The crowd, an instant before, so tumultuous and violent, became silent and attentive, awed by the expectation of the terrible tragedy which was about to be played before them.
"Unbind the prisoners," Loyal Heart commanded.
This order was immediately executed.
"Your dagger!" said Frank.
The hunter gave it to him.
"Thank you, and farewell!" said the pirate, in a firm voice; and, opening his vestments, he deliberately, and with a smile, as if he enjoyed death, buried the dagger up to the hilt in his heart.
A livid pallor gradually invaded his countenance, his eyes rolled in their orbits, and casting round wild and aimless glances, he staggered like a drunken man, and rolled upon the ground.
He was dead.
"My turn!" cried the pirate next him, and plucking the still reeking dagger from the wound, he plunged it into his heart.
He fell upon the body of the first victim.