None of them ever forgot that strange and somewhat ghastly service—the hungry lick of the flames, blue and green and yellow and red from the salt and tar, but almost unseen in the beams of the fully-risen sun; the rippling lagoon; the sparkling white beach; the foam-jets on the reef; the great blue sea beyond; the pitiful things the flames consumed; and the rolling clouds of smoke which spread like a pall along the scarred hillside.
Aunt Jannet Harvey came hurrying round the corner to see what they were at, and Cathie caught sight of her and sent her hurrying back surprised at his brusqueness. For this was one of the things that may be told but is better not seen.
Ha'o had taken no part in these doings. He had no desire for human flesh, but there was a doubtful look on his face, as though he thought the proceedings wasteful and possibly to be regretted later on.
The brown men stood in a clump at a distance and watched sullenly all that was done.
When the pile died down Blair went over to the chief.
"Ha'o," he said, "go and speak to your people. Tell them that things are as they were, and that flesh they shall not eat."
"They will starve."
"No, they will not starve. We will find them food."
Ha'o looked at him doubtfully, but not without expectation. The white men were so wonderful, that it was difficult to say what they could or could not do, and Kenni never lied.
Nevertheless, "Where, Kenni?" he asked.