attempt any thing more." But the captain forbid his giving it to me, and
I stepped into the boat--at that moment Nickola said in a low voice,
"never mind, I may see you again before I die." The small boat was well
armed and manned, and both set off together for the island, where they
had agreed to leave us to perish! The scene to us was a funereal scene.
There were no arms in the prisoners boat, and, of course, all attempts
to relieve ourselves would have been throwing our lives away, as Bolidar
was near us, well armed. We were rowed about two miles north-easterly
from the pirates, to a small low island, lonely and desolate. We arrived
about sunset; and for the support of us eleven prisoners, they only left
a ten gallon keg of water, and perhaps a few quarts, in another small
vessel, which was very poor; part of a barrel of flour, a small keg of
lard, one ham and some salt fish; a small kettle and an old broken pot;
an old sail for a covering, and a small mattress and blanket, which was
thrown out as the boats hastened away. One of the prisoners happened to
have a little coffee in his pocket, and these comprehended all our means
of sustaining life, and for what length of time we knew not. We now
felt the need of water, and our supply was comparatively nothing. A man
may live nearly twice as long without food, as without water. Look at us
now, my friends, left benighted on a little spot of sand in the midst of
the ocean, far from the usual track of vessels, and every appearance of
a violent thunder tempest, and a boisterous night. Judge of my feelings,
and the circumstances which our band of sufferers now witnessed. Perhaps
you can and have pitied us. I assure you, we were very wretched; and to
paint the scene, is not within my power. When the boats were moving from
the shore, on recovering myself a little, I asked Bolidar, "If he was
going to leave us so?"--he answered, "no, only two days--we go for water
and wood, then come back, take you." I requested him to give us bread
and other stores, for they had plenty in the boat, and at least one
hundred barrels of flour in the Mexican. "No, no, suppose to-morrow
morning me come, me give you bread," and hurried off to the vessel. This
was the last time I saw him. We then turned our attention upon finding a
spot most convenient for our comfort, and soon discovered a little roof
supported by stakes driven into the sand; it was thatched with leaves of
the cocoa-nut tree, considerab