The air was heavy as though
presaging a storm. On the mountain the black pall was conspicuous
against the star-spangled sky. A red glow from the crater illumined the
dark smoke-cloud hanging over it. The silence was broken by the
continued playing of reed pipes, making wonderful music. Melannie sat
upon a throne, close to the pool in front of the coral cave, in which
the stars were reflected as in a mirror. Ackbau and other chiefs stood
near her. The queen was pale, but her dark eyes were resolute. She
smiled when I looked at her, to give me encouragement. Her subjects
were assembled round the pool in a triple line. Presently the beating
of a war-drum announced the arrival of a procession, which advanced
slowly to the pool, bearing a litter upon which, bound hand and foot,
was stretched the unfortunate Van Luck. When they had come to the edge
of the pool they set the litter down and withdrew.
I had no cause to love Van Luck, yet there was something in his
helpless misery which appealed to me, and made it impossible for me to
abandon him to his fate without an effort to save him. Besides, he was
of my race, a white man. I could not leave him to be butchered by
savages.
Pages:
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134