They watchedRoberval sail away, he rejoicing, as the old legend of Thevet says, athaving punished them without soiling his hands with their blood (_ioueuxde les auior puniz sans se souiller les mains en leurs sang_). Theybuilt as best they could a hut of boughs and strewed beds of leaves, untilthey had killed wild beasts enough to prepare their skins. Their store ofhard bread lasted them but a little while, but there were fruits aroundthem, and there was fresh water near by. "Yet it was terrible," saysThevet's old narrative, "to hear the frightful sounds which the evilspirits made around them, and how they tried to break down their abode,and showed themselves in various forms of frightful animals; yet at last,conquered by the constancy and perseverance of these repentant Christians,the tormentors afflicted or disquieted them no more, save that often inthe night they heard cries so loud that it seemed as if more than fivethousand men were assembled together" (_plus de cent mil homes quifussent ensemble_).So passed many months of desolation, and alas! the husband was the firstto yield. Daily he climbed the rocks to look for vessels; each night hedescended sadder and sadder; he waked while the others slept. Feeling thatit was he who had brought distress upon the rest, he concealed hisdepression, but it soon was past concealing; he only redoubled his careand watching as his wife grew the stronger of the two; and he faded slowlyaway and died.
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