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The Perils of Certain English Prisoners
by Charles Dickens
CHAPTER ITHE ISLAND OF SILVER…STORE
It was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty…
four； that I； Gill Davis to command； His Mark； having then the
honour to be a private in the Royal Marines； stood a…leaning over
the bulwarks of the armed sloop Christopher Columbus； in the South
American waters off the Mosquito shore。
My lady remarks to me； before I go any further； that there is no
such christian…name as Gill； and that her confident opinion is； that
the name given to me in the baptism wherein I was made； &c。； was
Gilbert。 She is certain to be right； but I never heard of it。 I
was a foundling child； picked up somewhere or another； and I always
understood my christian…name to be Gill。 It is true that I was
called Gills when employed at Snorridge Bottom betwixt Chatham and
Maidstone to frighten birds； but that had nothing to do with the
Baptism wherein I was made； &c。； and wherein a number of things were
promised for me by somebody； who let me alone ever afterwards as to
performing any of them； and who； I consider； must have been the
Beadle。 Such name of Gills was entirely owing to my cheeks； or
gills； which at that time of my life were of a raspy description。
My lady stops me again； before I go any further； by laughing exactly
in her old way and waving the feather of her pen at me。 That action
on her part； calls to my mind as I look at her hand with the rings
on itWell！ I won't！ To be sure it will come in； in its own
place。 But it's always strange to me； noticing the quiet hand； and
noticing it （as I have done； you know； so many times） a…fondling
children and grandchildren asleep； to think that when blood and
honour were upthere！ I won't！ not at present！Scratch it out。
She won't scratch it out； and quite honourable； because we have made
an understanding that everything is to be taken down； and that
nothing that is once taken down shall be scratched out。 I have the
great misfortune not to be able to read and write； and I am speaking
my true and faithful account of those Adventures； and my lady is
writing it； word for word。
I say； there I was； a…leaning over the bulwarks of the sloop
Christopher Columbus in the South American waters off the Mosquito
shore： a subject of his Gracious Majesty King George of England；
and a private in the Royal Marines。
In those climates； you don't want to do much。 I was doing nothing。
I was thinking of the shepherd （my father； I wonder？） on the
hillsides by Snorridge Bottom； with a long staff； and with a rough
white coat in all weathers all the year round； who used to let me
lie in a corner of his hut by night； and who used to let me go about
with him and his sheep by day when I could get nothing else to do；
and who used to give me so little of his victuals and so much of his
staff； that I ran away from himwhich was what he wanted all along；
I expectto be knocked about the world in preference to Snorridge
Bottom。 I had been knocked about the world for nine…and…twenty
years in all； when I stood looking along those bright blue South
American Waters。 Looking after the shepherd； I may say。 Watching
him in a half…waking dream； with my eyes half…shut； as he； and his
flock of sheep； and his two dogs； seemed to move away from the
ship's side； far away over the blue water； and go right down into
the sky。
〃It's rising out of the water； steady；〃 a voice said close to me。 I
had been thinking on so； that it like woke me with a start； though
it was no stranger voice than the voice of Harry Charker； my own
comrade。
〃What's rising out of the water； steady？〃 I asked my comrade。
〃What？〃 says he。 〃The Island。〃
〃O！ The Island！〃 says I； turning my eyes towards it。 〃True。 I
forgot the Island。〃
〃Forgot the port you're going to？ That's odd； ain't it？〃
〃It is odd；〃 says I。
〃And odd；〃 he said； slowly considering with himself； 〃ain't even。
Is it； Gill？〃
He had always a remark just like that to make； and seldom another。
As soon as he had brought a thing round to what it was not； he was
satisfied。 He was one of the best of men； and； in a certain sort of
a way； one with the least to say for himself。 I qualify it；
because； besides being able to read and write like a Quarter…master；
he had always one most excellent idea in his mind。 That was； Duty。
Upon my soul； I don't believe； though I admire learning beyond
everything； that he could have got a better idea out of all the
books in the world； if he had learnt them every word； and been the
cleverest of scholars。
My comrade and I had been quartered in Jamaica； and from there we
had been drafted off to the British settlement of Belize； lying away
West and North of the Mosquito coast。 At Belize there had been
great alarm of one cruel gang of pirates （there were always more
pirates than enough in those Caribbean Seas）； and as they got the
better of our English cruisers by running into out…of…the…way creeks
and shallows； and taking the land when they were hotly pressed； the
governor of Belize had received orders from home to keep a sharp
look…out for them along shore。 Now； there was an armed sloop came
once a…year from Port Royal； Jamaica； to the Island； laden with all
manner of necessaries； to eat； and to drink； and to wear； and to use
in various ways； and it was aboard of that sloop which had touched
at Belize； that I was a…standing； leaning over the bulwarks。
The Island was occupied by a very small English colony。 It had been
given the name of Silver…Store。 The reason of its being so called；
was； that the English colony owned and worked a silver…mine over on
the mainland； in Honduras； and used this Island as a safe and
convenient place to store their silver in； until it was annually
fetched away by the sloop。 It was brought down from the mine to the
coast on the backs of mules； attended by friendly Indians and
guarded by white men； from thence it was conveyed over to Silver…
Store； when the weather was fair； in the canoes of that country；
from Silver…Store； it was carried to Jamaica by the armed sloop once
a…year； as I have already mentioned； from Jamaica； it went； of
course； all over the world。
How I came to be aboard the armed sloop； is easily told。 Four…and…
twenty marines under command of a lieutenantthat officer's name
was Linderwoodhad been told off at Belize； to proceed to Silver…
Store； in aid of boats and seamen stationed there for the chase of
the Pirates。 The Island was considered a good post of observation
against the pirates； both by land and sea； neither the pirate ship
nor yet her boats had been seen by any of us； but they had been so
much heard of； that the reinforcement was sent。 Of that party； I
was one。 It included a corporal and a sergeant。 Charker was
corporal； and the sergeant's name was Drooce。 He was the most
tyrannical non…commissioned officer in His Majesty's service。
The night came on； soon after I had had the foregoing words with
Charker。 All the wonderful bright colours went out of the sea and
sky in a few minutes； and all the stars in the Heavens seemed to
shine out together； and to look down at themselves in the sea； over
one another's shoulders； millions deep。 Next morning； we cast
anchor off the Island。 There was a snug harbour within a little
reef； there was a sandy beach； there were cocoa…nut trees with high
straight stems； quite bare； and foliage at the top like plumes of
magnificent green feathers； there were all the objects that are
usually seen in those parts； and I am not going to describe them；
having something else to tell about。
Great rejoicings； to be sure； were made on our arrival。 All the
flags in the place were hoisted； all the guns in the place were
fired； and all the people in the place came down to look at us。 One
of those Sambo fel