"Tell him, then,--tell all--that it will not be safe for any of ye to
venture off to the Fire-fly till I give ye a signal. The ships have got
closer to her, and a boat going off now would be sunk by a shot, for,
night as it is, they can see; and, if it continues clear over head, the
moon will not be needed to light to mischief--the stars shine bright
enough for that. And now, Jack, I'm going to make a confidant of you--a
proof that I think ye an honest rascal, at all events. Do not give what
I am going to write on this parchment to the Skipper until I have made a
signal from the ship. He is too old a sailor not to be on the look out;
but you and Springall must be with him. You owe me thus much service for
a wrong you once did me. It is meet that I forget and forgive it now."
"As to the wrong, Robin, it is clear out of my memory," replied Roupall.
"Gad! you must be a good scholar to write in the dark; but, I say, your
signals and book learning could be much clearer, if you would just step
in to the Skipper and explain. Here are we, like a parcel of bats and
owls, stowing away in the cliffs, waiting to get out to the ship; and I
know, from what old Hugh said, he is only watching for some messenger,
with some answer or another. I know he is about a negotiation, which I'd
never consent to, but fight a thousand troopers, had it not been that as
good as eight or ten took his permission, and walked off for the other
holdfast--fellows, to be sure, that never cruised with him above once.
Let us a-board, and we're safe. Would that the night were darker! for I
think, by the movement of the watchers, (to the Devil with them!) that
they suspect--ah! now you've finished, pray tell me what the signal will
be--a red light?"
"A red light!" repeated Robin musingly, as he rolled up the parchment;
"oh, yes! it will be a very red light."
"But, Bob, won't that alarm the ships?"
"Never mind if it does," replied Robin, casting off his boots, and
throwing away all the loose portions of his dress, so as to stand only
in his shirt and hose; "Give me your belt--it is broader than mine."
Roupall did as he requested, demanding, in his turn, if Robin was mad
enough to think of swimming to the Fire-fly.