Page:Dickens - A Child s History of England, 1900.djvu/679

Rh since our hard work began. Last night's ball had been given, on the leak's being repaired, and the careening done. The worst of the work was over, and tomorrow we were to begin to get the sloop afloat again.

We marines were now drawn up here, under arms. The chase-party were drawn up separate. The men of the Columbus were drawn up separate. The officers stepped out into the midst of the three parties, and spoke so all might hear. Captain Carton was the officer in command, and he had a spy-glass in his hand. His coxswain stood by him with another spy-glass, and with a slate on which he seemed to have been taking down signals. "Now, men I" says Captain Carton; "I have to let you know, for your satisfaction: Firstly, that there are ten pirate-boats, strongly manned and armed, lying hidden up a creek yonder on the coast, under the overhanging branches of the dense trees. Secondly, that they will certainly come out this night when the moon rises, on a pillaging and murdering expedition, of which some part of the main land is the object. Thirdly—don't cheer, men!—that we will give chase, and if we can get at them, rid the world of them, please God!"

Nobody spoke, thatt I heard, and nobody moved, that I saw. Yet there was a kind of ring, as if every man answered and approved with the best blood that was inside of him.

"Sir," says Captain Maryon, "I beg to volunteer, on this service, with my boats. My people volunteer, to the ship's boys,"

"In his majesty's name and service," the other answers, touching his hat, "I accept your aid with pleasure. Lieutenant Linderwood, how will you divide your men?"

I was ashamed—I give it out to be written down as large and plain as possible—I was heart and soul ashamed of my thoughts of those two sick officers. Captain Maryon and Lieutenant Linderwood, when I saw them, then and there. The spirit of these two gentlemen beat down their illness (and very ill I knew them to be) like Saint George beating down the dragon. Pain and weakness, want of ease and want of rest, had no more place in their minds than fear itself. Meaning now to express for my lady to write down, exactly what I felt then and there, I felt this: You two brave fellows