Old Mary Read online

three of the enemy, and fromthem, when they surrendered, we heard that every one of her crew, exceptthe mate Myson and my husband, had been cruelly slaughtered at Vavitaoa few days previously. Watts tried to save the lives of these three men,but in vain; the natives killed them, in spite of all his efforts. Theydied bravely enough, poor wretches.

  "Watts and the carpenter succeeded in saving my life, and the stump ofmy arm healed up very quickly, for I was always a strong and vigorouswoman. When they came to search the cabin of the French brigantinethey found that her captain--the man who had cut off my hand--was LouisPellatier, the very same man who, years before, had attempted to shootmy poor husband at the Galapagos Islands.

  "I sailed with Watts to Port Jackson a few months later in the Frenchbrigantine, which was sold as a prize, and remained there for nearly twoyears. Then the loneliness of my life began to affect my health, and soI returned here to live and die. And here on this island have I livedfor nearly fifty years in peace and happiness, for since Randle and hisfamily came here I have been very happy, and now I only await the lastcall of all--that call which will summon me to stand before the throne,side by side with my dear husband."