CHAPTER LIII
WE DECIDE TO DRAW LOTS
JANUARY 26.—All heard and understood the proposition; in fact it had been in contemplation for several days, but no one had ventured to put the idea into words. However, it was done now; lots were to be drawn, and to each would be assigned his share of the body of the one ordained by fate to be the victim. For my own part, I profess that I was quite resigned for the lot to fall upon myself. I thought I heard Andre Letourneur beg for an exception to be made in favor of Miss Herbey; but the sailors raised a murmur of dissent. As there were eleven of us on board, there were ten chances to one in each one’s favor—a proportion which would be diminished if Miss Herbey were excluded; so that the young lady was forced to take her chance among the rest.
It was
