But whether or not he had
      any better grounds for suspecting the mate than we had ourselves,
      we were easily led to fall in with his suspicion, and determined
      to act accordingly. Rogers had died about eleven in the forenoon, in violent
      convulsions; and the corpse presented in a few minutes after
      death one of the most horrid and loathsome spectacles I ever
      remember to have seen. The stomach was swollen immensely, like
      that of a man who has been drowned and lain under water for many
      weeks. The hands were in the same condition, while the face was
      shrunken, shrivelled, and of a chalky whiteness, except where
      relieved by two or three glaring red blotches like those
      occasioned by the erysipelas: one of these blotches extended
      diagonally across the face, completely covering up an eye as if
      with a band of red velvet. In this disgusting condition the body
      had been brought up from the cabin at noon to be thrown
      overboard, when the mate getting a glimpse of it (for he now saw
      it for the first time), and being either touched with remorse for
      his crime or struck with terror at so horrible a sight, ordered
      the men to sew the body up in its hammock, and allow it the usual
      rites of sea-burial. Having given these directions, he went
      below, as if to avoid any further sight of his victim. While
      preparations were making to obey his orders, the gale came on
      with great fury, and the design was abandoned for the present. The corpse, left to itself, was washed into the larboard
      scuppers, where it still lay at the time of which I speak,
      floundering about with the furious lurches of the brig. Having arranged our plan, we set about putting it in execution as
      speedily as possible. Peters went upon deck, and, as he had
      anticipated, was immediately accosted by Allen, who appeared to
      be stationed more as a watch upon the forecastle than for any
      other purpose. The fate of this villain, however, was speedily
      and silently decided; for Peters, approaching him in a careless
      manner, as if about to address him, seized him by the throat,
      and, before he could utter a single cry, tossed him over the
      bulwarks. He then called to us, and we came up. Our first
      precaution was to look about for something with which to arm
      ourselves, and in doing this we had to proceed with great care,
      for it was impossible to stand on deck an instant without holding
      fast, and violent seas broke over the vessel at every plunge
      forward. It was indispensable, too, that we should be quick in
      our operations, for every minute we expected the mate to be up to
      set the pumps going, as it was evident the brig must be taking in
      water very fast. After searching about for some time, we could
      find nothing more fit for our purpose than the two pump-handles,
      one of which Augustus took, and I the other. Having secured
      these, we stripped off the shirt of the corpse and dropped the
      body overboard. Peters and myself then went below, leaving
      Augustus to watch upon deck, where he took his station just where
      Allen had been placed, and with his back to the cabin
      companionway, so that, if any of the mate's gang should come up,
      he might suppose it was the watch. As soon as I got below I commenced disguising myself so as to
      represent the corpse of Rogers. The shirt which we had taken from
      the body aided us very much, for it was of singular form and
      character, and easily recognizable—a kind of smock, which the
      deceased wore over his other clothing. It was a blue stockinett,
      with large white stripes running across. Having put this on, I
      proceeded to equip myself with a false stomach, in imitation of
      the horrible deformity of the swollen corpse. This was soon
      effected by means of stuffing with some bedclothes. I then gave
      the same appearance to my hands by drawing on a pair of white
      woollen mittens, and filling them in with any kind of rags that
      offered themselves. Peters then arranged my face, first rubbing
      it well over with white chalk, and afterward blotching it with
      blood, which he took from a cut in his finger. The streak across
      the eye was not forgotten and presented a most shocking
      appearance. CHAPTER 8


      As I viewed myself in a fragment of looking-glass which hung up
      in the cabin, and by the dim light of a kind of battle-lantern, I
      was so impressed with a sense of vague awe at my appearance, and
      at the recollection of the terrific reality which I was thus
      representing, that I was seized with a violent tremour, and could
      scarcely summon resolution to go on with my part. It was
      necessary, however, to act with decision, and Peters and myself
      went upon deck. We there found everything safe, and, keeping close to the
      bulwarks, the three of us crept to the cabin companion-way. It
      was only partially closed, precautions having been taken to
      prevent its being suddenly pushed to from without, by means of
      placing billets of wood on the upper step so as to interfere with
      the shutting. We found no difficulty in getting a full view of
      the interior of the cabin through the cracks where the hinges
      were placed. It now proved to have been very fortunate for us
      that we had not attempted to take them by surprise, for they were
      evidently on the alert. Only one was asleep, and he lying just at
      the foot of the companion-ladder, with a musket by his side. The
      rest were seated on several mattresses, which had been taken from
      the berths and thrown on the floor. They were engaged in earnest
      conversation; and although they had been carousing, as appeared
      from two empty jugs, with some tin tumblers which lay about, they
      were not as much intoxicated as usual. All had knives, one or two
      of them pistols, and a great many muskets were lying in a berth
      close at hand. We listened to their conversation for some time before we could
      make up our minds how to act, having as yet resolved on nothing
      determinate, except that we would attempt to paralyze their
      exertions, when we should attack them, by means of the apparition
      of Rogers. They were discussing their piratical plans, in which
      all we could hear distinctly was, that they would unite with the
      crew of a schooner _Hornet_, and, if possible, get the schooner
      herself into their possession preparatory to some attempt on a
      large scale, the particulars of which could not be made out by
      either of us.