Standing around they all waited in silence until the fire had burnt
itself out; then the old man advancing stretched his arms above the
white and still smoking ashes and cried in a loud voice: "Farewell
forever, O well beloved son! With deep sorrow and tears we have given
you back to Earth; but not until she has made the sweet grass and
flowers grow again on this spot, scorched and made desolate with fire,
shall our hearts be healed of their wound and forget their grief."






Chapter 2

The thrilling, pathetic tone in which these words were uttered affected
me not a little; and when the ceremony was over I continued staring
vacantly at the speaker, ignorant of the fact that the beautiful young
girl had her wide-open, startled eyes fixed on the bush which, I vainly
imagined, concealed me from view.

All at once she cried out: "Oh, father, look there! Who is that
strange-looking man watching us from behind the bushes?"

They all turned, and then I felt that fourteen or fifteen pairs of very
keen eyes were on me, seeing me very plainly indeed, for in my curiosity
and excitement I had come out from the thicker bushes to place myself
behind a ragged, almost leafless shrub, which afforded the merest
apology for a shelter. Putting a bold face on the matter, although I did
not feel very easy, I came out and advanced to them, removing my