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- 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.
CHAPTER XLV.
Reminiscences
In resecuing the gentle Yillah from the hands of the Islanders, a
design seemed accomplished. But what was now to be done? Here, in our
adventurous Chamois, was a damsel more lovely than the flushes of
morning; and for companions, whom had she but me and my comrades?
Besides, her bosom still throbbed with alarms, her fancies all roving
through mazes.
How subdue these dangerous imaginings? How gently dispel them?
But one way there was: to lead her thoughts toward me, as her friend
and preserver; and a better and wiser than Aleema the priest. Yet could
not this be effected but by still maintaining my assumption of a divine
origin in the blessed isle of Oroolia; and thus fostering in her heart
the mysterious interest, with which from the first she had regarded me.
But if punctilious reserve on the part of her deliverer should teach
her to regard him as some frigid stranger from the Arctic Zone, what
sympathy could she have for him? and hence, what peace of mind, having
no one else to cling to?
Now re-entering the tent, she again inquired where tarried Aleema.
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