Standing foremost in the boat, I now assured the strangers, that all we sought at their hands was the maiden in the tent.  That captive surrendered, our own, unharmed, should be restored.  If not, they must die.  With a cry, they started to their feet, and brandished their clubs; but, seeing Jarl’s harpoon quivering over the hearts of our prisoners, they quickly retreated; at last signifying their acquiescence in my demand.  Upon this, I sprang to the dais, and across it indicating a line near the bow, signed the Islanders to retire beyond it.  Then, calling upon them one by one to deliver their weapons, they were passed into the boat.

The Chamois was now brought round to the canoe’s stern; and leaving Jarl to defend it as before, the Upoluan rejoined me on the dais.  By these precautions—­the hostages still remaining bound hand and foot in the boat—­we deemed ourselves entirely secure.

Attended by Samoa, I stood before the tent, now still as the grave.

CHAPTER XLIII The Tent Entered

By means of thin spaces between the braids of matting, the place was open to the air, but not to view.  There was also a round opening on one side, only large enough, however, to admit the arm; but this aperture was partially closed from within.  In front, a deep-dyed rug of osiers, covering the entrance way, was intricately laced to the standing part of the tent.  As I divided this lacing with my cutlass, there arose an outburst of voices from the Islanders.  And they covered their faces, as the interior was revealed to my gaze.

Before me crouched a beautiful girl.  Her hands were drooping.  And, like a saint from a shrine, she looked sadly out from her long, fair hair.  A low wail issued from her lips, and she trembled like a sound.  There were tears on her cheek, and a rose-colored pearl on her bosom.

Did I dream?—­A snow-white skin:  blue, firmament eyes:  Golconda locks.  For an instant spell-bound I stood; while with a slow, apprehensive movement, and still gazing fixedly, the captive gathered more closely about her a gauze-like robe.  Taking one step within, and partially dropping the curtain of the tent, I so stood, as to have both sight and speech of Samoa, who tarried without; while the maiden, crouching in the farther corner of the retreat, was wholly screened from all eyes but mine.

Crossing my hands before me, I now stood without speaking.  For the soul of me, I could not link this mysterious creature with the tawny strangers.  She seemed of another race.  So powerful was this impression, that unconsciously, I addressed her in my own tongue.  She started, and bending over, listened intently, as if to the first faint echo of something dimly remembered.  Again I spoke, when throwing back her hair, the maiden looked up with a piercing, bewildered gaze.  But her eyes soon fell, and bending over once more, she resumed her former attitude.  At length she slowly chanted to herself several musical words, unlike those of the Islanders; but though I knew not what they meant, they vaguely seemed familiar.