- end_line
- 11028
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:18.539Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 10975
- text
- 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.
- title
- Chunk 3