CHAPTER CIV.
Wherein Babbalanja Broaches A Diabolical Theory, And, In His Own Person, Proves It "A truce!" cried Media, "here comes a gallant before the wind .-- Look, Taji!" Turning, we descried a sharp-prowed canoe, dashing on, under the pressure of an immense triangular sail, whose outer edges were streaming with long, crimson pennons.

Flying before it, were several small craft, belonging to the poorer sort of Islanders.
"Out of his way there, ye laggards," cried Media, "or that mad prince, Tribonnora, will ride over ye with a rush!" "And who is Tribonnora," said Babbalanja, "that he thus bravely diverts himself, running down innocent paddlers ?" "A harum-scarum young chief," replied Media, "heir to three islands; he likes nothing better than the sport you now see see him at." "He must be possessed by a devil," said Mohi.
Said Babbalanja, "Then he is only like all of us." "What say you ?" cried Media.
"I say, as old Bardianna in the Nine hundred and ninety ninth book of his immortal Ponderings saith, that all men--" "As I live, my lord, he has swamped three canoes," cried Mohi, pointing off the beam.
But just then a fiery fin-back whale, having broken into the paddock of the lagoon, threw up a high fountain of foam, almost under Tribonnora's nose; who, quickly turning about his canoe, cur-like slunk off; his steering-paddle between his legs.
Comments over; "Babbalanja, you were going to quote," said Media.
"Proceed." "Thank you, my lord.

Says old Bardianna, 'All men are possessed by devils; but as these devils are sent into men, and kept in them, for an additional punishment; not garrisoning a fortress, but limboed in a bridewell; so, it may be more just to say, that the devils themselves are possessed by men, not men by them.'" "Faith!" cried Media, "though sometimes a bore, your old Bardianna is a trump." "I have long been of that mind, my lord.

But let me go on.

Says Bardianna, 'Devils are divers;--strong devils, and weak devils; knowing devils, and silly devils; mad devils, and mild devils; devils, merely devils; devils, themselves bedeviled; devils, doubly bedeviled." "And in the devil's name, what sort of a devil is yours ?" cried Mohi.
"Of him anon; interrupt me not, old man.