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if that was not the case； and if the river ran by none of their
secret stations； we might escape。
When I say we settled this or that； I do not mean that we planned
anything with any confidence as to what might happen an hour hence。
So much had happened in one night； and such great changes had been
violently and suddenly made in the fortunes of many among us； that
we had got better used to uncertainty； in a little while； than I
dare say most people do in the course of their lives。
The difficulties we soon got into； through the off…settings and
point…currents of the stream； made the likelihood of our being
drowned； alone；to say nothing of our being retakenas broad and
plain as the sun at noonday to all of us。 But； we all worked hard
at managing the rafts； under the direction of the seamen （of our own
skill； I think we never could have prevented them from oversetting）；
and we also worked hard at making good the defects in their first
hasty constructionwhich the water soon found out。 While we humbly
resigned ourselves to going down； if it was the will of Our Father
that was in Heaven； we humbly made up our minds； that we would all
do the best that was in us。
And so we held on； gliding with the stream。 It drove us to this
bank； and it drove us to that bank； and it turned us； and whirled
us； but yet it carried us on。 Sometimes much too slowly； sometimes
much too fast； but yet it carried us on。
My little deaf and dumb boy slumbered a good deal now； and that was
the case with all the children。 They caused very little trouble to
any one。 They seemed； in my eyes； to get more like one another； not
only in quiet manner； but in the face； too。 The motion of the raft
was usually so much the same； the scene was usually so much the
same； the sound of the soft wash and ripple of the water was usually
so much the same； that they were made drowsy； as they might have
been by the constant playing of one tune。 Even on the grown people；
who worked hard and felt anxiety； the same things produced something
of the same effect。 Every day was so like the other； that I soon
lost count of the days； myself； and had to ask Miss Maryon； for
instance； whether this was the third or fourth？ Miss Maryon had a
pocket…book and pencil； and she kept the log； that is to say； she
entered up a clear little journal of the time； and of the distances
our seamen thought we had made； each night。
So； as I say； we kept afloat and glided on。 All day long； and every
day； the water； and the woods； and sky； all day long； and every day；
the constant watching of both sides of the river； and far a…head at
every bold turn and sweep it made； for any signs of Pirate…boats； or
Pirate…dwellings。 So； as I say； we kept afloat and glided on。 The
days melting themselves together to that degree； that I could hardly
believe my ears when I asked 〃How many now； Miss？〃 and she answered
〃Seven。〃
To be sure； poor Mr。 Pordage had； by about now； got his Diplomatic
coat into such a state as never was seen。 What with the mud of the
river； what with the water of the river； what with the sun； and the
dews； and the tearing boughs； and the thickets； it hung about him in
discoloured shreds like a mop。 The sun had touched him a bit。 He
had taken to always polishing one particular button； which just held
on to his left wrist； and to always calling for stationery。 I
suppose that man called for pens； ink； and paper； tape； and scaling…
wax； upwards of one thousand times in four…and…twenty hours。 He had
an idea that we should never get out of that river unless we were
written out of it in a formal Memorandum； and the more we laboured
at navigating the rafts； the more he ordered us not to touch them at
our peril； and the more he sat and roared for stationery。
Mrs。 Pordage； similarly； persisted in wearing her nightcap。 I doubt
if any one but ourselves who had seen the progress of that article
of dress； could by this time have told what it was meant for。 It
had got so limp and ragged that she couldn't see out of her eyes for
it。 It was so dirty； that whether it was vegetable matter out of a
swamp； or weeds out of the river； or an old porter's…knot from
England； I don't think any new spectator could have said。 Yet； this
unfortunate old woman had a notion that it was not only vastly
genteel； but that it was the correct thing as to propriety。 And she
really did carry herself over the other ladies who had no nightcaps；
and who were forced to tie up their hair how they could； in a
superior manner that was perfectly amazing。
I don't know what she looked like； sitting in that blessed nightcap；
on a log of wood； outside the hut or cabin upon our raft。 She would
have rather resembled a fortune…teller in one of the picture…books
that used to be in the shop windows in my boyhood； except for her
stateliness。 But； Lord bless my heart； the dignity with which she
sat and moped； with her head in that bundle of tatters； was like
nothing else in the world！ She was not on speaking terms with more
than three of the ladies。 Some of them had； what she called； 〃taken
precedence〃 of herin getting into； or out of； that miserable
little shelter！and others had not called to pay their respects； or
something of that kind。 So； there she sat； in her own state and
ceremony； while her husband sat on the same log of wood； ordering us
one and all to let the raft go to the bottom； and to bring him
stationery。
What with this noise on the part of Mr。 Commissioner Pordage； and
what with the cries of Sergeant Drooce on the raft astern （which
were sometimes more than Tom Packer could silence）； we often made
our slow way down the river； anything but quietly。 Yet； that it was
of great importance that no ears should be able to hear us from the
woods on the banks； could not be doubted。 We were looked for； to a
certainty； and we might be retaken at any moment。 It was an anxious
time； it was； indeed； indeed； an anxious time。
On the seventh night of our voyage on the rafts； we made fast； as
usual； on the opposite side of the river to that from which we had
started； in as dark a place as we could pick out。 Our little
encampment was soon made； and supper was eaten； and the children
fell asleep。 The watch was set； and everything made orderly for the
night。 Such a starlight night； with such blue in the sky； and such
black in the places of heavy shade on the banks of the great stream！
Those two ladies； Miss Maryon and Mrs。 Fisher； had always kept near
me since the night of the attack。 Mr。 Fisher； who was untiring in
the work of our raft； had said to me：
〃My dear little childless wife has grown so attached to you； Davis；
and you are such a gentle fellow； as well as such a determined one；〃
our party had adopted that last expression from the one…eyed English
pirate； and I repeat what Mr。 Fisher said； only because he said it；
〃that it takes a load off my mind to leave her in your charge。〃
I said to him： 〃Your lady is in far better charge than mine； Sir；
having Miss Maryon to take care of her； but； you may rely upon it；
that I will guard them bothfaithful and true。〃
Says he： 〃I do rely upon it； Davis； and I heartily wish all the
silver on our old Island was yours。〃
That seventh starlight night； as I have said； we made our camp； and
got our supper； and set our watch； and the children fell asleep。 It
was solemn and beautiful in those wild and solitary parts； to see
them； every night before they lay down； kneeling under the bright
sky； saying their little prayers at women's laps。 At that time we
men all uncovered； and mostly kept at a distance。 When the innocent
creatures rose up； we murmured 〃Amen！〃 all together。 For； though we
had not heard what they said； we know it must be good for us。
At that time； too； as was only natural； those poor mothers in our
company； whose children had been killed； shed many tears。 I thought