When
the fire was kindled, two of the party went again to the woods and
returned with one of the bound men. A dreadful feeling of horror crept
over my heart as the thought flashed upon me that they were going to
burn their enemies. As they bore him to the fire my feelings almost
overpowered me. I gasped for breath, and seizing my club, endeavoured
to spring to my feet; but Jack's powerful arm pinned me to the earth.
Next moment one of the savages raised his club, and fractured the
wretched creature's skull. He must have died instantly; and, strange
though it may seem, I confess to a feeling of relief when the deed was
done, because I now knew that the poor savage could not be burned
alive. Scarcely had his limbs ceased to quiver when the monsters cut
slices of flesh from his body, and, after roasting them slightly over
the fire, devoured them.
Suddenly there arose a cry from the woods, and in a few seconds the two
savages hastened towards the fire dragging the three women and their
two infants along with them. One of those women was much younger than
her companions, and we were struck with the modesty of her demeanour
and the gentle expression of her face, which, although she had the
flattish nose and thick lips of the others, was of a light-brown
colour, and we conjectured that she must be of a different race. She
and her companions wore short petticoats and a kind of tippet on their
shoulders.
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