It was probably on the sixth day after parting from the wreck--though I
am not certain about the day--that the horrid design reached its
development. It had been hatching for a while before, and upon that day
came to a crisis.
It was now several days since food had been tasted by any one--the two
biscuits each had been long since eaten--most of them at the moment of
being given out. Of course every one upon the raft was suffering the
pangs of hunger, and had been enduring them until the appetite had
reached the extremity of painfulness.
Some looked emaciated, with eyes deeply sunken, and cheeks bony and
hollow. Others, strange to say, had a fat, bloated appearance; but this
must have arisen from swelling, or some unnatural cause--it could not be
that famine had given them flesh. All--one and all--had that peculiar
expression about the eyes, and around the mouth, that may be noticed in
the visage of a hungry dog, or still more perceptibly in a half-starved
wolf.
About this period there seemed to be some secret intelligence among
them--not all of them--but among those who acted as leaders--for even in
their reduced condition, there were those of stronger body and more
energetic spirit, who maintained a sort of leadership over the rest.
What this intelligence was I could not tell, nor indeed, should I have
taken notice of the indications of its existence, had it not been for
what occurred afterwards. I observed them now and then whispering to
one another; as they did so casting side-glances towards Brace and
myself. At other times I caught now one, and now another, gazing upon
me, and with a wild wolfish look, that rendered me, though I could not
tell why, singularly uneasy. I noticed that they appeared as if they
did not like to be detected while thus looking at me; and ever as I
returned their glances they suddenly lowered their eyes or averted their
faces. They then appeared as men who have been detected in some mean or
guilty action.
As it appeared to me that they looked in a similar manner at my
companion, and at one another as well, I fancied that the strange
expression that had struck me must be one characteristic of extreme
hunger, and I thought no more about it.
On the following day, however, I observed that the whispering among them
increased; and was accompanied with a greater variety of gesticulation
and excitement.
Brace also noticed it, and guessed better than I what all this
freemasonry meant--at least he was nearer the truth, for he was still
ignorant of the full purpose of those ruffian conspirators.
He whispered to me what he supposed they were after--with the design of
breaking the terrible truth to me as gently as possible. But I had now
better than half divined it, and his communication did not startle me.
"Some one got to die, lad. I s'pose they're talkin' o' castin' lots who
it'll be--well, we must take our chance along with the rest."
Just as Brace had finished his speech one of the men rose up upon the
raft; and, calling the attention of the others, begged to make a
proposal to them.
The speech by which he introduced his proposal was brief, indeed, and to
the point. In fact, he came to the proposition almost at once, which
was simply--that one of the party must die to save the rest--that they
had still water--but no food; and all must perish unless they could
eat--that they could not eat unless--
But I cannot repeat the dread arguments which he made use of, brief
though they were--for his speech was short, and, having delivered it, he
sat down again.
There was a short pause, and then another rose and addressed the crowd.
This man coincided in the views of him who had spoken, and added to the
proposal a suggestion for carrying it out--that was, that the one who
was to die should be chosen by lot. This, of course, both Brace and
myself expected. It was not likely that any one was going to volunteer.
What was my terror, and the anger and alarm of my companion, when one of
the strongest and most brutal of the whole crew--the ruffian Le Gros--
rose up, and in a loud and serious tone, not only objected to drawing
lots, but proposed me for the victim!
Brace sprang instantly to his feet, and uttered a cry of indignation.
It was expected that this cry would have been echoed by the others; and
with almost any other band of men upon the face of the earth or the face
of the ocean, such would have been the reception of the foul proposal.
But both my companion and I soon perceived, with dismay, that there came
no such echo from that ruffian crew. On the contrary, several backed
the proposal itself, and in such majority--I might almost say unanimity,
that it was plain that most of the men who spoke had already
predetermined the case. It was evident, from their prompt acquiescence,
that they had been prepared for it; and this accounted for that
mysterious whispering that had been carried on during the preceding day.
Some few, evidently, had not been in the secret; but these were weak
individuals, whose opposition would not have been regarded, and who,
indeed, appeared ready enough to chime in with the majority.
The French bully went on to justify his proposition by argument. We
were not all equal, he said--there were able seamen--and common
sailors--and I was but a boy. Why should I have a chance like the rest?
It was preposterous.
Brace opposed his arguments--appealed to the crew--to their sense of
justice and fair play--let lots be cast, said he, and let him take his
chance with the rest--that was the only fair and honest mode--the only
way worthy of men.
Bah! these were not men. One and all were but too glad to grasp at any
means that would deliver them from the perilous raffle. The sophistic
arguments of Le Gros satisfied them. The infamous motion prevailed. It
was decreed that I should die!