was the case the speech was a
very brief one; and when it terminated a short pause ensued, and I saw
that a few of the prisoners--perhaps three or four, as nearly as I could
make out--were being released from their bonds. Then occurred another
short pause, at the expiration of which a man was led forward,
blindfolded, and guided to the inner extremity of the plank, along which
I could see that they were urging him to walk. He advanced a few paces,
paused, as though he had been addressed, and I distinctly saw him shake
his head. As though this movement of the head were a prearranged
signal, the inner end of the plank suddenly tilted up, and the
unfortunate man, with a staggering movement as though to save himself
fell with a resounding splash into the sea, where for a few seconds he
seemed to struggle desperately. Not for long, however; the sharks that
had been haunting us for so many days heard the splash, and after a few
restless movements, as though unwilling to leave us, darted off toward
the ship. I saw the horrid triangular fins cleaving the surface of the
glassy water, each leaving its own delicate wedge-shaped wake spreading
astern as it went, until the small ripples of the different wakes met
and crossed each other; then, as the distance between them and their
prey lessened, there was a sudden increase of speed which soon became a
rush, the black fins merged toward each other, the water swirled round
the drowning man, there was a single ear-piercing shriek of agony, and
the poor wretch had disappeared.

This dreadful spectacle appeared to have had its desired effect, for I
saw that several more of the prisoners were now being released from
their bonds, the released men, one and all, slinking down off the poop
and away forward toward the forecastle. There were others, however--
fifteen in all, for I counted them--whose courage was not to be shaken
even by this awful ordeal, and one after the other they boldly trod the
fatal plank, and went to meet their dreadful doom! All honour to them,
say I, for the lofty courage that enabled them to choose death rather
than an ignoble and crime-stained life.

Then there was another long pause, during which, as I afterwards
learned, the _Francesca's_ crew were rummaging the ship--a
homeward-bound Indiaman, named the _Bangalore_--and loading her decks
with booty of every imaginable description, preparatory to its transfer
to the brigantine. Mendouca, I must mention, ha