our party as we wended
our way to the beach, but I could not observe any other expression on
the faces of the men than that of total indifference or contempt. It
seemed to me a very awful thing that it should be possible for men to
come to such hardness of heart and callousness to the sight of bloodshed
and violence; but, indeed, I began to find that such constant exposure
to scenes of blood was having a slight effect upon myself, and I
shuddered when I came to think that I too was becoming callous.

I thought upon this subject much that night while I walked up and down
the deck during my hours of watch, and I came to the conclusion that if
I, who hated, abhorred, and detested such bloody deeds as I had
witnessed within the last few weeks, could so soon come to be less
sensitive about them, how little wonder that these poor, ignorant
savages, who were born and bred in familiarity therewith, should think
nothing of them at all, and should hold human life in so very slight
esteem!

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

MISCHIEF BREWING--MY BLOOD IS MADE TO RUN COLD--EVIL CONSULTATIONS AND
WICKED RESOLVES--BLOODY BILL ATTEMPTS TO DO GOOD, AND FAILS--THE
ATTACK--WHOLESALE MURDER--THE FLIGHT--THE ESCAPE.

Next morning I awoke with a feverish brow and a feeling of deep
depression at my heart; and the more I thought on my unhappy fate, the
more wretched and miserable did I feel.

I was surrounded on all sides by human beings of the most dreadful
character, to whom the shedding of blood was mere pastime. On shore
were the natives, whose practices were so horrible that I could not
think of them without shuddering. On board were none but pirates of the
blackest dye, who, although not cannibals, were foul murderers, and more
blameworthy even than the savages, inasmuch as they knew better. Even
Bill, with whom I had, under the strange circumstances of my lot, formed
a kind of intimacy, was so fierce in his nature as to have acquired the
title of "Bloody" from his vile companions. I felt very much cast down
the more I considered the subject and the impossibility of delivery, as
it seemed to me--at least, for a long time to come. At last, in my
feeling of utter helplessness, I prayed fervently to the Almighty that
He would deliver me out of my miserable condition; and when I had done
so I felt some degree of comfort.

When the captain came on deck, before the hour at which the men usually
started for the woods, I begged of him to pe