the log-book, and pounds of tobacco. He had found a longish fir-tree
lying felled and trimmed in the enclosure, and with the help of Hunter
he had set it up at the corner of the log-house where the trunks crossed
and made an angle. Then, climbing on the roof, he had with his own hand
bent and run up the colours.
This seemed mightily to relieve him. He re-entered the log-house and set
about counting up the stores as if nothing else existed. But he had an
eye on Tom s passage for all that, and as soon as all was over, came
forward with another flag and reverently spread it on the body.
Don t you take on, sir, he said, shaking the squire s hand. All s
well with him; no fear for a hand that s been shot down in his duty to
captain and owner. It mayn t be good divinity, but it s a fact.
Then he pulled me aside.
Dr. Livesey, he said, in how many weeks do you and squire expect the
consort?
I told him it was a question not of weeks but of months, that if we
were not back by the end of August Blandly was to send to find us, but
neither sooner nor later. You can calculate for yourself, I said.
Why, yes, returned the captain, scratching his head; and making a
large allowance, sir, for all the gifts of Providence, I should say we
were pretty close hauled.
How do you mean? I asked.
It s a pity, sir, we lost that second load. That s what I mean,
replied the captain. As for powder and shot, we ll do. But the rations
are short, very short--so short, Dr. Livesey, that we re perhaps as well
without that extra mouth.
And he pointed to the dead body under the flag.
Just then, with a roar and a whistle, a round-shot passed high above the
roof of the log-house and plumped far beyond us in the wood.
96