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.
Pages:
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130