Suddenly a thought occurred to me.
"Villain," said I, shaking my clenched fist in his face, "to blow my
brains out would make short work of me, and be soon over; death by
drowning is as sure, and the agony prolonged: yet I tell you to your
face, if you were to toss me over yonder cliff into the sea, I would
not tell you where my companions are, and I dare you to try me!"
The pirate captain grew white with rage as I spoke. "Say you so?" cried
he, uttering a fierce oath.--"Here, lads, take him by the legs and
heave him in--quick!"
The men, who were utterly silenced with surprise at my audacity,
advanced and seized me, and as they carried me towards the cliff I
congratulated myself not a little on the success of my scheme; for I
knew that once in the water I should be safe, and could rejoin Jack and
Peterkin in the cave. But my hopes were suddenly blasted by the captain
crying out, "Hold on, lads, hold on! We'll give him a taste of the
thumb-screws before throwing him to the sharks. Away with him into the
boat. Look alive! the breeze is freshening."
The men instantly raised me shoulder high, and hurrying down the rocks,
tossed me into the bottom of the boat, where I lay for some time
stunned with the violence of my fall.
On recovering sufficiently to raise myself on my elbow, I perceived
that we were already outside the coral reef, and close alongside the
schooner, which was of small size and clipper built.
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