5
⟨humanity⟩ was dead amongst them. ⟨Robertson⟩ called himself a Protestant, and M,Queen, ⟨a⟩ Roman Catholic—that is, they had sprung ⟨from⟩ parents professing these persuasions; ⟨but⟩, as for themselves, they had neither of ⟨the⟩ least spark of religion; they knew no ⟨more⟩ what it was than the earth on which ⟨they⟩ trod. They walked in each other’s ⟨company⟩, the one carrying his luckless body for ⟨the⟩ support of the other wherever it might be ⟨convenient⟩ for him to sacrifice him for the (illegible text)eal. Five times worse than the wretched ⟨horde⟩ of Abyssinians, who cut the flesh, ⟨as⟩ they travel, from the back of the living ⟨beast⟩.
As soon as the provisions which they had ⟨contrived⟩ to carry with them were exhausted, ⟨the⟩ other four agreed among themselves to ⟨kill⟩ Hutchinson, and to eat his body for ⟨support⟩; and they drew lots among them who ⟨should⟩ be the one to drive the fatal axe into ⟨his⟩ head. The lot fell on Robertson, who ⟨carried⟩ it into execution. They cut the body ⟨into⟩ piecs, and carried it with them, with the exception of the hands, feet, and intestines.
They ate heartily of it, as Robertson ⟨expressed⟩ it. It lasted them some days; and when ⟨it⟩ was nearly all consumed, a general alarm seized the whole party. The greatest ⟨jealousy⟩ prevailed about carrying the axe, and
