WILL HALLEY and his crew, taking advantage of the darkness of night and the sleep of the passengers, had fled with the only boat. There could be no doubt about it. The captain, whose duty would have kept him on board to the last, had been the first to quit the ship.
“The cowards are off!” said John Mangles1. “Well, my Lord, so much the better. They have spared us some trying scenes.”
“No doubt,” said Glenarvan; “besides we have a captain of our own, and courageous2, if unskillful sailors, your companions, John. Say the word, and we are ready to obey.”
The Major, Paganel, Robert, Wilson, Mulrady, Olbinett himself, applauded Glenarvan’s speech, and ranged themselves on the deck, ready to execute their captain’s orders.
“What is to be done?” asked Glenarvan.
It was evident that raising the Macquarie was out of the question, and no less evident that she must be abandoned. Waiting on board for succor3 that might never come, would have been imprudence and folly4. Before the arrival of a chance vessel5 on the scene, the Macquarie would have broken up. The next storm, or even a high tide raised by the winds from seaward, would roll it on the sands, break it up into splinters, and scatter6 them on the shore. John was anxious to reach the land before this inevitable7 consummation.
He proposed to construct a raft strong enough to carry the passengers, and a sufficient quantity of provisions, to the coast of New Zealand.
There was no time for discussion, the work was to be set about at once, and they had made considerable progress when night came and interrupted them.
Toward eight o’clock in the evening, after supper, while Lady Helena and Mary Grant slept in their berths8, Paganel and his friends conversed9 on serious matters as they walked up and down the deck. Robert had chosen to stay with them. The brave boy listened with all his ears, ready to be of use, and willing to enlist10 in any perilous11 adventure.
Paganel asked John Mangles whether the raft could not follow the coast as far as Auckland, instead of landing its freight on the coast.
John replied that the voyage was impossible with such an unmanageable craft.
“And what we cannot do on a raft could have been done in the ship’s boat?”
“Yes, if necessary,” answered John; “but we should have had to sail by day and anchor at night.”
“Then those wretches12 who abandoned us —”
“Oh, as for them,” said John, “they were drunk, and in the darkness I have no doubt they paid for their cowardice13 with their lives.”
“So much the worse for them and for us,” replied Paganel; “for the boat would have been very useful to us.”
“What would you have, Paganel? The raft will bring us to the shore,” said Glenarvan.
“The very thing I would fain avoid,” exclaimed the geographer14.
“What! do you think another twenty miles after crossing the Pampas and Australia, can have any terrors for us, hardened as we are to fatigue15?”
“My friend,” replied Paganel, “I do not call in question our courage nor the bravery of our friends. Twenty miles would be nothing in any other country than New Zealand. You cannot suspect me of faint-heartedness. I was the first to persuade you to cross America and Australia. But here the case is different. I repeat, anything is better than to venture into this treacherous16 country.”
“Anything is better, in my judgment,” said John Mangles, “than braving certain destruction on a stranded17 vessel.”
“What is there so formidable in New Zealand?” asked Glenarvan.
“The savages19,” said Paganel.
“The savages!” repeated Glenarvan. “Can we not avoid them by keeping to the shore? But in any case what have we to fear? Surely, two resolute20 and well-armed Europeans need not give a thought to an attack by a handful of miserable21 beings.”
Paganel shook his head. “In this case there are no miserable beings to contend with. The New Zealanders are a powerful race, who are rebelling against English rule, who fight the invaders22, and often beat them, and who always eat them!”
“Cannibals!” exclaimed Robert, “cannibals?” Then they heard him whisper, “My sister! Lady Helena.”
“Don’t frighten yourself, my boy,” said Glenarvan; “our friend Paganel exaggerates.”
“Far from it,” rejoined Paganel. “Robert has shown himself a man, and I treat him as such, in not concealing23 the truth from him.”
Paganel was right. Cannibalism24 has become a fixed25 fact in New Zealand, as it is in the Fijis and in Torres Strait. Superstition26 is no doubt partly to blame, but cannibalism is certainly owing to the fact that there are moments when game is scarce and hunger great. The savages began by eating human flesh to appease27 the demands of an appetite rarely satiated; subsequently the priests regulated and satisfied the monstrous28 custom. What was a meal, was raised to the dignity of a ceremony, that is all.
Besides, in the eyes of the Maories, nothing is more natural than to eat one another. The missionaries29 often questioned them about cannibalism. They asked them why they devoured30 their brothers; to which the chiefs made answer that fish eat fish, dogs eat men, men eat dogs, and dogs eat one another. Even the Maori mythology31 has a legend of a god who ate another god; and with such a precedent32, who could resist eating his neighbor?
Another strange notion is, that in eating a dead enemy they consume his spiritual being, and so inherit his soul, his strength and his bravery, which they hold are specially33 lodged34 in the brain. This accounts for the fact that the brain figures in their feasts as the choicest delicacy35, and is offered to the most honored guest.
But while he acknowledged all this, Paganel maintained, not without a show of reason, that sensuality, and especially hunger, was the first cause of cannibalism among the New Zealanders, and not only among the Polynesian races, but also among the savages of Europe.
“For,” said he, “cannibalism was long prevalent among the ancestors of the most civilized36 people, and especially (if the Major will not think me personal) among the Scotch37.”
“Really,” said McNabbs.
“Yes, Major,” replied Paganel. “If you read certain passages of Saint Jerome, on the Atticoli of Scotland, you will see what he thought of your forefathers38. And without going so far back as historic times, under the reign39 of Elizabeth, when Shakespeare was dreaming out his Shy-lock, a Scotch bandit, Sawney Bean, was executed for the crime of cannibalism. Was it religion that prompted him to cannibalism? No! it was hunger.”
“Hunger?” said John Mangles.
“Hunger!” repeated Paganel; “but, above all, the necessity of the carnivorous appetite of replacing the bodily waste, by the azote contained in animal tissues. The lungs are satisfied with a provision of vegetable and farinaceous food. But to be strong and active the body must be supplied with those plastic elements that renew the muscles. Until the Maories become members of the Vegetarian40 Association they will eat meat, and human flesh as meat.”
“Why not animal flesh?” asked Glenarvan.
“Because they have no animals,” replied Paganel; “and that ought to be taken into account, not to extenuate41, but to explain, their cannibal habits. Quadrupeds, and even birds, are rare on these inhospitable shores, so that the Maories have always eaten human flesh. There are even ‘man-eating seasons,’ as there are in civilized countries hunting seasons. Then begin the great wars, and whole tribes are served up on the tables of the conquerors42.”
“Well, then,” said Glenarvan, “according to your mode of reasoning, Paganel, cannibalism will not cease in New Zealand until her pastures teem43 with sheep and oxen.”
“Evidently, my dear Lord; and even then it will take years to wean them from Maori flesh, which they prefer to all others; for the children will still have a relish44 for what their fathers so highly appreciated. According to them it tastes like pork, with even more flavor. As to white men’s flesh, they do not like it so well, because the whites eat salt with their food, which gives a peculiar45 flavor, not to the taste of connoisseurs46.”
“They are dainty,” said the Major. “But, black or white, do they eat it raw, or cook it?”
“Why, what is that to you, Mr. McNabbs?” cried Robert.
“What is that to me!” exclaimed the Major, earnestly. “If I am to make a meal for a cannibal, I should prefer being cooked.”
“Why?”
“Because then I should be sure of not being eaten alive!”
“Very good. Major,” said Paganel; “but suppose they cooked you alive?”
“The fact is,” answered the Major, “I would not give half-a-crown for the choice!”
“Well, McNabbs, if it will comfort you — you may as well be told — the New Zealanders do not eat flesh without cooking or smoking it. They are very clever and experienced in cookery. For my part, I very much dislike the idea of being eaten! The idea of ending one’s life in the maw of a savage18! bah!”
“The conclusion of all,” said John Mangles, “is that we must not fall into their hands. Let us hope that one day Christianity will abolish all these monstrous customs.”
“Yes, we must hope so,” replied Paganel; “but, believe me, a savage who has tasted human flesh, is not easily persuaded to forego it. I will relate two facts which prove it.”
“By all means let us have the facts, Paganel,” said Glenarvan.
“The first is narrated47 in the chronicles of the Jesuit Society in Brazil. A Portuguese48 missionary49 was one day visiting an old Brazilian woman who was very ill. She had only a few days to live. The Jesuit inculcated the truths of religion, which the dying woman accepted, without objection. Then having attended to her spiritual wants, he bethought himself of her bodily needs, and offered her some European delicacies50. ‘Alas,’ said she, ‘my digestion51 is too weak to bear any kind of food. There is only one thing I could fancy, and nobody here could get it for me.’ ‘What is it?’ asked the Jesuit. ‘Ah! my son,’ said she, ‘it is the hand of a little boy! I feel as if I should enjoy munching52 the little bones!’”
“Horrid! but I wonder is it so very nice?” said Robert.
“My second tale will answer you, my boy,” said Paganel: “One day a missionary was reproving a cannibal for the horrible custom, so abhorrent53 to God’s laws, of eating human flesh! ‘And beside,’ said he, ‘it must be so nasty!’ ‘Oh, father,’ said the savage, looking greedily at the missionary, ‘say that God forbids it! That is a reason for what you tell us. But don’t say it is nasty! If you had only tasted it!’”
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mangles
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| n.轧布机，轧板机，碾压机（mangle的复数形式）vt.乱砍（mangle的第三人称单数形式） | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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berths
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| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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geographer
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| n.地理学者 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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cannibalism
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| n.同类相食；吃人肉 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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mythology
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| n.神话，神话学，神话集 | |
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precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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vegetarian
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| n.素食者；adj.素食的 | |
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extenuate
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| v.减轻，使人原谅 | |
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conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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teem
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| vi.(with)充满，多产 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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connoisseurs
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| n.鉴赏家，鉴定家，行家( connoisseur的名词复数 ) | |
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narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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digestion
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| n.消化，吸收 | |
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munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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abhorrent
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| adj.可恶的，可恨的，讨厌的 | |
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