Page:Life and astonishing adventures of Peter Williamson (2).pdf/20

20 repelled, or even unmolested, to commit such outrages and incredible depradations and mur- ders ; for no torments, no barbarities that can be excrcised on the human sacrifices they get into their power, arc left untried or omitted. The thrce prisoners that were brought with these additional forces, constantly repining at their lot, and almost dead with their excessive hard treatment, contrived at last to make their ; but being far from their own settlements, and not knowing the country, were soon after met by some others of the tribes or nations at war with us, and brought back to their diaboli- cal masters, who greatly rejoiced at having them again in their infernal power. The poor crca- tures, almost famished for want of sustenance, having had none during the time of their elope- ment, were no sooner in the clutches of the bar- barians, than two of them were ticd to a trec, and a great fire made round them, where they re- mained till they were terribly scorched and burnt, when one of the villians, with his scalping knife, ripe open their bellies, took out their entrails, and burnt them before their eyes, whilst the others were cutting, picrcing, and tearing the flesh from their breasts, hands, arms, and lcgs, with red-hot irons, till they were dead. The third unhappy victim was reserved a few hours longer, to be, if possible, sacrificed in a more