Page:Paine--Lost ships and lonely seas.djvu/63

Rh had a silver lining, for Bolidar graciously handed over a small bundle at parting.

An accurate and convincing portrait, this, and painted with very few strokes—the strutting little braggart of a pirate chief who resorted to such cheap and stagy tricks as bandaging his arm to make an impression! Having disposed of the cargo, it now transpired that the prisoners were to be marooned and left to perish. After all, the traditions of piracy had not been wholly lost and these sordid rascals were running true to form. With an inkling of this fate, Mr. Joshua Brackett, the mate of the Exertion, was heard to say:

"I cannot tell what awaits us, but it appears to me that the worst is to come."