I was not new to violent death -- I have served his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland , and got a wound myself at Fontenoy -- but I know my pulse went dot and carry one . `` Jim Hawkins is gone , '' was my first thought . It is something to have been an old soldier , but more still to have been a doctor . There is no time to dilly-dally in our work . And so now I made up my mind instantly , and with no time lost returned to the shore and jumped on board the jolly-boat . By good fortune Hunter pulled a good oar . We made the water fly , and the boat was soon alongside and I aboard the schooner . I found them all shaken , as was natural . The squire was sitting down , as white as a sheet , thinking of the harm he had led us to , the good soul ! And one of the six forecastle hands was little better . `` There 's a man , '' says Captain Smollett , nodding towards him , `` new to this work . He came nigh-hand fainting , doctor , when he heard the cry . Another touch of the rudder and that man would join us . '' I told my plan to the captain , and between us we settled on the details of its accomplishment . We put old Redruth in the gallery between the cabin and the forecastle , with three or four loaded muskets and a mattress for protection . Hunter brought the boat round under the stern-port , and Joyce and I set to work loading her with powder tins , muskets , bags of biscuits , kegs of pork , a cask of cognac , and my invaluable medicine chest . In the meantime , the squire and the captain stayed on deck , and the latter hailed the coxswain , who was the principal man aboard . `` Mr. Hands , '' he said , `` here are two of us with a brace of pistols each . If any one of you six make a signal of any description , that man 's dead . '' They were a good deal taken aback , and after a little consultation one and all tumbled down the fore companion , thinking no doubt to take us on the rear .
But when they saw XXXXX waiting for them in the sparred galley , they went about ship at once , and a head popped out again on deck .
Hands Hunter Joyce Redruth fainting first jolly-boat mattress stern-port tins