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.