I said, "I would never have kindled the element upon this
island. Fire is a useful and necessary article in the life of a good
man, but it becomes a curse if put to evil purposes."

"It is a curse then that will fall most heavily upon thee," answered
Ackbau. "As for me, this is my country, and I am king of its customs."
But although he pretended to resent my interference, I could see that
Ackbau was ashamed of what he had done, and henceforth he avoided
Melannie, and seldom entered the queen's presence, so that I gained
what I had in view by remonstrating with him.

The thought of the fire, however, and the effect which the making of it
had upon these savages, set me pondering whether this element was
really the primary cause of cannibalism.

No savages whom I ever met devour raw flesh, whether human or animal,
so that the eating of meat by men would seem to be an acquired habit.
Fruit and water appear to be the natural food and drink of man, all
else being artificial and vicious.

CHAPTER XXII

THE NIGHT OF THE SACRIFICE

At last the night came when the snake god was to appear. The moon shone
with wonderful brilliancy, sending a path of dancing light from the
island across the sea to the horizon. 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.

And now the waters of the pool began to