Page 77 - The Pirate Coast (By Sir Charles Belgrave)

of the question that they would meet with any other treatment
than that which they themselves had inflicted on the crews of the
vessels which they captured. The crews of the captured vessels
had been most cruelly mangled and murdered, as was the fate of
all who were so weak and unfortunate as to fall into the pirates’
hands.
‘Nothing will efface from my memory the grasp which one of
the oldest of these people took of my legs, with an imploring look
and gesture, as if 1 had it in my power to save his soul from per­
dition, far less his mind from his present agonising state. His
face was distorted and his muscles were literally quivering. It
was not for a considerable time, that these wretches could be
made to understand that their lives were secure. But no sooner
were they certain of this, than their extravagance of joy was
equal to their former despondency.’ After their successful en­
gagement with the pirates, the Eden and the Psyche set sail for
Muscat which they reached two days later.

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