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a Protest； Jack！〃 As to Mrs。 Pordage； she still wore the nightcap；
and she now had cut all the ladies on account of her not having been
formally and separately rescued by Captain Carton before anybody
else。 The end of Mr。 Pordage； to bring to an end all I know about
him； was； that he got great compliments at home for his conduct on
these trying occasions； and that he died of yellow jaundice； a
Governor and a K。C。B。
Sergeant Drooce had fallen from a high fever into a low one。 Tom
Packerthe only man who could have pulled the Sergeant through it
kept hospital aboard the old raft； and Mrs。 Belltott； as brisk as
ever again （but the spirit of that little woman； when things tried
it； was not equal to appearances）； was head…nurse under his
directions。 Before we got down to the Mosquito coast； the joke had
been made by one of our men； that we should see her gazetted Mrs。
Tom Packer； vice Belltott exchanged。
When we reached the coast； we got native boats as substitutes for
the rafts； and we rowed along under the land； and in that beautiful
climate； and upon that beautiful water； the blooming days were like
enchantment。 Ah！ They were running away； faster than any sea or
river； and there was no tide to bring them back。 We were coming
very near the settlement where the people of Silver…Store were to be
left； and from which we Marines were under orders to return to
Belize。
Captain Carton had； in the boat by him； a curious long…barrelled
Spanish gun； and he had said to Miss Maryon one day that it was the
best of guns； and had turned his head to me； and said：
〃Gill Davis； load her fresh with a couple of slugs； against a chance
of showing how good she is。〃
So； I had discharged the gun over the sea； and had loaded her；
according to orders； and there it had lain at the Captain's feet；
convenient to the Captain's hand。
The last day but one of our journey was an uncommonly hot day。 We
started very early； but； there was no cool air on the sea as the day
got on； and by noon the heat was really hard to bear； considering
that there were women and children to bear it。 Now； we happened to
open； just at that time； a very pleasant little cove or bay； where
there was a deep shade from a great growth of trees。 Now； the
Captain； therefore； made the signal to the other boats to follow him
in and lie by a while。
The men who were off duty went ashore； and lay down； but were
ordered； for caution's sake； not to stray； and to keep within view。
The others rested on their oars； and dozed。 Awnings had been made
of one thing and another； in all the boats； and the passengers found
it cooler to be under them in the shade； when there was room enough；
than to be in the thick woods。 So； the passengers were all afloat；
and mostly sleeping。 I kept my post behind Miss Maryon； and she was
on Captain Carton's right in the boat； and Mrs。 Fisher sat on her
right again。 The Captain had Mrs。 Fisher's daughter on his knee。
He and the two ladies were talking about the Pirates； and were
talking softly； partly； because people do talk softly under such
indolent circumstances； and partly because the little girl had gone
off asleep。
I think I have before given it out for my Lady to write down； that
Captain Carton had a fine bright eye of his own。 All at once； he
darted me a side look； as much as to say； 〃Steadydon't take onI
see something！〃and gave the child into her mother's arms。 That
eye of his was so easy to understand； that I obeyed it by not so
much as looking either to the right or to the left out of a corner
of my own； or changing my attitude the least trifle。 The Captain
went on talking in the same mild and easy way； but beganwith his
arms resting across his knees； and his head a little hanging
forward； as if the heat were rather too much for himbegan to play
with the Spanish gun。
〃They had laid their plans； you see；〃 says the Captain； taking up
the Spanish gun across his knees； and looking； lazily； at the
inlaying on the stock； 〃with a great deal of art； and the corrupt or
blundering local authorities were so easily deceived；〃 he ran his
left hand idly along the barrel； but I saw； with my breath held；
that he covered the action of cocking the gun with his right〃so
easily deceived； that they summoned us out to come into the trap。
But my intention as to future operations〃 In a flash the Spanish
gun was at his bright eye； and he fired。
All started up； innumerable echoes repeated the sound of the
discharge； a cloud of bright…coloured birds flew out of the woods
screaming； a handful of leaves were scattered in the place where the
shot had struck； a crackling of branches was heard； and some lithe
but heavy creature sprang into the air； and fell forward； head down；
over the muddy bank。
〃What is it？〃 cries Captain Maryon from his boat。 All silent then；
but the echoes rolling away。
〃It is a Traitor and a Spy；〃 said Captain Carton； handing me the gun
to load again。 〃And I think the other name of the animal is
Christian George King！〃
Shot through the heart。 Some of the people ran round to the spot；
and drew him out； with the slime and wet trickling down his face；
but his face itself would never stir any more to the end of time。
〃Leave him hanging to that tree；〃 cried Captain Carton； his boat's
crew giving way； and he leaping ashore。 〃But first into this wood；
every man in his place。 And boats！ Out of gunshot！〃
It was a quick change； well meant and well made； though it ended in
disappointment。 No Pirates were there； no one but the Spy was
found。 It was supposed that the Pirates； unable to retake us； and
expecting a great attack upon them to be the consequence of our
escape； had made from the ruins in the Forest； taken to their ship
along with the Treasure； and left the Spy to pick up what
intelligence he could。 In the evening we went away； and he was left
hanging to the tree； all alone； with the red sun making a kind of a
dead sunset on his black face。
Next day； we gained the settlement on the Mosquito coast for which
we were bound。 Having stayed there to refresh seven days； and
having been much commended； and highly spoken of； and finely
entertained； we Marines stood under orders to march from the Town…
Gate （it was neither much of a town nor much of a gate）； at five in
the morning。
My officer had joined us before then。 When we turned out at the
gate； all the people were there； in the front of them all those who
had been our fellow…prisoners； and all the seamen。
〃Davis；〃 says Lieutenant Linderwood。 〃Stand out； my friend！〃
I stood out from the ranks； and Miss Maryon and Captain Carton came
up to me。
〃Dear Davis；〃 says Miss Maryon； while the tears fell fast down her
face； 〃your grateful friends； in most unwillingly taking leave of
you； ask the favour that； while you bear away with you their
affectionate remembrance； which nothing can ever impair； you will
also take this purse of moneyfar more valuable to you； we all
know； for the deep attachment and thankfulness with which it is
offered； than for its own contents； though we hope those may prove
useful to you； too； in after life。〃
I got out； in answer； that I thankfully accepted the attachment and
affection； but not the money。 Captain Carton looked at me very
attentively； and stepped back； and moved away。 I made him my bow as
he stepped back； to thank him for being so delicate。
〃No； miss；〃 said I； 〃I think it would break my heart to accept of
money。 But； if you could condescend to give to a man so ignorant
and common as myself； any little thing you have wornsuch as a bit
of ribbon〃
She took a ring from her finger； and put it in my hand。 And she
rested her hand in mine； while she said these words：
〃The brave gentlemen of oldbut not one of them was braver； or had
a nobler nature than youtook such gifts from ladies； and did all
their good ac