in search of the castaways-第107章

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w　of　their　pursuers。　They　hoped　then　to　find　some　practicable　ridge　that　would　allow　of　a　passage　to　the　neighboring　peaks　that　were　thrown　together　in　an　orographic　maze；　to　which　poor　Paganel's　genius　would　doubtless　have　found　the　clew。　They　hastened　up　the　slope；　spurred　on　by　the　loud　cries　that　drew　nearer　and　nearer。　　The　avenging　crowd　had　already　reached　the　foot　of　the　mountain。　〃Courage！　my　friends；〃　cried　Glenarvan；　urging　his　companions　by　voice　and　look。　In　less　than　five　minutes　they　were　at　the　top　of　the　mountain；　and　then　they　turned　to　judge　of　their　position；　and　decide　on　a　route　that　would　baffle　their　pursuers。　From　their　elevated　position　they　could　see　over　Lake　Taupo；　which　stretched　toward　the　west　in　its　setting　of　picturesque　mountains。　On　the　north　the　peaks　of　Pirongia；　on　the　south　the　burning　crater　of　Tongariro。　　But　eastward　nothing　but　the　rocky　barrier　of　peaks　and　ridges　that　formed　the　Wahiti　ranges；　the　great　chain　whose　unbroken　links　stretch　from　the　East　Cape　to　Cook's　Straits。　　They　had　no　alternative　but　to　descend　the　opposite　slope　and　enter　the　narrow　gorges；　uncertain　whether　any　outlet　existed。　Glenarvan　could　not　prolong　the　halt　for　a　moment。　Wearied　as　they　might　be；　they　must　fly　or　be　discovered。　〃Let　us　go　down！〃　cried　he；　〃before　our　passage　is　cut　off。〃　But　just　as　the　ladies　had　risen　with　a　despairing　effort；　McNabbs　stopped　them　and　said：　〃Glenarvan；　it　is　useless。　　Look！〃　And　then　they　all　perceived　the　inexplicable　change　that　had　taken　place　in　the　movements　of　the　Maories。　Their　pursuit　had　suddenly　stopped。　　The　ascent　of　the　mountain　had　ceased　by　an　imperious　command。　　The　natives　had　paused　in　their　career；　and　surged　like　the　sea　waves　against　an　opposing　rock。　All　the　crowd；　thirsting　for　blood；　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　mountain　yelling　and　gesticulating；　brandishing　guns　and　hatchets；　but　not　advancing　a　foot。　　Their　dogs；　rooted　to　the　spot　like　themselves；　barked　with　rage。　What　stayed　them？　　What　occult　power　controlled　these　savages？　The　fugitives　looked　without　understanding；　fearing　lest　the　charm　that　enchained　Kai…Koumou's　tribe　should　be　broken。　Suddenly　John　Mangles　uttered　an　exclamation　which　attracted　the　attention　of　his　companions。　　He　pointed　to　a　little　inclosure　on　the　summit　of　the　cone。　〃The　tomb　of　Kara…Tete！〃　said　Robert。　〃Are　you　sure；　Robert？〃　said　Glenarvan。　〃Yes；　my　Lord；　it　is　the　tomb；　I　recognize　it。〃　Robert　was　right。　　Fifty　feet　above；　at　the　extreme　peak　of　the　mountain；　freshly　painted　posts　formed　a　small　palisaded　inclosure；　and　Glenarvan　too　was　convinced　that　it　was　the　chief's　burial　place。　The　chances　of　their　flight　had　led　them　to　the　crest　of　Maunganamu。　Glenarvan；　followed　by　the　rest；　climbed　to　the　foot　of　the　tomb。　A　large　opening；　covered　with　mats；　led　into　it。　Glenarvan　was　about　to　invade　the　sanctity　of　the　〃oudoupa；〃　when　he　reeled　backward。　〃A　savage！〃　said　he。　〃In　the　tomb？〃　inquired　the　Major。　〃Yes；　McNabbs。〃　〃No　matter；　go　in。〃　Glenarvan；　the　Major；　Robert　and　John　Mangles　entered。　There　sat　a　Maori；　wrapped　in　a　large　flax　mat；　the　darkness　of　the　〃oudoupa〃　preventing　them　from　distinguishing　his　features。　He　was　very　quiet；　and　was　eating　his　breakfast　quite　coolly。　Glenarvan　was　about　to　speak　to　him　when　the　native　forestalled　him　by　saying　gayly　and　in　good　English：　〃Sit　down；　my　Lord；　breakfast　is　ready。〃　It　was　Paganel。　　At　the　sound　of　his　voice　they　all　rushed　into　the　〃oudoupa；〃　and　he　was　cordially　embraced　all　round。　Paganel　was　found　again。　　He　was　their　salvation。　　They　wanted　to　question　him；　to　know　how　and　why　he　was　here　on　the　summit　of　Maunganamu；　but　Glenarvan　stopped　this　misplaced　curiosity。　〃The　savages？〃　said　he。　〃The　savages；〃　said　Paganel；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃I　have　a　contempt　for　those　people！　　Come　and　look　at　them。〃　They　all　followed　Paganel　out　of　the　〃oudoupa。〃　　The　Maories　were　still　in　the　same　position　round　the　base　of　the　mountain；　uttering　fearful　cries。　〃Shout！　yell！　till　your　lungs　are　gone；　stupid　wretches！〃　said　Paganel。　　〃I　dare　you　to　come　here！〃　〃But　why？〃　said　Glenarvan。　〃Because　the　chief　is　buried　here；　and　the　tomb　protects　us；　because　the　mountain　is　tabooed。〃　〃Tabooed？〃　〃Yes；　my　friends！　and　that　is　why　I　took　refuge　here；　as　the　malefactors　used　to　flee　to　the　sanctuaries　in　the　middle　ages。〃　〃God　be　praised！〃　said　Lady　Helena；　lifting　her　hands　to　heaven。　The　fugitives　were　not　yet　out　of　danger；　but　they　had　a　moment's　respite；　which　was　very　welcome　in　their　exhausted　state。　Glenarvan　was　too　much　overcome　to　speak；　and　the　Major　nodded　his　head　with　an　air　of　perfect　content。　〃And　now；　my　friends；〃　said　Paganel；　〃if　these　brutes　think　to　exercise　their　patience　on　us；　they　are　mistaken。　In　two　days　we　shall　be　out　of　their　reach。〃　〃By　flight！〃　said　Glenarvan。　　〃But　how？〃　〃That　I　do　not　know；〃　answered　Paganel；　〃but　we　shall　manage　it。〃　And　now　everybody　wanted　to　know　about　their　friend's　adventures。　They　were　puzzled　by　the　reserve　of　a　man　generally　so　talkative；　on　this　occasion　they　had　to　drag　the　words　out　of　his　mouth；　usually　he　was　a　ready　story…teller；　now　he　gave　only　evasive　answers　to　the　questions　of　the　rest。　〃Paganel　is　another　man！〃　thought　McNabbs。　His　face　was　really　altered。　　He　wrapped　himself　closely　in　his　great　flax　mat　and　seemed　to　deprecate　observation。　Everyone　noticed　his　embarrassment；　when　he　was　the　subject　of　conversation；　though　nobody　appeared　to　remark　it；　when　other　topics　were　under　discussion；　Paganel　resumed　his　usual　gayety。　Of　his　adventures　all　that　could　be　extracted　from　him　at　this　time　was　as　follows：　After　the　murder　of　Kara…Tete；　Paganel　took　advantage；　like　Robert；　of　the　commotion　among　the　natives；　and　got　out　of　the　inclosure。　But　less　fortunate　than　young　Grant；　he　walked　straight　into　a　Maori　camp；　where　he　met　a　tall；　intelligent…looking　chief；　evidently　of　higher　rank　than　all　the　warriors　of　his　tribe。　The　chief　spoke　excellent　English；　and　he　saluted　the　new…comer　by　rubbing　the　end　of　his　nose　against　the　end　of　the　geographer's　nose。　Paganel　wondered　whether　he　was　to　consider　himself　a　prisoner　or　not。　But　perceiving　that　he　could　not　stir　without　the　polite　escort　of　the　chief；　he　soon　made　up　his　mind　on　that　point。　This　chief；　Hihi；　or　Sunbeam；　was　not　a　bad　fellow。　Paganel's　spectacles　and　telescope　seemed　to　give　him　a　great　idea　of　Paganel's　importance；　and　he　manifested　great　attachment　to　him；　not　only　by　kindness；　but　by　a　strong　flax　rope；　especially　at　night。　This　lasted　for　three　days；　to　the　inquiry　whether　he　was　well　treated；　he　said　〃Yes　and　no！〃　without　further　answer；　he　was　a　prisoner；　and　except　that　he　expected　immediate　execution；　his　state　seemed　to　him　no　better　than　that　in　which　he　had　left　his　unfortunate　friends。　One　night；　however；　he　managed　to　break　his　rope　and　escape。　He　had　seen　from　afar　the　burial　of　the　chief；　and　knew　that　he　was　buried　on　the　top　of　Maunganamu；　and　he　was　well　acquainted　with　the　fact　that　the　mountain　would　be　therefore　tabooed。　He　resolved　to　take　refuge　there；　being　unwilling　to　leave　the　region　where　his　companions　were　in　durance。　　He　succeeded　in　his　dangerous　attempt；　and　had　arrived　the　previous　night　at　the　tomb　of　Kara