y hand was
to die for the preservation of the rest. Before any one condemn me for
this apparent heartlessness, let him be placed in a situation precisely
similar to my own.

At length delay was no longer possible, and, with a heart almost
bursting from my bosom, I advanced to the region of the forecastle,
where my companions were awaiting me. I held out my hand with the
splinters, and Peters immediately drew. He was free--his, at least, was
not the shortest; and there was now another chance against my escape.
I summoned up all my strength, and passed the lots to Augustus. He also
drew immediately, and he also was free; and now, whether I should live
or die, the chances were no more than precisely even. At this moment
all the fierceness of the tiger possessed my bosom, and I felt toward
my poor fellow-creature, Parker, the most intense, the most diabolical
hatred. But the feeling did not last; and, at length, with a convulsive
shudder and closed eyes, I held out the two remaining splinters toward
him. It was fully five minutes before he could summon resolution to
draw, during which period of heartrending suspense I never once opened
my eyes. Presently one of the two lots was quickly drawn from my hand.
The decision was then over, yet I knew not whether it was for me or
against me. No one spoke, and still I dared not satisfy myself by
looking at the splinter I held. Peters at length took me by the
hand, and I forced myself to look up, when I immediately saw by the
countenance of Parker that I was safe, and that he it was who had been
doomed to suffer. Gasping for breath, I fell senseless to the deck.

I recovered from my swoon in time to behold the consummation of the
tragedy in the death of him who had been chiefly instrumental in
bringing it about. He made no resistance whatever, and was stabbed in
the back by Peters, when he fell instantly dead. I must not dwell
upon the fearful repast which immediately ensued. Such things may be
imagined, but words have no power to impress the mind with the exquisite
horror of their reality. Let it suffice to say that, having in some
measure appeased the raging thirst which consumed us by the blood of
the victim, and having by common consent taken off the hands, feet,
and head, throwing them together with the entrails, into the sea, we
devoured the rest of the body, piecemeal, during the four ever memorable
days of the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth of the
month.