JANUARY 26.—I understood it all; the devoted¹ father having nothing more to give, had given his life for his son.  
M. Letourneur was no longer a human being in the eyes of the famished² creatures who were now yearning³ to see him sacrificed to their cravings. At the very sight of the victim thus provided, all the tortures of hunger returned with redoubled violence. With lips distended⁴, and teeth displayed, they waited like a herd⁵ of carnivora until they could attack their prey⁶ with brutal⁷ voracity⁸; it seemed almost doubtful whether they would not fall upon him while still alive. It seemed impossible that any appeal to their humanity could, at such a moment, have any weight; nevertheless, the appeal was made, and, incredible as it may seem, prevailed.
 
Just as the boatswain was about to act the part of butcher, and Dowlas stood, hatchet⁹ in hand, ready to complete the barbarous work, Miss Herbey advanced, or rather crawled, toward them.
 
"My friends," she pleaded, "will you not wait just one more day? If no land or ship is in sight to-morrow, then I suppose our poor companion must become your victim. But allow him one more day; in the name of mercy I entreat¹⁰, I implore¹¹ you."
 
My heart bounded as she made her pitiful appeal. It seemed to me as though the noble girl had spoken with an inspiration on her lips, and I fancied that, perhaps, in supernatural vision she had viewed the coast or the ship of which she spoke¹²; and one more day was not much to us who had already suffered so long, and endured so much.
 
Curtis and Falsten agreed with me, and we all united to support Miss Herbey's merciful petition. The sailors did not utter a murmur¹³, and the boatswain in a smothered¹⁴ voice said:
 
"Very well, we will wait till daybreak to-morrow," and threw down his hatchet.
 
To-morrow, then, unless land or a sail appear, the horrible sacrifice will be accomplished¹⁵. Stifling¹⁶ their sufferings by a strenuous¹⁷ effort, all returned to their places. The sailors crouched¹⁸ beneath the sails, caring nothing about scanning the ocean. Food was in store for them to-morrow, and that was enough for them.
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