I believe the readiness of our return volley had scattered the mutineers once more , for we were suffered without further molestation to get the poor old gamekeeper hoisted over the stockade and carried , groaning and bleeding , into the log-house . Poor old fellow , he had not uttered one word of surprise , complaint , fear , or even acquiescence from the very beginning of our troubles till now , when we had laid him down in the log-house to die . He had lain like a Trojan behind his mattress in the gallery ; he had followed every order silently , doggedly , and well ; he was the oldest of our party by a score of years ; and now , sullen , old , serviceable servant , it was he that was to die . The squire dropped down beside him on his knees and kissed his hand , crying like a child . `` Be I going , doctor ? '' he asked . `` Tom , my man , '' said I , `` you 're going home . '' `` I wish I had had a lick at them with the gun first , '' he replied . `` Tom , '' said the squire , `` say you forgive me , wo n't you ? '' `` Would that be respectful like , from me to you , squire ? '' was the answer . `` Howsoever , so be it , amen ! '' After a little while of silence , he said he thought somebody might read a prayer . `` It 's the custom , sir , '' he added apologetically . And not long after , without another word , he passed away . In the meantime the captain , whom I had observed to be wonderfully swollen about the chest and pockets , had turned out a great many various stores -- the British colours , a Bible , a coil of stoutish rope , pen , ink , the log-book , and pounds of tobacco . He had found a longish fir-tree lying felled and trimmed in the enclosure , and with the help of Hunter he had set it up at the corner of the log-house where the trunks crossed and made an angle . Then , climbing on the roof , he had with his own hand bent and run up the colours . This seemed mightily to relieve him . He re-entered the log-house and set about counting up the stores as if nothing else existed .
But he had an eye on XXXXX 's passage for all that , and as soon as all was over , came forward with another flag and reverently spread it on the body .
Howsoever Tom Trojan fir-tree first gamekeeper mattress molestation tobacco years