Page:Shipwrecks and disasters at sea.pdf/15

 appease the hunger that was preying upon em; others asked for their hammocks, that y might go between decks and get a little ep; many imagined themselves to be still on ard the Medusa. Even after this fatal night ny imagined themselves, in the morning, akened from a frightful dream, in which battles d slaughter had disturbed their rest.’

On the return of the day it was found, that in course of the preceding night of horror, sixty- of the mutineers had perished, and two of  small party attached to the officers. Before allowance was served out they contrived to  up their mast afresh; but having no compass, d not knowing how to direct their course, they  the raft drive before the wind, apparently indifferent whither they went. Enfeebled with nger, they now tried to catch fish, but could succeed, and abandoned the attempt.

It was necessary, however, that some extreme asure should be adopted to prolong our miserable stence; we shudder with horror on finding rselves under the necessity of relating what put in practice; we feel the pen drop from r hands; a deadly coldness freezes all our bs, and our hair, stands on end—Reader, we  do not entertain, for men already too unfortunate, a sentiment of indignation; but eve for them, and shed a tear of pity over eir unhappy lot.’

The ‘extreme measure was,’ indeed, horrible: unhappy men, whom death had spared in  course of the night, fell upon the carcases of  dead, and began to devour them; some tried