rtunately, perhaps. There could be no
mistaking the inert manner in which the body responded to the shaking of
the taller of the two Formosans; and with an animal cry of disappointed
rage the fellow reversed his spear and drove the broad blade again and
again into the insensate figure. The sight was a sickening one, and
Frobisher's only consolation was that the object of the barbarity was
beyond the reach of cruelty for ever.

Then the men passed on to another figure, another, and still another,
always without result, until Frobisher became aware that his turn was
coming next. Drake's eye was on him, he knew, watching anxiously, and
he braced himself to bear in silence whatever barbarity the savages
might feel inclined to inflict.

He knew, of course, when they stopped opposite him, although he had now
closed his eyes tightly; but he could scarcely repress a start when he
felt a heavy hand fall upon his shoulder, for he did not know what next
to expect. The temptation to open his eyes was almost irresistible, but
with a strong effort he managed to keep them closed, and it was indeed
well for him that he did so. Drake, who was watching, told him
afterward that when he saw the horribly suggestive gestures that
followed upon the man placing his hand on Frobisher's shoulder he almost
fainted from very horror, and was scarcely able to draw his breath
until, after a few seconds' hesitation, the men decided to postpone
their barbarous idea until the victim was in a state to anticipate and
to feel, and passed on. Frobisher heard them depart, but forbore to
open his eyes for a few seconds, lest they should be playing him some
trick, and so he did not see what happened to the man on his left; but
Drake did, and not with all his iron nerve could he repress a muffled
cry of horror.

Immediately the men wheeled, but luckily, having their backs turned at
the time, were unable to locate the sound accurately. They fancied that
it was uttered by one of the seamen who, unhappily for him, had just
regained consciousness and was gazing about him in blank amazement and
terror; and with a shout of exultation the two inhuman wretches left the
cruelly mangled form of their victim and passed on to the sailor.

They paused in front of him for a few moments, gesticulating and
laughing fiendishly, and then, to Frobisher's amazement, left him
untouched, and returned to the huts.

Here they uttered a peculiar kind of cry, and presently c