“I dunno; I was too far off to hear.”
“Well, go on.”
“I thought he was up to some game, and I lay there and watched him, and I’ve been watching of him ever since, till to-night he crawled into the stores, after hiding all yes’ afternoon and to-night, and I see him come creeping out again with a rope, and he put it over his shoulder. And then he climbed up one o’ those cracks, and I went arter him, and he got right out there past the water-hole, and then crep’ all along till he got to the place where you hauled Mr Roylance and t’other sailor up with a rope. And I crep’ up close as I could, and lay there watching him hours till three boats come round from the other side, and then Mr Terry tied the end of the rope round a big block, and let the other end down, and I see a French sailor come up, and then another, and another, and they let down more rope, and they’re all climbed up, and they’re coming right up yonder over the top by the flag-post.”
“How do you know?”
“’Cos I come that way first, and they was all coming close up arter me all the time, and I had to come on my hands and knees.”
“Why didn’t you come the other way, and give the alarm in front?”
“’Cos they’ve got lots o’ fellows there with swords and pistols. I heard ’em cock.”
“Yah! it’s all a fancy,” growled Strake; “he’s scared, and dreamed it.”
“I didn’t,” cried the boy.
“Couldn’t climb up there,” growled Strake.