272 Life of Audubon, 



they were, for when they foiyid the water too shallow for 

 their craft, they took to it and waded after me. All my 

 companions had been shot, and to lighten my own boat 

 I flung them overboard; but as I lost time in this, 

 .he two ruffians caught hold of my gunwale, and struck 

 on my head and body in such a manner, that after I had 

 disabled and killed them both in the boat, I was scarcely 

 able to move. The other villains carried off our schoon- 

 er and one of our boats, and perhaps, ere now, have hung 

 all my companions whom they did not kill at the time. 

 I have commanded my beautiful vessel many years, cap- 

 tured many ships, and sent many rascals to the devil. I 

 always hated the Yankees, and only regret that I have 

 not killed more of them. I sailed from Mantanzas. I 

 have often been in concert with others. I have money 

 without counting, but it is buried where it will never be 

 found, and it would be useless to tell you of it.' His 

 throat filled with blood, his voice failed, the cold hand of 

 death was laid on his brow j feebly and horribly he mut- 

 tered, ' I am dying, man, farewell.' 



" Alas ! it is painful to see death in any shape ; in 

 this it was horrible, for there was no hope. The rattling 

 of his throat announced the moment of dissolution, and 

 already did the body fall on my arms with a weight that 

 was insupportable. I laid him on the ground. A mass 

 of dark blood poured from his mouth ; then came a 

 frightful groan, the last breathing of that foul spirit ; and 

 what now lay at my feet in the wild desert was a mangled 

 mass of clay. 



" The remainder of the night was passed in no envi- 

 able mood ; but my feelings cannot be described. At 

 dawn I dug a hole with the paddle of my canoe, rolled 

 the body into it and covered it. On reaching the boat, I 

 found several buzzards feeding on the bodies, which I in 

 vain attempted to drag to the shore. I therefore covered 



