186 DEATH OF A PIRATE. 



rently in mortal agony. I felt as if refreshed, by the cold perspiration 

 that oozed from every pore, and I reflected that though alone, I was well 

 armed, and might hope for the protection of the Almighty. 



Humanity whispered to me that, if not surprised and disabled, I might 

 render assistance to some sufferer, or even be the means of saving a useful 

 life. Buoyed up by this thought, I urged my canoe on shore, and seiz- 

 ing it by the bow, pulled it at one spring high among the grass. 



The o-roans of the unfortunate person fell heavy on my ear, as I cock- 

 ed and reprimed my gun, and I felt determined to shoot the first that 

 should rise from the grass. As I cautiously proceeded, a hand was raised 

 over the weeds, and waved in the air in the most supplicating manner. 

 I levelled my gun about a foot below it, when the next moment, the head 

 and breast of a man covered with blood were convulsively raised, and a 

 faint hoarse voice asked me for mercy and help ! A death-like silence 

 followed his fall to the ground. I surveyed every object around with 

 eyes intent, and ears impressible by the slightest sound, for my situation 

 that moment I thought as critical as any I had ever been in. The croak- 

 ino-s of the frogs, and the last blackbirds ahghting on their roosts, were 

 the only sounds or sights; and I now proceeded towards the object of my 

 mingled alarm and commiseration. 



Alas ! the poor being who lay prostrate at my feet, was so weakened 

 by loss of blood, that I had nothing to fear from him. My first impulse 

 was to run back to the water, and having done so, I returned with my 

 cap filled to the brim. I felt at his heart, washed his face and breast, and 

 rubbed his temples with the contents of a phial, which I kept about me 

 as an antidote for the bites of snakes. His features, seamed by the ravages 

 of time, looked frightful and disgusting ; but he had been a powerful 

 man, as the breadth of his chest plainly shewed. 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 disclosed his occupation : — a 

 large pistol he had thrust into 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 trowsers 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 resumed some strength, and I began to hope that 

 he might perhaps survive the deep wounds which he had received. Park- 



