This action put an end to our pursuit of the canoe with the other savages, who were now got almost out of sight. It was happy for us we did not, for it blew so hard within two hours after, and before they could be got a quarter of their way, and continued blowing so hard all night, I could not suppose their boat could live, or that they ever reached their own coast.
Yet at the
time I did not know this. As I bethought
myself my concerns, Friday's father raised a weak hand and pointed at the great
totem of the dark church, the cuttel fish figure of my dreams. He cry’d out many words, which had an awful
memory to me, and I did recall across the years those words my parrot Poll had
cried out before his death. Altho' now
one of these words was not foreign to me, for I had discust it with my man
Friday many times, and that word was Kathooloo. This did cause me great discomfort, and the
beast howl'd within my skin, and I was pleased when the old man let his hand
drop and became silent again.
In a
quarter of an hour I saw Friday come back again, tho’ not so fast as he
went. As he came nearer, I found his
pace slacker, because he had something in his hand. When he came up to me, I found he had been to
the summer house, which was nearer the dark church than my castle, for an
earthen jug to bring his father some fresh water, and he had two more cakes or
loaves of bread. The bread he gave me,
but the water he carried to his father.
The water revived his father more than all the rum or spirits I had
given him, for he was just fainting with thirst.
When his
father had drank, I called to him to know if there was any water left. He said "Yes," and I bade him give
it to the poor Spaniard, who was in as much want of it as his father. I sent one of the cakes to the Spaniard too,
who was indeed very weak and was reposing himself upon a not as red place under
the shade of a tree, which had one of the old symbols carv'd in its bark. When I saw he sat up and drank and took the
bread and began to eat, I went to him and gave him a handful of raisins. He look'd up in my face with all the
gratitude and thankfulness that could appear in any countenance, but was so
weak, notwithstanding he had so exerted himself in the fight, he could not
stand up upon his feet. By way of signs
he made it known to me that his name was Olegario, and I gave him my name as
well, which brought a relieved smile to his face.
Friday came
back to me presently, and we two stepped away to the great totem. It was plain he did not like the thing, for
he look'd most reluctant to approach it.
"Friday," said I, "do you know this man?"
He shook
his head, which I first took as a denial of knowledge, but then reflected that
he objected to my calling the cuttel fish figure of the totem a man. "What is this?" I asked.
Friday
look'd at me with his large, dark eyes and trembled. "That great Kathooloo," said he,
"who sleep and dream beneath the sea."
Tho' I
suspected as much, this did make me tremble myself, and I repeat'd the question
in the hope I had misunderstood my man, or he had misspoke to me. He said again the name, and seem'd at sorts
to be confronted by his former god.
After some moments his eyes met mine and he said "All things say O
to him."
I was aware
of a noise, and saw that the father, Walla-kay, again had his hand point'd at
the totem and was repeating his words, altho' now as a penitent man says his prayers...
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