Chapter 39 - Page 2

prey,
that strive to wrest from him his booty. And snatched from his
talons, you see the fish falling through the air, till again caught
up in the very act of descent, by the fleetest of its pursuers.

Leaving these sights astern, we presently picked up the slimy husk of
a cocoanut, all over green barnacles. And shortly after, passed two
or three limbs of trees, and the solitary trunk of a palm; which,
upon sailing nearer, seemed but very recently started on its endless
voyage. As noon came on; the dark purple land-haze, which had been
dimly descried resting upon the western horizon, was very nearly
obscured. Nevertheless, behind that dim drapery we doubted not bright
boughs were waving.

We were now in high spirits. Samoa between times humming to
himself some heathenish ditty, and Jarl ten times more intent on his
silence than ever; yet his eye full of expectation and gazing broad
off from our bow. Of a sudden, shading his face with his hand, he
gazed fixedly for an instant, and then springing to his feet, uttered
the long-drawn sound--"Sail ho!"

Just tipping the furthest edge of the sky was a little speck, dancing
into view every time we rose upon the swells. It looked like one of
many birds; for half intercepting our view, fell showers of plumage:
a flight of milk-white noddies flying downward to the sea.

But soon the birds are seen no more. Yet there remains the speck;
plainly a sail; but too small for a ship. Was it a boat after a
whale? The vessel to which it belonged far astern, and shrouded by
the haze? So it seemed.

Quietly, however, we waited the stranger's nearer approach;
confident, that for some time he would not be able to perceive us,
owing to our being in what mariners denominate the "sun-glade," or
that part of the ocean upon which the sun's rays flash with peculiar
intensity.

As the sail drew nigh, its failing to glisten white led us to doubt
whether it was indeed a whale-boat. Presently, it showed yellow; and
Samoa declared, that it must be the sail of some island craft. True.
The stranger proving a large double-canoe, like those used by the
Polynesians in making passages between distant islands.

The Upoluan was now clamorous for a meeting, to which Jarl was
averse. Deliberating a moment, I directed the muskets to be loaded;
then setting the sail the wind on our quarter--we headed away for the
canoe, now sailing at right angles with our previous course.

Here it must be mentioned, that from the various gay cloths and other
things provided for barter by the captain of the Parki, I had very
strikingly improved my costume; making it free, flowing, and eastern.
I looked like an Emir. Nor had my Viking neglected to follow my