Volume I Part 15 (1/2)
At last I succeeded
In that mysterious tent was concealed a beautiful maiden And, in pursuance of a barbarous custo from the island of A 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 theWas 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 see his craft But being equally determined the other way, I cautiously laid the bow of the Chaainst the canoe's quarter, so as to present the smallest possible chance for a hostile entrance into our boat Then, Samoa, knife in ear, andJarl in the boat's head, equipped with his harpoon; three loadedby his side He was strictly enjoined to resist the slightest demonstration toward our craft
As we boarded the canoe, the Islanders slowly retreated;in whispers; all but the old priest, who, still seated, presented an undaunted though troubled front To our surprise, hecare, however, not to cut off our coood will, I now unfolded a roll of printed cotton, and spreading it before the priest, directed his attention to the pictorial e so so Glancing at theaveprevious he hi this allusion, his countenance was overcast with a ferocious expression, as if so terrific was connected with the reminiscence But it soon passed away, and somewhat abruptly he assu together, and hts of the captive, and how best to acco toward the tent; I all at once noticed a ers Alht across the face of Aleema, and in his ordinary tones, badeHardly was this warning uttered, when, with carved clubs in their hands, the Islanders coave us to know, that holly 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 beautifulin Saain the boat, several of the Islandersa rush for it No time to think All passed quicker than it can be said They closed in upon us, to push us fro er, the sharp spine of a fish A thrust and a threat! Ere I knew it, e 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 fro the cro 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 Sa upon the two Islanders, by Jarl's help, we quicklythem down into the botto passive the captives, I quickly set our sail, and snatching the sheet at the cavil, we rapidly shot fro us with their spears; several couching them as if to dart; while others held back their hands, as if to prevent the the lives of their countryly untoward events oftenti all chance of rescuing the captive, our teht, indispensable for the safety of Jarl, onlyers, I deterh whom to effect my plans without further bloodshed
And here it must needs be related, that some of the natives ounded in the fray: while all three of their assailants had received several bruises
CHAPTER XLII Rele ed The first snatched by Jarl had missed fire, and ere he could seize another, it was close quarters with hiestures to spare
His harpoon was his all And truly, there is nothing like steel in a fray It cooes 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 ho with steel is a play without ever an interlude There are points more deadly than bullets; and stocks packed full of subtle tubes, whence co our prisoners lengthwise across the boat's seats, ed for the canoe,fitted to ht 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 overco 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 ironsharp in my ear! It was I, as the author of the deed that caused the shrill wails that I heard By this hand, the deadI askedof a virtuousa captive froed in this fatal affray for some other, and selfish purpose; the coht, I swore to be gay Ao doithstand me
At the dis our prisoners with his weapon, in order to intimidate their country his knife in the air, Saers; nor could we prevent hi foreers, 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 into 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 Cha Jarl to defend it as before, the Upoluan rejoined es still re bound hand and foot in the boat--we deemed ourselves entirely secure
Attended by Sarave
CHAPTER XLIII The Tent Entered