The whole area of the interior of the building did not exceed a
parallelogram of twenty feet by twelve. At the eastern end, fronting
the door, there was a small altar--piece of hard--wood, richly
ornamented with silver, and one or two bare wooden benches standing on
the tiled floor; but the chief security we had that the building would
withstand the storm, consisted in its having no window or aperture
whatsoever, excepting two small ports, one on each side of the altar
piece, and the door, which was a massive frame of hardwood planking.
The body was deposited at the foot of the altar, and the ladies, having
been wrapped up in cloaks and blankets, were safely lodged in quatres,
while we, the gentlemen of the comfortless party, seated ourselves,
disconsolately enough, on the wooden benches.
The door was made fast, after the servants had kindled a blazing wood
fire on the floor; and although the flickering light cast by the wax
tapers in the six large silver candlesticks which were planted beside
the bier, as it blended with the red glare of the fire, and fell strong
on the pale uncovered features of the corpse, and on the anxious faces
of the women, was often startling enough, yet being conscious of a
certain degree of security from the thickness of the walls, we made up
our minds to spend the night where we were, as well as we could.
"I say, Tom Cringle," said Aaron Bang, "all the females are snug there,
you see; we have a blazing fire on the hearth, and here is some comfort
for we men slaves;" whereupon he produced two bottles of brandy.
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