“Why did he dare venture in this passage at such a time?” said the gunner.
“If a man is to be shipwrecked it is better to perish with a feeble hope. When a man hopes, he prays, and dies a Christian; when he despairs, he blasphemes, and dies a pagan.
“Look, look, Simon, there is the little boat going into the breakers; it is all up with her!”
At that moment the commander, who had been informed of the approach of the vessel and of her desperate condition, appeared on deck with all the chevaliers, officers, and others who manned the galley.
After carefully examining the polacre and the breakers, Pierre des Anbiez called out, in a loud and solemn voice:
“Let the two long-boats be ready and equipped to gather the corpses on the beach: no human power can save this unfortunate ship. Only God can help her.” While the overseers superintended the execution of this order, the commander, turning to the chaplain, said:
“My brother, let us say the prayers for the dying, for these unfortunate men. Brothers, on your knees. Let the crew uncover.”
It was a grand and imposing spectacle.
All the chevaliers, clothed in black, were kneeling bareheaded on the deck; the bell for prayer dolefully tolled a funeral knell amid the wild shrieks of the tempest.
The slaves were also on their knees and uncovered.