136 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 
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 fea- 
tures, seamed by the ravages of time, looked 
frightful 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 
