to-night to collect the
beautiful moths--butterflies, you call them. I have some in this case."

"It's all dark," said Smithers sourly. "Gammon! No one can see to
catch butterflies at night."

"Ha-ha! You are a wise man. You English are so sharp. Look; I will
show you."

"You had better mind what you are doing, sir, or my rifle may go off."

"What do you think of me, my friend? See here. There are many great,
beautiful butterfly moths here in this grand forest."

"Yes; and if you come when the sun shines, with a net, you can catch
lots."

"Yes; and I come at night. I put sugar on the trees. The foolish moths
fly round to eat; and then I open this little lanterrne, which is not
burning now, and then I see to catch the beautiful moths." As
Smithers's visitor spoke, he tapped the dimly seen tin case slung under
his right arm. "If I had time I should show you, sir. But my boat is
waiting. I go down to the pier place and hold up my hand. My men see
me, and come and take me off."

"And all in the dark, mister," said the sentry in his gruffest tones.
"But you are not going down to the pier place to hold up your hand, and
your boatmen are not coming to take you off."

"I do not see what you mean, sir. I say they do come to take me off."

"Oh, do you?" growled Smithers. "And I say they don't come to take you
off, because my orders are to let no boat come in; and what's more, you
are my prisoner."

"Your prisonare, sir!" cried the visitor. "You make joke."

"Oh no, that's no joke, mister," said Smithers. "That's only obeying
orders."

"But, sir, I insist. I desire to go much."

"Can't help it, sir."

"Then what go you to do? You dare to say you shoot at me?"

"No, sir; not unless you try to run away. My orders would be to stop
you, and I should fire at your legs; and it might hurt you very much.
But whether it did or whether it didn't hurt, you wouldn't run any more
to-night."

"Sir," said the visitor pompously, "you talk like madness. If you do
not let me go down to my boat I shall report you to your officer."

"Yes, sir; that's what I mean you to do."

"What do you mean?"

"He will be here by-and-by to relieve guard, and then you can say what
you like, and he will take you to our Major."

"What! Faith of a gentleman, this man is too much mad! But there, I
forget myself. You like a glass of rack-ponch?"

"Yes, sir, I like it."

"Then I have none here; but I have in my pocket