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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
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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
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DREAM DAYS
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
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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。 A boat's…crew
would be told off to cut the cables； and two boats'…crews to climb stealthily
on board and overpower the sleeping Frenchmen； and two more boats'
crews to haul the doomed vessel out of the bay。 This made rather a
demand on my limited resources as to crews； but I was prepared to stretch
a point in a case like this； and I speedily brought my numbers up to the
requisite efficiency。
The night was both moonless and star…lessI had arranged all that
when the boats pushed off from the side of our vessel； and made their way
toward the ship that； unfortunately for itself； had been singled out by Fate
to carry me home in triumph。 I was in excellent spirits； and； indeed； as I
stepped over the side； a lawless idea crossed my mind； of discovering
another Princess on board the frigatea French one this time； I had heard
that that sort was rather nice。 But I abando