Nothing has been said of Jumbo since he was employed in carrying the Moors’ heads on shore. He had devoted himself to Captain Benbow, and fully expected to continue in his service. Sam Stokes also had entered as a seaman on board the Benbow frigate, but he was greatly changed; he had never been quite himself since they sailed from Cadiz.
“I cannot help thinking of those Moors’ heads,” he said one day to Roger, who inquired what was the matter. “Sometimes I see them dangling, and they taunt me for having deserted the ship when I had sworn on their Koran to stick to them to the last.”
“I am not very well able to say whether you are right or wrong in what you have done; still I think you were right in escaping from the Moors, for you would have died a Mohammedan if you had remained with them, and I hope you will die a Christian,” said Roger, who was greatly puzzled to console poor Sam.
“Cannot say, sir,” murmured Sam. “I was a very poor one, or I should not have turned Moor; even to save my life. There were a good many other poor fellows who refused to turn, and got cruelly treated in consequence. It seems to me that I acted like a big coward, when, to save myself, I agreed to become a Moor, and I should have been served right if I had never been able to get away from them.”
“At all events, you have great reason to be thankful that you did get away from them,” said Roger. “Now, you have to see that you behave yourself like a Christian man in future.”
“I will try,” said Sam, gravely. “I wish you would speak to the Captain and have those heads thrown overboard.”
On this it occurred to Roger that the best thing was to tell Captain Benbow of the hallucination under which Sam was suffering.
“I will soon settle that matter,” said the Captain, and he directed one of the mates to go forward and tell the men that if he ordered them to heave overboard the Moorish heads ranged on the forecastle, they were to pretend to do so. Presently he came on deck, and calling Sam aft, asked how he dared to have allowed those heads to remain on the forecastle. He then, keeping Sam by him, ordered the men to heave them into the sea, and not let one remain. They, being prepared, went through the action of heaving heads overboard. Sam looked on with open eyes and mouth agape.
“Now, my man,” said the Captain, “we have got rid of those Moorish heads.”
“Ay, ay,” said Sam, looking over the side to see some of them floating astern. “I hope we have seen the last of them; it’s my belief they have all gone to the bottom.”