"Yes,Kari,butwherearewe？"
　　"Master,IthinkinthatcountryfromwhichIcome;notinmyownlandwhichisstillfaraway,butstillinthatcountry。Youremember,"headdedwithaflashofhisdarkeyes,"IalwayssaythatyouandIgotheretogetheroneday。"
　　"Butwhatisthecountry,Kari？"
　　"Master,notknowitsname。Itbigandhavemanynames,butyoufirstwhitemanwhoevercomehere,thatwhypeoplethinkyouGod。Nowyougosleepagain;to—morrowwetalk。"
　　Ishutmyeyes,beingsoverytired,andasIlearnedafterwards,sleptfortwelvehoursormore,toawakeonthemorningofthefollowingday,feelingwonderfullystrongerandabletoeatwithappetite。AlsoKaribroughtmewaterandwashedme,andcleanclotheswhichhehadfoundintheshipthatIputon。
　　ThusitwentonforalongwhileanddaybydayIrecoveredstrengthtillatlengthIwasalmostasIhadbeenwhenImarriedBlancheAleysinthechurchofSt。MargaretatWestminster。Onlynowsorrowhadchangedmewithinandwithoutmyfacehadgrownmoreserious,whiletoithungashortyellowbeardwhich,whenIlookedatmyreflection,seemedtobecomemewellenough。Thatbeardpuzzledmemuch,sincesucharenotgrowninaday,althoughitistruethatasyetitwasnotover—long。WeeksmusthavepassedsinceitbegantosproutuponmychinandaswehadbeenbutthreedaysinthisplacewhenIwokeup,thoseweekswithoutdoubtwerespentuponthesea。
　　Whither,then,hadwecome？Drivingallthewhilebeforeagreatgale,thatformostofourvoyagehadblownfromtheeast,as,ifKariwereright,wehaddone,thiscountrymustbeveryfarawayfromEngland。
　　Thatitwasso,indeedtherecouldbenodoubt,sincehereeverythingwasdifferent。Forexample,havingbeenamarinerfrommychildhood,I
　　hadbeentaughtandobservedsomethingofthestars,andnotedthattheconstellationshadchangedtheirplacesintheheavens,alsothatsomewithwhichIwasfamiliarweremissing,whileothernewoneshadappeared。Further,theheatwasgreatandconstant,evenatnightbeingmorethanthatofourhottestsummerday,andtheairwasfullofstinginginsects,whichatfirsttroubledmemuch,thoughafterwardsIgrewhardenedtothem。Inshort,everythingwaschanged,andIwasindeedinanewworldthatwasnottoldofinEurope,butwhatworld？Whatworld？Atleasttheseajoinedittotheold,forbeneathmewasstillthe/Blanche/,whichtimberbytimberIhadseenbuiltupupontheshoresofThamesfromoakscutinmyownwoods。
　　AssoonasIwasstrongenough,Iwentovertheship,orwhatwasleftofher。Itwasamarvelthatshehadfloatedforsolong,sinceherhullwasshattered。Indeed,Idonotthinkshecouldhavedoneso,saveforthefinewoolthatwaspackedintothelowerpartofher,whichwoolseemedtohaveswollenwhenitgrewwetandtohavekeptthewaterout。Fortherestshewasbutahulk,sincebothhermastsweregone,andmuchofthedeckwiththem。Stillshehadkeptafloatanddrivingintothiscreek,hadbeachedherselfuponthemudasthoughitweretheharbourthatshesought。
　　Howhadwelivedthroughsuchajourney？Theanswerseemedtobe,afterweweretooweaktofindortakefood,bymeansofthedrugthatKaricherishedinhisskinbag,andwaterofwhichtherewasplentyleftathandinbarrels,sincethe/Blanche/hadbeenprovisionedforalongvoyagetoItalyandfarther。Atleastwehadlivedforweeks,andweeks,beingstillyoungandverystrong,andnothavingbeencalledupontosuffergreatcold,sinceitwouldappearthatalthoughthegalecontinuedafterthefirstfewdaysofourflightbeforeit,theweatherhadturnedwarm。
　　Duringthistimeofmyrecovery,everymorningKariwouldgoashore,whichhedidbymeansofplankssetuponthemud,sincewewerewithinafewfeetofthebankofthecreekintowhichastreamletran。Laterhewouldreturn,bringingwithhimfishandwildfowl,andcornofasortthatIdidnotknow,foritsgrainswereadozentimesthesizeofwheat,flat—sided,andifripe,ofayellowcolour,whichhesaidhehadpurchasedfromthosewhodweltupontheland。OnthisgoodfoodIfeasted,washingitdownwithaleandwinefromtheship'sstores;
　　indeedneverbeforedidIeatsomuch,notevenwhenIwasaboy。
　　Atlength,onemorningKarimademeputonmyarmour,thesamewhichI
　　hadtakenfromtheFrenchknight,andfledinfromLondon,thathehadburnishedtillitshonelikesilver,andseatmyselfinachairuponwhatremainedofthepoopoftheship。WhenIaskedhimwhy,heansweredinorderthathemightshowmetotheinhabitantsofthatland。Inthischairhebademesitandwait,holdingtheshielduponmyarmandthebareswordinmyrighthand。
　　AsIhadcometoknowthatKarineverdidanythingwithoutareasonandrememberedthatIwasinastrangecountrywhere,lackinghim,I
　　shouldnothavelivedorcouldcontinuetodoso,Ifellintohishumour。Moreover,IpromisedthatIwouldremainstillandneitherspeak,norsmile,norrisefrommychairunlesshebademe。SothereI
　　satglitteringinthehotsunshinewhichburnedmethroughthearmour。
　　ThenKariwentashoreandwasabsentforsometime。AtlengthamongthetreesandundergrowthIheardthesoundofpeopletalkinginastrangetongue。Presentlytheyappearedonthebankofthecreek,agreatnumberofthem,verycuriouspeople,brown—skinnedwithlong,lankblackhairandlargeeyes,butnotover—tallinstature;men,womenandchildrentogether。
　　AmongthemweresomewhoworewhiterobeswhomItooktobetheirgentlefolk,butthemostofthemhadonlyclothsorgirdlesabouttheirmiddles。LeadingthethrongwasKari,who,asitappearedfromthebushes,wavedhishandandpointedmeoutseatedintheshiningarmourontheship,thevisoruptoshowmyfaceandthelongswordinmyhand。Theystared,then,withalow,sighingexclamation,oneandallfellupontheirfacesandrubbedtheirbrowsupontheground。
　　AstheylaythereKariaddressedthem,wavinghisarmsandpointingtowardsmefromtimetotime。AfterwardsIlearnedthathewastellingthemIwasagod,forwhichliemayhissoulbeforgiven。
　　Theendofitwasthathebadethemriseandledcertainofthemwhoworethewhiterobesacrosstheplankstotheship。Here,whiletheyhungback,headvancedtowardsme,bowingandkissingtheairtillhedrewnear,thenhewentuponhiskneesandlaidhishandsuponmysteel—cladfeet。More,fromthebosomofhisrobehedrewoutflowerswhichheplaceduponmykneesasthoughinoffering。
　　"Now,Master,"hewhisperedtome,"riseandwaveyourswordandshoutaloud,toshowthatyouarealiveandnotanimage。"
　　SoupIsprang,circlingWave—FlameaboutmyheadandroaringlikeanybullofBashan,formyvoicewasalwaysloudandcarriedfar。Whentheysawthebrightswordwhirlingthroughtheairandheardthesebellowings,utteringcriesoffear,thosepoorfolkfled。Indeedmostofthemfellfromtheplankintothemud,whereonestuckfastandwasliketodrown,hadnotKarirescuedhim,whichhisbrethrenwereintoogreathastetodo。
　　AftertheyhadgoneKaricameandsaidthateverythingwentwellandthathenceforwardIwasnotamanbuttheSpiritoftheSeacometoearth,suchaspiritashadneverbeendreamedofevenbythewizards。
　　ThusthendidHubertofHastingsbecomeagodamongthosesimplepeople,whohadneverbeforesomuchasheardofawhiteman,orseenarmouroraswordofsteel。
　　CHAPTERII
　　THEROCKYISLE
　　ForanotherweekormoreIremaineduponthe/Blanche/waitingtillmyfullstrengthreturned,alsobecauseKarisaidImustdoso。WhenI
　　askedhimwhy,herepliedforthereasonthathewishednewsofmycomingtospreadfarandwidethroughoutthelandfromonetribetoanother,whichitwoulddowithgreatswiftness,flying,asheputit,likeabird。Meanwhile,everydayIsatuponthepoopinthearmourforanhourormore,andboththesepeopleandothersfromafarcametolookatme,bringingmepresentsinsuchquantitythatweknewnotwhattodowiththem。Indeed,theybuiltanaltarandsacrificedwildcreaturestome,andbirds,burningthemwithfire。BoththosethatI
　　hadseenandtheotherfolkfromalongwayoffmadethisoffering。
　　Atlastonenight,when,havingeaten,KariandIwereseatedtogetherinthemoonshinebeforeweslept,Iturnedonhimsuddenly,hopingthustosurprisethetruthoutofhissecretheart,andsaid:
　　"Whatisyourplan,Kari？For,know,Iwearyofthislife。"
　　"IwaswaitingfortheMastertoaskthatquestion,"herepliedwithhisgentlesmile。（Again,IgivenottheverywordshespokeinhisbadEnglish,butthesubstanceofthem。）"NowwilltheMasterbepleasedtolisten？AsIhavetoldtheMaster,Ibelievethatthegods,hisGodandmyGod,havebroughtmebacktothatpartoftheworldwhichisunknowntotheMaster,whereIwasborn。Ibelievedthisfromthefirsthourthatmyeyesopenedonitafterourswoon,forIknewthetreesandtheflowersandthesmelloftheearth,andsawthatthestarsintheheavensstoodwhereIusedtoseethem。WhenIwentashoreandmingledwiththenatives,Idiscoveredthatthisbeliefwasright,sinceIcouldunderstandsomethingoftheirtalkandtheycouldunderstandsomethingofmine。Moreover,amongthemwasamanwhocamefromfaraway,whosaidthathehadseenmeinpastyears,wanderinglikeonemad,onlythatthismanwhomhehadseenworetheimageofacertaingodabouthisneck,whosenamewastoohighforhimtomention。ThenIopenedmyrobeandshowedhimthatwhichIwearaboutmyneck,andhefelldownandworshippedit,cryingoutthatIwastheveryman。"
　　"Ifso,itismarvellous,"Isaid。"Butwhatshallwedo？"
　　"TheMastercandooneoftwothings。Hecanstophere,wherethesesimplepeoplewillmakehimtheirkingandgivehimwivesandallthathedesires,andsoliveouthislife,sinceofreturntothelandwhencehecamethereisnohope。"
　　"AndiftherewereIwouldnotgo,"Iinterrupted。
　　"Or,"wentonKari,"hecantrytotraveltomycountry。Butthatisveryfaraway。SomethingofthejourneywhichImadewhenIwasmadcomesbackandtellsmethatitisvery,veryfaraway。First,yondermountainsmustbecrossedtillanotherseaisreached,whichisnogreatjourney,thoughrough。Thenthecoastofthatseamustbefollowedsouthward,forIknownothowfar,but,asIthink,formonthsoryearsofjourneying,tillatlengththecountryofmypeopleisreached。Moreover,thatjourneyingishardandterrible,sincetheroadrunsthroughforestsanddesertswheredwellsavagetribesandhugesnakesandwildbeasts,likethoseplantedontheflagofyourcountry,andwherefamineandsicknessesarecommon。ThereforemycounseltotheMasteristhatheshouldleaveitunattempted。"
　　NowIthoughtawhile,andaskedwhathemeanttodoifItookthiscounselofhis。Towhichhereplied:
　　"IshallwaithereawhiletillIseetheMastermadeakingamongthesepeopleandestablishedinhisrule。ThenIshallstartonthatjourneyalone,hopingthatwhatIcoulddowhenIwasmadIshallbeabletodoagainwhenIamnotmad。"
　　"Ithoughtit,"Isaid。"Buttellme,Kari,ifweweretomakethisjourneyandperchancelivetoreachyourpeople,howwouldtheywelcomeus？"
　　"Idonotknow,Master;butIthinkthatofthemastertheywouldmakeagod,aswillalltheotherpeopleofthiscountry。Perhaps,too,theywillsacrificethisgodthathisstrengthandbeautymayenterintothem。Asforme,someofthemwilltrytokillmeandotherswillclingtome。WhowillconquerIdonotknow,andtomeitmatterslittle。Igototakemyownandtobeavenged,andifinseekingvengeanceIdie——well,Idieinhonour。"
　　"Iunderstand,"Isaid。"Andnow,Kari,letusstartassoonaspossiblebeforeIbecomeasmadfromstaringatthosetreesandflowersandthosebig—eyednatives,thatyousaywouldmakemeaking,asyoutellmeyouwerewhenyouleftyourcountry。WhetherweshalleverfindthatcountryIcannotsay。Butatleastweshallhavedoneourbestand,ifwefail,shallperishseeking,asinthiswayorinthatitisthelotofallbravementodo。"
　　"TheMasterhasspoken,"saidKari,evenmorequietlythanusual,thoughashespokeIsawhisdarkeyesflashandatremblingasofjoyrundownhisbody。"Knowingall,hehasmadehischoice,andwhateverhappens,beingwhatitis,hewillnotblameme。YetbecausetheMasterhasthuschosen,Isaythis——thatifwereachmycountry,andif,perchance,Ibecomeakingthere,evenmorethanbeforeIshallbetheMaster'sservant。"
　　"Thatiseasytopromisenow,Kari,butitwillbetimetotalkofitwhenwedoreachyourland,"Isaid,laughing,andaskedhimwhenweweretostart。
　　Herepliednotyetawhile,ashemustmakeplans,andthatinthemeantimeImustwalkupontheshoresothatmylegsmightgrowstrongagain。SothereeverydayIwalkedinthecoolofthemorningandintheevening,notgoingoutofsightofthewreck。Iwentarmedandcarryingmybigbow,butsawnoone,sincethenativeshadbeenwarnedthatIshouldwalkandmustnotbelookeduponwhileIdidso。
　　Therefore,evenwhenIpassedthroughoneoftheirvillagesofhutsbuiltofmudandthatchedwithleaves,itseemedtobedeserted。
　　Still,intheendthebowdidnotcomeamiss,foroneevening,hearingalittlenoiseinabigtreeunderwhichIwasabouttopassthatremindedmeofthepurringofacat,Ilookedupandsawagreatbeastofthetigersortlyingontheboughofthetreeandwatchingme。ThenIdrewthebowandsentanarrowthroughthatbeast,piercingitfromsidetoside,anddownitcameroaringandwrithing,andbitingatthearrowtillitdied。
　　AfterthisIreturnedtotheshipandtoldKariwhathadhappened。HesaiditwasfortunateIhadkilledthebeast,whichwasofaveryfiercekind,andifIhadnotseenit,wouldhaveleaptonmeasI
　　passedunderthetree。Alsohesentnativestoskinitwhowhentheysawthatitwaspiercedthroughandthroughbythearrow,wereamazedandthoughtmeanevengreatergodthanbefore,theirownbowsbeingbutfeebleandtheirarrowstippedwithbone。
　　Threedaysafterthekillingofthisbeastwestartedonourjourneyintoalandunknown。ForalongwhilebeforeKariandIhadbeenengagedincollectingallthekniveswecouldfindintheship,alsoarrows,nails,axes,toolsofcarpentering,clothes,andIknownotwhatelsebesides,whichgoodswetiedupinbundleswrappedinsailcloth,eachbundleweighingfromthirtytofortypounds,toserveaspresentstonativesortotradeawaywiththem。WhenIaskedwhowouldcarrythem,KariansweredthatIshouldsee。ThisIdidatdawnonthefollowingmorningwhentherearrivedupontheshoreagreatnumberofmen,quiteahundredindeed,whobroughtwiththemtwolittersmadeoflightwoodjointedlikereeds,onlyharder,inwhichKarisaidheandIweretobecarried。Amongthesemenheparcelledouttheloadswhichtheyweretobearupontheirheads,andthensaidthatitwastimeforustostartinthelitters。
　　Sowestarted,butfirstIwentdownintoacabinandkneelingonmyknees,thankedGodforhavingbroughtmesafesofar,andprayedHimandSt。Huberttoprotectmeonmyfurtherwanderings,andifIdied,toreceivemysoul。ThisdoneIlefttheshipandwhilethenativesbowedthemselvesaboutme,enteredmylitter,whichwascomfortableenough,havinggrassmatstolieonandothermatsforcurtains,veryfinelywoven,sothattheywouldturneventheheaviestrain。
　　Thenawaywewent,eightmenbearingthepoletowhicheachlitterwasslungontheirshoulders,whileotherscarriedthebundlesupontheirheads。Ourroadranthroughforestuphill,andonthecrestofthefirsthillIdescendedfromthelitterandlookedback。
　　Thereinthecreekbelowlaythewreckofthe/Blanche/,nowbutasmallblackblotshowingagainstthewater,andbeyonditthegreatseaoverwhichwehadtravelled。Yonderbrokenhulkwasthelastlinkwhichboundmetomydistanthomethousandsofmilesacrosstheocean,thathome,whichmyhearttoldmeIshouldneverseeagain,forhowcouldIwinbackfromalandthatnowhitefoothadevertrod？
　　OnthedeckofthisshipBlancheherselfhadstoodandsmiledandtalked,foroncewevisitedittogethershortlybeforeourmarriage,andIrememberedhowIhadkissedherinitscabin。NowBlanchewasdeadbyherownhandandI,thegreatLondonmerchant,wasanoutcastamongsavagesinacountryofwhichIdidnotevenknowthename,whereeverythingwasnewanddifferent。Andtheretheshipwithherrichcargo,afterbearingussobravelythroughweeksoftempest,mustlieuntilsherottedinthesunandrainandneveragainwouldmyeyesbeholdher。Oh！thenitwasthatasenseofallmymiseryandlonelinessgrippedmyheartasithadnotdonebeforesinceIrodeawayafterkillingDeleroywiththeswordWave—Flame,andIwonderedwhyIhadbeenborn,andalmosthopedthatsoonImightdieandgotoseekthereason。
　　BackintothelitterIcreptandtherehidmyfaceandweptlikeachild。TrulyI,theprosperousmerchantofLondontownwhomighthavelivedtobecomeitsmayorandmagistrateandwinnobility,wasnowanoutcastadventurerofthehumblest。Well,soGodhaddecreed,andtherewasnomoretosay。
　　Thatnightweencampeduponahilltoppastwhichrushedariverinthevalebelowandweretroubledwithheatandinsectsthathummedandbit,fortotheseasyetIwasnotaccustomed,andateofthefoodthatwehadbroughtwithus,driedfleshandcorn。
　　Nextmorningwiththelightwestartedonagain,upanddownmountainsandthroughmoreforests,followingthecourseoftheriverandtheshoresofalake。Soitwentonuntilonthethirdeveningfromhighlandwesawtheseabeneathus,adifferentseafromthatwhichwehadleft,foritseemedthatwehadbeencrossinganisthmus,notsowidebutthatifanyhadtheskill,acanalmightbecutacrossitjoiningthosetwogreatseas。
　　Nowitwasthatourrealtravelsbegan,forhere,afterstaringatthestarsandbroodingapartforalongwhile,Kariturnedsouthwards。
　　WiththisIhadnothingtodowhodidnotgreatlycarewhichwayheturned。Nordidhespeaktomeofthematter,excepttosaythathisgodandsuchmemoryasremainedtohimthroughhistimeofmadnesstoldhimthatthelandofhispeoplelaytowardsthesouth,thoughveryfaraway。
　　Sosouthwardswewent,followingpathsthroughtheforestswiththeoceanonourrighthand。Afteraweekofthiswearisomemarchingwecametoanothertribeofnativesofwhosetalkthosewithuscouldunderstandenoughtotellthemourstory。Indeedtherumourthatawhitegodhadappearedinthelandoutoftheseahadalreadyreachedthem,andthereforetheywerepreparedtoworshipme。Hereourpeopleleftus,sayingthattheydarednotgofurtherfromtheirowncountry。
　　Thesceneofthedeparturewasstrange,sinceeveryoneofthemcameandrubbedhisforeheadinthedustbeforemeandthenwentaway,walkingbackwardsandbowing。Stilltheirgoingdidnotmakeagreatdifferencetous,sincethenewtribewasmuchastheoldone,thoughifanything,ratherlessclothedandmoredirty。Alsoitacceptedmeasagodwithoutquestionandgaveusallthefoodweneeded。
　　Moreover,whenwelefttheirlandmenwereprovidedtocarrythelittersandtheloads。
　　Thus,then,passingfromtribetotribe,wetravelledonsouthward,eversouthwards,findingalwaysthattherumourofthecomingof"thegod"hadgonebeforeus。Sogentlewereallthesepeople,thatnotoncedidwemeetwithanywhotriedtoharmusortostealourgoods,orwhorefusedusthebestofwhattheyhad。Ouradventures,itistrue,weremany。Thus,twicewecametotribesthatwereatwarwithothertribes,thoughonmyappearancetheylaiddowntheirarms,atanyrate,foratime,andboreourlittersforward。
　　Again,sometimeswemettribeswhowerecannibalsandthenwesufferedmuchfromwantofmeat,sincewedarednottouchtheirfoodunlessitweregrain。Inthetownofthefirstofthesecannibalpeople,beingmovedwithfury,IkilledamanwhomIfoundabouttomurderachildandeather,sweepingoffhisheadwithmysword。ForthisdeedI
　　expectedthattheywouldmurderus,buttheydidnot。Theyonlyshruggedtheirshouldersandsayingthatagodcandoashepleases,tookawaytheslainmanandatehim。
　　Sometimesourroadranthroughterribleforestswherethegreattreesshutoutthelightofday,andapathmustbehackedthroughtheundergrowth。SometimesitwashauntedbytigersortreelionssuchasIhavespokenof,againstwhichwemustwatchcontinuously,especiallyatnight,keepingthebrutesoffbymeansoffires。Sometimeswewereforcedtowadegreatrivers,orworsestill,towalkoverthemonswayingbridgesmadeofcablesoftwistedreedsthatuntilIgrewaccustomedtothemcausedmyheadtoswim,thoughneverdidIpermitmyselftoshowfearbeforethenatives。Again,oncewecametoswampylandsthatwerefullofsnakeswhichterrifiedmemuch,especiallyafterIhadseensomenativeswhomtheybit,diewithinafewminutes。
　　Othersnakestherewerealso,asthickasaman'sbody,andfourorfivepacesinlength,whichlivedintreesandkilledtheirfoodbycoilingrounditandpressingittodeath。Thesesnakes,itwassaid,wouldtakemeninthisfashion,thoughIneversawoneofthemdoso。
　　Atanyrate,theywereterribletolookon,andremindedmeoftheirforefatherthroughwhosemouthSatantalkedwithMotherEveintheGardenofEden,andthusbroughtusalltowoe。
　　Once,too,onthebankofagreatriver,Isawsuchasnakethatatthesightofitmykneesknockedtogether。BySt。Hubert,thebeastwassixtyfeetormoreinlength;itsheadwasofthebignessofabarrel,anditsskinwasofallthecoloursoftherainbow。Moreover,itseemedtoholdmewithitseyes,fortillitslippedawayintotheriverIcouldnotmoveafoot。
　　Monthaftermonthwetravelledthus,coveringamatterofperhapsfivemilesaday,sincesometimesthecountrywasopenandwecrosseditwithspeed。Yetalthoughourdangersweresomany,strangelyenough,duringallthistime,eveninthatheatneitherofusfellsick,asI
　　thinkbecauseoftheherbwhichKaricarriedinhisbag,thatIfoundwasnamed/Coca/,whereofweobtainedmoreaswewentandatefromtimetotime。Nordidweeverreallysufferfromstarvation,sincewhenwewerehungrywetookmoreofthisherbwhichsupportedusuntilwecouldfindfood。ThesemerciesIsetdowntothegoodofficesofSt。HubertwatchingfromHeavenoverme,hispoornamesakeandgodson,thoughperhapstheskillandcourageofKariwhichprovidedagainsteverythinghadsomethingtodowiththem。
　　Atlength,intheninthmonthofourtravelling,asKarireckoneditbymeansofknotswhichhetiedonpiecesofnativestring,forIhadlonglostcountoftime,wecametothebordersofagreatdesertthatthenativessaidstretchedsouthwardsforahundredleaguesandmoreandwaswithoutwater。Moreover,totheeastofthisdesertroseachainofmountainsborderedbyprecipicesupwhichnomancouldclimb。
　　Here,therefore,itseemedasthoughourjourneymustend,sinceKarihadnoknowledgeofhowhecrossedorwentroundthisdesertinhismadnessofbygoneyears,ifindeedheevertravelledthatroadatall,amatterofwhichIwasnotcertain。
　　Foraweekormoreweremainedamongthetribethatlivedinabeautifulwateredvalleyuponthebordersofthisdesert,wonderingwhatweshoulddo。FormypartIwasbynowsotiredoftravellinguponanendlessquestthatIshouldhavebeengladtostayamongthattribe,averygentleandfriendlypeople,wholikealltherestbelievedmetobeagod,andmakemyhometheretillIdied。ButthiswasnotKari'smind,whichwassetfiercelyuponwinningbacktohisowncountrythathebelievedtolietowardsthesouth。
　　Daybydaywesatthereregainingourstrengthuponthegoodfoodofthatvalley,andstaringfirstatthedeserttothesouth,thenattheprecipicesonourlefthand,andlastlyattheoceanuponourright。
　　Nowthispeople,Ishouldsay,drewtheirwealthfromtheseaaswellasfromtheland,sincetheyweregreatfishermenandwentoutuponitinrudeboatsorraftsmadeofawoodenframetowhichwerelashedblown—upskinsandbundlesofdriedreeds。Upontheseboats,frailastheyseemed,suchasfurthersouthwerecalledbalsas,theymadeconsiderablejourneystodistantislandswheretheycaughtvastquantitiesoffish,someofwhichtheyusedtomanuretheirland。
　　Moreover,besidestheoars,theyriggedasquarecottonsailuponthebalsaswhichenabledthemtorunbeforethewindwithoutlabour,steeringthecraftbymeansofapaddleatthestern。
　　WhilewewerethereIobservedthatonthespringingupofawindfromthenorth,althoughitwasofnogreatstrength,the/balsas/allcametoshoreandweredrawnupoutofreachofthewaves。WhenIinquiredwhythroughKari,theanswergivenwasbecausethefishingseasonwasover,sincethatwindfromthenorthwouldblowforalongtimewithoutchangingandthosewhowentoutinitupontheseamightbedrivensouthwardstoreturnnomore。Theystated,indeed,thatoftenthishadhappenedtoventuresomemenwhohadvanishedawayandbeenlost。
　　"Ifyouwishtotravelsouth,thereisawayofdoingso,"IsaidtoKari。
　　Atthetimehemadenoanswer,butonthefollowingdayaskedmesuddenlyifIdaredattemptsuchajourney。
　　"Whynot？"Ianswered。"ItisaseasytodieinthewaterasonlandandIwearyofjourneyingthroughendlessswampsandforestsorofcrossingtorrentsandclimbingmountainridges。"
　　TheendofitwasthatforaknifeandafewnailsKaripurchasedthelargest/balsa/thatthesepeoplehad,provisioningitwithasmuchdriedfish,cornandwaterinearthenwarejarsasitwouldcarrytogetherwithourselves,andsuchofourremaininggoodsaswewishedtotakewithus。ThenweannouncedthatI,thegodwhohadcomeoutofthesea,desiredtoreturnintotheseawithhimself,myservant。
　　Soonacertainfinemorningwhenthewindwasblowingsteadilybutnottoostronglyfromthenorth,weembarkeduponthat/balsa/whilethesimplesavagesmadeobeisancewithwonderintheireyes,hoistedthesquarecanvas,andsailedawayuponwhatIsupposewasoneofthemaddestvoyagesevermadebyman。
　　Althoughitwassoclumsythe/balsa/movedthroughthewateratagoodrate,coveringquitetwoleaguesthehour,Ishouldsay,beforethatstrongandsteadywind。Soonthevillagethatwehadleftvanished;thenthemountainsbehinditgrewdimandintimevanishedalso,andthereremainednothingbutthegreatwildernessuponourleftandthevastseaaround。Steeringclearofthelandsoastoavoidsunkenrocks,wesailedonallthatdayandallthenightthatfollowed,andwhenthelightcameagainperceivedthatwewererunningpastacoastlinethatwasbackedbyhighmountainsonsomeofwhichlaysnow。Bythesecondeveningthesemountainshadbecometremendous,andbetweenthemIsawvalleysdownwhichranstreamsofwater。
　　Thuswewentonforthreedaysandnights,thewindfromthenorthblowingallthewhileandthe/balsa/takingnohurt,bytheendofwhichtimeIreckonthatwehadtravelledasfaralongthecoastaswehaddoneinsixmonthswhenwejourneyedoverland,atwhichI
　　rejoiced。Karirejoicedalso,becausehesaidthattheshapeandgreatnessofthemountainswewerepassingremindedhimofthoseofhisowncountry,towhichhebelievedthatweweredrawingnear。