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I have before mentioned； the Fort； though it was not much of that。）
〃Then get you to the Fort as quick as you can； rouse up every soul
there； and fasten the gate。 I will bring in all those who are at
the Signal Hill。 If we are surrounded before we can join you； you
must make a sally and cut us out if you can。 The word among our men
is； 'Women and children！'〃
He burst away； like fire going before the wind over dry reeds。 He
roused up the seven men who were off duty； and had them bursting
away with him； before they know they were not asleep。 I reported
orders to Charker； and ran to the Fort； as I have never run at any
other time in all my life： no； not even in a dream。
The gate was not fast； and had no good fastening： only a double
wooden bar； a poor chain； and a bad lock。 Those； I secured as well
as they could be secured in a few seconds by one pair of hands； and
so ran to that part of the building where Miss Maryon lived。 I
called to her loudly by her name until she answered。 I then called
loudly all the names I knewMrs。 Macey （Miss Maryon's married
sister）； Mr。 Macey； Mrs。 Venning； Mr。 and Mrs。 Fisher； even Mr。 and
Mrs。 Pordage。 Then I called out； 〃All you gentlemen here； get up
and defend the place！ We are caught in a trap。 Pirates have
landed。 We are attacked！〃
At the terrible word 〃Pirates！〃for； those villains had done such
deeds in those seas as never can be told in writing； and can
scarcely be so much as thought ofcries and screams rose up from
every part of the place。 Quickly lights moved about from window to
window； and the cries moved about with them； and men； women； and
children came flying down into the square。 I remarked to myself；
even then； what a number of things I seemed to see at once。 I
noticed Mrs。 Macey coming towards me； carrying all her three
children together。 I noticed Mr。 Pordage in the greatest terror； in
vain trying to get on his Diplomatic coat； and Mr。 Kitten
respectfully tying his pocket…handkerchief over Mrs。 Pordage's
nightcap。 I noticed Mrs。 Belltott run out screaming； and shrink
upon the ground near me； and cover her face in her hands； and lie
all of a bundle； shivering。 But； what I noticed with the greatest
pleasure was； the determined eyes with which those men of the Mine
that I had thought fine gentlemen； came round me with what arms they
had： to the full as cool and resolute as I could be； for my life
ay； and for my soul； too； into the bargain！
The chief person being Mr。 Macey； I told him how the three men of
the guard would be at the gate directly； if they were not already
there； and how Sergeant Drooce and the other seven were gone to
bring in the outlying part of the people of Silver…Store。 I next
urged him； for the love of all who were dear to him； to trust no
Sambo； and； above all； if he could got any good chance at Christian
George King； not to lose it； but to put him out of the world。
〃I will follow your advice to the letter； Davis；〃 says he； 〃what
next？〃
My answer was； 〃I think； sir； I would recommend you next； to order
down such heavy furniture and lumber as can be moved； and make a
barricade within the gate。〃
〃That's good again；〃 says he： 〃will you see it done？〃
〃I'll willingly help to do it；〃 says I； 〃unless or until my
superior； Sergeant Drooce； gives me other orders。〃
He shook me by the hand； and having told off some of his companions
to help me； bestirred himself to look to the arms and ammunition。 A
proper quick； brave； steady； ready gentleman！
One of their three little children was deaf and dumb； Miss Maryon
had been from the first with all the children； soothing them； and
dressing them （poor little things； they had been brought out of
their beds）； and making them believe that it was a game of play； so
that some of them were now even laughing。 I had been working hard
with the others at the barricade； and had got up a pretty good
breast…work within the gate。 Drooce and the seven men had come
back； bringing in the people from the Signal Hill； and had worked
along with us： but； I had not so much as spoken a word to Drooce；
nor had Drooce so much as spoken a word to me； for we were both too
busy。 The breastwork was now finished； and I found Miss Maryon at
my side； with a child in her arms。 Her dark hair was fastened round
her head with a band。 She had a quantity of it； and it looked even
richer and more precious； put up hastily out of her way； than I had
seen it look when it was carefully arranged。 She was very pale； but
extraordinarily quiet and still。
〃Dear good Davis；〃 said she； 〃I have been waiting to speak one word
to you。〃
I turned to her directly。 If I had received a musket…ball in the
heart； and she had stood there； I almost believe I should have
turned to her before I dropped。
〃This pretty little creature；〃 said she； kissing the child in her
arms； who was playing with her hair and trying to pull it down；
〃cannot hear what we saycan hear nothing。 I trust you so much；
and have such great confidence in you； that I want you to make me a
promise。〃
〃What is it； Miss？〃
〃That if we are defeated； and you are absolutely sure of my being
taken； you will kill me。〃
〃I shall not be alive to do it； Miss。 I shall have died in your
defence before it comes to that。 They must step across my body to
lay a hand on you。〃
〃But； if you are alive； you brave soldier。〃 How she looked at me！
〃And if you cannot save me from the Pirates； living； you will save
me； dead。 Tell me so。〃
Well！ I told her I would do that at the last； if all else failed。
She took my handmy rough； coarse handand put it to her lips。
She put it to the child's lips； and the child kissed it。 I believe
I had the strength of half a dozen men in me； from that moment；
until the fight was over。
All this time； Mr。 Commissioner Pordage had been wanting to make a
Proclamation to the Pirates to lay down their arms and go away； and
everybody had been hustling him about and tumbling over him； while
he was calling for pen and ink to write it with。 Mrs。 Pordage； too；
had some curious ideas about the British respectability of her
nightcap （which had as many frills to it； growing in layers one
inside another； as if it was a white vegetable of the artichoke
sort）； and she wouldn't take the nightcap off； and would be angry
when it got crushed by the other ladies who were handing things
about； and； in short； she gave as much trouble as her husband did。
But； as we were now forming for the defence of the place； they were
both poked out of the way with no ceremony。 The children and ladies
were got into the little trench which surrounded the silver…house
（we were afraid of leaving them in any of the light buildings； lest
they should be set on fire）； and we made the best disposition we
could。 There was a pretty good store； in point of amount； of
tolerable swords and cutlasses。 Those were issued。 There were；
also； perhaps a score or so of spare muskets。 Those were brought
out。 To my astonishment； little Mrs。 Fisher that I had taken for a
doll and a baby； was not only very active in that service； but
volunteered to load the spare arms。
〃For； I understand it well；〃 says she； cheerfully； without a shake
in her voice。
〃I am a soldier's daughter and a sailor's sister； and I understand
it too；〃 says Miss Maryon； just in the same way。
Steady and busy behind where I stood； those two beautiful and
delicate young women fell to handling the guns； hammering the
flints； looking to the locks； and quietly directing others to pass
up powder and bullets from hand to hand； as unflinching as the best
of tried soldiers。
Sergeant Drooce had brought in word that the pirates were very
strong in numbersover a hundred was his estimateand that they
were not； even then； all landed； for； he had seen them in a very
good position on the further side of the Signal Hill；