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what we should do。 For my part I was by now so tired of travelling
upon an endless quest that I should have been glad to stay among that
tribe； a very gentle and friendly people； who like all the rest
believed me to be a god； and make my home there till I died。 But this
was not Kari's mind； which was set fiercely upon winning back to his
own country that he believed to lie towards the south。
Day by day we sat there regaining our strength upon the good food of
that valley； and staring first at the desert to the south； then at the
precipices on our left hand； and lastly at the ocean upon our right。
Now this people； I should say； drew their wealth from the sea as well
as from the land； since they were great fishermen and went out upon it
in rude boats or rafts made of a wooden frame to which were lashed
blown…up skins and bundles of dried reeds。 Upon these boats； frail as
they seemed； such as further south were called balsas； they made
considerable journeys to distant islands where they caught vast
quantities of fish； some of which they used to manure their land。
Moreover； besides the oars； they rigged a square cotton sail upon the
balsas which enabled them to run before the wind without labour；
steering the craft by means of a paddle at the stern。
While we were there I observed that on the springing up of a wind from
the north； although it was of no great strength； the /balsas/ all came
to shore and were drawn up out of reach of the waves。 When I inquired
why through Kari； the answer given was because the fishing season was
over； since that wind from the north would blow for a long time
without changing and those who went out in it upon the sea might be
driven southwards to return no more。 They stated； indeed； that often
this had happened to venturesome men who had vanished away and been
lost。
〃If you wish to travel south； there is a way of doing so；〃 I said to
Kari。
At the time he made no answer； but on the following day asked me
suddenly if I dared attempt such a journey。
〃Why not？〃 I answered。 〃It is as easy to die in the water as on land
and I weary of journeying through endless swamps and forests or of
crossing torrents and climbing mountain ridges。〃
The end of it was that for a knife and a few nails Kari purchased the
largest /balsa/ that these people had； provisioning it with as much
dried fish； corn and water in earthenware jars as it would carry
together with ourselves； and such of our remaining goods as we wished
to take with us。 Then we announced that I； the god who had come out of
the sea； desired to return into the sea with himself； my servant。
So on a certain fine morning when the wind was blowing steadily but
not too strongly from the north； we embarked upon that /balsa/ while
the simple savages made obeisance with wonder in their eyes； hoisted
the square canvas； and sailed away upon what I suppose was one of the
maddest voyages ever made by man。
Although it was so clumsy the /balsa/ moved through the water at a
good rate； covering quite two leagues the hour； I should say； before
that strong and steady wind。 Soon the village that we had left
vanished； then the mountains behind it grew dim and in time vanished
also； and there remained nothing but the great wilderness upon our
left and the vast sea around。 Steering clear of the land so as to
avoid sunken rocks； we sailed on all that day and all the night that
followed； and when the light came again perceived that we were running
past a coastline that was backed by high mountains on some of which
lay snow。 By the second evening these mountains had become tremendous；
and between them I saw valleys down which ran streams of water。
Thus we went on for three days and nights； the wind from the north
blowing all the while and the /balsa/ taking no hurt； by the end of
which time I reckon that we had travelled as far along the coast as we
had done in six months when we journeyed over land； at which I
rejoiced。 Kari rejoiced also； because he said that the shape and
greatness of the mountains we were passing reminded him of those of
his own country； to which he believed that we were drawing near。
On the fourth morning； however； our troubles began； since the friendly
wind from the north grew steadily stronger； till at length it rose to
a gale。 Soon our little rag of canvas was torn away； but still we
rushed on before the following seas at a very great speed。
Now I thought of trying to make the land； but found that we could not
do so with the oars； because of the current that set out towards the
ocean against which it was impossible to urge our clumsy craft。
Therefore we must content ourselves with trying to keep her head
straight with the steering oar； but even then we were often whirled
round and round。
About two hours after noon the sky clouded over； and there burst upon
us a great thunder…storm with torrents of rain； also the wind grew
stronger and stronger。
Now we could no longer steer or do anything except lie flat upon the
bottom of the /balsa/； gripping the cords with which it was tied
together； to save ourselves from being washed overboard； since often
the foaming crests of the waves broke upon us。 Indeed； it was
marvellous that this frail craft should hang together at all； but
owing to the lightness of the reeds and the blown…up skins that were
tied in them； still she floated and； whirling round and round； sped
upon her southward path。 Yet I knew that this could not endure for
very long； and committed my soul to God as well as I was able in my
half…drowned state； wishing that my miseries were ended。
The darkness came down； but still the thunder roared and the lightning
blazed； and by the flare of it I caught sight of snow…capped mountains
far away upon the coast； also of Kari clinging to the reeds of the
/balsa/ at my side； and from time to time kissing the golden image of
Pachacamac which hung about his neck。 Presently he set his lips
against my ear and shouted：
〃Be bold！ Our gods are still with us in storm。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃and soon we shall be with our godsin peace。〃
After this I heard no more of him； and fell to thinking with such wits
as were left to me of how many perils we had passed since we saw the
shores of Thames； and that it seemed sad that all should have been for
nothing； since it would have been better to die at the beginning than
now at the end； after so much misery。 Then the glare of the lightning
shone upon the handle of the sword Wave…Flame； which was still
strapped about me； and I remembered the rune written upon it which my
mother had rendered to me upon the morning of the fight against the
Frenchmen。 How did it run？
He who lifts Wave…Flame on high
In love shall live and in battle die。
Storm…tossed o'er wide seas shall roam
And in strange lands shall make his home。
Conquering； conquered shall he be
And far away shall sleep with me。
It fitted well； though of the love I had known little and that most
unhappy； and the battle in which I must die was one with water。 Also；
I had conquered nothing who myself was conquered by Fate。 In short；
the thing could be read two ways； like all prophecies； and only one
line of it was true beyond a doubtnamely； that Wave…Flame and I
should sleep together。
Awhile later the lightning shone awesomely； like to the swords of a
whole army of destroying angels； so that the sky became alive with
fire。 In its light for an instant I saw ahead of us great breakers；
and beyond them what looked like a dark mass of land。 Now we were in
them； for the first of those hungry； curling waves got a hold of the
/balsa/ and tossed it up dizzily； then flung it down into a deep
valley of water。 Another came and another； till my senses reeled and
went。 I cried to St。 Hubert； but he was a land saint and could not
help me； so I cried to Another greater than he。
My last vision was of myself riding a huge breaker as though it were a
horse。 Then there came a crash and darkness。
Lo！ it seemed to me as though one were calling me back from the depths
of sleep。 With trouble I opened my eyes only to shut them again
because of the glare of the light。 Then after a while I sat up； which
gave me pain； for I felt as if I had been beaten all over； and looked
once more。 Above me shone the sun in a sky of deepest blue； before me
was the sea almost calm； while around were rocks and sand； among which
crawled great reptiles that I knew for turtles； as I had seen many of
them in our wanderings。 Moreover； kneeling at my side； with the sword
that he had taken from the body of Deleroy still strapped about him；
was Kari； who bled from some wound and was almost white with encrusted
salt； but otherwise seemed unharmed。 I stared at him； unable to open
my mouth from amazement； so it was he who spoke the first； saying； in
a voice that had a note of triumph in it：
〃Did I not tell you that the gods were with us？ Where is your faith； O
White Man！ Look！ They have brought me back to the land of which I am
Prince。〃
Now there was that in Kari's tone which in my weak state angered me。
Why did he scold me about faith？ Why did he address me as 〃White Man〃
instead of 〃Master〃？ Was it bec