Is the first rocket ready ?" "Ay, ay, Cap'n." "And the flint and steel ?" "Here, between my knees: and Oke beside me, ready with the fuse.
Got the fuse, Oke ?" "If--if you p-please, sir--" "What's wrong ?" "If you p-please, sir, I've chewed up the fuse by mistake!" "_What_'s he saying ?" "I got it m-mixed up, sir, here in the d-dead darkness with my quid o' baccy--and I th-think I'm goin' to be sick." "'Tis the very right hand o' Providence, then, that I brought a spare one," spoke up Pengelly.

"Here, Un' Issy--_you_ take hold--" "Everything must follow in order, mind," Captain Pond commanded.
"As soon as the first boat takes ground, you challenge: then count five, and up goes the rocket.

Eh ?" The Captain swung round at the sound of another footstep on the shingle.

"Is that you, Clogg?
Man, but you made me jump!" "Captain Pond! Oh, Captain Pond!" stammered the new-comer, who was indeed no other than Mr.Clogg, senior lieutenant of the Diehards.
"Why have you left your post, sir?
Don't stand there clinky-clanking your sword on the pebbles--catch it up under your arm, sir: you're making noise enough to scare the dead! Now, then, what have you to report?
Nothing wrong with the main body, I hope ?" "A man might call it ghosts"-- Mr.Clogg in the darkness passed a sleeve across his clammy brow--"A man might call it ghosts, Captain Pond, and another might set it down to drink.

But you know my habits." "Be quick, man! You've seen something?
What is it ?" "Ah, what indeed?
You may well ask it, sir: though not if you was to put the Book into my hands at this moment and ask me to kiss it--" "Clogg," interrupted the Captain, stepping close and gripping him by the upper arm, "will you swear to me you have not been drinking ?" "Yes and no, Captain.