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Why did he scold me about faith？ Why did he address me as 〃White Man〃
instead of 〃Master〃？ Was it because he had reached a country where he
was great and I was nothing？ I supposed so； and answered；
〃And are these your subjects； O noble Kari？〃 and I pointed to the
crawling turtles。 〃And is this the rich and wondrous land where gold
and silver are as mud？〃 and I pointed to the barren rocks and sand
around。
He smiled at my jest； and answered more humbly：
〃Nay； Master； yonder is my land。〃
Then I looked； following his glance； and saw many leagues way across
the water two snowclad peaks rising above a bank of clouds。
〃I know those mountains；〃 he went on； 〃without doubt they are one of
the gateways of my land。〃
〃Then we might as well be in London for all the hope we have of
passing that gate； Kari。 But tell me what has chanced。〃
〃This； I think。 A very great wave caught us and threw us right over
those rocks on to the shore。 Lookthere is the /balsa/；〃 and he
pointed to a broken heap of reeds and pierced skins。
With his help I rose and went to it。 Now none could know that it had
been a boat。 Still； the /balsa/ it was and nothing else； and tied in
its tangled mass still remained those things which we had brought with
us； such as my black bow and armour； though all the jars were broken。
〃It has borne us well； but will never bear us again；〃 I said。
〃That is so； Master。 But if we were in my own country yonder I would
set its fragments in a case of gold and place them in the Temple of
the Sun as a memorial。〃
Then we went to a pool of rainwater that lay in a hollow rock near by；
and drank our fill； for we were very thirsty。 Also among the ruins of
the /balsa/ we found some of the dried fish that was left to us； and
having washed it； filled ourselves。 After this we limped to the crest
of the land behind and perceived that we were on a little island；
perhaps two hundred English acres in extent； whereon nothing grew
except some coarse grass。 This island； however； was the haunt of great
numbers of seafowl which nested there； also of the turtles that I have
mentioned； and of certain beasts like seals or otters。
〃At least we shall not starve；〃 I said； 〃though in the dry season we
may die of thirst。〃
Now there on that island we remained for four long months。 For food we
ate the turtles； which we cooked over fires that Kari made by
cunningly twirling a pointed piece of driftwood in the hollow of
another piece that he filled with the dust of dried grass。 Had he
lacked that knowledge we must have starved or lived on raw flesh。 As
it was； we had plenty with this meat and that of birds and their eggs；
also of fish that we caught in the pools when the tide was down。 From
the shells of the turtles； by the help of stones； we built us a kind
of hut to keep off the sun and the rain； which in that hot place was
sufficient shelter； also； when the stench was out of them； we used
other shells in which to catch rainwater that we stored as best we
could against seasons of drought。 Lastly； with my big bow which was
saved with the armour； I shot sea…otters； and from their pelts we made
us garments after rubbing the skins with turtle fat and handling them
to make them soft。
Thus； then； we lived from moon to moon upon that desert place； till I
thought I should go mad with loneliness and despair； for no help came
near us。 There were the mountains of the mainland far away； but
between them and us stretched leagues of sea that we could not swim；
nor had we anything of which to make a boat。
〃Here we must remain until we die！〃 at last I cried in my
wretchedness。
〃Nay；〃 answered Kari； 〃our gods are still with us and will save us in
their season。〃
This； indeed； they did in a strange fashion。
CHAPTER III
THE DAUGHTER OF THE MOON
For the fourth time since we were cast away on this island the huge
full moon shone in a sky of wondrous blue。 Kari and I watched it rise
between the two snow…clad peaks far away that he had called a gateway
to his land； which was so near to us and yet it would seem more
distant than Heaven itself。 Heaven we might hope to reach upon the
wings of spirit when we died； but to that country how could we come？
We watched that great moon climb higher and higher up a ladder of
little bar…like clouds； till wearying we let our eyes fall upon the
glittering pathway which its light made upon the bosom of the placid
sea。 Suddenly Kari stared and stared。
〃What is it？〃 I asked idly。
〃I thought I saw something yonder far away where Quilla's footsteps
make the waters bright；〃 he said； speaking in his own language in
which now we often talked together。
〃Quilla's？〃 I exclaimed。 〃Oh！ I forgot： that is the lady moon's name
in your tongue； is it not？ Well； come； Quilla； and I will wed and
worship you； as 'tis said the ancients did； and never turn to look
upon another； be she woman； or goddess； or both。 Only come and take me
from this accursed isle and in payment I'll die for you； if need be；
when first I've taught you how to love as star or woman never loved
before。〃
〃Hush！〃 said Kari in a grave voice； when he had listened to this mad
stuff that burst through my lips from the spring of a mind distraught
by misery and despair。
〃Why should I hush？〃 I asked。 〃Is it not pleasant to think of the moon
wearing a lovely woman's shape and descending to give a lonely mortal
love and comfort？〃
〃Because； Master； to me and my people the moon is a goddess who hears
prayer and answers it。 Suppose； then； that she heard you and answered
you and came to you and claimed your love； what then？〃
〃Why； then； friend Kari；〃 I raved on； 〃then I should welcome her； for
love goes a begging； ready as ripe fruit to be plucked by the first
hand if it be fair enough； ready to melt beneath the first lips if
they be warm enough。 'Tis said that it is the man who loves and the
woman who accepts the love。 But that is not true。 It is the man； Kari；
who waits to be loved and pays back just as much as is given to him；
and no more； like an honest merchant； for if he does otherwise； then
he suffers for it； as I have learned。 Therefore； come； Quilla； and
love as a Celestial can and I swear that step by step I'll keep pace
with you in flesh and spirit through Heaven； or through Hell； since
love I must have； or death。〃
〃I pray you； talk not so；〃 said Kari again； in a frightened voice；
〃since those words of yours come from the heart and will be heard。 The
goddess is a woman； too； and what woman will turn from such a bait？〃
〃Let her take it； then。 Why not？〃
〃Because； O friend； because /Quilla/ is wed to /Yuti/； the Moon is the
Sun's wife； and if the Sun grows jealous what will happen to the man
who has robbed the greatest of the world's gods？〃
〃I do not know and I do not care。 If Quilla would but come and love
me； I'd take my chance of Yuti whom as a Christian I defy。〃
Kari shuddered at this blasphemy； then having once more scanned that
silver pathway on the waters； but without avail for the great fish or
drifting tree or whatever he had seen； was gone； prayed after his
fashion at night； to Pachacamac； Spirit of the Universe； or to the Sun
his servant； god of the world； I know not which； and rolling himself
in his rug of skins； crept into our little hut to sleep。
But as yet I did not sleep； for though Kari hated both； this talk of
love and women had stirred my blood and made me wakeful。 So I took a
rough comb that I had fashioned from the shell of a turtle； and
dragged it through my long fair beard； which； growing fast； now hung
down far upon my breast； and through the curling hair that lay upon my
shoulders； for I had become as other wild men are； and sang to myself
there by the little fire which we kept burning day and night and tried
to think of happy things that never should I know again。
At length the fit passed and I grew weary and laid myself down by the
fire； for the night being so fine and warm I would not go into the
hut； and there sleep found me。
I dreamed in my sleep。 I dreamed that a very beautiful woman who wore
upon her naked breast the emblem of the moon fashioned in crystal；
stood over me； looking down upon me with large dark eyes。 And as she
looked she sighed。 Thrice she sighed； each time more deeply than the
last。 Then she knelt down by meor so it seemed in my dream； and laid
a tress of her long dark hair against my yellow locks； as though she
would match them together。 She did more； indeedin my dreamfor
lifting that tress of fragrant hair； she let it fall like thistledown
across my face and mouth； and then kissed the hair； for I felt her
breath reach me through its strands。
The dream ended thus； though I wished very much that it would go on；
and I felt as though it had gone away as such visions do。 Awhile
later； as I suppose； I awoke quite suddenly； and opened my eyes。
There； near to me； glittering in the full light of the brilliant moon；
stood the woman of my dream； only now her naked breast was covered
with a splendid cloak broidered with silver； and on her dark locks was
a feathered headdress in front of which rose the crescent