136 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



his face and breast, and rubbed bis temples with 

 the contents of a phial which I kept about me 

 as an antidote for the bites of snakes. His fea- 

 tures, seamed by the ravages of time, looked 

 jfrightful and disgusting ; but he had been a 

 powerful man, as his broad chest plainly showed. 

 He groaned in the most appalling manner as his 

 breath struggled through the mass of blood that 

 seemed to fill his throat. His dress plainly dis- 

 closed his occupation : a large pistol he had 

 thrust in his bosom, a naked cutlass lay near 

 him on the ground, a red silk handkerchief was 

 bound over his projecting brows, and over a 

 pair of loose trousers he wore fisherman's boots. 

 He was, in short, a pirate. My exertions were 

 not in vain, for as I continued to bathe his temples 

 he revived, his pulse regained some strength, 

 and I began to hope he might survive the deep 

 wound he had received. Darkness, deep darkness 

 now enveloped us. I spoke of making a fire. 

 " Ah ! for mercy's sake," he exclaimed " don't." 

 Knowing that under existing circumstances it 

 was expedient for me to do so, I left him, went 

 to his boat, and brought the rudder, the benches, 

 and the oars, which, with my hatchet, I soon 

 splintered. I then struck a light and presently 

 stood in the glare of a blazing fire. The pirate 

 seemed struggling between terror and gratitude 

 for my assistance ; he desired me several times 



