- end_line
- 10986
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:18.539Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 10928
- text
- 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.
- title
- Chunk 2