A few days after, the under captain (Baudre) fell down quite exhausted
behind a green bush, being left a prey to the attacks of a monstrous
serpent. The famished ravens frightened away the venomous animal with
their cries, then falling upon the dying man, they tore him into pieces.
Four savages, far more cruel monsters than the furious reptile, were
witnesses of this scene, but left the poor unhappy man to struggle in
vain. I came running up to endeavour to save him, if in time; the
barbarians stopped and insulted me, and then told me, "_The Christian
was going to broil in flames._" I left this place of horror, not knowing
where to bend my steps. My camels and sheep directed me. I would have
been incapable of reconducting them to their fold. It is impossible to
form an idea of the sensations by which I was agitated at this time. My
tears fell abundantly, while the most dismal forebodings increased my
grief. When I arrived at the tent, I no more knew what I was doing. I
constantly imagined I saw the carnivorous birds flying through the air,
with pieces of the flesh of my unfortunate companion in their bills. My
master, astonished at my disordered situation, inquired at me what was
the matter with me, and why I changed the bindings of the camels. "Go,"
replied I, "to a little distance there,--go and behold what have been
the consequences of your cruelty, and that of your wife. You have
suffered my comrade to perish for want, because, by his ill health, he
was not able to labour; you refused him milk to support him, when his
situation was such as demanded in a particular manner your help!" While
I thus spoke, I concealed my tears, which would only have afforded a
laugh to these monsters. They ordered me to go and search the girdle,
all covered with the blood of the unhappy victim of their barbarity. I
was struck with indignation at a proposal so shocking. The commotion I
had undergone, and the ferns which I had eaten to assuage my hunger,
occasioned very severe vomitings, which were followed with extreme
faintness. I had, however, strength enough left to retire behind a bush,
where I found another unhappy wretch. He inquired the cause of my
complaints, and if I had seen Baudre? "He is not far off," replied I,
unwilling to speak more plainly; but my master's sister, who came to
bring us milk, cried out, "Be assured that at this very moment, the
ravens are feasting on the entrails of Baudre; the time is not far
distant, when