102. CHAPTER CII.
THEY DEPART FROM MONDOLDO.
Night passed; and next morning we made preparations
for leaving Mondoldo that day.
But fearing anew, lest after our departure, the men of
Amma might stir up against me the people of the isle, I determined
to yield to the earnest solicitations of Borabolla,
and leave Jarl behind, for a remembrance of Taji; if necessary,
to vindicate his name. Apprised hereof, my follower
was loth to acquiesce. His guiltless spirit feared not the
strangers: less selfish considerations prevailed. He was
willing to remain on the island for a time, but not without
me. Yet, setting forth my reasons; and assuring him, that
our tour would not be long in completing, when we would
not fail to return, previous to sailing for Odo, he at last, but
reluctantly, assented.
At Mondoldo, we also parted with Samoa. Whether it
was, that he feared the avengers, whom he may have thought
would follow on my track; or whether the islands of Mardi
answered not in attractiveness to the picture his fancy-had
painted; or whether the restraint put upon him by the
domineering presence of King Media, was too irksome withal;
or whether, indeed, he relished not those disquisitions with
which Babbalanja regaled us: however it may have been,
certain it was, that Samoa was impatient of the voyage.
He besought permission to return to Odo, there to await my
return; and a canoe of Mondoldo being about to proceed in
that direction, permission was granted; and departing for
the other side of the island, from thence he embarked.
Long after, dark tidings came, that at early dawn he had
been found dead in the canoe: three arrows in his side.
Yoomy was at a loss to account for the departure of
Samoa; who, while ashore, had expressed much desire to
roam.
Media, however, declared that he must be returning to
some mamorata.
But Babbalanja averred, that the Upoluan was not the
first man, who had turned back, after beginning a voyage
like our own.
To this, after musing, Yoomy assented. Indeed, I had
noticed, that already the Warbler had abated those sanguine
assurances of success, with which he had departed from Odo.
The futility of our search thus far, seemed ominous to him,
of the end.
On the eve of embarking, we were accompanied to the
beach by Borabolla; who, with his own hand, suspended
from the shark's mouth of Media's canoe, three red-ripe
bunches of plantains, a farewell gift to his guests.
Though he spoke not a word, Jarl was long in taking
leave. His eyes seemed to say, I will see you no more.
At length we pushed from the strand; Borabolla waving
his adieus with a green leaf of banana; our comrade ruefully
eyeing the receding canoes; and the multitude loudly
invoking for us a prosperous voyage.
But to my horror, there suddenly dashed through the
crowd, the three specter sons of Alcema, escaped from their
prison. With clenched hands, they stood in the water, and
cursed me anew. And with that curse in our sails, we
swept off.
