“So we were condemned to imprisonment and death by starvation. We are confined in this awful hole to die. There is no hope of rescue, no chance for life. We must die. Already the awful shadow of the eternal is descending upon us. Our names are:
“John Fenton, Shipmaster.
“Alec Smythe, Mate.
“Jed Manson, Seaman.
“Pierre Martin, seaman apprentice.
“I, John Fenton, scrawl these lines. This is all we can leave behind us. Heaven rest our souls, for we are buried alive; lost forever! Farewell to earth and friends. Requiescat in pace.
“John Fenton. Salem. Mass.”
Barney read all this aloud, and then he and Pomp shivered as they regarded the skeletons.
“Golly!” gasped the coon. “Dat am do mos’ orful fing I eber heern tell oh! Come out oh dar, I’sh! Lot’s get out ob dis place!”