A PLAN OF ESCAPE
I was now of two minds, whether to make terms with Ackbau or to
endeavour to escape with Melannie from the Island of Gems in the boat
we had made ready for sea. On the one hand was immediate safety, and
the prospect of some ship calling at the island in which I might return
to civilization. On the other was a hazardous journey alone with a
young girl, who could not be expected to realize the dangers which lay
before her. Was I justified, I asked myself, in exposing the queen to
the tragedy which might await us upon the ocean? If captured I had no
doubt that both of us would be condemned by Ackbau to a cruel death,
and if we succeeded in getting away how should we exist until some
chance vessel came to our rescue? I mentioned my fears to Melannie, but
she would not hear of abandoning the project we had formed.
"Let us go, Peter," she urged. "Nothing but death, or worse, awaits us
here. As for you, at the next coming of the snake god after the one
that is about to take place you will assuredly be offered as a
sacrifice, for I may tell you that a solemn vow has been made by the
council to that effect. While I, at the same time, am to be given in
marriage to Ackbau, a fate from which I shrink more than from death.
Why, then, should we exchange the chance of reaching the country you
speak of for the tortures which must certainly await us here? Let us
trust ourselves to the sea rather than cling to this land of sorrow. If
we perish, we perish."
I could not but agree that her argument contained much good sense, and
I admired the courage with which she was ready to face the worst that
Fate might have in store for us.
"Let it be so then, Melannie," I answered. "May heaven deal with me as
I deal with thee in protecting us both from evil."
After arriving at this decision we agreed there must be no turning
back, and it only now remained to await the night upon which the
unfortunate Van Luck would be offered to the snake god in order to make
good our escape. Meanwhile we were allowed to wander about the island
together as before. Ackbau having obtained the decree of the council
for my death, and his own marriage with the queen, could afford to
wait, nor did he appear anxious to deprive Melannie of the pleasure
which she found in my company, until I was removed from his path.
Melannie, although arrived at woman's estate, was but a child at heart,
and, as a child, he knew she would be content to let things drift until
the moment for my execution was at hand, when it would be too late even
for the queen to prevent it.
I had now become much attached to Melannie, feeling for her as for a
dear sister. Her love for me I could not return, since all my love was
given to my betrothed, but next to Anna I loved Melannie more than
anyone in the world.
So far as the islanders were concerned, I was now left to my own
devices. My fire-making had lost its novelty, and since it was
discovered that one fire could be lighted from another my flint and
steel had depreciated in value. In order to conciliate Ackbau I offered
to explain to him the secret of my fire-making, but he answered coldly
that he himself knew how to make fire by taking a burning brand from
one fire and thrusting it among dried wood and leaves, of which there
were great quantities on the island, as fire had never been alight
there before.
"But if your fire should go out you would not know how to light it
again," I argued.
"I will take care that it does not go out," answered Ackbau.
The cooking also which I had taught them was easily performed by
certain members of the tribe told off for that purpose, and I noticed
that much secrecy was observed in the preparation of food. This secret
was revealed to me in a startling manner when I unexpectedly came upon
Ackbau and some members of the council seated together enjoying a stew
of what I could see was human flesh. For, indeed, what else could it
be, seeing there were no animals upon the island? I mastered my horror
as well as I could, for I was now in great dread of these savages, who,
since they had acquired the taste for meat, appeared to have become far
more ferocious and cruel than before resorting to the dreadful practice
of cannibalism. My discovery, however, made me more than ever
determined to rescue Melannie from the companionship of these wretches
who called her their queen. It was better, I argued, for her to die in
her youth and innocence upon the sea, if Providence so willed, than to
become the wife of such a man as Ackbau.
I did not confide to Melannie my dreadful discovery, but she was not
slow in noticing a change in the demeanour of the men with whom she
formerly had daily intercourse. Those who had become eaters of human
flesh avoided her, and even Ackbau seemed ashamed to intrude himself
upon her.
"What is it, Peter?" she asked me, and I read the questioning fear in
her eyes.
I did my best to pacify her, but I could see that the repugnance with
which she regarded Ackbau now almost amounted to a mania.
"I feel inclined to run from Ackbau when I see him," she said.
"If he touched me I am sure that I would scream."
"You will soon be beyond his power," I answered. "Do not think of him,
and you will not fear him."
"Oh, Peter, take me away, I am frightened!" she sobbed. "Do not let
Ackbau and the others come near me. They have done something. I don't
know what it is. But they are not as they were before they made the
fire. Perhaps a curse is upon them for having stolen the secret from
the smoke mountain."
I tried to comfort her, but I could see that the poor child was greatly
alarmed, and I determined to speak to Ackbau regarding the abominable
practice in which he was engaged.
"Had I known that my fire-making would have made a cannibal of thee,
Ackbau," I said, "I would never have kindled the element upon this
island. Fire is a useful and necessary article in the life of a good
man, but it becomes a curse if put to evil purposes."
"It is a curse then that will fall most heavily upon thee," answered
Ackbau. "As for me, this is my country, and I am king of its customs."
But although he pretended to resent my interference, I could see that
Ackbau was ashamed of what he had done, and henceforth he avoided
Melannie, and seldom entered the queen's presence, so that I gained
what I had in view by remonstrating with him.
The thought of the fire, however, and the effect which the making of it
had upon these savages, set me pondering whether this element was
really the primary cause of cannibalism.
No savages whom I ever met devour raw flesh, whether human or animal,
so that the eating of meat by men would seem to be an acquired habit.
Fruit and water appear to be the natural food and drink of man, all
else being artificial and vicious.