17
A Spaniard was the first to advance with a drawn knife; the sailors seized him, and threw him into the sea. An Italian, seeing this, jumped overboard; the rest were easily mastered, and order was once more restored.
Thirty persons only now remained, many of whom were in the most deplorable state, the salt-water having entirely removed the epidermis of (illegible text)eir lower extremities, which, with contusions (illegible text)d bruises, rendered them unable to support (illegible text)emselves. The remains of the fish and wine were calculated to be just enough to support life (illegible text)r four days; but in these four they also calculated that ships might arrive from St. Louis (illegible text) save them. At this moment two soldiers were discovered behind the cask of wine, through which they had bored a hole, for the purpose of (illegible text)inking it through a reed; they had just before (illegible text)edged themselves to punish with death whoever would be found guilty of the like proceeding, (illegible text)d the sentence was immediately carried into (illegible text)ecution by throwing the culprits into the sea.
Their number was thus reduced to twenty-(illegible text)ght, only fifteen of whom appeared able to exist (illegible text) a few days; the other thirteen were so re(illegible text)ced, that they had nearly lost all sense of (illegible text)istence; as their case was hopeless, and as (illegible text)ile they lived they would consume a part of (illegible text)e little that was left, a council was held, and (illegible text)er a deliberation at which the most horrible (illegible text)spair is said to have presided, it was decided (illegible text) throw them overboard. “Three sailors and (illegible text) soldier undertook the execution of this cruel (illegible text)ntence; we turned away our eyes and shed
