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it； except that it was the captain's fancy。
The captainwith the women and children clustering round him； and
the men of all ranks grouped outside them； and all listeningstood
telling how the Expedition； deceived by its bad intelligence； had
chased the light Pirate boats all that fatal night； and had still
followed in their wake next day； and had never suspected until many
hours too late that the great Pirate body had drawn off in the
darkness when the chase began； and shot over to the Island。 He
stood telling how the Expedition； supposing the whole array of armed
boats to be ahead of it； got tempted into shallows and went aground；
but not without having its revenge upon the two decoy…boats； both of
which it had come up with； overhand； and sent to the bottom with all
on board。 He stood telling how the Expedition； fearing then that
the case stood as it did； got afloat again； by great exertion； after
the loss of four more tides； and returned to the Island； where they
found the sloop scuttled and the treasure gone。 He stood telling
how my officer； Lieutenant Linderwood； was left upon the Island；
with as strong a force as could be got together hurriedly from the
mainland； and how the three boats we saw before us were manned and
armed and had come away； exploring the coast and inlets； in search
of any tidings of us。 He stood telling all this； with his face to
the river； and； as he stood telling it； the little arbour of flowers
floated in the sunshine before all the faces there。
Leaning on Captain Carton's shoulder； between him and Miss Maryon；
was Mrs。 Fisher； her head drooping on her arm。 She asked him；
without raising it； when he had told so much； whether he had found
her mother？
〃Be comforted！ She lies；〃 said the Captain gently； 〃under the
cocoa…nut trees on the beach。〃
〃And my child； Captain Carton； did you find my child； too？ Does my
darling rest with my mother？〃
〃No。 Your pretty child sleeps；〃 said the Captain； 〃under a shade of
flowers。〃
His voice shook； but there was something in it that struck all the
hearers。 At that moment there sprung from the arbour in his boat a
little creature； clapping her hands and stretching out her arms； and
crying； 〃Dear papa！ Dear mamma！ I am not killed。 I am saved。 I
am coming to kiss you。 Take me to them； take me to them； good； kind
sailors！〃
Nobody who saw that scene has ever forgotten it； I am sure； or ever
will forget it。 The child had kept quite still； where her brave
grandmamma had put her （first whispering in her ear； 〃Whatever
happens to me； do not stir； my dear！〃）； and had remained quiet until
the fort was deserted； she had then crept out of the trench； and
gone into her mother's house； and there； alone on the solitary
Island； in her mother's room； and asleep on her mother's bed； the
Captain had found her。 Nothing could induce her to be parted from
him after he took her up in his arms； and he had brought her away
with him； and the men had made the bower for her。 To see those men
now； was a sight。 The joy of the women was beautiful； the joy of
those women who had lost their own children； was quite sacred and
divine； but； the ecstasies of Captain Carton's boat's crew； when
their pet was restored to her parents； were wonderful for the
tenderness they showed in the midst of roughness。 As the Captain
stood with the child in his arms； and the child's own little arms
now clinging round his neck； now round her father's； now round her
mother's； now round some one who pressed up to kiss her； the boat's
crew shook hands with one another； waved their hats over their
heads； laughed； sang； cried； dancedand all among themselves；
without wanting to interfere with anybodyin a manner never to be
represented。 At last； I saw the coxswain and another； two very
hard…faced men； with grizzled heads； who had been the heartiest of
the hearty all along； close with one another； get each of them the
other's head under his arm； and pommel away at it with his fist as
hard as he could； in his excess of joy。
When we had well rested and refreshed ourselvesand very glad we
were to have some of the heartening things to eat and drink that had
come up in the boatswe recommenced our voyage down the river：
rafts； and boats； and all。 I said to myself； it was a very
different kind of voyage now； from what it had been； and I fell into
my proper place and station among my fellow…soldiers。
But； when we halted for the night； I found that Miss Maryon had
spoken to Captain Carton concerning me。 For； the Captain came
straight up to me； and says he； 〃My brave fellow； you have been Miss
Maryon's body…guard all along； and you shall remain so。 Nobody
shall supersede you in the distinction and pleasure of protecting
that young lady。〃 I thanked his honour in the fittest words I could
find； and that night I was placed on my old post of watching the
place where she slept。 More than once in the night； I saw Captain
Carton come out into the air； and stroll about there； to see that
all was well。 I have now this other singular confession to make；
that I saw him with a heavy heart。 Yes； I saw him with a heavy；
heavy heart。
In the day…time； I had the like post in Captain Carton's boat。 I
had a special station of my own； behind Miss Maryon； and no hands
but hers ever touched my wound。 （It has been healed these many long
years； but； no other hands have ever touched it。） Mr。 Pordage was
kept tolerably quiet now； with pen and ink； and began to pick up his
senses a little。 Seated in the second boat； he made documents with
Mr。 Kitten； pretty well all day； and he generally handed in a
Protest about something whenever we stopped。 The Captain； however；
made so very light of these papers； that it grew into a saying among
the men； when one of them wanted a match for his pipe； 〃Hand us over
a Protest； Jack！〃 As to Mrs。 Pordage； she still wore the nightcap；
and she now had cut all the ladies on account of her not having been
formally and separately rescued by Captain Carton before anybody
else。 The end of Mr。 Pordage； to bring to an end all I know about
him； was； that he got great compliments at home for his conduct on
these trying occasions； and that he died of yellow jaundice； a
Governor and a K。C。B。
Sergeant Drooce had fallen from a high fever into a low one。 Tom
Packerthe only man who could have pulled the Sergeant through it
kept hospital aboard the old raft； and Mrs。 Belltott； as brisk as
ever again （but the spirit of that little woman； when things tried
it； was not equal to appearances）； was head…nurse under his
directions。 Before we got down to the Mosquito coast； the joke had
been made by one of our men； that we should see her gazetted Mrs。
Tom Packer； vice Belltott exchanged。
When we reached the coast； we got native boats as substitutes for
the rafts； and we rowed along under the land； and in that beautiful
climate； and upon that beautiful water； the blooming days were like
enchantment。 Ah！ They were running away； faster than any sea or
river； and there was no tide to bring them back。 We were coming
very near the settlement where the people of Silver…Store were to be
left； and from which we Marines were under orders to return to
Belize。
Captain Carton had； in the boat by him； a curious long…barrelled
Spanish gun； and he had said to Miss Maryon one day that it was the
best of guns； and had turned his head to me； and said：
〃Gill Davis； load her fresh with a couple of slugs； against a chance
of showing how good she is。〃
So； I had discharged the gun over the sea； and had loaded her；
according to orders； and there it had lain at the Captain's feet；
convenient to the Captain's hand。
The last day but one of our journey was an uncommonly hot day。 We
started very early； but； there was no cool air on the sea as the day
got on； and by noon the heat was really hard to bear； considering
that there were women and children to bear it。 Now； we happened to
open； just at that time； a very pleasant little cove or bay； where
there was a deep shade from a great growth of trees。 Now； the
Captain； therefore； made the signal to the other boats to follow him
in and lie by a while。
The men who were off duty went ashore； and lay down； but were
ordered； for caution's sake； not to stray； and to keep within view。
The others rested on their oars； and dozed。 Awnings had been made
of one thing and another； in all the boats； and the passengers found
it cooler to be under them in the shade； when there was room enough；
than to be in the thick woods。 So； the passengers were all afloat；
and mostly sleeping。 I kept my post behind Miss Maryon； and she was
on Captain Carton's right in the boat； and Mrs。 Fisher sat on her
right again。 The Captain had Mrs。 Fisher's daughter on his knee。
He and the two ladies were talking about the Pirates； and were
talking softly； partly；