按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
But； to go back to where I broke off。 Says Captain Carton to
Lieutenant Linderwood； 〃Sir； how will you divide your men？ There is
not room for all； and a few men should； in any case； be left here。〃
There was some debate about it。 At last； it was resolved to leave
eight Marines and four seamen on the Island； besides the sloop's two
boys。 And because it was considered that the friendly Sambos would
only want to be commanded in case of any danger （though none at all
was apprehended there）； the officers were in favour of leaving the
two non…commissioned officers； Drooce and Charker。 It was a heavy
disappointment to them； just as my being one of the left was a heavy
disappointment to methen； but not soon afterwards。 We men drew
lots for it； and I drew 〃Island。〃 So did Tom Packer。 So of course；
did four more of our rank and file。
When this was settled； verbal instructions were given to all hands
to keep the intended expedition secret； in order that the women and
children might not be alarmed； or the expedition put in a difficulty
by more volunteers。 The assembly was to be on that same spot at
sunset。 Every man was to keep up an appearance； meanwhile； of
occupying himself in his usual way。 That is to say； every man
excepting four old trusty seamen； who were appointed； with an
officer； to see to the arms and ammunition； and to muffle the
rullocks of the boats； and to make everything as trim and swift and
silent as it could be made。
The Sambo Pilot had been present all the while； in case of his being
wanted； and had said to the officer in command； five hundred times
over if he had said it once； that Christian George King would stay
with the So…Jeers； and take care of the booffer ladies and the
booffer childsbooffer being that native's expression for
beautiful。 He was now asked a few questions concerning the putting
off of the boats； and in particular whether there was any way of
embarking at the back of the Island： which Captain Carton would
have half liked to do； and then have dropped round in its shadow and
slanted across to the main。 But； 〃No；〃 says Christian George King。
〃No； no； no！ Told you so； ten time。 No； no； no！ All reef； all
rock； all swim； all drown！〃 Striking out as he said it； like a
swimmer gone mad； and turning over on his back on dry land； and
spluttering himself to death； in a manner that made him quite an
exhibition。
The sun went down； after appearing to be a long time about it； and
the assembly was called。 Every man answered to his name； of course；
and was at his post。 It was not yet black dark； and the roll was
only just gone through； when up comes Mr。 Commissioner Pordage with
his Diplomatic coat on。
〃Captain Carton；〃 says he； 〃Sir； what is this？〃
〃This； Mr。 Commissioner〃 （he was very short with him）； 〃is an
expedition against the Pirates。 It is a secret expedition； so
please to keep it a secret。〃
〃Sir；〃 says Commissioner Pordage； 〃I trust there is going to be no
unnecessary cruelty committed？〃
〃Sir；〃 returns the officer； 〃I trust not。〃
〃That is not enough； sir；〃 cries Commissioner Pordage； getting
wroth。 〃Captain Carton； I give you notice。 Government requires you
to treat the enemy with great delicacy； consideration； clemency； and
forbearance。〃
〃Sir；〃 says Captain Carton； 〃I am an English officer； commanding
English Men； and I hope I am not likely to disappoint the
Government's just expectations。 But； I presume you know that these
villains under their black flag have despoiled our countrymen of
their property； burnt their homes； barbarously murdered them and
their little children； and worse than murdered their wives and
daughters？〃
〃Perhaps I do； Captain Carton；〃 answers Pordage； waving his hand；
with dignity； 〃perhaps I do not。 It is not customary； sir； for
Government to commit itself。〃
〃It matters very little； Mr。 Pordage； whether or no。 Believing that
I hold my commission by the allowance of God； and not that I have
received it direct from the Devil； I shall certainly use it； with
all avoidance of unnecessary suffering and with all merciful
swiftness of execution； to exterminate these people from the face of
the earth。 Let me recommend you to go home； sir； and to keep out of
the night…air。〃
Never another syllable did that officer say to the Commissioner； but
turned away to his men。 The Commissioner buttoned his Diplomatic
coat to the chin； said； 〃Mr。 Kitten； attend me！〃 gasped； half choked
himself； and took himself off。
It now fell very dark； indeed。 I have seldom； if ever； seen it
darker； nor yet so dark。 The moon was not due until one in the
morning； and it was but a little after nine when our men lay down
where they were mustered。 It was pretended that they were to take a
nap； but everybody knew that no nap was to be got under the
circumstances。 Though all were very quiet； there was a restlessness
among the people； much what I have seen among the people on a race…
course； when the bell has rung for the saddling for a great race
with large stakes on it。
At ten； they put off； only one boat putting off at a time； another
following in five minutes； both then lying on their oars until
another followed。 Ahead of all； paddling his own outlandish little
canoe without a sound； went the Sambo pilot； to take them safely
outside the reef。 No light was shown but once； and that was in the
commanding officer's own hand。 I lighted the dark lantern for him；
and he took it from me when he embarked。 They had blue lights and
such like with them； but kept themselves as dark as Murder。
The expedition got away with wonderful quietness； and Christian
George King soon came back dancing with joy。
〃Yup； So…Jeer；〃 says he to myself in a very objectionable kind of
convulsions； 〃Christian George King sar berry glad。 Pirates all be
blown a…pieces。 Yup！ Yup！〃
My reply to that cannibal was； 〃However glad you may be； hold your
noise； and don't dance jigs and slap your knees about it； for I
can't abear to see you do it。〃
I was on duty then； we twelve who were left being divided into four
watches of three each； three hours' spell。 I was relieved at
twelve。 A little before that time； I had challenged； and Miss
Maryon and Mrs。 Belltott had come in。
〃Good Davis；〃 says Miss Maryon； 〃what is the matter？ Where is my
brother？〃
I told her what was the matter； and where her brother was。
〃O Heaven help him！〃 says she； clasping her hands and looking up
she was close in front of me； and she looked most lovely to be sure；
he is not sufficiently recovered； not strong enough for such
strife！〃
〃If you had seen him； miss；〃 I told her； 〃as I saw him when he
volunteered； you would have known that his spirit is strong enough
for any strife。 It will bear his body； miss； to wherever duty calls
him。 It will always bear him to an honourable life； or a brave
death。〃
〃Heaven bless you！〃 says she； touching my arm。 〃I know it。 Heaven
bless you！〃
Mrs。 Belltott surprised me by trembling and saying nothing。 They
were still standing looking towards the sea and listening； after the
relief had come round。 It continuing very dark； I asked to be
allowed to take them back。 Miss Maryon thanked me； and she put her
arm in mine； and I did take them back。 I have now got to make a
confession that will appear singular。 After I had left them； I laid
myself down on my face on the beach； and cried for the first time
since I had frightened birds as a boy at Snorridge Bottom； to think
what a poor； ignorant； low…placed； private soldier I was。
It was only for half a minute or so。 A man can't at all times be
quite master of himself； and it was only for half a minute or so。
Then I up and went to my hut； and turned into my hammock； and fell
asleep with wet eyelashes； and a sore； sore heart。 Just as I had
often done when I was a child； and had been worse used than usual。
I slept （as a child under those circumstances might） very sound； and
yet very sore at heart all through my sleep。 I was awoke by the
words； 〃He is a determined man。〃 I had sprung out of my hammock；
and had seized my firelock； and was standing on the ground； saying
the words myself。 〃He is a determined man。〃 But； the curiosity of
my state was； that I seemed to be repeating them after somebody； and
to have been wonderfully startled by hearing them。
As soon as I came to myself； I went out of the hut； and away to
where the guard was。 Charker challenged：
〃Who goes there？〃
〃A friend。〃
〃Not Gill？〃 says he； as he shouldered his piece。
〃Gill；〃 says I。
〃Why； what the deuce do you do out of your hammock？〃 says he。
〃Too hot for sleep；〃 says I； 〃is all right？〃
〃Right！〃 says Charker； 〃yes； yes； all's right enough here； what
should be wrong here？ It's the boats that we want to know of。
Except for fire…flies twinkling