And the cacique answered, ‘They are at the festival; they have come from the woods and the sea to praise Zemi.’
But the chief of the Bohitos answered, ‘Not so—look! there is a light upon the sea.’
Then my forefather caused search to be made, but all the canoes were drawn up upon the beach above the surf. Still there was a light upon the sea. And the chief Bohito said—
‘It is Zemi, who looks at our festival from the sea.’
At these words all the people were glad, and redoubled their songs and their praise. Presently a flash of lightning, and a loud roar of thunder, came across the water, and the chief of the Bohitos and the people were troubled, for they thought that Zemi was speaking in anger. And the Bohito said to my forefather—
‘Saw you ever thunder and lightning so close to the ocean?’
And my forefather answered, ‘Never.’
Then sad thoughts and ominous whispers began to spread among all the crowd; and the dances ceased, and the songs of praise died away, and the fire went out that was kindled on the altar of Zemi. Still the light burned bright upon the sea; and presently two lights shone; and after that three.
‘There are three gods watching us,’ said my forefather; but the Bohito answered never a word. None went to rest that night, but tarried sadly on the beach waiting the day. The darkness paled away, and the people saw three mighty shadows on the sea. The grey of the dawn brightened into the day, and the people saw, as it were, three great houses on the sea—houses which floated, and which spread mighty wings to the wind, and glided to-and-fro.
At this the chief of the Bohitos was troubled, and all the people were afraid, and kneeled down upon the beach, and prayed to Zemi; when, behold, the houses on the sea thundered and lightened as though they were black clouds in the air, and a great smoke rose up from them, and came with the wind down to the beach, and the people smelt an odour new and strange to their nostrils. But the prodigies were not over—great canoes came forth from the floating houses and approached the beach, and, rising from them upon the air, there swelled a mighty strain of music and figures, with faces all white, bearing strange weapons, which flashed in the sun, and clad in glorious garments, whereof none knew the name, stood in the big canoes, waving their arms and shouting in great joy.