Дети капитана Гранта

The Chief’s Funeral

           JohnMangleswasnearlyfranticatthesightofMaryGrant’sdespairatbeingseparatedfromherbrother.GlenarvanponderedovertheterriblerequestofLadyHelena,whopreferreddyingbyhishandtosubmittingtotortureandslavery.Howwashetosummontheterriblecourage!

           "AndMary?whohasarighttostrikeherdead?"thoughtJohn,whoseheartwasbroken.

           Escapewasclearlyimpossible.Tenwarriors,armedtotheteeth,keptwatchatthedoorofWare-Atoua.

           ThemorningofFebruary13tharrived.Nocommunicationhadtakenplacebetweenthenativesandthe"tabooed"prisoners.Alimitedsupplyofprovisionswasinthehouse,whichtheunhappyinmatesscarcelytouched.Miserydeadenedthepangsofhunger.Thedaypassedwithoutchange,andwithouthope;thefuneralceremoniesofthedeadchiefwoulddoubtlessbethesignalfortheirexecution.

           AlthoughGlenarvandidnotconcealfromhimselftheprobabilitythatKai-Koumouhadgivenupallideaofexchange,theMajorstillcherishedasparkofhope.

           "Whoknows,"saidhe,asheremindedGlenarvanoftheeffectproducedonthechiefbythedeathofKara-Tete"whoknowsbutthatKai-Koumou,inhisheart,isverymuchobligedtoyou?"

           ButevenMcNabbs’remarksfailedtoawakenhopeinGlenarvan’smind.Thenextdaypassedwithoutanyappearanceofpreparationfortheirpunishment;andthiswasthereasonofthedelay.

           TheMaoriesbelievethatforthreedaysafterdeaththesoulinhabitsthebody,andtherefore,forthreetimestwenty-fourhours,thecorpseremainsunburied.

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