cut, while a yell, the like of which I could not
have imagined, burst from the miserable survivors as they fled to the
woods. Amongst the heaps of dead that lay on the sand, just where they
had fallen, I could distinguish mutilated forms writhing in agony, while
ever and anon one and another rose convulsively from out the mass,
endeavoured to stagger towards the wood, and ere they had taken a few
steps, fell and wallowed on the bloody sand. My blood curdled within me
as I witnessed this frightful and wanton slaughter; but I had little time
to think, for the captain's deep voice came again over the water towards
us: "Pull ashore, lads, and fill your water casks." The men obeyed in
silence, and it seemed to me as if even their hard hearts were shocked by
the ruthless deed. On gaining the mouth of the rivulet at which we
intended to take in water, we found it flowing with blood, for the
greater part of those who were slain had been standing on the banks of
the stream, a short way above its mouth. Many of the wretched creatures
had fallen into it, and we found one body, which had been carried down,
jammed between two rocks, with the staring eyeballs turned towards us and
his black hair waving in the ripples of the blood-red stream. No one
dared to oppose our landing now, so we carried our casks to a pool above
the murdered group, and having filled them, returned on board.
Fortunately a breeze sprang up soon afterwards and carried us away from
the dreadful spot; but it could not waft me away from the memory of what
I had seen.

"And this," thought I, gazing in horror at the captain, who, with a quiet
look of indifference, leaned upon the taffrail smoking a cigar and
contemplating the fertile green islets as they passed like a lovely
picture before our eyes--"this is the man who favours the missionaries
because they are useful to him and can tame the savages better than any
one else can do it!" Then I wondered in my mind whether it were possible
for any missionary to tame _him_!

CHAPTER XXIV.

Bloody Bill is communicative and sagacious--Unpleasant
prospects--Retrospective meditations interrupted by volcanic agency--The
pirates negotiate with a Feejee chief--Various etceteras that are
calculated to surprise and horrify.

It was many days after the events just narrated ere I recovered a little
of my wonted spirits. I could not shake off the feeling for a long time
that I was in a frightful dream, and the si