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ke。 But it was the minister that won us through。 At length they laughed； and Paradise； standing forward； swore that such a captain and such a mate were worth the lives of a thousand Spaniards。 To pleasure Kirby； they would depart this once from their ancient usage and let the prisoners go； though it was passing strange； … it being Kirby's wont to clap prisoners under hatches and fire their ship above them。 At the end of which speech the Spaniard began to rave； and sprang at me like a catamount。 Paradise put forth a foot and tripped him up； whereat the pirates laughed again； and held him back when he would have come at me a second time。
From the deck of the shattered galleon I watched her boats； with their heavy freight of cowering humanity； pull off toward the island。 Back upon my own poop； the grappling irons cast loose； and a swiftly widening ribbon of blue between us and the sinking ship； I looked at the pirates thronging the waist below me； and knew that the play was nearly over。 How many days； weeks； hours； before the lights would go out； I could not tell： they might burn until we took or lost another ship； the next hour might see that brief tragedy consummated。
I turned； and going below met Sparrow at the foot of the poop ladder。
〃I have sworn at these pirates until my hair stood on end；〃 he said ruefully。 〃God forgive me！ And I have bent into circles three half pikes in demonstration of the thing that would occur to them if they tempted me overmuch。 And I have sung them all the bloody and lascivious songs that ever I knew in my unregenerate days。 I have played the bravo and buffoon until they gaped for wonder。 I have damned myself to all eternity； I fear； but there'll be no mutiny this fair day。 It may arrive by to…morrow； though。〃
〃Likely enough；〃 I said。 〃Come within。 I have eaten nothing since yesterday。〃
〃I'll speak to Diccon first；〃 he answered； and went on toward the forecastle； while I entered the state cabin。 Here I found Mistress Percy kneeling beside the bench beneath the stern windows； her face buried in her outstretched arms； her dark hair shadowing her like a mantle。 When I spoke to her she did not answer。 With a sudden fear I stooped and touched her clasped hands。 A shudder ran through her frame； and she slowly raised a colorless face。
〃Are you come back？〃 she whispered。 〃I thought you would never come back。 I thought they had killed you。 I was only praying before I killed myself。〃
I took her hands and wrung them apart to rouse her； she was so white and cold； and spoke so strangely。 〃God forbid that I should die yet awhile； madam！〃 I said。 〃When I can no longer serve you； then I shall not care how soon I die。〃
The eyes with which she gazed upon me were still wide and unseeing。 〃The guns！〃 she cried； wresting her hands from mine and putting them to her ears。 〃Oh； the guns！ they shake the air。 And the screams and the trampling … the guns again！ 〃
I brought her wine and made her drink it； then sat beside her； and told her gently； over and over again； that there was no longer thunder of the guns or screams or trampling。 At last the long； tearless sobs ceased； and she rose from her knees； and let me lead her to the door of her cabin。 There she thanked me softly； with downcast eyes and lips that yet trembled； then vanished from my sight； leaving me first to wonder at that terror and emotion in her who seldom showed the thing she felt； and finally to conclude that it was not so wonderful after all。
We sailed on； … southwards to Cuba； then north again to the Lucayas and the Florida straits； looking for Spanish ships and their gold。 The lights yet burned； … now brightly； now so sunken that it seemed as though the next hour they must flicker out。 We； the players； flagged not in that desperate masque； but we knew that； in spite of all endeavor； the darkness was coming fast upon us。
Had it been possible； we would have escaped from the ship； hazarding new fortunes on the Spanish Main； in an open boat； sans food or water。 But the pirates watched us very closely。 They called me 〃captain〃 and 〃Kirby；〃 and for the jest's sake gave an exaggerated obedience； with laughter and flourishes； but none the less I was their prisoner； … I and those I had brought with me to that ship。
An islet； shaped like the crescent moon； rose from out the sea before us。 We needed water； and so we felt our way between the horns of the crescent into the blue crystal of a fairy harbor。 One low hill； rose…colored from base to summit； with scarce a hint of the green world below that canopy of giant bloom； a little silver beach with wonderful shells upon it； the sound of a waterfall and a lazy surf； … we smelt the fruits and the flowers； and a longing for the land came upon us。 Six men were left on the ship； and all besides went ashore。 Some rolled the water casks toward the sound of the cascade； others plunged into the forest； to return laden with strange and luscious fruits； birds； guanas； conies； … whatever eatable thing they could lay hands upon； others scattered along the beach to find turtle eggs； or； if fortune favored them； the turtle itself。 They laughed； they sang； they swore； until the isle rang to their merriment。 Like wanton children； they called to each other； to the screaming birds； to the echoing bloom…draped hill。
I spread a square of cloth upon the sand； in the shadow of a mighty tree that stood at the edge of the forest； and the King's ward took her seat upon it； and looked； in the golden light of the sinking sun； the very spirit of the isle。 By this we two were alone on the beach。 The hunters for eggs； led by Diccon； were out upon the farthest gleaming horn； from the wood came the loud laughter of the fruit gatherers； and a most rollicking song issuing from the mighty chest of Master Jeremy Sparrow。 With the woodsmen had gone my lord。
I walked a little way into the forest； and shouted a warning to Sparrow against venturing too far。 When I returned to the giant tree and the cloth in the shadow of its outer branches； my wife was writing on the sand with a pointed shell。 She had not seen or heard me； and I stood behind her and read what she wrote。 It was my name。 She wrote it three times； slowly and carefully； then she felt my presence； glanced swiftly up； smiled； rubbed out my name； and wrote Sparrow's； Diccon's； and the King's in succession。 〃Lest I should forget to make my letters；〃 she explained。
I sat down at her feet； and for some time we said no word。 The light； falling between the heavy blooms； cast bright sequins upon her dress and dark hair。 The blooms were not more pink than her cheeks； the recesses of the forest behind us not deeper or darker than her eyes。 The laughter and the song came faintly to us now。 The sun was low in the west； and a wonderful light slept upon the sea。
〃Last year we had a masque at court；〃 she said at length； breaking the long silence。 〃We had Calypso's island； and I was Calypso。 The island was built of boards covered with green velvet； and there was a mound upon it of pink silk roses。 There was a deep blue painted sea below； and a deep blue painted sky above。 My nymphs danced around the mound of roses； while I sat upon a real rock beside the painted sea