Middle day came, when the heat was greatest. We lay gasping, half dead with fatigue, heat, and fears as to what would be our fate. Suddenly we were roused by Smart's voice, who could not rest for the pain of his wound. "Be sharp, be sharp," he cried, "they are throwing lighted brands up here, we shall be on fire in a minute, and roast meat in ten." We flew in every direction, and threw them off as fast as they could throw them on. It was hotter work for them than us and, seeing us so active, they ceased for awhile. The captain then cut away great square plots of brushwood as best he could, to prevent much harm accruing in case they tried their brands again.
While thus occupied, Sybil came running to me, all in tears, and wringing her hands. "Oh, I have killed him, I am afraid he is dead," she cried.
"How? who?" we exclaimed.
"I only meant to frighten him, I would not hurt anybody. Oh, what shall I do?"
We ran with her to the extreme end of the rock, and, looking down, we saw on a ledge below, a large stone with a man beneath it.
"I was running here," continued the weeping Sybil, "to see if any brands were thrown in this direction, and, peeping down, I saw a man scrambling up, very near the top. He did not see me, but I had no time to lose, so I just pushed that great stone with all my might. You know we had remarked this stone before as being just in the position to roll down, if it was only on the other side. I do not know how I managed, but over it went, and fell directly on him; and, oh, I am afraid it has killed him. What shall I do, I shall never be happy again."
Gatty.—"Not happy again, Sib, I only wish I had done it."
Sybil.—"But, sister, do you think he is really dead? Can we not go down and save him, or take that great stone off him? Oh dear, oh dear, how could I do such a cruel thing."
Gatty.—"Oh, Sib, Sib, what a goose you are. You have done a glorious thing. I only wish it had been me. Think, Serena, of Sib having killed a pirate all by herself and we have not even cut off the little finger of one. It is too provoking."
We were obliged to take the poor tender-hearted girl away from the spot, and she shook and shivered with remorse all the rest of the day. We comforted her as well as we could by saying he must have died immediately (for dead he was without any doubt), and he had fallen on a spot where the sea would carry away all remains of him before morning.