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them our one little volley at short distance。 〃Then；〃 says he；
〃receive them behind your breastwork on the bayonet； and at least
let every man of you pin one of the cursed cockchafers through the
body。〃
We checked them by our fire； slight as it was； and we checked them
at the breastwork。 However； they broke over it like swarms of
devilsthey were； really and truly； more devils than menand then
it was hand to hand； indeed。
We clubbed our muskets and laid about us； even then； those two
ladiesalways behind mewere steady and ready with the arms。 I
had a lot of Maltese and Malays upon me； and； but for a broadsword
that Miss Maryon's own hand put in mine； should have got my end from
them。 But； was that all？ No。 I saw a heap of banded dark hair and
a white dress come thrice between me and them； under my own raised
right arm； which each time might have destroyed the wearer of the
white dress； and each time one of the lot went down； struck dead。
Drooce was armed with a broadsword； too； and did such things with
it； that there was a cry； in half…a…dozen languages； of 〃Kill that
sergeant！〃 as I knew； by the cry being raised in English； and taken
up in other tongues。 I had received a severe cut across the left
arm a few moments before； and should have known nothing of it；
except supposing that somebody had struck me a smart blow； if I had
not felt weak； and seen myself covered with spouting blood； and； at
the same instant of time； seen Miss Maryon tearing her dress and
binding it with Mrs。 Fisher's help round the wound。 They called to
Tom Packer； who was scouring by； to stop and guard me for one
minute； while I was bound； or I should bleed to death in trying to
defend myself。 Tom stopped directly； with a good sabre in his hand。
In that same momentall things seem to happen in that same moment；
at such a timehalf…a…dozen had rushed howling at Sergeant Drooce。
The Sergeant； stepping back against the wall； stopped one howl for
ever with such a terrible blow； and waited for the rest to come on；
with such a wonderfully unmoved face； that they stopped and looked
at him。
〃See him now！〃 cried Tom Packer。 〃Now； when I could cut him out！
Gill！ Did I tell you to mark my words？〃
I implored Tom Packer in the Lord's name； as well as I could in my
faintness； to go to the Sergeant's aid。
〃I hate and detest him；〃 says Tom； moodily wavering。 〃Still； he is
a brave man。〃 Then he calls out； 〃Sergeant Drooce； Sergeant Drooce！
Tell me you have driven me too hard； and are sorry for it。〃
The Sergeant； without turning his eyes from his assailants； which
would have been instant death to him； answers。
〃No。 I won't。〃
〃Sergeant Drooce！〃 cries Tom； in a kind of an agony。 〃I have passed
my word that I would never save you from Death； if I could； but
would leave you to die。 Tell me you have driven me too hard and are
sorry for it； and that shall go for nothing。〃
One of the group laid the Sergeant's bald bare head open。 The
Sergeant laid him dead。
〃I tell you；〃 says the Sergeant； breathing a little short； and
waiting for the next attack； 〃no。 I won't。 If you are not man
enough to strike for a fellow…soldier because he wants help； and
because of nothing else； I'll go into the other world and look for a
better man。〃
Tom swept upon them； and cut him out。 Tom and he fought their way
through another knot of them； and sent them flying； and came over to
where I was beginning again to feel； with inexpressible joy； that I
had got a sword in my hand。
They had hardly come to us； when I heard； above all the other
noises； a tremendous cry of women's voices。 I also saw Miss Maryon；
with quite a new face； suddenly clap her two hands over Mrs。
Fisher's eyes。 I looked towards the silver…house； and saw Mrs。
Venningstanding upright on the top of the steps of the trench；
with her gray hair and her dark eyeshide her daughter's child
behind her； among the folds of her dress； strike a pirate with her
other hand； and fall； shot by his pistol。
The cry arose again； and there was a terrible and confusing rush of
the women into the midst of the struggle。 In another moment；
something came tumbling down upon me that I thought was the wall。
It was a heap of Sambos who had come over the wall； and of four men
who clung to my legs like serpents； one who clung to my right leg
was Christian George King。
〃Yup； So…Jeer；〃 says he； 〃Christian George King sar berry glad So…
Jeer a prisoner。 Christian George King been waiting for So…Jeer
sech long time。 Yup； yup！〃
What could I do； with five…and…twenty of them on me； but be tied
hand and foot？ So； I was tied hand and foot。 It was all over now
boats not come backall lost！ When I was fast bound and was put up
against the wall； the one…eyed English convict came up with the
Portuguese Captain； to have a look at me。
〃See！〃 says he。 〃Here's the determined man！ If you had slept
sounder； last night； you'd have slept your soundest last night； my
determined man。〃
The Portuguese Captain laughed in a cool way； and with the flat of
his cutlass； hit me crosswise； as if I was the bough of a tree that
he played with： first on the face； and then across the chest and
the wounded arm。 I looked him steady in the face without tumbling
while he looked at me； I am happy to say； but； when they went away；
I fell； and lay there。
The sun was up； when I was roused and told to come down to the beach
and be embarked。 I was full of aches and pains； and could not at
first remember； but； I remembered quite soon enough。 The killed
were lying about all over the place； and the Pirates were burying
their dead； and taking away their wounded on hastily…made litters；
to the back of the Island。 As for us prisoners； some of their boats
had come round to the usual harbour； to carry us off。 We looked a
wretched few； I thought； when I got down there； still； it was
another sign that we had fought well； and made the enemy suffer。
The Portuguese Captain had all the women already embarked in the
boat he himself commanded； which was just putting off when I got
down。 Miss Maryon sat on one side of him； and gave me a moment's
look； as full of quiet courage； and pity； and confidence； as if it
had been an hour long。 On the other side of him was poor little
Mrs。 Fisher； weeping for her child and her mother。 I was shoved
into the same boat with Drooce and Packer； and the remainder of our
party of marines： of whom we had lost two privates； besides
Charker； my poor； brave comrade。 We all made a melancholy passage；
under the hot sun over to the mainland。 There； we landed in a
solitary place； and were mustered on the sea sand。 Mr。 and Mrs。
Macey and their children were amongst us； Mr。 and Mrs。 Pordage； Mr。
Kitten； Mr。 Fisher； and Mrs。 Belltott。 We mustered only fourteen
men； fifteen women； and seven children。 Those were all that
remained of the English who had lain down to sleep last night；
unsuspecting and happy； on the Island of Silver…Store。
CHAPTER III ｛1｝THE RAFTS ON THE RIVER
We contrived to keep afloat all that night； and； the stream running
strong with us； to glide a long way down the river。 But； we found
the night to be a dangerous time for such navigation； on account of
the eddies and rapids； and it was therefore settled next day that in
future we would bring…to at sunset； and encamp on the shore。 As we
knew of no boats that the Pirates possessed； up at the Prison in the
Woods； we settled always to encamp on the opposite side of the
stream； so as to have the breadth of the river between our sleep and
them。 Our opinion was； that if they were acquainted with any near
way by land to the mouth of this river； they would come up it in
force； and retake us or kill us； according as they could； but that
if that was not the case； and if the river ran by none of their
secret stations； we might escape。