Near an overturned vessel of wine, the royal girdle lay tossed at his feet.  He had waved off his frightened attendants, who crouched out of sight.

We advanced.

“Do ye too leave me?  Ready enough are ye to partake of my banquetings, which, to such as ye, are but mad incidents in one round of more tranquil diversions.  But heed me not, Media;—­I am mad.  Oh, ye gods! am I forever a captive?—­Ay, free king of Odo, when you list, condescend to visit the poor slave in Willamilla.  I account them but charity, your visits; would fain allure ye by sumptuous fare.  Go, leave me; go, and be rovers again throughout blooming Mardi.  For, me, I am here for aye.—­Bring me wine, slaves! quick! that I may pledge my guests fitly.  Alas, Media, at the bottom of this cup are no sparkles as at top.  Oh, treacherous, treacherous friend! full of smiles and daggers.  Yet for such as me, oh wine, thou art e’en a prop, though it pierce the side; for man must lean.  Thou wine art the friend of the friendless, though a foe to all.  King Media, let us drink.  More cups!—­And now, farewell.”

Falling back, he averted his face; and silently we quitted the palace.

CHAPTER LXXXVI Of Those Scamps The Plujii

The beach gained, we embarked.

In good time our party recovered from the seriousness into which we had been thrown; and a rather long passage being now before us, we whiled away the hours as best we might.

Among many entertaining, narrations, old Braid-Beard, crossing his calves, and peaking his beard, regaled us with some account of certain invisible spirits, ycleped the Plujii, arrant little knaves as ever gulped moonshine.

They were spoken of as inhabiting the island of Quelquo, in a remote corner of the lagoon; the innocent people of which island were sadly fretted and put out by their diabolical proceedings.  Not to be wondered at; since, dwelling as they did in the air, and completely inaccessible, these spirits were peculiarly provocative of ire.

Detestable Plujii!  With malice aforethought, they brought about high winds that destroyed the banana plantations, and tumbled over the heads of its occupants many a bamboo dwelling.  They cracked the calabashes; soured the “poee;” induced the colic; begat the spleen; and almost rent people in twain with stitches in the side.  In short, from whatever evil, the cause of which the Islanders could not directly impute to their gods, or in their own opinion was not referable to themselves,—­of that very thing must the invisible Plujii be guilty.  With horrible dreams, and blood-thirsty gnats, they invaded the most innocent slumbers.

All things they bedeviled.  A man with a wry neck ascribed it to the Plujii; he with a bad memory railed against the Plujii; and the boy, bruising his finger, also cursed those abominable spirits.