o my
slain friend) all next day I spent seeking and searching for the dagger
had killed him. And as the sun set, I found it. Thereafter I passed
my days (since the pirate ship came not, doubtless owing to the late
tempest) studying the writing on the chart here, yet came no nearer a
solution, though my imagination was inflamed by mention of diamonds,
rubies and pearls, as ye may see written here for yourself. So the
time passed till one day at dawn I beheld a great ship, her mizzen and
fore-topmasts gone, standing in for my island, and as she drew nearer,
I knew her at last for that accursed pirate ship called "Ladies'
Delight." Being come to anchor within some half-mile or so, I saw a
boat put off for the reef, and lying well hid I watched this boat,
steered by a knowing hand, pass through the reef by a narrow channel
and so enter the lagoon. Now in this boat were six men and at the
rudder sat Tressady, and I saw his hook flash in the sun as he sprang
ashore. Having beached their boat, they fell to letting off their
calivers and pistols and hallooing:

"'Oho, Captain!' they roared, 'Bartlemy, ahoy!' And this outcry
maintained they for some while. But none appearing to answer, they
seemed to take counsel together, and thereafter set off three and
three, shouting as they went. And now it seemed they knew no more of
Bartlemy's hiding-place than I, whereat I rejoiced greatly. So lay I
all that forenoon watching their motions and hearing their outcries now
here, now there, until, marvelling at the absence of Bartlemy, they sat
down all six upon the spit of sand whereby I lay hid and fell to eating
and drinking, talking the while, though too low for me to hear what
passed. But all at once they seemed to fall to disputation, Tressady
and a small, dark fellow against the four, and thereafter to brawl and
fight, though this was more butchery than fight, Martin, for Tressady
shoots down two ere they can rise, and leaping up falls on the other
two with his hook! So with aid from the small, dark fellow they soon
have made an end o' their four companions, and leaving them lying, come
up the beach and sitting below the ledge of rock whereon I lay snug
hidden, fell to talk.

"'So, Ben, camarado mio, we be committed to it now! Since these four
be dead and all men well-loved by Bartlemy, needs must Bartlemy follow
'em!'

"'Aye!' says the man Ben, 'when we have found him. Though Bartlemy's a
fighting man!'

"'And bei