I now walked up and down the sand, revolving a dozen projects in my head.
The canoe was at a considerable distance, and I ordered the people to bring
it round to the place where we were. The mast was eight feet long, and not
much thicker than my wrist. I took it out of the canoe and wrapped the sail
round the end of it. Now it appeared clear to me that, if I went down upon
one knee and held the mast in the same position as the soldier holds his
bayonet when rushing to the charge, I could force it down the cayman's
throat should he come open-mouthed at me. When this was told to the Indians
they brightened up, and said they would help me to pull him out of the
river.
"Brave squad!" said I to myself. "'Audax omnia perpeti,' now that you have
got me betwixt yourselves and danger." I then mustered all hands for the
last time before the battle. We were four South American savages, two
negroes from Africa, a creole from Trinidad, and myself a white man from
Yorkshire. In fact, a little tower of Babel group, in dress, no dress,
address, and language.
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