I could not see that I had any good reason for risking it on behalf of
the soldiers. I suppose it must have been evident that I was a prisoner,
and that it would be better worth their while to keep and sell me as a
slave than to blow my brains out. It was only too clear what they
intended to do with my poor friend.

The brigands, so soon as they were rid of us, set to work preparing a
meal for themselves. They lit a fire in the chapel, filled a cauldron,
fed and watered their horses. Very soon they were all about the pot,
eating and drinking like wild beasts; and when the meat was done they
went on with the wine and brandy which they had in abundance, played
cards and dice, quarrelled or caroused far into the night. It was
densely dark, save for the chance flames of the fire, when I heard them
all wrangling together and had some hopes of a fight which might turn to
our advantage. But whatever was the subject of their disputations, their
fury died down into grumbling. They had decided on drawing lots for
possession of us, as I now understand--but some were too drunk to take a
part, and some too indifferent. It came down to three who went on with
the contest, while three fell asleep and snored through all the noise.

I saw the whole affair: how three billets were put into an empty crock
and one was drawn out. The man who drew it had won me, I could tell,
because when he had shown his paper to the others, he came over to where
I was and touched me with his foot to learn whether I was safe. I
shammed sleep, and never moved; so presently he lay down by the side of
me and himself slept. Meantime another, of the remaining two, had drawn
Belviso and had gone towards his victim. I saw the loser creep after
him, and lost sight of both in the dark; but then, after a horrible
pause, I heard my wretched friend begin to cry for mercy, to confess the
truth, to pray to God, to shriek in a way I shuddered to hear. The