But now I knew that I could not live long, indeed chained
in this dreadful charnel-house I prayed for death to release me from the
horrors of such existence. The day passed as before in sweltering heat,
unbroken by any air or motion, and night came at last, made hideous by
the barbarous ravings of the dying. But even there and then I slept and
dreamed that I was walking with my love in the vale of Waveney.
Towards the morning I was awakened by a sound of clanking iron, and
opening my eyes, I saw that men were at work, by the light of lanterns,
knocking the fetters from the dead and the living together. As the
fetters were loosed a rope was put round the body of the slave, and dead
or quick, he was hauled through the hatchway. Presently a heavy splash
in the water without told the rest of the tale. Now I understood that
all the slaves were being thrown overboard because of the want of water,
and in the hope that it might avail to save from the pestilence those of
the Spaniards who still remained alive.
I watched them at their work for a while till there were but two slaves
between me and the workers, of whom one was living and the other dead.
Then I bethought me that this would be my fate also, to be cast quick
into the sea, and took counsel with myself as to whether I should
declare that I was whole from the plague and pray them to spare me, or
whether I should suffer myself to be drowned.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165