This was all her message, but I will add to it. May she haunt
you for ever, she and my mother; may they haunt you through life and
death, through earth and hell.'
He covered his face with his hands for a moment, then dropping them sank
back into the chair and called to the black sailors.
'Away with this slave. Why are you so slow?'
The men advanced upon me, but I was not minded to be handled by them if
I could help it, and I was minded to cause de Garcia to share my fate.
Suddenly I bounded at him, and gripping him round the middle, I dragged
him from his chair. Such was the strength that rage and despair gave to
me that I succeeded in swinging him up to the level of the bulwarks. But
there the matter ended, for at that moment the two black sailors sprang
upon us both, and tore him from my grip. Then seeing that all was lost,
for they were about to cut me down with their swords, I placed my hand
upon the bulwark and leaped into the sea.
My reason told me that I should do well to drown as quickly as possible,
and I thought to myself that I would not try to swim, but would sink at
once. Yet love of life was too strong for me, and so soon as I touched
the water, I struck out and began to swim along the side of the ship,
keeping myself in her shadow, for I feared lest de Garcia should cause
me to be shot at with arrows and musket balls.
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