FOR THREE LONG HOURS, the young Marseillais, dreading a second punishment, had been studiously practicing “The Battle of the Tez,” which he now murmured impeccably without my being able to catch a single mistake in the script onto which the sycamore’s branches cast their shade.
Talou suddenly appeared in the distance, striding toward us with Sirdah beside him.
The emperor had come in person to free the marvelous performer, whom he wished to subject to a second trial without further ado.
Delighted to be put to the test while his memory was fresh and his confidence high, Carmichael, still keeping to the soprano register, began singing his incomprehensible piece self-assuredly, articulating it right to the end this time without a hint of error.
Dazzled by this perfect execution, Talou headed back to the imperial hut, charging Sirdah to convey to the interested party his complete satisfaction.
Liberated by this welcome verdict, Carmichael grabbed from my hands the infernal text that was now a reminder of so much anxious and tedious labor, and gleefully ripped it to shreds.
Silently condoning his innocent gesture of revenge, I left Trophy Square with him to attend to various chores related to packing, which there was now no reason to put off.
Our departure took place that same day, at the beginning of the afternoon. The Montalescots joined our procession, which, led by a fully recovered Seil-kor, included all the castaways from the Lynceus.
Talou had put at our disposal a certain number of natives ordered to carry our provisions and the few bags that were left us.
A stretcher lifted by four Negroes was reserved for Olga Chervonenkhov, who was still suffering from her muscle cramp.
A ten-day walk brought us to Porto Novo; there, showered with well-deserved gratitude for his loyal services, Seil-kor bade us farewell so that he and his retinue could head back to Ejur.
The captain of a large vessel about to embark for Marseille agreed to repatriate us. We were indeed all eager to return to France, for after such harrowing adventures it was out of the question to go straight to South America.
The crossing was uneventful, and on July 19th we took leave of each other on Quai de la Joliette, after a cordial exchange of handshakes from which only Tancrède Boucharessas had to refrain.