Lives of Alcyone

Before attempting a hazardous voyage in an open boat a
store of provisions was absolutely necessary, and also plenty of
water, but they had no idea where to find either of these things, and
they were unlikely to have time to search for them. Anyhow the first
point was to free themselves from the ropes. As the guard looked in
upon them at frequent intervals, this was an undertaking of no slight
difficulty. But presently these intervals became longer, and at last he
was absent so long that the sailor set to work to gnaw at the rope
that bound him to the wall of the hut. After incredible labour he
succeeded in severing it; Alcyone tried to do the same, but could
make little progress. The sailor then rolled over to him, and began to
gnaw the cord which tied his hands. After a long time and much
anxiety this effort was at last successful, though at the cost of great
suffering to the sailor; then Alcyone set to work to untie the sailor’ s
bonds, and as soon as that was achieved they were both quickly
free, though their limbs were swollen and painful, and they could not
use them easily.
After rubbing and chafing other a little they peeped cautiously
out and saw the sentinel crouched in a heap just before the door of
the hut, evidently fast asleep. No one else seemed to be moving, so
with infinite caution, inch by inch, they glided past him, Alcyone
picking up the spear which had fallen from his hand and lay beside
him. The savages lay about round the ashes of their fires like the
dead upon a battle-field and, so far as our adventurers could see, no
watch was being kept. They could see nothing eatable anywhere, so
they were compelled to enter a hut in search of provisions, and
unfortunately in doing this they somehow awoke a woman, who at
once raised a warning cry. Two men started up at the door of the