Sink, sink, oh corpse, still sink,
      Far down in the bottomless sea,
    Where the unknown forms do prowl,
      Down, down in the bottomless sea.

    ’Tis night above, and night all round,
      And night will it be with thee;
    As thou sinkest, and sinkest for aye,
      Deeper down in the bottomless sea.

The mysterious voice died away; no sign of the corpse was now seen; and mute with amaze, the company long listed to the low moan of the billows and the sad sough of the breeze.

At last, without speaking, the obsequies were concluded by sliding into the ocean a carved tablet of Palmetto, to mark the place of the burial.  But a wave-crest received it, and fast it floated away.

Returning to the isle, long silence prevailed.  But at length, as if the scene in which they had just taken part, afresh reminded them of the mournful event which had called them together, the company again recurred to it; some present, sadly and incidentally alluding to Borabolla’s banquet of turtle, thereby postponed.

CHAPTER C The Pursuer Himself Is Pursued

Next morning, when much to the chagrin of Borabolla we were preparing to quit his isle, came tidings to the palace, of a wonderful event, occurring in one of the “Motoos,” or little islets of the great reef; which “Motoo” was included in the dominions of the king.

The men who brought these tidings were highly excited; and no sooner did they make known what they knew, than all Mondoldo was in a tumult of marveling.

Their story was this.

Going at day break to the Motoo to fish, they perceived a strange proa beached on its seaward shore; and presently were hailed by voices; and saw among the palm trees, three specter-like men, who were not of Mardi.

The first amazement of the fishermen over, in reply to their eager questions, the strangers related, that they were the survivors of a company of men, natives of some unknown island to the northeast; whence they had embarked for another country, distant three days’ sail to the southward of theirs.  But falling in with a terrible adventure, in which their sire had been slain, they altered their course to pursue the fugitive who murdered him; one and all vowing, never more to see home, until their father’s fate was avenged.  The murderer’s proa outsailing theirs, soon ran out of sight; yet after him they blindly steered by day and by night:  steering by the blood-red star in Bootes.  Soon, a violent gale overtook them; driving them to and fro; leaving them they knew not where.  But still struggling against strange currents, at times counteracting their sailing, they drifted on their way; nigh to famishing for water; and no shore in sight.  In long calms, in vain they held up their dry gourds to heaven, and cried “send us a breeze, sweet gods!” The calm still brooded; and ere it was gone, all but three gasped; and dead from thirst, were plunged into the sea.  The breeze which followed the calm, soon brought them in sight of a low, uninhabited isle; where tarrying many days, they laid in good store of cocoanuts and water, and again embarked.