- end_line
- 4776
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:18.535Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 4727
- text
- 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.
- title
- Chunk 2