth in + the opening flower, the blossom was snapped from its stem; and borne by a + soft wind to the sea; where it fell into the opening valve of a shell; + which in good time was cast upon the beach of the Island of Amma. + </p> + <p> + In a dream, these events were revealed to Aleema the priest; who by a + spell unlocking its pearly casket, took forth the bud, which now showed + signs of opening in the reviving air, and bore faint shadowy revealings, + as of the dawn behind crimson clouds. Suddenly expanding, the blossom + exhaled away in perfumes; floating a rosy mist in the air. Condensing at + last, there emerged from this mist the same radiant young Yillah as + before; her locks all moist, and a rose- colored pearl on her bosom. + Enshrined as a goddess, the wonderful child now tarried in the sacred + temple of Apo, buried in a dell; never beheld of mortal eyes save + Aleema's. + </p> + <p> + Moon after moon passed away, and at last, only four days gone by, Aleema + came to her with a dream; that the spirits in Oroolia had recalled her + home by the way of Tedaidee, on whose coast gurgled up in the sea an + enchanted spring; which streaming over upon the brine, flowed on between + blue watery banks; and, plunging into a vortex, went round and round, + descending into depths unknown. Into this whirlpool Yillah was to descend + in a canoe, at last to well up in an inland fountain of Oroolia. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0044" id="link2HCH0044"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLIV — Away + </h2> + <p> + Though clothed in language of my own, the maiden's story is in substance + the same as she related. Yet were not these things narrated as past + events; she merely recounted them as impressions of her childhood, and of + her destiny yet unaccomplished. And mystical as the tale most assuredly + was, my knowledge of the strange arts of the island priesthood, and the + rapt fancies indulged in by many of their victims, deprived it in good + part of the effect it otherwise would have produced. + </p> + <p> + For ulterior purposes connected with their sacerdotal supremacy, the + priests of these climes oftentimes secrete mere infants in their temples; + and jealously secluding them from all intercourse with the world, craftily + delude them, as they grow up, into the wildest conceits. + </p> + <p> + Thus wrought upon, their pupils almost lose their humanity in the constant + indulgence of seraphic imaginings. In many cases becoming inspired as + oracles; and as such, they are sometimes resorted to by devotees; always + screened from view, however, in the recesses of the temples. But in every + instance, their end is certain. Beguiled with some fairy tale about + revisiting the islands of Paradise, they are led to the secret sacrifice, + and perish unknown to their kindred. + </p> + <p> + But, would that all this had been hidden from me at the time. For Yillah + was lovely enough to be really divine; and so I might have been tranced + into a belief of her mystical legends. + </p> + <p> + But with what passionate exultation did I find myself the deliverer of + this beautiful maiden; who, thinking no harm, and rapt in a dream, was + being borne to her fate on the coast of Tedaidee. Nor now, for a moment, + did the death of Aleema her guardian seem to hang heavy upon my heart. I + rejoiced that I had sent him to his gods; that in place of the sea moss + growing over sweet Yillah drowned in the sea, the vile priest himself had + sunk to the bottom. + </p> + <p> + But though he had sunk in the deep, his ghost sunk not in the deep waters + of my soul. However in exultations its surface foamed up, at bottom guilt + brooded. Sifted out, my motives to this enterprise justified not the mad + deed, which, in a moment of rage, I had done: though, those motives had + been covered with a gracious pretense; concealing myself from myself. But + I beat down the thought. + </p> + <p> + In relating her story, the maiden frequently interrupted it with questions + concerning myself:—Whence I came: being white, from Oroolia? Whither + I was going: to Amma? And what had happened to Aleema? For she had been + dismayed at the fray, though knowing not what it could mean; and she had + heard the priest's name called upon in lamentations. These questions for + the time I endeavored to evade; only inducing her to fancy me some gentle + demigod, that had come over the sea from her own fabulous Oroolia. And all + this she must verily have believed. For whom, like me, ere this could she + have beheld? Still fixed she her eyes upon me strangely, and hung upon the + accents of my voice. + </p> + <p> + While this scene was passing, the strangers began to show signs of + impatience, and a voice from the Chamois repeatedly hailed us to + accelerate our movements. + </p> + <p> + My course was quickly decided. The only obstacle to be encountered was the + possibility of Yillah's alarm at being suddenly borne into my prow. For + this event I now sought to prepare her. I informed the damsel that Aleema + had been dispatched on a long errand to Oroolia; leaving to my care, for + the present, the guardianship of the lovely Yillah; and that therefore, it + was necessary to carry her tent into my own canoe, then waiting to receive + it. + </p> + <p> + This intelligence she received with the utmost concern; and not knowing to + what her perplexity might lead, I thought fit to transport her into the + Chamois, while yet overwhelmed by the announcement of my intention. + </p> + <p> + Quitting her retreat, I apprised Jarl of my design; and then, no more + delay! + </p> + <p> + At bottom, the tent was attached to a light framework of bamboos; and from + its upper corners, four cords, like those of a marquee, confined it to the + dais. These, Samoa's knife soon parted; when lifting the light tent, we + speedily transferred it to the Chamois; a wild yell going up from the + Islanders, which drowned the faint cries of the maiden. But we heeded not + the din. Toss in the fruit, hanging from the altar-prow! It was done; and + then running up our sail, we glided away;—Chamois, tent, hostages, + and all. Rushing to the now vacant stern of their canoe, the Islanders + once more lifted up their hands and their voices in curses. + </p> + <p> + A suitable distance gained, we paused to fling overboard the arms we had + taken; and Jarl proceeded to liberate the hostages. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, I entered the tent, and by many tokens, sought to allay the + maiden's alarm. Thus engaged, violent plunges were heard: our prisoners + taking to the sea to regain their canoe. All dripping, they were received + by their brethren with wild caresses. + </p> + <p> + From something now said by the captives, the rest seemed suddenly + inspirited with hopes of revenge; again wildly shaking their spears, just + before picked up from the sea. With great clamor and confusion they soon + set their mat-sail; and instead of sailing southward for Tedaidee, or + northward for Amma their home, they steered straight after us, in our + wake. + </p> + <p> + Foremost in the prow stood three; javelins poised for a dart; at + intervals, raising a yell. + </p> + <p> + Did they mean to pursue me? Full in my rear they came on, baying like + hounds on their game. Yillah trembled at their cries. My own heart beat + hard with undefinable dread. The corpse of Aleema seemed floating before: + its avengers were raging behind. + </p> + <p> + But soon these phantoms departed. For very soon it appeared that in vain + the pagans pursued. Their craft, our fleet Chamois outleaped. And farther + and farther astern dropped the evil-boding canoe, till at last but a + speck; when a great swell of the sea surged up before it, and it was seen + no more. Samoa swore that it must have swamped, and gone down. But however + it was, my heart lightened apace. I saw none but ourselves on the sea: I + remembered that our keel left no track as it sailed. + </p> + <p> + Let the Oregon Indian through brush, bramble, and brier, hunt his enemy's + trail, far over the mountains and down in the vales; comes he to the + water, he snuffs idly in air. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0045" id="link2HCH0045"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLV — Reminiscences + </h2> + <p> + In resecuing the gentle Yillah from the hands of the Islanders, a design + seemed accomplished. But what was now to be done? Here, in our adventurous + Chamois, was a damsel more lovely than the flushes of morning; and for + companions, whom had she but me and my comrades? Besides, her bosom still + throbbed with alarms, her fancies all roving through mazes. + </p> + <p> + How subdue these dangerous imaginings? How gently dispel them? + </p> + <p> + But one way there was: to lead her thoughts toward me, as her friend and + preserver; and a better and wiser than Aleema the priest. Yet could not + this be effected but by still maintaining my assumption of a divine origin + in the blessed isle of Oroolia; and thus fostering in her heart the + mysterious interest, with which from the first she had regarded me. But if + punctilious reserve on the part of her deliverer should teach her to + regard him as some frigid stranger from the Arctic Zone, what sympathy + could she have for him? and hence, what peace of mind, having no one else + to cling to? + </p> + <p> + Now re-entering the tent, she again inquired where tarried Aleema. + </p> + <p> + "Think not of him, sweet Yillah," I cried. "Look on me. Am I not white + like yourself? Behold, though since quitting Oroolia the sun has dyed my + cheek, am I not even as you? Am I brown like the dusky Aleema? They + snatched you away from your isle in the sea, too early for you to remember + me there. But you have not been forgotten by me, sweetest Yillah. Ha! ha! + shook we not the palm-trees together, and chased we not the rolling nuts + down the glen? Did we not dive into the grotto on the sea-shore, and come + up together in the cool cavern in the hill? In my home in Oroolia, dear + Yillah, I have a lock of your hair, ere yet it was golden: a little dark + tress like a ring. How your cheeks were then changing from olive to white. + And when shall I forget the hour, that I came upon you sleeping among the + flowers, with roses and lilies for cheeks. Still forgetful? Know you not + my voice? Those little spirits in your eyes have seen me before. They + mimic me now as they sport in their lakes. All the past a dim blank? Think + of the time when we ran up and down in our arbor, where the green vines + grew over the great ribs of the stranded whale. Oh Yillah, little Yillah, + has it all come to this? am I forever forgotten? Yet over the wide watery + world have I sought thee: from isle to isle, from sea to sea. And now we + part not. Aleema is gone. My prow shall keep kissing the waves, till it + kisses the beach at Oroolia. Yillah, look up." + </p> + <p> + Sunk the ghost of Aleema: Sweet Yillah was mine! + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0046" id="link2HCH0046"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLVI — The Chamois With A Roving Commission + </h2> + <p> + Through the assiduity of my Viking, ere nightfall our Chamois was again in + good order. And with many subtle and seamanlike splices the light tent was + lashed in its place; the sail taken up by a reef. + </p> + <p> + My comrades now questioned me, as to my purposes; whether they had been + modified by the events of the day. I replied that our destination was + still the islands to the westward. + </p> + <p> + But from these we had steadily been drifting all the morning long; so that + now no loom of the land was visible. But our prow was kept pointing as + before. + </p> + <p> + As evening came on, my comrades fell fast asleep, leaving me at the helm. + </p> + <p> + How soft and how dreamy the light of the hour. The rays of the sun, + setting behind golden-barred clouds, came to me like the gleaming of a + shaded light behind a lattice. And the low breeze, pervaded with the + peculiar balm of the mid-Pacific near land, was fragrant as the breath of + a bride. + </p> + <p> + Such was the scene; so still and witching that the hand of Yillah in mine + seemed no hand, but a touch. Visions flitted before me and in me; + something hummed in my ear; all the air was a lay. + </p> + <p> + And now entered a thought into my heart. I reflected how serenely we might + thus glide along, far removed from all care and anxiety. And then, what + different scenes might await us upon any of the shores roundabout. But + there seemed no danger in the balmy sea; the assured vicinity of land + imparting a sense of security. We had ample supplies for several days + more, and thanks to the Pagan canoe, an abundance of fruit. + </p> + <p> + Besides, what cared I now for the green groves and bright shore? Was not + Yillah my shore and my grove? my meadow, my mead, my soft shady vine, and + my arbor? Of all things desirable and delightful, the full- plumed sheaf, + and my own right arm the band? Enough: no shore for me yet. One sweep of + the helm, and our light prow headed round toward the vague land of song, + sun, and vine: the fabled South. + </p> + <p> + As we glided along, strange Yillah gazed down in the sea, and would fain + have had me plunge into it with her, to rove through its depths. But I + started dismayed; in fancy, I saw the stark body of the priest drifting + by. Again that phantom obtruded; again guilt laid his red hand on my soul. + But I laughed. Was not Yillah my own? by my arm rescued from ill? To do + her a good, I had periled myself. So down, down, Aleema. + </p> + <p> + When next morning, starting from slumber, my comrades beheld the sun on + our beam, instead of astern as before at that hour, they eagerly inquired, + "Whither now?" But very briefly I gave them to know, that after devoting + the night to the due consideration of a matter so important, I had + determined upon voyaging for the island Tedaidee, in place of the land to + the westward. + </p> + <p> + At this, they were not displeased. But to tell the plain truth, I — + harbored some shadowy purpose of merely hovering about for a while, till I + felt more landwardly inclined. + </p> + <p> + But had I not declared to Yillah, that our destination was the fairy isle + she spoke of, even Oroolia? Yet that shore was so exceedingly remote, and + the folly of endeavoring to reach it in a craft built with hands, so very + apparent, that what wonder I really nourished no thought of it? + </p> + <p> + So away floated the Chamois, like a vagrant cloud in the heavens: bound, + no one knew whither. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0047" id="link2HCH0047"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLVII — Yillah, Jarl, And Samoa + </h2> + <p> + But time to tell, how Samoa and Jarl regarded this mystical Yillah; and + how Yillah regarded them. + </p> + <p> + As Beauty from the Beast, so at first shrank the damsel from my one- armed + companion. But seeing my confidence in the savage, a reaction soon + followed. And in accordance with that curious law, by which, under certain + conditions, the ugliest mortals become only amiably hideous, Yillah at + length came to look upon Samoa as a sort of harmless and good-natured + goblin. Whence came he, she cared not; or what was his history; or in what + manner his fortunes were united to mine. + </p> + <p> + May be, she held him a being of spontaneous origin. + </p> + <p> + Now, as every where women are the tamers of the menageries of men; so + Yillah in good time tamed down Samoa to the relinquishment of that + horrible thing in his ear, and persuaded him to substitute a vacancy for + the bauble in his nose. On his part, however, all this was conditional. He + stipulated for the privilege of restoring both trinkets upon suitable + occasions. + </p> + <p> + But if thus gayly the damsel sported with Samoa; how different his + emotions toward her? The fate to which she had been destined, and every + nameless thing about her, appealed to all his native superstitions, which + ascribed to beings of her complexion a more than terrestrial origin. When + permitted to approach her, he looked timid and awkwardly strange; + suggesting the likeness of some clumsy satyr, drawing in his horns; slowly + wagging his tail; crouching abashed before some radiant spirit. + </p> + <p> + And this reverence of his was most pleasing to me, Bravo! thought I; be a + pagan forever. No more than myself; for, after a different fashion, Yillah + was an idol to both. + </p> + <p> + But what of my Viking? Why, of good Jarl I grieve to say, that the + old-fashioned interest he took in my affairs led him to look upon Yillah + as a sort of intruder, an Ammonite syren, who might lead me astray. This + would now and then provoke a phillipic; but he would only turn toward my + resentment his devotion; and then I was silent. + </p> + <p> + Unsophisticated as a wild flower in the germ, Yillah seemed incapable of + perceiving the contrasted lights in which she was regarded by our + companions. And like a true beauty seemed to cherish the presumption, that + it was quite impossible for such a person as hers to prove otherwise than + irresistible to all. + </p> + <p> + She betrayed much surprise at my Vikings appearance. But most of all was + she struck by a characteristic device upon the arm of the wonderful + mariner—our Saviour on the cross, in blue; with the crown of thorns, + and three drops of blood in vermilion, falling one by one from each hand + and foot. + </p> + <p> + Now, honest Jarl did vastly pride himself upon this ornament. It was the + only piece of vanity about him. And like a lady keeping gloveless her hand + to show off a fine Turquoise ring, he invariably wore that sleeve of his + frock rolled up, the better to display the embellishment. + </p> + <p> + And round and round would Yillah turn Jarl's arm, till Jarl was fain to + stand firm, for fear of revolving all over. How such untutored homage + would have thrilled the heart of the ingenious artist! + </p> + <p> + Eventually, through the Upoluan, she made overtures to the Skyeman, + concerning the possession of his picture in her own proper right. In her + very simplicity, little heeding, that like a landscape in fresco, it could + not be removed. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0048" id="link2HCH0048"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLVIII — Something Under The Surface + </h2> + <p> + Not to omit an occurrence of considerable interest, we must needs here + present some account of a curious retinue of fish which overtook our + Chamois, a day or two after parting with the canoe. + </p> + <p> + A violent creaming and frothing in our rear announced their approach. Soon + we found ourselves the nucleus of an incredible multitude of finny + creatures, mostly anonymous. + </p> + <p> + First, far in advance of our prow, swam the helmeted Silver-heads; side by + side, in uniform ranks, like an army. Then came the Boneetas, with their + flashing blue flanks. Then, like a third distinct regiment, wormed and + twisted through the water like Archimedean screws, the quivering + Wriggle-tails; followed in turn by the rank and file of the Trigger-fish—so + called from their quaint dorsal fins being set in their backs with a + comical curve, as if at half-cock. Far astern the rear was brought up by + endless battalions of Yellow- backs, right martially vested in buff. + </p> + <p> + And slow sailing overhead were flights of birds; a wing in the air for + every fin in the sea. + </p> + <p> + But let the sea-fowls fly on: turn we to the fish. + </p> + <p> + Their numbers were amazing; countless as the tears shed for perfidious + lovers. Far abroad on both flanks, they swam in long lines, tier above + tier; the water alive with their hosts. Locusts of the sea, peradventure, + going to fall with a blight upon some green, mossy province of Neptune. + And tame and fearless they were, as the first fish that swam in Euphrates; + hardly evading the hand; insomuch that Samoa caught many without lure or + line. + </p> + <p> + They formed a decorous escort; paddling along by our barnacled sides, as + if they had been with us from the very beginning; neither scared by our + craft's surging in the water; nor in the least sympathetic at losing a + comrade by the hand of Samoa. They closed in their ranks and swam on. + </p> + <p> + How innocent, yet heartless they looked! Had a plank dropped out of our + boat, we had sunk to the bottom; and belike, our cheerful retinue would + have paid the last rites to our remains. + </p> + <p> + But still we kept company; as sociably as you please; Samoa helping + himself when he listed, and Yillah clapping her hands as the radiant + creatures, by a simultaneous turning round on their silvery bellies, + caused the whole sea to glow like a burnished shield. + </p> + <p> + But what has befallen this poor little Boneeta astern, that he swims so + toilingly on, with gills showing purple? What has he there, towing behind? + It is tangled sea-kelp clinging to its fins. But the clogged thing strains + to keep up with its fellows. Yet little they heed. Away they go; every + fish for itself, and any fish for Samoa. + </p> + <p> + At last the poor Boneeta is seen no more. The myriad fins swim on; a + lonely waste, where the lost one drops behind. + </p> + <p> + Strange fish! All the live-long day, they were there by our side; and at + night still tarried and shone; more crystal and scaly in the pale + moonbeams, than in the golden glare of the sun. + </p> + <p> + How prettily they swim; all silver life; darting hither and thither + between their long ranks, and touching their noses, and scraping + acquaintance. No mourning they wear for the Boneeta left far astern; nor + for those so cruelly killed by Samoa. No, no; all is glee, fishy glee, and + frolicking fun; light hearts and light fins; gay backs and gay spirits.—Swim + away, swim away! my merry fins all. Let us roam the flood; let us follow + this monster fish with the barnacled sides; this strange-looking fish, so + high out of water; that goes without fins. What fish can it be? What + rippling is that? Dost hear the great monster breathe? Why, 'tis sharp at + both ends; a tail either way; nor eyes has it any, nor mouth. What a + curious fish! what a comical fish! But more comical far, those creatures + above, on its hollow back, clinging thereto like the snaky eels, that + cling and slide on the back of the Sword fish, our terrible foe. But what + curious eels these are! Do they deem themselves pretty as we? No, no; for + sure, they behold our limber fins, our speckled and beautiful scales. + Poor, powerless things! How they must wish they were we, that roam the + flood, and scour the seas with a wish. Swim away; merry fins, swim away! + Let him drop, that fellow that halts; make a lane; close in, and fill up. + Let him drown, if he can not keep pace. No laggards for us:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + We fish, we fish, we merrily swim, + We care not for friend nor for foe: + Our fins are stout, + Our tails are out, + As through the seas we go. + + Fish, Fish, we are fish with red gills; + Naught disturbs us, our blood is at zero: + We are buoyant because of our bags, + Being many, each fish is a hero. + We care not what is it, this life + That we follow, this phantom unknown: + To swim, it's exceedingly pleasant,— + So swim away, making a foam. + This strange looking thing by our side, + Not for safety, around it we flee:— + Its shadow's so shady, that's all,— + We only swim under its lee. + And as for the eels there above, + And as for the fowls in the air, + We care not for them nor their ways, + As we cheerily glide afar! + + We fish, we fish, we merrily swim, + We care not for friend nor for foe: + Our fins are stout, + Our tails are out, + As through the seas we go. +</pre> + <p> + But how now, my fine fish! what alarms your long ranks, and tosses them + all into a hubbub of scales and of foam? Never mind that long knave with + the spear there, astern. Pipe away, merry fish, and give us a stave or two + more, keeping time with your doggerel tails. But no, no! their singing was + over. Grim death, in the shape of a Chevalier, was after them. + </p> + <p> + How they changed their boastful tune! How they hugged the vilified boat! + How they wished they were in it, the braggarts! And how they all tingled + with fear! + </p> + <p> + For, now here, now there, is heard a terrific rushing sound under water, + betokening the onslaught of the dread fish of prey, that with spear ever + in rest, charges in upon the out-skirts of the shoal, transfixing the fish + on his weapon. Re-treating and shaking them off, the Chevalier devours + them; then returns to the charge. + </p> + <p> + Hugging the boat to desperation, the poor fish fairly crowded themselves + up to the surface, and floundered upon each other, as men are lifted off + their feet in a mob. They clung to us thus, out of a fancied security in + our presence. Knowing this, we felt no little alarm for ourselves, + dreading lest the Chevalier might despise our boat, full as much as his + prey; and in pursuing the fish, run through the poor Chamois with a lunge. + A jacket, rolled up, was kept in readiness to be thrust into the first + opening made; while as the thousand fins audibly patted against our + slender planks, we felt nervously enough; as if treading upon thin, + crackling ice. + </p> + <p> + At length, to our no small delight, the enemy swam away; and again by our + side merrily paddled our escort; ten times merrier than ever. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0049" id="link2HCH0049"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLIX — Yillah + </h2> + <p> + While for a few days, now this way, now that, as our craft glides along, + surrounded by these locusts of the deep, let the story of Yillah flow on. + </p> + <p> + Of her beauty say I nothing. It was that of a crystal lake in a fathomless + wood: all light and shade; full of fleeting revealings; now shadowed in + depths; now sunny in dimples; but all sparkling and shifting, and blending + together. + </p> + <p> + But her wild beauty was a vail to things still more strange. As often she + gazed so earnestly into my eyes, like some pure spirit looking far down + into my soul, and seeing therein some upturned faces, I — started in + amaze, and asked what spell was on me, that thus she gazed. + </p> + <p> + Often she entreated me to repeat over and over again certain syllables of + my language. These she would chant to herself, pausing now and then, as if + striving to discover wherein lay their charm. + </p> + <p> + In her accent, there was something very different from that of the people + of the canoe. Wherein lay the difference. I knew not; but it enabled her + to pronounce with readiness all the words which I taught her; even as if + recalling sounds long forgotten. + </p> + <p> + If all this filled me with wonder, how much was that wonder increased, and + yet baffled again, by considering her complexion, and the cast of her + features. + </p> + <p> + After endeavoring in various ways to account for these things, I was led + to imagine, that the damsel must be an Albino (Tulla) occasionally to be + met with among the people of the Pacific. These persons are of an + exceedingly delicate white skin, tinted with a faint rose hue, like the + lips of a shell. Their hair is golden. But, unlike the Albinos of other + climes, their eyes are invariably blue, and no way intolerant of light. + </p> + <p> + As a race, the Tullas die early. And hence the belief, that they pertain + to some distant sphere, and only through irregularities in the providence + of the gods, come to make their appearance upon earth: whence, the + oversight discovered, they are hastily snatched. And it is chiefly on this + account, that in those islands where human sacrifices are offered, the + Tullas are deemed the most suitable oblations for the altar, to which from + their birth many are prospectively devoted. It was these considerations, + united to others, which at times induced me to fancy, that by the priest, + Yillah was regarded as one of these beings. So mystical, however, her + revelations concerning her past history, that often I knew not what to + divine. But plainly they showed that she had not the remotest conception + of her real origin. + </p> + <p> + But these conceits of a state of being anterior to an earthly existence + may have originated in one of those celestial visions seen transparently + stealing over the face of a slumbering child. And craftily drawn forth and + re-echoed by another, and at times repeated over to her with many + additions, these imaginings must at length have assumed in her mind a hue + of reality, heightened into conviction by the dreamy seclusion of her + life. + </p> + <p> + But now, let her subsequent and more credible history be related, as from + time to time she rehearsed it. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0050" id="link2HCH0050"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER L — Yillah In Ardair + </h2> + <p> + In the verdant glen of Ardair, far in the silent interior of Amma, shut in + by hoar old cliffs, Yillah the maiden abode. + </p> + <p> + So small and so deep was this glen, so surrounded on all sides by steep + acclivities, and so vividly green its verdure, and deceptive the shadows + that played there; that, from above, it seemed more like a lake of cool, + balmy air, than a glen: its woodlands and grasses gleaming shadowy all, + like sea groves and mosses beneath the calm sea. + </p> + <p> + Here, none came but Aleema the priest, who at times was absent for days + together. But at certain seasons, an unseen multitude with loud chants + stood upon the verge of the neighboring precipices, and traversing those + shaded wilds, slowly retreated; their voices lessening and lessening, as + they wended their way through the more distant groves. + </p> + <p> + At other times, Yillah being immured in the temple of Apo, a band of men + entering the vale, surrounded her retreat, dancing there till evening + came. Meanwhile, heaps of fruit, garlands of flowers, and baskets of fish, + were laid upon an altar without, where stood Aleema, arrayed in white + tappa, and muttering to himself, as the offerings were laid at his feet. + </p> + <p> + When Aleema was gone, Yillah went forth into the glen, and wandered among + the trees, and reposed by the banks of the stream. And ever as she + strolled, looked down upon her the grim old cliffs, bearded with trailing + moss. + </p> + <p> + Toward the lower end of the vale, its lofty walls advancing and + overhanging their base, almost met in mid air. And a great rock, hurled + from an adjacent height, and falling into the space intercepted, there + remained fixed. Aerial trees shot up from its surface; birds nested in its + clefts; and strange vines roved abroad, overrunning the tops of the trees, + lying thereon in coils and undulations, like anacondas basking in the + light. Beneath this rock, was a lofty wall of ponderous stones. Between + its crevices, peeps were had of a long and leafy arcade, quivering far + away to where the sea rolled in the sun. Lower down, these crevices gave + an outlet to the waters of the brook, which, in a long cascade, poured + over sloping green ledges near the foot of the wall, into a deep shady + pool; whose rocky sides, by the perpetual eddying of the water, had been + worn into a grotesque resemblance to a group of giants, with heads + submerged, indolently reclining about the basin. + </p> + <p> + In this pool, Yillah would bathe. And once, emerging, she heard the echoes + of a voice, and called aloud. But the only reply, was the rustling of + branches, as some one, invisible, fled down the valley beyond. Soon after, + a stone rolled inward, and Aleema the priest stood before her; saying that + the voice she had heard was his. But it was not. + </p> + <p> + At last the weary days grew, longer and longer, and the maiden pined for + companionship. When the breeze blew not, but slept in the caves of the + mountains, and all the leaves of the trees stood motionless as tears in + the eye, Yillah would sadden, and call upon the spirits in her soul to + awaken. She sang low airs, she thought she had heard in Oroolia; but + started affrighted, as from dingles and dells, came back to her strains + more wild than hers. And ever, when sad, Aleema would seek to cheer her + soul, by calling to mind the bright scenes of Oroolia the Blest, to which + place, he averred, she was shortly to return, never more to depart. + </p> + <p> + Now, at the head of the vale of Ardair, rose a tall, dark peak, presenting + at the top the grim profile of a human face; whose shadow, every + afternoon, crept down the verdant side of the mountain: a silent phantom, + stealing all over the bosom of the glen. + </p> + <p> + At times, when the phantom drew near, Aleema would take Yillah forth, and + waiting its approach, lay her down by the shadow, disposing her arms in a + caress; saying, "Oh, Apo! dost accept thy bride?" And at last, when it + crept beyond the place where he stood, and buried the whole valley in + gloom; Aleema would say, "Arise Yillah; Apo hath stretched himself to + sleep in Ardair. Go, slumber where thou wilt; for thou wilt slumber in his + arms." + </p> + <p> + And so, every night, slept the maiden in the arms of grim Apo. + </p> + <p> + One day when Yillah had come to love the wild shadow, as something that + every day moved before her eyes, where all was so deathfully still; she + went forth alone to watch it, as softly it slid down from the peak. Of a + sudden, when its face was just edging a chasm, that made it to look as if + parting its lips, she heard a loud voice, and thought it was Apo calling + "Yillah! Yillah!" But now it seemed like the voice she had heard while + bathing in the pool. Glancing upward, she beheld a beautiful open-armed + youth, gazing down upon her from an inaccessible crag. But presently, + there was a rustling in the groves behind, and swift as thought, something + darted through the air. The youth bounded forward. Yillah opened her arms + to receive him; but he fell upon the cliff, and was seen no more. As + alarmed, and in tears, she fled from the scene, some one out of sight ran + before her through the wood. + </p> + <p> + Upon recounting this adventure to Aleema, he said, that the being she had + seen, must have been a bad spirit come to molest her; and that Apo had + slain him. + </p> + <p> + The sight of this youth, filled Yillah with wild yearnings to escape from + her lonely retreat; for a glimpse of some one beside the priest and the + phantom, suggested vague thoughts of worlds of fair beings, in regions + beyond Ardair. But Aleema sought to put away these conceits; saying, that + ere long she would be journeying to Oroolia, there to rejoin the spirits + she dimly remembered. + </p> + <p> + Soon after, he came to her with a shell—one of those ever moaning of + ocean—and placing it to her ear, bade her list to the being within, + which in that little shell had voyaged from Oroolia to bear her company in + Amma. + </p> + <p> + Now, the maiden oft held it to her ear, and closing her eyes, listened and + listened to its soft inner breathings, till visions were born of the + sound, and her soul lay for hours in a trance of delight. + </p> + <p> + And again the priest came, and brought her a milk-white bird, with a bill + jet-black, and eyes like stars. "In this, lurks the soul of a maiden; it + hath flown from Oroolia to greet you." The soft stranger willingly nestled + in her bosom; turning its bright eyes upon hers, and softly warbling. + </p> + <p> + Many days passed; and Yillah, the bird, and the shell were inseparable. + The bird grew familiar; pecked seeds from her mouth; perched upon her + shoulder, and sang in her ear; and at night, folded its wings in her + bosom, and, like a sea-fowl, went softly to sleep: rising and falling upon + the maiden's heart. And every morning it flew from its nest, and fluttered + and chirped; and sailed to and fro; and blithely sang; and brushed + Yillah's cheek till she woke. Then came to her hand: and Yillah, looking + earnestly in its eyes, saw strange faces there; and said to herself as she + gazed—"These are two souls, not one." + </p> + <p> + But at last, going forth into the groves with the bird, it suddenly flew + from her side, and perched in a bough; and throwing back its white downy + throat, there gushed from its bill a clear warbling jet, like a little + fountain in air. Now the song ceased; when up and away toward the head of + the vale, flew the bird. "Lil! Lil! come back, leave me not, blest souls + of the maidens." But on flew the bird, far up a defile, winging its way + till a speck. + </p> + <p> + It was shortly after this, and upon the evening of a day which had been + tumultuous with sounds of warfare beyond the lower wall of the glen; that + Aleema came to Yillah in alarm; saying—"Yillah, the time has come to + follow thy bird; come, return to thy home in Oroolia." And he told her the + way she would voyage there: by the vortex on the coast of Tedaidee. That + night, being veiled and placed in the tent, the maiden was borne to the + sea-side, where the canoe was in waiting. And setting sail quickly, by + next morning the island of Amma was no longer in sight. + </p> + <p> + And this was the voyage, whose sequel has already been recounted. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0051" id="link2HCH0051"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LI — The Dream Begins To Fade + </h2> + <p> + Stripped of the strange associations, with which a mind like Yillah's must + have invested every incident of her life, the story of her abode in Ardair + seemed not incredible. + </p> + <p> + But so etherealized had she become from the wild conceits she nourished, + that she verily believed herself a being of the lands of dreams. Her + fabulous past was her present. + </p> + <p> + Yet as our intimacy grew closer and closer, these fancies seemed to be + losing their hold. And often she questioned me concerning my own + reminiscences of her shadowy isle. And cautiously I sought to produce the + impression, that whatever I had said of that clime, had been revealed to + me in dreams; but that in these dreams, her own lineaments had smiled upon + me; and hence the impulse which had sent me roving after the substance of + this spiritual image. + </p> + <p> + And true it was to say so; and right it was to swear it, upon her white + arms crossed. For oh, Yillah; were you not the earthly semblance of that + sweet vision, that haunted my earliest thoughts? + </p> + <p> + At first she had wildly believed, that the nameless affinities between us, + were owing to our having in times gone by dwelt together in the same + ethereal region. But thoughts like these were fast dying out. Yet not + without many strange scrutinies. More intently than ever she gazed into my + eyes; rested her ear against my heart, and listened to its beatings. And + love, which in the eye of its object ever seeks to invest itself with some + rare superiority, love, sometimes induced me to prop my failing divinity; + though it was I myself who had undermined it. + </p> + <p> + But if it was with many regrets, that in the sight of Yillah, I — + perceived myself thus dwarfing down to a mortal; it was with quite + contrary emotions, that I contemplated the extinguishment in her heart of + the notion of her own spirituality. For as such thoughts were chased away, + she clung the more closely to me, as unto one without whom she would be + desolate indeed. + </p> + <p> + And now, at intervals, she was sad, and often gazed long and fixedly into + the sea. Nor would she say why it was, that she did so; until at length + she yielded; and replied, that whatever false things Aleema might have + instilled into her mind; of this much she was certain: that the whirlpool + on the coast of Tedaidee prefigured her fate; that in the waters she saw + lustrous eyes, and beckoning phantoms, and strange shapes smoothing her a + couch among the mosses. + </p> + <p> + Her dreams seemed mine. Many visions I had of the green corse of the + priest, outstretching its arms in the water, to receive pale Yillah, as + she sunk in the sea. + </p> + <p> + But these forebodings departed, no happiness in the universe like ours. We + lived and we loved; life and love were united; in gladness glided our + days. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0052" id="link2HCH0052"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LII — World Ho! + </h2> + <p> + Five suns rose and set. And Yillah pining for the shore, we turned our + prow due west, and next morning came in sight of land. + </p> + <p> + It was innumerable islands; lifting themselves bluely through the azure + air, and looking upon the distant sea, like haycocks in a hazy field. + Towering above all, and mid-most, rose a mighty peak; one fleecy cloud + sloping against its summit; a column wreathed. Beyond, like purple steeps + in heaven at set of sun, stretched far away, what seemed lands on lands, + in infinite perspective. + </p> + <p> + Gliding on, the islands grew more distinct; rising up from the billows to + greet us; revealing hills, vales, and peaks, grouped within a milk-white + zone of reef, so vast, that in the distance all was dim. The jeweled + vapors, ere-while hovering over these violet shores, now seemed to be + shedding their gems; and as the almost level rays of the sun, shooting + through the air like a variegated prism, touched the verdant land, it + trembled all over with dewy sparkles. + </p> + <p> + Still nearer we came: our sail faintly distended as the breeze died away + from our vicinity to the isles. The billows rolled listlessly by, as if + conscious that their long task was nigh done; while gleamed the white + reef, like the trail of a great fish in a calm. But as yet, no sign of + paddle or canoe; no distant smoke; no shining thatch. Bravo! good + comrades, we've discovered some new constellation in the sea. + </p> + <p> + Sweet Yillah, no more of Oroolia; see you not this flowery land? Nevermore + shall we desire to roam. + </p> + <p> + Voyaging along the zone, we came to an opening; and quitting the firmament + blue of the open sea, we glided in upon the still, green waters of the + wide lagoon. Mapped out in the broad shadows of the isles, and tinted here + and there with the reflected hues of the sun clouds, the mild waters + stretched all around us like another sky. Near by the break in the reef, + was a little island, with palm trees harping in the breeze; an aviary of + alluring sounds, that seemed calling upon us to land. And here, Yillah, + whom the sight of the verdure had made glad, threw out a merry suggestion. + Nothing less, than to plant our mast, sail-set, upon the highest hill; and + fly away, island and all; trees rocking, birds caroling, flowers + springing; away, away, across the wide waters, to Oroolia! But alas! how + weigh the isle's coral anchor, leagues down in the fathomless sea? + </p> + <p> + We glanced around; but all the islands seemed slumbering in the flooding + light. + </p> + <p> + "A canoe! a canoe!" cried Samoa, as three proas showed themselves rounding + a neighboring shore. Instantly we sailed for them; but after shooting to + and fro for a time, and standing up and gazing at us, the Islanders + retreated behind the headland. Hardly were they out of sight, when from + many a shore roundabout, other proas pushed off. Soon the water all round + us was enlivened by fleets of canoes, darting hither and thither like + frighted water-fowls. Presently they all made for one island. + </p> + <p> + From their actions we argued that these people could have had but little + or no intercourse with whites; and most probably knew not how to account + for our appearance among them. Desirous, therefore, of a friendly meeting, + ere any hostile suspicions might arise, we pointed our craft for the + island, whither all the canoes were now hastening. Whereupon, those which + had not yet reached their destination, turned and fled; while the + occupants of the proas that had landed, ran into the groves, and were lost + to view. + </p> + <p> + Crossing the distinct outer line of the isle's shadow on the water, we + gained the shore; and gliding along its margin, passing canoe after canoe, + hauled up on the silent beach, which otherwise seemed entirely innocent of + man. + </p> + <p> + A dilemma. But I decided at last upon disembarking Jarl and Samoa, to seek + out and conciliate the natives. So, landing them upon a jutting buttress + of coral, whence they waded to the shore; I pushed off with Yillah into + the water beyond, to await the event. + </p> + <p> + Full an hour must have elapsed; when, to our great joy, loud shouts were + heard; and there burst into view a tumultuous crowd, in the midst of which + my Viking was descried, mounted upon the shoulders of two brawny natives; + while the Upoluan, striding on in advance, seemed resisting a similar + attempt to elevate him in the world. + </p> + <p> + Good omens both. + </p> + <p> + "Come ashore!" cried Jarl. "Aramai!" cried Samoa; while storms of + interjections went up from the Islanders who with extravagant gestures + danced about the beach. + </p> + <p> + Further caution seemed needless: I pointed our prow for the shore. No + sooner was this perceived, than, raising an applauding shout, the + Islanders ran up to their waists in the sea. And skimming like a gull over + the smooth lagoon, the light shallop darted in among them. Quick as + thought, fifty hands were on the gunwale: and, with all its contents, + lifted bodily into the air, the little Chamois, upon many a dripping + shoulder, was borne deep into the groves. Yillah shrieked at the rocking + motion, and when the boughs of the trees brushed against the tent. + </p> + <p> + With his staff, an old man now pointed to a couple of twin-like trees, + some four paces apart; and a little way from the ground conveniently + crotched. + </p> + <p> + And here, eftsoons, they deposited their burden; lowering the Chamois + gently between the forks of the trees, whose willow-like foliage fringed + the tent and its inmate. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0053" id="link2HCH0053"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LIII — The Chamois Ashore + </h2> + <p> + Until now, enveloped in her robe, and crouching like a fawn, Yillah had + been well nigh hidden from view. But presently she withdrew her hood. + </p> + <p> + What saw the Islanders, that they so gazed and adored in silence: some + retreating, some creeping nearer, and the women all in a flutter? Long + they gazed; and following Samoa's example, stretched forth their arms in + reverence. + </p> + <p> + The adoration of the maiden was extended to myself. Indeed, from the + singular gestures employed, I had all along suspected, that we were being + received with unwonted honors. + </p> + <p> + I now sought to get speech of my comrades. But so obstreperous was the + crowd, that it was next to impossible. Jarl was still in his perch in the + air; his enthusiastic bearers not yet suffering him to alight. Samoa, + however, who had managed to keep out of the saddle, by-and-by contrived to + draw nearer to the Chamois. + </p> + <p> + He advised me, by no means to descend for the present; since in any event + we were sure of remaining unmolested therein; the Islanders regarding it + as sacred. + </p> + <p> + The Upoluan attracted a great deal of attention; chiefly from his style of + tattooing, which, together with other peculiarities, so interested the + natives, that they were perpetually hanging about him, putting eager + questions, and all the time keeping up a violent clamor. + </p> + <p> + But despite the large demand upon his lungs, Samoa made out to inform me, + that notwithstanding the multitude assembled, there was no high chief, or + person of consequence present; the king of the place, also those of the + islands adjacent, being absent at a festival in another quarter of the + Archipelago. But upon the first distant glimpse of the Chamois, fleet + canoes had been dispatched to announce the surprising event that had + happened. + </p> + <p> + In good time, the crowd becoming less tumultuous, and abandoning the siege + of Samoa, I availed myself of this welcome lull, and called upon him and + my Viking to enter the Chamois; desirous of condensing our forces against + all emergencies. + </p> + <p> + Samoa now gave me to understand, that from all he could learn, the + Islanders regarded me as a superior being. They had inquired of him, + whether I was not white Taji, a sort of half-and-half deity, now and then + an Avatar among them, and ranking among their inferior ex- officio + demi-gods. To this, Samoa had said ay; adding, moreover, all he could to + encourage the idea. + </p> + <p> + He now entreated me, at the first opportunity, to announce myself as Taji: + declaring that if once received under that title, the unbounded + hospitality of our final reception would be certain; and our persons + fenced about from all harm. + </p> + <p> + Encouraging this. But it was best to be wary. For although among some + barbarians the first strangers landing upon their shores, are frequently + hailed as divine; and in more than one wild land have been actually styled + gods, as a familiar designation; yet this has not exempted the celestial + visitants from peril, when too much presuming upon the reception extended + to them. In sudden tumults they have been slain outright, and while full + faith in their divinity had in no wise abated. The sad fate of an eminent + navigator is a well-known illustration of this unaccountable waywardness. + </p> + <p> + With no small anxiety, therefore, we awaited the approach of some of the + dignitaries of Mardi; for by this collective appellation, the people + informed us, their islands were known. + </p> + <p> + We waited not long. Of a sudden, from the sea-side, a single shrill cry + was heard. A moment more, and the blast of numerous conch shells startled + the air; a confused clamor drew nearer and nearer; and flying our eyes in + the direction of these sounds, we impatiently awaited what was to follow. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0054" id="link2HCH0054"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LIV — A Gentleman From The Sun + </h2> + <p> + Never before had I seen the deep foliage of woodlands navigated by canoes. + But on they came sailing through the leaves; two abreast; borne on men's + shoulders; in each a chief, carried along to the measured march of his + bearers; paddle blades reversed under arms. As they emerged, the multitude + made gestures of homage. At the distance of some eight or ten paces the + procession halted; when the kings alighted to the ground. + </p> + <p> + They were fine-looking men, arrayed in various garbs. Rare the show of + stained feathers, and jewels, and other adornments. Brave the floating of + dyed mantles. + </p> + <p> + The regal bearing of these personages, the deference paid them, and their + entire self-possession, not a little surprised me. And it seemed + preposterous, to assume a divine dignity in the presence of these + undoubted potentates of <i>terra firma</i>. Taji seemed oozing from my + fingers' ends. But courage! and erecting my crest, I strove to look every + inch the character I had determined to assume. + </p> + <p> + For a time, it was almost impossible to tell with what emotions precisely + the chiefs were regarding me. They said not a word. + </p> + <p> + But plucking up heart of grace, I crossed my cutlass on my chest, and + reposing my hand on the hilt, addressed their High Mightinesses thus. "Men + of Mardi, I come from the sun. When this morning it rose and touched the + wave, I pushed my shallop from its golden beach, and hither sailed before + its level rays. I am Taji." + </p> + <p> + More would have been added, but I paused for the effect of my exordium. + </p> + <p> + Stepping back a pace or two, the chiefs eagerly conversed. + </p> + <p> + Emboldened, I returned to the charge, and labored hard to impress them + with just such impressions of me and mine, as I deemed desirable. The + gentle Yillah was a seraph from the sun; Samoa I had picked off a reef in + my route from that orb; and as for the Skyeman, why, as his name imported, + he came from above. In a word, we were all strolling divinities. + </p> + <p> + Advancing toward the Chamois, one of the kings, a calm old man, now + addressed me as follows:—"Is this indeed Taji? he, who according to + a tradition, was to return to us after five thousand moons? But that + period is yet unexpired. What bring'st thou hither then, Taji, before thy + time? Thou wast but a quarrelsome demi-god, say the legends, when thou + dwelt among our sires. But wherefore comest thou, Taji? Truly, thou wilt + interfere with the worship of thy images, and we have plenty of gods + besides thee. But comest thou to fight?—We have plenty of spears, + and desire not thine. Comest thou to dwell?—Small are the houses of + Mardi. Or comest thou to fish in the sea? Tell us, Taji." + </p> + <p> + Now, all this was a series of posers hard to be answered; furnishing a + curious example, moreover, of the reception given to strange demi- gods + when they travel without their portmanteaus; and also of the familiar + manner in which these kings address the immortals. Much I — mourned + that I had not previously studied better my part, and learned the precise + nature of my previous existence in the land. + </p> + <p> + But nothing like carrying it bravely. + </p> + <p> + "Attend. Taji comes, old man, because it pleases him to come. And Taji + will depart when it suits him. Ask the shades of your sires whether Taji + thus scurvily greeted them, when they came stalking into his presence in + the land of spirits. No. Taji spread the banquet. He removed their + mantles. He kindled a fire to drive away the damp. He said not, 'Come you + to fight, you fogs and vapors? come you to dwell? or come you to fish in + the sea?' Go to, then, kings of Mardi!" + </p> + <p> + Upon this, the old king fell back; and his place was supplied by a noble + chief, of a free, frank bearing. Advancing quickly toward the boat, he + exclaimed—"I am Media, the son of Media. Thrice welcome, Taji. On my + island of Odo hast thou an altar. I claim thee for my guest." He then + reminded the rest, that the strangers had voyaged far, and needed repose. + And, furthermore, that he proposed escorting them forthwith to his own + dominions; where, next day, he would be happy to welcome all visitants. + </p> + <p> + And good as his word, he commanded his followers to range themselves under + the Chamois. Springing out of our prow, the Upoluan was followed by Jarl; + leaving Yillah and Taji to be borne therein toward the sea. + </p> + <p> + Soon, we were once more afloat; by our side, Media sociably seated; six of + his paddlers, perched upon the gunwale, swiftly urging us over the lagoon. + </p> + <p> + The transition from the grove to the sea was instantaneous. All seemed a + dream. + </p> + <p> + The place to which we were hastening, being some distance away, as we + rounded isle after isle, the extent of the Archipelago grew upon us + greatly. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0055" id="link2HCH0055"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LV — Tiffin In A Temple + </h2> + <p> + Upon at last drawing nigh to Odo, its appearance somewhat disappointed me. + A small island, of moderate elevation. + </p> + <p> + But plumb not the height of the house that feasts you. The beach was lined + with expectant natives, who, lifting the Chamois, carried us up the beach. + </p> + <p> + Alighting, as they were bearing us along, King Media, designating a + canoe-house hard by, ordered our craft to be deposited therein. This being + done, we stepped upon the soil. It was the first we had pressed in very + many days. It sent a sympathetic thrill through our frames. + </p> + <p> + Turning his steps inland, Media signed us to follow. + </p> + <p> + Soon we came to a rude sort of inclosure, fenced in by an imposing wall. + Here a halt was sounded, and in great haste the natives proceeded to throw + down a portion of the stones. This accomplished, we were signed to enter + the fortress thus carried by storm. Upon an artificial mound, opposite the + breach, stood a small structure of bamboo, open in front. Within, was a + long pedestal, like a settee, supporting three images, also of wood, and + about the size of men; bearing, likewise, a remote resemblance to that + species of animated nature. Before these idols was an altar, and at its + base many fine mats. + </p> + <p> + Entering the temple, as if he felt very much at home, Media disposed these + mats so as to form a very pleasant lounge; where he deferentially + entreated Yillah to recline. Then deliberately removing the first idol, he + motioned me to seat myself in its place. Setting aside the middle one, he + quietly established himself in its stead. The displaced ciphers, + meanwhile, standing upright before us, and their blank faces looking upon + this occasion unusually expressive. As yet, not a syllable as to the + meaning of this cavalier treatment of their wooden godships. + </p> + <p> + We now tranquilly awaited what next might happen, and I earnestly prayed, + that if sacrilege was being committed, the vengeance of the gods might be + averted from an ignoramus like me; notwithstanding the petitioner himself + hailed from the other world. Perfect silence was preserved: Jarl and Samoa + standing a little without the temple; the first looking quite composed, + but his comrade casting wondering glances at my sociable apotheosis with + Media. + </p> + <p> + Now happening to glance upon the image last removed, I was not long in + detecting a certain resemblance between it and our host. Both were + decorated in the same manner; the carving on the idol exactly + corresponding with the tattooing of the king. + </p> + <p> + Presently, the silence was relieved by a commotion without: and a butler + approached, staggering under an immense wooden trencher; which, with + profound genuflexions, he deposited upon the altar before us. The tray was + loaded like any harvest wain; heaped up with good things sundry and + divers: Bread-fruit, and cocoanuts, and plantains, and guavas; all + pleasant to the eye, and furnishing good earnest of something equally + pleasant to the palate. + </p> + <p> + Transported at the sight of these viands, after so long an estrangement + from full indulgence in things green, I was forthwith proceeding to help + Yillah and myself, when, like lightning, a most unwelcome query obtruded. + Did deities dine? Then also recurred what Media had declared about my + shrine in Odo. Was this it? Self- sacrilegious demigod that I was, was I + going to gluttonize on the very offerings, laid before me in my own sacred + fane? Give heed to thy ways, oh Taji, lest thou stumble and be lost. + </p> + <p> + But hereupon, what saw we, but his cool majesty of Odo tranquilly + proceeding to lunch in the temple? + </p> + <p> + How now? Was Media too a god? Egad, it must be so. Else, why his image + here in the fane, and the original so entirely at his ease, with legs full + cosily tucked away under the very altar itself. This put to flight all + appalling apprehensions of the necessity of starving to keep up the + assumption of my divinity. So without more ado I helped myself right and + left; taking the best care of Yillah; who over fed her flushed beauty with + juicy fruits, thereby transferring to her cheek the sweet glow of the + guava. + </p> + <p> + Our hunger appeased, and Media in token thereof celestially laying his + hand upon the appropriate region, we proceeded to quit the inclosure. But + coming to the wall where the breach had been made, lo, and behold, no + breach was to be seen. But down it came tumbling again, and forth we + issued. + </p> + <p> + This overthrowing of walls, be it known, is an incidental compliment paid + distinguished personages in this part of Mardi. It would seem to signify, + that such gentry can go nowhere without creating an impression; even upon + the most obdurate substances. + </p> + <p> + But to return to our ambrosial lunch. + </p> + <p> + Sublimate, as you will, the idea of our ethereality as intellectual + beings; no sensible man can harbor a doubt, but that there is a vast deal + of satisfaction in dining. More: there is a savor of life and immortality + in substantial fare. Like balloons, we are nothing till filled. + </p> + <p> + And well knowing this, nature has provided this jolly round board, our + globe, which in an endless sequence of courses and crops, spreads a + perpetual feast. Though, as with most public banquets, there is no small + crowding, and many go away famished from plenty. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0056" id="link2HCH0056"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LVI — King Media A Host + </h2> + <p> + Striking into a grove, about sunset we emerged upon a fine, clear space, + and spied a city in the woods. + </p> + <p> + In the middle of all, like a generalissimo's marquee among tents, was a + structure more imposing than the rest. Here, abode King Media. + </p> + <p> + Disposed round a space some fifty yards square, were many palm posts + staked firmly in the earth. A man's height from the ground, these + supported numerous horizontal trunks, upon which lay a flooring of + habiscus. High over this dais, but resting upon independent supports + beyond, a gable-ended roof sloped away to within a short distance of the + ground. + </p> + <p> + Such was the palace. + </p> + <p> + We entered it by an arched, arbored entrance, at one of its +palmetto-thatched ends. But not through this exclusive portal entered the + Islanders. Humbly stooping, they found ingress under the drooping eaves. A + custom immemorial, and well calculated to remind all contumacious subjects + of the dignity of the habitation thus entered. + </p> + <p> + Three steps led to the summit of the dais, where piles of soft mats, and + light pillows of woven grass, stuffed with the golden down of a wild + thistle, invited all loiterers to lounge. + </p> + <p> + How pleasant the twilight that welled up from under the low eaves, above + which we were seated. And how obvious now the design of the roof. No shade + more grateful and complete; the garish sun lingering without like some + lackey in waiting. + </p> + <p> + But who is this in the corner, gaping at us like a butler in a quandary? + Media's household deity, in the guise of a plethoric monster, his enormous + head lolling back, and wide, gaping mouth stuffed full of fresh fruits and + green leaves. Truly, had the idol possessed a soul under his knotty ribs, + how tantalizing to hold so glorious a mouthful without the power of + deglutition. Far worse than the inexorable lock-jaw, which will not admit + of the step preliminary to a swallow. + </p> + <p> + This jolly Josh image was that of an inferior deity, the god of Good + Cheer, and often after, we met with his merry round mouth in many other + abodes in Mardi. Daily, his jaws are replenished, as a flower vase in + summer. + </p> + <p> + But did the demi-divine Media thus brook the perpetual presence of a + subaltern divinity? Still more; did he render it homage? But ere long the + Mardian mythology will be discussed, thereby making plain what may now + seem anomalous. + </p> + <p> + Politely escorting us into his palace, Media did the honors by inviting + his guests to recline. He then seemed very anxious to impress us with the + fact, that, by bringing us to his home, and thereby charging the royal + larder with our maintenance, he had taken no hasty or imprudent step. His + merry butlers kept piling round us viands, till we were well nigh walled + in. At every fresh deposit, Media directing our attention to the same, as + yet additional evidence of his ample resources as a host. The evidence was + finally closed by dragging under the eaves a felled plantain tree, the + spike of red ripe fruit, sprouting therefrom, blushing all over, at so + rude an introduction to the notice of strangers. + </p> + <p> + During this scene, Jarl was privily nudging Samoa, in wonderment, to know + what upon earth it all meant. But Samoa, scarcely deigning to notice + interrogatories propounded through the elbow, only let drop a vague hint + or two. + </p> + <p> + It was quite amusing, what airs Samoa now gave himself, at least toward my + Viking. Among the Mardians he was at home. And who, when there, stretches + not out his legs, and says unto himself, "Who is greater than I?" + </p> + <p> + To be plain: concerning himself and the Skyeman, the tables were turned. + At sea, Jarl had been the oracle: an old sea-sage, learned in hemp and + helm. But our craft high and dry, the Upoluan lifted his crest as the + erudite pagan; master of Gog and Magog, expounder of all things heathenish + and obscure. + </p> + <p> + An hour or two was now laughed away in very charming conversation with + Media; when I hinted, that a couch and solitude would be acceptable. + Whereupon, seizing a taper, our host escorted us without the palace. And + ushering us into a handsome unoccupied mansion, gave me to understand that + the same was mine. Mounting to the dais, he then instituted a vigorous + investigation, to discern whether every thing was in order. Not fancying + something about the mats, he rolled them up into bundles, and one by one + sent them flying at the heads of his servitors; who, upon that gentle hint + made off with them, soon after returning with fresh ones. These, with + mathematical precision, Media in person now spread on the dais; looking + carefully to the fringes or ruffles with which they were bordered, as if + striving to impart to them a sentimental expression. + </p> + <p> + This done, he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0057" id="link2HCH0057"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LVII — Taji Takes Counsel With Himself + </h2> + <p> + My brief intercourse with our host, had by this time enabled me to form a + pretty good notion of the light, in which I was held by him and his more + intelligent subjects. + </p> + <p> + His free and easy carriage evinced, that though acknowledging my + assumptions, he was no way overawed by them; treating me as familiarly, + indeed, as if I were a mere mortal, one of the abject generation of + mushrooms. + </p> + <p> + The scene in the temple, however, had done much toward explaining this + demeanor of his. A demi-god in his own proper person, my claims to a + similar dignity neither struck him with wonder, nor lessened his good + opinion of himself. + </p> + <p> + As for any thing foreign in my aspect, and my ignorance of Mardian customs—-all + this, instead of begetting a doubt unfavorable to my pretensions, but + strengthened the conviction of them as verities. Thus has it been in + similar instances; but to a much greater extent. The celebrated navigator + referred to in a preceding chapter, was hailed by the Hawaiians as one of + their demi-gods, returned to earth, after a wide tour of the universe. And + they worshiped him as such, though incessantly he was interrogating them, + as to who under the sun his worshipers were; how their ancestors came on + the island; and whether they would have the kindness to provide his + followers with plenty of pork during his stay. + </p> + <p> + But a word or two concerning the idols in the shrine at Odo. Superadded to + the homage rendered him as a temporal prince, Media was there worshiped as + a spiritual being. In his corporeal absence, his effigy receiving all + oblations intended for him. And in the days of his boyhood, listening to + the old legends of the Mardian mythology, Media had conceived a strong + liking for the fabulous Taji; a deity whom he had often declared was + worthy a niche in any temple extant. Hence he had honored my image with a + place in his own special shrine; placing it side by side with his + worshipful likeness. + </p> + <p> + I appreciated the compliment. But of the close companionship of the other + image there, I was heartily ashamed. And with reason. The nuisance in + question being the image of a deified maker of plantain- pudding, lately + deceased; who had been famed far and wide as the most notable fellow of + his profession in the whole Archipelago. During his sublunary career, + having been attached to the household of Media, his grateful master had + afterward seen fit to crown his celebrity by this posthumous distinction: + a circumstance sadly subtracting from the dignity of an apotheosis. Nor + must it here be omitted, that in this part of Mardi culinary artists are + accounted worthy of high consideration. For among these people of Odo, the + matter of eating and drinking is held a matter of life and of death. "Drag + away my queen from my arms," said old Tyty when overcome of Adommo, "but + leave me my cook." + </p> + <p> + Now, among the Mardians there were plenty of incarnated deities to keep me + in countenance. Most of the kings of the Archipelago, besides Media, + claiming homage as demi-gods; and that, too, by virtue of hereditary + descent, the divine spark being transmissable from father to son. In + illustration of this, was the fact, that in several instances the people + of the land addressed the supreme god Oro, in the very same terms employed + in the political adoration of their sublunary rulers. + </p> + <p> + Ay: there were deities in Mardi far greater and taller than I: right royal + monarchs to boot, living in jolly round tabernacles of jolly brown clay; + and feasting, and roystering, and lording it in yellow tabernacles of + bamboo. These demi-gods had wherewithal to sustain their lofty + pretensions. If need were, could crush out of him the infidelity of a + non-conformist. And by this immaculate union of church and state, god and + king, in their own proper persons reigned supreme Caesars over the souls + and bodies of their subjects. + </p> + <p> + Beside these mighty magnates, I and my divinity shrank into nothing. In + their woodland ante-chambers plebeian deities were kept lingering. For be + it known, that in due time we met with several decayed, broken down + demi-gods: magnificos of no mark in Mardi; having no temples wherein to + feast personal admirers, or spiritual devotees. They wandered about + forlorn and friendless. And oftentimes in their dinnerless despair hugely + gluttonized, and would fain have grown fat, by reflecting upon the + magnificence of their genealogies. But poor fellows! like shabby Scotch + lords in London in King James's time, the very multitude of them + confounded distinction. And since they could show no rent-roll, they were + permitted to fume unheeded. + </p> + <p> + Upon the whole, so numerous were living and breathing gods in Mardi, that + I held my divinity but cheaply. And seeing such a host of immortals, and + hearing of multitudes more, purely spiritual in their nature, haunting + woodlands and streams; my views of theology grew strangely confused; I + began to bethink me of the Jew that rejected the Talmud, and his + all-permeating principle, to which Goethe and others have subscribed. + </p> + <p> + Instead, then, of being struck with the audacity of endeavoring to palm + myself off as a god—the way in which the thing first impressed me—I + now perceived that I might be a god as much as I pleased, and yet not + whisk a lion's tail after all at least on that special account. + </p> + <p> + As for Media's reception, its graciousness was not wholly owing to the + divine character imputed to me. His, he believed to be the same. But to a + whim, a freakishness in his soul, which led him to fancy me as one among + many, not as one with no peer. + </p> + <p> + But the apparent unconcern of King Media with respect to my godship, by no + means so much surprised me, as his unaffected indifference to my amazing + voyage from the sun; his indifference to the sun itself; and all the + wonderful circumstances that must have attended my departure. Whether he + had ever been there himself, that he regarded a solar trip with so much + unconcern, almost became a question in my mind. Certain it is, that as a + mere traveler he must have deemed me no very great prodigy. + </p> + <p> + My surprise at these things was enhanced by reflecting, that to the people + of the Archipelago the map of Mardi was the map of the world. With the + exception of certain islands out of sight and at an indefinite distance, + they had no certain knowledge of any isles but their own. + </p> + <p> + And, no long time elapsed ere I had still additional reasons to cease + wondering at the easy faith accorded to the story which I had given of + myself. For these Mardians were familiar with still greater marvels than + mine; verily believing in prodigies of all sorts. Any one of them put my + exploits to the blush. + </p> + <p> + Look to thy ways then, Taji, thought I, and carry not thy crest too high. + Of a surety, thou hast more peers than inferiors. Thou art overtopped all + round. Bear thyself discreetly and not haughtily, Taji. It will not answer + to give thyself airs. Abstain from all consequential allusions to the + other world, and the genteel deities among whom thou hast circled. Sport + not too jauntily thy raiment, because it is novel in Mardi; nor boast of + the fleetness of thy Chamois, because it is unlike a canoe. Vaunt not of + thy pedigree, Taji; for Media himself will measure it with thee there by + the furlong. Be not a "snob," Taji. + </p> + <p> + So then, weighing all things well, and myself severely, I — resolved + to follow my Mentor's wise counsel; neither arrogating aught, nor abating + of just dues; but circulating freely, sociably, and frankly, among the + gods, heroes, high priests, kings, and gentlemen, that made up the + principalities of Mardi. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0058" id="link2HCH0058"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LVIII — Mardi By Night And Yillah By Day + </h2> + <p> + During the night following our arrival, many dreams were no doubt dreamt + in Odo. But my thoughts were wakeful. And while all others slept, obeying + a restless impulse, I stole without into the magical starlight. There are + those who in a strange land ever love to view it by night. + </p> + <p> + It has been said, that the opening in the groves where was situated + Media's city, was elevated above the surrounding plains. Hence was + commanded a broad reach of prospect. + </p> + <p> + Far and wide was deep low-sobbing repose of man and nature. The groves + were motionless; and in the meadows, like goblins, the shadows advanced + and retreated. Full before me, lay the Mardian fleet of isles, profoundly + at anchor within their coral harbor. Near by was one belted round by a + frothy luminous reef, wherein it lay, like Saturn in its ring. + </p> + <p> + From all their summits, went up a milk-white smoke, as from Indian wigwams + in the hazy harvest-moon. And floating away, these vapors blended with the + faint mist, as of a cataract, hovering over the circumvallating reef. Far + beyond all, and far into the infinite night, surged the jet-black ocean. + </p> + <p> + But how tranquil the wide lagoon, which mirrored the burning spots in + heaven! Deep down into its innermost heart penetrated the slanting rays of + Hesperus like a shaft of light, sunk far into mysterious Golcondas, where + myriad gnomes seemed toiling. Soon a light breeze rippled the water, and + the shaft was seen no more. But the moon's bright wake was still revealed: + a silver track, tipping every wave-crest in its course, till each seemed a + pearly, scroll-prowed nautilus, buoyant with some elfin crew. + </p> + <p> + From earth to heaven! High above me was Night's shadowy bower, traversed, + vine-like, by the Milky Way, and heavy with golden clusterings. Oh stars! + oh eyes, that see me, wheresoe'er I roam: serene, intent, inscrutable for + aye, tell me Sybils, what I am.— Wondrous worlds on worlds! Lo, + round and round me, shining, awful spells: all glorious, vivid + constellations, God's diadem ye are! To you, ye stars, man owes his + subtlest raptures, thoughts unspeakable, yet full of faith. + </p> + <p> + But how your mild effulgence stings the boding heart. Am I a murderer, + stars? + </p> + <p> + Hours pass. The starry trance is departed. Long waited for, the dawn now + comes. + </p> + <p> + First, breaking along the waking face; peeping from out the languid lids; + then shining forth in longer glances; till, like the sun, up comes the + soul, and sheds its rays abroad. + </p> + <p> + When thus my Yillah did daily dawn, how she lit up my world; tinging more + rosily the roseate clouds, that in her summer cheek played to and fro, + like clouds in Italian air. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0059" id="link2HCH0059"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LIX — Their Morning Meal + </h2> + <p> + Not wholly is our world made up of bright stars and bright eyes: so now to + our story. + </p> + <p> + A conscientious host should ever be up betimes, to look after the welfare + of his guests, and see to it that their day begin auspiciously. King Media + announced the advent of the sun, by rustling at my bower's eaves in + person. + </p> + <p> + A repast was spread in an adjoining arbor, which Media's pages had + smoothed for our reception, and where his subordinate chiefs were in + attendance. Here we reclined upon mats. Balmy and fresh blew the breath of + the morning; golden vapors were upon the mountains, silver sheen upon the + grass; and the birds were at matins in the groves; their bright plumage + flashing into view, here and there, as if some rainbow were crouching in + the foliage. + </p> + <p> + Spread before us were viands, served in quaint-shaped, curiously-dyed + gourds, not Sevres, but almost as tasteful; and like true porcelain, fire + had tempered them. Green and yielding, they are plucked from the tree; and + emptied of their pulp, are scratched over with minute marks, like those of + a line engraving. The ground prepared, the various figures are carefully + etched. And the outlines filled up with delicate punctures, certain + vegetable oils are poured over them, for coloring. Filled with a peculiar + species of earth, the gourd is now placed in an oven in the ground. And in + due time exhumed, emptied of its contents, and washed in the stream, it + presents a deep-dyed exterior; every figure distinctly traced and opaque, + but the ground semi-transparent. In some cases, owing to the variety of + dyes employed, each figure is of a different hue. + </p> + <p> + More glorious goblets than these for the drinking of wine, went never from + hand to mouth. Capacious as pitchers, they almost superseded decanters. + </p> + <p> + Now, in a tropical climate, fruit, with light wines, forms the only fit + meal of a morning. And with orchards and vineyards forever in sight, who + but the Hetman of the Cossacs would desire more? We had plenty of the + juice of the grape. But of this hereafter; there are some fine old + cellars, and plenty of good cheer in store. + </p> + <p> + During the repast, Media, for a time, was much taken up with our raiment. + He begged me to examine for a moment the texture of his right royal robe, + and observe how much superior it was to my own. It put my mantle to the + blush; being tastefully stained with rare devices in red and black; and + bordered with dyed fringes of feathers, and tassels of red birds' claws. + </p> + <p> + Next came under observation the Skyeman's Guayaquil hat; at whose + preposterous shape, our host laughed in derision; clapping a great conical + calabash upon the head of an attendant, and saying that now he was Jarl. + At this, and all similar sallies, Samoa was sure to roar louder than any; + though mirth was no constitutional thing with him. But he seemed rejoiced + at the opportunity of turning upon us the ridicule, which as a barbarian + among whites, he himself had so often experienced. + </p> + <p> + These pleasantries over, King Media very slightly drew himself up, as if + to make amends for his previous unbending. He discoursed imperially with + his chiefs; nodded his sovereign will to his pages; called for another + gourd of wine; in all respects carrying his royalty bravely. + </p> + <p> + The repast concluded, we journeyed to the canoe-house, where we found the + little Chamois stabled like a steed. One solitary depredation had been + committed. Its sides and bottom had been completely denuded of the minute + green barnacles, and short sea-grass, which, like so many leeches, had + fastened to our planks during our long, lazy voyage. + </p> + <p> + By the people they had been devoured as dainties. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0060" id="link2HCH0060"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LX — Belshazzar On The Bench + </h2> + <p> + Now, Media was king of Odo. And from the simplicity of his manners + hitherto, and his easy, frank demeanor toward ourselves, had we foolishly + doubted that fact, no skepticism could have survived an illustration of + it, which this very day we witnessed at noon. + </p> + <p> + For at high noon, Media was wont to don his dignity with his symbols of + state; and sit on his judgment divan or throne, to hear and try all causes + brought before him, and fulminate his royal decrees. + </p> + <p> + This divan was elevated at one end of a spacious arbor, formed by an + avenue of regal palms, which in brave state, held aloft their majestical + canopy. + </p> + <p> + The crown of the island prince was of the primitive old Eastern style; in + shape, similar, perhaps, to that jauntily sported as a foraging cap by his + sacred majesty King Nimrod, who so lustily followed the hounds. It was a + plaited turban of red tappa, radiated by the pointed and polished white + bones of the Ray-fish. These diverged from a bandeau or fillet of the most + precious pearls; brought up from the sea by the deepest diving mermen of + Mardi. From the middle of the crown rose a tri-foiled spear-head. And a + spear- headed scepter graced the right hand of the king. + </p> + <p> + Now, for all the rant of your democrats, a fine king on a throne is a very + fine sight to behold. He looks very much like a god. No wonder that his + more dutiful subjects so swore, that their good lord and master King Media + was demi-divine. + </p> + <p> + A king on his throne! Ah, believe me, ye Gracchi, ye Acephali, ye + Levelers, it is something worth seeing, be sure; whether beheld at Babylon + the Tremendous, when Nebuchadnezzar was crowned; at old Scone in the days + of Macbeth; at Rheims, among Oriflammes, at the coronation of Louis le + Grand; at Westminster Abbey, when the gentlemanly George doffed his beaver + for a diadem; or under the soft shade of palm trees on an isle in the sea. + </p> + <p> + Man lording it over man, man kneeling to man, is a spectacle that Gabriel + might well travel hitherward to behold; for never did he behold it in + heaven. But Darius giving laws to the Medes and the Persians, or the + conqueror of Bactria with king-cattle yoked to his car, was not a whit + more sublime, than Beau Brummel magnificently ringing for his valet. + </p> + <p> + A king on his throne! It is Jupiter nodding in the councils of Olympus; + Satan, seen among the coronets in Hell. + </p> + <p> + A king on his throne! It is the sun over a mountain; the sun over + law-giving Sinai; the sun in our system: planets, duke-like, dancing + attendance, and baronial satellites in waiting. + </p> + <p> + A king on his throne! After all, but a gentleman seated. And thus sat the + good lord, King Media. + </p> + <p> + Time passed. And after trying and dismissing several minor affairs, Media + called for certain witnesses to testify concerning one Jiromo, a foolhardy + wight, who had been silly enough to plot against the majesty now sitting + judge and jury upon him. + </p> + <p> + His guilt was clear. And the witnesses being heard, from a bunch of palm + plumes Media taking a leaf, placed it in the hand of a runner or + pursuivant, saying, "This to Jiromo, where he is prisoned; with his king's + compliments; say we here wait for his head." + </p> + <p> + It was doffed like a turban before a Dey, and brought back on the instant. + </p> + <p> + Now came certain lean-visaged, poverty-stricken, and hence + suspicious-looking varlets, grumbling and growling, and amiable as Bruin. + They came muttering some wild jargon about "bulwarks," "bulkheads," + "cofferdams," "safeguards," "noble charters," "shields," and "paladiums," + "great and glorious birthrights," and other unintelligible gibberish. + </p> + <p> + Of the pursuivants, these worthies asked audience of Media. + </p> + <p> + "Go, kneel at the throne," was the answer. + </p> + <p> + "Our knee-pans are stiff with sciatics," was the rheumatic reply. + </p> + <p> + "An artifice to keep on your legs," said the pursuivants. + </p> + <p> + And advancing they salamed, and told Media the excuse of those +sour-looking varlets. Whereupon my lord commanded them to down on their + marrow-bones instanter, either before him or the headsman, whichsoever + they pleased. + </p> + <p> + They preferred the former. And as they there kneeled, in vain did men with + sharp ears (who abound in all courts) prick their auriculars, to list to + that strange crackling and firing off of bone balls and sockets, ever + incident to the genuflections of rheumatic courtiers. + </p> + <p> + In a row, then, these selfsame knee-pans did kneel before the king; who + eyed them as eagles in air do goslings on dunghills; or hunters, hounds + crouching round their calves. + </p> + <p> + "Your prayer?" said Media. + </p> + <p> + It was a petition, that thereafter all differences between man and man in + Ode, together with all alleged offenses against the state, might be tried + by twelve good men and true. These twelve to be unobnoxious to the party + or parties concerned; their peers; and previously unbiased touching the + matter at issue. Furthermore, that unanimity in these twelve should be + indispensable to a verdict; and no dinner be vouchsafed till unanimity + came. + </p> + <p> + Loud and long laughed King Media in scorn. + </p> + <p> + "This be your judge," he cried, swaying his scepter. "What! are twelve + wise men more wise than one? or will twelve fools, put together, make one + sage? Are twelve honest men more honest than one? or twelve knaves less + knavish than one? And if, of twelve men, three be fools, and three wise, + three knaves, and three upright, how obtain real unanimity from such? + </p> + <p> + "But if twelve judges be better than one, then are twelve hundred better + than twelve. But take the whole populace for a judge, and you will long + wait for a unanimous verdict. + </p> + <p> + "If upon a thing dubious, there be little unanimity in the conflicting + opinions of one man's mind, how expect it in the uproar of twelve puzzled + brains? though much unanimity be found in twelve hungry stomachs. + </p> + <p> + "Judges unobnoxious to the accused! Apply it to a criminal case. Ha! ha! + if peradventure a Cacti be rejected, because he had seen the accused + commit the crime for which he is arraigned. Then, his mind would be + biased: no impartiality from him! Or your testy accused might object to + another, because of his tomahawk nose, or a cruel squint of the eye. + </p> + <p> + "Of all follies the most foolish! Know ye from me, that true peers render + not true verdicts. Jiromo was a rebel. Had I tried him by his peers, I had + tried him by rebels; and the rebel had rebelled to some purpose. + </p> + <p> + "Away! As unerring justice dwells in a unity, and as one judge will at + last judge the world beyond all appeal; so—though often here below + justice be hard to attain—does man come nearest the mark, when he + imitates that model divine. Hence, one judge is better than twelve." + </p> + <p> + "And as Justice, in ideal, is ever painted high lifted above the crowd; + so, from the exaltation of his rank, an honest king is the best of those + unical judges, which individually are better than twelve. And therefore am + I, King Media, the best judge in this land." + </p> + <p> + "Subjects! so long as I live, I will rule you and judge you alone. And + though you here kneeled before me till you grew into the ground, and there + took root, no yea to your petition will you get from this throne. I am + king: ye are slaves. Mine to command: yours to obey. And this hour I + decree, that henceforth no gibberish of bulwarks and bulkheads be heard in + this land. For a dead bulwark and a bulkhead, to dam off sedition, will I + make of that man, who again but breathes those bulky words. Ho! spears! + see that these knee-pans here kneel till set of sun." + </p> + <p> + High noon was now passed; and removing his crown, and placing it on the + dais for the kneelers to look at during their devotions, King Media + departed from that place, and once more played the agreeable host. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0061" id="link2HCH0061"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXI — An Incognito + </h2> + <p> + For the rest of that day, and several that followed, we were continually + receiving visits from the neighboring islands; whose inhabitants in fleets + and flotillas flocked round Odo to behold the guests of its lord. Among + them came many messengers from the neighboring kings with soft speeches + and gifts. + </p> + <p> + But it were needless to detail our various interviews, or relate in what + manifold ways, the royal strangers gave token of their interest concerning + us. + </p> + <p> + Upon the third day, however, there was noticed a mysterious figure, like + the inscrutable incognitos sometimes encountered, crossing the + tower-shadowed Plaza of Assignations at Lima. It was enveloped in a dark + robe of tappa, so drawn and plaited about the limbs; and with one hand, so + wimpled about the face, as only to expose a solitary eye. But that eye was + a world. Now it was fixed upon Yillah with a sinister glance, and now upon + me, but with a different expression. However great the crowd, however + tumultuous, that fathomless eye gazed on; till at last it seemed no eye, + but a spirit, forever prying into my soul. Often I strove to approach it, + but it would evade me, soon reappearing. + </p> + <p> + Pointing out the apparition to Media, I intreated him to take means to fix + it, that my suspicions might be dispelled, as to its being incorporeal. He + replied that, by courtesy, incognitos were sacred. Insomuch that the + close-plaited robe and the wimple were secure as a castle. At last, to my + relief, the phantom disappeared, and was seen no more. + </p> + <p> + Numerous and fervent the invitations received to return the calls + wherewith we were honored. But for the present we declined them; + preferring to establish ourselves firmly in the heart of Media, ere + encountering the vicissitudes of roaming. In a multitude of acquaintances + is less security, than in one faithful friend. + </p> + <p> + Now, while these civilities were being received, and on the fourth morning + after our arrival, there landed on the beach three black-eyed damsels, + deep brunettes, habited in long variegated robes, and with gay blossoms on + their heads. + </p> + <p> + With many salams, the strangers were ushered into my presence by an old + white-haired servitor of Media's, who with a parting congé murmured, "From + Queen Hautia," then departed. Surprised, I stood mute, and welcomed them. + </p> + <p> + The first, with many smiles and blandishments, waved before me a + many-tinted Iris: the flag-flower streaming with pennons. Advancing, the + second then presented three rose-hued purple-veined Circea flowers, the + dew still clinging to them. The third placed in my hand a moss-rose bud; + then, a Venus-car. + </p> + <p> + "Thanks for your favors! now your message." + </p> + <p> + Starting at this reception, graciously intended, they conferred a moment; + when the Iris-bearer said in winning phrase, "We come from Hautia, whose + moss-rose you hold." + </p> + <p> + "All thanks to Hautia then; the bud is very fragrant." + </p> + <p> + Then she pointed to the Venus-car. + </p> + <p> + "This too is sweet; thanks to Hautia for her flowers. Pray, bring me + more." + </p> + <p> + "He mocks our mistress," and gliding from me, they waved witch- hazels, + leaving me alone and wondering. + </p> + <p> + Informing Media of this scene, he smiled; threw out queer hints of Hautia; + but knew not what her message meant. + </p> + <p> + At first this affair occasioned me no little uneasiness, with much matter + for marveling; but in the novel pleasure of our sojourn in Odo, it soon + slipped from my mind; nor for some time, did I again hear aught of Queen + Hautia. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0062" id="link2HCH0062"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXII — Taji Retires From The World + </h2> + <p> + After a while, when the strangers came not in shoals as before, I — + proposed to our host, a stroll over his dominions; desirous of beholding + the same, and secretly induced by the hope of selecting an abode, more + agreeable to my fastidious taste, than the one already assigned me. + </p> + <p> + The ramble over—a pleasant one it was—it resulted in a + determination on my part to quit Odo. Yet not to go very far; only ten or + twelve yards, to a little green tuft of an islet; one of many, which here + and there, all round the island, nestled like birds' nests in the + branching boughs of the coral grove, whose roots laid hold of the + foundations of the deep. Between these islets and the shore, extended + shelving ledges, with shallows above, just sufficient to float a canoe. + One of these islets was wooded and wined; an arbor in the sea. And here, + Media permitting, I decided to dwell. + </p> + <p> + Not long was Media in complying; nor long, ere my retreat was in + readiness. Laced together, the twisting boughs were closely thatched. And + thatched were the sides also, with deep crimson pandannus leaves; whose + long, forked spears, lifted by the breeze, caused the whole place to + blaze, as with flames. Canes, laid on palm trunks, formed the floor. How + elastic! In vogue all over Odo, among the chiefs, it imparted such a + buoyancy to the person, that to this special cause may be imputed in good + part the famous fine spirits of the nobles. + </p> + <p> + Hypochondriac! essay the elastic flooring! It shall so pleasantly and + gently jolt thee, as to shake up, and pack off the stagnant humors + mantling thy pool-like soul. + </p> + <p> + Such was my dwelling. But I make no mention of sundry little appurtenances + of tropical housekeeping: calabashes, cocoanut shells, and rolls of fine + tappa; till with Yillah seated at last in my arbor, I looked round, and + wanted for naught. + </p> + <p> + But what of Jarl and Samoa? Why Jarl must needs be fanciful, as well as + myself. Like a bachelor in chambers, he settled down right opposite to me, + on the main land, in a little wigwam in the grove. + </p> + <p> + But Samoa, following not his comrade's example, still tarried in the camp + of the Hittites and Jebusites of Odo. Beguiling men of their leisure by + his marvelous stories: and maidens of their hearts by his marvelous wiles. + </p> + <p> + When I chose, I was completely undisturbed in my arbor; an ukase of + Media's forbidding indiscriminate intrusion. But thrice in the day came a + garrulous old man with my viands. + </p> + <p> + Thus sequestered, however, I could not entirely elude the pryings of the + people of the neighboring islands; who often passed by, slowly paddling, + and earnestly regarding my retreat. But gliding along at a distance, and + never essaying a landing, their occasional vicinity troubled me but + little. But now and then of an evening, when thick and fleet the shadows + were falling, dim glimpses of a canoe would be spied; hovering about the + place like a ghost. And once, in the stillness of the night, hearing the + near ripple of a prow, I sallied forth, but the phantom quickly departed. + </p> + <p> + That night, Yillah shuddered as she slept. "The whirl-pool," she murmured, + "sweet mosses." Next day she was lost in reveries, plucking pensive + hyacinths, or gazing intently into the lagoon. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0063" id="link2HCH0063"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXIII — Odo And Its Lord + </h2> + <p> + Time now to enter upon some further description of the island and its + lord. + </p> + <p> + And first for Media: a gallant gentleman and king. From a goodly stock he + came. In his endless pedigree, reckoning deities by decimals, innumerable + kings, and scores of great heroes, chiefs, and priests. Nor in person, did + he belie his origin. No far-descended dwarf was he, the least of a + receding race. He stood like a palm tree; about whose acanthus capital + droops not more gracefully the silken fringes, than Media's locks upon his + noble brow. Strong was his arm to wield the club, or hurl the javelin; and + potent, I ween, round a maiden's waist. + </p> + <p> + Thus much here for Media. Now comes his isle. + </p> + <p> + Our pleasant ramble found it a little round world by itself; full of + beauties as a garden; chequered by charming groves; watered by roving + brooks; and fringed all round by a border of palm trees, whose roots drew + nourishment from the water. But though abounding in other quarters of the + Archipelago, not a solitary bread-fruit grew in Odo. A noteworthy + circumstance, observable in these regions, where islands close adjoining, + so differ in their soil, that certain fruits growing genially in one, are + foreign to another. But Odo was famed for its guavas, whose flavor was + likened to the flavor of new-blown lips; and for its grapes, whose juices + prompted many a laugh and many a groan. + </p> + <p> + Beside the city where Media dwelt, there were few other clusters of + habitations in Odo. The higher classes living, here and there, in separate + households; but not as eremites. Some buried themselves in the cool, + quivering bosoms of the groves. Others, fancying a marine vicinity, dwelt + hard by the beach in little cages of bamboo; whence of mornings they + sallied out with jocund cries, and went plunging into the refreshing bath, + whose frothy margin was the threshold of their dwellings. Others still, + like birds, built their nests among the sylvan nooks of the elevated + interior; whence all below, and hazy green, lay steeped in languor the + island's throbbing heart. + </p> + <p> + Thus dwelt the chiefs and merry men of mark. The common sort, including + serfs, and Helots, war-captives held in bondage, lived in secret places, + hard to find. Whence it came, that, to a stranger, the whole isle looked + care-free and beautiful. Deep among the ravines and the rocks, these + beings lived in noisome caves, lairs for beasts, not human homes; or built + them coops of rotten boughs—living trees were banned them—whose + mouldy hearts hatched vermin. Fearing infection of some plague, born of + this filth, the chiefs of Odo seldom passed that way and looking round + within their green retreats, and pouring out their wine, and plucking from + orchards of the best, marveled how these swine could grovel in the mire, + and wear such sallow cheeks. But they offered no sweet homes; from that + mire they never sought to drag them out; they open threw no orchard; and + intermitted not the mandates that condemned their drudges to a life of + deaths. Sad sight! to see those round-shouldered Helots, stooping in their + trenches: artificial, three in number, and concentric: the isle well nigh + surrounding. And herein, fed by oozy loam, and kindly dew from heaven, and + bitter sweat from men, grew as in hot-beds the nutritious Taro. + </p> + <p> + Toil is man's allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a grief + that's more than either, the grief and sin of idleness. But when man toils + and slays himself for masters who withhold the life he gives to them—then, + then, the soul screams out, and every sinew cracks. So with these poor + serfs. And few of them could choose but be the brutes they seemed. + </p> + <p> + Now needs it to be said, that Odo was no land of pleasure unalloyed, and + plenty without a pause?—Odo, in whose lurking-places infants turned + from breasts, whence flowed no nourishment.—Odo, in whose inmost + haunts, dark groves were brooding, passing which you heard most dismal + cries, and voices cursing Media. There, men were scourged; their crime, a + heresy; the heresy, that Media was no demigod. For this they shrieked. + Their fathers shrieked before; their fathers, who, tormented, said, "Happy + we to groan, that our children's children may be glad." But their + children's children howled. Yet these, too, echoed previous generations, + and loudly swore, "The pit that's dug for us may prove another's grave." + </p> + <p> + But let all pass. To look at, and to roam about of holidays, Odo seemed a + happy land. The palm-trees waved—though here and there you marked + one sear and palsy-smitten; the flowers bloomed—though dead ones + moldered in decay; the waves ran up the strand in glee—though, + receding, they sometimes left behind bones mixed with shells. + </p> + <p> + But else than these, no sign of death was seen throughout the isle. Did + men in Odo live for aye? Was Ponce de Leon's fountain there? For near and + far, you saw no ranks and files of graves, no generations harvested in + winrows. In Odo, no hard-hearted nabob slept beneath a gentle epitaph; no + requiescat-in-pace mocked a sinner damned; no memento-mori admonished men + to live while yet they might. Here Death hid his skull; and hid it in the + sea, the common sepulcher of Odo. Not dust to dust, but dust to brine; not + hearses but canoes. For all who died upon that isle were carried out + beyond the outer reef, and there were buried with their sires' sires. + Hence came the thought, that of gusty nights, when round the isles, and + high toward heaven, flew the white reef's rack and foam, that then and + there, kept chattering watch and ward, the myriads that were +ocean-tombed. + </p> + <p> + But why these watery obsequies? + </p> + <p> + Odo was but a little isle, and must the living make way for the dead, and + Life's small colony be dislodged by Death's grim hosts; as the gaunt + tribes of Tamerlane o'erspread the tented pastures of the Khan? + </p> + <p> + And now, what follows, said these Islanders: "Why sow corruption in the + soil which yields us life? We would not pluck our grapes from over graves. + This earth's an urn for flowers, not for ashes." + </p> + <p> + They said that Oro, the supreme, had made a cemetery of the sea. + </p> + <p> + And what more glorious grave? Was Mausolus more sublimely urned? Or do the + minster-lamps that burn before the tomb of Charlemagne, show more of pomp, + than all the stars, that blaze above the shipwrecked mariner? + </p> + <p> + But no more of the dead; men shrug their shoulders, and love not their + company; though full soon we shall all have them for fellows. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0064" id="link2HCH0064"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXIV — Yillah A Phantom + </h2> + <p> + For a time we were happy in Odo: Yillah and I in our islet. Nor did the + pearl on her bosom glow more rosily than the roses in her cheeks; though + at intervals they waned and departed; and deadly pale was her glance, when + she murmured of the whirlpool and mosses. As pale my soul, bethinking me + of Aleema the priest. + </p> + <p> + But day by day, did her spell weave round me its magic, and all the hidden + things of her being grew more lovely and strange. Did I — commune + with a spirit? Often I thought that Paradise had overtaken me on earth, + and that Yillah was verily an angel, and hence the mysteries that hallowed + her. + </p> + <p> + But how fleeting our joys. Storms follow bright dawnings.—Long + memories of short-lived scenes, sad thoughts of joyous hours—how + common are ye to all mankind. When happy, do we pause and say—"Lo, + thy felicity, my soul?" No: happiness seldom seems happiness, except when + looked back upon from woes. A flowery landscape, you must come out of, to + behold. + </p> + <p> + Sped the hours, the days, the one brief moment of our joys. Fairy bower in + the fair lagoon, scene of sylvan ease and heart's repose,— Oh, + Yillah, Yillah! All the woods repeat the sound, the wild, wild woods of my + wild soul. Yillah! Yillah! cry the small strange voices in me, and + evermore, and far and deep, they echo on. + </p> + <p> + Days passed. When one morning I found the arbor vacant. Gone! A dream. I + closed my eyes, and would have dreamed her back. In vain. Starting, I + called upon her name; but none replied. Fleeing from the islet, I gained + the neighboring shore, and searched among the woods; and my comrades + meeting, besought their aid. But idle all. No glimpse of aught, save trees + and flowers. Then Media was sought out; the event made known; and quickly, + bands were summoned to range the isle. + </p> + <p> + Noon came; but no Yillah. When Media averred she was no longer in Odo. + Whither she was gone, or how, he knew not; nor could any imagine. + </p> + <p> + At this juncture, there chanced to arrive certain messengers from abroad; + who, presuming that all was well with Taji, came with renewed invitations + to visit various pleasant places round about. Among these, came Queen + Hautia's heralds, with their Iris flag, once more bringing flowers. But + they came and went unheeded. + </p> + <p> + Setting out to return, these envoys were accompanied by numerous followers + of Media, dispatched to the neighboring islands, to seek out the missing + Yillah. But three days passed; and, one by one, they all returned; and + stood before me silently. + </p> + <p> + For a time I raved. Then, falling into outer repose, lived for a space in + moods and reveries, with eyes that knew no closing, one glance forever + fixed. + </p> + <p> + They strove to rouse me. Girls danced and sang; and tales of fairy times + were told; of monstrous imps, and youths enchanted; of groves and gardens + in the sea. Yet still I moved not, hearing all, yet noting naught. Media + cried, "For shame, oh Taji; thou, a god?" and placed a spear in my + nerveless hand. And Jarl loud called upon me to awake. Samoa marveled. + </p> + <p> + Still sped the days. And at length, my memory was restored. The thoughts + of things broke over me like returning billows on a beach long bared. A + rush, a foam of recollections!—Sweet Yillah gone, and I bereaved. + </p> + <p> + Another interval, and that mood was past. Misery became a memory. The keen + pang a deep vibration. The remembrance seemed the thing remembered; though + bowed with sadness. There are thoughts that lie and glitter deep: tearful + pearls beneath life's sea, that surges still, and rolls sunlit, whatever + it may hide. Common woes, like fluids, mix all round. Not so with that + other grief. Some mourners load the air with lamentations; but the loudest + notes are struck from hollows. Their tears flow fast: but the deep spring + only wells. + </p> + <p> + At last I turned to Media, saying I must hie from Odo, and rove throughout + all Mardi; for Yillah might yet be found. + </p> + <p> + But hereafter, in words, little more of the maiden, till perchance her + fate be learned. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0065" id="link2HCH0065"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXV — Taji Makes Three Acquaintances + </h2> + <p> + Down to this period, I had restrained Samoa from wandering to the + neighboring islands, though he had much desired it, in compliance with the + invitations continually received. But now I informed both him, and his + comrade, of the tour I purposed; desiring their company. + </p> + <p> + Upon the announcement of my intention to depart, to my no small surprise + Media also proposed to accompany me: a proposition gladly embraced. It + seems, that for some reason, he had not as yet extended his travels to the + more distant islands. Hence the voyage in prospect was particularly + agreeable to him. Nor did he forbear any pains to insure its prosperity; + assuring me, furthermore, that its object must eventually be crowned with + success. "I myself am interested in this pursuit," said he; "and trust me, + Yillah will be found." + </p> + <p> + For the tour of the lagoon, the docile Chamois was proposed; but Media + dissented; saying, that it befitted not the lord of Odo to voyage in the + equipage of his guest. Therefore, three canoes were selected from his own + royal fleet. + </p> + <p> + One for ourselves, and a trio of companions whom he purposed introducing + to my notice; the rest were reserved for attendants. + </p> + <p> + Thanks to Media's taste and heedfulness, the strangers above mentioned + proved truly acceptable. + </p> + <p> + The first was Mohi, or Braid-Beard, so called from the manner in which he + wore that appendage, exceedingly long and gray. He was a venerable teller + of stories and legends, one of the Keepers of the Chronicles of the Kings + of Mardi. + </p> + <p> + The second was Babbalanja, a man of a mystical aspect, habited in a + voluminous robe. He was learned in Mardian lore; much given to quotations + from ancient and obsolete authorities: the Ponderings of Old Bardianna: + the Pandects of Alla-Malolla. + </p> + <p> + Third and last, was Yoomy, or the Warbler. A youthful, long-haired, + blue-eyed minstrel; all fits and starts; at times, absent of mind, and wan + of cheek; but always very neat and pretty in his apparel; wearing the most + becoming of turbans, a Bird of Paradise feather its plume, and sporting + the gayest of sashes. Most given was Yoomy to amorous melodies, and + rondos, and roundelays, very witching to hear. But at times disdaining the + oaten reed, like a clarion he burst forth with lusty lays of arms and + battle; or, in mournful strains, sounded elegies for departed bards and + heroes. + </p> + <p> + Thus much for Yoomy as a minstrel. In other respects, it would be hard to + depict him. He was so capricious a mortal; so swayed by contrary moods; so + lofty, so humble, so sad, so merry; so made up of a thousand + contradictions, that we must e'en let him depict himself as our story + progresses. And herein it is hoped he will succeed; since no one in Mardi + comprehended him. + </p> + <p> + Now the trio, thus destined for companions on our voyage, had for some + time been anxious to take the tour of the Archipelago. In particular, + Babbalanja had often expressed the most ardent desire to visit every one + of the isles, in quest of some object, mysteriously hinted. He murmured + deep concern for my loss, the sincerest sympathy; and pressing my hand + more than once, said lowly, "Your pursuit is mine, noble Taji. Where'er + you search, I follow." + </p> + <p> + So, too, Yoomy addressed me; but with still more feeling. And something + like this, also, Braid-Beard repeated. + </p> + <p> + But to my sorrow, I marked that both Mohi and Babbalanja, especially the + last, seemed not so buoyant of hope, concerning lost Yillah, as the + youthful Yoomy, and his high-spirited lord, King Media. + </p> + <p> + As our voyage would embrace no small period of time, it behoved King Media + to appoint some trustworthy regent, to rule during his absence. This + regent was found in Almanni, a stem-eyed, resolute warrior, a kinsman of + the king. + </p> + <p> + All things at last in readiness, and the ensuing morning appointed for a + start, Media, on the beach, at eventide, when both light and water waned, + drew a rude map of the lagoon, to compensate for the obstructions in the + way of a comprehensive glance at it from Odo. + </p> + <p> + And thus was sketched the plan of our voyage; which islands first to + visit; and which to touch at, when we should be homeward bound. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0066" id="link2HCH0066"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXVI — With A Fair Wind, At Sunrise They Sail + </h2> + <p> + True each to his word, up came the sun, and round to my isle came Media. + </p> + <p> + How glorious a morning! The new-born clouds all dappled with gold, and + streaked with violet; the sun in high spirits; and the pleasant air cooled + overnight by the blending circumambient fountains, forever playing all + round the reef; the lagoon within, the coral-rimmed basin, into which they + poured, subsiding, hereabouts, into green tranquillity. + </p> + <p> + But what monsters of canoes! Would they devour an innocent voyager? their + great black prows curling aloft, and thrown back like trunks of elephants; + a dark, snaky length behind, like the sea-serpent's train. + </p> + <p> + The prow of the foremost terminated in a large, open, shark's mouth, + garnished with ten rows of pearly human teeth, curiously inserted into the + sculptured wood. The gunwale was ornamented with rows of rich spotted + Leopard and Tiger-shells; here and there, varied by others, flat and + round, and spirally traced; gay serpents petrified in coils. These were + imbedded in a grooved margin, by means of a resinous compound, exhaling + such spices, that the canoes were odoriferous as the Indian chests of the + Maldives. + </p> + <p> + The likeness of the foremost canoe to an elephant, was helped by a sort of + canopied Howdah in its stern, of heavy, russet-dyed tappa, tasselled at + the corners with long bunches of cocoanut fibres, stained red. These + swayed to and fro, like the fox-tails on a Tuscarora robe. + </p> + <p> + But what is this, in the head of the canoe, just under the shark's mouth? + A grinning little imp of an image; a ring in its nose; cowrie shells + jingling at its ears; with an abominable leer, like that of Silenus + reeling on his ass. It was taking its ease; cosily smoking a pipe; its + bowl, a duodecimo edition of the face of the smoker. This image looked + sternward; everlastingly mocking us. + </p> + <p> + Of these canoes, it may be well to state, that although during our stay in + Odo, so many barges and shallops had touched there, nothing similar to + Media's had been seen. But inquiring whence his sea- equipage came, we + were thereupon taught to reverence the same as antiquities and heir-looms; + claw-keeled, dragon-prowed crafts of a bygone generation; at present, + superseded in general use by the more swan-like canoes, significant of the + advanced stage of marine architecture in Mardi. No sooner was this known, + than what had seemed almost hideous in my eyes, became merely grotesque. + Nor could I help being greatly delighted with the good old family pride of + our host. + </p> + <p> + The upper corners of our sails displayed the family crest of Media; three + upright boars' tusks, in an heraldic field argent. A fierce device: Whom + rends he? + </p> + <p> + All things in readiness, we glided away: the multitude waving adieu; and + our flotilla disposed in the following order. + </p> + <p> + First went the royal Elephant, carrying Media, myself, Jarl, and Samoa; + Mohi the Teller of Legends, Babbalanja, and Yoomy, and six vivacious + paddlers; their broad paddle-blades carved with the royal boars' tusks, + the same tattooed on their chests for a livery. + </p> + <p> + And thus, as Media had promised, we voyaged in state. To crown all, seated + sideways in the high, open shark's-mouth of our prow was a little dwarf of + a boy, one of Media's pages, a red conch-shell, bugle-wise suspended at + his side. Among various other offices, it was the duty of little Vee-Vee + to announce the advent of his master, upon drawing near to the islands in + our route. Two short bars, projecting from one side of the prow, furnished + him the means of ascent to his perch. + </p> + <p> + As we gained the open lagoon with bellied sails, and paddles playing, a + sheaf of foam borne upright at our prow; Yoomy, standing where the spicy + spray flew over him, stretched forth his hand and cried—"The dawn of + day is passed, and Mardi lies all before us: all her isles, and all her + lakes; all her stores of good and evil. Storms may come, our barks may + drown. But blow before us, all ye winds; give us a lively blast, good + clarion; rally round us all our wits; and be this voyage full gayly + sailed, for Yillah will yet be found." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0067" id="link2HCH0067"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXVII — Little King Peepi + </h2> + <p> + Valapee, or the Isle of Yams, being within plain sight of Media's + dominions, we were not very long in drawing nigh to its shores. + </p> + <p> + Two long parallel elevations, rising some three arrow-flights into the + air, double-ridge the island's entire length, lapping between, a widening + vale, so level withal, that at either extremity, the green of its groves + blends with the green of the lagoon; and the isle seems divided by a + strait. + </p> + <p> + Within several paces of the beach, our canoes keeled the bottom, and + camel-like mutely hinted that we voyagers must dismount. + </p> + <p> + Hereupon, the assembled islanders ran into the water, and with bent + shoulders obsequiously desired the honor of transporting us to land. The + beach gained, all present wearing robes instantly stripped them to the + waist; a naked chest being their salute to kings. Very convenient for the + common people, this; their half-clad forms presenting a perpetual and + profound salutation. + </p> + <p> + Presently, Peepi, the ruler of Valapee drew near: a boy, hardly ten years + old, striding the neck of a burly mute, bearing a long spear erect before + him, to which was attached a canopy of five broad banana leaves, new + plucked. Thus shaded, little Peepi advanced, steadying himself by the + forelock of his bearer. + </p> + <p> + Besides his bright red robe, the young prince wore nothing but the symbol + of Valapeean royalty; a string of small, close-fitting, concave shells, + coiled and ambushed in his profuse, curly hair; one end falling over his + ear, revealing a serpent's head, curiously carved from a nutmeg. + </p> + <p> + Quite proverbial, the unembarrassed air of young slips of royalty. But + there was something so surprisingly precocious in this young Peepi, that + at first one hardly knew what to conclude. + </p> + <p> + The first compliments over, the company were invited inland to a shady + retreat. + </p> + <p> + As we pursued the path, walking between old Mohi the keeper of chronicles + and Samoa the Upoluan, Babbalanja besought the former to enlighten a + stranger concerning the history of this curious Peepi. Whereupon the + chronicler gave us the following account; for all of which he alone is + responsible. + </p> + <p> + Peepi, it seems, had been proclaimed king before he was born; his sire + dying some few weeks previous to that event; and vacating his divan, + declared that he left a monarch behind. + </p> + <p> + Marvels were told of Peepi. Along with the royal dignity, and superadded + to the soul possessed in his own proper person, the infant monarch was + supposed to have inherited the valiant spirits of some twenty heroes, + sages, simpletons, and demi-gods, previously lodged in his sire. + </p> + <p> + Most opulent in spiritual gifts was this lord of Valapee; the legatee, + moreover, of numerous anonymous souls, bequeathed to him by their late + loyal proprietors. By a slavish act of his convocation of chiefs, he also + possessed the reversion of all and singular the immortal spirits, whose + first grantees might die intestate in Valapee. Servile, yet audacious + senators! thus prospectively to administrate away the inalienable rights + of posterity. But while yet unborn, the people of Valapee had been + deprived of more than they now sought to wrest from their descendants. And + former Peepies, infant and adult, had received homage more profound, than + Peepi the Present. Witness the demeanor of the chieftains of old, upon + every new investiture of the royal serpent. In a fever of loyalty, they + were wont to present themselves before the heir to the isle, to go through + with the court ceremony of the Pupera; a curious proceeding, so called: + inverted endeavors to assume an erect posture: the nasal organ the base. + </p> + <p> + It was to the frequent practice of this ceremony, that most intelligent + observers imputed the flattened noses of the elderly chiefs of the island; + who, nevertheless, much gloried therein. + </p> + <p> + It was these chiefs, also, who still observed the old-fashioned custom of + retiring from the presence of royalty with their heads between their + thighs; so that while advancing in the contrary direction, their faces + might be still deferentially turned toward their lord and master. A fine + view of him did they obtain. All objects look well through an arch. + </p> + <p> + But to return to Peepi, the inheritor of souls and subjects. It was an + article of faith with the people of Valapee, that Peepi not only actually + possessed the souls bequeathed to him; but that his own was enriched by + their peculiar qualities: The headlong valor of the late Tongatona; the + pusillanimous discretion of Blandoo; the cunning of Voyo; the simplicity + of Raymonda; the prodigality of Zonoree; the thrift of Titonti. + </p> + <p> + But had all these, and similar opposite qualities, simultaneously acted as + motives upon Peepi, certes, he would have been a most pitiable mortal, in + a ceaseless eddy of resolves, incapable of a solitary act. + </p> + <p> + But blessed be the gods, it was otherwise. Though it fared little better + for his subjects as it was. His assorted souls were uppermost and active + in him, one by one. Today, valiant Tongatona ruled the isle, meditating + wars and invasions; tomorrow, thrice discreet Blandoo, who, disbanding the + levies, turned his attention to the terraces of yams. And so on in + rotation to the end. + </p> + <p> + Whence, though capable of action, Peepi, by reason of these revolving + souls in him, was one of the most unreliable of beings. What the + open-handed Zonoree promised freely to-day, the parsimonious Titonti + withheld to-morrow; and forever Raymonda was annulling the doings of Voyo; + and Voyo the doings of Raymonda. + </p> + <p> + What marvel then, that in Valapee all was legislative uproar and + confusion; advance and retreat; abrogations and revivals; foundations + without superstructures; nothing permanent but the island itself. + </p> + <p> + Nor were there those in the neighboring countries, who failed to reap + profit from this everlasting transition state of the affairs of the + kingdom. All boons from Peepi were entreated when the prodigal Zonoree was + lord of the ascendant. And audacious claims were urged upon the state when + the pusillanimous Blandoo shrank from the thought of resisting them. + </p> + <p> + Thus subject to contrary impulses, over which he had not the faintest + control, Peepi was plainly denuded of all moral obligation to virtue. He + was no more a free agent, than the heart which beat in his bosom. + Wherefore, his complaisant parliament had passed a law, recognizing that + curious, but alarming fact; solemnly proclaiming, that King Peepi was + minus a conscience. Agreeable to truth. But when they went further, and + vowed by statute, that Peepi could do no wrong, they assuredly did + violence to the truth; besides, making a sad blunder in their logic. For + far from possessing an absolute aversion to evil, by his very nature it + was the hardest thing in the world for Peepi to do right. + </p> + <p> + Taking all these things into consideration, then, no wonder that this + wholly irresponsible young prince should be a lad of considerable + assurance, and the easiest manners imaginable. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0068" id="link2HCH0068"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXVIII — How Teeth Were Regarded In Valapee + </h2> + <p> + Coiling through the thickets, like the track of a serpent, wound along the + path we pursued. And ere long we came to a spacious grove, embowering an + oval arbor. Here, we reclined at our ease, and refreshments were served. + </p> + <p> + Little worthy of mention occurred, save this. Happening to catch a glimpse + of the white even teeth of Hohora one of our attendants, King Peepi coolly + begged of Media the favor, to have those same dentals drawn on the spot, + and presented to him. + </p> + <p> + Now human teeth, extracted, are reckoned among the most valuable ornaments + in Mardi. So open wide thy strong box, Hohora, and show thy treasures. + What a gallant array! standing shoulder to shoulder, without a hiatus + between. A complete set of jewelry, indeed, thought Peepi. But, it seems, + not destined for him; Media leaving it to the present proprietor, whether + his dentals should change owners or not. + </p> + <p> + And here, to prepare the way for certain things hereafter to be narrated, + something farther needs be said concerning the light in which men's molars + are regarded in Mardi. + </p> + <p> + Strung together, they are sported for necklaces, or hung in drops from the + ear; they are wrought into dice; in lieu of silken locks, are exchanged + for love tokens. + </p> + <p> + As in all lands, men smite their breasts, and tear their hair, when + transported with grief; so, in some countries, teeth are stricken out + under the sway of similar emotions. To a very great extent, this was once + practiced in the Hawaiian Islands, ere idol and altar went down. Still + living in Oahu, are many old chiefs, who were present at the famous + obsequies of their royal old generalissimo, Tammahammaha, when there is no + telling how many pounds of ivory were cast upon his grave. + </p> + <p> + Ah! had the regal white elephants of Siam been there, doubtless they had + offered up their long, hooked tusks, whereon they impale the leopards, + their foes; and the unicorn had surrendered that fixed bayonet in his + forehead; and the imperial Cachalot-whale, the long chain of white towers + in his jaw; yea, over that grim warrior's grave, the mooses, and elks, and + stags, and fallow-deer had stacked their antlers, as soldiers their arms + on the field. + </p> + <p> + Terrific shade of tattooed Tammahammaha! if, from a vile dragon's molars, + rose mailed men, what heroes shall spring from the cannibal canines once + pertaining to warriors themselves!—Am I the witch of Endor, that I + conjure up this ghost? Or, King Saul, that I so quake at the sight? For, + lo! roundabout me Tammahammaha's tattooing expands, till all the sky seems + a tiger's skin. But now, the spotted phantom sweeps by; as a man-of-war's + main-sail, cloud-like, blown far to leeward in a gale. + </p> + <p> + Banquo down, we return. + </p> + <p> + In Valapee, prevails not the barbarous Hindoo custom of offering up widows + to the shades of their lords; for, bereaved, the widows there marry again. + Nor yet prevails the savage Hawaiian custom of offering up teeth to the + manes of the dead; for, at the decease of a friend, the people rob not + their own mouths to testify their woe. On the contrary, they extract the + teeth from the departed, distributing them among the mourners for memorial + legacies; as elsewhere, silver spoons are bestowed. + </p> + <p> + From the high value ascribed to dentals throughout the archipelago of + Mardi, and also from their convenient size, they are circulated as money; + strings of teeth being regarded by these people very much as belts of + wampum among the Winnebagoes of the North; or cowries, among the + Bengalese. So, that in Valapee the very beggars are born with a snug + investment in their mouths; too soon, however, to be appropriated by their + lords; leaving them toothless for the rest of their days, and forcing them + to diet on poee-pudding and banana blanc-mange. + </p> + <p> + As a currency, teeth are far less clumsy than cocoanuts; which, among + certain remote barbarians, circulate for coin; one nut being equivalent, + perhaps, to a penny. The voyager who records the fact, chuckles over it + hugely; as evincing the simplicity of those heathens; not knowing that he + himself was the simpleton; since that currency of theirs was purposely + devised by the men, to check the extravagance of their women; cocoanuts, + for spending money, being such a burden to carry. + </p> + <p> + It only remains to be added, that the most solemn oath of a native of + Valapee is that sworn by his tooth. "By this tooth," said Bondo to + Noojoomo, "by this tooth I swear to be avenged upon thee, oh Noojoomo!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0069" id="link2HCH0069"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXIX — The Company Discourse, And Braid-Beard Rehearses A + Legend + </h2> + <p> + Finding in Valapee no trace of her whom we sought, and but little pleased + with the cringing demeanor of the people, and the wayward follies of Peepi + their lord, we early withdrew from the isle. + </p> + <p> + As we glided away, King Media issued a sociable decree. He declared it his + royal pleasure, that throughout the voyage, all stiffness and state + etiquette should be suspended: nothing must occur to mar the freedom of + the party. To further this charming plan, he doffed his symbols of + royalty, put off his crown, laid aside his scepter, and assured us that he + would not wear them again, except when we landed; and not invariably, + then. + </p> + <p> + "Are we not all now friends and companions?" he said. "So companions and + friends let us be. I unbend my bow; do ye likewise." + </p> + <p> + "But are we not to be dignified?" asked Babbalanja. + </p> + <p> + "If dignity be free and natural, be as dignified as you please; but away + with rigidities." + </p> + <p> + "Away they go," said Babbalanja; "and, my lord, now that you mind me of + it, I have often thought, that it is all folly and vanity for any man to + attempt a dignified carriage. Why, my lord,"—frankly crossing his + legs where he lay—"the king, who receives his ambassadors with a + majestic toss of the head, may have just recovered from the tooth- ache. + That thought should cant over the spine he bears so bravely." + </p> + <p> + "Have a care, sir! there is a king within hearing." + </p> + <p> + "Pardon, my lord; I was merely availing myself of the immunity bestowed + upon the company. Hereafter, permit a subject to rebel against your + sociable decrees. I will not be so frank any more." + </p> + <p> + "Well put, Babbalanja; come nearer; here, cross your legs by mine; you + have risen a cubit in my regard. Vee-Vee, bring us that gourd of wine; so, + pass it round with the cups. Now, Yoomy, a song!" + </p> + <p> + And a song was sung. + </p> + <p> + And thus did we sail; pleasantly reclining on the mats stretched out + beneath the canopied howdah. + </p> + <p> + At length, we drew nigh to a rock, called Pella, or The Theft. A high, + green crag, toppling over its base, and flinging a cavernous shadow upon + the lagoon beneath, bubbling with the moisture that dropped. + </p> + <p> + Passing under this cliff was like finding yourself, as some sea- hunters + unexpectedly have, beneath the open, upper jaw of a whale; which, + descending, infallibly entombs you. But familiar with the rock, our + paddlers only threw back their heads, to catch the cool, pleasant + tricklings from the mosses above. + </p> + <p> + Wiping away several glittering beads from his beard, old Mohi turning + round where he sat, just outside the canopy, solemnly affirmed, that the + drinking of that water had cured many a man of ambition. + </p> + <p> + "How so, old man?" demanded Media. + </p> + <p> + "Because of its passing through the ashes of ten kings, of yore buried in + a sepulcher, hewn in the heart of the rock." + </p> + <p> + "Mighty kings, and famous, doubtless," said Babbalanja, "whose bones were + thought worthy of so noble and enduring as urn. Pray, Mohi, their names + and terrible deeds." + </p> + <p> + "Alas! their sepulcher only remains." + </p> + <p> + "And, no doubt, like many others, they made that sepul for themselves. + They sleep sound, my word for it, old man. But I — very much + question, if, were the rock rent, any ashes would be found. Mohi, I deny + that those kings ever had any bones to bury." + </p> + <p> + "Why, Babbalanja," said Media, "since you intimate that they never had + ghosts to give up, you ignore them in toto; denying the very fact of their + being even defunct." + </p> + <p> + "Ten thousand pardons, my lord, no such discourtesy would I do the + anonymous memory of the illustrious dead. But whether they ever lived or + not, it is all the same with them now. Yet, grant that they lived; then, + if death be a deaf-and-dumb death, a triumphal procession over their + graves would concern them not. If a birth into brightness, then Mardi must + seem to them the most trivial of reminiscences. Or, perhaps, theirs may be + an utter lapse of memory concerning sublunary things; and they themselves + be not themselves, as the butterfly is not the larva." + </p> + <p> + Said Yoomy, "Then, Babbalanja, you account that a fit illustration of the + miraculous change to be wrought in man after death?" + </p> + <p> + "No; for the analogy has an unsatisfactory end. From its chrysalis state, + the silkworm but becomes a moth, that very quickly expires. Its longest + existence is as a worm. All vanity, vanity, Yoomy, to seek in nature for + positive warranty to these aspirations of ours. Through all her provinces, + nature seems to promise immortality to life, but destruction to beings. + Or, as old Bardianna has it, if not against us, nature is not for us." + </p> + <p> + Said Media, rising, "Babbalanja, you have indeed put aside the courtier; + talking of worms and caterpillars to me, a king and a demi- god! To + renown, for your theme: a more agreeable topic." + </p> + <p> + "Pardon, once again, my lord. And since you will, let us discourse of that + subject. First, I lay it down for an indubitable maxim, that in itself all + posthumous renown, which is the only renown, is valueless. Be not + offended, my lord. To the nobly ambitious, renown hereafter may be + something to anticipate. But analyzed, that feverish typhoid feeling of + theirs may be nothing more than a flickering fancy, that now, while + living, they are recognized as those who will be as famous in their + shrouds, as in their girdles." + </p> + <p> + Said Yoomy, "But those great and good deeds, Babbalanja, of which the + philosophers so often discourse: must it not be sweet to believe that + their memory will long survive us; and we ourselves in them?" + </p> + <p> + "I speak now," said Babbalanja, "of the ravening for fame which even + appeased, like thirst slaked in the desert, yields no felicity, but only + relief; and which discriminates not in aught that will satisfy its + cravings. But let me resume. Not an hour ago, Braid-Beard was telling us + that story of prince Ottimo, who inodorous while living, expressed much + delight at the prospect of being perfumed and embalmed, when dead. But was + not Ottimo the most eccentric of mortals? For few men issue orders for + their shrouds, to inspect their quality beforehand. Far more anxious are + they about the texture of the sheets in which their living limbs lie. And, + my lord, with some rare exceptions, does not all Mardi, by its actions, + declare, that it is far better to be notorious now, than famous + hereafter?" + </p> + <p> + "A base sentiment, my lord," said Yoomy. "Did not poor Bonja, the + unappreciated poet, console himself for the neglect of his contemporaries, + by inspiriting thoughts of the future?" + </p> + <p> + "In plain words by bethinking him of the glorious harvest of bravos his + ghost would reap for him," said Babbalanja; "but Banjo,—Bonjo,— + Binjo,—I never heard of him." + </p> + <p> + "Nor I," said Mohi. + </p> + <p> + "Nor I," said Media. + </p> + <p> + "Poor fellow!" cried Babbalanja; "I fear me his harvest is not yet ripe." + </p> + <p> + "Alas!" cried Yoomy; "he died more than a century ago." + </p> + <p> + "But now that you speak of unappreciated poets, Yoomy," said Babbalanja, + "Shall I give you a piece of my mind?" "Do," said Mohi, stroking his + beard. + </p> + <p> + "He, who on all hands passes for a cypher to-day, if at all remembered + hereafter, will be sure to pass for the same. For there is more likelihood + of being overrated while living, than of being underrated when dead. And + to insure your fame, you must die." + </p> + <p> + "A rather discouraging thought for your race. But answer: I assume that + King Media is but a mortal like you; now, how may I best perpetuate my + name?" + </p> + <p> + Long pondered Babbalanja; then said, "Carve it, my lord, deep into a + ponderous stone, and sink it, face downward, into the sea; for the unseen + foundations of the deep are more enduring than the palpable tops of the + mountains." + </p> + <p> + Sailing past Pella, we gained a view of its farther side; and seated in a + lofty cleft, beheld a lonely fisherman; solitary as a seal on an iceberg; + his motionless line in the water. + </p> + <p> + "What recks he of the ten kings," said Babbalanja. + </p> + <p> + "Mohi," said Media, "methinks there is another tradition concerning that + rock: let us have it." + </p> + <p> + "In old times of genii and giants, there dwelt in barren lands, not very + remote from our outer reef, but since submerged, a band of evil- minded, + envious goblins, furlongs in stature, and with immeasurable arms; who from + time to time cast covetous glances upon our blooming isles. Long they + lusted; till at last, they waded through the sea, strode over the reef, + and seizing the nearest islet, rolled it over and over, toward an + adjoining outlet. + </p> + <p> + "But the task was hard; and day-break surprised them in the midst of their + audacious thieving; while in the very act of giving the devoted land + another doughty surge and Somerset. Leaving it bottom upward and midway + poised, gardens under water, its foundations in air, they precipitately + fled; in their great haste, deserting a comrade, vainly struggling to + liberate his foot caught beneath the overturned land." + </p> + <p> + "This poor fellow now raised such an outcry, as to awaken the god Upi, or + the Archer, stretched out on a long cloud in the East; who forthwith + resolved to make an example of the unwilling lingerer. Snatching his bow, + he let fly an arrow. But overshooting its mark, it pierced through and + through, the lofty promontory of a neighboring island; making an arch in + it, which remaineth even unto this day. A second arrow, however, + accomplished its errand: the slain giant sinking prone to the bottom." + </p> + <p> + "And now," added Mohi, "glance over the gunwale, and you will see his + remains petrified into white ribs of coral." + </p> + <p> + "Ay, there they are," said Yoomy, looking down into the water where they + gleamed. "A fanciful legend, Braid-beard." + </p> + <p> + "Very entertaining," said Media. + </p> + <p> + "Even so," said Babbalanja. "But perhaps we lost time in listening to it; + for though we know it, we are none the wiser." + </p> + <p> + "Be not a cynic," said Media. "No pastime is lost time." + </p> + <p> + Musing a moment, Babbalanja replied, "My lord, that maxim may be good as + it stands; but had you made six words of it, instead of six syllables, you + had uttered a better and a deeper." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0070" id="link2HCH0070"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXX — The Minstrel Leads Off With A Paddle-Song; And A + Message Is Received + </h2> + <p> + From Abroad + </p> + <p> + From seaward now came a breeze so blithesome and fresh, that it made us + impatient of Babbalanja's philosophy, and Mohi's incredible legends. One + and all, we called upon the minstrel Yoomy to give us something in unison + with the spirited waves wide-foaming around us. + </p> + <p> + "If my lord will permit, we will give Taji the Paddle-Chant of the + warriors of King Bello." + </p> + <p> + "By all means," said Media. + </p> + <p> + So the three canoes were brought side to side; their sails rolled up; and + paddles in hand, our paddlers seated themselves sideways on the gunwales; + Yoomy, as leader, occupying the place of the foremast, or Bow-Paddler of + the royal barge. + </p> + <p> + Whereupon the six rows of paddle-blades being uplifted, and every eye on + the minstrel, this song was sung, with actions corresponding; the canoes + at last shooting through the water, with a violent roll. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + (All.) + Thrice waved on high, + Our paddles fly: + Thrice round the head, thrice dropt to feet: + And then well timed, + Of one stout mind, + All fall, and back the waters heap! + + (Bow-Paddler.) + Who lifts this chant? + Who sounds this vaunt? + + (All.) + The wild sea song, to the billows' throng, + Rising, falling, + Hoarsely calling, + Now high, now low, as fast we go, + Fast on our flying foe! + + (Bow-Paddler.) + Who lifts this chant? + Who sounds this vaunt? + + (All.) + Dip, dip, in the brine our paddles dip, + Dip, dip, the fins of our swimming ship! + How the waters part, + As on we dart; + Our sharp prows fly, + And curl on high, + As the upright fin of the rushing shark, + Rushing fast and far on his flying mark! + Like him we prey; + Like him we slay; + Swim on the fog, + Our prow a blow! + + (Bow-Paddler.) + Who lifts this chant? + Who sounds this vaunt? + + (All.) + Heap back; heap back; the waters back! + Pile them high astern, in billows black; + Till we leave our wake, + In the slope we make; + And rush and ride, + On the torrent's tide! +</pre> + <p> + Here we were overtaken by a swift gliding canoe, which, bearing down upon + us before the wind, lowered its sail when close by: its occupants signing + our paddlers to desist. + </p> + <p> + I started. + </p> + <p> + The strangers were three hooded damsels the enigmatical Queen Hautia's + heralds. + </p> + <p> + Their pursuit surprised and perplexed me. Nor was there wanting a vague + feeling of alarm to heighten these emotions. But perhaps I was mistaken, + and this time they meant not me. + </p> + <p> + Seated in the prow, the foremost waved her Iris flag. Cried Yoomy, "Some + message! Taji, that Iris points to you." + </p> + <p> + It was then, I first divined, that some meaning must have lurked in those + flowers they had twice brought me before. + </p> + <p> + The second damsel now flung over to me Circe flowers; then, a faded + jonquil, buried in a tuft of wormwood leaves. + </p> + <p> + The third sat in the shallop's stern, and as it glided from us, thrice + waved oleanders. + </p> + <p> + "What dumb show is this?" cried Media. "But it looks like poetry: + minstrel, you should know." + </p> + <p> + "Interpret then," said I. + </p> + <p> + "Shall I, then, be your Flora's flute, and Hautia's dragoman? Held aloft, + the Iris signified a message. These purple-woven Circe flowers mean that + some spell is weaving. That golden, pining jonquil, which you hold, buried + in those wormwood leaves, says plainly to you— Bitter love in + absence." + </p> + <p> + Said Media, "Well done, Taji, you have killed a queen." "Yet no Queen + Hautia have these eyes beheld." + </p> + <p> + Said Babbalanja, "The thrice waved oleanders, Yoomy; what meant they?" + </p> + <p> + "Beware—beware—beware." + </p> + <p> + "Then that, at least, seems kindly meant," said Babbalanja; "Taji, beware + of Hautia." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0071" id="link2HCH0071"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXI — They Land Upon The Island Of Juam + </h2> + <p> + Crossing the lagoon, our course now lay along the reef to Juam; a name + bestowed upon one of the largest islands hereabout; and also, + collectively, upon several wooded isles engulfing it, which together were + known as the dominions of one monarch. That monarch was Donjalolo. Just + turned of twenty-five, he was accounted not only the handsomest man in his + dominions, but throughout the lagoon. His comeliness, however, was so + feminine, that he was sometimes called "Fonoo," or the Girl. + </p> + <p> + Our first view of Juam was imposing. A dark green pile of cliffs, towering + some one hundred toises; at top, presenting a range of steep, + gable-pointed projections; as if some Titanic hammer and chisel had shaped + the mass. + </p> + <p> + Sailing nearer, we perceived an extraordinary rolling of the sea; which + bursting into the lagoon through an adjoining breach in the reef, surged + toward Juam in enormous billows. At last, dashing against the wall of the + cliff; they played there in unceasing fountains. But under the brow of a + beetling crag, the spray came and went unequally. There, the blue billows + seemed swallowed up, and lost. + </p> + <p> + Right regally was Juam guarded. For, at this point, the rock was pierced + by a cave, into which the great waves chased each other like lions; after + a hollow, subterraneous roaring issuing forth with manes disheveled. + </p> + <p> + Cautiously evading the dangerous currents here ruffling the lagoon, we + rounded the wall of cliff; and shot upon a smooth expanse; on one side, + hemmed in by the long, verdent, northern shore of Juam; and across the + water, sentineled by its tributary islets. + </p> + <p> + With sonorous Vee-Vee in the shark's mouth, we swept toward the beach, + tumultuous with a throng. + </p> + <p> + Our canoes were secured. And surrounded by eager glances, we passed the + lower ends of several populous valleys; and crossing a wide, open meadow, + gradually ascending, came to a range of light-green bluffs. Here, we + wended our way down a narrow defile, almost cleaving this quarter of the + island to its base. Black crags frowned overhead: among them the shouts of + the Islanders reverberated. Yet steeper grew the defile, and more + overhanging the crags till at last, the keystone of the arch seemed + dropped into its place. We found ourselves in a subterranean tunnel, dimly + lighted by a span of white day at the end. + </p> + <p> + Emerging, what a scene was revealed! All round, embracing a circuit of + some three leagues, stood heights inaccessible, here and there, forming + buttresses, sheltering deep recesses between. The bosom of the place was + vivid with verdure. + </p> + <p> + Shining aslant into this wild hollow, the afternoon sun lighted up its + eastern side with tints of gold. But opposite, brooded a somber shadow, + double-shading the secret places between the salient spurs of the + mountains. Thus cut in twain by masses of day and night, it seemed as if + some Last Judgment had been enacted in the glen. + </p> + <p> + No sooner did we emerge from the defile, than we became sensible of a + dull, jarring sound; and Yoomy was almost tempted to turn and flee, when + informed that the sea-cavern, whose mouth we had passed, was believed to + penetrate deep into the opposite hills; and that the surface of the + amphitheater was depressed beneath that of the lagoon. But all over the + lowermost hillsides, and sloping into the glen, stood grand old groves; + still and stately, as if no insolent waves were throbbing in the + mountain's heart. + </p> + <p> + Such was Willamilla, the hereditary abode of the young monarch of Juam. + </p> + <p> + Was Yillah immured in this strange retreat? But from those around us + naught could we learn. + </p> + <p> + Our attention was now directed to the habitations of the glen; comprised + in two handsome villages; one to the west, the other to the east; both + stretching along the base of the cliffs. + </p> + <p> + Said Media, "Had we arrived at Willamilla in the morning, we had found + Donjalolo and his court in the eastern village; but being afternoon, we + must travel farther, and seek him in his western retreat; for that is now + in the shade." + </p> + <p> + Wending our way, Media added, that aside from his elevated station as a + monarch, Donjalolo was famed for many uncommon traits; but more especially + for certain peculiar deprivations, under which he labored. + </p> + <p> + Whereupon Braid-Beard unrolled his old chronicles; and regaled us with the + history, which will be found in the following chapter. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0072" id="link2HCH0072"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXII — A Book From The Chronicles Of Mohi + </h2> + <p> + Many ages ago, there reigned in Juam a king called Teei. This Teei's + succession to the sovereignty was long disputed by his brother Marjora; + who at last rallying round him an army, after many vicissitudes, defeated + the unfortunate monarch in a stout fight of clubs on the beach. + </p> + <p> + In those days, Willamilla during a certain period of the year was a place + set apart for royal games and diversions; and was furnished with suitable + accommodations for king and court. From its peculiar position, moreover, + it was regarded as the last stronghold of the Juam monarchy: in remote + times having twice withstood the most desperate assaults from without. And + when Roonoonoo, a famous upstart, sought to subdue all the isles in this + part of the Archipelago, it was to Willamilla that the banded kings had + repaired to take counsel together; and while there conferring, were + surprised at the sudden onslaught of Roonoonoo in person. But in the end, + the rebel was captured, he and all his army, and impaled on the tops of + the hills. + </p> + <p> + Now, defeated and fleeing for his life, Teei with his surviving followers + was driven across the plain toward the mountains. But to cut him off from + all escape to inland Willamilla, Marjora dispatched a fleet band of + warriors to occupy the entrance of the defile. Nevertheless, Teei the + pursued ran faster than his pursuers; first gained the spot; and with his + chiefs, fled swiftly down the gorge, closely hunted by Marjora's men. But + arriving at the further end, they in vain sought to defend it. And after + much desperate fighting, the main body of the foe corning up with great + slaughter the fugitives were driven into the glen. + </p> + <p> + They ran to the opposite wall of cliff; where turning, they fought at bay, + blood for blood, and life for life, till at last, overwhelmed by numbers, + they were all put to the point of the spear. + </p> + <p> + With fratricidal hate, singled out by the ferocious Marjora, Teei fell by + that brother's hand. When stripping from the body the regal girdle, the + victor wound it round his own loins; thus proclaiming himself king over + Juam. + </p> + <p> + Long torn by this intestine war, the island acquiesced in the new + sovereignty. But at length a sacred oracle declared, that since the + conqueror had slain his brother in deep Willamilla, so that Teei never + more issued from that refuge of death; therefore, the same fate should be + Marjora's; for never, thenceforth, from that glen, should he go forth; + neither Marjora; nor any son of his girdled loins; nor his son's sons; nor + the uttermost scion of his race. + </p> + <p> + But except this denunciation, naught was denounced against the usurper; + who, mindful of the tenure by which he reigned, ruled over the island for + many moons; at his death bequeathing the girdle to his son. + </p> + <p> + In those days, the wildest superstitions concerning the interference of + the gods in things temporal, prevailed to a much greater extent than at + present. Hence Marjora himself, called sometimes in the traditions of the + island, The-Heart-of-Black-Coral, even unscrupulous Marjora had quailed + before the oracle. "He bowed his head," say the legends. Nor was it then + questioned, by his most devoted adherents, that had he dared to act + counter to that edict, he had dropped dead, the very instant he went under + the shadow of the defile. This persuasion also guided the conduct of the + son of Marjora, and that of his grandson. + </p> + <p> + But there at last came to pass a change in the popular fancies concerning + this ancient anathema. The penalty denounced against the posterity of the + usurper should they issue from the glen, came to be regarded as only + applicable to an invested monarch, not to his relatives, or heirs. + </p> + <p> + A most favorable construction of the ban; for all those related to the + king, freely passed in and out of Willamilla. + </p> + <p> + From the time of the usurpation, there had always been observed a certain + ceremony upon investing the heir to the sovereignty with the girdle of + Teei. Upon these occasions, the chief priests of the island were present, + acting an important part. For the space of as many days, as there had + reigned kings of Marjora's dynasty, the inner mouth of the defile remained + sealed; the new monarch placing the last stone in the gap. This symbolized + his relinquishment forever of all purpose of passing out of the glen. And + without this observance, was no king girdled in Juam. + </p> + <p> + It was likewise an invariable custom, for the heir to receive the regal + investiture immediately upon the decease of his sire. No delay was + permitted. And instantly upon being girdled, he proceeded to take part in + the ceremony of closing the cave; his predecessor yet remaining uninterred + on the purple mat where he died. + </p> + <p> + In the history of the island, three instances were recorded; wherein, upon + the vacation of the sovereignty, the immediate heir had voluntarily + renounced all claim to the succession, rather than surrender the privilege + of roving, to which he had been entitled, as a prince of the blood. + </p> + <p> + Said Rani, one of these young princes, in reply to the remonstrances of + his friends, "What! shall I be a king, only to be a slave? Teei's girdle + would clasp my waist less tightly, than my soul would be banded by the + mountains of Willamilla. A subject, I am free. No slave in Juam but its + king; for all the tassels round his loins." + </p> + <p> + To guard against a similar resolution in the mind of his only son, the + wise sire of Donjalolo, ardently desirous of perpetuating his dignities in + a child so well beloved, had from his earliest infancy, restrained the boy + from passing out of the glen, to contract in the free air of the + Archipelago, tastes and predilections fatal to the inheritance of the + girdle. + </p> + <p> + But as he grew in years, so impatient became young Donjalolo of the king + his father's watchfulness over him, though hitherto a most dutiful son, + that at last he was prevailed upon by his youthful companions to appoint a + day, on which to go abroad, and visit Mardi. Hearing this determination, + the old king sought to vanquish it. But in vain. And early on the morning + of the day, that Donjalolo was to set out, he swallowed poison, and died; + in order to force his son into the instant assumption of the honors thus + suddenly inherited. + </p> + <p> + The event, but not its dreadful circumstances, was communicated to the + prince; as with a gay party of young chiefs, he was about to enter the + mouth of the defile. + </p> + <p> + "My sire dead!" cried Donjalolo. "So sudden, it seems a bolt from Heaven." + And bursting into exclamations of grief, he wept upon the bosom of Talara + his friend. + </p> + <p> + But starting from his side:—"My fate converges to a point. If I but + cross that shadow, my kingdom is lost. One lifting of my foot, and the + girdle goes to my proud uncle Darfi, who would so joy to be my master. + Haughty Dwarf! Oh Oro! would that I had ere this passed thee, fatal + cavern; and seen for myself, what outer Mardi is. Say ye true, comrades, + that Willamilla is less lovely than the valleys without? that there is + bright light in the eyes of the maidens of Mina? and wisdom in the hearts + of the old priests of Maramma; that it is pleasant to tread the green + earth where you will; and breathe the free ocean air? Would, oh would, + that I were but the least of yonder sun-clouds, that look down alike on + Willamilla and all places besides, that I might determine aright. Yet why + do I pause? did not Rani, and Atama, and Mardonna, my ancestors, each see + for himself, free Mardi; and did they not fly the proffered girdle; + choosing rather to be free to come and go, than bury themselves forever in + this fatal glen? Oh Mardi! Mardi! art thou then so fair to see? Is liberty + a thing so glorious? Yet can I be no king, and behold thee! Too late, too + late, to view thy charms and then return. My sire! my sire! thou hast + wrung my heart with this agony of doubt. Tell me, comrades,—for ye + have seen it,—is Mardi sweeter to behold, than it is royal to reign + over Juam? Silent, are ye? Knowing what ye do, were ye me, would ye be + kings? Tell me, Talara.—No king: no king:—that were to obey, + and not command. And none hath Donjalolo ere obeyed but the king his + father. A king, and my voice may be heard in farthest Mardi, though I + abide in narrow Willamilla. My sire! my sire! Ye flying clouds, what look + ye down upon? Tell me, what ye see abroad? Methinks sweet spices breathe + from out the cave." + </p> + <p> + "Hail, Donjalolo, King of Juam," now sounded with acclamations from the + groves. + </p> + <p> + Starting, the young prince beheld a multitude approaching: warriors with + spears, and maidens with flowers; and Kubla, a priest, lifting on high the + tasseled girdle of Teei, and waving it toward him. + </p> + <p> + The young chiefs fell back. Kubla, advancing, came close to the prince, + and unclasping the badge of royalty, exclaimed, "Donjalolo, this instant + it is king or subject with thee: wilt thou be girdled monarch?" + </p> + <p> + Gazing one moment up the dark defile, then staring vacantly, Donjalolo + turned and met the eager gaze of Darfi. Stripping off his mantle, the next + instant he was a king. + </p> + <p> + Loud shouted the multitude, and exulted; but after mutely assisting at the + closing of the cavern, the new-girdled monarch retired sadly to his + dwelling, and was not seen again for many days. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0073" id="link2HCH0073"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXIII — Something More Of The Prince + </h2> + <p> + Previous to recording our stay in his dominions, it only remains to be + related of Donjalolo, that after assuming the girdle, a change came over + him. + </p> + <p> + During the lifetime of his father, he had been famed for his temperance + and discretion. But when Mardi was forever shut out; and he remembered the + law of his isle, interdicting abdication to its kings; he gradually fell + into desperate courses, to drown the emotions at times distracting him. + </p> + <p> + His generous spirit thirsting after some energetic career, found itself + narrowed down within the little glen of Willamilla, where ardent impulses + seemed idle. But these are hard to die; and repulsed all round, recoil + upon themselves. + </p> + <p> + So with Donjalolo; who, in many a riotous scene, wasted the powers which + might have compassed the noblest designs. + </p> + <p> + Not many years had elapsed since the death of the king, his father. But + the still youthful prince was no longer the bright-eyed and elastic boy + who at the dawn of day had sallied out to behold the landscapes of the + neighboring isles. + </p> + <p> + Not more effeminate Sardanapalus, than he. And, at intervals, he was the + victim of unaccountable vagaries; haunted by specters, and beckoned to by + the ghosts of his sires. + </p> + <p> + At times, loathing his vicious pursuits, which brought him no solid + satisfaction, but ever filled him with final disgust, he would resolve to + amend his ways; solacing himself for his bitter captivity, by the society + of the wise and discreet. + </p> + <p> + But brief the interval of repentance. Anew, he burst into excesses, a + hundred fold more insane than ever. + </p> + <p> + Thus vacillating between virtue and vice; to neither constant, and + upbraided by both; his mind, like his person in the glen, was continually + passing and repassing between opposite extremes. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0074" id="link2HCH0074"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXIV — Advancing Deeper Into The Vale, They Encounter + Donjalolo + </h2> + <p> + From the mouth of the cavern, a broad shaded way over-arched by fraternal + trees embracing in mid-air, conducted us to a cross-path, on either hand + leading to the opposite cliffs, shading the twin villages before + mentioned. + </p> + <p> + Level as a meadow, was the bosom of the glen. Here, nodding with green + orchards of the Bread-fruit and the Palm; there, flashing with golden + plantations of the Banana. Emerging from these, we came out upon a grassy + mead, skirting a projection of the mountain. And soon we crossed a bridge + of boughs, spanning a trench, thickly planted with roots of the Tara, like + alligators, or Hollanders, reveling in the soft alluvial. Strolling on, + the wild beauty of the mountains excited our attention. The topmost crags + poured over with vines; which, undulating in the air, seemed leafy + cascades; their sources the upland groves. + </p> + <p> + Midway up the precipice, along a shelf of rock, sprouted the multitudinous + roots of an apparently trunkless tree. Shooting from under the shallow + soil, they spread all over the rocks below, covering them with an + intricate net-work. While far aloft, great boughs—each a copse—clambered + to the very summit of the mountain; then bending over, struck anew into + the soil; forming along the verge an interminable colonnade; all manner of + antic architecture standing against the sky. + </p> + <p> + According to Mohi, this tree was truly wonderful; its seed having been + dropped from the moon; where were plenty more similar forests, causing the + dark spots on its surface. + </p> + <p> + Here and there, the cool fluid in the veins of the mountains gushed forth + in living springs; their waters received in green mossy tanks, half buried + in grasses. + </p> + <p> + In one place, a considerable stream, bounding far out from a wooded + height, ere reaching the ground was dispersed in a wide misty shower, + falling so far from the base of the cliff; that walking close underneath, + you felt little moisture. Passing this fall of vapors, we spied many + Islanders taking a bath. + </p> + <p> + But what is yonder swaying of the foliage? And what now issues forth, like + a habitation astir? Donjalolo drawing nigh to his guests. + </p> + <p> + He came in a fair sedan; a bower, resting upon three long, parallel poles, + borne by thirty men, gayly attired; five at each pole-end. Decked with + dyed tappas, and looped with garlands of newly-plucked flowers, from + which, at every step, the fragrant petals were blown; with a sumptuous, + elastic motion the gay sedan came on; leaving behind it a long, rosy wake + of fluttering leaves and odors. + </p> + <p> + Drawing near, it revealed a slender, enervate youth, of pallid beauty, + reclining upon a crimson mat, near the festooned arch of the bower. His + anointed head was resting against the bosom of a girl; another stirred the + air, with a fan of Pintado plumes. The pupils of his eyes were as floating + isles in the sea. In a soft low tone he murmured "Media!" + </p> + <p> + The bearers paused; and Media advancing; the Island Kings bowed their + foreheads together. + </p> + <p> + Through tubes ignited at the end, Donjaloln's reclining attendants now + blew an aromatic incense around him. These were composed of the + stimulating leaves of the "Aina," mixed with the long yellow blades of a + sweet-scented upland grass; forming a hollow stem. In general, the + agreeable fumes of the "Aina" were created by one's own inhalations; but + Donjalolo deeming the solace too dearly purchased by any exertion of the + royal lungs, regaled himself through those of his attendants, whose lips + were as moss-rose buds after a shower. + </p> + <p> + In silence the young prince now eyed us attentively; meanwhile gently + waving his hand, to obtain a better view through the wreaths of vapor. He + was about to address us, when chancing to catch a glimpse of Samoa, he + suddenly started; averted his glance; and wildly commanded the warrior out + of sight. Upon this, his attendants would have soothed him; and Media + desired the Upoluan to withdraw. + </p> + <p> + While we were yet lost in wonder at this scene, Donjalolo, with eyes + closed, fell back into the arms of his damsels. Recovering, he fetched a + deep sigh, and gazed vacantly around. + </p> + <p> + It seems, that he had fancied Samoa the noon-day specter of his ancestor + Marjora; the usurper having been deprived of an arm in the battle which + gained him the girdle. Poor prince: this was one of those crazy conceits, + so puzzling to his subjects. + </p> + <p> + Media now hastened to assure Donjalolo, that Samoa, though no cherub to + behold, was good flesh and blood, nevertheless. And soon the king + unconcernedly gazed; his monomania having departed as a dream. + </p> + <p> + But still suffering from the effects of an overnight feast, he presently + murmured forth a desire to be left to his women; adding that his people + would not fail to provide for the entertainment of his guests. + </p> + <p> + The curtains of the sedan were now drawn; and soon it disappeared in the + groves. Journeying on, ere long we arrived at the western side of the + glen; where one of the many little arbors scattered among the trees, was + assigned for our abode. Here, we reclined to an agreeable repast. After + which, we strolled forth to view the valley at large; more especially the + far-famed palaces of the prince. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0075" id="link2HCH0075"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXV — Time And Temples + </h2> + <p> + In the oriental Pilgrimage of the pious old Purchas, and in the fine old + folio Voyages of Hakluyt, Thevenot, Ramusio, and De Bry, we read of many + glorious old Asiatic temples, very long in erecting. And veracious + Gaudentia di Lucca hath a wondrous narration of the time consumed in + rearing that mighty three-hundred-and-seventy-five- pillared Temple of the + Year, somewhere beyond Libya; whereof, the columns did signify days, and + all round fronted upon concentric zones of palaces, cross-cut by twelve + grand avenues symbolizing the signs of the zodiac, all radiating from the + sun-dome in their midst. And in that wild eastern tale of his, Marco Polo + tells us, how the Great Mogul began him a pleasure-palace on so imperial a + scale, that his grandson had much ado to complete it. + </p> + <p> + But no matter for marveling all this: great towers take time to construct. + </p> + <p> + And so of all else. + </p> + <p> + And that which long endures full-fledged, must have long lain in the germ. + And duration is not of the future, but of the past; and eternity is + eternal, because it has been, and though a strong new monument be builded + to-day, it only is lasting because its blocks are old as the sun. It is + not the Pyramids that are ancient, but the eternal granite whereof they + are made; which had been equally ancient though yet in the quarry. For to + make an eternity, we must build with eternities; whence, the vanity of the + cry for any thing alike durable and new; and the folly of the reproach—Your + granite hath come from the old-fashioned hills. For we are not gods and + creators; and the controversialists have debated, whether indeed the + All-Plastic Power itself can do more than mold. In all the universe is but + one original; and the very suns must to their source for their fire; and + we Prometheuses must to them for ours; which, when had, only perpetual + Vestal tending will keep alive. + </p> + <p> + But let us back from fire to store. No fine firm fabric ever yet grew like + a gourd. Nero's House of Gold was not raised in a day; nor the Mexican + House of the Sun; nor the Alhambra; nor the Escurial; nor Titus's + Amphitheater; nor the Illinois Mounds; nor Diana's great columns at + Ephesus; nor Pompey's proud Pillar; nor the Parthenon; nor the Altar of + Belus; nor Stonehenge; nor Solomon's Temple; nor Tadmor's towers; nor + Susa's bastions; nor Persepolis' pediments. Round and round, the Moorish + turret at Seville was not wound heavenward in the revolution of a day; and + from its first founding, five hundred years did circle, ere Strasbourg's + great spire lifted its five hundred feet into the air. No: nor were the + great grottos of Elephanta hewn out in an hour; nor did the Troglodytes + dig Kentucky's Mammoth Cave in a sun; nor that of Trophonius, nor + Antiparos; nor the Giant's Causeway. Nor were the subterranean arched + sewers of Etruria channeled in a trice; nor the airy arched aqueducts of + Nerva thrown over their values in the ides of a month. Nor was Virginia's + Natural Bridge worn under in a year; nor, in geology, were the eternal + Grampians upheaved in an age. And who shall count the cycles that revolved + ere earth's interior sedimentary strata were crystalized into stone. Nor + Peak of Piko, nor Teneriffe, were chiseled into obelisks in a decade; nor + had Mount Athos been turned into Alexander's statue so soon. And the bower + of Artaxerxes took a whole Persian summer to grow; and the Czar's Ice + Palace a long Muscovite winter to congéal. No, no: nor was the Pyramid of + Cheops masoned in a month; though, once built, the sands left by the + deluge might not have submerged such a pile. Nor were the broad boughs of + Charles' Oak grown in a spring; though they outlived the royal dynasties + of Tudor and Stuart. Nor were the parts of the great Iliad put together in + haste; though old Homer's temple shall lift up its dome, when St. Peter's + is a legend. Even man himself lives months ere his Maker deems him fit to + be born; and ere his proud shaft gains its full stature, twenty-one long + Julian years must elapse. And his whole mortal life brings not his + immortal soul to maturity; nor will all eternity perfect him. Yea, with + uttermost reverence, as to human understanding, increase of dominion seems + increase of power; and day by day new planets are being added to + elder-born Saturn, even as six thousand years ago our own Earth made one + more in this system; so, in incident, not in essence, may the Infinite + himself be not less than more infinite now, than when old Aldebaran rolled + forth from his hand. And if time was, when this round Earth, which to + innumerable mortals has seemed an empire never to be wholly explored; + which, in its seas, concealed all the Indies over four thousand five + hundred years; if time was, when this great quarry of Assyrias and Romes + was not extant; then, time may have been, when the whole material universe + lived its Dark Ages; yea, when the Ineffable Silence, proceeding from its + unimaginable remoteness, espied it as an isle in the sea. And herein is no + derogation. For the Immeasurable's altitude is not heightened by the + arches of Mahomet's heavens; and were all space a vacuum, yet would it be + a fullness; for to Himself His own universe is He. + </p> + <p> + Thus deeper and deeper into Time's endless tunnel, does the winged soul, + like a night-hawk, wend her wild way; and finds eternities before and + behind; and her last limit is her everlasting beginning. + </p> + <p> + But sent over the broad flooded sphere, even Noah's dove came back, and + perched on his hand. So comes back my spirit to me, and folds up her + wings. + </p> + <p> + Thus, then, though Time be the mightiest of Alarics, yet is he the + mightiest mason of all. And a tutor, and a counselor, and a physician, and + a scribe, and a poet, and a sage, and a king. + </p> + <p> + Yea, and a gardener, as ere long will be shown. + </p> + <p> + But first must we return to the glen. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0076" id="link2HCH0076"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXVI — A Pleasant Place For A Lounge + </h2> + <p> + Whether the hard condition of their kingly state, very naturally demanding + some luxurious requital, prevailed upon the monarchs of Juam to house + themselves so delightfully as they did; whether buried alive in their + glen, they sought to center therein a secret world of enjoyment; however + it may have been, throughout the Archipelago this saying was a proverb—"You + are lodged like the king in Willamilla." Hereby was expressed the utmost + sumptuousness of a palace. + </p> + <p> + A well warranted saying; for of all the bright places, where my soul loves + to linger, the haunts of Donjalolo are most delicious. + </p> + <p> + In the eastern quarter of the glen was the House of the Morning. This + fanciful palace was raised upon a natural mound, many rods square, almost + completely filling up a deep recess between deep-green and projecting + cliffs, overlooking many abodes distributed in the shadows of the groves + beyond. + </p> + <p> + Now, if it indeed be, that from the time employed in its construction, any + just notion may be formed of the stateliness of an edifice, it must needs + be determined, that this retreat of Donjalolo could not be otherwise than + imposing. + </p> + <p> + Full five hundred moons was the palace in completing; for by some + architectural arborist, its quadrangular foundations had been laid in + seed-cocoanuts, requiring that period to sprout up into pillars. In front, + these were horizontally connected, by elaborately carved beams, of a + scarlet hue, inserted into the vital wood; which, swelling out, and over + lapping, firmly secured them. The beams supported the rafters, inclining + from the rear; while over the aromatic grasses covering the roof, waved + the tufted tops of the Palms, green capitals to their dusky shafts. + </p> + <p> + Through and through this vibrating verdure, bright birds flitted and sang; + the scented and variegated thatch seemed a hanging-garden; and between it + and the Palm tops, was leaf-hung an arbor in the air. + </p> + <p> + Without these columns, stood a second and third colonnade, forming the + most beautiful bowers; advancing through which, you fancied that the + palace beyond must be chambered in a fountain, or frozen in a crystal. + Three sparkling rivulets flowing from the heights were led across its + summit, through great trunks half buried in the thatch; and emptying into + a sculptured channel, running along the eaves, poured over in one wide + sheet, plaited and transparent. Received into a basin beneath, they were + thence conducted down the vale. + </p> + <p> + The sides of the palace were hedged by Diomi bushes bearing a flower, from + its perfume, called Lenora, or Sweet Breath; and within these odorous + hedges, were heavy piles of mats, richly dyed and embroidered. + </p> + <p> + Here lounging of a glowing noon, the plaited cascade playing, the verdure + waving, and the birds melodious, it was hard to say, whether you were an + inmate of a garden in the glen, or a grotto in the sea. + </p> + <p> + But enough for the nonce, of the House of the Morning. Cross we the + hollow, to the House of the Afternoon. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0077" id="link2HCH0077"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXVII — The House Of The Afternoon + </h2> + <p> + For the most part, the House of the Afternoon was but a wing built against + a mansion wrought by the hand of Nature herself; a grotto running into the + side of the mountain. From high over the mouth of this grotto, sloped a + long arbor, supported by great blocks of stone, rudely chiseled into the + likeness of idols, each bearing a carved lizard on its chest: a sergeant's + guard of the gods condescendingly doing duty as posts. + </p> + <p> + From the grotto thus vestibuled, issued hilariously forth the most + considerable stream of the glen; which, seemingly overjoyed to find + daylight in Willamilla, sprang into the arbor with a cheery, white bound. + But its youthful enthusiasm was soon repressed; its waters being caught in + a large stone basin, scooped out of the natural rock; whence, staid and + decorous, they traversed sundry moats; at last meandering away, to join + floods with the streams trained to do service at the other end of the + vale. + </p> + <p> + Truant streams: the livelong day wending their loitering path to the + subterraneous outlet, flowing into which, they disappeared. But no wonder + they loitered; passing such ravishing landscapes. Thus with life: man + bounds out of night; runs and babbles in the sun; then returns to his + darkness again; though, peradventure, once more to emerge. + </p> + <p> + But the grotto was not a mere outlet to the stream. Flowing through a dark + flume in the rock, on both sides it left a dry, elevated shelf, to which + you ascend from the arbor by three artificially-wrought steps, sideways + disposed, to avoid the spray of the rejoicing cataract. Mounting these, + and pursuing the edge of the flume, the grotto gradually expands and + heightens; your way lighted by rays in the inner distance. At last you + come to a lofty subterraneous dome, lit from above by a cleft in the + mountain; while full before you, in the opposite wall, from a low, black + arch, midway up, and inaccessible, the stream, with a hollow ring and a + dash, falls in a long, snowy column into a bottomless pool, whence, after + many an eddy and whirl, it entered the flume, and away with a rush. Half + hidden from view by an overhanging brow of the rock, the white fall looked + like the sheeted ghost of the grotto. + </p> + <p> + Yet gallantly bedecked was the cave, as any old armorial hall hung round + with banners and arras. Streaming from the cleft, vines swung in the air; + or crawled along the rocks, wherever a tendril could be fixed. High up, + their leaves were green; but lower down, they were shriveled; and dyed of + many colors; and tattered and torn with much rustling; as old banners + again; sore raveled with much triumphing. + </p> + <p> + In the middle of this hall in the hill was incarcerated the stone image of + one Demi, the tutelar deity of Willamina. All green and oozy like a stone + under water, poor Demi looked as if sore harassed with sciatics and + lumbagos. + </p> + <p> + But he was cheered from aloft, by the promise of receiving a garland all + blooming on his crown; the Dryads sporting in the woodlands above, forever + peeping down the cleft, and essaying to drop him a coronal. + </p> + <p> + Now, the still, panting glen of Willamilla, nested so close by the + mountains, and a goodly green mark for the archer in the sun, would have + been almost untenable were it not for the grotto. Hereby, it breathed the + blessed breezes of Omi; a mountain promontory buttressing the island to + the east, receiving the cool stream of the upland Trades; much pleasanter + than the currents beneath. + </p> + <p> + At all times, even in the brooding noon-day, a gush of cool air came + hand-in-hand with the cool waters, that burst with a shout into the palace + of Donjalolo. And as, after first refreshing the king, as in loyalty + bound, the stream flowed at large through the glen, and bathed its + verdure; so, the blessed breezes of Omi, not only made pleasant the House + of the Afternoon; but finding ample outlet in its wide, open front, blew + forth upon the bosom of all Willamilla. + </p> + <p> + "Come let us take the air of Omi," was a very common saying in the glen. + And the speaker would hie with his comrade toward the grotto; and flinging + himself on the turf, pass his hand through his locks, and recline; making + a joy and a business of breathing; for truly the breezes of Omi were as + air-wine to the lungs. + </p> + <p> + Yet was not this breeze over-cool; though at times the zephyrs grew + boisterous. Especially at the season of high sea, when the strong Trades + drawn down the cleft in the mountain, rushed forth from the grotto with + wonderful force. Crossing it then, you had much ado to keep your robe on + your back. + </p> + <p> + Thus much for the House of the Afternoon. Whither—after spending the + shady morning under the eastern cliffs of the glen—daily, at a + certain hour, Donjalolo in his palanquin was borne; there, finding new + shades; and there tarrying till evening; when again he was transported + whence he came: thereby anticipating the revolution of the sun. Thus + dodging day's luminary through life, the prince hied to and fro in his + dominions; on his smooth, spotless brow Sol's rays never shining. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0078" id="link2HCH0078"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXVIII — Babbalanja Solus + </h2> + <p> + Of the House of the Afternoon something yet remains to be said. + </p> + <p> + It was chiefly distinguished by its pavement, where, according to the + strange customs of the isle, were inlaid the reputed skeletons of + Donjalolo's sires; each surrounded by a mosaic of corals,—red, + white, and black, intermixed with vitreous stones fallen from the skies in + a meteoric shower. These delineated the tattooing of the departed. Near + by, were imbedded their arms: mace, bow, and spear, in similar marquetry; + and over each skull was the likeness of a scepter. + </p> + <p> + First and conspicuous lay the half-decayed remains of Marjora, the father + of these Coral Kings; by his side, the storied, sickle-shaped weapon, + wherewith he slew his brother Teei. + </p> + <p> + "Line of kings and row of scepters," said Babbalanja as he gazed. + "Donjalolo, come forth and ponder on thy sires. Here they lie, from dread + Marjora down to him who fathered thee. Here are their bones, their spears, + and their javelins; their scepters, and the very fashion of their + tattooing: all that can be got together of what they were. Tell me, oh + king, what are thy thoughts? Dotest thou on these thy sires? Art thou more + truly royal, that they were kings? Or more a man, that they were men? Is + it a fable, or a verity about Marjora and the murdered Teei? But here is + the mighty conqueror,—ask him. Speak to him: son to sire: king to + king. Prick him; beg; buffet; entreat; spurn; split the globe, he will not + budge. Walk over and over thy whole ancestral line, and they will not + start. They are not here. Ay, the dead are not to be found, even in their + graves. Nor have they simply departed; for they willed not to go; they + died not by choice; whithersoever they have gone, thither have they been + dragged; and if so be, they are extinct, their nihilities went not more + against their grain, than their forced quitting of Mardi. Either way, + something has become of them that they sought not. Truly, had + stout-hearted Marjora sworn to live here in Willamilla for ay, and kept + the vow, that would have been royalty indeed; but here he lies. Marjora! + rise! Juam revolteth! Lo, I stamp upon thy scepter; base menials tread + upon thee where thou hest! Up, king, up! What? no reply? Are not these + bones thine? Oh, how the living triumph over the dead! Marjora! answer. + Art thou? or art thou not? I see thee not; I — hear thee not; I feel + thee not; eyes, ears, hands, are worthless to test thy being; and if thou + art, thou art something beyond all human thought to compass. We must have + other faculties to know thee by. Why, thou art not even a sightless sound; + not the echo of an echo; here are thy bones. Donjalolo, methinks I see + thee fallen upon by assassins:—which of thy fathers riseth to the + rescue? I see thee dying:—which of them telleth thee what cheer + beyond the grave? But they have gone to the land unknown. Meet phrase. + Where is it? Not one of Oro's priests telleth a straight story concerning + it; 'twill be hard finding their paradises. Touching the life of Alma, in + Mohi's chronicles, 'tis related, that a man was once raised from the tomb. + But rubbed he not his eyes, and stared he not most vacantly? Not one + revelation did he make. Ye gods! to have been a bystander there! + </p> + <p> + "At best, 'tis but a hope. But will a longing bring the thing desired? + Doth dread avert its object? An instinct is no preservative. The fire I + shrink from, may consume me.—But dead, and yet alive; alive, yet + dead;—thus say the sages of Maramma. But die we then living? Yet if + our dead fathers somewhere and somehow live, why not our unborn sons? For + backward or forward, eternity is the same; already have we been the + nothing we dread to be. Icy thought! But bring it home,—it will not + stay. What ho, hot heart of mine: to beat thus lustily awhile, to feel in + the red rushing blood, and then be ashes,—can this be so? But peace, + peace, thou liar in me, telling me I am immortal—shall I not be as + these bones? To come to this! But the balsam-dropping palms, whose boles + run milk, whose plumes wave boastful in the air, they perish in their + prime, and bow their blasted trunks. Nothing abideth; the river of + yesterday floweth not to-day; the sun's rising is a setting; living is + dying; the very mountains melt; and all revolve:—systems and + asteroids; the sun wheels through the zodiac, and the zodiac is a + revolution. Ah gods! in all this universal stir, am I to prove one stable + thing? + </p> + <p> + "Grim chiefs in skeletons, avaunt! Ye are but dust; belike the dust of + beggars; for on this bed, paupers may lie down with kings, and filch their + skulls. This, great Marjora's arm? No, some old paralytic's. Ye, kings? + ye, men? Where are your vouchers? I do reject your brother-hood, ye + libelous remains. But no, no; despise them not, oh Babbalanja! Thy own + skeleton, thou thyself dost carry with thee, through this mortal life; and + aye would view it, but for kind nature's screen; thou art death alive; and + e'en to what's before thee wilt thou come. Ay, thy children's children + will walk over thee: thou, voiceless as a calm." + </p> + <p> + And over the Coral Kings, Babbalanja paced in profound meditation. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0079" id="link2HCH0079"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXIX — The Center Of Many Circumferences + </h2> + <p> + Like Donjalolo himself, we hie to and fro; for back now must we pace to + the House of the Morning. + </p> + <p> + In its rear, there diverged three separate arbors, leading to less public + apartments. + </p> + <p> + Traversing the central arbor, and fancying it will soon lead you to open + ground, you suddenly come upon the most private retreat of the prince: a + square structure; plain as a pyramid; and without, as inscrutable. Down to + the very ground, its walls are thatched; but on the farther side a + passage-way opens, which you enter. But not yet are you within. Scarce a + yard distant, stands an inner thatched wall, blank as the first. Passing + along the intervening corridor, lighted by narrow apertures, you reach the + opposite side, and a second opening is revealed. This entering, another + corridor; lighted as the first, but more dim, and a third blank wall. And + thus, three times three, you worm round and round, the twilight lessening + as you proceed; until at last, you enter the citadel itself: the innermost + arbor of a nest; whereof, each has its roof, distinct from the rest. + </p> + <p> + The heart of the place is but small; illuminated by a range of open + sky-lights, downward contracting. + </p> + <p> + Innumerable as the leaves of an endless folio, multitudinous mats cover + the floor; whereon reclining by night, like Pharaoh on the top of his + patrimonial pile, the inmate looks heavenward, and heavenward only; gazing + at the torchlight processions in the skies, when, in state, the suns march + to be crowned. + </p> + <p> + And here, in this impenetrable retreat, centrally slumbered the + universe-rounded, zodiac-belted, horizon-zoned, sea-girt, reef- sashed, + mountain-locked, arbor-nested, royalty-girdled, arm-clasped, self-hugged, + indivisible Donjalolo, absolute monarch of Juam:—the husk-inhusked + meat in a nut; the innermost spark in a ruby; the juice-nested seed in a + goldenrinded orange; the red royal stone in an effeminate peach; the + insphered sphere of spheres. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0080" id="link2HCH0080"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXX — Donjalolo In The Bosom Of His Family + </h2> + <p> + To pretend to relate the manner in which Juam's ruler passed his captive + days, without making suitable mention of his harem, would be to paint + one's full-length likeness and omit the face. For it was his harem that + did much to stamp the character of Donjalolo. + </p> + <p> + And had he possessed but a single spouse, most discourteous, surely, to + have overlooked the princess; much more, then, as it is; and by how-much + the more, a plurality exceeds a unit. + </p> + <p> + Exclusive of the female attendants, by day waiting upon the person of the + king, he had wives thirty in number, corresponding in name to the nights + of the moon. For, in Juam, time is not reckoned by days, but by nights; + each night of the lunar month having its own designation; which, + relatively only, is extended to the day. + </p> + <p> + In uniform succession, the thirty wives ruled queen of the king's heart. + An arrangement most wise and judicious; precluding much of that jealousy + and confusion prevalent in ill-regulated seraglios. For as thirty spouses + must be either more desirable, or less desirable than one; so is a harem + thirty times more difficult to manage than an establishment with one + solitary mistress. But Donjalolo's wives were so nicely drilled, that for + the most part, things went on very smoothly. Nor were his brows much + furrowed with wrinkles referable to domestic cares and tribulations. + Although, as in due time will be seen, from these he was not altogether + exempt. + </p> + <p> + Now, according to Braid-Beard, who, among other abstruse political + researches, had accurately informed himself concerning the internal + administration of Donjalolo's harem, the following was the method pursued + therein. + </p> + <p> + On the Aquella, or First Night of the month, the queen of that name + assumes her diadem, and reigns. So too with Azzolino the Second, and + Velluvi the Third Night of the Moon; and so on, even unto the utter + eclipse thereof; through Calends, Nones, and Ides. + </p> + <p> + For convenience, the king is furnished with a card, whereon are copied the + various ciphers upon the arms of his queens; and parallel thereto, the + hieroglyphics significant of the corresponding Nights of the month. + Glancing over this, Donjalolo predicts the true time of the rising and + setting of all his stars. + </p> + <p> + This Moon of wives was lodged in two spacious seraglios, which few mortals + beheld. For, so deeply were they buried in a grove; so overpowered with + verdure; so overrun with vines; and so hazy with the incense of flowers; + that they were almost invisible, unless closely approached. Certain it + was, that it demanded no small enterprise, diligence, and sagacity, to + explore the mysterious wood in search of them. Though a strange, sweet, + humming sound, as of the clustering and swarming of warm bees among roses, + at last hinted the royal honey at hand. High in air, toward the summit of + the cliff, overlooking this side of the glen, a narrow ledge of rocks + might have been seen, from which, rumor whispered, was to be caught an + angular peep at the tip of the apex of the roof of the nearest seraglio. + But this wild report had never been established. Nor, indeed, was it + susceptible of a test. For was not that rock inaccessible as the eyrie of + young eagles? But to guard against the possibility of any visual + profanation, Donjalolo had authorized an edict, forever tabooing that rock + to foot of man or pinion of fowl. Birds and bipeds both trembled and + obeyed; taking a wide circuit to avoid the spot. + </p> + <p> + Access to the seraglios was had by corresponding arbors leading from the + palace. The seraglio to the right was denominated "Ravi" (Before), that to + the left "Zono" (After). The meaning of which was, that upon the + termination of her reign the queen wended her way to the Zono; there + tarrying with her predecessors till the Ravi was emptied; when the entire + Moon of wives, swallow-like, migrated back whence they came; and the + procession was gone over again. + </p> + <p> + In due order, the queens reposed upon mats inwoven with their respective + ciphers. In the Ravi, the mat of the queen-apparent, or next in + succession, was spread by the portal. In the Zono, the newly- widowed + queen reposed furthest from it. + </p> + <p> + But alas for all method where thirty wives are concerned. Notwithstanding + these excellent arrangements, the mature result of ages of progressive + improvement in the economy of the royal seraglios in Willamilla, it must + needs be related, that at times the order of precedence became confused, + and was very hard to restore. + </p> + <p> + At intervals, some one of the wives was weeded out, to the no small + delight of the remainder; but to their equal vexation her place would soon + after be supplied by some beautiful stranger; who assuming the + denomination of the vacated Night of the Moon, thenceforth commenced her + monthly revolutions in the king's infallible calendar. + </p> + <p> + In constant attendance, was a band of old men; woe-begone, thin of leg, + and puny of frame; whose grateful task it was, to tarry in the garden of + Donjalolo's delights, without ever touching the roses. Along with + innumerable other duties, they were perpetually kept coming and going upon + ten thousand errands; for they had it in strict charge to obey the + slightest behests of the damsels; and with all imaginable expedition to + run, fly, swim, or dissolve into impalpable air, at the shortest possible + notice. + </p> + <p> + So laborious their avocations, that none could discharge them for more + than a twelvemonth, at the end of that period giving up the ghost out of + pure exhaustion of the locomotive apparatus. It was this constant drain + upon the stock of masculine old age in the glen, that so bethinned its + small population of gray-beards and hoary-heads. And any old man hitherto + exempted, who happened to receive a summons to repair to the palace, and + there wait the pleasure of the king: this unfortunate, at once suspecting + his doom, put his arbor in order; oiled and suppled his joints; took a + long farewell of his friends; selected his burial-place; and going + resigned to his fate, in due time expired like the rest. + </p> + <p> + Had any one of them cast about for some alleviating circumstance, he might + possibly have derived some little consolation from the thought, that + though a slave to the whims of thirty princesses, he was nevertheless one + of their guardians, and as such, he might ingeniously have concluded, + their superior. But small consolation this. For the damsels were as blithe + as larks, more playful than kittens; never looking sad and sentimental, + projecting clandestine escapes. But supplied with the thirtieth part of + all that Aspasia could desire; glorying in being the spouses of a king; + nor in the remotest degree anxious about eventual dowers; they were + care-free, content, and rejoicing, as the rays of the morning. + </p> + <p> + Poor old men, then; it would be hard to distill out of your fate, one drop + of the balm of consolation. For, commissioned to watch over those who + forever kept you on the trot, affording you no time to hunt up + peccadilloes; was not this circumstance an aggravation of hard times? a + sharpening and edge-giving to the steel in your souls? + </p> + <p> + But much yet remains unsaid. + </p> + <p> + To dwell no more upon the eternal wear-and-tear incident to these + attenuated old warders, they were intensely hated by the damsels. + Inasmuch, as it was archly opined, for what ulterior purposes they were + retained. + </p> + <p> + Nightly couching, on guard, round the seraglio, like fangless old bronze + dragons round a fountain enchanted, the old men ever and anon cried out + mightily, by reason of sore pinches and scratches received in the dark: + And tri-trebly-tri-triply girt about as he was, Donjalolo himself started + from his slumbers, raced round and round through his ten thousand + corridors; at last bursting all dizzy among his twenty-nine queens, to see + what under the seventh-heavens was the matter. When, lo and behold! there + lay the innocents all sound asleep; the dragons moaning over their + mysterious bruises. + </p> + <p> + Ah me! his harem, like all large families, was the delight and the torment + of the days and nights of Donjalolo. + </p> + <p> + And in one special matter was he either eminently miserable, or otherwise: + for all his multiplicity of wives, he had never an heir. Not his, the + proud paternal glance of the Grand Turk Solyman, looking round upon a + hundred sons, all bone of his bone, and squinting with his squint. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0081" id="link2HCH0081"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXXI — Wherein Babbalanja Relates The Adventure Of One + Karkeke In The Land + </h2> + <p> + Of Shades + </p> + <p> + At our morning repast on the second day of our stay in the hollow, our + party indulged in much lively discourse. + </p> + <p> + "Samoa," said I, "those isles of yours, of whose beauty you so often make + vauntful mention, can those isles, good Samoa, furnish a valley in all + respects equal to Willamilla?" + </p> + <p> + Disdainful answer was made, that Willamilla might be endurable enough for + a sojourn, but as a permanent abode, any glen of his own natal isle was + unspeakably superior. + </p> + <p> + "In the great valley of Savaii," cried Samoa, "for every leaf grown here + in Willamilla, grows a stately tree; and for every tree here waving, in + Savaii flourishes a goodly warrior." + </p> + <p> + Immeasurable was the disgust of the Upoluan for the enervated subjects of + Donjalolo; and for Donjalolo himself; though it was shrewdly divined, that + his annoying reception at the hands of the royalty of Juam, had something + to do with his disdain. + </p> + <p> + To Jarl, no similar question was put; for he was sadly deficient in a + taste for the picturesque. But he cursorily observed, that in his + blue-water opinion, Willamilla was next to uninhabitable, all view of the + sea being intercepted. + </p> + <p> + And here it may be well to relate a comical blunder on the part of honest + Jarl; concerning which, Samoa, the savage, often afterward twitted him; as + indicating a rusticity, and want of polish in his breeding. It rather + originated, however, in his not heeding the conventionalities of the + strange people among whom he was thrown. + </p> + <p> + The anecdote is not an epic; but here it is. + </p> + <p> + Reclining in our arbor, we breakfasted upon a marble slab; so +frost-white, and flowingly traced with blue veins, that it seemed a little lake + sheeted over with ice: Diana's virgin bosom congéaled. + </p> + <p> + Before each guest was a richly carved bowl and gourd, fruit and wine + freighted also the empty hemisphere of a small nut, the purpose of which + was a problem. Now, King Jarl scorned to admit the slightest degree of + under-breeding in the matter of polite feeding. So nothing was a problem + to him. At once reminded of the morsel of Arvaroot in his mouth, a + substitute for another sort of sedative then unattainable, he was + instantly illuminated concerning the purpose of the nut; and very + complacently introduced each to the other; in the innocence of his + ignorance making no doubt that he had acquitted himself with discretion; + the little hemisphere plainly being intended as a place of temporary + deposit for the Arva of the guests. + </p> + <p> + The company were astounded: Samoa more than all. King Jarl, meanwhile, + looking at all present with the utmost serenity. At length, one of the + horrified attendants, using two sticks for a forceps, disappeared with the + obnoxious nut, Upon which, the meal proceeded. + </p> + <p> + This attendant was not seen again for many days; which gave rise to the + supposition, that journeying to the sea-side, he had embarked for some + distant strand; there, to bury out of sight the abomination with which he + was freighted. + </p> + <p> + Upon this, his egregious misadventure, calculated to do discredit to our + party, and bring Media himself into contempt, Babbalanja had no scruples + in taking Jarl roundly to task. He assured him, that it argued but little + brains to evince a desire to be thought familiar with all things; that + however desirable as incidental attainments, conventionalities, in + themselves, were the very least of arbitrary trifles; the knowledge of + them, innate with no man. "Moreover Jarl," he added, "in essence, + conventionalities are but mimickings, at which monkeys succeed best. + Hence, when you find yourself at a loss in these matters, wait patiently, + and mark what the other monkeys do: and then follow suit. And by so doing, + you will gain a vast reputation as an accomplished ape. Above all things, + follow not the silly example of the young spark Karkeke, of whom Mohi was + telling me. Dying, and entering the other world with a mincing gait, and + there finding certain customs quite strange and new; such as friendly + shades passing through each other by way of a salutation;— Karkeke, + nevertheless, resolved to show no sign of embarrassment. Accosted by a + phantom, with wings folded pensively, plumes interlocked across its chest, + he off head; and stood obsequiously before it. Staring at him for an + instant, the spirit cut him dead; murmuring to itself, 'Ah, some + terrestrial bumpkin, I fancy,' and passed on with its celestial nose in + the highly rarified air. But silly Karkeke undertaking to replace his + head, found that it would no more stay on; but forever tumbled off; even + in the act of nodding a salute; which calamity kept putting him out of + countenance. And thus through all eternity is he punished for his folly, + in having pretended to be wise, wherein he was ignorant. Head under arm, + he wanders about, the scorn and ridicule of the other world." + </p> + <p> + Our repast concluded, messengers arrived from the prince, courteously + inviting our presence at the House of the Morning. Thither we went; + journeying in sedans, sent across the hollow, for that purpose, by + Donjalolo. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0082" id="link2HCH0082"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXXII — How Donjalolo, Sent Agents To The Surrounding + Isles; With The Result + </h2> + <p> + Ere recounting what was beheld on entering the House of the Morning, some + previous information is needful. Though so many of Donjalolo's days were + consumed by sloth and luxury, there came to him certain intervals of + thoughtfulness, when all his curiosity concerning the things of outer + Mardi revived with augmented intensity. In these moods, he would send + abroad deputations, inviting to Willamilla the kings of the neighboring + islands; together with the most celebrated priests, bards, story-tellers, + magicians, and wise men; that he might hear them converse of those things, + which he could not behold for himself. + </p> + <p> + But at last, he bethought him, that the various narrations he had heard, + could not have been otherwise than unavoidably faulty; by reason that they + had been principally obtained from the inhabitants of the countries + described; who, very naturally, must have been inclined to partiality or + uncandidness in their statements. Wherefore he had very lately dispatched + to the isles special agents of his own; honest of heart, keen of eye, and + shrewd of understanding; to seek out every thing that promised to + illuminate him concerning the places they visited, and also to collect + various specimens of interesting objects; so that at last he might avail + himself of the researches of others, and see with their eyes. + </p> + <p> + But though two observers were sent to every one of the neighboring lands; + yet each was to act independently; make his own inquiries; form his own + conclusions; and return with his own specimens; wholly regardless of the + proceedings of the other. + </p> + <p> + It so came to pass, that on the very day of our arrival in the glen, these + pilgrims returned from their travels. And Donjalolo had set apart the + following morning to giving them a grand public reception. And it was to + this, that our party had been invited, as related in the chapter + preceding. + </p> + <p> + In the great Palm-hall of the House of the Morning, we were assigned + distinguished mats, to the right of the prince; his chiefs, attendants, + and subjects assembled in the open colonnades without. + </p> + <p> + When all was in readiness, in marched the company of savans and travelers; + and humbly standing in a semi-circle before the king, their numerous + hampers were deposited at their feet. + </p> + <p> + Donjalolo was now in high spirits, thinking of the rich store of reliable + information about to be furnished. + </p> + <p> + "Zuma," said he, addressing the foremost of the company, "you and Varnopi + were directed to explore the island of Rafona. Proceed now, and relate all + you know of that place. Your narration heard, we will list to Varnopi." + </p> + <p> + With a profound inclination the traveler obeyed. + </p> + <p> + But soon Donjalolo interrupted him. "What say you, Zuma, about the secret + cavern, and the treasures therein? A very different account, this, from + all I have heard hitherto; but perhaps yours is the true version. Go on." + </p> + <p> + But very soon, poor Zuma was again interrupted by exclamations of + surprise. Nay, even to the very end of his mountings. + </p> + <p> + But when he had done, Donjalolo observed, that if from any cause Zuma was + in error or obscure, Varnopi would not fail to set him right. + </p> + <p> + So Varnopi was called upon. + </p> + <p> + But not long had Varnopi proceeded, when Donjalolo changed color. + </p> + <p> + "What!" he exclaimed, "will ye contradict each other before our very face. + Oh Oro! how hard is truth to be come at by proxy! Fifty accounts have I + had of Rafona; none of which wholly agreed; and here, these two varlets, + sent expressly to behold and report, these two lying knaves, speak + crookedly both. How is it? Are the lenses in their eyes diverse-hued, that + objects seem different to both; for undeniable is it, that the things they + thus clashingly speak of are to be known for the same; though represented + with unlike colors and qualities. But dumb things can not lie nor err. + Unpack thy hampers, Zuma. Here, bring them close: now: what is this?" + </p> + <p> + "That," tremblingly replied Zuma, "is a specimen of the famous reef- bar + on the west side of the island of Rafona; your highness perceives its deep + red dyes." + </p> + <p> + Said Donjalolo, "Varnopi, hast thou a piece of this coral, also?" + </p> + <p> + "I have, your highness," said Varnopi; "here it is." + </p> + <p> + Taking it from his hand, Donjalolo gazed at its bleached, white hue; then + dashing it to the pavement, "Oh mighty Oro! Truth dwells in her fountains; + where every one must drink for himself. For me, vain all hope of ever + knowing Mardi! Away! Better know nothing, than be deceived. Break up!" + </p> + <p> + And Donjalolo rose, and retired. + </p> + <p> + All present now broke out in a storm of vociferation; some siding with + Zuma; others with Varnopi; each of whom, in turn, was declared the man to + be relied upon. + </p> + <p> + Marking all this, Babbalanja, who had been silently looking on, leaning + against one of the palm pillars, quietly observed to Media:— "My + lord, I have seen this same reef at Rafona. In various places, it is of + various hues. As for Zuma and Varnopi, both are wrong, and both are + right." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0083" id="link2HCH0083"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXXIII — They Visit The Tributary Islets + </h2> + <p> + In Willamilla, no Yillah being found, on the third day we took leave of + Donjalolo; who lavished upon us many caresses and, somewhat reluctantly on + Media's part, we quitted the vale. + </p> + <p> + One by one, we now visited the outer villages of Juam; and crossing the + waters, wandered several days among its tributary isles. There we saw the + viceroys of him who reigned in the hollow: chieftains of whom Donjalolo + was proud; so honest, humble, and faithful; so bent upon ameliorating the + condition of those under their rule. For, be it said, Donjalolo was a + charitable prince; in his serious intervals, ever seeking the welfare of + his subjects, though after an imperial view of his own. But alas, in that + sunny donjon among the mountains, where he dwelt, how could Donjalolo be + sure, that the things he decreed were executed in regions forever remote + from his view. Ah! very bland, very innocent, very pious, the faces his + viceroys presented during their monthly visits to Willamilla. But as cruel + their visage, when, returned to their islets, they abandoned themselves to + all the license of tyrants; like Verres reveling down the rights of the + Sicilians. + </p> + <p> + Like Carmelites, they came to Donjalolo, barefooted; but in their homes, + their proud latchets were tied by their slaves. Before their king-belted + prince, they stood rope-girdled like self-abased monks of St. Francis; but + with those ropes, before their palaces, they hung Innocence and Truth. + </p> + <p> + As still seeking Yillah, and still disappointed, we roved through the + lands which these chieftains ruled, Babbalanja exclaimed—"Let us + depart; idle our search, in isles that have viceroys for kings." + </p> + <p> + At early dawn, about embarking for a distant land, there came to us + certain messengers of Donjalolo, saying that their lord the king, + repenting of so soon parting company with Media and Taji, besought them to + return with all haste; for that very morning, in Willamilla, a regal + banquet was preparing; to which many neighboring kings had been invited, + most of whom had already arrived. + </p> + <p> + Declaring that there was no alternative but compliance, Media acceded; and + with the king's messengers we returned to the glen. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0084" id="link2HCH0084"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXXIV — Taji Sits Down To Dinner With Five-And-Twenty + Kings, And A Royal Time + </h2> + <p> + They Have + </p> + <p> + It was afternoon when we emerged from the defile. And informed that our + host was receiving his guests in the House of the Afternoon, thither we + directed our steps. + </p> + <p> + Soft in our face, blew the blessed breezes of Omi, stirring the leaves + overhead; while, here and there, through the trees, showed the + idol-bearers of the royal retreat, hand in hand, linked with festoons of + flowers. Still beyond, on a level, sparkled the nodding crowns of the + kings, like the constellation Corona-Borealis, the horizon just gained. + </p> + <p> + Close by his noon-tide friend, the cascade at the mouth of the grotto, + reposed on his crimson mat, Donjalolo:—arrayed in a vestment of the + finest white tappa of Mardi, figured all over with bright yellow lizards, + so curiously stained in the gauze, that he seemed overrun, as with golden + mice. + </p> + <p> + Marjora's girdle girdled his loins, tasseled with the congregated teeth of + his sires. A jeweled turban-tiara, milk-white, surmounted his brow, over + which waved a copse of Pintado plumes. + </p> + <p> + But what sways in his hand? A scepter, similar to those likenesses of + scepters, imbedded among the corals at his feet. A polished thigh- bone; + by Braid-Beard declared once Teei's the Murdered. For to emphasize his + intention utterly to rule, Marjora himself had selected this emblem of + dominion over mankind. + </p> + <p> + But even this last despite done to dead Teei had once been transcended. In + the usurper's time, prevailed the belief, that the saliva of kings must + never touch ground; and Mohi's Chronicles made mention, that during the + life time of Marjora, Teei's skull had been devoted to the basest of + purposes: Marjora's, the hate no turf could bury. + </p> + <p> + Yet, traditions like these ever seem dubious. There be many who deny the + hump, moral and physical, of Gloster Richard. + </p> + <p> + Still advancing unperceived, in social hilarity we descried their + Highnesses, chatting together like the most plebeian of mortals; full as + merry as the monks of old. But marking our approach, all changed. A pair + of potentates, who had been playfully trifling, hurriedly adjusted their + diadems, threw themselves into attitudes, looking stately as statues. + Phidias turned not out his Jupiter so soon. + </p> + <p> + In various-dyed robes the five-and-twenty kings were arrayed; and various + their features, as the rows of lips, eyes and ears in John Caspar + Lavater's physiognomical charts. Nevertheless, to a king, all their noses + were aquiline. + </p> + <p> + There were long fox-tail beards of silver gray, and enameled chins, like + those of girls; bald pates and Merovingian locks; smooth brows and + wrinkles: forms erect and stooping; an eye that squinted; one king was + deaf; by his side, another that was halt; and not far off, a dotard. They + were old and young, tall and short, handsome and ugly, fat and lean, + cunning and simple. + </p> + <p> + With animated courtesy our host received us; assigning a neighboring bower + for Babbalanja and the rest; and among so many right-royal, demi-divine + guests, how could the demi-gods Media and Taji be otherwise than at home? + </p> + <p> + The unwonted sprightliness of Donjalolo surprised us. But he was in one of + those relapses of desperate gayety in-variably following his failures in + efforts to amend his life. And the bootless issue of his late mission to + outer Mardi had thrown him into a mood for revelry. Nor had he lately + shunned a wild wine, called Morando. + </p> + <p> + A slave now appearing with a bowl of this beverage, it circulated freely. + </p> + <p> + Not to gainsay the truth, we fancied the Morando much. A nutty, pungent + flavor it had; like some kinds of arrack distilled in the Philippine + isles. And a marvelous effect did it have, in dissolving the + crystalization of the brain; leaving nothing but precious little drops of + good humor, beading round the bowl of the cranium. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, garlanded boys, climbing the limbs of the idol-pillars, and + stirruping their feet in their most holy mouths, suspended hangings of + crimson tappa all round the hall; so that sweeping the pavement they + rustled in the breeze from the grot. + </p> + <p> + Presently, stalwart slaves advanced; bearing a mighty basin of a porphyry + hue, deep-hollowed out of a tree. Outside, were innumerable grotesque + conceits; conspicuous among which, for a border, was an endless string of + the royal lizards circumnavigating the basin in inverted chase of their + tails. + </p> + <p> + Peculiar to the groves of Willamilla, the yellow lizard formed part of the + arms of Juam. And when Donjalolo's messenger went abroad, they carried its + effigy, as the emblem of their royal master; themselves being known, as + the Gentlemen of the Golden Lizard. + </p> + <p> + The porphyry-hued basin planted full in our midst, the attendants + forthwith filled the same with the living waters from the cascade; a + proceeding, for which some of the company were at a loss to account, + unless his highness, our host, with all the coolness of royalty, purposed + cooling himself still further, by taking a bath in presence of his guests. + A conjecture, most premature; for directly, the basin being filled to + within a few inches of the lizards, the attendants fell to launching + therein divers goodly sized trenchers, all laden with choice viands:—wild + boar meat; humps of grampuses; embrowned bread-fruit, roasted in + odoriferous fires of sandal wood, but suffered to cool; gold fish, dressed + with the fragrant juices of berries; citron sauce; rolls of the baked + paste of yams; juicy bananas, steeped in a saccharine oil; marmalade of + plantains; jellies of guava; confections of the treacle of palm sap; and + many other dainties; besides numerous stained calabashes of Morando, and + other beverages, fixed in carved floats to make them buoyant. + </p> + <p> + The guests assigned seats, by the woven handles attached to his purple + mat, the prince, our host, was now gently moved by his servitors to the + head of the porphyry-hued basin. Where, flanked by lofty crowned-heads, + white-tiaraed, and radiant with royalty, he sat; like snow-turbaned Mont + Blanc, at sunrise presiding over the head waters of the Rhone; to right + and left, looming the gilded summits of the Simplon, the Gothard, the + Jungfrau, the Great St. Bernard, and the Grand Glockner. + </p> + <p> + Yet turbid from the launching of its freight, Lake Como tossed to and fro + its navies of good cheer, the shadows of the king-peaks wildly flitting + thereupon. + </p> + <p> + But no frigid wine and fruit cooler, Lake Como; as at first it did seem; + but a tropical dining table, its surface a slab of light blue St. Pons + marble in a state of fluidity. + </p> + <p> + Now, many a crown was doffed; scepters laid aside; girdles slackened; and + among those verdant viands the bearded kings like goats did browse; or + tusking their wild boar's meat, like mastiffs ate. + </p> + <p> + And like unto some well-fought fight, beginning calmly, but pressing + forward to a fiery rush, this well-fought feast did now wax warm. + </p> + <p> + A few royal epicures, however, there were: epicures intent upon + concoctions, admixtures, and masterly compoundings; who comported + themselves with all due deliberation and dignity; hurrying themselves into + no reckless deglutition of the dainties. Ah! admirable conceit, Lake Como: + superseding attendants. For, from hand to hand the trenchers sailed; no + sooner gaining one port, than dispatched over sea to another. + </p> + <p> + Well suited they were for the occasion; sailing high out of water, to + resist the convivial swell at times ruffling the sociable sea; and sharp + at both ends, still better adapting them to easy navigation. + </p> + <p> + But soon, the Morando, in triumphant decanters, went round, reeling like + barks before a breeze. But their voyages were brief; and ere long, in + certain havens, the accumulation of empty vessels threatened to bridge the + lake with pontoons. In those directions, Trade winds were setting. But + full soon, cut out were all unladen and unprofitable gourds; and replaced + by jolly-bellied calabashes, for a time sailing deep, yawing heavily to + the push. + </p> + <p> + At last, the whole flotilla of trenchers—wrecks and all—were + sent swimming to the further end of Lake Como; and thence removed, gave + place to ruddy hillocks of fruit, and floating islands of flowers. Chief + among the former, a quince-like, golden sphere, that filled the air with + such fragrance, you thought you were tasting its flavor. + </p> + <p> + Nor did the wine cease flowing. That day the Juam grape did bleed; that + day the tendril ringlets of the vines, did all uncurl and grape by grape, + in sheer dismay, the sun ripe clusters dropped. Grape-glad were + five-and-twenty kings: five-and-twenty kings were merry. + </p> + <p> + Morando's vintage had no end; nor other liquids, in the royal cellar + stored, somewhere secret in the grot. Oh! where's the endless Niger's + source? Search ye here, or search ye there; on, on, through ravine, vega, + vale—no head waters will ye find. But why need gain the hidden + spring, when its lavish stream flows by? At three-fold mouths that + Delta-grot discharged; rivers golden, white, and red. + </p> + <p> + But who may sing for aye? Down I come, and light upon the old and prosy + plain. + </p> + <p> + Among other decanters set afloat, was a pompous, lordly-looking demijohn, + but old and reverend withal, that sailed about, consequential as an + autocrat going to be crowned, or a treasure- freighted argosie bound home + before the wind. It looked solemn, however, though it reeled; + peradventure, far gone with its own potent contents. + </p> + <p> + Oh! russet shores of Rhine and Rhone! oh, mellow memories of ripe old + vintages! oh, cobwebs in the Pyramids! oh, dust on Pharaoh's tomb!— + all, all recur, as I bethink me of that glorious gourd, its contents + cogent as Tokay, itself as old as Mohi's legends; more venerable to look + at than his beard. Whence came it? Buried in vases, so saith the label, + with the heart of old Marjora, now dead one hundred thousand moons. + Exhumed at last, it looked no wine, but was shrunk into a subtile syrup. + </p> + <p> + This special calabash was distinguished by numerous trappings, caparisoned + like the sacred bay steed led before the Great Khan of Tartary. A most + curious and betasseled network encased it; and the royal lizard was + jealously twisted about its neck, like a hand on a throat containing some + invaluable secret. + </p> + <p> + All Hail, Marzilla! King's Own Royal Particular! A vinous Percy! Dating + back to the Conquest! Distilled of yore from purple berries growing in the + purple valley of Ardair! Thrice hail. + </p> + <p> + But the imperial Marzilla was not for all; gods only could partake; the + Kings and demigods of the isles; excluding left-handed descendants of sad + rakes of immortals, in old times breaking heads and hearts in Mardi, + bequeathing bars-sinister to many mortals, who now in vain might urge a + claim to a cup-full of right regal Marzilla. + </p> + <p> + The Royal Particular was pressed upon me, by the now jovial Donjalolo. + With his own sceptered hand charging my flagon to the brim, he declared + his despotic pleasure, that I should quaff it off to the last lingering + globule. No hard calamity, truly; for the drinking of this wine was as the + singing of a mighty ode, or frenzied lyric to the soul. + </p> + <p> + "Drink, Taji," cried Donjalolo, "drink deep. In this wine a king's heart + is dissolved. Drink long; in this wine lurk the seeds of the life + everlasting. Drink deep; drink long: thou drinkest wisdom and valor at + every draught. Drink forever, oh Taji, for thou drinkest that which will + enable thee to stand up and speak out before mighty Oro himself." + </p> + <p> + "Borabolla," he added, turning round upon a domed old king at his left, + "Was it not the god Xipho, who begged of my great-great- grandsire a + draught of this same wine, saying he was about to beget a hero?" + </p> + <p> + "Even so. And thy glorious Marzilla produced thrice valiant Ononna, who + slew the giants of the reef." + </p> + <p> + "Ha, ha, hear'st that, oh Taji?" And Donjalolo drained another cup. + </p> + <p> + Amazing! the flexibility of the royal elbow, and the rigidity of the royal + spine! More especially as we had been impressed with a notion of their + debility. But, sometimes these seemingly enervated young blades approve + themselves steadier of limb, than veteran revelers of very long standing. + </p> + <p> + "Discharge the basin, and refill it with wine," cried Donjalolo. "Break + all empty gourds! Drink, kings, and dash your cups at every draught." + </p> + <p> + So saying, he started from his purple mat; and with one foot planted + unknowingly upon the skull of Marjora; while all the skeletons grinned at + him from the pavement; Donjalolo, holding on high his blood-red goblet, + burst forth with the following invocation:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Ha, ha, gods and kings; fill high, one and all; + Drink, drink! shout and drink! mad respond to the call! + Fill fast, and fill frill; 'gainst the goblet ne'er sin; + Quaff there, at high tide, to the uttermost rim:— + Flood-tide, and soul-tide to the brim! + + Who with wine in him fears? who thinks of his cares? + Who sighs to be wise, when wine in him flares? + Water sinks down below, in currents full slow; + But wine mounts on high with its genial glow:— + Welling up, till the brain overflow! + + As the spheres, with a roll, some fiery of soul, + Others golden, with music, revolve round the pole; + + So let our cups, radiant with many hued wines, + Round and round in groups circle, our Zodiac's Signs:— + Round reeling, and ringing their chimes! + + Then drink, gods and kings; wine merriment brings; + It bounds through the veins; there, jubilant sings. + Let it ebb, then, and flow; wine never grows dim; + Drain down that bright tide at the foam beaded rim:— + Fill up, every cup, to the brim! +</pre> + <p> + Caught by all present, the chorus resounded again and again. The beaded + wine danced on many a beard; the cataract lifted higher its voice; the + grotto sent back a shout; the ghosts of the Coral Monarchs seemed starting + from their insulted bones. But ha, ha, ha, roared forth the + five-and-twenty kings—alive, not dead—holding both hands to + their girdles, and baying out their laughter from abysses; like Nimrod's + hounds over some fallen elk. + </p> + <p> + Mad and crazy revelers, how ye drank and roared! but kings no more: + vestures loosed; and scepters rolling on the ground. + </p> + <p> + Glorious agrarian, thou wine! bringing all hearts on a level, and at last + all legs to the earth; even those of kings, who, to do them justice, have + been much maligned for imputed qualities not theirs. For whoso has touched + flagons with monarchs, bear they their back bones never so stiffly on the + throne, well know the rascals, to be at bottom royal good fellows; capable + of a vinous frankness exceeding that of base-born men. Was not Alexander a + boon companion? And daft Cambyses? and what of old Rowley, as good a judge + of wine and other matters, as ever sipped claret or kisses. + </p> + <p> + If ever Taji joins a club, be it a Beef-Steak Club of Kings! + </p> + <p> + Donjalolo emptied yet another cup. + </p> + <p> + The mirth now blew a gale; like a ship's shrouds in a Typhoon, every + tendon vibrated; the breezes of Omi came forth with a rush; the hangings + shook; the goblets danced fandangos; and Donjalolo, clapping his hands, + called before him his dancing women. + </p> + <p> + Forth came from the grotto a reed-like burst of song, making all start, + and look that way to behold such enchanting strains. Sounds heralding + sights! Swimming in the air, emerged the nymphs, lustrous arms interlocked + like Indian jugglers' glittering snakes. Round the cascade they thronged; + then paused in its spray. Of a sudden, seemed to spring from its midst, a + young form of foam, that danced into the soul like a thought. At last, + sideways floating off, it subsided into the grotto, a wave. Evening + drawing on apace, the crimson draperies were lifted, and festooned to the + arms of the idol-pillars, admitting the rosy light of the even. + </p> + <p> + Yielding to the re-action of the banquet, the kings now reclined; and two + mute damsels entered: one with a gourd of scented waters; the other with + napkins. Bending over Donjalolo's steaming head, the first let fall a + shower of aromatic drops, slowly aborbed by her companion. Thus, in turn, + all were served; nothing heard but deep breathing. + </p> + <p> + In a marble vase they now kindled some incense: a handful of spices. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after, came three of the king's beautiful smokers; who, lighting + their tubes at this odorous fire, blew over the company the sedative fumes + of the Aina. + </p> + <p> + Steeped in languor, I strove against it long; essayed to struggle out of + the enchanted mist. But a syren hand seemed ever upon me, pressing me + back. + </p> + <p> + Half-revealed, as in a dream, and the last sight that I saw, was + Donjalolo:—eyes closed, face pale, locks moist, borne slowly to his + sedan, to cross the hollow, and wake in the seclusion of his harem. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0085" id="link2HCH0085"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXXV — After Dinner + </h2> + <p> + As in dreams I behold thee again, Willamila! as in dreams, once again I + stroll through thy cool shady groves, oh fairest of the vallies of Mardi! + the thought of that mad merry feasting steals over my soul till I faint. + </p> + <p> + Prostrate here and there over the bones of Donjalolo's sires, the royal + bacchanals lay slumbering till noon. + </p> + <p> + "Which are the deadest?" said Babbalanja, peeping in, "the live kings, or + the dead ones?" + </p> + <p> + But the former were drooping flowers sought to be revived by watering. At + intervals the sedulous attendants went to and fro, besprinkling their + heads with the scented contents of their vases. + </p> + <p> + At length, one by one, the five-and-twenty kings lifted their ambrosial + curls; and shaking the dew therefrom, like eagles opened their right royal + eyes, and dilated their aquiline nostrils, full upon the golden rays of + the sun. + </p> + <p> + But why absented himself, Donjalolo? Had he cavalierly left them to + survive the banquet by themselves? But this apparent incivility was soon + explained by heralds, announcing to their prone majesties, that through + the over solicitude of his slaves, their lord the king had been borne to + his harem, without being a party to the act. But to make amends, in his + sedan, Donjalolo was even now drawing nigh. Not, however, again to make + merry; but socially to sleep in company with his guests; for, together + they had all got high, and together they must all lie low. + </p> + <p> + So at it they went: each king to his bones, and slumbered like heroes till + evening; when, availing themselves of the cool moonlight approaching, the + royal guests bade adieu to their host; and summoning their followers, + quitted the glen. + </p> + <p> + Early next day, having determined to depart for our canoes, we proceeded + to the House of the Morning, to take leave of Donjalolo. + </p> + <p> + An amazing change, one night of solitude had wrought! Pale and languid, we + found him reclining: one hand on his throbbing temples. + </p> + <p> + Near an overturned vessel of wine, the royal girdle lay tossed at his + feet. He had waved off his frightened attendants, who crouched out of + sight. + </p> + <p> + We advanced. + </p> + <p> + "Do ye too leave me? Ready enough are ye to partake of my banquetings, + which, to such as ye, are but mad incidents in one round of more tranquil + diversions. But heed me not, Media;—I am mad. Oh, ye gods! am I + forever a captive?—Ay, free king of Odo, when you list, condescend + to visit the poor slave in Willamilla. I account them but charity, your + visits; would fain allure ye by sumptuous fare. Go, leave me; go, and be + rovers again throughout blooming Mardi. For, me, I am here for aye.—Bring + me wine, slaves! quick! that I may pledge my guests fitly. Alas, Media, at + the bottom of this cup are no sparkles as at top. Oh, treacherous, + treacherous friend! full of smiles and daggers. Yet for such as me, oh + wine, thou art e'en a prop, though it pierce the side; for man must lean. + Thou wine art the friend of the friendless, though a foe to all. King + Media, let us drink. More cups!—And now, farewell." + </p> + <p> + Falling back, he averted his face; and silently we quitted the palace. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0086" id="link2HCH0086"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXXVI — Of Those Scamps The Plujii + </h2> + <p> + The beach gained, we embarked. + </p> + <p> + In good time our party recovered from the seriousness into which we had + been thrown; and a rather long passage being now before us, we whiled away + the hours as best we might. + </p> + <p> + Among many entertaining, narrations, old Braid-Beard, crossing his calves, + and peaking his beard, regaled us with some account of certain invisible + spirits, ycleped the Plujii, arrant little knaves as ever gulped + moonshine. + </p> + <p> + They were spoken of as inhabiting the island of Quelquo, in a remote + corner of the lagoon; the innocent people of which island were sadly + fretted and put out by their diabolical proceedings. Not to be wondered + at; since, dwelling as they did in the air, and completely inaccessible, + these spirits were peculiarly provocative of ire. + </p> + <p> + Detestable Plujii! With malice aforethought, they brought about high winds + that destroyed the banana plantations, and tumbled over the heads of its + occupants many a bamboo dwelling. They cracked the calabashes; soured the + "poee;" induced the colic; begat the spleen; and almost rent people in + twain with stitches in the side. In short, from whatever evil, the cause + of which the Islanders could not directly impute to their gods, or in + their own opinion was not referable to themselves,—of that very + thing must the invisible Plujii be guilty. With horrible dreams, and + blood-thirsty gnats, they invaded the most innocent slumbers. + </p> + <p> + All things they bedeviled. A man with a wry neck ascribed it to the + Plujii; he with a bad memory railed against the Plujii; and the boy, + bruising his finger, also cursed those abominable spirits. + </p> + <p> + Nor, to some minds, at least, was there wanting strong presumptive + evidence, that at times, with invisible fingers, the above mentioned + Plujii did leave direct and tangible traces of their presence; pinching + and pounding the unfortunate Islanders; pulling their hair; plucking their + ears, and tweaking their beards and their noses. And thus perpetually + vexing, incensing, tormenting, and exasperating their helpless victims, + the atrocious Plujii reveled in their malicious dominion over the souls + and bodies of the people of Quelquo. + </p> + <p> + What it was, that induced them to enact such a part, Oro only knew; and + never but once, it seems, did old Mohi endeavor to find out. + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time, visiting Quelquo, he chanced to encounter an old woman + almost doubled together, both hands upon her abdomen; in that manner + running about distracted. + </p> + <p> + "My good woman," said he, "what under the firmament is the matter?" + </p> + <p> + "The Plujii! the Plujii!" affectionately caressing the field of their + operations. + </p> + <p> + "But why do they torment you?" he soothingly inquired. "How should I + — know? and what good would it do me if I did?" + </p> + <p> + And on she ran. + </p> + <p> + At this part of his narration, Mohi was interrupted by Media; who, much to + the surprise of all present, observed, that, unbeknown to him + (Braid-Beard), he happened to have been on that very island, at that very + time, and saw that identical old lady in the very midst of those abdominal + tribulations. + </p> + <p> + "That she was really in great distress," he went on to say, "was plainly + to be seen; but that in that particular instance, your Plujii had any hand + in tormenting her, I had some boisterous doubts. For, hearing that an hour + or two previous she had been partaking of some twenty unripe bananas, I + rather fancied that that circumstance might have had something to do with + her sufferings. But however it was, all the herb-leeches on the island + would not have altered her own opinions on the subject." + </p> + <p> + "No," said Braid-Beard; "a post-mortem examination would not have + satisfied her ghost." + </p> + <p> + "Curious to relate," he continued, "the people of that island never abuse + the Plujii, notwithstanding all they suffer at their hands, unless under + direct provocation; and a settled matter of faith is it, that at such + times all bitter words and hasty objurgations are entirely overlooked, + nay, pardoned on the spot, by the unseen genii against whom they are + directed." + </p> + <p> + "Magnanimous Plujii!" cried Media. "But, Babbalanja, do you, who run a + tilt at all things, suffer this silly conceit to be uttered with impunity + in your presence? Why so silent?" + </p> + <p> + "I have been thinking, my lord," said Babbalanja, "that though the people + of that island may at times err, in imputing their calamities to the + Plujii, that, nevertheless, upon the whole, they indulge in a reasonable + belief. For, Plujii or no Plujii, it is undeniable, that in ten thousand + ways, as if by a malicious agency, we mortals are woefully put out and + tormented; and that, too, by things in themselves so exceedingly trivial, + that it would seem almost impiety to ascribe them to the august gods. No; + there must exist some greatly inferior spirits; so insignificant, + comparatively, as to be overlooked by the supernal powers; and through + them it must be, that we are thus grievously annoyed. At any rate; such a + theory would supply a hiatus in my system of meta-physics." + </p> + <p> + "Well, peace to the Plujii," said Media; "they trouble not me." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0087" id="link2HCH0087"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXXVII — Nora-Bamma + </h2> + <p> + Still onward gliding, the lagoon a calm. + </p> + <p> + Hours pass; and full before us, round and green, a Moslem turban by us + floats—Nora-Bamma, Isle of Nods. + </p> + <p> + Noon-tide rolls its flood. Vibrates the air, and trembles. And by illusion + optical, thin-draped in azure haze, drift here and there the brilliant + lands: swans, peacock-plumaged, sailing through the sky. Down to earth + hath heaven come; hard telling sun-clouds from the isles. + </p> + <p> + And high in air nods Nora-Bamma. Nid-nods its tufted summit like three + ostrich plumes; its beetling crags, bent poppies, shadows, willowy shores, + all nod; its streams are murmuring down the hills; its wavelets hush the + shore. + </p> + <p> + Who dwells in Nora-Bamma? Dreamers, hypochondriacs, somnambulists; who, + from the cark and care of outer Mardi fleeing, in the poppy's jaded odors, + seek oblivion for the past, and ecstasies to come. + </p> + <p> + Open-eyed, they sleep and dream; on their roof-trees, grapes unheeded + drop. In Nora-Bamma, whispers are as shouts; and at a zephyr's breath, + from the woodlands shake the leaves, as of humming-birds, a flight. + </p> + <p> + All this spake Braid-Beard, of the isle. How that none ere touched its + strand, without rendering instant tribute of a nap; how that those who + thither voyaged, in golden quest of golden gourds, fast dropped asleep, + ere one was plucked; waking not till night; how that you must needs rub + hard your eyes, would you wander through the isle; and how that silent + specters would be met, haunting twilight groves, and dreamy meads; hither + gliding, thither fading, end or purpose none. + </p> + <p> + True or false, so much for Mohi's Nora Bamma. + </p> + <p> + But as we floated on, it looked the place described. We yawned, and + yawned, as crews of vessels may; as in warm Indian seas, their winnowing + sails all swoon, when by them glides some opium argosie. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0088" id="link2HCH0088"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXXVIII — In A Calm, Hautia's Heralds Approach + </h2> + <p> + "How still!" cried Babbalanja. "This calm is like unto Oro's everlasting + serenity, and like unto man's last despair." + </p> + <p> + But now the silence was broken by a strange, distant, intermitted melody + in the water. + </p> + <p> + Gazing over the side, we saw naught but a far-darting ray in its depths. + </p> + <p> + Then Yoomy, before buried in a reverie, burst forth with a verse, sudden + as a jet from a Geyser. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Like the fish of the bright and twittering fin, + Bright fish! diving deep as high soars the lark, + So, far, far, far, doth the maiden swim, + Wild song, wild light, in still ocean's dark. +</pre> + <p> + "What maiden, minstrel?" cried Media. + </p> + <p> + "None of these," answered Yoomy, pointing out a shallop gliding near. + </p> + <p> + "The damsels three:—Taji, they pursue you yet." That still canoe + drew nigh, the Iris in its prow. + </p> + <p> + Gliding slowly by, one damsel flung a Venus-car, the leaves yet fresh. + </p> + <p> + Said Yoomy—"Fly to love." + </p> + <p> + The second maiden flung a pallid blossom, buried in hemlock leaves. + </p> + <p> + Said Yoomy, starting—"I have wrought a death." + </p> + <p> + Then came showering Venus-cars, and glorious moss-roses numberless, and + odorous handfuls of Verbena. + </p> + <p> + Said Yoomy—"Yet fly, oh fly to me: all rosy joys and sweets are + mine." + </p> + <p> + Then the damsels floated on. + </p> + <p> + "Was ever queen more enigmatical?" cried Media—"Love,—death,—joy, + —fly to me? But what says Taji?" + </p> + <p> + "That I turn not back for Hautia; whoe'er she be, that wild witch I + — contemn." + </p> + <p> + "Then spread our pinions wide! a breeze! up sails! ply paddles all! Come, + Flora's flute, float forth a song." + </p> + <p> + To pieces picking the thorny roses culled from Hautia's gifts, and holding + up their blighted cores, thus plumed and turbaned Yoomy sang, leaning + against the mast:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Oh! royal is the rose, + But barbed with many a dart; + Beware, beware the rose, + 'Tis cankered at the heart. + + Sweet, sweet the sunny down, + Oh! lily, lily, lily down! + Sweet, sweet, Verbena's bloom! + Oh! pleasant, gentle, musky bloom! + + Dread, dread the sunny down; + Lo! lily-hooded asp; + Blooms, blooms no more Verbena; + White-withered in your clasp. +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0089" id="link2HCH0089"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER LXXXIX — Braid-Beard Rehearses The Origin Of The Isle Of + Rogues + </h2> + <p> + Judge not things by their names. This, the maxim illustrated respecting + the isle toward which we were sailing. + </p> + <p> + Ohonoo was its designation, in other words the Land of Rogues. So what but + a nest of villains and pirates could one fancy it to be: a downright + Tortuga, swarming with "Brethren of the coast,"—such as Montbars, + L'Ollonais, Bartolomeo, Peter of Dieppe, and desperadoes of that kidney. + But not so. The men of Ohonoo were as honest as any in Mardi. They had a + suspicious appellative for their island, true; but not thus seemed it to + them. For, upon nothing did they so much plume themselves as upon this + very name. Why? Its origin went back to old times; and being venerable + they gloried therein; though they disclaimed its present applicability to + any of their race; showing, that words are but algebraic signs, conveying + no meaning except what you please. And to be called one thing, is + oftentimes to be another. + </p> + <p> + But how came the Ohonoose by their name? + </p> + <p> + Listen, and Braid-Beard, our Herodotus, will tell. + </p> + <p> + Long and long ago, there were banished to Ohonoo all the bucaniers, + flibustiers, thieves, and malefactors of the neighboring islands; who, + becoming at last quite a numerous community, resolved to make a stand for + their dignity, and number one among the nations of Mardi. And even as + before they had been weeded out of the surrounding countries; so now, they + went to weeding out themselves; banishing all objectionable persons to + still another island. + </p> + <p> + These events happened at a period so remote, that at present it was + uncertain whether those twice banished, were thrust into their second + exile by reason of their superlative knavery, or because of their + comparative honesty. If the latter, then must the residue have been a + precious enough set of scoundrels. + </p> + <p> + However it was, the commonwealth of knaves now mustered together their + gray-beards, and wise-pates, and knowing-ones, of which last there was a + plenty, chose a king to rule over them, and went to political housekeeping + for themselves. + </p> + <p> + And in the fullness of time, this people became numerous and mighty. And + the more numerous and mighty they waxed, by so much the more did they take + pride and glory in their origin, frequently reverting to it with manifold + boastings. The proud device of their monarch was a hand with the + forefinger crooked, emblematic of the peculatory propensities of his + ancestors. + </p> + <p> + And all this, at greater length, said Mohi. + </p> + <p> + "It would seem, then, my lord," said Babbalanja, reclining, "as if these + men of Ohonoo had canonized the derelictions of their progenitors, though + the same traits are deemed scandalous among themselves. But it is time + that makes the difference. The knave of a thousand years ago seems a fine + old fellow full of spirit and fun, little malice in his soul; whereas, the + knave of to-day seems a sour- visaged wight, with nothing to redeem him. + Many great scoundrels of our Chronicler's chronicles are heroes to us:—witness, + Marjora the usurper. Ay, time truly works wonders. It sublimates wine; it + sublimates fame; nay, is the creator thereof; it enriches and darkens our + spears of the Palm; enriches and enlightens the mind; it ripens cherries + and young lips; festoons old ruins, and ivies old heads; imparts a relish + to old yams, and a pungency to the Ponderings of old Bardianna; of fables + distills truths; and finally, smooths, levels, glosses, softens, melts, + and meliorates all things. Why, my lord, round Mardi itself is all the + better for its antiquity, and the more to be revered; to the cozy-minded, + more comfortable to dwell in. Ah! if ever it lay in embryo like a green + seed in the pod, what a damp, shapeless thing it must have been, and how + unpleasant from the traces of its recent creation. The first man, quoth + old Bardianna, must have felt like one going into a new habitation, where + the bamboos are green. Is there not a legend in Maramma, that his family + were long troubled with influenzas and catarrhs?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh Time, Time, Time!" cried Yoomy—"it is Time, old midsummer Time, + that has made the old world what it is. Time hoared the old mountains, and + balded their old summits, and spread the old prairies, and built the old + forests, and molded the old vales. It is Time that has worn glorious old + channels for the glorious old rivers, and rounded the old lakes, and + deepened the old sea! It is Time—" + </p> + <p> + "Ay, full time to cease," cried Media. "What have you to do with + cogitations not in verse, minstrel? Leave prose to Babbalanja, who is + prosy enough." + </p> + <p> + "Even so," said Babbalanja, "Yoomy, you have overstepped your province. My + lord Media well knows, that your business is to make the metal in you + jingle in tags, not ring in the ingot." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0090" id="link2HCH0090"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XC -- Rare Sport At Ohonoo + </h2> + <p> + Approached from the northward, Ohonoo, midway cloven down to the sea, one + half a level plain; the other, three mountain terraces—Ohonoo looks + like the first steps of a gigantic way to the sun. And such, if + Braid-Beard spoke truth, it had formerly been. + </p> + <p> + "Ere Mardi was made," said that true old chronicler, "Vivo, one of the + genii, built a ladder of mountains whereby to go up and go down. And of + this ladder, the island of Ohonoo was the base. But wandering here and + there, incognito in a vapor, so much wickedness did Vivo spy out, that in + high dudgeon he hurried up his ladder, knocking the mountains from under + him as he went. These here and there fell into the lagoon, forming many + isles, now green and luxuriant; which, with those sprouting from seeds + dropped by a bird from the moon, comprise all the groups in the reef." + </p> + <p> + Surely, oh, surely, if I live till Mardi be forgotten by Mardi, I — + shall not forget the sight that greeted us, as we drew nigh the shores of + this same island of Ohonoo; for was not all Ohonoo bathing in the surf of + the sea? + </p> + <p> + But let the picture be painted. + </p> + <p> + Where eastward the ocean rolls surging against the outer reef of Mardi, + there, facing a flood-gate in the barrier, stands cloven Ohonoo; her + plains sloping outward to the sea, her mountains a bulwark behind. As at + Juam, where the wild billows from seaward roll in upon its cliffs; much + more at Ohonoo, in billowy battalions charge they hotly into the lagoon, + and fall on the isle like an army from the deep. But charge they never so + boldly, and charge they forever, old Ohonoo gallantly throws them back + till all before her is one scud and rack. So charged the bright billows of + cuirassiers at Waterloo: so hurled them off the long line of living walls, + whose base was as the sea-beach, wreck-strown, in a gale. + </p> + <p> + Without the break in the reef wide banks of coral shelve off, creating the + bar, where the waves muster for the onset, thundering in water-bolts, that + shake the whole reef, till its very spray trembles. And then is it, that + the swimmers of Ohonoo most delight to gambol in the surf. + </p> + <p> + For this sport, a surf-board is indispensable: some five feet in length; + the width of a man's body; convex on both sides; highly polished; and + rounded at the ends. It is held in high estimation; invariably oiled after + use; and hung up conspicuously in the dwelling of the owner. + </p> + <p> + Ranged on the beach, the bathers, by hundreds dash in; and diving under + the swells, make straight for the outer sea, pausing not till the + comparatively smooth expanse beyond has been gained. Here, throwing + themselves upon their boards, tranquilly they wait for a billow that + suits. Snatching them up, it hurries them landward, volume and speed both + increasing, till it races along a watery wall, like the smooth, awful + verge of Niagara. Hanging over this scroll, looking down from it as from a + precipice, the bathers halloo; every limb in motion to preserve their + place on the very crest of the wave. Should they fall behind, the + squadrons that follow would whelm them; dismounted, and thrown forward, as + certainly would they be run over by the steed they ride. 'Tis like + charging at the head of cavalry: you must on. + </p> + <p> + An expert swimmer shifts his position on his plank; now half striding it; + and anon, like a rider in the ring, poising himself upright in the scud, + coming on like a man in the air. + </p> + <p> + At last all is lost in scud and vapor, as the overgrown billow bursts like + a bomb. Adroitly emerging, the swimmers thread their way out; and like + seals at the Orkneys, stand dripping upon the shore. + </p> + <p> + Landing in smooth water, some distance from the scene, we strolled + forward; and meeting a group resting, inquired for Uhia, their king. He + was pointed out in the foam. But presently drawing nigh, he embraced + Media, bidding all welcome. + </p> + <p> + The bathing over, and evening at hand, Uhia and his subjects repaired to + their canoes; and we to ours. + </p> + <p> + Landing at another quarter of the island, we journeyed up a valley called + Monlova, and were soon housed in a very pleasant retreat of our host. + </p> + <p> + Soon supper was spread. But though the viands were rare, and the red wine + went round and round like a foaming bay horse in the ring; yet we marked, + that despite the stimulus of his day's good sport, and the stimulus of his + brave good cheer, Uhia our host was moody and still. + </p> + <p> + Said Babbalanja "My lord, he fills wine cups for others to quaff." + </p> + <p> + But whispered King Media, "Though Uhia be sad, be we merry, merry men." + </p> + <p> + And merry some were, and merrily went to their mats. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0091" id="link2HCH0091"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XCI — Of King Uhia And His Subjects + </h2> + <p> + As beseemed him, Uhia was royally lodged. Ample his roof. Beneath it a + hundred attendants nightly laying their heads. But long since, he had + disbanded his damsels. + </p> + <p> + Springing from syren embrace—"They shall sap and mine me no more" he + cried "my destiny commands me. I will don my manhood. By Keevi! no more + will I clasp a waist." + </p> + <p> + "From that time forth," said Braid-Beard, "young Uhia spread like the + tufted top of the Palm; his thigh grew brawny as the limb of the Banian; + his arm waxed strong as the back bone of the shark; yea, his voice grew + sonorous as a conch." + </p> + <p> + "And now he bent his whole soul to the accomplishment of the destiny + believed to be his. Nothing less than bodily to remove Ohonoo to the + center of the lagoon, in fulfillment of an old prophecy running thus— + When a certain island shall stir from its foundations and stand in the + middle of the still water, then shall the ruler of that island be ruler of + all Mardi." + </p> + <p> + The task was hard, but how glorious the reward! So at it he went, and all + Ohonoo helped him. Not by hands, but by calling in the magicians. Thus + far, nevertheless, in vain. But Uhia had hopes. + </p> + <p> + Now, informed of all this, said Babbalanja to Media, "My lord, if the + continual looking-forward to something greater, be better than an + acquiescence in things present; then, wild as it is, this belief of Uhia's + he should hug to his heart, as erewhile his wives. But my lord, this faith + it is, that robs his days of peace; his nights of sweet unconsciousness. + For holding himself foreordained to the dominion of the entire + Archipelago, he upbraids the gods for laggards, and curses himself as + deprived of his rights; nay, as having had wrested from him, what he never + possessed. Discontent dwarfs his horizon till he spans it with his hand. + 'Most miserable of demi-gods,' he cries, 'here am I cooped up in this + insignificant islet, only one hundred leagues by fifty, when scores of + broad empires own me not for their lord.' Yet Uhia himself is envied. + 'Ah!' cries Karrolono, one of his chieftains, master of a snug little + glen, 'Here am I cabined in this paltry cell among the mountains, when + that great King Uhia is lord of the whole island, and every cubic mile of + matter therein.' But this same Karrolono is envied. 'Hard, oh beggarly lot + is mine,' cries Donno, one of his retainers. 'Here am I — fixed and + screwed down to this paltry plantation, when my lord Karrolono owns the + whole glen, ten long parasangs from cliff to sea.' But Donno too is + envied. 'Alas, cursed fate!' cries his servitor Flavona. 'Here am I made + to trudge, sweat, and labor all day, when Donno my master does nothing but + command.' But others envy Flavona; and those who envy him are envied in + turn; even down to poor bed- ridden Manta, who dying of want, groans + forth, 'Abandoned wretch that I am! here I miserably perish, while so many + beggars gad about and live!' But surely; none envy Manta! Yes; great Uhia + himself. 'Ah!' cries the king. 'Here am I vexed and tormented by ambition; + no peace night nor day; my temples chafed sore by this cursed crown that I + — wear; while that ignoble wight Manta, gives up the ghost with none + to molest him.'" + </p> + <p> + In vain we wandered up and down in this isle, and peered into its + innermost recesses: no Yillah was there. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0092" id="link2HCH0092"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XCII — The God Keevi And The Precipice Op Mondo + </h2> + <p> + One object of interest in Ohonoo was the original image of Keevi the god + of Thieves; hence, from time immemorial, the tutelar deity of the isle. + </p> + <p> + His shrine was a natural niche in a cliff, walling in the valley of + Monlova And here stood Keevi, with his five eyes, ten hands, and three + pair of legs, equipped at all points for the vocation over which he + presided. Of mighty girth, his arms terminated in hands, every finger a + limb, spreading in multiplied digits: palms twice five, and fifty fingers. + </p> + <p> + According to the legend, Keevi fell from a golden cloud, burying himself + to the thighs in the earth, tearing up the soil all round. Three + meditative mortals, strolling by at the time, had a narrow escape. + </p> + <p> + A wonderful recital; but none of us voyagers durst flout it. Did they not + show us the identical spot where the idol fell? We descended into the + hollow, now verdant. Questionless, Keevi himself would have vouched for + the truth of the miracle, had he not been unfortunately dumb. But by far + the most cogent, and pointed argument advanced in support of this story, + is a spear which the priests of Keevi brought forth, for Babbalanja to + view. + </p> + <p> + "Let me look at it closer," said Babbalanja. + </p> + <p> + And turning it over and over and curiously inspecting it, "Wonderful + spear," he cried. "Doubtless, my reverends, this self-same spear must have + persuaded many recusants!" + </p> + <p> + "Nay, the most stubborn," they answered. + </p> + <p> + "And all afterward quoted as additional authority for the truth of the + legend?" + </p> + <p> + "Assuredly." + </p> + <p> + From the sea to the shrine of this god, the fine valley of Monlova ascends + with a gentle gradation, hardly perceptible; but upon turning round toward + the water, one is surprised to find himself high elevated above its + surface. Pass on, and the same silent ascent deceives you; and the valley + contracts; and on both sides the cliffs advance; till at last you come to + a narrow space, shouldered by buttresses of rock. Beyond, through this + cleft, all is blue sky. If the Trades blow high, and you came unawares + upon the spot, you would think Keevi himself pushing you forward with all + his hands; so powerful is the current of air rushing through this elevated + defile. But expostulate not with the tornado that blows you along; sail + on; but soft; look down; the land breaks off in one sheer descent of a + thousand feet, right down to the wide plain below. So sudden and profound + this precipice, that you seem to look off from one world to another. In a + dreamy, sunny day, the spangled plain beneath assumes an uncertain + fleeting aspect. Had you a deep-sea-lead you would almost be tempted to + sound the ocean-haze at your feet. + </p> + <p> + This, mortal! is the precipice of Mondo. + </p> + <p> + From this brink, spear in hand, sprang fifty rebel warriors, driven back + into the vale by a superior force. Finding no spot to stand at bay, with a + fierce shout they took the fatal leap. + </p> + <p> + Said Mohi, "Their souls ascended, ere their bodies touched." + </p> + <p> + This tragical event took place many generations gone by, and now a dizzy, + devious way conducts one, firm of foot, from the verge to the plain. But + none ever ascended. So perilous, indeed, is the descent itself, that the + islanders venture not the feat, without invoking supernatural aid. + Flanking the precipice beneath beetling rocks, stand the guardian deities + of Mondo; and on altars before them, are placed the propitiatory offerings + of the traveler. + </p> + <p> + To the right of the brink of the precipice, and far over it, projects a + narrow ledge. The test of legitimacy in the Ohonoo monarchs is to stand + hereon, arms folded, and javelins darting by. + </p> + <p> + And there in his youth Uhia stood. + </p> + <p> + "How felt you, cousin?" asked Media. + </p> + <p> + "Like the King of Ohonoo," he replied. "As I shall again feel; when King + of all Mardi." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0093" id="link2HCH0093"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XCIII — Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And + Yoomy Relates A + </h2> + <p> + Legend + </p> + <p> + Embarking from Ohonoo, we at length found ourselves gliding by the + pleasant shores of Tupia, an islet which according to Braid-Beard had for + ages remained uninhabited by man. Much curiosity being expressed to know + more of the isle, Mohi was about to turn over his chronicles, when, with + modesty, the minstrel Yoomy interposed; saying, that if my Lord Media + permitted, he himself would relate the legend. From its nature, deeming + the same pertaining to his province as poet; though, as yet, it had not + been versified. But he added, that true pearl shells rang musically, + though not strung upon a cord. + </p> + <p> + Upon this presumptuous interference, Mohi looked highly offended; and + nervously twitching his beard, uttered something invidious about frippery + young poetasters being too full of silly imaginings to tell a plain tale. + </p> + <p> + Said Yoomy, in reply, adjusting his turban, "Old Mohi, let us not clash. I + honor your calling; but, with submission, your chronicles are more wild + than my cantos. I deal in pure conceits of my own; which have a + shapeliness and a unity, however unsubstantial; but you, Braid-Beard, deal + in mangled realities. In all your chapters, you yourself grope in the + dark. Much truth is not in thee, historian. Besides, Mohi: my songs + perpetuate many things which you sage scribes entirely overlook. Have you + not oftentimes come to me, and my ever dewy ballads for information, in + which you and your musty old chronicles were deficient?" + </p> + <p> + "In much that is precious, Mohi, we poets are the true historians; we + embalm; you corrode." + </p> + <p> + To this Mohi, with some ire, was about to make answer, when, flinging over + his shoulder a new fold of his mantle, Babbalanja spoke thus: "Peace, + rivals. As Bardianna has it, like all who dispute upon pretensions of + their own, you are each nearest the right, when you speak of the other; + and furthest therefrom, when you speak of yourselves." + </p> + <p> + Said Mohi and Yoomy in a breath, "Who sought your opinion, philosopher? + you filcher from old Bardianna, and monger of maxims!" + </p> + <p> + "You, who have so long marked the vices of Mardi, that you flatter + yourself you have none of your own," added Braid-Beard. + </p> + <p> + "You, who only seem wise, because of the contrasting follies of others, + and not of any great wisdom in yourself," continued the minstrel, with + unwonted asperity." + </p> + <p> + "Now here," said Babballanja, "am I charged upon by a bearded old ram, and + a lamb. One butting with his carious and brittle old frontlet; the other + pushing with its silly head before its horns are sprouted. But this comes + of being impartial. Had I espoused the cause of Yoomy versus Mohi, or that + of Mohi versus Yoomy, I had been sure to have had at least one voice in my + favor. The impartialist insulteth all sides, saith old Bardianna; but + smite with but one hand, and the other shall be kissed.—Oh + incomparable Bardianna!" + </p> + <p> + "Will no one lay that troubled old ghost," exclaimed Media, devoutly. + "Proceed with thy legend, Yoomy; and see to it, that it be brief; for I + mistrust me, these legends do but test the patience of the hearers. But + draw a long breath, and begin." + </p> + <p> + "A long bow," muttered Mohi. + </p> + <p> + And Yoomy began. + </p> + <p> + "It is now about ten hundred thousand moons—" + </p> + <p> + "Great Oro! How long since, say you?" cried Mohi, making Gothic arches of + his brows. + </p> + <p> + Looking at him disdainfully, but vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy began over + again. + </p> + <p> + "It is now above ten hundred thousand moons, since there died the last of + a marvelous race, once inhabiting the very shores by which we are sailing. + They were a very diminutive people, only a few inches high—" + </p> + <p> + "Stop, minstrel," cried Mohi; "how many pennyweights did they weigh?" + </p> + <p> + Continued Yoomy, unheedingly, "They were covered all over with a soft, + silky down, like that on the rind of the Avee; and there grew upon their + heads a green, lance-leaved vine, of a most delicate texture. For + convenience, the manikins reduced their tendrils, sporting, nothing but + coronals. Whereas, priding themselves upon the redundancy of their + tresses, the little maidens assiduously watered them with the early dew of + the morning; so that all wreathed and festooned with verdure, they moved + about in arbors, trailing after them trains." + </p> + <p> + "I can hear no more," exclaimed Mohi, stopping his ears. + </p> + <p> + Continued Yoomy, "The damsels lured to their bowers, certain red- plumaged + insect-birds, and taught them to nestle therein, and warble; which, with + the pleasant vibrating of the leaves, when the little maidens moved, + produced a strange blending of sweet, singing sounds. The little maidens + embraced not with their arms, but with their viny locks; whose tendrils + instinctively twined about their lovers, till both were lost in the + bower." + </p> + <p> + "And what then?" asked Mohi, who, notwithstanding the fingers in his ears, + somehow contrived to listen; "What then?" + </p> + <p> + Vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy went on. + </p> + <p> + "At a certain age, but while yet the maidens were very young, their vines + bore blossoms. Ah! fatal symptoms. For soon as they burst, the maidens + died in their arbors; and were buried in the valleys; and their vines + spread forth; and the flowers bloomed; but the maidens themselves were no + more. And now disdaining the earth, the vines shot upward: climbing to the + topmost boughs of the trees; and flowering in the sunshine forever and + aye." + </p> + <p> + Yoomy here paused for a space; but presently continued: + </p> + <p> + "The little eyes of the people of Tupia were very strange to behold: full + of stars, that shone from within, like the Pleiades, deep- bosomed in + blue. And like the stars, they were intolerant of sunlight; and slumbering + through the day, the people of Tupia only went abroad by night. But it was + chiefly when the moon was at full, that they were mostly in spirits. + </p> + <p> + "Then the little manikins would dive down into the sea, and rove about in + the coral groves, making love to the mermaids. Or, racing round, make a + mad merry night of it with the sea-urchins:—plucking the reverend + mullets by the beard; serenading the turtles in their cells; worrying the + sea-nettles; or tormenting with their antics the touchy torpedos. + Sometimes they went prying about with the starfish, that have an eye at + the end of each ray; and often with coral files in their hands stole upon + slumbering swordfish, slyly blunting their weapons. In short, these stout + little manikins were passionately fond of the sea, and swore by wave and + billow, that sooner or later they would embark thereon in nautilus shells, + and spend the rest of their roving days thousands of inches from Tupia. + Too true, they were shameless little rakes. Oft would they return to their + sweethearts, sporting musky girdles of sea-kelp, tasseled with green + little pouches of grass, brimful of seed-pearls; and jingling their coin + in the ears of the damsels, throw out inuendoes about the beautiful and + bountiful mermaids: how wealthy and amorous they were, and how they + delighted in the company of the brave gallants of Tupia. Ah! at such + heartless bravadoes, how mourned the poor little nymphs. Deep into their + arbors they went; and their little hearts burst like rose-buds, and filled + the whole air with an odorous grief. But when their lovers were gentle and + true, no happier maidens haunted the lilies than they. By some mystical + process they wrought minute balls of light: touchy, mercurial globules, + very hard to handle; and with these, at pitch and toss, they played in the + groves. Or mischievously inclined, they toiled all night long at braiding + the moon-beams together, and entangling the plaited end to a bough; so + that at night, the poor planet had much ado to set." + </p> + <p> + Here Yoomy once more was mute. + </p> + <p> + "Pause you to invent as you go on?" said old Mohi, elevating his chin, + till his beard was horizontal. + </p> + <p> + Yoomy resumed. + </p> + <p> + "Little or nothing more, my masters, is extant of the legend; only it must + be mentioned, that these little people were very tasteful in their + personal adornings; the manikins wearing girdles of fragrant leaves, and + necklaces of aromatic seeds; and the little damsels, not content with + their vines, and their verdure, sporting pearls in their ears; bracelets + of wee little porpoise teeth; and oftentimes dancing with their mates in + the moonlit glades, coquettishly fanned themselves with the transparent + wings of the flying fish." + </p> + <p> + "Now, I appeal to you, royal Media; to you, noble Taji; to you, + Babbalanja;" said the chronicler, with an impressive gesture, "whether + this seems a credible history: Yoomy has invented." + </p> + <p> + "But perhaps he has entertained, old Mohi," said Babbalanja. + </p> + <p> + "He has not spoken the truth," persisted the chronicler. + </p> + <p> + "Mohi," said Babbalanja, "truth is in things, and not in words: truth is + voiceless; so at least saith old Bardianna. And I, Babbalanja, assert, + that what are vulgarly called fictions are as much realities as the gross + mattock of Dididi, the digger of trenches; for things visible are but + conceits of the eye: things imaginative, conceits of the fancy. If duped + by one, we are equally duped by the other." + </p> + <p> + "Clear as this water," said Yoomy. + </p> + <p> + "Opaque as this paddle," said Mohi, "But, come now, thou oracle, if all + things are deceptive, tell us what is truth?" + </p> + <p> + "The old interrogatory; did they not ask it when the world began? But ask + it no more. As old Bardianna hath it, that question is more final than any + answer." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0094" id="link2HCH0094"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XCIV — Of That Jolly Old Lord, Borabolla; And That Jolly + Island Of His, + </h2> + <p> + Mondoldo; And Of The Fish-Ponds, And The Hereafters Of Fish + </p> + <p> + Drawing near Mondoldo, our next place of destination, we were greeted by + six fine canoes, gayly tricked out with streamers, and all alive with the + gestures of their occupants. King Borabolla and court were hastening to + welcome our approach; Media, unbeknown to all, having notified him at the + Banquet of the Five-and-Twenty Kings, of our intention to visit his + dominions. + </p> + <p> + Soon, side by side, these canoes floated with ours; each barge of Odo + courteously flanked by those of Mondoldo. + </p> + <p> + Not long were we in identifying Borabolla: the portly, pleasant old + monarch, seated cross-legged upon a dais, projecting over the bow of the + largest canoe of the six, close-grappling to the side of the Sea Elephant. + </p> + <p> + Was he not a goodly round sight to behold? Round all over; round of eye + and of head; and like the jolly round Earth, roundest and biggest about + the Equator. A girdle of red was his Equinoctial Line, giving a + compactness to his plumpness. + </p> + <p> + This old Borabolla permitted naught to come between his head and the sun; + not even gray hairs. Bald as a gourd, right down on his brazen skull, the + rays of the luminary converged. + </p> + <p> + He was all hilarity; full of allusions to the feast at Willamilla, where + he had done royal execution. Rare old Borabolla! thou wert made for dining + out; thy ample mouth an inlet for good cheer, and a sally-port for good + humor. + </p> + <p> + Bustling about on his dais, he now gave orders for the occupants of our + canoes to be summarily emptied into his own; saying, that in that manner + only did he allow guests to touch the beach of Mondoldo. + </p> + <p> + So, with no little trouble—for the waves were grown somewhat riotous—we + proceeded to comply; bethinking ourselves all the while, how annoying is + sometimes an over-strained act of hospitality. + </p> + <p> + We were now but little less than a mile from the shore. But what of that? + There was plenty of time, thought Borabolla, for a hasty lunch, and the + getting of a subsequent appetite ere we effected a landing. So viands were + produced; to which the guests were invited to pay heedful attention; or + take the consequences, and famish till the long voyage in prospect was + ended. + </p> + <p> + Soon the water shoaled (approaching land is like nearing truth in + metaphysics), and ere we yet touched the beach, Borabolla declared, that + we were already landed. Which paradoxical assertion implied, that the + hospitality of Mondoldo was such, that in all directions it radiated far + out upon the lagoon, embracing a great circle; so that no canoe could sail + by the island, without its occupants being so long its guests. + </p> + <p> + In most hospitable vicinity to the water, was a fine large structure, + inclosed by a stockade; both rather dilapidated; as if the cost of + entertaining its guests, prevented outlays for repairing the place. But it + was one of Borabolla's maxims, that generally your tumble-down old + homesteads yield the most entertainment; their very dilapidation + betokening their having seen good service in hospitality; whereas, + spruce-looking, finical portals, have a phiz full of meaning; for niggards + are oftentimes neat. + </p> + <p> + Now, after what has been said, who so silly as to fancy, that because + Borabolla's mansion was inclosed by a stockade, that the same was intended + as a defense against guests? By no means. In the palisade was a mighty + breach, not an entrance-way, wide enough to admit six Daniel Lamberts + abreast. + </p> + <p> + "Look," cried Borabolla, as landing we stepped toward the place. "Look + Media! look all. These gates, you here see, lashed back with osiers, have + been so lashed during my life-time; and just where they stand, shall they + rot; ay, they shall perish wide open." + </p> + <p> + "But why have them at all?" inquired Media. + </p> + <p> + "Ah! there you have old Borabolla," cried the other. + </p> + <p> + "No," said Babbalanja, "a fence whose gate is ever kept open, seems + unnecessary, I grant; nevertheless, it gives a notable hint, otherwise not + so aptly conveyed; for is not the open gate the sign of the open heart?" + </p> + <p> + "Right, right," cried Borabolla; "so enter both, cousin Media;" and with + one hand smiting his chest, with the other he waved us on. + </p> + <p> + But if the stockade seemed all open gate, the structure within seemed only + a roof; for nothing but a slender pillar here and there, supported it. + </p> + <p> + "This is my mode of building," said Borabolla; "I will have no outside to + my palaces. Walls are superfluous. And to a high-minded guest, the + entering a narrow doorway is like passing under a yoke; every time he goes + in, or comes out, it reminds him, that he is being entertained at the cost + of another. So storm in all round." + </p> + <p> + Within, was one wide field-bed; where reclining, we looked up to endless + rows of brown calabashes, and trenchers suspended along the rafters; + promissory of ample cheer as regiments of old hams in a baronial + refectory. + </p> + <p> + They were replenished with both meat and drink; the trenchers readily + accessible by means of cords; but the gourds containing arrack, suspended + neck downward, were within easy reach where they swung. + </p> + <p> + Seeing all these indications of hard roystering; like a cautious young + bridegroom at his own marriage merry-making, Taji stood on his guard. And + when Borabolla urged him to empty a gourd or two, by way of making room in + him for the incidental repast about to be served, Taji civilly declined; + not wishing to cumber the floor, before the cloth was laid. + </p> + <p> + Jarl, however, yielding to importunity, and unmindful of the unities of + time and place, went freely about, from gourd to gourd, concocting in him + a punch. At which, Samoa expressed much surprise, that he should be so + unobservant as not to know, that in Mardi, guests might be pressed to + demean themselves, without its being expected that so they would do. A + true toss-pot himself, he bode his time. + </p> + <p> + The second lunch over, Borabolla placed both hands to the ground, and + giving the sigh of the fat man, after three vigorous efforts, succeeded in + gaining his pins; which pins of his, were but small for his body; insomuch + that they hugely staggered about, under the fine old load they carried. + </p> + <p> + The specific object of his thus striving after an erect posture, was to + put himself in motion, and conduct us to his fish-ponds, famous throughout + the Archipelago as the hobby of the king of Mondoldo. Furthermore, as the + great repast of the day, yet to take place, was to be a grand piscatory + one, our host was all anxiety, that we should have a glimpse of our fish, + while yet alive and hearty. + </p> + <p> + We were alarmed at perceiving, that certain servitors were preparing to + accompany us with trenchers of edibles. It begat the notion, that our trip + to the fish-ponds was to prove a long journey. But they were not three + hundred yards distant; though Borabolla being a veteran traveler, never + stirred from his abode without his battalion of butlers. + </p> + <p> + The ponds were four in number, close bordering the water, embracing about + an acre each, and situated in a low fen, draining several valleys. The + excavated soil was thrown up in dykes, made tight by being beaten all + over, while in a soft state, with the heavy, flat ends of Palm stalks. + Lying side by side, by three connecting trenches, these ponds could be + made to communicate at pleasure; while two additional canals afforded + means of letting in upon them the salt waters of the lagoon on one hand, + or those of an inland stream on the other. And by a third canal with four + branches, together or separately, they could be partially drained. Thus, + the waters could be mixed to suit any gills; and the young fish taken from + the sea, passed through a stated process of freshening; so that by the + time they graduated, the salt was well out of them, like the brains out of + some diplomaed collegians. + </p> + <p> + Fresh-water fish are only to be obtained in Mondoldo by the artificial + process above mentioned; as the streams and brooks abound not in trout or + other Waltonian prey. + </p> + <p> + Taken all floundering from the sea, Borabolla's fish, passing through + their regular training for the table, and daily tended by their keepers, + in course of time became quite tame and communicative. To prove which, + calling his Head Ranger, the king bade him administer the customary supply + of edibles. + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, mouthfuls were thrown into the ponds. Whereupon, the fish + darted in a shoal toward the margin; some leaping out of the water in + their eagerness. Crouching on the bank, the Ranger now called several by + name, patted their scales, carrying on some heathenish nursery-talk, like + St. Anthony, in ancient Coptic, instilling virtuous principles into his + finny flock on the sea shore. + </p> + <p> + But alas, for the hair-shirted old dominie's backsliding disciples. For, + of all nature's animated kingdoms, fish are the most unchristian, + inhospitable, heartless, and cold-blooded of creatures. At least, so seem + they to strangers; though at bottom, somehow, they must be all right. And + truly it is not to be wondered at, that the very reverend Anthony strove + after the conversion of fish. For, whoso shall Christianize, and by so + doing, humanize the sharks, will do a greater good, by the saving of human + life in all time to come, than though he made catechumens of the + head-hunting Dyaks of Borneo, or the blood-bibbing Battas of Sumatra. And + are these Dyaks and Battas one whit better than tiger-sharks? Nay, are + they so good? Were a Batta your intimate friend, you would often mistake + an orang-outang for him; and have orang-outangs immortal souls? True, the + Battas believe in a hereafter; but of what sort? Full of Blue-Beards and + bloody bones. So, also, the sharks; who hold that Paradise is one vast + Pacific, ploughed by navies of mortals, whom an endless gale forever drops + into their maws. + </p> + <p> + Not wholly a surmise. For, does it not appear a little unreasonable to + imagine, that there is any creature, fish, flesh, or fowl, so little in + love with life, as not to cherish hopes of a future state? Why does man + believe in it? One reason, reckoned cogent, is, that he desires it. Who + shall say, then, that the leviathan this day harpooned on the coast of + Japan, goes not straight to his ancestor, who rolled all Jonah, as a sweet + morsel, under his tongue? + </p> + <p> + Though herein, some sailors are slow believers, or at best hold themselves + in a state of philosophical suspense. Say they—"That catastrophe + took place in the Mediterranean; and the only whales frequenting the + Mediterranean, are of a sort having not a swallow large enough to pass a + man entire; for those Mediterranean whales feed upon small things, as + horses upon oats." But hence, the sailors draw a rash inference. Are not + the Straits of Gibralter wide enough to admit a sperm-whale, even though + none have sailed through, since Nineveh and the gourd in its suburbs dried + up? + </p> + <p> + As for the possible hereafter of the whales; a creature eighty feet long + without stockings, and thirty feet round the waist before dinner, is not + inconsiderately to be consigned to annihilation. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0095" id="link2HCH0095"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XCV — That Jolly Old Lord Borabolla Laughs On Both Sides Of + His Face + </h2> + <p> + "A very good palace, this, coz, for you and me," said waddling old + Borabolla to Media, as, returned from our excursion, he slowly lowered + himself down to his mat, sighing like a grampus. + </p> + <p> + By this, he again made known the vastness of his hospitality, which led + him for the nonce to parcel out his kingdom with his guests. + </p> + <p> + But apart from these extravagant expressions of good feeling, Borabolla + was the prince of good fellows. His great tun of a person was + indispensable to the housing of his bullock-heart; under which, any lean + wight would have sunk. But alas! unlike Media and Taji, Borabolla, though + a crowned king, was accounted no demi-god; his obesity excluding him from + that honor. Indeed, in some quarters of Mardi, certain pagans maintain, + that no fat man can be even immortal. A dogma! truly, which should be + thrown to the dogs. For fat men are the salt and savor of the earth; full + of good humor, high spirits, fun, and all manner of jollity. Their breath + clears the atmosphere: their exhalations air the world. Of men, they are + the good measures; brimmed, heaped, pressed down, piled up, and running + over. They are as ships from Teneriffe; swimming deep, full of old wine, + and twenty steps down into their holds. Soft and susceptible, all round + they are easy of entreaty. Wherefore, for all their rotundity, they are + too often circumnavigated by hatchet-faced knaves. Ah! a fat uncle, with a + fat paunch, and a fat purse, is a joy and a delight to all nephews; to + philosophers, a subject of endless speculation, as to how many droves of + oxen and Lake Eries of wine might have run through his great mill during + the full term of his mortal career. Fat men not immortal! This very + instant, old Lambert is rubbing his jolly abdomen in Paradise. + </p> + <p> + Now, to the fact of his not being rated a demi-god, was perhaps ascribable + the circumstance, that Borabolla comported himself with less dignity, than + was the wont of their Mardian majesties. And truth to say, to have seen + him regaling himself with one of his favorite cuttle-fish, its long snaky + arms and feelers instinctively twining round his head as he ate; few + intelligent observers would have opined that the individual before them + was the sovereign lord of Mondoldo. + </p> + <p> + But what of the banquet of fish? Shall we tell how the old king ungirdled + himself thereto; how as the feast waxed toward its close, with one sad + exception, he still remained sunny-sided all round; his disc of a face + joyous as the South Side of Madeira in the hilarious season of grapes? + Shall we tell how we all grew glad and frank; and how the din of the + dinner was heard far into night? + </p> + <p> + We will. + </p> + <p> + When Media ate slowly, Borabolla took him to task, bidding him dispatch + his viands more speedily. + </p> + <p> + Whereupon said Media "But Borabolla, my round fellow, that would abridge + the pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "Not at all, my dear demi-god; do like me: eat fast and eat long." + </p> + <p> + In the middle of the feast, a huge skin of wine was brought in. The portly + peltry of a goat; its horns embattling its effigy head; its mouth the + nozzle; and its long beard flowed to its jet-black hoofs. With many + ceremonial salams, the attendants bore it along, placing it at one end of + the convivial mats, full in front of Borabolla; where seated upon its + haunches it made one of the party. + </p> + <p> + Brimming a ram's horn, the mellowest of bugles, Borabolla bowed to his + silent guest, and thus spoke—"In this wine, which yet smells of the + grape, I pledge you my reverend old toper, my lord Capricornus; you alone + have enough; and here's full skins to the rest!" + </p> + <p> + "How jolly he is," whispered Media to Babbalanja. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, his lungs laugh loud; but is laughing, rejoicing?" + </p> + <p> + "Help! help!" cried Borabolla "lay me down! lay me down! good gods, what a + twinge!" + </p> + <p> + The goblet fell from his hand; the purple flew from his wine to his face; + and Borabolla fell back into the arms of his servitors. "That gout! that + gout!" he groaned. "Lord! lord! no more cursed wine will I — drink!" + </p> + <p> + Then at ten paces distant, a clumsy attendant let fall a trencher— + "Take it off my foot, you knave!" + </p> + <p> + Afar off another entered gallanting a calabash—"Look out for my toe, + you hound!" + </p> + <p> + During all this, the attendants tenderly nursed him. And in good time, + with its thousand fangs, the gout-fiend departed for a while. + </p> + <p> + Reprieved, the old king brightened up; by degrees becoming jolly as ever. + </p> + <p> + "Come! let us be merry again," he cried, "what shall we eat? and what + shall we drink? that infernal gout is gone; come, what will your worships + have?" + </p> + <p> + So at it once more we went. + </p> + <p> + But of our feast, little more remains to be related than this;—that + out of it, grew a wondrous kindness between Borabolla and Jarl. Strange to + tell, from the first our fat host had regarded my Viking with a most + friendly eye. Still stranger to add, this feeling was returned. But though + they thus fancied each other, they were very unlike; Borabolla and Jarl. + Nevertheless, thus is it ever. And as the convex fits not into the convex, + but into the concave; so do men fit into their opposites; and so fitted + Borabolla's arched paunch into Jarl's, hollowed out to receive it. + </p> + <p> + But how now? Borabolla was jolly and loud: Jarl demure and silent; + Borabolla a king: Jarl only a Viking;—how came they together? Very + plain, to repeat:—because they were heterogeneous; and hence the + affinity. But as the affinity between those chemical opposites chlorine + and hydrogen, is promoted by caloric; so the affinity between Borabolla + and Jarl was promoted by the warmth of the wine that they drank at this + feast. For of all blessed fluids, the juice of the grape is the greatest + foe to cohesion. True, it tightens the girdle; but then it loosens the + tongue, and opens the heart. + </p> + <p> + In sum, Borabolla loved Jarl; and Jarl, pleased with this sociable + monarch, for all his garrulity, esteemed him the most sensible old + gentleman and king he had as yet seen in Mardi. For this reason, perhaps; + that his talkativeness favored that silence in listeners, which was my + Viking's delight in himself. + </p> + <p> + Repeatedly during the banquet, our host besought Taji to allow his + henchman to remain on the island, after the rest of our party should + depart; and he faithfully promised to surrender Jarl, whenever we should + return to claim him. + </p> + <p> + But though I harbored no distrust of Borabolla's friendly intentions, I + could not so readily consent to his request; for with Jarl for my one only + companion, had I not both famished and feasted? was he not my only link to + things past? + </p> + <p> + Things past!—Ah Yillah! for all its mirth, and though we hunted + wide, we found thee not in Mondoldo. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0096" id="link2HCH0096"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XCVI — Samoa A Surgeon + </h2> + <p> + The second day of our stay in Mondoldo was signalized by a noteworthy + exhibition of the surgical skill of Samoa; who had often boasted, that + though well versed in the science of breaking men's heads, he was equally + an adept in mending their crockery. + </p> + <p> + Overnight, Borabolla had directed his corps of sea-divers to repair early + on the morrow, to a noted section of the great Mardian reef, for the + purpose of procuring for our regalement some of the fine Hawk's-bill + turtle, whose secret retreats were among the cells and galleries of that + submerged wall of coral, from whose foamy coping no plummet dropped ever + yet touched bottom. + </p> + <p> + These turtles were only to be obtained by diving far down under the + surface; and then swimming along horizontally, and peering into the coral + honeycomb; snatching at a flipper when seen, as at a pinion in a range of + billing dove-cotes. + </p> + <p> + As the king's divers were thus employed, one of them, Karhownoo by name, + perceived a Devil-shark, so called, swimming wistfully toward him from out + his summer grotto in the reef. No way petrified by the sight, and pursuing + the usual method adopted by these divers in such emergencies, Karhownoo, + splashing the water, instantly swam toward the stranger. But the shark, + undaunted, advanced: a thing so unusual, and fearful, that, in an agony of + fright, the diver shot up for the surface. Heedless, he looked not up as + he went; and when within a few inches of the open air, dashed his head + against a projection of the reef. He would have sank into the live tomb + beneath, were it not that three of his companions, standing on the brink, + perceived his peril, and dragged him into safety. + </p> + <p> + Seeing the poor fellow was insensible, they endeavored, ineffectually, to + revive him; and at last, placing him in their canoe, made all haste for + the shore. Here a crowd soon gathered, and the diver was borne to a + habitation, close adjoining Borabolla's; whence, hearing of the disaster, + we sallied out to render assistance. + </p> + <p> + Upon entering the hut, the benevolent old king commanded it to be cleared; + and then proceeded to examine the sufferer. + </p> + <p> + The skull proved to be very badly fractured; in one place, splintered. + </p> + <p> + "Let me mend it," said Samoa, with ardor. + </p> + <p> + And being told of his experience in such matters, Borabolla surrendered + the patient. + </p> + <p> + With a gourd of water, and a tappa cloth, the one-armed Upoluan carefully + washed the wound; and then calling for a sharp splinter of bamboo, and a + thin, semi-transparent cup of cocoa-nut shell, he went about the + operation: nothing less than the "Tomoti" (head-mending), in other words + the trepan. + </p> + <p> + The patient still continuing insensible, the fragments were disengaged by + help of a bamboo scalpel; when a piece of the drinking cup—previously + dipped in the milk of a cocoanut—was nicely fitted into the vacancy, + the skin as nicely adjusted over it, and the operation was complete. + </p> + <p> + And now, while all present were crying out in admiration of Samoa's + artistic skill, and Samoa himself stood complacently regarding his + workmanship, Babbalanja suggested, that it might be well to ascertain + whether the patient survived. When, upon sounding his heart, the diver was + found to be dead. + </p> + <p> + The bystanders loudly lamented; but declared the surgeon a man of + marvelous science. + </p> + <p> + Returning to Borabolla's, much conversation ensued, concerning the sad + scene we had witnessed, which presently branched into a learned discussion + upon matters of surgery at large. + </p> + <p> + At length, Samoa regaled the company with a story; for the truth of which + no one but him can vouch, for no one but him was by, at the time; though + there is testimony to show that it involves nothing at variance with the + customs of certain barbarous tribes. + </p> + <p> + Read on. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0097" id="link2HCH0097"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XCVII — Faith And Knowledge + </h2> + <p> + A thing incredible is about to be related; but a thing may be incredible + and still be true; sometimes it is incredible because it is true. And many + infidels but disbelieve the least incredible things; and many bigots + reject the most obvious. But let us hold fast to all we have; and stop all + leaks in our faith; lest an opening, but of a hand's breadth, should sink + our seventy-fours. The wide Atlantic can rush in at one port-hole; and if + we surrender a plank, we surrender the fleet. Panoplied in all the armor + of St. Paul, morion, hauberk, and greaves, let us fight the Turks inch by + inch, and yield them naught but our corpse. + </p> + <p> + But let us not turn round upon friends, confounding them with foes. For + dissenters only assent to more than we. Though Milton was a heretic to the + creed of Athanasius, his faith exceeded that of Athanasius himself; and + the faith of Athanasius that of Thomas, the disciple, who with his own + eyes beheld the mark of the nails. Whence it comes that though we be all + Christians now, the best of us had perhaps been otherwise in the days of + Thomas. + </p> + <p> + The higher the intelligence, the more faith, and the less credulity: + Gabriel rejects more than we, but out-believes us all. The greatest + marvels are first truths; and first truths the last unto which we attain. + Things nearest are furthest off. Though your ear be next-door to your + brain, it is forever removed from your sight. Man has a more comprehensive + view of the moon, than the man in the moon himself. We know the moon is + round; he only infers it. It is because we ourselves are in ourselves, + that we know ourselves not. And it is only of our easy faith, that we are + not infidels throughout; and only of our lack of faith, that we believe + what we do. + </p> + <p> + In some universe-old truths, all mankind are disbelievers. Do you believe + that you lived three thousand years ago? That you were at the taking of + Tyre, were overwhelmed in Gomorrah? No. But for me, I was at the subsiding + of the Deluge, and helped swab the ground, and build the first house. With + the Israelites, I fainted in the wilderness; was in court, when Solomon + outdid all the judges before him. I, it was, who suppressed the lost work + of Manetho, on the Egyptian theology, as containing mysteries not to be + revealed to posterity, and things at war with the canonical scriptures; I, + who originated the conspiracy against that purple murderer, Domitian; I, + who in the senate moved, that great and good Aurelian be emperor. I + instigated the abdication of Diocletian, and Charles the Fifth; I touched + Isabella's heart, that she hearkened to Columbus. I am he, that from the + king's minions hid the Charter in the old oak at Hartford; I — + harbored Goffe and Whalley: I am the leader of the Mohawk masks, who in + the Old Commonwealth's harbor, overboard threw the East India Company's + Souchong; I am the Vailed Persian Prophet; I, the man in the iron mask; I, + Junius. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0098" id="link2HCH0098"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XCVIII — The Tale Of A Traveler + </h2> + <p> + It was Samoa, who told the incredible tale; and he told it as a traveler. + But stay-at-homes say travelers lie. Yet a voyage to Ethiopia would cure + them of that; for few skeptics are travelers; fewer travelers liars, + though the proverb respecting them lies. It is false, as some say, that + Bruce was cousin-german to Baron Munchausen; but true, as Bruce said, that + the Abysinnians cut live steaks from their cattle. It was, in good part, + his villainous transcribers, who made monstrosities of Mandeville's + travels. And though all liars go to Gehenna; yet, assuming that Mandeville + died before Dante; still, though Dante took the census of Hell, we find + not Sir John, under the likeness of a roasted neat's tongue, in that + infernalest of infernos, The Inferno. + </p> + <p> + But let not the truth be postponed. To the stand, Samoa, and through your + interpreter, speak. + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time, during his endless sea-rovings, the Upoluan was called + upon to cobble the head of a friend, grievously hurt in a desperate fight + of slings. + </p> + <p> + Upon examination, that part of the brain proving as much injured as the + cranium itself, a young pig was obtained; and preliminaries being over, + part of its live brain was placed in the cavity, the trepan accomplished + with cocoanut shell, and the scalp drawn over and secured. + </p> + <p> + This man died not, but lived. But from being a warrior of great sense and + spirit, he became a perverse-minded and piggish fellow, showing many of + the characteristics of his swinish grafting. He survived the operation + more than a year; at the end of that period, however, going mad, and dying + in his delirium. + </p> + <p> + Stoutly backed by the narrator, this anecdote was credited by some + present. But Babbalanja held out to the last. + </p> + <p> + "Yet, if this story be true," said he, "and since it is well settled, that + our brains are somehow the organs of sense; then, I see not why human + reason could not be put into a pig, by letting into its cranium the + contents of a man's. I have long thought, that men, pigs, and plants, are + but curious physiological experiments; and that science would at last + enable philosophers to produce new species of beings, by somehow mixing, + and concocting the essential ingredients of various creatures; and so + forming new combinations. My friend Atahalpa, the astrologer and + alchymist, has long had a jar, in which he has been endeavoring to hatch a + fairy, the ingredients being compounded according to a receipt of his + own." + </p> + <p> + But little they heeded Babbalanja. It was the traveler's tale that most + arrested attention. + </p> + <p> + Tough the thews, and tough the tales of Samoa. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0099" id="link2HCH0099"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XCIX — "Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee" + </h2> + <p> + During the afternoon of the day of the diver's decease, preparations were + making for paying the last rites to his remains, and carrying them by + torch-light to their sepulcher, the sea; for, as in Odo, so was the custom + here. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, all over the isle, to and fro went heralds, dismally arrayed, + beating shark-skin drums; and, at intervals, crying—"A man is dead; + let no fires be kindled; have mercy, oh Oro!—Let no canoes put to + sea till the burial. This night, oh Oro!—Let no food be cooked." + </p> + <p> + And ever and anon, passed and repassed these, others in brave attire; with + castanets of pearl shells, making gay music; and these sang— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Be merry, oh men of Mondoldo, + A maiden this night is to wed: + Be merry, oh damsels of Mardi,— + Flowers, flowers for the bridal bed. +</pre> + <p> + Informed that the preliminary rites were about being rendered, we repaired + to the arbor, whither the body had been removed. + </p> + <p> + Arrayed in white, it was laid out on a mat; its arms mutely crossed, + between its lips an asphodel; at the feet, a withered hawthorn bough. + </p> + <p> + The relatives were wailing, and cutting themselves with shells, so that + blood flowed, and spotted their vesture. + </p> + <p> + Upon remonstrating with the most abandoned of these mourners, the wife of + the diver, she exclaimed, "Yes; great is the pain, but greater my + affliction." + </p> + <p> + Another, the deaf sire of the dead, went staggering about, and groping; + saying, that he was now quite blind; for some months previous he had lost + one eye in the death of his eldest son and now the other was gone. + </p> + <p> + "I am childless," he cried; "henceforth call me Roi Mori," that is, + Twice-Blind. + </p> + <p> + While the relatives were thus violently lamenting, the rest of the company + occasionally scratched themselves with their shells; but very slightly, + and mostly on the soles of their feet; from long exposure, quite callous. + This was interrupted, however, when the real mourners averted their eyes; + though at no time was there any deviation in the length of their faces. + </p> + <p> + But on all sides, lamentations afresh broke forth, upon the appearance of + a person who had been called in to assist in solemnizing the obsequies, + and also to console the afflicted. + </p> + <p> + In rotundity, he was another Borabolla. He puffed and panted. + </p> + <p> + As he approached the corpse, a sobbing silence ensued; when holding the + hand of the dead, between his, the stranger thus spoke:— + </p> + <p> + "Mourn not, oh friends of Karhownoo, that this your brother lives not. His + wounded head pains him no more; he would not feel it, did a javelin pierce + him. Yea; Karhownoo is exempt from all the ills and evils of this + miserable Mardi!" + </p> + <p> + Hereupon, the Twice-Blind, who being deaf, heard not what was said, tore + his gray hair, and cried, "Alas! alas! my boy; thou wert the merriest man + in Mardi, and now thy pranks are over!" + </p> + <p> + But the other proceeded—"Mourn not, I say, oh friends of Karhownoo; + the dead whom ye deplore is happier than the living; is not his spirit in + the aerial isles?" + </p> + <p> + "True! true!" responded the raving wife, mingling her blood with her + tears, "my own poor hapless Karhownoo is thrice happy in Paradise!" And + anew she wailed, and lacerated her cheeks. + </p> + <p> + "Rave not, I say." + </p> + <p> + But she only raved the more. + </p> + <p> + And now the good stranger departed; saying, he must hie to a wedding, + waiting his presence in an arbor adjoining. + </p> + <p> + Understanding that the removal of the body would not take place till + midnight, we thought to behold the mode of marrying in Mondoldo. + </p> + <p> + Drawing near the place, we were greeted by merry voices, and much singing, + which greatly increased when the good stranger was perceived. + </p> + <p> + Gayly arrayed in fine robes, with plumes on their heads, the bride and + groom stood in the middle of a joyous throng, in readiness for the nuptial + bond to be tied. + </p> + <p> + Standing before them, the stranger was given a cord, so bedecked with + flowers, as to disguise its stout fibers; and taking: the bride's hands, + he bound them together to a ritual chant; about her neck, in festoons, + disposing the flowery ends of the cord. Then turning to the groom, he was + given another, also beflowered; but attached thereto was a great stone, + very much carved, and stained; indeed, so every way disguised, that a + person not knowing what it was, and lifting it, would be greatly amazed at + its weight. This cord being attached to the waist of the groom, he leaned + over toward the bride, by reason of the burden of the drop. + </p> + <p> + All present now united in a chant, and danced about the happy pair, who + meanwhile looked ill at ease; the one being so bound by the hands, and the + other solely weighed down by his stone. + </p> + <p> + A pause ensuing, the good stranger, turning them back to back, thus spoke:— + </p> + <p> + "By thy flowery gyves, oh bride, I make thee a wife; and by thy burdensome + stone, oh groom, I make thee a husband. Live and be happy, both; for the + wise and good Oro hath placed us in Mardi to be glad. Doth not all nature + rejoice in her green groves and her flowers? and woo and wed not the fowls + of the air, trilling their bliss in their bowers? Live then, and be happy, + oh bride and groom; for Oro is offended with the unhappy, since he meant + them to be gay." + </p> + <p> + And the ceremony ended with a joyful feast. + </p> + <p> + But not all nuptials in Mardi were like these. Others were wedded with + different rites; without the stone and flowery gyves. These were they who + plighted their troth with tears not smiles, and made responses in the + heart. + </p> + <p> + Returning from the house of the merry to the house of the mournful, we + lingered till midnight to witness the issuing forth of the body. + </p> + <p> + By torch light, numerous canoes, with paddlers standing by, were drawn up + on the beach, to accommodate those who purposed following the poor diver + to his home. + </p> + <p> + The remains embarked, some confusion ensued concerning the occupancy of + the rest of the shallops. At last the procession glided off, our party + included. Two by two, forming a long line of torches trailing round the + isle, the canoes all headed toward the opening in the reef. + </p> + <p> + For a time, a decorous silence was preserved; but presently, some + whispering was heard; perhaps melancholy discoursing touching the close of + the diver's career. But we were shocked to discover, that poor Karhownoo + was not much in their thoughts; they were conversing about the next + bread-fruit harvest, and the recent arrival of King Media and party at + Mondoldo. From far in advance, however, were heard the lamentations of the + true mourners, the relatives of the diver. + </p> + <p> + Passing the reef, and sailing a little distance therefrom, the canoes were + disposed in a circle; the one bearing the corpse in the center. Certain + ceremonies over, the body was committed to the waves; the white foam + lighting up the last, long plunge of the diver, to see sights more strange + than ever he saw in the brooding cells of the Turtle Reef. + </p> + <p> + And now, while in the still midnight, all present were gazing down into + the ocean, watching the white wake of the corpse, ever and anon + illuminated by sparkles, an unknown voice was heard, and all started and + vacantly stared, as this wild song was sung:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + We drop our dead in the sea, + The bottomless, bottomless sea; + Each bubble a hollow sigh, + As it sinks forever and aye. + + We drop our dead in the sea,— + The dead reek not of aught; + We drop our dead in the sea,— + The sea ne'er gives it a thought. + + Sink, sink, oh corpse, still sink, + Far down in the bottomless sea, + Where the unknown forms do prowl, + Down, down in the bottomless sea. + + 'Tis night above, and night all round, + And night will it be with thee; + As thou sinkest, and sinkest for aye, + Deeper down in the bottomless sea. +</pre> + <p> + The mysterious voice died away; no sign of the corpse was now seen; and + mute with amaze, the company long listed to the low moan of the billows + and the sad sough of the breeze. + </p> + <p> + At last, without speaking, the obsequies were concluded by sliding into + the ocean a carved tablet of Palmetto, to mark the place of the burial. + But a wave-crest received it, and fast it floated away. + </p> + <p> + Returning to the isle, long silence prevailed. But at length, as if the + scene in which they had just taken part, afresh reminded them of the + mournful event which had called them together, the company again recurred + to it; some present, sadly and incidentally alluding to Borabolla's + banquet of turtle, thereby postponed. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0100" id="link2HCH0100"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER C -- The Pursuer Himself Is Pursued + </h2> + <p> + Next morning, when much to the chagrin of Borabolla we were preparing to + quit his isle, came tidings to the palace, of a wonderful event, occurring + in one of the "Motoos," or little islets of the great reef; which "Motoo" + was included in the dominions of the king. + </p> + <p> + The men who brought these tidings were highly excited; and no sooner did + they make known what they knew, than all Mondoldo was in a tumult of + marveling. + </p> + <p> + Their story was this. + </p> + <p> + Going at day break to the Motoo to fish, they perceived a strange proa + beached on its seaward shore; and presently were hailed by voices; and saw + among the palm trees, three specter-like men, who were not of Mardi. + </p> + <p> + The first amazement of the fishermen over, in reply to their eager + questions, the strangers related, that they were the survivors of a + company of men, natives of some unknown island to the northeast; whence + they had embarked for another country, distant three days' sail to the + southward of theirs. But falling in with a terrible adventure, in which + their sire had been slain, they altered their course to pursue the + fugitive who murdered him; one and all vowing, never more to see home, + until their father's fate was avenged. The murderer's proa outsailing + theirs, soon ran out of sight; yet after him they blindly steered by day + and by night: steering by the blood- red star in Bootes. Soon, a violent + gale overtook them; driving them to and fro; leaving them they knew not + where. But still struggling against strange currents, at times + counteracting their sailing, they drifted on their way; nigh to famishing + for water; and no shore in sight. In long calms, in vain they held up + their dry gourds to heaven, and cried "send us a breeze, sweet gods!" The + calm still brooded; and ere it was gone, all but three gasped; and dead + from thirst, were plunged into the sea. The breeze which followed the + calm, soon brought them in sight of a low, uninhabited isle; where + tarrying many days, they laid in good store of cocoanuts and water, and + again embarked. + </p> + <p> + The next land they saw was Mardi; and they landed on the Motoo, still + intent on revenge. + </p> + <p> + This recital filled Taji with horror. + </p> + <p> + Who could these avengers be, but the sons of him I had slain. I had + thought them far hence, and myself forgotten; and now, like adders, they + started up in my path, as I hunted for Yillah. + </p> + <p> + But I dissembled my thoughts. + </p> + <p> + Without waiting to hear more, Borabolla, all curiosity to behold the + strangers, instantly dispatched to the Motoo one of his fleetest canoes, + with orders to return with the voyagers. + </p> + <p> + Ere long they came in sight; and perceiving that strange pros in tow of + the king's, Samoa cried out: "Lo! Taji, the canoe that was going to + Tedaidee!" + </p> + <p> + Too true; the same double-keeled craft, now sorely broken, the fatal dais + in wild disarray: the canoe, the canoe of Aleema! And with it came the + spearmen three, who, when the Chamois was fleeing from their bow, had + poised their javelins. But so wan their aspect now, their faces looked + like skulls. + </p> + <p> + Then came over me the wild dream of Yillah; and, for a space, like a + madman, I raved. It seemed as if the mysterious damsel must still be + there; the rescue yet to be achieved. In my delirium I rushed upon the + skeletons, as they landed—"Hide not the maiden!" But interposing, + Media led me aside; when my transports abated. + </p> + <p> + Now, instantly, the strangers knew who I was; and, brandishing their + javelins, they rushed upon me, as I had on them, with a yell. But deeming + us all mad, the crowd held us apart; when, writhing in the arms that + restrained them, the pale specters foamed out their curses again and + again: "Oh murderer! white curses upon thee! Bleached be thy soul with our + hate! Living, our brethren cursed thee; and dying, dry-lipped, they cursed + thee again. They died not through famishing for water, but for revenge + upon thee! Thy blood, their thirst would have slaked!" + </p> + <p> + I lay fainting against the hard-throbbing heart of Samoa, while they + showered their yells through the air. Once more, in my thoughts, the green + corpse of the priest drifted by. + </p> + <p> + Among the people of Mondoldo, a violent commotion now raged. They were + amazed at Taji's recognition by the strangers, and at the deadly ferocity + they betrayed. + </p> + <p> + Rallying upon this, and perceiving that by divulging all they knew, these + sons of Aleema might stir up the Islanders against me, I — resolved + to anticipate their story; and, turning to Borabolla, said— "In + these strangers, oh, king! you behold the survivors of a band we + encountered on our voyage. From them I rescued a maiden, called Yillah, + whom they were carrying captive. Little more of their history do I know." + </p> + <p> + "Their maledictions?" exclaimed Borabolla. + </p> + <p> + "Are they not delirious with suffering?" I cried. "They know not what they + say." + </p> + <p> + So, moved by all this, he commanded them to be guarded, and conducted + within his palisade; and having supplied them with cheer, entered into + earnest discourse. Yet all the while, the pale strangers on me fixed their + eyes; deep, dry, crater-like hollows, lurid with flames, reflected from + the fear-frozen glacier, my soul. + </p> + <p> + But though their hatred appalled, spite of that spell, again the sweet + dream of Yillah stole over me, with all the mysterious things by her + narrated, but left unexplained. And now, before me were those who might + reveal the lost maiden's whole history, previous to the fatal affray. + </p> + <p> + Thus impelled, I besought them to disclose what they knew. + </p> + <p> + But, "Where now is your Yillah?" they cried. "Is the murderer wedded and + merry? Bring forth the maiden!" + </p> + <p> + Yet, though they tore out my heart's core, I told them not of my loss. + </p> + <p> + Then, anxious, to learn the history of Yillah, all present commanded them + to divulge it; and breathlessly I heard what follows. + </p> + <p> + "Of Yillah, we know only this:—that many moons ago, a mighty canoe, + full of beings, white, like this murderer Taji, touched at our island of + Amma. Received with wonder, they were worshiped as gods; were feasted all + over the land. Their chief was a tower to behold; and with him, was a + being, whose cheeks were of the color of the red coral; her eye, tender as + the blue of the sky. Every day our people brought her offerings of fruit + and flowers; which last she would not retain for herself; but hung them + round the neck of her child, Yillah; then only an infant in her mother's + arms; a bud, nestling close to a flower, full-blown. All went well between + our people and the gods, till at last they slew three of our countrymen, + charged with stealing from their great canoe. Our warriors retired to the + hills, brooding over revenge. Three days went by; when by night, + descending to the plain, in silence they embarked; gained the great + vessel, and slaughtered every soul but Yillah. The bud was torn from the + flower; and, by our father Aleema, was carried to the Valley of Ardair; + there set apart as a sacred offering for Apo, our deity. Many moons + passed; and there arose a tumult, hostile to our sire's longer holding + custody of Yillah; when, foreseeing that the holy glen would ere long be + burst open, he embarked the maiden in yonder canoe, to accelerate her + sacrifice at the great shrine of Apo, in Tedaidee.—The rest thou + knowest, murderer!" + </p> + <p> + "Yillah! Yillah!" now hunted again that sound through my soul. "Oh, + Yillah! too late, too late have I learned what thou art!" + </p> + <p> + Apprised of the disappearance of their former captive, the meager + strangers exulted; declaring that Apo had taken her to himself. For me, + ere long, my blood they would quaff from my skull. + </p> + <p> + But though I shrunk from their horrible threats, I dissembled anew; and + turning, again swore that they raved. + </p> + <p> + "Ay!" they retorted, "we rave and raven for you; and your white heart will + we have!" + </p> + <p> + Perceiving the violence of their rage, and persuaded from what I — + said, that much suffering at sea must have maddened them; Borabolla + thought fit to confine them for the present; so that they could not molest + me. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0101" id="link2HCH0101"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER CI — The Iris + </h2> + <p> + That evening, in the groves, came to me three gliding forms:—Hautia's + heralds: the Iris mixed with nettles. Said Yoomy, "A cruel message!" + </p> + <p> + With the right hand, the second syren presented glossy, green wax- myrtle + berries, those that burn like tapers; the third, a lily of the valley, + crushed in its own broad leaf. + </p> + <p> + This done, they earnestly eyed Yoomy; who, after much pondering, said—"I + speak for Hautia; who by these berries says, I will enlighten you." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, give me then that light! say, where is Yillah?" and I rushed upon the + heralds. + </p> + <p> + But eluding me, they looked reproachfully at Yoomy; and seemed offended. + </p> + <p> + "Then, I am wrong," said Yoomy. "It is thus:—Taji, you have been + enlightened, but the lily you seek is crushed." + </p> + <p> + Then fell my heart, and the phantoms nodded; flinging upon me bilberries, + like rose pearls, which bruised against my skin, left stains. + </p> + <p> + Waving oleanders, they retreated. + </p> + <p> + "Harm! treachery! beware!" cried Yoomy. + </p> + <p> + Then they glided through the wood: one showering dead leaves along the + path I trod, the others gayly waving bunches of spring-crocuses, yellow, + white, and purple; and thus they vanished. + </p> + <p> + Said Yoomy, "Sad your path, but merry Hautia's." + </p> + <p> + "Then merry may she be, whoe'er she is; and though woe be mine, I — + turn not from that to Hautia; nor ever will I woo her, though she woo me + till I die;—though Yillah never bless my eyes." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0102" id="link2HCH0102"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER CII — They Depart From Mondoldo + </h2> + <p> + Night passed; and next morning we made preparations for leaving Mondoldo + that day. + </p> + <p> + But fearing anew, lest after our departure, the men of Amma might stir up + against me the people of the isle, I determined to yield to the earnest + solicitations of Borabolla, and leave Jarl behind, for a remembrance of + Taji; if necessary, to vindicate his name. Apprised hereof, my follower + was loth to acquiesce. His guiltless spirit feared not the strangers: less + selfish considerations prevailed. He was willing to remain on the island + for a time, but not without me. Yet, setting forth my reasons; and + assuring him, that our tour would not be long in completing, when we would + not fail to return, previous to sailing for Odo, he at last, but + reluctantly, assented. + </p> + <p> + At Mondoldo, we also parted with Samoa. Whether it was, that he feared the + avengers, whom he may have thought would follow on my track; or whether + the islands of Mardi answered not in attractiveness to the picture his + fancy had painted; or whether the restraint put upon him by the + domineering presence of King Media, was too irksome withal; or whether, + indeed, he relished not those disquisitions with which Babbalanja regaled + us: however it may have been, certain it was, that Samoa was impatient of + the voyage. He besought permission to return to Odo, there to await my + return; and a canoe of Mondoldo being about to proceed in that direction, + permission was granted; and departing for the other side of the island, + from thence he embarked. + </p> + <p> + Long after, dark tidings came, that at early dawn he had been found dead + in the canoe: three arrows in his side. + </p> + <p> + Yoomy was at a loss to account for the departure of Samoa; who, while + ashore, had expressed much desire to roam. + </p> + <p> + Media, however, declared that he must be returning to some inamorata. + </p> + <p> + But Babbalanja averred, that the Upoluan was not the first man, who had + turned back, after beginning a voyage like our own. + </p> + <p> + To this, after musing, Yoomy assented. Indeed, I had noticed, that already + the Warbler had abated those sanguine assurances of success, with which he + had departed from Odo. The futility of our search thus far, seemed ominous + to him, of the end. + </p> + <p> + On the eve of embarking, we were accompanied to the beach by Borabolla; + who, with his own hand, suspended from the shark's mouth of Media's canoe, + three red-ripe bunches of plantains, a farewell gift to his guests. + </p> + <p> + Though he spoke not a word, Jarl was long in taking leave. His eyes seemed + to say, I will see you no more. + </p> + <p> + At length we pushed from the strand; Borabolla waving his adieus with a + green leaf of banana; our comrade ruefully eyeing the receding canoes; and + the multitude loudly invoking for us a prosperous voyage. + </p> + <p> + But to my horror, there suddenly dashed through the crowd, the three + specter sons of Aleema, escaped from their prison. With clenched hands, + they stood in the water, and cursed me anew. And with that curse in our + sails, we swept off. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0103" id="link2HCH0103"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER CIII — As They Sail + </h2> + <p> + As the canoes now glided across the lagoon, I gave myself up to reverie; + and revolving over all that the men of Amma had rehearsed of the history + of Yillah, I one by one unriddled the mysteries, before so baffling. Now, + all was made plain: no secret remaining, but the subsequent event of her + disappearance. Yes, Hautia! enlightened I had been but where was Yillah? + </p> + <p> + Then I recalled that last interview with Hautia's messengers, so full of + enigmas; and wondered, whether Yoomy had interpreted aright. Unseen, and + unsolicited; still pursuing me with omens, with taunts, and with wooings, + mysterious Hautia appalled me. Vaguely I began to fear her. And the + thought, that perhaps again and again, her heralds would haunt me, filled + me with a nameless dread, which I almost shrank from acknowledging. + Inwardly I prayed, that never more they might appear. + </p> + <p> + While full of these thoughts, Media interrupted them by saying, that the + minstrel was about to begin one of his chants, a thing of his own + composing; and therefore, as he himself said, all critics must be lenient; + for Yoomy, at times, not always, was a timid youth, distrustful of his own + sweet genius for poesy. + </p> + <p> + The words were about a curious hereafter, believed in by some people in + Mardi: a sort of nocturnal Paradise, where the sun and its heat are + excluded: one long, lunar day, with twinkling stars to keep company. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +THE SONG + Far off in the sea is Marlena, + A land of shades and streams, + A land of many delights. + Dark and bold, thy shores, + Marlena; But green, and timorous, thy soft knolls, + Crouching behind the woodlands. + All shady thy hills; all gleaming thy springs, + Like eyes in the earth looking at you. + How charming thy haunts Marlena!— + Oh, the waters that flow through Onimoo: + Oh, the leaves that rustle through Ponoo: + Oh, the roses that blossom in Tarma: + Come, and see the valley of Vina: + How sweet, how sweet, the Isles from Hind: + 'Tis aye afternoon of the full, full moon, + And ever the season of fruit, + And ever the hour of flowers, + And never the time of rains and gales, + All in and about Marlena. + Soft sigh the boughs in the stilly air, + Soft lap the beach the billows there; + And in the woods or by the streams, + You needs must nod in the Land of Dreams. +</pre> + <p> + "Yoomy," said old Mohi with a yawn, "you composed that song, then, did + you?" + </p> + <p> + "I did," said Yoomy, placing his turban a little to one side. + </p> + <p> + "Then, minstrel, you shall sing me to sleep every night, especially with + that song of Marlena; it is soporific as the airs of Nora-Bamma." + </p> + <p> + "Mean you, old man, that my lines, setting forth the luxurious repose to + be enjoyed hereafter, are composed with such skill, that the description + begets the reality; or would you ironically suggest, that the song is a + sleepy thing itself?" + </p> + <p> + "An important discrimination," said Media; "which mean you, Mohi?" + </p> + <p> + "Now, are you not a silly boy," said Babbalanja, "when from the ambiguity + of his speech, you could so easily have derived something flattering, thus + to seek to extract unpleasantness from it? Be wise, Yoomy; and hereafter, + whenever a remark like that seems equivocal, be sure to wrest commendation + from it, though you torture it to the quick." + </p> + <p> + "And most sure am I, that I would ever do so; but often I so incline to a + distrust of my powers, that I am far more keenly alive to censure, than to + praise; and always deem it the more sincere of the two; and no praise so + much elates me, as censure depresses." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0104" id="link2HCH0104"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER CIV — Wherein Babbalanja Broaches A Diabolical Theory, And, + In His Own + </h2> + <p> + Person, Proves It + </p> + <p> + "A truce!" cried Media, "here comes a gallant before the wind.— + Look, Taji!" + </p> + <p> + Turning, we descried a sharp-prowed canoe, dashing on, under the pressure + of an immense triangular sail, whose outer edges were streaming with long, + crimson pennons. Flying before it, were several small craft, belonging to + the poorer sort of Islanders. + </p> + <p> + "Out of his way there, ye laggards," cried Media, "or that mad prince, + Tribonnora, will ride over ye with a rush!" + </p> + <p> + "And who is Tribonnora," said Babbalanja, "that he thus bravely diverts + himself, running down innocent paddlers?" + </p> + <p> + "A harum-scarum young chief," replied Media, "heir to three islands; he + likes nothing better than the sport you now see see him at." + </p> + <p> + "He must be possessed by a devil," said Mohi. + </p> + <p> + Said Babbalanja, "Then he is only like all of us." "What say you?" cried + Media. + </p> + <p> + "I say, as old Bardianna in the Nine hundred and ninety ninth book of his + immortal Ponderings saith, that all men—" + </p> + <p> + "As I live, my lord, he has swamped three canoes," cried Mohi, pointing + off the beam. + </p> + <p> + But just then a fiery fin-back whale, having broken into the paddock of + the lagoon, threw up a high fountain of foam, almost under Tribonnora's + nose; who, quickly turning about his canoe, cur-like slunk off; his + steering-paddle between his legs. + </p> + <p> + Comments over; "Babbalanja, you were going to quote," said Media. + "Proceed." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, my lord. Says old Bardianna, 'All men are possessed by devils; + but as these devils are sent into men, and kept in them, for an additional + punishment; not garrisoning a fortress, but limboed in a bridewell; so, it + may be more just to say, that the devils themselves are possessed by men, + not men by them.'" + </p> + <p> + "Faith!" cried Media, "though sometimes a bore, your old Bardianna is a + trump." + </p> + <p> + "I have long been of that mind, my lord. But let me go on. Says Bardianna, + 'Devils are divers;—strong devils, and weak devils; knowing devils, + and silly devils; mad devils, and mild devils; devils, merely devils; + devils, themselves bedeviled; devils, doubly bedeviled." + </p> + <p> + "And in the devil's name, what sort of a devil is yours?" cried Mohi. + </p> + <p> + "Of him anon; interrupt me not, old man. Thus, then, my lord, as devils + are divers, divers are the devils in men. Whence, the wide difference we + see. But after all, the main difference is this:—that one man's + devil is only more of a devil than another's; and be bedeviled as much as + you will; yet, may you perform the most bedeviled of actions with + impunity, so long as you only bedevil yourself. For it is only when your + deviltry injures another, that the other devils conspire to confine yours + for a mad one. That is to say, if you be easily handled. For there are + many bedeviled Bedlamites in Mardi, doing an infinity of mischief, who are + too brawny in the arms to be tied." + </p> + <p> + "A very devilish doctrine that," cried Mohi. "I don't believe it." + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "My lord," said Babbalanja, "here's collateral proof;—the sage +lawgiver Yamjamma, who flourished long before Bardianna, roundly +asserts, that all men who knowingly do evil are bedeviled; for good +is happiness; happiness the object of living; and evil is not good." +</pre> + <p> + "If the sage Yamjamma said that," said old Mohi, "the sage Yamjamma might + have bettered the saying; it's not quite so plain as it might be." + </p> + <p> + "Yamjamma disdained to be plain; he scorned to be fully comprehended by + mortals. Like all oracles, he dealt in dark sayings. But old Bardianna was + of another sort; he spoke right out, going straight to the point like a + javelin; especially when he laid it down for a universal maxim, that minus + exceptions, all men are bedeviled." + </p> + <p> + "Of course, then," said Media, "you include yourself among the number." + </p> + <p> + "Most assuredly; and so did old Bardianna; who somewhere says, that being + thoroughly bedeviled himself, he was so much the better qualified to + discourse upon the deviltries of his neighbors. But in another place he + seems to contradict himself, by asserting, that he is not so sensible of + his own deviltry as of other people's." + </p> + <p> + "Hold!" cried Media, "who have we here?" and he pointed ahead of our prow + to three men in the water, urging themselves along, each with a paddle. + </p> + <p> + We made haste to overtake them. + </p> + <p> + "Who are you?" said Media, "where from, and where bound?" + </p> + <p> + "From Variora," they answered, "and bound to Mondoldo." "And did that + devil Tribonnora swamp your canoe?" asked Media, offering to help them + into ours. + </p> + <p> + "We had no such useless incumbrance to lose," they replied, resting on + their backs, and panting with their exertions. "If we had had a canoe, we + would have had to paddle it along with us; whereas we have only our bodies + to paddle." + </p> + <p> + "You are a parcel of loons," exclaimed Media. "But go your ways, if you + are satisfied with your locomotion, well and good." + </p> + <p> + "Now, it is an extreme case, I grant," said Babbalanja, "but those poor + devils there, help to establish old Bardianna's position. They belong to + that species of our bedeviled race, called simpletons; but their devils + harming none but themselves, are permitted to be at large with the fish. + Whereas, Tribonnora's devil, who daily runs down canoes, drowning their + occupants, belongs to the species of out and out devils; but being high in + station, and strongly backed by kith and kin, Tribonnora can not be + mastered, and put in a strait jacket. For myself, I think my devil is some + where between these two extremes; at any rate, he belongs to that class of + devils who harm not other devils." + </p> + <p> + "I am not so sure of that," retorted Media. "Methinks this doctrine of + yours, about all mankind being bedeviled, will work a deal of mischief; + seeing that by implication it absolves you mortals from moral + accountability. Further-more; as your doctrine is exceedingly evil, by + Yamjamma's theory it follows, that you must be proportionably bedeviled; + and since it harms others, your devil is of the number of those whom it is + best to limbo; and since he is one of those that can be limboed, limboed + he shall be in you." + </p> + <p> + And so saying, he humorously commanded his attendants to lay hands upon + the bedeviled philosopher, and place a bandage upon his mouth, that he + might no more disseminate his devilish doctrine. + </p> + <p> + Against this, Babbalanja demurred, protesting that he was no orang-outang, to be so rudely handled. + </p> + <p> + "Better and better," said Media, "you but illustrate Bardianna's theory; + that men are not sensible of their being bedeviled." + </p> + <p> + Thus tantalized, Babbalanja displayed few signs of philosophy. + </p> + <p> + Whereupon, said Media, "Assuredly his devil is foaming; behold his mouth!" + And he commanded him to be bound hand and foot. + </p> + <p> + At length, seeing all resistance ineffectual, Babbalanja submitted; but + not without many objurgations. + </p> + <p> + Presently, however, they released him; when Media inquired, how he + relished the application of his theory; and whether he was still' of old + Bardianna's mind? + </p> + <p> + To which, haughtily adjusting his robe, Babbalanja replied, "The strong + arm, my lord, is no argument, though it overcomes all logic." + </p> + <h3> + END OF VOL. I. + </h3> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <pre> + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I. -- (of 2), by Herman Melville + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER, *** + +***** This file should be named 13720-h.htm or 13720-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/7/2/13720/ + +Etext produced by Geoff Palmer + +HTML file produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it +under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this +eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I (of 2) + +Author: Herman Melville + +Release Date: October 12, 2004 [EBook #13720] + +Last updated: July 25, 2020 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER, +*** + + + + +Produced by Geoff Palmer + + + + +MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER + +BY HERMAN MELVILLE + +IN TWO VOLUMES + +VOL. I + + +1864 + + +DEDICATED TO My Brother, ALLAN MELVILLE. + + + +PREFACE + +Not long ago, having published two narratives of voyages in the Pacific, +which, in many quarters, were received with incredulity, the thought +occurred to me, of indeed writing a romance of Polynesian adventure, and +publishing it as such; to see whether, the fiction might not, possibly, +be received for a verity: in some degree the reverse of my previous +experience. + +This thought was the germ of others, which have resulted in Mardi. New +York, January, 1849. + + + + +MARDI. + +CONTENTS VOL. I + +CHAPTER 1. Foot in Stirrup 2. A Calm 3. A King for a Comrade 4. A Chat +in the Clouds 5. Seats secured and Portmanteaus packed 6. Eight Bells 7. +A Pause 8. They push off, Velis et Bemis 9. The Watery World is all +before Them 10. They arrange their Canopies and Lounges, and try to make +Things comfortable 11. Jarl afflicted with the Lockjaw 12. More about +being in an open Boat 13. Of the Chondropterygii, and other uncouth +Hordes infesting the South Seas 14. Jarl's Misgivings 15. A Stitch in +time saves Nine 16. They are Becalmed 17. In high Spirits they push on +for the Terra Incognita 18. My Lord Shark and his Pages 19. Who goes +there? 20. Noises and Portents 21. Man ho! 22. What befel the Brigantine +at the Pearl Shell Islands 23. Sailing from the Island they pillage the +Cabin 24. Dedicated to the College of Physicians and Surgeons 25. Peril +a Peace-maker 26. Containing a Pennyweight of Philosophy 27. In which +the past History of the Parki is concluded 28. Suspicions laid, and +something about the Calmuc 29. What they lighted upon in further +searching the Craft, and the Resolution they came to 30. Hints for a +full length of Samoa 31. Rovings Alow and Aloft 32. Xiphius Platypterus +33. Otard 34. How they steered on their Way 35. Ah, Annatoo! 36. The +Parki gives up the Ghost 37. Once more they take to the Chamois 38. The +Sea on Fire 39. They fall in with Strangers 40. Sire and Sons 41. A Fray +42. Remorse 43. The Tent entered 44. Away! 45. Reminiscences 46. The +Chamois with a roving Commission 47. Yillah, Jarl, and Samoa 48. +Something under the Surface 49. Yillah 50. Yillah in Ardair 51. The +Dream begins to fade 52. World ho! 53. The Chamois Ashore 54. A +Gentleman from the Sun 55. Tiffin in a Temple 56. King Media a Host 57. +Taji takes Counsel with himself 58. Mardi by Night and Yillah by Day 59. +Their Morning Meal 60. Belshazzar on the Bench 61. An Incognito 62. Taji +retires from the World 63. Odo and its Lord 64. Yillah a Phantom 65. +Taji makes three Acquaintances 66. With a fair Wind at Sunrise they sail +67. Little King Peepi 68. How Teeth were regarded in Valapee 69. The +Company discourse, and Braid-Beard rehearses a Legend 70. The Minstrel +leads of with a Paddle-Song; and a Message is received from Abroad 71. +They land upon the Island of Juam 72. A Book from the Chronicles of Mohi +73. Something more of the Prince 74. Advancing deeper into the Vale, +they encounter Donjalolo 75. Time and Temples 76. A pleasant Place for a +Lounge 77. The House of the Afternoon 78. Babbalanja solus 79. The +Center of many Circumferences 80. Donjalolo in the Bosom of his Family +81. Wherein Babbalanja relates the Adventure of one Karkeke in the Land +of Shades 82. How Donjalolo, sent Agents to the surrounding Isles; with +the Result 83. They visit the Tributary Islets 84. Taji sits down to +Dinner with five-and-twenty Kings, and a royal Time they have 85. After +Dinner 86. Of those Scamps the Plujii 87. Nora-Bamma 88. In a Calm, +Hautia's Heralds approach 89. Braid-Beard rehearses the Origin of the +Isle of Rogues 90. Rare Sport at Ohonoo 91. Of King Uhia and his +Subjects 92. The God Keevi and the Precipice of Mondo 93. Babbalanja +steps in between Mohi and Yoomy; and Yoomy relates a Legend 94. Of that +jolly old Lord, Borabolla; and that jolly Island of his, Mondoldo; and +of the Fish-ponds, and the Hereafters of Fish 95. That jolly old Lord +Borabolla laughs on both Sides of his Face 96. Samoa a Surgeon 97. Faith +and Knowledge 98. The Tale of a Traveler 99. "Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee." +100. The Pursuer himself is pursued 101. The Iris 102. They depart from +Mondoldo 103. As they sail 104. Wherein Babbalanja broaches a diabolical +Theory, and in his own Person proves it + + + +MARDI + + + +CHAPTER I Foot In Stirrup + + +We are off! The courses and topsails are set: the coral-hung anchor +swings from the bow: and together, the three royals are given to the +breeze, that follows us out to sea like the baying of a hound. Out +spreads the canvas--alow, aloft-boom-stretched, on both sides, with many +a stun' sail; till like a hawk, with pinions poised, we shadow the sea +with our sails, and reelingly cleave the brine. + +But whence, and whither wend ye, mariners? + +We sail from Ravavai, an isle in the sea, not very far northward from +the tropic of Capricorn, nor very far westward from Pitcairn's island, +where the mutineers of the Bounty settled. At Ravavai I had stepped +ashore some few months previous; and now was embarked on a cruise for +the whale, whose brain enlightens the world. + +And from Ravavai we sail for the Gallipagos, otherwise called the +Enchanted Islands, by reason of the many wild currents and eddies there +met. + +Now, round about those isles, which Dampier once trod, where the Spanish +bucaniers once hived their gold moidores, the Cachalot, or sperm whale, +at certain seasons abounds. + +But thither, from Ravavai, your craft may not fly, as flies the sea-gull, straight to her nest. For, owing to the prevalence of the trade +winds, ships bound to the northeast from the vicinity of Ravavai are +fain to take something of a circuit; a few thousand miles or so. First, +in pursuit of the variable winds, they make all haste to the south; and +there, at length picking up a stray breeze, they stand for the main: +then, making their easting, up helm, and away down the coast, toward the +Line. + +This round-about way did the Arcturion take; and in all conscience a +weary one it was. Never before had the ocean appeared so monotonous; +thank fate, never since. + +But bravo! in two weeks' time, an event. Out of the gray of the morning, +and right ahead, as we sailed along, a dark object rose out of the sea; +standing dimly before us, mists wreathing and curling aloft, and creamy +breakers frothing round its base.--We turned aside, and, at length, when +day dawned, passed Massafuero. With a glass, we spied two or three +hermit goats winding down to the sea, in a ravine; and presently, a +signal: a tattered flag upon a summit beyond. Well knowing, however, +that there was nobody on the island but two or three noose-fulls of +runaway convicts from Chili, our captain had no mind to comply with +their invitation to land. Though, haply, he may have erred in not +sending a boat off with his card. + +A few days more and we "took the trades." Like favors snappishly +conferred, they came to us, as is often the case, in a very sharp +squall; the shock of which carried away one of our spars; also our fat +old cook off his legs; depositing him plump in the scuppers to leeward. + +In good time making the desired longitude upon the equator, a few +leagues west of the Gallipagos, we spent several weeks chassezing across +the Line, to and fro, in unavailing search for our prey. For some of +their hunters believe, that whales, like the silver ore in Peru, run in +veins through the ocean. So, day after day, daily; and week after week, +weekly, we traversed the self-same longitudinal intersection of the +self-same Line; till we were almost ready to swear that we felt the ship +strike every time her keel crossed that imaginary locality. + +At length, dead before the equatorial breeze, we threaded our way +straight along the very Line itself. Westward sailing; peering right, +and peering left, but seeing naught. + +It was during this weary time, that I experienced the first symptoms of +that bitter impatience of our monotonous craft, which ultimately led to +the adventures herein recounted. + +But hold you! Not a word against that rare old ship, nor its crew. The +sailors were good fellows all, the half, score of pagans we had shipped +at the islands included. Nevertheless, they were not precisely to my +mind. There was no soul a magnet to mine; none with whom to mingle +sympathies; save in deploring the calms with which we were now and then +overtaken; or in hailing the breeze when it came. Under other and +livelier auspices the tarry knaves might have developed qualities more +attractive. Had we sprung a leak, been "stove" by a whale, or been +blessed with some despot of a captain against whom to stir up some +spirited revolt, these shipmates of mine might have proved limber lads, +and men of mettle. But as it was, there was naught to strike fire from +their steel. + +There were other things, also, tending to make my lot on ship-board very +hard to be borne. True, the skipper himself was a trump; stood upon no +quarter-deck dignity; and had a tongue for a sailor. Let me do him +justice, furthermore: he took a sort of fancy for me in particular; was +sociable, nay, loquacious, when I happened to stand at the helm. But +what of that? Could he talk sentiment or philosophy? Not a bit. His +library was eight inches by four: Bowditch, and Hamilton Moore. + +And what to me, thus pining for some one who could page me a quotation +from Burton on Blue Devils; what to me, indeed, were flat repetitions of +long-drawn yarns, and the everlasting stanzas of Black-eyed Susan sung +by our full forecastle choir? Staler than stale ale. + +Ay, ay, Arcturion! I say it in no malice, but thou wast exceedingly +dull. Not only at sailing: hard though it was, that I could have borne; +but in every other respect. The days went slowly round and round, +endless and uneventful as cycles in space. Time, and time-pieces; How +many centuries did my hammock tell, as pendulum-like it swung to the +ship's dull roll, and ticked the hours and ages. Sacred forever be the +Arcturion's fore-hatch--alas! sea-moss is over it now--and rusty forever +the bolts that held together that old sea hearth-stone, about which we +so often lounged. Nevertheless, ye lost and leaden hours, I will rail at +ye while life lasts. + +Well: weeks, chronologically speaking, went by. Bill Marvel's stories +were told over and over again, till the beginning and end dovetailed +into each other, and were united for aye. Ned Ballad's songs were sung +till the echoes lurked in the very tops, and nested in the bunts of the +sails. My poor patience was clean gone. + +But, at last after some time sailing due westward we quitted the Line in +high disgust; having seen there, no sign of a whale. + +But whither now? To the broiling coast of Papua? That region of sun-strokes, typhoons, and bitter pulls after whales unattainable. Far +worse. We were going, it seemed, to illustrate the Whistonian theory +concerning the damned and the comets;--hurried from equinoctial heats to +arctic frosts. To be short, with the true fickleness of his tribe, our +skipper had abandoned all thought of the Cachalot. In desperation, he +was bent upon bobbing for the Right whale on the Nor'-West Coast and in +the Bay of Kamschatska. + +To the uninitiated in the business of whaling, my feelings at this +juncture may perhaps be hard to understand. But this much let me say: +that Right whaling on the Nor'-West Coast, in chill and dismal fogs, the +sullen inert monsters rafting the sea all round like Hartz forest logs +on the Rhine, and submitting to the harpoon like half-stunned bullocks +to the knife; this horrid and indecent Right whaling, I say, compared to +a spirited hunt for the gentlemanly Cachalot in southern and more genial +seas, is as the butchery of white bears upon blank Greenland icebergs to +zebra hunting in Caffraria, where the lively quarry bounds before you +through leafy glades. + +Now, this most unforeseen determination on the part of my captain to +measure the arctic circle was nothing more nor less than a tacit +contravention of the agreement between us. That agreement needs not to +be detailed. And having shipped but for a single cruise, I had embarked +aboard his craft as one might put foot in stirrup for a day's following +of the hounds. And here, Heaven help me, he was going to carry me off to +the Pole! And on such a vile errand too! For there was something +degrading in it. Your true whaleman glories in keeping his harpoon +unspotted by blood of aught but Cachalot. By my halidome, it touched the +knighthood of a tar. Sperm and spermaceti! It was unendurable. + +"Captain," said I, touching my sombrero to him as I stood at the wheel +one day, "It's very hard to carry me off this way to purgatory. I +shipped to go elsewhere." + +"Yes, and so did I," was his reply. "But it can't be helped. Sperm +whales are not to be had. We've been out now three years, and something +or other must be got; for the ship is hungry for oil, and her hold a +gulf to look into. But cheer up my boy; once in the Bay of Kamschatka, +and we'll be all afloat with what we want, though it be none of the +best." + +Worse and worse! The oleaginous prospect extended into an immensity of +Macassar. "Sir," said I, "I did not ship for it; put me ashore +somewhere, I beseech." He stared, but no answer vouchsafed; and for a +moment I thought I had roused the domineering spirit of the sea-captain, +to the prejudice of the more kindly nature of the man. + +But not so. Taking three turns on the deck, he placed his hand on the +wheel, and said, "Right or wrong, my lad, go with us you must. Putting +you ashore is now out of the question. I make no port till this ship is +full to the combings of her hatchways. However, you may leave her if you +can." And so saying he entered his cabin, like Julius Caesar into his +tent. + +He may have meant little by it, but that last sentence rung in my ear +like a bravado. It savored of the turnkey's compliments to the prisoner +in Newgate, when he shoots to the bolt on him. + +"Leave the ship if I can!" Leave the ship when neither sail nor shore +was in sight! Ay, my fine captain, stranger things have been done. For +on board that very craft, the old Arcturion, were four tall fellows, +whom two years previous our skipper himself had picked up in an open +boat, far from the farthest shoal. To be sure, they spun a long yarn +about being the only survivors of an Indiaman burnt down to the water's +edge. But who credited their tale? Like many others, they were keepers +of a secret: had doubtless contracted a disgust for some ugly craft +still afloat and hearty, and stolen away from her, off soundings. Among +seamen in the Pacific such adventures not seldom occur. Nor are they +accounted great wonders. They are but incidents, not events, in the +career of the brethren of the order of South Sea rovers. For what +matters it, though hundreds of miles from land, if a good whale-boat be +under foot, the Trades behind, and mild, warm seas before? And herein +lies the difference between the Atlantic and Pacific:--that once within +the Tropics, the bold sailor who has a mind to quit his ship round Cape +Horn, waits not for port. He regards that ocean as one mighty harbor. + +Nevertheless, the enterprise hinted at was no light one; and I resolved +to weigh well the chances. It's worth noticing, this way we all have of +pondering for ourselves the enterprise, which, for others, we hold a +bagatelle. + +My first thoughts were of the boat to be obtained, and the right or +wrong of abstracting it, under the circumstances. But to split no hairs +on this point, let me say, that were I placed in the same situation +again, I would repeat the thing I did then. The captain well knew that +he was going to detain me unlawfully: against our agreement; and it was +he himself who threw out the very hint, which I merely adopted, with +many thanks to him. + +In some such willful mood as this, I went aloft one day, to stand my +allotted two hours at the mast-head. It was toward the close of a day, +serene and beautiful. There I stood, high upon the mast, and away, away, +illimitably rolled the ocean beneath. Where we then were was perhaps the +most unfrequented and least known portion of these seas. Westward, +however, lay numerous groups of islands, loosely laid down upon the +charts, and invested with all the charms of dream-land. But soon these +regions would be past; the mild equatorial breeze exchanged for cold, +fierce squalls, and all the horrors of northern voyaging. + +I cast my eyes downward to the brown planks of the dull, plodding ship, +silent from stem to stern; then abroad. + +In the distance what visions were spread! The entire western horizon +high piled with gold and crimson clouds; airy arches, domes, and +minarets; as if the yellow, Moorish sun were setting behind some vast +Alhambra. Vistas seemed leading to worlds beyond. To and fro, and all +over the towers of this Nineveh in the sky, flew troops of birds. +Watching them long, one crossed my sight, flew through a low arch, and +was lost to view. My spirit must have sailed in with it; for directly, +as in a trance, came upon me the cadence of mild billows laving a beach +of shells, the waving of boughs, and the voices of maidens, and the +lulled beatings of my own dissolved heart, all blended together. + +Now, all this, to be plain, was but one of the many visions one has up +aloft. But coming upon me at this time, it wrought upon me so, that +thenceforth my desire to quit the Arcturion became little short of a +frenzy. + + + +CHAPTER II A Calm + + +Next day there was a calm, which added not a little to my impatience of +the ship. And, furthermore, by certain nameless associations revived in +me my old impressions upon first witnessing as a landsman this +phenomenon of the sea. Those impressions may merit a page. + +To a landsman a calm is no joke. It not only revolutionizes his abdomen, +but unsettles his mind; tempts him to recant his belief in the eternal +fitness of things; in short, almost makes an infidel of him. + +At first he is taken by surprise, never having dreamt of a state of +existence where existence itself seems suspended. He shakes himself in +his coat, to see whether it be empty or no. He closes his eyes, to test +the reality of the glassy expanse. He fetches a deep breath, by way of +experiment, and for the sake of witnessing the effect. If a reader of +books, Priestley on Necessity occurs to him; and he believes in that old +Sir Anthony Absolute to the very last chapter. His faith in Malte Brun, +however, begins to fail; for the geography, which from boyhood he had +implicitly confided in, always assured him, that though expatiating all +over the globe, the sea was at least margined by land. That over against +America, for example, was Asia. But it is a calm, and he grows madly +skeptical. + +To his alarmed fancy, parallels and meridians become emphatically what +they are merely designated as being: imaginary lines drawn round the +earth's surface. + +The log assures him that he is in such a place; but the log is a liar; +for no place, nor any thing possessed of a local angularity, is to be +lighted upon in the watery waste. + +At length horrible doubts overtake him as to the captain's competency to +navigate his ship. The ignoramus must have lost his way, and drifted +into the outer confines of creation, the region of the everlasting lull, +introductory to a positive vacuity. + +Thoughts of eternity thicken. He begins to feel anxious concerning his +soul. + +The stillness of the calm is awful. His voice begins to grow strange and +portentous. He feels it in him like something swallowed too big for the +esophagus. It keeps up a sort of involuntary interior humming in him, +like a live beetle. His cranium is a dome full of reverberations. The +hollows of his very bones are as whispering galleries. He is afraid to +speak loud, lest he be stunned; like the man in the bass drum. + +But more than all else is the consciousness of his utter helplessness. +Succor or sympathy there is none. Penitence for embarking avails not. +The final satisfaction of despairing may not be his with a relish. Vain +the idea of idling out the calm. He may sleep if he can, or purposely +delude himself into a crazy fancy, that he is merely at leisure. All +this he may compass; but he may not lounge; for to lounge is to be idle; +to be idle implies an absence of any thing to do; whereas there is a +calm to be endured: enough to attend to, Heaven knows. + +His physical organization, obviously intended for locomotion, becomes a +fixture; for where the calm leaves him, there he remains. Even his +undoubted vested rights, comprised in his glorious liberty of volition, +become as naught. For of what use? He wills to go: to get away from the +calm: as ashore he would avoid the plague. But he can not; and how +foolish to revolve expedients. It is more hopeless than a bad marriage +in a land where there is no Doctors' Commons. He has taken the ship to +wife, for better or for worse, for calm or for gale; and she is not to +be shuffled off. With yards akimbo, she says unto him scornfully, as +the old beldam said to the little dwarf:--"Help yourself" + +And all this, and more than this, is a calm. + + + +CHAPTER III A King For A Comrade + + +At the time I now write of, we must have been something more than sixty +degrees to the west of the Gallipagos. And having attained a desirable +longitude, we were standing northward for our arctic destination: around +us one wide sea. + +But due west, though distant a thousand miles, stretched north and south +an almost endless Archipelago, here and there inhabited, but little +known; and mostly unfrequented, even by whalemen, who go almost every +where. Beginning at the southerly termination of this great chain, it +comprises the islands loosely known as Ellice's group; then, the +Kingsmill isles; then, the Radack and Mulgrave clusters. These islands +had been represented to me as mostly of coral formation, low and +fertile, and abounding in a variety of fruits. The language of the +people was said to be very similar to that or the Navigator's islands, +from which, their ancestors are supposed to have emigrated. + +And thus much being said, all has been related that I then knew of the +islands in question. Enough, however, that they existed at all; and that +our path thereto lay over a pleasant sea, and before a reliable Trade-wind. The distance, though great, was merely an extension of water; so +much blankness to be sailed over; and in a craft, too, that properly +managed has been known to outlive great ships in a gale. For this much +is true of a whale-boat, the cunningest thing in its way ever fabricated +by man. + +Upon one of the Kingsmill islands, then, I determined to plant my foot, +come what come would. And I was equally determined that one of the +ship's boats should float me thither. But I had no idea of being without +a companion. It would be a weary watch to keep all by myself, with +naught but the horizon in sight. + +Now, among the crew was a fine old seaman, one Jarl; how old, no one +could tell, not even himself. Forecastle chronology is ever vague and +defective. "Man and boy," said honest Jarl, "I have lived ever since I +can remember." And truly, who may call to mind when he was not? To +ourselves, we all seem coeval with creation. Whence it comes, that it is +so hard to die, ere the world itself is departed. + +Jarl hailed from the isle of Skye, one of the constellated Hebrides. +Hence, they often called him the Skyeman. And though he was far from +being piratical of soul, he was yet an old Norseman to behold. His hands +were brawny as the paws of a bear; his voice hoarse as a storm roaring +round the old peak of Mull; and his long yellow hair waved round his +head like a sunset. My life for it, Jarl, thy ancestors were Vikings, +who many a time sailed over the salt German sea and the Baltic; who +wedded their Brynhildas in Jutland; and are now quaffing mead in the +halls of Valhalla, and beating time with their cans to the hymns of the +Scalds. Ah! how the old Sagas run through me! + +Yet Jarl, the descendant of heroes and kings, was a lone, friendless +mariner on the main, only true to his origin in the sea-life that he +led. But so it has been, and forever will be. What yeoman shall swear +that he is not descended from Alfred? what dunce, that he is not sprung +of old Homer? King Noah, God bless him! fathered us all. Then hold up +your heads, oh ye Helots, blood potential flows through your veins. All +of us have monarchs and sages for kinsmen; nay, angels and archangels +for cousins; since in antediluvian days, the sons of God did verily wed +with our mothers, the irresistible daughters of Eve. Thus all +generations are blended: and heaven and earth of one kin: the +hierarchies of seraphs in the uttermost skies; the thrones and +principalities in the zodiac; the shades that roam throughout space; the +nations and families, flocks and folds of the earth; one and all, +brothers in essence--oh, be we then brothers indeed! All things form but +one whole; the universe a Judea, and God Jehovah its head. Then no more +let us start with affright. In a theocracy, what is to fear? Let us +compose ourselves to death as fagged horsemen sleep in the saddle. Let +us welcome even ghosts when they rise. Away with our stares and +grimaces. The New Zealander's tattooing is not a prodigy; nor the +Chinaman's ways an enigma. No custom is strange; no creed is absurd; no +foe, but who will in the end prove a friend. In heaven, at last, our +good, old, white-haired father Adam will greet all alike, and sociality +forever prevail. Christian shall join hands between Gentile and Jew; +grim Dante forget his Infernos, and shake sides with fat Rabelais; and +monk Luther, over a flagon of old nectar, talk over old times with Pope +Leo. Then, shall we sit by the sages, who of yore gave laws to the Medes +and Persians in the sun; by the cavalry captains in Perseus, who cried, +"To horse!" when waked by their Last Trump sounding to the charge; by +the old hunters, who eternities ago, hunted the moose in Orion; by the +minstrels, who sang in the Milky Way when Jesus our Saviour was born. +Then shall we list to no shallow gossip of Magellans and Drakes; but +give ear to the voyagers who have circumnavigated the Ecliptic; who +rounded the Polar Star as Cape Horn. Then shall the Stagirite and Kant +be forgotten, and another folio than theirs be turned over for wisdom; +even the folio now spread with horoscopes as yet undeciphered, the +heaven of heavens on high. + +Now, in old Jarl's lingo there was never an idiom. Your aboriginal tar +is too much of a cosmopolitan for that. Long companionship with seamen +of all tribes: Manilla-men, Anglo-Saxons, Cholos, Lascars, and Danes, +wear away in good time all mother-tongue stammerings. You sink your +clan; down goes your nation; you speak a world's language, jovially +jabbering in the Lingua-Franca of the forecastle. + +True to his calling, the Skyeman was very illiterate; witless of +Salamanca, Heidelberg, or Brazen-Nose; in Delhi, had never turned over +the books of the Brahmins. For geography, in which sailors should be +adepts, since they are forever turning over and over the great globe of +globes, poor Jarl was deplorably lacking. According to his view of the +matter, this terraqueous world had been formed in the manner of a tart; +the land being a mere marginal crust, within which rolled the watery +world proper. Such seemed my good Viking's theory of cosmography. As for +other worlds, he weened not of them; yet full as much as Chrysostom. + +Ah, Jarl! an honest, earnest Wight; so true and simple, that the secret +operations of thy soul were more inscrutable than the subtle workings of +Spinoza's. + +Thus much be said of the Skyeman; for he was exceedingly taciturn, and +but seldom will speak for himself. + +Now, higher sympathies apart, for Jarl I had a wonderful liking; for he +loved me; from the first had cleaved to me. + +It is sometimes the case, that an old mariner like him will conceive a +very strong attachment for some young sailor, his shipmate; an +attachment so devoted, as to be wholly inexplicable, unless originating +in that heart-loneliness which overtakes most seamen as they grow aged; +impelling them to fasten upon some chance object of regard. But however +it was, my Viking, thy unbidden affection was the noblest homage ever +paid me. And frankly, I am more inclined to think well of myself, as in +some way deserving thy devotion, than from the rounded compliments of +more cultivated minds. + +Now, at sea, and in the fellowship of sailors, all men appear as they +are. No school like a ship for studying human nature. The contact of one +man with another is too near and constant to favor deceit. You wear your +character as loosely as your flowing trowsers. Vain all endeavors to +assume qualities not yours; or to conceal those you possess. Incognitos, +however desirable, are out of the question. And thus aboard of all ships +in which I have sailed, I have invariably been known by a sort of +thawing-room title. Not,--let me hurry to say,--that I put hand in tar +bucket with a squeamish air, or ascended the rigging with a +Chesterfieldian mince. No, no, I was never better than my vocation; and +mine have been many. I showed as brown a chest, and as hard a hand, as +the tarriest tar of them all. And never did shipmate of mine upbraid me +with a genteel disinclination to duty, though it carried me to truck of +main-mast, or jib-boom-end, in the most wolfish blast that ever howled. + +Whence then, this annoying appellation? for annoying it most assuredly +was. It was because of something in me that could not be hidden; +stealing out in an occasional polysyllable; an otherwise +incomprehensible deliberation in dining; remote, unguarded allusions to +Belles-Lettres affairs; and other trifles superfluous to mention. + +But suffice it to say, that it had gone abroad among the Arcturion's +crew, that at some indefinite period of my career, I had been a "nob." +But Jarl seemed to go further. He must have taken me for one of the +House of Hanover in disguise; or, haply, for bonneted Charles Edward the +Pretender, who, like the Wandering Jew, may yet be a vagrant. At any +rate, his loyalty was extreme. Unsolicited, he was my laundress and +tailor; a most expert one, too; and when at meal-times my turn came +round to look out at the mast-head, or stand at the wheel, he catered +for me among the "kids" in the forecastle with unwearied assiduity. +Many's the good lump of "duff" for which I was indebted to my good +Viking's good care of me. And like Sesostris I was served by a monarch. +Yet in some degree the obligation was mutual. For be it known that, in +sea-parlance, we were _chummies._ + +Now this _chummying_ among sailors is like the brotherhood subsisting +between a brace of collegians (chums) rooming together. It is a Fidus-Achates-ship, a league of offense and defense, a copartnership of chests +and toilets, a bond of love and good feeling, and a mutual championship +of the absent one. True, my nautical reminiscenses remind me of sundry +lazy, ne'er-do-well, unprofitable, and abominable chummies; chummies, +who at meal times were last at the "kids," when their unfortunate +partners were high upon the spars; chummies, who affected awkwardness at +the needle, and conscientious scruples about dabbling in the suds; so +that chummy the simple was made to do all the work of the firm, while +chummy the cunning played the sleeping partner in his hammock. Out upon +such chummies! + +But I appeal to thee, honest Jarl, if I was ever chummy the cunning. +Never mind if thou didst fabricate my tarpaulins; and with Samaritan +charity bind up the rents, and pour needle and thread into the frightful +gashes that agonized my hapless nether integuments, which thou calledst +"ducks;"--Didst thou not expressly declare, that all these things, and +more, thou wouldst do for me, despite my own quaint thimble, fashioned +from the ivory tusk of a whale? Nay; could I even wrest from thy willful +hands my very shirt, when once thou hadst it steaming in an unsavory +pickle in thy capacious vat, a decapitated cask? Full well thou knowest, +Jarl, that these things are true; and I am bound to say it, to disclaim +any lurking desire to reap advantage from thy great good nature. + +Now my Viking for me, thought I, when I cast about for a comrade; and my +Viking alone. + + + +CHAPTER IV A Chat In The Clouds + + +The Skyeman seemed so earnest and upright a seaman, that to tell the +plain truth, in spite of his love for me, I had many misgivings as to +his readiness to unite in an undertaking which apparently savored of a +moral dereliction. But all things considered, I deemed my own resolution +quite venial; and as for inducing another to join me, it seemed a +precaution so indispensable, as to outweigh all other considerations. + +Therefore I resolved freely to open my heart to him; for that special +purpose paying him a visit, when, like some old albatross in the air, he +happened to be perched at the foremast-head, all by himself, on the +lookout for whales never seen. + +Now this standing upon a bit of stick 100 feet aloft for hours at a +time, swiftly sailing over the sea, is very much like crossing the +Channel in a balloon. Manfred-like, you talk to the clouds: you have a +fellow feeling for the sun. And when Jarl and I got conversing up there, +smoking our dwarfish "dudeens," any sea-gull passing by might have taken +us for Messrs. Blanchard and Jeffries, socially puffing their after-dinner Bagdads, bound to Calais, via Heaven, from Dover. Honest Jarl, I +acquainted with all: my conversation with the captain, the hint implied +in his last words, my firm resolve to quit the ship in one of her boats, +and the facility with which I thought the thing could be done. Then I +threw out many inducements, in the shape of pleasant anticipations of +bearing right down before the wind upon the sunny isles under our lee. + +He listened attentively; but so long remained silent that I almost +fancied there was something in Jarl which would prove too much for me +and my eloquence. + +At last he very bluntly declared that the scheme was a crazy one; he had +never known of such a thing but thrice before; and in every case the +runaways had never afterwards been heard of. He entreated me to renounce +my determination, not be a boy, pause and reflect, stick to the ship, +and go home in her like a man. Verily, my Viking talked to me like my +uncle. + +But to all this I turned a deaf ear; affirming that my mind was made up; +and that as he refused to accompany me, and I fancied no one else for a +comrade, I would go stark alone rather than not at all. Upon this, +seeing my resolution immovable, he bluntly swore that he would follow me +through thick and thin. + +Thanks, Jarl! thou wert one of those devoted fellows who will wrestle +hard to convince one loved of error; but failing, forthwith change their +wrestling to a sympathetic hug. + +But now his elderly prudence came into play. Casting his eye over the +boundless expanse below, he inquired how far off were the islands in +question. + +"A thousand miles and no less." + +"With a fair trade breeze, then, and a boat sail, that is a good twelve +days' passage, but calms and currents may make it a month, perhaps +more." So saying, he shook his old head, and his yellow hair streamed. + +But trying my best to chase away these misgivings, he at last gave them +over. He assured me I might count upon him to his uttermost keel. + +My Viking secured, I felt more at ease; and thoughtfully considered how +the enterprise might best be accomplished. + +There was no time to be lost. Every hour was carrying us farther and +farther from the parallel most desirable for us to follow in our route +to the westward. So, with all possible dispatch, I matured my plans, and +communicated them to Jarl, who gave several old hints--having ulterior +probabilities in view--which were not neglected. + +Strange to relate, it was not till my Viking, with a rueful face, +reminded me of the fact, that I bethought me of a circumstance somewhat +alarming at the first blush. We must push off without chart or quadrant; +though, as will shortly be seen, a compass was by no means out of the +question. The chart, to be sure, I did not so much lay to heart; but a +quadrant was more than desirable. Still, it was by no means +indispensable. For this reason. When we started, our latitude would be +exactly known; and whether, on our voyage westward, we drifted north or +south therefrom, we could not, by any possibility, get so far out of our +reckoning, as to fail in striking some one of a long chain of islands, +which, for many degrees, on both sides of the equator, stretched right +across our track. + +For much the same reason, it mattered little, whether on our passage we +daily knew our longitude; for no known land lay between us and the place +we desired to reach. So what could be plainer than this: that if +westward we patiently held on our way, we must eventually achieve our +destination? + +As for intervening shoals or reefs, if any there were, they intimidated +us not. In a boat that drew but a few inches of water, but an +indifferent look-out would preclude all danger on that score. At all +events, the thing seemed feasible enough, notwithstanding old Jarl's +superstitious reverence for nautical instruments, and the philosophical +objections which might have been urged by a pedantic disciple of +Mercator. + +Very often, as the old maxim goes, the simplest things are the most +startling, and that, too, from their very simplicity. So cherish no +alarms, if thus we addressed the setting sun--"Be thou, old pilot, our +guide!" + + + +CHAPTER V Seats Secured And Portmanteaus Packed + + +But thoughts of sextants and quadrants were the least of our cares. + +Right from under the very arches of the eyebrows of thirty men--captain, +mates, and crew--a boat was to be abstracted; they knowing nothing of +the event, until all knowledge would prove unavailing. + +Hark ye: + +At sea, the boats of a South Sea-man (generally four in number, spare +ones omitted,) are suspended by tackles, hooked above, to curved timbers +called "davits," vertically fixed to the ship's sides. + +Now, no fair one with golden locks is more assiduously waited upon, or +more delicately handled by her tire-women, than the slender whale-boat +by her crew. And out of its element, it seems fragile enough to justify +the utmost solicitude. For truly, like a fine lady, the fine whale-boat +is most delicate when idle, though little coy at a pinch. + +Besides the "davits," the following supports are provided Two small +cranes are swung under the keel, on which the latter rests, preventing +the settling of the boat's middle, while hanging suspended by the bow +and stern. A broad, braided, hempen band, usually worked in a tasteful +pattern, is also passed round both gunwales; and secured to the ship's +bulwarks, firmly lashes the craft to its place. Being elevated above the +ship's rail, the boats are in plain sight from all parts of the deck. + +Now, one of these boats was to be made way with. No facile matter, +truly. Harder than for any dashing young Janizary to run off with a +sultana from the Grand Turk's seraglio. Still, the thing could be done, +for, by Jove, it had been. + +What say you to slyly loosing every thing by day; and when night comes, +cast off the band and swing in the cranes? But how lower the tackles, +even in the darkest night, without a creaking more fearful than the +death rattle? Easily avoided. Anoint the ropes, and they will travel +deftly through the subtle windings of the blocks. + +But though I had heard of this plan being pursued, there was a degree of +risk in it, after all, which I was far from fancying. Another plan was +hit upon; still bolder; and hence more safe. What it was, in the right +place will be seen. + +In selecting my craft for this good voyage, I would fain have traversed +the deck, and eyed the boats like a cornet choosing his steed from out a +goodly stud. But this was denied me. And the "bow boat" was, perforce, +singled out, as the most remote from the quarter-deck, that region of +sharp eyes and relentless purposes. + +Then, our larder was to be thought of; also, an abundant supply of +water; concerning which last I determined to take good heed. There were +but two to be taken care of; but I resolved to lay in sufficient store +of both meat and drink for four; at the same time that the supplemental +twain thus provided for were but imaginary. And if it came to the last +dead pinch, of which we had no fear, however, I was food for no man but +Jarl. + +Little time was lost in catering for our mess. Biscuit and salt beef +were our sole resource; and, thanks to the generosity of the Arcturion's +owners, our ship's company had a plentiful supply. Casks of both, with +heads knocked out, were at the service of all. In bags which we made for +the purpose, a sufficiency of the biscuit was readily stored away, and +secreted in a corner of easy access. The salt beef was more difficult to +obtain; but, little by little, we managed to smuggle out of the cask +enough to answer our purpose. + +As for water, most luckily a day or two previous several "breakers" of +it had been hoisted from below for the present use of the ship's +company. + +These "breakers" are casks, long and slender, but very strong. Of +various diameters, they are made on purpose to stow into spaces +intervening between the immense butts in a ship's hold. + +The largest we could find was selected, first carefully examining it to +detect any leak. On some pretense or other, we then rolled them all over +to that side of the vessel where our boat was suspended, the selected +breaker being placed in their middle. + +Our compendious wardrobes were snugly packed into bundles and laid aside +for the present. And at last, by due caution, we had every thing +arranged preliminary to the final start. Let me say, though, perhaps to +the credit of Jarl, that whenever the most strategy was necessary, he +seemed ill at ease, and for the most part left the matter to me. It was +well that he did; for as it was, by his untimely straight-forwardness, +he once or twice came near spoiling every thing. Indeed, on one occasion +he was so unseasonably blunt, that curiously enough, I had almost +suspected him of taking that odd sort of interest in one's welfare, +which leads a philanthropist, all other methods failing, to frustrate a +project deemed bad; by pretending clumsily to favor it. But no +inuendoes; Jarl was a Viking, frank as his fathers; though not so much +of a bucanier. + + + +CHAPTER VI Eight Bells + + +The moon must be monstrous coy, or some things fall out opportunely, or +else almanacs are consulted by nocturnal adventurers; but so it is, that +when Cynthia shows a round and chubby disk, few daring deeds are done. +Though true it may be, that of moonlight nights, jewelers' caskets and +maidens' hearts have been burglariously broken into--and rifled, for +aught Copernicus can tell. + +The gentle planet was in her final quarter, and upon her slender horn I +hung my hopes of withdrawing from the ship undetected. + +Now, making a tranquil passage across the ocean, we kept at this time +what are called among whalemen "boatscrew-watches." That is, instead of +the sailors being divided at night into two bands, alternately on deck +every four hours, there were four watches, each composed of a boat's +crew, the "headsman" (always one of the mates) excepted. To the +officers, this plan gives uninterrupted repose--"all-night-in," as they +call it, and of course greatly lightens the duties of the crew. + +The harpooneers head the boats' crews, and are responsible for the ship +during the continuance of their watches. + +Now, my Viking being a stalwart seaman, pulled the midship oar of the +boat of which I was bowsman. Hence, we were in the same watch; to which, +also, three others belonged, including Mark, the harpooner. One of these +seamen, however, being an invalid, there were only two left for us to +manage. + +Voyaging in these seas, you may glide along for weeks without starting +tack or sheet, hardly moving the helm a spoke, so mild and constant are +the Trades. At night, the watch seldom trouble themselves with keeping +much of a look-out; especially, as a strange sail is almost a prodigy in +these lonely waters. In some ships, for weeks in and weeks out, you are +puzzled to tell when your nightly turn on deck really comes round; so +little heed is given to the standing of watches, where in the license of +presumed safety, nearly every one nods without fear. + +But remiss as you may be in the boats-crew-watch of a heedless whaleman, +the man who heads it is bound to maintain his post on the quarter-deck +until regularly relieved. Yet drowsiness being incidental to all +natures, even to Napoleon, beside his own sentry napping in the snowy +bivouac; so, often, in snowy moonlight, or ebon eclipse, dozed Mark, our +harpooneer. Lethe be his portion this blessed night, thought I, as +during the morning which preceded our enterprise, I eyed the man who +might possibly cross my plans. + +But let me come closer to this part of my story. During what are called +at sea the "dog-watches" (between four o'clock and eight in the +evening), sailors are quite lively and frolicsome; their spirits even +flow far into the first of the long "night-watches;" but upon its +expiration at "eight bells" (midnight), silence begins to reign; if you +hear a voice it is no cherub's: all exclamations are oaths. + +At eight bells, the mariners on deck, now relieved from their cares, +crawl out from their sleepy retreats in old monkey jackets, or coils of +rigging, and hie to their hammocks, almost without interrupting their +dreams: while the sluggards below lazily drag themselves up the ladder +to resume their slumbers in the open air. + +For these reasons then, the moonless sea midnight was just the time to +escape. Hence, we suffered a whole day to pass unemployed; waiting for +the night, when the star board-quarter-boats'-watch, to which we +belonged, would be summoned on deck at the eventful eight of the bell. + +But twenty-four hours soon glide away; and "Starboleens ahoy; eight +bells there below;" at last started me from a troubled doze. + +I sprang from my hammock, and would have lighted my pipe. But the +forecastle lamp had gone out. An old sea-dog was talking about sharks in +his sleep. Jarl and our solitary watch-mate were groping their way into +their trowsers. And little was heard but the humming of the still sails +aloft; the dash of the waves against the bow; and the deep breathing of +the dreaming sailors around. + + + +CHAPTER VII A Pause + + +Good old Arcturion! Maternal craft; that rocked me so often in thy heart +of oak, I grieve to tell how I deserted thee on the broad deep. So far +from home, with such a motley crew, so many islanders, whose heathen +babble echoing through thy Christian hull, must have grated harshly on +every carline. + +Old ship! where sails thy lone ghost now? For of the stout Arcturion no +word was ever heard, from the dark hour we pushed from her fated planks. +In what time of tempest, to what seagull's scream, the drowning eddies +did their work, knows no mortal man. Sunk she silently, helplessly, into +the calm depths of that summer sea, assassinated by the ruthless blade +of the swordfish? Such things have been. Or was hers a better fate? +Stricken down while gallantly battling with the blast; her storm-sails +set; helm manned; and every sailor at his post; as sunk the Hornet, her +men at quarters, in some distant gale. + +But surmises are idle. A very old craft, she may have foundered; or laid +her bones upon some treacherous reef; but as with many a far rover, her +fate is a mystery. + +Pray Heaven, the spirit of that lost vessel roaming abroad through the +troubled mists of midnight gales--as old mariners believe of missing +ships--may never haunt my future path upon the waves. Peacefully may she +rest at the bottom of the sea; and sweetly sleep my shipmates in the +lowest watery zone, where prowling sharks come not, nor billows roll. + +By quitting the Arcturion when we did, Jarl and I unconsciously eluded a +sailor's grave. We hear of providential deliverances. Was this one? But +life is sweet to all, death comes as hard. And for myself I am almost +tempted to hang my head, that I escaped the fate of my shipmates; +something like him who blushed to have escaped the fell carnage at +Thermopylae. + +Though I can not repress a shudder when I think of that old ship's end, +it is impossible for me so much as to imagine, that our deserting her +could have been in any way instrumental in her loss. Nevertheless, I +would to heaven the Arcturion still floated; that it was given me once +more to tread her familiar decks. + + + +CHAPTER VIII They Push Off, Velis Et Remis + + +And now to tell how, tempted by devil or good angel, and a thousand +miles from land, we embarked upon this western voyage. + +It was midnight, mark you, when our watch began; and my turn at the helm +now coming on was of course to be avoided. On some plausible pretense, I +induced our solitary watchmate to assume it; thus leaving myself +untrammeled, and at the same time satisfactorily disposing of him. For +being a rather fat fellow, an enormous consumer of "duff," and with good +reason supposed to be the son of a farmer, I made no doubt, he would +pursue his old course and fall to nodding over the wheel. As for the +leader of the watch--our harpooner--he fell heir to the nest of old +jackets, under the lee of the mizzen-mast, left nice and warm by his +predecessor. + +The night was even blacker than we had anticipated; there was no trace +of a moon; and the dark purple haze, sometimes encountered at night near +the Line, half shrouded the stars from view. + +Waiting about twenty minutes after the last man of the previous watch +had gone below, I motioned to Jarl, and we slipped our shoes from our +feet. He then descended into the forecastle, and I sauntered aft toward +the quarter-deck. All was still. Thrice did I pass my hand full before +the face of the slumbering lubber at the helm, and right between him and +the light of the binnacle. + +Mark, the harpooneer, was not so easily sounded. I feared to approach +him. He lay quietly, though; but asleep or awake, no more delay. Risks +must be run, when time presses. And our ears were a pointer's to catch a +sound. + +To work we went, without hurry, but swiftly and silently. Our various +stores were dragged from their lurking-places, and placed in the boat, +which hung from the ship's lee side, the side depressed in the water, an +indispensable requisite to an attempt at escape. And though at sundown +the boat was to windward, yet, as we had foreseen, the vessel having +been tacked during the first watch, brought it to leeward. + +Endeavoring to manhandle our clumsy breaker, and lift it into the boat, +we found, that by reason of the intervention of the shrouds, it could +not be done without, risking a jar; besides straining the craft in +lowering. An expedient, however, though at the eleventh hour, was hit +upon. Fastening a long rope to the breaker, which was perfectly tight, +we cautiously dropped it overboard; paying out enough line, to insure +its towing astern of the ship, so as not to strike against the copper. +The other end of the line we then secured to the boat's stern. + +Fortunately, this was the last thing to be done; for the breaker, acting +as a clog to the vessel's way in the water, so affected her steering as +to fling her perceptibly into the wind. And by causing the helm to work, +this must soon rouse the lubber there stationed, if not already awake. +But our dropping overboard the breaker greatly aided us in this respect: +it diminished the ship's headway; which owing to the light breeze had +not been very great at any time during the night. Had it been so, all +hope of escaping without first arresting the vessel's progress, would +have been little short of madness. As it was, the sole daring of the +deed that night achieved, consisted in our lowering away while the ship +yet clove the brine, though but moderately. + +All was now ready: the cranes swung in, the lashings adrift, and the +boat fairly suspended; when, seizing the ends of the tackle ropes, we +silently stepped into it, one at each end. The dead weight of the +breaker astern now dragged the craft horizontally through the air, so +that her tackle ropes strained hard. She quivered like a dolphin. +Nevertheless, had we not feared her loud splash upon striking the wave, +we might have quitted the ship almost as silently as the breath the +body. But this was out of the question, and our plans were laid +accordingly. + +"All ready, Jarl?" + +"Ready." + +"A man overboard!" I shouted at the top of my compass; and like +lightning the cords slid through our blistering hands, and with a +tremendous shock the boat bounded on the sea's back. One mad sheer and +plunge, one terrible strain on the tackles as we sunk in the trough of +the waves, tugged upon by the towing breaker, and our knives severed the +tackle ropes--we hazarded not unhooking the blocks--our oars were out, +and the good boat headed round, with prow to leeward. + +"Man overboard!" was now shouted from stem to stern. And directly we +heard the confused tramping and shouting of the sailors, as they rushed +from their dreams into the almost inscrutable darkness. + +"Man overboard! Man overboard!" My heart smote me as the human cry of +horror came out of the black vaulted night. + +"Down helm!" was soon heard from the chief mate. "Back the main-yard! +Quick to the boats! How's this? One down already? Well done! Hold on, +then, those other boats!" + +Meanwhile several seamen were shouting as they strained at the braces. + +"Cut! cut all! Lower away! lower away!" impatiently cried the sailors, +who already had leaped into the boats. + +"Heave the ship to, and hold fast every thing," cried the captain, +apparently just springing to the deck. "One boat's enough. Steward; show +a light there from the mizzen-top. Boat ahoy!--Have you got that man?" + +No reply. The voice came out of a cloud; the ship dimly showing like a +ghost. We had desisted from rowing, and hand over hand were now hauling +in upon the rope attached to the breaker, which we soon lifted into the +boat, instantly resuming our oars. + +"Pull! pull, men! and save him!" again shouted the captain. + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Jarl instinctively, "pulling as hard as ever we +can, sir." + +And pull we did, till nothing could be heard from the ship but a +confused tumult; and, ever and anon, the hoarse shout of the captain, +too distant to be understood. + +We now set our sail to a light air; and right into the darkness, and +dead to leeward, we rowed and sailed till morning dawned. + + + +CHAPTER IX The Watery World Is All Before Them + + +At sea in an open boat, and a thousand miles from land! + +Shortly after the break of day, in the gray transparent light, a speck +to windward broke the even line of the horizon. It was the ship wending +her way north-eastward. + +Had I not known the final indifference of sailors to such disasters as +that which the Arcturion's crew must have imputed to the night past (did +not the skipper suspect the truth) I would have regarded that little +speck with many compunctions of conscience. Nor, as it was, did I feel +in any very serene humor. For the consciousness of being deemed dead, is +next to the presumable unpleasantness of being so in reality. One feels +like his own ghost unlawfully tenanting a defunct carcass. Even Jarl's +glance seemed so queer, that I begged him to look another way. + +Secure now from all efforts of the captain to recover those whom he most +probably supposed lost; and equally cut off from all hope of returning +to the ship even had we felt so inclined; the resolution that had thus +far nerved me, began to succumb in a measure to the awful loneliness of +the scene. Ere this, I had regarded the ocean as a slave, the steed that +bore me whither I listed, and whose vicious propensities, mighty though +they were, often proved harmless, when opposed to the genius of man. But +now, how changed! In our frail boat, I would fain have built an altar to +Neptune. + +What a mere toy we were to the billows, that jeeringly shouldered us +from crest to crest, as from hand to hand lost souls may be tossed along +by the chain of shades which enfilade the route to Tartarus. + +But drown or swim, here's overboard with care! Cheer up, Jarl! Ha! Ha! +how merrily, yet terribly, we sail! Up, up--slowly up--toiling up the +long, calm wave; then balanced on its summit a while, like a plank on a +rail; and down, we plunge headlong into the seething abyss, till +arrested, we glide upward again. And thus did we go. Now buried in +watery hollows--our sail idly flapping; then lifted aloft--canvas +bellying; and beholding the furthest horizon. + +Had not our familiarity with the business of whaling divested our +craft's wild motions of its first novel horrors, we had been but a +rueful pair. But day-long pulls after whales, the ship left miles +astern; and entire dark nights passed moored to the monsters, killed too +late to be towed to the ship far to leeward:--all this, and much more, +accustoms one to strange things. Death, to be sure, has a mouth as black +as a wolf's, and to be thrust into his jaws is a serious thing. But true +it most certainly is--and I speak from no hearsay--that to sailors, as a +class, the grisly king seems not half so hideous as he appears to those +who have only regarded him on shore, and at a deferential distance. Like +many ugly mortals, his features grow less frightful upon acquaintance; +and met over often and sociably, the old adage holds true, about +familiarity breeding contempt. Thus too with soldiers. Of the quaking +recruit, three pitched battles make a grim grenadier; and he who shrank +from the muzzle of a cannon, is now ready to yield his mustache for a +sponge. + +And truly, since death is the last enemy of all, valiant souls will +taunt him while they may. Yet rather, should the wise regard him as the +inflexible friend, who, even against our own wills, from life's evils +triumphantly relieves us. + +And there is but little difference in the manner of dying. To die, is +all. And death has been gallantly encountered by those who never beheld +blood that was red, only its light azure seen through the veins. And to +yield the ghost proudly, and march out of your fortress with all the +honors of war, is not a thing of sinew and bone. Though in prison, +Geoffry Hudson, the dwarf, died more bravely than Goliah, the giant; and +the last end of a butterfly shames us all. Some women have lived nobler +lives, and died nobler deaths, than men. Threatened with the stake, +mitred Cranmer recanted; but through her fortitude, the lorn widow of +Edessa stayed the tide of Valens' persecutions. 'Tis no great valor to +perish sword in hand, and bravado on lip; cased all in panoply complete. +For even the alligator dies in his mail, and the swordfish never +surrenders. To expire, mild-eyed, in one's bed, transcends the death of +Epaminondas. + + + +CHAPTER X They Arrange Their Canopies And Lounges, And Try To Make +Things Comfortable + + +Our little craft was soon in good order. From the spare rigging brought +along, we made shrouds to the mast, and converted the boat-hook into a +handy boom for the jib. Going large before the wind, we set this sail +wing-and-wing with the main-sail. The latter, in accordance with the +customary rig of whale-boats, was worked with a sprit and sheet. It +could be furled or set in an instant. The bags of bread we stowed away +in the covered space about the loggerhead, a useless appurtenance now, +and therefore removed. At night, Jarl used it for a pillow; saying, that +when the boat rolled it gave easy play to his head. The precious breaker +we lashed firmly amidships; thereby much improving our sailing. + +Now, previous to leaving the ship, we had seen to it well, that our +craft was supplied with all those equipments, with which, by the +regulations of the fishery, a whale-boat is constantly provided: night +and day, afloat or suspended. Hanging along our gunwales inside, were +six harpoons, three lances, and a blubber-spade; all keen as razors, and +sheathed with leather. Besides these, we had three waifs, a couple of +two-gallon water-kegs, several bailers, the boat-hatchet for cutting the +whale-line, two auxiliary knives for the like purpose, and several minor +articles, also employed in hunting the leviathan. The line and line-tub, +however, were on ship-board. + +And here it may be mentioned, that to prevent the strain upon the boat +when suspended to the ship's side, the heavy whale-line, over two +hundred fathoms in length, and something more than an inch in diameter, +when not in use is kept on ship-board, coiled away like an endless snake +in its tub. But this tub is always in readiness to be launched into the +boat. Now, having no use for the line belonging to our craft, we had +purposely left it behind. + +But well had we marked that by far the most important item of a whale-boat's furniture was snugly secured in its place. This was the water-tight keg, at both ends firmly headed, containing a small compass, +tinder-box and flint, candles, and a score or two of biscuit. This keg +is an invariable precaution against what so frequently occurs in +pursuing the sperm whale--prolonged absence from the ship, losing sight +of her, or never seeing her more, till years after you reach home again. +In this same keg of ours seemed coopered up life and death, at least so +seemed it to honest Jarl. No sooner had we got clear from the Arcturion, +than dropping his oar for an instant, he clutched at it in the dark. + +And when day at last came, we knocked out the head of the keg with the +little hammer and chisel, always attached to it for that purpose, and +removed the compass, that glistened to us like a human eye. Then filling +up the vacancy with biscuit, we again made all tight, driving down the +hoops till they would budge no more. + +At first we were puzzled to fix our compass. But at last the Skyeman out +knife, and cutting a round hole in the after-most thwart, or seat of the +boat, there inserted the little brass case containing the needle. + +Over the stern of the boat, with some old canvas which my Viking's +forethought had provided, we spread a rude sort of awning, or rather +counterpane. This, however, proved but little or no protection from the +glare of the sun; for the management of the main-sail forbade any +considerable elevation of the shelter. And when the breeze was fresh, we +were fain to strike it altogether; for the wind being from aft, and +getting underneath the canvas, almost lifted the light boat's stem into +the air, vexing the counterpane as if it were a petticoat turning a +gusty corner. But when a mere breath rippled the sea, and the sun was +fiery hot, it was most pleasant to lounge in this shady asylum. It was +like being transferred from the roast to cool in the cupboard. And Jarl, +much the toughest fowl of the two, out of an abundant kindness for his +comrade, during the day voluntarily remained exposed at the helm, almost +two hours to my one. No lady-like scruples had he, the old Viking, about +marring his complexion, which already was more than bronzed. Over the +ordinary tanning of the sailor, he seemed masked by a visor of +japanning, dotted all over with freckles, so intensely yellow, and +symmetrically circular, that they seemed scorched there by a burning +glass. + +In the tragico-comico moods which at times overtook me, I used to look +upon the brown Skyeman with humorous complacency. If we fall in with +cannibals, thought I, then, ready-roasted Norseman that thou art, shall +I survive to mourn thee; at least, during the period I revolve upon the +spit. + +But of such a fate, it needs hardly be said, we had no apprehension. + + + +CHAPTER XI Jarl Afflicted With The Lockjaw + + +If ever again I launch whale-boat from sheer-plank of ship at sea, I +shall take good heed, that my comrade be a sprightly fellow, with a +rattle-box head. Be he never so silly, his very silliness, so long as he +be lively at it, shall be its own excuse. + +Upon occasion, who likes not a lively loon, one of your giggling, +gamesome oafs, whose mouth is a grin? Are not such, well-ordered +dispensations of Providence? filling up vacuums, in intervals of social +stagnation relieving the tedium of existing? besides keeping up, here +and there, in very many quarters indeed, sundry people's good opinion of +themselves? What, if at times their speech is insipid as water after +wine? What, if to ungenial and irascible souls, their very "mug" is an +exasperation to behold, their clack an inducement to suicide? Let us not +be hard upon them for this; but let them live on for the good they may +do. + +But Jarl, dear, dumb Jarl, thou wert none of these. Thou didst carry a +phiz like an excommunicated deacon's. And no matter what happened, it +was ever the same. Quietly, in thyself, thou didst revolve upon thine +own sober axis, like a wheel in a machine which forever goes round, +whether you look at it or no. Ay, Jarl! wast thou not forever intent +upon minding that which so many neglect--thine own especial business? +Wast thou not forever at it, too, with no likelihood of ever winding up +thy moody affairs, and striking a balance sheet? + +But at times how wearisome to me these everlasting reveries in my one +solitary companion. I longed for something enlivening; a burst of words; +human vivacity of one kind or other. After in vain essaying to get +something of this sort out of Jarl, I tried it all by myself; playing +upon my body as upon an instrument; singing, halloing, and making empty +gestures, till my Viking stared hard; and I myself paused to consider +whether I had run crazy or no. + +But how account for the Skyeman's gravity? Surely, it was based upon no +philosophic taciturnity; he was nothing of an idealist; an aerial +architect; a constructor of flying buttresses. It was inconceivable, +that his reveries were Manfred-like and exalted, reminiscent of +unutterable deeds, too mysterious even to be indicated by the remotest +of hints. Suppositions all out of the question. + +His ruminations were a riddle. I asked him anxiously, whether, in any +part of the world, Savannah, Surat, or Archangel, he had ever a wife to +think of; or children, that he carried so lengthy a phiz. Nowhere +neither. Therefore, as by his own confession he had nothing to think of +but himself, and there was little but honesty in him (having which, by +the way, he may be thought full to the brim), what could I fall back +upon but my original theory: namely, that in repose, his intellects +stepped out, and left his body to itself. + + + +CHAPTER XII More About Being In An Open Boat + + +On the third morning, at break of day, I sat at the steering oar, an +hour or two previous having relieved Jarl, now fast asleep. Somehow, and +suddenly, a sense of peril so intense, came over me, that it could +hardly have been aggravated by the completest solitude. + +On a ship's deck, the mere feeling of elevation above the water, and the +reach of prospect you command, impart a degree of confidence which +disposes you to exult in your fancied security. But in an open boat, +brought down to the very plane of the sea, this feeling almost wholly +deserts you. Unless the waves, in their gambols, toss you and your chip +upon one of their lordly crests, your sphere of vision is little larger +than it would be at the bottom of a well. At best, your most extended +view in any one direction, at least, is in a high, slow-rolling sea; +when you descend into the dark, misty spaces, between long and uniform +swells. Then, for the moment, it is like looking up and down in a +twilight glade, interminable; where two dawns, one on each hand, seem +struggling through the semi-transparent tops of the fluid mountains. + +But, lingering not long in those silent vales, from watery cliff to +cliff, a sea-chamois, sprang our solitary craft,--a goat among the Alps! + +How undulated the horizon; like a vast serpent with ten thousand folds +coiled all round the globe; yet so nigh, apparently, that it seemed as +if one's hand might touch it. + +What loneliness; when the sun rose, and spurred up the heavens, we +hailed him as a wayfarer in Sahara the sight of a distant horseman. Save +ourselves, the sun and the Chamois seemed all that was left of life in +the universe. We yearned toward its jocund disk, as in strange lands the +traveler joyfully greets a face from home, which there had passed +unheeded. And was not the sun a fellow-voyager? were we not both wending +westward? But how soon he daily overtook and passed us; hurrying to his +journey's end. + +When a week had gone by, sailing steadily on, by day and by night, and +nothing in sight but this self-same sea, what wonder if disquieting +thoughts at last entered our hearts? If unknowingly we should pass the +spot where, according to our reckoning, our islands lay, upon what +shoreless sea would we launch? At times, these forebodings bewildered my +idea of the positions of the groups beyond. All became vague and +confused; so that westward of the Kingsmil isles and the Radack chain, I +fancied there could be naught but an endless sea. + + + +CHAPTER XIII Of The Chondropterygii, And Other Uncouth Hordes Infesting +The South Seas + + +At intervals in our lonely voyage, there were sights which diversified +the scene; especially when the constellation Pisces was in the +ascendant. + +It's famous botanizing, they say, in Arkansas' boundless prairies; I +commend the student of Ichthyology to an open boat, and the ocean moors +of the Pacific. As your craft glides along, what strange monsters float +by. Elsewhere, was never seen their like. And nowhere are they found in +the books of the naturalists. + +Though America be discovered, the Cathays of the deep are unknown. And +whoso crosses the Pacific might have read lessons to Buffon. The sea-serpent is not a fable; and in the sea, that snake is but a garden worm. +There are more wonders than the wonders rejected, and more sights +unrevealed than you or I ever ever dreamt of. Moles and bats alone +should be skeptics; and the only true infidelity is for a live man to +vote himself dead. Be Sir Thomas Brown our ensample; who, while +exploding "Vulgar Errors," heartily hugged all the mysteries in the +Pentateuch. + +But look! fathoms down in the sea; where ever saw you a phantom like +that? An enormous crescent with antlers like a reindeer, and a Delta of +mouths. Slowly it sinks, and is seen no more. + +Doctor Faust saw the devil; but you have seen the "Devil Fish." + +Look again! Here comes another. Jarl calls it a Bone Shark. Full as +large as a whale, it is spotted like a leopard; and tusk-like teeth +overlap its jaws like those of the walrus. To seamen, nothing strikes +more terror than the near vicinity of a creature like this. Great ships +steer out of its path. And well they may; since the good craft Essex, +and others, have been sunk by sea-monsters, as the alligator thrusts his +horny snout through a Carribean canoe. + +Ever present to us, was the apprehension of some sudden disaster from +the extraordinary zoological specimens we almost hourly passed. + +For the sharks, we saw them, not by units, nor by tens, nor by hundreds; +but by thousands and by myriads. Trust me, there are more sharks in the +sea than mortals on land. + +And of these prolific fish there are full as many species as of dogs. +But by the German naturalists Muller and Henle, who, in christening the +sharks, have bestowed upon them the most heathenish names, they are +classed under one family; which family, according to Muller, king-at-arms, is an undoubted branch of the ancient and famous tribe of the +Chondropterygii. + +To begin. There is the ordinary Brown Shark, or sea attorney, so called +by sailors; a grasping, rapacious varlet, that in spite of the hard +knocks received from it, often snapped viciously at our steering oar. At +times, these gentry swim in herds; especially about the remains of a +slaughtered whale. They are the vultures of the deep. + +Then we often encountered the dandy Blue Shark, a long, taper and mighty +genteel looking fellow, with a slender waist, like a Bond-street beau, +and the whitest tiers of teeth imaginable. This dainty spark invariably +lounged by with a careless fin and an indolent tail. But he looked +infernally heartless. + +How his cold-blooded, gentlemanly air, contrasted with the rude, savage +swagger of the Tiger Shark; a round, portly gourmand; with distended +mouth and collapsed conscience, swimming about seeking whom he might +devour. These gluttons are the scavengers of navies, following ships in +the South Seas, picking up odds and ends of garbage, and sometimes a +tit-bit, a stray sailor. No wonder, then, that sailors denounce them. In +substance, Jarl once assured me, that under any temporary misfortune, it +was one of his sweetest consolations to remember, that in his day, he +had murdered, not killed, shoals of Tiger Sharks. + +Yet this is all wrong. As well hate a seraph, as a shark. Both were made +by the same hand. And that sharks are lovable, witness their domestic +endearments. No Fury so ferocious, as not to have some amiable side. In +the wild wilderness, a leopard-mother caresses her cub, as Hagar did +Ishmael; or a queen of France the dauphin. We know not what we do when +we hate. And I have the word of my gentlemanly friend Stanhope, for it; +that he who declared he loved a good hater was but a respectable sort of +Hottentot, at best. No very genteel epithet this, though coming from the +genteelest of men. But when the digger of dictionaries said that saying +of his, he was assuredly not much of a Christian. However, it is hard +for one given up to constitutional hypos like him; to be filled with the +milk and meekness of the gospels. Yet, with deference, I deny that my +old uncle Johnson really believed in the sentiment ascribed to him. Love +a hater, indeed! Who smacks his lips over gall? Now hate is a thankless +thing. So, let us only hate hatred; and once give love play, we will +fall in love with a unicorn. Ah! the easiest way is the best; and to +hate, a man must work hard. Love is a delight; but hate a torment. And +haters are thumbscrews, Scotch boots, and Spanish inquisitions to +themselves. In five words--would they were a Siamese diphthong--he who +hates is a fool. + +For several days our Chamois was followed by two of these aforesaid +Tiger Sharks. A brace of confidential inseparables, jogging along in our +wake, side by side, like a couple of highwaymen, biding their time till +you come to the cross-roads. But giving it up at last, for a bootless +errand, they dropped farther and farther astern, until completely out of +sight. Much to the Skyeman's chagrin; who long stood in the stern, lance +poised for a dart. + +But of all sharks, save me from the ghastly White Shark. For though we +should hate naught, yet some dislikes are spontaneous; and disliking is +not hating. And never yet could I bring myself to be loving, or even +sociable, with a White Shark. He is not the sort of creature to enlist +young affections. + +This ghost of a fish is not often encountered, and shows plainer by +night than by day. Timon-like, he always swims by himself; gliding along +just under the surface, revealing a long, vague shape, of a milky hue; +with glimpses now and then of his bottomless white pit of teeth. No need +of a dentist hath he. Seen at night, stealing along like a spirit in the +water, with horrific serenity of aspect, the White Shark sent many a +thrill to us twain in the Chamois. + +By day, and in the profoundest calms, oft were we startled by the +ponderous sigh of the grampus, as lazily rising to the surface, he +fetched a long breath after napping below. + +And time and again we watched the darting albicore, the fish with the +chain-plate armor and golden scales; the Nimrod of the seas, to whom so +many flying fish fall a prey. Flying from their pursuers, many of them +flew into our boat. But invariably they died from the shock. No nursing +could restore them. One of their wings I removed, spreading it out to +dry under a weight. In two days' time the thin membrane, all over +tracings like those of a leaf, was transparent as isinglass, and tinted +with brilliant hues, like those of a changing silk. + +Almost every day, we spied Black Fish; coal-black and glossy. They +seemed to swim by revolving round and round in the water, like a wheel; +their dorsal fins, every now and then shooting into view, like spokes. + +Of a somewhat similar species, but smaller, and clipper-built about the +nose, were the Algerines; so called, probably, from their corsair +propensities; waylaying peaceful fish on the high seas, and plundering +them of body and soul at a gulp. Atrocious Turks! a crusade should be +preached against them. + +Besides all these, we encountered Killers and Thrashers, by far the most +spirited and "spunky" of the finny tribes. Though little larger than a +porpoise, a band of them think nothing of assailing leviathan himself. +They bait the monster, as dogs a bull. The Killers seizing the Right +whale by his immense, sulky lower lip, and the Thrashers fastening on to +his back, and beating him with their sinewy tails. Often they come off +conquerors, worrying the enemy to death. Though, sooth to say, if +leviathan gets but one sweep al them with his terrible tail, they go +flying into the air, as if tossed from Taurus' horn. + +This sight we beheld. Had old Wouvermans, who once painted a bull bait, +been along with us, a rare chance, that, for his pencil. And Gudin or +Isabey might have thrown the blue rolling sea into the picture. Lastly, +one of Claude's setting summer suns would have glorified the whole. Oh, +believe me, God's creatures fighting, fin for fin, a thousand miles from +land, and with the round horizon for an arena; is no ignoble subject for +a masterpiece. + +Such are a few of the sights of the great South Sea. But there is no +telling all. The Pacific is populous as China. + + + +CHAPTER XIV Jarl's Misgivings + + +About this time an event took place. My good Viking opened his mouth, +and spoke. The prodigy occurred, as, jacknife in hand, he was bending +over the midship oar; on the loom, or handle, of which he kept our +almanac; making a notch for every set sun. For some forty-eight hours +past, the wind had been light and variable. It was more than suspected +that a current was sweeping us northward. + +Now, marking these things, Jarl threw out the thought, that the more +wind, and the less current, the better; and if a long calm came on, of +which there was some prospect, we had better take to our oars. + +Take to our oars! as if we were crossing a ferry, and no ocean leagues +to traverse. The idea indirectly suggested all possible horrors. To be +rid of them forthwith, I proceeded to dole out our morning meal. For to +make away with such things, there is nothing better than bolting +something down on top of them; albeit, oft repeated, the plan is very +apt to beget dyspepsia; and the dyspepsia the blues. + +But what of our store of provisions? So far as enough to eat was +concerned, we felt not the slightest apprehension; our supplies proving +more abundant than we had anticipated. But, curious to tell, we felt but +little inclination for food. It was water, bright water, cool, sparkling +water, alone, that we craved. And of this, also, our store at first +seemed ample. But as our voyage lengthened, and breezes blew faint, and +calms fell fast, the idea of being deprived of the precious fluid grew +into something little short of a mono-mania; especially with Jarl. + +Every hour or two with the hammer and chisel belonging to the tinder box +keg, he tinkered away at the invaluable breaker; driving down the hoops, +till in his over solicitude, I thought he would burst them outright. + +Now the breaker lay on its bilge, in the middle of the boat, where more +or less sea-water always collected. And ever and anon, dipping his +finger therein, my Viking was troubled with the thought, that this sea-water tasted less brackish than that alongside. Of course the breaker +must be leaking. So, he would turn it over, till its wet side came +uppermost; when it would quickly become dry as a bone. But now, with his +knife, he would gently probe the joints of the staves; shake his head; +look up; look down; taste of the water in the bottom of the boat; then +that of the sea; then lift one end of the breaker; going through with +every test of leakage he could dream of. Nor was he ever fully +satisfied, that the breaker was in all respects sound. But in reality it +was tight as the drum-heads that beat at Cerro-Gordo. Oh! Jarl, Jarl: to +me in the boat's quiet stern, steering and philosophizing at one time +and the same, thou and thy breaker were a study. + +Besides the breaker, we had, full of water, the two boat-kegs, +previously alluded to. These were first used. We drank from them by +their leaden spouts; so many swallows three times in the day; having no +other means of measuring an allowance. But when we came to the breaker, +which had only a bung-hole, though a very large one, dog-like, it was so +many laps apiece; jealously counted by the observer. This plan, however, +was only good for a single day; the water then getting beyond the reach +of the tongue. We therefore daily poured from the breaker into one of +the kegs; and drank from its spout. But to obviate the absorption +inseparable from decanting, we at last hit upon something better,--my +comrade's shoe, which, deprived of its quarters, narrowed at the heel, +and diligently rinsed out in the sea, was converted into a handy but +rather limber ladle. This we kept suspended in the bung-hole of the +breaker, that it might never twice absorb the water. + +Now pewter imparts flavor to ale; a Meerschaum bowl, the same to the +tobacco of Smyrna; and goggle green glasses are deemed indispensable to +the bibbing of Hock. What then shall be said of a leathern goblet for +water? Try it, ye mariners who list. + +One morning, taking his wonted draught, Jarl fished up in his ladle a +deceased insect; something like a Daddy-long-legs, only more corpulent. +Its fate? A sea-toss? Believe it not; with all those precious drops +clinging to its lengthy legs. It was held over the ladle till the last +globule dribbled; and even then, being moist, honest Jarl was but loth +to drop it overboard. + +For our larder, we could not endure the salt beef; it was raw as a live +Abyssinian steak, and salt as Cracow. Besides, the Feegee simile would +not have held good with respect to it. It was far from being "tender as +a dead man." The biscuit only could we eat; not to be wondered at; for +even on shipboard, seamen in the tropics are but sparing feeders. + +And here let not, a suggestion be omitted, most valuable to any future +castaway or sailaway as the case may be. Eat not your biscuit dry; but +dip it in the sea: which makes it more bulky and palatable. During meal +times it was soak and sip with Jarl and me: one on each side of the +Chamois dipping our biscuit in the brine. This plan obviated finger-glasses at the conclusion of our repast. Upon the whole, dwelling upon +the water is not so bad after all. The Chinese are no fools. In the +operation of making your toilet, how handy to float in your ewer! + + + +CHAPTER XV A Stitch In Time Saves Nine + + +Like most silent earnest sort of people, my good Viking was a pattern of +industry. When in the boats after whales, I have known him carry along a +roll of sinnate to stitch into a hat. And the boats lying motionless for +half an hour or so, waiting the rising of the chase, his fingers would +be plying at their task, like an old lady knitting. Like an experienced +old-wife too, his digits had become so expert and conscientious, that +his eyes left them alone; deeming optic supervision unnecessary. And on +this trip of ours, when not otherwise engaged, he was quite as busy with +his fingers as ever: unraveling old Cape Horn hose, for yarn wherewith +to darn our woolen frocks; with great patches from the skirts of a +condemned reefing jacket, panneling the seats of our "ducks;" in short, +veneering our broken garments with all manner of choice old broadcloths. + +With the true forethought of an old tar, he had brought along with him +nearly the whole contents of his chest. His precious "Ditty Bag," +containing his sewing utensils, had been carefully packed away in the +bottom of one of his bundles; of which he had as many as an old maid on +her travels. In truth, an old salt is very much of an old maid, though, +strictly speaking, far from deserving that misdeemed appellative. Better +be an old maid, a woman with herself for a husband, than the wife of a +fool; and Solomon more than hints that all men are fools; and every wise +man knows himself to be one. When playing the sempstress, Jarl's +favorite perch was the triangular little platform in the bow; which +being the driest and most elevated part of the boat, was best adapted to +his purpose. Here for hours and hours together the honest old tailor +would sit darning and sewing away, heedless of the wide ocean around; +while forever, his slouched Guayaquil hat kept bobbing up and down +against the horizon before us. + +It was a most solemn avocation with him. Silently he nodded like the +still statue in the opera of Don Juan. Indeed he never spoke, unless to +give pithy utterance to the wisdom of keeping one's wardrobe in repair. +But herein my Viking at times waxed oracular. And many's the hour we +glided along, myself deeply pondering in the stem, hand upon helm; while +crosslegged at the other end of the boat Jarl laid down patch upon +patch, and at long intervals precept upon precept; here several saws, +and there innumerable stitches. + + + +CHAPTER XVI They Are Becalmed + + +On the eighth day there was a calm. + +It came on by night: so that waking at daybreak, and folding my arms +over the gunwale, I looked out upon a scene very hard to describe. The +sun was still beneath the horizon; perhaps not yet out of sight from the +plains of Paraguay. But the dawn was too strong for the stars; which, +one by one, had gone out, like waning lamps after a ball. + +Now, as the face of a mirror is a blank, only borrowing character from +what it reflects; so in a calm in the Tropics, a colorless sky overhead, +the ocean, upon its surface, hardly presents a sign of existence. The +deep blue is gone; and the glassy element lies tranced; almost viewless +as the air. + +But that morning, the two gray firmaments of sky and water seemed +collapsed into a vague ellipsis. And alike, the Chamois seemed drifting +in the atmosphere as in the sea. Every thing was fused into the calm: +sky, air, water, and all. Not a fish was to be seen. The silence was +that of a vacuum. No vitality lurked in the air. And this inert blending +and brooding of all things seemed gray chaos in conception. + +This calm lasted four days and four nights; during which, but a few +cat's-paws of wind varied the scene. They were faint as the breath of +one dying. + +At times the heat was intense. The heavens, at midday, glowing like an +ignited coal mine. Our skin curled up like lint; our vision became dim; +the brain dizzy. + +To our consternation, the water in the breaker became lukewarm, +brackish, and slightly putrescent; notwithstanding we kept our spare +clothing piled upon the breaker, to shield it from the sun. At last, +Jarl enlarged the vent, carefully keeping it exposed. To this +precaution, doubtless, we owed more than we then thought. It was now +deemed wise to reduce our allowance of water to the smallest modicum +consistent with the present preservation of life; strangling all desire +for more. + +Nor was this all. The upper planking of the boat began to warp; here and +there, cracking and splintering. But though we kept it moistened with +brine, one of the plank-ends started from its place; and the sharp, +sudden sound, breaking the scorching silence, caused us both to spring +to our feet. Instantly the sea burst in; but we made shift to secure the +rebellious plank with a cord, not having a nail; we then bailed out the +boat, nearly half full of water. + +On the second day of the calm, we unshipped the mast, to prevent its +being pitched out by the occasional rolling of the vast smooth swells +now overtaking us. Leagues and leagues away, after its fierce raging, +some tempest must have been sending to us its last dying waves. For as a +pebble dropped into a pond ruffles it to its marge; so, on all sides, a +sea-gale operates as if an asteroid had fallen into the brine; making +ringed mountain billows, interminably expanding, instead of ripples. + +The great September waves breaking at the base of the Neversink +Highlands, far in advance of the swiftest pilot-boat, carry tidings. And +full often, they know the last secret of many a stout ship, never heard +of from the day she left port. Every wave in my eyes seems a soul. + +As there was no steering to be done, Jarl and I sheltered ourselves as +well as we could under the awning. And for the first two days, one at a +time, and every three or four hours, we dropped overboard for a bath, +clinging to the gun-wale; a sharp look-out being kept for prowling +sharks. A foot or two below the surface, the water felt cool and +refreshing. + +On the third day a change came over us. We relinquished bathing, the +exertion taxing us too much. Sullenly we laid ourselves down; turned our +backs to each other; and were impatient of the slightest casual touch of +our persons. What sort of expression my own countenance wore, I know +not; but I hated to look at Jarl's. When I did it was a glare, not a +glance. I became more taciturn than he. I can not tell what it was that +came over me, but I wished I was alone. I felt that so long as the calm +lasted, we were without help; that neither could assist the other; and +above all, that for one, the water would hold out longer than for two. I +felt no remorse, not the slightest, for these thoughts. It was instinct. +Like a desperado giving up the ghost, I desired to gasp by myself. + +From being cast away with a brother, good God deliver me! + +The four days passed. And on the morning of the fifth, thanks be to +Heaven, there came a breeze. Dancingly, mincingly it came, just rippling +the sea, until it struck our sails, previously set at the very first +token of its advance. At length it slightly freshened; and our poor +Chamois seemed raised from the dead. + +Beyond expression delightful! Once more we heard the low humming of the +sea under our bow, as our boat, like a bird, went singing on its way. + +How changed the scene! Overhead, a sweet blue haze, distilling sunlight +in drops. And flung abroad over the visible creation was the sun-spangled, azure, rustling robe of the ocean, ermined with wave crests; +all else, infinitely blue. Such a cadence of musical sounds! Waves +chasing each other, and sporting and frothing in frolicsome foam: +painted fish rippling past; and anon the noise of wings as sea-fowls +flew by. + +Oh, Ocean, when thou choosest to smile, more beautiful thou art than +flowery mead or plain! + + + +CHAPTER XVII In High Spirits, They Push On For The Terra Incognita + + +There were now fourteen notches on the loom of the Skyeman's oar:--So +many days since we had pushed from the fore-chains of the Arcturion. But +as yet, no floating bough, no tern, noddy, nor reef-bird, to denote our +proximity to land. In that long calm, whither might not the currents +have swept us? + +Where we were precisely, we knew not; but according to our reckoning, +the loose estimation of the knots run every hour, we must have sailed +due west but little more than one hundred and fifty leagues; for the +most part having encountered but light winds, and frequent intermitting +calms, besides that prolonged one described. But spite of past calms and +currents, land there must be to the westward. Sun, compass, stout +hearts, and steady breezes, pointed our prow thereto. So courage! my +Viking, and never say drown! + +At this time, our hearts were much lightened by discovering that our +water was improving in taste. It seemed to have been undergoing anew +that sort of fermentation, or working, occasionally incident to ship +water shortly after being taken on board. Sometimes, for a period, it is +more or less offensive to taste and smell; again, however, becoming +comparatively limpid. + +But as our water improved, we grew more and more miserly of so priceless +a treasure. + +And here it may be well to make mention of another little circumstance, +however unsentimental. Thorough-paced tar that he was, my Viking was an +inordinate consumer of the Indian weed. From the Arcturion, he had +brought along with him a small half-keg, at bottom impacted with a +solitary layer of sable Negrohead, fossil-marked, like the primary +stratum of the geologists. It was the last tier of his abundant supply +for the long whaling voyage upon which he had embarked upwards of three +years previous. Now during the calm, and for some days after, poor +Jarl's accustomed quid was no longer agreeable company. To pun: he +eschewed his chew. I asked him wherefore. He replied that it puckered up +his mouth, above all provoked thirst, and had somehow grown every way +distasteful. I was sorry; for the absence of his before ever present wad +impaired what little fullness there was left in his cheek; though, sooth +to say, I no longer called upon him as of yore to shift over the +enormous morsel to starboard or larboard, and so trim our craft. + +The calm gone by, once again my sea-tailor plied needle and thread; or +turning laundress, hung our raiment to dry on oars peaked obliquely in +the thole-pins. All of which tattered pennons, the wind being astern, +helped us gayly on our way; as jolly poor devils, with rags flying in +the breeze, sail blithely through life; and are merry although they are +poor! + + + +CHAPTER XVIII My Lord Shark And His Pages + + +There is a fish in the sea that evermore, like a surly lord, only goes +abroad attended by his suite. It is the Shovel-nosed Shark. A clumsy +lethargic monster, unshapely as his name, and the last species of his +kind, one would think, to be so bravely waited upon, as he is. His suite +is composed of those dainty little creatures called Pilot fish by +sailors. But by night his retinue is frequently increased by the +presence of several small luminous fish, running in advance, and +flourishing their flambeaux like link-boys lighting the monster's way. +Pity there were no ray-fish in rear, page-like, to carry his caudal +train. + +Now the relation subsisting between the Pilot fish above mentioned and +their huge ungainly lord, seems one of the most inscrutable things in +nature. At any rate, it poses poor me to comprehend. That a monster so +ferocious, should suffer five or six little sparks, hardly fourteen +inches long, to gambol about his grim hull with the utmost impunity, is +of itself something strange. But when it is considered, that by a +reciprocal understanding, the Pilot fish seem to act as scouts to the +shark, warning him of danger, and apprising him of the vicinity of prey; +and moreover, in case of his being killed, evincing their anguish by +certain agitations, otherwise inexplicable; the whole thing becomes a +mystery unfathomable. Truly marvels abound. It needs no dead man to be +raised, to convince us of some things. Even my Viking marveled full as +much at those Pilot fish as he would have marveled at the Pentecost. + +But perhaps a little incident, occurring about this period, will best +illustrate the matter in hand. + +We were gliding along, hardly three knots an hour, when my comrade, who +had been dozing over the gunwale, suddenly started to his feet, and +pointed out an immense Shovel-nosed Shark, less than a boat's length +distant, and about half a fathom beneath the surface. A lance was at +once snatched from its place; and true to his calling, Jarl was about to +dart it at the fish, when, interested by the sight of its radiant little +scouts, I begged him to desist. + +One of them was right under the shark, nibbling at his ventral fin; +another above, hovering about his dorsal appurtenance; one on each +flank; and a frisking fifth pranking about his nose, seemingly having +something to say of a confidential nature. They were of a bright, steel-blue color, alternated with jet black stripes; with glistening bellies +of a silver-white. Clinging to the back of the shark, were four or five +Remoras, or sucking-fish; snaky parasites, impossible to remove from +whatever they adhere to, without destroying their lives. The Remora has +little power in swimming; hence its sole locomotion is on the backs of +larger fish. Leech-like, it sticketh closer than a false brother in +prosperity; closer than a beggar to the benevolent; closer than Webster +to the Constitution. But it feeds upon what it clings to; its feelers +having a direct communication with the esophagus. + +The shark swam sluggishly; creating no sign of a ripple, but ever and, +anon shaking his Medusa locks, writhing and curling with horrible life. +Now and then, the nimble Pilot fish darted from his side--this way and +that--mostly toward our boat; but previous to taking a fresh start ever +returning to their liege lord to report progress. + +A thought struck me. Baiting a rope's end with a morsel of our almost +useless salt beef, I suffered it to trail in the sea. Instantly the +foremost scout swam toward it; hesitated; paused; but at last advancing, +briskly snuffed at the line, and taking one finical little nibble, +retreated toward the shark. Another moment, and the great Tamerlane +himself turned heavily about; pointing his black, cannon-like nose +directly toward our broadside. Meanwhile, the little Pilot fish darted +hither and thither; keeping up a mighty fidgeting, like men of small +minds in a state of nervous agitation. + +Presently, Tamerlane swam nearer and nearer, all the while lazily eyeing +the Chamois, as a wild boar a kid. Suddenly making a rush for it, in the +foam he made away with the bait. But the next instant, the uplifted +lance sped at his skull; and thrashing his requiem with his sinewy tail, +he sunk slowly, through his own blood, out of sight. Down with him swam +the terrified Pilot fish; but soon after, three of them were observed +close to the boat, gliding along at a uniform pace; one an each side, +and one in advance; even as they had attended their lord. Doubtless, one +was under our keel. + +"A good omen," said Jarl; "no harm will befall us so long as they stay." + +But however that might be, follow us they did, for many days after: +until an event occurred, which necessitated their withdrawal. + + + +CHAPTER XIX Who Goes There? + + +Jarl's oar showed sixteen notches on the loom, when one evening, as the +expanded sun touched the horizon's rim, a ship's uppermost spars were +observed, traced like a spider's web against its crimson disk. It looked +like a far-off craft on fire. + +In bright weather at sea, a sail, invisible in the full flood of noon, +becomes perceptible toward sunset. It is the reverse in the morning. In +sight at gray dawn, the distant vessel, though in reality approaching, +recedes from view, as the sun rises higher and higher. This holds true, +till its vicinity makes it readily fall within the ordinary scope of +vision. And thus, too, here and there, with other distant things: the +more light you throw on them, the more you obscure. Some revelations +show best in a twilight. + +The sight of the stranger not a little surprised us. But brightening up, +as if the encounter were welcome, Jarl looked happy and expectant. He +quickly changed his demeanor, however, upon perceiving that I was bent +upon shunning a meeting. + +Instantly our sails were struck; and calling upon Jarl, who was somewhat +backward to obey, I shipped the oars; and, both rowing, we stood away +obliquely from our former course. + +I divined that the vessel was a whaler; and hence, that by help of the +glass, with which her look-outs must be momentarily sweeping the +horizon, they might possibly have descried us; especially, as we were +due east from the ship; a direction, which at sunset is the one most +favorable for perceiving a far-off object at sea. Furthermore, our +canvas was snow-white and conspicuous. To be sure, we could not be +certain what kind of a vessel it was; but whatever it might be, I, for +one, had no mind to risk an encounter; for it was quite plain, that if +the stranger came within hailing distance, there would be no resource +but to link our fortunes with hers; whereas I desired to pursue none but +the Chamois'. As for the Skyeman, he kept looking wistfully over his +shoulder; doubtless, praying Heaven, that we might not escape what I +sought to avoid. + +Now, upon a closer scrutiny, being pretty well convinced that the +stranger, after all, was steering a nearly westerly course--right away +from us--we reset our sail; and as night fell, my Viking's entreaties, +seconded by my own curiosity, induced me to resume our original course; +and so follow after the vessel, with a view of obtaining a nearer +glimpse, without danger of detection. So, boldly we steered for the +sail. + +But not gaining much upon her, spite of the lightness of the breeze (a +circumstance in our favor: the chase being a ship, and we but a boat), +at my comrade's instigation, we added oars to sails, readily guiding our +way by the former, though the helm was left to itself. + +As we came nearer, it was plain that the vessel was no whaler; but a +small, two-masted craft; in short, a brigantine. Her sails were in a +state of unaccountable disarray, only the foresail, mainsail, and jib +being set. The first was much tattered; and the jib was hoisted but half +way up the stay, where it idly flapped, the breeze coming from over the +taffrail. She continually yawed in her course; now almost presenting her +broadside, then showing her stern. + +Striking our sails once more, we lay on our oars, and watched her in the +starlight. Still she swung from side to side, and still sailed on. + +Not a little terrified at the sight, superstitious Jarl more than +insinuated that the craft must be a gold-huntress, haunted. But I told +him, that if such were the case, we must board her, come gold or +goblins. In reality, however, I began to think that she must have been +abandoned by her crew; or else, that from sickness, those on board were +incapable of managing her. + +After a long and anxious reconnoiter, we came still nearer, using our +oars, but very reluctantly on Jarl's part; who, while rowing, kept his +eyes over his shoulder, as if about to beach the little Chamois on the +back of a whale as of yore. Indeed, he seemed full as impatient to quit +the vicinity of the vessel, as before he had been anxiously courting it. + +Now, as the silent brigantine again swung round her broadside, I hailed +her loudly. No return. Again. But all was silent. With a few vigorous +strokes, we closed with her, giving yet another unanswered hail; when, +laying the Chamois right alongside, I clutched at the main-chains. +Instantly we felt her dragging us along. Securing our craft by its +painter, I sprang over the rail, followed by Jarl, who had snatched his +harpoon, his favorite arms. Long used with that weapon to overcome the +monsters of the deep, he doubted not it would prove equally serviceable +in any other encounter. + +The deck was a complete litter. Tossed about were pearl oyster shells, +husks of cocoa-nuts, empty casks, and cases. The deserted tiller was +lashed; which accounted for the vessel's yawing. But we could not +conceive, how going large before the wind; the craft could, for any +considerable time, at least, have guided herself without the help of a +hand. Still, the breeze was light and steady. + +Now, seeing the helm thus lashed, I could not but distrust the silence +that prevailed. It conjured up the idea of miscreants concealed below, +and meditating treachery; unscrupulous mutineers--Lascars, or Manilla-men; who, having murdered the Europeans of the crew, might not be +willing to let strangers depart unmolested. Or yet worse, the entire +ship's company might have been swept away by a fever, its infection +still lurking in the poisoned hull. And though the first conceit, as the +last, was a mere surmise, it was nevertheless deemed prudent to secure +the hatches, which for the present we accordingly barred down with the +oars of our boat. This done, we went about the deck in search of water. +And finding some in a clumsy cask, drank long and freely, and to our +thirsty souls' content. + +The wind now freshening, and the rent sails like to blow from the yards, +we brought the brigantine to the wind, and brailed up the canvas. This +left us at liberty to examine the craft, though, unfortunately, the +night was growing hazy. + +All this while our boat was still towing alongside; and I was about to +drop it astern, when Jarl, ever cautious, declared it safer where it +was; since, if there were people on board, they would most likely be +down in the cabin, from the dead-lights of which, mischief might be done +to the Chamois. + +It was then, that my comrade observed, that the brigantine had no boats, +a circumstance most unusual in any sort of a vessel at sea. But marking +this, I was exceedingly gratified. It seemed to indicate, as I had +opined, that from some cause or other, she must have been abandoned of +her crew. And in a good measure this dispelled my fears of foul play, +and the apprehension of contagion. Encouraged by these reflections, I +now resolved to descend, and explore the cabin, though sorely against +Jarl's counsel. To be sure, as he earnestly said, this step might have +been deferred till daylight; but it seemed too wearisome to wait. So +bethinking me of our tinder-box and candles, I sent him into the boat +for them. Presently, two candles were lit; one of which the Skyeman tied +up and down the barbed end of his harpoon; so that upon going below, the +keen steel might not be far off, should the light be blown out by a +dastard. + +Unfastening the cabin scuttle, we stepped downward into the smallest and +murkiest den in the world. The altar-like transom, surmounted by the +closed dead-lights in the stem, together with the dim little sky-light +overhead, and the somber aspect of every thing around, gave the place +the air of some subterranean oratory, say a Prayer Room of Peter the +Hermit. But coils of rigging, bolts of canvas, articles of clothing, and +disorderly heaps of rubbish, harmonized not with this impression. Two +doors, one on each side, led into wee little state-rooms, the berths of +which also were littered. Among other things, was a large box, sheathed +with iron and stoutly clamped, containing a keg partly filled with +powder, the half of an old cutlass, a pouch of bullets, and a case for a +sextant--a brass plate on the lid, with the maker's name. London. The +broken blade of the cutlass was very rusty and stained; and the iron +hilt bent in. It looked so tragical that I thrust it out of sight. + +Removing a small trap-door, opening into the space beneath, called the +"run," we lighted upon sundry cutlasses and muskets, lying together at +sixes and sevens, as if pitched down in a hurry. + +Casting round a hasty glance, and satisfying ourselves, that through the +bulkhead of the cabin, there was no passage to the forward part of the +hold, we caught up the muskets and cutlasses, the powder keg and the +pouch of bullets, and bundling them on deck, prepared to visit the other +end of the vessel. Previous to so doing, however, I loaded a musket, and +belted a cutlass to my side. But my Viking preferred his harpoon. + +In the forecastle reigned similar confusion. But there was a snug little +lair, cleared away in one corner, and furnished with a grass mat and +bolster, like those used among the Islanders of these seas. This little +lair looked to us as if some leopard had crouched there. And as it +turned out, we were not far from right. Forming one side of this +retreat, was a sailor's chest, stoutly secured by a lock, and monstrous +heavy withal. Regardless of Jarl's entreaties, I managed to burst the +lid; thereby revealing a motley assemblage of millinery, and outlandish +knick-knacks of all sorts; together with sundry rude Calico +contrivances, which though of unaccountable cut, nevertheless possessed +a certain petticoatish air, and latitude of skirt, betokening them the +habiliments of some feminine creature; most probably of the human +species. + +In this strong box, also, was a canvas bag, jingling with rusty old +bell-buttons, gangrened copper bolts, and sheathing nails; damp, +greenish Carolus dollars (true coin all), besides divers iron screws, +and battered, chisels, and belaying-pins. Sounded on the chest lid, the +dollars rang clear as convent bells. These were put aside by Jarl the +sight of substantial dollars doing away, for the nonce, with his +superstitious Misgivings. True to his kingship, he loved true coin; +though abroad on the sea, and no land but dollarless dominions ground, +all this silver was worthless as charcoal or diamonds. Nearly one and +the same thing, say the chemists; but tell that to the marines, say the +illiterate Jews and the jewelers. Go, buy a house, or a ship, if you +can, with your charcoal! Yea, all the woods in Canada charred down to +cinders would not be worth the one famed Brazilian diamond, though no +bigger than the egg of a carrier pigeon. Ah! but these chemists are +liars, and Sir Humphrey Davy a cheat. Many's the poor devil they've +deluded into the charcoal business, who otherwise might have made his +fortune with a mattock. + +Groping again into the chest, we brought to light a queer little hair +trunk, very bald and rickety. At every corner was a mighty clamp, the +weight of which had no doubt debilitated the box. It was jealously +secured with a padlock, almost as big as itself; so that it was almost a +question, which was meant to be security to the other. Prying at it +hard, we at length effected an entrance; but saw no golden moidores, no +ruddy doubloons; nothing under heaven but three pewter mugs, such as are +used in a ship's cabin, several brass screws, and brass plates, which +must have belonged to a quadrant; together with a famous lot of glass +beads, and brass rings; while, pasted on the inside of the cover, was a +little colored print, representing the harlots, the shameless hussies, +having a fine time with the Prodigal Son. + +It should have been mentioned ere now, that while we were busy in the +forecastle, we were several times startled by strange sounds aloft. And +just after, crashing into the little hair trunk, down came a great top-block, right through the scuttle, narrowly missing my Viking's crown; a +much stronger article, by the way, than your goldsmiths turn out in +these days. This startled us much; particularly Jarl, as one might +suppose; but accustomed to the strange creakings and wheezings of the +masts and yards of old vessels at sea, and having many a time dodged +stray blocks accidentally falling from aloft, I thought little more of +the matter; though my comrade seemed to think the noises somewhat +different from any thing of that kind he had even heard before. + +After a little more turning over of the rubbish in the forecastle, and +much marveling thereat, we ascended to the deck; where we found every +thing so silent, that, as we moved toward the taffrail, the Skyeman +unconsciously addressed me in a whisper. + + + +CHAPTER XX Noises And Portents + + +I longed for day. For however now inclined to believe that the +brigantine was untenanted, I desired the light of the sun to place that +fact beyond a misgiving. + +Now, having observed, previous to boarding the vessel, that she lay +rather low in the water, I thought proper to sound the well. But there +being no line-and-sinker at hand, I sent Jarl to hunt them up in the +arm-chest on the quarter-deck, where doubtless they must be kept. +Meanwhile I searched for the "breaks," or pump-handles, which, as it +turned out, could not have been very recently used; for they were found +lashed up and down to the main-mast. + +Suddenly Jarl came running toward me, whispering that all doubt was +dispelled;--there were spirits on board, to a dead certainty. He had +overheard a supernatural sneeze. But by this time I was all but +convinced, that we were alone in the brigantine. Since, if otherwise, I +could assign no earthly reason for the crew's hiding away from a couple +of sailors, whom, were they so minded, they might easily have mastered. +And furthermore, this alleged disturbance of the atmosphere aloft by a +sneeze, Jarl averred to have taken place in the main-top; directly +underneath which I was all this time standing, and had heard nothing. So +complimenting my good Viking upon the exceeding delicacy of his +auriculars, I bade him trouble himself no more with his piratical ghosts +and goblins, which existed nowhere but in his own imagination. + +Not finding the line-and-sinker, with the spare end of a bowline we +rigged a substitute; and sounding the well, found nothing to excite our +alarm. Under certain circumstances, however, this sounding a ship's well +is a nervous sort of business enough. 'Tis like feeling your own pulse +in the last stage of a fever. + +At the Skyeman's suggestion, we now proceeded to throw round the +brigantine's head on the other tack. For until daylight we desired to +alter the vessel's position as little as possible, fearful of coming +unawares upon reefs. + +And here be it said, that for all his superstitious misgivings about the +brigantine; his imputing to her something equivalent to a purely +phantom-like nature, honest Jarl was nevertheless exceedingly downright +and practical in all hints and proceedings concerning her. Wherein, he +resembled my Right Reverend friend, Bishop Berkeley--truly, one of your +lords spiritual--who, metaphysically speaking, holding all objects to be +mere optical delusions, was, notwith-standing, extremely matter-of-fact +in all matters touching matter itself. Besides being pervious to the +points of pins, and possessing a palate capable of appreciating plum-puddings:--which sentence reads off like a pattering of hailstones. + +Now, while we were employed bracing round the yards, whispering Jarl +must needs pester me again with his confounded suspicions of goblins on +board. He swore by the main-mast, that when the fore-yard swung round, +he had heard a half-stifled groan from that quarter; as if one of his +bugbears had been getting its aerial legs jammed. I laughed:--hinting +that goblins were incorporeal. Whereupon he besought me to ascend the +fore-rigging and test the matter for myself But here my mature judgment +got the better of my first crude opinion. I civilly declined. For +assuredly, there was still a possibility, that the fore-top might be +tenanted, and that too by living miscreants; and a pretty hap would be +mine, if, with hands full of rigging, and legs dangling in air, while +surmounting the oblique futtock-shrouds, some unseen arm should all at +once tumble me overboard. Therefore I held my peace; while Jarl went on +to declare, that with regard to the character of the brigantine, his +mind was now pretty fully made up;--she was an arrant impostor, a shade +of a ship, full of sailors' ghosts, and before we knew where we were, +would dissolve in a supernatural squall, and leave us twain in the +water. In short, Jarl, the descendant of the superstitious old Norsemen, +was full of old Norse conceits, and all manner of Valhalla marvels +concerning the land of goblins and goblets. No wonder then, that with +this catastrophe in prospect, he again entreated me to quit the ill-starred craft, carrying off nothing from her ghostly hull. But I +refused. + +One can not relate every thing at once. While in the cabin, we came +across a "barge" of biscuit, and finding its contents of a quality much +superior to our own, we had filled our pockets and occasionally regaled +ourselves in the intervals of rummaging. Now this sea cake-basket we had +brought on deck. And for the first time since bidding adieu to the +Arcturion having fully quenched our thirst, our appetite returned with a +rush; and having nothing better to do till day dawned, we planted the +bread-barge in the middle of the quarter-deck; and crossing our legs +before it, laid close seige thereto, like the Grand Turk and his Vizier +Mustapha sitting down before Vienna. + +Our castle, the Bread-Barge was of the common sort; an oblong oaken box, +much battered and bruised, and like the Elgin Marbles, all over +inscriptions and carving:--foul anchors, skewered hearts, almanacs, +Burton-blocks, love verses, links of cable, Kings of Clubs; and divers +mystic diagrams in chalk, drawn by old Finnish mariners; in casting +horoscopes and prophecies. Your old tars are all Daniels. There was a +round hole in one side, through which, in getting at the bread, invited +guests thrust their hands. + +And mighty was the thrusting of hands that night; also, many and earnest +the glances of Mustapha at every sudden creaking of the spars or +rigging. Like Belshazzar, my royal Viking ate with great fear and +trembling; ever and anon pausing to watch the wild shadows flitting +along the bulwarks. + + + +CHAPTER XXI Man Ho! + + +Slowly, fitfully, broke the morning in the East, showing the desolate +brig forging heavily through the water, which sluggishly thumped under +her bows. While leaping from sea to sea, our faithful Chamois, like a +faithful dog, still gamboled alongside, confined to the main-chains by +its painter. At times, it would long lag behind; then, pushed by a wave +like lightning dash forward; till bridled by its leash, it again fell in +rear. + +As the gray light came on, anxiously we scrutinized the features of the +craft, as one by one they became more plainly revealed. Every thing +seemed stranger now, than when partially visible in the dingy night. The +stanchions, or posts of the bulwarks, were of rough stakes, still +incased in the bark. The unpainted sides were of a dark-colored, +heathenish looking wood. The tiller was a wry-necked, elbowed bough, +thrusting itself through the deck, as if the tree itself was fast rooted +in the hold. The binnacle, containing the compass, was defended at the +sides by yellow matting. The rigging--shrouds, halyards and all--was of +"Kaiar," or cocoa-nut fibres; and here and there the sails were patched +with plaited rushes. + +But this was not all. Whoso will pry, must needs light upon matters for +suspicion. Glancing over the side, in the wake of every scupper-hole, we +beheld a faded, crimson stain, which Jarl averred to be blood. Though +now he betrayed not the slightest trepidation; for what he saw pertained +not to ghosts; and all his fears hitherto had been of the super-natural. + +Indeed, plucking up a heart, with the dawn of the day my Viking looked +bold as a lion; and soon, with the instinct of an old seaman cast his +eyes up aloft. + +Directly, he touched my arm,--"Look: what stirs in the main-top?" + +Sure enough, something alive was there. + +Fingering our arms, we watched it; till as the day came on, a crouching +stranger was beheld. + +Presenting my piece, I hailed him to descend or be shot. There was +silence for a space, when the black barrel of a musket was thrust forth, +leveled at my head. Instantly, Jarl's harpoon was presented at a dart;--two to one;--and my hail was repeated. But no reply. + +"Who are you?" + +"Samoa," at length said a clear, firm voice. + +"Come down from the rigging. We are friends." + +Another pause; when, rising to his feet, the stranger slowly descended, +holding on by one hand to the rigging, for but one did he have; his +musket partly slung from his back, and partly griped under the stump of +his mutilated arm. + +He alighted about six paces from where we stood; and balancing his +weapon, eyed us bravely as the Cid. + +He was a tall, dark Islander, a very devil to behold, theatrically +arrayed in kilt and turban; the kilt of a gay calico print, the turban +of a red China silk. His neck was jingling with strings of beads. + +"Who else is on board?" I asked; while Jarl, thus far covering the +stranger with his weapon, now dropped it to the deck. + +"Look there:--Annatoo!" was his reply in broken English, pointing aloft +to the fore-top. And lo! a woman, also an Islander; and barring her +skirts, dressed very much like Samoa, was beheld descending. + +"Any more?" + +"No more." + +"Who are _you_ then; and what craft is this?" + +"Ah, ah--you are no ghost;--but are you my friend?" he cried, advancing +nearer as he spoke; while the woman having gained the deck, also +approached, eagerly glancing. + +We said we were friends; that we meant no harm; but desired to know what +craft this was; and what disaster had befallen her; for that something +untoward had occurred, we were certain. + +Whereto, Samoa made answer, that it was true that something dreadful had +happened; and that he would gladly tell us all, and tell us the truth. +And about it he went. + +Now, this story of his was related in the mixed phraseology of a +Polynesian sailor. With a few random reflections, in substance, it will +be found in the six following chapters. + + + +CHAPTER XXII What Befel The Brigantine At The Pearl Shell Islands + + +The vessel was the Parki, of Lahina, a village and harbor on the coast +of Mowee, one of the Hawaian isles, where she had been miserably cobbled +together with planks of native wood, and fragments of a wreck, there +drifted ashore. + +Her appellative had been bestowed in honor of a high chief, the tallest +and goodliest looking gentleman in all the Sandwich Islands. With a +mixed European and native crew, about thirty in number (but only four +whites in all, captain included), the Parki, some four months previous, +had sailed from her port on a voyage southward, in quest of pearls, and +pearl oyster shells, sea-slugs, and other matters of that sort. + +Samoa, a native of the Navigator Islands, had long followed the sea, and +was well versed in the business of oyster diving and its submarine +mysteries. The native Lahineese on board were immediately subordinate to +him; the captain having bargained with Samoa for their services as +divers. + +The woman, Annatoo, was a native of a far-off, anonymous island to the +westward: whence, when quite young, she had been carried by the +commander of a ship, touching there on a passage from Macao to +Valparaiso. At Valparaiso her protector put her ashore; most probably, +as I afterward had reason to think, for a nuisance. + +By chance it came to pass that when Annatoo's first virgin bloom had +departed, leaving nothing but a lusty frame and a lustier soul, Samoa, +the Navigator, had fallen desperately in love with her. And thinking the +lady to his mind, being brave like himself, and doubtless well adapted +to the vicissitudes of matrimony at sea, he meditated suicide--I would +have said, wedlock--and the twain became one. And some time after, in +capacity of wife, Annatoo the dame, accompanied in the brigantine, Samoa +her lord. Now, as Antony flew to the refuse embraces of Caesar, so Samoa +solaced himself in the arms of this discarded fair one. And the sequel +was the same. For not harder the life Cleopatra led my fine frank +friend, poor Mark, than Queen Annatoo did lead this captive of her bow +and her spear. But all in good time. + +They left their port; and crossing the Tropic and the Line, fell in with +a cluster of islands, where the shells they sought were found in round +numbers. And here--not at all strange to tell besides the natives, they +encountered a couple of Cholos, or half-breed Spaniards, from the Main; +one half Spanish, the other half quartered between the wild Indian and +the devil; a race, that from Baldivia to Panama are notorious for their +unscrupulous villainy. + +Now, the half-breeds having long since deserted a ship at these islands, +had risen to high authority among the natives. This hearing, the Parki's +captain was much gratified; he, poor ignorant, never before having +fallen in with any of their treacherous race. And, no doubt, he imagined +that their influence over the Islanders would tend to his advantage. At +all events, he made presents to the Cholos; who, in turn, provided him +with additional divers from among the natives. Very kindly, also, they +pointed out the best places for seeking the oysters. In a word, they +were exceedingly friendly; often coming off to the brigantine, and +sociably dining with the captain in the cabin; placing the salt between +them and him. + +All things went on very pleasantly until, one morning, the half-breeds +prevailed upon the captain to go with them, in his whale-boat, to a +shoal on the thither side of the island, some distance from the spot +where lay the brigantine. They so managed it, moreover, that none but +the Lahineese under Samoa, in whom the captain much confided, were left +in custody of the Parki; the three white men going along to row; for +there happened to be little or no wind for a sail. + +Now, the fated brig lay anchored within a deep, smooth, circular lagoon, +margined on all sides but one by the most beautiful groves. On that +side, was the outlet to the sea; perhaps a cable's length or more from +where the brigantine had been moored. An hour or two after the party +were gone, and when the boat was completely out of sight, the natives in +shoals were perceived coming off from the shore; some in canoes, and +some swimming. The former brought bread fruit and bananas, +ostentatiously piled up in their proas; the latter dragged after them +long strings of cocoanuts; for all of which, on nearing the vessel, they +clamorously demanded knives and hatchets in barter. + +From their actions, suspecting some treachery, Samoa stood in the +gangway, and warned them off; saying that no barter could take place +until the captain's return. But presently one of the savages stealthily +climbed up from the water, and nimbly springing from the bob-stays to +the bow-sprit, darted a javelin full at the foremast, where it vibrated. +The signal of blood! With terrible outcries, the rest, pulling forth +their weapons, hitherto concealed in the canoes, or under the floating +cocoanuts, leaped into the low chains of the brigantine; sprang over the +bulwarks; and, with clubs and spears, attacked the aghast crew with the +utmost ferocity. + +After one faint rally, the Lahineese scrambled for the rigging; but to a +man were overtaken and slain. + +At the first alarm, Annatoo, however, had escaped to the fore-top-gallant-yard, higher than which she could not climb, and whither the +savages durst not venture. For though after their nuts these Polynesians +will climb palm trees like squirrels; yet, at the first blush, they +decline a ship's mast like Kennebec farmers. + +Upon the first token of an onslaught, Samoa, having rushed toward the +cabin scuttle for arms, was there fallen upon by two young savages. But +after a desperate momentary fray, in which his arm was mangled, he made +shift to spring below, instantly securing overhead the slide of the +scuttle. In the cabin, while yet the uproar of butchery prevailed, he +quietly bound up his arm; then laying on the transom the captain's three +loaded muskets, undauntedly awaited an assault. + +The object of the natives, it seems, was to wreck the brigantine upon +the sharp coral beach of the lagoon. And with this intent, one of their +number had plunged into the water, and cut the cable, which was of hemp. +But the tide ebbing, cast the Parki's head seaward--toward the outlet; +and the savages, perceiving this, clumsily boarded the fore-tack, and +hauled aft the sheet; thus setting, after a fashion, the fore-sail, +previously loosed to dry. + +Meanwhile, a gray-headed old chief stood calmly at the tiller, +endeavoring to steer the vessel shoreward. But not managing the helm +aright, the brigantine, now gliding apace through the water, only made +more way toward the outlet. Seeing which, the ringleaders, six or eight +in number, ran to help the old graybeard at the helm. But it was a black +hour for them. Of a sudden, while they were handling the tiller, three +muskets were rapidly discharged upon them from the cabin skylight. Two +of the savages dropped dead. The old steersman, clutching wildly at the +helm, fell over it, mortally wounded; and in a wild panic at seeing +their leaders thus unaccountably slain, the rest of the natives leaped +overboard and made for the shore. + +Hearing the slashing, Samoa flew on deck; and beholding the foresail +set, and the brigantine heading right out to sea, he cried out to +Annatoo, still aloft, to descend to the topsail-yard, and loose the +canvas there. His command was obeyed. Annatoo deserved a gold medal for +what she did that day. Hastening down the rigging, after loosing the +topsail, she strained away at the sheets; in which operation she was +assisted by Samoa, who snatched an instant from the helm. + +The foresail and fore-topsail were now tolerably well set; and as the +craft drew seaward, the breeze freshened. And well that it did; for, +recovered from their alarm, the savages were now in hot pursuit; some in +canoes, and some swimming as before. But soon the main-topsail was given +to the breeze, which still freshening, came from over the quarter. And +with this brave show of canvas, the Parki made gallantly for the outlet; +and loud shouted Samoa as she shot by the reef, and parted the long +swells without. Against these, the savages could not swim. And at that +turn of the tide, paddling a canoe therein was almost equally difficult. +But the fugitives were not yet safe. In full chase now came in sight the +whale-boat manned by the Cholos, and four or five Islanders. Whereat, +making no doubt, that all the whites who left the vessel that morning +had been massacred through the treachery of the half-breeds; and that +the capture of the brigantine had been premeditated; Samoa now saw no +other resource than to point his craft dead away from the land. + +Now on came the devils buckling to their oars. Meantime Annatoo was +still busy aloft, loosing the smaller sails--t'gallants and royals, +which she managed partially to set. + +The strong breeze from astern now filling the ill-set sails, they +bellied, and rocked in the air, like balloons, while, from the novel +strain upon it, every spar quivered and sprung. And thus, like a +frightened gull fleeing from sea-hawks, the little Parki swooped along, +and bravely breasted the brine. + +His shattered arm in a hempen sling, Samoa stood at the helm, the +muskets reloaded, and planted full before him on the binnacle. For a +time, so badly did the brigantine steer, by reason of her ill-adjusted +sails, made still more unmanageable by the strength of the breeze,--that +it was doubtful, after all, notwithstanding her start, whether the +fugitives would not yet fall a prey to their hunters. The craft wildly +yawed, and the boat drew nearer and nearer. Maddened by the sight, and +perhaps thinking more of revenge for the past, than of security for the +future, Samoa, yielding the helm to Annatoo, rested his muskets on the +bulwarks, and taking long, sure aim, discharged them, one by one at the +advancing foe. + +The three reports were answered by loud jeers from the savages, who +brandished their spears, and made gestures of derision; while with might +and main the Cholos tugged at their oars. + +The boat still gaining on the brigantine, the muskets were again +reloaded. And as the next shot sped, there was a pause; when, like +lightning, the headmost Cholo bounded upwards from his seat, and oar in +hand, fell into the sea. A fierce yell; and one of the natives springing +into the water, caught the sinking body by its long hair; and the dead +and the living were dragged into the boat. Taking heart from this fatal +shot, Samoa fired yet again; but not with the like sure result; merely +grazing the remaining half-breed, who, crouching behind his comrades, +besought them to turn the boat round, and make for the shore. Alarmed at +the fate of his brother, and seemingly distrustful of the impartiality +of Samoa's fire, the pusillanimous villain refused to expose a limb +above the gunwale. + +Fain now would the pursuers have made good their escape; but an accident +forbade. In the careening of the boat, when the stricken Cholo sprung +overboard, two of their oars had slid into the water; and together with +that death-griped by the half-breed, were now floating off; occasionally +lost to view, as they sunk in the trough of the sea. Two of the +Islanders swam to recover them; but frightened by the whirring of a shot +over their heads, as they unavoidably struck out towards the Parki, they +turned quickly about; just in time to see one of their comrades smite +his body with his hand, as he received a bullet from Samoa. + +Enough: darting past the ill-fated boat, they swam rapidly for land, +followed by the rest; who plunged overboard, leaving in the boat the +surviving Cholo--who it seems could not swim--the wounded savage, and +the dead man. + +"Load away now, and take thy revenge, my fine fellow," said Samoa to +himself. But not yet. Seeing all at his mercy, and having none, he +quickly laid his fore-topsail to the mast; "hove to" the brigantine; and +opened fire anew upon the boat; every swell of the sea heaving it nearer +and nearer. Vain all efforts to escape. The wounded man paddled wildly +with his hands the dead one rolled from side to side; and the Cholo, +seizing the solitary oar, in his frenzied heedlessness, spun the boat +round and round; while all the while shot followed shot, Samoa firing as +fast as Annatoo could load. At length both Cholo and savage fell dead +upon their comrades, canting the boat over sideways, till well nigh +awash; in which manner she drifted off. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII Sailing From The Island They Pillage The Cabin + + +There was a small carronade on the forecastle, unshipped from its +carriage, and lashed down to ringbolts on the deck. This Samoa now +loaded; and with an ax knocking off the round knob upon the breech, +rammed it home in the tube. When, running the cannon out at one of the +ports, and studying well his aim, he let fly, sunk the boat, and buried +his dead. + +It was now late in the afternoon; and for the present bent upon avoiding +land, and gaining the shoreless sea, never mind where, Samoa again +forced round his craft before the wind, leaving the island astern. The +decks were still cumbered with the bodies of the Lahineese, which heel +to point and crosswise, had, log-like, been piled up on the main-hatch. +These, one by one, were committed to the sea; after which, the decks +were washed down. + +At sunrise next morning, finding themselves out of sight of land, with +little or no wind, they stopped their headway, and lashed the tiller +alee, the better to enable them to overhaul the brigantine; especially +the recesses of the cabin. For there, were stores of goods adapted for +barter among the Islanders; also several bags of dollars. + +Now, nothing can exceed the cupidity of the Polynesian, when, through +partial commerce with the whites, his eyes are opened to his nakedness, +and he perceives that in some things they are richer than himself. + +The poor skipper's wardrobe was first explored; his chests of clothes +being capsized, and their contents strown about the cabin floor. + +Then took place the costuming. Samoa and Annatoo trying on coats and +pantaloons, shirts and drawers, and admiring themselves in the little +mirror panneled in the bulk-head. Then, were broken open boxes and +bales; rolls of printed cotton were inspected, and vastly admired; +insomuch, that the trumpery found in the captain's chests was +disdainfully doffed: and donned were loose folds of calico, more +congnial to their tastes. + +As case after case was opened and overturned, slippery grew the cabin +deck with torrents of glass beads; and heavy the necks of Samoa and +Annatoo with goodly bunches thereof. + +Among other things, came to light brass jewelry,--Rag Fair gewgaws and +baubles a plenty, more admired than all; Annatoo, bedecking herself +like, a tragedy queen: one blaze of brass. Much mourned the married +dame, that thus arrayed, there was none to admire but Samoa her husband; +but he was all the while admiring himself, and not her. + +And here must needs be related, what has hitherto remained unsaid. Very +often this husband and wife were no Darby and Joan. Their married life +was one long campaign, whereof the truces were only by night. They +billed and they cooed on their arms, rising fresh in the morning to +battle, and often Samoa got more than a hen-pecking. To be short, +Annatoo was a Tartar, a regular Calmuc, and Samoa--Heaven help him--her +husband. + +Yet awhile, joined together by a sense of common danger, and long +engrossed in turning over their tinsel acquisitions without present +thought of proprietorship, the pair refrained from all squabbles. But +soon burst the storm. Having given every bale and every case a good +shaking, Annatoo, making an estimate of the whole, very coolly proceeded +to set apart for herself whatever she fancied. To this, Samoa objected; +to which objection Annatoo objected; and then they went at it. + +The lady vowed that the things were no more Samoa's than hers; nay, not +so much; and that whatever she wanted, that same would she have. And +furthermore, by way of codicil, she declared that she was slave to +nobody. + +Now, Samoa, sad to tell, stood in no little awe of his bellicose spouse. +What, though a hero in other respects; what, though he had slain his +savages, and gallantly carried his craft from their clutches:--Like the +valiant captains Marlborough and Belisarius, he was a poltroon to his +wife. And Annatoo was worse than either Sarah or Antonina. + +However, like every thing partaking of the nature of a scratch, most +conjugal squabbles are quickly healed; for if they healed not, they +would never anew break out: which is the beauty of the thing. So at +length they made up but the treaty stipulations of Annatoo told much +against the interests of Samoa. Nevertheless, ostensibly, it was agreed +upon, that they should strictly go halves; the lady, however, laying +special claim to certain valuables, more particularly fancied. But as a +set-off to this, she generously renounced all claims upon the spare +rigging; all claims upon the fore-mast and mainmast; and all claims upon +the captain's arms and ammunition. Of the latter, by the way, Dame +Antonina stood in no need. Her voice was a park of artillery; her talons +a charge of bayonets. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV Dedicated To The College Of Physicians And Surgeons + + +By this time Samoa's wounded arm was in such a state, that amputation +became necessary. Among savages, severe personal injuries are, for the +most part, accounted but trifles. When a European would be taking to his +couch in despair, the savage would disdain to recline. + +More yet. In Polynesia, every man is his own barber and surgeon, cutting +off his beard or arm, as occasion demands. No unusual thing, for the +warriors of Varvoo to saw off their own limbs, desperately wounded in +battle. But owing to the clumsiness of the instrument employed--a +flinty, serrated shell--the operation has been known to last several +days. Nor will they suffer any friend to help them; maintaining, that a +matter so nearly concerning a warrior is far better attended to by +himself. Hence it may be said, that they amputate themselves at their +leisure, and hang up their tools when tired. But, though thus beholden +to no one for aught connected with the practice of surgery, they never +cut off their own heads, that ever I heard; a species of amputation to +which, metaphorically speaking, many would-be independent sort of people +in civilized lands are addicted. + +Samoa's operation was very summary. A fire was kindled in the little +caboose, or cook-house, and so made as to produce much smoke. He then +placed his arm upon one of the windlass bitts (a short upright timber, +breast-high), and seizing the blunt cook's ax would have struck the +blow; but for some reason distrusting the precision of his aim, Annatoo +was assigned to the task. Three strokes, and the limb, from just above +the elbow, was no longer Samoa's; and he saw his own bones; which many a +centenarian can not say. The very clumsiness of the operation was safety +to the subject. The weight and bluntness of the instrument both deadened +the pain and lessened the hemorrhage. The wound was then scorched, and +held over the smoke of the fire, till all signs of blood vanished. From +that day forward it healed, and troubled Samoa but little. + +But shall the sequel be told? How that, superstitiously averse to +burying in the sea the dead limb of a body yet living; since in that +case Samoa held, that he must very soon drown and follow it; and how, +that equally dreading to keep the thing near him, he at last hung it +aloft from the topmast-stay; where yet it was suspended, bandaged over +and over in cerements. The hand that must have locked many others in +friendly clasp, or smote a foe, was no food, thought Samoa, for fowls of +the air nor fishes of the sea. + +Now, which was Samoa? The dead arm swinging high as Haman? Or the living +trunk below? Was the arm severed from the body, or the body from the +arm? The residual part of Samoa was alive, and therefore we say it was +he. But which of the writhing sections of a ten times severed worm, is +the worm proper? + +For myself, I ever regarded Samoa as but a large fragment of a man, not +a man complete. For was he not an entire limb out of pocket? And the +action at Teneriffe over, great Nelson himself--physiologically +speaking--was but three-quarters of a man. And the smoke of Waterloo +blown by, what was Anglesea but the like? After Saratoga, what Arnold? +To say nothing of Mutius Scaevola minus a hand, General Knox a thumb, +and Hannibal an eye; and that old Roman grenadier, Dentatus, nothing +more than a bruised and battered trunk, a knotty sort of hemlock of a +warrior, hard to hack and hew into chips, though much marred in symmetry +by battle-ax blows. Ah! but these warriors, like anvils, will stand a +deal of hard hammering. Especially in the old knight-errant times. For +at the battle of Brevieux in Flanders, my glorious old gossiping +ancestor, Froissart, informs me, that ten good knights, being suddenly +unhorsed, fell stiff and powerless to the plain, fatally encumbered by +their armor. Whereupon, the rascally burglarious peasants, their foes, +fell to picking their visors; as burglars, locks; or oystermen, oysters; +to get at their lives. But all to no purpose. And at last they were fain +to ask aid of a blacksmith; and not till then, were the inmates of the +armor dispatched. Now it was deemed very hard, that the mysterious +state-prisoner of France should be riveted in an iron mask; but these +knight-errants did voluntarily prison themselves in their own iron +Bastiles; and thus helpless were murdered there-in. Days of chivalry +these, when gallant chevaliers died chivalric deaths! + +And this was the epic age, over whose departure my late eloquent and +prophetic friend and correspondent, Edmund Burke, so movingly mourned. +Yes, they were glorious times. But no sensible man, given to quiet +domestic delights, would exchange his warm fireside and muffins, for a +heroic bivouac, in a wild beechen wood, of a raw gusty morning in +Normandy; every knight blowing his steel-gloved fingers, and vainly +striving to cook his cold coffee in his helmet. + + + +CHAPTER XXV Peril A Peace-Maker + + +A few days passed: the brigantine drifting hither and thither, and +nothing in sight but the sea, when forth again on its stillness rung +Annatoo's domestic alarum. The truce was up. Most egregiously had the +lady infringed it; appropriating to herself various objects previously +disclaimed in favor of Samoa. Besides, forever on the prowl, she was +perpetually going up and down; with untiring energy, exploring every +nook and cranny; carrying off her spoils and diligently secreting them. +Having little idea of feminine adaptations, she pilfered whatever came +handy:--iron hooks, dollars, bolts, hatchets, and stopping not at balls +of marline and sheets of copper. All this, poor Samoa would have borne +with what patience he might, rather than again renew the war, were it +not, that the audacious dame charged him with peculations upon her own +private stores; though of any such thing he was innocent as the +bowsprit. + +This insulting impeachment got the better of the poor islander's +philosophy. He keenly resented it. And the consequence was, that seeing +all domineering useless, Annatoo flew off at a tangent; declaring that, +for the future, Samoa might stay by himself; she would have nothing more +to do with him. Save when unavoidable in managing the brigantine, she +would not even speak to him, that she wouldn't, the monster! She then +boldly demanded the forecastle--in the brig's case, by far the +pleasantest end of the ship--for her own independent suite of +apartments. As for hapless Belisarius, he might do what he pleased in +his dark little den of a cabin. + +Concerning the division of the spoils, the termagant succeeded in +carrying the day; also, to her quarters, bale after bale of goods, +together with numerous odds and ends, sundry and divers. Moreover, she +laid in a fine stock of edibles, so as, in all respects possible, to +live independent of her spouse. + +Unlovely Annatoo! Unfortunate Samoa! Thus did the pair make a divorce of +it; the lady going upon a separate maintenance,--and Belisarius resuming +his bachelor loneliness. In the captain's state room, all cold and +comfortless, he slept; his lady whilome retiring to her forecastle +boudoir; beguiling the hours in saying her pater-nosters, and tossing +over and assorting her ill-gotten trinkets and finery; like Madame De +Maintenon dedicating her last days and nights to continence and +calicoes. + +But think you this was the quiet end of their conjugal quarrels? Ah, no! +No end to those feuds, till one or t'other gives up the ghost. + +Now, exiled from the nuptial couch, Belisarius bore the hardship without +a murmur. And hero that he was, who knows that he felt not like a +soldier on a furlough? But as for Antonina, she could neither get along +with Belisarius, nor without him. She made advances. But of what sort? +Why, breaking into the cabin and purloining sundry goods therefrom; in +artful hopes of breeding a final reconciliation out of the temporary +outburst that might ensue. + +Then followed a sad scene of altercation; interrupted at last by a +sudden loud roaring of the sea. Rushing to the deck, they beheld +themselves sweeping head-foremost toward a shoal making out from a +cluster of low islands, hitherto, by banks of clouds, shrouded from +view. + +The helm was instantly shifted; and the yards braced about. But for +several hours, owing to the freshness of the breeze, the set of the +currents, and the irregularity and extent of the shoal, it seemed +doubtful whether they would escape a catastrophe. But Samoa's +seamanship, united to Annatoo's industry, at last prevailed; and the +brigantine was saved. + +Of the land where they came so near being wrecked, they knew nothing; +and for that reason, they at once steered away. For after the fatal +events which had overtaken the Parki at the Pearl Shell islands, so +fearful were they of encountering any Islanders, that from the first +they had resolved to keep open sea, shunning every appearance of land; +relying upon being eventually picked up by some passing sail. + +Doubtless this resolution proved their salvation. For to the navigator +in these seas, no risk so great, as in approaching the isles; which +mostly are so guarded by outpost reefs, and far out from their margins +environed by perils, that the green flowery field within, lies like a +rose among thorns; and hard to be reached as the heart of proud maiden. +Though once attained, all three--red rose, bright shore, and soft heart--are full of love, bloom, and all manner of delights. The Pearl Shell +islands excepted. + +Besides, in those generally tranquil waters, Samoa's little craft, +though hundreds of miles from land, was very readily managed by himself +and Annatoo. So small was the Parki, that one hand could brace the main-yard; and a very easy thing it was, even to hoist the small top-sails; +for after their first clumsy attempt to perform that operation by hand, +they invariably led the halyards to the windlass, and so managed it, +with the utmost facility. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI Containing A Pennyweight Of Philosophy + + +Still many days passed and the Parki yet floated. The little flying-fish +got used to her familiar, loitering hull; and like swallows building +their nests in quiet old trees, they spawned in the great green +barnacles that clung to her sides. + +The calmer the sea, the more the barnacles grow. In the tropical +Pacific, but a few weeks suffice thus to encase your craft in shell +armor. Vast bunches adhere to the very cutwater, and if not stricken +off, much impede the ship's sailing. And, at intervals, this clearing +away of barnacles was one of Annatoo's occupations. For be it known, +that, like most termagants, the dame was tidy at times, though +capriciously; loving cleanliness by fits and starts. Wherefore, these +barnacles oftentimes troubled her; and with a long pole she would go +about, brushing them aside. It beguiled the weary hours, if nothing +more; and then she would return to her beads and her trinkets; telling +them all over again; murmuring forth her devotions, and marking whether +Samoa had been pilfering from her store. + +Now, the escape from the shoal did much once again to heal the +differences of the good lady and her spouse. And keeping house, as they +did, all alone by themselves, in that lonely craft, a marvel it is, that +they should ever have quarreled. And then to divorce, and yet dwell in +the same tenement, was only aggravating the evil. So Belisarius and +Antonina again came together. But now, grown wise by experience, they +neither loved over-keenly, nor hated; but took things as they were; +found themselves joined, without hope of a sundering, and did what they +could to make a match of the mate. Annatoo concluded that Samoa was not +wholly to be enslaved; and Samoa thought best to wink at Annatoo's +foibles, and let her purloin when she pleased. + +But as in many cases, all this philosophy about wedlock is not proof +against the perpetual contact of the parties concerned; and as it is far +better to revive the old days of courtship, when men's mouths are honey-combs: and, to make them still sweeter, the ladies the bees which there +store their sweets; when fathomless raptures glimmer far down in the +lover's fond eye; and best of all, when visits are alternated by +absence: so, like my dignified lord duke and his duchess, Samoa and +Annatoo, man and wife, dwelling in the same house, still kept up their +separate quarters. Marlborough visiting Sarah; and Sarah, Marlborough, +whenever the humor suggested. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII In Which The Past History Op The Parki Is Concluded + + +Still days, days, days sped by; and steering now this way, now that, to +avoid the green treacherous shores, which frequently rose into view, the +Parki went to and fro in the sea; till at last, it seemed hard to tell, +in what watery world she floated. Well knowing the risks they ran, Samoa +desponded. But blessed be ignorance. For in the day of his despondency, +the lively old lass his wife bade him be of stout heart, cheer up, and +steer away manfully for the setting sun; following which, they must +inevitably arrive at her own dear native island, where all their cares +would be over. So squaring their yards, away they glided; far sloping +down the liquid sphere. + +Upon the afternoon of the day we caught sight of them in our boat, they +had sighted a cluster of low islands, which put them in no small panic, +because of their resemblance to those where the massacre had taken +place. Whereas, they must have been full five hundred leagues from that +fearful vicinity. However, they altered their course to avoid it; and a +little before sunset, dropping the islands astern, resumed their +previous track. But very soon after, they espied our little sea-goat, +bounding over the billows from afar. + +This they took for a canoe giving chase to them. It renewed and +augmented their alarm. + +And when at last they perceived that the strange object was a boat, +their fears, instead of being allayed, only so much the more increased. +For their wild superstitions led them to conclude, that a white man's +craft coming upon them so suddenly, upon the open sea, and by night, +could be naught but a phantom. Furthermore, marking two of us in the +Chamois, they fancied us the ghosts of the Cholos. A conceit which +effectually damped Samoa's courage, like my Viking's, only proof against +things tangible. So seeing us bent upon boarding the brigantine; after a +hurried over-turning of their chattels, with a view of carrying the most +valuable aloft for safe keeping, they secreted what they could; and +together made for the fore-top; the man with a musket, the woman with a +bag of beads. Their endeavoring to secure these treasures against +ghostly appropriation originated in no real fear, that otherwise they +would be stolen: it was simply incidental to the vacant panic into which +they were thrown. No reproach this, to Belisarius' heart of game; for +the most intrepid Feegee warrior, he who has slain his hecatombs, will +not go ten yards in the dark alone, for fear of ghosts. + +Their purpose was to remain in the top until daylight; by which time, +they counted upon the withdrawal of their visitants; who, sure enough, +at last sprang on board, thus verifying their worst apprehensions. + +They watched us long and earnestly. But curious to tell, in that very +strait of theirs, perched together in that airy top, their domestic +differences again broke forth; most probably, from their being suddenly +forced into such very close contact. + +However that might be, taking advantage of our descent into the cabin, +Samoa, in desperation fled from his wife, and one-armed as he was, +sailor-like, shifted himself over by the fore and aft-stays to the main-top, his musket being slung to his back. And thus divided, though but a +few yards intervened, the pair were as much asunder as if at the +opposite Poles. + +During the live-long night they were both in great perplexity as to the +extraordinary goblins on board. Such inquisitive, meddlesome spirits, +had never before been encountered. So cool and systematic; sagaciously +stopping the vessel's headway the better to rummage;--the very plan they +themselves had adopted. But what most surprised them, was our striking a +light, a thing of which no true ghost would be guilty. Then, our eating +and drinking on the quarter-deck including the deliberate investment of +Vienna; and many other actions equally strange, almost led Samoa to +fancy that we were no shades, after all, but a couple of men from the +moon. + +Yet they had dimly caught sight of the frocks and trowsers we wore, +similar to those which the captain of the Parki had bestowed upon the +two Cholos, and in which those villains had been killed. This, with the +presence of the whale boat, united to chase away the conceit of our +lunar origin. But these considerations renewed their first superstitious +impressions of our being the ghosts of the murderous half-breeds. + +Nevertheless, while during the latter part of the night we were +reclining beneath him, munching our biscuit, Samoa eyeing us intently, +was half a mind to open fire upon us by way of testing our corporeality. +But most luckily, he concluded to defer so doing till sunlight; if by +that time we should not have evaporated. + +For dame Annatoo, almost from our first boarding the brigantine, +something in our manner had bred in her a lurking doubt as to the +genuineness of our atmospheric organization; and abandoned to her +speculations when Samoa fled from her side, her incredulity waxed +stronger and stronger. Whence we came she knew not; enough, that we +seemed bent upon pillaging her own precious purloinings. Alas! thought +she, my buttons, my nails, my tappa, my dollars, my beads, and my boxes! + +Wrought up to desperation by these dismal forebodings, she at length +shook the ropes leading from her own perch to Samoa's; adopting this +method of arousing his attention to the heinousness of what was in all +probability going on in the cabin, a prelude most probably to the +invasion of her own end of the vessel. Had she dared raise her voice, no +doubt she would have suggested the expediency of shooting us so soon as +we emerged from the cabin. But failing to shake Samoa into an +understanding of her views on the subject, her malice proved futile. + +When her worst fears were confirmed, however, and we actually descended +into the forecastle; there ensued such a reckless shaking of the ropes, +that Samoa was fain to hold on hard, for fear of being tossed out of the +rigging. And it was this violent rocking that caused the loud creaking +of the yards, so often heard by us while below in Annatoo's apartment. + +And the fore-top being just over the open forecastle scuttle, the dame +could look right down upon us; hence our proceedings were plainly +revealed by the lights that we carried. Upon our breaking open her +strong-box, her indignation almost completely overmastered her fears. +Unhooking a top-block, down it came into the forecastle, charitably +commissioned with the demolition of Jarl's cocoa-nut, then more exposed +to the view of an aerial observer than my own. But of it turned out, no +harm was done to our porcelain. + +At last, morning dawned; when ensued Jarl's discovery as the occupant of +the main-top; which event, with what followed, has been duly recounted. + +And such, in substance, was the first, second, third and fourth acts of +the Parki drama. The fifth and last, including several scenes, now +follows. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII Suspicions Laid, And Something About The Calmuc + + +Though abounding in details full of the savor of reality, Samoa's +narrative did not at first appear altogether satisfactory. Not that it +was so strange; for stranger recitals I had heard. + +But one reason, perhaps, was that I had anticipated a narrative quite +different; something agreeing with my previous surmises. + +Not a little puzzling, also, was his account of having seen islands the +day preceding; though, upon reflection, that might have been the case, +and yet, from his immediately altering the Parki's course, the Chamois, +unknowingly might have sailed by their vicinity. Still, those islands +could form no part of the chain we were seeking. They must have been +some region hitherto undiscovered. + +But seems it likely, thought I, that one, who, according to his own +account, has conducted himself so heroically in rescuing the brigantine, +should be the victim of such childish terror at the mere glimpse of a +couple of sailors in an open boat, so well supplied, too, with arms, as +he was, to resist their capturing his craft, if such proved their +intention? On the contrary, would it not have been more natural, in his +dreary situation, to have hailed our approach with the utmost delight? +But then again, we were taken for phantoms, not flesh and blood. Upon +the whole, I regarded the narrator of these things somewhat +distrustfully. But he met my gaze like a man. While Annatoo, standing +by, looked so expressively the Amazonian character imputed to her, that +my doubts began to waver. And recalling all the little incidents of +their story, so hard to be conjured up on the spur of a presumed +necessity to lie; nay, so hard to be conjured up at all; my suspicions +at last gave way. And I could no longer harbor any misgivings. + +For, to be downright, what object could Samoa have, in fabricating such +a narrative of horrors--those of the massacre, I mean--unless to conceal +some tragedy, still more atrocious, in which he himself had been +criminally concerned? A supposition, which, for obvious reasons, seemed +out of the question. True, instances were known to me of half-civilized +beings, like Samoa, forming part of the crews of ships in these seas, +rising suddenly upon their white ship-mates, and murdering them, for the +sake of wrecking the ship on the shore of some island near by, and +plundering her hull, when stranded. + +But had this been purposed with regard to the Parki, where the rest of +the mutineers? There was no end to my conjectures; the more I indulged +in them, the more they multiplied. So, unwilling to torment myself, when +nothing could be learned, but what Samoa related, and stuck to like a +hero; I gave over conjecturing at all; striving hard to repose full +faith in the Islander. + +Jarl, however, was skeptical to the last; and never could be brought +completely to credit the tale. He stoutly maintained that the hobgoblins +must have had something or other to do with the Parki. + +My own curiosity satisfied with respect to the brigantine, Samoa himself +turned inquisitor. He desired to know who we were; and whence we came in +our marvelous boat. But on these heads I thought best to withhold from +him the truth; among other things, fancying that if disclosed, it would +lessen his deference for us, as men superior to himself. I therefore +spoke vaguely of our adventures, and assumed the decided air of a +master; which I perceived was not lost upon the rude Islander. As for +Jarl, and what he might reveal, I embraced the first opportunity to +impress upon him the importance of never divulging our flight from the +Arcturion; nor in any way to commit himself on that head: injunctions +which he faithfully promised to observe. + +If not wholly displeased with the fine form of Samoa, despite his savage +lineaments, and mutilated member, I was much less conciliated by the +person of Annatoo; who, being sinewy of limb, and neither young, comely, +nor amiable, was exceedingly distasteful in my eyes. Besides, she was a +tigress. Yet how avoid admiring those Penthesilian qualities which so +signally had aided Samoa, in wresting the Parki from its treacherous +captors. Nevertheless, it was indispensable that she should at once be +brought under prudent subjection; and made to know, once for all, that +though conjugally a rebel, she must be nautically submissive. For to +keep the sea with a Calmuc on board, seemed next to impossible. In most +military marines, they are prohibited by law; no officer may take his +Pandora and her bandbox off soundings. + +By the way, this self-same appellative, Pandora, has been bestowed upon +vessels. There was a British ship by that name, dispatched in quest of +the mutineers of the Bounty. But any old tar might have prophesied her +fate. Bound home she was wrecked on a reef off New South Wales. Pandora, +indeed! A pretty name for a ship: fairly smiting Fate in the face. But +in this matter of christening ships of war, Christian nations are but +too apt to be dare-devils. Witness the following: British names all--The +Conqueror, the Defiance, the Revenge, the Spitfire, the Dreadnaught, the +Thunderer, and the Tremendous; not omitting the Etna, which, in the +Roads of Corfu, was struck by lightning, coming nigh being consumed by +fire from above. But almost potent as Moses' rod, Franklin's proved her +salvation. + +With the above catalogue, compare we the Frenchman's; quite +characteristic of the aspirations of Monsieur:--The Destiny, the +Glorious, the Magnanimous, the Magnificent, the Conqueror, the +Triumphant, the Indomitable, the Intrepid, the Mont-Blanc. Lastly, the +Dons; who have ransacked the theology of the religion of peace for fine +names for their fighting ships; stopping not at designating one of their +three-deckers, The Most Holy Trinity. But though, at Trafalgar, the +Santissima Trinidada thundered like Sinai, her thunders were silenced by +the victorious cannonade of the Victory. + +And without being blown into splinters by artillery, how many of these +Redoubtables and Invincibles have succumbed to the waves, and like +braggarts gone down before hurricanes, with their bravadoes broad on +their bows. + +Much better the American names (barring Scorpions, Hornets, and Wasps;) +Ohio, Virginia, Carolina, Vermont. And if ever these Yankees fight great +sea engagements--which Heaven forefend!--how glorious, poetically +speaking, to range up the whole federated fleet, and pour forth a +broadside from Florida to Maine. Ay, ay, very glorious indeed! yet in +that proud crowing of cannon, how shall the shade of peace-loving Penn +be astounded, to see the mightiest murderer of them all, the great +Pennsylvania, a very namesake of his. Truly, the Pennsylvania's guns +should be the wooden ones, called by men-of-war's-men, Quakers. + +But all this is an episode, made up of digressions. Time to tack ship, +and return. + +Now, in its proper place, I omitted to mention, that shortly after +descending from the rigging, and while Samoa was rehearsing his +adventures, dame Annatoo had stolen below into the forecastle, intent +upon her chattels. And finding them all in mighty disarray, she returned +to the deck prodigiously, excited, and glancing angrily toward Jarl and +me, showered a whole torrent of objurgations into both ears of Samoa. + +This contempt of my presence surprised me at first; but perhaps women +are less apt to be impressed by a pretentious demeanor, than men. + +Now, to use a fighting phrase, there is nothing like boarding an enemy +in the smoke. And therefore, upon this first token of Annatoo's +termagant qualities, I gave her to understand--craving her pardon--that +neither the vessel nor aught therein was hers; but that every thing +belonged to the owners in Lahina. I added, that at all hazards, a stop +must be put to her pilferings. Rude language for feminine ears; but how +to be avoided? Here was an infatuated woman, who, according to Samoa's +account, had been repeatedly detected in the act of essaying to draw out +the screw-bolts which held together the planks. Tell me; was she not +worse than the Load-Stone Rock, sailing by which a stout ship fell to +pieces? + +During this scene, Samoa said little. Perhaps he was secretly pleased +that his matrimonial authority was reinforced by myself and my Viking, +whose views of the proper position of wives at sea, so fully +corresponded with his own; however difficult to practice, those purely +theoretical ideas of his had hitherto proved. + +Once more turning to Annatoo, now looking any thing but amiable, I +observed, that all her clamors would be useless; and that if it came to +the worst, the Parki had a hull that would hold her. + +In the end she went off in a fit of the sulks; sitting down on the +windlass and glaring; her arms akimbo, and swaying from side to side; +while ever and anon she gave utterance to a dismal chant. It sounded +like an invocation to the Cholos to rise and dispatch us. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX What They Lighted Upon In Further Searching The Craft, And +The Resolution They Came To + + +Descending into the cabin with Samoa, I bade him hunt up the +brigantine's log, the captain's writing-desk, and nautical instruments; +in a word, aught that could throw light on the previous history of the +craft, or aid in navigating her homeward. + +But nearly every thing of the kind had disappeared: log, quadrant, and +ship's papers. Nothing was left but the sextant-case, which Jarl and I +had lighted upon in the state-room. + +Upon this, vague though they were, my suspicions returned; and I closely +questioned the Islander concerning the disappearance of these important +articles. In reply, he gave me to understand, that the nautical +instruments had been clandestinely carried down into the forecastle by +Annatoo; and by that indefatigable and inquisitive dame they had been +summarily taken apart for scientific inspection. It was impossible to +restore them; for many of the fixtures were lost, including the colored +glasses, sights, and little mirrors; and many parts still recoverable, +were so battered and broken as to be entirely useless. For several days +afterward, we now and then came across bits of the quadrant or sextant; +but it was only to mourn over their fate. + +However, though sextant and quadrant were both unattainable, I did not +so quickly renounce all hope of discovering a chronometer, which, if in +good order, though at present not ticking, might still be made in some +degree serviceable. But no such instrument was to be seen. No: nor to be +heard of; Samoa himself professing utter ignorance. + +Annatoo, I threatened and coaxed; describing the chronometer--a live, +round creature like a toad, that made a strange noise, which I imitated; +but she knew nothing about it. Whether she had lighted upon it unbeknown +to Samoa, and dissected it as usual, there was now no way to determine. +Indeed, upon this one point, she maintained an air of such inflexible +stupidity, that if she were really fibbing, her dead-wall countenance +superseded the necessity for verbal deceit. + +It may be, however, that in this particular she was wronged; for, as +with many small vessels, the Parki might never have possessed the +instrument in question. All thought, therefore, of feeling our way, as +we should penetrate farther and farther into the watery wilderness, was +necessarily abandoned. + +The log book had also formed a portion of Annatoo's pilferings. It seems +she had taken it into her studio to ponder over. But after amusing +herself by again and again counting over the leaves, and wondering how +so many distinct surfaces could be compacted together in so small a +compass, she had very suddenly conceived an aversion to literature, and +dropped the book overboard as worthless. Doubtless, it met the fate of +many other ponderous tomes; sinking quickly and profoundly. What Camden +or Stowe hereafter will dive for it? + +One evening Samoa brought me a quarto half-sheet of yellowish, ribbed +paper, much soiled and tarry, which he had discovered in a dark hole of +the forecastle. It had plainly formed part of the lost log; but all the +writing thereon, at present decipherable, conveyed no information upon +the subject then nearest my heart. + +But one could not but be struck by a tragical occurrence, which the page +very briefly recounted; as well, as by a noteworthy pictorial +illustration of the event in the margin of the text. Save the cut, there +was no further allusion to the matter than the following:--"This day, +being calm, Tooboi, one of the Lahina men, went overboard for a bath, +and was eaten up by a shark. Immediately sent forward for his bag." + +Now, this last sentence was susceptible of two meanings. It is truth, +that immediately upon the decease of a friendless sailor at sea, his +shipmates oftentimes seize upon his effects, and divide them; though the +dead man's clothes are seldom worn till a subsequent voyage. This +proceeding seems heartless. But sailors reason thus: Better we, than the +captain. For by law, either scribbled or unscribbled, the effects of a +mariner, dying on shipboard, should be held in trust by that officer. +But as sailors are mostly foundlings and castaways, and carry all their +kith and kin in their arms and their legs, there hardly ever appears any +heir-at-law to claim their estate; seldom worth inheriting, like +Esterhazy's. Wherefore, the withdrawal of a dead man's "kit" from the +forecastle to the cabin, is often held tantamount to its virtual +appropriation by the captain. At any rate, in small ships on long +voyages, such things have been done. + +Thus much being said, then, the sentence above quoted from the Parki's +log, may be deemed somewhat ambiguous. At the time it struck me as +singular; for the poor diver's grass bag could not have contained much +of any thing valuable unless, peradventure, he had concealed therein +some Cleopatra pearls, feloniously abstracted from the shells brought up +from the sea. + +Aside of the paragraph, copied above, was a pen-and-ink sketch of the +casualty, most cruelly executed; the poor fellow's legs being +represented half way in the process of deglutition; his arms firmly +grasping the monster's teeth, as if heroically bent upon making as tough +a morsel of himself as possible. + +But no doubt the honest captain sketched this cenotaph to the departed +in all sincerity of heart; perhaps, during the melancholy leisure which +followed the catastrophe. Half obliterated were several stains upon the +page; seemingly, lingering traces of a salt tear or two. + +From this unwonted embellishment of the text, I was led to infer, that +the designer, at one time or other, must have been engaged in the +vocation of whaling. For, in India ink, the logs of certain whalemen are +decorated by somewhat similar illustrations. + +When whales are seen, but not captured, the fact is denoted by an +outline figure representing the creature's flukes, the broad, curving +lobes of his tail. But in those cases where the monster is both chased +and killed, this outline is filled up jet black; one for every whale +slain; presenting striking objects in turning over the log; and so +facilitating reference. Hence, it is quite imposing to behold, all in a +row, three or four, sometime five or six, of these drawings; showing +that so many monsters that day jetted their last spout. And the chief +mate, whose duty it is to keep the ship's record, generally prides +himself upon the beauty, and flushy likeness to life, of his flukes; +though, sooth to say, many of these artists are no Landseers. + +After vainly searching the cabin for those articles we most needed, we +proceeded to explore the hold, into which as yet we had not penetrated. +Here, we found a considerable quantity of pearl shells; cocoanuts; an +abundance of fresh water in casks; spare sails and rigging; and some +fifty barrels or more of salt beef and biscuit. Unromantic as these last +mentioned objects were, I lingered over them long, and in a revery. +Branded upon each barrel head was the name of a place in America, with +which I was very familiar. It is from America chiefly, that ship's +stores are originally procured for the few vessels sailing out of the +Hawaiian Islands. + +Having now acquainted myself with all things respecting the Parki, which +could in any way be learned, I repaired to the quarter-deck, and +summoning round me Samoa, Annatoo, and Jarl, gravely addressed them. + +I said, that nothing would give me greater satisfaction than forthwith +to return to the scene of the massacre, and chastise its surviving +authors. But as there were only four of us in all; and the place of +those islands was wholly unknown to me; and even if known, would be +altogether out of our reach, since we possessed no instruments of +navigation; it was quite plain that all thought of returning thither was +entirely useless. The last mentioned reason, also, prevented our +voyaging to the Hawaiian group, where the vessel belonged; though that +would have been the most advisable step, resulting, as it would, if +successful, in restoring the ill-fated craft to her owners. + +But all things considered, it seemed best, I added, cautiously to hold +on our way to the westward. It was our easiest course; for we would ever +have the wind from astern; and though we could not so much as hope to +arrive at any one spot previously designated, there was still a positive +certainty, if we floated long enough, of falling in with islands whereat +to refresh ourselves; and whence, if we thought fit, we might afterward +embark for more agreeable climes. I then reminded them of the fact, that +so long as we kept the sea, there was always some prospect of +encountering a friendly sail; in which event, our solicitude would be +over. + +All this I said in the mild, firm tone of a superior; being anxious, at +once to assume the unquestioned supremacy. For, otherwise, Jarl and I +might better quit the vessel forthwith, than remain on board subject to +the outlandish caprices of Annatoo, who through Samoa would then have +the sway. But I was sure of my Viking; and if Samoa proved docile, had +no fear of his dame. + +And therefore during my address, I steadfastly eyed him; thereby +learning enough to persuade me, that though he deferred to me at +present, he was, notwithstanding, a man who, without precisely +meditating mischief, could upon occasion act an ugly part. But of his +courage, and savage honor, such as it was, I had little doubt. Then, +wild buffalo that he was, tamed down in the yoke matrimonial, I could +not but fancy, that if upon no other account, our society must please +him, as rendering less afflictive the tyranny of his spouse. + +For a hen-pecked husband, by the way, Samoa was a most terrible fellow +to behold. And though, after all, I liked him; it was as you fancy a +fiery steed with mane disheveled, as young Alexander fancied Bucephalus; +which wild horse, when he patted, he preferred holding by the bridle. +But more of Samoa anon. + +Our course determined, and the command of the vessel tacitly yielded up +to myself, the next thing done was to put every thing in order. The +tattered sails were replaced by others, dragged up from the sail-room +below; in several places, new running-rigging was rove; blocks +restrapped; and the slackened stays and shrouds set taught. For all of +which, we were mostly indebted to my Viking's unwearied and skillful +marling-spike, which he swayed like a scepter. + +The little Parki's toilet being thus thoroughly made for the first time +since the massacre, we gave her new raiment to the breeze, and daintily +squaring her yards, she gracefully glided away; honest old Jarl at the +helm, watchfully guiding her path, like some devoted old foster-father. + +As I stood by his side like a captain, or walked up and down on the +quarter-deck, I felt no little importance upon thus assuming for the +first time in my life, the command of a vessel at sea. The novel +circumstances of the case only augmented this feeling; the wild and +remote seas where we were; the character of my crew, and the +consideration, that to all purposes, I was owner, as well as commander +of the craft I sailed. + + + +CHAPTER XXX Hints For A Full Length Of Samoa + + +My original intention to touch at the Kingsmill Chain, or the countries +adjacent, was greatly strengthened by thus encountering Samoa; and the +more I had to do with my Belisarius, the more I was pleased with him. +Nor could I avoid congratulating myself, upon having fallen in with a +hero, who in various ways, could not fail of proving exceedingly useful. + +Like any man of mark, Samoa best speaks for himself; but we may as well +convey some idea of his person. Though manly enough, nay, an obelisk in +stature, the savage was far from being sentimentally prepossessing. Be +not alarmed; but he wore his knife in the lobe of his dexter ear, which, +by constant elongation almost drooped upon his shoulder. A mode of +sheathing it exceedingly handy, and far less brigandish than the +Highlander's dagger concealed in his leggins. + +But it was the mother of Samoa, who at a still earlier day had punctured +him through and through in still another direction. The middle cartilage +of his nose was slightly pendent, peaked, and Gothic, and perforated +with a hole; in which, like a Newfoundland dog carrying a cane, Samoa +sported a trinket: a well polished nail. + +In other respects he was equally a coxcomb. In his style of tattooing, +for instance, which seemed rather incomplete; his marks embracing but a +vertical half of his person, from crown to sole; the other side being +free from the slightest stain. Thus clapped together, as it were, he +looked like a union of the unmatched moieties of two distinct beings; +and your fancy was lost in conjecturing, where roamed the absent ones. +When he turned round upon you suddenly, you thought you saw some one +else, not him whom you had been regarding before. + +But there was one feature in Samoa beyond the reach of the innovations +of art:--his eye; which in civilized man or savage, ever shines in the +head, just as it shone at birth. Truly, our eyes are miraculous things. +But alas, that in so many instances, these divine organs should be mere +lenses inserted into the socket, as glasses in spectacle rims. + +But my Islander had a soul in his eye; looking out upon you there, like +somebody in him. What an eye, to be sure! At times, brilliantly +changeful as opal; in anger, glowing like steel at white heat. + +Belisarius, be it remembered, had but very recently lost an arm. But you +would have thought he had been born without it; so Lord Nelson-like and +cavalierly did he sport the honorable stump. + +But no more of Samoa; only this: that his name had been given him by a +sea-captain; to whom it had been suggested by the native designation of +the islands to which he belonged; the Saviian or Samoan group, otherwise +known as the Navigator Islands. The island of Upolua, one of that +cluster, claiming the special honor of his birth, as Corsica does +Napoleon's, we shall occasionally hereafter speak of Samoa as the +Upoluan; by which title he most loved to be called. + +It is ever ungallant to pass over a lady. But what shall be said of +Annatoo? As I live, I can make no pleasing portrait of the dame; for as +in most ugly subjects, flattering would but make the matter worse. +Furthermore, unalleviated ugliness should ever go unpainted, as +something unnecessary to duplicate. But the only ugliness is that of the +heart, seen through the face. And though beauty be obvious, the only +loveliness is invisible. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI Rovings Alow And Aloft + + +Every one knows what a fascination there is in wandering up and down in +a deserted old tenement in some warm, dreamy country; where the vacant +halls seem echoing of silence, and the doors creak open like the +footsteps of strangers; and into every window the old garden trees +thrust their dark boughs, like the arms of night-burglars; and ever and +anon the nails start from the wainscot; while behind it the mice rattle +like dice. Up and down in such old specter houses one loves to wander; +and so much the more, if the place be haunted by some marvelous story. + +And during the drowsy stillness of the tropical sea-day, very much such +a fancy had I, for prying about our little brigantine, whose tragic hull +was haunted by the memory of the massacre, of which it still bore +innumerable traces. + +And so far as the indulgence of quiet strolling and reverie was +concerned, it was well nigh the same as if I were all by myself. For +Samoa, for a time, was rather reserved, being occupied with thoughts of +his own. And Annatoo seldom troubled me with her presence. She was taken +up with her calicoes and jewelry; which I had permitted her to retain, +to keep her in good humor if possible. And as for My royal old Viking, +he was one of those individuals who seldom speak, unless personally +addressed. + +Besides, all that by day was necessary to navigating the Parki was, +that--somebody should stand at the helm; the craft being so small, and +the grating, whereon the steersman stood, so elevated, that he commanded +a view far beyond the bowsprit; thus keeping Argus eyes on the sea, as +he steered us along. In all other respects we left the brigantine to the +guardianship of the gentle winds. + +My own turn at the helm--for though commander, I felt constrained to do +duty with the rest--came but once in the twenty-four hours. And not only +did Jarl and Samoa, officiate as helmsmen, but also Dame Annatoo, who +had become quite expert at the business. Though Jarl always maintained +that there was a slight drawback upon her usefulness in this vocation. +Too much taken up by her lovely image partially reflected in the glass +of the binnacle before her, Annatoo now and then neglected her duty, and +led us some devious dances. Nor was she, I ween, the first woman that +ever led men into zigzags. + +For the reasons above stated, I had many spare hours to myself. At +times, I mounted aloft, and lounging in the slings of the topsail yard--one of the many snug nooks in a ship's rigging--I gazed broad off upon +the blue boundless sea, and wondered what they were doing in that +unknown land, toward which we were fated to be borne. Or feeling less +meditative, I roved about hither and thither; slipping over, by the +stays, from one mast to the other; climbing up to the truck; or lounging +out to the ends of the yards; exploring wherever there was a foothold. +It was like climbing about in some mighty old oak, and resting in the +crotches. + +To a sailor, a ship's ropes are a study. And to me, every rope-yarn of +the Parki's was invested with interest. The outlandish fashion of her +shrouds, the collars of her stays, the stirrups, seizings, Flemish-horses, gaskets,--all the wilderness of her rigging, bore unequivocal +traces of her origin. + +But, perhaps, my pleasantest hours were those which I spent, stretched +out on a pile of old sails, in the fore-top; lazily dozing to the +craft's light roll. + +Frequently, I descended to the cabin: for the fiftieth time, exploring +the lockers and state-rooms for some new object of curiosity. And often, +with a glimmering light, I went into the midnight hold, as into old +vaults and catacombs; and creeping between damp ranges of casks, +penetrated into its farthest recesses. + +Sometimes, in these under-ground burrowings, I lighted upon sundry out-of-the-way hiding places of Annatoo's; where were snugly secreted divers +articles, with which she had been smitten. In truth, no small portion of +the hull seemed a mine of stolen goods, stolen out of its own bowels. I +found a jaunty shore-cap of the captain's, hidden away in the hollow +heart of a coil of rigging; covered over in a manner most touchingly +natural, with a heap of old ropes; and near by, in a breaker, discovered +several entire pieces of calico, heroically tied together with cords +almost strong enough to sustain the mainmast. + +Near the stray light, which, when the hatch was removed, gleamed down +into this part of the hold, was a huge ground-tier butt, headless as +Charles the First. And herein was a mat nicely spread for repose; a +discovery which accounted for what had often proved an enigma. Not +seldom Annatoo had been among the missing; and though, from stem to +stern, loudly invoked to come forth and relieve the poignant distress of +her anxious friends, the dame remained perdu; silent and invisible as a +spirit. But in her own good time, she would mysteriously emerge; or be +suddenly espied lounging quietly in the forecastle, as if she had been +there from all eternity. + +Useless to inquire, "Where hast thou been, sweet Annatoo?" For no sweet +rejoinder would she give. + +But now the problem was solved. Here, in this silent cask in the hold, +Annatoo was wont to coil herself away, like a garter-snake under a +stone. + +Whether-she-thus stood sentry over her goods secreted round about: +whether she here performed penance like a nun in her cell; or was moved +to this unaccountable freak by the powers of the air; no one could tell. +Can you? + +Verily, her ways were as the ways of the inscrutable penguins in +building their inscrutable nests, which baffle all science, and make a +fool of a sage. + +Marvelous Annatoo! who shall expound thee? + + + +CHAPTER XXXII Xiphius Platypterus + + +About this time, the loneliness of our voyage was relieved by an event +worth relating. + +Ever since leaving the Pearl Shell Islands, the Parki had been followed +by shoals of small fish, pleasantly enlivening the sea, and socially +swimming by her side. But in vain did Jarl and I search among their +ranks for the little, steel-blue Pilot fish, so long outriders of the +Chamois. But perhaps since the Chamois was now high and dry on the +Parki's deck, our bright little avant-couriers were lurking out of +sight, far down in the brine; racing along close to the keel. + +But it is not with the Pilot fish that we now have to do. + +One morning our attention was attracted to a mighty commotion in the +water. The shoals of fish were darting hither and thither, and leaping +into the air in the utmost affright. Samoa declared, that their deadly +foe the Sword fish must be after them. + +And here let me say, that, since of all the bullies, and braggarts, and +bravoes, and free-booters, and Hectors, and fish-at-arms, and knight-errants, and moss-troopers, and assassins, and foot-pads, and gallant +soldiers, and immortal heroes that swim the seas, the Indian Sword fish +is by far the most remarkable, I propose to dedicate this chapter to a +special description of the warrior. In doing which, I but follow the +example of all chroniclers and historians, my Peloponnesian friend +Thucydides and others, who are ever mindful of devoting much space to +accounts of eminent destroyers; for the purpose, no doubt, of holding +them up as ensamples to the world. + +Now, the fish here treated of is a very different creature from the +Sword fish frequenting the Northern Atlantic; being much larger every +way, and a more dashing varlet to boot. Furthermore, he is denominated +the Indian Sword fish, in contradistinction from his namesake above +mentioned. But by seamen in the Pacific, he is more commonly known as +the Bill fish; while for those who love science and hard names, be it +known, that among the erudite naturalists he goeth by the outlandish +appellation of "_Xiphius Platypterus_." + +But I waive for my hero all these his cognomens, and substitute a much +better one of my own: namely, the Chevalier. And a Chevalier he is, by +good right and title. A true gentleman of Black Prince Edward's bright +day, when all gentlemen were known by their swords; whereas, in times +present, the Sword fish excepted, they are mostly known by their high +polished boots and rattans. + +A right valiant and jaunty Chevalier is our hero; going about with his +long Toledo perpetually drawn. Rely upon it, he will fight you to the +hilt, for his bony blade has never a scabbard. He himself sprang from it +at birth; yea, at the very moment he leaped into the Battle of Life; as +we mortals ourselves spring all naked and scabbardless into the world. +Yet, rather, are we scabbards to our souls. And the drawn soul of genius +is more glittering than the drawn cimeter of Saladin. But how many let +their steel sleep, till it eat up the scabbard itself, and both corrode +to rust-chips. Saw you ever the hillocks of old Spanish anchors, and +anchor-stocks of ancient galleons, at the bottom of Callao Bay? The +world is full of old Tower armories, and dilapidated Venetian arsenals, +and rusty old rapiers. But true warriors polish their good blades by the +bright beams of the morning; and gird them on to their brave sirloins; +and watch for rust spots as for foes; and by many stout thrusts and +stoccadoes keep their metal lustrous and keen, as the spears of the +Northern Lights charging over Greenland. + +Fire from the flint is our Chevalier enraged. He takes umbrage at the +cut of some ship's keel crossing his road; and straightway runs a tilt +at it; with one mad lounge thrusting his Andrea Ferrara clean through +and through; not seldom breaking it short off at the haft, like a bravo +leaving his poignard in the vitals of his foe. + +In the case of the English ship Foxhound, the blade penetrated through +the most solid part of her hull, the bow; going completely through the +copper plates and timbers, and showing for several inches in the hold. +On the return of the ship to London, it was carefully sawn out; and, +imbedded in the original wood, like a fossil, is still preserved. But +this was a comparatively harmless onslaught of the valiant Chevalier. +With the Rousseau, of Nantucket, it fared worse. She was almost mortally +stabbed; her assailant withdrawing his blade. And it was only by keeping +the pumps clanging, that she managed to swim into a Tahitian harbor, +"heave down," and have her wound dressed by a ship-surgeon with tar and +oakum. This ship I met with at sea, shortly after the disaster. + +At what armory our Chevalier equips himself after one of his spiteful +tilting-matches, it would not be easy to say. But very hard for him, if +ever after he goes about in the lists, swordless and disarmed, at the +mercy of any caitiff shark he may meet. + +Now, seeing that our fellow-voyagers, the little fish along-side, were +sorely tormented and thinned out by the incursions of a pertinacious +Chevalier, bent upon making a hearty breakfast out of them, I determined +to interfere in their behalf, and capture the enemy. + +With shark-hook and line I succeeded, and brought my brave gentleman to +the deck. He made an emphatic landing; lashing the planks with his +sinewy tail; while a yard and a half in advance of his eyes, reached +forth his terrible blade. + +As victor, I was entitled to the arms of the vanquished; so, quickly +dispatching him, and sawing off his Toledo, I bore it away for a trophy. +It was three-sided, slightly concave on each, like a bayonet; and some +three inches through at the base, it tapered from thence to a point. + +And though tempered not in Tagus or Guadalquiver, it yet revealed upon +its surface that wavy grain and watery fleckiness peculiar to tried +blades of Spain. It was an aromatic sword; like the ancient caliph's, +giving out a peculiar musky odor by friction. But far different from +steel of Tagus or Damascus, it was inflexible as Crocket's rifle tube; +no doubt, as deadly. + +Long hung that rapier over the head of my hammock. Was it not storied as +the good trenchant blade of brave Bayard, that other chevalier? The +knight's may have slain its scores, or fifties; but the weapon I +preserved had, doubtless, run through and riddled its thousands. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII Otard + + +And here is another little incident. + +One afternoon while all by myself curiously penetrating into the hold, I +most unexpectedly obtained proof, that the ill-fated captain of the +Parki had been a man of sound judgment and most excellent taste. In +brief, I lighted upon an aromatic cask of prime old Otard. + +Now, I mean not to speak lightly of any thing immediately connected with +the unfortunate captain. Nor, on the other hand, would I resemble the +inconsolable mourner, who among other tokens of affliction, bound in +funereal crape his deceased friend's copy of Joe Miller. Is there not a +fitness in things? + +But let that pass. I found the Otard, and drank there-of; finding it, +moreover, most pleasant to the palate, and right cheering to the soul. +My next impulse was to share my prize with my shipmates. But here a +judicious reflection obtruded. From the sea-monarchs, his ancestors, my +Viking had inherited one of their cardinal virtues, a detestation and +abhorrence of all vinous and spirituous beverages; insomuch, that he +never could see any, but he instantly quaffed it out of sight. To be +short, like Alexander the Great and other royalties, Jarl was prone to +overmuch bibing. And though at sea more sober than a Fifth Monarchy +Elder, it was only because he was then removed from temptation. But +having thus divulged my Viking's weak; side, I earnestly entreat, that +it may not disparage him in any charitable man's estimation. Only think, +how many more there are like him to say nothing further of Alexander the +Great--especially among his own class; and consider, I beseech, that the +most capacious-souled fellows, for that very reason, are the most apt to +be too liberal in their libations; since, being so large-hearted, they +hold so much more good cheer than others. + +For Samoa, from his utter silence hitherto as to aught inebriating on +board, I concluded, that, along with his other secrets, the departed +captain had very wisely kept his Otard to himself. + +Nor did I doubt, but that the Upoluan, like all Polynesians, much loved +getting high of head; and in that state, would be more intractable than +a Black Forest boar. And concerning Annatoo, I shuddered to think, how +that Otard might inflame her into a Fury more fierce than the foremost +of those that pursued Orestes. + +In good time, then, bethinking me of the peril of publishing my +discovery;--bethinking me of the quiet, lazy, ever-present perils of the +voyage, of all circumstances, the very worst under which to introduce an +intoxicating beverage to my companions, I resolved to withhold it from +them altogether. + +So impressed was I with all this, that for a moment, I was almost +tempted to roll over the cask on its bilge, remove the stopper, and +suffer its contents to mix with the foul water at the bottom of the +hold. + +But no, no: What: dilute the brine with the double distilled soul of the +precious grape? Haft himself would have haunted me! + +Then again, it might come into play medicinally; and Paracelsus himself +stands sponsor for every cup drunk for the good of the abdomen. So at +last, I determined to let it remain where it was: visiting it +occasionally, by myself, for inspection. + +But by way of advice to all ship-masters, let me say, that if your Otard +magazine be exposed to view--then, in the evil hour of wreck, stave in +your spirit-casks, ere rigging the life-boat. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV How They Steered On Their Way + + +When we quitted the Chamois for the brigantine, we must have been at +least two hundred leagues to the westward of the spot, where we had +abandoned the Arcturion. Though how far we might then have been, North +or South of the Equator, I could not with any certainty divine. + +But that we were not removed any considerable distance from the Line, +seemed obvious. For in the starriest night no sign of the extreme Polar +constellations was visible; though often we scanned the northern and +southern horizon in search of them. So far as regards the aspect of the +skies near the ocean's rim, the difference of several degrees in one's +latitude at sea, is readily perceived by a person long accustomed to +surveying the heavens. + +If correct in my supposition, concerning our longitude at the time here +alluded to, and allowing for what little progress we had been making in +the Parki, there now remained some one hundred leagues to sail, ere the +country we sought would be found. But for obvious reasons, how long +precisely we might continue to float out of sight of land, it was +impossible to say. Calms, light breezes, and currents made every thing +uncertain. Nor had we any method of estimating our due westward +progress, except by what is called Dead Reckoning,--the computation of +the knots run hourly; allowances' being made for the supposed deviations +from our course, by reason of the ocean streams; which at times in this +quarter of the Pacific run with very great velocity. + +Now, in many respects we could not but feel safer aboard the Parki than +in the Chamois. The sense of danger is less vivid, the greater the +number of lives involved. He who is ready to despair in solitary peril, +plucks up a heart in the presence of another. In a plurality of comrades +is much countenance and consolation. + +Still, in the brigantine there were many sources of uneasiness and +anxiety unknown to me in the whale-boat. True, we had now between us and +the deep, five hundred good planks to one lath in our buoyant little +chip. But the Parki required more care and attention; especially by +night, when a vigilant look-out was indispensable. With impunity, in our +whale-boat, we might have run close to shoal or reef; whereas, similar +carelessness or temerity now, might prove fatal to all concerned. + +Though in the joyous sunlight, sailing through the sparkling sea, I was +little troubled with serious misgivings; in the hours of darkness it was +quite another thing. And the apprehensions, nay terrors I felt, were +much augmented by the remissness of both Jarl and Samoa, in keeping +their night-watches. Several times I was seized with a deadly panic, and +earnestly scanned the murky horizon, when rising from slumber I found +the steersman, in whose hands for the time being were life and death, +sleeping upright against the tiller, as much of a fixture there, as the +open-mouthed dragon rudely carved on our prow. + +Were it not, that on board of other vessels, I myself had many a time +dozed at the helm, spite of all struggles, I would have been almost at a +loss to account for this heedlessness in my comrades. But it seemed as +if the mere sense of our situation, should have been sufficient to +prevent the like conduct in all on board our craft. + +Samoa's aspect, sleeping at the tiller, was almost appalling. His large +opal eyes were half open; and turned toward the light of the binnacle, +gleamed between the lids like bars of flame. And added to all, was his +giant stature and savage lineaments. + +It was in vain, that I remonstrated, begged, or threatened: the +occasional drowsiness of my fellow-voyagers proved incurable. To no +purpose, I reminded my Viking that sleeping in the night-watch in a +craft like ours, was far different from similar heedlessness on board +the Arcturion. For there, our place upon the ocean was always known, and +our distance from land; so that when by night the seamen were permitted +to be drowsy, it was mostly, because the captain well knew that strict +watchfulness could be dispensed with. + +Though in all else, the Skyeman proved a most faithful ally, in this one +thing he was either perversely obtuse, or infatuated. Or, perhaps, +finding himself once more in a double-decked craft, which rocked him as +of yore, he was lulled into a deceitful security. + +For Samoa, his drowsiness was the drowsiness of one beat on sleep, come +dreams or death. He seemed insensible to the peril we ran. Often I sent +the sleepy savage below, sad, steered myself till morning. At last I +made a point of slumbering much by day, the better to stand watch by +night; though I made Samoa and Jarl regularly go through with their +allotted four hours each. + +It has been mentioned, that Annatoo took her turn at the helm; but it +was only by day. And in justice to the lady, I must affirm, that upon +the whole she acquitted herself well. For notwithstanding the syren face +in the binnacle, which dimly allured her glances, Annatoo after all was +tolerably heedful of her steering. Indeed she took much pride therein; +always ready for her turn; with marvelous exactitude calculating the +approaching hour, as it came on in regular rotation. Her time-piece was +ours, the sun. By night it must have been her guardian star; for +frequently she gazed up at a particular section of the heavens, like one +regarding the dial in a tower. + +By some odd reasoning or other, she had cajoled herself into the notion, +that whoever steered the brigantine, for that period was captain. +Wherefore, she gave herself mighty airs at the tiller; with extravagant +gestures issuing unintelligible orders about trimming the sails, or +pitching overboard something to see how fast we were going. All this +much diverted my Viking, who several times was delivered of a laugh; a +loud and healthy one to boot: a phenomenon worthy the chronicling. + +And thus much for Annatoo, preliminary to what is further to be said. +Seeing the drowsiness of Jarl and Samoa, which so often kept me from my +hammock at night, forcing me to repose by day, when I far preferred +being broad awake, I decided to let Annatoo take her turn at the night +watches; which several times she had solicited me to do; railing at the +sleepiness of her spouse; though abstaining from all reflections upon +Jarl, toward whom she had of late grown exceedingly friendly. + +Now the Calmuc stood her first night watch to admiration; if any thing, +was altogether too wakeful. The mere steering of the craft employed not +sufficiently her active mind. Ever and anon she must needs rush from the +tiller to take a parenthetical pull at the fore-brace, the end of which +led down to the bulwarks near by; then refreshing herself with a draught +or two of water and a biscuit, she would continue to steer away, full of +the importance of her office. At any unusual flapping of the sails, a +violent stamping on deck announced the fact to the startled crew. +Finding her thus indefatigable, I readily induced her to stand two +watches to Jarl's and Samoa's one; and when she was at the helm, I +permitted myself to doze on a pile of old sails, spread every evening on +the quarter-deck. + +It was the Skyeman, who often admonished me to "heave the ship to" every +night, thus stopping her headway till morning; a plan which, under other +circumstances, might have perhaps warranted the slumbers of all. But as +it was, such a course would have been highly imprudent. For while making +no onward progress through the water, the rapid currents we encountered +would continually be drifting us eastward; since, contrary to our +previous experience, they seemed latterly to have reversed their flow, a +phenomenon by no means unusual in the vicinity of the Line in the +Pacific. And this it was that so prolonged our passage to the westward. +Even in a moderate breeze, I sometimes fancied, that the impulse of the +wind little more than counteracted the glide of the currents; so that +with much show of sailing, we were in reality almost a fixture on the +sea. + +The equatorial currents of the South Seas may be regarded as among the +most mysterious of the mysteries of the deep. Whence they come, whither +go, who knows? Tell us, what hidden law regulates their flow. Regardless +of the theory which ascribes to them a nearly uniform course from east +to west, induced by the eastwardly winds of the Line, and the collateral +action of the Polar streams; these currents are forever shifting. Nor +can the period of their revolutions be at all relied upon or predicted. + +But however difficult it may be to assign a specific cause for the ocean +streams, in any part of the world, one of the wholesome effects thereby +produced would seem obvious enough. And though the circumstance here +alluded to is perhaps known to every body, it may be questioned, whether +it is generally invested with the importance it deserves. Reference is +here made to the constant commingling and purification of the sea-water +by reason of the currents. + +For, that the ocean, according to the popular theory, possesses a +special purifying agent in its salts, is somewhat to be doubted. Nor can +it be explicitly denied, that those very salts might corrupt it, were it +not for the brisk circulation of its particles consequent upon the flow +of the streams. It is well known to seamen, that a bucket of sea-water, +left standing in a tropical climate, very soon becomes highly offensive; +which is not the case with rainwater. + +But I build no theories. And by way of obstructing the one, which might +possibly be evolved from the statement above, let me add, that the +offensiveness of sea-water left standing, may arise in no small degree +from the presence of decomposed animal matter. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV Ah, Annatoo! + + +In order to a complete revelation, I must needs once again discourse of +Annatoo and her pilferings; and to what those pilferings led. In the +simplicity of my soul, I fancied that the dame, so much flattered as she +needs must have been, by the confidence I began to repose in her, would +now mend her ways, and abstain from her larcenies. But not so. She was +possessed by some scores of devils, perpetually her to mischief on their +own separate behoof, and not less for many of her pranks were of no +earthly advantage to her, present or prospective. + +One day the log-reel was missing. Summon Annatoo. She came; but knew +nothing about it. Jarl spent a whole morning in contriving a substitute; +and a few days after, pop, we came upon the lost: article hidden away in +the main-top. + +Another time, discovering the little vessel to "gripe" hard in steering, +as if some one under water were jerking her backward, we instituted a +diligent examination, to see what was the matter. When lo; what should +we find but a rope, cunningly attached to one of the chain-plates under +the starboard main-channel. It towed heavily in the water. Upon dragging +it up--much as you would the cord of a ponderous bucket far down in a +well--a stout wooden box was discovered at the end; which opened, +disclosed sundry knives, hatchets, and ax-heads. + +Called to the stand, the Upoluan deposed, that thrice he had rescued +that identical box from Annatoo's all-appropriating clutches. + +Now, here were four human beings shut up in this little oaken craft, +and, for the time being, their interests the same. What sane mortal, +then, would forever be committing thefts, without rhyme or reason. It +was like stealing silver from one pocket and decanting it into the +other. And what might it not lead to in the end? + +Why, ere long, in good sooth, it led to the abstraction of the compass +from the binnacle; so that we were fain to substitute for it, the one +brought along in the Chamois. + +It was Jarl that first published this last and alarming theft. Annatoo +being at the helm at dawn, he had gone to relieve her; and looking to +see how we headed, was horror-struck at the emptiness of the binnacle. + +I started to my feet; sought out the woman, and ferociously demanded the +compass. But her face was a blank; every word a denial. + +Further lenity was madness. I summoned Samoa, told him what had +happened, and affirmed that there was no safety for us except in the +nightly incarceration of his spouse. To this he privily assented; and +that very evening, when Annatoo descended into the forecastle, we barred +over her the scuttle-slide. Long she clamored, but unavailingly. And +every night this was repeated; the dame saying her vespers most +energetically. + +It has somewhere been hinted, that Annatoo occasionally cast sheep's +eyes at Jarl. So I was not a little surprised when her manner toward him +decidedly changed. Pulling at the ropes with us, she would give him sly +pinches, and then look another way, innocent as a lamb. Then again, she +would refuse to handle the same piece of rigging with him; with wry +faces, rinsed out the wooden can at the water cask, if it so chanced +that my Viking had previously been drinking therefrom. At other times, +when the honest Skyeman came up from below, she would set up a shout of +derision, and loll out her tongue; accompanying all this by certain +indecorous and exceedingly unladylike gestures, significant of the +profound contempt in which she held him. + +Yet, never did Jarl heed her ill-breeding; but patiently overlooked and +forgave it. Inquiring the reason of the dame's singular conduct, I +learned, that with eye averted, she had very lately crept close to my +Viking, and met with no tender reception. + +Doubtless, Jarl, who was much of a philosopher, innocently imagined that +ere long the lady would forgive and forget him. But what knows a +philosopher about women? + +Ere long, so outrageous became Annatoo's detestation of him, that the +honest old tar could stand it no longer, and like most good-natured men +when once fairly roused, he was swept through and through with a +terrible typhoon of passion. He proposed, that forthwith the woman +should be sacked and committed to the deep; he could stand it no longer. + +Murder is catching. At first I almost jumped at the proposition; but as +quickly rejected it. Ah! Annatoo: Woman unendurable: deliver me, ye +gods, from being shut up in a ship with such a hornet again. + +But are we yet through with her? Not yet. Hitherto she had continued to +perform the duties of the office assigned her since the commencement of +the voyage: namely, those of the culinary department. From this she was +now deposed. Her skewer was broken. My Viking solemnly averring, that he +would eat nothing more of her concocting, for fear of being poisoned. +For myself, I almost believed, that there was malice enough in the minx +to give us our henbane broth. + +But what said Samoa to all this? Passing over the matter of the cookery, +will it be credited, that living right among us as he did, he was yet +blind to the premeditated though unachieved peccadilloes of his spouse? +Yet so it was. And thus blind was Belisarius himself, concerning the +intrigues of Antonina. + +Witness that noble dame's affair with the youth Theodosius; when her +deluded lord charged upon the scandal-mongers with the very horns she +had bestowed upon him. + +Upon one occasion, seized with a sudden desire to palliate Annatoo's +thievings, Samoa proudly intimated, that the lady was the most virtuous +of her sex. + +But alas, poor Annatoo, why say more? And bethinking me of the hard fate +that so soon overtook thee, I almost repent what has already and too +faithfully been portrayed. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI The Parki Gives Up The Ghost + + +A long calm in the boat, and now, God help us, another in the +brigantine. It was airless and profound. + +In that hot calm, we lay fixed and frozen in like Parry at the Pole. The +sun played upon the glassy sea like the sun upon the glaciers. + +At the end of two days we lifted up our eyes and beheld a low, creeping, +hungry cloud expanding like an army, wing and wing, along the eastern +horizon. Instantly Jarl bode me take heed. + +Here be it said, that though for weeks and weeks reign over the +equatorial latitudes of the Pacific, the mildest and sunniest of days; +that nevertheless, when storms do come, they come in their strength: +spending in a few, brief blasts their concentrated rage. They come like +the Mamelukes: they charge, and away. + +It wanted full an hour to sunset; but the sun was well nigh obscured. It +seemed toiling among bleak Scythian steeps in the hazy background. Above +the storm-cloud flitted ominous patches of scud, rapidly advancing and +receding: Attila's skirmishers, thrown forward in the van of his Huns. +Beneath, a fitful shadow slid along the surface. As we gazed, the cloud +came nearer; accelerating its approach. + +With all haste we proceeded to furl the sails, which, owing to the calm, +had been hanging loose in the brails. And by help of a spare boom, used +on the forecastle-deck sit a sweep or great oar, we endeavored to cast +the brigantine's head toward the foe. + +The storm seemed about to overtake us; but we felt no breeze. The +noiseless cloud stole on; its advancing shadow lowering over a distinct +and prominent milk-white crest upon the surface of the ocean. But now +this line of surging foam came rolling down upon us like a white charge +of cavalry: mad Hotspur and plumed Murat at its head; pouring right +forward in a continuous frothy cascade, which curled over, and fell upon +the glassy sea before it. + +Still, no breath of air. But of a sudden, like a blow from a man's hand, +and before our canvas could be secured, the stunned craft, giving one +lurch to port, was stricken down on her beam-ends; the roaring tide +dashed high up against her windward side, and drops of brine fell upon +the deck, heavy as drops of gore. + +It was all a din and a mist; a crashing of spars and of ropes; a +horrible blending of sights and of sounds; as for an instant we seemed +in the hot heart of the gale; our cordage, like harp-strings, shrieking +above the fury of the blast. The masts rose, and swayed, and dipped +their trucks in the sea. And like unto some stricken buffalo brought low +to the plain, the brigantine's black hull, shaggy with sea-weed, lay +panting on its flank in the foam. + +Frantically we clung to the uppermost bulwarks. And now, loud above the +roar of the sea, was suddenly heard a sharp, splintering sound, as of a +Norway woodman felling a pine in the forest. It was brave Jarl, who +foremost of all had snatched from its rack against the mainmast, the ax, +always there kept. + +"Cut the lanyards to windward!" he cried; and again buried his ax into +the mast. He was quickly obeyed. And upon cutting the third lanyard of +the five, he shouted for us to pause. Dropping his ax, he climbed up to +windward. As he clutched the rail, the wounded mast snapped in twain +with a report like a cannon. A slight smoke was perceptible where it +broke. The remaining lanyards parted. From the violent strain upon them, +the two shrouds flew madly into the air, and one of the great blocks at +their ends, striking Annatoo upon the forehead, she let go her hold upon +a stanchion, and sliding across the aslant deck, was swallowed up in the +whirlpool under our lea. Samoa shrieked. But there was no time to mourn; +no hand could reach to save. + +By the connecting stays, the mainmast carried over with it the foremast; +when we instantly righted, and for the time were saved; my own royal +Viking our saviour. + +The first fury of the gale was gone. But far to leeward was seen the +even, white line of its onset, pawing the ocean into foam. All round us, +the sea boiled like ten thousand caldrons; and through eddy, wave, and +surge, our almost water-logged craft waded heavily; every dead clash +ringing hollow against her hull, like blows upon a coffin. + +We floated a wreck. With every pitch we lifted our dangling jib-boom +into the air; and beating against the side, were the shattered fragments +of the masts. From these we made all haste to be free, by cutting the +rigging that held them. + +Soon, the worst of the gale was blown over. But the sea ran high. Yet +the rack and scud of the tempest, its mad, tearing foam, was subdued +into immense, long-extended, and long-rolling billows; the white cream +on their crests like snow on the Andes. Ever and anon we hung poised on +their brows; when the furrowed ocean all round looked like a panorama +from Chimborazo. + +A few hours more, and the surges went down. There was a moderate sea, a +steady breeze, and a clear, starry sky. Such was the storm that came +after our calm. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII Once More They Take To The Chamois + + +Try the pumps. We dropped the sinker, and found the Parki bleeding at +every pore. Up from her well, the water, spring-like, came bubbling, +pure and limpid as the water of Saratoga. Her time had come. But by +keeping two hands at the pumps, we had no doubt she would float till +daylight; previous to which we liked not to abandon her. + +The interval was employed in clanging at the pump-breaks, and preparing +the Chamois for our reception. So soon as the sea permitted, we lowered +it over the side; and letting it float under the stern, stowed it with +water and provisions, together with various other things, including +muskets and cutlasses. + +Shortly after daylight, a violent jostling and thumping under foot +showed that the water, gaining rapidly in the, hold, spite of all +pumping, had floated the lighter casks up-ward to the deck, against +which they were striking. + +Now, owing to the number of empty butts in the hold, there would have +been, perhaps, but small danger of the vessel's sinking outright--all +awash as her decks would soon be--were it not, that many of her timbers +were of a native wood, which, like the Teak of India, is specifically +heavier than water. This, with the pearl shells on board, counteracted +the buoyancy of the casks. + +At last, the sun--long waited for--arose; the Parki meantime sinking +lower and lower. + +All things being in readiness, we proceeded to embark from the wreck, as +from a wharf. + +But not without some show of love for our poor brigantine. + +To a seaman, a ship is no piece of mechanism merely; but a creature of +thoughts and fancies, instinct with life. Standing at her vibrating +helm, you feel her beating pulse. I have loved ships, as I have loved +men. + +To abandon the poor Parki was like leaving to its fate something that +could feel. It was meet that she should die decently and bravely. + +All this thought the Skyeman. Samoa and I were in the boat, calling upon +him to enter quickly, lest the vessel should sink, and carry us down in +the eddies; for already she had gone round twice. But cutting adrift the +last fragments of her broken shrouds, and putting her decks in order, +Jarl buried his ax in the splintered stump of the mainmast, and not till +then did he join us. + +We slowly cheered, and sailed away. + +Not ten minutes after, the hull rolled convulsively in the sea; went +round once more; lifted its sharp prow as a man with arms pointed for a +dive; gave a long seething plunge; and went down. + +Many of her old planks were twice wrecked; once strown upon ocean's +beach; now dropped into its lowermost vaults, with the bones of drowned +ships and drowned men. + +Once more afloat in our shell! But not with the intrepid spirit that +shoved off with us from the deck of the Arcturion. A bold deed done from +impulse, for the time carries few or no misgivings along with it. But +forced upon you, its terrors stare you in the face. So now. I had pushed +from the Arcturion with a stout heart; but quitting the sinking Parki, +my heart sunk with her. + +With a fair wind, we held on our way westward, hoping to see land before +many days. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII The Sea On Fire + + +The night following our abandonment of the Parki, was made memorable by +a remarkable spectacle. + +Slumbering in the bottom of the boat, Jarl and I were suddenly awakened +by Samoa. Starting, we beheld the ocean of a pallid white color, +corruscating all over with tiny golden sparkles. But the pervading hue +of the water cast a cadaverous gleam upon the boat, so that we looked to +each other like ghosts. For many rods astern our wake was revealed in a +line of rushing illuminated foam; while here and there beneath the +surface, the tracks of sharks were denoted by vivid, greenish trails, +crossing and recrossing each other in every direction. Farther away, and +distributed in clusters, floated on the sea, like constellations in the +heavens, innumerable Medusae, a species of small, round, refulgent fish, +only to be met with in the South Seas and the Indian Ocean. + +Suddenly, as we gazed, there shot high into the air a bushy jet of +flashes, accompanied by the unmistakable deep breathing sound of a sperm +whale. Soon, the sea all round us spouted in fountains of fire; and vast +forms, emitting a glare from their flanks, and ever and anon raising +their heads above water, and shaking off the sparkles, showed where an +immense shoal of Cachalots had risen from below to sport in these +phosphorescent billows. + +The vapor jetted forth was far more radiant than any portion of the sea; +ascribable perhaps to the originally luminous fluid contracting still +more brilliancy from its passage through the spouting canal of the +whales. + +We were in great fear, lest without any vicious intention the Leviathans +might destroy us, by coming into close contact with our boat. We would +have shunned them; but they were all round and round us. Nevertheless we +were safe; for as we parted the pallid brine, the peculiar irradiation +which shot from about our keel seemed to deter them. Apparently +discovering us of a sudden, many of them plunged headlong down into the +water, tossing their fiery tails high into the air, and leaving the sea +still more sparkling from the violent surging of their descent. + +Their general course seemed the same as our own; to the westward. To +remove from them, we at last out oars, and pulled toward the north. So +doing, we were steadily pursued by a solitary whale, that must have +taken our Chamois for a kindred fish. Spite of all our efforts, he drew +nearer and nearer; at length rubbing his fiery flank against the +Chamois' gunwale, here and there leaving long strips of the glossy +transparent substance which thin as gossamer invests the body of the +Cachalot. + +In terror at a sight so new, Samoa shrank. But Jarl and I, more used to +the intimate companionship of the whales, pushed the boat away from it +with our oars: a thing often done in the fishery. + +The close vicinity of the whale revived in the so long astute Skyeman +all the enthusiasm of his daring vocation. However quiet by nature, a +thorough-bred whaleman betrays no little excitement in sight of his +game. And it required some persuasion to prevent Jarl from darting his +harpoon: insanity under present circumstances; and of course without +object. But "Oh! for a dart," cried my Viking. And "Where's now our old +ship?" he added reminiscently. + +But to my great joy the monster at last departed; rejoining the shoal, +whose lofty spoutings of flame were still visible upon the distant line +of the horizon; showing there, like the fitful starts of the Aurora +Borealis. + +The sea retained its luminosity for about three hours; at the expiration +of half that period beginning to fade; and excepting occasional faint +illuminations consequent upon the rapid darting of fish under water, the +phenomenon at last wholly disappeared. + +Heretofore, I had beheld several exhibitions of marine phosphorescence, +both in the Atlantic and Pacific. But nothing in comparison with what +was seen that night. In the Atlantic, there is very seldom any portion +of the ocean luminous, except the crests of the waves; and these mostly +appear so during wet, murky weather. Whereas, in the Pacific, all +instances of the sort, previously corning under my notice, had been +marked by patches of greenish light, unattended with any pallidness of +sea. Save twice on the coast of Peru, where I was summoned from my +hammock to the alarming midnight cry of "All hands ahoy! tack ship!" And +rushing on deck, beheld the sea white as a shroud; for which reason it +was feared we were on soundings. + +Now, sailors love marvels, and love to repeat them. And from many an old +shipmate I have heard various sage opinings, concerning the phenomenon +in question. Dismissing, as destitute of sound philosophic probability, +the extravagant notion of one of my nautical friends--no less a +philosopher than my Viking himself--namely: that the phosphoresence of +the sea is caused by a commotion among the mermaids, whose golden locks, +all torn and disheveled, do irradiate the waters at such times; I +proceed to record more reliable theories. + +Faraday might, perhaps, impute the phenomenon to a peculiarly electrical +condition of the atmosphere; and to that solely. But herein, my +scientific friend would be stoutly contradicted by many intelligent +seamen, who, in part, impute it to the presence of large quantities of +putrescent animal matter; with which the sea is well known to abound. + +And it would seem not unreasonable to suppose, that it is by this means +that the fluid itself becomes charged with the luminous principle. Draw +a bucket of water from the phosphorescent ocean, and it still retains +traces of fire; but, standing awhile, this soon subsides. Now pour it +along the deck, and it is a stream of flame; caused by its renewed +agitation. Empty the bucket, and for a space sparkles cling to it +tenaciously; and every stave seems ignited. + +But after all, this seeming ignition of the sea can not be wholly +produced by dead matter therein. There are many living fish, +phosphorescent; and, under certain conditions, by a rapid throwing off +of luminous particles must largely contribute to the result. Not to +particularize this circumstance as true of divers species of sharks, +cuttle-fish, and many others of the larger varieties of the finny +tribes; the myriads of microscopic mollusca, well known to swarm off +soundings, might alone be deemed almost sufficient to kindle a fire in +the brine. + +But these are only surmises; likely, but uncertain. + +After science comes sentiment. + +A French naturalist maintains, that the nocturnal radiance of the fire-fly is purposely intended as an attraction to the opposite sex; that the +artful insect illuminates its body for a beacon to love. Thus: perched +upon the edge of a leaf, and waiting the approach of her Leander, who +comes buffeting with his wings the aroma of the flowers, some insect +Hero may show a torch to her gossamer gallant. + +But alas, thrice alas, for the poor little fire-fish of the sea, whose +radiance but reveals them to their foes, and lights the way to their +destruction. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX They Fall In With Strangers + + +After quitting the Parki, we had much calm weather, varied by light +breezes. And sailing smoothly over a sea, so recently one sheet of foam, +I could not avoid bethinking me, how fortunate it was, that the gale had +overtaken us in the brigantine, and not in the Chamois. For deservedly +high as the whale-shallop ranks as a sea boat; still, in a severe storm, +the larger your craft the greater your sense of security. Wherefore, the +thousand reckless souls tenanting a line-of-battle ship scoff at the +most awful hurricanes; though, in reality, they may be less safe in +their wooden-walled Troy, than those who contend with the gale in a +clipper. + +But not only did I congratulate myself upon salvation from the past, but +upon the prospect for the future. For storms happening so seldom in +these seas, one just blown over is almost a sure guarantee of very many +weeks' calm weather to come. + +Now sun followed sun; and no land. And at length it almost seemed as if +we must have sailed past the remotest presumable westerly limit of the +chain of islands we sought; a lurking suspicion which I sedulously kept +to myself However, I could not but nourish a latent faith that all would +yet be well. + +On the ninth day my forebodings were over. In the gray of the dawn, +perched upon the peak of our sail, a noddy was seen fast asleep. This +freak was true to the nature of that curious fowl, whose name is +significant of its drowsiness. Its plumage was snow-white, its bill and +legs blood-red; the latter looking like little pantalettes. In a sly +attempt at catching the bird, Samoa captured three tail-feathers; the +alarmed creature flying away with a scream, and leaving its quills in +his hand. + +Sailing on, we gradually broke in upon immense low-sailing flights of +other aquatic fowls, mostly of those species which are seldom found far +from land: terns, frigate-birds, mollymeaux, reef-pigeons, boobies, +gulls, and the like. They darkened the air; their wings making overhead +an incessant rustling like the simultaneous turning over of ten thousand +leaves. The smaller sort skimmed the sea like pebbles sent skipping from +the shore. Over these, flew myriads of birds of broader wing. While high +above all, soared in air the daring "Diver," or sea-kite, the power of +whose vision is truly wonderful. It perceives the little flying-fish in +the water, at a height which can not be less than four hundred feet. +Spirally wheeling and screaming as it goes, the sea-kite, bill foremost, +darts downward, swoops into the water, and for a moment altogether +disappearing, emerges at last; its prey firmly trussed in its claws. But +bearing it aloft, the bold bandit is quickly assailed by other birds of +prey, that strive to wrest from him his booty. And snatched from his +talons, you see the fish falling through the air, till again caught up +in the very act of descent, by the fleetest of its pursuers. + +Leaving these sights astern, we presently picked up the slimy husk of a +cocoanut, all over green barnacles. And shortly after, passed two or +three limbs of trees, and the solitary trunk of a palm; which, upon +sailing nearer, seemed but very recently started on its endless voyage. +As noon came on; the dark purple land-haze, which had been dimly +descried resting upon the western horizon, was very nearly obscured. +Nevertheless, behind that dim drapery we doubted not bright boughs were +waving. + +We were now in high spirits. Samoa between times humming to himself some +heathenish ditty, and Jarl ten times more intent on his silence than +ever; yet his eye full of expectation and gazing broad off from our bow. +Of a sudden, shading his face with his hand, he gazed fixedly for an +instant, and then springing to his feet, uttered the long-drawn sound--"Sail ho!" + +Just tipping the furthest edge of the sky was a little speck, dancing +into view every time we rose upon the swells. It looked like one of many +birds; for half intercepting our view, fell showers of plumage: a flight +of milk-white noddies flying downward to the sea. + +But soon the birds are seen no more. Yet there remains the speck; +plainly a sail; but too small for a ship. Was it a boat after a whale? +The vessel to which it belonged far astern, and shrouded by the haze? So +it seemed. + +Quietly, however, we waited the stranger's nearer approach; confident, +that for some time he would not be able to perceive us, owing to our +being in what mariners denominate the "sun-glade," or that part of the +ocean upon which the sun's rays flash with peculiar intensity. + +As the sail drew nigh, its failing to glisten white led us to doubt +whether it was indeed a whale-boat. Presently, it showed yellow; and +Samoa declared, that it must be the sail of some island craft. True. The +stranger proving a large double-canoe, like those used by the +Polynesians in making passages between distant islands. + +The Upoluan was now clamorous for a meeting, to which Jarl was averse. +Deliberating a moment, I directed the muskets to be loaded; then setting +the sail the wind on our quarter--we headed away for the canoe, now +sailing at right angles with our previous course. + +Here it must be mentioned, that from the various gay cloths and other +things provided for barter by the captain of the Parki, I had very +strikingly improved my costume; making it free, flowing, and eastern. I +looked like an Emir. Nor had my Viking neglected to follow my example; +though with some few modifications of his own. With his long tangled +hair and harpoon, he looked like the sea-god, that boards ships, for the +first time crossing the Equator. For tatooed Samoa, he yet sported both +kilt and turban, reminding one of a tawny leopard, though his spots were +all in one place. Besides this raiment of ours, against emergencies we +had provided our boat with divers nankeens and silks. + +But now into full view comes a yoke of huge clumsy prows, shaggy with +carving, and driving through the water with considerable velocity; the +immense sprawling sail holding the wind like a bag. She seemed full of +men; and from the dissonant cries borne over to us, and the canoe's +widely yawing, it was plain that we had occasioned no small sensation. +They seemed undetermined what course to pursue: whether to court a +meeting, or avoid it; whether to regard us as friends or foes. + +As we came still nearer, distinctly beholding their faces, we loudly +hailed them, inviting them to furl their sails, and allow us to board +them. But no answer was returned; their confusion increasing. And now, +within less than two ships'-lengths, they swept right across our bow, +gazing at us with blended curiosity and fear. + +Their craft was about thirty feet long, consisting of a pair of parallel +canoes, very narrow, and at the distance of a yard or so, lengthwise, +united by stout cross-timbers, lashed across the four gunwales. Upon +these timbers was a raised platform or dais, quite dry; and astern an +arched cabin or tent; behind which, were two broad-bladed paddles +terminating in rude shark-tails, by which the craft was steered. + +The yard, spreading a yellow sail, was a crooked bough, supported +obliquely in the crotch of a mast, to which the green bark was still +clinging. Here and there were little tufts of moss. The high, beaked +prow of that canoe in which the mast was placed, resembled a rude altar; +and all round it was suspended a great variety of fruits, including +scores of cocoanuts, unhusked. This prow was railed off, forming a sort +of chancel within. + +The foremost beam, crossing the gunwales, extended some twelve feet +beyond the side of the dais; and at regular intervals hereupon, stout +cords were fastened, which, leading up to the head of the mast, answered +the purpose of shrouds. The breeze was now streaming fresh; and, as if +to force down into the water the windward side of the craft, five men +stood upon this long beam, grasping five shrouds. Yet they failed to +counterbalance the pressure of the sail; and owing to the opposite +inclination of the twin canoes, these living statues were elevated high +above the water; their appearance rendered still more striking by their +eager attitudes, and the apparent peril of their position, as the mad +spray from the bow dashed over them. Suddenly, the Islanders threw their +craft into the wind; while, for ourselves, we lay on our oars, fearful +of alarming them by now coming nearer. But hailing them again, we said +we were friends; and had friendly gifts for them, if they would +peaceably permit us to approach. This understood, there ensued a mighty +clamor; insomuch, that I bade Jarl and Samoa out oars, and row very +gently toward the strangers. Whereupon, amid a storm of vociferations, +some of them hurried to the furthest side of their dais; standing with +arms arched over their heads, as if for a dive; others menacing us with +clubs and spears; and one, an old man with a bamboo trellis on his head +forming a sort of arbor for his hair, planted himself full before the +tent, stretching behind him a wide plaited sling. + +Upon this hostile display, Samoa dropped his oar, and brought his piece +to bear upon the old man, who, by his attitude, seemed to menace us with +the fate of the great braggart of Gath. But I quickly knocked down the +muzzle of his musket, and forbade the slightest token of hostility; +enjoining it upon my companions, nevertheless, to keep well on their +guard. + +We now ceased rowing, and after a few minutes' uproar in the canoe, they +ran to the steering-paddles, and forcing round their craft before the +wind, rapidly ran away from us. With all haste we set our sail, and +pulling also at our oars, soon overtook them, determined upon coming +into closer communion. + + + +CHAPTER XL Sire And Sons + + +Seeing flight was useless, the Islanders again stopped their canoe, and +once more we cautiously drew nearer; myself crying out to them not to be +fearful; and Samoa, with the odd humor of his race, averring that he had +known every soul of them from his infancy. + +We approached within two or three yards; when we paused, which somewhat +allayed their alarm. Fastening a red China handkerchief to the blade of +our long mid-ship oar, I waved it in the air. A lively clapping of +hands, and many wild exclamations. + +While yet waving the flag, I whispered to Jarl to give the boat a sheer +toward the canoe, which being adroitly done, brought the bow, where I +stood, still nearer to the Islanders. I then dropped the silk among +them; and the Islander, who caught it, at once handed it to the warlike +old man with the sling; who, on seating himself, spread it before him; +while the rest crowding round, glanced rapidly from the wonderful gift, +to the more wonderful donors. + +This old man was the superior of the party. And Samoa asserted, that he +must be a priest of the country to which the Islanders belonged; that +the craft could be no other than one of their sacred canoes, bound on +some priestly voyage. All this he inferred from the altar-like prow, and +there being no women on board. + +Bent upon conciliating the old priest, I dropped into the canoe another +silk handkerchief; while Samoa loudly exclaimed, that we were only three +men, and were peaceably inclined. Meantime, old Aaron, fastening the two +silks crosswise over his shoulders, like a brace of Highland plaids, +crosslegged sat, and eyed us. + +It was a curious sight. The old priest, like a scroll of old parchment, +covered all over with hieroglyphical devices, harder to interpret, I'll +warrant, than any old Sanscrit manuscript. And upon his broad brow, +deep-graven in wrinkles, were characters still more mysterious, which no +Champollion nor gipsy could have deciphered. He looked old as the +elderly hills; eyes sunken, though bright; and head white as the summit +of Mont Blanc. + +The rest were a youthful and comely set: their complexion that of Gold +Sherry, and all tattooed after this pattern: two broad cross-stripes on +the chest and back; reaching down to the waist, like a foot-soldier's +harness. Their faces were full of expression; and their mouths were full +of fine teeth; so that the parting of their lips, was as the opening of +pearl oysters. Marked, here and there, after the style of Tahiti, with +little round figures in blue, dotted in the middle with a spot of +vermilion, their brawny brown thighs looked not unlike the gallant hams +of Westphalia, spotted with the red dust of Cayenne. + +But what a marvelous resemblance in the features of all. Were they born +at one birth? This resemblance was heightened by their uniform marks. +But it was subsequently ascertained, that they were the children of one +sire; and that sire, old Aaron; who, no doubt, reposed upon his sons, as +an old general upon the trophies of his youth. + +They were the children of as many mothers; and he was training them up +for the priesthood. + + + +CHAPTER XLI A Fray + + +So bent were the strangers upon concealing who they were, and the object +of their voyage, that it was some time ere we could obtain the +information we desired. + +They pointed toward the tent, as if it contained their Eleusinian +mysteries. And the old priest gave us to know, that it would be +profanation to enter it. + +But all this only roused my curiosity to unravel the wonder. + +At last I succeeded. + +In that mysterious tent was concealed a beautiful maiden. And, in +pursuance of a barbarous custom, by Aleema, the priest, she was being +borne an offering from the island of Amma to the gods of Tedaidee. + +Now, hearing of the maiden, I waited for no more. Need I add, how +stirred was my soul toward this invisible victim; and how hotly I swore, +that precious blood of hers should never smoke upon an altar. If we +drowned for it, I was bent upon rescuing the captive. But as yet, no +gentle signal of distress had been waved to us from the tent. Thence, no +sound could be heard, but an occasional rustle of the matting. Was it +possible, that one about to be immolated could proceed thus tranquilly +to her fate? + +But desperately as I resolved to accomplish the deliverance of the +maiden, it was best to set heedfully about it. I desired no shedding of +blood; though the odds were against us. + +The old priest seemed determined to prevent us from boarding his craft. +But being equally determined the other way, I cautiously laid the bow of +the Chamois against the canoe's quarter, so as to present the smallest +possible chance for a hostile entrance into our boat. Then, Samoa, knife +in ear, and myself with a cutlass, stepped upon the dais, leaving Jarl +in the boat's head, equipped with his harpoon; three loaded muskets +lying by his side. He was strictly enjoined to resist the slightest +demonstration toward our craft. + +As we boarded the canoe, the Islanders slowly retreated; meantime +earnestly conferring in whispers; all but the old priest, who, still +seated, presented an undaunted though troubled front. To our surprise, +he motioned us to sit down by him; which we did; taking care, however, +not to cut off our communication with Jarl. + +With the hope of inspiring good will, I now unfolded a roll of printed +cotton, and spreading it before the priest, directed his attention to +the pictorial embellishments thereon, representing some hundreds of +sailor boys simultaneously ascending some hundreds of uniform sections +of a ship's rigging. Glancing at them a moment, by a significant sign, +he gave me to know, that long previous he himself had ascended the +shrouds of a ship. Making this allusion, his countenance was overcast +with a ferocious expression, as if something terrific was connected with +the reminiscence. But it soon passed away, and somewhat abruptly he +assumed an air of much merriment. + +While we were thus sitting together, and my whole soul full of the +thoughts of the captive, and how best to accomplish my purpose, and +often gazing toward the tent; I all at once noticed a movement among the +strangers. Almost in the same instant, Samoa, right across the face of +Aleema, and in his ordinary tones, bade me take heed to myself, for +mischief was brewing. Hardly was this warning uttered, when, with carved +clubs in their hands, the Islanders completely surrounded us. Then up +rose the old priest, and gave us to know, that we were wholly in his +power, and if we did not swear to depart in our boat forthwith, and +molest him no more, the peril be ours. + +"Depart and you live; stay and you die." + +Fifteen to three. Madness to gainsay his mandate. Yet a beautiful maiden +was at stake. + +The knife before dangling in Samoa's ear was now in his hand. Jarl cried +out for us to regain the boat, several of the Islanders making a rush +for it. No time to think. All passed quicker than it can be said. They +closed in upon us, to push us from the canoe: Rudely the old priest +flung me from his side, menacing me with his dagger, the sharp spine of +a fish. A thrust and a threat! Ere I knew it, my cutlass made a quick +lunge. A curse from the priest's mouth; red blood from his side; he +tottered, stared about him, and fell over like a brown hemlock into the +sea. A yell of maledictions rose on the air. A wild cry was heard from +the tent. Making a dead breach among the crowd, we now dashed side by +side for the boat. Springing into it, we found Jarl battling with two +Islanders; while the rest were still howling upon the dais. Rage and +grief had almost disabled them. + +With one stroke of my cutlass, I now parted the line that held us to the +canoe, and with Samoa falling upon the two Islanders, by Jarl's help, we +quickly mastered them; forcing them down into the bottom of the boat. + +The Skyeman and Samoa holding passive the captives, I quickly set our +sail, and snatching the sheet at the cavil, we rapidly shot from the +canoe. The strangers defying us with their spears; several couching them +as if to dart; while others held back their hands, as if to prevent them +from jeopardizing the lives of their countrymen in the Chamois. + +Seemingly untoward events oftentimes lead to successful results: Far +from destroying all chance of rescuing the captive, our temporary +flight, indispensable for the safety of Jarl, only made the success of +our enterprise more probable. For having made prisoners two of the +strangers, I determined to retain them as hostages, through whom to +effect my plans without further bloodshed. + +And here it must needs be related, that some of the natives were wounded +in the fray: while all three of their assailants had received several +bruises. + + + +CHAPTER XLII Remorse + + +During the skirmish not a single musket had been discharged. The first +snatched by Jarl had missed fire, and ere he could seize another, it was +close quarters with him, and no gestures to spare. His harpoon was his +all. And truly, there is nothing like steel in a fray. It comes and it +goes with a will, and is never a-weary. Your sword is your life, and +that of your foe; to keep or to take as it happens. Closer home does it +go than a rammer; and fighting with steel is a play without ever an +interlude. There are points more deadly than bullets; and stocks packed +full of subtle tubes, whence comes an impulse more reliable than powder. + +Binding our prisoners lengthwise across the boat's seats, we rowed for +the canoe, making signs of amity. + +Now, if there be any thing fitted to make a high tide ebb in the veins, +it is the sight of a vanquished foe, inferior to yourself in powers of +destruction; but whom some necessity has forced you to subdue. All +victories are not triumphs, nor all who conquer, heroes. + +As we drew near the canoe, it was plain, that the loss of their sire had +again for the instant overcome the survivors. Raising hands, they cursed +us; and at intervals sent forth a low, piercing wail, peculiar to their +race. As before, faint cries were heard from the tent. And all the while +rose and fell on the sea, the ill-fated canoe. + +As I gazed at this sight, what iron mace fell on my soul; what curse +rang sharp in my ear! It was I, who was the author of the deed that +caused the shrill wails that I heard. By this hand, the dead man had +died. Remorse smote me hard; and like lightning I asked myself, whether +the death-deed I had done was sprung of a virtuous motive, the rescuing +a captive from thrall; or whether beneath that pretense, I had engaged +in this fatal affray for some other, and selfish purpose; the +companionship of a beautiful maid. But throttling the thought, I swore +to be gay. Am I not rescuing the maiden? Let them go down who withstand +me. + +At the dismal spectacle before him, Jarl, hitherto menacing our +prisoners with his weapon, in order to intimidate their countrymen, +honest Jarl dropped his harpoon. But shaking his knife in the air, Samoa +yet defied the strangers; nor could we prevent him. His heathenish blood +was up. + +Standing foremost in the boat, I now assured the strangers, that all we +sought at their hands was the maiden in the tent. That captive +surrendered, our own, unharmed, should be restored. If not, they must +die. With a cry, they started to their feet, and brandished their clubs; +but, seeing Jarl's harpoon quivering over the hearts of our prisoners, +they quickly retreated; at last signifying their acquiescence in my +demand. Upon this, I sprang to the dais, and across it indicating a line +near the bow, signed the Islanders to retire beyond it. Then, calling +upon them one by one to deliver their weapons, they were passed into the +boat. + +The Chamois was now brought round to the canoe's stern; and leaving Jarl +to defend it as before, the Upoluan rejoined me on the dais. By these +precautions--the hostages still remaining bound hand and foot in the +boat--we deemed ourselves entirely secure. + +Attended by Samoa, I stood before the tent, now still as the grave. + + +CHAPTER XLIII The Tent Entered + + +By means of thin spaces between the braids of matting, the place was +open to the air, but not to view. There was also a round opening on one +side, only large enough, however, to admit the arm; but this aperture +was partially closed from within. In front, a deep-dyed rug of osiers, +covering the entrance way, was intricately laced to the standing part of +the tent. As I divided this lacing with my cutlass, there arose an +outburst of voices from the Islanders. And they covered their faces, as +the interior was revealed to my gaze. + +Before me crouched a beautiful girl. Her hands were drooping. And, like +a saint from a shrine, she looked sadly out from her long, fair hair. A +low wail issued from her lips, and she trembled like a sound. There were +tears on her cheek, and a rose-colored pearl on her bosom. + +Did I dream?--A snow-white skin: blue, firmament eyes: Golconda locks. +For an instant spell-bound I stood; while with a slow, apprehensive +movement, and still gazing fixedly, the captive gathered more closely +about her a gauze-like robe. Taking one step within, and partially +dropping the curtain of the tent, I so stood, as to have both sight and +speech of Samoa, who tarried without; while the maiden, crouching in the +farther corner of the retreat, was wholly screened from all eyes but +mine. + +Crossing my hands before me, I now stood without speaking. For the soul +of me, I could not link this mysterious creature with the tawny +strangers. She seemed of another race. So powerful was this impression, +that unconsciously, I addressed her in my own tongue. She started, and +bending over, listened intently, as if to the first faint echo of +something dimly remembered. Again I spoke, when throwing back her hair, +the maiden looked up with a piercing, bewildered gaze. But her eyes soon +fell, and bending over once more, she resumed her former attitude. At +length she slowly chanted to herself several musical words, unlike those +of the Islanders; but though I knew not what they meant, they vaguely +seemed familiar. + +Impatient to learn her story, I now questioned her in Polynesian. But +with much earnestness, she signed me to address her as before. Soon +perceiving, however, that without comprehending the meaning of the words +I employed, she seemed merely touched by something pleasing in their +sound, I once more addressed her in Polynesian; saying that I was all +eagerness to hear her history. + +After much hesitation she complied; starting with alarm at every sound +from without; yet all the while deeply regarding me. + +Broken as these disclosures were at the time, they are here presented in +the form in which they were afterward more fully narrated. + +So unearthly was the story, that at first I little comprehended it; and +was almost persuaded that the luckless maiden was some beautiful maniac. + +She declared herself more than mortal, a maiden from Oroolia, the Island +of Delights, somewhere in the paradisiacal archipelago of the +Polynesians. To this isle, while yet an infant, by some mystical power, +she had been spirited from Amma, the place of her nativity. Her name was +Yillah. And hardly had the waters of Oroolia washed white her olive +skin, and tinged her hair with gold, when one day strolling in the +woodlands, she was snared in the tendrils of a vine. Drawing her into +its bowers, it gently transformed her into one of its blossoms, leaving +her conscious soul folded up in the transparent petals. + +Here hung Yillah in a trance, the world without all tinged with the rosy +hue of her prison. At length when her spirit was about to burst forth in +the opening flower, the blossom was snapped from its stem; and borne by +a soft wind to the sea; where it fell into the opening valve of a shell; +which in good time was cast upon the beach of the Island of Amma. + +In a dream, these events were revealed to Aleema the priest; who by a +spell unlocking its pearly casket, took forth the bud, which now showed +signs of opening in the reviving air, and bore faint shadowy revealings, +as of the dawn behind crimson clouds. Suddenly expanding, the blossom +exhaled away in perfumes; floating a rosy mist in the air. Condensing at +last, there emerged from this mist the same radiant young Yillah as +before; her locks all moist, and a rose-colored pearl on her bosom. +Enshrined as a goddess, the wonderful child now tarried in the sacred +temple of Apo, buried in a dell; never beheld of mortal eyes save +Aleema's. + +Moon after moon passed away, and at last, only four days gone by, Aleema +came to her with a dream; that the spirits in Oroolia had recalled her +home by the way of Tedaidee, on whose coast gurgled up in the sea an +enchanted spring; which streaming over upon the brine, flowed on between +blue watery banks; and, plunging into a vortex, went round and round, +descending into depths unknown. Into this whirlpool Yillah was to +descend in a canoe, at last to well up in an inland fountain of Oroolia. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV Away + + +Though clothed in language of my own, the maiden's story is in substance +the same as she related. Yet were not these things narrated as past +events; she merely recounted them as impressions of her childhood, and +of her destiny yet unaccomplished. And mystical as the tale most +assuredly was, my knowledge of the strange arts of the island +priesthood, and the rapt fancies indulged in by many of their victims, +deprived it in good part of the effect it otherwise would have produced. + +For ulterior purposes connected with their sacerdotal supremacy, the +priests of these climes oftentimes secrete mere infants in their +temples; and jealously secluding them from all intercourse with the +world, craftily delude them, as they grow up, into the wildest conceits. + +Thus wrought upon, their pupils almost lose their humanity in the +constant indulgence of seraphic imaginings. In many cases becoming +inspired as oracles; and as such, they are sometimes resorted to by +devotees; always screened from view, however, in the recesses of the +temples. But in every instance, their end is certain. Beguiled with some +fairy tale about revisiting the islands of Paradise, they are led to the +secret sacrifice, and perish unknown to their kindred. + +But, would that all this had been hidden from me at the time. For Yillah +was lovely enough to be really divine; and so I might have been tranced +into a belief of her mystical legends. + +But with what passionate exultation did I find myself the deliverer of +this beautiful maiden; who, thinking no harm, and rapt in a dream, was +being borne to her fate on the coast of Tedaidee. Nor now, for a moment, +did the death of Aleema her guardian seem to hang heavy upon my heart. I +rejoiced that I had sent him to his gods; that in place of the sea moss +growing over sweet Yillah drowned in the sea, the vile priest himself +had sunk to the bottom. + +But though he had sunk in the deep, his ghost sunk not in the deep +waters of my soul. However in exultations its surface foamed up, at +bottom guilt brooded. Sifted out, my motives to this enterprise +justified not the mad deed, which, in a moment of rage, I had done: +though, those motives had been covered with a gracious pretense; +concealing myself from myself. But I beat down the thought. + +In relating her story, the maiden frequently interrupted it with +questions concerning myself:--Whence I came: being white, from Oroolia? +Whither I was going: to Amma? And what had happened to Aleema? For she +had been dismayed at the fray, though knowing not what it could mean; +and she had heard the priest's name called upon in lamentations. These +questions for the time I endeavored to evade; only inducing her to fancy +me some gentle demigod, that had come over the sea from her own fabulous +Oroolia. And all this she must verily have believed. For whom, like me, +ere this could she have beheld? Still fixed she her eyes upon me +strangely, and hung upon the accents of my voice. + +While this scene was passing, the strangers began to show signs of +impatience, and a voice from the Chamois repeatedly hailed us to +accelerate our movements. + +My course was quickly decided. The only obstacle to be encountered was +the possibility of Yillah's alarm at being suddenly borne into my prow. +For this event I now sought to prepare her. I informed the damsel that +Aleema had been dispatched on a long errand to Oroolia; leaving to my +care, for the present, the guardianship of the lovely Yillah; and that +therefore, it was necessary to carry her tent into my own canoe, then +waiting to receive it. + +This intelligence she received with the utmost concern; and not knowing +to what her perplexity might lead, I thought fit to transport her into +the Chamois, while yet overwhelmed by the announcement of my intention. + +Quitting her retreat, I apprised Jarl of my design; and then, no more +delay! + +At bottom, the tent was attached to a light framework of bamboos; and +from its upper corners, four cords, like those of a marquee, confined it +to the dais. These, Samoa's knife soon parted; when lifting the light +tent, we speedily transferred it to the Chamois; a wild yell going up +from the Islanders, which drowned the faint cries of the maiden. But we +heeded not the din. Toss in the fruit, hanging from the altar-prow! It +was done; and then running up our sail, we glided away;--Chamois, tent, +hostages, and all. Rushing to the now vacant stern of their canoe, the +Islanders once more lifted up their hands and their voices in curses. + +A suitable distance gained, we paused to fling overboard the arms we had +taken; and Jarl proceeded to liberate the hostages. + +Meanwhile, I entered the tent, and by many tokens, sought to allay the +maiden's alarm. Thus engaged, violent plunges were heard: our prisoners +taking to the sea to regain their canoe. All dripping, they were +received by their brethren with wild caresses. + +From something now said by the captives, the rest seemed suddenly +inspirited with hopes of revenge; again wildly shaking their spears, +just before picked up from the sea. With great clamor and confusion they +soon set their mat-sail; and instead of sailing southward for Tedaidee, +or northward for Amma their home, they steered straight after us, in our +wake. + +Foremost in the prow stood three; javelins poised for a dart; at +intervals, raising a yell. + +Did they mean to pursue me? Full in my rear they came on, baying like +hounds on their game. Yillah trembled at their cries. My own heart beat +hard with undefinable dread. The corpse of Aleema seemed floating +before: its avengers were raging behind. + +But soon these phantoms departed. For very soon it appeared that in vain +the pagans pursued. Their craft, our fleet Chamois outleaped. And +farther and farther astern dropped the evil-boding canoe, till at last +but a speck; when a great swell of the sea surged up before it, and it +was seen no more. Samoa swore that it must have swamped, and gone down. +But however it was, my heart lightened apace. I saw none but ourselves +on the sea: I remembered that our keel left no track as it sailed. + +Let the Oregon Indian through brush, bramble, and brier, hunt his +enemy's trail, far over the mountains and down in the vales; comes he to +the water, he snuffs idly in air. + + + +CHAPTER XLV Reminiscences + + +In resecuing the gentle Yillah from the hands of the Islanders, a design +seemed accomplished. But what was now to be done? Here, in our +adventurous Chamois, was a damsel more lovely than the flushes of +morning; and for companions, whom had she but me and my comrades? +Besides, her bosom still throbbed with alarms, her fancies all roving +through mazes. + +How subdue these dangerous imaginings? How gently dispel them? + +But one way there was: to lead her thoughts toward me, as her friend and +preserver; and a better and wiser than Aleema the priest. Yet could not +this be effected but by still maintaining my assumption of a divine +origin in the blessed isle of Oroolia; and thus fostering in her heart +the mysterious interest, with which from the first she had regarded me. +But if punctilious reserve on the part of her deliverer should teach her +to regard him as some frigid stranger from the Arctic Zone, what +sympathy could she have for him? and hence, what peace of mind, having +no one else to cling to? + +Now re-entering the tent, she again inquired where tarried Aleema. + +"Think not of him, sweet Yillah," I cried. "Look on me. Am I not white +like yourself? Behold, though since quitting Oroolia the sun has dyed my +cheek, am I not even as you? Am I brown like the dusky Aleema? They +snatched you away from your isle in the sea, too early for you to +remember me there. But you have not been forgotten by me, sweetest +Yillah. Ha! ha! shook we not the palm-trees together, and chased we not +the rolling nuts down the glen? Did we not dive into the grotto on the +sea-shore, and come up together in the cool cavern in the hill? In my +home in Oroolia, dear Yillah, I have a lock of your hair, ere yet it was +golden: a little dark tress like a ring. How your cheeks were then +changing from olive to white. And when shall I forget the hour, that I +came upon you sleeping among the flowers, with roses and lilies for +cheeks. Still forgetful? Know you not my voice? Those little spirits in +your eyes have seen me before. They mimic me now as they sport in their +lakes. All the past a dim blank? Think of the time when we ran up and +down in our arbor, where the green vines grew over the great ribs of the +stranded whale. Oh Yillah, little Yillah, has it all come to this? am I +forever forgotten? Yet over the wide watery world have I sought thee: +from isle to isle, from sea to sea. And now we part not. Aleema is gone. +My prow shall keep kissing the waves, till it kisses the beach at +Oroolia. Yillah, look up." + +Sunk the ghost of Aleema: Sweet Yillah was mine! + + + +CHAPTER XLVI The Chamois With A Roving Commission + + +Through the assiduity of my Viking, ere nightfall our Chamois was again +in good order. And with many subtle and seamanlike splices the light +tent was lashed in its place; the sail taken up by a reef. + +My comrades now questioned me, as to my purposes; whether they had been +modified by the events of the day. I replied that our destination was +still the islands to the westward. + +But from these we had steadily been drifting all the morning long; so +that now no loom of the land was visible. But our prow was kept pointing +as before. + +As evening came on, my comrades fell fast asleep, leaving me at the +helm. + +How soft and how dreamy the light of the hour. The rays of the sun, +setting behind golden-barred clouds, came to me like the gleaming of a +shaded light behind a lattice. And the low breeze, pervaded with the +peculiar balm of the mid-Pacific near land, was fragrant as the breath +of a bride. + +Such was the scene; so still and witching that the hand of Yillah in +mine seemed no hand, but a touch. Visions flitted before me and in me; +something hummed in my ear; all the air was a lay. + +And now entered a thought into my heart. I reflected how serenely we +might thus glide along, far removed from all care and anxiety. And then, +what different scenes might await us upon any of the shores roundabout. +But there seemed no danger in the balmy sea; the assured vicinity of +land imparting a sense of security. We had ample supplies for several +days more, and thanks to the Pagan canoe, an abundance of fruit. + +Besides, what cared I now for the green groves and bright shore? Was not +Yillah my shore and my grove? my meadow, my mead, my soft shady vine, +and my arbor? Of all things desirable and delightful, the full-plumed +sheaf, and my own right arm the band? Enough: no shore for me yet. One +sweep of the helm, and our light prow headed round toward the vague land +of song, sun, and vine: the fabled South. + +As we glided along, strange Yillah gazed down in the sea, and would fain +have had me plunge into it with her, to rove through its depths. But I +started dismayed; in fancy, I saw the stark body of the priest drifting +by. Again that phantom obtruded; again guilt laid his red hand on my +soul. But I laughed. Was not Yillah my own? by my arm rescued from ill? +To do her a good, I had periled myself. So down, down, Aleema. + +When next morning, starting from slumber, my comrades beheld the sun on +our beam, instead of astern as before at that hour, they eagerly +inquired, "Whither now?" But very briefly I gave them to know, that +after devoting the night to the due consideration of a matter so +important, I had determined upon voyaging for the island Tedaidee, in +place of the land to the westward. + +At this, they were not displeased. But to tell the plain truth, I +harbored some shadowy purpose of merely hovering about for a while, till +I felt more landwardly inclined. + +But had I not declared to Yillah, that our destination was the fairy +isle she spoke of, even Oroolia? Yet that shore was so exceedingly +remote, and the folly of endeavoring to reach it in a craft built with +hands, so very apparent, that what wonder I really nourished no thought +of it? + +So away floated the Chamois, like a vagrant cloud in the heavens: bound, +no one knew whither. + + + +CHAPTER XLVII Yillah, Jarl, And Samoa + + +But time to tell, how Samoa and Jarl regarded this mystical Yillah; and +how Yillah regarded them. + +As Beauty from the Beast, so at first shrank the damsel from my one-armed companion. But seeing my confidence in the savage, a reaction soon +followed. And in accordance with that curious law, by which, under +certain conditions, the ugliest mortals become only amiably hideous, +Yillah at length came to look upon Samoa as a sort of harmless and good-natured goblin. Whence came he, she cared not; or what was his history; +or in what manner his fortunes were united to mine. + +May be, she held him a being of spontaneous origin. + +Now, as every where women are the tamers of the menageries of men; so +Yillah in good time tamed down Samoa to the relinquishment of that +horrible thing in his ear, and persuaded him to substitute a vacancy for +the bauble in his nose. On his part, however, all this was conditional. +He stipulated for the privilege of restoring both trinkets upon suitable +occasions. + +But if thus gayly the damsel sported with Samoa; how different his +emotions toward her? The fate to which she had been destined, and every +nameless thing about her, appealed to all his native superstitions, +which ascribed to beings of her complexion a more than terrestrial +origin. When permitted to approach her, he looked timid and awkwardly +strange; suggesting the likeness of some clumsy satyr, drawing in his +horns; slowly wagging his tail; crouching abashed before some radiant +spirit. + +And this reverence of his was most pleasing to me, Bravo! thought I; be +a pagan forever. No more than myself; for, after a different fashion, +Yillah was an idol to both. + +But what of my Viking? Why, of good Jarl I grieve to say, that the old-fashioned interest he took in my affairs led him to look upon Yillah as +a sort of intruder, an Ammonite syren, who might lead me astray. This +would now and then provoke a phillipic; but he would only turn toward my +resentment his devotion; and then I was silent. + +Unsophisticated as a wild flower in the germ, Yillah seemed incapable of +perceiving the contrasted lights in which she was regarded by our +companions. And like a true beauty seemed to cherish the presumption, +that it was quite impossible for such a person as hers to prove +otherwise than irresistible to all. + +She betrayed much surprise at my Vikings appearance. But most of all was +she struck by a characteristic device upon the arm of the wonderful +mariner--our Saviour on the cross, in blue; with the crown of thorns, +and three drops of blood in vermilion, falling one by one from each hand +and foot. + +Now, honest Jarl did vastly pride himself upon this ornament. It was the +only piece of vanity about him. And like a lady keeping gloveless her +hand to show off a fine Turquoise ring, he invariably wore that sleeve +of his frock rolled up, the better to display the embellishment. + +And round and round would Yillah turn Jarl's arm, till Jarl was fain to +stand firm, for fear of revolving all over. How such untutored homage +would have thrilled the heart of the ingenious artist! + +Eventually, through the Upoluan, she made overtures to the Skyeman, +concerning the possession of his picture in her own proper right. In her +very simplicity, little heeding, that like a landscape in fresco, it +could not be removed. + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII Something Under The Surface + + +Not to omit an occurrence of considerable interest, we must needs here +present some account of a curious retinue of fish which overtook our +Chamois, a day or two after parting with the canoe. + +A violent creaming and frothing in our rear announced their approach. +Soon we found ourselves the nucleus of an incredible multitude of finny +creatures, mostly anonymous. + +First, far in advance of our prow, swam the helmeted Silver-heads; side +by side, in uniform ranks, like an army. Then came the Boneetas, with +their flashing blue flanks. Then, like a third distinct regiment, wormed +and twisted through the water like Archimedean screws, the quivering +Wriggle-tails; followed in turn by the rank and file of the Trigger-fish--so called from their quaint dorsal fins being set in their backs +with a comical curve, as if at half-cock. Far astern the rear was +brought up by endless battalions of Yellow-backs, right martially vested +in buff. + +And slow sailing overhead were flights of birds; a wing in the air for +every fin in the sea. + +But let the sea-fowls fly on: turn we to the fish. + +Their numbers were amazing; countless as the tears shed for perfidious +lovers. Far abroad on both flanks, they swam in long lines, tier above +tier; the water alive with their hosts. Locusts of the sea, +peradventure, going to fall with a blight upon some green, mossy +province of Neptune. And tame and fearless they were, as the first fish +that swam in Euphrates; hardly evading the hand; insomuch that Samoa +caught many without lure or line. + +They formed a decorous escort; paddling along by our barnacled sides, as +if they had been with us from the very beginning; neither scared by our +craft's surging in the water; nor in the least sympathetic at losing a +comrade by the hand of Samoa. They closed in their ranks and swam on. + +How innocent, yet heartless they looked! Had a plank dropped out of our +boat, we had sunk to the bottom; and belike, our cheerful retinue would +have paid the last rites to our remains. + +But still we kept company; as sociably as you please; Samoa helping +himself when he listed, and Yillah clapping her hands as the radiant +creatures, by a simultaneous turning round on their silvery bellies, +caused the whole sea to glow like a burnished shield. + +But what has befallen this poor little Boneeta astern, that he swims so +toilingly on, with gills showing purple? What has he there, towing +behind? It is tangled sea-kelp clinging to its fins. But the clogged +thing strains to keep up with its fellows. Yet little they heed. Away +they go; every fish for itself, and any fish for Samoa. + +At last the poor Boneeta is seen no more. The myriad fins swim on; a +lonely waste, where the lost one drops behind. + +Strange fish! All the live-long day, they were there by our side; and at +night still tarried and shone; more crystal and scaly in the pale +moonbeams, than in the golden glare of the sun. + +How prettily they swim; all silver life; darting hither and thither +between their long ranks, and touching their noses, and scraping +acquaintance. No mourning they wear for the Boneeta left far astern; nor +for those so cruelly killed by Samoa. No, no; all is glee, fishy glee, +and frolicking fun; light hearts and light fins; gay backs and gay +spirits.--Swim away, swim away! my merry fins all. Let us roam the +flood; let us follow this monster fish with the barnacled sides; this +strange-looking fish, so high out of water; that goes without fins. What +fish can it be? What rippling is that? Dost hear the great monster +breathe? Why, 'tis sharp at both ends; a tail either way; nor eyes has +it any, nor mouth. What a curious fish! what a comical fish! But more +comical far, those creatures above, on its hollow back, clinging thereto +like the snaky eels, that cling and slide on the back of the Sword fish, +our terrible foe. But what curious eels these are! Do they deem +themselves pretty as we? No, no; for sure, they behold our limber fins, +our speckled and beautiful scales. Poor, powerless things! How they must +wish they were we, that roam the flood, and scour the seas with a wish. +Swim away; merry fins, swim away! Let him drop, that fellow that halts; +make a lane; close in, and fill up. Let him drown, if he can not keep +pace. No laggards for us:--We fish, we fish, we merrily swim, We care +not for friend nor for foe: Our fins are stout, Our tails are out, As +through the seas we go. + +Fish, Fish, we are fish with red gills; Naught disturbs us, our blood is +at zero: We are buoyant because of our bags, Being many, each fish is a +hero. We care not what is it, this life That we follow, this phantom +unknown: To swim, it's exceedingly pleasant,-- So swim away, making +a foam. This strange looking thing by our side, Not for safety, around +it we flee:-- Its shadow's so shady, that's all,-- We only swim +under its lee. And as for the eels there above, And as for the fowls in +the air, We care not for them nor their ways, As we cheerily glide afar! + +We fish, we fish, we merrily swim, We care not for friend nor for foe: +Our fins are stout, Our tails are out, As through the seas we go. + +But how now, my fine fish! what alarms your long ranks, and tosses them +all into a hubbub of scales and of foam? Never mind that long knave with +the spear there, astern. Pipe away, merry fish, and give us a stave or +two more, keeping time with your doggerel tails. But no, no! their +singing was over. Grim death, in the shape of a Chevalier, was after +them. + +How they changed their boastful tune! How they hugged the vilified boat! +How they wished they were in it, the braggarts! And how they all tingled +with fear! + +For, now here, now there, is heard a terrific rushing sound under water, +betokening the onslaught of the dread fish of prey, that with spear ever +in rest, charges in upon the out-skirts of the shoal, transfixing the +fish on his weapon. Re-treating and shaking them off, the Chevalier +devours them; then returns to the charge. + +Hugging the boat to desperation, the poor fish fairly crowded themselves +up to the surface, and floundered upon each other, as men are lifted off +their feet in a mob. They clung to us thus, out of a fancied security in +our presence. Knowing this, we felt no little alarm for ourselves, +dreading lest the Chevalier might despise our boat, full as much as his +prey; and in pursuing the fish, run through the poor Chamois with a +lunge. A jacket, rolled up, was kept in readiness to be thrust into the +first opening made; while as the thousand fins audibly patted against +our slender planks, we felt nervously enough; as if treading upon thin, +crackling ice. + +At length, to our no small delight, the enemy swam away; and again by +our side merrily paddled our escort; ten times merrier than ever. + + +CHAPTER XLIX Yillah + + +While for a few days, now this way, now that, as our craft glides along, +surrounded by these locusts of the deep, let the story of Yillah flow +on. + +Of her beauty say I nothing. It was that of a crystal lake in a +fathomless wood: all light and shade; full of fleeting revealings; now +shadowed in depths; now sunny in dimples; but all sparkling and +shifting, and blending together. + +But her wild beauty was a vail to things still more strange. As often +she gazed so earnestly into my eyes, like some pure spirit looking far +down into my soul, and seeing therein some upturned faces, I started in +amaze, and asked what spell was on me, that thus she gazed. + +Often she entreated me to repeat over and over again certain syllables +of my language. These she would chant to herself, pausing now and then, +as if striving to discover wherein lay their charm. + +In her accent, there was something very different from that of the +people of the canoe. Wherein lay the difference. I knew not; but it +enabled her to pronounce with readiness all the words which I taught +her; even as if recalling sounds long forgotten. + +If all this filled me with wonder, how much was that wonder increased, +and yet baffled again, by considering her complexion, and the cast of +her features. + +After endeavoring in various ways to account for these things, I was led +to imagine, that the damsel must be an Albino (Tulla) occasionally to be +met with among the people of the Pacific. These persons are of an +exceedingly delicate white skin, tinted with a faint rose hue, like the +lips of a shell. Their hair is golden. But, unlike the Albinos of other +climes, their eyes are invariably blue, and no way intolerant of light. + +As a race, the Tullas die early. And hence the belief, that they pertain +to some distant sphere, and only through irregularities in the +providence of the gods, come to make their appearance upon earth: +whence, the oversight discovered, they are hastily snatched. And it is +chiefly on this account, that in those islands where human sacrifices +are offered, the Tullas are deemed the most suitable oblations for the +altar, to which from their birth many are prospectively devoted. It was +these considerations, united to others, which at times induced me to +fancy, that by the priest, Yillah was regarded as one of these beings. +So mystical, however, her revelations concerning her past history, that +often I knew not what to divine. But plainly they showed that she had +not the remotest conception of her real origin. + +But these conceits of a state of being anterior to an earthly existence +may have originated in one of those celestial visions seen transparently +stealing over the face of a slumbering child. And craftily drawn forth +and re-echoed by another, and at times repeated over to her with many +additions, these imaginings must at length have assumed in her mind a +hue of reality, heightened into conviction by the dreamy seclusion of +her life. + +But now, let her subsequent and more credible history be related, as +from time to time she rehearsed it. + + +CHAPTER L Yillah In Ardair + + +In the verdant glen of Ardair, far in the silent interior of Amma, shut +in by hoar old cliffs, Yillah the maiden abode. + +So small and so deep was this glen, so surrounded on all sides by steep +acclivities, and so vividly green its verdure, and deceptive the shadows +that played there; that, from above, it seemed more like a lake of cool, +balmy air, than a glen: its woodlands and grasses gleaming shadowy all, +like sea groves and mosses beneath the calm sea. + +Here, none came but Aleema the priest, who at times was absent for days +together. But at certain seasons, an unseen multitude with loud chants +stood upon the verge of the neighboring precipices, and traversing those +shaded wilds, slowly retreated; their voices lessening and lessening, as +they wended their way through the more distant groves. + +At other times, Yillah being immured in the temple of Apo, a band of men +entering the vale, surrounded her retreat, dancing there till evening +came. Meanwhile, heaps of fruit, garlands of flowers, and baskets of +fish, were laid upon an altar without, where stood Aleema, arrayed in +white tappa, and muttering to himself, as the offerings were laid at his +feet. + +When Aleema was gone, Yillah went forth into the glen, and wandered +among the trees, and reposed by the banks of the stream. And ever as she +strolled, looked down upon her the grim old cliffs, bearded with +trailing moss. + +Toward the lower end of the vale, its lofty walls advancing and +overhanging their base, almost met in mid air. And a great rock, hurled +from an adjacent height, and falling into the space intercepted, there +remained fixed. Aerial trees shot up from its surface; birds nested in +its clefts; and strange vines roved abroad, overrunning the tops of the +trees, lying thereon in coils and undulations, like anacondas basking in +the light. Beneath this rock, was a lofty wall of ponderous stones. +Between its crevices, peeps were had of a long and leafy arcade, +quivering far away to where the sea rolled in the sun. Lower down, these +crevices gave an outlet to the waters of the brook, which, in a long +cascade, poured over sloping green ledges near the foot of the wall, +into a deep shady pool; whose rocky sides, by the perpetual eddying of +the water, had been worn into a grotesque resemblance to a group of +giants, with heads submerged, indolently reclining about the basin. + +In this pool, Yillah would bathe. And once, emerging, she heard the +echoes of a voice, and called aloud. But the only reply, was the +rustling of branches, as some one, invisible, fled down the valley +beyond. Soon after, a stone rolled inward, and Aleema the priest stood +before her; saying that the voice she had heard was his. But it was not. + +At last the weary days grew, longer and longer, and the maiden pined for +companionship. When the breeze blew not, but slept in the caves of the +mountains, and all the leaves of the trees stood motionless as tears in +the eye, Yillah would sadden, and call upon the spirits in her soul to +awaken. She sang low airs, she thought she had heard in Oroolia; but +started affrighted, as from dingles and dells, came back to her strains +more wild than hers. And ever, when sad, Aleema would seek to cheer her +soul, by calling to mind the bright scenes of Oroolia the Blest, to +which place, he averred, she was shortly to return, never more to +depart. + +Now, at the head of the vale of Ardair, rose a tall, dark peak, +presenting at the top the grim profile of a human face; whose shadow, +every afternoon, crept down the verdant side of the mountain: a silent +phantom, stealing all over the bosom of the glen. + +At times, when the phantom drew near, Aleema would take Yillah forth, +and waiting its approach, lay her down by the shadow, disposing her arms +in a caress; saying, "Oh, Apo! dost accept thy bride?" And at last, when +it crept beyond the place where he stood, and buried the whole valley in +gloom; Aleema would say, "Arise Yillah; Apo hath stretched himself to +sleep in Ardair. Go, slumber where thou wilt; for thou wilt slumber in +his arms." + +And so, every night, slept the maiden in the arms of grim Apo. + +One day when Yillah had come to love the wild shadow, as something that +every day moved before her eyes, where all was so deathfully still; she +went forth alone to watch it, as softly it slid down from the peak. Of a +sudden, when its face was just edging a chasm, that made it to look as +if parting its lips, she heard a loud voice, and thought it was Apo +calling "Yillah! Yillah!" But now it seemed like the voice she had heard +while bathing in the pool. Glancing upward, she beheld a beautiful open-armed youth, gazing down upon her from an inaccessible crag. But +presently, there was a rustling in the groves behind, and swift as +thought, something darted through the air. The youth bounded forward. +Yillah opened her arms to receive him; but he fell upon the cliff, and +was seen no more. As alarmed, and in tears, she fled from the scene, +some one out of sight ran before her through the wood. + +Upon recounting this adventure to Aleema, he said, that the being she +had seen, must have been a bad spirit come to molest her; and that Apo +had slain him. + +The sight of this youth, filled Yillah with wild yearnings to escape +from her lonely retreat; for a glimpse of some one beside the priest and +the phantom, suggested vague thoughts of worlds of fair beings, in +regions beyond Ardair. But Aleema sought to put away these conceits; +saying, that ere long she would be journeying to Oroolia, there to +rejoin the spirits she dimly remembered. + +Soon after, he came to her with a shell--one of those ever moaning of +ocean--and placing it to her ear, bade her list to the being within, +which in that little shell had voyaged from Oroolia to bear her company +in Amma. + +Now, the maiden oft held it to her ear, and closing her eyes, listened +and listened to its soft inner breathings, till visions were born of the +sound, and her soul lay for hours in a trance of delight. + +And again the priest came, and brought her a milk-white bird, with a +bill jet-black, and eyes like stars. "In this, lurks the soul of a +maiden; it hath flown from Oroolia to greet you." The soft stranger +willingly nestled in her bosom; turning its bright eyes upon hers, and +softly warbling. + +Many days passed; and Yillah, the bird, and the shell were inseparable. +The bird grew familiar; pecked seeds from her mouth; perched upon her +shoulder, and sang in her ear; and at night, folded its wings in her +bosom, and, like a sea-fowl, went softly to sleep: rising and falling +upon the maiden's heart. And every morning it flew from its nest, and +fluttered and chirped; and sailed to and fro; and blithely sang; and +brushed Yillah's cheek till she woke. Then came to her hand: and Yillah, +looking earnestly in its eyes, saw strange faces there; and said to +herself as she gazed--"These are two souls, not one." + +But at last, going forth into the groves with the bird, it suddenly flew +from her side, and perched in a bough; and throwing back its white downy +throat, there gushed from its bill a clear warbling jet, like a little +fountain in air. Now the song ceased; when up and away toward the head +of the vale, flew the bird. "Lil! Lil! come back, leave me not, blest +souls of the maidens." But on flew the bird, far up a defile, winging +its way till a speck. + +It was shortly after this, and upon the evening of a day which had been +tumultuous with sounds of warfare beyond the lower wall of the glen; +that Aleema came to Yillah in alarm; saying--"Yillah, the time has come +to follow thy bird; come, return to thy home in Oroolia." And he told +her the way she would voyage there: by the vortex on the coast of +Tedaidee. That night, being veiled and placed in the tent, the maiden +was borne to the sea-side, where the canoe was in waiting. And setting +sail quickly, by next morning the island of Amma was no longer in sight. + +And this was the voyage, whose sequel has already been recounted. + + +CHAPTER LI The Dream Begins To Fade + + +Stripped of the strange associations, with which a mind like Yillah's +must have invested every incident of her life, the story of her abode in +Ardair seemed not incredible. + +But so etherealized had she become from the wild conceits she nourished, +that she verily believed herself a being of the lands of dreams. Her +fabulous past was her present. + +Yet as our intimacy grew closer and closer, these fancies seemed to be +losing their hold. And often she questioned me concerning my own +reminiscences of her shadowy isle. And cautiously I sought to produce +the impression, that whatever I had said of that clime, had been +revealed to me in dreams; but that in these dreams, her own lineaments +had smiled upon me; and hence the impulse which had sent me roving after +the substance of this spiritual image. + +And true it was to say so; and right it was to swear it, upon her white +arms crossed. For oh, Yillah; were you not the earthly semblance of that +sweet vision, that haunted my earliest thoughts? + +At first she had wildly believed, that the nameless affinities between +us, were owing to our having in times gone by dwelt together in the same +ethereal region. But thoughts like these were fast dying out. Yet not +without many strange scrutinies. More intently than ever she gazed into +my eyes; rested her ear against my heart, and listened to its beatings. +And love, which in the eye of its object ever seeks to invest itself +with some rare superiority, love, sometimes induced me to prop my +failing divinity; though it was I myself who had undermined it. + +But if it was with many regrets, that in the sight of Yillah, I +perceived myself thus dwarfing down to a mortal; it was with quite +contrary emotions, that I contemplated the extinguishment in her heart +of the notion of her own spirituality. For as such thoughts were chased +away, she clung the more closely to me, as unto one without whom she +would be desolate indeed. + +And now, at intervals, she was sad, and often gazed long and fixedly +into the sea. Nor would she say why it was, that she did so; until at +length she yielded; and replied, that whatever false things Aleema might +have instilled into her mind; of this much she was certain: that the +whirlpool on the coast of Tedaidee prefigured her fate; that in the +waters she saw lustrous eyes, and beckoning phantoms, and strange shapes +smoothing her a couch among the mosses. + +Her dreams seemed mine. Many visions I had of the green corse of the +priest, outstretching its arms in the water, to receive pale Yillah, as +she sunk in the sea. + +But these forebodings departed, no happiness in the universe like ours. +We lived and we loved; life and love were united; in gladness glided our +days. + + + +CHAPTER LII World Ho! + + +Five suns rose and set. And Yillah pining for the shore, we turned our +prow due west, and next morning came in sight of land. + +It was innumerable islands; lifting themselves bluely through the azure +air, and looking upon the distant sea, like haycocks in a hazy field. +Towering above all, and mid-most, rose a mighty peak; one fleecy cloud +sloping against its summit; a column wreathed. Beyond, like purple +steeps in heaven at set of sun, stretched far away, what seemed lands on +lands, in infinite perspective. + +Gliding on, the islands grew more distinct; rising up from the billows +to greet us; revealing hills, vales, and peaks, grouped within a milk-white zone of reef, so vast, that in the distance all was dim. The +jeweled vapors, ere-while hovering over these violet shores, now seemed +to be shedding their gems; and as the almost level rays of the sun, +shooting through the air like a variegated prism, touched the verdant +land, it trembled all over with dewy sparkles. + +Still nearer we came: our sail faintly distended as the breeze died away +from our vicinity to the isles. The billows rolled listlessly by, as if +conscious that their long task was nigh done; while gleamed the white +reef, like the trail of a great fish in a calm. But as yet, no sign of +paddle or canoe; no distant smoke; no shining thatch. Bravo! good +comrades, we've discovered some new constellation in the sea. + +Sweet Yillah, no more of Oroolia; see you not this flowery land? +Nevermore shall we desire to roam. + +Voyaging along the zone, we came to an opening; and quitting the +firmament blue of the open sea, we glided in upon the still, green +waters of the wide lagoon. Mapped out in the broad shadows of the isles, +and tinted here and there with the reflected hues of the sun clouds, the +mild waters stretched all around us like another sky. Near by the break +in the reef, was a little island, with palm trees harping in the breeze; +an aviary of alluring sounds, that seemed calling upon us to land. And +here, Yillah, whom the sight of the verdure had made glad, threw out a +merry suggestion. Nothing less, than to plant our mast, sail-set, upon +the highest hill; and fly away, island and all; trees rocking, birds +caroling, flowers springing; away, away, across the wide waters, to +Oroolia! But alas! how weigh the isle's coral anchor, leagues down in +the fathomless sea? + +We glanced around; but all the islands seemed slumbering in the flooding +light. + +"A canoe! a canoe!" cried Samoa, as three proas showed themselves +rounding a neighboring shore. Instantly we sailed for them; but after +shooting to and fro for a time, and standing up and gazing at us, the +Islanders retreated behind the headland. Hardly were they out of sight, +when from many a shore roundabout, other proas pushed off. Soon the +water all round us was enlivened by fleets of canoes, darting hither and +thither like frighted water-fowls. Presently they all made for one +island. + +From their actions we argued that these people could have had but little +or no intercourse with whites; and most probably knew not how to account +for our appearance among them. Desirous, therefore, of a friendly +meeting, ere any hostile suspicions might arise, we pointed our craft +for the island, whither all the canoes were now hastening. Whereupon, +those which had not yet reached their destination, turned and fled; +while the occupants of the proas that had landed, ran into the groves, +and were lost to view. + +Crossing the distinct outer line of the isle's shadow on the water, we +gained the shore; and gliding along its margin, passing canoe after +canoe, hauled up on the silent beach, which otherwise seemed entirely +innocent of man. + +A dilemma. But I decided at last upon disembarking Jarl and Samoa, to +seek out and conciliate the natives. So, landing them upon a jutting +buttress of coral, whence they waded to the shore; I pushed off with +Yillah into the water beyond, to await the event. + +Full an hour must have elapsed; when, to our great joy, loud shouts were +heard; and there burst into view a tumultuous crowd, in the midst of +which my Viking was descried, mounted upon the shoulders of two brawny +natives; while the Upoluan, striding on in advance, seemed resisting a +similar attempt to elevate him in the world. + +Good omens both. + +"Come ashore!" cried Jarl. "Aramai!" cried Samoa; while storms of +interjections went up from the Islanders who with extravagant gestures +danced about the beach. + +Further caution seemed needless: I pointed our prow for the shore. No +sooner was this perceived, than, raising an applauding shout, the +Islanders ran up to their waists in the sea. And skimming like a gull +over the smooth lagoon, the light shallop darted in among them. Quick as +thought, fifty hands were on the gunwale: and, with all its contents, +lifted bodily into the air, the little Chamois, upon many a dripping +shoulder, was borne deep into the groves. Yillah shrieked at the rocking +motion, and when the boughs of the trees brushed against the tent. + +With his staff, an old man now pointed to a couple of twin-like trees, +some four paces apart; and a little way from the ground conveniently +crotched. + +And here, eftsoons, they deposited their burden; lowering the Chamois +gently between the forks of the trees, whose willow-like foliage fringed +the tent and its inmate. + + + +CHAPTER LIII The Chamois Ashore + + +Until now, enveloped in her robe, and crouching like a fawn, Yillah had +been well nigh hidden from view. But presently she withdrew her hood. + +What saw the Islanders, that they so gazed and adored in silence: some +retreating, some creeping nearer, and the women all in a flutter? Long +they gazed; and following Samoa's example, stretched forth their arms in +reverence. + +The adoration of the maiden was extended to myself. Indeed, from the +singular gestures employed, I had all along suspected, that we were +being received with unwonted honors. + +I now sought to get speech of my comrades. But so obstreperous was the +crowd, that it was next to impossible. Jarl was still in his perch in +the air; his enthusiastic bearers not yet suffering him to alight. +Samoa, however, who had managed to keep out of the saddle, by-and-by +contrived to draw nearer to the Chamois. + +He advised me, by no means to descend for the present; since in any +event we were sure of remaining unmolested therein; the Islanders +regarding it as sacred. + +The Upoluan attracted a great deal of attention; chiefly from his style +of tattooing, which, together with other peculiarities, so interested +the natives, that they were perpetually hanging about him, putting eager +questions, and all the time keeping up a violent clamor. + +But despite the large demand upon his lungs, Samoa made out to inform +me, that notwithstanding the multitude assembled, there was no high +chief, or person of consequence present; the king of the place, also +those of the islands adjacent, being absent at a festival in another +quarter of the Archipelago. But upon the first distant glimpse of the +Chamois, fleet canoes had been dispatched to announce the surprising +event that had happened. + +In good time, the crowd becoming less tumultuous, and abandoning the +siege of Samoa, I availed myself of this welcome lull, and called upon +him and my Viking to enter the Chamois; desirous of condensing our +forces against all emergencies. + +Samoa now gave me to understand, that from all he could learn, the +Islanders regarded me as a superior being. They had inquired of him, +whether I was not white Taji, a sort of half-and-half deity, now and +then an Avatar among them, and ranking among their inferior ex-officio +demi-gods. To this, Samoa had said ay; adding, moreover, all he could to +encourage the idea. + +He now entreated me, at the first opportunity, to announce myself as +Taji: declaring that if once received under that title, the unbounded +hospitality of our final reception would be certain; and our persons +fenced about from all harm. + +Encouraging this. But it was best to be wary. For although among some +barbarians the first strangers landing upon their shores, are frequently +hailed as divine; and in more than one wild land have been actually +styled gods, as a familiar designation; yet this has not exempted the +celestial visitants from peril, when too much presuming upon the +reception extended to them. In sudden tumults they have been slain +outright, and while full faith in their divinity had in no wise abated. +The sad fate of an eminent navigator is a well-known illustration of +this unaccountable waywardness. + +With no small anxiety, therefore, we awaited the approach of some of the +dignitaries of Mardi; for by this collective appellation, the people +informed us, their islands were known. + +We waited not long. Of a sudden, from the sea-side, a single shrill cry +was heard. A moment more, and the blast of numerous conch shells +startled the air; a confused clamor drew nearer and nearer; and flying +our eyes in the direction of these sounds, we impatiently awaited what +was to follow. + + + +CHAPTER LIV A Gentleman From The Sun + + +Never before had I seen the deep foliage of woodlands navigated by +canoes. But on they came sailing through the leaves; two abreast; borne +on men's shoulders; in each a chief, carried along to the measured march +of his bearers; paddle blades reversed under arms. As they emerged, the +multitude made gestures of homage. At the distance of some eight or ten +paces the procession halted; when the kings alighted to the ground. + +They were fine-looking men, arrayed in various garbs. Rare the show of +stained feathers, and jewels, and other adornments. Brave the floating +of dyed mantles. + +The regal bearing of these personages, the deference paid them, and +their entire self-possession, not a little surprised me. And it seemed +preposterous, to assume a divine dignity in the presence of these +undoubted potentates of _terra firma_. Taji seemed oozing from my +fingers' ends. But courage! and erecting my crest, I strove to look +every inch the character I had determined to assume. + +For a time, it was almost impossible to tell with what emotions +precisely the chiefs were regarding me. They said not a word. + +But plucking up heart of grace, I crossed my cutlass on my chest, and +reposing my hand on the hilt, addressed their High Mightinesses thus. +"Men of Mardi, I come from the sun. When this morning it rose and +touched the wave, I pushed my shallop from its golden beach, and hither +sailed before its level rays. I am Taji." + +More would have been added, but I paused for the effect of my exordium. + +Stepping back a pace or two, the chiefs eagerly conversed. + +Emboldened, I returned to the charge, and labored hard to impress them +with just such impressions of me and mine, as I deemed desirable. The +gentle Yillah was a seraph from the sun; Samoa I had picked off a reef +in my route from that orb; and as for the Skyeman, why, as his name +imported, he came from above. In a word, we were all strolling +divinities. + +Advancing toward the Chamois, one of the kings, a calm old man, now +addressed me as follows:--"Is this indeed Taji? he, who according to a +tradition, was to return to us after five thousand moons? But that +period is yet unexpired. What bring'st thou hither then, Taji, before +thy time? Thou wast but a quarrelsome demi-god, say the legends, when +thou dwelt among our sires. But wherefore comest thou, Taji? Truly, thou +wilt interfere with the worship of thy images, and we have plenty of +gods besides thee. But comest thou to fight?--We have plenty of spears, +and desire not thine. Comest thou to dwell?--Small are the houses of +Mardi. Or comest thou to fish in the sea? Tell us, Taji." + +Now, all this was a series of posers hard to be answered; furnishing a +curious example, moreover, of the reception given to strange demi-gods +when they travel without their portmanteaus; and also of the familiar +manner in which these kings address the immortals. Much I mourned that I +had not previously studied better my part, and learned the precise +nature of my previous existence in the land. + +But nothing like carrying it bravely. + +"Attend. Taji comes, old man, because it pleases him to come. And Taji +will depart when it suits him. Ask the shades of your sires whether Taji +thus scurvily greeted them, when they came stalking into his presence in +the land of spirits. No. Taji spread the banquet. He removed their +mantles. He kindled a fire to drive away the damp. He said not, 'Come +you to fight, you fogs and vapors? come you to dwell? or come you to +fish in the sea?' Go to, then, kings of Mardi!" + +Upon this, the old king fell back; and his place was supplied by a noble +chief, of a free, frank bearing. Advancing quickly toward the boat, he +exclaimed--"I am Media, the son of Media. Thrice welcome, Taji. On my +island of Odo hast thou an altar. I claim thee for my guest." He then +reminded the rest, that the strangers had voyaged far, and needed +repose. And, furthermore, that he proposed escorting them forthwith to +his own dominions; where, next day, he would be happy to welcome all +visitants. + +And good as his word, he commanded his followers to range themselves +under the Chamois. Springing out of our prow, the Upoluan was followed +by Jarl; leaving Yillah and Taji to be borne therein toward the sea. + +Soon, we were once more afloat; by our side, Media sociably seated; six +of his paddlers, perched upon the gunwale, swiftly urging us over the +lagoon. + +The transition from the grove to the sea was instantaneous. All seemed a +dream. + +The place to which we were hastening, being some distance away, as we +rounded isle after isle, the extent of the Archipelago grew upon us +greatly. + + + +CHAPTER LV Tiffin In A Temple + + +Upon at last drawing nigh to Odo, its appearance somewhat disappointed +me. A small island, of moderate elevation. + +But plumb not the height of the house that feasts you. The beach was +lined with expectant natives, who, lifting the Chamois, carried us up +the beach. + +Alighting, as they were bearing us along, King Media, designating a +canoe-house hard by, ordered our craft to be deposited therein. This +being done, we stepped upon the soil. It was the first we had pressed in +very many days. It sent a sympathetic thrill through our frames. + +Turning his steps inland, Media signed us to follow. + +Soon we came to a rude sort of inclosure, fenced in by an imposing wall. +Here a halt was sounded, and in great haste the natives proceeded to +throw down a portion of the stones. This accomplished, we were signed to +enter the fortress thus carried by storm. Upon an artificial mound, +opposite the breach, stood a small structure of bamboo, open in front. +Within, was a long pedestal, like a settee, supporting three images, +also of wood, and about the size of men; bearing, likewise, a remote +resemblance to that species of animated nature. Before these idols was +an altar, and at its base many fine mats. + +Entering the temple, as if he felt very much at home, Media disposed +these mats so as to form a very pleasant lounge; where he deferentially +entreated Yillah to recline. Then deliberately removing the first idol, +he motioned me to seat myself in its place. Setting aside the middle +one, he quietly established himself in its stead. The displaced ciphers, +meanwhile, standing upright before us, and their blank faces looking +upon this occasion unusually expressive. As yet, not a syllable as to +the meaning of this cavalier treatment of their wooden godships. + +We now tranquilly awaited what next might happen, and I earnestly +prayed, that if sacrilege was being committed, the vengeance of the gods +might be averted from an ignoramus like me; notwithstanding the +petitioner himself hailed from the other world. Perfect silence was +preserved: Jarl and Samoa standing a little without the temple; the +first looking quite composed, but his comrade casting wondering glances +at my sociable apotheosis with Media. + +Now happening to glance upon the image last removed, I was not long in +detecting a certain resemblance between it and our host. Both were +decorated in the same manner; the carving on the idol exactly +corresponding with the tattooing of the king. + +Presently, the silence was relieved by a commotion without: and a butler +approached, staggering under an immense wooden trencher; which, with +profound genuflexions, he deposited upon the altar before us. The tray +was loaded like any harvest wain; heaped up with good things sundry and +divers: Bread-fruit, and cocoanuts, and plantains, and guavas; all +pleasant to the eye, and furnishing good earnest of something equally +pleasant to the palate. + +Transported at the sight of these viands, after so long an estrangement +from full indulgence in things green, I was forthwith proceeding to help +Yillah and myself, when, like lightning, a most unwelcome query +obtruded. Did deities dine? Then also recurred what Media had declared +about my shrine in Odo. Was this it? Self-sacrilegious demigod that I +was, was I going to gluttonize on the very offerings, laid before me in +my own sacred fane? Give heed to thy ways, oh Taji, lest thou stumble +and be lost. + +But hereupon, what saw we, but his cool majesty of Odo tranquilly +proceeding to lunch in the temple? + +How now? Was Media too a god? Egad, it must be so. Else, why his image +here in the fane, and the original so entirely at his ease, with legs +full cosily tucked away under the very altar itself. This put to flight +all appalling apprehensions of the necessity of starving to keep up the +assumption of my divinity. So without more ado I helped myself right and +left; taking the best care of Yillah; who over fed her flushed beauty +with juicy fruits, thereby transferring to her cheek the sweet glow of +the guava. + +Our hunger appeased, and Media in token thereof celestially laying his +hand upon the appropriate region, we proceeded to quit the inclosure. +But coming to the wall where the breach had been made, lo, and behold, +no breach was to be seen. But down it came tumbling again, and forth we +issued. + +This overthrowing of walls, be it known, is an incidental compliment +paid distinguished personages in this part of Mardi. It would seem to +signify, that such gentry can go nowhere without creating an impression; +even upon the most obdurate substances. + +But to return to our ambrosial lunch. + +Sublimate, as you will, the idea of our ethereality as intellectual +beings; no sensible man can harbor a doubt, but that there is a vast +deal of satisfaction in dining. More: there is a savor of life and +immortality in substantial fare. Like balloons, we are nothing till +filled. + +And well knowing this, nature has provided this jolly round board, our +globe, which in an endless sequence of courses and crops, spreads a +perpetual feast. Though, as with most public banquets, there is no small +crowding, and many go away famished from plenty. + + + +CHAPTER LVI King Media A Host + + +Striking into a grove, about sunset we emerged upon a fine, clear space, +and spied a city in the woods. + +In the middle of all, like a generalissimo's marquee among tents, was a +structure more imposing than the rest. Here, abode King Media. + +Disposed round a space some fifty yards square, were many palm posts +staked firmly in the earth. A man's height from the ground, these +supported numerous horizontal trunks, upon which lay a flooring of +habiscus. High over this dais, but resting upon independent supports +beyond, a gable-ended roof sloped away to within a short distance of the +ground. + +Such was the palace. + +We entered it by an arched, arbored entrance, at one of its palmetto-thatched ends. But not through this exclusive portal entered the +Islanders. Humbly stooping, they found ingress under the drooping eaves. +A custom immemorial, and well calculated to remind all contumacious +subjects of the dignity of the habitation thus entered. + +Three steps led to the summit of the dais, where piles of soft mats, and +light pillows of woven grass, stuffed with the golden down of a wild +thistle, invited all loiterers to lounge. + +How pleasant the twilight that welled up from under the low eaves, above +which we were seated. And how obvious now the design of the roof. No +shade more grateful and complete; the garish sun lingering without like +some lackey in waiting. + +But who is this in the corner, gaping at us like a butler in a quandary? +Media's household deity, in the guise of a plethoric monster, his +enormous head lolling back, and wide, gaping mouth stuffed full of fresh +fruits and green leaves. Truly, had the idol possessed a soul under his +knotty ribs, how tantalizing to hold so glorious a mouthful without the +power of deglutition. Far worse than the inexorable lock-jaw, which will +not admit of the step preliminary to a swallow. + +This jolly Josh image was that of an inferior deity, the god of Good +Cheer, and often after, we met with his merry round mouth in many other +abodes in Mardi. Daily, his jaws are replenished, as a flower vase in +summer. + +But did the demi-divine Media thus brook the perpetual presence of a +subaltern divinity? Still more; did he render it homage? But ere long +the Mardian mythology will be discussed, thereby making plain what may +now seem anomalous. + +Politely escorting us into his palace, Media did the honors by inviting +his guests to recline. He then seemed very anxious to impress us with +the fact, that, by bringing us to his home, and thereby charging the +royal larder with our maintenance, he had taken no hasty or imprudent +step. His merry butlers kept piling round us viands, till we were well +nigh walled in. At every fresh deposit, Media directing our attention to +the same, as yet additional evidence of his ample resources as a host. +The evidence was finally closed by dragging under the eaves a felled +plantain tree, the spike of red ripe fruit, sprouting therefrom, +blushing all over, at so rude an introduction to the notice of +strangers. + +During this scene, Jarl was privily nudging Samoa, in wonderment, to +know what upon earth it all meant. But Samoa, scarcely deigning to +notice interrogatories propounded through the elbow, only let drop a +vague hint or two. + +It was quite amusing, what airs Samoa now gave himself, at least toward +my Viking. Among the Mardians he was at home. And who, when there, +stretches not out his legs, and says unto himself, "Who is greater than +I?" + +To be plain: concerning himself and the Skyeman, the tables were turned. +At sea, Jarl had been the oracle: an old sea-sage, learned in hemp and +helm. But our craft high and dry, the Upoluan lifted his crest as the +erudite pagan; master of Gog and Magog, expounder of all things +heathenish and obscure. + +An hour or two was now laughed away in very charming conversation with +Media; when I hinted, that a couch and solitude would be acceptable. +Whereupon, seizing a taper, our host escorted us without the palace. And +ushering us into a handsome unoccupied mansion, gave me to understand +that the same was mine. Mounting to the dais, he then instituted a +vigorous investigation, to discern whether every thing was in order. Not +fancying something about the mats, he rolled them up into bundles, and +one by one sent them flying at the heads of his servitors; who, upon +that gentle hint made off with them, soon after returning with fresh +ones. These, with mathematical precision, Media in person now spread on +the dais; looking carefully to the fringes or ruffles with which they +were bordered, as if striving to impart to them a sentimental +expression. + +This done, he withdrew. + + + +CHAPTER LVII Taji Takes Counsel With Himself + + +My brief intercourse with our host, had by this time enabled me to form +a pretty good notion of the light, in which I was held by him and his +more intelligent subjects. + +His free and easy carriage evinced, that though acknowledging my +assumptions, he was no way overawed by them; treating me as familiarly, +indeed, as if I were a mere mortal, one of the abject generation of +mushrooms. + +The scene in the temple, however, had done much toward explaining this +demeanor of his. A demi-god in his own proper person, my claims to a +similar dignity neither struck him with wonder, nor lessened his good +opinion of himself. + +As for any thing foreign in my aspect, and my ignorance of Mardian +customs---all this, instead of begetting a doubt unfavorable to my +pretensions, but strengthened the conviction of them as verities. Thus +has it been in similar instances; but to a much greater extent. The +celebrated navigator referred to in a preceding chapter, was hailed by +the Hawaiians as one of their demi-gods, returned to earth, after a wide +tour of the universe. And they worshiped him as such, though incessantly +he was interrogating them, as to who under the sun his worshipers were; +how their ancestors came on the island; and whether they would have the +kindness to provide his followers with plenty of pork during his stay. + +But a word or two concerning the idols in the shrine at Odo. Superadded +to the homage rendered him as a temporal prince, Media was there +worshiped as a spiritual being. In his corporeal absence, his effigy +receiving all oblations intended for him. And in the days of his +boyhood, listening to the old legends of the Mardian mythology, Media +had conceived a strong liking for the fabulous Taji; a deity whom he had +often declared was worthy a niche in any temple extant. Hence he had +honored my image with a place in his own special shrine; placing it side +by side with his worshipful likeness. + +I appreciated the compliment. But of the close companionship of the +other image there, I was heartily ashamed. And with reason. The nuisance +in question being the image of a deified maker of plantain-pudding, +lately deceased; who had been famed far and wide as the most notable +fellow of his profession in the whole Archipelago. During his sublunary +career, having been attached to the household of Media, his grateful +master had afterward seen fit to crown his celebrity by this posthumous +distinction: a circumstance sadly subtracting from the dignity of an +apotheosis. Nor must it here be omitted, that in this part of Mardi +culinary artists are accounted worthy of high consideration. For among +these people of Odo, the matter of eating and drinking is held a matter +of life and of death. "Drag away my queen from my arms," said old Tyty +when overcome of Adommo, "but leave me my cook." + +Now, among the Mardians there were plenty of incarnated deities to keep +me in countenance. Most of the kings of the Archipelago, besides Media, +claiming homage as demi-gods; and that, too, by virtue of hereditary +descent, the divine spark being transmissable from father to son. In +illustration of this, was the fact, that in several instances the people +of the land addressed the supreme god Oro, in the very same terms +employed in the political adoration of their sublunary rulers. + +Ay: there were deities in Mardi far greater and taller than I: right +royal monarchs to boot, living in jolly round tabernacles of jolly brown +clay; and feasting, and roystering, and lording it in yellow tabernacles +of bamboo. These demi-gods had wherewithal to sustain their lofty +pretensions. If need were, could crush out of him the infidelity of a +non-conformist. And by this immaculate union of church and state, god +and king, in their own proper persons reigned supreme Caesars over the +souls and bodies of their subjects. + +Beside these mighty magnates, I and my divinity shrank into nothing. In +their woodland ante-chambers plebeian deities were kept lingering. For +be it known, that in due time we met with several decayed, broken down +demi-gods: magnificos of no mark in Mardi; having no temples wherein to +feast personal admirers, or spiritual devotees. They wandered about +forlorn and friendless. And oftentimes in their dinnerless despair +hugely gluttonized, and would fain have grown fat, by reflecting upon +the magnificence of their genealogies. But poor fellows! like shabby +Scotch lords in London in King James's time, the very multitude of them +confounded distinction. And since they could show no rent-roll, they +were permitted to fume unheeded. + +Upon the whole, so numerous were living and breathing gods in Mardi, +that I held my divinity but cheaply. And seeing such a host of +immortals, and hearing of multitudes more, purely spiritual in their +nature, haunting woodlands and streams; my views of theology grew +strangely confused; I began to bethink me of the Jew that rejected the +Talmud, and his all-permeating principle, to which Goethe and others +have subscribed. + +Instead, then, of being struck with the audacity of endeavoring to palm +myself off as a god--the way in which the thing first impressed me--I +now perceived that I might be a god as much as I pleased, and yet not +whisk a lion's tail after all at least on that special account. + +As for Media's reception, its graciousness was not wholly owing to the +divine character imputed to me. His, he believed to be the same. But to +a whim, a freakishness in his soul, which led him to fancy me as one +among many, not as one with no peer. + +But the apparent unconcern of King Media with respect to my godship, by +no means so much surprised me, as his unaffected indifference to my +amazing voyage from the sun; his indifference to the sun itself; and all +the wonderful circumstances that must have attended my departure. +Whether he had ever been there himself, that he regarded a solar trip +with so much unconcern, almost became a question in my mind. Certain it +is, that as a mere traveler he must have deemed me no very great +prodigy. + +My surprise at these things was enhanced by reflecting, that to the +people of the Archipelago the map of Mardi was the map of the world. +With the exception of certain islands out of sight and at an indefinite +distance, they had no certain knowledge of any isles but their own. + +And, no long time elapsed ere I had still additional reasons to cease +wondering at the easy faith accorded to the story which I had given of +myself. For these Mardians were familiar with still greater marvels than +mine; verily believing in prodigies of all sorts. Any one of them put my +exploits to the blush. + +Look to thy ways then, Taji, thought I, and carry not thy crest too +high. Of a surety, thou hast more peers than inferiors. Thou art +overtopped all round. Bear thyself discreetly and not haughtily, Taji. +It will not answer to give thyself airs. Abstain from all consequential +allusions to the other world, and the genteel deities among whom thou +hast circled. Sport not too jauntily thy raiment, because it is novel in +Mardi; nor boast of the fleetness of thy Chamois, because it is unlike a +canoe. Vaunt not of thy pedigree, Taji; for Media himself will measure +it with thee there by the furlong. Be not a "snob," Taji. + +So then, weighing all things well, and myself severely, I resolved to +follow my Mentor's wise counsel; neither arrogating aught, nor abating +of just dues; but circulating freely, sociably, and frankly, among the +gods, heroes, high_ priests, kings, and gentlemen, that made up the +principalities of Mardi. + + + +CHAPTER LVIII Mardi By Night And Yillah By Day + + +During the night following our arrival, many dreams were no doubt dreamt +in Odo. But my thoughts were wakeful. And while all others slept, +obeying a restless impulse, I stole without into the magical starlight. +There are those who in a strange land ever love to view it by night. + +It has been said, that the opening in the groves where was situated +Media's city, was elevated above the surrounding plains. Hence was +commanded a broad reach of prospect. + +Far and wide was deep low-sobbing repose of man and nature. The groves +were motionless; and in the meadows, like goblins, the shadows advanced +and retreated. Full before me, lay the Mardian fleet of isles, +profoundly at anchor within their coral harbor. Near by was one belted +round by a frothy luminous reef, wherein it lay, like Saturn in its +ring. + +From all their summits, went up a milk-white smoke, as from Indian +wigwams in the hazy harvest-moon. And floating away, these vapors +blended with the faint mist, as of a cataract, hovering over the +circumvallating reef. Far beyond all, and far into the infinite night, +surged the jet-black ocean. + +But how tranquil the wide lagoon, which mirrored the burning spots in +heaven! Deep down into its innermost heart penetrated the slanting rays +of Hesperus like a shaft of light, sunk far into mysterious Golcondas, +where myriad gnomes seemed toiling. Soon a light breeze rippled the +water, and the shaft was seen no more. But the moon's bright wake was +still revealed: a silver track, tipping every wave-crest in its course, +till each seemed a pearly, scroll-prowed nautilus, buoyant with some +elfin crew. + +From earth to heaven! High above me was Night's shadowy bower, +traversed, vine-like, by the Milky Way, and heavy with golden +clusterings. Oh stars! oh eyes, that see me, wheresoe'er I roam: serene, +intent, inscrutable for aye, tell me Sybils, what I am.--Wondrous worlds +on worlds! Lo, round and round me, shining, awful spells: all glorious, +vivid constellations, God's diadem ye are! To you, ye stars, man owes +his subtlest raptures, thoughts unspeakable, yet full of faith. + +But how your mild effulgence stings the boding heart. Am I a murderer, +stars? + +Hours pass. The starry trance is departed. Long waited for, the dawn now +comes. + +First, breaking along the waking face; peeping from out the languid +lids; then shining forth in longer glances; till, like the sun, up comes +the soul, and sheds its rays abroad. + +When thus my Yillah did daily dawn, how she lit up my world; tinging +more rosily the roseate clouds, that in her summer cheek played to and +fro, like clouds in Italian air. + + + +CHAPTER LIX Their Morning Meal + + +Not wholly is our world made up of bright stars and bright eyes: so now +to our story. + +A conscientious host should ever be up betimes, to look after the +welfare of his guests, and see to it that their day begin auspiciously. +King Media announced the advent of the sun, by rustling at my bower's +eaves in person. + +A repast was spread in an adjoining arbor, which Media's pages had +smoothed for our reception, and where his subordinate chiefs were in +attendance. Here we reclined upon mats. Balmy and fresh blew the breath +of the morning; golden vapors were upon the mountains, silver sheen upon +the grass; and the birds were at matins in the groves; their bright +plumage flashing into view, here and there, as if some rainbow were +crouching in the foliage. + +Spread before us were viands, served in quaint-shaped, curiously-dyed +gourds, not Sevres, but almost as tasteful; and like true porcelain, +fire had tempered them. Green and yielding, they are plucked from the +tree; and emptied of their pulp, are scratched over with minute marks, +like those of a line engraving. The ground prepared, the various figures +are carefully etched. And the outlines filled up with delicate +punctures, certain vegetable oils are poured over them, for coloring. +Filled with a peculiar species of earth, the gourd is now placed in an +oven in the ground. And in due time exhumed, emptied of its contents, +and washed in the stream, it presents a deep-dyed exterior; every figure +distinctly traced and opaque, but the ground semi-transparent. In some +cases, owing to the variety of dyes employed, each figure is of a +different hue. + +More glorious goblets than these for the drinking of wine, went never +from hand to mouth. Capacious as pitchers, they almost superseded +decanters. + +Now, in a tropical climate, fruit, with light wines, forms the only fit +meal of a morning. And with orchards and vineyards forever in sight, who +but the Hetman of the Cossacs would desire more? We had plenty of the +juice of the grape. But of this hereafter; there are some fine old +cellars, and plenty of good cheer in store. + +During the repast, Media, for a time, was much taken up with our +raiment. He begged me to examine for a moment the texture of his right +royal robe, and observe how much superior it was to my own. It put my +mantle to the blush; being tastefully stained with rare devices in red +and black; and bordered with dyed fringes of feathers, and tassels of +red birds' claws. + +Next came under observation the Skyeman's Guayaquil hat; at whose +preposterous shape, our host laughed in derision; clapping a great +conical calabash upon the head of an attendant, and saying that now he +was Jarl. At this, and all similar sallies, Samoa was sure to roar +louder than any; though mirth was no constitutional thing with him. But +he seemed rejoiced at the opportunity of turning upon us the ridicule, +which as a barbarian among whites, he himself had so often experienced. + +These pleasantries over, King Media very slightly drew himself up, as if +to make amends for his previous unbending. He discoursed imperially with +his chiefs; nodded his sovereign will to his pages; called for another +gourd of wine; in all respects carrying his royalty bravely. + +The repast concluded, we journeyed to the canoe-house, where we found +the little Chamois stabled like a steed. One solitary depredation had +been committed. Its sides and bottom had been completely denuded of the +minute green barnacles, and short sea-grass, which, like so many +leeches, had fastened to our planks during our long, lazy voyage. + +By the people they had been devoured as dainties. + + + +CHAPTER LX Belshazzar On The Bench + + +Now, Media was king of Odo. And from the simplicity of his manners +hitherto, and his easy, frank demeanor toward ourselves, had we +foolishly doubted that fact, no skepticism could have survived an +illustration of it, which this very day we witnessed at noon. + +For at high noon, Media was wont to don his dignity with his symbols of +state; and sit on his judgment divan or throne, to hear and try all +causes brought before him, and fulminate his royal decrees. + +This divan was elevated at one end of a spacious arbor, formed by an +avenue of regal palms, which in brave state, held aloft their majestical +canopy. + +The crown of the island prince was of the primitive old Eastern style; +in shape, similar, perhaps, to that jauntily sported as a foraging cap +by his sacred majesty King Nimrod, who so lustily followed the hounds. +It was a plaited turban of red tappa, radiated by the pointed and +polished white bones of the Ray-fish. These diverged from a bandeau or +fillet of the most precious pearls; brought up from the sea by the +deepest diving mermen of Mardi. From the middle of the crown rose a tri-foiled spear-head. And a spear-headed scepter graced the right hand of +the king. + +Now, for all the rant of your democrats, a fine king on a throne is a +very fine sight to behold. He looks very much like a god. No wonder that +his more dutiful subjects so swore, that their good lord and master King +Media was demi-divine. + +A king on his throne! Ah, believe me, ye Gracchi, ye Acephali, ye +Levelers, it is something worth seeing, be sure; whether beheld at +Babylon the Tremendous, when Nebuchadnezzar was crowned; at old Scone in +the days of Macbeth; at Rheims, among Oriflammes, at the coronation of +Louis le Grand; at Westminster Abbey, when the gentlemanly George doffed +his beaver for a diadem; or under the soft shade of palm trees on an +isle in the sea. + +Man lording it over man, man kneeling to man, is a spectacle that +Gabriel might well travel hitherward to behold; for never did he behold +it in heaven. But Darius giving laws to the Medes and the Persians, or +the conqueror of Bactria with king-cattle yoked to his car, was not a +whit more sublime, than Beau Brummel magnificently ringing for his +valet. + +A king on his throne! It is Jupiter nodding in the councils of Olympus; +Satan, seen among the coronets in Hell. + +A king on his throne! It is the sun over a mountain; the sun over law-giving Sinai; the sun in our system: planets, duke-like, dancing +attendance, and baronial satellites in waiting. + +A king on his throne! After all, but a gentleman seated. And thus sat +the good lord, King Media. + +Time passed. And after trying and dismissing several minor affairs, +Media called for certain witnesses to testify concerning one Jiromo, a +foolhardy wight, who had been silly enough to plot against the majesty +now sitting judge and jury upon him. + +His guilt was clear. And the witnesses being heard, from a bunch of palm +plumes Media taking a leaf, placed it in the hand of a runner or +pursuivant, saying, "This to Jiromo, where he is prisoned; with his +king's compliments; say we here wait for his head." + +It was doffed like a turban before a Dey, and brought back on the +instant. + +Now came certain lean-visaged, poverty-stricken, and hence suspicious-looking varlets, grumbling and growling, and amiable as Bruin. They came +muttering some wild jargon about "bulwarks," "bulkheads," "cofferdams," +"safeguards," "noble charters," "shields," and "paladiums," "great and +glorious birthrights," and other unintelligible gibberish. + +Of the pursuivants, these worthies asked audience of Media. + +"Go, kneel at the throne," was the answer. + +"Our knee-pans are stiff with sciatics," was the rheumatic reply. + +"An artifice to keep on your legs," said the pursuivants. + +And advancing they salamed, and told Media the excuse of those sour-looking varlets. Whereupon my lord commanded them to down on their +marrow-bones instanter, either before him or the headsman, whichsoever +they pleased. + +They preferred the former. And as they there kneeled, in vain did men +with sharp ears (who abound in all courts) prick their auriculars, to +list to that strange crackling and firing off of bone balls and sockets, +ever incident to the genuflections of rheumatic courtiers. + +In a row, then, these selfsame knee-pans did kneel before the king; who +eyed them as eagles in air do goslings on dunghills; or hunters, hounds +crouching round their calves. + +"Your prayer?" said Media. + +It was a petition, that thereafter all differences between man and man +in Ode, together with all alleged offenses against the state, might be +tried by twelve good men and true. These twelve to be unobnoxious to the +party or parties concerned; their peers; and previously unbiased +touching the matter at issue. Furthermore, that unanimity in these +twelve should be indispensable to a verdict; and no dinner be vouchsafed +till unanimity came. + +Loud and long laughed King Media in scorn. + +"This be your judge," he cried, swaying his scepter. "What! are twelve +wise men more wise than one? or will twelve fools, put together, make +one sage? Are twelve honest men more honest than one? or twelve knaves +less knavish than one? And if, of twelve men, three be fools, and three +wise, three knaves, and three upright, how obtain real unanimity from +such? + +"But if twelve judges be better than one, then are twelve hundred better +than twelve. But take the whole populace for a judge, and you will long +wait for a unanimous verdict. + +"If upon a thing dubious, there be little unanimity in the conflicting +opinions of one man's mind, how expect it in the uproar of twelve +puzzled brains? though much unanimity be found in twelve hungry +stomachs. + +"Judges unobnoxious to the accused! Apply it to a criminal case. Ha! ha! +if peradventure a Cacti be rejected, because he had seen the accused +commit the crime for which he is arraigned. Then, his mind would be +biased: no impartiality from him! Or your testy accused might object to +another, because of his tomahawk nose, or a cruel squint of the eye. + +"Of all follies the most foolish! Know ye from me, that true peers +render not true verdicts. Jiromo was a rebel. Had I tried him by his +peers, I had tried him by rebels; and the rebel had rebelled to some +purpose. + +"Away! As unerring justice dwells in a unity, and as one judge will at +last judge the world beyond all appeal; so--though often here below +justice be hard to attain--does man come nearest the mark, when he +imitates that model divine. Hence, one judge is better than twelve." + +"And as Justice, in ideal, is ever painted high lifted above the crowd; +so, from the exaltation of his rank, an honest king is the best of those +unical judges, which individually are better than twelve. And therefore +am I, King Media, the best judge in this land." + +"Subjects! so long as I live, I will rule you and judge you alone. And +though you here kneeled before me till you grew into the ground, and +there took root, no yea to your petition will you get from this throne. +I am king: ye are slaves. Mine to command: yours to obey. And this hour +I decree, that henceforth no gibberish of bulwarks and bulkheads be +heard in this land. For a dead bulwark and a bulkhead, to dam off +sedition, will I make of that man, who again but breathes those bulky +words. Ho! spears! see that these knee-pans here kneel till set of sun." + +High noon was now passed; and removing his crown, and placing it on the +dais for the kneelers to look at during their devotions, King Media +departed from that place, and once more played the agreeable host. + + + +CHAPTER LXI An Incognito + + +For the rest of that day, and several that followed, we were continually +receiving visits from the neighboring islands; whose inhabitants in +fleets and flotillas flocked round Odo to behold the guests of its lord. +Among them came many messengers from the neighboring kings with soft +speeches and gifts. + +But it were needless to detail our various interviews, or relate in what +manifold ways, the royal strangers gave token of their interest +concerning us. + +Upon the third day, however, there was noticed a mysterious figure, like +the inscrutable incognitos sometimes encountered, crossing the tower-shadowed Plaza of Assignations at Lima. It was enveloped in a dark robe +of tappa, so drawn and plaited about the limbs; and with one hand, so +wimpled about the face, as only to expose a solitary eye. But that eye +was a world. Now it was fixed upon Yillah with a sinister glance, and +now upon me, but with a different expression. However great the crowd, +however tumultuous, that fathomless eye gazed on; till at last it seemed +no eye, but a spirit, forever prying into my soul. Often I strove to +approach it, but it would evade me, soon reappearing. + +Pointing out the apparition to Media, I intreated him to take means to +fix it, that my suspicions might be dispelled, as to its being +incorporeal. He replied that, by courtesy, incognitos were sacred. +Insomuch that the close-plaited robe and the wimple were secure as a +castle. At last, to my relief, the phantom disappeared, and was seen no +more. + +Numerous and fervent the invitations received to return the calls +wherewith we were honored. But for the present we declined them; +preferring to establish ourselves firmly in the heart of Media, ere +encountering the vicissitudes of roaming. In a multitude of +acquaintances is less security, than in one faithful friend. + +Now, while these civilities were being received, and on the fourth +morning after our arrival, there landed on the beach three black-eyed +damsels, deep brunettes, habited in long variegated robes, and with gay +blossoms on their heads. + +With many salams, the strangers were ushered into my presence by an old +white-haired servitor of Media's, who with a parting cong murmured, +"From Queen Hautia," then departed. Surprised, I stood mute, and +welcomed them. + +The first, with many smiles and blandishments, waved before me a many-tinted Iris: the flag-flower streaming with pennons. Advancing, the +second then presented three rose-hued purple-veined Circea flowers, the +dew still clinging to them. The third placed in my hand a moss-rose bud; +then, a Venus-car. + +"Thanks for your favors! now your message." + +Starting at this reception, graciously intended, they conferred a +moment; when the Iris-bearer said in winning phrase, "We come from +Hautia, whose moss-rose you hold." + +"All thanks to Hautia then; the bud is very fragrant." + +Then she pointed to the Venus-car. + +"This too is sweet; thanks to Hautia for her flowers. Pray, bring me +more." + +"He mocks our mistress," and gliding from me, they waved witch-hazels, +leaving me alone and wondering. + +Informing Media of this scene, he smiled; threw out queer hints of +Hautia; but knew not what her message meant. + +At first this affair occasioned me no little uneasiness, with much +matter for marveling; but in the novel pleasure of our sojourn in Odo, +it soon slipped from my mind; nor for some time, did I again hear aught +of Queen Hautia. + + + +CHAPTER LXII Taji Retires From The World + + +After a while, when the strangers came not in shoals as before, I +proposed to our host, a stroll over his dominions; desirous of beholding +the same, and secretly induced by the hope of selecting an abode, more +agreeable to my fastidious taste, than the one already assigned me. + +The ramble over--a pleasant one it was--it resulted in a determination +on my part to quit Odo. Yet not to go very far; only ten or twelve +yards, to a little green tuft of an islet; one of many, which here and +there, all round the island, nestled like birds' nests in the branching +boughs of the coral grove, whose roots laid hold of the foundations of +the deep. Between these islets and the shore, extended shelving ledges, +with shallows above, just sufficient to float a canoe. One of these +islets was wooded and wined; an arbor in the sea. And here, Media +permitting, I decided to dwell. + +Not long was Media in complying; nor long, ere my retreat was in +readiness. Laced together, the twisting boughs were closely thatched. +And thatched were the sides also, with deep crimson pandannus leaves; +whose long, forked spears, lifted by the breeze, caused the whole place +to blaze, as with flames. Canes, laid on palm trunks, formed the floor. +How elastic! In vogue all over Odo, among the chiefs, it imparted such a +buoyancy to the person, that to this special cause may be imputed in +good part the famous fine spirits of the nobles. + +Hypochondriac! essay the elastic flooring! It shall so pleasantly and +gently jolt thee, as to shake up, and pack off the stagnant humors +mantling thy pool-like soul. + +Such was my dwelling. But I make no mention of sundry little +appurtenances of tropical housekeeping: calabashes, cocoanut shells, and +rolls of fine tappa; till with Yillah seated at last in my arbor, I +looked round, and wanted for naught. + +But what of Jarl and Samoa? Why Jarl must needs be fanciful, as well as +myself. Like a bachelor in chambers, he settled down right opposite to +me, on the main land, in a little wigwam in the grove. + +But Samoa, following not his comrade's example, still tarried in the +camp of the Hittites and Jebusites of Odo. Beguiling men of their +leisure by his marvelous stories: and maidens of their hearts by his +marvelous wiles. + +When I chose, I was completely undisturbed in my arbor; an ukase of +Media's forbidding indiscriminate intrusion. But thrice in the day came +a garrulous old man with my viands. + +Thus sequestered, however, I could not entirely elude the pryings of the +people of the neighboring islands; who often passed by, slowly paddling, +and earnestly regarding my retreat. But gliding along at a distance, and +never essaying a landing, their occasional vicinity troubled me but +little. But now and then of an evening, when thick and fleet the shadows +were falling, dim glimpses of a canoe would be spied; hovering about the +place like a ghost. And once, in the stillness of the night, hearing the +near ripple of a prow, I sallied forth, but the phantom quickly +departed. + +That night, Yillah shuddered as she slept. "The whirl-pool," she +murmured, "sweet mosses." Next day she was lost in reveries, plucking +pensive hyacinths, or gazing intently into the lagoon. + + + +CHAPTER LXIII Odo And Its Lord + + +Time now to enter upon some further description of the island and its +lord. + +And first for Media: a gallant gentleman and king. From a goodly stock +he came. In his endless pedigree, reckoning deities by decimals, +innumerable kings, and scores of great heroes, chiefs, and priests. Nor +in person, did he belie his origin. No far-descended dwarf was he, the +least of a receding race. He stood like a palm tree; about whose +acanthus capital droops not more gracefully the silken fringes, than +Media's locks upon his noble brow. Strong was his arm to wield the club, +or hurl the javelin; and potent, I ween, round a maiden's waist. + +Thus much here for Media. Now comes his isle. + +Our pleasant ramble found it a little round world by itself; full of +beauties as a garden; chequered by charming groves; watered by roving +brooks; and fringed all round by a border of palm trees, whose roots +drew nourishment from the water. But though abounding in other quarters +of the Archipelago, not a solitary bread-fruit grew in Odo. A noteworthy +circumstance, observable in these regions, where islands close +adjoining, so differ in their soil, that certain fruits growing genially +in one, are foreign to another. But Odo was famed for its guavas, whose +flavor was likened to the flavor of new-blown lips; and for its grapes, +whose juices prompted many a laugh and many a groan. + +Beside the city where Media dwelt, there were few other clusters of +habitations in Odo. The higher classes living, here and there, in +separate households; but not as eremites. Some buried themselves in the +cool, quivering bosoms of the groves. Others, fancying a marine +vicinity, dwelt hard by the beach in little cages of bamboo; whence of +mornings they sallied out with jocund cries, and went plunging into the +refreshing bath, whose frothy margin was the threshold of their +dwellings. Others still, like birds, built their nests among the sylvan +nooks of the elevated interior; whence all below, and hazy green, lay +steeped in languor the island's throbbing heart. + +Thus dwelt the chiefs and merry men of mark. The common sort, including +serfs, and Helots, war-captives held in bondage, lived in secret places, +hard to find. Whence it came, that, to a stranger, the whole isle looked +care-free and beautiful. Deep among the ravines and the rocks, these +beings lived in noisome caves, lairs for beasts, not human homes; or +built them coops of rotten boughs--living trees were banned them--whose +mouldy hearts hatched vermin. Fearing infection of some plague, born of +this filth, the chiefs of Odo seldom passed that way and looking round +within their green retreats, and pouring out their wine, and plucking +from orchards of the best, marveled how these swine could grovel in the +mire, and wear such sallow cheeks. But they offered no sweet homes; from +that mire they never sought to drag them out; they open threw no +orchard; and intermitted not the mandates that condemned their drudges +to a life of deaths. Sad sight! to see those round-shouldered Helots, +stooping in their trenches: artificial, three in number, and concentric: +the isle well nigh surrounding. And herein, fed by oozy loam, and kindly +dew from heaven, and bitter sweat from men, grew as in hot-beds the +nutritious Taro. + +Toil is man's allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a grief +that's more than either, the grief and sin of idleness. But when man +toils and slays himself for masters who withhold the life he gives to +them--then, then, the soul screams out, and every sinew cracks. So with +these poor serfs. And few of them could choose but be the brutes they +seemed. + +Now needs it to be said, that Odo was no land of pleasure unalloyed, and +plenty without a pause?--Odo, in whose lurking-places infants turned +from breasts, whence flowed no nourishment.--Odo, in whose inmost +haunts, dark groves were brooding, passing which you heard most dismal +cries, and voices cursing Media. There, men were scourged; their crime, +a heresy; the heresy, that Media was no demigod. For this they shrieked. +Their fathers shrieked before; their fathers, who, tormented, said, +"Happy we to groan, that our children's children may be glad." But their +children's children howled. Yet these, too, echoed previous generations, +and loudly swore, "The pit that's dug for us may prove another's grave." + +But let all pass. To look at, and to roam about of holidays, Odo seemed +a happy land. The palm-trees waved--though here and there you marked one +sear and palsy-smitten; the flowers bloomed--though dead ones moldered +in decay; the waves ran up the strand in glee--though, receding, they +sometimes left behind bones mixed with shells. + +But else than these, no sign of death was seen throughout the isle. Did +men in Odo live for aye? Was Ponce de Leon's fountain there? For near +and far, you saw no ranks and files of graves, no generations harvested +in winrows. In Odo, no hard-hearted nabob slept beneath a gentle +epitaph; no _requiescat-in-pace_ mocked a sinner damned; no _memento-mori_ admonished men to live while yet they might. Here Death hid his +skull; and hid it in the sea, the common sepulcher of Odo. Not dust to +dust, but dust to brine; not hearses but canoes. For all who died upon +that isle were carried out beyond the outer reef, and there were buried +with their sires' sires. Hence came the thought, that of gusty nights, +when round the isles, and high toward heaven, flew the white reef's +rack and foam, that then and there, kept chattering watch and ward, the +myriads that were ocean-tombed. + +But why these watery obsequies? + +Odo was but a little isle, and must the living make way for the dead, +and Life's small colony be dislodged by Death's grim hosts; as the gaunt +tribes of Tamerlane o'erspread the tented pastures of the Khan? + +And now, what follows, said these Islanders: "Why sow corruption in the +soil which yields us life? We would not pluck our grapes from over +graves. This earth's an urn for flowers, not for ashes." + +They said that Oro, the supreme, had made a cemetery of the sea. + +And what more glorious grave? Was Mausolus more sublimely urned? Or do +the minster-lamps that burn before the tomb of Charlemagne, show more of +pomp, than all the stars, that blaze above the shipwrecked mariner? + +But no more of the dead; men shrug their shoulders, and love not their +company; though full soon we shall all have them for fellows. + + + +CHAPTER LXIV Yillah A Phantom + + +For a time we were happy in Odo: Yillah and I in our islet. Nor did the +pearl on her bosom glow more rosily than the roses in her cheeks; though +at intervals they waned and departed; and deadly pale was her glance, +when she murmured of the whirlpool and mosses. As pale my soul, +bethinking me of Aleema the priest. + +But day by day, did her spell weave round me its magic, and all the +hidden things of her being grew more lovely and strange. Did I commune +with a spirit? Often I thought that Paradise had overtaken me on earth, +and that Yillah was verily an angel, and hence the mysteries that +hallowed her. + +But how fleeting our joys. Storms follow bright dawnings.--Long memories +of short-lived scenes, sad thoughts of joyous hours--how common are ye +to all mankind. When happy, do we pause and say--"Lo, thy felicity, my +soul?" No: happiness seldom seems happiness, except when looked back +upon from woes. A flowery landscape, you must come out of, to behold. + +Sped the hours, the days, the one brief moment of our joys. Fairy bower +in the fair lagoon, scene of sylvan ease and heart's repose,--Oh, +Yillah, Yillah! All the woods repeat the sound, the wild, wild woods of +my wild soul. Yillah! Yillah! cry the small strange voices in me, and +evermore, and far and deep, they echo on. + +Days passed. When one morning I found the arbor vacant. Gone! A dream. I +closed my eyes, and would have dreamed her back. In vain. Starting, I +called upon her name; but none replied. Fleeing from the islet, I gained +the neighboring shore, and searched among the woods; and my comrades +meeting, besought their aid. But idle all. No glimpse of aught, save +trees and flowers. Then Media was sought out; the event made known; and +quickly, bands were summoned to range the isle. + +Noon came; but no Yillah. When Media averred she was no longer in Odo. +Whither she was gone, or how, he knew not; nor could any imagine. + +At this juncture, there chanced to arrive certain messengers from +abroad; who, presuming that all was well with Taji, came with renewed +invitations to visit various pleasant places round about. Among these, +came Queen Hautia's heralds, with their Iris flag, once more bringing +flowers. But they came and went unheeded. + +Setting out to return, these envoys were accompanied by numerous +followers of Media, dispatched to the neighboring islands, to seek out +the missing Yillah. But three days passed; and, one by one, they all +returned; and stood before me silently. + +For a time I raved. Then, falling into outer repose, lived for a space +in moods and reveries, with eyes that knew no closing, one glance +forever fixed. + +They strove to rouse me. Girls danced and sang; and tales of fairy times +were told; of monstrous imps, and youths enchanted; of groves and +gardens in the sea. Yet still I moved not, hearing all, yet noting +naught. Media cried, "For shame, oh Taji; thou, a god?" and placed a +spear in my nerveless hand. And Jarl loud called upon me to awake. Samoa +marveled. + +Still sped the days. And at length, my memory was restored. The thoughts +of things broke over me like returning billows on a beach long bared. A +rush, a foam of recollections!--Sweet Yillah gone, and I bereaved. + +Another interval, and that mood was past. Misery became a memory. The +keen pang a deep vibration. The remembrance seemed the thing remembered; +though bowed with sadness. There are thoughts that lie and glitter deep: +tearful pearls beneath life's sea, that surges still, and rolls sunlit, +whatever it may hide. Common woes, like fluids, mix all round. Not so +with that other grief. Some mourners load the air with lamentations; but +the loudest notes are struck from hollows. Their tears flow fast: but +the deep spring only wells. + +At last I turned to Media, saying I must hie from Odo, and rove +throughout all Mardi; for Yillah might yet be found. + +But hereafter, in words, little more of the maiden, till perchance her +fate be learned. + + + +CHAPTER LXV Taji Makes Three Acquaintances + + +Down to this period, I had restrained Samoa from wandering to the +neighboring islands, though he had much desired it, in compliance with +the invitations continually received. But now I informed both him, and +his comrade, of the tour I purposed; desiring their company. + +Upon the announcement of my intention to depart, to my no small surprise +Media also proposed to accompany me: a proposition gladly embraced. It +seems, that for some reason, he had not as yet extended his travels to +the more distant islands. Hence the voyage in prospect was particularly +agreeable to him. Nor did he forbear any pains to insure its prosperity; +assuring me, furthermore, that its object must eventually be crowned +with success. "I myself am interested in this pursuit," said he; "and +trust me, Yillah will be found." + +For the tour of the lagoon, the docile Chamois was proposed; but Media +dissented; saying, that it befitted not the lord of Odo to voyage in the +equipage of his guest. Therefore, three canoes were selected from his +own royal fleet. + +One for ourselves, and a trio of companions whom he purposed introducing +to my notice; the rest were reserved for attendants. + +Thanks to Media's taste and heedfulness, the strangers above mentioned +proved truly acceptable. + +The first was Mohi, or Braid-Beard, so called from the manner in which +he wore that appendage, exceedingly long and gray. He was a venerable +teller of stories and legends, one of the Keepers of the Chronicles of +the Kings of Mardi. + +The second was Babbalanja, a man of a mystical aspect, habited in a +voluminous robe. He was learned in Mardian lore; much given to +quotations from ancient and obsolete authorities: the Ponderings of Old +Bardianna: the Pandects of Alla-Malolla. + +Third and last, was Yoomy, or the Warbler. A youthful, long-haired, +blue-eyed minstrel; all fits and starts; at times, absent of mind, and +wan of cheek; but always very neat and pretty in his apparel; wearing +the most becoming of turbans, a Bird of Paradise feather its plume, and +sporting the gayest of sashes. Most given was Yoomy to amorous melodies, +and rondos, and roundelays, very witching to hear. But at times +disdaining the oaten reed, like a clarion he burst forth with lusty lays +of arms and battle; or, in mournful strains, sounded elegies for +departed bards and heroes. + +Thus much for Yoomy as a minstrel. In other respects, it would be hard +to depict him. He was so capricious a mortal; so swayed by contrary +moods; so lofty, so humble, so sad, so merry; so made up of a thousand +contradictions, that we must e'en let him depict himself as our story +progresses. And herein it is hoped he will succeed; since no one in +Mardi comprehended him. + +Now the trio, thus destined for companions on our voyage, had for some +time been anxious to take the tour of the Archipelago. In particular, +Babbalanja had often expressed the most ardent desire to visit every one +of the isles, in quest of some object, mysteriously hinted. He murmured +deep concern for my loss, the sincerest sympathy; and pressing my hand +more than once, said lowly, "Your pursuit is mine, noble Taji. Where'er +you search, I follow." + +So, too, Yoomy addressed me; but with still more feeling. And something +like this, also, Braid-Beard repeated. + +But to my sorrow, I marked that both Mohi and Babbalanja, especially the +last, seemed not so buoyant of hope, concerning lost Yillah, as the +youthful Yoomy, and his high-spirited lord, King Media. + +As our voyage would embrace no small period of time, it behoved King +Media to appoint some trustworthy regent, to rule during his absence. +This regent was found in Almanni, a stem-eyed, resolute warrior, a +kinsman of the king. + +All things at last in readiness, and the ensuing morning appointed for a +start, Media, on the beach, at eventide, when both light and water +waned, drew a rude map of the lagoon, to compensate for the obstructions +in the way of a comprehensive glance at it from Odo. + +And thus was sketched the plan of our voyage; which islands first to +visit; and which to touch at, when we should be homeward bound. + + + +CHAPTER LXVI With A Fair Wind, At Sunrise They Sail + + +True each to his word, up came the sun, and round to my isle came Media. + + +How glorious a morning! The new-born clouds all dappled with gold, and +streaked with violet; the sun in high spirits; and the pleasant air +cooled overnight by the blending circumambient fountains, forever +playing all round the reef; the lagoon within, the coral-rimmed basin, +into which they poured, subsiding, hereabouts, into green tranquillity. + +But what monsters of canoes! Would they devour an innocent voyager? +their great black prows curling aloft, and thrown back like trunks of +elephants; a dark, snaky length behind, like the sea-serpent's train. + +The prow of the foremost terminated in a large, open, shark's mouth, +garnished with ten rows of pearly human teeth, curiously inserted into +the sculptured wood. The gunwale was ornamented with rows of rich +spotted Leopard and Tiger-shells; here and there, varied by others, flat +and round, and spirally traced; gay serpents petrified in coils. These +were imbedded in a grooved margin, by means of a resinous compound, +exhaling such spices, that the canoes were odoriferous as the Indian +chests of the Maldives. + +The likeness of the foremost canoe to an elephant, was helped by a sort +of canopied Howdah in its stern, of heavy, russet-dyed tappa, tasselled +at the corners with long bunches of cocoanut fibres, stained red. These +swayed to and fro, like the fox-tails on a Tuscarora robe. + +But what is this, in the head of the canoe, just under the shark's +mouth? A grinning little imp of an image; a ring in its nose; cowrie +shells jingling at its ears; with an abominable leer, like that of +Silenus reeling on his ass. It was taking its ease; cosily smoking a +pipe; its bowl, a duodecimo edition of the face of the smoker. This +image looked sternward; everlastingly mocking us. + +Of these canoes, it may be well to state, that although during our stay +in Odo, so many barges and shallops had touched there, nothing similar +to Media's had been seen. But inquiring whence his sea-equipage came, we +were thereupon taught to reverence the same as antiquities and heir-looms; claw-keeled, dragon-prowed crafts of a bygone generation; at +present, superseded in general use by the more swan-like canoes, +significant of the advanced stage of marine architecture in Mardi. No +sooner was this known, than what had seemed almost hideous in my eyes, +became merely grotesque. Nor could I help being greatly delighted with +the good old family pride of our host. + +The upper corners of our sails displayed the family crest of Media; +three upright boars' tusks, in an heraldic field argent. A fierce +device: Whom rends he? + +All things in readiness, we glided away: the multitude waving adieu; and +our flotilla disposed in the following order. + +First went the royal Elephant, carrying Media, myself, Jarl, and Samoa; +Mohi the Teller of Legends, Babbalanja, and Yoomy, and six vivacious +paddlers; their broad paddle-blades carved with the royal boars' tusks, +the same tattooed on their chests for a livery. + +And thus, as Media had promised, we voyaged in state. To crown all, +seated sideways in the high, open shark's-mouth of our prow was a little +dwarf of a boy, one of Media's pages, a red conch-shell, bugle-wise +suspended at his side. Among various other offices, it was the duty of +little Vee-Vee to announce the advent of his master, upon drawing near +to the islands in our route. Two short bars, projecting from one side of +the prow, furnished him the means of ascent to his perch. + +As we gained the open lagoon with bellied sails, and paddles playing, a +sheaf of foam borne upright at our prow; Yoomy, standing where the spicy +spray flew over him, stretched forth his hand and cried--"The dawn of +day is passed, and Mardi lies all before us: all her isles, and all her +lakes; all her stores of good and evil. Storms may come, our barks may +drown. But blow before us, all ye winds; give us a lively blast, good +clarion; rally round us all our wits; and be this voyage full gayly +sailed, for Yillah will yet be found." + + + +CHAPTER LXVII Little King Peepi + + +Valapee, or the Isle of Yams, being within plain sight of Media's +dominions, we were not very long in drawing nigh to its shores. + +Two long parallel elevations, rising some three arrow-flights into the +air, double-ridge the island's entire length, lapping between, a +widening vale, so level withal, that at either extremity, the green of +its groves blends with the green of the lagoon; and the isle seems +divided by a strait. + +Within several paces of the beach, our canoes keeled the bottom, and +camel-like mutely hinted that we voyagers must dismount. + +Hereupon, the assembled islanders ran into the water, and with bent +shoulders obsequiously desired the honor of transporting us to land. The +beach gained, all present wearing robes instantly stripped them to the +waist; a naked chest being their salute to kings. Very convenient for +the common people, this; their half-clad forms presenting a perpetual +and profound salutation. + +Presently, Peepi, the ruler of Valapee drew near: a boy, hardly ten +years old, striding the neck of a burly mute, bearing a long spear erect +before him, to which was attached a canopy of five broad banana leaves, +new plucked. Thus shaded, little Peepi advanced, steadying himself by +the forelock of his bearer. + +Besides his bright red robe, the young prince wore nothing but the +symbol of Valapeean royalty; a string of small, close-fitting, concave +shells, coiled and ambushed in his profuse, curly hair; one end falling +over his ear, revealing a serpent's head, curiously carved from a +nutmeg. + +Quite proverbial, the unembarrassed air of young slips of royalty. But +there was something so surprisingly precocious in this young Peepi, that +at first one hardly knew what to conclude. + +The first compliments over, the company were invited inland to a shady +retreat. + +As we pursued the path, walking between old Mohi the keeper of +chronicles and Samoa the Upoluan, Babbalanja besought the former to +enlighten a stranger concerning the history of this curious Peepi. +Whereupon the chronicler gave us the following account; for all of which +he alone is responsible. + +Peepi, it seems, had been proclaimed king before he was born; his sire +dying some few weeks previous to that event; and vacating his divan, +declared that he left a monarch behind. + +Marvels were told of Peepi. Along with the royal dignity, and superadded +to the soul possessed in his own proper person, the infant monarch was +supposed to have inherited the valiant spirits of some twenty heroes, +sages, simpletons, and demi-gods, previously lodged in his sire. + +Most opulent in spiritual gifts was this lord of Valapee; the legatee, +moreover, of numerous anonymous souls, bequeathed to him by their late +loyal proprietors. By a slavish act of his convocation of chiefs, he +also possessed the reversion of all and singular the immortal spirits, +whose first grantees might die intestate in Valapee. Servile, yet +audacious senators! thus prospectively to administrate away the +inalienable rights of posterity. But while yet unborn, the people of +Valapee had been deprived of more than they now sought to wrest from +their descendants. And former Peepies, infant and adult, had received +homage more profound, than Peepi the Present. Witness the demeanor of +the chieftains of old, upon every new investiture of the royal serpent. +In a fever of loyalty, they were wont to present themselves before the +heir to the isle, to go through with the court ceremony of the Pupera; a +curious proceeding, so called: inverted endeavors to assume an erect +posture: the nasal organ the base. + +It was to the frequent practice of this ceremony, that most intelligent +observers imputed the flattened noses of the elderly chiefs of the +island; who, nevertheless, much gloried therein. + +It was these chiefs, also, who still observed the old-fashioned custom +of retiring from the presence of royalty with their heads between their +thighs; so that while advancing in the contrary direction, their faces +might be still deferentially turned toward their lord and master. A fine +view of him did they obtain. All objects look well through an arch. + +But to return to Peepi, the inheritor of souls and subjects. It was an +article of faith with the people of Valapee, that Peepi not only +actually possessed the souls bequeathed to him; but that his own was +enriched by their peculiar qualities: The headlong valor of the late +Tongatona; the pusillanimous discretion of Blandoo; the cunning of Voyo; +the simplicity of Raymonda; the prodigality of Zonoree; the thrift of +Titonti. + +But had all these, and similar opposite qualities, simultaneously acted +as motives upon Peepi, certes, he would have been a most pitiable +mortal, in a ceaseless eddy of resolves, incapable of a solitary act. + +But blessed be the gods, it was otherwise. Though it fared little better +for his subjects as it was. His assorted souls were uppermost and active +in him, one by one. Today, valiant Tongatona ruled the isle, meditating +wars and invasions; tomorrow, thrice discreet Blandoo, who, disbanding +the levies, turned his attention to the terraces of yams. And so on in +rotation to the end. + +Whence, though capable of action, Peepi, by reason of these revolving +souls in him, was one of the most unreliable of beings. What the open-handed Zonoree promised freely to-day, the parsimonious Titonti withheld +to-morrow; and forever Raymonda was annulling the doings of Voyo; and +Voyo the doings of Raymonda. + +What marvel then, that in Valapee all was legislative uproar and +confusion; advance and retreat; abrogations and revivals; foundations +without superstructures; nothing permanent but the island itself. + +Nor were there those in the neighboring countries, who failed to reap +profit from this everlasting transition state of the affairs of the +kingdom. All boons from Peepi were entreated when the prodigal Zonoree +was lord of the ascendant. And audacious claims were urged upon the +state when the pusillanimous Blandoo shrank from the thought of +resisting them. + +Thus subject to contrary impulses, over which he had not the faintest +control, Peepi was plainly denuded of all moral obligation to virtue. He +was no more a free agent, than the heart which beat in his bosom. +Wherefore, his complaisant parliament had passed a law, recognizing that +curious, but alarming fact; solemnly proclaiming, that King Peepi was +minus a conscience. Agreeable to truth. But when they went further, and +vowed by statute, that Peepi could do no wrong, they assuredly did +violence to the truth; besides, making a sad blunder in their logic. For +far from possessing an absolute aversion to evil, by his very nature it +was the hardest thing in the world for Peepi to do right. + +Taking all these things into consideration, then, no wonder that this +wholly irresponsible young prince should be a lad of considerable +assurance, and the easiest manners imaginable. + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII How Teeth Were Regarded In Valapee + + +Coiling through the thickets, like the track of a serpent, wound along +the path we pursued. And ere long we came to a spacious grove, +embowering an oval arbor. Here, we reclined at our ease, and +refreshments were served. + +Little worthy of mention occurred, save this. Happening to catch a +glimpse of the white even teeth of Hohora one of our attendants, King +Peepi coolly begged of Media the favor, to have those same dentals drawn +on the spot, and presented to him. + +Now human teeth, extracted, are reckoned among the most valuable +ornaments in Mardi. So open wide thy strong box, Hohora, and show thy +treasures. What a gallant array! standing shoulder to shoulder, without +a hiatus between. A complete set of jewelry, indeed, thought Peepi. But, +it seems, not destined for him; Media leaving it to the present +proprietor, whether his dentals should change owners or not. + +And here, to prepare the way for certain things hereafter to be +narrated, something farther needs be said concerning the light in which +men's molars are regarded in Mardi. + +Strung together, they are sported for necklaces, or hung in drops from +the ear; they are wrought into dice; in lieu of silken locks, are +exchanged for love tokens. + +As in all lands, men smite their breasts, and tear their hair, when +transported with grief; so, in some countries, teeth are stricken out +under the sway of similar emotions. To a very great extent, this was +once practiced in the Hawaiian Islands, ere idol and altar went down. +Still living in Oahu, are many old chiefs, who were present at the +famous obsequies of their royal old generalissimo, Tammahammaha, when +there is no telling how many pounds of ivory were cast upon his grave. + +Ah! had the regal white elephants of Siam been there, doubtless they had +offered up their long, hooked tusks, whereon they impale the leopards, +their foes; and the unicorn had surrendered that fixed bayonet in his +forehead; and the imperial Cachalot-whale, the long chain of white +towers in his jaw; yea, over that grim warrior's grave, the mooses, and +elks, and stags, and fallow-deer had stacked their antlers, as soldiers +their arms on the field. + +Terrific shade of tattooed Tammahammaha! if, from a vile dragon's +molars, rose mailed men, what heroes shall spring from the cannibal +canines once pertaining to warriors themselves!--Am I the witch of +Endor, that I conjure up this ghost? Or, King Saul, that I so quake at +the sight? For, lo! roundabout me Tammahammaha's tattooing expands, till +all the sky seems a tiger's skin. But now, the spotted phantom sweeps +by; as a man-of-war's main-sail, cloud-like, blown far to leeward in a +gale. + +Banquo down, we return. + +In Valapee, prevails not the barbarous Hindoo custom of offering up +widows to the shades of their lords; for, bereaved, the widows there +marry again. Nor yet prevails the savage Hawaiian custom of offering up +teeth to the manes of the dead; for, at the decease of a friend, the +people rob not their own mouths to testify their woe. On the contrary, +they extract the teeth from the departed, distributing them among the +mourners for memorial legacies; as elsewhere, silver spoons are +bestowed. + +From the high value ascribed to dentals throughout the archipelago of +Mardi, and also from their convenient size, they are circulated as +money; strings of teeth being regarded by these people very much as +belts of wampum among the Winnebagoes of the North; or cowries, among +the Bengalese. So, that in Valapee the very beggars are born with a snug +investment in their mouths; too soon, however, to be appropriated by +their lords; leaving them toothless for the rest of their days, and +forcing them to diet on poee-pudding and banana blanc-mange. + +As a currency, teeth are far less clumsy than cocoanuts; which, among +certain remote barbarians, circulate for coin; one nut being equivalent, +perhaps, to a penny. The voyager who records the fact, chuckles over it +hugely; as evincing the simplicity of those heathens; not knowing that +he himself was the simpleton; since that currency of theirs was +purposely devised by the men, to check the extravagance of their women; +cocoanuts, for spending money, being such a burden to carry. + +It only remains to be added, that the most solemn oath of a native of +Valapee is that sworn by his tooth. "By this tooth," said Bondo to +Noojoomo, "by this tooth I swear to be avenged upon thee, oh Noojoomo!" + + + +CHAPTER LXIX The Company Discourse, And Braid-Beard Rehearses A Legend + + +Finding in Valapee no trace of her whom we sought, and but little +pleased with the cringing demeanor of the people, and the wayward +follies of Peepi their lord, we early withdrew from the isle. + +As we glided away, King Media issued a sociable decree. He declared it +his royal pleasure, that throughout the voyage, all stiffness and state +etiquette should be suspended: nothing must occur to mar the freedom of +the party. To further this charming plan, he doffed his symbols of +royalty, put off his crown, laid aside his scepter, and assured us that +he would not wear them again, except when we landed; and not invariably, +then. + +"Are we not all now friends and companions?" he said. "So companions and +friends let us be. I unbend my bow; do ye likewise." + +"But are we not to be dignified?" asked Babbalanja. + +"If dignity be free and natural, be as dignified as you please; but away +with rigidities." + +"Away they go," said Babbalanja; "and, my lord, now that you mind me of +it, I have often thought, that it is all folly and vanity for any man to +attempt a dignified carriage. Why, my lord,"--frankly crossing his legs +where he lay--"the king, who receives his ambassadors with a majestic +toss of the head, may have just recovered from the tooth-ache. That +thought should cant over the spine he bears so bravely." + +"Have a care, sir! there is a king within hearing." + +"Pardon, my lord; I was merely availing myself of the immunity bestowed +upon the company. Hereafter, permit a subject to rebel against your +sociable decrees. I will not be so frank any more." + +"Well put, Babbalanja; come nearer; here, cross your legs by mine; you +have risen a cubit in my regard. Vee-Vee, bring us that gourd of wine; +so, pass it round with the cups. Now, Yoomy, a song!" + +And a song was sung. + +And thus did we sail; pleasantly reclining on the mats stretched out +beneath the canopied howdah. + +At length, we drew nigh to a rock, called Pella, or The Theft. A high, +green crag, toppling over its base, and flinging a cavernous shadow upon +the lagoon beneath, bubbling with the moisture that dropped. + +Passing under this cliff was like finding yourself, as some sea-hunters +unexpectedly have, beneath the open, upper jaw of a whale; which, +descending, infallibly entombs you. But familiar with the rock, our +paddlers only threw back their heads, to catch the cool, pleasant +tricklings from the mosses above. + +Wiping away several glittering beads from his beard, old Mohi turning +round where he sat, just outside the canopy, solemnly affirmed, that the +drinking of that water had cured many a man of ambition. + +"How so, old man?" demanded Media. + +"Because of its passing through the ashes of ten kings, of yore buried +in a sepulcher, hewn in the heart of the rock." + +"Mighty kings, and famous, doubtless," said Babbalanja, "whose bones +were thought worthy of so noble and enduring as urn. Pray, Mohi, their +names and terrible deeds." + +"Alas! their sepulcher only remains." + +"And, no doubt, like many others, they made that sepul for themselves. +They sleep sound, my word for it, old man. But I very much question, if, +were the rock rent, any ashes would be found. Mohi, I deny that those +kings ever had any bones to bury." + +"Why, Babbalanja," said Media, "since you intimate that they never had +ghosts to give up, you ignore them in toto; denying the very fact of +their being even defunct." + +"Ten thousand pardons, my lord, no such discourtesy would I do the +anonymous memory of the illustrious dead. But whether they ever lived or +not, it is all the same with them now. Yet, grant that they lived; then, +if death be a deaf-and-dumb death, a triumphal procession over their +graves would concern them not. If a birth into brightness, then Mardi +must seem to them the most trivial of reminiscences. Or, perhaps, theirs +may be an utter lapse of memory concerning sublunary things; and they +themselves be not themselves, as the butterfly is not the larva." + +Said Yoomy, "Then, Babbalanja, you account that a fit illustration of +the miraculous change to be wrought in man after death?" + +"No; for the analogy has an unsatisfactory end. From its chrysalis +state, the silkworm but becomes a moth, that very quickly expires. Its +longest existence is as a worm. All vanity, vanity, Yoomy, to seek in +nature for positive warranty to these aspirations of ours. Through all +her provinces, nature seems to promise immortality to life, but +destruction to beings. Or, as old Bardianna has it, if not against us, +nature is not for us." + +Said Media, rising, "Babbalanja, you have indeed put aside the courtier; +talking of worms and caterpillars to me, a king and a demi-god! To +renown, for your theme: a more agreeable topic." + +"Pardon, once again, my lord. And since you will, let us discourse of +that subject. First, I lay it down for an indubitable maxim, that in +itself all posthumous renown, which is the only renown, is valueless. Be +not offended, my lord. To the nobly ambitious, renown hereafter may be +something to anticipate. But analyzed, that feverish typhoid feeling of +theirs may be nothing more than a flickering fancy, that now, while +living, they are recognized as those who will be as famous in their +shrouds, as in their girdles." + +Said Yoomy, "But those great and good deeds, Babbalanja, of which the +philosophers so often discourse: must it not be sweet to believe that +their memory will long survive us; and we ourselves in them?" + +"I speak now," said Babbalanja, "of the ravening for fame which even +appeased, like thirst slaked in the desert, yields no felicity, but only +relief; and which discriminates not in aught that will satisfy its +cravings. But let me resume. Not an hour ago, Braid-Beard was telling us +that story of prince Ottimo, who inodorous while living, expressed much +delight at the prospect of being perfumed and embalmed, when dead. But +was not Ottimo the most eccentric of mortals? For few men issue orders +for their shrouds, to inspect their quality beforehand. Far more anxious +are they about the texture of the sheets in which their living limbs +lie. And, my lord, with some rare exceptions, does not all Mardi, by its +actions, declare, that it is far better to be notorious now, than famous +hereafter?" + +"A base sentiment, my lord," said Yoomy. "Did not poor Bonja, the +unappreciated poet, console himself for the neglect of his +contemporaries, by inspiriting thoughts of the future?" + +"In plain words by bethinking him of the glorious harvest of bravos his +ghost would reap for him," said Babbalanja; "but Banjo,--Bonjo,--Binjo,--I never heard of him." + +"Nor I," said Mohi. + +"Nor I," said Media. + +"Poor fellow!" cried Babbalanja; "I fear me his harvest is not yet +ripe." + +"Alas!" cried Yoomy; "he died more than a century ago." + +"But now that you speak of unappreciated poets, Yoomy," said Babbalanja, +"Shall I give you a piece of my mind?" "Do," said Mohi, stroking his +beard. + +"He, who on all hands passes for a cypher to-day, if at all remembered +hereafter, will be sure to pass for the same. For there is more +likelihood of being overrated while living, than of being underrated +when dead. And to insure your fame, you must die." + +"A rather discouraging thought for your race. But answer: I assume that +King Media is but a mortal like you; now, how may I best perpetuate my +name?" + +Long pondered Babbalanja; then said, "Carve it, my lord, deep into a +ponderous stone, and sink it, face downward, into the sea; for the +unseen foundations of the deep are more enduring than the palpable tops +of the mountains." + +Sailing past Pella, we gained a view of its farther side; and seated in +a lofty cleft, beheld a lonely fisherman; solitary as a seal on an +iceberg; his motionless line in the water. + +"What recks he of the ten kings," said Babbalanja. + +"Mohi," said Media, "methinks there is another tradition concerning that +rock: let us have it." + +"In old times of genii and giants, there dwelt in barren lands, not very +remote from our outer reef, but since submerged, a band of evil-minded, +envious goblins, furlongs in stature, and with immeasurable arms; who +from time to time cast covetous glances upon our blooming isles. Long +they lusted; till at last, they waded through the sea, strode over the +reef, and seizing the nearest islet, rolled it over and over, toward an +adjoining outlet. + +"But the task was hard; and day-break surprised them in the midst of +their audacious thieving; while in the very act of giving the devoted +land another doughty surge and Somerset. Leaving it bottom upward and +midway poised, gardens under water, its foundations in air, they +precipitately fled; in their great haste, deserting a comrade, vainly +struggling to liberate his foot caught beneath the overturned land." + +"This poor fellow now raised such an outcry, as to awaken the god Upi, +or the Archer, stretched out on a long cloud in the East; who forthwith +resolved to make an example of the unwilling lingerer. Snatching his +bow, he let fly an arrow. But overshooting its mark, it pierced through +and through, the lofty promontory of a neighboring island; making an +arch in it, which remaineth even unto this day. A second arrow, however, +accomplished its errand: the slain giant sinking prone to the bottom." + +"And now," added Mohi, "glance over the gunwale, and you will see his +remains petrified into white ribs of coral." + +"Ay, there they are," said Yoomy, looking down into the water where they +gleamed. "A fanciful legend, Braid-beard." + +"Very entertaining," said Media. + +"Even so," said Babbalanja. "But perhaps we lost time in listening to +it; for though we know it, we are none the wiser." + +"Be not a cynic," said Media. "No pastime is lost time." + +Musing a moment, Babbalanja replied, "My lord, that maxim may be good as +it stands; but had you made six words of it, instead of six syllables, +you had uttered a better and a deeper." + + + +CHAPTER LXX The Minstrel Leads Off With A Paddle-Song; And A Message Is +Received From Abroad + + +From seaward now came a breeze so blithesome and fresh, that it made us +impatient of Babbalanja's philosophy, and Mohi's incredible legends. One +and all, we called upon the minstrel Yoomy to give us something in +unison with the spirited waves wide-foaming around us. + +"If my lord will permit, we will give Taji the Paddle-Chant of the +warriors of King Bello." + +"By all means," said Media. + +So the three canoes were brought side to side; their sails rolled up; +and paddles in hand, our paddlers seated themselves sideways on the +gunwales; Yoomy, as leader, occupying the place of the foremast, or Bow-Paddler of the royal barge. + +Whereupon the six rows of paddle-blades being uplifted, and every eye on +the minstrel, this song was sung, with actions corresponding; the canoes +at last shooting through the water, with a violent roll. + +(_All._) Thrice waved on high, Our paddles fly: Thrice round the head, +thrice dropt to feet: And then well timed, Of one stout mind, All fall, +and back the waters heap! + +(_Bow-Paddler._) Who lifts this chant? Who sounds this vaunt? + +(_All._) The wild sea song, to the billows' throng, Rising, falling, +Hoarsely calling, Now high, now low, as fast we go, Fast on our flying +foe! + +(_Bow-Paddler._) Who lifts this chant? Who sounds this vaunt? + +(_All._) Dip, dip, in the brine our paddles dip, Dip, dip, the fins of +our swimming ship! How the waters part, As on we dart; Our sharp prows +fly, And curl on high, As the upright fin of the rushing shark, Rushing +fast and far on his flying mark! Like him we prey; Like him we slay; +Swim on the fog, Our prow a blow! + +(_Bow-Paddler._) Who lifts this chant? Who sounds this vaunt? + +(_All._) Heap back; heap back; the waters back! Pile them high astern, +in billows black; Till we leave our wake, In the slope we make; And rush +and ride, On the torrent's tide! + +Here we were overtaken by a swift gliding canoe, which, bearing down +upon us before the wind, lowered its sail when close by: its occupants +signing our paddlers to desist. + +I started. + +The strangers were three hooded damsels the enigmatical Queen Hautia's +heralds. + +Their pursuit surprised and perplexed me. Nor was there wanting a vague +feeling of alarm to heighten these emotions. But perhaps I was mistaken, +and this time they meant not me. + +Seated in the prow, the foremost waved her Iris flag. Cried Yoomy, "Some +message! Taji, that Iris points to you." + +It was then, I first divined, that some meaning must have lurked in +those flowers they had twice brought me before. + +The second damsel now flung over to me Circe flowers; then, a faded +jonquil, buried in a tuft of wormwood leaves. + +The third sat in the shallop's stern, and as it glided from us, thrice +waved oleanders. + +"What dumb show is this?" cried Media. "But it looks like poetry: +minstrel, you should know." + +"Interpret then," said I. + +"Shall I, then, be your Flora's flute, and Hautia's dragoman? Held +aloft, the Iris signified a message. These purple-woven Circe flowers +mean that some spell is weaving. That golden, pining jonquil, which you +hold, buried in those wormwood leaves, says plainly to you--Bitter love +in absence." + +Said Media, "Well done, Taji, you have killed a queen." "Yet no Queen +Hautia have these eyes beheld." + +Said Babbalanja, "The thrice waved oleanders, Yoomy; what meant they?" + +"Beware--beware--beware." + +"Then that, at least, seems kindly meant," said Babbalanja; "Taji, +beware of Hautia." + + + +CHAPTER LXXI They Land Upon The Island Of Juam + + +Crossing the lagoon, our course now lay along the reef to Juam; a name +bestowed upon one of the largest islands hereabout; and also, +collectively, upon several wooded isles engulfing it, which together +were known as the dominions of one monarch. That monarch was Donjalolo. +Just turned of twenty-five, he was accounted not only the handsomest man +in his dominions, but throughout the lagoon. His comeliness, however, +was so feminine, that he was sometimes called "Fonoo," or the Girl. + +Our first view of Juam was imposing. A dark green pile of cliffs, +towering some one hundred toises; at top, presenting a range of steep, +gable-pointed projections; as if some Titanic hammer and chisel had +shaped the mass. + +Sailing nearer, we perceived an extraordinary rolling of the sea; which +bursting into the lagoon through an adjoining breach in the reef, surged +toward Juam in enormous billows. At last, dashing against the wall of +the cliff; they played there in unceasing fountains. But under the brow +of a beetling crag, the spray came and went unequally. There, the blue +billows seemed swallowed up, and lost. + +Right regally was Juam guarded. For, at this point, the rock was pierced +by a cave, into which the great waves chased each other like lions; +after a hollow, subterraneous roaring issuing forth with manes +disheveled. + +Cautiously evading the dangerous currents here ruffling the lagoon, we +rounded the wall of cliff; and shot upon a smooth expanse; on one side, +hemmed in by the long, verdent, northern shore of Juam; and across the +water, sentineled by its tributary islets. + +With sonorous Vee-Vee in the shark's mouth, we swept toward the beach, +tumultuous with a throng. + +Our canoes were secured. And surrounded by eager glances, we passed the +lower ends of several populous valleys; and crossing a wide, open +meadow, gradually ascending, came to a range of light-green bluffs. +Here, we wended our way down a narrow defile, almost cleaving this +quarter of the island to its base. Black crags frowned overhead: among +them the shouts of the Islanders reverberated. Yet steeper grew the +defile, and more overhanging the crags till at last, the keystone of the +arch seemed dropped into its place. We found ourselves in a subterranean +tunnel, dimly lighted by a span of white day at the end. + +Emerging, what a scene was revealed! All round, embracing a circuit of +some three leagues, stood heights inaccessible, here and there, forming +buttresses, sheltering deep recesses between. The bosom of the place was +vivid with verdure. + +Shining aslant into this wild hollow, the afternoon sun lighted up its +eastern side with tints of gold. But opposite, brooded a somber shadow, +double-shading the secret places between the salient spurs of the +mountains. Thus cut in twain by masses of day and night, it seemed as if +some Last Judgment had been enacted in the glen. + +No sooner did we emerge from the defile, than we became sensible of a +dull, jarring sound; and Yoomy was almost tempted to turn and flee, when +informed that the sea-cavern, whose mouth we had passed, was believed to +penetrate deep into the opposite hills; and that the surface of the +amphitheater was depressed beneath that of the lagoon. But all over the +lowermost hillsides, and sloping into the glen, stood grand old groves; +still and stately, as if no insolent waves were throbbing in the +mountain's heart. + +Such was Willamilla, the hereditary abode of the young monarch of Juam. + +Was Yillah immured in this strange retreat? But from those around us +naught could we learn. + +Our attention was now directed to the habitations of the glen; comprised +in two handsome villages; one to the west, the other to the east; both +stretching along the base of the cliffs. + +Said Media, "Had we arrived at Willamilla in the morning, we had found +Donjalolo and his court in the eastern village; but being afternoon, we +must travel farther, and seek him in his western retreat; for that is +now in the shade." + +Wending our way, Media added, that aside from his elevated station as a +monarch, Donjalolo was famed for many uncommon traits; but more +especially for certain peculiar deprivations, under which he labored. + +Whereupon Braid-Beard unrolled his old chronicles; and regaled us with +the history, which will be found in the following chapter. + + + +CHAPTER LXXII A Book From The Chronicles Of Mohi + + +Many ages ago, there reigned in Juam a king called Teei. This Teei's +succession to the sovereignty was long disputed by his brother Marjora; +who at last rallying round him an army, after many vicissitudes, +defeated the unfortunate monarch in a stout fight of clubs on the beach. + +In those days, Willamilla during a certain period of the year was a +place set apart for royal games and diversions; and was furnished with +suitable accommodations for king and court. From its peculiar position, +moreover, it was regarded as the last stronghold of the Juam monarchy: +in remote times having twice withstood the most desperate assaults from +without. And when Roonoonoo, a famous upstart, sought to subdue all the +isles in this part of the Archipelago, it was to Willamilla that the +banded kings had repaired to take counsel together; and while there +conferring, were surprised at the sudden onslaught of Roonoonoo in +person. But in the end, the rebel was captured, he and all his army, and +impaled on the tops of the hills. + +Now, defeated and fleeing for his life, Teei with his surviving +followers was driven across the plain toward the mountains. But to cut +him off from all escape to inland Willamilla, Marjora dispatched a fleet +band of warriors to occupy the entrance of the defile. Nevertheless, +Teei the pursued ran faster than his pursuers; first gained the spot; +and with his chiefs, fled swiftly down the gorge, closely hunted by +Marjora's men. But arriving at the further end, they in vain sought to +defend it. And after much desperate fighting, the main body of the foe +corning up with great slaughter the fugitives were driven into the glen. + +They ran to the opposite wall of cliff; where turning, they fought at +bay, blood for blood, and life for life, till at last, overwhelmed by +numbers, they were all put to the point of the spear. + +With fratricidal hate, singled out by the ferocious Marjora, Teei fell +by that brother's hand. When stripping from the body the regal girdle, +the victor wound it round his own loins; thus proclaiming himself king +over Juam. + +Long torn by this intestine war, the island acquiesced in the new +sovereignty. But at length a sacred oracle declared, that since the +conqueror had slain his brother in deep Willamilla, so that Teei never +more issued from that refuge of death; therefore, the same fate should +be Marjora's; for never, thenceforth, from that glen, should he go +forth; neither Marjora; nor any son of his girdled loins; nor his son's +sons; nor the uttermost scion of his race. + +But except this denunciation, naught was denounced against the usurper; +who, mindful of the tenure by which he reigned, ruled over the island +for many moons; at his death bequeathing the girdle to his son. + +In those days, the wildest superstitions concerning the interference of +the gods in things temporal, prevailed to a much greater extent than at +present. Hence Marjora himself, called sometimes in the traditions of +the island, The-Heart-of-Black-Coral, even unscrupulous Marjora had +quailed before the oracle. "He bowed his head," say the legends. Nor was +it then questioned, by his most devoted adherents, that had he dared to +act counter to that edict, he had dropped dead, the very instant he went +under the shadow of the defile. This persuasion also guided the conduct +of the son of Marjora, and that of his grandson. + +But there at last came to pass a change in the popular fancies +concerning this ancient anathema. The penalty denounced against the +posterity of the usurper should they issue from the glen, came to be +regarded as only applicable to an invested monarch, not to his +relatives, or heirs. + +A most favorable construction of the ban; for all those related to the +king, freely passed in and out of Willamilla. + +From the time of the usurpation, there had always been observed a +certain ceremony upon investing the heir to the sovereignty with the +girdle of Teei. Upon these occasions, the chief priests of the island +were present, acting an important part. For the space of as many days, +as there had reigned kings of Marjora's dynasty, the inner mouth of the +defile remained sealed; the new monarch placing the last stone in the +gap. This symbolized his relinquishment forever of all purpose of +passing out of the glen. And without this observance, was no king +girdled in Juam. + +It was likewise an invariable custom, for the heir to receive the regal +investiture immediately upon the decease of his sire. No delay was +permitted. And instantly upon being girdled, he proceeded to take part +in the ceremony of closing the cave; his predecessor yet remaining +uninterred on the purple mat where he died. + +In the history of the island, three instances were recorded; wherein, +upon the vacation of the sovereignty, the immediate heir had voluntarily +renounced all claim to the succession, rather than surrender the +privilege of roving, to which he had been entitled, as a prince of the +blood. + +Said Rani, one of these young princes, in reply to the remonstrances of +his friends, "What! shall I be a king, only to be a slave? Teei's girdle +would clasp my waist less tightly, than my soul would be banded by the +mountains of Willamilla. A subject, I am free. No slave in Juam but its +king; for all the tassels round his loins." + +To guard against a similar resolution in the mind of his only son, the +wise sire of Donjalolo, ardently desirous of perpetuating his dignities +in a child so well beloved, had from his earliest infancy, restrained +the boy from passing out of the glen, to contract in the free air of the +Archipelago, tastes and predilections fatal to the inheritance of the +girdle. + +But as he grew in years, so impatient became young Donjalolo of the king +his father's watchfulness over him, though hitherto a most dutiful son, +that at last he was prevailed upon by his youthful companions to appoint +a day, on which to go abroad, and visit Mardi. Hearing this +determination, the old king sought to vanquish it. But in vain. And +early on the morning of the day, that Donjalolo was to set out, he +swallowed poison, and died; in order to force his son into the instant +assumption of the honors thus suddenly inherited. + +The event, but not its dreadful circumstances, was communicated to the +prince; as with a gay party of young chiefs, he was about to enter the +mouth of the defile. + +"My sire dead!" cried Donjalolo. "So sudden, it seems a bolt from +Heaven." And bursting into exclamations of grief, he wept upon the bosom +of Talara his friend. + +But starting from his side:--"My fate converges to a point. If I but +cross that shadow, my kingdom is lost. One lifting of my foot, and the +girdle goes to my proud uncle Darfi, who would so joy to be my master. +Haughty Dwarf! Oh Oro! would that I had ere this passed thee, fatal +cavern; and seen for myself, what outer Mardi is. Say ye true, comrades, +that Willamilla is less lovely than the valleys without? that there is +bright light in the eyes of the maidens of Mina? and wisdom in the +hearts of the old priests of Maramma; that it is pleasant to tread the +green earth where you will; and breathe the free ocean air? Would, oh +would, that I were but the least of yonder sun-clouds, that look down +alike on Willamilla and all places besides, that I might determine +aright. Yet why do I pause? did not Rani, and Atama, and Mardonna, my +ancestors, each see for himself, free Mardi; and did they not fly the +proffered girdle; choosing rather to be free to come and go, than bury +themselves forever in this fatal glen? Oh Mardi! Mardi! art thou then so +fair to see? Is liberty a thing so glorious? Yet can I be no king, and +behold thee! Too late, too late, to view thy charms and then return. My +sire! my sire! thou hast wrung my heart with this agony of doubt. Tell +me, comrades,--for ye have seen it,--is Mardi sweeter to behold, than it +is royal to reign over Juam? Silent, are ye? Knowing what ye do, were ye +me, would ye be kings? Tell me, Talara.--No king: no king:--that were to +obey, and not command. And none hath Donjalolo ere obeyed but the king +his father. A king, and my voice may be heard in farthest Mardi, though +I abide in narrow Willamilla. My sire! my sire! Ye flying clouds, what +look ye down upon? Tell me, what ye see abroad? Methinks sweet spices +breathe from out the cave." + +"Hail, Donjalolo, King of Juam," now sounded with acclamations from the +groves. + +Starting, the young prince beheld a multitude approaching: warriors with +spears, and maidens with flowers; and Kubla, a priest, lifting on high +the tasseled girdle of Teei, and waving it toward him. + +The young chiefs fell back. Kubla, advancing, came close to the prince, +and unclasping the badge of royalty, exclaimed, "Donjalolo, this instant +it is king or subject with thee: wilt thou be girdled monarch?" + +Gazing one moment up the dark defile, then staring vacantly, Donjalolo +turned and met the eager gaze of Darfi. Stripping off his mantle, the +next instant he was a king. + +Loud shouted the multitude, and exulted; but after mutely assisting at +the closing of the cavern, the new-girdled monarch retired sadly to his +dwelling, and was not seen again for many days. + + + +CHAPTER LXXIII Something More Of The Prince + + +Previous to recording our stay in his dominions, it only remains to be +related of Donjalolo, that after assuming the girdle, a change came over +him. + +During the lifetime of his father, he had been famed for his temperance +and discretion. But when Mardi was forever shut out; and he remembered +the law of his isle, interdicting abdication to its kings; he gradually +fell into desperate courses, to drown the emotions at times distracting +him. + +His generous spirit thirsting after some energetic career, found itself +narrowed down within the little glen of Willamilla, where ardent +impulses seemed idle. But these are hard to die; and repulsed all round, +recoil upon themselves. + +So with Donjalolo; who, in many a riotous scene, wasted the powers which +might have compassed the noblest designs. + +Not many years had elapsed since the death of the king, his father. But +the still youthful prince was no longer the bright-eyed and elastic boy +who at the dawn of day had sallied out to behold the landscapes of the +neighboring isles. + +Not more effeminate Sardanapalus, than he. And, at intervals, he was the +victim of unaccountable vagaries; haunted by specters, and beckoned to +by the ghosts of his sires. + +At times, loathing his vicious pursuits, which brought him no solid +satisfaction, but ever filled him with final disgust, he would resolve +to amend his ways; solacing himself for his bitter captivity, by the +society of the wise and discreet. + +But brief the interval of repentance. Anew, he burst into excesses, a +hundred fold more insane than ever. + +Thus vacillating between virtue and vice; to neither constant, and +upbraided by both; his mind, like his person in the glen, was +continually passing and repassing between opposite extremes. + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV Advancing Deeper Into The Vale, They Encounter Donjalolo + + +From the mouth of the cavern, a broad shaded way over-arched by +fraternal trees embracing in mid-air, conducted us to a cross-path, on +either hand leading to the opposite cliffs, shading the twin villages +before mentioned. + +Level as a meadow, was the bosom of the glen. Here, nodding with green +orchards of the Bread-fruit and the Palm; there, flashing with golden +plantations of the Banana. Emerging from these, we came out upon a +grassy mead, skirting a projection of the mountain. And soon we crossed +a bridge of boughs, spanning a trench, thickly planted with roots of the +Tara, like alligators, or Hollanders, reveling in the soft alluvial. +Strolling on, the wild beauty of the mountains excited our attention. +The topmost crags poured over with vines; which, undulating in the air, +seemed leafy cascades; their sources the upland groves. + +Midway up the precipice, along a shelf of rock, sprouted the +multitudinous roots of an apparently trunkless tree. Shooting from under +the shallow soil, they spread all over the rocks below, covering them +with an intricate net-work. While far aloft, great boughs--each a copse--clambered to the very summit of the mountain; then bending over, struck +anew into the soil; forming along the verge an interminable colonnade; +all manner of antic architecture standing against the sky. + +According to Mohi, this tree was truly wonderful; its seed having been +dropped from the moon; where were plenty more similar forests, causing +the dark spots on its surface. + +Here and there, the cool fluid in the veins of the mountains gushed +forth in living springs; their waters received in green mossy tanks, +half buried in grasses. + +In one place, a considerable stream, bounding far out from a wooded +height, ere reaching the ground was dispersed in a wide misty shower, +falling so far from the base of the cliff; that walking close +underneath, you felt little moisture. Passing this fall of vapors, we +spied many Islanders taking a bath. + +But what is yonder swaying of the foliage? And what now issues forth, +like a habitation astir? Donjalolo drawing nigh to his guests. + +He came in a fair sedan; a bower, resting upon three long, parallel +poles, borne by thirty men, gayly attired; five at each pole-end. Decked +with dyed tappas, and looped with garlands of newly-plucked flowers, +from which, at every step, the fragrant petals were blown; with a +sumptuous, elastic motion the gay sedan came on; leaving behind it a +long, rosy wake of fluttering leaves and odors. + +Drawing near, it revealed a slender, enervate youth, of pallid beauty, +reclining upon a crimson mat, near the festooned arch of the bower. His +anointed head was resting against the bosom of a girl; another stirred +the air, with a fan of Pintado plumes. The pupils of his eyes were as +floating isles in the sea. In a soft low tone he murmured "Media!" + +The bearers paused; and Media advancing; the Island Kings bowed their +foreheads together. + +Through tubes ignited at the end, Donjaloln's reclining attendants now +blew an aromatic incense around him. These were composed of the +stimulating leaves of the "Aina," mixed with the long yellow blades of a +sweet-scented upland grass; forming a hollow stem. In general, the +agreeable fumes of the "Aina" were created by one's own inhalations; but +Donjalolo deeming the solace too dearly purchased by any exertion of the +royal lungs, regaled himself through those of his attendants, whose lips +were as moss-rose buds after a shower. + +In silence the young prince now eyed us attentively; meanwhile gently +waving his hand, to obtain a better view through the wreaths of vapor. +He was about to address us, when chancing to catch a glimpse of Samoa, +he suddenly started; averted his glance; and wildly commanded the +warrior out of sight. Upon this, his attendants would have soothed him; +and Media desired the Upoluan to withdraw. + +While we were yet lost in wonder at this scene, Donjalolo, with eyes +closed, fell back into the arms of his damsels. Recovering, he fetched a +deep sigh, and gazed vacantly around. + +It seems, that he had fancied Samoa the noon-day specter of his ancestor +Marjora; the usurper having been deprived of an arm in the battle which +gained him the girdle. Poor prince: this was one of those crazy +conceits, so puzzling to his subjects. + +Media now hastened to assure Donjalolo, that Samoa, though no cherub to +behold, was good flesh and blood, nevertheless. And soon the king +unconcernedly gazed; his monomania having departed as a dream. + +But still suffering from the effects of an overnight feast, he presently +murmured forth a desire to be left to his women; adding that his people +would not fail to provide for the entertainment of his guests. + +The curtains of the sedan were now drawn; and soon it disappeared in the +groves. Journeying on, ere long we arrived at the western side of the +glen; where one of the many little arbors scattered among the trees, was +assigned for our abode. Here, we reclined to an agreeable repast. After +which, we strolled forth to view the valley at large; more especially +the far-famed palaces of the prince. + + + +CHAPTER LXXV Time And Temples + + +In the oriental Pilgrimage of the pious old Purchas, and in the fine old +folio Voyages of Hakluyt, Thevenot, Ramusio, and De Bry, we read of many +glorious old Asiatic temples, very long in erecting. And veracious +Gaudentia di Lucca hath a wondrous narration of the time consumed in +rearing that mighty three-hundred-and-seventy-five-pillared Temple of +the Year, somewhere beyond Libya; whereof, the columns did signify days, +and all round fronted upon concentric zones of palaces, cross-cut by +twelve grand avenues symbolizing the signs of the zodiac, all radiating +from the sun-dome in their midst. And in that wild eastern tale of his, +Marco Polo tells us, how the Great Mogul began him a pleasure-palace on +so imperial a scale, that his grandson had much ado to complete it. + +But no matter for marveling all this: great towers take time to +construct. + +And so of all else. + +And that which long endures full-fledged, must have long lain in the +germ. And duration is not of the future, but of the past; and eternity +is eternal, because it has been, and though a strong new monument be +builded to-day, it only is lasting because its blocks are old as the +sun. It is not the Pyramids that are ancient, but the eternal granite +whereof they are made; which had been equally ancient though yet in the +quarry. For to make an eternity, we must build with eternities; whence, +the vanity of the cry for any thing alike durable and new; and the folly +of the reproach--Your granite hath come from the old-fashioned hills. +For we are not gods and creators; and the controversialists have +debated, whether indeed the All-Plastic Power itself can do more than +mold. In all the universe is but one original; and the very suns must to +their source for their fire; and we Prometheuses must to them for ours; +which, when had, only perpetual Vestal tending will keep alive. + +But let us back from fire to store. No fine firm fabric ever yet grew +like a gourd. Nero's House of Gold was not raised in a day; nor the +Mexican House of the Sun; nor the Alhambra; nor the Escurial; nor +Titus's Amphitheater; nor the Illinois Mounds; nor Diana's great columns +at Ephesus; nor Pompey's proud Pillar; nor the Parthenon; nor the Altar +of Belus; nor Stonehenge; nor Solomon's Temple; nor Tadmor's towers; nor +Susa's bastions; nor Persepolis' pediments. Round and round, the Moorish +turret at Seville was not wound heavenward in the revolution of a day; +and from its first founding, five hundred years did circle, ere +Strasbourg's great spire lifted its five hundred feet into the air. No: +nor were the great grottos of Elephanta hewn out in an hour; nor did the +Troglodytes dig Kentucky's Mammoth Cave in a sun; nor that of +Trophonius, nor Antiparos; nor the Giant's Causeway. Nor were the +subterranean arched sewers of Etruria channeled in a trice; nor the airy +arched aqueducts of Nerva thrown over their values in the ides of a +month. Nor was Virginia's Natural Bridge worn under in a year; nor, in +geology, were the eternal Grampians upheaved in an age. And who shall +count the cycles that revolved ere earth's interior sedimentary strata +were crystalized into stone. Nor Peak of Piko, nor Teneriffe, were +chiseled into obelisks in a decade; nor had Mount Athos been turned into +Alexander's statue so soon. And the bower of Artaxerxes took a whole +Persian summer to grow; and the Czar's Ice Palace a long Muscovite +winter to congal. No, no: nor was the Pyramid of Cheops masoned in a +month; though, once built, the sands left by the deluge might not have +submerged such a pile. Nor were the broad boughs of Charles' Oak grown +in a spring; though they outlived the royal dynasties of Tudor and +Stuart. Nor were the parts of the great Iliad put together in haste; +though old Homer's temple shall lift up its dome, when St. Peter's is a +legend. Even man himself lives months ere his Maker deems him fit to be +born; and ere his proud shaft gains its full stature, twenty-one long +Julian years must elapse. And his whole mortal life brings not his +immortal soul to maturity; nor will all eternity perfect him. Yea, with +uttermost reverence, as to human understanding, increase of dominion +seems increase of power; and day by day new planets are being added to +elder-born Saturn, even as six thousand years ago our own Earth made one +more in this system; so, in incident, not in essence, may the Infinite +himself be not less than more infinite now, than when old Aldebaran +rolled forth from his hand. And if time was, when this round Earth, +which to innumerable mortals has seemed an empire never to be wholly +explored; which, in its seas, concealed all the Indies over four +thousand five hundred years; if time was, when this great quarry of +Assyrias and Romes was not extant; then, time may have been, when the +whole material universe lived its Dark Ages; yea, when the Ineffable +Silence, proceeding from its unimaginable remoteness, espied it as an +isle in the sea. And herein is no derogation. For the Immeasurable's +altitude is not heightened by the arches of Mahomet's heavens; and were +all space a vacuum, yet would it be a fullness; for to Himself His own +universe is He. + +Thus deeper and deeper into Time's endless tunnel, does the winged soul, +like a night-hawk, wend her wild way; and finds eternities before and +behind; and her last limit is her everlasting beginning. + +But sent over the broad flooded sphere, even Noah's dove came back, and +perched on his hand. So comes back my spirit to me, and folds up her +wings. + +Thus, then, though Time be the mightiest of Alarics, yet is he the +mightiest mason of all. And a tutor, and a counselor, and a physician, +and a scribe, and a poet, and a sage, and a king. + +Yea, and a gardener, as ere long will be shown. + +But first must we return to the glen. + + + +CHAPTER LXXVI A Pleasant Place For A Lounge + + +Whether the hard condition of their kingly state, very naturally +demanding some luxurious requital, prevailed upon the monarchs of Juam +to house themselves so delightfully as they did; whether buried alive in +their glen, they sought to center therein a secret world of enjoyment; +however it may have been, throughout the Archipelago this saying was a +proverb--"You are lodged like the king in Willamilla." Hereby was +expressed the utmost sumptuousness of a palace. + +A well warranted saying; for of all the bright places, where my soul +loves to linger, the haunts of Donjalolo are most delicious. + +In the eastern quarter of the glen was the House of the Morning. This +fanciful palace was raised upon a natural mound, many rods square, +almost completely filling up a deep recess between deep-green and +projecting cliffs, overlooking many abodes distributed in the shadows of +the groves beyond. + +Now, if it indeed be, that from the time employed in its construction, +any just notion may be formed of the stateliness of an edifice, it must +needs be determined, that this retreat of Donjalolo could not be +otherwise than imposing. + +Full five hundred moons was the palace in completing; for by some +architectural arborist, its quadrangular foundations had been laid in +seed-cocoanuts, requiring that period to sprout up into pillars. In +front, these were horizontally connected, by elaborately carved beams, +of a scarlet hue, inserted into the vital wood; which, swelling out, and +over lapping, firmly secured them. The beams supported the rafters, +inclining from the rear; while over the aromatic grasses covering the +roof, waved the tufted tops of the Palms, green capitals to their dusky +shafts. + +Through and through this vibrating verdure, bright birds flitted and +sang; the scented and variegated thatch seemed a hanging-garden; and +between it and the Palm tops, was leaf-hung an arbor in the air. + +Without these columns, stood a second and third colonnade, forming the +most beautiful bowers; advancing through which, you fancied that the +palace beyond must be chambered in a fountain, or frozen in a crystal. +Three sparkling rivulets flowing from the heights were led across its +summit, through great trunks half buried in the thatch; and emptying +into a sculptured channel, running along the eaves, poured over in one +wide sheet, plaited and transparent. Received into a basin beneath, they +were thence conducted down the vale. + +The sides of the palace were hedged by Diomi bushes bearing a flower, +from its perfume, called Lenora, or Sweet Breath; and within these +odorous hedges, were heavy piles of mats, richly dyed and embroidered. + +Here lounging of a glowing noon, the plaited cascade playing, the +verdure waving, and the birds melodious, it was hard to say, whether you +were an inmate of a garden in the glen, or a grotto in the sea. + +But enough for the nonce, of the House of the Morning. Cross we the +hollow, to the House of the Afternoon. + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII The House Of The Afternoon + + +For the most part, the House of the Afternoon was but a wing built +against a mansion wrought by the hand of Nature herself; a grotto +running into the side of the mountain. From high over the mouth of this +grotto, sloped a long arbor, supported by great blocks of stone, rudely +chiseled into the likeness of idols, each bearing a carved lizard on its +chest: a sergeant's guard of the gods condescendingly doing duty as +posts. + +From the grotto thus vestibuled, issued hilariously forth the most +considerable stream of the glen; which, seemingly overjoyed to find +daylight in Willamilla, sprang into the arbor with a cheery, white +bound. But its youthful enthusiasm was soon repressed; its waters being +caught in a large stone basin, scooped out of the natural rock; whence, +staid and decorous, they traversed sundry moats; at last meandering +away, to join floods with the streams trained to do service at the other +end of the vale. + +Truant streams: the livelong day wending their loitering path to the +subterraneous outlet, flowing into which, they disappeared. But no +wonder they loitered; passing such ravishing landscapes. Thus with life: +man bounds out of night; runs and babbles in the sun; then returns to +his darkness again; though, peradventure, once more to emerge. + +But the grotto was not a mere outlet to the stream. Flowing through a +dark flume in the rock, on both sides it left a dry, elevated shelf, to +which you ascend from the arbor by three artificially-wrought steps, +sideways disposed, to avoid the spray of the rejoicing cataract. +Mounting these, and pursuing the edge of the flume, the grotto gradually +expands and heightens; your way lighted by rays in the inner distance. +At last you come to a lofty subterraneous dome, lit from above by a +cleft in the mountain; while full before you, in the opposite wall, from +a low, black arch, midway up, and inaccessible, the stream, with a +hollow ring and a dash, falls in a long, snowy column into a bottomless +pool, whence, after many an eddy and whirl, it entered the flume, and +away with a rush. Half hidden from view by an overhanging brow of the +rock, the white fall looked like the sheeted ghost of the grotto. + +Yet gallantly bedecked was the cave, as any old armorial hall hung round +with banners and arras. Streaming from the cleft, vines swung in the +air; or crawled along the rocks, wherever a tendril could be fixed. High +up, their leaves were green; but lower down, they were shriveled; and +dyed of many colors; and tattered and torn with much rustling; as old +banners again; sore raveled with much triumphing. + +In the middle of this hall in the hill was incarcerated the stone image +of one Demi, the tutelar deity of Willamina. All green and oozy like a +stone under water, poor Demi looked as if sore harassed with sciatics +and lumbagos. + +But he was cheered from aloft, by the promise of receiving a garland all +blooming on his crown; the Dryads sporting in the woodlands above, +forever peeping down the cleft, and essaying to drop him a coronal. + +Now, the still, panting glen of Willamilla, nested so close by the +mountains, and a goodly green mark for the archer in the sun, would have +been almost untenable were it not for the grotto. Hereby, it breathed +the blessed breezes of Omi; a mountain promontory buttressing the island +to the east, receiving the cool stream of the upland Trades; much +pleasanter than the currents beneath. + +At all times, even in the brooding noon-day, a gush of cool air came +hand-in-hand with the cool waters, that burst with a shout into the +palace of Donjalolo. And as, after first refreshing the king, as in +loyalty bound, the stream flowed at large through the glen, and bathed +its verdure; so, the blessed breezes of Omi, not only made pleasant the +House of the Afternoon; but finding ample outlet in its wide, open +front, blew forth upon the bosom of all Willamilla. + +"Come let us take the air of Omi," was a very common saying in the glen. +And the speaker would hie with his comrade toward the grotto; and +flinging himself on the turf, pass his hand through his locks, and +recline; making a joy and a business of breathing; for truly the breezes +of Omi were as air-wine to the lungs. + +Yet was not this breeze over-cool; though at times the zephyrs grew +boisterous. Especially at the season of high sea, when the strong Trades +drawn down the cleft in the mountain, rushed forth from the grotto with +wonderful force. Crossing it then, you had much ado to keep your robe on +your back. + +Thus much for the House of the Afternoon. Whither--after spending the +shady morning under the eastern cliffs of the glen--daily, at a certain +hour, Donjalolo in his palanquin was borne; there, finding new shades; +and there tarrying till evening; when again he was transported whence he +came: thereby anticipating the revolution of the sun. Thus dodging day's +luminary through life, the prince hied to and fro in his dominions; on +his smooth, spotless brow Sol's rays never shining. + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII Babbalanja Solus + + +Of the House of the Afternoon something yet remains to be said. + +It was chiefly distinguished by its pavement, where, according to the +strange customs of the isle, were inlaid the reputed skeletons of +Donjalolo's sires; each surrounded by a mosaic of corals,--red, white, +and black, intermixed with vitreous stones fallen from the skies in a +meteoric shower. These delineated the tattooing of the departed. Near +by, were imbedded their arms: mace, bow, and spear, in similar +marquetry; and over each skull was the likeness of a scepter. + +First and conspicuous lay the half-decayed remains of Marjora, the +father of these Coral Kings; by his side, the storied, sickle-shaped +weapon, wherewith he slew his brother Teei. + +"Line of kings and row of scepters," said Babbalanja as he gazed. +"Donjalolo, come forth and ponder on thy sires. Here they lie, from +dread Marjora down to him who fathered thee. Here are their bones, their +spears, and their javelins; their scepters, and the very fashion of +their tattooing: all that can be got together of what they were. Tell +me, oh king, what are thy thoughts? Dotest thou on these thy sires? Art +thou more truly royal, that they were kings? Or more a man, that they +were men? Is it a fable, or a verity about Marjora and the murdered +Teei? But here is the mighty conqueror,--ask him. Speak to him: son to +sire: king to king. Prick him; beg; buffet; entreat; spurn; split the +globe, he will not budge. Walk over and over thy whole ancestral line, +and they will not start. They are not here. Ay, the dead are not to be +found, even in their graves. Nor have they simply departed; for they +willed not to go; they died not by choice; whithersoever they have gone, +thither have they been dragged; and if so be, they are extinct, their +nihilities went not more against their grain, than their forced quitting +of Mardi. Either way, something has become of them that they sought not. +Truly, had stout-hearted Marjora sworn to live here in Willamilla for +ay, and kept the vow, _that_ would have been royalty indeed; but here he +lies. Marjora! rise! Juam revolteth! Lo, I stamp upon thy scepter; base +menials tread upon thee where thou hest! Up, king, up! What? no reply? +Are not these bones thine? Oh, how the living triumph over the dead! +Marjora! answer. Art thou? or art thou not? I see thee not; I hear thee +not; I feel thee not; eyes, ears, hands, are worthless to test thy +being; and if thou art, thou art something beyond all human thought to +compass. We must have other faculties to know thee by. Why, thou art not +even a sightless sound; not the echo of an echo; here are thy bones. +Donjalolo, methinks I see thee fallen upon by assassins:--which of thy +fathers riseth to the rescue? I see thee dying:--which of them telleth +thee what cheer beyond the grave? But they have gone to the land +unknown. Meet phrase. Where is it? Not one of Oro's priests telleth a +straight story concerning it; 'twill be hard finding their paradises. +Touching the life of Alma, in Mohi's chronicles, 'tis related, that a +man was once raised from the tomb. But rubbed he not his eyes, and +stared he not most vacantly? Not one revelation did he make. Ye gods! to +have been a bystander there! + +"At best, 'tis but a hope. But will a longing bring the thing desired? +Doth dread avert its object? An instinct is no preservative. The fire I +shrink from, may consume me.--But dead, and yet alive; alive, yet dead;--thus say the sages of Maramma. But die we then living? Yet if our dead +fathers somewhere and somehow live, why not our unborn sons? For +backward or forward, eternity is the same; already have we been the +nothing we dread to be. Icy thought! But bring it home,--it will not +stay. What ho, hot heart of mine: to beat thus lustily awhile, to feel +in the red rushing blood, and then be ashes,--can this be so? But peace, +peace, thou liar in me, telling me I am immortal--shall I not be as +these bones? To come to this! But the balsam-dropping palms, whose boles +run milk, whose plumes wave boastful in the air, they perish in their +prime, and bow their blasted trunks. Nothing abideth; the river of +yesterday floweth not to-day; the sun's rising is a setting; living is +dying; the very mountains melt; and all revolve:--systems and asteroids; +the sun wheels through the zodiac, and the zodiac is a revolution. Ah +gods! in all this universal stir, am _I_ to prove one stable thing? + +"Grim chiefs in skeletons, avaunt! Ye are but dust; belike the dust of +beggars; for on this bed, paupers may lie down with kings, and filch +their skulls. _This_, great Marjora's arm? No, some old paralytic's. +_Ye_, kings? _ye_, men? Where are your vouchers? I do reject your +brother-hood, ye libelous remains. But no, no; despise them not, oh +Babbalanja! Thy own skeleton, thou thyself dost carry with thee, through +this mortal life; and aye would view it, but for kind nature's screen; +thou art death alive; and e'en to what's before thee wilt thou come. Ay, +thy children's children will walk over thee: thou, voiceless as a calm." + +And over the Coral Kings, Babbalanja paced in profound meditation. + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX The Center Of Many Circumferences + + +Like Donjalolo himself, we hie to and fro; for back now must we pace to +the House of the Morning. + +In its rear, there diverged three separate arbors, leading to less +public apartments. + +Traversing the central arbor, and fancying it will soon lead you to open +ground, you suddenly come upon the most private retreat of the prince: a +square structure; plain as a pyramid; and without, as inscrutable. Down +to the very ground, its walls are thatched; but on the farther side a +passage-way opens, which you enter. But not yet are you within. Scarce a +yard distant, stands an inner thatched wall, blank as the first. Passing +along the intervening corridor, lighted by narrow apertures, you reach +the opposite side, and a second opening is revealed. This entering, +another corridor; lighted as the first, but more dim, and a third blank +wall. And thus, three times three, you worm round and round, the +twilight lessening as you proceed; until at last, you enter the citadel +itself: the innermost arbor of a nest; whereof, each has its roof, +distinct from the rest. + +The heart of the place is but small; illuminated by a range of open sky-lights, downward contracting. + +Innumerable as the leaves of an endless folio, multitudinous mats cover +the floor; whereon reclining by night, like Pharaoh on the top of his +patrimonial pile, the inmate looks heavenward, and heavenward only; +gazing at the torchlight processions in the skies, when, in state, the +suns march to be crowned. + +And here, in this impenetrable retreat, centrally slumbered the +universe-rounded, zodiac-belted, horizon-zoned, sea-girt, reef-sashed, +mountain-locked, arbor-nested, royalty-girdled, arm-clasped, self-hugged, indivisible Donjalolo, absolute monarch of Juam:--the husk-inhusked meat in a nut; the innermost spark in a ruby; the juice-nested +seed in a goldenrinded orange; the red royal stone in an effeminate +peach; the insphered sphere of spheres. + + + +CHAPTER LXXX Donjalolo In The Bosom Of His Family + + +To pretend to relate the manner in which Juam's ruler passed his captive +days, without making suitable mention of his harem, would be to paint +one's full-length likeness and omit the face. For it was his harem that +did much to stamp the character of Donjalolo. + +And had he possessed but a single spouse, most discourteous, surely, to +have overlooked the princess; much more, then, as it is; and by how-much +the more, a plurality exceeds a unit. + +Exclusive of the female attendants, by day waiting upon the person of +the king, he had wives thirty in number, corresponding in name to the +nights of the moon. For, in Juam, time is not reckoned by days, but by +nights; each night of the lunar month having its own designation; which, +relatively only, is extended to the day. + +In uniform succession, the thirty wives ruled queen of the king's heart. +An arrangement most wise and judicious; precluding much of that jealousy +and confusion prevalent in ill-regulated seraglios. For as thirty +spouses must be either more desirable, or less desirable than one; so is +a harem thirty times more difficult to manage than an establishment with +one solitary mistress. But Donjalolo's wives were so nicely drilled, +that for the most part, things went on very smoothly. Nor were his brows +much furrowed with wrinkles referable to domestic cares and +tribulations. Although, as in due time will be seen, from these he was +not altogether exempt. + +Now, according to Braid-Beard, who, among other abstruse political +researches, had accurately informed himself concerning the internal +administration of Donjalolo's harem, the following was the method +pursued therein. + +On the Aquella, or First Night of the month, the queen of that name +assumes her diadem, and reigns. So too with Azzolino the Second, and +Velluvi the Third Night of the Moon; and so on, even unto the utter +eclipse thereof; through Calends, Nones, and Ides. + +For convenience, the king is furnished with a card, whereon are copied +the various ciphers upon the arms of his queens; and parallel thereto, +the hieroglyphics significant of the corresponding Nights of the month. +Glancing over this, Donjalolo predicts the true time of the rising and +setting of all his stars. + +This Moon of wives was lodged in two spacious seraglios, which few +mortals beheld. For, so deeply were they buried in a grove; so +overpowered with verdure; so overrun with vines; and so hazy with the +incense of flowers; that they were almost invisible, unless closely +approached. Certain it was, that it demanded no small enterprise, +diligence, and sagacity, to explore the mysterious wood in search of +them. Though a strange, sweet, humming sound, as of the clustering and +swarming of warm bees among roses, at last hinted the royal honey at +hand. High in air, toward the summit of the cliff, overlooking this side +of the glen, a narrow ledge of rocks might have been seen, from which, +rumor whispered, was to be caught an angular peep at the tip of the apex +of the roof of the nearest seraglio. But this wild report had never been +established. Nor, indeed, was it susceptible of a test. For was not that +rock inaccessible as the eyrie of young eagles? But to guard against the +possibility of any visual profanation, Donjalolo had authorized an +edict, forever tabooing that rock to foot of man or pinion of fowl. +Birds and bipeds both trembled and obeyed; taking a wide circuit to +avoid the spot. + +Access to the seraglios was had by corresponding arbors leading from the +palace. The seraglio to the right was denominated "Ravi" (Before), that +to the left "Zono" (After). The meaning of which was, that upon the +termination of her reign the queen wended her way to the Zono; there +tarrying with her predecessors till the Ravi was emptied; when the +entire Moon of wives, swallow-like, migrated back whence they came; and +the procession was gone over again. + +In due order, the queens reposed upon mats inwoven with their respective +ciphers. In the Ravi, the mat of the queen-apparent, or next in +succession, was spread by the portal. In the Zono, the newly-widowed +queen reposed furthest from it. + +But alas for all method where thirty wives are concerned. +Notwithstanding these excellent arrangements, the mature result of ages +of progressive improvement in the economy of the royal seraglios in +Willamilla, it must needs be related, that at times the order of +precedence became confused, and was very hard to restore. + +At intervals, some one of the wives was weeded out, to the no small +delight of the remainder; but to their equal vexation her place would +soon after be supplied by some beautiful stranger; who assuming the +denomination of the vacated Night of the Moon, thenceforth commenced her +monthly revolutions in the king's infallible calendar. + +In constant attendance, was a band of old men; woe-begone, thin of leg, +and puny of frame; whose grateful task it was, to tarry in the garden of +Donjalolo's delights, without ever touching the roses. Along with +innumerable other duties, they were perpetually kept coming and going +upon ten thousand errands; for they had it in strict charge to obey the +slightest behests of the damsels; and with all imaginable expedition to +run, fly, swim, or dissolve into impalpable air, at the shortest +possible notice. + +So laborious their avocations, that none could discharge them for more +than a twelvemonth, at the end of that period giving up the ghost out of +pure exhaustion of the locomotive apparatus. It was this constant drain +upon the stock of masculine old age in the glen, that so bethinned its +small population of gray-beards and hoary-heads. And any old man +hitherto exempted, who happened to receive a summons to repair to the +palace, and there wait the pleasure of the king: this unfortunate, at +once suspecting his doom, put his arbor in order; oiled and suppled his +joints; took a long farewell of his friends; selected his burial-place; +and going resigned to his fate, in due time expired like the rest. + +Had any one of them cast about for some alleviating circumstance, he +might possibly have derived some little consolation from the thought, +that though a slave to the whims of thirty princesses, he was +nevertheless one of their guardians, and as such, he might ingeniously +have concluded, their superior. But small consolation this. For the +damsels were as blithe as larks, more playful than kittens; never +looking sad and sentimental, projecting clandestine escapes. But +supplied with the thirtieth part of all that Aspasia could desire; +glorying in being the spouses of a king; nor in the remotest degree +anxious about eventual dowers; they were care-free, content, and +rejoicing, as the rays of the morning. + +Poor old men, then; it would be hard to distill out of your fate, one +drop of the balm of consolation. For, commissioned to watch over those +who forever kept you on the trot, affording you no time to hunt up +peccadilloes; was not this circumstance an aggravation of hard times? a +sharpening and edge-giving to the steel in your souls? + +But much yet remains unsaid. + +To dwell no more upon the eternal wear-and-tear incident to these +attenuated old warders, they were intensely hated by the damsels. +Inasmuch, as it was archly opined, for what ulterior purposes they were +retained. + +Nightly couching, on guard, round the seraglio, like fangless old bronze +dragons round a fountain enchanted, the old men ever and anon cried out +mightily, by reason of sore pinches and scratches received in the dark: +And tri-trebly-tri-triply girt about as he was, Donjalolo himself +started from his slumbers, raced round and round through his ten +thousand corridors; at last bursting all dizzy among his twenty-nine +queens, to see what under the seventh-heavens was the matter. When, lo +and behold! there lay the innocents all sound asleep; the dragons +moaning over their mysterious bruises. + +Ah me! his harem, like all large families, was the delight and the +torment of the days and nights of Donjalolo. + +And in one special matter was he either eminently miserable, or +otherwise: for all his multiplicity of wives, he had never an heir. Not +his, the proud paternal glance of the Grand Turk Solyman, looking round +upon a hundred sons, all bone of his bone, and squinting with his +squint. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXI Wherein Babbalanja Relates The Adventure Of One Karkeke In +The Land Of Shades + + +At our morning repast on the second day of our stay in the hollow, our +party indulged in much lively discourse. + +"Samoa," said I, "those isles of yours, of whose beauty you so often +make vauntful mention, can those isles, good Samoa, furnish a valley in +all respects equal to Willamilla?" + +Disdainful answer was made, that Willamilla might be endurable enough +for a sojourn, but as a permanent abode, any glen of his own natal isle +was unspeakably superior. + +"In the great valley of Savaii," cried Samoa, "for every leaf grown here +in Willamilla, grows a stately tree; and for every tree here waving, in +Savaii flourishes a goodly warrior." + +Immeasurable was the disgust of the Upoluan for the enervated subjects +of Donjalolo; and for Donjalolo himself; though it was shrewdly divined, +that his annoying reception at the hands of the royalty of Juam, had +something to do with his disdain. + +To Jarl, no similar question was put; for he was sadly deficient in a +taste for the picturesque. But he cursorily observed, that in his blue-water opinion, Willamilla was next to uninhabitable, all view of the sea +being intercepted. + +And here it may be well to relate a comical blunder on the part of +honest Jarl; concerning which, Samoa, the savage, often afterward +twitted him; as indicating a rusticity, and want of polish in his +breeding. It rather originated, however, in his not heeding the +conventionalities of the strange people among whom he was thrown. + +The anecdote is not an epic; but here it is. + +Reclining in our arbor, we breakfasted upon a marble slab; so frost-white, and flowingly traced with blue veins, that it seemed a little +lake sheeted over with ice: Diana's virgin bosom congaled. + +Before each guest was a richly carved bowl and gourd, fruit and wine +freighted also the empty hemisphere of a small nut, the purpose of which +was a problem. Now, King Jarl scorned to admit the slightest degree of +under-breeding in the matter of polite feeding. So nothing was a problem +to him. At once reminded of the morsel of Arvaroot in his mouth, a +substitute for another sort of sedative then unattainable, he was +instantly illuminated concerning the purpose of the nut; and very +complacently introduced each to the other; in the innocence of his +ignorance making no doubt that he had acquitted himself with discretion; +the little hemisphere plainly being intended as a place of temporary +deposit for the Arva of the guests. + +The company were astounded: Samoa more than all. King Jarl, meanwhile, +looking at all present with the utmost serenity. At length, one of the +horrified attendants, using two sticks for a forceps, disappeared with +the obnoxious nut, Upon which, the meal proceeded. + +This attendant was not seen again for many days; which gave rise to the +supposition, that journeying to the sea-side, he had embarked for some +distant strand; there, to bury out of sight the abomination with which +he was freighted. + +Upon this, his egregious misadventure, calculated to do discredit to our +party, and bring Media himself into contempt, Babbalanja had no scruples +in taking Jarl roundly to task. He assured him, that it argued but +little brains to evince a desire to be thought familiar with all things; +that however desirable as incidental attainments, conventionalities, in +themselves, were the very least of arbitrary trifles; the knowledge of +them, innate with no man. "Moreover Jarl," he added, "in essence, +conventionalities are but mimickings, at which monkeys succeed best. +Hence, when you find yourself at a loss in these matters, wait +patiently, and mark what the other monkeys do: and then follow suit. And +by so doing, you will gain a vast reputation as an accomplished ape. +Above all things, follow not the silly example of the young spark +Karkeke, of whom Mohi was telling me. Dying, and entering the other +world with a mincing gait, and there finding certain customs quite +strange and new; such as friendly shades passing through each other by +way of a salutation;--Karkeke, nevertheless, resolved to show no sign of +embarrassment. Accosted by a phantom, with wings folded pensively, +plumes interlocked across its chest, he off head; and stood obsequiously +before it. Staring at him for an instant, the spirit cut him dead; +murmuring to itself, 'Ah, some terrestrial bumpkin, I fancy,' and passed +on with its celestial nose in the highly rarified air. But silly Karkeke +undertaking to replace his head, found that it would no more stay on; +but forever tumbled off; even in the act of nodding a salute; which +calamity kept putting him out of countenance. And thus through all +eternity is he punished for his folly, in having pretended to be wise, +wherein he was ignorant. Head under arm, he wanders about, the scorn and +ridicule of the other world." + +Our repast concluded, messengers arrived from the prince, courteously +inviting our presence at the House of the Morning. Thither we went; +journeying in sedans, sent across the hollow, for that purpose, by +Donjalolo. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXII How Donjalolo, Sent Agents To The Surrounding Isles; With +The Result + + +Ere recounting what was beheld on entering the House of the Morning, +some previous information is needful. Though so many of Donjalolo's days +were consumed by sloth and luxury, there came to him certain intervals +of thoughtfulness, when all his curiosity concerning the things of outer +Mardi revived with augmented intensity. In these moods, he would send +abroad deputations, inviting to Willamilla the kings of the neighboring +islands; together with the most celebrated priests, bards, story-tellers, magicians, and wise men; that he might hear them converse of +those things, which he could not behold for himself. + +But at last, he bethought him, that the various narrations he had heard, +could not have been otherwise than unavoidably faulty; by reason that +they had been principally obtained from the inhabitants of the countries +described; who, very naturally, must have been inclined to partiality or +uncandidness in their statements. Wherefore he had very lately +dispatched to the isles special agents of his own; honest of heart, keen +of eye, and shrewd of understanding; to seek out every thing that +promised to illuminate him concerning the places they visited, and also +to collect various specimens of interesting objects; so that at last he +might avail himself of the researches of others, and see with their +eyes. + +But though two observers were sent to every one of the neighboring +lands; yet each was to act independently; make his own inquiries; form +his own conclusions; and return with his own specimens; wholly +regardless of the proceedings of the other. + +It so came to pass, that on the very day of our arrival in the glen, +these pilgrims returned from their travels. And Donjalolo had set apart +the following morning to giving them a grand public reception. And it +was to this, that our party had been invited, as related in the chapter +preceding. + +In the great Palm-hall of the House of the Morning, we were assigned +distinguished mats, to the right of the prince; his chiefs, attendants, +and subjects assembled in the open colonnades without. + +When all was in readiness, in marched the company of savans and +travelers; and humbly standing in a semi-circle before the king, their +numerous hampers were deposited at their feet. + +Donjalolo was now in high spirits, thinking of the rich store of +reliable information about to be furnished. + +"Zuma," said he, addressing the foremost of the company, "you and +Varnopi were directed to explore the island of Rafona. Proceed now, and +relate all you know of that place. Your narration heard, we will list to +Varnopi." + +With a profound inclination the traveler obeyed. + +But soon Donjalolo interrupted him. "What say you, Zuma, about the +secret cavern, and the treasures therein? A very different account, +this, from all I have heard hitherto; but perhaps yours is the true +version. Go on." + +But very soon, poor Zuma was again interrupted by exclamations of +surprise. Nay, even to the very end of his mountings. + +But when he had done, Donjalolo observed, that if from any cause Zuma +was in error or obscure, Varnopi would not fail to set him right. + +So Varnopi was called upon. + +But not long had Varnopi proceeded, when Donjalolo changed color. + +"What!" he exclaimed, "will ye contradict each other before our very +face. Oh Oro! how hard is truth to be come at by proxy! Fifty accounts +have I had of Rafona; none of which wholly agreed; and here, these two +varlets, sent expressly to behold and report, these two lying knaves, +speak crookedly both. How is it? Are the lenses in their eyes diverse-hued, that objects seem different to both; for undeniable is it, that +the things they thus clashingly speak of are to be known for the same; +though represented with unlike colors and qualities. But dumb things can +not lie nor err. Unpack thy hampers, Zuma. Here, bring them close: now: +what is this?" + +"That," tremblingly replied Zuma, "is a specimen of the famous reef-bar +on the west side of the island of Rafona; your highness perceives its +deep red dyes." + +Said Donjalolo, "Varnopi, hast thou a piece of this coral, also?" + +"I have, your highness," said Varnopi; "here it is." + +Taking it from his hand, Donjalolo gazed at its bleached, white hue; +then dashing it to the pavement, "Oh mighty Oro! Truth dwells in her +fountains; where every one must drink for himself. For me, vain all hope +of ever knowing Mardi! Away! Better know nothing, than be deceived. +Break up!" + +And Donjalolo rose, and retired. + +All present now broke out in a storm of vociferation; some siding with +Zuma; others with Varnopi; each of whom, in turn, was declared the man +to be relied upon. + +Marking all this, Babbalanja, who had been silently looking on, leaning +against one of the palm pillars, quietly observed to Media:--"My lord, I +have seen this same reef at Rafona. In various places, it is of various +hues. As for Zuma and Varnopi, both are wrong, and both are right." + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII They Visit The Tributary Islets + + +In Willamilla, no Yillah being found, on the third day we took leave of +Donjalolo; who lavished upon us many caresses and, somewhat reluctantly +on Media's part, we quitted the vale. + +One by one, we now visited the outer villages of Juam; and crossing the +waters, wandered several days among its tributary isles. There we saw +the viceroys of him who reigned in the hollow: chieftains of whom +Donjalolo was proud; so honest, humble, and faithful; so bent upon +ameliorating the condition of those under their rule. For, be it said, +Donjalolo was a charitable prince; in his serious intervals, ever +seeking the welfare of his subjects, though after an imperial view of +his own. But alas, in that sunny donjon among the mountains, where he +dwelt, how could Donjalolo be sure, that the things he decreed were +executed in regions forever remote from his view. Ah! very bland, very +innocent, very pious, the faces his viceroys presented during their +monthly visits to Willamilla. But as cruel their visage, when, returned +to their islets, they abandoned themselves to all the license of +tyrants; like Verres reveling down the rights of the Sicilians. + +Like Carmelites, they came to Donjalolo, barefooted; but in their homes, +their proud latchets were tied by their slaves. Before their king-belted +prince, they stood rope-girdled like self-abased monks of St. Francis; +but with those ropes, before their palaces, they hung Innocence and +Truth. + +As still seeking Yillah, and still disappointed, we roved through the +lands which these chieftains ruled, Babbalanja exclaimed--"Let us +depart; idle our search, in isles that have viceroys for kings." + +At early dawn, about embarking for a distant land, there came to us +certain messengers of Donjalolo, saying that their lord the king, +repenting of so soon parting company with Media and Taji, besought them +to return with all haste; for that very morning, in Willamilla, a regal +banquet was preparing; to which many neighboring kings had been invited, +most of whom had already arrived. + +Declaring that there was no alternative but compliance, Media acceded; +and with the king's messengers we returned to the glen. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV Taji Sits Down To Dinner With Five-And-Twenty Kings, And +A Royal Time They Have + + +It was afternoon when we emerged from the defile. And informed that our +host was receiving his guests in the House of the Afternoon, thither we +directed our steps. + +Soft in our face, blew the blessed breezes of Omi, stirring the leaves +overhead; while, here and there, through the trees, showed the idol-bearers of the royal retreat, hand in hand, linked with festoons of +flowers. Still beyond, on a level, sparkled the nodding crowns of the +kings, like the constellation Corona-Borealis, the horizon just gained. + +Close by his noon-tide friend, the cascade at the mouth of the grotto, +reposed on his crimson mat, Donjalolo:--arrayed in a vestment of the +finest white tappa of Mardi, figured all over with bright yellow +lizards, so curiously stained in the gauze, that he seemed overrun, as +with golden mice. + +Marjora's girdle girdled his loins, tasseled with the congregated teeth +of his sires. A jeweled turban-tiara, milk-white, surmounted his brow, +over which waved a copse of Pintado plumes. + +But what sways in his hand? A scepter, similar to those likenesses of +scepters, imbedded among the corals at his feet. A polished thigh-bone; +by Braid-Beard declared once Teei's the Murdered. For to emphasize his +intention utterly to rule, Marjora himself had selected this emblem of +dominion over mankind. + +But even this last despite done to dead Teei had once been transcended. +In the usurper's time, prevailed the belief, that the saliva of kings +must never touch ground; and Mohi's Chronicles made mention, that during +the life time of Marjora, Teei's skull had been devoted to the basest of +purposes: Marjora's, the hate no turf could bury. + +Yet, traditions like these ever seem dubious. There be many who deny the +hump, moral and physical, of Gloster Richard. + +Still advancing unperceived, in social hilarity we descried their +Highnesses, chatting together like the most plebeian of mortals; full as +merry as the monks of old. But marking our approach, all changed. A pair +of potentates, who had been playfully trifling, hurriedly adjusted their +diadems, threw themselves into attitudes, looking stately as statues. +Phidias turned not out his Jupiter so soon. + +In various-dyed robes the five-and-twenty kings were arrayed; and +various their features, as the rows of lips, eyes and ears in John +Caspar Lavater's physiognomical charts. Nevertheless, to a king, all +their noses were aquiline. + +There were long fox-tail beards of silver gray, and enameled chins, like +those of girls; bald pates and Merovingian locks; smooth brows and +wrinkles: forms erect and stooping; an eye that squinted; one king was +deaf; by his side, another that was halt; and not far off, a dotard. +They were old and young, tall and short, handsome and ugly, fat and +lean, cunning and simple. + +With animated courtesy our host received us; assigning a neighboring +bower for Babbalanja and the rest; and among so many right-royal, demi-divine guests, how could the demi-gods Media and Taji be otherwise than +at home? + +The unwonted sprightliness of Donjalolo surprised us. But he was in one +of those relapses of desperate gayety in-variably following his failures +in efforts to amend his life. And the bootless issue of his late mission +to outer Mardi had thrown him into a mood for revelry. Nor had he lately +shunned a wild wine, called Morando. + +A slave now appearing with a bowl of this beverage, it circulated +freely. + +Not to gainsay the truth, we fancied the Morando much. A nutty, pungent +flavor it had; like some kinds of arrack distilled in the Philippine +isles. And a marvelous effect did it have, in dissolving the +crystalization of the brain; leaving nothing but precious little drops +of good humor, beading round the bowl of the cranium. + +Meanwhile, garlanded boys, climbing the limbs of the idol-pillars, and +stirruping their feet in their most holy mouths, suspended hangings of +crimson tappa all round the hall; so that sweeping the pavement they +rustled in the breeze from the grot. + +Presently, stalwart slaves advanced; bearing a mighty basin of a +porphyry hue, deep-hollowed out of a tree. Outside, were innumerable +grotesque conceits; conspicuous among which, for a border, was an +endless string of the royal lizards circumnavigating the basin in +inverted chase of their tails. + +Peculiar to the groves of Willamilla, the yellow lizard formed part of +the arms of Juam. And when Donjalolo's messenger went abroad, they +carried its effigy, as the emblem of their royal master; themselves +being known, as the Gentlemen of the Golden Lizard. + +The porphyry-hued basin planted full in our midst, the attendants +forthwith filled the same with the living waters from the cascade; a +proceeding, for which some of the company were at a loss to account, +unless his highness, our host, with all the coolness of royalty, +purposed cooling himself still further, by taking a bath in presence of +his guests. A conjecture, most premature; for directly, the basin being +filled to within a few inches of the lizards, the attendants fell to +launching therein divers goodly sized trenchers, all laden with choice +viands:--wild boar meat; humps of grampuses; embrowned bread-fruit, +roasted in odoriferous fires of sandal wood, but suffered to cool; gold +fish, dressed with the fragrant juices of berries; citron sauce; rolls +of the baked paste of yams; juicy bananas, steeped in a saccharine oil; +marmalade of plantains; jellies of guava; confections of the treacle of +palm sap; and many other dainties; besides numerous stained calabashes +of Morando, and other beverages, fixed in carved floats to make them +buoyant. + +The guests assigned seats, by the woven handles attached to his purple +mat, the prince, our host, was now gently moved by his servitors to the +head of the porphyry-hued basin. Where, flanked by lofty crowned-heads, +white-tiaraed, and radiant with royalty, he sat; like snow-turbaned Mont +Blanc, at sunrise presiding over the head waters of the Rhone; to right +and left, looming the gilded summits of the Simplon, the Gothard, the +Jungfrau, the Great St. Bernard, and the Grand Glockner. + +Yet turbid from the launching of its freight, Lake Como tossed to and +fro its navies of good cheer, the shadows of the king-peaks wildly +flitting thereupon. + +But no frigid wine and fruit cooler, Lake Como; as at first it did seem; +but a tropical dining table, its surface a slab of light blue St. Pons +marble in a state of fluidity. + +Now, many a crown was doffed; scepters laid aside; girdles slackened; +and among those verdant viands the bearded kings like goats did browse; +or tusking their wild boar's meat, like mastiffs ate. + +And like unto some well-fought fight, beginning calmly, but pressing +forward to a fiery rush, this well-fought feast did now wax warm. + +A few royal epicures, however, there were: epicures intent upon +concoctions, admixtures, and masterly compoundings; who comported +themselves with all due deliberation and dignity; hurrying themselves +into no reckless deglutition of the dainties. Ah! admirable conceit, +Lake Como: superseding attendants. For, from hand to hand the trenchers +sailed; no sooner gaining one port, than dispatched over sea to another. + +Well suited they were for the occasion; sailing high out of water, to +resist the convivial swell at times ruffling the sociable sea; and sharp +at both ends, still better adapting them to easy navigation. + +But soon, the Morando, in triumphant decanters, went round, reeling like +barks before a breeze. But their voyages were brief; and ere long, in +certain havens, the accumulation of empty vessels threatened to bridge +the lake with pontoons. In those directions, Trade winds were setting. +But full soon, cut out were all unladen and unprofitable gourds; and +replaced by jolly-bellied calabashes, for a time sailing deep, yawing +heavily to the push. + +At last, the whole flotilla of trenchers--wrecks and all--were sent +swimming to the further end of Lake Como; and thence removed, gave place +to ruddy hillocks of fruit, and floating islands of flowers. Chief among +the former, a quince-like, golden sphere, that filled the air with such +fragrance, you thought you were tasting its flavor. + +Nor did the wine cease flowing. That day the Juam grape did bleed; that +day the tendril ringlets of the vines, did all uncurl and grape by +grape, in sheer dismay, the sun ripe clusters dropped. Grape-glad were +five-and-twenty kings: five-and-twenty kings were merry. + +Morando's vintage had no end; nor other liquids, in the royal cellar +stored, somewhere secret in the grot. Oh! where's the endless Niger's +source? Search ye here, or search ye there; on, on, through ravine, +vega, vale--no head waters will ye find. But why need gain the hidden +spring, when its lavish stream flows by? At three-fold mouths that +Delta-grot discharged; rivers golden, white, and red. + +But who may sing for aye? Down I come, and light upon the old and prosy +plain. + +Among other decanters set afloat, was a pompous, lordly-looking +demijohn, but old and reverend withal, that sailed about, consequential +as an autocrat going to be crowned, or a treasure-freighted argosie +bound home before the wind. It looked solemn, however, though it reeled; +peradventure, far gone with its own potent contents. + +Oh! russet shores of Rhine and Rhone! oh, mellow memories of ripe old +vintages! oh, cobwebs in the Pyramids! oh, dust on Pharaoh's tomb!--all, +all recur, as I bethink me of that glorious gourd, its contents cogent +as Tokay, itself as old as Mohi's legends; more venerable to look at +than his beard. Whence came it? Buried in vases, so saith the label, +with the heart of old Marjora, now dead one hundred thousand moons. +Exhumed at last, it looked no wine, but was shrunk into a subtile syrup. + +This special calabash was distinguished by numerous trappings, +caparisoned like the sacred bay steed led before the Great Khan of +Tartary. A most curious and betasseled network encased it; and the royal +lizard was jealously twisted about its neck, like a hand on a throat +containing some invaluable secret. + +All Hail, Marzilla! King's Own Royal Particular! A vinous Percy! Dating +back to the Conquest! Distilled of yore from purple berries growing in +the purple valley of Ardair! Thrice hail. + +But the imperial Marzilla was not for all; gods only could partake; the +Kings and demigods of the isles; excluding left-handed descendants of +sad rakes of immortals, in old times breaking heads and hearts in Mardi, +bequeathing bars-sinister to many mortals, who now in vain might urge a +claim to a cup-full of right regal Marzilla. + +The Royal Particular was pressed upon me, by the now jovial Donjalolo. +With his own sceptered hand charging my flagon to the brim, he declared +his despotic pleasure, that I should quaff it off to the last lingering +globule. No hard calamity, truly; for the drinking of this wine was as +the singing of a mighty ode, or frenzied lyric to the soul. + +"Drink, Taji," cried Donjalolo, "drink deep. In this wine a king's heart +is dissolved. Drink long; in this wine lurk the seeds of the life +everlasting. Drink deep; drink long: thou drinkest wisdom and valor at +every draught. Drink forever, oh Taji, for thou drinkest that which will +enable thee to stand up and speak out before mighty Oro himself." + +"Borabolla," he added, turning round upon a domed old king at his left, +"Was it not the god Xipho, who begged of my great-great-grandsire a +draught of this same wine, saying he was about to beget a hero?" + +"Even so. And thy glorious Marzilla produced thrice valiant Ononna, who +slew the giants of the reef." + +"Ha, ha, hear'st that, oh Taji?" And Donjalolo drained another cup. + +Amazing! the flexibility of the royal elbow, and the rigidity of the +royal spine! More especially as we had been impressed with a notion of +their debility. But, sometimes these seemingly enervated young blades +approve themselves steadier of limb, than veteran revelers of very long +standing. + +"Discharge the basin, and refill it with wine," cried Donjalolo. "Break +all empty gourds! Drink, kings, and dash your cups at every draught." + +So saying, he started from his purple mat; and with one foot planted +unknowingly upon the skull of Marjora; while all the skeletons grinned +at him from the pavement; Donjalolo, holding on high his blood-red +goblet, burst forth with the following invocation:--Ha, ha, gods and +kings; fill high, one and all; Drink, drink! shout and drink! mad +respond to the call! Fill fast, and fill frill; 'gainst the goblet ne'er +sin; Quaff there, at high tide, to the uttermost rim:-- Flood-tide, +and soul-tide to the brim! + +Who with wine in him fears? who thinks of his cares? Who sighs to be +wise, when wine in him flares? Water sinks down below, in currents full +slow; But wine mounts on high with its genial glow:-- Welling up, +till the brain overflow! + +As the spheres, with a roll, some fiery of soul, Others golden, with +music, revolve round the pole; + +So let our cups, radiant with many hued wines, Round and round in groups +circle, our Zodiac's Signs:-- Round reeling, and ringing their +chimes! + +Then drink, gods and kings; wine merriment brings; It bounds through the +veins; there, jubilant sings. Let it ebb, then, and flow; wine never +grows dim; Drain down that bright tide at the foam beaded rim:--Fill up, +every cup, to the brim! + + +Caught by all present, the chorus resounded again and again. The beaded +wine danced on many a beard; the cataract lifted higher its voice; the +grotto sent back a shout; the ghosts of the Coral Monarchs seemed +starting from their insulted bones. But ha, ha, ha, roared forth the +five-and-twenty kings--alive, not dead--holding both hands to their +girdles, and baying out their laughter from abysses; like Nimrod's +hounds over some fallen elk. + +Mad and crazy revelers, how ye drank and roared! but kings no more: +vestures loosed; and scepters rolling on the ground. + +Glorious agrarian, thou wine! bringing all hearts on a level, and at +last all legs to the earth; even those of kings, who, to do them +justice, have been much maligned for imputed qualities not theirs. For +whoso has touched flagons with monarchs, bear they their back bones +never so stiffly on the throne, well know the rascals, to be at bottom +royal good fellows; capable of a vinous frankness exceeding that of +base-born men. Was not Alexander a boon companion? And daft Cambyses? +and what of old Rowley, as good a judge of wine and other matters, as +ever sipped claret or kisses. + +If ever Taji joins a club, be it a Beef-Steak Club of Kings! + +Donjalolo emptied yet another cup. + +The mirth now blew a gale; like a ship's shrouds in a Typhoon, every +tendon vibrated; the breezes of Omi came forth with a rush; the hangings +shook; the goblets danced fandangos; and Donjalolo, clapping his hands, +called before him his dancing women. + +Forth came from the grotto a reed-like burst of song, making all start, +and look that way to behold such enchanting strains. Sounds heralding +sights! Swimming in the air, emerged the nymphs, lustrous arms +interlocked like Indian jugglers' glittering snakes. Round the cascade +they thronged; then paused in its spray. Of a sudden, seemed to spring +from its midst, a young form of foam, that danced into the soul like a +thought. At last, sideways floating off, it subsided into the grotto, a +wave. Evening drawing on apace, the crimson draperies were lifted, and +festooned to the arms of the idol-pillars, admitting the rosy light of +the even. + +Yielding to the re-action of the banquet, the kings now reclined; and +two mute damsels entered: one with a gourd of scented waters; the other +with napkins. Bending over Donjalolo's steaming head, the first let fall +a shower of aromatic drops, slowly aborbed by her companion. Thus, in +turn, all were served; nothing heard but deep breathing. + +In a marble vase they now kindled some incense: a handful of spices. + +Shortly after, came three of the king's beautiful smokers; who, lighting +their tubes at this odorous fire, blew over the company the sedative +fumes of the Aina. + +Steeped in languor, I strove against it long; essayed to struggle out of +the enchanted mist. But a syren hand seemed ever upon me, pressing me +back. + +Half-revealed, as in a dream, and the last sight that I saw, was +Donjalolo:--eyes closed, face pale, locks moist, borne slowly to his +sedan, to cross the hollow, and wake in the seclusion of his harem. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXV After Dinner + + +As in dreams I behold thee again, Willamila! as in dreams, once again I +stroll through thy cool shady groves, oh fairest of the vallies of +Mardi! the thought of that mad merry feasting steals over my soul till I +faint. + +Prostrate here and there over the bones of Donjalolo's sires, the royal +bacchanals lay slumbering till noon. + +"Which are the deadest?" said Babbalanja, peeping in, "the live kings, +or the dead ones?" + +But the former were drooping flowers sought to be revived by watering. +At intervals the sedulous attendants went to and fro, besprinkling their +heads with the scented contents of their vases. + +At length, one by one, the five-and-twenty kings lifted their ambrosial +curls; and shaking the dew therefrom, like eagles opened their right +royal eyes, and dilated their aquiline nostrils, full upon the golden +rays of the sun. + +But why absented himself, Donjalolo? Had he cavalierly left them to +survive the banquet by themselves? But this apparent incivility was soon +explained by heralds, announcing to their prone majesties, that through +the over solicitude of his slaves, their lord the king had been borne to +his harem, without being a party to the act. But to make amends, in his +sedan, Donjalolo was even now drawing nigh. Not, however, again to make +merry; but socially to sleep in company with his guests; for, together +they had all got high, and together they must all lie low. + +So at it they went: each king to his bones, and slumbered like heroes +till evening; when, availing themselves of the cool moonlight +approaching, the royal guests bade adieu to their host; and summoning +their followers, quitted the glen. + +Early next day, having determined to depart for our canoes, we proceeded +to the House of the Morning, to take leave of Donjalolo. + +An amazing change, one night of solitude had wrought! Pale and languid, +we found him reclining: one hand on his throbbing temples. + +Near an overturned vessel of wine, the royal girdle lay tossed at his +feet. He had waved off his frightened attendants, who crouched out of +sight. + +We advanced. + +"Do ye too leave me? Ready enough are ye to partake of my banquetings, +which, to such as ye, are but mad incidents in one round of more +tranquil diversions. But heed me not, Media;--I am mad. Oh, ye gods! am +I forever a captive?--Ay, free king of Odo, when you list, condescend to +visit the poor slave in Willamilla. I account them but charity, your +visits; would fain allure ye by sumptuous fare. Go, leave me; go, and be +rovers again throughout blooming Mardi. For, me, I am here for aye.--Bring me wine, slaves! quick! that I may pledge my guests fitly. Alas, +Media, at the bottom of this cup are no sparkles as at top. Oh, +treacherous, treacherous friend! full of smiles and daggers. Yet for +such as me, oh wine, thou art e'en a prop, though it pierce the side; +for man must lean. Thou wine art the friend of the friendless, though a +foe to all. King Media, let us drink. More cups!--And now, farewell." + +Falling back, he averted his face; and silently we quitted the palace. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI Of Those Scamps The Plujii + + +The beach gained, we embarked. + +In good time our party recovered from the seriousness into which we had +been thrown; and a rather long passage being now before us, we whiled +away the hours as best we might. + +Among many entertaining, narrations, old Braid-Beard, crossing his +calves, and peaking his beard, regaled us with some account of certain +invisible spirits, ycleped the Plujii, arrant little knaves as ever +gulped moonshine. + +They were spoken of as inhabiting the island of Quelquo, in a remote +corner of the lagoon; the innocent people of which island were sadly +fretted and put out by their diabolical proceedings. Not to be wondered +at; since, dwelling as they did in the air, and completely inaccessible, +these spirits were peculiarly provocative of ire. + +Detestable Plujii! With malice aforethought, they brought about high +winds that destroyed the banana plantations, and tumbled over the heads +of its occupants many a bamboo dwelling. They cracked the calabashes; +soured the "poee;" induced the colic; begat the spleen; and almost rent +people in twain with stitches in the side. In short, from whatever evil, +the cause of which the Islanders could not directly impute to their +gods, or in their own opinion was not referable to themselves,--of that +very thing must the invisible Plujii be guilty. With horrible dreams, +and blood-thirsty gnats, they invaded the most innocent slumbers. + +All things they bedeviled. A man with a wry neck ascribed it to the +Plujii; he with a bad memory railed against the Plujii; and the boy, +bruising his finger, also cursed those abominable spirits. + +Nor, to some minds, at least, was there wanting strong presumptive +evidence, that at times, with invisible fingers, the above mentioned +Plujii did leave direct and tangible traces of their presence; pinching +and pounding the unfortunate Islanders; pulling their hair; plucking +their ears, and tweaking their beards and their noses. And thus +perpetually vexing, incensing, tormenting, and exasperating their +helpless victims, the atrocious Plujii reveled in their malicious +dominion over the souls and bodies of the people of Quelquo. + +What it was, that induced them to enact such a part, Oro only knew; and +never but once, it seems, did old Mohi endeavor to find out. + +Once upon a time, visiting Quelquo, he chanced to encounter an old woman +almost doubled together, both hands upon her abdomen; in that manner +running about distracted. + +"My good woman," said he, "what under the firmament is the matter?" + +"The Plujii! the Plujii!" affectionately caressing the field of their +operations. + +"But why do they torment you?" he soothingly inquired. "How should I +know? and what good would it do me if I did?" + +And on she ran. + +At this part of his narration, Mohi was interrupted by Media; who, much +to the surprise of all present, observed, that, unbeknown to him (Braid-Beard), he happened to have been on that very island, at that very time, +and saw that identical old lady in the very midst of those abdominal +tribulations. + +"That she was really in great distress," he went on to say, "was plainly +to be seen; but that in that particular instance, your Plujii had any +hand in tormenting her, I had some boisterous doubts. For, hearing that +an hour or two previous she had been partaking of some twenty unripe +bananas, I rather fancied that that circumstance might have had +something to do with her sufferings. But however it was, all the herb-leeches on the island would not have altered her own opinions on the +subject." + +"No," said Braid-Beard; "a post-mortem examination would not have +satisfied her ghost." + +"Curious to relate," he continued, "the people of that island never +abuse the Plujii, notwithstanding all they suffer at their hands, unless +under direct provocation; and a settled matter of faith is it, that at +such times all bitter words and hasty objurgations are entirely +overlooked, nay, pardoned on the spot, by the unseen genii against whom +they are directed." + +"Magnanimous Plujii!" cried Media. "But, Babbalanja, do you, who run a +tilt at all things, suffer this silly conceit to be uttered with +impunity in your presence? Why so silent?" + +"I have been thinking, my lord," said Babbalanja, "that though the +people of that island may at times err, in imputing their calamities to +the Plujii, that, nevertheless, upon the whole, they indulge in a +reasonable belief. For, Plujii or no Plujii, it is undeniable, that in +ten thousand ways, as if by a malicious agency, we mortals are woefully +put out and tormented; and that, too, by things in themselves so +exceedingly trivial, that it would seem almost impiety to ascribe them +to the august gods. No; there must exist some greatly inferior spirits; +so insignificant, comparatively, as to be overlooked by the supernal +powers; and through them it must be, that we are thus grievously +annoyed. At any rate; such a theory would supply a hiatus in my system +of meta-physics." + +"Well, peace to the Plujii," said Media; "they trouble not me." + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII Nora-Bamma + + +Still onward gliding, the lagoon a calm. + +Hours pass; and full before us, round and green, a Moslem turban by us +floats--Nora-Bamma, Isle of Nods. + +Noon-tide rolls its flood. Vibrates the air, and trembles. And by +illusion optical, thin-draped in azure haze, drift here and there the +brilliant lands: swans, peacock-plumaged, sailing through the sky. Down +to earth hath heaven come; hard telling sun-clouds from the isles. + +And high in air nods Nora-Bamma. Nid-nods its tufted summit like three +ostrich plumes; its beetling crags, bent poppies, shadows, willowy +shores, all nod; its streams are murmuring down the hills; its wavelets +hush the shore. + +Who dwells in Nora-Bamma? Dreamers, hypochondriacs, somnambulists; who, +from the cark and care of outer Mardi fleeing, in the poppy's jaded +odors, seek oblivion for the past, and ecstasies to come. + +Open-eyed, they sleep and dream; on their roof-trees, grapes unheeded +drop. In Nora-Bamma, whispers are as shouts; and at a zephyr's breath, +from the woodlands shake the leaves, as of humming-birds, a flight. + +All this spake Braid-Beard, of the isle. How that none ere touched its +strand, without rendering instant tribute of a nap; how that those who +thither voyaged, in golden quest of golden gourds, fast dropped asleep, +ere one was plucked; waking not till night; how that you must needs rub +hard your eyes, would you wander through the isle; and how that silent +specters would be met, haunting twilight groves, and dreamy meads; +hither gliding, thither fading, end or purpose none. + +True or false, so much for Mohi's Nora Bamma. + +But as we floated on, it looked the place described. We yawned, and +yawned, as crews of vessels may; as in warm Indian seas, their winnowing +sails all swoon, when by them glides some opium argosie. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII In A Calm, Hautia's Heralds Approach + + +"How still!" cried Babbalanja. "This calm is like unto Oro's everlasting +serenity, and like unto man's last despair." + +But now the silence was broken by a strange, distant, intermitted melody +in the water. + +Gazing over the side, we saw naught but a far-darting ray in its depths. + +Then Yoomy, before buried in a reverie, burst forth with a verse, sudden +as a jet from a Geyser. + +Like the fish of the bright and twittering fin, Bright fish! diving deep +as high soars the lark, So, far, far, far, doth the maiden swim, Wild +song, wild light, in still ocean's dark. + +"What maiden, minstrel?" cried Media. + +"None of these," answered Yoomy, pointing out a shallop gliding near. + +"The damsels three:--Taji, they pursue you yet." That still canoe drew +nigh, the Iris in its prow. + +Gliding slowly by, one damsel flung a Venus-car, the leaves yet fresh. + +Said Yoomy--"Fly to love." + +The second maiden flung a pallid blossom, buried in hemlock leaves. + +Said Yoomy, starting--"I have wrought a death." + +Then came showering Venus-cars, and glorious moss-roses numberless, and +odorous handfuls of Verbena. + +Said Yoomy--"Yet fly, oh fly to me: all rosy joys and sweets are mine." + +Then the damsels floated on. + +"Was ever queen more enigmatical?" cried Media--"Love,--death,--joy, --fly to me? But what says Taji?" + +"That I turn not back for Hautia; whoe'er she be, that wild witch I +contemn." + +"Then spread our pinions wide! a breeze! up sails! ply paddles all! +Come, Flora's flute, float forth a song." + +To pieces picking the thorny roses culled from Hautia's gifts, and +holding up their blighted cores, thus plumed and turbaned Yoomy sang, +leaning against the mast:--Oh! royal is the rose, But barbed with many a +dart; Beware, beware the rose, 'Tis cankered at the heart. + +Sweet, sweet the sunny down, Oh! lily, lily, lily down! Sweet, sweet, +Verbena's bloom! Oh! pleasant, gentle, musky bloom! + +Dread, dread the sunny down; Lo! lily-hooded asp; Blooms, blooms no more +Verbena; White-withered in your clasp. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX Braid-Beard Rehearses The Origin Of The Isle Of Rogues + + +Judge not things by their names. This, the maxim illustrated respecting +the isle toward which we were sailing. + +Ohonoo was its designation, in other words the Land of Rogues. So what +but a nest of villains and pirates could one fancy it to be: a downright +Tortuga, swarming with "Brethren of the coast,"--such as Montbars, +L'Ollonais, Bartolomeo, Peter of Dieppe, and desperadoes of that kidney. +But not so. The men of Ohonoo were as honest as any in Mardi. They had a +suspicious appellative for their island, true; but not thus seemed it to +them. For, upon nothing did they so much plume themselves as upon this +very name. Why? Its origin went back to old times; and being venerable +they gloried therein; though they disclaimed its present applicability +to any of their race; showing, that words are but algebraic signs, +conveying no meaning except what you please. And to be called one thing, +is oftentimes to be another. + +But how came the Ohonoose by their name? + +Listen, and Braid-Beard, our Herodotus, will tell. + +Long and long ago, there were banished to Ohonoo all the bucaniers, +flibustiers, thieves, and malefactors of the neighboring islands; who, +becoming at last quite a numerous community, resolved to make a stand +for their dignity, and number one among the nations of Mardi. And even +as before they had been weeded out of the surrounding countries; so now, +they went to weeding out themselves; banishing all objectionable persons +to still another island. + +These events happened at a period so remote, that at present it was +uncertain whether those twice banished, were thrust into their second +exile by reason of their superlative knavery, or because of their +comparative honesty. If the latter, then must the residue have been a +precious enough set of scoundrels. + +However it was, the commonwealth of knaves now mustered together their +gray-beards, and wise-pates, and knowing-ones, of which last there was a +plenty, chose a king to rule over them, and went to political +housekeeping for themselves. + +And in the fullness of time, this people became numerous and mighty. And +the more numerous and mighty they waxed, by so much the more did they +take pride and glory in their origin, frequently reverting to it with +manifold boastings. The proud device of their monarch was a hand with +the forefinger crooked, emblematic of the peculatory propensities of his +ancestors. + +And all this, at greater length, said Mohi. + +"It would seem, then, my lord," said Babbalanja, reclining, "as if these +men of Ohonoo had canonized the derelictions of their progenitors, +though the same traits are deemed scandalous among themselves. But it is +time that makes the difference. The knave of a thousand years ago seems +a fine old fellow full of spirit and fun, little malice in his soul; +whereas, the knave of to-day seems a sour-visaged wight, with nothing to +redeem him. Many great scoundrels of our Chronicler's chronicles are +heroes to us:--witness, Marjora the usurper. Ay, time truly works +wonders. It sublimates wine; it sublimates fame; nay, is the creator +thereof; it enriches and darkens our spears of the Palm; enriches and +enlightens the mind; it ripens cherries and young lips; festoons old +ruins, and ivies old heads; imparts a relish to old yams, and a pungency +to the Ponderings of old Bardianna; of fables distills truths; and +finally, smooths, levels, glosses, softens, melts, and meliorates all +things. Why, my lord, round Mardi itself is all the better for its +antiquity, and the more to be revered; to the cozy-minded, more +comfortable to dwell in. Ah! if ever it lay in embryo like a green seed +in the pod, what a damp, shapeless thing it must have been, and how +unpleasant from the traces of its recent creation. The first man, quoth +old Bardianna, must have felt like one going into a new habitation, +where the bamboos are green. Is there not a legend in Maramma, that his +family were long troubled with influenzas and catarrhs?" + +"Oh Time, Time, Time!" cried Yoomy--"it is Time, old midsummer Time, +that has made the old world what it is. Time hoared the old mountains, +and balded their old summits, and spread the old prairies, and built the +old forests, and molded the old vales. It is Time that has worn glorious +old channels for the glorious old rivers, and rounded the old lakes, and +deepened the old sea! It is Time--" + +"Ay, full time to cease," cried Media. "What have you to do with +cogitations not in verse, minstrel? Leave prose to Babbalanja, who is +prosy enough." + +"Even so," said Babbalanja, "Yoomy, you have overstepped your province. +My lord Media well knows, that your business is to make the metal in you +jingle in tags, not ring in the ingot." + + + +CHAPTER XC Rare Sport At Ohonoo + + +Approached from the northward, Ohonoo, midway cloven down to the sea, +one half a level plain; the other, three mountain terraces--Ohonoo looks +like the first steps of a gigantic way to the sun. And such, if Braid-Beard spoke truth, it had formerly been. + +"Ere Mardi was made," said that true old chronicler, "Vivo, one of the +genii, built a ladder of mountains whereby to go up and go down. And of +this ladder, the island of Ohonoo was the base. But wandering here and +there, incognito in a vapor, so much wickedness did Vivo spy out, that +in high dudgeon he hurried up his ladder, knocking the mountains from +under him as he went. These here and there fell into the lagoon, forming +many isles, now green and luxuriant; which, with those sprouting from +seeds dropped by a bird from the moon, comprise all the groups in the +reef." + +Surely, oh, surely, if I live till Mardi be forgotten by Mardi, I shall +not forget the sight that greeted us, as we drew nigh the shores of this +same island of Ohonoo; for was not all Ohonoo bathing in the surf of the +sea? + +But let the picture be painted. + +Where eastward the ocean rolls surging against the outer reef of Mardi, +there, facing a flood-gate in the barrier, stands cloven Ohonoo; her +plains sloping outward to the sea, her mountains a bulwark behind. As at +Juam, where the wild billows from seaward roll in upon its cliffs; much +more at Ohonoo, in billowy battalions charge they hotly into the lagoon, +and fall on the isle like an army from the deep. But charge they never +so boldly, and charge they forever, old Ohonoo gallantly throws them +back till all before her is one scud and rack. So charged the bright +billows of cuirassiers at Waterloo: so hurled them off the long line of +living walls, whose base was as the sea-beach, wreck-strown, in a gale. + +Without the break in the reef wide banks of coral shelve off, creating +the bar, where the waves muster for the onset, thundering in water-bolts, that shake the whole reef, till its very spray trembles. And then +is it, that the swimmers of Ohonoo most delight to gambol in the surf. + +For this sport, a surf-board is indispensable: some five feet in length; +the width of a man's body; convex on both sides; highly polished; and +rounded at the ends. It is held in high estimation; invariably oiled +after use; and hung up conspicuously in the dwelling of the owner. + +Ranged on the beach, the bathers, by hundreds dash in; and diving under +the swells, make straight for the outer sea, pausing not till the +comparatively smooth expanse beyond has been gained. Here, throwing +themselves upon their boards, tranquilly they wait for a billow that +suits. Snatching them up, it hurries them landward, volume and speed +both increasing, till it races along a watery wall, like the smooth, +awful verge of Niagara. Hanging over this scroll, looking down from it +as from a precipice, the bathers halloo; every limb in motion to +preserve their place on the very crest of the wave. Should they fall +behind, the squadrons that follow would whelm them; dismounted, and +thrown forward, as certainly would they be run over by the steed they +ride. 'Tis like charging at the head of cavalry: you must on. + +An expert swimmer shifts his position on his plank; now half striding +it; and anon, like a rider in the ring, poising himself upright in the +scud, coming on like a man in the air. + +At last all is lost in scud and vapor, as the overgrown billow bursts +like a bomb. Adroitly emerging, the swimmers thread their way out; and +like seals at the Orkneys, stand dripping upon the shore. + +Landing in smooth water, some distance from the scene, we strolled +forward; and meeting a group resting, inquired for Uhia, their king. He +was pointed out in the foam. But presently drawing nigh, he embraced +Media, bidding all welcome. + +The bathing over, and evening at hand, Uhia and his subjects repaired to +their canoes; and we to ours. + +Landing at another quarter of the island, we journeyed up a valley +called Monlova, and were soon housed in a very pleasant retreat of our +host. + +Soon supper was spread. But though the viands were rare, and the red +wine went round and round like a foaming bay horse in the ring; yet we +marked, that despite the stimulus of his day's good sport, and the +stimulus of his brave good cheer, Uhia our host was moody and still. + +Said Babbalanja "My lord, he fills wine cups for others to quaff." + +But whispered King Media, "Though Uhia be sad, be we merry, merry men." + +And merry some were, and merrily went to their mats. + + + +CHAPTER XCI Of King Uhia And His Subjects + + +As beseemed him, Uhia was royally lodged. Ample his roof. Beneath it a +hundred attendants nightly laying their heads. But long since, he had +disbanded his damsels. + +Springing from syren embrace--"They shall sap and mine me no more" he +cried "my destiny commands me. I will don my manhood. By Keevi! no more +will I clasp a waist." + +"From that time forth," said Braid-Beard, "young Uhia spread like the +tufted top of the Palm; his thigh grew brawny as the limb of the Banian; +his arm waxed strong as the back bone of the shark; yea, his voice grew +sonorous as a conch." + +"And now he bent his whole soul to the accomplishment of the destiny +believed to be his. Nothing less than bodily to remove Ohonoo to the +center of the lagoon, in fulfillment of an old prophecy running thus--When a certain island shall stir from its foundations and stand in the +middle of the still water, then shall the ruler of that island be ruler +of all Mardi." + +The task was hard, but how glorious the reward! So at it he went, and +all Ohonoo helped him. Not by hands, but by calling in the magicians. +Thus far, nevertheless, in vain. But Uhia had hopes. + +Now, informed of all this, said Babbalanja to Media, "My lord, if the +continual looking-forward to something greater, be better than an +acquiescence in things present; then, wild as it is, this belief of +Uhia's he should hug to his heart, as erewhile his wives. But my lord, +this faith it is, that robs his days of peace; his nights of sweet +unconsciousness. For holding himself foreordained to the dominion of the +entire Archipelago, he upbraids the gods for laggards, and curses +himself as deprived of his rights; nay, as having had wrested from him, +what he never possessed. Discontent dwarfs his horizon till he spans it +with his hand. 'Most miserable of demi-gods,' he cries, 'here am I +cooped up in this insignificant islet, only one hundred leagues by +fifty, when scores of broad empires own me not for their lord.' Yet Uhia +himself is envied. 'Ah!' cries Karrolono, one of his chieftains, master +of a snug little glen, 'Here am I cabined in this paltry cell among the +mountains, when that great King Uhia is lord of the whole island, and +every cubic mile of matter therein.' But this same Karrolono is envied. +'Hard, oh beggarly lot is mine,' cries Donno, one of his retainers. +'Here am I fixed and screwed down to this paltry plantation, when my +lord Karrolono owns the whole glen, ten long parasangs from cliff to +sea.' But Donno too is envied. 'Alas, cursed fate!' cries his servitor +Flavona. 'Here am I made to trudge, sweat, and labor all day, when Donno +my master does nothing but command.' But others envy Flavona; and those +who envy him are envied in turn; even down to poor bed-ridden Manta, who +dying of want, groans forth, 'Abandoned wretch that I am! here I +miserably perish, while so many beggars gad about and live!' But surely; +none envy Manta! Yes; great Uhia himself. 'Ah!' cries the king. 'Here am +I vexed and tormented by ambition; no peace night nor day; my temples +chafed sore by this cursed crown that I wear; while that ignoble wight +Manta, gives up the ghost with none to molest him.'" + +In vain we wandered up and down in this isle, and peered into its +innermost recesses: no Yillah was there. + + + +CHAPTER XCII The God Keevi And The Precipice Op Mondo + + +One object of interest in Ohonoo was the original image of Keevi the god +of Thieves; hence, from time immemorial, the tutelar deity of the isle. + +His shrine was a natural niche in a cliff, walling in the valley of +Monlova And here stood Keevi, with his five eyes, ten hands, and three +pair of legs, equipped at all points for the vocation over which he +presided. Of mighty girth, his arms terminated in hands, every finger a +limb, spreading in multiplied digits: palms twice five, and fifty +fingers. + +According to the legend, Keevi fell from a golden cloud, burying himself +to the thighs in the earth, tearing up the soil all round. Three +meditative mortals, strolling by at the time, had a narrow escape. + +A wonderful recital; but none of us voyagers durst flout it. Did they +not show us the identical spot where the idol fell? We descended into +the hollow, now verdant. Questionless, Keevi himself would have vouched +for the truth of the miracle, had he not been unfortunately dumb. But by +far the most cogent, and pointed argument advanced in support of this +story, is a spear which the priests of Keevi brought forth, for +Babbalanja to view. + +"Let me look at it closer," said Babbalanja. + +And turning it over and over and curiously inspecting it, "Wonderful +spear," he cried. "Doubtless, my reverends, this self-same spear must +have persuaded many recusants!" + +"Nay, the most stubborn," they answered. + +"And all afterward quoted as additional authority for the truth of the +legend?" + +"Assuredly." + +From the sea to the shrine of this god, the fine valley of Monlova +ascends with a gentle gradation, hardly perceptible; but upon turning +round toward the water, one is surprised to find himself high elevated +above its surface. Pass on, and the same silent ascent deceives you; and +the valley contracts; and on both sides the cliffs advance; till at last +you come to a narrow space, shouldered by buttresses of rock. Beyond, +through this cleft, all is blue sky. If the Trades blow high, and you +came unawares upon the spot, you would think Keevi himself pushing you +forward with all his hands; so powerful is the current of air rushing +through this elevated defile. But expostulate not with the tornado that +blows you along; sail on; but soft; look down; the land breaks off in +one sheer descent of a thousand feet, right down to the wide plain +below. So sudden and profound this precipice, that you seem to look off +from one world to another. In a dreamy, sunny day, the spangled plain +beneath assumes an uncertain fleeting aspect. Had you a deep-sea-lead +you would almost be tempted to sound the ocean-haze at your feet. + +This, mortal! is the precipice of Mondo. + +From this brink, spear in hand, sprang fifty rebel warriors, driven back +into the vale by a superior force. Finding no spot to stand at bay, with +a fierce shout they took the fatal leap. + +Said Mohi, "Their souls ascended, ere their bodies touched." + +This tragical event took place many generations gone by, and now a +dizzy, devious way conducts one, firm of foot, from the verge to the +plain. But none ever ascended. So perilous, indeed, is the descent +itself, that the islanders venture not the feat, without invoking +supernatural aid. Flanking the precipice beneath beetling rocks, stand +the guardian deities of Mondo; and on altars before them, are placed the +propitiatory offerings of the traveler. + +To the right of the brink of the precipice, and far over it, projects a +narrow ledge. The test of legitimacy in the Ohonoo monarchs is to stand +hereon, arms folded, and javelins darting by. + +And there in his youth Uhia stood. + +"How felt you, cousin?" asked Media. + +"Like the King of Ohonoo," he replied. "As I _shall_ again feel; when +King of all Mardi." + + + +CHAPTER XCIII Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And Yoomy +Relates A Legend + + +Embarking from Ohonoo, we at length found ourselves gliding by the +pleasant shores of Tupia, an islet which according to Braid-Beard had +for ages remained uninhabited by man. Much curiosity being expressed to +know more of the isle, Mohi was about to turn over his chronicles, when, +with modesty, the minstrel Yoomy interposed; saying, that if my Lord +Media permitted, he himself would relate the legend. From its nature, +deeming the same pertaining to his province as poet; though, as yet, it +had not been versified. But he added, that true pearl shells rang +musically, though not strung upon a cord. + +Upon this presumptuous interference, Mohi looked highly offended; and +nervously twitching his beard, uttered something invidious about +frippery young poetasters being too full of silly imaginings to tell a +plain tale. + +Said Yoomy, in reply, adjusting his turban, "Old Mohi, let us not +clash. I honor your calling; but, with submission, your chronicles are +more wild than my cantos. I deal in pure conceits of my own; which have +a shapeliness and a unity, however unsubstantial; but you, Braid-Beard, +deal in mangled realities. In all your chapters, you yourself grope in +the dark. Much truth is not in thee, historian. Besides, Mohi: my songs +perpetuate many things which you sage scribes entirely overlook. Have +you not oftentimes come to me, and my ever dewy ballads for information, +in which you and your musty old chronicles were deficient?" + +"In much that is precious, Mohi, we poets are the true historians; we +embalm; you corrode." + +To this Mohi, with some ire, was about to make answer, when, flinging +over his shoulder a new fold of his mantle, Babbalanja spoke thus: +"Peace, rivals. As Bardianna has it, like all who dispute upon +pretensions of their own, you are each nearest the right, when you speak +of the other; and furthest therefrom, when you speak of yourselves." + +Said Mohi and Yoomy in a breath, "Who sought your opinion, philosopher? +you filcher from old Bardianna, and monger of maxims!" + +"You, who have so long marked the vices of Mardi, that you flatter +yourself you have none of your own," added Braid-Beard. + +"You, who only seem wise, because of the contrasting follies of others, +and not of any great wisdom in yourself," continued the minstrel, with +unwonted asperity." + +"Now here," said Babballanja, "am I charged upon by a bearded old ram, +and a lamb. One butting with his carious and brittle old frontlet; the +other pushing with its silly head before its horns are sprouted. But +this comes of being impartial. Had I espoused the cause of Yoomy versus +Mohi, or that of Mohi versus Yoomy, I had been sure to have had at least +one voice in my favor. The impartialist insulteth all sides, saith old +Bardianna; but smite with but one hand, and the other shall be kissed.--Oh incomparable Bardianna!" + +"Will no one lay that troubled old ghost," exclaimed Media, devoutly. +"Proceed with thy legend, Yoomy; and see to it, that it be brief; for I +mistrust me, these legends do but test the patience of the hearers. But +draw a long breath, and begin." + +"A long bow," muttered Mohi. + +And Yoomy began. + +"It is now about ten hundred thousand moons--" + +"Great Oro! How long since, say you?" cried Mohi, making Gothic arches +of his brows. + +Looking at him disdainfully, but vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy began over +again. + +"It is now above ten hundred thousand moons, since there died the last +of a marvelous race, once inhabiting the very shores by which we are +sailing. They were a very diminutive people, only a few inches high--" + +"Stop, minstrel," cried Mohi; "how many pennyweights did they weigh?" + +Continued Yoomy, unheedingly, "They were covered all over with a soft, +silky down, like that on the rind of the Avee; and there grew upon their +heads a green, lance-leaved vine, of a most delicate texture. For +convenience, the manikins reduced their tendrils, sporting, nothing but +coronals. Whereas, priding themselves upon the redundancy of their +tresses, the little maidens assiduously watered them with the early dew +of the morning; so that all wreathed and festooned with verdure, they +moved about in arbors, trailing after them trains." + +"I can hear no more," exclaimed Mohi, stopping his ears. + +Continued Yoomy, "The damsels lured to their bowers, certain red-plumaged insect-birds, and taught them to nestle therein, and warble; +which, with the pleasant vibrating of the leaves, when the little +maidens moved, produced a strange blending of sweet, singing sounds. The +little maidens embraced not with their arms, but with their viny locks; +whose tendrils instinctively twined about their lovers, till both were +lost in the bower." + +"And what then?" asked Mohi, who, notwithstanding the fingers in his +ears, somehow contrived to listen; "What then?" + +Vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy went on. + +"At a certain age, but while yet the maidens were very young, their +vines bore blossoms. Ah! fatal symptoms. For soon as they burst, the +maidens died in their arbors; and were buried in the valleys; and their +vines spread forth; and the flowers bloomed; but the maidens themselves +were no more. And now disdaining the earth, the vines shot upward: +climbing to the topmost boughs of the trees; and flowering in the +sunshine forever and aye." + +Yoomy here paused for a space; but presently continued: + +"The little eyes of the people of Tupia were very strange to behold: +full of stars, that shone from within, like the Pleiades, deep-bosomed +in blue. And like the stars, they were intolerant of sunlight; and +slumbering through the day, the people of Tupia only went abroad by +night. But it was chiefly when the moon was at full, that they were +mostly in spirits. + +"Then the little manikins would dive down into the sea, and rove about +in the coral groves, making love to the mermaids. Or, racing round, make +a mad merry night of it with the sea-urchins:--plucking the reverend +mullets by the beard; serenading the turtles in their cells; worrying +the sea-nettles; or tormenting with their antics the touchy torpedos. +Sometimes they went prying about with the starfish, that have an eye at +the end of each ray; and often with coral files in their hands stole +upon slumbering swordfish, slyly blunting their weapons. In short, these +stout little manikins were passionately fond of the sea, and swore by +wave and billow, that sooner or later they would embark thereon in +nautilus shells, and spend the rest of their roving days thousands of +inches from Tupia. Too true, they were shameless little rakes. Oft would +they return to their sweethearts, sporting musky girdles of sea-kelp, +tasseled with green little pouches of grass, brimful of seed-pearls; and +jingling their coin in the ears of the damsels, throw out inuendoes +about the beautiful and bountiful mermaids: how wealthy and amorous they +were, and how they delighted in the company of the brave gallants of +Tupia. Ah! at such heartless bravadoes, how mourned the poor little +nymphs. Deep into their arbors they went; and their little hearts burst +like rose-buds, and filled the whole air with an odorous grief. But when +their lovers were gentle and true, no happier maidens haunted the lilies +than they. By some mystical process they wrought minute balls of light: +touchy, mercurial globules, very hard to handle; and with these, at +pitch and toss, they played in the groves. Or mischievously inclined, +they toiled all night long at braiding the moon-beams together, and +entangling the plaited end to a bough; so that at night, the poor planet +had much ado to set." + +Here Yoomy once more was mute. + +"Pause you to invent as you go on?" said old Mohi, elevating his chin, +till his beard was horizontal. + +Yoomy resumed. + +"Little or nothing more, my masters, is extant of the legend; only it +must be mentioned, that these little people were very tasteful in their +personal adornings; the manikins wearing girdles of fragrant leaves, and +necklaces of aromatic seeds; and the little damsels, not content with +their vines, and their verdure, sporting pearls in their ears; bracelets +of wee little porpoise teeth; and oftentimes dancing with their mates in +the moonlit glades, coquettishly fanned themselves with the transparent +wings of the flying fish." + +"Now, I appeal to you, royal Media; to you, noble Taji; to you, +Babbalanja;" said the chronicler, with an impressive gesture, "whether +this seems a credible history: Yoomy has invented." + +"But perhaps he has entertained, old Mohi," said Babbalanja. + +"He has not spoken the truth," persisted the chronicler. + +"Mohi," said Babbalanja, "truth is in things, and not in words: truth is +voiceless; so at least saith old Bardianna. And I, Babbalanja, assert, +that what are vulgarly called fictions are as much realities as the +gross mattock of Dididi, the digger of trenches; for things visible are +but conceits of the eye: things imaginative, conceits of the fancy. If +duped by one, we are equally duped by the other." + +"Clear as this water," said Yoomy. + +"Opaque as this paddle," said Mohi, "But, come now, thou oracle, if all +things are deceptive, tell us what is truth?" + +"The old interrogatory; did they not ask it when the world began? But +ask it no more. As old Bardianna hath it, that question is more final +than any answer." + + + +CHAPTER XCIV Of That Jolly Old Lord, Borabolla; And That Jolly Island Of +His, Mondoldo; And Of The Fish-Ponds, And The Hereafters Of Fish + + +Drawing near Mondoldo, our next place of destination, we were greeted by +six fine canoes, gayly tricked out with streamers, and all alive with +the gestures of their occupants. King Borabolla and court were hastening +to welcome our approach; Media, unbeknown to all, having notified him at +the Banquet of the Five-and-Twenty Kings, of our intention to visit his +dominions. + +Soon, side by side, these canoes floated with ours; each barge of Odo +courteously flanked by those of Mondoldo. + +Not long were we in identifying Borabolla: the portly, pleasant old +monarch, seated cross-legged upon a dais, projecting over the bow of the +largest canoe of the six, close-grappling to the side of the Sea +Elephant. + +Was he not a goodly round sight to behold? Round all over; round of eye +and of head; and like the jolly round Earth, roundest and biggest about +the Equator. A girdle of red was his Equinoctial Line, giving a +compactness to his plumpness. + +This old Borabolla permitted naught to come between his head and the +sun; not even gray hairs. Bald as a gourd, right down on his brazen +skull, the rays of the luminary converged. + +He was all hilarity; full of allusions to the feast at Willamilla, where +he had done royal execution. Rare old Borabolla! thou wert made for +dining out; thy ample mouth an inlet for good cheer, and a sally-port +for good humor. + +Bustling about on his dais, he now gave orders for the occupants of our +canoes to be summarily emptied into his own; saying, that in that manner +only did he allow guests to touch the beach of Mondoldo. + +So, with no little trouble--for the waves were grown somewhat riotous--we proceeded to comply; bethinking ourselves all the while, how annoying +is sometimes an over-strained act of hospitality. + +We were now but little less than a mile from the shore. But what of +that? There was plenty of time, thought Borabolla, for a hasty lunch, +and the getting of a subsequent appetite ere we effected a landing. So +viands were produced; to which the guests were invited to pay heedful +attention; or take the consequences, and famish till the long voyage in +prospect was ended. + +Soon the water shoaled (approaching land is like nearing truth in +metaphysics), and ere we yet touched the beach, Borabolla declared, that +we were already landed. Which paradoxical assertion implied, that the +hospitality of Mondoldo was such, that in all directions it radiated far +out upon the lagoon, embracing a great circle; so that no canoe could +sail by the island, without its occupants being so long its guests. + +In most hospitable vicinity to the water, was a fine large structure, +inclosed by a stockade; both rather dilapidated; as if the cost of +entertaining its guests, prevented outlays for repairing the place. But +it was one of Borabolla's maxims, that generally your tumble-down old +homesteads yield the most entertainment; their very dilapidation +betokening their having seen good service in hospitality; whereas, +spruce-looking, finical portals, have a phiz full of meaning; for +niggards are oftentimes neat. + +Now, after what has been said, who so silly as to fancy, that because +Borabolla's mansion was inclosed by a stockade, that the same was +intended as a defense against guests? By no means. In the palisade was a +mighty breach, not an entrance-way, wide enough to admit six Daniel +Lamberts abreast. + +"Look," cried Borabolla, as landing we stepped toward the place. "Look +Media! look all. These gates, you here see, lashed back with osiers, +have been so lashed during my life-time; and just where they stand, +shall they rot; ay, they shall perish wide open." + +"But why have them at all?" inquired Media. + +"Ah! there you have old Borabolla," cried the other. + +"No," said Babbalanja, "a fence whose gate is ever kept open, seems +unnecessary, I grant; nevertheless, it gives a notable hint, otherwise +not so aptly conveyed; for is not the open gate the sign of the open +heart?" + +"Right, right," cried Borabolla; "so enter both, cousin Media;" and with +one hand smiting his chest, with the other he waved us on. + +But if the stockade seemed all open gate, the structure within seemed +only a roof; for nothing but a slender pillar here and there, supported +it. + +"This is my mode of building," said Borabolla; "I will have no outside +to my palaces. Walls are superfluous. And to a high-minded guest, the +entering a narrow doorway is like passing under a yoke; every time he +goes in, or comes out, it reminds him, that he is being entertained at +the cost of another. So storm in all round." + +Within, was one wide field-bed; where reclining, we looked up to endless +rows of brown calabashes, and trenchers suspended along the rafters; +promissory of ample cheer as regiments of old hams in a baronial +refectory. + +They were replenished with both meat and drink; the trenchers readily +accessible by means of cords; but the gourds containing arrack, +suspended neck downward, were within easy reach where they swung. + +Seeing all these indications of hard roystering; like a cautious young +bridegroom at his own marriage merry-making, Taji stood on his guard. +And when Borabolla urged him to empty a gourd or two, by way of making +room in him for the incidental repast about to be served, Taji civilly +declined; not wishing to cumber the floor, before the cloth was laid. + +Jarl, however, yielding to importunity, and unmindful of the unities of +time and place, went freely about, from gourd to gourd, concocting in +him a punch. At which, Samoa expressed much surprise, that he should be +so unobservant as not to know, that in Mardi, guests might be pressed to +demean themselves, without its being expected that so they would do. A +true toss-pot himself, he bode his time. + +The second lunch over, Borabolla placed both hands to the ground, and +giving the sigh of the fat man, after three vigorous efforts, succeeded +in gaining his pins; which pins of his, were but small for his body; +insomuch that they hugely staggered about, under the fine old load they +carried. + +The specific object of his thus striving after an erect posture, was to +put himself in motion, and conduct us to his fish-ponds, famous +throughout the Archipelago as the hobby of the king of Mondoldo. +Furthermore, as the great repast of the day, yet to take place, was to +be a grand piscatory one, our host was all anxiety, that we should have +a glimpse of our fish, while yet alive and hearty. + +We were alarmed at perceiving, that certain servitors were preparing to +accompany us with trenchers of edibles. It begat the notion, that our +trip to the fish-ponds was to prove a long journey. But they were not +three hundred yards distant; though Borabolla being a veteran traveler, +never stirred from his abode without his battalion of butlers. + +The ponds were four in number, close bordering the water, embracing +about an acre each, and situated in a low fen, draining several valleys. +The excavated soil was thrown up in dykes, made tight by being beaten +all over, while in a soft state, with the heavy, flat ends of Palm +stalks. Lying side by side, by three connecting trenches, these ponds +could be made to communicate at pleasure; while two additional canals +afforded means of letting in upon them the salt waters of the lagoon on +one hand, or those of an inland stream on the other. And by a third +canal with four branches, together or separately, they could be +partially drained. Thus, the waters could be mixed to suit any gills; +and the young fish taken from the sea, passed through a stated process +of freshening; so that by the time they graduated, the salt was well out +of them, like the brains out of some diplomaed collegians. + +Fresh-water fish are only to be obtained in Mondoldo by the artificial +process above mentioned; as the streams and brooks abound not in trout +or other Waltonian prey. + +Taken all floundering from the sea, Borabolla's fish, passing through +their regular training for the table, and daily tended by their keepers, +in course of time became quite tame and communicative. To prove which, +calling his Head Ranger, the king bade him administer the customary +supply of edibles. + +Accordingly, mouthfuls were thrown into the ponds. Whereupon, the fish +darted in a shoal toward the margin; some leaping out of the water in +their eagerness. Crouching on the bank, the Ranger now called several by +name, patted their scales, carrying on some heathenish nursery-talk, +like St. Anthony, in ancient Coptic, instilling virtuous principles into +his finny flock on the sea shore. + +But alas, for the hair-shirted old dominie's backsliding disciples. For, +of all nature's animated kingdoms, fish are the most unchristian, +inhospitable, heartless, and cold-blooded of creatures. At least, so +seem they to strangers; though at bottom, somehow, they must be all +right. And truly it is not to be wondered at, that the very reverend +Anthony strove after the conversion of fish. For, whoso shall +Christianize, and by so doing, humanize the sharks, will do a greater +good, by the saving of human life in all time to come, than though he +made catechumens of the head-hunting Dyaks of Borneo, or the blood-bibbing Battas of Sumatra. And are these Dyaks and Battas one whit +better than tiger-sharks? Nay, are they so good? Were a Batta your +intimate friend, you would often mistake an orang-outang for him; and +have orang-outangs immortal souls? True, the Battas believe in a +hereafter; but of what sort? Full of Blue-Beards and bloody bones. So, +also, the sharks; who hold that Paradise is one vast Pacific, ploughed +by navies of mortals, whom an endless gale forever drops into their +maws. + +Not wholly a surmise. For, does it not appear a little unreasonable to +imagine, that there is any creature, fish, flesh, or fowl, so little in +love with life, as not to cherish hopes of a future state? Why does man +believe in it? One reason, reckoned cogent, is, that he desires it. Who +shall say, then, that the leviathan this day harpooned on the coast of +Japan, goes not straight to his ancestor, who rolled all Jonah, as a +sweet morsel, under his tongue? + +Though herein, some sailors are slow believers, or at best hold +themselves in a state of philosophical suspense. Say they--"That +catastrophe took place in the Mediterranean; and the only whales +frequenting the Mediterranean, are of a sort having not a swallow large +enough to pass a man entire; for those Mediterranean whales feed upon +small things, as horses upon oats." But hence, the sailors draw a rash +inference. Are not the Straits of Gibralter wide enough to admit a +sperm-whale, even though none have sailed through, since Nineveh and the +gourd in its suburbs dried up? + +As for the possible hereafter of the whales; a creature eighty feet long +without stockings, and thirty feet round the waist before dinner, is not +inconsiderately to be consigned to annihilation. + + + +CHAPTER XCV That Jolly Old Lord Borabolla Laughs On Both Sides Of His +Face + + +"A very good palace, this, coz, for you and me," said waddling old +Borabolla to Media, as, returned from our excursion, he slowly lowered +himself down to his mat, sighing like a grampus. + +By this, he again made known the vastness of his hospitality, which led +him for the nonce to parcel out his kingdom with his guests. + +But apart from these extravagant expressions of good feeling, Borabolla +was the prince of good fellows. His great tun of a person was +indispensable to the housing of his bullock-heart; under which, any lean +wight would have sunk. But alas! unlike Media and Taji, Borabolla, +though a crowned king, was accounted no demi-god; his obesity excluding +him from that honor. Indeed, in some quarters of Mardi, certain pagans +maintain, that no fat man can be even immortal. A dogma! truly, which +should be thrown to the dogs. For fat men are the salt and savor of the +earth; full of good humor, high spirits, fun, and all manner of jollity. +Their breath clears the atmosphere: their exhalations air the world. Of +men, they are the good measures; brimmed, heaped, pressed down, piled +up, and running over. They are as ships from Teneriffe; swimming deep, +full of old wine, and twenty steps down into their holds. Soft and +susceptible, all round they are easy of entreaty. Wherefore, for all +their rotundity, they are too often circumnavigated by hatchet-faced +knaves. Ah! a fat uncle, with a fat paunch, and a fat purse, is a joy +and a delight to all nephews; to philosophers, a subject of endless +speculation, as to how many droves of oxen and Lake Eries of wine might +have run through his great mill during the full term of his mortal +career. Fat men not immortal! This very instant, old Lambert is rubbing +his jolly abdomen in Paradise. + +Now, to the fact of his not being rated a demi-god, was perhaps +ascribable the circumstance, that Borabolla comported himself with less +dignity, than was the wont of their Mardian majesties. And truth to say, +to have seen him regaling himself with one of his favorite cuttle-fish, +its long snaky arms and feelers instinctively twining round his head as +he ate; few intelligent observers would have opined that the individual +before them was the sovereign lord of Mondoldo. + +But what of the banquet of fish? Shall we tell how the old king +ungirdled himself thereto; how as the feast waxed toward its close, with +one sad exception, he still remained sunny-sided all round; his disc of +a face joyous as the South Side of Madeira in the hilarious season of +grapes? Shall we tell how we all grew glad and frank; and how the din of +the dinner was heard far into night? + +We will. + +When Media ate slowly, Borabolla took him to task, bidding him dispatch +his viands more speedily. + +Whereupon said Media "But Borabolla, my round fellow, that would abridge +the pleasure." + +"Not at all, my dear demi-god; do like me: eat fast and eat long." + +In the middle of the feast, a huge skin of wine was brought in. The +portly peltry of a goat; its horns embattling its effigy head; its mouth +the nozzle; and its long beard flowed to its jet-black hoofs. With many +ceremonial salams, the attendants bore it along, placing it at one end +of the convivial mats, full in front of Borabolla; where seated upon its +haunches it made one of the party. + +Brimming a ram's horn, the mellowest of bugles, Borabolla bowed to his +silent guest, and thus spoke--"In this wine, which yet smells of the +grape, I pledge you my reverend old toper, my lord Capricornus; you +alone have enough; and here's full skins to the rest!" + +"How jolly he is," whispered Media to Babbalanja. + +"Ay, his lungs laugh loud; but is laughing, rejoicing?" + +"Help! help!" cried Borabolla "lay me down! lay me down! good gods, what +a twinge!" + +The goblet fell from his hand; the purple flew from his wine to his +face; and Borabolla fell back into the arms of his servitors. "That +gout! that gout!" he groaned. "Lord! lord! no more cursed wine will I +drink!" + +Then at ten paces distant, a clumsy attendant let fall a trencher--"Take +it off my foot, you knave!" + +Afar off another entered gallanting a calabash--"Look out for my toe, +you hound!" + +During all this, the attendants tenderly nursed him. And in good time, +with its thousand fangs, the gout-fiend departed for a while. + +Reprieved, the old king brightened up; by degrees becoming jolly as +ever. + +"Come! let us be merry again," he cried, "what shall we eat? and what +shall we drink? that infernal gout is gone; come, what will your +worships have?" + +So at it once more we went. + +But of our feast, little more remains to be related than this;--that out +of it, grew a wondrous kindness between Borabolla and Jarl. Strange to +tell, from the first our fat host had regarded my Viking with a most +friendly eye. Still stranger to add, this feeling was returned. But +though they thus fancied each other, they were very unlike; Borabolla +and Jarl. Nevertheless, thus is it ever. And as the convex fits not into +the convex, but into the concave; so do men fit into their opposites; +and so fitted Borabolla's arched paunch into Jarl's, hollowed out to +receive it. + +But how now? Borabolla was jolly and loud: Jarl demure and silent; +Borabolla a king: Jarl only a Viking;--how came they together? Very +plain, to repeat:--because they were heterogeneous; and hence the +affinity. But as the affinity between those chemical opposites chlorine +and hydrogen, is promoted by caloric; so the affinity between Borabolla +and Jarl was promoted by the warmth of the wine that they drank at this +feast. For of all blessed fluids, the juice of the grape is the greatest +foe to cohesion. True, it tightens the girdle; but then it loosens the +tongue, and opens the heart. + +In sum, Borabolla loved Jarl; and Jarl, pleased with this sociable +monarch, for all his garrulity, esteemed him the most sensible old +gentleman and king he had as yet seen in Mardi. For this reason, +perhaps; that his talkativeness favored that silence in listeners, which +was my Viking's delight in himself. + +Repeatedly during the banquet, our host besought Taji to allow his +henchman to remain on the island, after the rest of our party should +depart; and he faithfully promised to surrender Jarl, whenever we should +return to claim him. + +But though I harbored no distrust of Borabolla's friendly intentions, I +could not so readily consent to his request; for with Jarl for my one +only companion, had I not both famished and feasted? was he not my only +link to things past? + +Things past!--Ah Yillah! for all its mirth, and though we hunted wide, +we found thee not in Mondoldo. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVI Samoa A Surgeon + + +The second day of our stay in Mondoldo was signalized by a noteworthy +exhibition of the surgical skill of Samoa; who had often boasted, that +though well versed in the science of breaking men's heads, he was +equally an adept in mending their crockery. + +Overnight, Borabolla had directed his corps of sea-divers to repair +early on the morrow, to a noted section of the great Mardian reef, for +the purpose of procuring for our regalement some of the fine Hawk's-bill +turtle, whose secret retreats were among the cells and galleries of that +submerged wall of coral, from whose foamy coping no plummet dropped ever +yet touched bottom. + +These turtles were only to be obtained by diving far down under the +surface; and then swimming along horizontally, and peering into the +coral honeycomb; snatching at a flipper when seen, as at a pinion in a +range of billing dove-cotes. + +As the king's divers were thus employed, one of them, Karhownoo by name, +perceived a Devil-shark, so called, swimming wistfully toward him from +out his summer grotto in the reef. No way petrified by the sight, and +pursuing the usual method adopted by these divers in such emergencies, +Karhownoo, splashing the water, instantly swam toward the stranger. But +the shark, undaunted, advanced: a thing so unusual, and fearful, that, +in an agony of fright, the diver shot up for the surface. Heedless, he +looked not up as he went; and when within a few inches of the open air, +dashed his head against a projection of the reef. He would have sank +into the live tomb beneath, were it not that three of his companions, +standing on the brink, perceived his peril, and dragged him into safety. + +Seeing the poor fellow was insensible, they endeavored, ineffectually, +to revive him; and at last, placing him in their canoe, made all haste +for the shore. Here a crowd soon gathered, and the diver was borne to a +habitation, close adjoining Borabolla's; whence, hearing of the +disaster, we sallied out to render assistance. + +Upon entering the hut, the benevolent old king commanded it to be +cleared; and then proceeded to examine the sufferer. + +The skull proved to be very badly fractured; in one place, splintered. + +"Let me mend it," said Samoa, with ardor. + +And being told of his experience in such matters, Borabolla surrendered +the patient. + +With a gourd of water, and a tappa cloth, the one-armed Upoluan +carefully washed the wound; and then calling for a sharp splinter of +bamboo, and a thin, semi-transparent cup of cocoa-nut shell, he went +about the operation: nothing less than the "Tomoti" (head-mending), in +other words the trepan. + +The patient still continuing insensible, the fragments were disengaged +by help of a bamboo scalpel; when a piece of the drinking cup--previously dipped in the milk of a cocoanut--was nicely fitted into the +vacancy, the skin as nicely adjusted over it, and the operation was +complete. + +And now, while all present were crying out in admiration of Samoa's +artistic skill, and Samoa himself stood complacently regarding his +workmanship, Babbalanja suggested, that it might be well to ascertain +whether the patient survived. When, upon sounding his heart, the diver +was found to be dead. + +The bystanders loudly lamented; but declared the surgeon a man of +marvelous science. + +Returning to Borabolla's, much conversation ensued, concerning the sad +scene we had witnessed, which presently branched into a learned +discussion upon matters of surgery at large. + +At length, Samoa regaled the company with a story; for the truth of +which no one but him can vouch, for no one but him was by, at the time; +though there is testimony to show that it involves nothing at variance +with the customs of certain barbarous tribes. + +Read on. + + + +CHAPTER XCVII Faith And Knowledge + + +A thing incredible is about to be related; but a thing may be incredible +and still be true; sometimes it is incredible because it is true. And +many infidels but disbelieve the least incredible things; and many +bigots reject the most obvious. But let us hold fast to all we have; and +stop all leaks in our faith; lest an opening, but of a hand's breadth, +should sink our seventy-fours. The wide Atlantic can rush in at one +port-hole; and if we surrender a plank, we surrender the fleet. +Panoplied in all the armor of St. Paul, morion, hauberk, and greaves, +let us fight the Turks inch by inch, and yield them naught but our +corpse. + +But let us not turn round upon friends, confounding them with foes. For +dissenters only assent to more than we. Though Milton was a heretic to +the creed of Athanasius, his faith exceeded that of Athanasius himself; +and the faith of Athanasius that of Thomas, the disciple, who with his +own eyes beheld the mark of the nails. Whence it comes that though we be +all Christians now, the best of us had perhaps been otherwise in the +days of Thomas. + +The higher the intelligence, the more faith, and the less credulity: +Gabriel rejects more than we, but out-believes us all. The greatest +marvels are first truths; and first truths the last unto which we +attain. Things nearest are furthest off. Though your ear be next-door to +your brain, it is forever removed from your sight. Man has a more +comprehensive view of the moon, than the man in the moon himself. We +know the moon is round; he only infers it. It is because we ourselves +are in ourselves, that we know ourselves not. And it is only of our easy +faith, that we are not infidels throughout; and only of our lack of +faith, that we believe what we do. + +In some universe-old truths, all mankind are disbelievers. Do you +believe that you lived three thousand years ago? That you were at the +taking of Tyre, were overwhelmed in Gomorrah? No. But for me, I was at +the subsiding of the Deluge, and helped swab the ground, and build the +first house. With the Israelites, I fainted in the wilderness; was in +court, when Solomon outdid all the judges before him. I, it was, who +suppressed the lost work of Manetho, on the Egyptian theology, as +containing mysteries not to be revealed to posterity, and things at war +with the canonical scriptures; I, who originated the conspiracy against +that purple murderer, Domitian; I, who in the senate moved, that great +and good Aurelian be emperor. I instigated the abdication of Diocletian, +and Charles the Fifth; I touched Isabella's heart, that she hearkened to +Columbus. I am he, that from the king's minions hid the Charter in the +old oak at Hartford; I harbored Goffe and Whalley: I am the leader of +the Mohawk masks, who in the Old Commonwealth's harbor, overboard threw +the East India Company's Souchong; I am the Vailed Persian Prophet; I, +the man in the iron mask; I, Junius. + + + +CHAPTER XCVIII The Tale Of A Traveler + + +It was Samoa, who told the incredible tale; and he told it as a +traveler. But stay-at-homes say travelers lie. Yet a voyage to Ethiopia +would cure them of that; for few skeptics are travelers; fewer travelers +liars, though the proverb respecting them lies. It is false, as some +say, that Bruce was cousin-german to Baron Munchausen; but true, as +Bruce said, that the Abysinnians cut live steaks from their cattle. It +was, in good part, his villainous transcribers, who made monstrosities +of Mandeville's travels. And though all liars go to Gehenna; yet, +assuming that Mandeville died before Dante; still, though Dante took the +census of Hell, we find not Sir John, under the likeness of a roasted +neat's tongue, in that infernalest of infernos, The Inferno. + +But let not the truth be postponed. To the stand, Samoa, and through +your interpreter, speak. + +Once upon a time, during his endless sea-rovings, the Upoluan was called +upon to cobble the head of a friend, grievously hurt in a desperate +fight of slings. + +Upon examination, that part of the brain proving as much injured as the +cranium itself, a young pig was obtained; and preliminaries being over, +part of its live brain was placed in the cavity, the trepan accomplished +with cocoanut shell, and the scalp drawn over and secured. + +This man died not, but lived. But from being a warrior of great sense +and spirit, he became a perverse-minded and piggish fellow, showing many +of the characteristics of his swinish grafting. He survived the +operation more than a year; at the end of that period, however, going +mad, and dying in his delirium. + +Stoutly backed by the narrator, this anecdote was credited by some +present. But Babbalanja held out to the last. + +"Yet, if this story be true," said he, "and since it is well settled, +that our brains are somehow the organs of sense; then, I see not why +human reason could not be put into a pig, by letting into its cranium +the contents of a man's. I have long thought, that men, pigs, and +plants, are but curious physiological experiments; and that science +would at last enable philosophers to produce new species of beings, by +somehow mixing, and concocting the essential ingredients of various +creatures; and so forming new combinations. My friend Atahalpa, the +astrologer and alchymist, has long had a jar, in which he has been +endeavoring to hatch a fairy, the ingredients being compounded according +to a receipt of his own." + +But little they heeded Babbalanja. It was the traveler's tale that most +arrested attention. + +Tough the thews, and tough the tales of Samoa. + + + +CHAPTER XCIX "Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee" + +During the afternoon of the day of the diver's decease, preparations +were making for paying the last rites to his remains, and carrying them +by torch-light to their sepulcher, the sea; for, as in Odo, so was the +custom here. + +Meanwhile, all over the isle, to and fro went heralds, dismally arrayed, +beating shark-skin drums; and, at intervals, crying--"A man is dead; let +no fires be kindled; have mercy, oh Oro!--Let no canoes put to sea till +the burial. This night, oh Oro!--Let no food be cooked." + +And ever and anon, passed and repassed these, others in brave attire; +with castanets of pearl shells, making gay music; and these sang--Be +merry, oh men of Mondoldo, A maiden this night is to wed: Be merry, oh +damsels of Mardi,-- Flowers, flowers for the bridal bed. + +Informed that the preliminary rites were about being rendered, we +repaired to the arbor, whither the body had been removed. + +Arrayed in white, it was laid out on a mat; its arms mutely crossed, +between its lips an asphodel; at the feet, a withered hawthorn bough. + +The relatives were wailing, and cutting themselves with shells, so that +blood flowed, and spotted their vesture. + +Upon remonstrating with the most abandoned of these mourners, the wife +of the diver, she exclaimed, "Yes; great is the pain, but greater my +affliction." + +Another, the deaf sire of the dead, went staggering about, and groping; +saying, that he was now quite blind; for some months previous he had +lost one eye in the death of his eldest son and now the other was gone. + +"I am childless," he cried; "henceforth call me Roi Mori," that is, +Twice-Blind. + +While the relatives were thus violently lamenting, the rest of the +company occasionally scratched themselves with their shells; but very +slightly, and mostly on the soles of their feet; from long exposure, +quite callous. This was interrupted, however, when the real mourners +averted their eyes; though at no time was there any deviation in the +length of their faces. + +But on all sides, lamentations afresh broke forth, upon the appearance +of a person who had been called in to assist in solemnizing the +obsequies, and also to console the afflicted. + +In rotundity, he was another Borabolla. He puffed and panted. + +As he approached the corpse, a sobbing silence ensued; when holding the +hand of the dead, between his, the stranger thus spoke:--"Mourn not, oh +friends of Karhownoo, that this your brother lives not. His wounded head +pains him no more; he would not feel it, did a javelin pierce him. Yea; +Karhownoo is exempt from all the ills and evils of this miserable +Mardi!" + +Hereupon, the Twice-Blind, who being deaf, heard not what was said, tore +his gray hair, and cried, "Alas! alas! my boy; thou wert the merriest +man in Mardi, and now thy pranks are over!" + +But the other proceeded--"Mourn not, I say, oh friends of Karhownoo; the +dead whom ye deplore is happier than the living; is not his spirit in +the aerial isles?" + +"True! true!" responded the raving wife, mingling her blood with her +tears, "my own poor hapless Karhownoo is thrice happy in Paradise!" And +anew she wailed, and lacerated her cheeks. + +"Rave not, I say." + +But she only raved the more. + +And now the good stranger departed; saying, he must hie to a wedding, +waiting his presence in an arbor adjoining. + +Understanding that the removal of the body would not take place till +midnight, we thought to behold the mode of marrying in Mondoldo. + +Drawing near the place, we were greeted by merry voices, and much +singing, which greatly increased when the good stranger was perceived. + +Gayly arrayed in fine robes, with plumes on their heads, the bride and +groom stood in the middle of a joyous throng, in readiness for the +nuptial bond to be tied. + +Standing before them, the stranger was given a cord, so bedecked with +flowers, as to disguise its stout fibers; and taking: the bride's hands, +he bound them together to a ritual chant; about her neck, in festoons, +disposing the flowery ends of the cord. Then turning to the groom, he +was given another, also beflowered; but attached thereto was a great +stone, very much carved, and stained; indeed, so every way disguised, +that a person not knowing what it was, and lifting it, would be greatly +amazed at its weight. This cord being attached to the waist of the +groom, he leaned over toward the bride, by reason of the burden of the +drop. + +All present now united in a chant, and danced about the happy pair, who +meanwhile looked ill at ease; the one being so bound by the hands, and +the other solely weighed down by his stone. + +A pause ensuing, the good stranger, turning them back to back, thus +spoke:--"By thy flowery gyves, oh bride, I make thee a wife; and by thy +burdensome stone, oh groom, I make thee a husband. Live and be happy, +both; for the wise and good Oro hath placed us in Mardi to be glad. Doth +not all nature rejoice in her green groves and her flowers? and woo and +wed not the fowls of the air, trilling their bliss in their bowers? Live +then, and be happy, oh bride and groom; for Oro is offended with the +unhappy, since he meant them to be gay." + +And the ceremony ended with a joyful feast. + +But not all nuptials in Mardi were like these. Others were wedded with +different rites; without the stone and flowery gyves. These were they +who plighted their troth with tears not smiles, and made responses in +the heart. + +Returning from the house of the merry to the house of the mournful, we +lingered till midnight to witness the issuing forth of the body. + +By torch light, numerous canoes, with paddlers standing by, were drawn +up on the beach, to accommodate those who purposed following the poor +diver to his home. + +The remains embarked, some confusion ensued concerning the occupancy of +the rest of the shallops. At last the procession glided off, our party +included. Two by two, forming a long line of torches trailing round the +isle, the canoes all headed toward the opening in the reef. + +For a time, a decorous silence was preserved; but presently, some +whispering was heard; perhaps melancholy discoursing touching the close +of the diver's career. But we were shocked to discover, that poor +Karhownoo was not much in their thoughts; they were conversing about the +next bread-fruit harvest, and the recent arrival of King Media and party +at Mondoldo. From far in advance, however, were heard the lamentations +of the true mourners, the relatives of the diver. + +Passing the reef, and sailing a little distance therefrom, the canoes +were disposed in a circle; the one bearing the corpse in the center. +Certain ceremonies over, the body was committed to the waves; the white +foam lighting up the last, long plunge of the diver, to see sights more +strange than ever he saw in the brooding cells of the Turtle Reef. + +And now, while in the still midnight, all present were gazing down into +the ocean, watching the white wake of the corpse, ever and anon +illuminated by sparkles, an unknown voice was heard, and all started and +vacantly stared, as this wild song was sung:--We drop our dead in the +sea, The bottomless, bottomless sea; Each bubble a hollow sigh, As it +sinks forever and aye. + +We drop our dead in the sea,-- The dead reek not of aught; We drop +our dead in the sea,-- The sea ne'er gives it a thought. + +Sink, sink, oh corpse, still sink, Far down in the bottomless sea, Where +the unknown forms do prowl, Down, down in the bottomless sea. + +'Tis night above, and night all round, And night will it be with thee; +As thou sinkest, and sinkest for aye, Deeper down in the bottomless sea. + +The mysterious voice died away; no sign of the corpse was now seen; and +mute with amaze, the company long listed to the low moan of the billows +and the sad sough of the breeze. + +At last, without speaking, the obsequies were concluded by sliding into +the ocean a carved tablet of Palmetto, to mark the place of the burial. +But a wave-crest received it, and fast it floated away. + +Returning to the isle, long silence prevailed. But at length, as if the +scene in which they had just taken part, afresh reminded them of the +mournful event which had called them together, the company again +recurred to it; some present, sadly and incidentally alluding to +Borabolla's banquet of turtle, thereby postponed. + + + +CHAPTER C The Pursuer Himself Is Pursued + + +Next morning, when much to the chagrin of Borabolla we were preparing to +quit his isle, came tidings to the palace, of a wonderful event, +occurring in one of the "Motoos," or little islets of the great reef; +which "Motoo" was included in the dominions of the king. + +The men who brought these tidings were highly excited; and no sooner did +they make known what they knew, than all Mondoldo was in a tumult of +marveling. + +Their story was this. + +Going at day break to the Motoo to fish, they perceived a strange proa +beached on its seaward shore; and presently were hailed by voices; and +saw among the palm trees, three specter-like men, who were not of Mardi. + +The first amazement of the fishermen over, in reply to their eager +questions, the strangers related, that they were the survivors of a +company of men, natives of some unknown island to the northeast; whence +they had embarked for another country, distant three days' sail to the +southward of theirs. But falling in with a terrible adventure, in which +their sire had been slain, they altered their course to pursue the +fugitive who murdered him; one and all vowing, never more to see home, +until their father's fate was avenged. The murderer's proa outsailing +theirs, soon ran out of sight; yet after him they blindly steered by day +and by night: steering by the blood-red star in Bootes. Soon, a violent +gale overtook them; driving them to and fro; leaving them they knew not +where. But still struggling against strange currents, at times +counteracting their sailing, they drifted on their way; nigh to +famishing for water; and no shore in sight. In long calms, in vain they +held up their dry gourds to heaven, and cried "send us a breeze, sweet +gods!" The calm still brooded; and ere it was gone, all but three +gasped; and dead from thirst, were plunged into the sea. The breeze +which followed the calm, soon brought them in sight of a low, +uninhabited isle; where tarrying many days, they laid in good store of +cocoanuts and water, and again embarked. + +The next land they saw was Mardi; and they landed on the Motoo, still +intent on revenge. + +This recital filled Taji with horror. + +Who could these avengers be, but the sons of him I had slain. I had +thought them far hence, and myself forgotten; and now, like adders, they +started up in my path, as I hunted for Yillah. + +But I dissembled my thoughts. + +Without waiting to hear more, Borabolla, all curiosity to behold the +strangers, instantly dispatched to the Motoo one of his fleetest canoes, +with orders to return with the voyagers. + +Ere long they came in sight; and perceiving that strange pros in tow of +the king's, Samoa cried out: "Lo! Taji, the canoe that was going to +Tedaidee!" + +Too true; the same double-keeled craft, now sorely broken, the fatal +dais in wild disarray: the canoe, the canoe of Aleema! And with it came +the spearmen three, who, when the Chamois was fleeing from their bow, +had poised their javelins. But so wan their aspect now, their faces +looked like skulls. + +Then came over me the wild dream of Yillah; and, for a space, like a +madman, I raved. It seemed as if the mysterious damsel must still be +there; the rescue yet to be achieved. In my delirium I rushed upon the +skeletons, as they landed--"Hide not the maiden!" But interposing, Media +led me aside; when my transports abated. + +Now, instantly, the strangers knew who I was; and, brandishing their +javelins, they rushed upon me, as I had on them, with a yell. But +deeming us all mad, the crowd held us apart; when, writhing in the arms +that restrained them, the pale specters foamed out their curses again +and again: "Oh murderer! white curses upon thee! Bleached be thy soul +with our hate! Living, our brethren cursed thee; and dying, dry-lipped, +they cursed thee again. They died not through famishing for water, but +for revenge upon thee! Thy blood, their thirst would have slaked!" + +I lay fainting against the hard-throbbing heart of Samoa, while they +showered their yells through the air. Once more, in my thoughts, the +green corpse of the priest drifted by. + +Among the people of Mondoldo, a violent commotion now raged. They were +amazed at Taji's recognition by the strangers, and at the deadly +ferocity they betrayed. + +Rallying upon this, and perceiving that by divulging all they knew, +these sons of Aleema might stir up the Islanders against me, I resolved +to anticipate their story; and, turning to Borabolla, said--"In these +strangers, oh, king! you behold the survivors of a band we encountered +on our voyage. From them I rescued a maiden, called Yillah, whom they +were carrying captive. Little more of their history do I know." + +"Their maledictions?" exclaimed Borabolla. + +"Are they not delirious with suffering?" I cried. "They know not what +they say." + +So, moved by all this, he commanded them to be guarded, and conducted +within his palisade; and having supplied them with cheer, entered into +earnest discourse. Yet all the while, the pale strangers on me fixed +their eyes; deep, dry, crater-like hollows, lurid with flames, reflected +from the fear-frozen glacier, my soul. + +But though their hatred appalled, spite of that spell, again the sweet +dream of Yillah stole over me, with all the mysterious things by her +narrated, but left unexplained. And now, before me were those who might +reveal the lost maiden's whole history, previous to the fatal affray. + +Thus impelled, I besought them to disclose what they knew. + +But, "Where now is your Yillah?" they cried. "Is the murderer wedded and +merry? Bring forth the maiden!" + +Yet, though they tore out my heart's core, I told them not of my loss. + +Then, anxious, to learn the history of Yillah, all present commanded +them to divulge it; and breathlessly I heard what follows. + +"Of Yillah, we know only this:--that many moons ago, a mighty canoe, +full of beings, white, like this murderer Taji, touched at our island of +Amma. Received with wonder, they were worshiped as gods; were feasted +all over the land. Their chief was a tower to behold; and with him, was +a being, whose cheeks were of the color of the red coral; her eye, +tender as the blue of the sky. Every day our people brought her +offerings of fruit and flowers; which last she would not retain for +herself; but hung them round the neck of her child, Yillah; then only an +infant in her mother's arms; a bud, nestling close to a flower, full-blown. All went well between our people and the gods, till at last they +slew three of our countrymen, charged with stealing from their great +canoe. Our warriors retired to the hills, brooding over revenge. Three +days went by; when by night, descending to the plain, in silence they +embarked; gained the great vessel, and slaughtered every soul but +Yillah. The bud was torn from the flower; and, by our father Aleema, was +carried to the Valley of Ardair; there set apart as a sacred offering +for Apo, our deity. Many moons passed; and there arose a tumult, hostile +to our sire's longer holding custody of Yillah; when, foreseeing that +the holy glen would ere long be burst open, he embarked the maiden in +yonder canoe, to accelerate her sacrifice at the great shrine of Apo, in +Tedaidee.--The rest thou knowest, murderer!" + +"Yillah! Yillah!" now hunted again that sound through my soul. "Oh, +Yillah! too late, too late have I learned what thou art!" + +Apprised of the disappearance of their former captive, the meager +strangers exulted; declaring that Apo had taken her to himself. For me, +ere long, my blood they would quaff from my skull. + +But though I shrunk from their horrible threats, I dissembled anew; and +turning, again swore that they raved. + +"Ay!" they retorted, "we rave and raven for you; and your white heart +will we have!" + +Perceiving the violence of their rage, and persuaded from what I said, +that much suffering at sea must have maddened them; Borabolla thought +fit to confine them for the present; so that they could not molest me. + + + +CHAPTER CI The Iris + + +That evening, in the groves, came to me three gliding forms:--Hautia's +heralds: the Iris mixed with nettles. Said Yoomy, "A cruel message!" + +With the right hand, the second syren presented glossy, green wax-myrtle +berries, those that burn like tapers; the third, a lily of the valley, +crushed in its own broad leaf. + +This done, they earnestly eyed Yoomy; who, after much pondering, said--"I speak for Hautia; who by these berries says, I will enlighten you." + +"Oh, give me then that light! say, where is Yillah?" and I rushed upon +the heralds. + +But eluding me, they looked reproachfully at Yoomy; and seemed offended. + +"Then, I am wrong," said Yoomy. "It is thus:--Taji, you have been +enlightened, but the lily you seek is crushed." + +Then fell my heart, and the phantoms nodded; flinging upon me +bilberries, like rose pearls, which bruised against my skin, left +stains. + +Waving oleanders, they retreated. + +"Harm! treachery! beware!" cried Yoomy. + +Then they glided through the wood: one showering dead leaves along the +path I trod, the others gayly waving bunches of spring-crocuses, yellow, +white, and purple; and thus they vanished. + +Said Yoomy, "Sad your path, but merry Hautia's." + +"Then merry may she be, whoe'er she is; and though woe be mine, I turn +not from that to Hautia; nor ever will I woo her, though she woo me till +I die;--though Yillah never bless my eyes." + + + +CHAPTER CII They Depart From Mondoldo + + +Night passed; and next morning we made preparations for leaving Mondoldo +that day. + +But fearing anew, lest after our departure, the men of Amma might stir +up against me the people of the isle, I determined to yield to the +earnest solicitations of Borabolla, and leave Jarl behind, for a +remembrance of Taji; if necessary, to vindicate his name. Apprised +hereof, my follower was loth to acquiesce. His guiltless spirit feared +not the strangers: less selfish considerations prevailed. He was willing +to remain on the island for a time, but not without me. Yet, setting +forth my reasons; and assuring him, that our tour would not be long in +completing, when we would not fail to return, previous to sailing for +Odo, he at last, but reluctantly, assented. + +At Mondoldo, we also parted with Samoa. Whether it was, that he feared +the avengers, whom he may have thought would follow on my track; or +whether the islands of Mardi answered not in attractiveness to the +picture his fancy had painted; or whether the restraint put upon him by +the domineering presence of King Media, was too irksome withal; or +whether, indeed, he relished not those disquisitions with which +Babbalanja regaled us: however it may have been, certain it was, that +Samoa was impatient of the voyage. He besought permission to return to +Odo, there to await my return; and a canoe of Mondoldo being about to +proceed in that direction, permission was granted; and departing for the +other side of the island, from thence he embarked. + +Long after, dark tidings came, that at early dawn he had been found dead +in the canoe: three arrows in his side. + +Yoomy was at a loss to account for the departure of Samoa; who, while +ashore, had expressed much desire to roam. + +Media, however, declared that he must be returning to some inamorata. + +But Babbalanja averred, that the Upoluan was not the first man, who had +turned back, after beginning a voyage like our own. + +To this, after musing, Yoomy assented. Indeed, I had noticed, that +already the Warbler had abated those sanguine assurances of success, +with which he had departed from Odo. The futility of our search thus +far, seemed ominous to him, of the end. + +On the eve of embarking, we were accompanied to the beach by Borabolla; +who, with his own hand, suspended from the shark's mouth of Media's +canoe, three red-ripe bunches of plantains, a farewell gift to his +guests. + +Though he spoke not a word, Jarl was long in taking leave. His eyes +seemed to say, I will see you no more. + +At length we pushed from the strand; Borabolla waving his adieus with a +green leaf of banana; our comrade ruefully eyeing the receding canoes; +and the multitude loudly invoking for us a prosperous voyage. + +But to my horror, there suddenly dashed through the crowd, the three +specter sons of Aleema, escaped from their prison. With clenched hands, +they stood in the water, and cursed me anew. And with that curse in our +sails, we swept off. + + + +CHAPTER CIII As They Sail + + +As the canoes now glided across the lagoon, I gave myself up to reverie; +and revolving over all that the men of Amma had rehearsed of the history +of Yillah, I one by one unriddled the mysteries, before so baffling. +Now, all was made plain: no secret remaining, but the subsequent event +of her disappearance. Yes, Hautia! enlightened I had been but where was +Yillah? + +Then I recalled that last interview with Hautia's messengers, so full of +enigmas; and wondered, whether Yoomy had interpreted aright. Unseen, and +unsolicited; still pursuing me with omens, with taunts, and with +wooings, mysterious Hautia appalled me. Vaguely I began to fear her. And +the thought, that perhaps again and again, her heralds would haunt me, +filled me with a nameless dread, which I almost shrank from +acknowledging. Inwardly I prayed, that never more they might appear. + +While full of these thoughts, Media interrupted them by saying, that the +minstrel was about to begin one of his chants, a thing of his own +composing; and therefore, as he himself said, all critics must be +lenient; for Yoomy, at times, not always, was a timid youth, distrustful +of his own sweet genius for poesy. + +The words were about a curious hereafter, believed in by some people in +Mardi: a sort of nocturnal Paradise, where the sun and its heat are +excluded: one long, lunar day, with twinkling stars to keep company. + +THE SONG Far off in the sea is Marlena, A land of shades and streams, A +land of many delights. Dark and bold, thy shores, Marlena; But green, +and timorous, thy soft knolls, Crouching behind the woodlands. All shady +thy hills; all gleaming thy springs, Like eyes in the earth looking at +you. How charming thy haunts Marlena!-- Oh, the waters that flow +through Onimoo: Oh, the leaves that rustle through Ponoo: Oh, the roses +that blossom in Tarma: Come, and see the valley of Vina: How sweet, how +sweet, the Isles from Hind: 'Tis aye afternoon of the full, full moon, +And ever the season of fruit, And ever the hour of flowers, And never +the time of rains and gales, All in and about Marlena. Soft sigh the +boughs in the stilly air, Soft lap the beach the billows there; And in +the woods or by the streams, You needs must nod in the Land of Dreams. + +"Yoomy," said old Mohi with a yawn, "you composed that song, then, did +you?" + +"I did," said Yoomy, placing his turban a little to one side. + +"Then, minstrel, you shall sing me to sleep every night, especially with +that song of Marlena; it is soporific as the airs of Nora-Bamma." + +"Mean you, old man, that my lines, setting forth the luxurious repose to +be enjoyed hereafter, are composed with such skill, that the description +begets the reality; or would you ironically suggest, that the song is a +sleepy thing itself?" + +"An important discrimination," said Media; "which mean you, Mohi?" + +"Now, are you not a silly boy," said Babbalanja, "when from the +ambiguity of his speech, you could so easily have derived something +flattering, thus to seek to extract unpleasantness from it? Be wise, +Yoomy; and hereafter, whenever a remark like that seems equivocal, be +sure to wrest commendation from it, though you torture it to the quick." + +"And most sure am I, that I would ever do so; but often I so incline to +a distrust of my powers, that I am far more keenly alive to censure, +than to praise; and always deem it the more sincere of the two; and no +praise so much elates me, as censure depresses." + + + +CHAPTER CIV Wherein Babbalanja Broaches A Diabolical Theory, And, In His +Own Person, Proves It + + +"A truce!" cried Media, "here comes a gallant before the wind.--Look, +Taji!" + +Turning, we descried a sharp-prowed canoe, dashing on, under the +pressure of an immense triangular sail, whose outer edges were streaming +with long, crimson pennons. Flying before it, were several small craft, +belonging to the poorer sort of Islanders. + +"Out of his way there, ye laggards," cried Media, "or that mad prince, +Tribonnora, will ride over ye with a rush!" + +"And who is Tribonnora," said Babbalanja, "that he thus bravely diverts +himself, running down innocent paddlers?" + +"A harum-scarum young chief," replied Media, "heir to three islands; he +likes nothing better than the sport you now see see him at." + +"He must be possessed by a devil," said Mohi. + +Said Babbalanja, "Then he is only like all of us." "What say you?" cried +Media. + +"I say, as old Bardianna in the Nine hundred and ninety ninth book of +his immortal Ponderings saith, that all men--" + +"As I live, my lord, he has swamped three canoes," cried Mohi, pointing +off the beam. + +But just then a fiery fin-back whale, having broken into the paddock of +the lagoon, threw up a high fountain of foam, almost under Tribonnora's +nose; who, quickly turning about his canoe, cur-like slunk off; his +steering-paddle between his legs. + +Comments over; "Babbalanja, you were going to quote," said Media. +"Proceed." + +"Thank you, my lord. Says old Bardianna, 'All men are possessed by +devils; but as these devils are sent into men, and kept in them, for an +additional punishment; not garrisoning a fortress, but limboed in a +bridewell; so, it may be more just to say, that the devils themselves +are possessed by men, not men by them.'" + +"Faith!" cried Media, "though sometimes a bore, your old Bardianna is a +trump." + +"I have long been of that mind, my lord. But let me go on. Says +Bardianna, 'Devils are divers;--strong devils, and weak devils; knowing +devils, and silly devils; mad devils, and mild devils; devils, merely +devils; devils, themselves bedeviled; devils, doubly bedeviled." + +"And in the devil's name, what sort of a devil is yours?" cried Mohi. + +"Of him anon; interrupt me not, old man. Thus, then, my lord, as devils +are divers, divers are the devils in men. Whence, the wide difference we +see. But after all, the main difference is this:--that one man's devil +is only more of a devil than another's; and be bedeviled as much as you +will; yet, may you perform the most bedeviled of actions with impunity, +so long as you only bedevil yourself. For it is only when your deviltry +injures another, that the other devils conspire to confine yours for a +mad one. That is to say, if you be easily handled. For there are many +bedeviled Bedlamites in Mardi, doing an infinity of mischief, who are +too brawny in the arms to be tied." + +"A very devilish doctrine that," cried Mohi. "I don't believe it." + +"My lord," said Babbalanja, "here's collateral proof;--the sage lawgiver +Yamjamma, who flourished long before Bardianna, roundly asserts, that +all men who knowingly do evil are bedeviled; for good is happiness; +happiness the object of living; and evil is not good." + +"If the sage Yamjamma said that," said old Mohi, "the sage Yamjamma +might have bettered the saying; it's not quite so plain as it might be." + +"Yamjamma disdained to be plain; he scorned to be fully comprehended by +mortals. Like all oracles, he dealt in dark sayings. But old Bardianna +was of another sort; he spoke right out, going straight to the point +like a javelin; especially when he laid it down for a universal maxim, +that minus exceptions, all men are bedeviled." + +"Of course, then," said Media, "you include yourself among the number." + +"Most assuredly; and so did old Bardianna; who somewhere says, that +being thoroughly bedeviled himself, he was so much the better qualified +to discourse upon the deviltries of his neighbors. But in another place +he seems to contradict himself, by asserting, that he is not so sensible +of his own deviltry as of other people's." + +"Hold!" cried Media, "who have we here?" and he pointed ahead of our +prow to three men in the water, urging themselves along, each with a +paddle. + +We made haste to overtake them. + +"Who are you?" said Media, "where from, and where bound?" + +"From Variora," they answered, "and bound to Mondoldo." "And did that +devil Tribonnora swamp your canoe?" asked Media, offering to help them +into ours. + +"We had no such useless incumbrance to lose," they replied, resting on +their backs, and panting with their exertions. "If we had had a canoe, +we would have had to paddle it along with us; whereas we have only our +bodies to paddle." + +"You are a parcel of loons," exclaimed Media. "But go your ways, if you +are satisfied with your locomotion, well and good." + +"Now, it is an extreme case, I grant," said Babbalanja, "but those poor +devils there, help to establish old Bardianna's position. They belong to +that species of our bedeviled race, called simpletons; but their devils +harming none but themselves, are permitted to be at large with the fish. +Whereas, Tribonnora's devil, who daily runs down canoes, drowning their +occupants, belongs to the species of out and out devils; but being high +in station, and strongly backed by kith and kin, Tribonnora can not be +mastered, and put in a strait jacket. For myself, I think my devil is +some where between these two extremes; at any rate, he belongs to that +class of devils who harm not other devils." + +"I am not so sure of that," retorted Media. "Methinks this doctrine of +yours, about all mankind being bedeviled, will work a deal of mischief; +seeing that by implication it absolves you mortals from moral +accountability. Further-more; as your doctrine is exceedingly evil, by +Yamjamma's theory it follows, that you must be proportionably bedeviled; +and since it harms others, your devil is of the number of those whom it +is best to limbo; and since he is one of those that can be limboed, +limboed he shall be in you." + +And so saying, he humorously commanded his attendants to lay hands upon +the bedeviled philosopher, and place a bandage upon his mouth, that he +might no more disseminate his devilish doctrine. + +Against this, Babbalanja demurred, protesting that he was no orang-outang, to be so rudely handled. + +"Better and better," said Media, "you but illustrate Bardianna's theory; +that men are not sensible of their being bedeviled." + +Thus tantalized, Babbalanja displayed few signs of philosophy. + +Whereupon, said Media, "Assuredly his devil is foaming; behold his +mouth!" And he commanded him to be bound hand and foot. + +At length, seeing all resistance ineffectual, Babbalanja submitted; but +not without many objurgations. + +Presently, however, they released him; when Media inquired, how he +relished the application of his theory; and whether he was still' of old +Bardianna's mind? + +To which, haughtily adjusting his robe, Babbalanja replied, "The strong +arm, my lord, is no argument, though it overcomes all logic." + +END OF VOL. I. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. +I (of 2), by Herman Melville + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER, *** + +***** This file should be named 13720.txt or 13720.zip ***** This and +all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/7/2/13720/ + +Produced by Geoff Palmer + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the +General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and +distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the +PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net + + +Title: Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I (of 2) + +Author: Herman Melville + +Release Date: October 12, 2004 [EBook #13720] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER, *** + + + + +Produced by Geoff Palmer + + + + +MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER + +BY HERMAN MELVILLE + +IN TWO VOLUMES + +VOL. I + + +1864 + + +DEDICATED TO My Brother, ALLAN MELVILLE. + + + +PREFACE + +Not long ago, having published two narratives of voyages in the +Pacific, which, in many quarters, were received with incredulity, +the thought occurred to me, of indeed writing a romance of Polynesian +adventure, and publishing it as such; to see whether, the fiction +might not, possibly, be received for a verity: in some degree the +reverse of my previous experience. + +This thought was the germ of others, which have resulted in Mardi. +New York, January, 1849. + + + + +MARDI. + +CONTENTS +VOL. I + +CHAPTER + 1. Foot in Stirrup + 2. A Calm + 3. A King for a Comrade + 4. A Chat in the Clouds + 5. Seats secured and Portmanteaus packed + 6. Eight Bells + 7. A Pause + 8. They push off, Velis et Bemis + 9. The Watery World is all before Them + 10. They arrange their Canopies and Lounges, and try to make Things + comfortable + 11. Jarl afflicted with the Lockjaw + 12. More about being in an open Boat + 13. Of the Chondropterygii, and other uncouth Hordes infesting the + South Seas + 14. Jarl's Misgivings + 15. A Stitch in time saves Nine + 16. They are Becalmed + 17. In high Spirits they push on for the Terra Incognita + 18. My Lord Shark and his Pages + 19. Who goes there? + 20. Noises and Portents + 21. Man ho! + 22. What befel the Brigantine at the Pearl Shell Islands + 23. Sailing from the Island they pillage the Cabin + 24. Dedicated to the College of Physicians and Surgeons + 25. Peril a Peace-maker + 26. Containing a Pennyweight of Philosophy + 27. In which the past History of the Parki is concluded + 28. Suspicions laid, and something about the Calmuc + 29. What they lighted upon in further searching the Craft, and the + Resolution they came to + 30. Hints for a full length of Samoa + 31. Rovings Alow and Aloft + 32. Xiphius Platypterus + 33. Otard + 34. How they steered on their Way + 35. Ah, Annatoo! + 36. The Parki gives up the Ghost + 37. Once more they take to the Chamois + 38. The Sea on Fire + 39. They fall in with Strangers + 40. Sire and Sons + 41. A Fray + 42. Remorse + 43. The Tent entered + 44. Away! + 45. Reminiscences + 46. The Chamois with a roving Commission + 47. Yillah, Jarl, and Samoa + 48. Something under the Surface + 49. Yillah + 50. Yillah in Ardair + 51. The Dream begins to fade + 52. World ho! + 53. The Chamois Ashore + 54. A Gentleman from the Sun + 55. Tiffin in a Temple + 56. King Media a Host + 57. Taji takes Counsel with himself + 58. Mardi by Night and Yillah by Day + 59. Their Morning Meal + 60. Belshazzar on the Bench + 61. An Incognito + 62. Taji retires from the World + 63. Odo and its Lord + 64. Yillah a Phantom + 65. Taji makes three Acquaintances + 66. With a fair Wind at Sunrise they sail + 67. Little King Peepi + 68. How Teeth were regarded in Valapee + 69. The Company discourse, and Braid-Beard rehearses a Legend + 70. The Minstrel leads of with a Paddle-Song; and a Message is received + from Abroad + 71. They land upon the Island of Juam + 72. A Book from the Chronicles of Mohi + 73. Something more of the Prince + 74. Advancing deeper into the Vale, they encounter Donjalolo + 75. Time and Temples + 76. A pleasant Place for a Lounge + 77. The House of the Afternoon + 78. Babbalanja solus + 79. The Center of many Circumferences + 80. Donjalolo in the Bosom of his Family + 81. Wherein Babbalanja relates the Adventure of one Karkeke in the Land + of Shades + 82. How Donjalolo, sent Agents to the surrounding Isles; with the Result + 83. They visit the Tributary Islets + 84. Taji sits down to Dinner with five-and-twenty Kings, and a royal Time + they have + 85. After Dinner + 86. Of those Scamps the Plujii + 87. Nora-Bamma + 88. In a Calm, Hautia's Heralds approach + 89. Braid-Beard rehearses the Origin of the Isle of Rogues + 90. Rare Sport at Ohonoo + 91. Of King Uhia and his Subjects + 92. The God Keevi and the Precipice of Mondo + 93. Babbalanja steps in between Mohi and Yoomy; and Yoomy relates a + Legend + 94. Of that jolly old Lord, Borabolla; and that jolly Island of his, + Mondoldo; and of the Fish-ponds, and the Hereafters of Fish + 95. That jolly old Lord Borabolla laughs on both Sides of his Face + 96. Samoa a Surgeon + 97. Faith and Knowledge + 98. The Tale of a Traveler + 99. "Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee." +100. The Pursuer himself is pursued +101. The Iris +102. They depart from Mondoldo +103. As they sail +104. Wherein Babbalanja broaches a diabolical Theory, and in his own + Person proves it + + + +MARDI + + + +CHAPTER I +Foot In Stirrup + + +We are off! The courses and topsails are set: the coral-hung anchor +swings from the bow: and together, the three royals are given to the +breeze, that follows us out to sea like the baying of a hound. Out +spreads the canvas--alow, aloft-boom-stretched, on both sides, with +many a stun' sail; till like a hawk, with pinions poised, we shadow +the sea with our sails, and reelingly cleave the brine. + +But whence, and whither wend ye, mariners? + +We sail from Ravavai, an isle in the sea, not very far northward from +the tropic of Capricorn, nor very far westward from Pitcairn's +island, where the mutineers of the Bounty settled. At Ravavai I had +stepped ashore some few months previous; and now was embarked on a +cruise for the whale, whose brain enlightens the world. + +And from Ravavai we sail for the Gallipagos, otherwise called the +Enchanted Islands, by reason of the many wild currents and eddies +there met. + +Now, round about those isles, which Dampier once trod, where the +Spanish bucaniers once hived their gold moidores, the Cachalot, or +sperm whale, at certain seasons abounds. + +But thither, from Ravavai, your craft may not fly, as flies the +sea-gull, straight to her nest. For, owing to the prevalence of +the trade winds, ships bound to the northeast from the vicinity of +Ravavai are fain to take something of a circuit; a few thousand miles +or so. First, in pursuit of the variable winds, they make all haste +to the south; and there, at length picking up a stray breeze, they +stand for the main: then, making their easting, up helm, and away +down the coast, toward the Line. + +This round-about way did the Arcturion take; and in all conscience a +weary one it was. Never before had the ocean appeared so monotonous; +thank fate, never since. + +But bravo! in two weeks' time, an event. Out of the gray of the +morning, and right ahead, as we sailed along, a dark object rose out +of the sea; standing dimly before us, mists wreathing and curling +aloft, and creamy breakers frothing round its base.--We turned aside, +and, at length, when day dawned, passed Massafuero. With a glass, +we spied two or three hermit goats winding down to the sea, in a +ravine; and presently, a signal: a tattered flag upon a summit beyond. +Well knowing, however, that there was nobody on the island but two or +three noose-fulls of runaway convicts from Chili, our captain had no +mind to comply with their invitation to land. Though, haply, he may +have erred in not sending a boat off with his card. + +A few days more and we "took the trades." Like favors snappishly +conferred, they came to us, as is often the case, in a very sharp +squall; the shock of which carried away one of our spars; also our +fat old cook off his legs; depositing him plump in the scuppers to +leeward. + +In good time making the desired longitude upon the equator, a few +leagues west of the Gallipagos, we spent several weeks chassezing +across the Line, to and fro, in unavailing search for our prey. For +some of their hunters believe, that whales, like the silver ore in +Peru, run in veins through the ocean. So, day after day, daily; and +week after week, weekly, we traversed the self-same longitudinal +intersection of the self-same Line; till we were almost ready to +swear that we felt the ship strike every time her keel crossed +that imaginary locality. + +At length, dead before the equatorial breeze, we threaded our way +straight along the very Line itself. Westward sailing; peering right, +and peering left, but seeing naught. + +It was during this weary time, that I experienced the first symptoms +of that bitter impatience of our monotonous craft, which ultimately +led to the adventures herein recounted. + +But hold you! Not a word against that rare old ship, nor its crew. +The sailors were good fellows all, the half, score of pagans we had +shipped at the islands included. Nevertheless, they were not +precisely to my mind. There was no soul a magnet to mine; none with +whom to mingle sympathies; save in deploring the calms with which we +were now and then overtaken; or in hailing the breeze when it came. +Under other and livelier auspices the tarry knaves might have +developed qualities more attractive. Had we sprung a leak, been +"stove" by a whale, or been blessed with some despot of a captain +against whom to stir up some spirited revolt, these shipmates of mine +might have proved limber lads, and men of mettle. But as it was, +there was naught to strike fire from their steel. + +There were other things, also, tending to make my lot on ship-board +very hard to be borne. True, the skipper himself was a trump; stood +upon no quarter-deck dignity; and had a tongue for a sailor. Let me +do him justice, furthermore: he took a sort of fancy for me in +particular; was sociable, nay, loquacious, when I happened to stand +at the helm. But what of that? Could he talk sentiment or philosophy? +Not a bit. His library was eight inches by four: Bowditch, and +Hamilton Moore. + +And what to me, thus pining for some one who could page me a +quotation from Burton on Blue Devils; what to me, indeed, were +flat repetitions of long-drawn yams, and the everlasting stanzas +of Black-eyed Susan sung by our full forecastle choir? Staler +than stale ale. + +Ay, ay, Arcturion! I say it in no malice, but thou wast exceedingly +dull. Not only at sailing: hard though it was, that I could have +borne; but in every other respect. The days went slowly round and +round, endless and uneventful as cycles in space. Time, and time- +pieces; How many centuries did my hammock tell, as pendulum-like it +swung to the ship's dull roll, and ticked the hours and ages. Sacred +forever be the Areturion's fore-hatch--alas! sea-moss is over it +now--and rusty forever the bolts that held together that old sea +hearth-stone, about which we so often lounged. Nevertheless, ye lost +and leaden hours, I will rail at ye while life lasts. + +Well: weeks, chronologically speaking, went by. Bill Marvel's stories +were told over and over again, till the beginning and end dovetailed +into each other, and were united for aye. Ned Ballad's songs were +sung till the echoes lurked in the very tops, and nested in the bunts +of the sails. My poor patience was clean gone. + +But, at last after some time sailing due westward we quitted the Line +in high disgust; having seen there, no sign of a whale. + +But whither now? To the broiling coast of Papua? That region of sun- +strokes, typhoons, and bitter pulls after whales unattainable. Far +worse. We were going, it seemed, to illustrate the Whistonian theory +concerning the damned and the comets;--hurried from equinoctial heats +to arctic frosts. To be short, with the true fickleness of his tribe, +our skipper had abandoned all thought of the Cachalot. In desperation, +he was bent upon bobbing for the Right whale on the Nor'-West Coast +and in the Bay of Kamschatska. + +To the uninitiated in the business of whaling, my feelings at this +juncture may perhaps be hard to understand. But this much let me say: +that Right whaling on the Nor'-West Coast, in chill and dismal fogs, +the sullen inert monsters rafting the sea all round like Hartz forest +logs on the Rhine, and submitting to the harpoon like half-stunned +bullocks to the knife; this horrid and indecent Right whaling, +I say, compared to a spirited hunt for the gentlemanly Cachalot in +southern and more genial seas, is as the butchery of white bears upon +blank Greenland icebergs to zebra hunting in Caffraria, where the +lively quarry bounds before you through leafy glades. + +Now, this most unforeseen determination on the part of my captain to +measure the arctic circle was nothing more nor less than a tacit +contravention of the agreement between us. That agreement needs not +to be detailed. And having shipped but for a single cruise, I had +embarked aboard his craft as one might put foot in stirrup for a +day's following of the hounds. And here, Heaven help me, he was going +to carry me off to the Pole! And on such a vile errand too! For there +was something degrading in it. Your true whaleman glories in keeping +his harpoon unspotted by blood of aught but Cachalot. By my halidome, +it touched the knighthood of a tar. Sperm and spermaceti! It was +unendurable. + +"Captain," said I, touching my sombrero to him as I stood at the +wheel one day, "It's very hard to carry me off this way to purgatory. +I shipped to go elsewhere." + +"Yes, and so did I," was his reply. "But it can't be helped. Sperm +whales are not to be had. We've been out now three years, and +something or other must be got; for the ship is hungry for oil, and +her hold a gulf to look into. But cheer up my boy; once in the Bay of +Kamschatka, and we'll be all afloat with what we want, though it be +none of the best." + +Worse and worse! The oleaginous prospect extended into an immensity of +Macassar. "Sir," said I, "I did not ship for it; put me ashore +somewhere, I beseech." He stared, but no answer vouchsafed; and for a +moment I thought I had roused the domineering spirit of the sea-captain, +to the prejudice of the more kindly nature of the man. + +But not so. Taking three turns on the deck, he placed his hand +on the wheel, and said, "Right or wrong, my lad, go with us you must. +Putting you ashore is now out of the question. I make no port till +this ship is full to the combings of her hatchways. However, you may +leave her if you can." And so saying he entered his cabin, like +Julius Caesar into his tent. + +He may have meant little by it, but that last sentence rung in my ear +like a bravado. It savored of the turnkey's compliments to the +prisoner in Newgate, when he shoots to the bolt on him. + +"Leave the ship if I can!" Leave the ship when neither sail nor shore +was in sight! Ay, my fine captain, stranger things have been done. +For on board that very craft, the old Arcturion, were four tall +fellows, whom two years previous our skipper himself had picked up in +an open boat, far from the farthest shoal. To be sure, they spun a +long yarn about being the only survivors of an Indiaman burnt down to +the water's edge. But who credited their tale? Like many others, they +were keepers of a secret: had doubtless contracted a disgust for some +ugly craft still afloat and hearty, and stolen away from her, off +soundings. Among seamen in the Pacific such adventures not seldom +occur. Nor are they accounted great wonders. They are but incidents, +not events, in the career of the brethren of the order of South Sea +rovers. For what matters it, though hundreds of miles from land, if a +good whale-boat be under foot, the Trades behind, and mild, warm seas +before? And herein lies the difference between the Atlantic and +Pacific:--that once within the Tropics, the bold sailor who has a +mind to quit his ship round Cape Horn, waits not for port. He regards +that ocean as one mighty harbor. + +Nevertheless, the enterprise hinted at was no light one; and I +resolved to weigh well the chances. It's worth noticing, this way we +all have of pondering for ourselves the enterprise, which, for +others, we hold a bagatelle. + +My first thoughts were of the boat to be obtained, and the +right or wrong of abstracting it, under the circumstances. But to +split no hairs on this point, let me say, that were I placed in the +same situation again, I would repeat the thing I did then. The +captain well knew that he was going to detain me unlawfully: against +our agreement; and it was he himself who threw out the very hint, +which I merely adopted, with many thanks to him. + +In some such willful mood as this, I went aloft one day, to stand my +allotted two hours at the mast-head. It was toward the close of a +day, serene and beautiful. There I stood, high upon the mast, and +away, away, illimitably rolled the ocean beneath. Where we then were +was perhaps the most unfrequented and least known portion of these +seas. Westward, however, lay numerous groups of islands, loosely laid +down upon the charts, and invested with all the charms of dream-land. +But soon these regions would be past; the mild equatorial breeze +exchanged for cold, fierce squalls, and all the horrors of northern +voyaging. + +I cast my eyes downward to the brown planks of the dull, plodding +ship, silent from stem to stern; then abroad. + +In the distance what visions were spread! The entire western horizon +high piled with gold and crimson clouds; airy arches, domes, and +minarets; as if the yellow, Moorish sun were setting behind some vast +Alhambra. Vistas seemed leading to worlds beyond. To and fro, and all +over the towers of this Nineveh in the sky, flew troops of birds. +Watching them long, one crossed my sight, flew through a low arch, +and was lost to view. My spirit must have sailed in with it; for +directly, as in a trance, came upon me the cadence of mild billows +laving a beach of shells, the waving of boughs, and the voices of +maidens, and the lulled beatings of my own dissolved heart, all +blended together. + +Now, all this, to be plain, was but one of the many visions one has +up aloft. But coming upon me at this time, it wrought upon me so, +that thenceforth my desire to quit the Arcturion became little short +of a frenzy. + + + +CHAPTER II +A Calm + + +Next day there was a calm, which added not a little to my impatience +of the ship. And, furthermore, by certain nameless associations +revived in me my old impressions upon first witnessing as a landsman +this phenomenon of the sea. Those impressions may merit a page. + +To a landsman a calm is no joke. It not only revolutionizes his +abdomen, but unsettles his mind; tempts him to recant his belief in +the eternal fitness of things; in short, almost makes an infidel of +him. + +At first he is taken by surprise, never having dreamt of a state of +existence where existence itself seems suspended. He shakes himself +in his coat, to see whether it be empty or no. He closes his eyes, to +test the reality of the glassy expanse. He fetches a deep breath, by +way of experiment, and for the sake of witnessing the effect. If a +reader of books, Priestley on Necessity occurs to him; and he +believes in that old Sir Anthony Absolute to the very last chapter. +His faith in Malte Brun, however, begins to fail; for the geography, +which from boyhood he had implicitly confided in, always assured him, +that though expatiating all over the globe, the sea was at least +margined by land. That over against America, for example, was Asia. +But it is a calm, and he grows madly skeptical. + +To his alarmed fancy, parallels and meridians become emphatically +what they are merely designated as being: imaginary lines drawn round +the earth's surface. + +The log assures him that he is in such a place; but the log is +a liar; for no place, nor any thing possessed of a local angularity, +is to be lighted upon in the watery waste. + +At length horrible doubts overtake him as to the captain's competency +to navigate his ship. The ignoramus must have lost his way, and +drifted into the outer confines of creation, the region of the +everlasting lull, introductory to a positive vacuity. + +Thoughts of eternity thicken. He begins to feel anxious concerning +his soul. + +The stillness of the calm is awful. His voice begins to grow strange +and portentous. He feels it in him like something swallowed too big +for the esophagus. It keeps up a sort of involuntary interior humming +in him, like a live beetle. His cranium is a dome full of +reverberations. The hollows of his very bones are as whispering +galleries. He is afraid to speak loud, lest he be stunned; like the +man in the bass drum. + +But more than all else is the consciousness of his utter +helplessness. Succor or sympathy there is none. Penitence for +embarking avails not. The final satisfaction of despairing may not be +his with a relish. Vain the idea of idling out the calm. He may sleep +if he can, or purposely delude himself into a crazy fancy, that he is +merely at leisure. All this he may compass; but he may not lounge; +for to lounge is to be idle; to be idle implies an absence of any +thing to do; whereas there is a calm to be endured: enough to attend +to, Heaven knows. + +His physical organization, obviously intended for locomotion, becomes +a fixture; for where the calm leaves him, there he remains. Even his +undoubted vested rights, comprised in his glorious liberty of +volition, become as naught. For of what use? He wills to go: to get +away from the calm: as ashore he would avoid the plague. But he can +not; and how foolish to revolve expedients. It is more hopeless than +a bad marriage in a land where there is no Doctors' Commons. He has +taken the ship to wife, for better or for worse, for calm or +for gale; and she is not to be shuffled off. With yards akimbo, she +says unto him scornfully, as the old beldam said to the little +dwarf:--"Help yourself" + +And all this, and more than this, is a calm. + + + +CHAPTER III +A King For A Comrade + + +At the time I now write of, we must have been something more than +sixty degrees to the west of the Gallipagos. And having attained a +desirable longitude, we were standing northward for our arctic +destination: around us one wide sea. + +But due west, though distant a thousand miles, stretched north and +south an almost endless Archipelago, here and there inhabited, but +little known; and mostly unfrequented, even by whalemen, who go +almost every where. Beginning at the southerly termination of this +great chain, it comprises the islands loosely known as Ellice's +group; then, the Kingsmill isles; then, the Radack and Mulgrave +clusters. These islands had been represented to me as mostly of coral +formation, low and fertile, and abounding in a variety of fruits. The +language of the people was said to be very similar to that or the +Navigator's islands, from which, their ancestors are supposed to have +emigrated. + +And thus much being said, all has been related that I then knew of +the islands in question. Enough, however, that they existed at all; +and that our path thereto lay over a pleasant sea, and before a +reliable Trade-wind. The distance, though great, was merely an +extension of water; so much blankness to be sailed over; and in a +craft, too, that properly managed has been known to outlive great +ships in a gale. For this much is true of a whale-boat, the +cunningest thing in its way ever fabricated by man. + +Upon one of the Kingsmill islands, then, I determined to plant +my foot, come what come would. And I was equally determined that one +of the ship's boats should float me thither. But I had no idea of +being without a companion. It would be a weary watch to keep all by +myself, with naught but the horizon in sight. + +Now, among the crew was a fine old seaman, one Jarl; how old, no one +could tell, not even himself. Forecastle chronology is ever vague and +defective. "Man and boy," said honest Jarl, "I have lived ever since +I can remember." And truly, who may call to mind when he was not? To +ourselves, we all seem coeval with creation. Whence it comes, that it +is so hard to die, ere the world itself is departed. + +Jarl hailed from the isle of Skye, one of the constellated Hebrides. +Hence, they often called him the Skyeman. And though he was far from +being piratical of soul, he was yet an old Norseman to behold. His +hands were brawny as the paws of a bear; his voice hoarse as a storm +roaring round the old peak of Mull; and his long yellow hair waved +round his head like a sunset. My life for it, Jarl, thy ancestors +were Vikings, who many a time sailed over the salt German sea and the +Baltic; who wedded their Brynhildas in Jutland; and are now quaffing +mead in the halls of Valhalla, and beating time with their cans to +the hymns of the Scalds. Ah! how the old Sagas run through me! + +Yet Jarl, the descendant of heroes and kings, was a lone, friendless +mariner on the main, only true to his origin in the sea-life that he +led. But so it has been, and forever will be. What yeoman shall swear +that he is not descended from Alfred? what dunce, that he is not +sprung of old Homer? King Noah, God bless him! fathered us all. Then +hold up your heads, oh ye Helots, blood potential flows through your +veins. All of us have monarchs and sages for kinsmen; nay, angels and +archangels for cousins; since in antediluvian days, the sons of God +did verily wed with our mothers, the irresistible daughters of Eve. +Thus all generations are blended: and heaven and earth of one +kin: the hierarchies of seraphs in the uttermost skies; the thrones +and principalities in the zodiac; the shades that roam throughout +space; the nations and families, flocks and folds of the earth; one +and all, brothers in essence--oh, be we then brothers indeed! All +things form but one whole; the universe a Judea, and God Jehovah its +head. Then no more let us start with affright. In a theocracy, what +is to fear? Let us compose ourselves to death as fagged horsemen +sleep in the saddle. Let us welcome even ghosts when they rise. Away +with our stares and grimaces. The New Zealander's tattooing is not a +prodigy; nor the Chinaman's ways an enigma. No custom is strange; no +creed is absurd; no foe, but who will in the end prove a friend. In +heaven, at last, our good, old, white-haired father Adam will greet +all alike, and sociality forever prevail. Christian shall join hands +between Gentile and Jew; grim Dante forget his Infernos, and shake +sides with fat Rabelais; and monk Luther, over a flagon of old +nectar, talk over old times with Pope Leo. Then, shall we sit by the +sages, who of yore gave laws to the Medes and Persians in the sun; by +the cavalry captains in Perseus, who cried, "To horse!" when waked by +their Last Trump sounding to the charge; by the old hunters, who +eternities ago, hunted the moose in Orion; by the minstrels, who sang +in the Milky Way when Jesus our Saviour was born. Then shall we list +to no shallow gossip of Magellans and Drakes; but give ear to the +voyagers who have circumnavigated the Ecliptic; who rounded the Polar +Star as Cape Horn. Then shall the Stagirite and Kant be forgotten, +and another folio than theirs be turned over for wisdom; even the +folio now spread with horoscopes as yet undeciphered, the heaven of +heavens on high. + +Now, in old Jarl's lingo there was never an idiom. Your aboriginal +tar is too much of a cosmopolitan for that. Long companionship with +seamen of all tribes: Manilla-men, Anglo-Saxons, Cholos, Lascars, and +Danes, wear away in good time all mother-tongue stammerings. You sink +your clan; down goes your nation; you speak a world's language, +jovially jabbering in the Lingua-Franca of the forecastle. + +True to his calling, the Skyeman was very illiterate; witless of +Salamanca, Heidelberg, or Brazen-Nose; in Delhi, had never turned +over the books of the Brahmins. For geography, in which sailors +should be adepts, since they are forever turning over and over the +great globe of globes, poor Jarl was deplorably lacking. According to +his view of the matter, this terraqueous world had been formed in the +manner of a tart; the land being a mere marginal crust, within which +rolled the watery world proper. Such seemed my good Viking's theory +of cosmography. As for other worlds, he weened not of them; yet full +as much as Chrysostom. + +Ah, Jarl! an honest, earnest Wight; so true and simple, that the +secret operations of thy soul were more inscrutable than the subtle +workings of Spinoza's. + +Thus much be said of the Skyeman; for he was exceedingly taciturn, +and but seldom will speak for himself. + +Now, higher sympathies apart, for Jarl I had a wonderful liking; for +he loved me; from the first had cleaved to me. + +It is sometimes the case, that an old mariner like him will conceive +a very strong attachment for some young sailor, his shipmate; an +attachment so devoted, as to be wholly inexplicable, unless +originating in that heart-loneliness which overtakes most seamen as +they grow aged; impelling them to fasten upon some chance object of +regard. But however it was, my Viking, thy unbidden affection was the +noblest homage ever paid me. And frankly, I am more inclined to think +well of myself, as in some way deserving thy devotion, than from the +rounded compliments of more cultivated minds. + +Now, at sea, and in the fellowship of sailors, all men appear as they +are. No school like a ship for studying human nature. The contact of +one man with another is too near and constant to favor deceit. You +wear your character as loosely as your flowing trowsers. Vain +all endeavors to assume qualities not yours; or to conceal those you +possess. Incognitos, however desirable, are out of the question. And +thus aboard of all ships in which I have sailed, I have invariably +been known by a sort of thawing-room title. Not,--let me hurry to +say,--that I put hand in tar bucket with a squeamish air, or ascended +the rigging with a Chesterfieldian mince. No, no, I was never better +than my vocation; and mine have been many. I showed as brown a chest, +and as hard a hand, as the tarriest tar of them all. And never did +shipmate of mine upbraid me with a genteel disinclination to duty, +though it carried me to truck of main-mast, or jib-boom-end, in the +most wolfish blast that ever howled. + +Whence then, this annoying appellation? for annoying it most +assuredly was. It was because of something in me that could not be +hidden; stealing out in an occasional polysyllable; an otherwise +incomprehensible deliberation in dining; remote, unguarded allusions +to Belles-Lettres affairs; and other trifles superfluous to mention. + +But suffice it to say, that it had gone abroad among the Areturion's +crew, that at some indefinite period of my career, I had been a +"nob." But Jarl seemed to go further. He must have taken me for one +of the House of Hanover in disguise; or, haply, for bonneted Charles +Edward the Pretender, who, like the Wandering Jew, may yet be a +vagrant. At any rate, his loyalty was extreme. Unsolicited, he was my +laundress and tailor; a most expert one, too; and when at meal-times +my turn came round to look out at the mast-head, or stand at the +wheel, he catered for me among the "kids" in the forecastle with +unwearied assiduity. Many's the good lump of "duff" for which I was +indebted to my good Viking's good care of me. And like Sesostris I +was served by a monarch. Yet in some degree the obligation was +mutual. For be it known that, in sea-parlance, we were _chummies._ + +Now this _chummying_ among sailors is like the brotherhood subsisting +between a brace of collegians (chums) rooming together. It is a +Fidus-Achates-ship, a league of offense and defense, a copartnership +of chests and toilets, a bond of love and good feeling, and a mutual +championship of the absent one. True, my nautical reminiscenses +remind me of sundry lazy, ne'er-do-well, unprofitable, and abominable +chummies; chummies, who at meal times were last at the "kids," when +their unfortunate partners were high upon the spars; chummies, who +affected awkwardness at the needle, and conscientious scruples about +dabbling in the suds; so that chummy the simple was made to do all +the work of the firm, while chummy the cunning played the sleeping +partner in his hammock. Out upon such chummies! + +But I appeal to thee, honest Jarl, if I was ever chummy the cunning. +Never mind if thou didst fabricate my tarpaulins; and with Samaritan +charity bind up the rents, and pour needle and thread into the +frightful gashes that agonized my hapless nether integuments, which +thou calledst "ducks;"--Didst thou not expressly declare, that all +these things, and more, thou wouldst do for me, despite my own quaint +thimble, fashioned from the ivory tusk of a whale? Nay; could I even +wrest from thy willful hands my very shirt, when once thou hadst it +steaming in an unsavory pickle in thy capacious vat, a decapitated +cask? Full well thou knowest, Jarl, that these things are true; and I +am bound to say it, to disclaim any lurking desire to reap advantage +from thy great good nature. + +Now my Viking for me, thought I, when I cast about for a comrade; and +my Viking alone. + + + +CHAPTER IV +A Chat In The Clouds + + +The Skyeman seemed so earnest and upright a seaman, that to tell the +plain truth, in spite of his love for me, I had many misgivings as to +his readiness to unite in an undertaking which apparently savored of +a moral dereliction. But all things considered, I deemed my own +resolution quite venial; and as for inducing another to join me, it +seemed a precaution so indispensable, as to outweigh all other +considerations. + +Therefore I resolved freely to open my heart to him; for that special +purpose paying him a visit, when, like some old albatross in the air, +he happened to be perched at the foremast-head, all by himself, on +the lookout for whales never seen. + +Now this standing upon a bit of stick 100 feet aloft for hours at a +time, swiftly sailing over the sea, is very much like crossing the +Channel in a balloon. Manfred-like, you talk to the clouds: you have +a fellow feeling for the sun. And when Jarl and I got conversing up +there, smoking our dwarfish "dudeens," any sea-gull passing by might +have taken us for Messrs. Blanchard and Jeffries, socially puffing +their after-dinner Bagdads, bound to Calais, via Heaven, from Dover. +Honest Jarl, I acquainted with all: my conversation with the captain, +the hint implied in his last words, my firm resolve to quit the ship +in one of her boats, and the facility with which I thought the thing +could be done. Then I threw out many inducements, in the shape of +pleasant anticipations of bearing right down before the wind upon the +sunny isles under our lee. + +He listened attentively; but so long remained silent that I almost +fancied there was something in Jarl which would prove too much for me +and my eloquence. + +At last he very bluntly declared that the scheme was a crazy one; he +had never known of such a thing but thrice before; and in every case +the runaways had never afterwards been heard of. He entreated me to +renounce my determination, not be a boy, pause and reflect, stick to +the ship, and go home in her like a man. Verily, my Viking talked to +me like my uncle. + +But to all this I turned a deaf ear; affirming that my mind was made +up; and that as he refused to accompany me, and I fancied no one else +for a comrade, I would go stark alone rather than not at all. Upon +this, seeing my resolution immovable, he bluntly swore that he would +follow me through thick and thin. + +Thanks, Jarl! thou wert one of those devoted fellows who will wrestle +hard to convince one loved of error; but failing, forthwith change +their wrestling to a sympathetic hug. + +But now his elderly prudence came into play. Casting his eye over +the boundless expanse below, he inquired how far off were the islands +in question. + +"A thousand miles and no less." + +"With a fair trade breeze, then, and a boat sail, that is a good +twelve days' passage, but calms and currents may make it a month, +perhaps more." So saying, he shook his old head, and his yellow hair +streamed. + +But trying my best to chase away these misgivings, he at last gave +them over. He assured me I might count upon him to his uttermost +keel. + +My Viking secured, I felt more at ease; and thoughtfully considered +how the enterprise might best be accomplished. + +There was no time to be lost. Every hour was carrying us farther and +farther from the parallel most desirable for us to follow in our +route to the westward. So, with all possible dispatch, I +matured my plans, and communicated them to Jarl, who gave several old +hints--having ulterior probabilities in view--which were not +neglected. + +Strange to relate, it was not till my Viking, with a rueful face, +reminded me of the fact, that I bethought me of a circumstance +somewhat alarming at the first blush. We must push off without chart +or quadrant; though, as will shortly be seen, a compass was by no +means out of the question. The chart, to be sure, I did not so much +lay to heart; but a quadrant was more than desirable. Still, it was +by no means indispensable. For this reason. When we started, our +latitude would be exactly known; and whether, on our voyage westward, +we drifted north or south therefrom, we could not, by any +possibility, get so far out of our reckoning, as to fail in striking +some one of a long chain of islands, which, for many degrees, on both +sides of the equator, stretched right across our track. + +For much the same reason, it mattered little, whether on our passage +we daily knew our longitude; for no known land lay between us and the +place we desired to reach. So what could be plainer than this: that +if westward we patiently held on our way, we must eventually achieve +our destination? + +As for intervening shoals or reefs, if any there were, they +intimidated us not. In a boat that drew but a few inches of water, +but an indifferent look-out would preclude all danger on that score. +At all events, the thing seemed feasible enough, notwithstanding old +Jarl's superstitious reverence for nautical instruments, and the +philosophical objections which might have been urged by a pedantic +disciple of Mercator. + +Very often, as the old maxim goes, the simplest things are the most +startling, and that, too, from their very simplicity. So cherish no +alarms, if thus we addressed the setting sun--"Be thou, old pilot, +our guide!" + + + +CHAPTER V +Seats Secured And Portmanteaus Packed + + +But thoughts of sextants and quadrants were the least of our cares. + +Right from under the very arches of the eyebrows of thirty men-- +captain, mates, and crew--a boat was to be abstracted; they knowing +nothing of the event, until all knowledge would prove unavailing. + +Hark ye: + +At sea, the boats of a South Sea-man (generally four in number, spare +ones omitted,) are suspended by tackles, hooked above, to curved +timbers called "davits," vertically fixed to the ship's sides. + +Now, no fair one with golden locks is more assiduously waited upon, +or more delicately handled by her tire-women, than the slender whale- +boat by her crew. And out of its element, it seems fragile enough to +justify the utmost solicitude. For truly, like a fine lady, the fine +whale-boat is most delicate when idle, though little coy at a pinch. + +Besides the "davits," the following supports are provided Two small +cranes are swung under the keel, on which the latter rests, +preventing the settling of the boat's middle, while hanging suspended +by the bow and stern. A broad, braided, hempen band, usually worked +in a tasteful pattern, is also passed round both gunwales; and +secured to the ship's bulwarks, firmly lashes the craft to its place. +Being elevated above the ship's rail, the boats are in plain sight +from all parts of the deck. + +Now, one of these boats was to be made way with. No facile +matter, truly. Harder than for any dashing young Janizary to run off +with a sultana from the Grand Turk's seraglio. Still, the thing could +be done, for, by Jove, it had been. + +What say you to slyly loosing every thing by day; and when night +comes, cast off the band and swing in the cranes? But how lower the +tackles, even in the darkest night, without a creaking more fearful +than the death rattle? Easily avoided. Anoint the ropes, and they +will travel deftly through the subtle windings of the blocks. + +But though I had heard of this plan being pursued, there was a degree +of risk in it, after all, which I was far from fancying. Another plan +was hit upon; still bolder; and hence more safe. What it was, in the +right place will be seen. + +In selecting my craft for this good voyage, I would fain have +traversed the deck, and eyed the boats like a cornet choosing his +steed from out a goodly stud. But this was denied me. And the "bow +boat" was, perforce, singled out, as the most remote from the +quarter-deck, that region of sharp eyes and relentless purposes. + +Then, our larder was to be thought of; also, an abundant supply of +water; concerning which last I determined to take good heed. There +were but two to be taken care of; but I resolved to lay in sufficient +store of both meat and drink for four; at the same time that the +supplemental twain thus provided for were but imaginary. And if it +came to the last dead pinch, of which we had no fear, however, I was +food for no man but Jarl. + +Little time was lost in catering for our mess. Biscuit and salt beef +were our sole resource; and, thanks to the generosity of the +Areturion's owners, our ship's company had a plentiful supply. Casks +of both, with heads knocked out, were at the service of all. In bags +which we made for the purpose, a sufficiency of the biscuit was +readily stored away, and secreted in a corner of easy access. The +salt beef was more difficult to obtain; but, little by little, +we managed to smuggle out of the cask enough to answer our purpose. + +As for water, most luckily a day or two previous several "breakers" +of it had been hoisted from below for the present use of the ship's +company. + +These "breakers" are casks, long and slender, but very strong. Of +various diameters, they are made on purpose to stow into spaces +intervening between the immense butts in a ship's hold. + +The largest we could find was selected, first carefully examining it +to detect any leak. On some pretense or other, we then rolled them +all over to that side of the vessel where our boat was suspended, the +selected breaker being placed in their middle. + +Our compendious wardrobes were snugly packed into bundles and laid +aside for the present. And at last, by due caution, we had every +thing arranged preliminary to the final start. Let me say, though, +perhaps to the credit of Jarl, that whenever the most strategy was +necessary, he seemed ill at ease, and for the most part left the +matter to me. It was well that he did; for as it was, by his untimely +straight-forwardness, he once or twice came near spoiling every +thing. Indeed, on one occasion he was so unseasonably blunt, that +curiously enough, I had almost suspected him of taking that odd sort +of interest in one's welfare, which leads a philanthropist, all other +methods failing, to frustrate a project deemed bad; by pretending +clumsily to favor it. But no inuendoes; Jarl was a Viking, frank as +his fathers; though not so much of a bucanier. + + + +CHAPTER VI +Eight Bells + + +The moon must be monstrous coy, or some things fall out opportunely, +or else almanacs are consulted by nocturnal adventurers; but so it +is, that when Cynthia shows a round and chubby disk, few daring deeds +are done. Though true it may be, that of moonlight nights, jewelers' +caskets and maidens' hearts have been burglariously broken into--and +rifled, for aught Copernicus can tell. + +The gentle planet was in her final quarter, and upon her slender horn +I hung my hopes of withdrawing from the ship undetected. + +Now, making a tranquil passage across the ocean, we kept at this time +what are called among whalemen "boatscrew-watches." That is, instead +of the sailors being divided at night into two bands, alternately on +deck every four hours, there were four watches, each composed of a +boat's crew, the "headsman" (always one of the mates) excepted. To +the officers, this plan gives uninterrupted repose--"all-night-in," +as they call it, and of course greatly lightens the duties of the crew. + +The harpooneers head the boats' crews, and are responsible for the +ship during the continuance of their watches. + +Now, my Viking being a stalwart seaman, pulled the midship oar of the +boat of which I was bowsman. Hence, we were in the same watch; to +which, also, three others belonged, including Mark, the harpooner. +One of these seamen, however, being an invalid, there were only two +left for us to manage. + +Voyaging in these seas, you may glide along for weeks without +starting tack or sheet, hardly moving the helm a spoke, so mild and +constant are the Trades. At night, the watch seldom trouble +themselves with keeping much of a look-out; especially, as a strange +sail is almost a prodigy in these lonely waters. In some ships, for +weeks in and weeks out, you are puzzled to tell when your nightly +turn on deck really comes round; so little heed is given to the +standing of watches, where in the license of presumed safety, nearly +every one nods without fear. + +But remiss as you may be in the boats-crew-watch of a heedless +whaleman, the man who heads it is bound to maintain his post on the +quarter-deck until regularly relieved. Yet drowsiness being +incidental to all natures, even to Napoleon, beside his own sentry +napping in the snowy bivouac; so, often, in snowy moonlight, or ebon +eclipse, dozed Mark, our harpooneer. Lethe be his portion this +blessed night, thought I, as during the morning which preceded our +enterprise, I eyed the man who might possibly cross my plans. + +But let me come closer to this part of my story. During what are +called at sea the "dog-watches" (between four o'clock and eight in +the evening), sailors are quite lively and frolicsome; their spirits +even flow far into the first of the long "night-watches;" but upon +its expiration at "eight bells" (midnight), silence begins to reign; +if you hear a voice it is no cherub's: all exclamations are oaths. + +At eight bells, the mariners on deck, now relieved from their cares, +crawl out from their sleepy retreats in old monkey jackets, or coils +of rigging, and he to their hammocks, almost without interrupting +their dreams: while the sluggards below lazily drag themselves up the +ladder to resume their slumbers in the open air. + +For these reasons then, the moonless sea midnight was just the time +to escape. Hence, we suffered a whole day to pass unemployed; waiting +for the night, when the star board-quarter-boats'-watch, to +which we belonged, would be summoned on deck at the eventful eight of +the bell. + +But twenty-four hours soon glide away; and "Starboleens ahoy; eight +bells there below;" at last started me from a troubled doze. + +I sprang from my hammock, and would have lighted my pipe. But the +forecastle lamp had gone out. An old sea-dog was talking about sharks +in his sleep. Jarl and our solitary watch-mate were groping their way +into their trowsers. And little was heard but the humming of the +still sails aloft; the dash of the waves against the bow; and the +deep breathing of the dreaming sailors around. + + + +CHAPTER VII +A Pause + + +Good old Arcturion! Maternal craft; that rocked me so often in thy +heart of oak, I grieve to tell how I deserted thee on the broad deep. +So far from home, with such a motley crew, so many islanders, whose +heathen babble echoing through thy Christian hull, must have grated +harshly on every carline. + +Old ship! where sails thy lone ghost now? For of the stout Arcturion +no word was ever heard, from the dark hour we pushed from her fated +planks. In what time of tempest, to what seagull's scream, the +drowning eddies did their work, knows no mortal man. Sunk she +silently, helplessly, into the calm depths of that summer sea, +assassinated by the ruthless blade of the swordfish? Such things have +been. Or was hers a better fate? Stricken down while gallantly +battling with the blast; her storm-sails set; helm manned; and every +sailor at his post; as sunk the Hornet, her men at quarters, in some +distant gale. + +But surmises are idle. A very old craft, she may have foundered; or +laid her bones upon some treacherous reef; but as with many a far +rover, her fate is a mystery. + +Pray Heaven, the spirit of that lost vessel roaming abroad through +the troubled mists of midnight gales--as old mariners believe of +missing ships--may never haunt my future path upon the waves. +Peacefully may she rest at the bottom of the sea; and sweetly sleep +my shipmates in the lowest watery zone, where prowling sharks come +not, nor billows roll. + +By quitting the Arcturion when we did, Jarl and I unconsciously +eluded a sailor's grave. We hear of providential deliverances. Was +this one? But life is sweet to all, death comes as hard. And for +myself I am almost tempted to hang my head, that I escaped the fate +of my shipmates; something like him who blushed to have escaped the +fell carnage at Thermopylae. + +Though I can not repress a shudder when I think of that old ship's +end, it is impossible for me so much as to imagine, that our +deserting her could have been in any way instrumental in her loss. +Nevertheless, I would to heaven the Arcturion still floated; that it +was given me once more to tread her familiar decks. + + + +CHAPTER VIII +They Push Off, Velis Et Remis + + +And now to tell how, tempted by devil or good angel, and a thousand +miles from land, we embarked upon this western voyage. + +It was midnight, mark you, when our watch began; and my turn at the +helm now coming on was of course to be avoided. On some plausible +pretense, I induced our solitary watchmate to assume it; thus leaving +myself untrammeled, and at the same time satisfactorily disposing of +him. For being a rather fat fellow, an enormous consumer of "duff," +and with good reason supposed to be the son of a farmer, I made no +doubt, he would pursue his old course and fall to nodding over the +wheel. As for the leader of the watch--our harpooner--he fell heir to +the nest of old jackets, under the lee of the mizzen-mast, left nice +and warm by his predecessor. + +The night was even blacker than we had anticipated; there was no +trace of a moon; and the dark purple haze, sometimes encountered at +night near the Line, half shrouded the stars from view. + +Waiting about twenty minutes after the last man of the previous watch +had gone below, I motioned to Jarl, and we slipped our shoes from our +feet. He then descended into the forecastle, and I sauntered aft +toward the quarter-deck. All was still. Thrice did I pass my hand +full before the face of the slumbering lubber at the helm, and right +between him and the light of the binnacle. + +Mark, the harpooneer, was not so easily sounded. I feared to +approach him. He lay quietly, though; but asleep or awake, no more +delay. Risks must be run, when time presses. And our ears were a +pointer's to catch a sound. + +To work we went, without hurry, but swiftly and silently. Our various +stores were dragged from their lurking-places, and placed in the +boat, which hung from the ship's lee side, the side depressed in the +water, an indispensable requisite to an attempt at escape. And though +at sundown the boat was to windward, yet, as we had foreseen, the +vessel having been tacked during the first watch, brought it to leeward. + +Endeavoring to manhandle our clumsy breaker, and lift it into the +boat, we found, that by reason of the intervention of the shrouds, it +could not be done without, risking a jar; besides straining the craft +in lowering. An expedient, however, though at the eleventh hour, was +hit upon. Fastening a long rope to the breaker, which was perfectly +tight, we cautiously dropped it overboard; paying out enough line, to +insure its towing astern of the ship, so as not to strike against the +copper. The other end of the line we then secured to the boat's stern. + +Fortunately, this was the last thing to be done; for the breaker, +acting as a clog to the vessel's way in the water, so affected her +steering as to fling her perceptibly into the wind. And by causing +the helm to work, this must soon rouse the lubber there stationed, if +not already awake. But our dropping overboard the breaker greatly +aided us in this respect: it diminished the ship's headway; which +owing to the light breeze had not been very great at any time during +the night. Had it been so, all hope of escaping without first +arresting the vessel's progress, would have been little short of +madness. As it was, the sole daring of the deed that night achieved, +consisted in our lowering away while the ship yet clove the brine, +though but moderately. + +All was now ready: the cranes swung in, the lashings adrift, +and the boat fairly suspended; when, seizing the ends of the tackle +ropes, we silently stepped into it, one at each end. The dead weight +of the breaker astern now dragged the craft horizontally through the +air, so that her tackle ropes strained hard. She quivered like a +dolphin. Nevertheless, had we not feared her loud splash upon +striking the wave, we might have quitted the ship almost as silently +as the breath the body. But this was out of the question, and our +plans were laid accordingly. + +"All ready, Jarl?" + +"Ready." + +"A man overboard!" I shouted at the top of my compass; and like +lightning the cords slid through our blistering hands, and with a +tremendous shock the boat bounded on the sea's back. One mad sheer +and plunge, one terrible strain on the tackles as we sunk in the +trough of the waves, tugged upon by the towing breaker, and our +knives severed the tackle ropes--we hazarded not unhooking the +blocks--our oars were out, and the good boat headed round, with prow +to leeward. + +"Man overboard!" was now shouted from stem to stern. And directly we +heard the confused tramping and shouting of the sailors, as they +rushed from their dreams into the almost inscrutable darkness. + +"Man overboard! Man overboard!" My heart smote me as the human cry of +horror came out of the black vaulted night. + +"Down helm!" was soon heard from the chief mate. "Back the main-yard! +Quick to the boats! How's this? One down already? Well done! Hold on, +then, those other boats!" + +Meanwhile several seamen were shouting as they strained at the braces. + +"Cut! cut all! Lower away! lower away!" impatiently cried the +sailors, who already had leaped into the boats. + +"Heave the ship to, and hold fast every thing," cried the captain, +apparently just springing to the deck. "One boat's enough. Steward; +show a light there from the mizzen-top. Boat ahoy!--Have you got that +man?" + +No reply. The voice came out of a cloud; the ship dimly showing like +a ghost. We had desisted from rowing, and hand over hand were now +hauling in upon the rope attached to the breaker, which we soon +lifted into the boat, instantly resuming our oars. + +"Pull! pull, men! and save him!" again shouted the captain. + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Jarl instinctively, "pulling as hard as ever +we can, sir." + +And pull we did, till nothing could be heard from the ship but a +confused tumult; and, ever and anon, the hoarse shout of the captain, +too distant to be understood. + +We now set our sail to a light air; and right into the darkness, and +dead to leeward, we rowed and sailed till morning dawned. + + + +CHAPTER IX +The Watery World Is All Before Them + + +At sea in an open boat, and a thousand miles from land! + +Shortly after the break of day, in the gray transparent light, a +speck to windward broke the even line of the horizon. It was the ship +wending her way north-eastward. + +Had I not known the final indifference of sailors to such disasters +as that which the Arcturion's crew must have imputed to the night +past (did not the skipper suspect the truth) I would have regarded +that little speck with many compunctions of conscience. Nor, as it +was, did I feel in any very serene humor. For the consciousness of +being deemed dead, is next to the presumable unpleasantness of being +so in reality. One feels like his own ghost unlawfully tenanting a +defunct carcass. Even Jarl's glance seemed so queer, that I begged +him to look another way. + +Secure now from all efforts of the captain to recover those whom he +most probably supposed lost; and equally cut off from all hope of +returning to the ship even had we felt so inclined; the resolution +that had thus far nerved me, began to succumb in a measure to the +awful loneliness of the scene. Ere this, I had regarded the ocean as +a slave, the steed that bore me whither I listed, and whose vicious +propensities, mighty though they were, often proved harmless, when +opposed to the genius of man. But now, how changed! In our frail +boat, I would fain have built an altar to Neptune. + +What a mere toy we were to the billows, that jeeringly shouldered +us from crest to crest, as from hand to hand lost souls may be tossed +along by the chain of shades which enfilade the route to Tartarus. + +But drown or swim, here's overboard with care! Cheer up, Jarl! Ha! +Ha! how merrily, yet terribly, we sail! Up, up--slowly up--toiling up +the long, calm wave; then balanced on its summit a while, like a +plank on a rail; and down, we plunge headlong into the seething +abyss, till arrested, we glide upward again. And thus did we go. Now +buried in watery hollows--our sail idly flapping; then lifted aloft-- +canvas bellying; and beholding the furthest horizon. + +Had not our familiarity with the business of whaling divested our +craft's wild motions of its first novel horrors, we had been but a +rueful pair. But day-long pulls after whales, the ship left miles +astern; and entire dark nights passed moored to the monsters, killed +too late to be towed to the ship far to leeward:--all this, and much +more, accustoms one to strange things. Death, to be sure, has a mouth +as black as a wolf's, and to be thrust into his jaws is a serious +thing. But true it most certainly is--and I speak from no hearsay-- +that to sailors, as a class, the grisly king seems not half so +hideous as he appears to those who have only regarded him on shore, +and at a deferential distance. Like many ugly mortals, his features +grow less frightful upon acquaintance; and met over often and +sociably, the old adage holds true, about familiarity breeding +contempt. Thus too with soldiers. Of the quaking recruit, three +pitched battles make a grim grenadier; and he who shrank from the +muzzle of a cannon, is now ready to yield his mustache for a sponge. + +And truly, since death is the last enemy of all, valiant souls will +taunt him while they may. Yet rather, should the wise regard him as +the inflexible friend, who, even against our own wills, from life's +evils triumphantly relieves us. + +And there is but little difference in the manner of dying. To die, is +all. And death has been gallantly encountered by those who never +beheld blood that was red, only its light azure seen through the +veins. And to yield the ghost proudly, and march out of your fortress +with all the honors of war, is not a thing of sinew and bone. Though +in prison, Geoffry Hudson, the dwarf, died more bravely than Goliah, +the giant; and the last end of a butterfly shames us all. Some women +have lived nobler lives, and died nobler deaths, than men. Threatened +with the stake, mitred Cranmer recanted; but through her fortitude, +the lorn widow of Edessa stayed the tide of Valens' persecutions. +'Tis no great valor to perish sword in hand, and bravado on lip; +cased all in panoply complete. For even the alligator dies in his +mail, and the swordfish never surrenders. To expire, mild-eyed, in +one's bed, transcends the death of Epaminondas. + + + +CHAPTER X +They Arrange Their Canopies And Lounges, And Try To Make Things +Comfortable + + +Our little craft was soon in good order. From the spare rigging +brought along, we made shrouds to the mast, and converted the boat- +hook into a handy boom for the jib. Going large before the wind, we +set this sail wing-and-wing with the main-sail. The latter, in +accordance with the customary rig of whale-boats, was worked with a +sprit and sheet. It could be furled or set in an instant. The bags of +bread we stowed away in the covered space about the loggerhead, a +useless appurtenance now, and therefore removed. At night, Jarl used +it for a pillow; saying, that when the boat rolled it gave easy play +to his head. The precious breaker we lashed firmly amidships; thereby +much improving our sailing. + +Now, previous to leaving the ship, we had seen to it well, that our +craft was supplied with all those equipments, with which, by the +regulations of the fishery, a whale-boat is constantly provided: +night and day, afloat or suspended. Hanging along our gunwales +inside, were six harpoons, three lances, and a blubber-spade; all +keen as razors, and sheathed with leather. Besides these, we had +three waifs, a couple of two-gallon water-kegs, several bailers, the +boat-hatchet for cutting the whale-line, two auxiliary knives for the +like purpose, and several minor articles, also employed in hunting +the leviathan. The line and line-tub, however, were on ship-board. + +And here it may be mentioned, that to prevent the strain upon +the boat when suspended to the ship's side, the heavy whale-line, +over two hundred fathoms in length, and something more than an inch +in diameter, when not in use is kept on ship-board, coiled away like +an endless snake in its tub. But this tub is always in readiness to +be launched into the boat. Now, having no use for the line belonging +to our craft, we had purposely left it behind. + +But well had we marked that by far the most important item of a +whale-boat's furniture was snugly secured in its place. This was the +water-tight keg, at both ends firmly headed, containing a small +compass, tinder-box and flint, candles, and a score or two of +biscuit. This keg is an invariable precaution against what so +frequently occurs in pursuing the sperm whale--prolonged absence from +the ship, losing sight of her, or never seeing her more, till years +after you reach home again. In this same keg of ours seemed coopered +up life and death, at least so seemed it to honest Jarl. No sooner +had we got clear from the Arcturion, than dropping his oar for an +instant, he clutched at it in the dark. + +And when day at last came, we knocked out the head of the keg with +the little hammer and chisel, always attached to it for that purpose, +and removed the compass, that glistened to us like a human eye. Then +filling up the vacancy with biscuit, we again made all tight, driving +down the hoops till they would budge no more. + +At first we were puzzled to fix our compass. But at last the Skyeman +out knife, and cutting a round hole in the after-most thwart, or seat +of the boat, there inserted the little brass case containing the +needle. + +Over the stern of the boat, with some old canvas which my Viking's +forethought had provided, we spread a rude sort of awning, or rather +counterpane. This, however, proved but little or no protection from +the glare of the sun; for the management of the main-sail forbade any +considerable elevation of the shelter. And when the breeze was fresh, +we were fain to strike it altogether; for the wind being from +aft, and getting underneath the canvas, almost lifted the light +boat's stem into the air, vexing the counterpane as if it were a +petticoat turning a gusty corner. But when a mere breath rippled the +sea, and the sun was fiery hot, it was most pleasant to lounge in +this shady asylum. It was like being transferred from the roast to +cool in the cupboard. And Jarl, much the toughest fowl of the two, +out of an abundant kindness for his comrade, during the day +voluntarily remained exposed at the helm, almost two hours to my one. +No lady-like scruples had he, the old Viking, about marring his +complexion, which already was more than bronzed. Over the ordinary +tanning of the sailor, he seemed masked by a visor of japanning, +dotted all over with freckles, so intensely yellow, and symmetrically +circular, that they seemed scorched there by a burning glass. + +In the tragico-comico moods which at times overtook me, I used to +look upon the brown Skyeman with humorous complacency. If we fall in +with cannibals, thought I, then, ready-roasted Norseman that thou +art, shall I survive to mourn thee; at least, during the period I +revolve upon the spit. + +But of such a fate, it needs hardly be said, we had no apprehension. + + + +CHAPTER XI +Jarl Afflicted With The Lockjaw + + +If ever again I launch whale-boat from sheer-plank of ship at sea, I +shall take good heed, that my comrade be a sprightly fellow, with a +rattle-box head. Be he never so silly, his very silliness, so long as +he be lively at it, shall be its own excuse. + +Upon occasion, who likes not a lively loon, one of your giggling, +gamesome oafs, whose mouth is a grin? Are not such, well-ordered +dispensations of Providence? filling up vacuums, in intervals of +social stagnation relieving the tedium of existing? besides keeping +up, here and there, in very many quarters indeed, sundry people's +good opinion of themselves? What, if at times their speech is insipid +as water after wine? What, if to ungenial and irascible souls, their +very "mug" is an exasperation to behold, their clack an inducement to +suicide? Let us not be hard upon them for this; but let them live on +for the good they may do. + +But Jarl, dear, dumb Jarl, thou wert none of these. Thou didst carry +a phiz like an excommunicated deacon's. And no matter what happened, +it was ever the same. Quietly, in thyself, thou didst revolve upon +thine own sober axis, like a wheel in a machine which forever goes +round, whether you look at it or no. Ay, Jarl! wast thou not forever +intent upon minding that which so many neglect--thine own especial +business? Wast thou not forever at it, too, with no likelihood of +ever winding up thy moody affairs, and striking a balance sheet? + +But at times how wearisome to me these everlasting reveries in +my one solitary companion. I longed for something enlivening; a burst +of words; human vivacity of one kind or other. After in vain essaying +to get something of this sort out of Jarl, I tried it all by myself; +playing upon my body as upon an instrument; singing, halloing, and +making empty gestures, till my Viking stared hard; and I myself +paused to consider whether I had run crazy or no. + +But how account for the Skyeman's gravity? Surely, it was based upon +no philosophic taciturnity; he was nothing of an idealist; an aerial +architect; a constructor of flying buttresses. It was inconceivable, +that his reveries were Manfred-like and exalted, reminiscent of +unutterable deeds, too mysterious even to be indicated by the +remotest of hints. Suppositions all out of the question. + +His ruminations were a riddle. I asked him anxiously, whether, in any +part of the world, Savannah, Surat, or Archangel, he had ever a wife +to think of; or children, that he carried so lengthy a phiz. Nowhere +neither. Therefore, as by his own confession he had nothing to think +of but himself, and there was little but honesty in him (having +which, by the way, he may be thought full to the brim), what could I +fall back upon but my original theory: namely, that in repose, his +intellects stepped out, and left his body to itself. + + + +CHAPTER XII +More About Being In An Open Boat + + +On the third morning, at break of day, I sat at the steering oar, an +hour or two previous having relieved Jarl, now fast asleep. Somehow, +and suddenly, a sense of peril so intense, came over me, that it +could hardly have been aggravated by the completest solitude. + +On a ship's deck, the mere feeling of elevation above the water, and +the reach of prospect you command, impart a degree of confidence +which disposes you to exult in your fancied security. But in an open +boat, brought down to the very plane of the sea, this feeling almost +wholly deserts you. Unless the waves, in their gambols, toss you and +your chip upon one of their lordly crests, your sphere of vision is +little larger than it would be at the bottom of a well. At best, your +most extended view in any one direction, at least, is in a high, +slow-rolling sea; when you descend into the dark, misty spaces, +between long and uniform swells. Then, for the moment, it is like +looking up and down in a twilight glade, interminable; where two +dawns, one on each hand, seem struggling through the semi-transparent +tops of the fluid mountains. + +But, lingering not long in those silent vales, from watery cliff to +cliff, a sea-chamois, sprang our solitary craft,--a goat among the Alps! + +How undulated the horizon; like a vast serpent with ten thousand +folds coiled all round the globe; yet so nigh, apparently, that it +seemed as if one's hand might touch it. + +What loneliness; when the sun rose, and spurred up the heavens, we +hailed him as a wayfarer in Sahara the sight of a distant horseman. +Save ourselves, the sun and the Chamois seemed all that was left of +life in the universe. We yearned toward its jocund disk, as in +strange lands the traveler joyfully greets a face from home, which +there had passed unheeded. And was not the sun a fellow-voyager? were +we not both wending westward? But how soon he daily overtook and +passed us; hurrying to his journey's end. + +When a week had gone by, sailing steadily on, by day and by night, and +nothing in sight but this self-same sea, what wonder if disquieting +thoughts at last entered our hearts? If unknowingly we should pass +the spot where, according to our reckoning, our islands lay, upon what +shoreless sea would we launch? At times, these forebodings bewildered +my idea of the positions of the groups beyond. All became vague and +confused; so that westward of the Kingsmil isles and the Radack chain, +I fancied there could be naught but an endless sea. + + + +CHAPTER XIII +Of The Chondropterygii, And Other Uncouth Hordes Infesting The South Seas + + +At intervals in our lonely voyage, there were sights which +diversified the scene; especially when the constellation Pisces was +in the ascendant. + +It's famous botanizing, they say, in Arkansas' boundless prairies; I +commend the student of Ichthyology to an open boat, and the ocean +moors of the Pacific. As your craft glides along, what strange +monsters float by. Elsewhere, was never seen their like. And nowhere +are they found in the books of the naturalists. + +Though America be discovered, the Cathays of the deep are unknown. +And whoso crosses the Pacific might have read lessons to Buffon. The +sea-serpent is not a fable; and in the sea, that snake is but a +garden worm. There are more wonders than the wonders rejected, and +more sights unrevealed than you or I ever ever dreamt of. Moles and +bats alone should be skeptics; and the only true infidelity is for a +live man to vote himself dead. Be Sir Thomas Brown our ensample; who, +while exploding "Vulgar Errors," heartily hugged all the mysteries in +the Pentateuch. + +But look! fathoms down in the sea; where ever saw you a phantom like +that? An enormous crescent with antlers like a reindeer, and a Delta +of mouths. Slowly it sinks, and is seen no more. + +Doctor Faust saw the devil; but you have seen the "Devil Fish." + +Look again! Here comes another. Jarl calls it a Bone Shark. Full as +large as a whale, it is spotted like a leopard; and tusk-like teeth +overlap its jaws like those of the walrus. To seamen, nothing strikes +more terror than the near vicinity of a creature like this. Great +ships steer out of its path. And well they may; since the good craft +Essex, and others, have been sunk by sea-monsters, as the alligator +thrusts his horny snout through a Carribean canoe. + +Ever present to us, was the apprehension of some sudden disaster from +the extraordinary zoological specimens we almost hourly passed. + +For the sharks, we saw them, not by units, nor by tens, nor by +hundreds; but by thousands and by myriads. Trust me, there are more +sharks in the sea than mortals on land. + +And of these prolific fish there are full as many species as of dogs. +But by the German naturalists Muller and Henle, who, in christening +the sharks, have bestowed upon them the most heathenish names, they +are classed under one family; which family, according to Muller, +king-at-arms, is an undoubted branch of the ancient and famous tribe +of the Chondropterygii. + +To begin. There is the ordinary Brown Shark, or sea attorney, so +called by sailors; a grasping, rapacious varlet, that in spite of the +hard knocks received from it, often snapped viciously at our steering +oar. At times, these gentry swim in herds; especially about the +remains of a slaughtered whale. They are the vultures of the deep. + +Then we often encountered the dandy Blue Shark, a long, taper and +mighty genteel looking fellow, with a slender waist, like a Bond- +street beau, and the whitest tiers of teeth imaginable. This dainty +spark invariably lounged by with a careless fin and an indolent tail. +But he looked infernally heartless. + +How his cold-blooded, gentlemanly air, contrasted with the rude, +savage swagger of the Tiger Shark; a round, portly gourmand; with +distended mouth and collapsed conscience, swimming about seeking whom +he might devour. These gluttons are the scavengers of navies, +following ships in the South Seas, picking up odds and ends of +garbage, and sometimes a tit-bit, a stray sailor. No wonder, then, +that sailors denounce them. In substance, Jarl once assured me, that +under any temporary misfortune, it was one of his sweetest +consolations to remember, that in his day, he had murdered, not +killed, shoals of Tiger Sharks. + +Yet this is all wrong. As well hate a seraph, as a shark. Both were +made by the same hand. And that sharks are lovable, witness their +domestic endearments. No Fury so ferocious, as not to have some +amiable side. In the wild wilderness, a leopard-mother caresses her +cub, as Hagar did Ishmael; or a queen of France the dauphin. We know +not what we do when we hate. And I have the word of my gentlemanly +friend Stanhope, for it; that he who declared he loved a good hater +was but a respectable sort of Hottentot, at best. No very genteel +epithet this, though coming from the genteelest of men. But when the +digger of dictionaries said that saying of his, he was assuredly not +much of a Christian. However, it is hard for one given up to +constitutional hypos like him; to be filled with the milk and +meekness of the gospels. Yet, with deference, I deny that my old +uncle Johnson really believed in the sentiment ascribed to him. Love +a hater, indeed! Who smacks his lips over gall? Now hate is a +thankless thing. So, let us only hate hatred; and once give love +play, we will fall in love with a unicorn. Ah! the easiest way is the +best; and to hate, a man must work hard. Love is a delight; but hate +a torment. And haters are thumbscrews, Scotch boots, and Spanish +inquisitions to themselves. In five words--would they were a Siamese +diphthong--he who hates is a fool. + +For several days our Chamois was followed by two of these aforesaid +Tiger Sharks. A brace of confidential inseparables, jogging along in +our wake, side by side, like a couple of highwaymen, biding their +time till you come to the cross-roads. But giving it up at last, for +a bootless errand, they dropped farther and farther astern, until +completely out of sight. Much to the Skyeman's chagrin; who long +stood in the stern, lance poised for a dart. + +But of all sharks, save me from the ghastly White Shark. For though +we should hate naught, yet some dislikes are spontaneous; and +disliking is not hating. And never yet could I bring myself to be +loving, or even sociable, with a White Shark. He is not the sort of +creature to enlist young affections. + +This ghost of a fish is not often encountered, and shows plainer by +night than by day. Timon-like, he always swims by himself; gliding +along just under the surface, revealing a long, vague shape, of a +milky hue; with glimpses now and then of his bottomless white pit of +teeth. No need of a dentist hath he. Seen at night, stealing along +like a spirit in the water, with horrific serenity of aspect, the +White Shark sent many a thrill to us twain in the Chamois. + +By day, and in the profoundest calms, oft were we startled by the +ponderous sigh of the grampus, as lazily rising to the surface, he +fetched a long breath after napping below. + +And time and again we watched the darting albicore, the fish with the +chain-plate armor and golden scales; the Nimrod of the seas, to whom +so many flying fish fall a prey. Flying from their pursuers, many of +them flew into our boat. But invariably they died from the shock. No +nursing could restore them. One of their wings I removed, spreading +it out to dry under a weight. In two days' time the thin membrane, +all over tracings like those of a leaf, was transparent as isinglass, +and tinted with brilliant hues, like those of a changing silk. + +Almost every day, we spied Black Fish; coal-black and glossy. They +seemed to swim by revolving round and round in the water, like a wheel; +their dorsal fins, every now and then shooting into view, like spokes. + +Of a somewhat similar species, but smaller, and clipper-built about +the nose, were the Algerines; so called, probably, from their corsair +propensities; waylaying peaceful fish on the high seas, and +plundering them of body and soul at a gulp. Atrocious Turks! a +crusade should be preached against them. + +Besides all these, we encountered Killers and Thrashers, by far the +most spirited and "spunky" of the finny tribes. Though little larger +than a porpoise, a band of them think nothing of assailing leviathan +himself. They bait the monster, as dogs a bull. The Killers seizing +the Right whale by his immense, sulky lower lip, and the Thrashers +fastening on to his back, and beating him with their sinewy tails. +Often they come off conquerors, worrying the enemy to death. Though, +sooth to say, if leviathan gets but one sweep al them with his terrible +tail, they go flying into the air, as if tossed from Taurus' horn. + +This sight we beheld. Had old Wouvermans, who once painted a bull +bait, been along with us, a rare chance, that, for his pencil. And +Gudin or Isabey might have thrown the blue rolling sea into the +picture. Lastly, one of Claude's setting summer suns would have +glorified the whole. Oh, believe me, God's creatures fighting, fin +for fin, a thousand miles from land, and with the round horizon for +an arena; is no ignoble subject for a masterpiece. + +Such are a few of the sights of the great South Sea. But there is no +telling all. The Pacific is populous as China. + + + +CHAPTER XIV +Jarl's Misgivings + + +About this time an event took place. My good Viking opened his mouth, +and spoke. The prodigy occurred, as, jacknife in hand, he was bending +over the midship oar; on the loom, or handle, of which he kept our +almanac; making a notch for every set sun. For some forty-eight hours +past, the wind had been light and variable. It was more than +suspected that a current was sweeping us northward. + +Now, marking these things, Jarl threw out the thought, that the more +wind, and the less current, the better; and if a long calm came on, +of which there was some prospect, we had better take to our oars. + +Take to our oars! as if we were crossing a ferry, and no ocean +leagues to traverse. The idea indirectly suggested all possible +horrors. To be rid of them forthwith, I proceeded to dole out our +morning meal. For to make away with such things, there is nothing +better than bolting something down on top of them; albeit, oft +repeated, the plan is very apt to beget dyspepsia; and the dyspepsia +the blues. + +But what of our store of provisions? So far as enough to eat was +concerned, we felt not the slightest apprehension; our supplies +proving more abundant than we had anticipated. But, curious to tell, +we felt but little inclination for food. It was water, bright water, +cool, sparkling water, alone, that we craved. And of this, also, our +store at first seemed ample. But as our voyage lengthened, and +breezes blew faint, and calms fell fast, the idea of being deprived +of the precious fluid grew into something little short of a mono- +mania; especially with Jarl. + +Every hour or two with the hammer and chisel belonging to the tinder +box keg, he tinkered away at the invaluable breaker; driving down the +hoops, till in his over solicitude, I thought he would burst them +outright. + +Now the breaker lay on its bilge, in the middle of the boat, where +more or less sea-water always collected. And ever and anon, dipping +his finger therein, my Viking was troubled with the thought, that +this sea-water tasted less brackish than that alongside. Of course +the breaker must be leaking. So, he would turn it over, till its wet +side came uppermost; when it would quickly become dry as a bone. But +now, with his knife, he would gently probe the joints of the staves; +shake his head; look up; look down; taste of the water in the bottom +of the boat; then that of the sea; then lift one end of the breaker; +going through with every test of leakage he could dream of. Nor was +he ever fully satisfied, that the breaker was in all respects sound. +But in reality it was tight as the drum-heads that beat at Cerro- +Gordo. Oh! Jarl, Jarl: to me in the boat's quiet stern, steering and +philosophizing at one time and the same, thou and thy breaker were a +study. + +Besides the breaker, we had, full of water, the two boat-kegs, +previously alluded to. These were first used. We drank from them by +their leaden spouts; so many swallows three times in the day; having +no other means of measuring an allowance. But when we came to the +breaker, which had only a bung-hole, though a very large one, dog- +like, it was so many laps apiece; jealously counted by the observer. +This plan, however, was only good for a single day; the water then +getting beyond the reach of the tongue. We therefore daily poured +from the breaker into one of the kegs; and drank from its spout. But +to obviate the absorption inseparable from decanting, we at last hit +upon something better,--my comrade's shoe, which, deprived of +its quarters, narrowed at the heel, and diligently rinsed out in the +sea, was converted into a handy but rather limber ladle. This we kept +suspended in the bung-hole of the breaker, that it might never twice +absorb the water. + +Now pewter imparts flavor to ale; a Meerschaum bowl, the same to the +tobacco of Smyrna; and goggle green glasses are deemed indispensable +to the bibbing of Hock. What then shall be said of a leathern goblet +for water? Try it, ye mariners who list. + +One morning, taking his wonted draught, Jarl fished up in his ladle a +deceased insect; something like a Daddy-long-legs, only more +corpulent. Its fate? A sea-toss? Believe it not; with all those +precious drops clinging to its lengthy legs. It was held over the +ladle till the last globule dribbled; and even then, being moist, +honest Jarl was but loth to drop it overboard. + +For our larder, we could not endure the salt beef; it was raw as a +live Abyssinian steak, and salt as Cracow. Besides, the Feegee simile +would not have held good with respect to it. It was far from being +"tender as a dead man." The biscuit only could we eat; not to be +wondered at; for even on shipboard, seamen in the tropics are but +sparing feeders. + +And here let not, a suggestion be omitted, most valuable to any +future castaway or sailaway as the case may be. Eat not your biscuit +dry; but dip it in the sea: which makes it more bulky and palatable. +During meal times it was soak and sip with Jarl and me: one on each +side of the Chamois dipping our biscuit in the brine. This plan +obviated finger-glasses at the conclusion of our repast. Upon the +whole, dwelling upon the water is not so bad after all. The Chinese +are no fools. In the operation of making your toilet, how handy to +float in your ewer! + + + +CHAPTER XV +A Stitch In Time Saves Nine + + +Like most silent earnest sort of people, my good Viking was a pattern +of industry. When in the boats after whales, I have known him carry +along a roll of sinnate to stitch into a hat. And the boats lying +motionless for half an hour or so, waiting the rising of the chase, +his fingers would be plying at their task, like an old lady knitting. +Like an experienced old-wife too, his digits had become so expert and +conscientious, that his eyes left them alone; deeming optic +supervision unnecessary. And on this trip of ours, when not otherwise +engaged, he was quite as busy with his fingers as ever: unraveling +old Cape Horn hose, for yarn wherewith to darn our woolen frocks; +with great patches from the skirts of a condemned reefing jacket, +panneling the seats of our "ducks;" in short, veneering our broken +garments with all manner of choice old broadcloths. + +With the true forethought of an old tar, he had brought along wish +him nearly the whole contents of his chest. His precious "Ditty Bag," +containing his sewing utensils, had been carefully packed away in the +bottom of one of his bundles; of which he had as many as an old maid +on her travels. In truth, an old salt is very much of an old maid, +though, strictly speaking, far from deserving that misdeemed +appellative. Better be an old maid, a woman with herself for a +husband, than the wife of a fool; and Solomon more than hints that +all men are fools; and every wise man knows himself to be one. +When playing the sempstress, Jarl's favorite perch was the +triangular little platform in the bow; which being the driest and +most elevated part of the boat, was best adapted to his purpose. Here +for hours and hours together the honest old tailor would sit darning +and sewing away, heedless of the wide ocean around; while forever, +his slouched Guayaquil hat kept bobbing up and down against the +horizon before us. + +It was a most solemn avocation with him. Silently he nodded like the +still statue in the opera of Don Juan. Indeed he never spoke, unless +to give pithy utterance to the wisdom of keeping one's wardrobe in +repair. But herein my Viking at times waxed oracular. And many's the +hour we glided along, myself deeply pondering in the stem, hand upon +helm; while crosslegged at the other end of the boat Jarl laid down +patch upon patch, and at long intervals precept upon precept; here +several saws, and there innumerable stitches. + + + +CHAPTER XVI +They Are Becalmed + + +On the eighth day there was a calm. + +It came on by night: so that waking at daybreak, and folding my arms +over the gunwale, I looked out upon a scene very hard to describe. +The sun was still beneath the horizon; perhaps not yet out of sight +from the plains of Paraguay. But the dawn was too strong for the +stars; which, one by one, had gone out, like waning lamps after a +ball. + +Now, as the face of a mirror is a blank, only borrowing character +from what it reflects; so in a calm in the Tropics, a colorless sky +overhead, the ocean, upon its surface, hardly presents a sign of +existence. The deep blue is gone; and the glassy element lies +tranced; almost viewless as the air. + +But that morning, the two gray firmaments of sky and water seemed +collapsed into a vague ellipsis. And alike, the Chamois seemed +drifting in the atmosphere as in the sea. Every thing was fused into +the calm: sky, air, water, and all. Not a fish was to be seen. The +silence was that of a vacuum. No vitality lurked in the air. And this +inert blending and brooding of all things seemed gray chaos in +conception. + +This calm lasted four days and four nights; during which, but a few +cat's-paws of wind varied the scene. They were faint as the breath of +one dying. + +At times the heat was intense. The heavens, at midday, glowing like +an ignited coal mine. Our skin curled up like lint; our vision became +dim; the brain dizzy. + +To our consternation, the water in the breaker became +lukewarm, brackish, and slightly putrescent; notwithstanding we kept +our spare clothing piled upon the breaker, to shield it from the sun. +At last, Jarl enlarged the vent, carefully keeping it exposed. To +this precaution, doubtless, we owed more than we then thought. It was +now deemed wise to reduce our allowance of water to the smallest +modicum consistent with the present preservation of life; strangling +all desire for more. + +Nor was this all. The upper planking of the boat began to warp; here +and there, cracking and splintering. But though we kept it moistened +with brine, one of the plank-ends started from its place; and the +sharp, sudden sound, breaking the scorching silence, caused us both +to spring to our feet. Instantly the sea burst in; but we made shift +to secure the rebellious plank with a cord, not having a nail; we +then bailed out the boat, nearly half full of water. + +On the second day of the calm, we unshipped the mast, to prevent its +being pitched out by the occasional rolling of the vast smooth swells +now overtaking us. Leagues and leagues away, after its fierce raging, +some tempest must have been sending to us its last dying waves. For +as a pebble dropped into a pond ruffles it to its marge; so, on all +sides, a sea-gale operates as if an asteroid had fallen into the +brine; making ringed mountain billows, interminably expanding, +instead of ripples. + +The great September waves breaking at the base of the Neversink +Highlands, far in advance of the swiftest pilot-boat, carry tidings. +And full often, they know the last secret of many a stout ship, never +heard of from the day she left port. Every wave in my eyes seems a +soul. + +As there was no steering to be done, Jarl and I sheltered ourselves +as well as we could under the awning. And for the first two days, one +at a time, and every three or four hours, we dropped overboard for a +bath, clinging to the gun-wale; a sharp look-out being kept for +prowling sharks. A foot or two below the surface, the water +felt cool and refreshing. + +On the third day a change came over us. We relinquished bathing, the +exertion taxing us too much. Sullenly we laid ourselves down; turned +our backs to each other; and were impatient of the slightest casual +touch of our persons. What sort of expression my own countenance +wore, I know not; but I hated to look at Jarl's. When I did it was a +glare, not a glance. I became more taciturn than he. I can not tell +what it was that came over me, but I wished I was alone. I felt that +so long as the calm lasted, we were without help; that neither could +assist the other; and above all, that for one, the water would hold +out longer than for two. I felt no remorse, not the slightest, for +these thoughts. It was instinct. Like a desperado giving up the +ghost, I desired to gasp by myself. + +From being cast away with a brother, good God deliver me! + +The four days passed. And on the morning of the fifth, thanks be to +Heaven, there came a breeze. Dancingly, mincingly it came, just +rippling the sea, until it struck our sails, previously set at the +very first token of its advance. At length it slightly freshened; and +our poor Chamois seemed raised from the dead. + +Beyond expression delightful! Once more we heard the low humming of +the sea under our bow, as our boat, like a bird, went singing on its way. + +How changed the scene! Overhead, a sweet blue haze, distilling +sunlight in drops. And flung abroad over the visible creation was the +sun-spangled, azure, rustling robe of the ocean, ermined with wave +crests; all else, infinitely blue. Such a cadence of musical sounds! +Waves chasing each other, and sporting and frothing in frolicsome +foam: painted fish rippling past; and anon the noise of wings as sea- +fowls flew by. + +Oh, Ocean, when thou choosest to smile, more beautiful thou art than +flowery mead or plain! + + + +CHAPTER XVII +In High Spirits, They Push On For The Terra Incognita + + +There were now fourteen notches on the loom of the Skyeman's oar:--So +many days since we had pushed from the fore-chains of the Arcturion. +But as yet, no floating bough, no tern, noddy, nor reef-bird, to +denote our proximity to land. In that long calm, whither might not +the currents have swept us? + +Where we were precisely, we knew not; but according to our reckoning, +the loose estimation of the knots run every hour, we must have sailed +due west but little more than one hundred and fifty leagues; for the +most part having encountered but light winds, and frequent +intermitting calms, besides that prolonged one described. But spite +of past calms and currents, land there must be to the westward. Sun, +compass, stout hearts, and steady breezes, pointed our prow thereto. +So courage! my Viking, and never say drown! + +At this time, our hearts were much lightened by discovering that our +water was improving in taste. It seemed to have been undergoing anew +that sort of fermentation, or working, occasionally incident to ship +water shortly after being taken on board. Sometimes, for a period, it +is more or less offensive to taste and smell; again, however, +becoming comparatively limpid. + +But as our water improved, we grew more and more miserly of so +priceless a treasure. + +And here it may be well to make mention of another little +circumstance, however unsentimental. Thorough-paced tar that he was, +my Viking was an inordinate consumer of the Indian weed. From +the Arcturion, he had brought along with him a small half-keg, at +bottom impacted with a solitary layer of sable Negrohead, fossil- +marked, like the primary stratum of the geologists. It was the last +tier of his abundant supply for the long whaling voyage upon which he +had embarked upwards of three years previous. Now during the calm, +and for some days after, poor Jarl's accustomed quid was no longer +agreeable company. To pun: he eschewed his chew. I asked him +wherefore. He replied that it puckered up his mouth, above all +provoked thirst, and had somehow grown every way distasteful. I was +sorry; for the absence of his before ever present wad impaired what +little fullness there was left in his cheek; though, sooth to say, I +no longer called upon him as of yore to shift over the enormous +morsel to starboard or larboard, and so trim our craft. + +The calm gone by, once again my sea-tailor plied needle and thread; +or turning laundress, hung our raiment to dry on oars peaked +obliquely in the thole-pins. All of which tattered pennons, the wind +being astern, helped us gayly on our way; as jolly poor devils, with +rags flying in the breeze, sail blithely through life; and are merry +although they are poor! + + + +CHAPTER XVIII +My Lord Shark And His Pages + + +There is a fish in the sea that evermore, like a surly lord, only +goes abroad attended by his suite. It is the Shovel-nosed Shark. A +clumsy lethargic monster, unshapely as his name, and the last species +of his kind, one would think, to be so bravely waited upon, as he is. +His suite is composed of those dainty little creatures called Pilot +fish by sailors. But by night his retinue is frequently increased by +the presence of several small luminous fish, running in advance, and +flourishing their flambeaux like link-boys lighting the monster's +way. Pity there were no ray-fish in rear, page-like, to carry his +caudal train. + +Now the relation subsisting between the Pilot fish above mentioned +and their huge ungainly lord, seems one of the most inscrutable +things in nature. At any rate, it poses poor me to comprehend. That a +monster so ferocious, should suffer five or six little sparks, hardly +fourteen inches long, to gambol about his grim hull with the utmost +impunity, is of itself something strange. But when it is considered, +that by a reciprocal understanding, the Pilot fish seem to act as +scouts to the shark, warning him of danger, and apprising him of the +vicinity of prey; and moreover, in case of his being killed, evincing +their anguish by certain agitations, otherwise inexplicable; the +whole thing becomes a mystery unfathomable. Truly marvels abound. It +needs no dead man to be raised, to convince us of some things. Even +my Viking marveled full as much at those Pilot fish as he would have +marveled at the Pentecost. + +But perhaps a little incident, occurring about this period, will best +illustrate the matter in hand. + +We were gliding along, hardly three knots an hour, when my comrade, +who had been dozing over the gunwale, suddenly started to his feet, +and pointed out an immense Shovel-nosed Shark, less than a boat's +length distant, and about half a fathom beneath the surface. A lance +was at once snatched from its place; and true to his calling, Jarl +was about to dart it at the fish, when, interested by the sight of +its radiant little scouts, I begged him to desist. + +One of them was right under the shark, nibbling at his ventral fin; +another above, hovering about his dorsal appurtenance; one on each +flank; and a frisking fifth pranking about his nose, seemingly having +something to say of a confidential nature. They were of a bright, +steel-blue color, alternated with jet black stripes; with glistening +bellies of a silver-white. Clinging to the back of the shark, were +four or five Remoras, or sucking-fish; snaky parasites, impossible to +remove from whatever they adhere to, without destroying their lives. +The Remora has little power in swimming; hence its sole locomotion is +on the backs of larger fish. Leech-like, it sticketh closer than a +false brother in prosperity; closer than a beggar to the benevolent; +closer than Webster to the Constitution. But it feeds upon what it +clings to; its feelers having a direct communication with the +esophagus. + +The shark swam sluggishly; creating no sign of a ripple, but ever +and, anon shaking his Medusa locks, writhing and curling with +horrible life. Now and then, the nimble Pilot fish darted from his +side--this way and that--mostly toward our boat; but previous to +taking a fresh start ever returning to their liege lord to report +progress. + +A thought struck me. Baiting a rope's end with a morsel of our almost +useless salt beef, I suffered it to trail in the sea. Instantly the +foremost scout swam toward it; hesitated; paused; but at last +advancing, briskly snuffed at the line, and taking one finical +little nibble, retreated toward the shark. Another moment, and the +great Tamerlane himself turned heavily about; pointing his black, +cannon-like nose directly toward our broadside. Meanwhile, the little +Pilot fish darted hither and thither; keeping up a mighty fidgeting, +like men of small minds in a state of nervous agitation. + +Presently, Tamerlane swam nearer and nearer, all the while lazily +eyeing the Chamois, as a wild boar a kid. Suddenly making a rush for +it, in the foam he made away with the bait. But the next instant, the +uplifted lance sped at his skull; and thrashing his requiem with his +sinewy tail, he sunk slowly, through his own blood, out of sight. +Down with him swam the terrified Pilot fish; but soon after, three of +them were observed close to the boat, gliding along at a uniform +pace; one an each side, and one in advance; even as they had attended +their lord. Doubtless, one was under our keel. + +"A good omen," said Jarl; "no harm will befall us so long as they stay." + +But however that might be, follow us they did, for many days after: +until an event occurred, which necessitated their withdrawal. + + + +CHAPTER XIX +Who Goes There? + + +Jarl's oar showed sixteen notches on the loom, when one evening, as +the expanded sun touched the horizon's rim, a ship's uppermost spars +were observed, traced like a spider's web against its crimson disk. +It looked like a far-off craft on fire. + +In bright weather at sea, a sail, invisible in the full flood of +noon, becomes perceptible toward sunset. It is the reverse in the +morning. In sight at gray dawn, the distant vessel, though in reality +approaching, recedes from view, as the sun rises higher and higher. +This holds true, till its vicinity makes it readily fall within the +ordinary scope of vision. And thus, too, here and there, with other +distant things: the more light you throw on them, the more you +obscure. Some revelations show best in a twilight. + +The sight of the stranger not a little surprised us. But brightening +up, as if the encounter were welcome, Jarl looked happy and +expectant. He quickly changed his demeanor, however, upon perceiving +that I was bent upon shunning a meeting. + +Instantly our sails were struck; and calling upon Jarl, who was +somewhat backward to obey, I shipped the oars; and, both rowing, we +stood away obliquely from our former course. + +I divined that the vessel was a whaler; and hence, that by help of +the glass, with which her look-outs must be momentarily sweeping the +horizon, they might possibly have descried us; especially, as we were +due east from the ship; a direction, which at sunset is the +one most favorable for perceiving a far-off object at sea. +Furthermore, our canvas was snow-white and conspicuous. To be sure, +we could not be certain what kind of a vessel it was; but whatever it +might be, I, for one, had no mind to risk an encounter; for it was +quite plain, that if the stranger came within hailing distance, there +would be no resource but to link our fortunes with hers; whereas I +desired to pursue none but the Chamois'. As for the Skyeman, he kept +looking wistfully over his shoulder; doubtless, praying Heaven, that +we might not escape what I sought to avoid. + +Now, upon a closer scrutiny, being pretty well convinced that the +stranger, after all, was steering a nearly westerly course--right +away from us--we reset our sail; and as night fell, my Viking's +entreaties, seconded by my own curiosity, induced me to resume our +original course; and so follow after the vessel, with a view of +obtaining a nearer glimpse, without danger of detection. So, boldly +we steered for the sail. + +But not gaining much upon her, spite of the lightness of the breeze +(a circumstance in our favor: the chase being a ship, and we but a +boat), at my comrade's instigation, we added oars to sails, readily +guiding our way by the former, though the helm was left to itself. + +As we came nearer, it was plain that the vessel was no whaler; but a +small, two-masted craft; in short, a brigantine. Her sails were in a +state of unaccountable disarray; .only the foresail, mainsail, and +jib being set. The first was much tattered; and the jib was hoisted +but half way up the stay, where it idly flapped, the breeze coming +from over the taffrail. She continually yawed in her course; now +almost presenting her broadside, then showing her stern. + +Striking our sails once more, we lay on our oars, and watched her in +the starlight. Still she swung from side to side, and still sailed on. + +Not a little terrified at the sight, superstitious Jarl more than +insinuated that the craft must be a gold-huntress, haunted. But I +told him, that if such were the case, we must board her, come gold or +goblins. In reality, however, I began to think that she must have +been abandoned by her crew; or else, that from sickness, those on +board were incapable of managing her. + +After a long and anxious reconnoiter, we came still nearer, using our +oars, but very reluctantly on Jarl's part; who, while rowing, kept +his eyes over his shoulder, as if about to beach the little Chamois +on the back of a whale as of yore. Indeed, he seemed full as +impatient to quit the vicinity of the vessel, as before he had been +anxiously courting it. + +Now, as the silent brigantine again swung round her broadside, I +hailed her loudly. No return. Again. But all was silent. With a few +vigorous strokes, we closed with her, giving yet another unanswered +hail; when, laying the Chamois right alongside, I clutched at the +main-chains. Instantly we felt her dragging us along. Securing our +craft by its painter, I sprang over the rail, followed by Jarl, who +had snatched his harpoon, his favorite arms. Long used with that +weapon to overcome the monsters of the deep, he doubted not it would +prove equally serviceable in any other encounter. + +The deck was a complete litter. Tossed about were pearl oyster +shells, husks of cocoa-nuts, empty casks, and cases. The deserted +tiller was lashed; which accounted for the vessel's yawing. But we +could not conceive, how going large before the wind; the craft could, +for any considerable time, at least, have guided herself without the +help of a hand. Still, the breeze was light and steady. + +Now, seeing the helm thus lashed, I could not but distrust the +silence that prevailed. It conjured up the idea of miscreants +concealed below, and meditating treachery; unscrupulous mutineers-- +Lascars, or Manilla-men; who, having murdered the Europeans of +the crew, might not be willing to let strangers depart unmolested. Or +yet worse, the entire ship's company might have been swept away by a +fever, its infection still lurking in the poisoned hull. And though +the first conceit, as the last, was a mere surmise, it was +nevertheless deemed prudent to secure the hatches, which for the +present we accordingly barred down with the oars of our boat. This +done, we went about the deck in search of water. And finding some in +a clumsy cask, drank long and freely, and to our thirsty souls' +content. + +The wind now freshening, and the rent sails like to blow from the +yards, we brought the brigantine to the wind, and brailed up the +canvas. This left us at liberty to examine the craft, though, +unfortunately, the night was growing hazy. + +All this while our boat was still towing alongside; and I was about +to drop it astern, when Jarl, ever cautious, declared it safer where +it was; since, if there were people on board, they would most likely +be down in the cabin, from the dead-lights of which, mischief might +be done to the Chamois. + +It was then, that my comrade observed, that the brigantine had no +boats, a circumstance most unusual in any sort of a vessel at sea. +But marking this, I was exceedingly gratified. It seemed to indicate, +as I had opined, that from some cause or other, she must have been +abandoned of her crew. And in a good measure this dispelled my fears +of foul play, and the apprehension of contagion. Encouraged by these +reflections, I now resolved to descend, and explore the cabin, though +sorely against Jarl's counsel. To be sure, as he earnestly said, this +step might have been deferred till daylight; but it seemed too +wearisome to wait. So bethinking me of our tinder-box and candles, I +sent him into the boat for them. Presently, two candles were lit; one +of which the Skyeman tied up and down the barbed end of his harpoon; +so that upon going below, the keen steel might not be far off, +should the light be blown out by a dastard. + +Unfastening the cabin scuttle, we stepped downward into the smallest +and murkiest den in the world. The altar-like transom, surmounted by +the closed dead-lights in the stem, together with the dim little sky- +light overhead, and the somber aspect of every thing around, gave the +place the air of some subterranean oratory, say a Prayer Room of +Peter the Hermit. But coils of rigging, bolts of canvas, articles of +clothing, and disorderly heaps of rubbish, harmonized not with this +impression. Two doors, one on each side, led into wee little state- +rooms, the berths of which also were littered. Among other things, +was a large box, sheathed with iron and stoutly clamped, containing a +keg partly filled with powder, the half of an old cutlass, a pouch of +bullets, and a case for a sextant--a brass plate on the lid, with the +maker's name. London. The broken blade of the cutlass was very rusty +and stained; and the iron hilt bent in. It looked so tragical that I +thrust it out of sight. + +Removing a small trap-door, opening into the space beneath, called +the "run," we lighted upon sundry cutlasses and muskets, lying +together at sixes and sevens, as if pitched down in a hurry. + +Casting round a hasty glance, and satisfying ourselves, that through +the bulkhead of the cabin, there was no passage to the forward part +of the hold, we caught up the muskets and cutlasses, the powder keg +and the pouch of bullets, and bundling them on deck, prepared to +visit the other end of the vessel. Previous to so doing, however, I +loaded a musket, and belted a cutlass to my side. But my Viking +preferred his harpoon. + +In the forecastle reigned similar confusion. But there was a snug +little lair, cleared away in one corner, and furnished with a grass +mat and bolster, like those used among the Islanders of these seas. +This little lair looked to us as if some leopard had crouched there. +And as it turned out, we were not far from right. Forming one +side of this retreat, was a sailor's chest, stoutly secured by a +lock, and monstrous heavy withal. Regardless of Jarl's entreaties, I +managed to burst the lid; thereby revealing a motley assemblage of +millinery, and outlandish knick-knacks of all sorts; together with +sundry rude Calico contrivances, which though of unaccountable cut, +nevertheless possessed a certain petticoatish air, and latitude of +skirt, betokening them the habiliments of some feminine creature; +most probably of the human species. + +In this strong box, also, was a canvas bag, jingling with rusty old +bell-buttons, gangrened copper bolts, and sheathing nails; damp, +greenish Carolus dollars (true coin all), besides divers iron screws, +and battered, chisels, and belaying-pins. Sounded on the chest lid, +the dollars rang clear as convent bells. These were put aside by Jarl +the sight of substantial dollars doing away, for the nonce, with his +superstitious Misgivings. True to his kingship, he loved true coin; +though abroad on the sea, and no land but dollarless dominions +ground, all this silver was worthless as charcoal or diamonds. Nearly +one and the same thing, say the chemists; but tell that to the +marines, say the illiterate Jews and the jewelers. Go, buy a house, +or a ship, if you can, with your charcoal! Yea, all the woods in +Canada charred down to cinders would not be worth the one famed +Brazilian diamond, though no bigger than the egg of a carrier pigeon. +Ah! but these chemists are liars, and Sir Humphrey Davy a cheat. +Many's the poor devil they've deluded into the charcoal business, who +otherwise might have made his fortune with a mattock. + +Groping again into the chest, we brought to light a queer little hair +trunk, very bald and rickety. At every corner was a mighty clamp, the +weight of which had no doubt debilitated the box. It was jealously +secured with a padlock, almost as big as itself; so that it was +almost a question, which was meant to be security to the other. +Prying at it hard, we at length effected an entrance; but saw +no golden moidores, no ruddy doubloons; nothing under heaven but +three pewter mugs, such as are used in a ship's cabin, several brass +screws, and brass plates, which must have belonged to a quadrant; +together with a famous lot of glass beads, and brass rings; while, +pasted on the inside of the cover, was a little colored print, +representing the harlots, the shameless hussies, having a fine time +with the Prodigal Son. + +It should have been mentioned ere now, that while we were busy in the +forecastle, we were several times startled by strange sounds aloft. +And just after, crashing into the little hair trunk, down came a +great top-block, right through the scuttle, narrowly missing my +Viking's crown; a much stronger article, by the way, than your +goldsmiths turn out in these days. This startled us much; +particularly Jarl, as one might suppose; but accustomed to the +strange creakings and wheezings of the masts and yards of old vessels +at sea, and having many a time dodged stray blocks accidentally +falling from aloft, I thought little more of the matter; though my +comrade seemed to think the noises somewhat different from any thing +of that kind he had even heard before. + +After a little more turning over of the rubbish in the forecastle, +and much marveling thereat, we ascended to the deck; where we found +every thing so silent, that, as we moved toward the taffrail, the +Skyeman unconsciously addressed me in a whisper. + + + +CHAPTER XX +Noises And Portents + + +I longed for day. For however now inclined to believe that the +brigantine was untenanted, I desired the light of the sun to place +that fact beyond a misgiving. + +Now, having observed, previous to boarding the vessel, that she lay +rather low in the water, I thought proper to sound the well. But +there being no line-and-sinker at hand, I sent Jarl to hunt them up +in the arm-chest on the quarter-deck, where doubtless they must be +kept. Meanwhile I searched for the "breaks," or pump-handles, which, +as it turned out, could not have been very recently used; for they +were found lashed up and down to the main-mast. + +Suddenly Jarl came running toward me, whispering that all doubt was +dispelled;--there were spirits on board, to a dead certainty. He had +overheard a supernatural sneeze. But by this time I was all but +convinced, that we were alone in the brigantine. Since, if otherwise, +I could assign no earthly reason for the crew's hiding away from a +couple of sailors, whom, were they so minded, they might easily have +mastered. And furthermore, this alleged disturbance of the atmosphere +aloft by a sneeze, Jarl averred to have taken place in the main-top; +directly underneath which I was all this time standing, and had heard +nothing. So complimenting my good Viking upon the exceeding delicacy +of his auriculars, I bade him trouble himself no more with his +piratical ghosts and goblins, which existed nowhere but in his own +imagination. + +Not finding the line-and-sinker, with the spare end of a bowline we +rigged a substitute; and sounding the well, found nothing to excite +our alarm. Under certain circumstances, however, this sounding a +ship's well is a nervous sort of business enough. 'Tis like feeling +your own pulse in the last stage of a fever. + +At the Skyeman's suggestion, we now proceeded to throw round the +brigantine's head on the other tack. For until daylight we desired to +alter the vessel's position as little as possible, fearful of coming +unawares upon reefs. + +And here be it said, that for all his superstitious misgivings about +the brigantine; his imputing to her something equivalent to a purely +phantom-like nature, honest Jarl was nevertheless exceedingly +downright and practical in all hints and proceedings concerning her. +Wherein, he resembled my Right Reverend friend, Bishop Berkeley-- +truly, one of your lords spiritual--who, metaphysically speaking, +holding all objects to be mere optical delusions, was, notwith- +standing, extremely matter-of-fact in all matters touching +matter itself. Besides being pervious to the points of pins, and +possessing a palate capable of appreciating plum-puddings:--which +sentence reads off like a pattering of hailstones. + +Now, while we were employed bracing round the yards, whispering Jarl +must needs pester me again with his confounded suspicions of goblins +on board. He swore by the main-mast, that when the fore-yard swung +round, he had heard a half-stifled groan from that quarter; as if one +of his bugbears had been getting its aerial legs jammed. I laughed:-- +hinting that goblins were incorporeal. Whereupon he besought me to +ascend the fore-rigging and test the matter for myself But here my +mature judgment got the better of my first crude opinion. I civilly +declined. For assuredly, there was still a possibility, that the +fore-top might be tenanted, and that too by living miscreants; and a +pretty hap would be mine, if, with hands full of rigging, and legs +dangling in air, while surmounting the oblique futtock- +shrouds, some unseen arm should all at once tumble me overboard. +Therefore I held my peace; while Jarl went on to declare, that with +regard to the character of the brigantine, his mind was now pretty +fully made up;--she was an arrant impostor, a shade of a ship, full +of sailors' ghosts, and before we knew where we were, would dissolve +in a supernatural squall, and leave us twain in the water. In short, +Jarl, the descendant of the superstitious old Norsemen, was full of +old Norse conceits, and all manner of Valhalla marvels concerning the +land of goblins and goblets. No wonder then, that with this catastrophe +in prospect, he again entreated me to quit the ill-starred craft, +carrying off nothing from her ghostly hull. But I refused. + +One can not relate every thing at once. While in the cabin, we came +across a "barge" of biscuit, and finding its contents of a quality +much superior to our own, we had filled our pockets and occasionally +regaled ourselves in the intervals of rummaging. Now this sea cake- +basket we had brought on deck. And for the first time since bidding +adieu to the Arcturion having fully quenched our thirst, our appetite +returned with a rush; and having nothing better to do till day +dawned, we planted the bread-barge in the middle of the quarter-deck; +and crossing our legs before it, laid close seige thereto, like the +Grand Turk and his Vizier Mustapha sitting down before Vienna. + +Our castle, the Bread-Barge was of the common sort; an oblong oaken +box, much battered and bruised, and like the Elgin Marbles, all over +inscriptions and carving:--foul anchors, skewered hearts, almanacs, +Burton-blocks, love verses, links of cable, Kings of Clubs; and +divers mystic diagrams in chalk, drawn by old Finnish mariners; in +casting horoscopes and prophecies. Your old tars are all Daniels. +There was a round hole in one side, through which, in getting at the +bread, invited guests thrust their hands. + +And mighty was the thrusting of hands that night; also, many +and earnest the glances of Mustapha at every sudden creaking of the +spars or rigging. Like Belshazzar, my royal Viking ate with great +fear and trembling; ever and anon pausing to watch the wild shadows +flitting along the bulwarks. + + + +CHAPTER XXI +Man Ho! + + +Slowly, fitfully, broke the morning in the East, showing the desolate +brig forging heavily through the water, which sluggishly thumped +under her bows. While leaping from sea to sea, our faithful Chamois, +like a faithful dog, still gamboled alongside, confined to the main- +chains by its painter. At times, it would long lag behind; then, +pushed by a wave like lightning dash forward; till bridled by its +leash, it again fell in rear. + +As the gray light came on, anxiously we scrutinized the features of +the craft, as one by one they became more plainly revealed. Every +thing seemed stranger now, than when partially visible in the dingy +night. The stanchions, or posts of the bulwarks, were of rough +stakes, still incased in the bark. The unpainted sides were of a +dark-colored, heathenish looking wood. The tiller was a wry-necked, +elbowed bough, thrusting itself through the deck, as if the tree +itself was fast rooted in the hold. The binnacle, containing the +compass, was defended at the sides by yellow matting. The rigging-- +shrouds, halyards and all--was of "Kaiar," or cocoa-nut fibres; and +here and there the sails were patched with plaited rushes. + +But this was not all. Whoso will pry, must needs light upon matters +for suspicion. Glancing over the side, in the wake of every scupper- +hole, we beheld a faded, crimson stain, which Jarl averred to be +blood. Though now he betrayed not the slightest trepidation; for what +he saw pertained not to ghosts; and all his fears hitherto had been +of the super-natural. + +Indeed, plucking up a heart, with the dawn of the day my Viking +looked bold as a lion; and soon, with the instinct of an old seaman +cast his eyes up aloft. + +Directly, he touched my arm,--"Look: what stirs in the main-top?" + +Sure enough, something alive was there. + +Fingering our arms, we watched it; till as the day came on, a +crouching stranger was beheld. + +Presenting my piece, I hailed him to descend or be shot. There was +silence for a space, when the black barrel of a musket was thrust +forth, leveled at my head. Instantly, Jarl's harpoon was presented at +a dart;--two to one;--and my hail was repeated. But no reply. + +"Who are you?" + +"Samoa," at length said a clear, firm voice. + +"Come down from the rigging. We are friends." + +Another pause; when, rising to his feet, the stranger slowly +descended, holding on by one hand to the rigging, for but one did he +have; his musket partly slung from his back, and partly griped under +the stump of his mutilated arm. + +He alighted about six paces from where we stood; and balancing his +weapon, eyed us bravely as the Cid. + +He was a tall, dark Islander, a very devil to behold, theatrically +arrayed in kilt and turban; the kilt of a gay calico print, the +turban of a red China silk. His neck was jingling with strings of +beads. + +"Who else is on board?" I asked; while Jarl, thus far covering the +stranger with his weapon, now dropped it to the deck. + +"Look there:--Annatoo!" was his reply in broken English, pointing +aloft to the fore-top. And lo! a woman, also an Islander; and barring +her skirts, dressed very much like Samoa, was beheld descending. + +"Any more?" + +"No more." + +"Who are _you_ then; and what craft is this?" + +"Ah, ah--you are no ghost;--but are you my friend?" he cried, +advancing nearer as he spoke; while the woman having gained the deck, +also approached, eagerly glancing. + +We said we were friends; that we meant no harm; but desired to know +what craft this was; and what disaster had befallen her; for that +something untoward had occurred, we were certain. + +Whereto, Samoa made answer, that it was true that something dreadful +had happened; and that he would gladly tell us all, and tell us the +truth. And about it he went. + +Now, this story of his was related in the mixed phraseology of a +Polynesian sailor. With a few random reflections, in substance, it +will be found in the six following chapters. + + + +CHAPTER XXII +What Befel The Brigantine At The Pearl Shell Islands + + +The vessel was the Parki, of Lahina, a village and harbor on the +coast of Mowee, one of the Hawaian isles, where she had been +miserably cobbled together with planks of native wood, and fragments +of a wreck, there drifted ashore. + +Her appellative had been bestowed in honor of a high chief, the +tallest and goodliest looking gentleman in all the Sandwich Islands. +With a mixed European and native crew, about thirty in number (but +only four whites in all, captain included), the Parki, some four +months previous, had sailed from her port on a voyage southward, in +quest of pearls, and pearl oyster shells, sea-slugs, and other +matters of that sort. + +Samoa, a native of the Navigator Islands, had long followed the sea, +and was well versed in the business of oyster diving and its +submarine mysteries. The native Lahineese on board were immediately +subordinate to him; the captain having bargained with Samoa for their +services as divers. + +The woman, Annatoo, was a native of a far-off, anonymous island to +the westward: whence, when quite young, she had been carried by the +commander of a ship, touching there on a passage from Macao to +Valparaiso. At Valparaiso her protector put her ashore; most +probably, as I afterward had reason to think, for a nuisance. + +By chance it came to pass that when Annatoo's first virgin bloom had +departed, leaving nothing but a lusty frame and a lustier soul, +Samoa, the Navigator, had fallen desperately in love with her. And +thinking the lady to his mind, being brave like himself, and +doubtless well adapted to the vicissitudes of matrimony at sea, he +meditated suicide--I would have said, wedlock--and the twain became +one. And some time after, in capacity of wife, Annatoo the dame, +accompanied in the brigantine, Samoa her lord. Now, as Antony flew to +the refuse embraces of Caesar, so Samoa solaced himself in the arms +of this discarded fair one. And the sequel was the same. For not +harder the life Cleopatra led my fine frank friend, poor Mark, than +Queen Annatoo did lead this captive of her bow and her spear. But all +in good time. + +They left their port; and crossing the Tropic and the Line, fell in +with a cluster of islands, where the shells they sought were found in +round numbers. And here--not at all strange to tell besides the +natives, they encountered a couple of Cholos, or half-breed +Spaniards, from the Main; one half Spanish, the other half quartered +between the wild Indian and the devil; a race, that from Baldivia to +Panama are notorious for their unscrupulous villainy. + +Now, the half-breeds having long since deserted a ship at these +islands, had risen to high authority among the natives. This hearing, +the Parki's captain was much gratified; he, poor ignorant, never +before having fallen in with any of their treacherous race. And, no +doubt, he imagined that their influence over the Islanders would tend +to his advantage. At all events, he made presents to the Cholos; who, +in turn, provided him with additional divers from among the natives. +Very kindly, also, they pointed out the best places for seeking the +oysters. In a word, they were exceedingly friendly; often coming off +to the brigantine, and sociably dining with the captain in the cabin; +placing the salt between them and him. + +All things went on very pleasantly until, one morning, the half- +breeds prevailed upon the captain to go with them, in his whale-boat, +to a shoal on the thither side of the island, some distance from the +spot where lay the brigantine. They so managed it, moreover, that none +but the Lahineese under Samoa, in whom the captain much confided, were +left in custody of the Parki; the three white men going along to row; +for there happened to be little or no wind for a sail. + +Now, the fated brig lay anchored within a deep, smooth, circular +lagoon, margined on all sides but one by the most beautiful groves. +On that side, was the outlet to the sea; perhaps a cable's length or +more from where the brigantine had been moored. An hour or two after +the party were gone, and when the boat was completely out of sight, +the natives in shoals were perceived coming off from the shore; some +in canoes, and some swimming. The former brought bread fruit and +bananas, ostentatiously piled up in their proas; the latter dragged +after them long strings of cocoanuts; for all of which, on nearing +the vessel, they clamorously demanded knives and hatchets in barter. + +From their actions, suspecting some treachery, Samoa stood in the +gangway, and warned them off; saying that no barter could take place +until the captain's return. But presently one of the savages +stealthily climbed up from the water, and nimbly springing from the +bob-stays to the bow-sprit, darted a javelin full at the foremast, +where it vibrated. The signal of blood! With terrible outcries, the +rest, pulling forth their weapons, hitherto concealed in the canoes, +or under the floating cocoanuts, leaped into the low chains of the +brigantine; sprang over the bulwarks; and, with clubs and spears, +attacked the aghast crew with the utmost ferocity. + +After one faint rally, the Lahineese scrambled for the rigging; but +to a man were overtaken and slain. + +At the first alarm, Annatoo, however, had escaped to the fore-top- +gallant-yard, higher than which she could not climb, and whither the +savages durst not venture. For though after their nuts these +Polynesians will climb palm trees like squirrels; yet, at the first +blush, they decline a ship's mast like Kennebec farmers. + +Upon the first token of an onslaught, Samoa, having rushed toward the +cabin scuttle for arms, was there fallen upon by two young savages. +But after a desperate momentary fray, in which his arm was mangled, +he made shift to spring below, instantly securing overhead the slide +of the scuttle. In the cabin, while yet the uproar of butchery +prevailed, he quietly bound up his arm; then laying on the transom +the captain's three loaded muskets, undauntedly awaited an assault. + +The object of the natives, it seems, was to wreck the brigantine upon +the sharp coral beach of the lagoon. And with this intent, one of +their number had plunged into the water, and cut the cable, which was +of hemp. But the tide ebbing, cast the Parki's head seaward--toward +the outlet; and the savages, perceiving this, clumsily boarded the +fore-tack, and hauled aft the sheet; thus setting, after a fashion, +the fore-sail, previously loosed to dry. + +Meanwhile, a gray-headed old chief stood calmly at the tiller, +endeavoring to steer the vessel shoreward. But not managing the helm +aright, the brigantine, now gliding apace through the water, only +made more way toward the outlet. Seeing which, the ringleaders, six +or eight in number, ran to help the old graybeard at the helm. But it +was a black hour for them. Of a sudden, while they were handling the +tiller, three muskets were rapidly discharged upon them from the +cabin skylight. Two of the savages dropped dead. The old steersman, +clutching wildly at the helm, fell over it, mortally wounded; and in +a wild panic at seeing their leaders thus unaccountably slain, the +rest of the natives leaped overboard and made for the shore. + +Hearing the slashing, Samoa flew on deck; and beholding the foresail +set, and the brigantine heading right out to sea, he cried out to +Annatoo, still aloft, to descend to the topsail-yard, and loose the +canvas there. His command was obeyed. Annatoo deserved a gold medal +for what she did that day. Hastening down the rigging, after loosing +the topsail, she strained away at the sheets; in which operation she +was assisted by Samoa, who snatched an instant from the helm. + +The foresail and fore-topsail were now tolerably well set; and as the +craft drew seaward, the breeze freshened. And well that it did; for, +recovered from their alarm, the savages were now in hot pursuit; some +in canoes, and some swimming as before. But soon the main-topsail was +given to the breeze, which still freshening, came from over the +quarter. And with this brave show of canvas, the Parki made gallantly +for the outlet; and loud shouted Samoa as she shot by the reef, and +parted the long swells without. Against these, the savages could not +swim. And at that turn of the tide, paddling a canoe therein was +almost equally difficult. But the fugitives were not yet safe. In +full chase now came in sight the whale-boat manned by the Cholos, and +four or five Islanders. Whereat, making no doubt, that all the whites +who left the vessel that morning had been massacred through the +treachery of the half-breeds; and that the capture of the brigantine +had been premeditated; Samoa now saw no other resource than to point +his craft dead away from the land. + +Now on came the devils buckling to their oars. Meantime Annatoo was +still busy aloft, loosing the smaller sails--t'gallants and royals, +which she managed partially to set. + +The strong breeze from astern now filling the ill-set sails, they +bellied, and rocked in the air, like balloons, while, from the novel +strain upon it, every spar quivered and sprung. And thus, like a +frightened gull fleeing from sea-hawks, the little Parki swooped +along, and bravely breasted the brine. + +His shattered arm in a hempen sling, Samoa stood at the helm, the +muskets reloaded, and planted full before him on the binnacle. For a +time, so badly did the brigantine steer, by reason of her ill- +adjusted sails, made still more unmanageable by the strength +of the breeze,--that it was doubtful, after all, notwithstanding her +start, whether the fugitives would not yet fall a prey to their +hunters. The craft wildly yawed, and the boat drew nearer and nearer. +Maddened by the sight, and perhaps thinking more of revenge for the +past, than of security for the future, Samoa, yielding the helm to +Annatoo, rested his muskets on the bulwarks, and taking long, sure +aim, discharged them, one by one at the advancing foe. + +The three reports were answered by loud jeers from the savages, who +brandished their spears, and made gestures of derision; while with +might and main the Cholos tugged at their oars. + +The boat still gaining on the brigantine, the muskets were again +reloaded. And as the next shot sped, there was a pause; when, like +lightning, the headmost Cholo bounded upwards from his seat, and oar +in hand, fell into the sea. A fierce yell; and one of the natives +springing into the water, caught the sinking body by its long hair; +and the dead and the living were dragged into the boat. Taking heart +from this fatal shot, Samoa fired yet again; but not with the like +sure result; merely grazing the remaining half-breed, who, crouching +behind his comrades, besought them to turn the boat round, and make +for the shore. Alarmed at the fate of his brother, and seemingly +distrustful of the impartiality of Samoa's fire, the pusillanimous +villain refused to expose a limb above the gunwale. + +Fain now would the pursuers have made good their escape; but an +accident forbade. In the careening of the boat, when the stricken +Cholo sprung overboard, two of their oars had slid into the water; +and together with that death-griped by the half-breed, were now +floating off; occasionally lost to view, as they sunk in the trough +of the sea. Two of the Islanders swam to recover them; but frightened +by the whirring of a shot over their heads, as they unavoidably +struck out towards the Parki, they turned quickly about; just +in time to see one of their comrades smite his body with his hand, as +he received a bullet from Samoa. + +Enough: darting past the ill-fated boat, they swam rapidly for land, +followed by the rest; who plunged overboard, leaving in the boat the +surviving Cholo--who it seems could not swim--the wounded savage, and +the dead man. + +"Load away now, and take thy revenge, my fine fellow," said Samoa to +himself. But not yet. Seeing all at his mercy, and having none, he +quickly laid his fore-topsail to the mast; "hove to" the brigantine; +and opened fire anew upon the boat; every swell of the sea heaving it +nearer and nearer. Vain all efforts to escape. The wounded man +paddled wildly with his hands the dead one rolled from side to side; +and the Cholo, seizing the solitary oar, in his frenzied +heedlessness, spun the boat round and round; while all the while shot +followed shot, Samoa firing as fast as Annatoo could load. At length +both Cholo and savage fell dead upon their comrades, canting the boat +over sideways, till well nigh awash; in which manner she drifted off. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII +Sailing From The Island They Pillage The Cabin + + +There was a small carronade on the forecastle, unshipped from its +carriage, and lashed down to ringbolts on the deck. This Samoa now +loaded; and with an ax knocking off the round knob upon the breech, +rammed it home in the tube. When, running the cannon out at one of +the ports, and studying well his aim, he let fly, sunk the boat, and +buried his dead. + +It was now late in the afternoon; and for the present bent upon +avoiding land, and gaining the shoreless sea, never mind where, Samoa +again forced round his craft before the wind, leaving the island +astern. The decks were still cumbered with the bodies of the +Lahineese, which heel to point and crosswise, had, log-like, been +piled up on the main-hatch. These, one by one, were committed to the +sea; after which, the decks were washed down. + +At sunrise next morning, finding themselves out of sight of land, +with little or no wind, they stopped their headway, and lashed the +tiller alee, the better to enable them to overhaul the brigantine; +especially the recesses of the cabin. For there, were stores of goods +adapted for barter among the Islanders; also several bags of dollars. + +Now, nothing can exceed the cupidity of the Polynesian, when, through +partial commerce with the whites, his eyes are opened to his +nakedness, and he perceives that in some things they are richer than +himself. + +The poor skipper's wardrobe was first explored; his chests of clothes +being capsized, and their contents strown about the cabin floor. + +Then took place the costuming. Samoa and Annatoo trying on coats and +pantaloons, shirts and drawers, and admiring themselves in the little +mirror panneled in the bulk-head. Then, were broken open boxes and +bales; rolls of printed cotton were inspected, and vastly admired; +insomuch, that the trumpery found in the captain's chests was +disdainfully doffed: and donned were loose folds of calico, more +congenial to their tastes. + +As case after case was opened and overturned, slippery grew the cabin +deck with torrents of glass beads; and heavy the necks of Samoa and +Annatoo with goodly bunches thereof. + +Among other things, came to light brass jewelry,--Rag Fair gewgaws +and baubles a plenty, more admired than all; Annatoo, bedecking +herself like, a tragedy queen: one blaze of brass. Much mourned the +married dame, that thus arrayed, there was none to admire but Samoa +her husband; but he was all the while admiring himself, and not her. + +And here must needs be related, what has hitherto remained unsaid. +Very often this husband and wife were no Darby and Joan. Their +married life was one long campaign, whereof the truces were only by +night. They billed and they cooed on their arms, rising fresh in the +morning to battle, and often Samoa got more than a hen-pecking. To be +short, Annatoo was a Tartar, a regular Calmuc, and Samoa--Heaven help +him--her husband. + +Yet awhile, joined together by a sense of common danger, and long +engrossed in turning over their tinsel acquisitions without present +thought of proprietorship, the pair refrained from all squabbles. But +soon burst the storm. Having given every bale and every case a good +shaking, Annatoo, making an estimate of the whole, very coolly +proceeded to set apart for herself whatever she fancied. To this, +Samoa objected; to which objection Annatoo objected; and then they +went at it. + +The lady vowed that the things were no more Samoa's than hers; +nay, not so much; and that whatever she wanted, that same would she +have. And furthermore, by way of codicil, she declared that she was +slave to nobody. + +Now, Samoa, sad to tell, stood in no little awe of his bellicose +spouse. What, though a hero in other respects; what, though he had +slain his savages, and gallantly carried his craft from their +clutches:--Like the valiant captains Marlborough and Belisarius, he +was a poltroon to his wife. And Annatoo was worse than either Sarah +or Antonina. + +However, like every thing partaking of the nature of a scratch, most +conjugal squabbles are quickly healed; for if they healed not, they +would never anew break out: which is the beauty of the thing. So at +length they made up but the treaty stipulations of Annatoo told much +against the interests of Samoa. Nevertheless, ostensibly, it was +agreed upon, that they should strictly go halves; the lady, however, +laying special claim to certain valuables, more particularly fancied. +But as a set-off to this, she generously renounced all claims upon +the spare rigging; all claims upon the fore-mast and mainmast; and +all claims upon the captain's arms and ammunition. Of the latter, by +the way, Dame Antonina stood in no need. Her voice was a park of +artillery; her talons a charge of bayonets. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV +Dedicated To The College Of Physicians And Surgeons + + +By this time Samoa's wounded arm was in such a state, that amputation +became necessary. Among savages, severe personal injuries are, for +the most part, accounted but trifles. When a European would be taking +to his couch in despair, the savage would disdain to recline. + +More yet. In Polynesia, every man is his own barber and surgeon, +cutting off his beard or arm, as occasion demands. No unusual thing, +for the warriors of Varvoo to saw off their own limbs, desperately +wounded in battle. But owing to the clumsiness of the instrument +employed--a flinty, serrated shell--the operation has been known to +last several days. Nor will they suffer any friend to help them; +maintaining, that a matter so nearly concerning a warrior is far +better attended to by himself. Hence it may be said, that they +amputate themselves at their leisure, and hang up their tools when +tired. But, though thus beholden to no one for aught connected with +the practice of surgery, they never cut off their own heads, that +ever I heard; a species of amputation to which, metaphorically +speaking, many would-be independent sort of people in civilized lands +are addicted. + +Samoa's operation was very summary. A fire was kindled in the little +caboose, or cook-house, and so made as to produce much smoke. He then +placed his arm upon one of the windlass bitts (a short upright +timber, breast-high), and seizing the blunt cook's ax would have +struck the blow; but for some reason distrusting the precision of his +aim, Annatoo was assigned to the task. Three strokes, and the +limb, from just above the elbow, was no longer Samoa's; and he saw +his own bones; which many a centenarian can not say. The very +clumsiness of the operation was safety to the subject. The weight and +bluntness of the instrument both deadened the pain and lessened the +hemorrhage. The wound was then scorched, and held over the smoke of +the fire, till all signs of blood vanished. From that day forward it +healed, and troubled Samoa but little. + +But shall the sequel be told? How that, superstitiously averse to +burying in the sea the dead limb of a body yet living; since in that +case Samoa held, that he must very soon drown and follow it; and how, +that equally dreading to keep the thing near him, he at last hung it +aloft from the topmast-stay; where yet it was suspended, bandaged +over and over in cerements. The hand that must have locked many +others in friendly clasp, or smote a foe, was no food, thought Samoa, +for fowls of the air nor fishes of the sea. + +Now, which was Samoa? The dead arm swinging high as Haman? Or the +living trunk below? Was the arm severed from the body, or the body +from the arm? The residual part of Samoa was alive, and therefore we +say it was he. But which of the writhing sections of a ten times +severed worm, is the worm proper? + +For myself, I ever regarded Samoa as but a large fragment of a man, +not a man complete. For was he not an entire limb out of pocket? And +the action at Teneriffe over, great Nelson himself--physiologically +speaking--was but three-quarters of a man. And the smoke of Waterloo +blown by, what was Anglesea but the like? After Saratoga, what +Arnold? To say nothing of Mutius Scaevola minus a hand, General Knox +a thumb, and Hannibal an eye; and that old Roman grenadier, Dentatus, +nothing more than a bruised and battered trunk, a knotty sort of +hemlock of a warrior, hard to hack and hew into chips, though +much marred in symmetry by battle-ax blows. Ah! but these warriors, +like anvils, will stand a deal of hard hammering. Especially in the +old knight-errant times. For at the battle of Brevieux in Flanders, +my glorious old gossiping ancestor, Froissart, informs me, that ten +good knights, being suddenly unhorsed, fell stiff and powerless to +the plain, fatally encumbered by their armor. Whereupon, the rascally +burglarious peasants, their foes, fell to picking their visors; as +burglars, locks; or oystermen, oysters; to get at their lives. But +all to no purpose. And at last they were fain to ask aid of a +blacksmith; and not till then, were the inmates of the armor +dispatched. Now it was deemed very hard, that the mysterious state- +prisoner of France should be riveted in an iron mask; but these +knight-errants did voluntarily prison themselves in their own iron +Bastiles; and thus helpless were murdered there-in. Days of chivalry +these, when gallant chevaliers died chivalric deaths! + +And this was the epic age, over whose departure my late eloquent and +prophetic friend and correspondent, Edmund Burke, so movingly +mourned. Yes, they were glorious times. But no sensible man, given to +quiet domestic delights, would exchange his warm fireside and +muffins, for a heroic bivouac, in a wild beechen wood, of a raw gusty +morning in Normandy; every knight blowing his steel-gloved fingers, +and vainly striving to cook his cold coffee in his helmet. + + + +CHAPTER XXV +Peril A Peace-Maker + + +A few days passed: the brigantine drifting hither and thither, and +nothing in sight but the sea, when forth again on its stillness rung +Annatoo's domestic alarum. The truce was up. Most egregiously had the +lady infringed it; appropriating to herself various objects +previously disclaimed in favor of Samoa. Besides, forever on the +prowl, she was perpetually going up and down; with untiring energy, +exploring every nook and cranny; carrying off her spoils and +diligently secreting them. Having little idea of feminine +adaptations, she pilfered whatever came handy:--iron hooks, dollars, +bolts, hatchets, and stopping not at balls of marline and sheets of +copper. All this, poor Samoa would have borne with what patience he +might, rather than again renew the war, were it not, that the +audacious dame charged him with peculations upon her own private +stores; though of any such thing he was innocent as the bowsprit. + +This insulting impeachment got the better of the poor islander's +philosophy. He keenly resented it. And the consequence was, that +seeing all domineering useless, Annatoo flew off at a tangent; +declaring that, for the future, Samoa might stay by himself; she +would have nothing more to do with him. Save when unavoidable in +managing the brigantine, she would not even speak to him, that she +wouldn't, the monster! She then boldly demanded the forecastle--in +the brig's case, by far the pleasantest end of the ship--for her own +independent suite of apartments. As for hapless Belisarius, he +might do what he pleased in his dark little den of a cabin. + +Concerning the division of the spoils, the termagant succeeded in +carrying the day; also, to her quarters, bale after bale of goods, +together with numerous odds and ends, sundry and divers. Moreover, +she laid in a fine stock of edibles, so as, in all respects possible, +to live independent of her spouse. + +Unlovely Annatoo! Unfortunate Samoa! Thus did the pair make a divorce +of it; the lady going upon a separate maintenance,--and Belisarius +resuming his bachelor loneliness. In the captain's state room, all +cold and comfortless, he slept; his lady whilome retiring to her +forecastle boudoir; beguiling the hours in saying her pater-nosters, +and tossing over and assorting her ill-gotten trinkets and finery; +like Madame De Maintenon dedicating her last days and nights to +continence and calicoes. + +But think you this was the quiet end of their conjugal quarrels? Ah, +no! No end to those feuds, till one or t'other gives up the ghost. + +Now, exiled from the nuptial couch, Belisarius bore the hardship +without a murmur. And hero that he was, who knows that he felt not +like a soldier on a furlough? But as for Antonina, she could neither +get along with Belisarius, nor without him. She made advances. But of +what sort? Why, breaking into the cabin and purloining sundry goods +therefrom; in artful hopes of breeding a final reconciliation out of +the temporary outburst that might ensue. + +Then followed a sad scene of altercation; interrupted at last by a +sudden loud roaring of the sea. Rushing to the deck, they beheld +themselves sweeping head-foremost toward a shoal making out from a +cluster of low islands, hitherto, by banks of clouds, shrouded from +view. + +The helm was instantly shifted; and the yards braced about. But for +several hours, owing to the freshness of the breeze, the set of the +currents, and the irregularity and extent of the shoal, it +seemed doubtful whether they would escape a catastrophe. But Samoa's +seamanship, united to Annatoo's industry, at last prevailed; and the +brigantine was saved. + +Of the land where they came so near being wrecked, they knew nothing; +and for that reason, they at once steered away. For after the fatal +events which had overtaken the Parki at the Pearl Shell islands, so +fearful were they of encountering any Islanders, that from the first +they had resolved to keep open sea, shunning every appearance of +land; relying upon being eventually picked up by some passing sail. + +Doubtless this resolution proved their salvation. For to the +navigator in these seas, no risk so great, as in approaching the +isles; which mostly are so guarded by outpost reefs, and far out from +their margins environed by perils, that the green flowery field +within, lies like a rose among thorns; and hard to be reached as the +heart of proud maiden. Though once attained, all three--red rose, +bright shore, and soft heart--are full of love, bloom, and all manner +of delights. The Pearl Shell islands excepted. + +Besides, in those generally tranquil waters, Samoa's little craft, +though hundreds of miles from land, was very readily managed by +himself and Annatoo. So small was the Parki, that one hand could +brace the main-yard; and a very easy thing it was, even to hoist the +small top-sails; for after their first clumsy attempt to perform that +operation by hand, they invariably led the halyards to the windlass, +and so managed it, with the utmost facility. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI +Containing A Pennyweight Of Philosophy + + +Still many days passed and the Parki yet floated. The little flying- +fish got used to her familiar, loitering hull; and like swallows +building their nests in quiet old trees, they spawned in the great +green barnacles that clung to her sides. + +The calmer the sea, the more the barnacles grow. In the tropical +Pacific, but a few weeks suffice thus to encase your craft in shell +armor. Vast bunches adhere to the very cutwater, and if not stricken +off, much impede the ship's sailing. And, at intervals, this clearing +away of barnacles was one of Annatoo's occupations. For be it known, +that, like most termagants, the dame was tidy at times, though +capriciously; loving cleanliness by fits and starts. Wherefore, these +barnacles oftentimes troubled her; and with a long pole she would go +about, brushing them aside. It beguiled the weary hours, if nothing +more; and then she would return to her beads and her trinkets; +telling them all over again; murmuring forth her devotions, and +marking whether Samoa had been pilfering from her store. + +Now, the escape from the shoal did much once again to heal the +differences of the good lady and her spouse. And keeping house, as +they did, all alone by themselves, in that lonely craft, a marvel it +is, that they should ever have quarreled. And then to divorce, and +yet dwell in the same tenement, was only aggravating the evil. So +Belisarius and Antonina again came together. But now, grown wise by +experience, they neither loved over-keenly, nor hated; but +took things as they were; found themselves joined, without hope of a +sundering, and did what they could to make a match of the mate. +Annatoo concluded that Samoa was not wholly to be enslaved; and Samoa +thought best to wink at Annatoo's foibles, and let her purloin when +she pleased. + +But as in many cases, all this philosophy about wedlock is not proof +against the perpetual contact of the parties concerned; and as it is +far better to revive the old days of courtship, when men's mouths are +honey-combs: and, to make them still sweeter, the ladies the bees +which there store their sweets; when fathomless raptures glimmer far +down in the lover's fond eye; and best of all, when visits are +alternated by absence: so, like my dignified lord duke and his +duchess, Samoa and Annatoo, man and wife, dwelling in the same house, +still kept up their separate quarters. Marlborough visiting Sarah; +and Sarah, Marlborough, whenever the humor suggested. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII +In Which The Past History Op The Parki Is Concluded + + +Still days, days, days sped by; and steering now this way, now that, +to avoid the green treacherous shores, which frequently rose into +view, the Parki went to and fro in the sea; till at last, it seemed +hard to tell, in what watery world she floated. Well knowing the +risks they ran, Samoa desponded. But blessed be ignorance. For in the +day of his despondency, the lively old lass his wife bade him be of +stout heart, cheer up, and steer away manfully for the setting sun; +following which, they must inevitably arrive at her own dear native +island, where all their cares would be over. So squaring their yards, +away they glided; far sloping down the liquid sphere. + +Upon the afternoon of the day we caught sight of them in our boat, +they had sighted a cluster of low islands, which put them in no small +panic, because of their resemblance to those where the massacre had +taken place. Whereas, they must have been full five hundred leagues +from that fearful vicinity. However, they altered their course to +avoid it; and a little before sunset, dropping the islands astern, +resumed their previous track. But very soon after, they espied our +little sea-goat, bounding over the billows from afar. + +This they took for a canoe giving chase to them. It renewed and +augmented their alarm. + +And when at last they perceived that the strange object was a boat, +their fears, instead of being allayed, only so much the more +increased. For their wild superstitions led them to conclude, +that a white man's craft coming upon them so suddenly, upon the open +sea, and by night, could be naught but a phantom. Furthermore, +marking two of us in the Chamois, they fancied us the ghosts of the +Cholos. A conceit which effectually damped Samoa's courage, like my +Viking's, only proof against things tangible. So seeing us bent upon +boarding the brigantine; after a hurried over-turning of their +chattels, with a view of carrying the most valuable aloft for safe +keeping, they secreted what they could; and together made for the +fore-top; the man with a musket, the woman with a bag of beads. Their +endeavoring to secure these treasures against ghostly appropriation +originated in no real fear, that otherwise they would be stolen: it +was simply incidental to the vacant panic into which they were +thrown. No reproach this, to Belisarius' heart of game; for the most +intrepid Feegee warrior, he who has slain his hecatombs, will not go +ten yards in the dark alone, for fear of ghosts. + +Their purpose was to remain in the top until daylight; by which time, +they counted upon the withdrawal of their visitants; who, sure +enough, at last sprang on board, thus verifying their worst +apprehensions. + +They watched us long and earnestly. But curious to tell, in that very +strait of theirs, perched together in that airy top, their domestic +differences again broke forth; most probably, from their being +suddenly forced into such very close contact. + +However that might be, taking advantage of our descent into the +cabin, Samoa, in desperation fled from his wife, and one-armed as he +was, sailor-like, shifted himself over by the fore and aft-stays to +the main-top, his musket being slung to his back. And thus divided, +though but a few yards intervened, the pair were as much asunder as +if at the opposite Poles. + +During the live-long night they were both in great perplexity as to +the extraordinary goblins on board. Such inquisitive, meddlesome +spirits, had never before been encountered. So cool and systematic; +sagaciously stopping the vessel's headway the better torummage;--the +very plan they themselves had adopted. But what most +surprised them, was our striking a light, a thing of which no true +ghost would be guilty. Then, our eating and drinking on the quarter- +deck including the deliberate investment of Vienna; and many other +actions equally strange, almost led Samoa to fancy that we were no +shades, after all, but a couple of men from the moon. + +Yet they had dimly caught sight of the frocks and trowsers we wore, +similar to those which the captain of the Parki had bestowed upon the +two Cholos, and in which those villains had been killed. This, with +the presence of the whale boat, united to chase away the conceit of +our lunar origin. But these considerations renewed their first +superstitious impressions of our being the ghosts of the murderous +half-breeds. + +Nevertheless, while during the latter part of the night we were +reclining beneath him, munching our biscuit, Samoa eyeing us +intently, was half a mind to open fire upon us by way of testing our +corporeality. But most luckily, he concluded to defer so doing till +sunlight; if by that time we should not have evaporated. + +For dame Annatoo, almost from our first boarding the brigantine, +something in our manner had bred in her a lurking doubt as to the +genuineness of our atmospheric organization; and abandoned to her +speculations when Samoa fled from her side, her incredulity waxed +stronger and stronger. Whence we came she knew not; enough, that we +seemed bent upon pillaging her own precious purloinings. Alas! +thought she, my buttons, my nails, my tappa, my dollars, my beads, +and my boxes! + +Wrought up to desperation by these dismal forebodings, she at length +shook the ropes leading from her own perch to Samoa's; adopting this +method of arousing his attention to the heinousness of what +was in all probability going on in the cabin, a prelude most probably +to the invasion of her own end of the vessel. Had she dared raise her +voice, no doubt she would have suggested the expediency of shooting +us so soon as we emerged from the cabin. But failing to shake Samoa +into an understanding of her views on the subject, her malice proved +futile. + +When her worst fears were confirmed, however, and we actually +descended into the forecastle; there ensued such a reckless shaking +of the ropes, that Samoa was fain to hold on hard, for fear of being +tossed out of the rigging. And it was this violent rocking that +caused the loud creaking of the yards, so often heard by us while +below in Annatoo's apartment. + +And the fore-top being just over the open forecastle scuttle, the +dame could look right down upon us; hence our proceedings were +plainly revealed by the lights that we carried. Upon our breaking +open her strong-box, her indignation almost completely overmastered +her fears. Unhooking a top-block, down it came into the forecastle, +charitably commissioned with the demolition of Jarl's cocoa-nut, then +more exposed to the view of an aerial observer than my own. But of it +turned out, no harm was done to our porcelain. + +At last, morning dawned; when ensued Jarl's discovery as the occupant +of the main-top; which event, with what followed, has been duly recounted. + +And such, in substance, was the first, second, third and fourth acts +of the Parki drama. The fifth and last, including several scenes, +now follows. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII +Suspicions Laid, And Something About The Calmuc + + +Though abounding in details full of the savor of reality, Samoa's +narrative did not at first appear altogether satisfactory. Not that +it was so strange; for stranger recitals I had heard. + +But one reason, perhaps, was that I had anticipated a narrative quite +different; something agreeing with my previous surmises. + +Not a little puzzling, also, was his account of having seen islands +the day preceding; though, upon reflection, that might have been the +case, and yet, from his immediately altering the Parki's course, the +Chamois, unknowingly might have sailed by their vicinity. Still, +those islands could form no part of the chain we were seeking. They +must have been some region hitherto undiscovered. + +But seems it likely, thought I, that one, who, according to his own +account, has conducted himself so heroically in rescuing the +brigantine, should be the victim of such childish terror at the mere +glimpse of a couple of sailors in an open boat, so well supplied, +too, with arms, as he was, to resist their capturing his craft, if +such proved their intention? On the contrary, would it not have been +more natural, in his dreary situation, to have hailed our approach +with the utmost delight? But then again, we were taken for phantoms, +not flesh and blood. Upon the whole, I regarded the narrator of these +things somewhat distrustfully. But he met my gaze like a man. While +Annatoo, standing by, looked so expressively the Amazonian character +imputed to her, that my doubts began to waver. And recalling +all the little incidents of their story, so hard to be conjured up on +the spur of a presumed necessity to lie; nay, so hard to be conjured +up at all; my suspicions at last gave way. And I could no longer +harbor any misgivings. + +For, to be downright, what object could Samoa have, in fabricating +such a narrative of horrors--those of the massacre, I mean--unless to +conceal some tragedy, still more atrocious, in which he himself had +been criminally concerned? A supposition, which, for obvious reasons, +seemed out of the question. True, instances were known to me of half- +civilized beings, like Samoa, forming part of the crews of ships in +these seas, rising suddenly upon their white ship-mates, and +murdering them, for the sake of wrecking the ship on the shore of +some island near by, and plundering her hull, when stranded. + +But had this been purposed with regard to the Parki, where the rest +of the mutineers? There was no end to my conjectures; the more I +indulged in them, the more they multiplied. So, unwilling to torment +myself, when nothing could be learned, but what Samoa related, and +stuck to like a hero; I gave over conjecturing at all; striving hard +to repose full faith in the Islander. + +Jarl, however, was skeptical to the last; and never could be brought +completely to credit the tale. He stoutly maintained that the +hobgoblins must have had something or other to do with the Parki. + +My own curiosity satisfied with respect to the brigantine, Samoa +himself turned inquisitor. He desired to know who we were; and whence +we came in our marvelous boat. But on these heads I thought best to +withhold from him the truth; among other things, fancying that if +disclosed, it would lessen his deference for us, as men superior to +himself. I therefore spoke vaguely of our adventures, and assumed the +decided air of a master; which I perceived was not lost upon the rude +Islander. As for Jarl, and what he might reveal, I embraced the first +opportunity to impress upon him the importance of never divulging our +flight from the Arcturion; nor in any way to commit himself on that +head: injunctions which he faithfully promised to observe. + +If not wholly displeased with the fine form of Samoa, despite his +savage lineaments, and mutilated member, I was much less conciliated +by the person of Annatoo; who, being sinewy of limb, and neither +young, comely, nor amiable, was exceedingly distasteful in my eyes. +Besides, she was a tigress. Yet how avoid admiring those Penthesilian +qualities which so signally had aided Samoa, in wresting the Parki +from its treacherous captors. Nevertheless, it was indispensable that +she should at once be brought under prudent subjection; and made to +know, once for all, that though conjugally a rebel, she must be +nautically submissive. For to keep the sea with a Calmuc on board, +seemed next to impossible. In most military marines, they are +prohibited by law; no officer may take his Pandora and her bandbox +off soundings. + +By the way, this self-same appellative, Pandora, has been bestowed +upon vessels. There was a British ship by that name, dispatched in +quest of the mutineers of the Bounty. But any old tar might have +prophesied her fate. Bound home she was wrecked on a reef off New +South Wales. Pandora, indeed! A pretty name for a ship: fairly +smiting Fate in the face. But in this matter of christening ships of +war, Christian nations are but too apt to be dare-devils. Witness the +following: British names all--The Conqueror, the Defiance, the +Revenge, the Spitfire, the Dreadnaught, the Thunderer, and the +Tremendous; not omitting the Etna, which, in the Roads of Corfu, was +struck by lightning, coming nigh being consumed by fire from above. +But almost potent as Moses' rod, Franklin's proved her salvation. + +With the above catalogue, compare we the Frenchman's; quite +characteristic of the aspirations of Monsieur:--The Destiny, the +Glorious, the Magnanimous, the Magnificent, the Conqueror, the +Triumphant, the Indomitable, the Intrepid, the Mont-Blanc. Lastly, +the Dons; who have ransacked the theology of the religion of peace +for fine names for their fighting ships; stopping not at designating +one of their three-deckers, The Most Holy Trinity. But though, at +Trafalgar, the Santissima Trinidada thundered like Sinai, her +thunders were silenced by the victorious cannonade of the Victory. + +And without being blown into splinters by artillery, how many of +these Redoubtables and Invincibles have succumbed to the waves, and +like braggarts gone down before hurricanes, with their bravadoes +broad on their bows. + +Much better the American names (barring Scorpions, Hornets, and +Wasps;) Ohio, Virginia, Carolina, Vermont. And if ever these Yankees +fight great sea engagements--which Heaven forefend!--how glorious, +poetically speaking, to range up the whole federated fleet, and pour +forth a broadside from Florida to Maine. Ay, ay, very glorious +indeed! yet in that proud crowing of cannon, how shall the shade of +peace-loving Penn be astounded, to see the mightiest murderer of them +all, the great Pennsylvania, a very namesake of his. Truly, the +Pennsylvania's guns should be the wooden ones, called by men-of- +war's-men, Quakers. + +But all this is an episode, made up of digressions. Time to tack +ship, and return. + +Now, in its proper place, I omitted to mention, that shortly after +descending from the rigging, and while Samoa was rehearsing his +adventures, dame Annatoo had stolen below into the forecastle, intent +upon her chattels. And finding them all in mighty disarray, she +returned to the deck prodigiously, excited, and glancing angrily +toward Jarl and me, showered a whole torrent of objurgations into +both ears of Samoa. + +This contempt of my presence surprised me at first; but perhaps women +are less apt to be impressed by a pretentious demeanor, than men. + +Now, to use a fighting phrase, there is nothing like boarding an +enemy in the smoke. And therefore, upon this first token of Annatoo's +termagant qualities, I gave her to understand--craving her pardon-- +that neither the vessel nor aught therein was hers; but that every +thing belonged to the owners in Lahina. I added, that at all hazards, +a stop must be put to her pilferings. Rude language for feminine +ears; but how to be avoided? Here was an infatuated woman, who, +according to Samoa's account, had been repeatedly detected in the act +of essaying to draw out the screw-bolts which held together the +planks. Tell me; was she not worse than the Load-Stone Rock, sailing +by which a stout ship fell to pieces? + +During this scene, Samoa said little. Perhaps he was secretly pleased +that his matrimonial authority was reinforced by myself and my +Viking, whose views of the proper position of wives at sea, so fully +corresponded with his own; however difficult to practice, those +purely theoretical ideas of his had hitherto proved. + +Once more turning to Annatoo, now looking any thing but amiable, I +observed, that all her clamors would be useless; and that if it came +to the worst, the Parki had a hull that would hold her. + +In the end she went off in a fit of the sulks; sitting down on the +windlass and glaring; her arms akimbo, and swaying from side to side; +while ever and anon she gave utterance to a dismal chant. It sounded +like an invocation to the Cholos to rise and dispatch us. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX +What They Lighted Upon In Further Searching The Craft, And The +Resolution They Came To + + +Descending into the cabin with Samoa, I bade him hunt up the +brigantine's log, the captain's writing-desk, and nautical +instruments; in a word, aught that could throw light on the previous +history of the craft, or aid in navigating her homeward. + +But nearly every thing of the kind had disappeared: log, quadrant, +and ship's papers. Nothing was left but the sextant-case, which Jarl +and I had lighted upon in the state-room. + +Upon this, vague though they were, my suspicions returned; and I +closely questioned the Islander concerning the disappearance of these +important articles. In reply, he gave me to understand, that the +nautical instruments had been clandestinely carried down into the +forecastle by Annatoo; and by that indefatigable and inquisitive dame +they had been summarily taken apart for scientific inspection. It was +impossible to restore them; for many of the fixtures were lost, +including the colored glasses, sights, and little mirrors; and many +parts still recoverable, were so battered and broken as to be +entirely useless. For several days afterward, we now and then came +across bits of the quadrant or sextant; but it was only to mourn over +their fate. + +However, though sextant and quadrant were both unattainable, I did +not so quickly renounce all hope of discovering a chronometer, which, +if in good order, though at present not ticking, might still be made +in some degree serviceable. But no such instrument was to be seen. +No: nor to be heard of; Samoa himself professing utter ignorance. + +Annatoo, I threatened and coaxed; describing the chronometer--a live, +round creature like a toad, that made a strange noise, which I +imitated; but she knew nothing about it. Whether she had lighted upon +it unbeknown to Samoa, and dissected it as usual, there was now no +way to determine. Indeed, upon this one point, she maintained an air +of such inflexible stupidity, that if she were really fibbing, her +dead-wall countenance superseded the necessity for verbal deceit. + +It may be, however, that in this particular she was wronged; for, as +with many small vessels, the Parki might never have possessed the +instrument in question. All thought, therefore, of feeling our way, +as we should penetrate farther and farther into the watery +wilderness, was necessarily abandoned. + +The log book had also formed a portion of Annatoo's pilferings. It +seems she had taken it into her studio to ponder over. But after +amusing herself by again and again counting over the leaves, and +wondering how so many distinct surfaces could be compacted together +in so small a compass, she had very suddenly conceived an aversion to +literature, and dropped the book overboard as worthless. Doubtless, +it met the fate of many other ponderous tomes; sinking quickly and +profoundly. What Camden or Stowe hereafter will dive for it? + +One evening Samoa brought me a quarto half-sheet of yellowish, ribbed +paper, much soiled and tarry, which he had discovered in a dark hole +of the forecastle. It had plainly formed part of the lost log; but +all the writing thereon, at present decipherable, conveyed no +information upon the subject then nearest my heart. + +But one could not but be struck by a tragical occurrence, which the +page very briefly recounted; as well, as by a noteworthy pictorial +illustration of the event in the margin of the text. Save the cut, +there was no further allusion to the matter than the following:-- +"This day, being calm, Tooboi, one of the Lahina men, went overboard +for a bath, and was eaten up by a shark. Immediately sent forward +for his bag." + +Now, this last sentence was susceptible of two meanings. It is truth, +that immediately upon the decease of a friendless sailor at sea, his +shipmates oftentimes seize upon his effects, and divide them; though +the dead man's clothes are seldom worn till a subsequent voyage. This +proceeding seems heartless. But sailors reason thus: Better we, than +the captain. For by law, either scribbled or unscribbled, the effects +of a mariner, dying on shipboard, should be held in trust by that +officer. But as sailors are mostly foundlings and castaways, and +carry all their kith and kin in their arms and their legs, there +hardly ever appears any heir-at-law to claim their estate; seldom +worth inheriting, like Esterhazy's. Wherefore, the withdrawal of a +dead man's "kit" from the forecastle to the cabin, is often held +tantamount to its virtual appropriation by the captain. At any rate, +in small ships on long voyages, such things have been done. + +Thus much being said, then, the sentence above quoted from the +Parki's log, may be deemed somewhat ambiguous. At the time it struck +me as singular; for the poor diver's grass bag could not have +contained much of any thing valuable unless, peradventure, he had +concealed therein some Cleopatra pearls, feloniously abstracted from +the shells brought up from the sea. + +Aside of the paragraph, copied above, was a pen-and-ink sketch of the +casualty, most cruelly executed; the poor fellow's legs being +represented half way in the process of deglutition; his arms firmly +grasping the monster's teeth, as if heroically bent upon making as +tough a morsel of himself as possible. + +But no doubt the honest captain sketched this cenotaph to the +departed in all sincerity of heart; perhaps, during the +melancholy leisure which followed the catastrophe. Half obliterated +were several stains upon the page; seemingly, lingering traces of a +salt tear or two. + +From this unwonted embellishment of the text, I was led to infer, +that the designer, at one time or other, must have been engaged in +the vocation of whaling. For, in India ink, the logs of certain +whalemen are decorated by somewhat similar illustrations. + +When whales are seen, but not captured, the fact is denoted by an +outline figure representing the creature's flukes, the broad, curving +lobes of his tail. But in those cases where the monster is both +chased and killed, this outline is filled up jet black; one for every +whale slain; presenting striking objects in turning over the log; and +so facilitating reference. Hence, it is quite imposing to behold, all +in a row, three or four, sometime five or six, of these drawings; +showing that so many monsters that day jetted their last spout. And +the chief mate, whose duty it is to keep the ship's record, generally +prides himself upon the beauty, and flushy likeness to life, of his +flukes; though, sooth to say, many of these artists are no Landseers. + +After vainly searching the cabin for those articles we most needed, +we proceeded to explore the hold, into which as yet we had not +penetrated. Here, we found a considerable quantity of pearl shells; +cocoanuts; an abundance of fresh water in casks; spare sails and +rigging; and some fifty barrels or more of salt beef and biscuit. +Unromantic as these last mentioned objects were, I lingered over them +long, and in a revery. Branded upon each barrel head was the name of +a place in America, with which I was very familiar. It is from +America chiefly, that ship's stores are originally procured for the +few vessels sailing out of the Hawaiian Islands. + +Having now acquainted myself with all things respecting the Parki, +which could in any way be learned, I repaired to the quarter-deck, +and summoning round me Samoa, Annatoo, and Jarl, gravely addressed +them. + +I said, that nothing would give me greater satisfaction than +forthwith to return to the scene of the massacre, and chastise its +surviving authors. But as there were only four of us in all; and the +place of those islands was wholly unknown to me; and even if known, +would be altogether out of our reach, since we possessed no +instruments of navigation; it was quite plain that all thought of +returning thither was entirely useless. The last mentioned reason, +also, prevented our voyaging to the Hawaiian group, where the vessel +belonged; though that would have been the most advisable step, +resulting, as it would, if successful, in restoring the ill-fated +craft to her owners. + +But all things considered, it seemed best, I added, cautiously to +hold on our way to the westward. It was our easiest course; for we +would ever have the wind from astern; and though we could not so much +as hope to arrive at any one spot previously designated, there was +still a positive certainty, if we floated long enough, of falling in +with islands whereat to refresh ourselves; and whence, if we thought +fit, we might afterward embark for more agreeable climes. I then +reminded them of the fact, that so long as we kept the sea, there was +always some prospect of encountering a friendly sail; in which event, +our solicitude would be over. + +All this I said in the mild, firm tone of a superior; being anxious, +at once to assume the unquestioned supremacy. For, otherwise, Jarl +and I might better quit the vessel forthwith, than remain on board +subject to the outlandish caprices of Annatoo, who through Samoa +would then have the sway. But I was sure of my Viking; and if Samoa +proved docile, had no fear of his dame. + +And therefore during my address, I steadfastly eyed him; thereby +learning enough to persuade me, that though he deferred to me at +present, he was, notwithstanding, a man who, without precisely +meditating mischief, could upon occasion act an ugly part. But of his +courage, and savage honor, such as it was, I had little doubt. +Then, wild buffalo that he was, tamed down in the yoke matrimonial, I +could not but fancy, that if upon no other account, our society must +please him, as rendering less afflictive the tyranny of his spouse. + +For a hen-pecked husband, by the way, Samoa was a most terrible +fellow to behold. And though, after all, I liked him; it was as you +fancy a fiery steed with mane disheveled, as young Alexander fancied +Bucephalus; which wild horse, when he patted, he preferred holding by +the bridle. But more of Samoa anon. + +Our course determined, and the command of the vessel tacitly yielded +up to myself, the next thing done was to put every thing in order. +The tattered sails were replaced by others, dragged up from the sail- +room below; in several places, new running-rigging was rove; blocks +restrapped; and the slackened stays and shrouds set taught. For all +of which, we were mostly indebted to my Viking's unwearied and +skillful marling-spike, which he swayed like a scepter. + +The little Parki's toilet being thus thoroughly made for the first +time since the massacre, we gave her new raiment to the breeze, and +daintily squaring her yards, she gracefully glided away; honest old +Jarl at the helm, watchfully guiding her path, like some devoted old +foster-father. + +As I stood by his side like a captain, or walked up and down on the +quarter-deck, I felt no little importance upon thus assuming for the +first time in my life, the command of a vessel at sea. The novel +circumstances of the case only augmented this feeling; the wild and +remote seas where we were; the character of my crew, and the +consideration, that to all purposes, I was owner, as well as +commander of the craft I sailed. + + + +CHAPTER XXX +Hints For A Full Length Of Samoa + + +My original intention to touch at the Kingsmill Chain, or the +countries adjacent, was greatly strengthened by thus encountering +Samoa; and the more I had to do with my Belisarius, the more I was +pleased with him. Nor could I avoid congratulating myself, upon +having fallen in with a hero, who in various ways, could not fail of +proving exceedingly useful. + +Like any man of mark, Samoa best speaks for himself; but we may as +well convey some idea of his person. Though manly enough, nay, an +obelisk in stature, the savage was far from being sentimentally +prepossessing. Be not alarmed; but he wore his knife in the lobe of +his dexter ear, which, by constant elongation almost drooped upon his +shoulder. A mode of sheathing it exceedingly handy, and far less +brigandish than the Highlander's dagger concealed in his leggins. + +But it was the mother of Samoa, who at a still earlier day had +punctured him through and through in still another direction. The +middle cartilage of his nose was slightly pendent, peaked, and +Gothic, and perforated with a hole; in which, like a Newfoundland dog +carrying a cane, Samoa sported a trinket: a well polished nail. + +In other respects he was equally a coxcomb. In his style of +tattooing, for instance, which seemed rather incomplete; his marks +embracing but a vertical half of his person, from crown to sole; the +other side being free from the slightest stain. Thus clapped +together, as it were, he looked like a union of the unmatched +moieties of two distinct beings; and your fancy was lost in +conjecturing, where roamed the absent ones. When he turned round upon +you suddenly, you thought you saw some one else, not him whom you had +been regarding before. + +But there was one feature in Samoa beyond the reach of the +innovations of art:--his eye; which in civilized man or savage, ever +shines in the head, just as it shone at birth. Truly, our eyes are +miraculous things. But alas, that in so many instances, these divine +organs should be mere lenses inserted into the socket, as glasses in +spectacle rims. + +But my Islander had a soul in his eye; looking out upon you there, +like somebody in him. What an eye, to be sure! At times, brilliantly +changeful as opal; in anger, glowing like steel at white heat. + +Belisarius, be it remembered, had but very recently lost an arm. But +you would have thought he had been born without it; so Lord Nelson- +like and cavalierly did he sport the honorable stump. + +But no more of Samoa; only this: that his name had been given him by +a sea-captain; to whom it had been suggested by the native +designation of the islands to which he belonged; the Saviian or +Samoan group, otherwise known as the Navigator Islands. The island of +Upolua, one of that cluster, claiming the special honor of his birth, +as Corsica does Napoleon's, we shall occasionally hereafter speak of +Samoa as the Upoluan; by which title he most loved to be called. + +It is ever ungallant to pass over a lady. But what shall be said of +Annatoo? As I live, I can make no pleasing portrait of the dame; for +as in most ugly subjects, flattering would but make the matter worse. +Furthermore, unalleviated ugliness should ever go unpainted, as +something unnecessary to duplicate. But the only ugliness is that of +the heart, seen through the face. And though beauty be obvious, the +only loveliness is invisible. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI +Rovings Alow And Aloft + + +Every one knows what a fascination there is in wandering up and down +in a deserted old tenement in some warm, dreamy country; where the +vacant halls seem echoing of silence, and the doors creak open like +the footsteps of strangers; and into every window the old garden +trees thrust their dark boughs, like the arms of night-burglars; and +ever and anon the nails start from the wainscot; while behind it the +mice rattle like dice. Up and down in such old specter houses one +loves to wander; and so much the more, if the place be haunted by +some marvelous story. + +And during the drowsy stillness of the tropical sea-day, very much +such a fancy had I, for prying about our little brigantine, whose +tragic hull was haunted by the memory of the massacre, of which it +still bore innumerable traces. + +And so far as the indulgence of quiet strolling and reverie was +concerned, it was well nigh the same as if I were all by myself. For +Samoa, for a time, was rather reserved, being occupied with thoughts +of his own. And Annatoo seldom troubled me with her presence. She was +taken up with her calicoes and jewelry; which I had permitted her to +retain, to keep her in good humor if possible. And as for My royal +old Viking, he was one of those individuals who seldom speak, unless +personally addressed. + +Besides, all that by day was necessary to navigating the Parki was, +that--somebody should stand at the helm; the craft being so small, +and the grating, whereon the steersman stood, so elevated, +that he commanded a view far beyond the bowsprit; thus keeping Argus +eyes on the sea, as he steered us along. In all other respects we +left the brigantine to the guardianship of the gentle winds. + +My own turn at the helm--for though commander, I felt constrained to +do duty with the rest--came but once in the twenty-four hours. And +not only did Jarl and Samoa, officiate as helmsmen, but also Dame +Annatoo, who had become quite expert at the business. Though Jarl +always maintained that there was a slight drawback upon her +usefulness in this vocation. Too much taken up by her lovely image +partially reflected in the glass of the binnacle before her, Annatoo +now and then neglected her duty, and led us some devious dances. Nor +was she, I ween, the first woman that ever led men into zigzags. + +For the reasons above stated, I had many spare hours to myself At +times, I mounted aloft, and lounging in the slings of the topsail +yard--one of the many snug nooks in a ship's rigging--I gazed broad +off upon the blue boundless sea, and wondered what they were doing in +that unknown land, toward which we were fated to be borne. Or feeling +less meditative, I roved about hither and thither; slipping over, by +the stays, from one mast to the other; climbing up to the truck; or +lounging out to the ends of the yards; exploring wherever there was a +foothold. It was like climbing about in some mighty old oak, and +resting in the crotches. + +To a sailor, a ship's ropes are a study. And to me, every rope-yarn +of the Parki's was invested with interest. The outlandish fashion of +her shrouds, the collars of her stays, the stirrups, seizings, +Flemish-horses, gaskets,--all the wilderness of her rigging, bore +unequivocal traces of her origin. + +But, perhaps, my pleasantest hours were those which I spent, +stretched out on a pile of old sails, in the fore-top; lazily dozing +to the craft's light roll. + +Frequently, I descended to the cabin: for the fiftieth time, +exploring the lockers and state-rooms for some new object of +curiosity. And often, with a glimmering light, I went into the +midnight hold, as into old vaults and catacombs; and creeping between +damp ranges of casks, penetrated into its farthest recesses. + +Sometimes, in these under-ground burrowings, I lighted upon sundry +out-of-the-way hiding places of Annatoo's; where were snugly secreted +divers articles, with which she had been smitten. In truth, no small +portion of the hull seemed a mine of stolen goods, stolen out of its +own bowels. I found a jaunty shore-cap of the captain's, hidden away +in the hollow heart of a coil of rigging; covered over in a manner +most touchingly natural, with a heap of old ropes; and near by, in a +breaker, discovered several entire pieces of calico, heroically tied +together with cords almost strong enough to sustain the mainmast. + +Near the stray light, which, when the hatch was removed, gleamed down +into this part of the hold, was a huge ground-tier butt, headless as +Charles the First. And herein was a mat nicely spread for repose; a +discovery which accounted for what had often proved an enigma. Not +seldom Annatoo had been among the missing; and though, from stem to +stern, loudly invoked to come forth and relieve the poignant distress +of her anxious friends, the dame remained perdu; silent and invisible +as a spirit. But in her own good time, she would mysteriously emerge; +or be suddenly espied lounging quietly in the forecastle, as if she +had been there from all eternity. + +Useless to inquire, "Where hast thou been, sweet Annatoo?" For no +sweet rejoinder would she give. + +But now the problem was solved. Here, in this silent cask in the +hold, Annatoo was wont to coil herself away, like a garter-snake +under a stone. + +Whether-she-thus stood sentry over her goods secreted round about: +whether she here performed penance like a nun in her cell; or +was moved to this unaccountable freak by the powers of the air; no +one could tell. Can you? + +Verily, her ways were as the ways of the inscrutable penguins in +building their inscrutable nests, which baffle all science, and make +a fool of a sage. + +Marvelous Annatoo! who shall expound thee? + + + +CHAPTER XXXII +Xiphius Platypterus + + +About this time, the loneliness of our voyage was relieved by an +event worth relating. + +Ever since leaving the Pearl Shell Islands, the Parki had been +followed by shoals of small fish, pleasantly enlivening the sea, and +socially swimming by her side. But in vain did Jarl and I search +among their ranks for the little, steel-blue Pilot fish, so long +outriders of the Chamois. But perhaps since the Chamois was now high +and dry on the Parki's deck, our bright little avant-couriers were +lurking out of eight, far down in the brine; racing along close to +the keel. + +But it is not with the Pilot fish that we now have to do. + +One morning our attention was attracted to a mighty commotion in the +water. The shoals of fish were darting hither and thither, and +leaping into the air in the utmost affright. Samoa declared, that +their deadly foe the Sword fish must be after them. + +And here let me say, that, since of all the bullies, and braggarts, +and bravoes, and free-booters, and Hectors, and fish-at-arms, and +knight-errants, and moss-troopers, and assassins, and foot-pads, and +gallant soldiers, and immortal heroes that swim the seas, the Indian +Sword fish is by far the most remarkable, I propose to dedicate this +chapter to a special description of the warrior. In doing which, I +but follow the example of all chroniclers and historians, my +Peloponnesian friend Thucydides and others, who are ever mindful of +devoting much space to accounts of eminent destroyers; for the +purpose, no doubt, of holding them up as ensamples to the world. + +Now, the fish here treated of is a very different creature from the +Sword fish frequenting the Northern Atlantic; being much larger every +way, and a more dashing varlet to boot. Furthermore, he is +denominated the Indian Sword fish, in contradistinction from his +namesake above mentioned. But by seamen in the Pacific, he is more +commonly known as the Bill fish; while for those who love science and +hard names, be it known, that among the erudite naturalists he goeth +by the outlandish appellation of "_Xiphius Platypterus_." + +But I waive for my hero all these his cognomens, and substitute a +much better one of my own: namely, the Chevalier. And a Chevalier he +is, by good right and title. A true gentleman of Black Prince +Edward's bright day, when all gentlemen were known by their swords; +whereas, in times present, the Sword fish excepted, they are mostly +known by their high polished boots and rattans. + +A right valiant and jaunty Chevalier is our hero; going about with +his long Toledo perpetually drawn. Rely upon it, he will fight you to +the hilt, for his bony blade has never a scabbard. He himself sprang +from it at birth; yea, at the very moment he leaped into the Battle +of Life; as we mortals ourselves spring all naked and scabbardless +into the world. Yet, rather, are we scabbards to our souls. And the +drawn soul of genius is more glittering than the drawn cimeter of +Saladin. But how many let their steel sleep, till it eat up the +scabbard itself, and both corrode to rust-chips. Saw you ever the +hillocks of old Spanish anchors, and anchor-stocks of ancient +galleons, at the bottom of Callao Bay? The world is full of old Tower +armories, and dilapidated Venetian arsenals, and rusty old rapiers. +But true warriors polish their good blades by the bright beams of the +morning; and gird them on to their brave sirloins; and watch for rust +spots as for foes; and by many stout thrusts and stoccadoes +keep their metal lustrous and keen, as the spears of the +Northern Lights charging over Greenland. + +Fire from the flint is our Chevalier enraged. He takes umbrage at the +cut of some ship's keel crossing his road; and straightway runs a +tilt at it; with one mad lounge thrusting his Andrea Ferrara clean +through and through; not seldom breaking it short off at the haft, +like a bravo leaving his poignard in the vitals of his foe. + +In the case of the English ship Foxhound, the blade penetrated +through the most solid part of her hull, the bow; going completely +through the copper plates and timbers, and showing for several inches +in the hold. On the return of the ship to London, it was carefully +sawn out; and, imbedded in the original wood, like a fossil, is still +preserved. But this was a comparatively harmless onslaught of the +valiant Chevalier. With the Rousseau, of Nantucket, it fared worse. +She was almost mortally stabbed; her assailant withdrawing his blade. +And it was only by keeping the pumps clanging, that she managed to +swim into a Tahitian harbor, "heave down," and have her wound dressed +by a ship-surgeon with tar and oakum. This ship I met with at sea, +shortly after the disaster. + +At what armory our Chevalier equips himself after one of his spiteful +tilting-matches, it would not be easy to say. But very hard for him, +if ever after he goes about in the lists, swordless and disarmed, at +the mercy of any caitiff shark he may meet. + +Now, seeing that our fellow-voyagers, the little fish along-side, +were sorely tormented and thinned out by the incursions of a +pertinacious Chevalier, bent upon making a hearty breakfast out of +them, I determined to interfere in their behalf, and capture the +enemy. + +With shark-hook and line I succeeded, and brought my brave gentleman +to the deck. He made an emphatic landing; lashing the planks with his +sinewy tail; while a yard and a half in advance of his eyes, reached +forth his terrible blade. + +As victor, I was entitled to the arms of the vanquished; so, quickly +dispatching him, and sawing off his Toledo, I bore it away for a +trophy. It was three-sided, slightly concave on each, like a bayonet; +and some three inches through at the base, it tapered from thence to +a point. + +And though tempered not in Tagus or Guadalquiver, it yet revealed +upon its surface that wavy grain and watery fleckiness peculiar to +tried blades of Spain. It was an aromatic sword; like the ancient +caliph's, giving out a peculiar musky odor by friction. But far +different from steel of Tagus or Damascus, it was inflexible as +Crocket's rifle tube; no doubt, as deadly. + +Long hung that rapier over the head of my hammock. Was it not storied +as the good trenchant blade of brave Bayard, that other chevalier? +The knight's may have slain its scores, or fifties; but the weapon I +preserved had, doubtless, run through and riddled its thousands. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII +Otard + + +And here is another little incident. + +One afternoon while all by myself curiously penetrating into the +hold, I most unexpectedly obtained proof, that the ill-fated captain +of the Parki had been a man of sound judgment and most excellent +taste. In brief, I lighted upon an aromatic cask of prime old Otard. + +Now, I mean not to speak lightly of any thing immediately connected +with the unfortunate captain. Nor, on the other hand, would I +resemble the inconsolable mourner, who among other tokens of +affliction, bound in funereal crape his deceased friend's copy of Joe +Miller. Is there not a fitness in things? + +But let that pass. I found the Otard, and drank there-of; finding it, +moreover, most pleasant to the palate, and right cheering to the +soul. My next impulse was to share my prize with my shipmates. But +here a judicious reflection obtruded. From the sea-monarchs, his +ancestors, my Viking had inherited one of their cardinal virtues, a +detestation and abhorrence of all vinous and spirituous beverages; +insomuch, that he never could see any, but he instantly quaffed it +out of sight. To be short, like Alexander the Great and other +royalties, Jarl was prone to overmuch bibing. And though at sea more +sober than a Fifth Monarchy Elder, it was only because he was then +removed from temptation. But having thus divulged my Viking's weak; +side, I earnestly entreat, that it may not disparage him in any +charitable man's estimation. Only think, how many more there are like +him to say nothing further of Alexander the Great--especially +among his own class; and consider, I beseech, that the most +capacious-souled fellows, for that very reason, are the most apt to +be too liberal in their libations; since, being so large-hearted, +they hold so much more good cheer than others. + +For Samoa, from his utter silence hitherto as to aught inebriating on +board, I concluded, that, along with his other secrets, the departed +captain had very wisely kept his Otard to himself. + +Nor did I doubt, but that the Upoluan, like all Polynesians, much +loved getting high of head; and in that state, would be more +intractable than a Black Forest boar. And concerning Annatoo, I +shuddered to think, how that Otard might inflame her into a Fury more +fierce than the foremost of those that pursued Orestes. + +In good time, then, bethinking me of the peril of publishing my +discovery;--bethinking me of the quiet, lazy, ever-present perils of +the voyage, of all circumstances, the very worst under which to +introduce an intoxicating beverage to my companions, I resolved to +withhold it from them altogether. + +So impressed was I with all this, that for a moment, I was almost +tempted to roll over the cask on its bilge, remove the stopper, and +suffer its contents to mix with the foul water at the bottom of the +hold. + +But no, no: What: dilute the brine with the double distilled soul of +the precious grape? Haft himself would have haunted me! + +Then again, it might come into play medicinally; and Paracelsus +himself stands sponsor for every cup drunk for the good of the +abdomen. So at last, I determined to let it remain where it was: +visiting it occasionally, by myself, for inspection. + +But by way of advice to all ship-masters, let me say, that if your +Otard magazine be exposed to view--then, in the evil hour of wreck, +stave in your spirit-casks, ere rigging the life-boat. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV +How They Steered On Their Way + + +When we quitted the Chamois for the brigantine, we must have been at +least two hundred leagues to the westward of the spot, where we had +abandoned the Arcturion. Though how far we might then have been, +North or South of the Equator, I could not with any certainty divine. + +But that we were not removed any considerable distance from the Line, +seemed obvious. For in the starriest night no sign of the extreme +Polar constellations was visible; though often we scanned the +northern and southern horizon in search of them. So far as regards +the aspect of the skies near the ocean's rim, the difference of +several degrees in one's latitude at sea, is readily perceived by a +person long accustomed to surveying the heavens. + +If correct in my supposition, concerning our longitude at the time +here alluded to, and allowing for what little progress we had been +making in the Parki, there now remained some one hundred leagues to +sail, ere the country we sought would be found. But for obvious +reasons, how long precisely we might continue to float out of sight +of land, it was impossible to say. Calms, light breezes, and currents +made every thing uncertain. Nor had we any method of estimating our +due westward progress, except by what is called Dead Reckoning,--the +computation of the knots run hourly; allowances' being made for the +supposed deviations from our course, by reason of the ocean streams; +which at times in this quarter of the Pacific rim with very great +velocity. + +Now, in many respects we could not but feel safer aboard the +Parki than in the Chamois. The sense of danger is less vivid, the +greater the number of lives involved. He who is ready to despair in +solitary peril, plucks up a heart in the presence of another. In a +plurality of comrades is much countenance and consolation. + +Still, in the brigantine there were many sources of uneasiness and +anxiety unknown to me in the whale-boat. True, we had now between us +and the deep, five hundred good planks to one lath in our buoyant +little chip. But the Parki required more care and attention; +especially by night, when a vigilant look-out was indispensable. With +impunity, in our whale-boat, we might have run close to shoal or +reef; whereas, similar carelessness or temerity now, might prove +fatal to all concerned. + +Though in the joyous sunlight, sailing through the sparkling sea, I +was little troubled with serious misgivings; in the hours of darkness +it was quite another thing. And the apprehensions, nay terrors I +felt, were much augmented by the remissness of both Jarl and Samoa, +in keeping their night-watches. Several times I was seized with a +deadly panic, and earnestly scanned the murky horizon, when rising +from slumber I found the steersman, in whose hands for the time being +were life and death, sleeping upright against the tiller, as much of +a fixture there, as the open-mouthed dragon rudely carved on our prow. + +Were it not, that on board of other vessels, I myself had many a time +dozed at the helm, spite of all struggles, I would have been almost +at a loss to account for this heedlessness in my comrades. But it +seemed as if the mere sense of our situation, should have been +sufficient to prevent the like conduct in all on board our craft. + +Samoa's aspect, sleeping at the tiller, was almost appalling. His +large opal eyes were half open; and turned toward the light of the +binnacle, gleamed between the lids like bars of flame. And added to +all, was his giant stature and savage lineaments. + +It was in vain, that I remonstrated, begged, or threatened: the +occasional drowsiness of my fellow-voyagers proved incurable. To no +purpose, I reminded my Viking that sleeping in the night-watch in a +craft like ours, was far different from similar heedlessness on board +the Arcturion. For there, our place upon the ocean was always known, +and our distance from land; so that when by night the seamen were +permitted to be drowsy, it was mostly, because the captain well knew +that strict watchfulness could be dispensed with. + +Though in all else, the Skyeman proved a most faithful ally, in this +one thing he was either perversely obtuse, or infatuated. Or, +perhaps, finding himself once more in a double-decked craft, which +rocked him as of yore, he was lulled into a deceitful security. + +For Samoa, his drowsiness was the drowsiness of one beat on sleep, +come dreams or death. He seemed insensible to the peril we ran. Often +I sent the sleepy savage below, sad, steered myself till morning. At +last I made a point of slumbering much by day, the better to stand +watch by night; though I made Samoa and Jarl regularly go through +with their allotted four hours each. + +It has been mentioned, that Annatoo took her turn at the helm; but it +was only by day. And in justice to the lady, I must affirm, that upon +the whole she acquitted herself well. For notwithstanding the syren +face in the binnacle, which dimly allured her glances, Annatoo after +all was tolerably heedful of her steering. Indeed she took much pride +therein; always ready for her turn; with marvelous exactitude +calculating the approaching hour, as it came on in regular rotation. +Her time-piece was ours, the sun. By night it must have been her +guardian star; for frequently she gazed up at a particular section of +the heavens, like one regarding the dial in a tower. + +By some odd reasoning or other, she had cajoled herself into the +notion, that whoever steered the brigantine, for that period +was captain. Wherefore, she gave herself mighty airs at the tiller; +with extravagant gestures issuing unintelligible orders about +trimming the sails, or pitching overboard something to see how fast +we were going. All this much diverted my Viking, who several times +was delivered of a laugh; a loud and healthy one to boot: a +phenomenon worthy the chronicling. + +And thus much for Annatoo, preliminary to what is further to be said. +Seeing the drowsiness of Jarl and Samoa, which so often kept me from +my hammock at night, forcing me to repose by day, when I far +preferred being broad awake, I decided to let Annatoo take her turn +at the night watches; which several times she had solicited me to do; +railing at the sleepiness of her spouse; though abstaining from all +reflections upon Jarl, toward whom she had of late grown exceedingly +friendly. + +Now the Calmuc stood her first night watch to admiration; if any +thing, was altogether too wakeful. The mere steering of the craft +employed not sufficiently her active mind. Ever and anon she must +needs rush from the tiller to take a parenthetical pull at the fore- +brace, the end of which led down to the bulwarks near by; then +refreshing herself with a draught or two of water and a biscuit, she +would continue to steer away, full of the importance of her office. +At any unusual flapping` of the sails, a violent stamping on deck +announced the fact to the startled crew. Finding her thus indefatigable, +I readily induced her to stand two watches to Jarl's and Samoa's one; +and when she was at the helm, I permitted myself to doze on a pile of +old sails, spread every evening on the quarter-deck. + +It was the Skyeman, who often admonished me to "heave the ship to" +every night, thus stopping her headway till morning; a plan which, +under other circumstances, might have perhaps warranted the slumbers +of all. But as it was, such a course would have been highly +imprudent. For while making no onward progress through the +water, the rapid currents we encountered would continually be +drifting us eastward; since, contrary to our previous experience, +they seemed latterly to have reversed their flow, a phenomenon by no +means unusual in the vicinity of the Line in the Pacific. And this it +was that so prolonged our passage to the westward. Even in a moderate +breeze, I sometimes fancied, that the impulse of the wind little more +than counteracted the glide of the currents; so that with much show +of sailing, we were in reality almost a fixture on the sea. + +The equatorial currents of the South Seas may be regarded as among +the most mysterious of the mysteries of the deep. Whence they come, +whither go, who knows? Tell us, what hidden law regulates their flow. +Regardless of the theory which ascribes to them a nearly uniform +course from east to west, induced by the eastwardly winds of the +Line, and the collateral action of the Polar streams; these currents +are forever shifting. Nor can the period of their revolutions be at +all relied upon or predicted. + +But however difficult it may be to assign a specific cause for the +ocean streams, in any part of the world, one of the wholesome effects +thereby produced would seem obvious enough. And though the +circumstance here alluded to is perhaps known to every body, it may +be questioned, whether it is generally invested with the importance +it deserves. Reference is here made to the constant commingling and +purification of the sea-water by reason of the currents. + +For, that the ocean, according to the popular theory, possesses a +special purifying agent in its salts, is somewhat to be doubted. Nor +can it be explicitly denied, that those very salts might corrupt it, +were it not for the brisk circulation of its particles consequent +upon the flow of the streams. It is well known to seamen, that a +bucket of sea-water, left standing in a tropical climate, very soon +becomes highly offensive; which is not the case with rainwater. + +But I build no theories. And by way of obstructing the one, which +might possibly be evolved from the statement above, let me add, that +the offensiveness of sea-water left standing, may arise in no small +degree from the presence of decomposed animal matter. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV +Ah, Annatoo! + + +In order to a complete revelation, I must needs once again discourse +of Annatoo and her pilferings; and to what those pilferings led. In +the simplicity of my soul, I fancied that the dame, so much flattered +as she needs must have been, by the confidence I began to repose in +her, would now mend her ways, and abstain from her larcenies. But not +so. She was possessed by some scores of devils, perpetually her to +mischief on their own separate behoof, and not less for many of her +pranks were of no earthly advantage to, her, present or prospective. + +One day the log-reel was missing. Summon Annatoo. She came; but knew +nothing about it. Jarl spent a whole morning in contriving a +substitute; and a few days after, pop, we came upon the lost: article +hidden away in the main-top. + +Another time, discovering the little vessel to "gripe" hard in +steering, as if some one under water were jerking her backward, we +instituted a diligent examination, to see what was the matter. When +lo; what should we find but a rope, cunningly attached to one of the +chain-plates under the starboard main-channel. It towed heavily in +the water. Upon dragging it up--much as you would the cord of a +ponderous bucket far down in a well--a stout wooden box was +discovered at the end; which opened, disclosed sundry knives, +hatchets, and ax-heads. + +Called to the stand, the Upoluan deposed, that thrice he had rescued +that identical box from Annatoo's all-appropriating clutches. + +Now, here were four human beings shut up in this little oaken craft, +and, for the time being, their interests the same. What sane mortal, +then, would forever be committing thefts, without rhyme or reason. It +was like stealing silver from one pocket and decanting it into the +other. And what might it not lead to in the end? + +Why, ere long, in good sooth, it led to the abstraction of the +compass from the binnacle; so that we were fain to substitute for it, +the one brought along in the Chamois. + +It was Jarl that first published this last and alarming theft. +Annatoo being at the helm at dawn, he had gone to relieve her; and +looking to see how we headed, was horror-struck at the emptiness of +the binnacle. + +I started to my feet; sought out the woman, and ferociously demanded +the compass. But her face was a blank; every word a denial. + +Further lenity was madness. I summoned Samoa, told him what had +happened, and affirmed that there was no safety for us except in the +nightly incarceration of his spouse. To this he privily assented; and +that very evening, when Annatoo descended into the forecastle, we +barred over her the scuttle-slide. Long she clamored, but +unavailingly. And every night this was repeated; the dame saying her +vespers most energetically. + +It has somewhere been hinted, that Annatoo occasionally cast sheep's +eyes at Jarl. So I was not a little surprised when her manner toward +him decidedly changed. Pulling at the ropes with us, she would give +him sly pinches, and then look another way, innocent as a lamb. Then +again, she would refuse to handle the same piece of rigging with him; +with wry faces, rinsed out the wooden can at the water cask, if it so +chanced that my Viking had previously been drinking therefrom. At +other times, when the honest Skyeman came up from below, she would +set up a shout of derision, and loll out her tongue; accompanying all +this by certain indecorous and exceedingly unladylike gestures, +significant of the profound contempt in which she held him. + +Yet, never did Jarl heed her ill-breeding; but patiently overlooked +and forgave it. Inquiring the reason of the dame's singular conduct, +I learned, that with eye averted, she had very lately crept close to +my Viking, and met with no tender reception. + +Doubtless, Jarl, who was much of a philosopher, innocently imagined +that ere long the lady would forgive and forget him. But what knows a +philosopher about women? + +Ere long, so outrageous became Annatoo's detestation of him, that the +honest old tar could stand it no longer, and like most good-natured +men when once fairly roused, he was swept through and through with a +terrible typhoon of passion. He proposed, that forthwith the woman +should be sacked and committed to the deep; he could stand it no +longer. + +Murder is catching. At first I almost jumped at the proposition; but +as quickly rejected it. Ah! Annatoo: Woman unendurable: deliver me, +ye gods, from being shut up in a ship with such a hornet again. + +But are we yet through with her? Not yet. Hitherto she had continued +to perform the duties of the office assigned her since the +commencement of the voyage: namely, those of the culinary department. +From this she was now deposed. Her skewer was broken. My Viking +solemnly averring, that he would eat nothing more of her concocting, +for fear of being poisoned. For myself, I almost believed, that there +was malice enough in the minx to give us our henbane broth. + +But what said Samoa to all this? Passing over the matter of the +cookery, will it be credited, that living right among us as he did, +he was yet blind to the premeditated though unachieved peccadilloes +of his spouse? Yet so it was. And thus blind was Belisarius himself, +concerning the intrigues of Antonina. + +Witness that noble dame's affair with the youth Theodosius; when her +deluded lord charged upon the scandal-mongers with the very horns she +had bestowed upon him. + +Upon one occasion, seized with a sudden desire to palliate Annatoo's +thievings, Samoa proudly intimated, that the lady was the most +virtuous of her sex. + +But alas, poor Annatoo, why say more? And bethinking me of the hard +fate that so soon overtook thee, I almost repent what has already and +too faithfully been portrayed. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI +The Parki Gives Up The Ghost + + +A long calm in the boat, and now, God help us, another in the +brigantine. It was airless and profound. + +In that hot calm, we lay fixed and frozen in like Parry at the Pole. +The sun played upon the glassy sea like the sun upon the glaciers. + +At the end of two days we lifted up our eyes and beheld a low, +creeping, hungry cloud expanding like an army, wing and wing, along +the eastern horizon. Instantly Jarl bode me take heed. + +Here be it said, that though for weeks and weeks reign over the +equatorial latitudes of the Pacific, the mildest and sunniest of +days; that nevertheless, when storms do come, they come in their +strength: spending in a few, brief blasts their concentrated rage. +They come like the Mamelukes: they charge, and away. + +It wanted full an hour to sunset; but the sun was well nigh obscured. +It seemed toiling among bleak Scythian steeps in the hazy background. +Above the storm-cloud flitted ominous patches of scud, rapidly +advancing and receding: Attila's skirmishers, thrown forward in the +van of his Huns. Beneath, a fitful shadow slid along the surface. As +we gazed, the cloud came nearer; accelerating its approach. + +With all haste we proceeded to furl the sails, which, owing to the +calm, had been hanging loose in the brails. And by help of a spare +boom, used on the forecastle-deck sit a sweep or great oar, we +endeavored to cast the brigantine's head toward the foe. + +The storm seemed about to overtake us; but we felt no breeze. The +noiseless cloud stole on; its advancing shadow lowering over a +distinct and prominent milk-white crest upon the surface of the +ocean. But now this line of surging foam came rolling down upon us +like a white charge of cavalry: mad Hotspur and plumed Murat at its +head; pouring right forward in a continuous frothy cascade, which +curled over, and fell upon the glassy sea before it. + +Still, no breath of air. But of a sudden, like a blow from a man's +hand, and before our canvas could be secured, the stunned craft, +giving one lurch to port, was stricken down on her beam-ends; the +roaring tide dashed high up against her windward side, and drops of +brine fell upon the deck, heavy as drops of gore. + +It was all a din and a mist; a crashing of spars and of ropes; a +horrible blending of sights and of sounds; as for an instant we +seemed in the hot heart of the gale; our cordage, like harp-strings, +shrieking above the fury of the blast. The masts rose, and swayed, +and dipped their trucks in the sea. And like unto some stricken +buffalo brought low to the plain, the brigantine's black hull, shaggy +with sea-weed, lay panting on its flank in the foam. + +Frantically we clung to the uppermost bulwarks. And now, loud above +the roar of the sea, was suddenly heard a sharp, splintering sound, +as of a Norway woodman felling a pine in the forest. It was brave +Jarl, who foremost of all had snatched from its rack against the +mainmast, the ax, always there kept. + +"Cut the lanyards to windward!" he cried; and again buried his ax +into the mast. He was quickly obeyed. And upon cutting the third +lanyard of the five, he shouted for us to pause. Dropping his ax, he +climbed up to windward. As he clutched the rail, the wounded mast +snapped in twain with a report like a cannon. A slight smoke was +perceptible where it broke. The remaining lanyards parted. From the +violent strain upon them, the two shrouds flew madly into the +air, and one of the great blocks at their ends, striking Annatoo upon +the forehead, she let go her hold upon a stanchion, and sliding +across the aslant deck, was swallowed up in the whirlpool under our +lea. Samoa shrieked. But there was no time to mourn; no hand could +reach to save. + +By the connecting stays, the mainmast carried over with it the +foremast; when we instantly righted, and for the time were saved; my +own royal Viking our saviour. + +The first fury of the gale was gone. But far to leeward was seen the +even, white line of its onset, pawing the ocean into foam. All round +us, the sea boiled like ten thousand caldrons; and through eddy, +wave, and surge, our almost water-logged craft waded heavily; every +dead clash ringing hollow against her hull, like blows upon a coffin. + +We floated a wreck. With every pitch we lifted our dangling jib-boom +into the air; and beating against the side, were the shattered +fragments of the masts. From these we made all haste to be free, by +cutting the rigging that held them. + +Soon, the worst of the gale was blown over. But the sea ran high. Yet +the rack and scud of the tempest, its mad, tearing foam, was subdued +into immense, long-extended, and long-rolling billows; the white +cream on their crests like snow on the Andes. Ever and anon we hung +poised on their brows; when the furrowed ocean all round looked like +a panorama from Chimborazo. + +A few hours more, and the surges went down. There was a moderate sea, +a steady breeze, and a clear, starry sky. Such was the storm that +came after our calm. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII +Once More They Take To The Chamois + + +Try the pumps. We dropped the sinker, and found the Parki bleeding at +every pore. Up from her well, the water, spring-like, came bubbling, +pure and limpid as the water of Saratoga. Her time had come. But by +keeping two hands at the pumps, we had no doubt she would float till +daylight; previous to which we liked not to abandon her. + +The interval was employed in clanging at the pump-breaks, and +preparing the Chamois for our reception. So soon as the sea +permitted, we lowered it over the side; and letting it float under +the stern, stowed it with water and provisions, together with various +other things, including muskets and cutlasses. + +Shortly after daylight, a violent jostling and thumping under foot +showed that the water, gaining rapidly in the, hold, spite of all +pumping, had floated the lighter casks up-ward to the deck, against +which they were striking. + +Now, owing to the number of empty butts in the hold, there would have +been, perhaps, but small danger of the vessel's sinking outright--all +awash as her decks would soon be--were it not, that many of her +timbers were of a native wood, which, like the Teak of India, is +specifically heavier than water. This, with the pearl shells on +board, counteracted the buoyancy of the casks. + +At last, the sun--long waited for--arose; the Parki meantime sinking +lower and lower. + +All things being in readiness, we proceeded to embark from the wreck, +as from a wharf. + +But not without some show of love for our poor brigantine. + +To a seaman, a ship is no piece of mechanism merely; but a creature +of thoughts and fancies, instinct with life. Standing at her +vibrating helm, you feel her beating pulse. I have loved ships, as I +have loved men. + +To abandon the poor Parki was like leaving to its fate something that +could feel. It was meet that she should the decently and bravely. + +All this thought the Skyeman. Samoa and I were in the boat, calling +upon him to enter quickly, lest the vessel should sink, and carry us +down in the eddies; for already she had gone round twice. But cutting +adrift the last fragments of her broken shrouds, and putting her +decks in order, Jarl buried his ax in the splintered stump of the +mainmast, and not till then did he join us. + +We slowly cheered, and sailed away. + +Not ten minutes after, the hull rolled convulsively in the sea; went +round once more; lifted its sharp prow as a man with arms pointed for +a dive; gave a long seething plunge; and went down. + +Many of her old planks were twice wrecked; once strown upon ocean's +beach; now dropped into its lowermost vaults, with the bones of +drowned ships and drowned men. + +Once more afloat in our shell! But not with the intrepid spirit that +shoved off with us from the deck of the Arcturion. A bold deed done +from impulse, for the time carries few or no misgivings along with +it. But forced upon you, its terrors stare you in the face. So now. I +had pushed from the Arcturion with a stout heart; but quitting the +sinking Parki, my heart sunk with her. + +With a fair wind, we held on our way westward, hoping to see land +before many days. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII +The Sea On Fire + + +The night following our abandonment of the Parki, was made memorable +by a remarkable spectacle. + +Slumbering in the bottom of the boat, Jarl and I were suddenly +awakened by Samoa. Starting, we beheld the ocean of a pallid white +color, corruscating all over with tiny golden sparkles. But the +pervading hue of the water cast a cadaverous gleam upon the boat, so +that we looked to each other like ghosts. For many rods astern our +wake was revealed in a line of rushing illuminated foam; while here +and there beneath the surface, the tracks of sharks were denoted by +vivid, greenish trails, crossing and recrossing each other in every +direction. Farther away, and distributed in clusters, floated on the +sea, like constellations in the heavens, innumerable Medusae, a +species of small, round, refulgent fish, only to be met with in the +South Seas and the Indian Ocean. + +Suddenly, as we gazed, there shot high into the air a bushy jet of +flashes, accompanied by the unmistakable deep breathing sound of a +sperm whale. Soon, the sea all round us spouted in fountains of fire; +and vast forms, emitting a glare from their flanks, and ever and anon +raising their heads above water, and shaking off the sparkles, showed +where an immense shoal of Cachalots had risen from below to sport in +these phosphorescent billows. + +The vapor jetted forth was far more radiant than any portion of the +sea; ascribable perhaps to the originally luminous fluid contracting +still more brilliancy from its passage through the spouting canal of +the whales. + +We were in great fear, lest without any vicious intention the +Leviathans might destroy us, by coming into close contact with our +boat. We would have shunned them; but they were all round and round +us. Nevertheless we were safe; for as we parted the pallid brine, the +peculiar irradiation which shot from about our keel seemed to deter +them. Apparently discovering us of a sudden, many of them plunged +headlong down into the water, tossing their fiery tails high into the +air, and leaving the sea still more sparkling from the violent +surging of their descent. + +Their general course seemed the same as our own; to the westward. To +remove from them, we at last out oars, and pulled toward the north. +So doing, we were steadily pursued by a solitary whale, that must +have taken our Chamois for a kindred fish. Spite of all our efforts, +he drew nearer and nearer; at length rubbing his fiery flank against +the Chamois' gunwale, here and there leaving long strips of the +glossy transparent substance which thin as gossamer invests the body +of the Cachalot. + +In terror at a sight so new, Samoa shrank. But Jarl and I, more used +to the intimate companionship of the whales, pushed the boat away +from it with our oars: a thing often done in the fishery. + +The close vicinity of the whale revived in the so long astute Skyeman +all the enthusiasm of his daring vocation. However quiet by nature, a +thorough-bred whaleman betrays no little excitement in sight of his +game. And it required some persuasion to prevent Jarl from darting +his harpoon: insanity under present circumstances; and of course +without object. But "Oh! for a dart," cried my Viking. And "Where's +now our old ship?" he added reminiscently. + +But to my great joy the monster at last departed; rejoining the +shoal, whose lofty spoutings of flame were still visible upon the +distant line of the horizon; showing there, like the fitful starts of +the Aurora Borealis. + +The sea retained its luminosity for about three hours; at the +expiration of half that period beginning to fade; and excepting +occasional faint illuminations consequent upon the rapid darting of +fish under water, the phenomenon at last wholly disappeared. + +Heretofore, I had beheld several exhibitions of marine +phosphorescence, both in the Atlantic and Pacific. But nothing in +comparison with what was seen that night. In the Atlantic, there is +very seldom any portion of the ocean luminous, except the crests of +the waves; and these mostly appear so during wet, murky weather. +Whereas, in the Pacific, all instances of the sort, previously +corning under my notice, had been marked by patches of greenish +light, unattended with any pallidness of sea. Save twice on the coast +of Peru, where I was summoned from my hammock to the alarming +midnight cry of "All hands ahoy! tack ship!" And rushing on deck, +beheld the sea white as a shroud; for which reason it was feared we +were on soundings. + +Now, sailors love marvels, and love to repeat them. And from many an +old shipmate I have heard various sage opinings, concerning the +phenomenon in question. Dismissing, as destitute of sound philosophic +probability, the extravagant notion of one of my nautical friends--no +less a philosopher than my Viking himself--namely: that the +phosphoresence of the sea is caused by a commotion among the +mermaids, whose golden locks, all torn and disheveled, do irradiate +the waters at such times; I proceed to record more reliable theories. + +Faraday might, perhaps, impute the phenomenon to a peculiarly +electrical condition of the atmosphere; and to that solely. But +herein, my scientific friend would be stoutly contradicted by many +intelligent seamen, who, in part, impute it to the presence of large +quantities of putrescent animal matter; with which the sea is well +known to abound. + +And it would seem not unreasonable to suppose, that it is by +this means that the fluid itself becomes charged with the luminous +principle. Draw a bucket of water from the phosphorescent ocean, and +it still retains traces of fire; but, standing awhile, this soon +subsides. Now pour it along the deck, and it is a stream of flame; +caused by its renewed agitation. Empty the bucket, and for a space +sparkles cling to it tenaciously; and every stave seems ignited. + +But after all, this seeming ignition of the sea can not be wholly +produced by dead matter therein. There are many living fish, +phosphorescent; and, under certain conditions, by a rapid throwing +off of luminous particles must largely contribute to the result. Not +to particularize this circumstance as true of divers species of +sharks, cuttle-fish, and many others of the larger varieties of the +finny tribes; the myriads of microscopic mollusca, well known to +swarm off soundings, might alone be deemed almost sufficient to +kindle a fire in the brine. + +But these are only surmises; likely, but uncertain. + +After science comes sentiment. + +A French naturalist maintains, that the nocturnal radiance of the +fire-fly is purposely intended as an attraction to the opposite sex; +that the artful insect illuminates its body for a beacon to love. +Thus: perched upon the edge of a leaf, and waiting the approach of +her Leander, who comes buffeting with his wings the aroma of the +flowers, some insect Hero may show a torch to her gossamer gallant. + +But alas, thrice alas, for the poor little fire-fish of the sea, +whose radiance but reveals them to their foes, and lights the way to +their destruction. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX +They Fall In With Strangers + + +After quitting the Parki, we had much calm weather, varied by light +breezes. And sailing smoothly over a sea, so recently one sheet of +foam, I could not avoid bethinking me, how fortunate it was, that the +gale had overtaken us in the brigantine, and not in the Chamois. For +deservedly high as the whale-shallop ranks as a sea boat; still, in a +severe storm, the larger your craft the greater your sense of +security. Wherefore, the thousand reckless souls tenanting a line-of- +battle ship scoff at the most awful hurricanes; though, in reality, +they may be less safe in their wooden-walled Troy, than those who +contend with the gale in a clipper. + +But not only did I congratulate myself upon salvation from the past, +but upon the prospect for the future. For storms happening so seldom +in these seas, one just blown over is almost a sure guarantee of very +many weeks' calm weather to come. + +Now sun followed sun; and no land. And at length it almost seemed as +if we must have sailed past the remotest presumable westerly limit of +the chain of islands we sought; a lurking suspicion which I +sedulously kept to myself However, I could not but nourish a latent +faith that all would yet be well. + +On the ninth day my forebodings were over. In the gray of the dawn, +perched upon the peak of our sail, a noddy was seen fast asleep. This +freak was true to the nature of that curious fowl, whose name is +significant of its drowsiness. Its plumage was snow-white, its +bill and legs blood-red; the latter looking like little pantalettes. +In a sly attempt at catching the bird, Samoa captured three tail- +feathers; the alarmed creature flying away with a scream, and leaving +its quills in his hand. + +Sailing on, we gradually broke in upon immense low-sailing flights of +other aquatic fowls, mostly of those species which are seldom found +far from land: terns, frigate-birds, mollymeaux, reef-pigeons, +boobies, gulls, and the like. They darkened the air; their wings +making overhead an incessant rustling like the simultaneous turning +over of ten thousand leaves. The smaller sort skimmed the sea like +pebbles sent skipping from the shore. Over these, flew myriads of +birds of broader wing. While high above all, soared in air the daring +"Diver," or sea-kite, the power of whose vision is truly wonderful. +It perceives the little flying-fish in the water, at a height which +can not be less than four hundred feet. Spirally wheeling and +screaming as it goes, the sea-kite, bill foremost, darts downward, +swoops into the water, and for a moment altogether disappearing, +emerges at last; its prey firmly trussed in its claws. But bearing it +aloft, the bold bandit is quickly assailed by other birds of prey, +that strive to wrest from him his booty. And snatched from his +talons, you see the fish falling through the air, till again caught +up in the very act of descent, by the fleetest of its pursuers. + +Leaving these sights astern, we presently picked up the slimy husk of +a cocoanut, all over green barnacles. And shortly after, passed two +or three limbs of trees, and the solitary trunk of a palm; which, +upon sailing nearer, seemed but very recently started on its endless +voyage. As noon came on; the dark purple land-haze, which had been +dimly descried resting upon the western horizon, was very nearly +obscured. Nevertheless, behind that dim drapery we doubted not bright +boughs were waving. + +We were now in high spirits. Samoa between times humming to +himself some heathenish ditty, and Jarl ten times more intent on his +silence than ever; yet his eye full of expectation and gazing broad +off from our bow. Of a sudden, shading his face with his hand, he +gazed fixedly for an instant, and then springing to his feet, uttered +the long-drawn sound--"Sail ho!" + +Just tipping the furthest edge of the sky was a little speck, dancing +into view every time we rose upon the swells. It looked like one of +many birds; for half intercepting our view, fell showers of plumage: +a flight of milk-white noddies flying downward to the sea. + +But soon the birds are seen no more. Yet there remains the speck; +plainly a sail; but too small for a ship. Was it a boat after a +whale? The vessel to which it belonged far astern, and shrouded by +the haze? So it seemed. + +Quietly, however, we waited the stranger's nearer approach; +confident, that for some time he would not be able to perceive us, +owing to our being in what mariners denominate the "sun-glade," or +that part of the ocean upon which the sun's rays flash with peculiar +intensity. + +As the sail drew nigh, its failing to glisten white led us to doubt +whether it was indeed a whale-boat. Presently, it showed yellow; and +Samoa declared, that it must be the sail of some island craft. True. +The stranger proving a large double-canoe, like those used by the +Polynesians in making passages between distant islands. + +The Upoluan was now clamorous for a meeting, to which Jarl was +averse. Deliberating a moment, I directed the muskets to be loaded; +then setting the sail the wind on our quarter--we headed away for the +canoe, now sailing at right angles with our previous course. + +Here it must be mentioned, that from the various gay cloths and other +things provided for barter by the captain of the Parki, I had very +strikingly improved my costume; making it free, flowing, and eastern. +I looked like an Emir. Nor had my Viking neglected to follow my +example; though with some few modifications of his own. With +his long tangled hair and harpoon, he looked like the sea-god, that +boards ships, for the first time crossing the Equator. For tatooed +Samoa, he yet sported both kilt and turban, reminding one of a tawny +leopard, though his spots were all in one place. Besides this raiment +of ours, against emergencies we had provided our boat with divers +nankeens and silks. + +But now into full view comes a yoke of huge clumsy prows, shaggy with +carving, and driving through the water with considerable velocity; +the immense sprawling sail holding the wind like a bag. She seemed +full of men; and from the dissonant cries borne over to us, and the +canoe's widely yawing, it was plain that we had occasioned no small +sensation. They seemed undetermined what course to pursue: whether to +court a meeting, or avoid it; whether to regard us as friends or foes. + +As we came still nearer, distinctly beholding their faces, we loudly +hailed them, inviting them to furl their sails, and allow us to board +them. But no answer was returned; their confusion increasing. And +now, within less than two ships'-lengths, they swept right across our +bow, gazing at us with blended curiosity and fear. + +Their craft was about thirty feet long, consisting of a pair of +parallel canoes, very narrow, and at the distance of a yard or so, +lengthwise, united by stout cross-timbers, lashed across the four +gunwales. Upon these timbers was a raised plat-form or dais, quite +dry; and astern an arched cabin or tent; behind which, were two +broad-bladed paddles terminating in rude shark-tails, by which the +craft was steered. + +The yard, spreading a yellow sail, was a crooked bough, supported +obliquely in the crotch of a mast, to which the green bark was still +clinging. Here and there were little tufts of moss. The high, beaked +prow of that canoe in which the mast was placed, resembled a rude +altar; and all round it was suspended a great variety of fruits, +including scores of cocoanuts, unhusked. This prow was railed +off, forming a sort of chancel within. + +The foremost beam, crossing the gunwales, extended some twelve feet +beyond the side of the dais; and at regular intervals hereupon, stout +cords were fastened, which, leading up to the head of the mast, +answered the purpose of shrouds. The breeze was now streaming fresh; +and, as if to force down into the water the windward side of the +craft, five men stood upon this long beam, grasping five shrouds. Yet +they failed to counterbalance the pressure of the sail; and owing to +the opposite inclination of the twin canoes, these living statues +were elevated high above the water; their appearance rendered still +more striking by their eager attitudes, and the apparent peril of +their position, as the mad spray from the bow dashed over them. +Suddenly, the Islanders threw their craft into the wind; while, for +ourselves, we lay on our oars, fearful of alarming them by now coming +nearer. But hailing them again, we said we were friends; and had +friendly gifts for them, if they would peaceably permit us to +approach. This understood, there ensued a mighty clamor; insomuch, +that I bade Jarl and Samoa out oars, and row very gently toward the +strangers. Whereupon, amid a storm of vociferations, some of them +hurried to the furthest side of their dais; standing with arms arched +over their heads, as if for a dive; others menacing us with clubs and +spears; and one, an old man with a bamboo trellis on his head forming +a sort of arbor for his hair, planted himself full before the tent, +stretching behind him a wide plaited sling. + +Upon this hostile display, Samoa dropped his oar, and brought his +piece to bear upon the old man, who, by his attitude, seemed to +menace us with the fate of the great braggart of Gath. But I quickly +knocked down the muzzle of his musket, and forbade the slightest +token of hostility; enjoining it upon my companions, nevertheless, to +keep well on their guard. + +We now ceased rowing, and after a few minutes' uproar in the canoe, +they ran to the steering-paddles, and forcing round their craft +before the wind, rapidly ran away from us. With all haste we set our +sail, and pulling also at our oars, soon overtook them, determined +upon coming into closer communion. + + + +CHAPTER XL +Sire And Sons + + +Seeing flight was useless, the Islanders again stopped their canoe, +and once more we cautiously drew nearer; myself crying out to them +not to be fearful; and Samoa, with the odd humor of his race, +averring that he had known every soul of them from his infancy. + +We approached within two or three yards; when we paused, which +somewhat allayed their alarm. Fastening a red China handkerchief to +the blade of our long mid-ship oar, I waved it in the air. A lively +clapping of hands, and many wild exclamations. + +While yet waving the flag, I whispered to Jarl to give the boat a +sheer toward the canoe, which being adroitly done, brought the bow, +where I stood, still nearer to the Islanders. I then dropped the silk +among them; and the Islander, who caught it, at once handed it to the +warlike old man with the sling; who, on seating himself, spread it +before him; while the rest crowding round, glanced rapidly from the +wonderful gift, to the more wonderful donors. + +This old man was the superior of the party. And Samoa asserted, that +he must be a priest of the country to which the Islanders belonged; +that the craft could be no other than one of their sacred canoes, +bound on some priestly voyage. All this he inferred from the altar- +like prow, and there being no women on board. + +Bent upon conciliating the old priest, I dropped into the canoe +another silk handkerchief; while Samoa loudly exclaimed, that we were +only three men, and were peaceably inclined. Meantime, old +Aaron, fastening the two silks crosswise over his shoulders, like a +brace of Highland plaids, crosslegged sat, and eyed us. + +It was a curious sight. The old priest, like a scroll of old +parchment, covered all over with hieroglyphical devices, harder to +interpret, I'll warrant, than any old Sanscrit manuscript. And upon +his broad brow, deep-graven in wrinkles, were characters still more +mysterious, which no Champollion nor gipsy could have deciphered. He +looked old as the elderly hills; eyes sunken, though bright; and head +white as the summit of Mont Blanc. + +The rest were a youthful and comely set: their complexion that of +Gold Sherry, and all tattooed after this pattern: two broad cross- +stripes on the chest and back; reaching down to the waist, like a +foot-soldier's harness. Their faces were full of expression; and +their mouths were full of fine teeth; so that the parting of their +lips, was as the opening of pearl oysters. Marked, here and there, +after the style of Tahiti, with little round figures in blue, dotted +in the middle with a spot of vermilion, their brawny brown thighs +looked not unlike the gallant hams of Westphalia, spotted with the +red dust of Cayenne. + +But what a marvelous resemblance in the features of all. Were they +born at one birth? This resemblance was heightened by their uniform +marks. But it was subsequently ascertained, that they were the +children of one sire; and that sire, old Aaron; who, no doubt, +reposed upon his sons, as an old general upon the trophies of his +youth. + +They were the children of as many mothers; and he was training them +up for the priesthood. + + + +CHAPTER XLI +A Fray + + +So bent were the strangers upon concealing who they were, and the +object of their voyage, that it was some time ere we could obtain the +information we desired. + +They pointed toward the tent, as if it contained their Eleusinian +mysteries. And the old priest gave us to know, that it would be +profanation to enter it. + +But all this only roused my curiosity to unravel the wonder. + +At last I succeeded. + +In that mysterious tent was concealed a beautiful maiden. And, in +pursuance of a barbarous custom, by Aleema, the priest, she was being +borne an offering from the island of Amma to the gods of Tedaidee. + +Now, hearing of the maiden, I waited for no more. Need I add, how +stirred was my soul toward this invisible victim; and how hotly I +swore, that precious blood of hers should never smoke upon an altar. +If we drowned for it, I was bent upon rescuing the captive. But as +yet, no gentle signal of distress had been waved to us from the tent. +Thence, no sound could be heard, but an occasional rustle of the +matting. Was it possible, that one about to be immolated could +proceed thus tranquilly to her fate? + +But desperately as I resolved to accomplish the deliverance of the +maiden, it was best to set heedfully about it. I desired no shedding +of blood; though the odds were against us. + +The old priest seemed determined to prevent us from boarding +his craft. But being equally determined the other way, I cautiously +laid the bow of the Chamois against the canoe's quarter, so as to +present the smallest possible chance for a hostile entrance into our +boat. Then, Samoa, knife in ear, and myself with a cutlass, stepped +upon the dais, leaving Jarl in the boat's head, equipped with his +harpoon; three loaded muskets lying by his side. He was strictly +enjoined to resist the slightest demonstration toward our craft. + +As we boarded the canoe, the Islanders slowly retreated; meantime +earnestly conferring in whispers; all but the old priest, who, still +seated, presented an undaunted though troubled front. To our +surprise, he motioned us to sit down by him; which we did; taking +care, however, not to cut off our communication with Jarl. + +With the hope of inspiring good will, I now unfolded a roll of +printed cotton, and spreading it before the priest, directed his +attention to the pictorial embellishments thereon, representing some +hundreds of sailor boys simultaneously ascending some hundreds of +uniform sections of a ship's rigging. Glancing at them a moment, by a +significant sign, he gave me to know, that long previous he himself +had ascended the shrouds of a ship. Making this allusion, his +countenance was overcast with a ferocious expression, as if something +terrific was connected with the reminiscence. But it soon passed +away, and somewhat abruptly he assumed an air of much merriment. + +While we were thus sitting together, and my whole soul full of the +thoughts of the captive, and how best to accomplish my purpose, and +often gazing toward the tent; I all at once noticed a movement among +the strangers. Almost in the same instant, Samoa, right across the +face of Aleema, and in his ordinary tones, bade me take heed to +myself, for mischief was brewing. Hardly was this warning uttered, +when, with carved clubs in their hands, the Islanders completely +surrounded us. Then up rose the old priest, and gave us to know, that +we were wholly in his power, and if we did not swear to depart +in our boat forthwith, and molest him no more, the peril be ours. + +"Depart and you live; stay and you die." + +Fifteen to three. Madness to gainsay his mandate. Yet a beautiful +maiden was at stake. + +The knife before dangling in Samoa's ear was now in his hand. Jarl +cried out for us to regain the boat, several of the Islanders making +a rush for it. No time to think. All passed quicker than it can be +said. They closed in upon us, to push us from the canoe: Rudely the +old priest flung me from his side, menacing me with his dagger, the +sharp spine of a fish. A thrust and a threat! Ere I knew it, my +cutlass made a quick lunge. A curse from the priest's mouth; red +blood from his side; he tottered, stared about him, and fell over +like a brown hemlock into the sea. A yell of maledictions rose on the +air. A wild cry was heard from the tent. Making a dead breach among +the crowd, we now dashed side by side for the boat. Springing into +it, we found Jarl battling with two Islanders; while the rest were +still howling upon the dais. Rage and grief had almost disabled them. + +With one stroke of my cutlass, I now parted the line that held us to +the canoe, and with Samoa falling upon the two Islanders, by Jarl's +help, we quickly mastered them; forcing them down into the bottom of +the boat. + +The Skyeman and Samoa holding passive the captives, I quickly set our +sail, and snatching the sheet at the cavil, we rapidly shot from the +canoe. The strangers defying us with their spears; several couching +them as if to dart; while others held back their hands, as if to +prevent them from jeopardizing the lives of their countrymen in the +Chamois. + +Seemingly untoward events oftentimes lead to successful results: Far +from destroying all chance of rescuing the captive, our temporary +flight, indispensable for the safety of Jarl, only made the success +of our enterprise more probable. For having made prisoners two of the +strangers, I determined to retain them as hostages, through +whom to effect my plans without further bloodshed. + +And here it must needs be related, that some of the natives were +wounded in the fray: while all three of their assailants had received +several bruises. + + + +CHAPTER XLII +Remorse + + +During the skirmish not a single musket had been discharged. The +first snatched by Jarl had missed fire, and ere he could seize +another, it was close quarters with him, and no gestures to spare. +His harpoon was his all. And truly, there is nothing like steel in a +fray. It comes and it goes with a will, and is never a-weary. Your +sword is your life, and that of your foe; to keep or to take as it +happens. Closer home does it go than a rammer; and fighting with +steel is a play without ever an interlude. There are points more +deadly than bullets; and stocks packed full of subtle tubes, whence +comes an impulse more reliable than powder. + +Binding our prisoners lengthwise across the boat's seats, we rowed +for the canoe, making signs of amity. + +Now, if there be any thing fitted to make a high tide ebb in the +veins, it is the sight of a vanquished foe, inferior to yourself in +powers of destruction; but whom some necessity has forced you to +subdue. All victories are not triumphs, nor all who conquer, heroes. + +As we drew near the canoe, it was plain, that the loss of their sire +had again for the instant overcome the survivors. Raising hands, they +cursed us; and at intervals sent forth a low, piercing wail, peculiar +to their race. As before, faint cries were heard from the tent. And +all the while rose and fell on the sea, the ill-fated canoe. + +As I gazed at this sight, what iron mace fell on my soul; what curse +rang sharp in my ear! It was I, who was the author of the deed that +caused the shrill wails that I heard. By this hand, the dead +man had died. Remorse smote me hard; and like lightning I asked +myself, whether the death-deed I had done was sprung of a virtuous +motive, the rescuing a captive from thrall; or whether beneath that +pretense, I had engaged in this fatal affray for some other, and +selfish purpose; the companionship of a beautiful maid. But +throttling the thought, I swore to be gay. Am I not rescuing the +maiden? Let them go down who withstand me. + +At the dismal spectacle before him, Jarl, hitherto menacing our +prisoners with his weapon, in order to intimidate their countrymen, +honest Jarl dropped his harpoon. But shaking his knife in the air, +Samoa yet defied the strangers; nor could we prevent him. His +heathenish blood was up. + +Standing foremost in the boat, I now assured the strangers, that all +we sought at their hands was the maiden in the tent. That captive +surrendered, our own, unharmed, should be restored. If not, they must +die. With a cry, they started to their feet, and brandished their +clubs; but, seeing Jarl's harpoon quivering over the hearts of our +prisoners, they quickly retreated; at last signifying their +acquiescence in my demand. Upon this, I sprang to the dais, and +across it indicating a line near the bow, signed the Islanders to +retire beyond it. Then, calling upon them one by one to deliver their +weapons, they were passed into the boat. + +The Chamois was now brought round to the canoe's stern; and leaving +Jarl to defend it as before, the Upoluan rejoined me on the dais. By +these precautions--the hostages still remaining bound hand and foot +in the boat--we deemed ourselves entirely secure. + +Attended by Samoa, I stood before the tent, now still as the grave. + + +CHAPTER XLIII +The Tent Entered + + +By means of thin spaces between the braids of matting, the place was +open to the air, but not to view. There was also a round opening on +one side, only large enough, however, to admit the arm; but this +aperture was partially closed from within. In front, a deep-dyed rug +of osiers, covering the entrance way, was intricately laced to the +standing part of the tent. As I divided this lacing with my cutlass, +there arose an outburst of voices from the Islanders. And they +covered their faces, as the interior was revealed to my gaze. + +Before me crouched a beautiful girl. Her hands were drooping. And, +like a saint from a shrine, she looked sadly out from her long, fair +hair. A low wail issued from her lips, and she trembled like a sound. +There were tears on her cheek, and a rose-colored pearl on her bosom. + +Did I dream?--A snow-white skin: blue, firmament eyes: Golconda +locks. For an instant spell-bound I stood; while with a slow, +apprehensive movement, and still gazing fixedly, the captive gathered +more closely about her a gauze-like robe. Taking one step within, and +partially dropping the curtain of the tent, I so stood, as to have +both sight and speech of Samoa, who tarried without; while the +maiden, crouching in the farther corner of the retreat, was wholly +screened from all eyes but mine. + +Crossing my hands before me, I now stood without speaking. For the +soul of me, I could not link this mysterious creature with the tawny +strangers. She seemed of another race. So powerful was this +impression, that unconsciously, I addressed her in my own +tongue. She started, and bending over, listened intently, as if to +the first faint echo of something dimly remembered. Again I spoke, +when throwing back her hair, the maiden looked up with a piercing, +bewildered gaze. But her eyes soon fell, and bending over once more, +she resumed her former attitude. At length she slowly chanted to +herself several musical words, unlike those of the Islanders; but +though I knew not what they meant, they vaguely seemed familiar. + +Impatient to learn her story, I now questioned her in Polynesian. But +with much earnestness, she signed me to address her as before. Soon +perceiving, however, that without comprehending the meaning of the +words I employed, she seemed merely touched by something pleasing in +their sound, I once more addressed her in Polynesian; saying that I +was all eagerness to hear her history. + +After much hesitation she complied; starting with alarm at every +sound from without; yet all the while deeply regarding me. + +Broken as these disclosures were at the time, they are here presented +in the form in which they were afterward more fully narrated. + +So unearthly was the story, that at first I little comprehended it; +and was almost persuaded that the luckless maiden was some beautiful +maniac. + +She declared herself more than mortal, a maiden from Oroolia, the +Island of Delights, somewhere in the paradisiacal archipelago of the +Polynesians. To this isle, while yet an infant, by some mystical +power, she had been spirited from Amma, the place of her nativity. +Her name was Yillah. And hardly had the waters of Oroolia washed +white her olive skin, and tinged her hair with gold, when one day +strolling in the woodlands, she was snared in the tendrils of a vine. +Drawing her into its bowers, it gently transformed her into one of +its blossoms, leaving her conscious soul folded up in the transparent +petals. + +Here hung Yillah in a trance, the world without all tinged with the +rosy hue of her prison. At length when her spirit was about to burst +forth in the opening flower, the blossom was snapped from its stem; +and borne by a soft wind to the sea; where it fell into the opening +valve of a shell; which in good time was cast upon the beach of the +Island of Amma. + +In a dream, these events were revealed to Aleema the priest; who by a +spell unlocking its pearly casket, took forth the bud, which now +showed signs of opening in the reviving air, and bore faint shadowy +revealings, as of the dawn behind crimson clouds. Suddenly expanding, +the blossom exhaled away in perfumes; floating a rosy mist in the +air. Condensing at last, there emerged from this mist the same +radiant young Yillah as before; her locks all moist, and a rose- +colored pearl on her bosom. Enshrined as a goddess, the wonderful +child now tarried in the sacred temple of Apo, buried in a dell; +never beheld of mortal eyes save Aleema's. + +Moon after moon passed away, and at last, only four days gone by, +Aleema came to her with a dream; that the spirits in Oroolia had +recalled her home by the way of Tedaidee, on whose coast gurgled up +in the sea an enchanted spring; which streaming over upon the brine, +flowed on between blue watery banks; and, plunging into a vortex, +went round and round, descending into depths unknown. Into this +whirlpool Yillah was to descend in a canoe, at last to well up in an +inland fountain of Oroolia. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV +Away + + +Though clothed in language of my own, the maiden's story is in +substance the same as she related. Yet were not these things narrated +as past events; she merely recounted them as impressions of her +childhood, and of her destiny yet unaccomplished. And mystical as the +tale most assuredly was, my knowledge of the strange arts of the +island priesthood, and the rapt fancies indulged in by many of their +victims, deprived it in good part of the effect it otherwise would +have produced. + +For ulterior purposes connected with their sacerdotal supremacy, the +priests of these climes oftentimes secrete mere infants in their +temples; and jealously secluding them from all intercourse with the +world, craftily delude them, as they grow up, into the wildest conceits. + +Thus wrought upon, their pupils almost lose their humanity in the +constant indulgence of seraphic imaginings. In many cases becoming +inspired as oracles; and as such, they are sometimes resorted to by +devotees; always screened from view, however, in the recesses of the +temples. But in every instance, their end is certain. Beguiled with +some fairy tale about revisiting the islands of Paradise, they are +led to the secret sacrifice, and perish unknown to their kindred. + +But, would that all this had been hidden from me at the time. For +Yillah was lovely enough to be really divine; and so I might have +been tranced into a belief of her mystical legends. + +But with what passionate exultation did I find myself the +deliverer of this beautiful maiden; who, thinking no harm, and rapt +in a dream, was being borne to her fate on the coast of Tedaidee. Nor +now, for a moment, did the death of Aleema her guardian seem to hang +heavy upon my heart. I rejoiced that I had sent him to his gods; that +in place of the sea moss growing over sweet Yillah drowned in the +sea, the vile priest himself had sunk to the bottom. + +But though he had sunk in the deep, his ghost sunk not in the deep +waters of my soul. However in exultations its surface foamed up, at +bottom guilt brooded. Sifted out, my motives to this enterprise +justified not the mad deed, which, in a moment of rage, I had done: +though, those motives had been covered with a gracious pretense; +concealing myself from myself. But I beat down the thought. + +In relating her story, the maiden frequently interrupted it with +questions concerning myself:--Whence I came: being white, from +Oroolia? Whither I was going: to Amma? And what had happened to +Aleema? For she had been dismayed at the fray, though knowing not +what it could mean; and she had heard the priest's name called upon +in lamentations. These questions for the time I endeavored to evade; +only inducing her to fancy me some gentle demigod, that had come over +the sea from her own fabulous Oroolia. And all this she must verily +have believed. For whom, like me, ere this could she have beheld? +Still fixed she her eyes upon me strangely, and hung upon the accents +of my voice. + +While this scene was passing, the strangers began to show signs of +impatience, and a voice from the Chamois repeatedly hailed us to +accelerate our movements. + +My course was quickly decided. The only obstacle to be encountered +was the possibility of Yillah's alarm at being suddenly borne into my +prow. For this event I now sought to prepare her. I informed the +damsel that Aleema had been dispatched on a long errand to Oroolia; +leaving to my care, for the present, the guardianship of the lovely +Yillah; and that therefore, it was necessary to carry her tent +into my own canoe, then waiting to receive it. + +This intelligence she received with the utmost concern; and not +knowing to what her perplexity might lead, I thought fit to transport +her into the Chamois, while yet overwhelmed by the announcement of my +intention. + +Quitting her retreat, I apprised Jarl of my design; and then, no more +delay! + +At bottom, the tent was attached to a light framework of bamboos; and +from its upper corners, four cords, like those of a marquee, confined +it to the dais. These, Samoa's knife soon parted; when lifting the +light tent, we speedily transferred it to the Chamois; a wild yell +going up from the Islanders, which drowned the faint cries of the +maiden. But we heeded not the din. Toss in the fruit, hanging from +the altar-prow! It was done; and then running up our sail, we glided +away;--Chamois, tent, hostages, and all. Rushing to the now vacant +stern of their canoe, the Islanders once more lifted up their hands +and their voices in curses. + +A suitable distance gained, we paused to fling overboard the arms we +had taken; and Jarl proceeded to liberate the hostages. + +Meanwhile, I entered the tent, and by many tokens, sought to allay +the maiden's alarm. Thus engaged, violent plunges were heard: our +prisoners taking to the sea to regain their canoe. All dripping, they +were received by their brethren with wild caresses. + +From something now said by the captives, the rest seemed suddenly +inspirited with hopes of revenge; again wildly shaking their spears, +just before picked up from the sea. With great clamor and confusion +they soon set their mat-sail; and instead of sailing southward for +Tedaidee, or northward for Amma their home, they steered straight +after us, in our wake. + +Foremost in the prow stood three; javelins poised for a dart; at +intervals, raising a yell. + +Did they mean to pursue me? Full in my rear they came on, baying like +hounds on their game. Yillah trembled at their cries. My own heart +beat hard with undefinable dread. The corpse of Aleema seemed +floating before: its avengers were raging behind. + +But soon these phantoms departed. For very soon it appeared that in +vain the pagans pursued. Their craft, our fleet Chamois outleaped. +And farther and farther astern dropped the evil-boding canoe, till at +last but a speck; when a great swell of the sea surged up before it, +and it was seen no more. Samoa swore that it must have swamped, and +gone down. But however it was, my heart lightened apace. I saw none +but ourselves on the sea: I remembered that our keel left no track as +it sailed. + +Let the Oregon Indian through brush, bramble, and brier, hunt his +enemy's trail, far over the mountains and down in the vales; comes he +to the water, he snuffs idly in air. + + + +CHAPTER XLV +Reminiscences + + +In resecuing the gentle Yillah from the hands of the Islanders, a +design seemed accomplished. But what was now to be done? Here, in our +adventurous Chamois, was a damsel more lovely than the flushes of +morning; and for companions, whom had she but me and my comrades? +Besides, her bosom still throbbed with alarms, her fancies all roving +through mazes. + +How subdue these dangerous imaginings? How gently dispel them? + +But one way there was: to lead her thoughts toward me, as her friend +and preserver; and a better and wiser than Aleema the priest. Yet +could not this be effected but by still maintaining my assumption of +a divine origin in the blessed isle of Oroolia; and thus fostering in +her heart the mysterious interest, with which from the first she had +regarded me. But if punctilious reserve on the part of her deliverer +should teach her to regard him as some frigid stranger from the +Arctic Zone, what sympathy could she have for him? and hence, what +peace of mind, having no one else to cling to? + +Now re-entering the tent, she again inquired where tarried Aleema. + +"Think not of him, sweet Yillah," I cried. "Look on me. Am I not +white like yourself? Behold, though since quitting Oroolia the sun +has dyed my cheek, am I not even as you? Am I brown like the dusky +Aleema? They snatched you away from your isle in the sea, too early +for you to remember me there. But you have not been forgotten +by me, sweetest Yillah. Ha! ha! shook we not the palm-trees together, +and chased we not the rolling nuts down the glen? Did we not dive +into the grotto on the sea-shore, and come up together in the cool +cavern in the hill? In my home in Oroolia, dear Yillah, I have a lock +of your hair, ere yet it was golden: a little dark tress like a ring. +How your cheeks were then changing from olive to white. And when +shall I forget the hour, that I came upon you sleeping among the +flowers, with roses and lilies for cheeks. Still forgetful? Know you +not my voice? Those little spirits in your eyes have seen me before. +They mimic me now as they sport in their lakes. All the past a dim +blank? Think of the time when we ran up and down in our arbor, where +the green vines grew over the great ribs of the stranded whale. Oh +Yillah, little Yillah, has it all come to this? am I forever +forgotten? Yet over the wide watery world have I sought thee: from +isle to isle, from sea to sea. And now we part not. Aleema is gone. +My prow shall keep kissing the waves, till it kisses the beach at +Oroolia. Yillah, look up." + +Sunk the ghost of Aleema: Sweet Yillah was mine! + + + +CHAPTER XLVI +The Chamois With A Roving Commission + + +Through the assiduity of my Viking, ere nightfall our Chamois was +again in good order. And with many subtle and seamanlike splices the +light tent was lashed in its place; the sail taken up by a reef. + +My comrades now questioned me, as to my purposes; whether they had +been modified by the events of the day. I replied that our +destination was still the islands to the westward. + +But from these we had steadily been drifting all the morning long; so +that now no loom of the land was visible. But our prow was kept +pointing as before. + +As evening came on, my comrades fell fast asleep, leaving me at the +helm. + +How soft and how dreamy the light of the hour. The rays of the sun, +setting behind golden-barred clouds, came to me like the gleaming of +a shaded light behind a lattice. And the low breeze, pervaded with +the peculiar balm of the mid-Pacific near land, was fragrant as the +breath of a bride. + +Such was the scene; so still and witching that the hand of Yillah in +mine seemed no hand, but a touch. Visions flitted before me and in +me; something hummed in my ear; all the air was a lay. + +And now entered a thought into my heart. I reflected how serenely we +might thus glide along, far removed from all care and anxiety. And +then, what different scenes might await us upon any of the shores +roundabout. But there seemed no danger in the balmy sea; the assured +vicinity of land imparting a sense of security. We had ample +supplies for several days more, and thanks to the Pagan canoe, an +abundance of fruit. + +Besides, what cared I now for the green groves and bright shore? Was +not Yillah my shore and my grove? my meadow, my mead, my soft shady +vine, and my arbor? Of all things desirable and delightful, the full- +plumed sheaf, and my own right arm the band? Enough: no shore for me +yet. One sweep of the helm, and our light prow headed round toward +the vague land of song, sun, and vine: the fabled South. + +As we glided along, strange Yillah gazed down in the sea, and would +fain have had me plunge into it with her, to rove through its depths. +But I started dismayed; in fancy, I saw the stark body of the priest +drifting by. Again that phantom obtruded; again guilt laid his red +hand on my soul. But I laughed. Was not Yillah my own? by my arm +rescued from ill? To do her a good, I had periled myself. So down, +down, Aleema. + +When next morning, starting from slumber, my comrades beheld the sun +on our beam, instead of astern as before at that hour, they eagerly +inquired, "Whither now?" But very briefly I gave them to know, that +after devoting the night to the due consideration of a matter so +important, I had determined upon voyaging for the island Tedaidee, in +place of the land to the westward. + +At this, they were not displeased. But to tell the plain truth, I +harbored some shadowy purpose of merely hovering about for a while, +till I felt more landwardly inclined. + +But had I not declared to Yillah, that our destination was the fairy +isle she spoke of, even Oroolia? Yet that shore was so exceedingly +remote, and the folly of endeavoring to reach it in a craft built +with hands, so very apparent, that what wonder I really nourished no +thought of it? + +So away floated the Chamois, like a vagrant cloud in the heavens: +bound, no one knew whither. + + + +CHAPTER XLVII +Yillah, Jarl, And Samoa + + +But time to tell, how Samoa and Jarl regarded this mystical Yillah; +and how Yillah regarded them. + +As Beauty from the Beast, so at first shrank the damsel from my one- +armed companion. But seeing my confidence in the savage, a reaction +soon followed. And in accordance with that curious law, by which, +under certain conditions, the ugliest mortals become only amiably +hideous, Yillah at length came to look upon Samoa as a sort of +harmless and good-natured goblin. Whence came he, she cared not; or +what was his history; or in what manner his fortunes were united to +mine. + +May be, she held him a being of spontaneous origin. + +Now, as every where women are the tamers of the menageries of men; so +Yillah in good time tamed down Samoa to the relinquishment of that +horrible thing in his ear, and persuaded him to substitute a vacancy +for the bauble in his nose. On his part, however, all this was +conditional. He stipulated for the privilege of restoring both +trinkets upon suitable occasions. + +But if thus gayly the damsel sported with Samoa; how different his +emotions toward her? The fate to which she had been destined, and +every nameless thing about her, appealed to all his native +superstitions, which ascribed to beings of her complexion a more than +terrestrial origin. When permitted to approach her, he looked timid +and awkwardly strange; suggesting the likeness of some clumsy satyr, +drawing in his horns; slowly wagging his tail; crouching abashed +before some radiant spirit. + +And this reverence of his was most pleasing to me, Bravo! thought I; +be a pagan forever. No more than myself; for, after a different +fashion, Yillah was an idol to both. + +But what of my Viking? Why, of good Jarl I grieve to say, that the +old-fashioned interest he took in my affairs led him to look upon +Yillah as a sort of intruder, an Ammonite syren, who might lead me +astray. This would now and then provoke a phillipic; but he would +only turn toward my resentment his devotion; and then I was silent. + +Unsophisticated as a wild flower in the germ, Yillah seemed incapable +of perceiving the contrasted lights in which she was regarded by our +companions. And like a true beauty seemed to cherish the presumption, +that it was quite impossible for such a person as hers to prove +otherwise than irresistible to all. + +She betrayed much surprise at my Vikings appearance. But most of all +was she struck by a characteristic device upon the arm of the +wonderful mariner--our Saviour on the cross, in blue; with the crown +of thorns, and three drops of blood in vermilion, falling one by one +from each hand and foot. + +Now, honest Jarl did vastly pride himself upon this ornament. It was +the only piece of vanity about him. And like a lady keeping gloveless +her hand to show off a fine Turquoise ring, he invariably wore that +sleeve of his frock rolled up, the better to display the +embellishment. + +And round and round would Yillah turn Jarl's arm, till Jarl was fain +to stand firm, for fear of revolving all over. How such untutored +homage would have thrilled the heart of the ingenious artist! + +Eventually, through the Upoluan, she made overtures to the Skyeman, +concerning the possession of his picture in her own proper right. In +her very simplicity, little heeding, that like a landscape in fresco, +it could not be removed. + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII +Something Under The Surface + + +Not to omit an occurrence of considerable interest, we must needs +here present some account of a curious retinue of fish which overtook +our Chamois, a day or two after parting with the canoe. + +A violent creaming and frothing in our rear announced their approach. +Soon we found ourselves the nucleus of an incredible multitude of +finny creatures, mostly anonymous. + +First, far in advance of our prow, swam the helmeted Silver-heads; +side by side, in uniform ranks, like an army. Then came the Boneetas, +with their flashing blue flanks. Then, like a third distinct +regiment, wormed and twisted through the water like Archimedean +screws, the quivering Wriggle-tails; followed in turn by the rank and +file of the Trigger-fish--so called from their quaint dorsal fins +being set in their backs with a comical curve, as if at half-cock. +Far astern the rear was brought up by endless battalions of Yellow- +backs, right martially vested in buff. + +And slow sailing overhead were flights of birds; a wing in the air +for every fin in the sea. + +But let the sea-fowls fly on: turn we to the fish. + +Their numbers were amazing; countless as the tears shed for +perfidious lovers. Far abroad on both flanks, they swam in long +lines, tier above tier; the water alive with their hosts. Locusts of +the sea, peradventure, going to fall with a blight upon some green, +mossy province of Neptune. And tame and fearless they were, as the +first fish that swam in Euphrates; hardly evading the hand; insomuch +that Samoa caught many without lure or line. + +They formed a decorous escort; paddling along by our barnacled sides, +as if they had been with us from the very beginning; neither scared +by our craft's surging in the water; nor in the least sympathetic at +losing a comrade by the hand of Samoa. They closed in their ranks and +swam on. + +How innocent, yet heartless they looked! Had a plank dropped out of +our boat, we had sunk to the bottom; and belike, our cheerful retinue +would have paid the last rites to our remains. + +But still we kept company; as sociably as you please; Samoa helping +himself when he listed, and Yillah clapping her hands as the radiant +creatures, by a simultaneous turning round on their silvery bellies, +caused the whole sea to glow like a burnished shield. + +But what has befallen this poor little Boneeta astern, that he swims +so toilingly on, with gills showing purple? What has he there, towing +behind? It is tangled sea-kelp clinging to its fins. But the clogged +thing strains to keep up with its fellows. Yet little they heed. Away +they go; every fish for itself, and any fish for Samoa. + +At last the poor Boneeta is seen no more. The myriad fins swim on; a +lonely waste, where the lost one drops behind. + +Strange fish! All the live-long day, they were there by our side; and +at night still tarried and shone; more crystal and scaly in the pale +moonbeams, than in the golden glare of the sun. + +How prettily they swim; all silver life; darting hither and thither +between their long ranks, and touching their noses, and scraping +acquaintance. No mourning they wear for the Boneeta left far astern; +nor for those so cruelly killed by Samoa. No, no; all is glee, fishy +glee, and frolicking fun; light hearts and light fins; gay backs and +gay spirits.--Swim away, swim away! my merry fins all. Let us roam +the flood; let us follow this monster fish with the barnacled sides; +this strange-looking fish, so high out of water; that goes without +fins. What fish can it be? What rippling is that? Dost hear +the great monster breathe? Why, 'tis sharp at both ends; a tail +either way; nor eyes has it any, nor mouth. What a curious fish! what +a comical fish! But more comical far, those creatures above, on its +hollow back, clinging thereto like the snaky eels, that cling and +slide on the back of the Sword fish, our terrible foe. But what +curious eels these are! Do they deem themselves pretty as we? No, no; +for sure, they behold our limber fins, our speckled and beautiful +scales. Poor, powerless things! How they must wish they were we, that +roam the flood, and scour the seas with a wish. Swim away; merry +fins, swim away! Let him drop, that fellow that halts; make a lane; +close in, and fill up. Let him drown, if he can not keep pace. No +laggards for us:-- + + We fish, we fish, we merrily swim, + We care not for friend nor for foe: + Our fins are stout, + Our tails are out, + As through the seas we go. + + Fish, Fish, we are fish with red gills; + Naught disturbs us, our blood is at zero: + We are buoyant because of our bags, + Being many, each fish is a hero. + We care not what is it, this life + That we follow, this phantom unknown: + To swim, it's exceedingly pleasant,-- + So swim away, making a foam. + This strange looking thing by our side, + Not for safety, around it we flee:-- + Its shadow's so shady, that's all,-- + We only swim under its lee. + And as for the eels there above, + And as for the fowls in the air, + We care not for them nor their ways, + As we cheerily glide afar! + + We fish, we fish, we merrily swim, + We care not for friend nor for foe: + Our fins are stout, + Our tails are out, + As through the seas we go. + +But how now, my fine fish! what alarms your long ranks, and tosses +them all into a hubbub of scales and of foam? Never mind that long +knave with the spear there, astern. Pipe away, merry fish, and give +us a stave or two more, keeping time with your doggerel tails. But +no, no! their singing was over. Grim death, in the shape of a +Chevalier, was after them. + +How they changed their boastful tune! How they hugged the vilified +boat! How they wished they were in it, the braggarts! And how they +all tingled with fear! + +For, now here, now there, is heard a terrific rushing sound under +water, betokening the onslaught of the dread fish of prey, that with +spear ever in rest, charges in upon the out-skirts of the shoal, +transfixing the fish on his weapon. Re-treating and shaking them off, +the Chevalier devours them; then returns to the charge. + +Hugging the boat to desperation, the poor fish fairly crowded +themselves up to the surface, and floundered upon each other, as men +are lifted off their feet in a mob. They clung to us thus, out of a +fancied security in our presence. Knowing this, we felt no little +alarm for ourselves, dreading lest the Chevalier might despise our +boat, full as much as his prey; and in pursuing the fish, run through +the poor Chamois with a lunge. A jacket, rolled up, was kept in +readiness to be thrust into the first opening made; while as the +thousand fins audibly patted against our slender planks, we felt +nervously enough; as if treading upon thin, crackling ice. + +At length, to our no small delight, the enemy swam away; and again by +our side merrily paddled our escort; ten times merrier than ever. + + +CHAPTER XLIX +Yillah + + +While for a few days, now this way, now that, as our craft glides +along, surrounded by these locusts of the deep, let the story of +Yillah flow on. + +Of her beauty say I nothing. It was that of a crystal lake in a +fathomless wood: all light and shade; full of fleeting revealings; +now shadowed in depths; now sunny in dimples; but all sparkling and +shifting, and blending together. + +But her wild beauty was a vail to things still more strange. As often +she gazed so earnestly into my eyes, like some pure spirit looking +far down into my soul, and seeing therein some upturned faces, I +started in amaze, and asked what spell was on me, that thus she gazed. + +Often she entreated me to repeat over and over again certain +syllables of my language. These she would chant to herself, pausing +now and then, as if striving to discover wherein lay their charm. + +In her accent, there was something very different from that of the +people of the canoe. Wherein lay the difference. I knew not; but it +enabled her to pronounce with readiness all the words which I taught +her; even as if recalling sounds long forgotten. + +If all this filled me with wonder, how much was that wonder +increased, and yet baffled again, by considering her complexion, and +the cast of her features. + +After endeavoring in various ways to account for these things, I was +led to imagine, that the damsel must be an Albino (Tulla) +occasionally to be met with among the people of the Pacific. These +persons are of an exceedingly delicate white skin, tinted with a +faint rose hue, like the lips of a shell. Their hair is golden. But, +unlike the Albinos of other climes, their eyes are invariably blue, +and no way intolerant of light. + +As a race, the Tullas die early. And hence the belief, that they +pertain to some distant sphere, and only through irregularities in +the providence of the gods, come to make their appearance upon earth: +whence, the oversight discovered, they are hastily snatched. And it +is chiefly on this account, that in those islands where human +sacrifices are offered, the Tullas are deemed the most suitable +oblations for the altar, to which from their birth many are +prospectively devoted. It was these considerations, united to others, +which at times induced me to fancy, that by the priest, Yillah was +regarded as one of these beings. So mystical, however, her +revelations concerning her past history, that often I knew not what +to divine. But plainly they showed that she had not the remotest +conception of her real origin. + +But these conceits of a state of being anterior to an earthly +existence may have originated in one of those celestial visions seen +transparently stealing over the face of a slumbering child. And +craftily drawn forth and re-echoed by another, and at times repeated +over to her with many additions, these imaginings must at length have +assumed in her mind a hue of reality, heightened into conviction by +the dreamy seclusion of her life. + +But now, let her subsequent and more credible history be related, as +from time to time she rehearsed it. + + +CHAPTER L +Yillah In Ardair + + +In the verdant glen of Ardair, far in the silent interior of Amma, +shut in by hoar old cliffs, Yillah the maiden abode. + +So small and so deep was this glen, so surrounded on all sides by +steep acclivities, and so vividly green its verdure, and deceptive +the shadows that played there; that, from above, it seemed more like +a lake of cool, balmy air, than a glen: its woodlands and grasses +gleaming shadowy all, like sea groves and mosses beneath the calm sea. + +Here, none came but Aleema the priest, who at times was absent for +days together. But at certain seasons, an unseen multitude with loud +chants stood upon the verge of the neighboring precipices, and +traversing those shaded wilds, slowly retreated; their voices +lessening and lessening, as they wended their way through the more +distant groves. + +At other times, Yillah being immured in the temple of Apo, a band of +men entering the vale, surrounded her retreat, dancing there till +evening came. Meanwhile, heaps of fruit, garlands of flowers, and +baskets of fish, were laid upon an altar without, where stood Aleema, +arrayed in white tappa, and muttering to himself, as the offerings +were laid at his feet. + +When Aleema was gone, Yillah went forth into the glen, and wandered +among the trees, and reposed by the banks of the stream. And ever as +she strolled, looked down upon her the grim old cliffs, bearded with +trailing moss. + +Toward the lower end of the vale, its lofty walls advancing +and overhanging their base, almost met in mid air. And a great rock, +hurled from an adjacent height, and falling into the space +intercepted, there remained fixed. Aerial trees shot up from its +surface; birds nested in its clefts; and strange vines roved abroad, +overrunning the tops of the trees, lying thereon in coils and +undulations, like anacondas basking in the light. Beneath this rock, +was a lofty wall of ponderous stones. Between its crevices, peeps +were had of a long and leafy arcade, quivering far away to where the +sea rolled in the sun. Lower down, these crevices gave an outlet to +the waters of the brook, which, in a long cascade, poured over +sloping green ledges near the foot of the wall, into a deep shady +pool; whose rocky sides, by the perpetual eddying of the water, had +been worn into a grotesque resemblance to a group of giants, with +heads submerged, indolently reclining about the basin. + +In this pool, Yillah would bathe. And once, emerging, she heard the +echoes of a voice, and called aloud. But the only reply, was the +rustling of branches, as some one, invisible, fled down the valley +beyond. Soon after, a stone rolled inward, and Aleema the priest +stood before her; saying that the voice she had heard was his. But it +was not. + +At last the weary days grew, longer and longer, and the maiden pined +for companionship. When the breeze blew not, but slept in the caves +of the mountains, and all the leaves of the trees stood motionless as +tears in the eye, Yillah would sadden, and call upon the spirits in +her soul to awaken. She sang low airs, she thought she had heard in +Oroolia; but started affrighted, as from dingles and dells, came back +to her strains more wild than hers. And ever, when sad, Aleema would +seek to cheer her soil, by calling to mind the bright scenes of +Oroolia the Blest, to which place, he averred, she was shortly to +return, never more to depart. + +Now, at the head of the vale of Ardair, rose a tall, dark peak, +presenting at the top the grim profile of a human face; whose +shadow, every afternoon, crept down the verdant side of the mountain: +a silent phantom, stealing all over the bosom of the glen. + +At times, when the phantom drew near, Aleema would take Yillah forth, +and waiting its approach, lay her down by the shadow, disposing her +arms in a caress; saying, "Oh, Apo! dost accept thy bride?" And at +last, when it crept beyond the place where he stood, and buried the +whole valley in gloom; Aleema would say, "Arise Yillah; Apo hath +stretched himself to sleep in Ardair. Go, slumber where thou wilt; +for thou wilt slumber in his arms." + +And so, every night, slept the maiden in the arms of grim Apo. + +One day when Yillah had come to love the wild shadow, as something +that every day moved before her eyes, where all was so deathfully +still; she went forth alone to watch it, as softly it slid down from +the peak. Of a sudden, when its face was just edging a chasm, that +made it to look as if parting its lips, she heard a loud voice, and +thought it was Apo calling "Yillah! Yillah!" But now it seemed like +the voice she had heard while bathing in the pool. Glancing upward, +she beheld a beautiful open-armed youth, gazing down upon her from an +inaccessible crag. But presently, there was a rustling in the groves +behind, and swift as thought, something darted through the air. The +youth bounded forward. Yillah opened her arms to receive him; but he +fell upon the cliff, and was seen no more. As alarmed, and in tears, +she fled from the scene, some one out of sight ran before her through +the wood. + +Upon recounting this adventure to Aleema, he said, that the being she +had seen, must have been a bad spirit come to molest her; and that +Apo had slain him. + +The sight of this youth, filled Yillah with wild yearnings to escape +from her lonely retreat; for a glimpse of some one beside the priest +and the phantom, suggested vague thoughts of worlds of fair beings, +in regions beyond Ardair. But Aleema sought to put away these +conceits; saying, that ere long she would be journeying to Oroolia, +there to rejoin the spirits she dimly remembered. + +Soon after, he came to her with a shell--one of those ever moaning of +ocean--and placing it to her ear, bade her list to the being within, +which in that little shell had voyaged from Oroolia to bear her +company in Amma. + +Now, the maiden oft held it to her ear, and closing her eyes, +listened and listened to its soft inner breathings, till visions were +born of the sound, and her soul lay for hours in a trance of delight. + +And again the priest came, and brought her a milk-white bird, with a +bill jet-black, and eyes like stars. "In this, lurks the soul of a +maiden; it hath flown from Oroolia to greet you." The soft stranger +willingly nestled in her bosom; turning its bright eyes upon hers, +and softly warbling. + +Many days passed; and Yillah, the bird, and the shell were +inseparable. The bird grew familiar; pecked seeds from her mouth; +perched upon her shoulder, and sang in her ear; and at night, folded +its wings in her bosom, and, like a sea-fowl, went softly to sleep: +rising and falling upon the maiden's heart. And every morning it flew +from its nest, and fluttered and chirped; and sailed to and fro; and +blithely sang; and brushed Yillah's cheek till she woke. Then came to +her hand: and Yillah, looking earnestly in its eyes, saw strange +faces there; and said to herself as she gazed--"These are two souls, +not one." + +But at last, going forth into the groves with the bird, it suddenly +flew from her side, and perched in a bough; and throwing back its +white downy throat, there gushed from its bill a clear warbling jet, +like a little fountain in air. Now the song ceased; when up and away +toward the head of the vale, flew the bird. "Lil! Lil! come back, +leave me not, blest souls of the maidens." But on flew the bird, far +up a defile, winging its way till a speck. + +It was shortly after this, and upon the evening of a day which had +been tumultuous with sounds of warfare beyond the lower wall of the +glen; that Aleema came to Yillah in alarm; saying--"Yillah, the time +has come to follow thy bird; come, return to thy home in Oroolia." +And he told her the way she would voyage there: by the vortex on the +coast of Tedaidee. That night, being veiled and placed in the tent, +the maiden was borne to the sea-side, where the canoe was in waiting. +And setting sail quickly, by next morning the island of Amma was no +longer in sight. + +And this was the voyage, whose sequel has already been recounted. + + +CHAPTER LI +The Dream Begins To Fade + + +Stripped of the strange associations, with which a mind like Yillah's +must have invested every incident of her life, the story of her abode +in Ardair seemed not incredible. + +But so etherealized had she become from the wild conceits she +nourished, that she verily believed herself a being of the lands of +dreams. Her fabulous past was her present. + +Yet as our intimacy grew closer and closer, these fancies seemed to +be losing their hold. And often she questioned me concerning my own +reminiscences of her shadowy isle. And cautiously I sought to produce +the impression, that whatever I had said of that clime, had been +revealed to me in dreams; but that in these dreams, her own +lineaments had smiled upon me; and hence the impulse which had sent +me roving after the substance of this spiritual image. + +And true it was to say so; and right it was to swear it, upon her +white arms crossed. For oh, Yillah; were you not the earthly +semblance of that sweet vision, that haunted my earliest thoughts? + +At first she had wildly believed, that the nameless affinities +between us, were owing to our having in times gone by dwelt together +in the same ethereal region. But thoughts like these were fast dying +out. Yet not without many strange scrutinies. More intently than ever +she gazed into my eyes; rested her ear against my heart, and listened +to its beatings. And love, which in the eye of its object ever seeks +to invest itself with some rare superiority, love, sometimes induced +me to prop my failing divinity; though it was I myself who had +undermined it. + +But if it was with many regrets, that in the sight of Yillah, I +perceived myself thus dwarfing down to a mortal; it was with quite +contrary emotions, that I contemplated the extinguishment in her +heart of the notion of her own spirituality. For as such thoughts +were chased away, she clung the more closely to me, as unto one +without whom she would be desolate indeed. + +And now, at intervals, she was sad, and often gazed long and fixedly +into the sea. Nor would she say why it was, that she did so; until at +length she yielded; and replied, that whatever false things Aleema +might have instilled into her mind; of this much she was certain: +that the whirlpool on the coast of Tedaidee prefigured her fate; that +in the waters she saw lustrous eyes, and beckoning phantoms, and +strange shapes smoothing her a couch among the mosses. + +Her dreams seemed mine. Many visions I had of the green corse of the +priest, outstretching its arms in the water, to receive pale Yillah, +as she sunk in the sea. + +But these forebodings departed, no happiness in the universe like +ours. We lived and we loved; life and love were united; in gladness +glided our days. + + + +CHAPTER LII +World Ho! + + +Five suns rose and set. And Yillah pining for the shore, we turned +our prow due west, and next morning came in sight of land. + +It was innumerable islands; lifting themselves bluely through the +azure air, and looking upon the distant sea, like haycocks in a hazy +field. Towering above all, and mid-most, rose a mighty peak; one +fleecy cloud sloping against its summit; a column wreathed. Beyond, +like purple steeps in heaven at set of sun, stretched far away, what +seemed lands on lands, in infinite perspective. + +Gliding on, the islands grew more distinct; rising up from the +billows to greet us; revealing hills, vales, and peaks, grouped +within a milk-white zone of reef, so vast, that in the distance all +was dim. The jeweled vapors, ere-while hovering over these violet +shores, now seemed to be shedding their gems; and as the almost level +rays of the sun, shooting through the air like a variegated prism, +touched the verdant land, it trembled all over with dewy sparkles. + +Still nearer we came: our sail faintly distended as the breeze died +away from our vicinity to the isles. The billows rolled listlessly +by, as if conscious that their long task was nigh done; while gleamed +the white reef, like the trail of a great fish in a calm. But as yet, +no sign of paddle or canoe; no distant smoke; no shining thatch. +Bravo! good comrades, we've discovered some new constellation in the +sea. + +Sweet Yillah, no more of Oroolia; see you not this flowery land? +Nevermore shall we desire to roam. + +Voyaging along the zone, we came to an opening; and quitting the +firmament blue of the open sea, we glided in upon the still, green +waters of the wide lagoon. Mapped out in the broad shadows of the +isles, and tinted here and there with the reflected hues of the sun +clouds, the mild waters stretched all around us like another sky. +Near by the break in the reef, was a little island, with palm trees +harping in the breeze; an aviary of alluring sounds, that seemed +calling upon us to land. And here, Yillah, whom the sight of the +verdure had made glad, threw out a merry suggestion. Nothing less, +than to plant our mast, sail-set, upon the highest hill; and fly +away, island and all; trees rocking, birds caroling, flowers +springing; away, away, across the wide waters, to Oroolia! But alas! +how weigh the isle's coral anchor, leagues down in the fathomless +sea? + +We glanced around; but all the islands seemed slumbering in the +flooding light. + +"A canoe! a canoe!" cried Samoa, as three proas showed themselves +rounding a neighboring shore. Instantly we sailed for them; but after +shooting to and fro for a time, and standing up and gazing at us, the +Islanders retreated behind the headland. Hardly were they out of +sight, when from many a shore roundabout, other proas pushed off. +Soon the water all round us was enlivened by fleets of canoes, +darting hither and thither like frighted water-fowls. Presently they +all made for one island. + +From their actions we argued that these people could have had but +little or no intercourse with whites; and most probably knew not how +to account for our appearance among them. Desirous, therefore, of a +friendly meeting, ere any hostile suspicions might arise, we pointed +our craft for the island, whither all the canoes were now hastening. +Whereupon, those which had not yet reached their destination, turned +and fled; while the occupants of the proas that had landed, ran into +the groves, and were lost to view. + +Crossing the distinct outer line of the isle's shadow on the water, +we gained the shore; and gliding along its margin, passing canoe +after canoe, hauled up on the silent beach, which otherwise seemed +entirely innocent of man. + +A dilemma. But I decided at last upon disembarking Jarl and Samoa, to +seek out and conciliate the natives. So, landing them upon a jutting +buttress of coral, whence they waded to the shore; I pushed off with +Yillah into the water beyond, to await the event. + +Full an hour must have elapsed; when, to our great joy, loud shouts +were heard; and there burst into view a tumultuous crowd, in the +midst of which my Viking was descried, mounted upon the shoulders of +two brawny natives; while the Upoluan, striding on in advance, seemed +resisting a similar attempt to elevate him in the world. + +Good omens both. + +"Come ashore!" cried Jarl. "Aramai!" cried Samoa; while storms of +interjections went up from the Islanders who with extravagant +gestures danced about the beach. + +Further caution seemed needless: I pointed our prow for the shore. No +sooner was this perceived, than, raising an applauding shout, the +Islanders ran up to their waists in the sea. And skimming like a gull +over the smooth lagoon, the light shallop darted in among them. Quick +as thought, fifty hands were on the gunwale: and, with all its +contents, lifted bodily into the air, the little Chamois, upon many a +dripping shoulder, was borne deep into the groves. Yillah shrieked at +the rocking motion, and when the boughs of the trees brushed against +the tent. + +With his staff, an old man now pointed to a couple of twin-like +trees, some four paces apart; and a little way from the ground +conveniently crotched. + +And here, eftsoons, they deposited their burden; lowering the Chamois +gently between the forks of the trees, whose willow-like foliage +fringed the tent and its inmate. + + + +CHAPTER LIII +The Chamois Ashore + + +Until now, enveloped in her robe, and crouching like a fawn, Yillah +had been well nigh hidden from view. But presently she withdrew her +hood. + +What saw the Islanders, that they so gazed and adored in silence: +some retreating, some creeping nearer, and the women all in a +flutter? Long they gazed; and following Samoa's example, stretched +forth their arms in reverence. + +The adoration of the maiden was extended to myself. Indeed, from the +singular gestures employed, I had all along suspected, that we were +being received with unwonted honors. + +I now sought to get speech of my comrades. But so obstreperous was +the crowd, that it was next to impossible. Jarl was still in his +perch in the air; his enthusiastic bearers not yet suffering him to +alight. Samoa, however, who had managed to keep out of the saddle, +by-and-by contrived to draw nearer to the Chamois. + +He advised me, by no means to descend for the present; since in any +event we were sure of remaining unmolested therein; the Islanders +regarding it as sacred. + +The Upoluan attracted a great deal of attention; chiefly from his +style of tattooing, which, together with other peculiarities, so +interested the natives, that they were perpetually hanging about him, +putting eager questions, and all the time keeping up a violent clamor. + +But despite the large demand upon his lungs, Samoa made out to inform +me, that notwithstanding the multitude assembled, there was no +high chief, or person of consequence present; the king of the place, +also those of the islands adjacent, being absent at a festival in +another quarter of the Archipelago. But upon the first distant +glimpse of the Chamois, fleet canoes had been dispatched to announce +the surprising event that had happened. + +In good time, the crowd becoming less tumultuous, and abandoning the +siege of Samoa, I availed myself of this welcome lull, and called +upon him and my Viking to enter the Chamois; desirous of condensing +our forces against all emergencies. + +Samoa now gave me to understand, that from all he could learn, the +Islanders regarded me as a superior being. They had inquired of him, +whether I was not white Taji, a sort of half-and-half deity, now and +then an Avatar among them, and ranking among their inferior ex- +officio demi-gods. To this, Samoa had said ay; adding, moreover, all +he could to encourage the idea. + +He now entreated me, at the first opportunity, to announce myself as +Taji: declaring that if once received under that title, the unbounded +hospitality of our final reception would be certain; and our persons +fenced about from all harm. + +Encouraging this. But it was best to be wary. For although among some +barbarians the first strangers landing upon their shores, are +frequently hailed as divine; and in more than one wild land have been +actually styled gods, as a familiar designation; yet this has not +exempted the celestial visitants from peril, when too much presuming +upon the reception extended to them. In sudden tumults they have been +slain outright, and while full faith in their divinity had in no wise +abated. The sad fate of an eminent navigator is a well-known +illustration of this unaccountable waywardness. + +With no small anxiety, therefore, we awaited the approach of some of +the dignitaries of Mardi; for by this collective appellation, +the people informed us, their islands were known. + +We waited not long. Of a sudden, from the sea-side, a single shrill +cry was heard. A moment more, and the blast of numerous conch shells +startled the air; a confused clamor drew nearer and nearer; and +flying our eyes in the direction of these sounds, we impatiently +awaited what was to follow. + + + +CHAPTER LIV +A Gentleman From The Sun + + +Never before had I seen the deep foliage of woodlands navigated by +canoes. But on they came sailing through the leaves; two abreast; +borne on men's shoulders; in each a chief, carried along to the +measured march of his bearers; paddle blades reversed under arms. As +they emerged, the multitude made gestures of homage. At the distance +of some eight or ten paces the procession halted; when the kings +alighted to the ground. + +They were fine-looking men, arrayed in various garbs. Rare the show +of stained feathers, and jewels, and other adornments. Brave the +floating of dyed mantles. + +The regal bearing of these personages, the deference paid them, and +their entire self-possession, not a little surprised me. And it +seemed preposterous, to assume a divine dignity in the presence of +these undoubted potentates of _terra firma_. Taji seemed oozing from +my fingers' ends. But courage! and erecting my crest, I strove to +look every inch the character I had determined to assume. + +For a time, it was almost impossible to tell with what emotions +precisely the chiefs were regarding me. They said not a word. + +But plucking up heart of grace, I crossed my cutlass on my chest, and +reposing my hand on the hilt, addressed their High Mightinesses thus. +"Men of Mardi, I come from the sun. When this morning it rose and +touched the wave, I pushed my shallop from its golden beach, and +hither sailed before its level rays. I am Taji." + +More would have been added, but I paused for the effect of my +exordium. + +Stepping back a pace or two, the chiefs eagerly conversed. + +Emboldened, I returned to the charge, and labored hard to impress +them with just such impressions of me and mine, as I deemed +desirable. The gentle Yillah was a seraph from the sun; Samoa I had +picked off a reef in my route from that orb; and as for the Skyeman, +why, as his name imported, he came from above. In a word, we were all +strolling divinities. + +Advancing toward the Chamois, one of the kings, a calm old man, now +addressed me as follows:--"Is this indeed Taji? he, who according to +a tradition, was to return to us after five thousand moons? But that +period is yet unexpired. What bring'st thou hither then, Taji, before +thy time? Thou wast but a quarrelsome demi-god, say the legends, when +thou dwelt among our sires. But wherefore comest thou, Taji? Truly, +thou wilt interfere with the worship of thy images, and we have +plenty of gods besides thee. But comest thou to fight?--We have +plenty of spears, and desire not thine. Comest thou to dwell?--Small +are the houses of Mardi. Or comest thou to fish in the sea? Tell us, +Taji." + +Now, all this was a series of posers hard to be answered; furnishing +a curious example, moreover, of the reception given to strange demi- +gods when they travel without their portmanteaus; and also of the +familiar manner in which these kings address the immortals. Much I +mourned that I had not previously studied better my part, and learned +the precise nature of my previous existence in the land. + +But nothing like carrying it bravely. + +"Attend. Taji comes, old man, because it pleases him to come. And +Taji will depart when it suits him. Ask the shades of your sires +whether Taji thus scurvily greeted them, when they came stalking into +his presence in the land of spirits. No. Taji spread the banquet. He +removed their mantles. He kindled a fire to drive away the damp. He +said not, 'Come you to fight, you fogs and vapors? come you to dwell? +or come you to fish in the sea?' Go to, then, kings of Mardi!" + +Upon this, the old king fell back; and his place was supplied by a +noble chief, of a free, frank bearing. Advancing quickly toward the +boat, he exclaimed--"I am Media, the son of Media. Thrice welcome, +Taji. On my island of Odo hast thou an altar. I claim thee for my +guest." He then reminded the rest, that the strangers had voyaged +far, and needed repose. And, furthermore, that he proposed escorting +them forthwith to his own dominions; where, next day, he would be +happy to welcome all visitants. + +And good as his word, he commanded his followers to range themselves +under the Chamois. Springing out of our prow, the Upoluan was +followed by Jarl; leaving Yillah and Taji to be borne therein toward +the sea. + +Soon, we were once more afloat; by our side, Media sociably seated; +six of his paddlers, perched upon the gunwale, swiftly urging us over +the lagoon. + +The transition from the grove to the sea was instantaneous. All +seemed a dream. + +The place to which we were hastening, being some distance away, as we +rounded isle after isle, the extent of the Archipelago grew upon us +greatly. + + + +CHAPTER LV +Tiffin In A Temple + + +Upon at last drawing nigh to Odo, its appearance somewhat +disappointed me. A small island, of moderate elevation. + +But plumb not the height of the house that feasts you. The beach was +lined with expectant natives, who, lifting the Chamois, carried us up +the beach. + +Alighting, as they were bearing us along, King Media, designating a +canoe-house hard by, ordered our craft to be deposited therein. This +being done, we stepped upon the soil. It was the first we had pressed +in very many days. It sent a sympathetic thrill through our frames. + +Turning his steps inland, Media signed us to follow. + +Soon we came to a rude sort of inclosure, fenced in by an imposing +wall. Here a halt was sounded, and in great haste the natives +proceeded to throw down a portion of the stones. This accomplished, +we were signed to enter the fortress thus carried by storm. Upon an +artificial mound, opposite the breach, stood a small structure of +bamboo, open in front. Within, was a long pedestal, like a settee, +supporting three images, also of wood, and about the size of men; +bearing, likewise, a remote resemblance to that species of animated +nature. Before these idols was an altar, and at its base many fine +mats. + +Entering the temple, as if he felt very much at home, Media disposed +these mats so as to form a very pleasant lounge; where he +deferentially entreated Yillah to recline. Then deliberately removing +the first idol, he motioned me to seat myself in its place. +Setting aside the middle one, he quietly established himself in its +stead. The displaced ciphers, meanwhile, standing upright before us, +and their blank faces looking upon this occasion unusually +expressive. As yet, not a syllable as to the meaning of this cavalier +treatment of their wooden godships. + +We now tranquilly awaited what next might happen, and I earnestly +prayed, that if sacrilege was being committed, the vengeance of the +gods might be averted from an ignoramus like me; notwithstanding the +petitioner himself hailed from the other world. Perfect silence was +preserved: Jarl and Samoa standing a little without the temple; the +first looking quite composed, but his comrade casting wondering +glances at my sociable apotheosis with Media. + +Now happening to glance upon the image last removed, I was not long +in detecting a certain resemblance between it and our host. Both were +decorated in the same manner; the carving on the idol exactly +corresponding with the tattooing of the king. + +Presently, the silence was relieved by a commotion without: and a +butler approached, staggering under an immense wooden trencher; +which, with profound genuflexions, he deposited upon the altar before +us. The tray was loaded like any harvest wain; heaped up with good +things sundry and divers: Bread-fruit, and cocoanuts, and plantains, +and guavas; all pleasant to the eye, and furnishing good earnest of +something equally pleasant to the palate. + +Transported at the sight of these viands, after so long an +estrangement from full indulgence in things green, I was forthwith +proceeding to help Yillah and myself, when, like lightning, a most +unwelcome query obtruded. Did deities dine? Then also recurred what +Media had declared about my shrine in Odo. Was this it? Self- +sacrilegious demigod that I was, was I going to gluttonize on the +very offerings, laid before me in my own sacred fane? Give heed to +thy ways, oh Taji, lest thou stumble and be lost. + +But hereupon, what saw we, but his cool majesty of Odo tranquilly +proceeding to lunch in the temple? + +How now? Was Media too a god? Egad, it must be so. Else, why his +image here in the fane, and the original so entirely at his ease, +with legs full cosily tucked away under the very altar itself. This +put to flight all appalling apprehensions of the necessity of +starving to keep up the assumption of my divinity. So without more +ado I helped myself right and left; taking the best care of Yillah; +who over fed her flushed beauty with juicy fruits, thereby +transferring to her cheek the sweet glow of the guava. + +Our hunger appeased, and Media in token thereof celestially laying +his hand upon the appropriate region, we proceeded to quit the +inclosure. But coming to the wall where the breach had been made, lo, +and behold, no breach was to be seen. But down it came tumbling +again, and forth we issued. + +This overthrowing of walls, be it known, is an incidental compliment +paid distinguished personages in this part of Mardi. It would seem to +signify, that such gentry can go nowhere without creating an +impression; even upon the most obdurate substances. + +But to return to our ambrosial lunch. + +Sublimate, as you will, the idea of our ethereality as intellectual +beings; no sensible man can harbor a doubt, but that there is a vast +deal of satisfaction in dining. More: there is a savor of life and +immortality in substantial fare. Like balloons, we are nothing till +filled. + +And well knowing this, nature has provided this jolly round board, +our globe, which in an endless sequence of courses and crops, spreads +a perpetual feast. Though, as with most public banquets, there is no +small crowding, and many go away famished from plenty. + + + +CHAPTER LVI +King Media A Host + + +Striking into a grove, about sunset we emerged upon a fine, clear +space, and spied a city in the woods. + +In the middle of all, like a generalissimo's marquee among tents, was +a structure more imposing than the rest. Here, abode King Media. + +Disposed round a space some fifty yards square, were many palm posts +staked firmly in the earth. A man's height from the ground, these +supported numerous horizontal trunks, upon which lay a flooring of +habiscus. High over this dais, but resting upon independent supports +beyond, a gable-ended roof sloped away to within a short distance of +the ground. + +Such was the palace. + +We entered it by an arched, arbored entrance, at one of its palmetto- +thatched ends. But not through this exclusive portal entered the +Islanders. Humbly stooping, they found ingress under the drooping +eaves. A custom immemorial, and well calculated to remind all +contumacious subjects of the dignity of the habitation thus entered. + +Three steps led to the summit of the dais, where piles of soft mats, +and light pillows of woven grass, stuffed with the golden down of a +wild thistle, invited all loiterers to lounge. + +How pleasant the twilight that welled up from under the low eaves, +above which we were seated. And how obvious now the design of the +roof. No shade more grateful and complete; the garish sun lingering +without like some lackey in waiting. + +But who is this in the corner, gaping at us like a butler in a +quandary? Media's household deity, in the guise of a plethoric +monster, his enormous head lolling back, and wide, gaping mouth +stuffed full of fresh fruits and green leaves. Truly, had the idol +possessed a soul under his knotty ribs, how tantalizing to hold so +glorious a mouthful without the power of deglutition. Far worse than +the inexorable lock-jaw, which will not admit of the step preliminary +to a swallow. + +This jolly Josh image was that of an inferior deity, the god of Good +Cheer, and often after, we met with his merry round mouth in many +other abodes in Mardi. Daily, his jaws are replenished, as a flower +vase in summer. + +But did the demi-divine Media thus brook the perpetual presence of a +subaltern divinity? Still more; did he render it homage? But ere long +the Mardian mythology will be discussed, thereby making plain what +may now seem anomalous. + +Politely escorting us into his palace, Media did the honors by +inviting his guests to recline. He then seemed very anxious to +impress us with the fact, that, by bringing us to his home, and +thereby charging the royal larder with our maintenance, he had taken +no hasty or imprudent step. His merry butlers kept piling round us +viands, till we were well nigh walled in. At every fresh deposit, +Media directing our attention to the same, as yet additional evidence +of his ample resources as a host. The evidence was finally closed by +dragging under the eaves a felled plantain tree, the spike of red +ripe fruit, sprouting therefrom, blushing all over, at so rude an +introduction to the notice of strangers. + +During this scene, Jarl was privily nudging Samoa, in wonderment, to +know what upon earth it all meant. But Samoa, scarcely deigning to +notice interrogatories propounded through the elbow, only let drop a +vague hint or two. + +It was quite amusing, what airs Samoa now gave himself, at least +toward my Viking. Among the Mardians he was at home. And who, +when there, stretches not out his legs, and says unto himself, "Who +is greater than I?" + +To be plain: concerning himself and the Skyeman, the tables were +turned. At sea, Jarl had been the oracle: an old sea-sage, learned in +hemp and helm. But our craft high and dry, the Upoluan lifted his +crest as the erudite pagan; master of Gog and Magog, expounder of all +things heathenish and obscure. + +An hour or two was now laughed away in very charming conversation +with Media; when I hinted, that a couch and solitude would be +acceptable. Whereupon, seizing a taper, our host escorted us without +the palace. And ushering us into a handsome unoccupied mansion, gave +me to understand that the same was mine. Mounting to the dais, he +then instituted a vigorous investigation, to discern whether every +thing was in order. Not fancying something about the mats, he rolled +them up into bundles, and one by one sent them flying at the heads of +his servitors; who, upon that gentle hint made off with them, soon +after returning with fresh ones. These, with mathematical precision, +Media in person now spread on the dais; looking carefully to the +fringes or ruffles with which they were bordered, as if striving to +impart to them a sentimental expression. + +This done, he withdrew. + + + +CHAPTER LVII +Taji Takes Counsel With Himself + + +My brief intercourse with our host, had by this time enabled me to +form a pretty good notion of the light, in which I was held by him +and his more intelligent subjects. + +His free and easy carriage evinced, that though acknowledging my +assumptions, he was no way overawed by them; treating me as +familiarly, indeed, as if I were a mere mortal, one of the abject +generation of mushrooms. + +The scene in the temple, however, had done much toward explaining +this demeanor of his. A demi-god in his own proper person, my claims +to a similar dignity neither struck him with wonder, nor lessened his +good opinion of himself. + +As for any thing foreign in my aspect, and my ignorance of Mardian +customs---all this, instead of begetting a doubt unfavorable to my +pretensions, but strengthened the conviction of them as verities. +Thus has it been in similar instances; but to a much greater extent. +The celebrated navigator referred to in a preceding chapter, was +hailed by the Hawaiians as one of their demi-gods, returned to earth, +after a wide tour of the universe. And they worshiped him as such, +though incessantly he was interrogating them, as to who under the sun +his worshipers were; how their ancestors came on the island; and +whether they would have the kindness to provide his followers with +plenty of pork during his stay. + +But a word or two concerning the idols in the shrine at Odo. Superadded +to the homage rendered him as a temporal prince, Media was there +worshiped as a spiritual being. In his corporeal absence, his effigy +receiving all oblations intended for him. And in the days of his +boyhood, listening to the old legends of the Mardian mythology, +Media had conceived a strong liking for the fabulous Taji; a deity +whom he had often declared was worthy a niche in any temple extant. +Hence he had honored my image with a place in his own special shrine; +placing it side by side with his worshipful likeness. + +I appreciated the compliment. But of the close companionship of the +other image there, I was heartily ashamed. And with reason. The +nuisance in question being the image of a deified maker of plantain- +pudding, lately deceased; who had been famed far and wide as the most +notable fellow of his profession in the whole Archipelago. During his +sublunary career, having been attached to the household of Media, his +grateful master had afterward seen fit to crown his celebrity by this +posthumous distinction: a circumstance sadly subtracting from the +dignity of an apotheosis. Nor must it here be omitted, that in this +part of Mardi culinary artists are accounted worthy of high +consideration. For among these people of Odo, the matter of eating +and drinking is held a matter of life and of death. "Drag away my +queen from my arms," said old Tyty when overcome of Adommo, "but +leave me my cook." + +Now, among the Mardians there were plenty of incarnated deities to +keep me in countenance. Most of the kings of the Archipelago, besides +Media, claiming homage as demi-gods; and that, too, by virtue of +hereditary descent, the divine spark being transmissable from father +to son. In illustration of this, was the fact, that in several +instances the people of the land addressed the supreme god Oro, in +the very same terms employed in the political adoration of their +sublunary rulers. + +Ay: there were deities in Mardi far greater and taller than I: +right royal monarchs to boot, living in jolly round tabernacles of +jolly brown clay; and feasting, and roystering, and lording it in +yellow tabernacles of bamboo. These demi-gods had wherewithal to +sustain their lofty pretensions. If need were, could crush out of him +the infidelity of a non-conformist. And by this immaculate union of +church and state, god and king, in their own proper persons reigned +supreme Caesars over the souls and bodies of their subjects. + +Beside these mighty magnates, I and my divinity shrank into nothing. +In their woodland ante-chambers plebeian deities were kept lingering. +For be it known, that in due time we met with several decayed, broken +down demi-gods: magnificos of no mark in Mardi; having no temples +wherein to feast personal admirers, or spiritual devotees. They +wandered about forlorn and friendless. And oftentimes in their +dinnerless despair hugely gluttonized, and would fain have grown fat, +by reflecting upon the magnificence of their genealogies. But poor +fellows! like shabby Scotch lords in London in King James's time, the +very multitude of them confounded distinction. And since they could +show no rent-roll, they were permitted to fume unheeded. + +Upon the whole, so numerous were living and breathing gods in Mardi, +that I held my divinity but cheaply. And seeing such a host of +immortals, and hearing of multitudes more, purely spiritual in their +nature, haunting woodlands and streams; my views of theology grew +strangely confused; I began to bethink me of the Jew that rejected +the Talmud, and his all-permeating principle, to which Goethe and +others have subscribed. + +Instead, then, of being struck with the audacity of endeavoring to +palm myself off as a god--the way in which the thing first impressed +me--I now perceived that I might be a god as much as I pleased, and +yet not whisk a lion's tail after all at least on that special +account. + +As for Media's reception, its graciousness was not wholly +owing to the divine character imputed to me. His, he believed to be +the same. But to a whim, a freakishness in his soul, which led him to +fancy me as one among many, not as one with no peer. + +But the apparent unconcern of King Media with respect to my godship, +by no means so much surprised me, as his unaffected indifference to +my amazing voyage from the sun; his indifference to the sun itself; +and all the wonderful circumstances that must have attended my +departure. Whether he had ever been there himself, that he regarded a +solar trip with so much unconcern, almost became a question in my +mind. Certain it is, that as a mere traveler he must have deemed me +no very great prodigy. + +My surprise at these things was enhanced by reflecting, that to the +people of the Archipelago the map of Mardi was the map of the world. +With the exception of certain islands out of sight and at an +indefinite distance, they had no certain knowledge of any isles but +their own. + +And, no long time elapsed ere I had still additional reasons to cease +wondering at the easy faith accorded to the story which I had given +of myself. For these Mardians were familiar with still greater +marvels than mine; verily believing in prodigies of all sorts. Any +one of them put my exploits to the blush. + +Look to thy ways then, Taji, thought I, and carry not thy crest too +high. Of a surety, thou hast more peers than inferiors. Thou art +overtopped all round. Bear thyself discreetly and not haughtily, +Taji. It will not answer to give thyself airs. Abstain from all +consequential allusions to the other world, and the genteel deities +among whom thou hast circled. Sport not too jauntily thy raiment, +because it is novel in Mardi; nor boast of the fleetness of thy +Chamois, because it is unlike a canoe. Vaunt not of thy pedigree, +Taji; for Media himself will measure it with thee there by the +furlong. Be not a "snob," Taji. + +So then, weighing all things well, and myself severely, I +resolved to follow my Mentor's wise counsel; neither arrogating +aught, nor abating of just dues; but circulating freely, sociably, +and frankly, among the gods, heroes, high_ priests, kings, and +gentlemen, that made up the principalities of Mardi. + + + +CHAPTER LVIII +Mardi By Night And Yillah By Day + + +During the night following our arrival, many dreams were no doubt +dreamt in Odo. But my thoughts were wakeful. And while all others +slept, obeying a restless impulse, I stole without into the magical +starlight. There are those who in a strange land ever love to view it +by night. + +It has been said, that the opening in the groves where was situated +Media's city, was elevated above the surrounding plains. Hence was +commanded a broad reach of prospect. + +Far and wide was deep low-sobbing repose of man and nature. The +groves were motionless; and in the meadows, like goblins, the shadows +advanced and retreated. Full before me, lay the Mardian fleet of +isles, profoundly at anchor within their coral harbor. Near by was +one belted round by a frothy luminous reef, wherein it lay, like +Saturn in its ring. + +From all their summits, went up a milk-white smoke, as from Indian +wigwams in the hazy harvest-moon. And floating away, these vapors +blended with the faint mist, as of a cataract, hovering over the +circumvallating reef. Far beyond all, and far into the infinite +night, surged the jet-black ocean. + +But how tranquil the wide lagoon, which mirrored the burning spots in +heaven! Deep down into its innermost heart penetrated the slanting +rays of Hesperus like a shaft of light, sunk far into mysterious +Golcondas, where myriad gnomes seemed toiling. Soon a light +breeze rippled the water, and the shaft was seen no more. But the +moon's bright wake was still revealed: a silver track, tipping every +wave-crest in its course, till each seemed a pearly, scroll-prowed +nautilus, buoyant with some elfin crew. + +From earth to heaven! High above me was Night's shadowy bower, +traversed, vine-like, by the Milky Way, and heavy with golden +clusterings. Oh stars! oh eyes, that see me, wheresoe'er I roam: +serene, intent, inscrutable for aye, tell me Sybils, what I am.-- +Wondrous worlds on worlds! Lo, round and round me, shining, awful +spells: all glorious, vivid constellations, God's diadem ye are! To +you, ye stars, man owes his subtlest raptures, thoughts unspeakable, +yet full of faith. + +But how your mild effulgence stings the boding heart. Am I a +murderer, stars? + +Hours pass. The starry trance is departed. Long waited for, the dawn +now comes. + +First, breaking along the waking face; peeping from out the languid +lids; then shining forth in longer glances; till, like the sun, up +comes the soul, and sheds its rays abroad. + +When thus my Yillah did daily dawn, how she lit up my world; tinging +more rosily the roseate clouds, that in her summer cheek played to +and fro, like clouds in Italian air. + + + +CHAPTER LIX +Their Morning Meal + + +Not wholly is our world made up of bright stars and bright eyes: so +now to our story. + +A conscientious host should ever be up betimes, to look after the +welfare of his guests, and see to it that their day begin +auspiciously. King Media announced the advent of the sun, by rustling +at my bower's eaves in person. + +A repast was spread in an adjoining arbor, which Media's pages had +smoothed for our reception, and where his subordinate chiefs were in +attendance. Here we reclined upon mats. Balmy and fresh blew the +breath of the morning; golden vapors were upon the mountains, silver +sheen upon the grass; and the birds were at matins in the groves; +their bright plumage flashing into view, here and there, as if some +rainbow were crouching in the foliage. + +Spread before us were viands, served in quaint-shaped, curiously-dyed +gourds, not Sevres, but almost as tasteful; and like true porcelain, +fire had tempered them. Green and yielding, they are plucked from the +tree; and emptied of their pulp, are scratched over with minute +marks, like those of a line engraving. The ground prepared, the +various figures are carefully etched. And the outlines filled up with +delicate punctures, certain vegetable oils are poured over them, for +coloring. Filled with a peculiar species of earth, the gourd is now +placed in an oven in the ground. And in due time exhumed, emptied of +its contents, and washed in the stream, it presents a deep-dyed +exterior; every figure distinctly traced and opaque, but the +ground semi-transparent. In some cases, owing to the variety of dyes +employed, each figure is of a different hue. + +More glorious goblets than these for the drinking of wine, went never +from hand to mouth. Capacious as pitchers, they almost superseded +decanters. + +Now, in a tropical climate, fruit, with light wines, forms the only +fit meal of a morning. And with orchards and vineyards forever in +sight, who but the Hetman of the Cossacs would desire more? We had +plenty of the juice of the grape. But of this hereafter; there are +some fine old cellars, and plenty of good cheer in store. + +During the repast, Media, for a time, was much taken up with our +raiment. He begged me to examine for a moment the texture of his +right royal robe, and observe how much superior it was to my own. It +put my mantle to the blush; being tastefully stained with rare +devices in red and black; and bordered with dyed fringes of feathers, +and tassels of red birds' claws. + +Next came under observation the Skyeman's Guayaquil hat; at whose +preposterous shape, our host laughed in derision; clapping a great +conical calabash upon the head of an attendant, and saying that now +he was Jarl. At this, and all similar sallies, Samoa was sure to roar +louder than any; though mirth was no constitutional thing with him. +But he seemed rejoiced at the opportunity of turning upon us the +ridicule, which as a barbarian among whites, he himself had so often +experienced. + +These pleasantries over, King Media very slightly drew himself up, as +if to make amends for his previous unbending. He discoursed +imperially with his chiefs; nodded his sovereign will to his pages; +called for another gourd of wine; in all respects carrying his +royalty bravely. + +The repast concluded, we journeyed to the canoe-house, where we found +the little Chamois stabled like a steed. One solitary depredation had +been committed. Its sides and bottom had been completely +denuded of the minute green barnacles, and short sea-grass, which, +like so many leeches, had fastened to our planks during our long, +lazy voyage. + +By the people they had been devoured as dainties. + + + +CHAPTER LX +Belshazzar On The Bench + + +Now, Media was king of Odo. And from the simplicity of his manners +hitherto, and his easy, frank demeanor toward ourselves, had we +foolishly doubted that fact, no skepticism could have survived an +illustration of it, which this very day we witnessed at noon. + +For at high noon, Media was wont to don his dignity with his symbols +of state; and sit on his judgment divan or throne, to hear and try +all causes brought before him, and fulminate his royal decrees. + +This divan was elevated at one end of a spacious arbor, formed by an +avenue of regal palms, which in brave state, held aloft their +majestical canopy. + +The crown of the island prince was of the primitive old Eastern +style; in shape, similar, perhaps, to that jauntily sported as a +foraging cap by his sacred majesty King Nimrod, who so lustily +followed the hounds. It was a plaited turban of red tappa, radiated +by the pointed and polished white bones of the Ray-fish. These +diverged from a bandeau or fillet of the most precious pearls; +brought up from the sea by the deepest diving mermen of Mardi. From +the middle of the crown rose a tri-foiled spear-head. And a spear- +headed scepter graced the right hand of the king. + +Now, for all the rant of your democrats, a fine king on a throne is a +very fine sight to behold. He looks very much like a god. No wonder +that his more dutiful subjects so swore, that their good lord and +master King Media was demi-divine. + +A king on his throne! Ah, believe me, ye Gracchi, ye Acephali, ye +Levelers, it is something worth seeing, be sure; whether beheld at +Babylon the Tremendous, when Nebuchadnezzar was crowned; at old Scone +in the days of Macbeth; at Rheims, among Oriflammes, at the +coronation of Louis le Grand; at Westminster Abbey, when the +gentlemanly George doffed his beaver for a diadem; or under the soft +shade of palm trees on an isle in the sea. + +Man lording it over man, man kneeling to man, is a spectacle that +Gabriel might well travel hitherward to behold; for never did he +behold it in heaven. But Darius giving laws to the Medes and the +Persians, or the conqueror of Bactria with king-cattle yoked to his +car, was not a whit more sublime, than Beau Brummel magnificently +ringing for his valet. + +A king on his throne! It is Jupiter nodding in the councils of +Olympus; Satan, seen among the coronets in Hell. + +A king on his throne! It is the sun over a mountain; the sun over +law-giving Sinai; the sun in our system: planets, duke-like, dancing +attendance, and baronial satellites in waiting. + +A king on his throne! After all, but a gentleman seated. And thus sat +the good lord, King Media. + +Time passed. And after trying and dismissing several minor affairs, +Media called for certain witnesses to testify concerning one Jiromo, +a foolhardy wight, who had been silly enough to plot against the +majesty now sitting judge and jury upon him. + +His guilt was clear. And the witnesses being heard, from a bunch of +palm plumes Media taking a leaf, placed it in the hand of a runner or +pursuivant, saying, "This to Jiromo, where he is prisoned; with his +king's compliments; say we here wait for his head." + +It was doffed like a turban before a Dey, and brought back on the +instant. + +Now came certain lean-visaged, poverty-stricken, and hence +suspicious-looking varlets, grumbling and growling, and amiable as +Bruin. They came muttering some wild jargon about "bulwarks," +"bulkheads," "cofferdams," "safeguards," "noble charters," "shields," +and "paladiums," "great and glorious birthrights," and other +unintelligible gibberish. + +Of the pursuivants, these worthies asked audience of Media. + +"Go, kneel at the throne," was the answer. + +"Our knee-pans are stiff with sciatics," was the rheumatic reply. + +"An artifice to keep on your legs," said the pursuivants. + +And advancing they salamed, and told Media the excuse of those sour- +looking varlets. Whereupon my lord commanded them to down on their +marrow-bones instanter, either before him or the headsman, +whichsoever they pleased. + +They preferred the former. And as they there kneeled, in vain did men +with sharp ears (who abound in all courts) prick their auriculars, to +list to that strange crackling and firing off of bone balls and +sockets, ever incident to the genuflections of rheumatic courtiers. + +In a row, then, these selfsame knee-pans did kneel before the king; +who eyed them as eagles in air do goslings on dunghills; or hunters, +hounds crouching round their calves. + +"Your prayer?" said Media. + +It was a petition, that thereafter all differences between man and +man in Ode, together with all alleged offenses against the state, +might be tried by twelve good men and true. These twelve to be +unobnoxious to the party or parties concerned; their peers; and +previously unbiased touching the matter at issue. Furthermore, that +unanimity in these twelve should be indispensable to a verdict; and +no dinner be vouchsafed till unanimity came. + +Loud and long laughed King Media in scorn. + +"This be your judge," he cried, swaying his scepter. "What! are +twelve wise men more wise than one? or will twelve fools, put +together, make one sage? Are twelve honest men more honest than one? +or twelve knaves less knavish than one? And if, of twelve men, three +be fools, and three wise, three knaves, and three upright, how obtain +real unanimity from such? + +"But if twelve judges be better than one, then are twelve hundred +better than twelve. But take the whole populace for a judge, and you +will long wait for a unanimous verdict. + +"If upon a thing dubious, there be little unanimity in the +conflicting opinions of one man's mind, how expect it in the uproar +of twelve puzzled brains? though much unanimity be found in twelve +hungry stomachs. + +"Judges unobnoxious to the accused! Apply it to a criminal case. Ha! +ha! if peradventure a Cacti be rejected, because he had seen the +accused commit the crime for which he is arraigned. Then, his mind +would be biased: no impartiality from him! Or your testy accused +might object to another, because of his tomahawk nose, or a cruel +squint of the eye. + +"Of all follies the most foolish! Know ye from me, that true peers +render not true verdicts. Jiromo was a rebel. Had I tried him by his +peers, I had tried him by rebels; and the rebel had rebelled to some +purpose. + +"Away! As unerring justice dwells in a unity, and as one judge will +at last judge the world beyond all appeal; so--though often here +below justice be hard to attain--does man come nearest the mark, when +he imitates that model divine. Hence, one judge is better than +twelve." + +"And as Justice, in ideal, is ever painted high lifted above the +crowd; so, from the exaltation of his rank, an honest king is the +best of those unical judges, which individually are better than +twelve. And therefore am I, King Media, the best judge in this land." + +"Subjects! so long as I live, I will rule you and judge you alone. +And though you here kneeled before me till you grew into the ground, +and there took root, no yea to your petition will you get from this +throne. I am king: ye are slaves. Mine to command: yours to obey. And +this hour I decree, that henceforth no gibberish of bulwarks and +bulkheads be heard in this land. For a dead bulwark and a bulkhead, +to dam off sedition, will I make of that man, who again but breathes +those bulky words. Ho! spears! see that these knee-pans here kneel +till set of sun." + +High noon was now passed; and removing his crown, and placing it on +the dais for the kneelers to look at during their devotions, King +Media departed from that place, and once more played the agreeable +host. + + + +CHAPTER LXI +An Incognito + + +For the rest of that day, and several that followed, we were +continually receiving visits from the neighboring islands; whose +inhabitants in fleets and flotillas flocked round Odo to behold the +guests of its lord. Among them came many messengers from the +neighboring kings with soft speeches and gifts. + +But it were needless to detail our various interviews, or relate in +what manifold ways, the royal strangers gave token of their interest +concerning us. + +Upon the third day, however, there was noticed a mysterious figure, +like the inscrutable incognitos sometimes encountered, crossing the +tower-shadowed Plaza of Assignations at Lima. It was enveloped in a +dark robe of tappa, so drawn and plaited about the limbs; and with +one hand, so wimpled about the face, as only to expose a solitary +eye. But that eye was a world. Now it was fixed upon Yillah with a +sinister glance, and now upon me, but with a different expression. +However great the crowd, however tumultuous, that fathomless eye +gazed on; till at last it seemed no eye, but a spirit, forever prying +into my soul. Often I strove to approach it, but it would evade me, +soon reappearing. + +Pointing out the apparition to Media, I intreated him to take means +to fix it, that my suspicions might be dispelled, as to its being +incorporeal. He replied that, by courtesy, incognitos were sacred. +Insomuch that the close-plaited robe and the wimple were secure as a +castle. At last, to my relief, the phantom disappeared, and was seen +no more. + +Numerous and fervent the invitations received to return the calls +wherewith we were honored. But for the present we declined them; +preferring to establish ourselves firmly in the heart of Media, ere +encountering the vicissitudes of roaming. In a multitude of +acquaintances is less security, than in one faithful friend. + +Now, while these civilities were being received, and on the fourth +morning after our arrival, there landed on the beach three black-eyed +damsels, deep brunettes, habited in long variegated robes, and with +gay blossoms on their heads. + +With many salams, the strangers were ushered into my presence by an +old white-haired servitor of Media's, who with a parting conge +murmured, "From Queen Hautia," then departed. Surprised, I stood +mute, and welcomed them. + +The first, with many smiles and blandishments, waved before me a +many-tinted Iris: the flag-flower streaming with pennons. Advancing, +the second then presented three rose-hued purple-veined Circea +flowers, the dew still clinging to them. The third placed in my hand +a moss-rose bud; then, a Venus-car. + +"Thanks for your favors! now your message." + +Starting at this reception, graciously intended, they conferred a +moment; when the Iris-bearer said in winning phrase, "We come from +Hautia, whose moss-rose you hold." + +"All thanks to Hautia then; the bud is very fragrant." + +Then she pointed to the Venus-car. + +"This too is sweet; thanks to Hautia for her flowers. Pray, bring me +more." + +"He mocks our mistress," and gliding from me, they waved witch- +hazels, leaving me alone and wondering. + +Informing Media of this scene, he smiled; threw out queer hints of +Hautia; but knew not what her message meant. + +At first this affair occasioned me no little uneasiness, with much +matter for marveling; but in the novel pleasure of our sojourn in +Odo, it soon slipped from my mind; nor for some time, did I again +hear aught of Queen Hautia. + + + +CHAPTER LXII +Taji Retires From The World + + +After a while, when the strangers came not in shoals as before, I +proposed to our host, a stroll over his dominions; desirous of +beholding the same, and secretly induced by the hope of selecting an +abode, more agreeable to my fastidious taste, than the one already +assigned me. + +The ramble over--a pleasant one it was--it resulted in a +determination on my part to quit Odo. Yet not to go very far; only +ten or twelve yards, to a little green tuft of an islet; one of many, +which here and there, all round the island, nestled like birds' nests +in the branching boughs of the coral grove, whose roots laid hold of +the foundations of the deep. Between these islets and the shore, +extended shelving ledges, with shallows above, just sufficient to +float a canoe. One of these islets was wooded and wined; an arbor in +the sea. And here, Media permitting, I decided to dwell. + +Not long was Media in complying; nor long, ere my retreat was in +readiness. Laced together, the twisting boughs were closely thatched. +And thatched were the sides also, with deep crimson pandannus leaves; +whose long, forked spears, lifted by the breeze, caused the whole +place to blaze, as with flames. Canes, laid on palm trunks, formed +the floor. How elastic! In vogue all over Odo, among the chiefs, it +imparted such a buoyancy to the person, that to this special cause +may be imputed in good part the famous fine spirits of the nobles. + +Hypochondriac! essay the elastic flooring! It shall so +pleasantly and gently jolt thee, as to shake up, and pack off the +stagnant humors mantling thy pool-like soul. + +Such was my dwelling. But I make no mention of sundry little +appurtenances of tropical housekeeping: calabashes, cocoanut shells, +and rolls of fine tappa; till with Yillah seated at last in my arbor, +I looked round, and wanted for naught. + +But what of Jarl and Samoa? Why Jarl must needs be fanciful, as well +as myself. Like a bachelor in chambers, he settled down right +opposite to me, on the main land, in a little wigwam in the grove. + +But Samoa, following not his comrade's example, still tarried in the +camp of the Hittites and Jebusites of Odo. Beguiling men of their +leisure by his marvelous stories: and maidens of their hearts by his +marvelous wiles. + +When I chose, I was completely undisturbed in my arbor; an ukase of +Media's forbidding indiscriminate intrusion. But thrice in the day +came a garrulous old man with my viands. + +Thus sequestered, however, I could not entirely elude the pryings of +the people of the neighboring islands; who often passed by, slowly +paddling, and earnestly regarding my retreat. But gliding along at a +distance, and never essaying a landing, their occasional vicinity +troubled me but little. But now and then of an evening, when thick +and fleet the shadows were falling, dim glimpses of a canoe would be +spied; hovering about the place like a ghost. And once, in the +stillness of the night, hearing the near ripple of a prow, I sallied +forth, but the phantom quickly departed. + +That night, Yillah shuddered as she slept. "The whirl-pool," she +murmured, "sweet mosses." Next day she was lost in reveries, plucking +pensive hyacinths, or gazing intently into the lagoon. + + + +CHAPTER LXIII +Odo And Its Lord + + +Time now to enter upon some further description of the island and its +lord. + +And first for Media: a gallant gentleman and king. From a goodly +stock he came. In his endless pedigree, reckoning deities by +decimals, innumerable kings, and scores of great heroes, chiefs, and +priests. Nor in person, did he belie his origin. No far-descended +dwarf was he, the least of a receding race. He stood like a palm +tree; about whose acanthus capital droops not more gracefully the +silken fringes, than Media's locks upon his noble brow. Strong was +his arm to wield the club, or hurl the javelin; and potent, I ween, +round a maiden's waist. + +Thus much here for Media. Now comes his isle. + +Our pleasant ramble found it a little round world by itself; full of +beauties as a garden; chequered by charming groves; watered by roving +brooks; and fringed all round by a border of palm trees, whose roots +drew nourishment from the water. But though abounding in other +quarters of the Archipelago, not a solitary bread-fruit grew in Odo. +A noteworthy circumstance, observable in these regions, where islands +close adjoining, so differ in their soil, that certain fruits growing +genially in one, are foreign to another. But Odo was famed for its +guavas, whose flavor was likened to the flavor of new-blown lips; and +for its grapes, whose juices prompted many a laugh and many a groan. + +Beside the city where Media dwelt, there were few other +clusters of habitations in Odo. The higher classes living, here and +there, in separate households; but not as eremites. Some buried +themselves in the cool, quivering bosoms of the groves. Others, +fancying a marine vicinity, dwelt hard by the beach in little cages +of bamboo; whence of mornings they sallied out with jocund cries, and +went plunging into the refreshing bath, whose frothy margin was the +threshold of their dwellings. Others still, like birds, built their +nests among the sylvan nooks of the elevated interior; whence all +below, and hazy green, lay steeped in languor the island's throbbing +heart. + +Thus dwelt the chiefs and merry men of mark. The common sort, +including serfs, and Helots, war-captives held in bondage, lived in +secret places, hard to find. Whence it came, that, to a stranger, the +whole isle looked care-free and beautiful. Deep among the ravines and +the rocks, these beings lived in noisome caves, lairs for beasts, not +human homes; or built them coops of rotten boughs--living trees were +banned them--whose mouldy hearts hatched vermin. Fearing infection of +some plague, born of this filth, the chiefs of Odo seldom passed that +way and looking round within their green retreats, and pouring out +their wine, and plucking from orchards of the best, marveled how +these swine could grovel in the mire, and wear such sallow cheeks. +But they offered no sweet homes; from that mire they never sought to +drag them out; they open threw no orchard; and intermitted not the +mandates that condemned their drudges to a life of deaths. Sad sight! +to see those round-shouldered Helots, stooping in their trenches: +artificial, three in number, and concentric: the isle well nigh +surrounding. And herein, fed by oozy loam, and kindly dew from +heaven, and bitter sweat from men, grew as in hot-beds the nutritious +Taro. + +Toil is man's allotment; toil of brain, or toil of hands, or a grief +that's more than either, the grief and sin of idleness. But when man +toils and slays himself for masters who withhold the life he +gives to them--then, then, the soul screams out, and every sinew +cracks. So with these poor serfs. And few of them could choose but be +the brutes they seemed. + +Now needs it to be said, that Odo was no land of pleasure unalloyed, +and plenty without a pause?--Odo, in whose lurking-places infants +turned from breasts, whence flowed no nourishment.--Odo, in whose +inmost haunts, dark groves were brooding, passing which you heard +most dismal cries, and voices cursing Media. There, men were +scourged; their crime, a heresy; the heresy, that Media was no +demigod. For this they shrieked. Their fathers shrieked before; their +fathers, who, tormented, said, "Happy we to groan, that our +children's children may be glad." But their children's children +howled. Yet these, too, echoed previous generations, and loudly +swore, "The pit that's dug for us may prove another's grave." + +But let all pass. To look at, and to roam about of holidays, Odo +seemed a happy land. The palm-trees waved--though here and there you +marked one sear and palsy-smitten; the flowers bloomed--though dead +ones moldered in decay; the waves ran up the strand in glee--though, +receding, they sometimes left behind bones mixed with shells. + +But else than these, no sign of death was seen throughout the isle. +Did men in Odo live for aye? Was Ponce de Leon's fountain there? For +near and far, you saw no ranks and files of graves, no generations +harvested in winrows. In Odo, no hard-hearted nabob slept beneath a +gentle epitaph; no _requiescat-in-pace_ mocked a sinner damned; no +_memento-mori_ admonished men to live while yet they might. Here +Death hid his skull; and hid it in the sea, the common sepulcher of +Odo. Not dust to dust, but dust to brine; not hearses but canoes. For +all who died upon that isle were carried out beyond the outer reef, +and there were buried with their sires' sires. Hence came the +thought, that of gusty nights, when round the isles, and high +toward heaven, flew the white reef's rack and foam, that then and +there, kept chattering watch and ward, the myriads that were ocean- +tombed. + +But why these watery obsequies? + +Odo was but a little isle, and must the living make way for the dead, +and Life's small colony be dislodged by Death's grim hosts; as the +gaunt tribes of Tamerlane o'erspread the tented pastures of the Khan? + +And now, what follows, said these Islanders: "Why sow corruption in +the soil which yields us life? We would not pluck our grapes from +over graves. This earth's an urn for flowers, not for ashes." + +They said that Oro, the supreme, had made a cemetery of the sea. + +And what more glorious grave? Was Mausolus more sublimely urned? Or +do the minster-lamps that burn before the tomb of Charlemagne, show +more of pomp, than all the stars, that blaze above the shipwrecked +mariner? + +But no more of the dead; men shrug their shoulders, and love not +their company; though full soon we shall all have them for fellows. + + + +CHAPTER LXIV +Yillah A Phantom + + +For a time we were happy in Odo: Yillah and I in our islet. Nor did +the pearl on her bosom glow more rosily than the roses in her cheeks; +though at intervals they waned and departed; and deadly pale was her +glance, when she murmured of the whirlpool and mosses. As pale my +soul, bethinking me of Aleema the priest. + +But day by day, did her spell weave round me its magic, and all the +hidden things of her being grew more lovely and strange. Did I +commune with a spirit? Often I thought that Paradise had overtaken me +on earth, and that Yillah was verily an angel, and hence the +mysteries that hallowed her. + +But how fleeting our joys. Storms follow bright dawnings.--Long +memories of short-lived scenes, sad thoughts of joyous hours--how +common are ye to all mankind. When happy, do we pause and say--"Lo, +thy felicity, my soul?" No: happiness seldom seems happiness, except +when looked back upon from woes. A flowery landscape, you must come +out of, to behold. + +Sped the hours, the days, the one brief moment of our joys. Fairy +bower in the fair lagoon, scene of sylvan ease and heart's repose,-- +Oh, Yillah, Yillah! All the woods repeat the sound, the wild, wild +woods of my wild soul. Yillah! Yillah! cry the small strange voices +in me, and evermore, and far and deep, they echo on. + +Days passed. When one morning I found the arbor vacant. Gone! A +dream. I closed my eyes, and would have dreamed her back. In +vain. Starting, I called upon her name; but none replied. Fleeing +from the islet, I gained the neighboring shore, and searched among +the woods; and my comrades meeting, besought their aid. But idle all. +No glimpse of aught, save trees and flowers. Then Media was sought +out; the event made known; and quickly, bands were summoned to range +the isle. + +Noon came; but no Yillah. When Media averred she was no longer in +Odo. Whither she was gone, or how, he knew not; nor could any +imagine. + +At this juncture, there chanced to arrive certain messengers from +abroad; who, presuming that all was well with Taji, came with renewed +invitations to visit various pleasant places round about. Among +these, came Queen Hautia's heralds, with their Iris flag, once more +bringing flowers. But they came and went unheeded. + +Setting out to return, these envoys were accompanied by numerous +followers of Media, dispatched to the neighboring islands, to seek +out the missing Yillah. But three days passed; and, one by one, they +all returned; and stood before me silently. + +For a time I raved. Then, falling into outer repose, lived for a +space in moods and reveries, with eyes that knew no closing, one +glance forever fixed. + +They strove to rouse me. Girls danced and sang; and tales of fairy +times were told; of monstrous imps, and youths enchanted; of groves +and gardens in the sea. Yet still I moved not, hearing all, yet +noting naught. Media cried, "For shame, oh Taji; thou, a god?" and +placed a spear in my nerveless hand. And Jarl loud called upon me to +awake. Samoa marveled. + +Still sped the days. And at length, my memory was restored. The +thoughts of things broke over me like returning billows on a beach +long bared. A rush, a foam of recollections!--Sweet Yillah gone, and +I bereaved. + +Another interval, and that mood was past. Misery became a +memory. The keen pang a deep vibration. The remembrance seemed the +thing remembered; though bowed with sadness. There are thoughts that +lie and glitter deep: tearful pearls beneath life's sea, that surges +still, and rolls sunlit, whatever it may hide. Common woes, like +fluids, mix all round. Not so with that other grief. Some mourners +load the air with lamentations; but the loudest notes are struck from +hollows. Their tears flow fast: but the deep spring only wells. + +At last I turned to Media, saying I must hie from Odo, and rove +throughout all Mardi; for Yillah might yet be found. + +But hereafter, in words, little more of the maiden, till perchance +her fate be learned. + + + +CHAPTER LXV +Taji Makes Three Acquaintances + + +Down to this period, I had restrained Samoa from wandering to the +neighboring islands, though he had much desired it, in compliance +with the invitations continually received. But now I informed both +him, and his comrade, of the tour I purposed; desiring their company. + +Upon the announcement of my intention to depart, to my no small +surprise Media also proposed to accompany me: a proposition gladly +embraced. It seems, that for some reason, he had not as yet extended +his travels to the more distant islands. Hence the voyage in prospect +was particularly agreeable to him. Nor did he forbear any pains to +insure its prosperity; assuring me, furthermore, that its object must +eventually be crowned with success. "I myself am interested in this +pursuit," said he; "and trust me, Yillah will be found." + +For the tour of the lagoon, the docile Chamois was proposed; but +Media dissented; saying, that it befitted not the lord of Odo to +voyage in the equipage of his guest. Therefore, three canoes were +selected from his own royal fleet. + +One for ourselves, and a trio of companions whom he purposed +introducing to my notice; the rest were reserved for attendants. + +Thanks to Media's taste and heedfulness, the strangers above +mentioned proved truly acceptable. + +The first was Mohi, or Braid-Beard, so called from the manner in +which he wore that appendage, exceedingly long and gray. He +was a venerable teller of stories and legends, one of the Keepers of +the Chronicles of the Kings of Mardi. + +The second was Babbalanja, a man of a mystical aspect, habited in a +voluminous robe. He was learned in Mardian lore; much given to +quotations from ancient and obsolete authorities: the Ponderings of +Old Bardianna: the Pandects of Alla-Malolla. + +Third and last, was Yoomy, or the Warbler. A youthful, long-haired, +blue-eyed minstrel; all fits and starts; at times, absent of mind, +and wan of cheek; but always very neat and pretty in his apparel; +wearing the most becoming of turbans, a Bird of Paradise feather its +plume, and sporting the gayest of sashes. Most given was Yoomy to +amorous melodies, and rondos, and roundelays, very witching to hear. +But at times disdaining the oaten reed, like a clarion he burst forth +with lusty lays of arms and battle; or, in mournful strains, sounded +elegies for departed bards and heroes. + +Thus much for Yoomy as a minstrel. In other respects, it would be +hard to depict him. He was so capricious a mortal; so swayed by +contrary moods; so lofty, so humble, so sad, so merry; so made up of +a thousand contradictions, that we must e'en let him depict himself +as our story progresses. And herein it is hoped he will succeed; +since no one in Mardi comprehended him. + +Now the trio, thus destined for companions on our voyage, had for +some time been anxious to take the tour of the Archipelago. In +particular, Babbalanja had often expressed the most ardent desire to +visit every one of the isles, in quest of some object, mysteriously +hinted. He murmured deep concern for my loss, the sincerest sympathy; +and pressing my hand more than once, said lowly, "Your pursuit is +mine, noble Taji. Where'er you search, I follow." + +So, too, Yoomy addressed me; but with still more feeling. And +something like this, also, Braid-Beard repeated. + +But to my sorrow, I marked that both Mohi and Babbalanja, especially +the last, seemed not so buoyant of hope, concerning lost Yillah, as +the youthful Yoomy, and his high-spirited lord, King Media. + +As our voyage would embrace no small period of time, it behoved King +Media to appoint some trustworthy regent, to rule during his absence. +This regent was found in Almanni, a stem-eyed, resolute warrior, a +kinsman of the king. + +All things at last in readiness, and the ensuing morning appointed +for a start, Media, on the beach, at eventide, when both light and +water waned, drew a rude map of the lagoon, to compensate for the +obstructions in the way of a comprehensive glance at it from Odo. + +And thus was sketched the plan of our voyage; which islands first to +visit; and which to touch at, when we should be homeward bound. + + + +CHAPTER LXVI +With A Fair Wind, At Sunrise They Sail + + +True each to his word, up came the sun, and round to my isle came +Media. + + +How glorious a morning! The new-born clouds all dappled with gold, +and streaked with violet; the sun in high spirits; and the pleasant +air cooled overnight by the blending circumambient fountains, forever +playing all round the reef; the lagoon within, the coral-rimmed +basin, into which they poured, subsiding, hereabouts, into green +tranquillity. + +But what monsters of canoes! Would they devour an innocent voyager? +their great black prows curling aloft, and thrown back like trunks of +elephants; a dark, snaky length behind, like the sea-serpent's train. + +The prow of the foremost terminated in a large, open, shark's mouth, +garnished with ten rows of pearly human teeth, curiously inserted +into the sculptured wood. The gunwale was ornamented with rows of +rich spotted Leopard and Tiger-shells; here and there, varied by +others, flat and round, and spirally traced; gay serpents petrified +in coils. These were imbedded in a grooved margin, by means of a +resinous compound, exhaling such spices, that the canoes were +odoriferous as the Indian chests of the Maldives. + +The likeness of the foremost canoe to an elephant, was helped by a +sort of canopied Howdah in its stern, of heavy, russet-dyed tappa, +tasselled at the corners with long bunches of cocoanut fibres, +stained red. These swayed to and fro, like the fox-tails on a +Tuscarora robe. + +But what is this, in the head of the canoe, just under the +shark's mouth? A grinning little imp of an image; a ring in its nose; +cowrie shells jingling at its ears; with an abominable leer, like +that of Silenus reeling on his ass. It was taking its ease; cosily +smoking a pipe; its bowl, a duodecimo edition of the face of the +smoker. This image looked sternward; everlastingly mocking us. + +Of these canoes, it may be well to state, that although during our +stay in Odo, so many barges and shallops had touched there, nothing +similar to Media's had been seen. But inquiring whence his sea- +equipage came, we were thereupon taught to reverence the same as +antiquities and heir-looms; claw-keeled, dragon-prowed crafts of a +bygone generation; at present, superseded in general use by the more +swan-like canoes, significant of the advanced stage of marine +architecture in Mardi. No sooner was this known, than what had seemed +almost hideous in my eyes, became merely grotesque. Nor could I help +being greatly delighted with the good old family pride of our host. + +The upper corners of our sails displayed the family crest of Media; +three upright boars' tusks, in an heraldic field argent. A fierce +device: Whom rends he? + +All things in readiness, we glided away: the multitude waving adieu; +and our flotilla disposed in the following order. + +First went the royal Elephant, carrying Media, myself, Jarl, and +Samoa; Mohi the Teller of Legends, Babbalanja, and Yoomy, and six +vivacious paddlers; their broad paddle-blades carved with the royal +boars' tusks, the same tattooed on their chests for a livery. + +And thus, as Media had promised, we voyaged in state. To crown all, +seated sideways in the high, open shark's-mouth of our prow was a +little dwarf of a boy, one of Media's pages, a red conch-shell, +bugle-wise suspended at his side. Among various other offices, it was +the duty of little Vee-Vee to announce the advent of his master, upon +drawing near to the islands in our route. Two short bars, +projecting from one side of the prow, furnished him the means +of ascent to his perch. + +As we gained the open lagoon with bellied sails, and paddles playing, +a sheaf of foam borne upright at our prow; Yoomy, standing where the +spicy spray flew over him, stretched forth his hand and cried--"The +dawn of day is passed, and Mardi lies all before us: all her isles, +and all her lakes; all her stores of good and evil. Storms may come, +our barks may drown. But blow before us, all ye winds; give us a +lively blast, good clarion; rally round us all our wits; and be this +voyage full gayly sailed, for Yillah will yet be found." + + + +CHAPTER LXVII +Little King Peepi + + +Valapee, or the Isle of Yams, being within plain sight of Media's +dominions, we were not very long in drawing nigh to its shores. + +Two long parallel elevations, rising some three arrow-flights into +the air, double-ridge the island's entire length, lapping between, a +widening vale, so level withal, that at either extremity, the green +of its groves blends with the green of the lagoon; and the isle seems +divided by a strait. + +Within several paces of the beach, our canoes keeled the bottom, and +camel-like mutely hinted that we voyagers must dismount. + +Hereupon, the assembled islanders ran into the water, and with bent +shoulders obsequiously desired the honor of transporting us to land. +The beach gained, all present wearing robes instantly stripped them +to the waist; a naked chest being their salute to kings. Very +convenient for the common people, this; their half-clad forms +presenting a perpetual and profound salutation. + +Presently, Peepi, the ruler of Valapee drew near: a boy, hardly ten +years old, striding the neck of a burly mute, bearing a long spear +erect before him, to which was attached a canopy of five broad banana +leaves, new plucked. Thus shaded, little Peepi advanced, steadying +himself by the forelock of his bearer. + +Besides his bright red robe, the young prince wore nothing but the +symbol of Valapeean royalty; a string of small, close-fitting, +concave shells, coiled and ambushed in his profuse, curly +hair; one end falling over his ear, revealing a serpent's head, +curiously carved from a nutmeg. + +Quite proverbial, the unembarrassed air of young slips of royalty. +But there was something so surprisingly precocious in this young +Peepi, that at first one hardly knew what to conclude. + +The first compliments over, the company were invited inland to a +shady retreat. + +As we pursued the path, walking between old Mohi the keeper of +chronicles and Samoa the Upoluan, Babbalanja besought the former to +enlighten a stranger concerning the history of this curious Peepi. +Whereupon the chronicler gave us the following account; for all of +which he alone is responsible. + +Peepi, it seems, had been proclaimed king before he was born; his +sire dying some few weeks previous to that event; and vacating his +divan, declared that he left a monarch behind. + +Marvels were told of Peepi. Along with the royal dignity, and +superadded to the soul possessed in his own proper person, the infant +monarch was supposed to have inherited the valiant spirits of some +twenty heroes, sages, simpletons, and demi-gods, previously lodged in +his sire. + +Most opulent in spiritual gifts was this lord of Valapee; the +legatee, moreover, of numerous anonymous souls, bequeathed to him by +their late loyal proprietors. By a slavish act of his convocation of +chiefs, he also possessed the reversion of all and singular the +immortal spirits, whose first grantees might die intestate in +Valapee. Servile, yet audacious senators! thus prospectively to +administrate away the inalienable rights of posterity. But while yet +unborn, the people of Valapee had been deprived of more than they now +sought to wrest from their descendants. And former Peepies, infant +and adult, had received homage more profound, than Peepi the Present. +Witness the demeanor of the chieftains of old, upon every new +investiture of the royal serpent. In a fever of loyalty, they +were wont to present themselves before the heir to the isle, to go +through with the court ceremony of the Pupera; a curious proceeding, +so called: inverted endeavors to assume an erect posture: the nasal +organ the base. + +It was to the frequent practice of this ceremony, that most +intelligent observers imputed the flattened noses of the elderly +chiefs of the island; who, nevertheless, much gloried therein. + +It was these chiefs, also, who still observed the old-fashioned +custom of retiring from the presence of royalty with their heads +between their thighs; so that while advancing in the contrary +direction, their faces might be still deferentially turned toward +their lord and master. A fine view of him did they obtain. All +objects look well through an arch. + +But to return to Peepi, the inheritor of souls and subjects. It was +an article of faith with the people of Valapee, that Peepi not only +actually possessed the souls bequeathed to him; but that his own was +enriched by their peculiar qualities: The headlong valor of the late +Tongatona; the pusillanimous discretion of Blandoo; the cunning of +Voyo; the simplicity of Raymonda; the prodigality of Zonoree; the +thrift of Titonti. + +But had all these, and similar opposite qualities, simultaneously +acted as motives upon Peepi, certes, he would have been a most +pitiable mortal, in a ceaseless eddy of resolves, incapable of a +solitary act. + +But blessed be the gods, it was otherwise. Though it fared little +better for his subjects as it was. His assorted souls were uppermost +and active in him, one by one. Today, valiant Tongatona ruled the +isle, meditating wars and invasions; tomorrow, thrice discreet +Blandoo, who, disbanding the levies, turned his attention to the +terraces of yams. And so on in rotation to the end. + +Whence, though capable of action, Peepi, by reason of these +revolving souls in him, was one of the most unreliable of beings. +What the open-handed Zonoree promised freely to-day, the parsimonious +Titonti withheld to-morrow; and forever Raymonda was annulling the +doings of Voyo; and Voyo the doings of Raymonda. + +What marvel then, that in Valapee all was legislative uproar and +confusion; advance and retreat; abrogations and revivals; foundations +without superstructures; nothing permanent but the island itself. + +Nor were there those in the neighboring countries, who failed to reap +profit from this everlasting transition state of the affairs of the +kingdom. All boons from Peepi were entreated when the prodigal +Zonoree was lord of the ascendant. And audacious claims were urged +upon the state when the pusillanimous Blandoo shrank from the thought +of resisting them. + +Thus subject to contrary impulses, over which he had not the faintest +control, Peepi was plainly denuded of all moral obligation to virtue. +He was no more a free agent, than the heart which beat in his bosom. +Wherefore, his complaisant parliament had passed a law, recognizing +that curious, but alarming fact; solemnly proclaiming, that King +Peepi was minus a conscience. Agreeable to truth. But when they went +further, and vowed by statute, that Peepi could do no wrong, they +assuredly did violence to the truth; besides, making a sad blunder in +their logic. For far from possessing an absolute aversion to evil, by +his very nature it was the hardest thing in the world for Peepi to do +right. + +Taking all these things into consideration, then, no wonder that this +wholly irresponsible young prince should be a lad of considerable +assurance, and the easiest manners imaginable. + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII +How Teeth Were Regarded In Valapee + + +Coiling through the thickets, like the track of a serpent, wound +along the path we pursued. And ere long we came to a spacious grove, +embowering an oval arbor. Here, we reclined at our ease, and +refreshments were served. + +Little worthy of mention occurred, save this. Happening to catch a +glimpse of the white even teeth of Hohora one of our attendants, King +Peepi coolly begged of Media the favor, to have those same dentals +drawn on the spot, and presented to him. + +Now human teeth, extracted, are reckoned among the most valuable +ornaments in Mardi. So open wide thy strong box, Hohora, and show thy +treasures. What a gallant array! standing shoulder to shoulder, +without a hiatus between. A complete set of jewelry, indeed, thought +Peepi. But, it seems, not destined for him; Media leaving it to the +present proprietor, whether his dentals should change owners or not. + +And here, to prepare the way for certain things hereafter to be +narrated, something farther needs be said concerning the light in +which men's molars are regarded in Mardi. + +Strung together, they are sported for necklaces, or hung in drops +from the ear; they are wrought into dice; in lieu of silken locks, +are exchanged for love tokens. + +As in all lands, men smite their breasts, and tear their hair, when +transported with grief; so, in some countries, teeth are stricken out +under the sway of similar emotions. To a very great extent, this was +once practiced in the Hawaiian Islands, ere idol and altar +went down. Still living in Oahu, are many old chiefs, who were +present at the famous obsequies of their royal old generalissimo, +Tammahammaha, when there is no telling how many pounds of ivory were +cast upon his grave. + +Ah! had the regal white elephants of Siam been there, doubtless they +had offered up their long, hooked tusks, whereon they impale the +leopards, their foes; and the unicorn had surrendered that fixed +bayonet in his forehead; and the imperial Cachalot-whale, the long +chain of white towers in his jaw; yea, over that grim warrior's +grave, the mooses, and elks, and stags, and fallow-deer had stacked +their antlers, as soldiers their arms on the field. + +Terrific shade of tattooed Tammahammaha! if, from a vile dragon's +molars, rose mailed men, what heroes shall spring from the cannibal +canines once pertaining to warriors themselves!--Am I the witch of +Endor, that I conjure up this ghost? Or, King Saul, that I so quake +at the sight? For, lo! roundabout me Tammahammaha's tattooing +expands, till all the sky seems a tiger's skin. But now, the spotted +phantom sweeps by; as a man-of-war's main-sail, cloud-like, blown far +to leeward in a gale. + +Banquo down, we return. + +In Valapee, prevails not the barbarous Hindoo custom of offering up +widows to the shades of their lords; for, bereaved, the widows there +marry again. Nor yet prevails the savage Hawaiian custom of offering +up teeth to the manes of the dead; for, at the decease of a friend, +the people rob not their own mouths to testify their woe. On the +contrary, they extract the teeth from the departed, distributing them +among the mourners for memorial legacies; as elsewhere, silver spoons +are bestowed. + +From the high value ascribed to dentals throughout the archipelago of +Mardi, and also from their convenient size, they are circulated as +money; strings of teeth being regarded by these people very much as +belts of wampum among the Winnebagoes of the North; or cowries, among +the Bengalese. So, that in Valapee the very beggars are born with a +snug investment in their mouths; too soon, however, to be appropriated +by their lords; leaving them toothless for the rest of their days, and +forcing them to diet on poee-pudding and banana blanc-mange. + +As a currency, teeth are far less clumsy than cocoanuts; which, among +certain remote barbarians, circulate for coin; one nut being +equivalent, perhaps, to a penny. The voyager who records the fact, +chuckles over it hugely; as evincing the simplicity of those +heathens; not knowing that he himself was the simpleton; since that +currency of theirs was purposely devised by the men, to check the +extravagance of their women; cocoanuts, for spending money, being +such a burden to carry. + +It only remains to be added, that the most solemn oath of a native of +Valapee is that sworn by his tooth. "By this tooth," said Bondo to +Noojoomo, "by this tooth I swear to be avenged upon thee, oh +Noojoomo!" + + + +CHAPTER LXIX +The Company Discourse, And Braid-Beard Rehearses A Legend + + +Finding in Valapee no trace of her whom we sought, and but little +pleased with the cringing demeanor of the people, and the wayward +follies of Peepi their lord, we early withdrew from the isle. + +As we glided away, King Media issued a sociable decree. He declared +it his royal pleasure, that throughout the voyage, all stiffness and +state etiquette should be suspended: nothing must occur to mar the +freedom of the party. To further this charming plan, he doffed his +symbols of royalty, put off his crown, laid aside his scepter, and +assured us that he would not wear them again, except when we landed; +and not invariably, then. + +"Are we not all now friends and companions?" he said. "So companions +and friends let us be. I unbend my bow; do ye likewise." + +"But are we not to be dignified?" asked Babbalanja. + +"If dignity be free and natural, be as dignified as you please; but +away with rigidities." + +"Away they go," said Babbalanja; "and, my lord, now that you mind me +of it, I have often thought, that it is all folly and vanity for any +man to attempt a dignified carriage. Why, my lord,"--frankly crossing +his legs where he lay--"the king, who receives his embassadors with a +majestic toss of the head, may have just recovered from the tooth- +ache. That thought should cant over the spine he bears so bravely." + +"Have a care, sir! there is a king within hearing." + +"Pardon, my lord; I was merely availing myself of the immunity +bestowed upon the company. Hereafter, permit a subject to rebel +against your sociable decrees. I will not be so frank any more." + +"Well put, Babbalanja; come nearer; here, cross your legs by mine; +you have risen a cubit in my regard. Vee-Vee, bring us that gourd of +wine; so, pass it round with the cups. Now, Yoomy, a song!" + +And a song was sung. + +And thus did we sail; pleasantly reclining on the mats stretched out +beneath the canopied howdah. + +At length, we drew nigh to a rock, called Pella, or The Theft. A +high, green crag, toppling over its base, and flinging a cavernous +shadow upon the lagoon beneath, bubbling with the moisture that +dropped. + +Passing under this cliff was like finding yourself, as some sea- +hunters unexpectedly have, beneath the open, upper jaw of a whale; +which, descending, infallibly entombs you. But familiar with the +rock, our paddlers only threw back their heads, to catch the cool, +pleasant tricklings from the mosses above. + +Wiping away several glittering beads from his beard, old Mohi turning +round where he sat, just outside the canopy, solemnly affirmed, that +the drinking of that water had cured many a man of ambition. + +"How so, old man?" demanded Media. + +"Because of its passing through the ashes of ten kings, of yore +buried in a sepulcher, hewn in the heart of the rock." + +"Mighty kings, and famous, doubtless," said Babbalanja, "whose bones +were thought worthy of so noble and enduring as urn. Pray, Mohi, +their names and terrible deeds." + +"Alas! their sepulcher only remains." + +"And, no doubt, like many others, they made that sepul for +themselves. They sleep sound, my word for it, old man. But I +very much question, if, were the rock rent, any ashes would be found. +Mohi, I deny that those kings ever had any bones to bury." + +"Why, Babbalanja," said Media, "since you intimate that they never +had ghosts to give up, you ignore them in toto; denying the very fact +of their being even defunct." + +"Ten thousand pardons, my lord, no such discourtesy would I do the +anonymous memory of the illustrious dead. But whether they ever lived +or not, it is all the same with them now. Yet, grant that they lived; +then, if death be a deaf-and-dumb death, a triumphal procession over +their graves would concern them not. If a birth into brightness, then +Mardi must seem to them the most trivial of reminiscences. Or, +perhaps, theirs may be an utter lapse of memory concerning sublunary +things; and they themselves be not themselves, as the butterfly is +not the larva." + +Said Yoomy, "Then, Babbalanja, you account that a fit illustration of +the miraculous change to be wrought in man after death?" + +"No; for the analogy has an unsatisfactory end. From its chrysalis +state, the silkworm but becomes a moth, that very quickly expires. +Its longest existence is as a worm. All vanity, vanity, Yoomy, to +seek in nature for positive warranty to these aspirations of ours. +Through all her provinces, nature seems to promise immortality to +life, but destruction to beings. Or, as old Bardianna has it, if not +against us, nature is not for us." + +Said Media, rising, "Babbalanja, you have indeed put aside the +courtier; talking of worms and caterpillars to me, a king and a demi- +god! To renown, for your theme: a more agreeable topic." + +"Pardon, once again, my lord. And since you will, let us discourse of +that subject. First, I lay it down for an indubitable maxim, that in +itself all posthumous renown, which is the only renown, is valueless. +Be not offended, my lord. To the nobly ambitious, renown hereafter +may be something to anticipate. But analyzed, that feverish +typhoid feeling of theirs may be nothing more than a flickering +fancy, that now, while living, they are recognized as those who will +be as famous in their shrouds, as in their girdles." + +Said Yoomy, "But those great and good deeds, Babbalanja, of which the +philosophers so often discourse: must it not be sweet to believe that +their memory will long survive us; and we ourselves in them?" + +"I speak now," said Babbalanja, "of the ravening for fame which even +appeased, like thirst slaked in the desert, yields no felicity, but +only relief; and which discriminates not in aught that will satisfy +its cravings. But let me resume. Not an hour ago, Braid-Beard was +telling us that story of prince Ottimo, who inodorous while living, +expressed much delight at the prospect of being perfumed and +embalmed, when dead. But was not Ottimo the most eccentric of +mortals? For few men issue orders for their shrouds, to inspect their +quality beforehand. Far more anxious are they about the texture of +the sheets in which their living limbs lie. And, my lord, with some +rare exceptions, does not all Mardi, by its actions, declare, that it +is far better to be notorious now, than famous hereafter?" + +"A base sentiment, my lord," said Yoomy. "Did not poor Bonja, the +unappreciated poet, console himself for the neglect of his +contemporaries, by inspiriting thoughts of the future?" + +"In plain words by bethinking him of the glorious harvest of bravos +his ghost would reap for him," said Babbalanja; "but Banjo,--Bonjo,-- +Binjo,--I never heard of him." + +"Nor I," said Mohi. + +"Nor I," said Media. + +"Poor fellow!" cried Babbalanja; "I fear me his harvest is not yet +ripe." + +"Alas!" cried Yoomy; "he died more than a century ago." + +"But now that you speak of unappreciated poets, Yoomy," said +Babbalanja, "Shall I give you a piece of my mind?" "Do," said Mohi, +stroking his beard. + +"He, who on all hands passes for a cypher to-day, if at all +remembered hereafter, will be sure to pass for the same. For there is +more likelihood of being overrated while living, than of being +underrated when dead. And to insure your fame, you must die." + +"A rather discouraging thought for your race. But answer: I assume +that King Media is but a mortal like you; now, how may I best +perpetuate my name?" + +Long pondered Babbalanja; then said, "Carve it, my lord, deep into a +ponderous stone, and sink it, face downward, into the sea; for the +unseen foundations of the deep are more enduring than the palpable +tops of the mountains." + +Sailing past Pella, we gained a view of its farther side; and seated +in a lofty cleft, beheld a lonely fisherman; solitary as a seal on an +iceberg; his motionless line in the water. + +"What recks he of the ten kings," said Babbalanja. + +"Mohi," said Media, "methinks there is another tradition concerning +that rock: let us have it." + +"In old times of genii and giants, there dwelt in barren lands, not +very remote from our outer reef, but since submerged, a band of evil- +minded, envious goblins, furlongs in stature, and with immeasurable +arms; who from time to time cast covetous glances upon our blooming +isles. Long they lusted; till at last, they waded through the sea, +strode over the reef, and seizing the nearest islet, rolled it over +and over, toward an adjoining outlet. + +"But the task was hard; and day-break surprised them in the midst of +their audacious thieving; while in the very act of giving the devoted +land another doughty surge and Somerset. Leaving it bottom upward and +midway poised, gardens under water, its foundations in air, they +precipitately fled; in their great haste, deserting a comrade, vainly +struggling to liberate his foot caught beneath the overturned land." + +"This poor fellow now raised such an outcry, as to awaken the god +Upi, or the Archer, stretched out on a long cloud in the East; who +forthwith resolved to make an example of the unwilling lingerer. +Snatching his bow, he let fly an arrow. But overshooting its mark, it +pierced through and through, the lofty promontory of a neighboring +island; making an arch in it, which remaineth even unto this day. A +second arrow, however, accomplished its errand: the slain giant +sinking prone to the bottom." + +"And now," added Mohi, "glance over the gunwale, and you will see his +remains petrified into white ribs of coral." + +"Ay, there they are," said Yoomy, looking down into the water where +they gleamed. "A fanciful legend, Braid-beard." + +"Very entertaining," said Media. + +"Even so," said Babbalanja. "But perhaps we lost time in listening to +it; for though we know it, we are none the wiser." + +"Be not a cynic," said Media. "No pastime is lost time." + +Musing a moment, Babbalanja replied, "My lord, that maxim may be good +as it stands; but had you made six words of it, instead of six +syllables, you had uttered a better and a deeper." + + + +CHAPTER LXX +The Minstrel Leads Off With A Paddle-Song; And A Message Is Received +From Abroad + + +From seaward now came a breeze so blithesome and fresh, that it made +us impatient of Babbalanja's philosophy, and Mohi's incredible +legends. One and all, we called upon the minstrel Yoomy to give us +something in unison with the spirited waves wide-foaming around us. + +"If my lord will permit, we will give Taji the Paddle-Chant of the +warriors of King Bello." + +"By all means," said Media. + +So the three canoes were brought side to side; their sails rolled up; +and paddles in hand, our paddlers seated themselves sideways on the +gunwales; Yoomy, as leader, occupying the place of the foremast, or +Bow-Paddler of the royal barge. + +Whereupon the six rows of paddle-blades being uplifted, and every eye +on the minstrel, this song was sung, with actions corresponding; the +canoes at last shooting through the water, with a violent roll. + + (_All._) + Thrice waved on high, + Our paddles fly: + Thrice round the head, thrice dropt to feet: + And then well timed, + Of one stout mind, + All fall, and back the waters heap! + + (_Bow-Paddler._) + Who lifts this chant? + Who sounds this vaunt? + + (_All._) + The wild sea song, to the billows' throng, + Rising, falling, + Hoarsely calling, + Now high, now low, as fast we go, + Fast on our flying foe! + + (_Bow-Paddler._) + Who lifts this chant? + Who sounds this vaunt? + + (_All._) + Dip, dip, in the brine our paddles dip, + Dip, dip, the fins of our swimming ship! + How the waters part, + As on we dart; + Our sharp prows fly, + And curl on high, + As the upright fin of the rushing shark, + Rushing fast and far on his flying mark! + Like him we prey; + Like him we slay; + Swim on the fog, + Our prow a blow! + + (_Bow-Paddler._) + Who lifts this chant? + Who sounds this vaunt? + + (_All._) + Heap back; heap back; the waters back! + Pile them high astern, in billows black; + Till we leave our wake, + In the slope we make; + And rush and ride, + On the torrent's tide! + +Here we were overtaken by a swift gliding canoe, which, bearing down +upon us before the wind, lowered its sail when close by: its +occupants signing our paddlers to desist. + +I started. + +The strangers were three hooded damsels the enigmatical Queen +Hautia's heralds. + +Their pursuit surprised and perplexed me. Nor was there +wanting a vague feeling of alarm to heighten these emotions. But +perhaps I was mistaken, and this time they meant not me. + +Seated in the prow, the foremost waved her Iris flag. Cried Yoomy, +"Some message! Taji, that Iris points to you." + +It was then, I first divined, that some meaning must have lurked in +those flowers they had twice brought me before. + +The second damsel now flung over to me Circe flowers; then, a faded +jonquil, buried in a tuft of wormwood leaves. + +The third sat in the shallop's stern, and as it glided from us, +thrice waved oleanders. + +"What dumb show is this?" cried Media. "But it looks like poetry: +minstrel, you should know." + +"Interpret then," said I. + +"Shall I, then, be your Flora's flute, and Hautia's dragoman? Held +aloft, the Iris signified a message. These purple-woven Circe flowers +mean that some spell is weaving. That golden, pining jonquil, which +you hold, buried in those wormwood leaves, says plainly to you-- +Bitter love in absence." + +Said Media, "Well done, Taji, you have killed a queen." "Yet no Queen +Hautia have these eyes beheld." + +Said Babbalanja, "The thrice waved oleanders, Yoomy; what meant +they?" + +"Beware--beware--beware." + +"Then that, at least, seems kindly meant," said Babbalanja; "Taji, +beware of Hautia." + + + +CHAPTER LXXI +They Land Upon The Island Of Juam + + +Crossing the lagoon, our course now lay along the reel to Juam; a +name bestowed upon one of the largest islands hereabout; and also, +collectively, upon several wooded isles engulfing it, which together +were known as the dominions of one monarch. That monarch was +Donjalolo. Just turned of twenty-five, he was accounted not only the +handsomest man in his dominions, but throughout the lagoon. His +comeliness, however, was so feminine, that he was sometimes called +"Fonoo," or the Girl. + +Our first view of Juam was imposing. A dark green pile of cliffs, +towering some one hundred toises; at top, presenting a range of +steep, gable-pointed projections; as if some Titanic hammer and +chisel had shaped the mass. + +Sailing nearer, we perceived an extraordinary rolling of the sea; +which bursting into the lagoon through an adjoining breach in the +reef, surged toward Juam in enormous billows. At last, dashing +against the wall of the cliff; they played there in unceasing +fountains. But under the brow of a beetling crag, the spray came and +went unequally. There, the blue billows seemed swallowed up, and +lost. + +Right regally was Juam guarded. For, at this point, the rock was +pierced by a cave, into which the great waves chased each other like +lions; after a hollow, subterraneous roaring issuing forth with manes +disheveled. + +Cautiously evading the dangerous currents here ruffling the lagoon, +we rounded the wall of cliff; and shot upon a smooth expanse; on one +side, hemmed in by the long, verdent, northern shore of Juam; +and across the water, sentineled by its tributary islets. + +With sonorous Vee-Vee in the shark's mouth, we swept toward the +beach, tumultuous with a throng. + +Our canoes were secured. And surrounded by eager glances, we passed +the lower ends of several populous valleys; and crossing a wide, open +meadow, gradually ascending, came to a range of light-green bluffs. +Here, we wended our way down a narrow defile, almost cleaving this +quarter of the island to its base. Black crags frowned overhead: +among them the shouts of the Islanders reverberated. Yet steeper grew +the defile, and more overhanging the crags till at last, the keystone +of the arch seemed dropped into its place. We found ourselves in a +subterranean tunnel, dimly lighted by a span of white day at the end. + +Emerging, what a scene was revealed! All round, embracing a circuit +of some three leagues, stood heights inaccessible, here and there, +forming buttresses, sheltering deep recesses between. The bosom of +the place was vivid with verdure. + +Shining aslant into this wild hollow, the afternoon sun lighted up +its eastern side with tints of gold. But opposite, brooded a somber +shadow, double-shading the secret places between the salient spurs of +the mountains. Thus cut in twain by masses of day and night, it +seemed as if some Last Judgment had been enacted in the glen. + +No sooner did we emerge from the defile, than we became sensible of a +dull, jarring sound; and Yoomy was almost tempted to turn and flee, +when informed that the sea-cavern, whose mouth we had passed, was +believed to penetrate deep into the opposite hills; and that the +surface of the amphitheater was depressed beneath that of the lagoon. +But all over the lowermost hillsides, and sloping into the glen, +stood grand old groves; still and stately, as if no insolent waves +were throbbing in the mountain's heart. + +Such was Willamilla, the hereditary abode of the young monarch of Juam. + +Was Yillah immured in this strange retreat? But from those around us +naught could we learn. + +Our attention was now directed to the habitations of the glen; +comprised in two handsome villages; one to the west, the other to the +east; both stretching along the base of the cliffs. + +Said Media, "Had we arrived at Willamilla in the morning, we had +found Donjalolo and his court in the eastern village; but being +afternoon, we must travel farther, and seek him in his western +retreat; for that is now in the shade." + +Wending our way, Media added, that aside from his elevated station as +a monarch, Donjalolo was famed for many uncommon traits; but more +especially for certain peculiar deprivations, under which he labored. + +Whereupon Braid-Beard unrolled his old chronicles; and regaled us +with the history, which will be found in the following chapter. + + + +CHAPTER LXXII +A Book From The Chronicles Of Mohi + + +Many ages ago, there reigned in Juam a king called Teei. This Teei's +succession to the sovereignty was long disputed by his brother +Marjora; who at last rallying round him an army, after many +vicissitudes, defeated the unfortunate monarch in a stout fight of +clubs on the beach. + +In those days, Willamilla during a certain period of the year was a +place set apart for royal games and diversions; and was furnished +with suitable accommodations for king and court. From its peculiar +position, moreover, it was regarded as the last stronghold of the +Juam monarchy: in remote times having twice withstood the most +desperate assaults from without. And when Roonoonoo, a famous +upstart, sought to subdue all the isles in this part of the +Archipelago, it was to Willamilla that the banded kings had repaired +to take counsel together; and while there conferring, were surprised +at the sudden onslaught of Roonoonoo in person. But in the end, the +rebel was captured, he and all his army, and impaled on the tops of +the hills. + +Now, defeated and fleeing for his life, Teei with his surviving +followers was driven across the plain toward the mountains. But to +cut him off from all escape to inland Willamilla, Marjora dispatched +a fleet band of warriors to occupy the entrance of the defile. +Nevertheless, Teei the pursued ran faster than his pursuers; first +gained the spot; and with his chiefs, fled swiftly down the gorge, +closely hunted by Marjora's men. But arriving at the further end, +they in vain sought to defend it. And after much desperate +fighting, the main body of the foe corning up with great slaughter +the fugitives were driven into the glen. + +They ran to the opposite wall of cliff; where turning, they fought at +bay, blood for blood, and life for life, till at last, overwhelmed by +numbers, they were all put to the point of the spear. + +With fratricidal hate, singled out by the ferocious Marjora, Teei +fell by that brother's hand. When stripping from the body the regal +girdle, the victor wound it round his own loins; thus proclaiming +himself king over Juam. + +Long torn by this intestine war, the island acquiesced in the new +sovereignty. But at length a sacred oracle declared, that since the +conqueror had slain his brother in deep Willamilla, so that Teei +never more issued from that refuge of death; therefore, the same fate +should be Marjora's; for never, thenceforth, from that glen, should +he go forth; neither Marjora; nor any son of his girdled loins; nor +his son's sons; nor the uttermost scion of his race. + +But except this denunciation, naught was denounced against the usurper; +who, mindful of the tenure by which he reigned, ruled over the island +for many moons; at his death bequeathing the girdle to his son. + +In those days, the wildest superstitions concerning the interference +of the gods in things temporal, prevailed to a much greater extent +than at present. Hence Marjora himself, called sometimes in the +traditions of the island, The-Heart-of-Black-Coral, even unscrupulous +Marjora had quailed before the oracle. "He bowed his head," say the +legends. Nor was it then questioned, by his most devoted adherents, +that had he dared to act counter to that edict, he had dropped dead, +the very instant he went under the shadow of the defile. This +persuasion also guided the conduct of the son of Marjora, and that of +his grandson. + +But there at last came to pass a change in the popular fancies +concerning this ancient anathema. The penalty denounced against the +posterity of the usurper should they issue from the glen, came +to be regarded as only applicable to an invested monarch, not to his +relatives, or heirs. + +A most favorable construction of the ban; for all those related to +the king, freely passed in and out of Willamilla. + +From the time of the usurpation, there had always been observed a +certain ceremony upon investing the heir to the sovereignty with the +girdle of Teei. Upon these occasions, the chief priests of the island +were present, acting an important part. For the space of as many +days, as there had reigned kings of Marjora's dynasty, the inner +mouth of the defile remained sealed; the new monarch placing the last +stone in the gap. This symbolized his relinquishment forever of all +purpose of passing out of the glen. And without this observance, was +no king girdled in Juam. + +It was likewise an invariable custom, for the heir to receive the +regal investiture immediately upon the decease of his sire. No delay +was permitted. And instantly upon being girdled, he proceeded to take +part in the ceremony of closing the cave; his predecessor yet +remaining uninterred on the purple mat where he died. + +In the history of the island, three instances were recorded; wherein, +upon the vacation of the sovereignty, the immediate heir had +voluntarily renounced all claim to the succession, rather than +surrender the privilege of roving, to which he had been entitled, as +a prince of the blood. + +Said Rani, one of these young princes, in reply to the remonstrances +of his friends, "What! shall I be a king, only to be a slave? Teei's +girdle would clasp my waist less tightly, than my soul would be +banded by the mountains of Willamilla. A subject, I am free. No slave +in Juam but its king; for all the tassels round his loins." + +To guard against a similar resolution in the mind of his only son, +the wise sire of Donjalolo, ardently desirous of perpetuating his +dignities in a child so well beloved, had from his earliest infancy, +restrained the boy from passing out of the glen, to contract in the +free air of the Archipelago, tastes and predilections fatal to +the inheritance of the girdle. + +But as he grew in years, so impatient became young Donjalolo of the +king his father's watchfulness over him, though hitherto a most +dutiful son, that at last he was prevailed upon by his youthful +companions to appoint a day, on which to go abroad, and visit Mardi. +Hearing this determination, the old king sought to vanquish it. But +in vain. And early on the morning of the day, that Donjalolo was to +set out, he swallowed poison, and died; in order to force his son +into the instant assumption of the honors thus suddenly inherited. + +The event, but not its dreadful circumstances, was communicated to +the prince; as with a gay party of young chiefs, he was about to +enter the mouth of the defile. + +"My sire dead!" cried Donjalolo. "So sudden, it seems a bolt from +Heaven." And bursting into exclamations of grief, he wept upon the +bosom of Talara his friend. + +But starting from his side:--"My fate converges to a point. If I but +cross that shadow, my kingdom is lost. One lifting of my foot, and +the girdle goes to my proud uncle Darfi, who would so joy to be my +master. Haughty Dwarf! Oh Oro! would that I had ere this passed thee, +fatal cavern; and seen for myself, what outer Mardi is. Say ye true, +comrades, that Willamilla is less lovely than the valleys without? +that there is bright light in the eyes of the maidens of Mina? and +wisdom in the hearts of the old priests of Maramma; that it is +pleasant to tread the green earth where you will; and breathe the +free ocean air? Would, oh would, that I were but the least of yonder +sun-clouds, that look down alike on Willamilla and all places +besides, that I might determine aright. Yet why do I pause? did not +Rani, and Atama, and Mardonna, my ancestors, each see for himself, +free Mardi; and did they not fly the proffered girdle; choosing +rather to be free to come and go, than bury themselves forever in +this fatal glen? Oh Mardi! Mardi! art thou then so fair to +see? Is liberty a thing so glorious? Yet can I be no king, and behold +thee! Too late, too late, to view thy charms and then return. My +sire! my sire! thou hast wrung my heart with this agony of doubt. +Tell me, comrades,--for ye have seen it,--is Mardi sweeter to behold, +than it is royal to reign over Juam? Silent, are ye? Knowing what ye +do, were ye me, would ye be kings? Tell me, Talara.--No king: no +king:--that were to obey, and not command. And none hath Donjalolo +ere obeyed but the king his father. A king, and my voice may be heard +in farthest Mardi, though I abide in narrow Willamilla. My sire! my +sire! Ye flying clouds, what look ye down upon? Tell me, what ye see +abroad? Methinks sweet spices breathe from out the cave." + +"Hail, Donjalolo, King of Juam," now sounded with acclamations from +the groves. + +Starting, the young prince beheld a multitude approaching: warriors +with spears, and maidens with flowers; and Kubla, a priest, lifting +on high the tasseled girdle of Teei, and waving it toward him. + +The young chiefs fell back. Kubla, advancing, came close to the +prince, and unclasping the badge of royalty, exclaimed, "Donjalolo, +this instant it is king or subject with thee: wilt thou be girdled +monarch?" + +Gazing one moment up the dark defile, then staring vacantly, +Donjalolo turned and met the eager gaze of Darfi. Stripping off his +mantle, the next instant he was a king. + +Loud shouted the multitude, and exulted; but after mutely assisting +at the closing of the cavern, the new-girdled monarch retired sadly +to his dwelling, and was not seen again for many days. + + + +CHAPTER LXXIII +Something More Of The Prince + + +Previous to recording our stay in his dominions, it only remains to +be related of Donjalolo, that after assuming the girdle, a change +came over him. + +During the lifetime of his father, he had been famed for his +temperance and discretion. But when Mardi was forever shut out; and +he remembered the law of his isle, interdicting abdication to its +kings; he gradually fell into desperate courses, to drown the +emotions at times distracting him. + +His generous spirit thirsting after some energetic career, found +itself narrowed down within the little glen of Willamilla, where +ardent impulses seemed idle. But these are hard to die; and repulsed +all round, recoil upon themselves. + +So with Donjalolo; who, in many a riotous scene, wasted the powers +which might have compassed the noblest designs. + +Not many years had elapsed since the death of the king, his father. +But the still youthful prince was no longer the bright-eyed and +elastic boy who at the dawn of day had sallied out to behold the +landscapes of the neighboring isles. + +Not more effeminate Sardanapalus, than he. And, at intervals, he was +the victim of unaccountable vagaries; haunted by specters, and +beckoned to by the ghosts of his sires. + +At times, loathing his vicious pursuits, which brought him no solid +satisfaction, but ever filled him with final disgust, he would +resolve to amend his ways; solacing himself for his bitter captivity, +by the society of the wise and discreet. + +But brief the interval of repentance. Anew, he burst into excesses, a +hundred fold more insane than ever. + +Thus vacillating between virtue and vice; to neither constant, and +upbraided by both; his mind, like his person in the glen, was +continually passing and repassing between opposite extremes. + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV +Advancing Deeper Into The Vale, They Encounter Donjalolo + + +From the mouth of the cavern, a broad shaded way over-arched by +fraternal trees embracing in mid-air, conducted us to a cross-path, +on either hand leading to the opposite cliffs, shading the twin +villages before mentioned. + +Level as a meadow, was the bosom of the glen. Here, nodding with +green orchards of the Bread-fruit and the Palm; there, flashing with +golden plantations of the Banana. Emerging from these, we came out +upon a grassy mead, skirting a projection of the mountain. And soon +we crossed a bridge of boughs, spanning a trench, thickly planted +with roots of the Tara, like alligators, or Hollanders, reveling in +the soft alluvial. Strolling on, the wild beauty of the mountains +excited our attention. The topmost crags poured over with vines; +which, undulating in the air, seemed leafy cascades; their sources +the upland groves. + +Midway up the precipice, along a shelf of rock, sprouted the +multitudinous roots of an apparently trunkless tree. Shooting from +under the shallow soil, they spread all over the rocks below, +covering them with an intricate net-work. While far aloft, great +boughs--each a copse--clambered to the very summit of the mountain; +then bending over, struck anew into the soil; forming along the verge +an interminable colonnade; all manner of antic architecture standing +against the sky. + +According to Mohi, this tree was truly wonderful; its seed having +been dropped from the moon; where were plenty more similar +forests, causing the dark spots on its surface. + +Here and there, the cool fluid in the veins of the mountains gushed +forth in living springs; their waters received in green mossy tanks, +half buried in grasses. + +In one place, a considerable stream, bounding far out from a wooded +height, ere reaching the ground was dispersed in a wide misty shower, +falling so far from the base of the cliff; that walking close +underneath, you felt little moisture. Passing this fall of vapors, we +spied many Islanders taking a bath. + +But what is yonder swaying of the foliage? And what now issues forth, +like a habitation astir? Donjalolo drawing nigh to his guests. + +He came in a fair sedan; a bower, resting upon three long, parallel +poles, borne by thirty men, gayly attired; five at each pole-end. +Decked with dyed tappas, and looped with garlands of newly-plucked +flowers, from which, at every step, the fragrant petals were blown; +with a sumptuous, elastic motion the gay sedan came on; leaving +behind it a long, rosy wake of fluttering leaves and odors. + +Drawing near, it revealed a slender, enervate youth, of pallid +beauty, reclining upon a crimson mat, near the festooned arch of the +bower. His anointed head was resting against the bosom of a girl; +another stirred the air, with a fan of Pintado plumes. The pupils of +his eyes were as floating isles in the sea. In a soft low tone he +murmured "Media!" + +The bearers paused; and Media advancing; the Island Kings bowed their +foreheads together. + +Through tubes ignited at the end, Donjaloln's reclining attendants +now blew an aromatic incense around him. These were composed of the +stimulating leaves of the "Aina," mixed with the long yellow blades +of a sweet-scented upland grass; forming a hollow stem. In general, +the agreeable fumes of the "Aina" were created by one's own +inhalations; but Donjalolo deeming the solace too dearly purchased by +any exertion of the royal lungs, regaled himself through those of his +attendants, whose lips were as moss-rose buds after a shower. + +In silence the young prince now eyed us attentively; meanwhile gently +waving his hand, to obtain a better view through the wreaths of +vapor. He was about to address us, when chancing to catch a glimpse +of Samoa, he suddenly started; averted his glance; and wildly +commanded the warrior out of sight. Upon this, his attendants would +have soothed him; and Media desired the Upoluan to withdraw. + +While we were yet lost in wonder at this scene, Donjalolo, with eyes +closed, fell back into the arms of his damsels. Recovering, he +fetched a deep sigh, and gazed vacantly around. + +It seems, that he had fancied Samoa the noon-day specter of his +ancestor Marjora; the usurper having been deprived of an arm in the +battle which gained him the girdle. Poor prince: this was one of +those crazy conceits, so puzzling to his subjects. + +Media now hastened to assure Donjalolo, that Samoa, though no cherub +to behold, was good flesh and blood, nevertheless. And soon the king +unconcernedly gazed; his monomania having departed as a dream. + +But still suffering from the effects of an overnight feast, he +presently murmured forth a desire to be left to his women; adding +that his people would not fail to provide for the entertainment of +his guests. + +The curtains of the sedan were now drawn; and soon it disappeared in +the groves. Journeying on, ere long we arrived at the western side of +the glen; where one of the many little arbors scattered among the +trees, was assigned for our abode. Here, we reclined to an agreeable +repast. After which, we strolled forth to view the valley at large; +more especially the far-famed palaces of the prince. + + + +CHAPTER LXXV +Time And Temples + + +In the oriental Pilgrimage of the pious old Purchas, and in the fine +old folio Voyages of Hakluyt, Thevenot, Ramusio, and De Bry, we read +of many glorious old Asiatic temples, very long in erecting. And +veracious Gaudentia di Lucca hath a wondrous narration of the time +consumed in rearing that mighty three-hundred-and-seventy-five- +pillared Temple of the Year, somewhere beyond Libya; whereof, the +columns did signify days, and all round fronted upon concentric zones +of palaces, cross-cut by twelve grand avenues symbolizing the signs +of the zodiac, all radiating from the sun-dome in their midst. And in +that wild eastern tale of his, Marco Polo tells us, how the Great +Mogul began him a pleasure-palace on so imperial a scale, that his +grandson had much ado to complete it. + +But no matter for marveling all this: great towers take time to +construct. + +And so of all else. + +And that which long endures full-fledged, must have long lain in the +germ. And duration is not of the future, but of the past; and +eternity is eternal, because it has been, and though a strong new +monument be builded to-day, it only is lasting because its blocks are +old as the sun. It is not the Pyramids that are ancient, but the +eternal granite whereof they are made; which had been equally ancient +though yet in the quarry. For to make an eternity, we must build with +eternities; whence, the vanity of the cry for any thing alike durable +and new; and the folly of the reproach--Your granite hath come from +the old-fashioned hills. For we are not gods and creators; and +the controversialists have debated, whether indeed the All-Plastic +Power itself can do more than mold. In all the universe is but one +original; and the very suns must to their source for their fire; and +we Prometheuses must to them for ours; which, when had, only +perpetual Vestal tending will keep alive. + +But let us back from fire to store. No fine firm fabric ever yet grew +like a gourd. Nero's House of Gold was not raised in a day; nor the +Mexican House of the Sun; nor the Alhambra; nor the Escurial; nor +Titus's Amphitheater; nor the Illinois Mounds; nor Diana's great +columns at Ephesus; nor Pompey's proud Pillar; nor the Parthenon; nor +the Altar of Belus; nor Stonehenge; nor Solomon's Temple; nor +Tadmor's towers; nor Susa's bastions; nor Persepolis' pediments. +Round and round, the Moorish turret at Seville was not wound +heavenward in the revolution of a day; and from its first founding, +five hundred years did circle, ere Strasbourg's great spire lifted +its five hundred feet into the air. No: nor were the great grottos of +Elephanta hewn out in an hour; nor did the Troglodytes dig Kentucky's +Mammoth Cave in a sun; nor that of Trophonius, nor Antiparos; nor the +Giant's Causeway. Nor were the subterranean arched sewers of Etruria +channeled in a trice; nor the airy arched aqueducts of Nerva thrown +over their values in the ides of a month. Nor was Virginia's Natural +Bridge worn under in a year; nor, in geology, were the eternal +Grampians upheaved in an age. And who shall count the cycles that +revolved ere earth's interior sedimentary strata were crystalized +into stone. Nor Peak of Piko, nor Teneriffe, were chiseled into +obelisks in a decade; nor had Mount Athos been turned into +Alexander's statue so soon. And the bower of Artaxerxes took a whole +Persian summer to grow; and the Czar's Ice Palace a long Muscovite +winter to congeal. No, no: nor was the Pyramid of Cheops masoned in a +month; though, once built, the sands left by the deluge might +not have submerged such a pile. Nor were the broad boughs of Charles' +Oak grown in a spring; though they outlived the royal dynasties of +Tudor and Stuart. Nor were the parts of the great Iliad put together +in haste; though old Homer's temple shall lift up its dome, when St. +Peter's is a legend. Even man himself lives months ere his Maker +deems him fit to be born; and ere his proud shaft gains its full +stature, twenty-one long Julian years must elapse. And his whole +mortal life brings not his immortal soul to maturity; nor will all +eternity perfect him. Yea, with uttermost reverence, as to human +understanding, increase of dominion seems increase of power; and day +by day new planets are being added to elder-born Saturn, even as six +thousand years ago our own Earth made one more in this system; so, in +incident, not in essence, may the Infinite himself be not less than +more infinite now, than when old Aldebaran rolled forth from his +hand. And if time was, when this round Earth, which to innumerable +mortals has seemed an empire never to be wholly explored; which, in +its seas, concealed all the Indies over four thousand five hundred +years; if time was, when this great quarry of Assyrias and Romes was +not extant; then, time may have been, when the whole material +universe lived its Dark Ages; yea, when the Ineffable Silence, +proceeding from its unimaginable remoteness, espied it as an isle in +the sea. And herein is no derogation. For the Immeasurable's altitude +is not heightened by the arches of Mahomet's heavens; and were all +space a vacuum, yet would it be a fullness; for to Himself His own +universe is He. + +Thus deeper and deeper into Time's endless tunnel, does the winged +soul, like a night-hawk, wend her wild way; and finds eternities +before and behind; and her last limit is her everlasting beginning. + +But sent over the broad flooded sphere, even Noah's dove came back, +and perched on his hand. So comes back my spirit to me, and folds up +her wings. + +Thus, then, though Time be the mightiest of Alarics, yet is he the +mightiest mason of all. And a tutor, and a counselor, and a +physician, and a scribe, and a poet, and a sage, and a king. + +Yea, and a gardener, as ere long will be shown. + +But first must we return to the glen. + + + +CHAPTER LXXVI +A Pleasant Place For A Lounge + + +Whether the hard condition of their kingly state, very naturally +demanding some luxurious requital, prevailed upon the monarchs of +Juam to house themselves so delightfully as they did; whether buried +alive in their glen, they sought to center therein a secret world of +enjoyment; however it may have been, throughout the Archipelago this +saying was a proverb--"You are lodged like the king in Willamilla." +Hereby was expressed the utmost sumptuousness of a palace. + +A well warranted saying; for of all the bright places, where my soul +loves to linger, the haunts of Donjalolo are most delicious. + +In the eastern quarter of the glen was the House of the Morning. This +fanciful palace was raised upon a natural mound, many rods square, +almost completely filling up a deep recess between deep-green and +projecting cliffs, overlooking many abodes distributed in the shadows +of the groves beyond. + +Now, if it indeed be, that from the time employed in its +construction, any just notion may be formed of the stateliness of an +edifice, it must needs be determined, that this retreat of Donjalolo +could not be otherwise than imposing. + +Full five hundred moons was the palace in completing; for by some +architectural arborist, its quadrangular foundations had been laid in +seed-cocoanuts, requiring that period to sprout up into pillars. In +front, these were horizontally connected, by elaborately carved +beams, of a scarlet hue, inserted into the vital wood; which, +swelling out, and over lapping, firmly secured them. The beams +supported the rafters, inclining from the rear; while over the +aromatic grasses covering the roof, waved the tufted tops of the +Palms, green capitals to their dusky shafts. + +Through and through this vibrating verdure, bright birds flitted and +sang; the scented and variegated thatch seemed a hanging-garden; and +between it and the Palm tops, was leaf-hung an arbor in the air. + +Without these columns, stood a second and third colonnade, forming +the most beautiful bowers; advancing through which, you fancied that +the palace beyond must be chambered in a fountain, or frozen in a +crystal. Three sparkling rivulets flowing from the heights were led +across its summit, through great trunks half buried in the thatch; +and emptying into a sculptured channel, running along the eaves, +poured over in one wide sheet, plaited and transparent. Received into +a basin beneath, they were thence conducted down the vale. + +The sides of the palace were hedged by Diomi bushes bearing a flower, +from its perfume, called Lenora, or Sweet Breath; and within these +odorous hedges, were heavy piles of mats, richly dyed and embroidered. + +Here lounging of a glowing noon, the plaited cascade playing, the +verdure waving, and the birds melodious, it was hard to say, whether +you were an inmate of a garden in the glen, or a grotto in the sea. + +But enough for the nonce, of the House of the Morning. Cross we the +hollow, to the House of the Afternoon. + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII +The House Of The Afternoon + + +For the most part, the House of the Afternoon was but a wing built +against a mansion wrought by the hand of Nature herself; a grotto +running into the side of the mountain. From high over the mouth of +this grotto, sloped a long arbor, supported by great blocks of stone, +rudely chiseled into the likeness of idols, each bearing a carved +lizard on its chest: a sergeant's guard of the gods condescendingly +doing duty as posts. + +From the grotto thus vestibuled, issued hilariously forth the most +considerable stream of the glen; which, seemingly overjoyed to find +daylight in Willamilla, sprang into the arbor with a cheery, white +bound. But its youthful enthusiasm was soon repressed; its waters +being caught in a large stone basin, scooped out of the natural rock; +whence, staid and decorous, they traversed sundry moats; at last +meandering away, to join floods with the streams trained to do +service at the other end of the vale. + +Truant streams: the livelong day wending their loitering path to the +subterraneous outlet, flowing into which, they disappeared. But no +wonder they loitered; passing such ravishing landscapes. Thus with +life: man bounds out of night; runs and babbles in the sun; then +returns to his darkness again; though, peradventure, once more to +emerge. + +But the grotto was not a mere outlet to the stream. Flowing through a +dark flume in the rock, on both sides it left a dry, elevated shelf, +to which you ascend from the arbor by three artificially-wrought +steps, sideways disposed, to avoid the spray of the rejoicing +cataract. Mounting these, and pursuing the edge of the flume, the +grotto gradually expands and heightens; your way lighted by rays in +the inner distance. At last you come to a lofty subterraneous dome, +lit from above by a cleft in the mountain; while full before you, in +the opposite wall, from a low, black arch, midway up, and +inaccessible, the stream, with a hollow ring and a dash, falls in a +long, snowy column into a bottomless pool, whence, after many an eddy +and whirl, it entered the flume, and away with a rush. Half hidden +from view by an overhanging brow of the rock, the white fall looked +like the sheeted ghost of the grotto. + +Yet gallantly bedecked was the cave, as any old armorial hall hung +round with banners and arras. Streaming from the cleft, vines swung +in the air; or crawled along the rocks, wherever a tendril could be +fixed. High up, their leaves were green; but lower down, they were +shriveled; and dyed of many colors; and tattered and torn with much +rustling; as old banners again; sore raveled with much triumphing. + +In the middle of this hall in the hill was incarcerated the stone +image of one Demi, the tutelar deity of Willamina. All green and oozy +like a stone under water, poor Demi looked as if sore harassed with +sciatics and lumbagos. + +But he was cheered from aloft, by the promise of receiving a garland +all blooming on his crown; the Dryads sporting in the woodlands +above, forever peeping down the cleft, and essaying to drop him a +coronal. + +Now, the still, panting glen of Willamilla, nested so close by the +mountains, and a goodly green mark for the archer in the sun, would +have been almost untenable were it not for the grotto. Hereby, it +breathed the blessed breezes of Omi; a mountain promontory +buttressing the island to the east, receiving the cool stream of the +upland Trades; much pleasanter than the currents beneath. + +At all times, even in the brooding noon-day, a gush of cool air came +hand-in-hand with the cool waters, that burst with a shout into the +palace of Donjalolo. And as, after first refreshing the king, as in +loyalty bound, the stream flowed at large through the glen, and +bathed its verdure; so, the blessed breezes of Omi, not only made +pleasant the House of the Afternoon; but finding ample outlet in its +wide, open front, blew forth upon the bosom of all Willamilla. + +"Come let us take the air of Omi," was a very common saying in the +glen. And the speaker would hie with his comrade toward the grotto; +and flinging himself on the turf, pass his hand through his locks, +and recline; making a joy and a business of breathing; for truly the +breezes of Omi were as air-wine to the lungs. + +Yet was not this breeze over-cool; though at times the zephyrs grew +boisterous. Especially at the season of high sea, when the strong +Trades drawn down the cleft in the mountain, rushed forth from the +grotto with wonderful force. Crossing it then, you had much ado to +keep your robe on your back. + +Thus much for the House of the Afternoon. Whither--after spending the +shady morning under the eastern cliffs of the glen--daily, at a +certain hour, Donjalolo in his palanquin was borne; there, finding +new shades; and there tarrying till evening; when again he was +transported whence he came: thereby anticipating the revolution of +the sun. Thus dodging day's luminary through life, the prince hied to +and fro in his dominions; on his smooth, spotless brow Sol's rays +never shining. + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII +Babbalanja Solus + + +Of the House of the Afternoon something yet remains to be said. + +It was chiefly distinguished by its pavement, where, according to the +strange customs of the isle, were inlaid the reputed skeletons of +Donjalolo's sires; each surrounded by a mosaic of corals,--red, +white, and black, intermixed with vitreous stones fallen from the +skies in a meteoric shower. These delineated the tattooing of the +departed. Near by, were imbedded their arms: mace, bow, and spear, in +similar marquetry; and over each skull was the likeness of a scepter. + +First and conspicuous lay the half-decayed remains of Marjora, the +father of these Coral Kings; by his side, the storied, sickle-shaped +weapon, wherewith he slew his brother Teei. + +"Line of kings and row of scepters," said Babbalanja as he gazed. +"Donjalolo, come forth and ponder on thy sires. Here they lie, from +dread Marjora down to him who fathered thee. Here are their bones, +their spears, and their javelins; their scepters, and the very +fashion of their tattooing: all that can be got together of what they +were. Tell me, oh king, what are thy thoughts? Dotest thou on these +thy sires? Art thou more truly royal, that they were kings? Or more a +man, that they were men? Is it a fable, or a verity about Marjora and +the murdered Teei? But here is the mighty conqueror,--ask him. Speak +to him: son to sire: king to king. Prick him; beg; buffet; +entreat; spurn; split the globe, he will not budge. Walk over and +over thy whole ancestral line, and they will not start. They are not +here. Ay, the dead are not to be found, even in their graves. Nor +have they simply departed; for they willed not to go; they died not +by choice; whithersoever they have gone, thither have they been +dragged; and if so be, they are extinct, their nihilities went not +more against their grain, than their forced quitting of Mardi. Either +way, something has become of them that they sought not. Truly, had +stout-hearted Marjora sworn to live here in Willamilla for ay, and +kept the vow, _that_ would have been royalty indeed; but here he +lies. Marjora! rise! Juam revolteth! Lo, I stamp upon thy scepter; +base menials tread upon thee where thou hest! Up, king, up! What? no +reply? Are not these bones thine? Oh, how the living triumph over the +dead! Marjora! answer. Art thou? or art thou not? I see thee not; I +hear thee not; I feel thee not; eyes, ears, hands, are worthless to +test thy being; and if thou art, thou art something beyond all human +thought to compass. We must have other faculties to know thee by. +Why, thou art not even a sightless sound; not the echo of an echo; +here are thy bones. Donjalolo, methinks I see thee fallen upon by +assassins:--which of thy fathers riseth to the rescue? I see thee +dying:--which of them telleth thee what cheer beyond the grave? But +they have gone to the land unknown. Meet phrase. Where is it? Not one +of Oro's priests telleth a straight story concerning it; 'twill be +hard finding their paradises. Touching the life of Alma, in Mohi's +chronicles, 'tis related, that a man was once raised from the tomb. +But rubbed he not his eyes, and stared he not most vacantly? Not one +revelation did he make. Ye gods! to have been a bystander there! + +"At best, 'tis but a hope. But will a longing bring the thing +desired? Doth dread avert its object? An instinct is no preservative. +The fire I shrink from, may consume me.--But dead, and yet +alive; alive, yet dead;--thus say the sages of Maramma. But die we +then living? Yet if our dead fathers somewhere and somehow live, why +not our unborn sons? For backward or forward, eternity is the same; +already have we been the nothing we dread to be. Icy thought! But +bring it home,--it will not stay. What ho, hot heart of mine: to beat +thus lustily awhile, to feel in the red rushing blood, and then be +ashes,--can this be so? But peace, peace, thou liar in me, telling me +I am immortal--shall I not be as these bones? To come to this! But +the balsam-dropping palms, whose boles run milk, whose plumes wave +boastful in the air, they perish in their prime, and bow their +blasted trunks. Nothing abideth; the river of yesterday floweth not +to-day; the sun's rising is a setting; living is dying; the very +mountains melt; and all revolve:--systems and asteroids; the sun +wheels through the zodiac, and the zodiac is a revolution. Ah gods! +in all this universal stir, am _I_ to prove one stable thing? + +"Grim chiefs in skeletons, avaunt! Ye are but dust; belike the dust +of beggars; for on this bed, paupers may lie down with kings, and +filch their skulls. _This_, great Marjora's arm? No, some old +paralytic's. _Ye_, kings? _ye_, men? Where are your vouchers? I do +reject your brother-hood, ye libelous remains. But no, no; despise +them not, oh Babbalanja! Thy own skeleton, thou thyself dost carry +with thee, through this mortal life; and aye would view it, but for +kind nature's screen; thou art death alive; and e'en to what's before +thee wilt thou come. Ay, thy children's children will walk over thee: +thou, voiceless as a calm." + +And over the Coral Kings, Babbalanja paced in profound meditation. + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX +The Center Of Many Circumferences + + +Like Donjalolo himself, we hie to and fro; for back now must we pace +to the House of the Morning. + +In its rear, there diverged three separate arbors, leading to less +public apartments. + +Traversing the central arbor, and fancying it will soon lead you to +open ground, you suddenly come upon the most private retreat of the +prince: a square structure; plain as a pyramid; and without, as +inscrutable. Down to the very ground, its walls are thatched; but on +the farther side a passage-way opens, which you enter. But not yet +are you within. Scarce a yard distant, stands an inner thatched wall, +blank as the first. Passing along the intervening corridor, lighted +by narrow apertures, you reach the opposite side, and a second +opening is revealed. This entering, another corridor; lighted as the +first, but more dim, and a third blank wall. And thus, three times +three, you worm round and round, the twilight lessening as you +proceed; until at last, you enter the citadel itself: the innermost +arbor of a nest; whereof, each has its roof, distinct from the rest. + +The heart of the place is but small; illuminated by a range of open +sky-lights, downward contracting. + +Innumerable as the leaves of an endless folio, multitudinous mats +cover the floor; whereon reclining by night, like Pharaoh on the top +of his patrimonial pile, the inmate looks heavenward, and heavenward +only; gazing at the torchlight processions in the skies, when, in +state, the suns march to be crowned. + +And here, in this impenetrable retreat, centrally slumbered the +universe-rounded, zodiac-belted, horizon-zoned, sea-girt, reef- +sashed, mountain-locked, arbor-nested, royalty-girdled, arm-clasped, +self-hugged, indivisible Donjalolo, absolute monarch of Juam:--the +husk-inhusked meat in a nut; the innermost spark in a ruby; the +juice-nested seed in a goldenrinded orange; the red royal stone in an +effeminate peach; the insphered sphere of spheres. + + + +CHAPTER LXXX +Donjalolo In The Bosom Of His Family + + +To pretend to relate the manner in which Juam's ruler passed his +captive days, without making suitable mention of his harem, would be +to paint one's full-length likeness and omit the face. For it was his +harem that did much to stamp the character of Donjalolo. + +And had he possessed but a single spouse, most discourteous, surely, +to have overlooked the princess; much more, then, as it is; and by +how-much the more, a plurality exceeds a unit. + +Exclusive of the female attendants, by day waiting upon the person of +the king, he had wives thirty in number, corresponding in name to the +nights of the moon. For, in Juam, time is not reckoned by days, but +by nights; each night of the lunar month having its own designation; +which, relatively only, is extended to the day. + +In uniform succession, the thirty wives ruled queen of the king's +heart. An arrangement most wise and judicious; precluding much of +that jealousy and confusion prevalent in ill-regulated seraglios. For +as thirty spouses must be either more desirable, or less desirable +than one; so is a harem thirty times more difficult to manage than an +establishment with one solitary mistress. But Donjalolo's wives were +so nicely drilled, that for the most part, things went on very +smoothly. Nor were his brows much furrowed with wrinkles referable to +domestic cares and tribulations. Although, as in due time will be +seen, from these he was not altogether exempt. + +Now, according to Braid-Beard, who, among other abstruse political +researches, had accurately informed himself concerning the internal +administration of Donjalolo's harem, the following was the method +pursued therein. + +On the Aquella, or First Night of the month, the queen of that name +assumes her diadem, and reigns. So too with Azzolino the Second, and +Velluvi the Third Night of the Moon; and so on, even unto the utter +eclipse thereof; through Calends, Nones, and Ides. + +For convenience, the king is furnished with a card, whereon are +copied the various ciphers upon the arms of his queens; and parallel +thereto, the hieroglyphics significant of the corresponding Nights of +the month. Glancing over this, Donjalolo predicts the true time of +the rising and setting of all his stars. + +This Moon of wives was lodged in two spacious seraglios, which few +mortals beheld. For, so deeply were they buried in a grove; so +overpowered with verdure; so overrun with vines; and so hazy with the +incense of flowers; that they were almost invisible, unless closely +approached. Certain it was, that it demanded no small enterprise, +diligence, and sagacity, to explore the mysterious wood in search of +them. Though a strange, sweet, humming sound, as of the clustering +and swarming of warm bees among roses, at last hinted the royal honey +at hand. High in air, toward the summit of the cliff, overlooking +this side of the glen, a narrow ledge of rocks might have been seen, +from which, rumor whispered, was to be caught an angular peep at the +tip of the apex of the roof of the nearest seraglio. But this wild +report had never been established. Nor, indeed, was it susceptible of +a test. For was not that rock inaccessible as the eyrie of young +eagles? But to guard against the possibility of any visual +profanation, Donjalolo had authorized an edict, forever tabooing that +rock to foot of man or pinion of fowl. Birds and bipeds both trembled +and obeyed; taking a wide circuit to avoid the spot. + +Access to the seraglios was had by corresponding arbors leading from +the palace. The seraglio to the right was denominated "Ravi" +(Before), that to the left "Zono" (After). The meaning of which was, +that upon the termination of her reign the queen wended her way to +the Zono; there tarrying with her predecessors till the Ravi was +emptied; when the entire Moon of wives, swallow-like, migrated back +whence they came; and the procession was gone over again. + +In due order, the queens reposed upon mats inwoven with their +respective ciphers. In the Ravi, the mat of the queen-apparent, or +next in succession, was spread by the portal. In the Zono, the newly- +widowed queen reposed furthest from it. + +But alas for all method where thirty wives are concerned. +Notwithstanding these excellent arrangements, the mature result of +ages of progressive improvement in the economy of the royal seraglios +in Willamilla, it must needs be related, that at times the order of +precedence became confused, and was very hard to restore. + +At intervals, some one of the wives was weeded out, to the no small +delight of the remainder; but to their equal vexation her place would +soon after be supplied by some beautiful stranger; who assuming the +denomination of the vacated Night of the Moon, thenceforth commenced +her monthly revolutions in the king's infallible calendar. + +In constant attendance, was a band of old men; woe-begone, thin of +leg, and puny of frame; whose grateful task it was, to tarry in the +garden of Donjalolo's delights, without ever touching the roses. +Along with innumerable other duties, they were perpetually kept +coming and going upon ten thousand errands; for they had it in strict +charge to obey the slightest behests of the damsels; and with all +imaginable expedition to run, fly, swim, or dissolve into impalpable +air, at the shortest possible notice. + +So laborious their avocations, that none could discharge them +for more than a twelvemonth, at the end of that period giving up the +ghost out of pure exhaustion of the locomotive apparatus. It was this +constant drain upon the stock of masculine old age in the glen, that +so bethinned its small population of gray-beards and hoary-heads. And +any old man hitherto exempted, who happened to receive a summons to +repair to the palace, and there wait the pleasure of the king: this +unfortunate, at once suspecting his doom, put his arbor in order; +oiled and suppled his joints; took a long farewell of his friends; +selected his burial-place; and going resigned to his fate, in due +time expired like the rest. + +Had any one of them cast about for some alleviating circumstance, he +might possibly have derived some little consolation from the thought, +that though a slave to the whims of thirty princesses, he was +nevertheless one of their guardians, and as such, he might +ingeniously have concluded, their superior. But small consolation +this. For the damsels were as blithe as larks, more playful than +kittens; never looking sad and sentimental, projecting clandestine +escapes. But supplied with the thirtieth part of all that Aspasia +could desire; glorying in being the spouses of a king; nor in the +remotest degree anxious about eventual dowers; they were care-free, +content, and rejoicing, as the rays of the morning. + +Poor old men, then; it would be hard to distill out of your fate, one +drop of the balm of consolation. For, commissioned to watch over +those who forever kept you on the trot, affording you no time to hunt +up peccadilloes; was not this circumstance an aggravation of hard +times? a sharpening and edge-giving to the steel in your souls? + +But much yet remains unsaid. + +To dwell no more upon the eternal wear-and-tear incident to these +attenuated old warders, they were intensely hated by the damsels. +Inasmuch, as it was archly opined, for what ulterior purposes they +were retained. + +Nightly couching, on guard, round the seraglio, like fangless old +bronze dragons round a fountain enchanted, the old men ever and anon +cried out mightily, by reason of sore pinches and scratches received +in the dark: And tri-trebly-tri-triply girt about as he was, +Donjalolo himself started from his slumbers, raced round and round +through his ten thousand corridors; at last bursting all dizzy among +his twenty-nine queens, to see what under the seventh-heavens was the +matter. When, lo and behold! there lay the innocents all sound +asleep; the dragons moaning over their mysterious bruises. + +Ah me! his harem, like all large families, was the delight and the +torment of the days and nights of Donjalolo. + +And in one special matter was he either eminently miserable, or +otherwise: for all his multiplicity of wives, he had never an heir. +Not his, the proud paternal glance of the Grand Turk Solyman, looking +round upon a hundred sons, all bone of his bone, and squinting with +his squint. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXI +Wherein Babbalanja Relates The Adventure Of One Karkeke In The Land +Of Shades + + +At our morning repast on the second day of our stay in the hollow, +our party indulged in much lively discourse. + +"Samoa," said I, "those isles of yours, of whose beauty you so often +make vauntful mention, can those isles, good Samoa, furnish a valley +in all respects equal to Willamilla?" + +Disdainful answer was made, that Willamilla might be endurable enough +for a sojourn, but as a permanent abode, any glen of his own natal +isle was unspeakably superior. + +"In the great valley of Savaii," cried Samoa, "for every leaf grown +here in Willamilla, grows a stately tree; and for every tree here +waving, in Savaii flourishes a goodly warrior." + +Immeasurable was the disgust of the Upoluan for the enervated +subjects of Donjalolo; and for Donjalolo himself; though it was +shrewdly divined, that his annoying reception at the hands of the +royalty of Juam, had something to do with his disdain. + +To Jarl, no similar question was put; for he was sadly deficient in a +taste for the picturesque. But he cursorily observed, that in his +blue-water opinion, Willamilla was next to uninhabitable, all view of +the sea being intercepted. + +And here it may be well to relate a comical blunder on the part of +honest Jarl; concerning which, Samoa, the savage, often afterward +twitted him; as indicating a rusticity, and want of polish in his +breeding. It rather originated, however, in his not heeding the +conventionalities of the strange people among whom he was thrown. + +The anecdote is not an epic; but here it is. + +Reclining in our arbor, we breakfasted upon a marble slab; so frost- +white, and flowingly traced with blue veins, that it seemed a little +lake sheeted over with ice: Diana's virgin bosom congealed. + +Before each guest was a richly carved bowl and gourd, fruit and wine +freighted also the empty hemisphere of a small nut, the purpose of +which was a problem. Now, King Jarl scorned to admit the slightest +degree of under-breeding in the matter of polite feeding. So nothing +was a problem to him. At once reminded of the morsel of Arvaroot in +his mouth, a substitute for another sort of sedative then +unattainable, he was instantly illuminated concerning the purpose of +the nut; and very complacently introduced each to the other; in the +innocence of his ignorance making no doubt that he had acquitted +himself with discretion; the little hemisphere plainly being intended +as a place of temporary deposit for the Arva of the guests. + +The company were astounded: Samoa more than all. King Jarl, +meanwhile, looking at all present with the utmost serenity. At +length, one of the horrified attendants, using two sticks for a +forceps, disappeared with the obnoxious nut, Upon which, the meal +proceeded. + +This attendant was not seen again for many days; which gave rise to +the supposition, that journeying to the sea-side, he had embarked for +some distant strand; there, to bury out of sight the abomination with +which he was freighted. + +Upon this, his egregious misadventure, calculated to do discredit to +our party, and bring Media himself into contempt, Babbalanja had no +scruples in taking Jarl roundly to task. He assured him, that it +argued but little brains to evince a desire to be thought familiar +with all things; that however desirable as incidental attainments, +conventionalities, in themselves, were the very least of arbitrary +trifles; the knowledge of them, innate with no man. "Moreover Jarl," +he added, "in essence, conventionalities are but mimickings, +at which monkeys succeed best. Hence, when you find yourself at a +loss in these matters, wait patiently, and mark what the other +monkeys do: and then follow suit. And by so doing, you will gain a +vast reputation as an accomplished ape. Above all things, follow not +the silly example of the young spark Karkeke, of whom Mohi was +telling me. Dying, and entering the other world with a mincing gait, +and there finding certain customs quite strange and new; such as +friendly shades passing through each other by way of a salutation;-- +Karkeke, nevertheless, resolved to show no sign of embarrassment. +Accosted by a phantom, with wings folded pensively, plumes +interlocked across its chest, he off head; and stood obsequiously +before it. Staring at him for an instant, the spirit cut him dead; +murmuring to itself, 'Ah, some terrestrial bumpkin, I fancy,' and +passed on with its celestial nose in the highly rarified air. But +silly Karkeke undertaking to replace his head, found that it would no +more stay on; but forever tumbled off; even in the act of nodding a +salute; which calamity kept putting him out of countenance. And thus +through all eternity is he punished for his folly, in having +pretended to be wise, wherein he was ignorant. Head under arm, he +wanders about, the scorn and ridicule of the other world." + +Our repast concluded, messengers arrived from the prince, courteously +inviting our presence at the House of the Morning. Thither we went; +journeying in sedans, sent across the hollow, for that purpose, by +Donjalolo. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXII +How Donjalolo, Sent Agents To The Surrounding Isles; With The Result + + +Ere recounting what was beheld on entering the House of the Morning, +some previous information is needful. Though so many of Donjalolo's +days were consumed by sloth and luxury, there came to him certain +intervals of thoughtfulness, when all his curiosity concerning the +things of outer Mardi revived with augmented intensity. In these +moods, he would send abroad deputations, inviting to Willamilla the +kings of the neighboring islands; together with the most celebrated +priests, bards, story-tellers, magicians, and wise men; that he might +hear them converse of those things, which he could not behold for +himself. + +But at last, he bethought him, that the various narrations he had +heard, could not have been otherwise than unavoidably faulty; by +reason that they had been principally obtained from the inhabitants +of the countries described; who, very naturally, must have been +inclined to partiality or uncandidness in their statements. Wherefore +he had very lately dispatched to the isles special agents of his own; +honest of heart, keen of eye, and shrewd of understanding; to seek +out every thing that promised to illuminate him concerning the places +they visited, and also to collect various specimens of interesting +objects; so that at last he might avail himself of the researches of +others, and see with their eyes. + +But though two observers were sent to every one of the +neighboring lands; yet each was to act independently; make his own +inquiries; form his own conclusions; and return with his own +specimens; wholly regardless of the proceedings of the other. + +It so came to pass, that on the very day of our arrival in the glen, +these pilgrims returned from their travels. And Donjalolo had set +apart the following morning to giving them a grand public reception. +And it was to this, that our party had been invited, as related in +the chapter preceding. + +In the great Palm-hall of the House of the Morning, we were assigned +distinguished mats, to the right of the prince; his chiefs, +attendants, and subjects assembled in the open colonnades without. + +When all was in readiness, in marched the company of savans and +travelers; and humbly standing in a semi-circle before the king, +their numerous hampers were deposited at their feet. + +Donjalolo was now in high spirits, thinking of the rich store of +reliable information about to be furnished. + +"Zuma," said he, addressing the foremost of the company, "you and +Varnopi were directed to explore the island of Rafona. Proceed now, +and relate all you know of that place. Your narration heard, we will +list to Varnopi." + +With a profound inclination the traveler obeyed. + +But soon Donjalolo interrupted him. "What say you, Zuma, about the +secret cavern, and the treasures therein? A very different account, +this, from all I have heard hitherto; but perhaps yours is the true +version. Go on." + +But very soon, poor Zuma was again interrupted by exclamations of +surprise. Nay, even to the very end of his mountings. + +But when he had done, Donjalolo observed, that if from any cause Zuma +was in error or obscure, Varnopi would not fail to set him right. + +So Varnopi was called upon. + +But not long had Varnopi proceeded, when Donjalolo changed color. + +"What!" he exclaimed, "will ye contradict each other before our very +face. Oh Oro! how hard is truth to be come at by proxy! Fifty +accounts have I had of Rafona; none of which wholly agreed; and here, +these two varlets, sent expressly to behold and report, these two +lying knaves, speak crookedly both. How is it? Are the lenses in +their eyes diverse-hued, that objects seem different to both; for +undeniable is it, that the things they thus clashingly speak of are +to be known for the same; though represented with unlike colors and +qualities. But dumb things can not lie nor err. Unpack thy hampers, +Zuma. Here, bring them close: now: what is this?" + +"That," tremblingly replied Zuma, "is a specimen of the famous reef- +bar on the west side of the island of Rafona; your highness perceives +its deep red dyes." + +Said Donjalolo, "Varnopi, hast thou a piece of this coral, also?" + +"I have, your highness," said Varnopi; "here it is." + +Taking it from his hand, Donjalolo gazed at its bleached, white hue; +then dashing it to the pavement, "Oh mighty Oro! Truth dwells in her +fountains; where every one must drink for himself. For me, vain all +hope of ever knowing Mardi! Away! Better know nothing, than be +deceived. Break up!" + +And Donjalolo rose, and retired. + +All present now broke out in a storm of vociferation; some siding +with Zuma; others with Varnopi; each of whom, in turn, was declared +the man to be relied upon. + +Marking all this, Babbalanja, who had been silently looking on, +leaning against one of the palm pillars, quietly observed to Media:-- +"My lord, I have seen this same reef at Rafona. In various places, it +is of various hues. As for Zuma and Varnopi, both are wrong, and both +are right." + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII +They Visit The Tributary Islets + + +In Willamilla, no Yillah being found, on the third day we took leave +of Donjalolo; who lavished upon us many caresses and, somewhat +reluctantly on Media's part, we quitted the vale. + +One by one, we now visited the outer villages of Juam; and crossing +the waters, wandered several days among its tributary isles. There we +saw the viceroys of him who reigned in the hollow: chieftains of whom +Donjalolo was proud; so honest, humble, and faithful; so bent upon +ameliorating the condition of those under their rule. For, be it +said, Donjalolo was a charitable prince; in his serious intervals, +ever seeking the welfare of his subjects, though after an imperial +view of his own. But alas, in that sunny donjon among the mountains, +where he dwelt, how could Donjalolo be sure, that the things he +decreed were executed in regions forever remote from his view. Ah! +very bland, very innocent, very pious, the faces his viceroys +presented during their monthly visits to Willamilla. But as cruel +their visage, when, returned to their islets, they abandoned +themselves to all the license of tyrants; like Verres reveling down +the rights of the Sicilians. + +Like Carmelites, they came to Donjalolo, barefooted; but in their +homes, their proud latchets were tied by their slaves. Before their +king-belted prince, they stood rope-girdled like self-abased monks of +St. Francis; but with those ropes, before their palaces, they hung +Innocence and Truth. + +As still seeking Yillah, and still disappointed, we roved through +the lands which these chieftains ruled, Babbalanja exclaimed--"Let us +depart; idle our search, in isles that have viceroys for kings." + +At early dawn, about embarking for a distant land, there came to us +certain messengers of Donjalolo, saying that their lord the king, +repenting of so soon parting company with Media and Taji, besought +them to return with all haste; for that very morning, in Willamilla, +a regal banquet was preparing; to which many neighboring kings had +been invited, most of whom had already arrived. + +Declaring that there was no alternative but compliance, Media +acceded; and with the king's messengers we returned to the glen. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV +Taji Sits Down To Dinner With Five-And-Twenty Kings, And A Royal Time +They Have + + +It was afternoon when we emerged from the defile. And informed that +our host was receiving his guests in the House of the Afternoon, +thither we directed our steps. + +Soft in our face, blew the blessed breezes of Omi, stirring the +leaves overhead; while, here and there, through the trees, showed the +idol-bearers of the royal retreat, hand in hand, linked with festoons +of flowers. Still beyond, on a level, sparkled the nodding crowns of +the kings, like the constellation Corona-Borealis, the horizon just +gained. + +Close by his noon-tide friend, the cascade at the mouth of the +grotto, reposed on his crimson mat, Donjalolo:--arrayed in a vestment +of the finest white tappa of Mardi, figured all over with bright +yellow lizards, so curiously stained in the gauze, that he seemed +overrun, as with golden mice. + +Marjora's girdle girdled his loins, tasseled with the congregated +teeth of his sires. A jeweled turban-tiara, milk-white, surmounted +his brow, over which waved a copse of Pintado plumes. + +But what sways in his hand? A scepter, similar to those likenesses of +scepters, imbedded among the corals at his feet. A polished thigh- +bone; by Braid-Beard declared once Teei's the Murdered. For to +emphasize his intention utterly to rule, Marjora himself had selected +this emblem of dominion over mankind. + +But even this last despite done to dead Teei had once been +transcended. In the usurper's time, prevailed the belief, that +the saliva of kings must never touch ground; and Mohi's Chronicles +made mention, that during the life time of Marjora, Teei's skull had +been devoted to the basest of purposes: Marjora's, the hate no turf +could bury. + +Yet, traditions like these ever seem dubious. There be many who deny +the hump, moral and physical, of Gloster Richard. + +Still advancing unperceived, in social hilarity we descried their +Highnesses, chatting together like the most plebeian of mortals; full +as merry as the monks of old. But marking our approach, all changed. +A pair of potentates, who had been playfully trifling, hurriedly +adjusted their diadems, threw themselves into attitudes, looking +stately as statues. Phidias turned not out his Jupiter so soon. + +In various-dyed robes the five-and-twenty kings were arrayed; and +various their features, as the rows of lips, eyes and ears in John +Caspar Lavater's physiognomical charts. Nevertheless, to a king, all +their noses were aquiline. + +There were long fox-tail beards of silver gray, and enameled chins, +like those of girls; bald pates and Merovingian locks; smooth brows +and wrinkles: forms erect and stooping; an eye that squinted; one +king was deaf; by his side, another that was halt; and not far off, a +dotard. They were old and young, tall and short, handsome and ugly, +fat and lean, cunning and simple. + +With animated courtesy our host received us; assigning a neighboring +bower for Babbalanja and the rest; and among so many right-royal, +demi-divine guests, how could the demi-gods Media and Taji be +otherwise than at home? + +The unwonted sprightliness of Donjalolo surprised us. But he was in +one of those relapses of desperate gayety in-variably following his +failures in efforts to amend his life. And the bootless issue of his +late mission to outer Mardi had thrown him into a mood for revelry. +Nor had he lately shunned a wild wine, called Morando. + +A slave now appearing with a bowl of this beverage, it circulated +freely. + +Not to gainsay the truth, we fancied the Morando much. A nutty, +pungent flavor it had; like some kinds of arrack distilled in the +Philippine isles. And a marvelous effect did it have, in dissolving +the crystalization of the brain; leaving nothing but precious little +drops of good humor, beading round the bowl of the cranium. + +Meanwhile, garlanded boys, climbing the limbs of the idol-pillars, +and stirruping their feet in their most holy mouths, suspended +hangings of crimson tappa all round the hall; so that sweeping the +pavement they rustled in the breeze from the grot. + +Presently, stalwart slaves advanced; bearing a mighty basin of a +porphyry hue, deep-hollowed out of a tree. Outside, were innumerable +grotesque conceits; conspicuous among which, for a border, was an +endless string of the royal lizards circumnavigating the basin in +inverted chase of their tails. + +Peculiar to the groves of Willamilla, the yellow lizard formed part +of the arms of Juam. And when Donjalolo's messenger went abroad, they +carried its effigy, as the emblem of their royal master; themselves +being known, as the Gentlemen of the Golden Lizard. + +The porphyry-hued basin planted full in our midst, the attendants +forthwith filled the same with the living waters from the cascade; a +proceeding, for which some of the company were at a loss to account, +unless his highness, our host, with all the coolness of royalty, +purposed cooling himself still further, by taking a bath in presence +of his guests. A conjecture, most premature; for directly, the basin +being filled to within a few inches of the lizards, the attendants +fell to launching therein divers goodly sized trenchers, all laden +with choice viands:--wild boar meat; humps of grampuses; embrowned +bread-fruit, roasted in odoriferous fires of sandal wood, but +suffered to cool; gold fish, dressed with the fragrant juices +of berries; citron sauce; rolls of the baked paste of yams; juicy +bananas, steeped in a saccharine oil; marmalade of plantains; jellies +of guava; confections of the treacle of palm sap; and many other +dainties; besides numerous stained calabashes of Morando, and other +beverages, fixed in carved floats to make them buoyant. + +The guests assigned seats, by the woven handles attached to his +purple mat, the prince, our host, was now gently moved by his +servitors to the head of the porphyry-hued basin. Where, flanked by +lofty crowned-heads, white-tiaraed, and radiant with royalty, he sat; +like snow-turbaned Mont Blanc, at sunrise presiding over the head +waters of the Rhone; to right and left, looming the gilded summits of +the Simplon, the Gothard, the Jungfrau, the Great St. Bernard, and +the Grand Glockner. + +Yet turbid from the launching of its freight, Lake Como tossed to and +fro its navies of good cheer, the shadows of the king-peaks wildly +flitting thereupon. + +But no frigid wine and fruit cooler, Lake Como; as at first it did +seem; but a tropical dining table, its surface a slab of light blue +St. Pons marble in a state of fluidity. + +Now, many a crown was doffed; scepters laid aside; girdles slackened; +and among those verdant viands the bearded kings like goats did +browse; or tusking their wild boar's meat, like mastiffs ate. + +And like unto some well-fought fight, beginning calmly, but pressing +forward to a fiery rush, this well-fought feast did now wax warm. + +A few royal epicures, however, there were: epicures intent upon +concoctions, admixtures, and masterly compoundings; who comported +themselves with all due deliberation and dignity; hurrying themselves +into no reckless deglutition of the dainties. Ah! admirable conceit, +Lake Como: superseding attendants. For, from hand to hand the +trenchers sailed; no sooner gaining one port, than dispatched over +sea to another. + +Well suited they were for the occasion; sailing high out of +water, to resist the convivial swell at times ruffling the sociable +sea; and sharp at both ends, still better adapting them to easy +navigation. + +But soon, the Morando, in triumphant decanters, went round, reeling +like barks before a breeze. But their voyages were brief; and ere +long, in certain havens, the accumulation of empty vessels threatened +to bridge the lake with pontoons. In those directions, Trade winds +were setting. But full soon, cut out were all unladen and +unprofitable gourds; and replaced by jolly-bellied calabashes, for a +time sailing deep, yawing heavily to the push. + +At last, the whole flotilla of trenchers--wrecks and all--were sent +swimming to the further end of Lake Como; and thence removed, gave +place to ruddy hillocks of fruit, and floating islands of flowers. +Chief among the former, a quince-like, golden sphere, that filled the +air with such fragrance, you thought you were tasting its flavor. + +Nor did the wine cease flowing. That day the Juam grape did bleed; +that day the tendril ringlets of the vines, did all uncurl and grape +by grape, in sheer dismay, the sun ripe clusters dropped. Grape-glad +were five-and-twenty kings: five-and-twenty kings were merry. + +Morando's vintage had no end; nor other liquids, in the royal cellar +stored, somewhere secret in the grot. Oh! where's the endless Niger's +source? Search ye here, or search ye there; on, on, through ravine, +vega, vale--no head waters will ye find. But why need gain the hidden +spring, when its lavish stream flows by? At three-fold mouths that +Delta-grot discharged; rivers golden, white, and red. + +But who may sing for aye? Down I come, and light upon the old and +prosy plain. + +Among other decanters set afloat, was a pompous, lordly-looking +demijohn, but old and reverend withal, that sailed about, +consequential as an autocrat going to be crowned, or a treasure- +freighted argosie bound home before the wind. It looked +solemn, however, though it reeled; peradventure, far gone with its +own potent contents. + +Oh! russet shores of Rhine and Rhone! oh, mellow memories of ripe old +vintages! oh, cobwebs in the Pyramids! oh, dust on Pharaoh's tomb!-- +all, all recur, as I bethink me of that glorious gourd, its contents +cogent as Tokay, itself as old as Mohi's legends; more venerable to +look at than his beard. Whence came it? Buried in vases, so saith the +label, with the heart of old Marjora, now dead one hundred thousand +moons. Exhumed at last, it looked no wine, but was shrunk into a +subtile syrup. + +This special calabash was distinguished by numerous trappings, +caparisoned like the sacred bay steed led before the Great Khan of +Tartary. A most curious and betasseled network encased it; and the +royal lizard was jealously twisted about its neck, like a hand on a +throat containing some invaluable secret. + +All Hail, Marzilla! King's Own Royal Particular! A vinous Percy! +Dating back to the Conquest! Distilled of yore from purple berries +growing in the purple valley of Ardair! Thrice hail. + +But the imperial Marzilla was not for all; gods only could partake; +the Kings and demigods of the isles; excluding left-handed +descendants of sad rakes of immortals, in old times breaking heads +and hearts in Mardi, bequeathing bars-sinister to many mortals, who +now in vain might urge a claim to a cup-full of right regal Marzilla. + +The Royal Particular was pressed upon me, by the now jovial +Donjalolo. With his own sceptered hand charging my flagon to the +brim, he declared his despotic pleasure, that I should quaff it off +to the last lingering globule. No hard calamity, truly; for the +drinking of this wine was as the singing of a mighty ode, or frenzied +lyric to the soul. + +"Drink, Taji," cried Donjalolo, "drink deep. In this wine a king's +heart is dissolved. Drink long; in this wine lurk the seeds of the +life everlasting Drink deep; drink long: thou drinkest wisdom +and valor at every draught. Drink forever, oh Taji, for thou drinkest +that which will enable thee to stand up and speak out before mighty +Oro himself." + +"Borabolla," he added, turning round upon a domed old king at his +left, "Was it not the god Xipho, who begged of my great-great- +grandsire a draught of this same wine, saying he was about to beget a +hero?" + +"Even so. And thy glorious Marzilla produced thrice valiant Ononna, +who slew the giants of the reef." + +"Ha, ha, hear'st that, oh Taji?" And Donjalolo drained another cup. + +Amazing! the flexibility of the royal elbow, and the rigidity of the +royal spine! More especially as we had been impressed with a notion +of their debility. But, sometimes these seemingly enervated young +blades approve themselves steadier of limb, than veteran revelers of +very long standing. + +"Discharge the basin, and refill it with wine," cried Donjalolo. +"Break all empty gourds! Drink, kings, and dash your cups at every +draught." + +So saying, he started from his purple mat; and with one foot planted +unknowingly upon the skull of Marjora; while all the skeletons +grinned at him from the pavement; Donjalolo, holding on high his +blood-red goblet, burst forth with the following invocation:-- + + Ha, ha, gods and kings; fill high, one and all; + Drink, drink! shout and drink! mad respond to the call! + Fill fast, and fill frill; 'gainst the goblet ne'er sin; + Quaff there, at high tide, to the uttermost rim:-- + Flood-tide, and soul-tide to the brim! + + Who with wine in him fears? who thinks of his cares? + Who sighs to be wise, when wine in him flares? + Water sinks down below, in currents full slow; + But wine mounts on high with its genial glow:-- + Welling up, till the brain overflow! + + As the spheres, with a roll, some fiery of soul, + Others golden, with music, revolve round the pole; + + So let our cups, radiant with many hued wines, + Round and round in groups circle, our Zodiac's Signs:-- + Round reeling, and ringing their chimes! + + Then drink, gods and kings; wine merriment brings; + It bounds through the veins; there, jubilant sings. + Let it ebb, then, and flow; wine never grows dim; + Drain down that bright tide at the foam beaded rim:-- + Fill up, every cup, to the brim! + + +Caught by all present, the chorus resounded again and again. The +beaded wine danced on many a beard; the cataract lifted higher its +voice; the grotto sent back a shout; the ghosts of the Coral Monarchs +seemed starting from their insulted bones. But ha, ha, ha, roared +forth the five-and-twenty kings--alive, not dead--holding both hands +to their girdles, and baying out their laughter from abysses; like +Nimrod's hounds over some fallen elk. + +Mad and crazy revelers, how ye drank and roared! but kings no more: +vestures loosed; and scepters rolling on the ground. + +Glorious agrarian, thou wine! bringing all hearts on a level, and at +last all legs to the earth; even those of kings, who, to do them +justice, have been much maligned for imputed qualities not theirs. +For whoso has touched flagons with monarchs, bear they their back +bones never so stiffly on the throne, well know the rascals, to be at +bottom royal good fellows; capable of a vinous frankness exceeding +that of base-born men. Was not Alexander a boon companion? And daft +Cambyses? and what of old Rowley, as good a judge of wine and other +matters, as ever sipped claret or kisses. + +If ever Taji joins a club, be it a Beef-Steak Club of Kings! + +Donjalolo emptied yet another cup. + +The mirth now blew a gale; like a ship's shrouds in a Typhoon, every +tendon vibrated; the breezes of Omi came forth with a rush; the +hangings shook; the goblets danced fandangos; and Donjalolo, +clapping his hands, called before him his dancing women. + +Forth came from the grotto a reed-like burst of song, making all +start, and look that way to behold such enchanting strains. Sounds +heralding sights! Swimming in the air, emerged the nymphs, lustrous +arms interlocked like Indian jugglers' glittering snakes. Round the +cascade they thronged; then paused in its spray. Of a sudden, seemed +to spring from its midst, a young form of foam, that danced into the +soul like a thought. At last, sideways floating off, it subsided into +the grotto, a wave. Evening drawing on apace, the crimson draperies +were lifted, and festooned to the arms of the idol-pillars, admitting +the rosy light of the even. + +Yielding to the re-action of the banquet, the kings now reclined; and +two mute damsels entered: one with a gourd of scented waters; the +other with napkins. Bending over Donjalolo's steaming head, the first +let fall a shower of aromatic drops, slowly aborbed by her companion. +Thus, in turn, all were served; nothing heard but deep breathing. + +In a marble vase they now kindled some incense: a handful of spices. + +Shortly after, came three of the king's beautiful smokers; who, +lighting their tubes at this odorous fire, blew over the company the +sedative fumes of the Aina. + +Steeped in languor, I strove against it long; essayed to struggle out +of the enchanted mist. But a syren hand seemed ever upon me, pressing +me back. + +Half-revealed, as in a dream, and the last sight that I saw, was +Donjalolo:--eyes closed, face pale, locks moist, borne slowly to his +sedan, to cross the hollow, and wake in the seclusion of his harem. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXV +After Dinner + + +As in dreams I behold thee again, Willamila! as in dreams, once again +I stroll through thy cool shady groves, oh fairest of the vallies of +Mardi! the thought of that mad merry feasting steals over my soul +till I faint. + +Prostrate here and there over the bones of Donjalolo's sires, the +royal bacchanals lay slumbering till noon. + +"Which are the deadest?" said Babbalanja, peeping in, "the live +kings, or the dead ones?" + +But the former were drooping flowers sought to be revived by +watering. At intervals the sedulous attendants went to and fro, +besprinkling their heads with the scented contents of their vases. + +At length, one by one, the five-and-twenty kings lifted their +ambrosial curls; and shaking the dew therefrom, like eagles opened +their right royal eyes, and dilated their aquiline nostrils, full +upon the golden rays of the sun. + +But why absented himself, Donjalolo? Had he cavalierly left them to +survive the banquet by themselves? But this apparent incivility was +soon explained by heralds, announcing to their prone majesties, that +through the over solicitude of his slaves, their lord the king had +been borne to his harem, without being a party to the act. But to +make amends, in his sedan, Donjalolo was even now drawing nigh. Not, +however, again to make merry; but socially to sleep in company with +his guests; for, together they had all got high, and together they +must all lie low. + +So at it they went: each king to his bones, and slumbered like +heroes till evening; when, availing themselves of the cool moonlight +approaching, the royal guests bade adieu to their host; and summoning +their followers, quitted the glen. + +Early next day, having determined to depart for our canoes, we +proceeded to the House of the Morning, to take leave of Donjalolo. + +An amazing change, one night of solitude had wrought! Pale and +languid, we found him reclining: one hand on his throbbing temples. + +Near an overturned vessel of wine, the royal girdle lay tossed at his +feet. He had waved off his frightened attendants, who crouched out of +sight. + +We advanced. + +"Do ye too leave me? Ready enough are ye to partake of my +banquetings, which, to such as ye, are but mad incidents in one round +of more tranquil diversions. But heed me not, Media;--I am mad. Oh, +ye gods! am I forever a captive?--Ay, free king of Odo, when you +list, condescend to visit the poor slave in Willamilla. I account +them but charity, your visits; would fain allure ye by sumptuous +fare. Go, leave me; go, and be rovers again throughout blooming +Mardi. For, me, I am here for aye.--Bring me wine, slaves! quick! +that I may pledge my guests fitly. Alas, Media, at the bottom of this +cup are no sparkles as at top. Oh, treacherous, treacherous friend! +full of smiles and daggers. Yet for such as me, oh wine, thou art +e'en a prop, though it pierce the side; for man must lean. Thou wine +art the friend of the friendless, though a foe to all. King Media, +let us drink. More cups!--And now, farewell." + +Falling back, he averted his face; and silently we quitted the +palace. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI +Of Those Scamps The Plujii + + +The beach gained, we embarked. + +In good time our party recovered from the seriousness into which we +had been thrown; and a rather long passage being now before us, we +whiled away the hours as best we might. + +Among many entertaining, narrations, old Braid-Beard, crossing his +calves, and peaking his beard, regaled us with some account of +certain invisible spirits, ycleped the Plujii, arrant little knaves +as ever gulped moonshine. + +They were spoken of as inhabiting the island of Quelquo, in a remote +corner of the lagoon; the innocent people of which island were sadly +fretted and put out by their diabolical proceedings. Not to be +wondered at; since, dwelling as they did in the air, and completely +inaccessible, these spirits were peculiarly provocative of ire. + +Detestable Plujii! With malice aforethought, they brought about high +winds that destroyed the banana plantations, and tumbled over the +heads of its occupants many a bamboo dwelling. They cracked the +calabashes; soured the "poee;" induced the colic; begat the spleen; +and almost rent people in twain with stitches in the side. In short, +from whatever evil, the cause of which the Islanders could not +directly impute to their gods, or in their own opinion was not +referable to themselves,--of that very thing must the invisible +Plujii be guilty. With horrible dreams, and blood-thirsty gnats, they +invaded the most innocent slumbers. + +All things they bedeviled. A man with a wry neck ascribed it +to the Plujii; he with a bad memory railed against the Plujii; and +the boy, bruising his finger, also cursed those abominable spirits. + +Nor, to some minds, at least, was there wanting strong presumptive +evidence, that at times, with invisible fingers, the above mentioned +Plujii did leave direct and tangible traces of their presence; +pinching and pounding the unfortunate Islanders; pulling their hair; +plucking their ears, and tweaking their beards and their noses. And +thus perpetually vexing, incensing, tormenting, and exasperating +their helpless victims, the atrocious Plujii reveled in their +malicious dominion over the souls and bodies of the people of Quelquo. + +What it was, that induced them to enact such a part, Oro only knew; +and never but once, it seems, did old Mohi endeavor to find out. + +Once upon a time, visiting Quelquo, he chanced to encounter an old +woman almost doubled together, both hands upon her abdomen; in that +manner running about distracted. + +"My good woman," said he, "what under the firmament is the matter?" + +"The Plujii! the Plujii!" affectionately caressing the field of their +operations. + +"But why do they torment you?" he soothingly inquired. "How should I +know? and what good would it do me if I did?" + +And on she ran. + +At this part of his narration, Mohi was interrupted by Media; who, +much to the surprise of all present, observed, that, unbeknown to him +(Braid-Beard), he happened to have been on that very island, at that +very time, and saw that identical old lady in the very midst of those +abdominal tribulations. + +"That she was really in great distress," he went on to say, "was +plainly to be seen; but that in that particular instance, your +Plujii had any hand in tormenting her, I had some boisterous doubts. +For, hearing that an hour or two previous she had been partaking of +some twenty unripe bananas, I rather fancied that that circumstance +might have had something to do with her sufferings. But however it +was, all the herb-leeches on the island would not have altered her +own opinions on the subject." + +"No," said Braid-Beard; "a post-mortem examination would not have +satisfied her ghost." + +"Curious to relate," he continued, "the people of that island never +abuse the Plujii, notwithstanding all they suffer at their hands, +unless under direct provocation; and a settled matter of faith is it, +that at such times all bitter words and hasty objurgations are +entirely overlooked, nay, pardoned on the spot, by the unseen genii +against whom they are directed." + +"Magnanimous Plujii!" cried Media. "But, Babbalanja, do you, who run +a tilt at all things, suffer this silly conceit to be uttered with +impunity in your presence? Why so silent?" + +"I have been thinking, my lord," said Babbalanja, "that though the +people of that island may at times err, in imputing their calamities +to the Plujii, that, nevertheless, upon the whole, they indulge in a +reasonable belief. For, Plujii or no Plujii, it is undeniable, that +in ten thousand ways, as if by a malicious agency, we mortals are +woefully put out and tormented; and that, too, by things in +themselves so exceedingly trivial, that it would seem almost impiety +to ascribe them to the august gods. No; there must exist some greatly +inferior spirits; so insignificant, comparatively, as to be +overlooked by the supernal powers; and through them it must be, that +we are thus grievously annoyed. At any rate; such a theory would +supply a hiatus in my system of meta-physics." + +"Well, peace to the Plujii," said Media; "they trouble not me." + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII +Nora-Bamma + + +Still onward gliding, the lagoon a calm. + +Hours pass; and full before us, round and green, a Moslem turban by +us floats--Nora-Bamma, Isle of Nods. + +Noon-tide rolls its flood. Vibrates the air, and trembles. And by +illusion optical, thin-draped in azure haze, drift here and there the +brilliant lands: swans, peacock-plumaged, sailing through the sky. +Down to earth hath heaven come; hard telling sun-clouds from the isles. + +And high in air nods Nora-Bamma. Nid-nods its tufted summit like +three ostrich plumes; its beetling crags, bent poppies, shadows, +willowy shores, all nod; its streams are murmuring down the hills; +its wavelets hush the shore. + +Who dwells in Nora-Bamma? Dreamers, hypochondriacs, somnambulists; +who, from the cark and care of outer Mardi fleeing, in the poppy's +jaded odors, seek oblivion for the past, and ecstasies to come. + +Open-eyed, they sleep and dream; on their roof-trees, grapes unheeded +drop. In Nora-Bamma, whispers are as shouts; and at a zephyr's breath, +from the woodlands shake the leaves, as of humming-birds, a flight. + +All this spake Braid-Beard, of the isle. How that none ere touched +its strand, without rendering instant tribute of a nap; how that +those who thither voyaged, in golden quest of golden gourds, fast +dropped asleep, ere one was plucked; waking not till night; how that +you must needs rub hard your eyes, would you wander through the isle; +and how that silent specters would be met, haunting twilight groves, +and dreamy meads; hither gliding, thither fading, end or purpose none. + +True or false, so much for Mohi's Nora Bamma. + +But as we floated on, it looked the place described. We yawned, and +yawned, as crews of vessels may; as in warm Indian seas, their +winnowing sails all swoon, when by them glides some opium argosie. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII +In A Calm, Hautia's Heralds Approach + + +"How still!" cried Babbalanja. "This calm is like unto Oro's +everlasting serenity, and like unto man's last despair." + +But now the silence was broken by a strange, distant, intermitted +melody in the water. + +Gazing over the side, we saw naught but a far-darting ray in its +depths. + +Then Yoomy, before buried in a reverie, burst forth with a verse, +sudden as a jet from a Geyser. + + Like the fish of the bright and twittering fin, + Bright fish! diving deep as high soars the lark, + So, far, far, far, doth the maiden swim, + Wild song, wild light, in still ocean's dark. + +"What maiden, minstrel?" cried Media. + +"None of these," answered Yoomy, pointing out a shallop gliding near. + +"The damsels three:--Taji, they pursue you yet." That still canoe +drew nigh, the Iris in its prow. + +Gliding slowly by, one damsel flung a Venus-car, the leaves yet fresh. + +Said Yoomy--"Fly to love." + +The second maiden flung a pallid blossom, buried in hemlock leaves. + +Said Yoomy, starting--"I have wrought a death." + +Then came showering Venus-cars, and glorious moss-roses numberless, +and odorous handfuls of Verbena. + +Said Yoomy--"Yet fly, oh fly to me: all rosy joys and sweets are mine." + +Then the damsels floated on. + +"Was ever queen more enigmatical?" cried Media--"Love,--death,--joy, +--fly to me? But what says Taji?" + +"That I turn not back for Hautia; whoe'er she be, that wild witch I +contemn." + +"Then spread our pinions wide! a breeze! up sails! ply paddles all! +Come, Flora's flute, float forth a song." + +To pieces picking the thorny roses culled from Hautia's gifts, and +holding up their blighted cores, thus plumed and turbaned Yoomy sang, +leaning against the mast:-- + + Oh! royal is the rose, + But barbed with many a dart; + Beware, beware the rose, + 'Tis cankered at the heart. + + Sweet, sweet the sunny down, + Oh! lily, lily, lily down! + Sweet, sweet, Verbena's bloom! + Oh! pleasant, gentle, musky bloom! + + Dread, dread the sunny down; + Lo! lily-hooded asp; + Blooms, blooms no more Verbena; + White-withered in your clasp. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX +Braid-Beard Rehearses The Origin Of The Isle Of Rogues + + +Judge not things by their names. This, the maxim illustrated +respecting the isle toward which we were sailing. + +Ohonoo was its designation, in other words the Land of Rogues. So +what but a nest of villains and pirates could one fancy it to be: a +downright Tortuga, swarming with "Brethren of the coast,"--such as +Montbars, L'Ollonais, Bartolomeo, Peter of Dieppe, and desperadoes of +that kidney. But not so. The men of Ohonoo were as honest as any in +Mardi. They had a suspicious appellative for their island, true; but +not thus seemed it to them. For, upon nothing did they so much plume +themselves as upon this very name. Why? Its origin went back to old +times; and being venerable they gloried therein; though they +disclaimed its present applicability to any of their race; showing, +that words are but algebraic signs, conveying no meaning except what +you please. And to be called one thing, is oftentimes to be another. + +But how came the Ohonoose by their name? + +Listen, and Braid-Beard, our Herodotus, will tell. + +Long and long ago, there were banished to Ohonoo all the bucaniers, +flibustiers, thieves, and malefactors of the neighboring islands; +who, becoming at last quite a numerous community, resolved to make a +stand for their dignity, and number one among the nations of Mardi. +And even as before they had been weeded out of the surrounding +countries; so now, they went to weeding out themselves; banishing all +objectionable persons to still another island. + +These events happened at a period so remote, that at present it was +uncertain whether those twice banished, were thrust into their second +exile by reason of their superlative knavery, or because of their +comparative honesty. If the latter, then must the residue have been a +precious enough set of scoundrels. + +However it was, the commonwealth of knaves now mustered together +their gray-beards, and wise-pates, and knowing-ones, of which last +there was a plenty, chose a king to rule over them, and went to +political housekeeping for themselves. + +And in the fullness of time, this people became numerous and mighty. +And the more numerous and mighty they waxed, by so much the more did +they take pride and glory in their origin, frequently reverting to it +with manifold boastings. The proud device of their monarch was a hand +with the forefinger crooked, emblematic of the peculatory +propensities of his ancestors. + +And all this, at greater length, said Mohi. + +"It would seem, then, my lord," said Babbalanja, reclining, "as if +these men of Ohonoo had canonized the derelictions of their +progenitors, though the same traits are deemed scandalous among +themselves. But it is time that makes the difference. The knave of a +thousand years ago seems a fine old fellow full of spirit and fun, +little malice in his soul; whereas, the knave of to-day seems a sour- +visaged wight, with nothing to redeem him. Many great scoundrels of +our Chronicler's chronicles are heroes to us:--witness, Marjora the +usurper. Ay, time truly works wonders. It sublimates wine; it +sublimates fame; nay, is the creator thereof; it enriches and darkens +our spears of the Palm; enriches and enlightens the mind; it ripens +cherries and young lips; festoons old ruins, and ivies old heads; +imparts a relish to old yams, and a pungency to the Ponderings of old +Bardianna; of fables distills truths; and finally, smooths, levels, +glosses, softens, melts, and meliorates all things. Why, my +lord, round Mardi itself is all the better for its antiquity, and the +more to be revered; to the cozy-minded, more comfortable to dwell in. +Ah! if ever it lay in embryo like a green seed in the pod, what a +damp, shapeless thing it must have been, and how unpleasant from the +traces of its recent creation. The first man, quoth old Bardianna, +must have felt like one going into a new habitation, where the +bamboos are green. Is there not a legend in Maramma, that his family +were long troubled with influenzas and catarrhs?" + +"Oh Time, Time, Time!" cried Yoomy--"it is Time, old midsummer Time, +that has made the old world what it is. Time hoared the old +mountains, and balded their old summits, and spread the old prairies, +and built the old forests, and molded the old vales. It is Time that +has worn glorious old channels for the glorious old rivers, and +rounded the old lakes, and deepened the old sea! It is Time--" + +"Ay, full time to cease," cried Media. "What have you to do with +cogitations not in verse, minstrel? Leave prose to Babbalanja, who is +prosy enough." + +"Even so," said Babbalanja, "Yoomy, you have overstepped your +province. My lord Media well knows, that your business is to make the +metal in you jingle in tags, not ring in the ingot." + + + +CHAPTER XC +Rare Sport At Ohonoo + + +Approached from the northward, Ohonoo, midway cloven down to the sea, +one half a level plain; the other, three mountain terraces--Ohonoo +looks like the first steps of a gigantic way to the sun. And such, if +Braid-Beard spoke truth, it had formerly been. + +"Ere Mardi was made," said that true old chronicler, "Vivo, one of +the genii, built a ladder of mountains whereby to go up and go down. +And of this ladder, the island of Ohonoo was the base. But wandering +here and there, incognito in a vapor, so much wickedness did Vivo spy +out, that in high dudgeon he hurried up his ladder, knocking the +mountains from under him as he went. These here and there fell into +the lagoon, forming many isles, now green and luxuriant; which, with +those sprouting from seeds dropped by a bird from the moon, comprise +all the groups in the reef." + +Surely, oh, surely, if I live till Mardi be forgotten by Mardi, I +shall not forget the sight that greeted us, as we drew nigh the +shores of this same island of Ohonoo; for was not all Ohonoo bathing +in the surf of the sea? + +But let the picture be painted. + +Where eastward the ocean rolls surging against the outer reef of +Mardi, there, facing a flood-gate in the barrier, stands cloven +Ohonoo; her plains sloping outward to the sea, her mountains a +bulwark behind. As at Juam, where the wild billows from seaward roll +in upon its cliffs; much more at Ohonoo, in billowy battalions charge +they hotly into the lagoon, and fall on the isle like an army +from the deep. But charge they never so boldly, and charge they +forever, old Ohonoo gallantly throws them back till all before her is +one scud and rack. So charged the bright billows of cuirassiers at +Waterloo: so hurled them off the long line of living walls, whose +base was as the sea-beach, wreck-strown, in a gale. + +Without the break in the reef wide banks of coral shelve off, +creating the bar, where the waves muster for the onset, thundering in +water-bolts, that shake the whole reef, till its very spray trembles. +And then is it, that the swimmers of Ohonoo most delight to gambol in +the surf. + +For this sport, a surf-board is indispensable: some five feet in +length; the width of a man's body; convex on both sides; highly +polished; and rounded at the ends. It is held in high estimation; +invariably oiled after use; and hung up conspicuously in the dwelling +of the owner. + +Ranged on the beach, the bathers, by hundreds dash in; and diving +under the swells, make straight for the outer sea, pausing not till +the comparatively smooth expanse beyond has been gained. Here, +throwing themselves upon their boards, tranquilly they wait for a +billow that suits. Snatching them up, it hurries them landward, +volume and speed both increasing, till it races along a watery wall, +like the smooth, awful verge of Niagara. Hanging over this scroll, +looking down from it as from a precipice, the bathers halloo; every +limb in motion to preserve their place on the very crest of the wave. +Should they fall behind, the squadrons that follow would whelm them; +dismounted, and thrown forward, as certainly would they be run over +by the steed they ride. 'Tis like charging at the head of cavalry: +you must on. + +An expert swimmer shifts his position on his plank; now half striding +it; and anon, like a rider in the ring, poising himself upright in +the scud, coming on like a man in the air. + +At last all is lost in scud and vapor, as the overgrown billow bursts +like a bomb. Adroitly emerging, the swimmers thread their way out; +and like seals at the Orkneys, stand dripping upon the shore. + +Landing in smooth water, some distance from the scene, we strolled +forward; and meeting a group resting, inquired for Uhia, their king. +He was pointed out in the foam. But presently drawing nigh, he +embraced Media, bidding all welcome. + +The bathing over, and evening at hand, Uhia and his subjects repaired +to their canoes; and we to ours. + +Landing at another quarter of the island, we journeyed up a valley +called Monlova, and were soon housed in a very pleasant retreat of +our host. + +Soon supper was spread. But though the viands were rare, and the red +wine went round and round like a foaming bay horse in the ring; yet +we marked, that despite the stimulus of his day's good sport, and the +stimulus of his brave good cheer, Uhia our host was moody and still. + +Said Babbalanja "My lord, he fills wine cups for others to quaff." + +But whispered King Media, "Though Uhia be sad, be we merry, merry men." + +And merry some were, and merrily went to their mats. + + + +CHAPTER XCI +Of King Uhia And His Subjects + + +As beseemed him, Uhia was royally lodged. Ample his roof. Beneath it +a hundred attendants nightly laying their heads. But long since, he +had disbanded his damsels. + +Springing from syren embrace--"They shall sap and mine me no more" he +cried "my destiny commands me. I will don my manhood. By Keevi! no +more will I clasp a waist." + +"From that time forth," said Braid-Beard, "young Uhia spread like the +tufted top of the Palm; his thigh grew brawny as the limb of the +Banian; his arm waxed strong as the back bone of the shark; yea, his +voice grew sonorous as a conch." + +"And now he bent his whole soul to the accomplishment of the destiny +believed to be his. Nothing less than bodily to remove Ohonoo to the +center of the lagoon, in fulfillment of an old prophecy running thus-- +When a certain island shall stir from its foundations and stand in +the middle of the still water, then shall the ruler of that island be +ruler of all Mardi." + +The task was hard, but how glorious the reward! So at it he went, and +all Ohonoo helped him. Not by hands, but by calling in the magicians. +Thus far, nevertheless, in vain. But Uhia had hopes. + +Now, informed of all this, said Babbalanja to Media, "My lord, if the +continual looking-forward to something greater, be better than an +acquiescence in things present; then, wild as it is, this belief of +Uhia's he should hug to his heart, as erewhile his wives. But +my lord, this faith it is, that robs his days of peace; his nights of +sweet unconsciousness. For holding himself foreordained to the +dominion of the entire Archipelago, he upbraids the gods for +laggards, and curses himself as deprived of his rights; nay, as +having had wrested from him, what he never possessed. Discontent +dwarfs his horizon till he spans it with his hand. 'Most miserable of +demi-gods,' he cries, 'here am I cooped up in this insignificant +islet, only one hundred leagues by fifty, when scores of broad +empires own me not for their lord.' Yet Uhia himself is envied. 'Ah!' +cries Karrolono, one of his chieftains, master of a snug little glen, +'Here am I cabined in this paltry cell among the mountains, when that +great King Uhia is lord of the whole island, and every cubic mile of +matter therein.' But this same Karrolono is envied. 'Hard, oh +beggarly lot is mine,' cries Donno, one of his retainers. 'Here am I +fixed and screwed down to this paltry plantation, when my lord +Karrolono owns the whole glen, ten long parasangs from cliff to sea.' +But Donno too is envied. 'Alas, cursed fate!' cries his servitor +Flavona. 'Here am I made to trudge, sweat, and labor all day, when +Donno my master does nothing but command.' But others envy Flavona; +and those who envy him are envied in turn; even down to poor bed- +ridden Manta, who dying of want, groans forth, 'Abandoned wretch that +I am! here I miserably perish, while so many beggars gad about and +live!' But surely; none envy Manta! Yes; great Uhia himself. 'Ah!' +cries the king. 'Here am I vexed and tormented by ambition; no peace +night nor day; my temples chafed sore by this cursed crown that I +wear; while that ignoble wight Manta, gives up the ghost with none to +molest him.'" + +In vain we wandered up and down in this isle, and peered into its +innermost recesses: no Yillah was there. + + + +CHAPTER XCII +The God Keevi And The Precipice Op Mondo + + +One object of interest in Ohonoo was the original image of Keevi +the god of Thieves; hence, from time immemorial, the tutelar deity +of the isle. + +His shrine was a natural niche in a cliff, walling in the valley +of Monlova And here stood Keevi, with his five eyes, ten hands, and +three pair of legs, equipped at all points for the vocation over +which he presided. Of mighty girth, his arms terminated in hands, +every finger a limb, spreading in multiplied digits: palms twice +five, and fifty fingers. + +According to the legend, Keevi fell from a golden cloud, burying +himself to the thighs in the earth, tearing up the soil all round. +Three meditative mortals, strolling by at the time, had a narrow +escape. + +A wonderful recital; but none of us voyagers durst flout it. Did they +not show us the identical spot where the idol fell? We descended into +the hollow, now verdant. Questionless, Keevi himself would have +vouched for the truth of the miracle, had he not been unfortunately +dumb. But by far the most cogent, and pointed argument advanced in +support of this story, is a spear which the priests of Keevi brought +forth, for Babbalanja to view. + +"Let me look at it closer," said Babbalanja. + +And turning it over and over and curiously inspecting it, "Wonderful +spear," he cried. "Doubtless, my reverends, this self-same spear must +have persuaded many recusants!" + +"Nay, the most stubborn," they answered. + +"And all afterward quoted as additional authority for the truth of +the legend?" + +"Assuredly." + +From the sea to the shrine of this god, the fine valley of Monlova +ascends with a gentle gradation, hardly perceptible; but upon turning +round toward the water, one is surprised to find himself high +elevated above its surface. Pass on, and the same silent ascent +deceives you; and the valley contracts; and on both sides the cliffs +advance; till at last you come to a narrow space, shouldered by +buttresses of rock. Beyond, through this cleft, all is blue sky. If +the Trades blow high, and you came unawares upon the spot, you would +think Keevi himself pushing you forward with all his hands; so +powerful is the current of air rushing through this elevated defile. +But expostulate not with the tornado that blows you along; sail on; +but soft; look down; the land breaks off in one sheer descent of a +thousand feet, right down to the wide plain below. So sudden and +profound this precipice, that you seem to look off from one world to +another. In a dreamy, sunny day, the spangled plain beneath assumes +an uncertain fleeting aspect. Had you a deep-sea-lead you would +almost be tempted to sound the ocean-haze at your feet. + +This, mortal! is the precipice of Mondo. + +From this brink, spear in hand, sprang fifty rebel warriors, driven +back into the vale by a superior force. Finding no spot to stand at +bay, with a fierce shout they took the fatal leap. + +Said Mohi, "Their souls ascended, ere their bodies touched." + +This tragical event took place many generations gone by, and now a +dizzy, devious way conducts one, firm of foot, from the verge to the +plain. But none ever ascended. So perilous, indeed, is the descent +itself, that the islanders venture not the feat, without invoking +supernatural aid. Flanking the precipice beneath beetling rocks, +stand the guardian deities of Mondo; and on altars before +them, are placed the propitiatory offerings of the traveler. + +To the right of the brink of the precipice, and far over it, projects +a narrow ledge. The test of legitimacy in the Ohonoo monarchs is to +stand hereon, arms folded, and javelins darting by. + +And there in his youth Uhia stood. + +"How felt you, cousin?" asked Media. + +"Like the King of Ohonoo," he replied. "As I _shall_ again feel; when +King of all Mardi." + + + +CHAPTER XCIII +Babbalanja Steps In Between Mohi And Yoomy; And Yoomy Relates A +Legend + + +Embarking from Ohonoo, we at length found ourselves gliding by the +pleasant shores of Tupia, an islet which according to Braid-Beard had +for ages remained uninhabited by man. Much curiosity being expressed +to know more of the isle, Mohi was about to turn over his chronicles, +when, with modesty, the minstrel Yoomy interposed; saying, that if my +Lord Media permitted, he himself would relate the legend. From its +nature, deeming the same pertaining to his province as poet; though, +as yet, it had not been versified. But he added, that true pearl +shells rang musically, though not strung upon a cord. + +Upon this presumptuous interference, Mohi looked highly offended; and +nervously twitching his beard, uttered something invidious about +frippery young poetasters being too full of silly imaginings to tell +a plain tale. + +Said Yoomy, in reply, adjusting his turban, "Old Mohi, let us not +clash. I honor your calling; but, with submission, your chronicles +are more wild than my cantos. I deal in pure conceits of my own; +which have a shapeliness and a unity, however unsubstantial; but you, +Braid-Beard, deal in mangled realities. In all your chapters, you +yourself grope in the dark. Much truth is not in thee, historian. +Besides, Mohi: my songs perpetuate many things which you sage scribes +entirely overlook. Have you not oftentimes come to me, and my ever +dewy ballads for information, in which you and your musty old +chronicles were deficient?" + +"In much that is precious, Mohi, we poets are the true historians; we +embalm; you corrode." + +To this Mohi, with some ire, was about to make answer, when, flinging +over his shoulder a new fold of his mantle, Babbalanja spoke thus: +"Peace, rivals. As Bardianna has it, like all who dispute upon +pretensions of their own, you are each nearest the right, when you +speak of the other; and furthest therefrom, when you speak of +yourselves." + +Said Mohi and Yoomy in a breath, "Who sought your opinion, +philosopher? you filcher from old Bardianna, and monger of maxims!" + +"You, who have so long marked the vices of Mardi, that you flatter +yourself you have none of your own," added Braid-Beard. + +"You, who only seem wise, because of the contrasting follies of +others, and not of any great wisdom in yourself," continued the +minstrel, with unwonted asperity." + +"Now here," said Babballanja, "am I charged upon by a bearded old +ram, and a lamb. One butting with his carious and brittle old +frontlet; the other pushing with its silly head before its horns are +sprouted. But this comes of being impartial. Had I espoused the cause +of Yoomy versus Mohi, or that of Mohi versus Yoomy, I had been sure +to have had at least one voice in my favor. The impartialist +insulteth all sides, saith old Bardianna; but smite with but one +hand, and the other shall be kissed.--Oh incomparable Bardianna!" + +"Will no one lay that troubled old ghost," exclaimed Media, devoutly. +"Proceed with thy legend, Yoomy; and see to it, that it be brief; for +I mistrust me, these legends do but test the patience of the hearers. +But draw a long breath, and begin." + +"A long bow," muttered Mohi. + +And Yoomy began. + +"It is now about ten hundred thousand moons--" + +"Great Oro! How long since, say you?" cried Mohi, making Gothic +arches of his brows. + +Looking at him disdainfully, but vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy began +over again. + +"It is now above ten hundred thousand moons, since there died the last +of a marvelous race, once inhabiting the very shores by which we are +sailing. They were a very diminutive people, only a few inches high--" + +"Stop, minstrel," cried Mohi; "how many pennyweights did they weigh?" + +Continued Yoomy, unheedingly, "They were covered all over with a +soft, silky down, like that on the rind of the Avee; and there grew +upon their heads a green, lance-leaved vine, of a most delicate +texture. For convenience, the manikins reduced their tendrils, +sporting, nothing but coronals. Whereas, priding themselves upon the +redundancy of their tresses, the little maidens assiduously watered +them with the early dew of the morning; so that all wreathed and +festooned with verdure, they moved about in arbors, trailing after +them trains." + +"I can hear no more," exclaimed Mohi, stopping his ears. + +Continued Yoomy, "The damsels lured to their bowers, certain red- +plumaged insect-birds, and taught them to nestle therein, and warble; +which, with the pleasant vibrating of the leaves, when the little +maidens moved, produced a strange blending of sweet, singing sounds. +The little maidens embraced not with their arms, but with their viny +locks; whose tendrils instinctively twined about their lovers, till +both were lost in the bower." + +"And what then?" asked Mohi, who, notwithstanding the fingers in his +ears, somehow contrived to listen; "What then?" + +Vouchsafing no reply, Yoomy went on. + +"At a certain age, but while yet the maidens were very young, their +vines bore blossoms. Ah! fatal symptoms. For soon as they burst, the +maidens died in their arbors; and were buried in the valleys; +and their vines spread forth; and the flowers bloomed; but the +maidens themselves were no more. And now disdaining the earth, the +vines shot upward: climbing to the topmost boughs of the trees; and +flowering in the sunshine forever and aye." + +Yoomy here paused for a space; but presently continued: + +"The little eyes of the people of Tupia were very strange to behold: +full of stars, that shone from within, like the Pleiades, deep- +bosomed in blue. And like the stars, they were intolerant of +sunlight; and slumbering through the day, the people of Tupia only +went abroad by night. But it was chiefly when the moon was at full, +that they were mostly in spirits. + +"Then the little manikins would dive down into the sea, and rove +about in the coral groves, making love to the mermaids. Or, racing +round, make a mad merry night of it with the sea-urchins:--plucking +the reverend mullets by the beard; serenading the turtles in their +cells; worrying the sea-nettles; or tormenting with their antics the +touchy torpedos. Sometimes they went prying about with the starfish, +that have an eye at the end of each ray; and often with coral files +in their hands stole upon slumbering swordfish, slyly blunting their +weapons. In short, these stout little manikins were passionately fond +of the sea, and swore by wave and billow, that sooner or later they +would embark thereon in nautilus shells, and spend the rest of their +roving days thousands of inches from Tupia. Too true, they were +shameless little rakes. Oft would they return to their sweethearts, +sporting musky girdles of sea-kelp, tasseled with green little +pouches of grass, brimful of seed-pearls; and jingling their coin in +the ears of the damsels, throw out inuendoes about the beautiful and +bountiful mermaids: how wealthy and amorous they were, and how they +delighted in the company of the brave gallants of Tupia. Ah! at such +heartless bravadoes, how mourned the poor little nymphs. Deep into +their arbors they went; and their little hearts burst like +rose-buds, and filled the whole air with an odorous grief. But when +their lovers were gentle and true, no happier maidens haunted the +lilies than they. By some mystical process they wrought minute balls +of light: touchy, mercurial globules, very hard to handle; and with +these, at pitch and toss, they played in the groves. Or mischievously +inclined, they toiled all night long at braiding the moon-beams +together, and entangling the plaited end to a bough; so that at +night, the poor planet had much ado to set." + +Here Yoomy once more was mute. + +"Pause you to invent as you go on?" said old Mohi, elevating his +chin, till his beard was horizontal. + +Yoomy resumed. + +"Little or nothing more, my masters, is extant of the legend; only it +must be mentioned, that these little people were very tasteful in +their personal adornings; the manikins wearing girdles of fragrant +leaves, and necklaces of aromatic seeds; and the little damsels, not +content with their vines, and their verdure, sporting pearls in their +ears; bracelets of wee little porpoise teeth; and oftentimes dancing +with their mates in the moonlit glades, coquettishly fanned +themselves with the transparent wings of the flying fish." + +"Now, I appeal to you, royal Media; to you, noble Taji; to you, +Babbalanja;" said the chronicler, with an impressive gesture, +"whether this seems a credible history: Yoomy has invented." + +"But perhaps he has entertained, old Mohi," said Babbalanja. + +"He has not spoken the truth," persisted the chronicler. + +"Mohi," said Babbalanja, "truth is in things, and not in words: truth +is voiceless; so at least saith old Bardianna. And I, Babbalanja, +assert, that what are vulgarly called fictions are as much realities +as the gross mattock of Dididi, the digger of trenches; for things +visible are but conceits of the eye: things imaginative, conceits of +the fancy. If duped by one, we are equally duped by the other." + +"Clear as this water," said Yoomy. + +"Opaque as this paddle," said Mohi, "But, come now, thou oracle, if +all things are deceptive, tell us what is truth?" + +"The old interrogatory; did they not ask it when the world began? But +ask it no more. As old Bardianna hath it, that question is more final +than any answer." + + + +CHAPTER XCIV +Of That Jolly Old Lord, Borabolla; And That Jolly Island Of His, +Mondoldo; And Of The Fish-Ponds, And The Hereafters Of Fish + + +Drawing near Mondoldo, our next place of destination, we were greeted +by six fine canoes, gayly tricked out with streamers, and all alive +with the gestures of their occupants. King Borabolla and court were +hastening to welcome our approach; Media, unbeknown to all, having +notified him at the Banquet of the Five-and-Twenty Kings, of our +intention to visit his dominions. + +Soon, side by side, these canoes floated with ours; each barge of Odo +courteously flanked by those of Mondoldo. + +Not long were we in identifying Borabolla: the portly, pleasant old +monarch, seated cross-legged upon a dais, projecting over the bow of +the largest canoe of the six, close-grappling to the side of the Sea +Elephant. + +Was he not a goodly round sight to behold? Round all over; round of +eye and of head; and like the jolly round Earth, roundest and biggest +about the Equator. A girdle of red was his Equinoctial Line, giving a +compactness to his plumpness. + +This old Borabolla permitted naught to come between his head and the +sun; not even gray hairs. Bald as a gourd, right down on his brazen +skull, the rays of the luminary converged. + +He was all hilarity; full of allusions to the feast at Willamilla, +where he had done royal execution. Rare old Borabolla! thou wert made +for dining out; thy ample mouth an inlet for good cheer, and a +sally-port for good humor. + +Bustling about on his dais, he now gave orders for the occupants of +our canoes to be summarily emptied into his own; saying, that in that +manner only did he allow guests to touch the beach of Mondoldo. + +So, with no little trouble--for the waves were grown somewhat +riotous--we proceeded to comply; bethinking ourselves all the while, +how annoying is sometimes an over-strained act of hospitality. + +We were now but little less than a mile from the shore. But what of +that? There was plenty of time, thought Borabolla, for a hasty lunch, +and the getting of a subsequent appetite ere we effected a landing. +So viands were produced; to which the guests were invited to pay +heedful attention; or take the consequences, and famish till the long +voyage in prospect was ended. + +Soon the water shoaled (approaching land is like nearing truth in +metaphysics), and ere we yet touched the beach, Borabolla declared, +that we were already landed. Which paradoxical assertion implied, +that the hospitality of Mondoldo was such, that in all directions it +radiated far out upon the lagoon, embracing a great circle; so that +no canoe could sail by the island, without its occupants being so +long its guests. + +In most hospitable vicinity to the water, was a fine large structure, +inclosed by a stockade; both rather dilapidated; as if the cost of +entertaining its guests, prevented outlays for repairing the place. +But it was one of Borabolla's maxims, that generally your tumble-down +old homesteads yield the most entertainment; their very dilapidation +betokening their having seen good service in hospitality; whereas, +spruce-looking, finical portals, have a phiz full of meaning; for +niggards are oftentimes neat. + +Now, after what has been said, who so silly as to fancy, that because +Borabolla's mansion was inclosed by a stockade, that the same +was intended as a defense against guests? By no means. In the +palisade was a mighty breach, not an entrance-way, wide enough to +admit six Daniel Lamberts abreast. + +"Look," cried Borabolla, as landing we stepped toward the place. +"Look Media! look all. These gates, you here see, lashed back with +osiers, have been so lashed during my life-time; and just where they +stand, shall they rot; ay, they shall perish wide open." + +"But why have them at all?" inquired Media. + +"Ah! there you have old Borabolla," cried the other. + +"No," said Babbalanja, "a fence whose gate is ever kept open, seems +unnecessary, I grant; nevertheless, it gives a notable hint, +otherwise not so aptly conveyed; for is not the open gate the sign of +the open heart?" + +"Right, right," cried Borabolla; "so enter both, cousin Media;" and +with one hand smiting his chest, with the other he waved us on. + +But if the stockade seemed all open gate, the structure within seemed +only a roof; for nothing but a slender pillar here and there, +supported it. + +"This is my mode of building," said Borabolla; "I will have no +outside to my palaces. Walls are superfluous. And to a high-minded +guest, the entering a narrow doorway is like passing under a yoke; +every time he goes in, or comes out, it reminds him, that he is being +entertained at the cost of another. So storm in all round." + +Within, was one wide field-bed; where reclining, we looked up to +endless rows of brown calabashes, and trenchers suspended along the +rafters; promissory of ample cheer as regiments of old hams in a +baronial refectory. + +They were replenished with both meat and drink; the trenchers readily +accessible by means of cords; but the gourds containing arrack, +suspended neck downward, were within easy reach where they swung. + +Seeing all these indications of hard roystering; like a +cautious young bridegroom at his own marriage merry-making, Taji +stood on his guard. And when Borabolla urged him to empty a gourd or +two, by way of making room in him for the incidental repast about to +be served, Taji civilly declined; not wishing to cumber the floor, +before the cloth was laid. + +Jarl, however, yielding to importunity, and unmindful of the unities +of time and place, went freely about, from gourd to gourd, concocting +in him a punch. At which, Samoa expressed much surprise, that he +should be so unobservant as not to know, that in Mardi, guests might +be pressed to demean themselves, without its being expected that so +they would do. A true toss-pot himself, he bode his time. + +The second lunch over, Borabolla placed both hands to the ground, and +giving the sigh of the fat man, after three vigorous efforts, +succeeded in gaining his pins; which pins of his, were but small for +his body; insomuch that they hugely staggered about, under the fine +old load they carried. + +The specific object of his thus striving after an erect posture, was +to put himself in motion, and conduct us to his fish-ponds, famous +throughout the Archipelago as the hobby of the king of Mondoldo. +Furthermore, as the great repast of the day, yet to take place, was +to be a grand piscatory one, our host was all anxiety, that we should +have a glimpse of our fish, while yet alive and hearty. + +We were alarmed at perceiving, that certain servitors were preparing +to accompany us with trenchers of edibles. It begat the notion, that +our trip to the fish-ponds was to prove a long journey. But they were +not three hundred yards distant; though Borabolla being a veteran +traveler, never stirred from his abode without his battalion of butlers. + +The ponds were four in number, close bordering the water, embracing +about an acre each, and situated in a low fen, draining several +valleys. The excavated soil was thrown up in dykes, made tight by +being beaten all over, while in a soft state, with the heavy, flat +ends of Palm stalks. Lving side by side, by three connecting +trenches, these ponds could be made to communicate at pleasure; while +two additional canals afforded means of letting in upon them the salt +waters of the lagoon on one hand, or those of an inland stream on the +other. And by a third canal with four branches, together or +separately, they could be partially drained. Thus, the waters could +be mixed to suit any gills; and the young fish taken from the sea, +passed through a stated process of freshening; so that by the time +they graduated, the salt was well out of them, like the brains out of +some diplomaed collegians. + +Fresh-water fish are only to be obtained in Mondoldo by the +artificial process above mentioned; as the streams and brooks abound +not in trout or other Waltonian prey. + +Taken all floundering from the sea, Borabolla's fish, passing through +their regular training for the table, and daily tended by their +keepers, in course of time became quite tame and communicative. To +prove which, calling his Head Ranger, the king bade him administer +the customary supply of edibles. + +Accordingly, mouthfuls were thrown into the ponds. Whereupon, the +fish darted in a shoal toward the margin; some leaping out of the +water in their eagerness. Crouching on the bank, the Ranger now +called several by name, patted their scales, carrying on some +heathenish nursery-talk, like St. Anthony, in ancient Coptic, +instilling virtuous principles into his finny flock on the sea shore. + +But alas, for the hair-shirted old dominie's backsliding disciples. +For, of all nature's animated kingdoms, fish are the most +unchristian, inhospitable, heartless, and cold-blooded of creatures. +At least, so seem they to strangers; though at bottom, somehow, they +must be all right. And truly it is not to be wondered at, that the +very reverend Anthony strove after the conversion of fish. For, whoso +shall Christianize, and by so doing, humanize the sharks, will do a +greater good, by the saving of human life in all time to come, +than though he made catechumens of the head-hunting Dyaks of Borneo, +or the blood-bibbing Battas of Sumatra. And are these Dyaks and +Battas one whit better than tiger-sharks? Nay, are they so good? Were +a Batta your intimate friend, you would often mistake an orang-outang +for him; and have orang-outangs immortal souls? True, the Battas +believe in a hereafter; but of what sort? Full of Blue-Beards and +bloody bones. So, also, the sharks; who hold that Paradise is one +vast Pacific, ploughed by navies of mortals, whom an endless gale +forever drops into their maws. + +Not wholly a surmise. For, does it not appear a little unreasonable +to imagine, that there is any creature, fish, flesh, or fowl, so +little in love with life, as not to cherish hopes of a future state? +Why does man believe in it? One reason, reckoned cogent, is, that he +desires it. Who shall say, then, that the leviathan this day +harpooned on the coast of Japan, goes not straight to his ancestor, +who rolled all Jonah, as a sweet morsel, under his tongue? + +Though herein, some sailors are slow believers, or at best hold +themselves in a state of philosophical suspense. Say they--"That +catastrophe took place in the Mediterranean; and the only whales +frequenting the Mediterranean, are of a sort having not a swallow +large enough to pass a man entire; for those Mediterranean whales +feed upon small things, as horses upon oats." But hence, the sailors +draw a rash inference. Are not the Straits of Gibralter wide enough +to admit a sperm-whale, even though none have sailed through, since +Nineveh and the gourd in its suburbs dried up? + +As for the possible hereafter of the whales; a creature eighty feet +long without stockings, and thirty feet round the waist before +dinner, is not inconsiderately to be consigned to annihilation. + + + +CHAPTER XCV +That Jolly Old Lord Borabolla Laughs On Both Sides Of His Face + + +"A very good palace, this, coz, for you and me," said waddling old +Borabolla to Media, as, returned from our excursion, he slowly +lowered himself down to his mat, sighing like a grampus. + +By this, he again made known the vastness of his hospitality, which +led him for the nonce to parcel out his kingdom with his guests. + +But apart from these extravagant expressions of good feeling, +Borabolla was the prince of good fellows. His great tun of a person +was indispensable to the housing of his bullock-heart; under which, +any lean wight would have sunk. But alas! unlike Media and Taji, +Borabolla, though a crowned king, was accounted no demi-god; his +obesity excluding him from that honor. Indeed, in some quarters of +Mardi, certain pagans maintain, that no fat man can be even immortal. +A dogma! truly, which should be thrown to the dogs. For fat men are +the salt and savor of the earth; full of good humor, high spirits, +fun, and all manner of jollity. Their breath clears the atmosphere: +their exhalations air the world. Of men, they are the good measures; +brimmed, heaped, pressed down, piled up, and running over. They are +as ships from Teneriffe; swimming deep, full of old wine, and twenty +steps down into their holds. Soft and susceptible, all round they are +easy of entreaty. Wherefore, for all their rotundity, they are too +often circumnavigated by hatchet-faced knaves. Ah! a fat uncle, with +a fat paunch, and a fat purse, is a joy and a delight to all +nephews; to philosophers, a subject of endless speculation, as to how +many droves of oxen and Lake Eries of wine might have run through his +great mill during the full term of his mortal career. Fat men not +immortal! This very instant, old Lambert is rubbing his jolly abdomen +in Paradise. + +Now, to the fact of his not being rated a demi-god, was perhaps +ascribable the circumstance, that Borabolla comported himself with +less dignity, than was the wont of their Mardian majesties. And truth +to say, to have seen him regaling himself with one of his favorite +cuttle-fish, its long snaky arms and feelers instinctively twining +round his head as he ate; few intelligent observers would have opined +that the individual before them was the sovereign lord of Mondoldo. + +But what of the banquet of fish? Shall we tell how the old king +ungirdled himself thereto; how as the feast waxed toward its close, +with one sad exception, he still remained sunny-sided all round; his +disc of a face joyous as the South Side of Madeira in the hilarious +season of grapes? Shall we tell how we all grew glad and frank; and +how the din of the dinner was heard far into night? + +We will. + +When Media ate slowly, Borabolla took him to task, bidding him +dispatch his viands more speedily. + +Whereupon said Media "But Borabolla, my round fellow, that would +abridge the pleasure." + +"Not at all, my dear demi-god; do like me: eat fast and eat long." + +In the middle of the feast, a huge skin of wine was brought in. The +portly peltry of a goat; its horns embattling its effigy head; its +mouth the nozzle; and its long beard flowed to its jet-black hoofs. +With many ceremonial salams, the attendants bore it along, placing it +at one end of the convivial mats, full in front of Borabolla; where +seated upon its haunches it made one of the party. + +Brimming a ram's horn, the mellowest of bugles, Borabolla bowed to +his silent guest, and thus spoke--"In this wine, which yet smells of +the grape, I pledge you my reverend old toper, my lord Capricornus; +you alone have enough; and here's full skins to the rest!" + +"How jolly he is," whispered Media to Babbalanja. + +"Ay, his lungs laugh loud; but is laughing, rejoicing?" + +"Help! help!" cried Borabolla "lay me down! lay me down! good gods, +what a twinge!" + +The goblet fell from his hand; the purple flew from his wine to his +face; and Borabolla fell back into the arms of his servitors. "That +gout! that gout!" he groaned. "Lord! lord! no more cursed wine will I +drink!" + +Then at ten paces distant, a clumsy attendant let fall a trencher-- +"Take it off my foot, you knave!" + +Afar off another entered gallanting a calabash--"Look out for my toe, +you hound!" + +During all this, the attendants tenderly nursed him. And in good +time, with its thousand fangs, the gout-fiend departed for a while. + +Reprieved, the old king brightened up; by degrees becoming jolly +as ever. + +"Come! let us be merry again," he cried, "what shall we eat? and what +shall we drink? that infernal gout is gone; come, what will your +worships have?" + +So at it once more we went. + +But of our feast, little more remains to be related than this;--that +out of it, grew a wondrous kindness between Borabolla and Jarl. +Strange to tell, from the first our fat host had regarded my Viking +with a most friendly eye. Still stranger to add, this feeling was +returned. But though they thus fancied each other, they were very +unlike; Borabolla and Jarl. Nevertheless, thus is it ever. And as the +convex fits not into the convex, but into the concave; so do men fit +into their opposites; and so fitted Borabolla's arched paunch into +Jarl's, hollowed out to receive it. + +But how now? Borabolla was jolly and loud: Jarl demure and silent; +Borabolla a king: Jarl only a Viking;--how came they together? Very +plain, to repeat:--because they were heterogeneous; and hence the +affinity. But as the affinity between those chemical opposites +chlorine and hydrogen, is promoted by caloric; so the affinity +between Borabolla and Jarl was promoted by the warmth of the wine +that they drank at this feast. For of all blessed fluids, the juice +of the grape is the greatest foe to cohesion. True, it tightens the +girdle; but then it loosens the tongue, and opens the heart. + +In sum, Borabolla loved Jarl; and Jarl, pleased with this sociable +monarch, for all his garrulity, esteemed him the most sensible old +gentleman and king he had as yet seen in Mardi. For this reason, +perhaps; that his talkativeness favored that silence in listeners, +which was my Viking's delight in himself. + +Repeatedly during the banquet, our host besought Taji to allow his +henchman to remain on the island, after the rest of our party should +depart; and he faithfully promised to surrender Jarl, whenever we +should return to claim him. + +But though I harbored no distrust of Borabolla's friendly intentions, +I could not so readily consent to his request; for with Jarl for my +one only companion, had I not both famished and feasted? was he not +my only link to things past? + +Things past!--Ah Yillah! for all its mirth, and though we hunted +wide, we found thee not in Mondoldo. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVI +Samoa A Surgeon + + +The second day of our stay in Mondoldo was signalized by a noteworthy +exhibition of the surgical skill of Samoa; who had often boasted, +that though well versed in the science of breaking men's heads, he +was equally an adept in mending their crockery. + +Overnight, Borabolla had directed his corps of sea-divers to repair +early on the morrow, to a noted section of the great Mardian reef, +for the purpose of procuring for our regalement some of the fine +Hawk's-bill turtle, whose secret retreats were among the cells and +galleries of that submerged wall of coral, from whose foamy coping no +plummet dropped ever yet touched bottom. + +These turtles were only to be obtained by diving far down under the +surface; and then swimming along horizontally, and peering into the +coral honeycomb; snatching at a flipper when seen, as at a pinion in +a range of billing dove-cotes. + +As the king's divers were thus employed, one of them, Karhownoo by +name, perceived a Devil-shark, so called, swimming wistfully toward +him from out his summer grotto in the reef. No way petrified by the +sight, and pursuing the usual method adopted by these divers in such +emergencies, Karhownoo, splashing the water, instantly swam toward +the stranger. But the shark, undaunted, advanced: a thing so unusual, +and fearful, that, in an agony of fright, the diver shot up for the +surface. Heedless, he looked not up as he went; and when within a few +inches of the open air, dashed his head against a projection of the +reef. He would have sank into the live tomb beneath, were it +not that three of his companions, standing on the brink, perceived +his peril, and dragged him into safety. + +Seeing the poor fellow was insensible, they endeavored, +ineffectually, to revive him; and at last, placing him in their +canoe, made all haste for the shore. Here a crowd soon gathered, and +the diver was borne to a habitation, close adjoining Borabolla's; +whence, hearing of the disaster, we sallied out to render assistance. + +Upon entering the hut, the benevolent old king commanded it to be +cleared; and then proceeded to examine the sufferer. + +The skull proved to be very badly fractured; in one place, splintered. + +"Let me mend it," said Samoa, with ardor. + +And being told of his experience in such matters, Borabolla +surrendered the patient. + +With a gourd of water, and a tappa cloth, the one-armed Upoluan +carefully washed the wound; and then calling for a sharp splinter of +bamboo, and a thin, semi-transparent cup of cocoa-nut shell, he went +about the operation: nothing less than the "Tomoti" (head-mending), +in other words the trepan. + +The patient still continuing insensible, the fragments were +disengaged by help of a bamboo scalpel; when a piece of the drinking +cup--previously dipped in the milk of a cocoanut--was nicely fitted +into the vacancy, the skin as nicely adjusted over it, and the +operation was complete. + +And now, while all present were crying out in admiration of Samoa's +artistic skill, and Samoa himself stood complacently regarding his +workmanship, Babbalanja suggested, that it might be well to ascertain +whether the patient survived. When, upon sounding his heart, the +diver was found to be dead. + +The bystanders loudly lamented; but declared the surgeon a man of +marvelous science. + +Returning to Borabolla's, much conversation ensued, concerning the +sad scene we had witnessed, which presently branched into a learned +discussion upon matters of surgery at large. + +At length, Samoa regaled the company with a story; for the truth of +which no one but him can vouch, for no one but him was by, at the +time; though there is testimony to show that it involves nothing at +variance with the customs of certain barbarous tribes. + +Read on. + + + +CHAPTER XCVII +Faith And Knowledge + + +A thing incredible is about to be related; but a thing may be +incredible and still be true; sometimes it is incredible because it +is true. And many infidels but disbelieve the least incredible +things; and many bigots reject the most obvious. But let us hold fast +to all we have; and stop all leaks in our faith; lest an opening, but +of a hand's breadth, should sink our seventy-fours. The wide Atlantic +can rush in at one port-hole; and if we surrender a plank, we +surrender the fleet. Panoplied in all the armor of St. Paul, morion, +hauberk, and greaves, let us fight the Turks inch by inch, and yield +them naught but our corpse. + +But let us not turn round upon friends, confounding them with foes. +For dissenters only assent to more than we. Though Milton was a +heretic to the creed of Athanasius, his faith exceeded that of +Athanasius himself; and the faith of Athanasius that of Thomas, the +disciple, who with his own eyes beheld the mark of the nails. Whence +it comes that though we be all Christians now, the best of us had +perhaps been otherwise in the days of Thomas. + +The higher the intelligence, the more faith, and the less credulity: +Gabriel rejects more than we, but out-believes us all. The greatest +marvels are first truths; and first truths the last unto which we +attain. Things nearest are furthest off. Though your ear be next-door +to your brain, it is forever removed from your sight. Man has a more +comprehensive view of the moon, than the man in the moon himself. We +know the moon is round; he only infers it. It is because we +ourselves are in ourselves, that we know ourselves not. And it is +only of our easy faith, that we are not infidels throughout; and only +of our lack of faith, that we believe what we do. + +In some universe-old truths, all mankind are disbelievers. Do you +believe that you lived three thousand years ago? That you were at the +taking of Tyre, were overwhelmed in Gomorrah? No. But for me, I was +at the subsiding of the Deluge, and helped swab the ground, and build +the first house. With the Israelites, I fainted in the wilderness; +was in court, when Solomon outdid all the judges before him. I, it +was, who suppressed the lost work of Manetho, on the Egyptian +theology, as containing mysteries not to be revealed to posterity, +and things at war with the canonical scriptures; I, who originated +the conspiracy against that purple murderer, Domitian; I, who in the +senate moved, that great and good Aurelian be emperor. I instigated +the abdication of Diocletian, and Charles the Fifth; I touched +Isabella's heart, that she hearkened to Columbus. I am he, that from +the king's minions hid the Charter in the old oak at Hartford; I +harbored Goffe and Whalley: I am the leader of the Mohawk masks, who +in the Old Commonwealth's harbor, overboard threw the East India +Company's Souchong; I am the Vailed Persian Prophet; I, the man in +the iron mask; I, Junius. + + + +CHAPTER XCVIII +The Tale Of A Traveler + + +It was Samoa, who told the incredible tale; and he told it as a +traveler. But stay-at-homes say travelers lie. Yet a voyage to +Ethiopia would cure them of that; for few skeptics are travelers; +fewer travelers liars, though the proverb respecting them lies. It is +false, as some say, that Bruce was cousin-german to Baron Munchausen; +but true, as Bruce said, that the Abysinnians cut live steaks from +their cattle. It was, in good part, his villainous transcribers, who +made monstrosities of Mandeville's travels. And though all liars go +to Gehenna; yet, assuming that Mandeville died before Dante; still, +though Dante took the census of Hell, we find not Sir John, under the +likeness of a roasted neat's tongue, in that infernalest of infernos, +The Inferno. + +But let not the truth be postponed. To the stand, Samoa, and through +your interpreter, speak. + +Once upon a time, during his endless sea-rovings, the Upoluan was +called upon to cobble the head of a friend, grievously hurt in a +desperate fight of slings. + +Upon examination, that part of the brain proving as much injured as +the cranium itself, a young pig was obtained; and preliminaries being +over, part of its live brain was placed in the cavity, the trepan +accomplished with cocoanut shell, and the scalp drawn over and secured. + +This man died not, but lived. But from being a warrior of great sense +and spirit, he became a perverse-minded and piggish fellow, showing +many of the characteristics of his swinish grafting. He survived the +operation more than a year; at the end of that period, however, going +mad, and dying in his delirium. + +Stoutly backed by the narrator, this anecdote was credited by some +present. But Babbalanja held out to the last. + +"Yet, if this story be true," said he, "and since it is well settled, +that our brains are somehow the organs of sense; then, I see not why +human reason could not be put into a pig, by letting into its cranium +the contents of a man's. I have long thought, that men, pigs, and +plants, are but curious physiological experiments; and that science +would at last enable philosophers to produce new species of beings, +by somehow mixing, and concocting the essential ingredients of +various creatures; and so forming new combinations. My friend +Atahalpa, the astrologer and alchymist, has long had a jar, in which +he has been endeavoring to hatch a fairy, the ingredients being +compounded according to a receipt of his own." + +But little they heeded Babbalanja. It was the traveler's tale that +most arrested attention. + +Tough the thews, and tough the tales of Samoa. + + + +CHAPTER XCIX +"Marnee Ora, Ora Marnee" + +During the afternoon of the day of the diver's decease, preparations +were making for paying the last rites to his remains, and carrying +them by torch-light to their sepulcher, the sea; for, as in Odo, so +was the custom here. + +Meanwhile, all over the isle, to and fro went heralds, dismally +arrayed, beating shark-skin drums; and, at intervals, crying--"A man +is dead; let no fires be kindled; have mercy, oh Oro!--Let no canoes +put to sea till the burial. This night, oh Oro!--Let no food be cooked." + +And ever and anon, passed and repassed these, others in brave attire; +with castanets of pearl shells, making gay music; and these sang-- + + Be merry, oh men of Mondoldo, + A maiden this night is to wed: + Be merry, oh damsels of Mardi,-- + Flowers, flowers for the bridal bed. + +Informed that the preliminary rites were about being rendered, we +repaired to the arbor, whither the body had been removed. + +Arrayed in white, it was laid out on a mat; its arms mutely crossed, +between its lips an asphodel; at the feet, a withered hawthorn bough. + +The relatives were wailing, and cutting themselves with shells, so +that blood flowed, and spotted their vesture. + +Upon remonstrating with the most abandoned of these mourners, the +wife of the diver, she exclaimed, "Yes; great is the pain, but +greater my affliction." + +Another, the deaf sire of the dead, went staggering about, and +groping; saying, that he was now quite blind; for some months +previous he had lost one eye in the death of his eldest son and now +the other was gone. + +"I am childless," he cried; "henceforth call me Roi Mori," that is, +Twice-Blind. + +While the relatives were thus violently lamenting, the rest of the +company occasionally scratched themselves with their shells; but very +slightly, and mostly on the soles of their feet; from long exposure, +quite callous. This was interrupted, however, when the real mourners +averted their eyes; though at no time was there any deviation in the +length of their faces. + +But on all sides, lamentations afresh broke forth, upon the +appearance of a person who had been called in to assist in +solemnizing the obsequies, and also to console the afflicted. + +In rotundity, he was another Borabolla. He puffed and panted. + +As he approached the corpse, a sobbing silence ensued; when holding +the hand of the dead, between his, the stranger thus spoke:-- + +"Mourn not, oh friends of Karhownoo, that this your brother lives +not. His wounded head pains him no more; he would not feel it, did a +javelin pierce him. Yea; Karhownoo is exempt from all the ills and +evils of this miserable Mardi!" + +Hereupon, the Twice-Blind, who being deaf, heard not what was said, +tore his gray hair, and cried, "Alas! alas! my boy; thou wert the +merriest man in Mardi, and now thy pranks are over!" + +But the other proceeded--"Mourn not, I say, oh friends of Karhownoo; +the dead whom ye deplore is happier than the living; is not his +spirit in the aerial isles?" + +"True! true!" responded the raving wife, mingling her blood with her +tears, "my own poor hapless Karhownoo is thrice happy in +Paradise!" And anew she wailed, and lacerated her cheeks. + +"Rave not, I say." + +But she only raved the more. + +And now the good stranger departed; saying, he must hie to a wedding, +waiting his presence in an arbor adjoining. + +Understanding that the removal of the body would not take place till +midnight, we thought to behold the mode of marrying in Mondoldo. + +Drawing near the place, we were greeted by merry voices, and much +singing, which greatly increased when the good stranger was +perceived. + +Gayly arrayed in fine robes, with plumes on their heads, the bride +and groom stood in the middle of a joyous throng, in readiness for +the nuptial bond to be tied. + +Standing before them, the stranger was given a cord, so bedecked with +flowers, as to disguise its stout fibers; and taking: the bride's +hands, he bound them together to a ritual chant; about her neck, in +festoons, disposing the flowery ends of the cord. Then turning to the +groom, he was given another, also beflowered; but attached thereto +was a great stone, very much carved, and stained; indeed, so every +way disguised, that a person not knowing what it was, and lifting it, +would be greatly amazed at its weight. This cord being attached to +the waist of the groom, he leaned over toward the bride, by reason of +the burden of the drop. + +All present now united in a chant, and danced about the happy pair, +who meanwhile looked ill at ease; the one being so bound by the +hands, and the other solely weighed down by his stone. + +A pause ensuing, the good stranger, turning them back to back, thus +spoke:-- + +"By thy flowery gyves, oh bride, I make thee a wife; and by thy +burdensome stone, oh groom, I make thee a husband. Live and be happy, +both; for the wise and good Oro hath placed us in Mardi to be glad. +Doth not all nature rejoice in her green groves and her +flowers? and woo and wed not the fowls of the air, trilling their +bliss in their bowers? Live then, and be happy, oh bride and groom; +for Oro is offended with the unhappy, since he meant them to be gay." + +And the ceremony ended with a joyful feast. + +But not all nuptials in Mardi were like these. Others were wedded +with different rites; without the stone and flowery gyves. These were +they who plighted their troth with tears not smiles, and made +responses in the heart. + +Returning from the house of the merry to the house of the mournful, +we lingered till midnight to witness the issuing forth of the body. + +By torch light, numerous canoes, with paddlers standing by, were +drawn up on the beach, to accommodate those who purposed following +the poor diver to his home. + +The remains embarked, some confusion ensued concerning the occupancy +of the rest of the shallops. At last the procession glided off, our +party included. Two by two, forming a long line of torches trailing +round the isle, the canoes all headed toward the opening in the reef. + +For a time, a decorous silence was preserved; but presently, some +whispering was heard; perhaps melancholy discoursing touching the +close of the diver's career. But we were shocked to discover, that +poor Karhownoo was not much in their thoughts; they were conversing +about the next bread-fruit harvest, and the recent arrival of King +Media and party at Mondoldo. From far in advance, however, were heard +the lamentations of the true mourners, the relatives of the diver. + +Passing the reef, and sailing a little distance therefrom, the canoes +were disposed in a circle; the one bearing the corpse in the center. +Certain ceremonies over, the body was committed to the waves; the +white foam lighting up the last, long plunge of the diver, to see +sights more strange than ever he saw in the brooding cells of the +Turtle Reef. + +And now, while in the still midnight, all present were gazing down +into the ocean, watching the white wake of the corpse, ever and anon +illuminated by sparkles, an unknown voice was heard, and all started +and vacantly stared, as this wild song was sung:-- + + We drop our dead in the sea, + The bottomless, bottomless sea; + Each bubble a hollow sigh, + As it sinks forever and aye. + + We drop our dead in the sea,-- + The dead reek not of aught; + We drop our dead in the sea,-- + The sea ne'er gives it a thought. + + Sink, sink, oh corpse, still sink, + Far down in the bottomless sea, + Where the unknown forms do prowl, + Down, down in the bottomless sea. + + 'Tis night above, and night all round, + And night will it be with thee; + As thou sinkest, and sinkest for aye, + Deeper down in the bottomless sea. + +The mysterious voice died away; no sign of the corpse was now seen; +and mute with amaze, the company long listed to the low moan of the +billows and the sad sough of the breeze. + +At last, without speaking, the obsequies were concluded by sliding +into the ocean a carved tablet of Palmetto, to mark the place of the +burial. But a wave-crest received it, and fast it floated away. + +Returning to the isle, long silence prevailed. But at length, as if +the scene in which they had just taken part, afresh reminded them of +the mournful event which had called them together, the company again +recurred to it; some present, sadly and incidentally alluding to +Borabolla's banquet of turtle, thereby postponed. + + + +CHAPTER C +The Pursuer Himself Is Pursued + + +Next morning, when much to the chagrin of Borabolla we were preparing +to quit his isle, came tidings to the palace, of a wonderful event, +occurring in one of the "Motoos," or little islets of the great reef; +which "Motoo" was included in the dominions of the king. + +The men who brought these tidings were highly excited; and no sooner +did they make known what they knew, than all Mondoldo was in a tumult +of marveling. + +Their story was this. + +Going at day break to the Motoo to fish, they perceived a strange +proa beached on its seaward shore; and presently were hailed by +voices; and saw among the palm trees, three specter-like men, who +were not of Mardi. + +The first amazement of the fishermen over, in reply to their eager +questions, the strangers related, that they were the survivors of a +company of men, natives of some unknown island to the northeast; +whence they had embarked for another country, distant three days' +sail to the southward of theirs. But falling in with a terrible +adventure, in which their sire had been slain, they altered their +course to pursue the fugitive who murdered him; one and all vowing, +never more to see home, until their father's fate was avenged. The +murderer's proa outsailing theirs, soon ran out of sight; yet after +him they blindly steered by day and by night: steering by the blood- +red star in Bootes. Soon, a violent gale overtook them; driving them +to and fro; leaving them they knew not where. But still struggling +against strange currents, at times counteracting their sailing, they +drifted on their way; nigh to famishing for water; and no shore in +sight. In long calms, in vain they held up their dry gourds to heaven, +and cried "send us a breeze, sweet gods!" The calm still brooded; and +ere it was gone, all but three gasped; and dead from thirst, were +plunged into the sea. The breeze which followed the calm, soon brought +them in sight of a low, uninhabited isle; where tarrying many days, +they laid in good store of cocoanuts and water, and again embarked. + +The next land they saw was Mardi; and they landed on the Motoo, still +intent on revenge. + +This recital filled Taji with horror. + +Who could these avengers be, but the sons of him I had slain. I had +thought them far hence, and myself forgotten; and now, like adders, +they started up in my path, as I hunted for Yillah. + +But I dissembled my thoughts. + +Without waiting to hear more, Borabolla, all curiosity to behold the +strangers, instantly dispatched to the Motoo one of his fleetest +canoes, with orders to return with the voyagers. + +Ere long they came in sight; and perceiving that strange pros in tow +of the king's, Samoa cried out: "Lo! Taji, the canoe that was going +to Tedaidee!" + +Too true; the same double-keeled craft, now sorely broken, the fatal +dais in wild disarray: the canoe, the canoe of Aleema! And with it +came the spearmen three, who, when the Chamois was fleeing from their +bow, had poised their javelins. But so wan their aspect now, their +faces looked like skulls. + +Then came over me the wild dream of Yillah; and, for a space, like a +madman, I raved. It seemed as if the mysterious damsel must still be +there; the rescue yet to be achieved. In my delirium I rushed upon +the skeletons, as they landed--"Hide not the maiden!" But +interposing, Media led me aside; when my transports abated. + +Now, instantly, the strangers knew who I was; and, brandishing their +javelins, they rushed upon me, as I had on them, with a yell. But +deeming us all mad, the crowd held us apart; when, writhing in the +arms that restrained them, the pale specters foamed out their curses +again and again: "Oh murderer! white curses upon thee! Bleached be +thy soul with our hate! Living, our brethren cursed thee; and dying, +dry-lipped, they cursed thee again. They died not through famishing +for water, but for revenge upon thee! Thy blood, their thirst would +have slaked!" + +I lay fainting against the hard-throbbing heart of Samoa, while they +showered their yells through the air. Once more, in my thoughts, the +green corpse of the priest drifted by. + +Among the people of Mondoldo, a violent commotion now raged. They +were amazed at Taji's recognition by the strangers, and at the deadly +ferocity they betrayed. + +Rallying upon this, and perceiving that by divulging all they knew, +these sons of Aleema might stir up the Islanders against me, I +resolved to anticipate their story; and, turning to Borabolla, said-- +"In these strangers, oh, king! you behold the survivors of a band we +encountered on our voyage. From them I rescued a maiden, called +Yillah, whom they were carrying captive. Little more of their history +do I know." + +"Their maledictions?" exclaimed Borabolla. + +"Are they not delirious with suffering?" I cried. "They know not what +they say." + +So, moved by all this, he commanded them to be guarded, and conducted +within his palisade; and having supplied them with cheer, entered +into earnest discourse. Yet all the while, the pale strangers on me +fixed their eyes; deep, dry, crater-like hollows, lurid with flames, +reflected from the fear-frozen glacier, my soul. + +But though their hatred appalled, spite of that spell, again the +sweet dream of Yillah stole over me, with all the mysterious +things by her narrated, but left unexplained. And now, before me were +those who might reveal the lost maiden's whole history, previous to +the fatal affray. + +Thus impelled, I besought them to disclose what they knew. + +But, "Where now is your Yillah?" they cried. "Is the murderer wedded +and merry? Bring forth the maiden!" + +Yet, though they tore out my heart's core, I told them not of my loss. + +Then, anxious, to learn the history of Yillah, all present commanded +them to divulge it; and breathlessly I heard what follows. + +"Of Yillah, we know only this:--that many moons ago, a mighty canoe, +full of beings, white, like this murderer Taji, touched at our island +of Amma. Received with wonder, they were worshiped as gods; were +feasted all over the land. Their chief was a tower to behold; and +with him, was a being, whose cheeks were of the color of the red +coral; her eye, tender as the blue of the sky. Every day our people +brought her offerings of fruit and flowers; which last she would not +retain for herself; but hung them round the neck of her child, +Yillah; then only an infant in her mother's arms; a bud, nestling +close to a flower, full-blown. All went well between our people and +the gods, till at last they slew three of our countrymen, charged +with stealing from their great canoe. Our warriors retired to the +hills, brooding over revenge. Three days went by; when by night, +descending to the plain, in silence they embarked; gained the great +vessel, and slaughtered every soul but Yillah. The bud was torn from +the flower; and, by our father Aleema, was carried to the Valley of +Ardair; there set apart as a sacred offering for Apo, our deity. Many +moons passed; and there arose a tumult, hostile to our sire's longer +holding custody of Yillah; when, foreseeing that the holy glen would +ere long be burst open, he embarked the maiden in yonder canoe, to +accelerate her sacri flee at the great shrine of Apo, in +Tedaidee.--The rest thou knowest, murderer!" + +"Yillah! Yillah!" now hunted again that sound through my soul. "Oh, +Yillah! too late, too late have I learned what thou art!" + +Apprised of the disappearance of their former captive, the meager +strangers exulted; declaring that Apo had taken her to himself. For +me, ere long, my blood they would quaff from my skull. + +But though I shrunk from their horrible threats, I dissembled anew; +and turning, again swore that they raved. + +"Ay!" they retorted, "we rave and raven for you; and your white heart +will we have!" + +Perceiving the violence of their rage, and persuaded from what I +said, that much suffering at sea must have maddened them; Borabolla +thought fit to confine them for the present; so that they could not +molest me. + + + +CHAPTER CI +The Iris + + +That evening, in the groves, came to me three gliding forms:--Hautia's +heralds: the Iris mixed with nettles. Said Yoomy, "A cruel message!" + +With the right hand, the second syren presented glossy, green wax- +myrtle berries, those that burn like tapers; the third, a lily of the +valley, crushed in its own broad leaf. + +This done, they earnestly eyed Yoomy; who, after much pondering, +said--"I speak for Hautia; who by these berries says, I will +enlighten you." + +"Oh, give me then that light! say, where is Yillah?" and I rushed +upon the heralds. + +But eluding me, they looked reproachfully at Yoomy; and seemed +offended. + +"Then, I am wrong," said Yoomy. "It is thus:--Taji, you have been +enlightened, but the lily you seek is crushed." + +Then fell my heart, and the phantoms nodded; flinging upon me +bilberries, like rose pearls, which bruised against my skin, +left stains. + +Waving oleanders, they retreated. + +"Harm! treachery! beware!" cried Yoomy. + +Then they glided through the wood: one showering dead leaves along +the path I trod, the others gayly waving bunches of spring-crocuses, +yellow, white, and purple; and thus they vanished. + +Said Yoomy, "Sad your path, but merry Hautia's." + +"Then merry may she be, whoe'er she is; and though woe be mine, I +turn not from that to Hautia; nor ever will I woo her, though she woo +me till I die;--though Yillah never bless my eyes." + + + +CHAPTER CII +They Depart From Mondoldo + + +Night passed; and next morning we made preparations for leaving +Mondoldo that day. + +But fearing anew, lest after our departure, the men of Amma might +stir up against me the people of the isle, I determined to yield to +the earnest solicitations of Borabolla, and leave Jarl behind, for a +remembrance of Taji; if necessary, to vindicate his name. Apprised +hereof, my follower was loth to acquiesce. His guiltless spirit +feared not the strangers: less selfish considerations prevailed. He +was willing to remain on the island for a time, but not without me. +Yet, setting forth my reasons; and assuring him, that our tour would +not be long in completing, when we would not fail to return, previous +to sailing for Odo, he at last, but reluctantly, assented. + +At Mondoldo, we also parted with Samoa. Whether it was, that he +feared the avengers, whom he may have thought would follow on my +track; or whether the islands of Mardi answered not in attractiveness +to the picture his fancy had painted; or whether the restraint put +upon him by the domineering presence of King Media, was too irksome +withal; or whether, indeed, he relished not those disquisitions with +which Babbalanja regaled us: however it may have been, certain it +was, that Samoa was impatient of the voyage. He besought permission +to return to Odo, there to await my return; and a canoe of Mondoldo +being about to proceed in that direction, permission was granted; and +departing for the other side of the island, from thence he embarked. + +Long after, dark tidings came, that at early dawn he had been found +dead in the canoe: three arrows in his side. + +Yoomy was at a loss to account for the departure of Samoa; who, while +ashore, had expressed much desire to roam. + +Media, however, declared that he must be returning to some inamorata. + +But Babbalanja averred, that the Upoluan was not the first man, who +had turned back, after beginning a voyage like our own. + +To this, after musing, Yoomy assented. Indeed, I had noticed, that +already the Warbler had abated those sanguine assurances of success, +with which he had departed from Odo. The futility of our search thus +far, seemed ominous to him, of the end. + +On the eve of embarking, we were accompanied to the beach by +Borabolla; who, with his own hand, suspended from the shark's mouth +of Media's canoe, three red-ripe bunches of plantains, a farewell +gift to his guests. + +Though he spoke not a word, Jarl was long in taking leave. His eyes +seemed to say, I will see you no more. + +At length we pushed from the strand; Borabolla waving his adieus with +a green leaf of banana; our comrade ruefully eyeing the receding +canoes; and the multitude loudly invoking for us a prosperous voyage. + +But to my horror, there suddenly dashed through the crowd, the three +specter sons of Aleema, escaped from their prison. With clenched +hands, they stood in the water, and cursed me anew. And with that +curse in our sails, we swept off. + + + +CHAPTER CIII +As They Sail + + +As the canoes now glided across the lagoon, I gave myself up to +reverie; and revolving over all that the men of Amma had rehearsed of +the history of Yillah, I one by one unriddled the mysteries, before +so baffling. Now, all was made plain: no secret remaining, but the +subsequent event of her disappearance. Yes, Hautia! enlightened I had +been but where was Yillah? + +Then I recalled that last interview with Hautia's messengers, so full +of enigmas; and wondered, whether Yoomy had interpreted aright. +Unseen, and unsolicited; still pursuing me with omens, with taunts, +and with wooings, mysterious Hautia appalled me. Vaguely I began to +fear her. And the thought, that perhaps again and again, her heralds +would haunt me, filled me with a nameless dread, which I almost +shrank from acknowledging. Inwardly I prayed, that never more they +might appear. + +While full of these thoughts, Media interrupted them by saying, that +the minstrel was about to begin one of his chants, a thing of his own +composing; and therefore, as he himself said, all critics must be +lenient; for Yoomy, at times, not always, was a timid youth, +distrustful of his own sweet genius for poesy. + +The words were about a curious hereafter, believed in by some people +in Mardi: a sort of nocturnal Paradise, where the sun and its heat +are excluded: one long, lunar day, with twinkling stars to keep +company. + +THE SONG + Far off in the sea is Marlena, + A land of shades and streams, + A land of many delights. + Dark and bold, thy shores, + Marlena; But green, and timorous, thy soft knolls, + Crouching behind the woodlands. + All shady thy hills; all gleaming thy springs, + Like eyes in the earth looking at you. + How charming thy haunts Marlena!-- + Oh, the waters that flow through Onimoo: + Oh, the leaves that rustle through Ponoo: + Oh, the roses that blossom in Tarma: + Come, and see the valley of Vina: + How sweet, how sweet, the Isles from Hind: + 'Tis aye afternoon of the full, full moon, + And ever the season of fruit, + And ever the hour of flowers, + And never the time of rains and gales, + All in and about Marlena. + Soft sigh the boughs in the stilly air, + Soft lap the beach the billows there; + And in the woods or by the streams, + You needs must nod in the Land of Dreams. + +"Yoomy," said old Mohi with a yawn, "you composed that song, then, +did you?" + +"I did," said Yoomy, placing his turban a little to one side. + +"Then, minstrel, you shall sing me to sleep every night, especially +with that song of Marlena; it is soporific as the airs of Nora-Bamma." + +"Mean you, old man, that my lines, setting forth the luxurious repose +to be enjoyed hereafter, are composed with such skill, that the +description begets the reality; or would you ironically suggest, that +the song is a sleepy thing itself?" + +"An important discrimination," said Media; "which mean you, Mohi?" + +"Now, are you not a silly boy," said Babbalanja, "when from the +ambiguity of his speech, you could so easily have derived +something flattering, thus to seek to extract unpleasantness from it? +Be wise, Yoomy; and hereafter, whenever a remark like that seems +equivocal, be sure to wrest commendation from it, though you torture +it to the quick." + +"And most sure am I, that I would ever do so; but often I so incline +to a distrust of my powers, that I am far more keenly alive to +censure, than to praise; and always deem it the more sincere of the +two; and no praise so much elates me, as censure depresses." + + + +CHAPTER CIV +Wherein Babbalanja Broaches A Diabolical Theory, And, In His Own +Person, Proves It + + +"A truce!" cried Media, "here comes a gallant before the wind.-- +Look, Taji!" + +Turning, we descried a sharp-prowed canoe, dashing on, under the +pressure of an immense triangular sail, whose outer edges were +streaming with long, crimson pennons. Flying before it, were several +small craft, belonging to the poorer sort of Islanders. + +"Out of his way there, ye laggards," cried Media, "or that mad +prince, Tribonnora, will ride over ye with a rush!" + +"And who is Tribonnora," said Babbalanja, "that he thus bravely +diverts himself, running down innocent paddlers?" + +"A harum-scarum young chief," replied Media, "heir to three islands; +he likes nothing better than the sport you now see see him at." + +"He must be possessed by a devil," said Mohi. + +Said Babbalanja, "Then he is only like all of us." "What say you?" +cried Media. + +"I say, as old Bardianna in the Nine hundred and ninety ninth book of +his immortal Ponderings saith, that all men--" + +"As I live, my lord, he has swamped three canoes," cried Mohi, +pointing off the beam. + +But just then a fiery fin-back whale, having broken into the paddock +of the lagoon, threw up a high fountain of foam, almost under +Tribonnora's nose; who, quickly turning about his canoe, cur-like +slunk off; his steering-paddle between his legs. + +Comments over; "Babbalanja, you were going to quote," said Media. +"Proceed." + +"Thank you, my lord. Says old Bardianna, 'All men are possessed by +devils; but as these devils are sent into men, and kept in them, for +an additional punishment; not garrisoning a fortress, but limboed in +a bridewell; so, it may be more just to say, that the devils +themselves are possessed by men, not men by them.'" + +"Faith!" cried Media, "though sometimes a bore, your old Bardianna is +a trump." + +"I have long been of that mind, my lord. But let me go on. Says +Bardianna, 'Devils are divers;--strong devils, and weak devils; +knowing devils, and silly devils; mad devils, and mild devils; +devils, merely devils; devils, themselves bedeviled; devils, doubly +bedeviled." + +"And in the devil's name, what sort of a devil is yours?" cried Mohi. + +"Of him anon; interrupt me not, old man. Thus, then, my lord, as +devils are divers, divers are the devils in men. Whence, the wide +difference we see. But after all, the main difference is this:--that +one man's devil is only more of a devil than another's; and be +bedeviled as much as you will; yet, may you perform the most +bedeviled of actions with impunity, so long as you only bedevil +yourself. For it is only when your deviltry injures another, that the +other devils conspire to confine yours for a mad one. That is to say, +if you be easily handled. For there are many bedeviled Bedlamites in +Mardi, doing an infinity of mischief, who are too brawny in the arms +to be tied." + +"A very devilish doctrine that," cried Mohi. "I don't believe it." + + "My lord," said Babbalanja, "here's collateral proof;--the sage +lawgiver Yamjamma, who flourished long before Bardianna, roundly +asserts, that all men who knowingly do evil are bedeviled; for good +is happiness; happiness the object of living; and evil is not good." + +"If the sage Yamjamma said that," said old Mohi, "the sage Yamjamma +might have bettered the saying; it's not quite so plain as it might be." + +"Yamjamma disdained to be plain; he scorned to be fully comprehended +by mortals. Like all oracles, he dealt in dark sayings. But old +Bardianna was of another sort; he spoke right out, going straight to +the point like a javelin; especially when he laid it down for a +universal maxim, that minus exceptions, all men are bedeviled." + +"Of course, then," said Media, "you include yourself among the number." + +"Most assuredly; and so did old Bardianna; who somewhere says, that +being thoroughly bedeviled himself, he was so much the better +qualified to discourse upon the deviltries of his neighbors. But in +another place he seems to contradict himself, by asserting, that he +is not so sensible of his own deviltry as of other people's." + +"Hold!" cried Media, "who have we here?" and he pointed ahead of our +prow to three men in the water, urging themselves along, each with a +paddle. + +We made haste to overtake them. + +"Who are you?" said Media, "where from, and where bound?" + +"From Variora," they answered, "and bound to Mondoldo." "And did that +devil Tribonnora swamp your canoe?" asked Media, offering to help +them into ours. + +"We had no such useless incumbrance to lose," they replied, resting +on their backs, and panting with their exertions. "If we had had a +canoe, we would have had to paddle it along with us; whereas we have +only our bodies to paddle." + +"You are a parcel of loons," exclaimed Media. "But go your ways, if +you are satisfied with your locomotion, well and good." + +"Now, it is an extreme case, I grant," said Babbalanja, "but those +poor devils there, help to establish old Bardianna's position. +They belong to that species of our bedeviled race, called simpletons; +but their devils harming none but themselves, are permitted to be at +large with the fish. Whereas, Tribonnora's devil, who daily runs down +canoes, drowning their occupants, belongs to the species of out and +out devils; but being high in station, and strongly backed by kith +and kin, Tribonnora can not be mastered, and put in a strait jacket. +For myself, I think my devil is some where between these two +extremes; at any rate, he belongs to that class of devils who harm +not other devils." + +"I am not so sure of that," retorted Media. "Methinks this doctrine +of yours, about all mankind being bedeviled, will work a deal of +mischief; seeing that by implication it absolves you mortals from +moral accountability. Further-more; as your doctrine is exceedingly +evil, by Yamjamma's theory it follows, that you must be +proportionably bedeviled; and since it harms others, your devil is of +the number of those whom it is best to limbo; and since he is one of +those that can be limboed, limboed he shall be in you." + +And so saying, he humorously commanded his attendants to lay hands +upon the bedeviled philosopher, and place a bandage upon his mouth, +that he might no more disseminate his devilish doctrine. + +Against this, Babbalanja demurred, protesting that he was no orang- +outang, to be so rudely handled. + +"Better and better," said Media, "you but illustrate Bardianna's +theory; that men are not sensible of their being bedeviled." + +Thus tantalized, Babbalanja displayed few signs of philosophy. + +Whereupon, said Media, "Assuredly his devil is foaming; behold his +mouth!" And he commanded him to be bound hand and foot. + +At length, seeing all resistance ineffectual, Babbalanja submitted; +but not without many objurgations. + +Presently, however, they released him; when Media inquired, +how he relished the application of his theory; and whether he was +still' of old Bardianna's mind? + +To which, haughtily adjusting his robe, Babbalanja replied, "The +strong arm, my lord, is no argument, though it overcomes all logic." + +END OF VOL. I. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I +(of 2), by Herman Melville + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARDI: AND A VOYAGE THITHER, *** + +***** This file should be named 13720.txt or 13720.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.net/1/3/7/2/13720/ + +Produced by Geoff Palmer + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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