s were destined never again
to behold that ocean we loved so well! As Delisle and I sat together
and looked out on the bright blue expanse spread before us, and dotted
here and there with white sails glancing in the sunbeams, and observed
the unfrequented shore and the fishermen's boats drawn up on the beach,
we agreed how easy it would have been, had we not given our parole, to
have made our escape, and as to danger, we settled that we would have
run it willingly for the sake of escaping from our confinement. We
would have put off in one of the canoes and pulled away right out to sea
till we were picked up by an English cruiser or merchantman. While we
were sitting admiring the scene several negroes passed us, great, big,
burly fellows, laughing and singing at the top of their voices. Each
couple of them carried a burden resting on two poles. We soon suspected
their errand. On reaching the beach, close to the water, they threw
down their burdens and began digging away with short spades they carried
at their waists. They did not cease laughing and shouting, and had soon
dug a shallow hole big enough to contain a dozen people. The burdens
which they had borne to the spot were quickly tumbled in. Before the
operations were concluded other big, half-naked negroes arrived with
more corpses, which were treated in the same unceremonious manner, and
then all were speedily covered up, and the black monsters went stamping
and dancing, singing all the while, carelessly over the huge grave.

"Who can they be?" I asked of Delisle; "I mean the poor fellows who lie
buried down there at our feet."

My messmate spoke French, so he called one of the negroes as they passed
and made the inquiry of him. The black fellow grinned horribly.

"English seamen. Taken prisoners lately. They have the fever among
them. Yellow Jack. They are dying like rotten sheep. No matter. They
are all heretics, so we bury them here. They are not fit for
consecrated ground. Bah!" was the answer, delivered with a broad grin,
as if the speaker had uttered a good joke.

Delisle turned away and came back to me.

"Let us return to the inn," said I. "It must be dinner-time; I cannot
enjoy this spot any longer."

All our party quickly assembled at the hotel, and we soon forgot the
unpleasant scene we had witnessed. Mynheer had not forgotten our order
to have an abundance of liquor ready, though I cannot say much for the
delicacy of the viands