62 THE THIRD VOYAGE OF

to us, and, seizing me by my hands from among
my companions the merchants, lifted me up
from the ground in his hand, and felt me and
turned me over; and I was in his hand like a
‘little mouthful. He continued to feel me as the
butcher feeleth the sheep that he is about to
slaughter; but he found me infirm from excessive
affliction, and lean from excessive fatigue and
from the voyage; having no flesh. He therefore
let me go from his hand, and took another, from
among my companions; and he turned him over
as he had turned me over, and felt him as he
had felt me, and let him go. He ceased not to
feel us and turn us over, one after another, until
he came to the master of our ship, who was a
fat, stout, broad-shouldered man; a person of
strength and vigour: so he pleased him, and he
seized him as the butcher seizeth the animal
that he is about to slaughter, and, having thrown
him on the ground, put his foot upon his neck,
which he thus broke. Then he brought a long
spit, and thrust it into his throat, and spitted
him; after which he lighted a fierce fire, and
placed over it that spit upon which the master
was spitted, and ceased not to turn him round
over the burning coals until his flesh was
thoroughly roasted; when he took him off from