Діти капітана Гранта

Introduction to the Cannibals

           Inthemidstofthiscrowningperilhedidnotgivewaytoanyfeelingofregretathavingbeeninducedtoventureintothiscountryofsavages.

           Hiscompanionswereworthyofhim;theyenteredintohisloftyviews;andjudgingbytheirhaughtydemeanor,itwouldscarcelyhavebeensupposedthattheywerehurryingtothefinalcatastrophe.Withoneaccord,andbyGlenarvan’sadvice,theyresolvedtoaffectutterindifferencebeforethenatives.Itwastheonlywaytoimpresstheseferociousnatures.Savagesingeneral,andparticularlytheMaories,haveanotionofdignityfromwhichtheyneverderogate.Theyrespect,aboveallthings,coolnessandcourage.Glenarvanwasawarethatbythismodeofprocedure,heandhiscompanionswouldsparethemselvesneedlesshumiliation.

           Fromthemomentofembarking,thenatives,whowereverytaciturn,likeallsavages,hadscarcelyexchangedaword,butfromthefewsentencestheydidutter,GlenarvanfeltcertainthattheEnglishlanguagewasfamiliartothem.Hethereforemadeuphismindtoquestionthechiefonthefatethatawaitedthem.AddressinghimselftoKai-Koumou,hesaidinaperfectlyunconcernedvoice:

           "Wherearewegoing,chief?"

           Kai-Koumoulookedcoollyathimandmadenoanswer.

           "Whatareyougoingtodowithus?"pursuedGlenarvan.

           AsuddengleamflashedintotheeyesofKai-Koumou,andhesaidinadeepvoice:

           "Exchangeyou,ifyourownpeoplecaretohaveyou;eatyouiftheydon’t."

           Glenarvanaskednofurtherquestions;buthoperevivedinhisheart.

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