Before supper was eaten we buried old Tom in the sand and stood round him for a while bare-headed in the breeze . A good deal of firewood had been got in , but not enough for the captain 's fancy , and he shook his head over it and told us we `` must get back to this tomorrow rather livelier . '' Then , when we had eaten our pork and each had a good stiff glass of brandy grog , the three chiefs got together in a corner to discuss our prospects . It appears they were at their wits ' end what to do , the stores being so low that we must have been starved into surrender long before help came . But our best hope , it was decided , was to kill off the buccaneers until they either hauled down their flag or ran away with the HISPANIOLA . From nineteen they were already reduced to fifteen , two others were wounded , and one at least -- the man shot beside the gun -- severely wounded , if he were not dead . Every time we had a crack at them , we were to take it , saving our own lives , with the extremest care . And besides that , we had two able allies -- rum and the climate . As for the first , though we were about half a mile away , we could hear them roaring and singing late into the night ; and as for the second , the doctor staked his wig that , camped where they were in the marsh and unprovided with remedies , the half of them would be on their backs before a week . `` So , '' he added , `` if we are not all shot down first they 'll be glad to be packing in the schooner . It 's always a ship , and they can get to buccaneering again , I suppose . '' `` First ship that ever I lost , '' said Captain Smollett . I was dead tired , as you may fancy ; and when I got to sleep , which was not till after a great deal of tossing , I slept like a log of wood . The rest had long been up and had already breakfasted and increased the pile of firewood by about half as much again when I was wakened by a bustle and the sound of voices . `` Flag of truce ! '' I heard someone say ; and then , immediately after , with a cry of surprise , `` Silver himself ! '' And at that , up I jumped , and rubbing my eyes , ran to a loophole in the wall . 20 Silver 's Embassy SURE enough , there were two men just outside the stockade , one of them waving a white cloth , the other , no less a person than Silver himself , standing placidly by . It was still quite early , and the coldest morning that I think I ever was abroad in -- a chill that pierced into the marrow . The sky was bright and cloudless overhead , and the tops of the trees shone rosily in the sun .
But where Silver stood with his lieutenant , all was still in shadow , and they waded knee-deep in a low white vapour that had crawled during the XXXXX out of the morass .
HISPANIOLA Smollett Tom buccaneers firewood first grog night second week