“I will never allow this hireling to be sacrificed,” the Swiss cried, full of emotion. “I will prevent it at any cost.”
“You can do nothing of the sort,” Dalim interrupted. “Whatever you attempt will only damage our cause. It will seem as if you repent having spared the life of the Poenan. The victim has already been chosen, has already lost the name of human being and is now called kabalik, the lifeless.”
“Horrible!” Wienersdorf despairingly cried. “By Heavens! [[170]]can nothing prevent such a crime? But,” he wildly continued, “the Poenan may think what he likes. I am sorry now that I spared him. I will seek the wretch and beg for the life of the woman. If he refuses my request may God have mercy upon him, for only my death will save his life.”
“Calm yourself and reflect that all our lives are at stake,” Johannes observed. “You nobly wish to save this woman, but I repeat by so doing you will endanger our lives as well as your own. Now of your own life you are master, but do you think that we intend to sacrifice ours in defence of your own fancies? No, I say. Ask your own conscience whether a woman like that, a woman who is already looked upon as dead, is really worth such a wholesale slaughter as your interference will certainly provoke. Besides if you deliver her to-day at the cost I have just figured, she will be chosen again in another week and the bloodshed caused by your intercession will have been practically useless.”
“Horrible, horrible!” the Swiss cried, wringing his hands in despair.
“Listen!” Johannes solemnly continued. “You voluntarily chose me as your leader in our escape; you have all promised to obey me when we should find ourselves among the natives of the interior. I now demand prompt obedience as a guaranty for the safety of all of us. This obedience will first of all consist in offering no resistance to what cannot be prevented. I am not speaking from any intolerance or want of compassion, but solely in the interests of self-preservation. If we cannot prevent cruelties from being perpetrated under our own eyes let us [[171]]blame the civilized nation which rules the greater part of this immense island, and yet does not possess the power to grapple with horrors such as we shall witness to-morrow.”
He was glowing with earnestness. His head was thrown back and his chest heaved violently. His handsome face clearly expressed the indignation of his soul.
“To-morrow,” he continued, “I will attach the Dutch colors to the stake when the sacrifice is being consummated. The crime will thus be presided over by the banner of Holland; and I shall take care that the blood of the poor woman writhing under her tortures shall bespatter its pure breadths and cover it with pollution.”
After a few moments he calmed down and continued:
“But let us go to our posts; Wienersdorf and I will rest while the others keep watch.” Then addressing Schlickeisen and La Cueille, he said, “Call us at midnight, when we will relieve you. And now good-night!”