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nursed in that climate； with the tropical night shining for them；
musical instruments playing to them； great trees bending over them；
soft lamps lighting them； fire…flies sparkling in among them； bright
flowers and birds brought into existence to please their eyes；
delicious drinks to be had for the pouring out； delicious fruits to
be got for the picking； and every one dancing and murmuring happily
in the scented air； with the sea breaking low on the reef for a
pleasant chorus。
〃Fine gentlemen and fine ladies； Harry？〃 I says to Charker。 〃Yes； I
think so！ Dolls！ Dolls！ Not the sort of stuff for wear； that
comes of poor private soldiering in the Royal Marines！〃
However； I could not gainsay that they were very hospitable people；
and that they treated us uncommonly well。 Every man of us was at
the entertainment； and Mrs。 Belltott had more partners than she
could dance with： though she danced all night； too。 As to Jack
（whether of the Christopher Columbus； or of the Pirate pursuit
party； it made no difference）； he danced with his brother Jack；
danced with himself； danced with the moon； the stars； the trees； the
prospect； anything。 I didn't greatly take to the chief…officer of
that party； with his bright eyes； brown face； and easy figure。 I
didn't much like his way when he first happened to come where we
were； with Miss Maryon on his arm。 〃O； Captain Carton；〃 she says；
〃here are two friends of mine！〃 He says； 〃Indeed？ These two
Marines？〃meaning Charker and self。 〃Yes；〃 says she； 〃I showed
these two friends of mine when they first came； all the wonders of
Silver…Store。〃 He gave us a laughing look； and says he； 〃You are in
luck； men。 I would be disrated and go before the mast to…morrow； to
be shown the way upward again by such a guide。 You are in luck；
men。〃 When we had saluted； and he and the lady had waltzed away； I
said； 〃You are a pretty follow； too； to talk of luck。 You may go to
the Devil！〃
Mr。 Commissioner Pordage and Mrs。 Commissioner； showed among the
company on that occasion like the King and Queen of a much Greater
Britain than Great Britain。 Only two other circumstances in that
jovial night made much separate impression on me。 One was this。 A
man in our draft of marines； named Tom Packer； a wild unsteady young
fellow； but the son of a respectable shipwright in Portsmouth Yard；
and a good scholar who had been well brought up； comes to me after a
spell of dancing； and takes me aside by the elbow； and says；
swearing angrily：
〃Gill Davis； I hope I may not be the death of Sergeant Drooce one
day！〃
Now； I knew Drooce had always borne particularly hard on this man；
and I knew this man to be of a very hot temper： so； I said：
〃Tut； nonsense！ don't talk so to me！ If there's a man in the corps
who scorns the name of an assassin； that man and Tom Packer are
one。〃
Tom wipes his head； being in a mortal sweat； and says he：
〃I hope so； but I can't answer for myself when he lords it over me；
as he has just now done； before a woman。 I tell you what； Gill！
Mark my words！ It will go hard with Sergeant Drooce； if ever we are
in an engagement together； and he has to look to me to save him。
Let him say a prayer then； if he knows one； for it's all over with
him； and he is on his Death…bed。 Mark my words！〃
I did mark his words； and very soon afterwards； too； as will shortly
be taken down。
The other circumstance that I noticed at that ball； was； the gaiety
and attachment of Christian George King。 The innocent spirits that
Sambo Pilot was in； and the impossibility he found himself under of
showing all the little colony； but especially the ladies and
children； how fond he was of them； how devoted to them； and how
faithful to them for life and death； for present； future； and
everlasting； made a great impression on me。 If ever a man； Sambo or
no Sambo； was trustful and trusted； to what may be called quite an
infantine and sweetly beautiful extent； surely； I thought that
morning when I did at last lie down to rest； it was that Sambo
Pilot； Christian George King。
This may account for my dreaming of him。 He stuck in my sleep；
cornerwise； and I couldn't get him out。 He was always flitting
about me； dancing round me； and peeping in over my hammock； though I
woke and dozed off again fifty times。 At last； when I opened my
eyes； there he really was； looking in at the open side of the little
dark hut； which was made of leaves； and had Charker's hammock slung
in it as well as mine。
〃So…Jeer！〃 says he； in a sort of a low croak。 〃Yup！〃
〃Hallo！〃 says I； starting up。 〃What？ You are there； are you？〃
〃Iss；〃 says he。 〃Christian George King got news。〃
〃What news has he got？〃
〃Pirates out！〃
I was on my feet in a second。 So was Charker。 We were both aware
that Captain Carton； in command of the boats； constantly watched the
mainland for a secret signal； though； of course； it was not known to
such as us what the signal was。
Christian George King had vanished before we touched the ground。
But； the word was already passing from hut to hut to turn out
quietly； and we knew that the nimble barbarian had got hold of the
truth； or something near it。
In a space among the trees behind the encampment of us visitors；
naval and military； was a snugly…screened spot； where we kept the
stores that were in use； and did our cookery。 The word was passed
to assemble here。 It was very quickly given； and was given （so far
as we were concerned） by Sergeant Drooce； who was as good in a
soldier point of view； as he was bad in a tyrannical one。 We were
ordered to drop into this space； quietly； behind the trees； one by
one。 As we assembled here； the seamen assembled too。 Within ten
minutes； as I should estimate； we were all here； except the usual
guard upon the beach。 The beach （we could see it through the wood）
looked as it always had done in the hottest time of the day。 The
guard were in the shadow of the sloop's hull； and nothing was moving
but the sea；and that moved very faintly。 Work had always been
knocked off at that hour； until the sun grew less fierce； and the
sea…breeze rose； so that its being holiday with us； made no
difference； just then； in the look of the place。 But I may mention
that it was a holiday； and the first we had had since our hard work
began。 Last night's ball had been given； on the leak's being
repaired； and the careening done。 The worst of the work was over；
and to…morrow we were to begin to get the sloop afloat again。
We marines were now drawn up here under arms。 The chace…party were
drawn up separate。 The men of the Columbus were drawn up separate。
The officers stepped out into the midst of the three parties； and
spoke so as all might hear。 Captain Carton was the officer in
command； and he had a spy…glass in his hand。 His coxswain stood by
him with another spy…glass； and with a slate on which he seemed to
have been taking down signals。
〃Now； men！〃 says Captain Carton； 〃I have to let you know； for your
satisfaction： Firstly； that there are ten pirate…boats； strongly
manned and armed； lying hidden up a creek yonder on the coast； under
the overhanging branches of the dense trees。 Secondly； that they
will certainly come out this night when the moon rises； on a
pillaging and murdering expedition； of which some part of the
mainland is the object。 Thirdlydon't cheer； men！that we will
give chace； and； if we can get at them； rid the world of them；
please God！〃
Nobody spoke； that I heard； and nobody moved； that I saw。 Yet there
was a kind of ring； as if every man answered and approved with the
best blood that was inside of him。
〃Sir；〃 says Captain Maryon； 〃I beg to volunteer on this service；
with my boats。 My people volunteer； to the ship's boys。〃
〃In His Majesty's name and service；〃 the other answers； touching his
hat； 〃I accept your aid with pleasure。 Lieutenant Linderwood； how
will you divide your men？〃
I was ashamedI give it out to be written down as large and plain
as possibleI was heart and soul ashamed of my thoughts of those
two sick officers； Captain Maryon and Lieutenant Linderwood； when I
saw them； then and there。 The spirit in those two gentlemen beat
down their illness （and very ill I knew them to be） like Saint
George beating down the Dragon。 Pain and weakness； want of ease and
want of rest； had no more place in their minds than fear itself。
Meaning now to express for my lady to write down； exactly what I
felt then and there； I felt this： 〃You two brave fellows that I had
been so grudgeful of； I know that if you were dying you would put it
off to get up and do your best； and then you would be so modest that
in lying down again to die； you would hardly say； 'I did it！'〃
It did me good。 It really did me good。
But； to go back to where I broke off。 Says Captain Carton to
Lieutenant Lind