Page:Surprising life and sufferings of Peter Williamson.pdf/17

 back to their diabolical masters who greatly rejoiced at having them again in their power.

The poor creatures almost famished for want of sustenance, having had none during the time of their elopement, were no sooner in the clutches of the barbarians, than two of them were tied to a tree, and a great fire made round them, where they remained till they were terribly scorched and burnt! when one of the villains, with his scalping knife, ript open their bellies, took out their entrails, and burnt them before their eyes, whilst the others were cutting, piercing, and tearing the flesh from their breasts, hands, arms, and legs, 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 cruel manner. His arms were tied close to his body, and a hole being dug deep enough for him to stand upright, he was put therein, and earth rammed and beat in all round his body up to his neck, so that his head only appeared above ground; they then scalped him, and there let him remain for three or four hours, in the greatest agonies! after which they made a small fire near his head, causing him to suffer the most excrutiating torments imaginable, while the poor creature could only cry for mercy in killing him immediately, for his brains were boiling in his head! Inexhorable to all his plaints, they continued the fire, whilst, shocking to behold! his eyes gushed out of their sockets! And such agonizing torments did the unhappy creature suffer for near two hours till he was quite dead!

A great suow now falling, the barbarians