Schillie imagined, from the peculiar way in which Pirate Hall was built, they meant to use it as a storehouse, and that probably the vessel would return, take off the ten men, now our neighbours, and only visit the island when they had to store away their ill-gotten gains, or from bad weather. I agreed with her, and further added, that probably the old house had been built for the same purpose, but that their rendezvous had been disturbed by the extraordinary snake which had been so nearly fatal to us. Now that it was dead they were again making use of the island, and we must be prepared for this and any other disagreeable occurrence that their proximity to us would cause.
Madame hoped that if they really took permanent possession of the island, we might in some manner contrive to quit it, either through their ships and boats, or from my brother's ship, which we knew had been stationed on the South American Coast, for the purpose of exterminating the pirates, and discovering their hordes. And if he ever pursued one, in endeavouring to reach this island, he might be led on after them, and so discover us.
I doubted their permitting so safe and convenient a spot being discovered. However time would show, and without any event occurring, that could be interesting to others than ourselves, time brought the pirate's vessel back again. Henceforward its visits were at all times and all hours, never staying above a day when it did come, then all hands worked hard to unload and refit again. Sometimes everybody went in it. Sometimes two or three remained behind. And it was on one of these occasions we had a most dreadful fright. Hearing a noise amongst the brushwood at the top of the cavern, we found out in a minute, one or all of the pirates were up there. Almost before the thought rushed through us, there was a crash, a whizzing through the air, and the large heavy body of one of the men fell into the midst of us, and lay there a shapeless bloody mass. Voices were immediately heard, calling to the man, and cautioning each other to beware. We heard the axe cutting away the brushwood, which fell in the cavern amongst us, and fancied faces were peeping down upon us, to see what had occurred to their companion. We stood and sat motionless. They called to him, and speculated on his fate, and wondered that they heard nothing from him. What should we do, if they discovered our ladders. It seemed however that they were too much alarmed at the unknown fate of their companion, to hazard their lives in search of him, but left the place, saying something about ropes and a further search.
And now what were we do? Here we were with the great body of a pirate in the midst of us, who, though dead, inspired us with almost as much horror and terror, as if alive. What could we do with the crushed and horrid remains. This seemed to oppress us the most, and in thinking who was to touch and move it, we lost sight of the danger we incurred from the other pirates coming back to look for the body.
Mother.—"Well! Schillie, what must we do?"
Schillie.—"I shall not touch the beast!"
Madame.—"The sight is frightful, I really must retire."
The three girls hung aloof, the little ones had hidden themselves out of sight. Though I said nothing, I looked at Hargrave and Jenny.
Hargrave (very mysteriously).—"I hassure you, Ma'am, I am not haccustomed, that is, Ma'am, it is no business of mine. I ham not in the 'abits of touching corpses and hexcuse me, Ma'am, this is so very—oh dear me whathever 'as come hover me. I shall faint, I know."
Jenny (very pale and resolute).—"I think, Ma'am, if I rolled it up in a sheet, we might drag it between us to some distant cavern, and bury it in the sand."