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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 Maryon； 〃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！〃
〃If you had seen him； miss；〃 I told her； 〃as I saw him when he
volunteered； you would have known that his spirit is strong enough
for any strife。 It will bear his body； miss； to wherever duty calls
him。 It will always bear him to an honourable life； or a brave
death。〃
〃Heaven bless you！〃 says she； touching my arm。 〃I know it。 Heaven
bless you！〃
Mrs。 Belltott surprised me by trembling and saying nothing。 They
were still standing looking towards the sea and listening； after the
relief had come round。 It continuing very dark； I asked to be
allowed to take them back。 Miss Maryon thanked me； and she put her
arm in mine； and I did take them back。 I have now got to make a
confession that will appear singular。 After I had left them； I laid
myself down on my face on the beach； and cried for the first time
since I had frightened birds as a boy at Snorridge Bottom； to think
what a poor； ignorant； low…placed； private soldier I was。
It was only for half a minute or so。 A man can't at all times be
quite master of himself； and it was only for half a minute or so。
Then I up and went to my hut； and turned into my hammock； and fell
asleep with wet eyelashes； and a sore； sore heart。 Just as I had
often done when I was a child； and had been worse used than usual。
I slept （as a child under those circumstances might） very sound； and
yet very sore at heart all through my sleep。 I was awoke by the
words； 〃He is a determined man。〃 I had sprung out of my hammock；
and had seized my firelock； and was standing on the ground； saying
the words myself。 〃He is a determined man。〃 But； the curiosity of
my state was； that I seemed to be repeating them after somebody； and
to have been wonderfully startled by hearing them。
As soon as I came to myself； I went out of the hut； and away to
where the guard was。 Charker challenged：
〃Who goes there？〃
〃A friend。〃
〃Not Gill？〃 says he； as he shouldered his piece。
〃Gill；〃 says I。
〃Why； what the deuce do you do out of your hammock？〃 says he。
〃Too hot for sleep；〃 says I； 〃is all right？〃
〃Right！〃 says Charker； 〃yes； yes； all's right enough here； what
should be wrong here？ It's the boats that we want to know of。
Except for fire…flies twinkling about； and the lonesome splashes of
great creatures as they drop into the water； there's nothing going
on here to ease a man's mind from the boats。〃
The moon was above the sea； and had risen； I should say； some half…
an…hour。 As Charker spoke； with his face towards the sea； I；
looking landward； suddenly laid my right hand on his breast； and
said； 〃Don't move。 Don't turn。 Don't raise your voice！ You never
saw a Maltese face here？〃
〃No。 What do you mean？〃 he asks； staring at me。
〃Nor yet； an English face； with one eye and a patch across the
nose？〃
〃No。 What ails you？ What do you mean？〃
I had seen both； looking at us round the stem of a cocoa…nut tree；
where the moon struck them。 I had seen that Sambo Pilot； with one
hand laid on the stem of the tree； drawing them back into the heavy
shadow。 I had seen their naked cutlasses twinkle and shine； like
bits of the moonshine in the water that had got blown ashore among
the trees by the light wind。 I had seen it all； in a moment。 And I
saw in a moment （as any man would）； that the signalled move of the
pirates on the mainland was a plot and a feint； that the leak had
been made to disable the sloop； that the boats had been tempted
away； to leave the Island unprotected； that the pirates had landed
by some secreted way at the back； and that Christian George King was
a double…dyed traitor； and a most infernal villain。
I considered； still all in one and the same moment； that Charker was
a brave man； but not quick with his head； and that Sergeant Drooce；
with a much better head； was close by。 All I said to Charker was；
〃I am afraid we are betrayed。 Turn your back full to the moonlight
on the sea； and cover the stem of the cocoa…nut tree which will then
be right before you； at the height of a man's heart。 Are you
right？〃
〃I am right；〃 says Charker； turning instantly； and falling into the
position with a nerve of iron； 〃and right ain't left。 Is it； Gill？〃
A few seconds brought me to Sergeant Drooce's hut。 He was fast
asleep； and being a heavy sleeper； I had to lay my hand upon him to
rouse him。 The instant I touched him he came rolling out of his
hammock； and upon me like a tiger。 And a tiger he was； except that
he knew what he was up to； in his utmost heat； as well as any man。
I had to struggle with him pretty hard to bring him to his senses；
panting all the while （for he gave me a breather）； 〃Sergeant； I am
Gill Davis！ Treachery！ Pirates on the Island！〃
The last words brought him round； and he took his hands of。 〃I have
seen two of them within this minute；〃 said I。 And so I told him
what I had told Harry Charker。
His soldierly； though tyrannical； head was clear in an instant。 He
didn't waste one word； even of surprise。 〃Order the guard；〃 says
he； 〃to draw off quietly into the Fort。〃 （They called the enclosure
I have before mentioned； the Fort； though it was not much of that。）
〃Then get you