Fearing, then, that the king’s people would be tempted to renew their cannibalism, he requested him to withdraw his men entirely, and encamp them around his own palace, leaving him, Antonio, a free hand to deal with the enemy’s dead.
He despatched a boat and twenty men to bring round the ship.
This they speedily did, and there was still three hours of daylight to complete the operations he had in hand.
It was a strange idea.
He might have buried the invaders’ dead in the bush; but cannibals will dig men out of their graves, to feast on their flesh.
He explained his intentions to the two mates.
“Capital,” said Webber, smiling.
“Bedad,” said the second mate, “it’s the foinest plan ever I heard tell of for many’s the day.”
There was a good breeze blowing from the east and south, and a strong current running north towards the very islands whence the invaders had come in their little boats. As speedily as possible these were now laden up with the dead, and fastened together by ropes. Then sail was set, and a quarter of this dead-laden flotilla was towed out, and cast off in the current. Antonio was delighted to see this awesome fleet move slowly northwards.
Back they came again and again; and just as the sun was rapidly westering, the last of the boats, with the mangled remains of the enemy, were cast adrift in the ocean currents.