按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had reached the quarter…deck and cut down the pirate chiefa
fine black…bearded fellow in his way； but hardly up to date in
his parry…and…thrust business。 Those whom our cutlasses had
spared were marched out along their own plank； in the
approved old fashion； and in time the scuppers relieved the decks
of the blood that made traffic temporarily impossible。 And all
the time the British…man…of…war admired and applauded in the
offing。
As soon as we had got through with the necessary throat…cutting
and swabbing…up all hands set to work to discover treasure； and
soon the deck shone bravely with ingots and Mexican dollars and
church plate。 There were ropes of pearls； too； and big stacks of
nougat； and rubies； and gold watches； and Turkish Delight in
tubs。 But I left these trifles to my crew； and continued the
search alone。 For by this time I had determined that there
should be a Princess on board； carried off to be sold in
captivity to the bold bad Moors； and now with beating heart
awaiting her rescue by me； the Perseus of her dreams。
I came upon her at last in the big state…cabin in the stern； and
she wore a holland pinafore over her Princess…clothes； and
she had brown wavy hair； hanging down her back； just likewell；
never mind； she had brown wavy hair。 When gentle…folk meet；
courtesies pass； and I will not weary other people with relating
all the compliments and counter…compliments that we exchanged；
all in the most approved manner。 Occasions like this； when
tongues wagged smoothly and speech flowed free； were always
especially pleasing to me； who am naturally inclined to be
tongue…tied with women。 But at last ceremony was over； and we
sat on the table and swung our legs and agreed to be fast
friends。 And I showed her my latest knifeone…bladed； horn…
handled； terrific； hung round my neck with string； and she showed
me the chiefest treasures the ship contained； hidden away in a
most private and particular lockera musical box with a glass
top that let you see the works； and a railway train with
real lines and a real tunnel； and a tin iron…clad that followed a
magnet； and was ever so much handier in many respects than the
real full…sized thing that still lay and applauded in the offing。
There was high feasting that night in my cabin。 We invited the
captain of the man…of…warone could hardly do less； it seemed to
meand the Princess took one end of the table and I took the
other； and the captain was very kind and nice； and told us fairy…
stories； and asked us both to come and stay with him next
Christmas； and promised we should have some hunting； on real
ponies。 When he left I gave him some ingots and things； and saw
him into his boat； and then I went round the ship and addressed
the crew in several set speeches； which moved them deeply； and
with my own hands loaded up the carronade with grape…shot till it
ran over at the mouth。 This done； I retired into the cabin
with the Princess； and locked the door。 And first we started the
musical box； taking turns to wind it up； and then we made toffee
in the cabin…stove； and then we ran the train round and round the
room； and through and through the tunnel； and lastly we swam the
tin ironclad in the bath； with the soap…dish for a pirate。
Next morning the air was rich with spices； porpoises rolled and
gambolled round the bows； and the South Sea Islands lay full in
view （they were the REAL South Sea Islands； of coursenot the
badly furnished journeymen…islands that are to be perceived on
the map）。 As for the pirate brigantine and the man…of…war； I
don't really know what became of them。 They had played their
part very well； for the time； but I wasn't going to bother to
account for them； so I just let them evaporate quietly。 The
islands provided plenty of fresh occupation。 For here were
little bays of silvery sand； dotted with land…crabs； groves
of palm…trees wherein monkeys frisked and pelted each other with
cocoanuts； and caves； and sites for stockades； and hidden
treasures significantly indicated by skulls； in riotous plenty；
while birds and beasts of every colour and all latitudes made
pleasing noises which excited the sporting instinct。
The islands lay conveniently close together； which necessitated
careful steering as we threaded the devious and intricate
channels that separated them。 Of course no one else could be
trusted at the wheel； so it is not surprising that for some time
I quite forgot that there was such a thing as a Princess on
board。 This is too much the masculine way； whenever there's any
real business doing。 However； I remembered her as soon as the
anchor was dropped； and I went below and consoled her； and we had
breakfast together； and she was allowed to 〃pour out；〃 which
quite made up for everything。 When breakfast was over we ordered
out the captain's gig； and rowed all about the islands； and
paddled； and explored； and hunted bisons and beetles and
butterflies； and found everything we wanted。 And I gave her pink
shells and tortoises and great milky pearls and little green
lizards； and she gave me guinea…pigs； and coral to make into
waistcoat…buttons； and tame sea…otters； and a real pirate's
powder…horn。 It was a prolific day and a long…lasting one； and
weary were we with all our hunting and our getting and our
gathering； when at last we clambered into the captain's gig and
rowed back to a late tea。
The following day my conscience rose up and accused me。 This was
not what I had come out to do。 These triflings with pearls and
parrakeets； these al fresco luncheons off yams and bananas
there was no 〃making of history〃 about them； I resolved that
without further dallying I would turn to and capture the French
frigate； according to the original programme。 So we upped anchor
with the morning tide； and set all sail for San Salvador。
Of course I had no idea where San Salvador really was。 I haven't
now； for that matter。 But it seemed a right…sounding sort of
name for a place that was to have a bay that was to hold a French
frigate that was to be cut out； so； as I said； we sailed for San
Salvador； and made the bay about eight bells that evening； and
saw the topmasts of the frigate over the headland that sheltered
her。 And forthwith there was summoned a Council of War。
It is a very serious matter； a Council of War。 We had not held
one hitherto； pirates and truck of that sort not calling for such
solemn treatment。 But in an affair that might almost be
called international； it seemed well to proceed gravely and by
regular steps。 So we met in my cabinthe Princess； and the
bo'sun； and a boy from the real…life lot； and a man from among
the book…men； and a fellow from No…man's…land； and myself in the
chair。
The bo'sun had taken part in so many cuttings…out during his past
career that practically he did all the talking； and was the
Council of War himself。 It was to be an affair of boats； he
explained。