At that critical moment, however, I resolved to be absolutely firm, even if it cost me my life.
While I hesitated, the chief remained absolutely motionless, holding out the murderous-looking club, and looking at me interrogatively, as though unable to understand why I did not avail myself of his offer.

Still more extraordinary, the crowd behind observed a solemn and disconcerting silence.

I looked at the girl; to my amazement she appeared delighted with things generally--a poor, merry little creature, not more than fifteen or sixteen years of age.

I decided to harangue the chiefs, and as a preliminary I gave them the universal sign to sit down and parley.
They did so, but did not seem pleased at what they doubtless considered an unlooked-for hitch in an interesting ceremony.
Then in hesitating signs, slaps, clicks, and guttural utterances, I gave them to understand that it was against my faith to have anything whatever to do with the horrid orgy they contemplated.

The Great Spirit they dreaded so much yet so vaguely, I went on to say, had revealed to me that it was wrong to kill any one in cold blood, and still more loathsome and horrible to eat the flesh of a murdered fellow-creature.