But fearing anew, lest after our departure, the men of Amma might stir up against me the people of the isle1, I determined2 to yield to the earnest solicitations of Borabolla, and leave Jarl behind, for a remembrance of Taji; if necessary, to vindicate3 his name. Apprised4 hereof, my follower5 was loth to acquiesce6. His guiltless spirit feared not the strangers: less selfish considerations prevailed. He was willing to remain on the island for a time, but not without me. Yet, setting forth7 my reasons; and assuring him, that our tour would not be long in completing, when we would not fail to return, previous to sailing for Odo, he at last, but reluctantly, assented8.
At Mondoldo, we also parted with Samoa. Whether it was, that he feared the avengers, whom he may have thought would follow on my track; or whether the islands of Mardi answered not in attractiveness to the picture his fancy had painted; or whether the restraint put upon him by the domineering presence of King Media, was too irksome withal; or whether, indeed, he relished9 not those disquisitions with which Babbalanja regaled us: however it may have been, certain it was, that Samoa was impatient of the voyage. He besought10 permission to return to Odo, there to await my return; and a canoe of Mondoldo being about to proceed in that direction, permission was granted; and departing for the other side of the island, from thence he embarked11.
Long after, dark tidings came, that at early dawn he had been found dead in the canoe: three arrows in his side.
Yoomy was at a loss to account for the departure of Samoa; who, while ashore12, had expressed much desire to roam.
Media, however, declared that he must be returning to some inamorata.
But Babbalanja averred13, that the Upoluan was not the first man, who had turned back, after beginning a voyage like our own.
To this, after musing14, Yoomy assented. Indeed, I had noticed, that already the Warbler had abated15 those sanguine16 assurances of success, with which he had departed from Odo. The futility17 of our search thus far, seemed ominous18 to him, of the end.
On the eve of embarking19, we were accompanied to the beach by Borabolla; who, with his own hand, suspended from the shark's mouth of Media's canoe, three red-ripe bunches of plantains, a farewell gift to his guests.
Though he spoke20 not a word, Jarl was long in taking leave. His eyes seemed to say, I will see you no more.
At length we pushed from the strand21; Borabolla waving his adieus with a green leaf of banana; our comrade ruefully eyeing the receding22 canoes; and the multitude loudly invoking23 for us a prosperous voyage.
But to my horror, there suddenly dashed through the crowd, the three specter sons of Aleema, escaped from their prison. With clenched24 hands, they stood in the water, and cursed me anew. And with that curse in our sails, we swept off.
点击收听单词发音
1 isle | |
n.小岛,岛 | |
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2 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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3 vindicate | |
v.为…辩护或辩解,辩明;证明…正确 | |
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4 apprised | |
v.告知,通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 );评价 | |
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5 follower | |
n.跟随者;随员;门徒;信徒 | |
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6 acquiesce | |
vi.默许,顺从,同意 | |
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7 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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8 assented | |
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9 relished | |
v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 );从…获得乐趣;渴望 | |
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10 besought | |
v.恳求,乞求(某事物)( beseech的过去式和过去分词 );(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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11 embarked | |
乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 ); 装载; 从事 | |
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12 ashore | |
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸 | |
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13 averred | |
v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 );证实;证明…属实;作为事实提出 | |
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14 musing | |
n. 沉思,冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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15 abated | |
减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 ); 减去; 降价; 撤消(诉讼) | |
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16 sanguine | |
adj.充满希望的,乐观的,血红色的 | |
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17 futility | |
n.无用 | |
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18 ominous | |
adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 | |
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19 embarking | |
乘船( embark的现在分词 ); 装载; 从事 | |
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20 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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21 strand | |
vt.使(船)搁浅,使(某人)困于(某地) | |
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22 receding | |
v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 );向后倾斜;自原处后退或避开别人的注视;尤指问题 | |
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23 invoking | |
v.援引( invoke的现在分词 );行使(权利等);祈求救助;恳求 | |
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24 clenched | |
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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