The poor man fell down on his knees in thankfulness at what he considered his escape: he was dragged away by the pirates, and, it is scarcely necessary to add that in a minute his body was torn to pieces by the sharks, who, scenting their prey from a distance, were now playing in shoals around the two vessels.
The party on the quarter-deck were now (unperceived by the captain) joined by Francisco, who, hearing from the Krouman, Pompey, that there were prisoners still on board, and amongst them two females, had come over to plead the cause of mercy.
“Most reverend father,” observed Cain, after a short pause, “you have many articles of value in this vessel?”
“None,” replied the bishop, “except this poor girl; she is, indeed, beyond price, and will, I trust, soon be an angel in heaven.”
“Yet is this world, if what you preach be true, a purgatory which must be passed through previous to arriving there, and that girl may think death a blessing compared to what she may expect if you refuse to tell me what I would know. You have good store of gold and silver ornaments for your churches—where are they?”
“They are among the packages intrusted to my care.”
“How many may you have in all?”
“A hundred, if not more.”
“Will you deign to inform me where I may find what I require?”
“The gold and silver are not mine, but are the property of that God to whom they have been dedicated,” replied the bishop.