And since he had not, it could only be because he had other views.
For a long time the shuffling tread of laden men went on close above my head--for hours, I suppose.

The sun was sinking when at last the heel and swing of the schooner told me we were loosed and away.
No shot had been fired, save the first one calling the Indiaman to stop, and the second one that drove the command home.

To that extent I had been of service to them, bitter as surrender without a fight had been, for an utterly impossible resistance could only have ended one way and after much loss of life.
Long after it was dark a man came in with a lantern and a big bowl of soup, good soup such as we get in the Islands, and half a loaf of bread, and a pannikin of water.

He set the things beside me, and untied my hands, and placed the light so that it fell upon me, and stood patching me till I had finished.
From his size I thought it was Torode himself, but he never opened his mouth, nor I mine, except to put food into it.

When I had done, he tied my hands again and went out.
I slept like a top that night, in spite of it all, and felt better in the morning and not without hope.