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fired； and all the people in the place came down to look at us。 One
of those Sambo fellowsthey call those natives Sambos； when they
are half…negro and half…Indianhad come off outside the reef； to
pilot us in； and remained on board after we had let go our anchor。
He was called Christian George King； and was fonder of all hands
than anybody else was。 Now； I confess； for myself； that on that
first day； if I had been captain of the Christopher Columbus；
instead of private in the Royal Marines； I should have kicked
Christian George Kingwho was no more a Christian than he was a
King or a Georgeover the side； without exactly knowing why； except
that it was the right thing to do。
But； I must likewise confess； that I was not in a particularly
pleasant humour； when I stood under arms that morning； aboard the
Christopher Columbus in the harbour of the Island of Silver…Store。
I had had a hard life； and the life of the English on the Island
seemed too easy and too gay to please me。 〃Here you are；〃 I thought
to myself； 〃good scholars and good livers； able to read what you
like； able to write what you like； able to eat and drink what you
like； and spend what you like； and do what you like； and much you
care for a poor； ignorant Private in the Royal Marines！ Yet it's
hard； too； I think； that you should have all the half…pence； and I
all the kicks； you all the smooth； and I all the rough； you all the
oil； and I all the vinegar。〃 It was as envious a thing to think as
might be； let alone its being nonsensical； but； I thought it。 I
took it so much amiss； that； when a very beautiful young English
lady came aboard； I grunted to myself； 〃Ah！ you have got a lover；
I'll be bound！〃 As if there was any new offence to me in that； if
she had！
She was sister to the captain of our sloop； who had been in a poor
way for some time； and who was so ill then that he was obliged to be
carried ashore。 She was the child of a military officer； and had
come out there with her sister； who was married to one of the owners
of the silver…mine； and who had three children with her。 It was
easy to see that she was the light and spirit of the Island。 After
I had got a good look at her； I grunted to myself again； in an even
worse state of mind than before； 〃I'll be damned； if I don't hate
him； whoever he is！〃
My officer； Lieutenant Linderwood； was as ill as the captain of the
sloop； and was carried ashore； too。 They were both young men of
about my age； who had been delicate in the West India climate。 I
even took that in bad part。 I thought I was much fitter for the
work than they were； and that if all of us had our deserts； I should
be both of them rolled into one。 （It may be imagined what sort of
an officer of marines I should have made； without the power of
reading a written order。 And as to any knowledge how to command the
sloopLord！ I should have sunk her in a quarter of an hour！）
However； such were my reflections； and when we men were ashore and
dismissed； I strolled about the place along with Charker； making my
observations in a similar spirit。
It was a pretty place： in all its arrangements partly South
American and partly English； and very agreeable to look at on that
account； being like a bit of home that had got chipped off and had
floated away to that spot； accommodating itself to circumstances as
it drifted along。 The huts of the Sambos； to the number of five…
and…twenty； perhaps； were down by the beach to the left of the
anchorage。 On the right was a sort of barrack； with a South
American Flag and the Union Jack； flying from the same staff； where
the little English colony could all come together； if they saw
occasion。 It was a walled square of building； with a sort of
pleasure…ground inside； and inside that again a sunken block like a
powder magazine； with a little square trench round it； and steps
down to the door。 Charker and I were looking in at the gate； which
was not guarded； and I had said to Charker； in reference to the bit
like a powder magazine； 〃That's where they keep the silver you see；〃
and Charker had said to me； after thinking it over； 〃And silver
ain't gold。 Is it； Gill？〃 when the beautiful young English lady I
had been so bilious about； looked out of a door； or a windowat all
events looked out； from under a bright awning。 She no sooner saw us
two in uniform； than she came out so quickly that she was still
putting on her broad Mexican hat of plaited straw when we saluted。
〃Would you like to come in；〃 she said； 〃and see the place？ It is
rather a curious place。〃
We thanked the young lady； and said we didn't wish to be
troublesome； but； she said it could be no trouble to an English
soldier's daughter； to show English soldiers how their countrymen
and country…women fared； so far away from England； and consequently
we saluted again； and went in。 Then； as we stood in the shade； she
showed us （being as affable as beautiful）； how the different
families lived in their separate houses； and how there was a general
house for stores； and a general reading…room； and a general room for
music and dancing； and a room for Church； and how there were other
houses on the rising ground called the Signal Hill； where they lived
in the hotter weather。
〃Your officer has been carried up there；〃 she said； 〃and my brother；
too； for the better air。 At present； our few residents are
dispersed over both spots： deducting； that is to say； such of our
number as are always going to； or coming from； or staying at； the
Mine。〃
（〃He is among one of those parties；〃 I thought； 〃and I wish somebody
would knock his head off。〃）
〃Some of our married ladies live here；〃 she said； 〃during at least
half the year； as lonely as widows； with their children。〃
〃Many children here； ma'am？〃
〃Seventeen。 There are thirteen married ladies； and there are eight
like me。〃
There were not eight like herthere was not one like herin the
world。 She meant single。
〃Which； with about thirty Englishmen of various degrees；〃 said the
young lady； 〃form the little colony now on the Island。 I don't
count the sailors； for they don't belong to us。 Nor the soldiers；〃
she gave us a gracious smile when she spoke of the soldiers； 〃for
the same reason。〃
〃Nor the Sambos； ma'am；〃 said I。
〃No。〃
〃Under your favour； and with your leave； ma'am；〃 said I； 〃are they
trustworthy？〃
〃Perfectly！ We are all very kind to them； and they are very
grateful to us。〃
〃Indeed； ma'am？ NowChristian George King？〃
〃Very much attached to us all。 Would die for us。〃
She was； as in my uneducated way I have observed； very beautiful
women almost always to be； so composed； that her composure gave
great weight to what she said； and I believed it。
Then； she pointed out to us the building like a powder magazine； and
explained to us in what manner the silver was brought from the mine；
and was brought over from the mainland； and was stored here。 The
Christopher Columbus would have a rich lading； she said； for there
had been a great yield that year； a much richer yield than usual；
and there was a chest of jewels besides the silver。
When we had looked about us； and were getting sheepish； through
fearing we were troublesome； she turned us over to a young woman；
English born but West India bred； who served her as her maid。 This
young woman was the widow of a non…commissioned officer in a
regiment of the line。 She had got married and widowed at St。
Vincent； with only a few months between the two events。 She was a
little saucy woman； with a bright pair of eyes； rather a neat little
foot and figure； and rather a neat little turned…up nose。 The sort
of young woman； I considered at the time； who appeared to invite you
to give her a kiss； and who would have slapped your face if you
accepted the invitation。
I couldn't make out her name at first； for； when she gave it in