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A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

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" ^1746.] THE STORY OF "LA PALME." 167pittance was cut <strong>of</strong>f. There was diligent hunt<strong>in</strong>gfor rats <strong>in</strong> the hold; <strong>and</strong> when this game failed, thecrew, crazed with fam<strong>in</strong>e, dem<strong>and</strong>ed <strong>of</strong> their capta<strong>in</strong>that five English prisoners who were on board shouldbe butchered to appease the frenzy <strong>of</strong> their hunger.The capta<strong>in</strong> consulted his <strong>of</strong>ficers, <strong>and</strong> they were <strong>of</strong>op<strong>in</strong>ion that if he did not give liis consent, the crewwould work their will without it.The shijD's butcherwas accord<strong>in</strong>gly ordered to b<strong>in</strong>d one <strong>of</strong>the prisoners,carry him to the bottom <strong>of</strong> the hold, put liim todeath, <strong>and</strong> distribute liis flesh to the men <strong>in</strong> portions<strong>of</strong> three ounces each. The capta<strong>in</strong>, walk<strong>in</strong>g thedeck <strong>in</strong> great agitation all night, found a pretext fordeferr<strong>in</strong>g the deed till morn<strong>in</strong>g, when a watchmansent al<strong>of</strong>t at daylight cried, "A sail!" The providentialstranger was a Portuguese ship; <strong>and</strong> asPortugal was neutral <strong>in</strong> the war, she let the frigateapproach to with<strong>in</strong> hail<strong>in</strong>g distance.The Portuguesecapta<strong>in</strong> soon came alongside <strong>in</strong> a boat, " accompanied,<strong>in</strong> the words <strong>of</strong> the narrator, "by five sheep."These were eagerlywelcomed by the starv<strong>in</strong>g crewas agreeable substitutes for the five Englishmen ;<strong>and</strong>,be<strong>in</strong>g forthwith slaughtered, were parcelled outamong the men, who would not wait till the fleshwas cooked, but devoured it raw.Provisions enoughwere obta<strong>in</strong>ed from the Portuguese to keep thefrigate's company alive till they reached Port Louis.There are no sufiicient means <strong>of</strong> judg<strong>in</strong>g how far^ Relation du Voyage de Retour de M. Destrahoudal apres la Ternpetedu 14 Septembre, <strong>in</strong> Journal hisiorique.

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