Seemingly untoward events oftentimes lead to successful results:  Far from destroying all chance of rescuing the captive, our temporary flight, indispensable for the safety of Jarl, only made the success of our enterprise more probable.  For having made prisoners two of the strangers, I determined to retain them as hostages, through whom to effect my plans without further bloodshed.

And here it must needs be related, that some of the natives were wounded in the fray:  while all three of their assailants had received several bruises.

CHAPTER XLII Remorse

During the skirmish not a single musket had been discharged.  The first snatched by Jarl had missed fire, and ere he could seize another, it was close quarters with him, and no gestures to spare.  His harpoon was his all.  And truly, there is nothing like steel in a fray.  It comes and it goes with a will, and is never a-weary.  Your sword is your life, and that of your foe; to keep or to take as it happens.  Closer home does it go than a rammer; and fighting with steel is a play without ever an interlude.  There are points more deadly than bullets; and stocks packed full of subtle tubes, whence comes an impulse more reliable than powder.

Binding our prisoners lengthwise across the boat’s seats, we rowed for the canoe, making signs of amity.

Now, if there be any thing fitted to make a high tide ebb in the veins, it is the sight of a vanquished foe, inferior to yourself in powers of destruction; but whom some necessity has forced you to subdue.  All victories are not triumphs, nor all who conquer, heroes.

As we drew near the canoe, it was plain, that the loss of their sire had again for the instant overcome the survivors.  Raising hands, they cursed us; and at intervals sent forth a low, piercing wail, peculiar to their race.  As before, faint cries were heard from the tent.  And all the while rose and fell on the sea, the ill-fated canoe.

As I gazed at this sight, what iron mace fell on my soul; what curse rang sharp in my ear!  It was I, who was the author of the deed that caused the shrill wails that I heard.  By this hand, the dead man had died.  Remorse smote me hard; and like lightning I asked myself, whether the death-deed I had done was sprung of a virtuous motive, the rescuing a captive from thrall; or whether beneath that pretense, I had engaged in this fatal affray for some other, and selfish purpose; the companionship of a beautiful maid.  But throttling the thought, I swore to be gay.  Am I not rescuing the maiden?  Let them go down who withstand me.

At the dismal spectacle before him, Jarl, hitherto menacing our prisoners with his weapon, in order to intimidate their countrymen, honest Jarl dropped his harpoon.  But shaking his knife in the air, Samoa yet defied the strangers; nor could we prevent him.  His heathenish blood was up.