ruck like a death-chill to the hearts of the
prisoners. No one spoke, but each had recognised familiar tones in the
terrible cries. For the first time some of them began to realise the
fact that they were really in the hands of murderers, and that the
bloody work had actually begun. Great drops of sweat rolled down the
face of Muggins as he gazed in horror through one of the crevices, and
his broad chest heaved convulsively as he exclaimed, "God be merciful to
us, it's George Goff!" This was too true. On the stage, carried by
four natives, sat the unfortunate seaman. It required no second glance
to tell that his spirit had fled, and that nothing but a corpse sat
swaying there, supported by means of a pole, in a sitting posture. The
cannibals were conveying it to their temple, there to cut it up and
prepare it for that dreadful feast which is regarded as inexpressibly
repulsive by all the human race except these islanders of the South
Seas, who, incredible though it may appear, absolutely relish human
flesh as a dainty morsel.

At sight of this, poor Will Osten, who had never quite believed in such
terrible things, sank down on his knees with a deep groan, and, for the
first time in his life, perhaps, prayed _earnestly_.

O'Hale's spirit blazed up in ungovernable fury. Like a wild beast, he
tore and wrenched at the rope which bound him, and then, finding his
efforts unavailing, he flung himself on the ground, while deep sobs
burst at intervals from his oppressed heart.

A few minutes elapsed; then there was a rush of footsteps without,
accompanied by fierce yells and the waving of torches. The prisoners
leaped up, feeling almost instinctively that there hour had come. A
moment later and the hut was filled with natives. All were naked, with
the exception of a small piece of cloth round their loins. They were
tatooed, however, and painted nearly from head to foot.

The prisoners were instantly seized and overpowered, and preparations
were being rapidly made to carry them away, when a shout was heard
outside, and a remarkably tall, powerful, and thickly painted savage
sprang in. He pushed the natives violently aside, and gave some stern
orders to those who held the prisoners. The immediate result was, that
the latter were released and allowed to rise, although their hands were
still bound behind them. Meanwhile the tall savage, standing beside
them, harangued his comrades with great energy of tone and acti