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.