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He and the two ladies were talking about the Pirates； and were
talking softly； partly； because people do talk softly under such
indolent circumstances； and partly because the little girl had gone
off asleep。
I think I have before given it out for my Lady to write down； that
Captain Carton had a fine bright eye of his own。 All at once； he
darted me a side look； as much as to say； 〃Steadydon't take onI
see something！〃and gave the child into her mother's arms。 That
eye of his was so easy to understand； that I obeyed it by not so
much as looking either to the right or to the left out of a corner
of my own； or changing my attitude the least trifle。 The Captain
went on talking in the same mild and easy way； but beganwith his
arms resting across his knees； and his head a little hanging
forward； as if the heat were rather too much for himbegan to play
with the Spanish gun。
〃They had laid their plans； you see；〃 says the Captain； taking up
the Spanish gun across his knees； and looking； lazily； at the
inlaying on the stock； 〃with a great deal of art； and the corrupt or
blundering local authorities were so easily deceived；〃 he ran his
left hand idly along the barrel； but I saw； with my breath held；
that he covered the action of cocking the gun with his right〃so
easily deceived； that they summoned us out to come into the trap。
But my intention as to future operations〃 In a flash the Spanish
gun was at his bright eye； and he fired。
All started up； innumerable echoes repeated the sound of the
discharge； a cloud of bright…coloured birds flew out of the woods
screaming； a handful of leaves were scattered in the place where the
shot had struck； a crackling of branches was heard； and some lithe
but heavy creature sprang into the air； and fell forward； head down；
over the muddy bank。
〃What is it？〃 cries Captain Maryon from his boat。 All silent then；
but the echoes rolling away。
〃It is a Traitor and a Spy；〃 said Captain Carton； handing me the gun
to load again。 〃And I think the other name of the animal is
Christian George King！〃
Shot through the heart。 Some of the people ran round to the spot；
and drew him out； with the slime and wet trickling down his face；
but his face itself would never stir any more to the end of time。
〃Leave him hanging to that tree；〃 cried Captain Carton； his boat's
crew giving way； and he leaping ashore。 〃But first into this wood；
every man in his place。 And boats！ Out of gunshot！〃
It was a quick change； well meant and well made； though it ended in
disappointment。 No Pirates were there； no one but the Spy was
found。 It was supposed that the Pirates； unable to retake us； and
expecting a great attack upon them to be the consequence of our
escape； had made from the ruins in the Forest； taken to their ship
along with the Treasure； and left the Spy to pick up what
intelligence he could。 In the evening we went away； and he was left
hanging to the tree； all alone； with the red sun making a kind of a
dead sunset on his black face。
Next day； we gained the settlement on the Mosquito coast for which
we were bound。 Having stayed there to refresh seven days； and
having been much commended； and highly spoken of； and finely
entertained； we Marines stood under orders to march from the Town…
Gate （it was neither much of a town nor much of a gate）； at five in
the morning。
My officer had joined us before then。 When we turned out at the
gate； all the people were there； in the front of them all those who
had been our fellow…prisoners； and all the seamen。
〃Davis；〃 says Lieutenant Linderwood。 〃Stand out； my friend！〃
I stood out from the ranks； and Miss Maryon and Captain Carton came
up to me。
〃Dear Davis；〃 says Miss Maryon； while the tears fell fast down her
face； 〃your grateful friends； in most unwillingly taking leave of
you； ask the favour that； while you bear away with you their
affectionate remembrance； which nothing can ever impair； you will
also take this purse of moneyfar more valuable to you； we all
know； for the deep attachment and thankfulness with which it is
offered； than for its own contents； though we hope those may prove
useful to you； too； in after life。〃
I got out； in answer； that I thankfully accepted the attachment and
affection； but not the money。 Captain Carton looked at me very
attentively； and stepped back； and moved away。 I made him my bow as
he stepped back； to thank him for being so delicate。
〃No； miss；〃 said I； 〃I think it would break my heart to accept of
money。 But； if you could condescend to give to a man so ignorant
and common as myself； any little thing you have wornsuch as a bit
of ribbon〃
She took a ring from her finger； and put it in my hand。 And she
rested her hand in mine； while she said these words：
〃The brave gentlemen of oldbut not one of them was braver； or had
a nobler nature than youtook such gifts from ladies； and did all
their good actions for the givers' sakes。 If you will do yours for
mine； I shall think with pride that I continue to have some share in
the life of a gallant and generous man。〃
For the second time in my life she kissed my hand。 I made so bold；
for the first time； as to kiss hers； and I tied the ring at my
breast； and I fell back to my place。
Then； the horse…litter went out at the gate with Sergeant Drooce in
it； and the horse…litter went out at the gate with Mrs。 Belltott in
it； and Lieutenant Linderwood gave the word of command； 〃Quick
march！〃 and； cheered and cried for； we went out of the gate too；
marching along the level plain towards the serene blue sky； as if we
were marching straight to Heaven。
When I have added here that the Pirate scheme was blown to shivers；
by the Pirate…ship which had the Treasure on board being so
vigorously attacked by one of His Majesty's cruisers； among the West
India Keys； and being so swiftly boarded and carried； that nobody
suspected anything about the scheme until three…fourths of the
Pirates were killed； and the other fourth were in irons； and the
Treasure was recovered； I come to the last singular confession I
have got to make。
It is this。 I well knew what an immense and hopeless distance there
was between me and Miss Maryon； I well knew that I was no fitter
company for her than I was for the angels； I well knew； that she was
as high above my reach as the sky over my head； and yet I loved her。
What put it in my low heart to be so daring； or whether such a thing
ever happened before or since； as that a man so uninstructed and
obscure as myself got his unhappy thoughts lifted up to such a
height； while knowing very well how presumptuous and impossible to
be realised they were； I am unable to say； still； the suffering to
me was just as great as if I had been a gentleman。 I suffered
agonyagony。 I suffered hard； and I suffered long。 I thought of
her last words to me； however； and I never disgraced them。 If it
had not been for those dear words； I think I should have lost myself
in despair and recklessness。
The ring will be found lying on my heart； of course； and will be
laid with me wherever I am laid。 I am getting on in years now；
though I am able and hearty。 I was recommended for promotion； and
everything was done to reward me that could be done； but my total
want of all learning stood in my way； and I found myself so
completely out of the road to it that I could not conquer any
learning； though I tried。 I was long in the service； and I
respected it； and was respected in it； and the service is dear to me
at this present hour。
At this present hour； when I give this out to my Lady to be written
down； all my old pain has softened away； and I am as happy as a man
can be； at this present fine old country…house of Admiral Sir George
Carton； Baronet。 It was my Lady Carton who herself sought me out；
over a great many miles of the wide world； and found me in Hospital
wounded； and brought me here。 It is my Lady Carton who writes down
my words。 My Lady was Miss Maryon。 And now； that I conclude what I
had to tell； I see my Lady's honoured gray hair droop over her face；
as she leans a little lower at her desk； and I fervently thank her
for being so tender as I see she is； towards the past pain and
trouble of her poor； old； faithful； humble soldier。
Footnotes：
｛1｝ Dicken's didn't write the second chapter and it is omitted in
this edition。 In it the prisoners are firstly made a ransom of for
the treasure left on the Island and then manage to escape from the
Pirates。
End