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Page 26
"What is it?" cries Captain Maryon from his boat. All silent then,
but the echoes rolling away.
"It is a Traitor and a Spy," said Captain Carton, handing me the gun
to load again. "And I think the other name of the animal is
Christian George King!"
Shot through the heart. Some of the people ran round to the spot,
and drew him out, with the slime and wet trickling down his face;
but his face itself would never stir any more to the end of time.
"Leave him hanging to that tree," cried Captain Carton; his boat's
crew giving way, and he leaping ashore. "But first into this wood,
every man in his place. And boats! Out of gunshot!"
It was a quick change, well meant and well made, though it ended in
disappointment. No Pirates were there; no one but the Spy was
found. It was supposed that the Pirates, unable to retake us, and
expecting a great attack upon them to be the consequence of our
escape, had made from the ruins in the Forest, taken to their ship
along with the Treasure, and left the Spy to pick up what
intelligence he could. In the evening we went away, and he was left
hanging to the tree, all alone, with the red sun making a kind of a
dead sunset on his black face.
Next day, we gained the settlement on the Mosquito coast for which
we were bound. Having stayed there to refresh seven days, and
having been much commended, and highly spoken of, and finely
entertained, we Marines stood under orders to march from the Town-
Gate (it was neither much of a town nor much of a gate), at five in
the morning.
My officer had joined us before then. When we turned out at the
gate, all the people were there; in the front of them all those who
had been our fellow-prisoners, and all the seamen.
"Davis," says Lieutenant Linderwood. "Stand out, my friend!"
I stood out from the ranks, and Miss Maryon and Captain Carton came
up to me.
"Dear Davis," says Miss Maryon, while the tears fell fast down her
face, "your grateful friends, in most unwillingly taking leave of
you, ask the favour that, while you bear away with you their
affectionate remembrance, which nothing can ever impair, you will
also take this purse of money--far more valuable to you, we all
know, for the deep attachment and thankfulness with which it is
offered, than for its own contents, though we hope those may prove
useful to you, too, in after life."
I got out, in answer, that I thankfully accepted the attachment and
affection, but not the money. Captain Carton looked at me very
attentively, and stepped back, and moved away. I made him my bow as
he stepped back, to thank him for being so delicate.
"No, miss," said I, "I think it would break my heart to accept of
money. But, if you could condescend to give to a man so ignorant
and common as myself, any little thing you have worn--such as a bit
of ribbon--"
She took a ring from her finger, and put it in my hand. And she
rested her hand in mine, while she said these words:
"The brave gentlemen of old--but not one of them was braver, or had
a nobler nature than you--took such gifts from ladies, and did all
their good actions for the givers' sakes. If you will do yours for
mine, I shall think with pride that I continue to have some share in
the life of a gallant and generous man."
For the second time in my life she kissed my hand. I made so bold,
for the first time, as to kiss hers; and I tied the ring at my
breast, and I fell back to my place.
Then, the horse-litter went out at the gate with Sergeant Drooce in
it; and the horse-litter went out at the gate with Mrs. Belltott in
it; and Lieutenant Linderwood gave the word of command, "Quick
march!" and, cheered and cried for, we went out of the gate too,
marching along the level plain towards the serene blue sky, as if we
were marching straight to Heaven.
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