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Page 12
"Sir," says Commissioner Pordage, "I trust there is going to be no
unnecessary cruelty committed?"
"Sir," returns the officer, "I trust not."
"That is not enough, sir," cries Commissioner Pordage, getting
wroth. "Captain Carton, I give you notice. Government requires you
to treat the enemy with great delicacy, consideration, clemency, and
forbearance."
"Sir," says Captain Carton, "I am an English officer, commanding
English Men, and I hope I am not likely to disappoint the
Government's just expectations. But, I presume you know that these
villains under their black flag have despoiled our countrymen of
their property, burnt their homes, barbarously murdered them and
their little children, and worse than murdered their wives and
daughters?"
"Perhaps I do, Captain Carton," answers Pordage, waving his hand,
with dignity; "perhaps I do not. It is not customary, sir, for
Government to commit itself."
"It matters very little, Mr. Pordage, whether or no. Believing that
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!"
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