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.
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