body moved, that I saw. Yet there was
a kind of ring, as if every man answered and approved with the best blood
that was inside of him.

"Sir," says Captain Maryon, "I beg to volunteer on this service, with my
boats. My people volunteer, to the ship's boys."

"In His Majesty's name and service," the other answers, touching his hat,
"I accept your aid with pleasure. Lieutenant Linderwood, how will you
divide your men?"

I was ashamed--I give it out to be written down as large and plain as
possible--I was heart and soul ashamed of my thoughts of those two sick
officers, Captain Maryon and Lieutenant Linderwood, when I saw them, then
and there. The spirit in those two gentlemen beat down their illness
(and very ill I knew them to be) like Saint George beating down the
Dragon. Pain and weakness, want of ease and want of rest, had no more
place in their minds than fear itself. Meaning now to express for my
lady to write down, exactly what I felt then and there, I felt this: "You
two brave fellows that I had been so grudgeful of, I know that if you
were dying you would put it off to get up and do your best, and then you
would be so modest that in lying down again to die, you would hardly say,
'I did it!'"

It did me good. It really did me good.

But, to go back to where I broke off. Says Captain Carton to Lieutenant
Linderwood, "Sir, how will you divide your men? There is not room for
all; and a few men should, in any case, be left here."

There was some debate about it. At last, it was resolved to leave eight
Marines and four seamen on the Island, besides the sloop's two boys. And
because it was considered that the friendly Sambos would only want to be
commanded in case of any danger (though none at all was apprehended
there), the officers were in favour of leaving the two non-commissioned
officers, Drooce and Charker. It was a heavy disappointment to them,
just as my being one of the left was a heavy disappointment to me--then,
but not soon afterwards. We men drew lots for it, and I drew "Island."
So did Tom Packer. So of course, did four more of our rank and file.

When this was settled, verbal instructions were given to all hands to
keep the intended expedition secret, in order that the women and children
might not be alarmed, or the expedition put in a difficulty by more
volunteers. The assembly was to be on that same spot at sunset. Every
man was to keep up an appearance, meanwhile, of occupying h