What could men so bidden do? To sail forth were hopeless. This great craft would overhaul us of an instant. To coast along the shore were perilous and must end in capture. For a moment Simon hesitated, and then ran our boat into the creek again.
"See, lads," he said, "here we must stand. The land is more friendly than the water. Yet I have prayed oft to die on the sea, when my time came."
We climbed on to the rocks, and he handed us a cutlass apiece and a knife such as seamen use, and he pointed to a square ledge of rock, that but one could enter upon at a time, since a thick jagged wall protected half the front.
"Stay, Simon," said I, "art sure she is a pirate?"
"Ay, lad, sure," he said; "none but a pirate so hails peaceable fisher craft"
"Simon," I said, "why not give in? Why should you and the lad die for me?"
The old man laid his rugged hand upon me, and the sun lit up with a rich light his red beard as he spoke.
"Have not the Brethren taught thee a word called 'Duty,' lad?" he slowly said, "a word for me, that was born a poor fisherman in the calling of the Lord's Apostles, as well as for thee born of a great house."
"Then it is thy duty thus to do?" I said, perceiving that naught could move him, and that indeed a noble strain within him forbade him to be moved.
"Ay, lad," said he, "and may we all, thou, Jacques, and I, old though I be, do our duty right well this morn!"