No: that's wrong--they had
come straight out of the Gospel, a last chapter of it the skipper had
found floating and recovered, and would carry up, a proud passport to
his God.
"But Macnaughten was gone, and with him the whole lovely illusion.
He had kept us in a nursery, separated from hell by a half-inch
plank; and here we were all beasts, consigned to ravening and to die
of unsatisfied bestial wants--yes, and commanded by a monkey-man who
chattered of keeping everyone in heart! _He!_"
"So there it was. I told you, Roddy, that it all happened like a
nightmare--or, if you prefer it, a composite photograph--of any dozen
stories you can recall. Here are the facts; and I will try to give
them succinctly, as in a police-report.
"We were eight in the boat:"
"Grimalson,--in command.
Davis, Prout--A.B. seamen.
Webster, Martinez--Ordinary seamen.
Farrell, Santa and I--Passengers."
"Our victuals were:--4 lb. of pork (about) and 7 lb. of ship-bread,
all messed with blood: 3 cans of potted meat, 2 of preserved fruit,
one tin of sardines: for liquid, half a gallon of rum and, in the
breaker, about 3 pints of water.
Pages:
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362