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 childs—booffer 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 Maryou, "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!"