in search of the castaways-第103章

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eir　sufferings？　　Robert　and　Paganel　had　not　been　restored　to　them；　but　their　fate　was　no　doubtful　matter。　They　were　too　surely　the　first　victims　of　the　frenzied　natives。　Even　McNabbs；　who　was　always　sanguine；　had　abandoned　hope。　John　Mangles　was　nearly　frantic　at　the　sight　of　Mary　Grant's　despair　at　being　separated　from　her　brother。　　Glenarvan　pondered　over　the　terrible　request　of　Lady　Helena；　who　preferred　dying　by　his　hand　to　submitting　to　torture　and　slavery。　How　was　he　to　summon　the　terrible　courage！　〃And　Mary？　who　has　a　right　to　strike　her　dead？〃　thought　John；　whose　heart　was　broken。　Escape　was　clearly　impossible。　　Ten　warriors；　armed　to　the　teeth；　kept　watch　at　the　door　of　Ware…Atoua。　The　morning　of　February　13th　arrived。　　No　communication　had　taken　place　between　the　natives　and　the　〃tabooed〃　prisoners。　A　limited　supply　of　provisions　was　in　the　house；　which　the　unhappy　inmates　scarcely　touched。　　Misery　deadened　the　pangs　of　hunger。　The　day　passed　without　change；　and　without　hope；　the　funeral　ceremonies　of　the　dead　chief　would　doubtless　be　the　signal　for　their　execution。　Although　Glenarvan　did　not　conceal　from　himself　the　probability　that　Kai…Koumou　had　given　up　all　idea　of　exchange；　the　Major　still　cherished　a　spark　of　hope。　〃Who　knows；〃　said　he；　as　he　reminded　Glenarvan　of　the　effect　produced　on　the　chief　by　the　death　of　Kara…Tete〃who　knows　but　that　Kai…Koumou；　in　his　heart；　is　very　much　obliged　to　you？〃　But　even　McNabbs'　remarks　failed　to　awaken　hope　in　Glenarvan's　mind。　The　next　day　passed　without　any　appearance　of　preparation　for　their　punishment；　and　this　was　the　reason　of　the　delay。　The　Maories　believe　that　for　three　days　after　death　the　soul　inhabits　the　body；　and　therefore；　for　three　times　twenty…four　hours；　the　corpse　remains　unburied。　　This　custom　was　rigorously　observed。　Till　February　15th　the　〃pah〃　was　deserted。　John　Mangles；　hoisted　on　Wilson's　shoulders；　frequently　reconnoitered　the　outer　defences。　　Not　a　single　native　was　visible；　only　the　watchful　sentinels　relieving　guard　at　the　door　of　the　Ware…Atoua。　But　on　the　third　day　the　huts　opened；　all　the　savages；　men；　women；　and　children；　in　all　several　hundred　Maories；　assembled　in　the　〃pah；〃　silent　and　calm。　Kai…Koumou　came　out　of　his　house；　and　surrounded　by　the　principal　chiefs　of　his　tribe；　he　took　his　stand　on　a　mound　some　feet　above　the　level；　in　the　center　of　the　enclosure。　The　crowd　of　natives　formed　in　a　half　circle　some　distance　off；　in　dead　silence。　At　a　sign　from　Kai…Koumou；　a　warrior　bent　his　steps　toward　Ware…Atoua。　〃Remember；〃　said　Lady　Helena　to　her　husband。　　Glenarvan　pressed　her　to　his　heart；　and　Mary　Grant　went　closer　to　John　Mangles；　and　said　hurriedly：　〃Lord　and　Lady　Glenarvan　cannot　but　think　if　a　wife　may　claim　death　at　her　husband's　hands；　to　escape　a　shameful　life；　a　betrothed　wife　may　claim　death　at　the　hands　of　her　betrothed　husband；　to　escape　the　same　fate。　　John！　at　this　last　moment　I　ask　you；　have　we　not　long　been　betrothed　to　each　other　in　our　secret　hearts？　May　I　rely　on　you；　as　Lady　Helena　relies　on　Lord　Glenarvan？〃　〃Mary！〃　cried　the　young　captain　in　his　despair。　　〃Ah！　dear　Mary〃　The　mat　was　lifted；　and　the　captives　led　to　Kai…Koumou；　the　two　women　were　resigned　to　their　fate；　the　men　dissembled　their　sufferings　with　superhuman　effort。　They　arrived　in　the　presence　of　the　Maori　chief。　〃You　killed　Kara…Tete；〃　said　he　to　Glenarvan。　〃I　did；〃　answered　Glenarvan。　〃You　die　to…morrow　at　sunrise。〃　〃Alone？〃　asked　Glenarvan；　with　a　beating　heart。　〃Oh！　if　our　Tohonga's　life　was　not　more　precious　than　yours！〃　exclaimed　Kai…Koumou；　with　a　ferocious　expression　of　regret。　At　this　moment　there　was　a　commotion　among　the　natives。　Glenarvan　looked　quickly　around；　the　crowd　made　way；　and　a　warrior　appeared　heated　by　running；　and　sinking　with　fatigue。　Kai…Koumou；　as　soon　as　he　saw　him；　said　in　English；　evidently　for　the　benefit　of　the　captives：　〃You　come　from　the　camp　of　the　Pakekas？〃　〃Yes；〃　answered　the　Maori。　〃You　have　seen　the　prisoner；　our　Tohonga？〃　〃I　have　seen　him。〃　〃Alive？〃　〃Dead！　　English　have　shot　him。〃　It　was　all　over　with　Glenarvan　and　his　companions。　〃All！〃　cried　Kai…Koumou；　〃you　all　die　to…morrow　at　daybreak。〃　Punishment　fell　on　all　indiscriminately。　　Lady　Helena　and　Mary　Grant　were　grateful　to　Heaven　for　the　boon。　The　captives　were　not　taken　back　to　Ware…Atoua。　They　were　destined　to　attend　the　obsequies　of　the　chief　and　the　bloody　rites　that　accompanied　them。　　A　guard　of　natives　conducted　them　to　the　foot　of　an　immense　kauri；　and　then　stood　on　guard　without　taking　their　eyes　off　the　prisoners。　The　three　prescribed　days　had　elapsed　since　the　death　of　Kara…Tete；　and　the　soul　of　the　dead　warrior　had　finally　departed；　so　the　ceremonies　commenced。　The　body　was　laid　on　a　small　mound　in　the　central　enclosure。　It　was　clothed　in　a　rich　dress；　and　wrapped　in　a　magnificent　flax　mat。　His　head；　adorned　with　feathers；　was　encircled　with　a　crown　of　green　leaves。　　His　face；　arms；　and　chest　had　been　rubbed　with　oil；　and　did　not　show　any　sign　of　decay。　The　parents　and　friends　arrived　at　the　foot　of　the　mound；　and　at　a　certain　moment；　as　if　the　leader　of　an　orchestra　were　leading　a　funeral　chant；　there　arose　a　great　wail　of　tears；　sighs；　and　sobs。　They　lamented　the　deceased　with　a　plaintive　rhythm　and　doleful　cadence。　The　kinsmen　beat　their　heads；　the　kinswomen　tore　their　faces　with　their　nails　and　lavished　more　blood　than　tears。　But　these　demonstrations　were　not　sufficient　to　propitiate　the　soul　of　the　deceased；　whose　wrath　might　strike　the　survivors　of　his　tribe；　and　his　warriors；　as　they　could　not　recall　him　to　life；　were　anxious　that　he　should　have　nothing　to　wish　for　in　the　other　world。　The　wife　of　Kara…Tete　was　not　to　be　parted　from　him；　indeed；　she　would　have　refused　to　survive　him。　　It　was　a　custom；　as　well　as　a　duty；　and　Maori　history　has　no　lack　of　such　sacrifices。　This　woman　came　on　the　scene；　she　was　still　young。　　Her　disheveled　hair　flowed　over　her　shoulders。　　Her　sobs　and　cries　filled　the　air。　Incoherent　words；　regrets；　sobs；　broken　phrases　in　which　she　extolled　the　virtues　of　the　dead；　alternated　with　her　moans；　and　in　a　crowning　paroxysm　of　sorrow；　she　threw　herself　at　the　foot　of　the　mound　and　beat　her　head　on　the　earth。　The　Kai…Koumou　drew　near；　suddenly　the　wretched　victim　rose；　but　a　violent　blow　from　a　〃MERE；〃　a　kind　of　club　brandished　by　the　chief；　struck　her　to　the　ground；　she　fell　senseless。　Horrible　yells　followed；　a　hundred　arms　threatened　the　terror…stricken　captives。　　But　no　one　moved；　for　the　funeral　ceremonies　were　not　yet　over。　The　wife　of　Kara…Tete　had　joined　her　husband。　　The　two　bodies　lay　stretched　side　by　side。　　But　in　the　future　life；　even　the　presence　of　his　faithful　companion　was　not　enough。　Who　would　attend　on　them　in　the　realm　of　Noui…Atoua；　if　their　slaves　did　not　follow　them　into　the　other　world。　Six　unfortunate　fellows　were　brought　to　the　mound。　　They　were　attendants　whom　the　pitiless　usages　of　war　had　reduced　to　slavery。　During　the　chief's　lifetime　they　had　borne　the　severest　privations；　and　been　subjected　to　all　kinds　of　ill…usage；　they　had　been　scantily　fed；　and　incessantly　occupied　like　beasts　of　burden；　and　now；　according　to　Maori　ideas；　they　were　to　resume　to　all　eternity　this　life　of　bondage。　These　poor　crea