English
Theredglareofthetorch,lightinguptheinterioroftheblockhouse,showedmetheworstofmyapprehensionsrealized.
Thepirateswereinpossessionofthehouseandstores:therewasthecaskofcognac,thereweretheporkandbread,asbefore,andwhattenfoldincreasedmyhorror,notasignofanyprisoner.
Icouldonlyjudgethatallhadperished,andmyheartsmotemesorelythatIhadnotbeentheretoperishwiththem.
Thereweresixofthebuccaneers,alltold;notanothermanwasleftalive.
Fiveofthemwereontheirfeet,flushedandswollen,suddenlycalledoutofthefirstsleepofdrunkenness.
Thesixthhadonlyrisenuponhiselbow;hewasdeadlypale,andtheblood-stainedbandageroundhisheadtoldthathehadrecentlybeenwounded,andstillmorerecentlydressed.
Irememberedthemanwhohadbeenshotandhadrunbackamongthewoodsinthegreatattack,anddoubtednotthatthiswashe.
Theparrotsat,preeningherplumage,onLongJohn’sshoulder.
Hehimself,Ithought,lookedsomewhatpalerandmoresternthanIwasusedto.
Hestillworethefinebroadclothsuitinwhichhehadfulfilledhismission,butitwasbitterlytheworseforwear,daubedwithclayandtornwiththesharpbriersofthewood.
“So,”saidhe,“here’sJimHawkins,shivermytimbers!Droppedin,like,eh?Well,come,Itakethatfriendly.”
Andthereuponhesatdownacrossthebrandycaskandbegantofillapipe.
“Givemealoanofthelink,Dick,”saidhe;andthen,whenhehadagoodlight,“That’lldo,lad,”headded;“stickthegliminthewoodheap;andyou,gentlemen,bringyourselvesto!
Youneedn’tstandupforMr.Hawkins;HE’LLexcuseyou,youmaylaytothat.
Andso,Jim”—stoppingthetobacco—“hereyouwere,andquiteapleasantsurpriseforpooroldJohn.
IseeyouweresmartwhenfirstIsetmyeyesonyou,butthisheregetsawayfrommeclean,itdo.”
Toallthis,asmaybewellsupposed,Imadenoanswer.
Theyhadsetmewithmybackagainstthewall,andIstoodthere,lookingSilverintheface,pluckilyenough,Ihope,toalloutwardappearance,butwithblackdespairinmyheart.
Silvertookawhiffortwoofhispipewithgreatcomposureandthenranonagain.
“Now,yousee,Jim,sobeasyouAREhere,”sayshe,“I’llgiveyouapieceofmymind.
I’vealwayslikedyou,Ihave,foraladofspirit,andthepicterofmyownselfwhenIwasyoungandhandsome.
Ialwayswantedyoutojineandtakeyourshare,anddieagentleman,andnow,mycock,you’vegotto.
Cap’nSmollett’safineseaman,asI’llownuptoanyday,butstiffondiscipline.
‘Dootyisdooty,’sayshe,andrightheis.Justyoukeepclearofthecap’n.
Thedoctorhimselfisgonedeadagainyou—‘ungratefulscamp’waswhathesaid;andtheshortandthelongofthewholestoryisabouthere:youcan’tgobacktoyourownlot,fortheywon’thaveyou;andwithoutyoustartathirdship’scompanyallbyyourself,whichmightbelonely,you’llhavetojinewithCap’nSilver.”
Sofarsogood.Myfriends,then,werestillalive,andthoughIpartlybelievedthetruthofSilver’sstatement,thatthecabinpartywereincensedatmeformydesertion,IwasmorerelievedthandistressedbywhatIheard.
“Idon’tsaynothingastoyourbeinginourhands,”continuedSilver,“thoughthereyouare,andyoumaylaytoit.
I’mallforargyment;Ineverseengoodcomeouto’threatening.
Ifyouliketheservice,well,you’lljine;andifyoudon’t,Jim,why,you’refreetoanswerno—freeandwelcome,shipmate;andiffairercanbesaidbymortalseaman,shivermysides!”
“AmItoanswer,then?”Iaskedwithaverytremulousvoice.
Throughallthissneeringtalk,Iwasmadetofeelthethreatofdeaththatoverhungme,andmycheeksburnedandmyheartbeatpainfullyinmybreast.
“Lad,”saidSilver,“noone’sa-pressingofyou.Takeyourbearings.Noneofuswon’thurryyou,mate;timegoessopleasantinyourcompany,yousee.”
“Well,”saysI,growingabitbolder,“ifI’mtochoose,IdeclareIhavearighttoknowwhat’swhat,andwhyyou’rehere,andwheremyfriendsare.”
“Wot’swot?”repeatedoneofthebuccaneersinadeepgrowl.“Ah,he’dbealuckyoneasknowedthat!”
“You’llperhapsbattendownyourhatchestillyou’respoketo,myfriend,”criedSilvertruculentlytothisspeaker.
Andthen,inhisfirstgracioustones,herepliedtome,“Yesterdaymorning,Mr.Hawkins,”saidhe,“inthedog-watch,downcameDoctorLiveseywithaflagoftruce.
Sayshe,‘Cap’nSilver,you’resoldout.Ship’sgone.’
Well,maybewe’dbeentakingaglass,andasongtohelpitround.Iwon’tsayno.Leastways,noneofushadlookedout.
Welookedout,andbythunder,theoldshipwasgone!
Ineverseenapacko’foolslookfishier;andyoumaylaytothat,ifItellsyouthatlookedthefishiest.
‘Well,’saysthedoctor,‘let’sbargain.’
Webargained,himandI,andhereweare:stores,brandy,blockhouse,thefirewoodyouwasthoughtfulenoughtocut,andinamannerofspeaking,thewholeblessedboat,fromcross-treestokelson.
Asforthem,they’vetramped;Idon’tknowwhere’stheyare.”
Hedrewagainquietlyathispipe.
“Andlestyoushouldtakeitintothatheadofyours,”hewenton,“thatyouwasincludedinthetreaty,here’sthelastwordthatwassaid:‘Howmanyareyou,’saysI,‘toleave?’
‘Four,’sayshe;‘four,andoneofuswounded.
Asforthatboy,Idon’tknowwhereheis,confoundhim,’sayshe,‘norIdon’tmuchcare.We’reaboutsickofhim.’Thesewashiswords.
“Isthatall?”Iasked.
“Well,it’sallthatyou’retohear,myson,”returnedSilver.
“AndnowIamtochoose?”
“Andnowyouaretochoose,andyoumaylaytothat,”saidSilver.
“Well,”saidI,“IamnotsuchafoolbutIknowprettywellwhatIhavetolookfor.
Lettheworstcometotheworst,it’slittleIcare.
I’veseentoomanydiesinceIfellinwithyou.
Butthere’sathingortwoIhavetotellyou,”Isaid,andbythistimeIwasquiteexcited;“andthefirstisthis:hereyouare,inabadway—shiplost,treasurelost,menlost,yourwholebusinessgonetowreck;andifyouwanttoknowwhodidit—itwasI!
Iwasintheapplebarrelthenightwesightedland,andIheardyou,John,andyou,DickJohnson,andHands,whoisnowatthebottomofthesea,andtoldeverywordyousaidbeforethehourwasout.
Andasfortheschooner,itwasIwhocuthercable,anditwasIthatkilledthemenyouhadaboardofher,anditwasIwhobroughtherwhereyou’llneverseehermore,notoneofyou.
Thelaugh’sonmyside;I’vehadthetopofthisbusinessfromthefirst;InomorefearyouthanIfearafly.Killme,ifyouplease,orspareme.
ButonethingI’llsay,andnomore;ifyouspareme,bygonesarebygones,andwhenyoufellowsareincourtforpiracy,I’llsaveyouallIcan.Itisforyoutochoose.
Killanotheranddoyourselvesnogood,orsparemeandkeepawitnesstosaveyoufromthegallows.”
Istopped,for,Itellyou,Iwasoutofbreath,andtomywonder,notamanofthemmoved,butallsatstaringatmelikeasmanysheep.
Andwhiletheywerestillstaring,Ibrokeoutagain,“Andnow,Mr.Silver,”Isaid,“Ibelieveyou’rethebestmanhere,andifthingsgototheworst,I’lltakeitkindofyoutoletthedoctorknowthewayItookit.”
“I’llbearitinmind,”saidSilverwithanaccentsocuriousthatIcouldnot,forthelifeofme,decidewhetherhewerelaughingatmyrequestorhadbeenfavourablyaffectedbymycourage.
“I’llputonetothat,”criedtheoldmahogany-facedseaman—Morganbyname—whomIhadseeninLongJohn’spublic-houseuponthequaysofBristol.“ItwashimthatknowedBlackDog.”
“Well,andseehere,”addedthesea-cook.“I’llputanotheragaintothat,bythunder!ForitwasthissameboythatfakedthechartfromBillyBones.Firstandlast,we’vesplituponJimHawkins!”
“Thenheregoes!”saidMorganwithanoath.
Andhesprangup,drawinghisknifeasifhehadbeentwenty.
“Avast,there!”criedSilver.“Whoareyou,TomMorgan?
Maybeyouthoughtyouwascap’nhere,perhaps.
Bythepowers,butI’llteachyoubetter!
Crossme,andyou’llgowheremanyagoodman’sgonebeforeyou,firstandlast,thesethirtyyearback—sometotheyard-arm,shivermytimbers,andsomebytheboard,andalltofeedthefishes.
There’sneveramanlookedmebetweentheeyesandseenagooddaya’terwards,TomMorgan,youmaylaytothat.”
Morganpaused,butahoarsemurmurrosefromtheothers.
“Tom’sright,”saidone.
“Istoodhazinglongenoughfromone,”addedanother.“I’llbehangedifI’llbehazedbyyou,JohnSilver.”
“DidanyofyougentlemenwanttohaveitoutwithME?”
roaredSilver,bendingfarforwardfromhispositiononthekeg,withhispipestillglowinginhisrighthand.
“Putanameonwhatyou’reat;youain’tdumb,Ireckon.Himthatwantsshallgetit.
HaveIlivedthismanyyears,andasonofarumpuncheoncockhishatathwartmyhawseatthelatterendofit?
Youknowtheway;you’reallgentlemeno’fortune,byyouraccount.Well,I’mready.
Takeacutlass,himthatdares,andI’llseethecolourofhisinside,crutchandall,beforethatpipe’sempty.”
Notamanstirred;notamananswered.
“That’syoursort,isit?”headded,returninghispipetohismouth.
“Well,you’reagaylottolookat,anyway.Notmuchworthtofight,youain’t.
P’r’apsyoucanunderstandKingGeorge’sEnglish.I’mcap’nhereby‘lection.
I’mcap’nherebecauseI’mthebestmanbyalongsea-mile.
Youwon’tfight,asgentlemeno’fortuneshould;then,bythunder,you’llobey,andyoumaylaytoit!
Ilikethatboy,now;Ineverseenabetterboythanthat.
He’smoreamanthananypairofratsofyouinthisherehouse,andwhatIsayisthis:letmeseehimthat’lllayahandonhim—that’swhatIsay,andyoumaylaytoit.”
Therewasalongpauseafterthis.Istoodstraightupagainstthewall,myheartstillgoinglikeasledge-hammer,butwitharayofhopenowshininginmybosom.
Silverleantbackagainstthewall,hisarmscrossed,hispipeinthecornerofhismouth,ascalmasthoughhehadbeeninchurch;yethiseyekeptwanderingfurtively,andhekeptthetailofitonhisunrulyfollowers.
They,ontheirpart,drewgraduallytogethertowardsthefarendoftheblockhouse,andthelowhissoftheirwhisperingsoundedinmyearcontinuously,likeastream.
Oneafteranother,theywouldlookup,andtheredlightofthetorchwouldfallforasecondontheirnervousfaces;butitwasnottowardsme,itwastowardsSilverthattheyturnedtheireyes.
“Youseemtohavealottosay,”remarkedSilver,spittingfarintotheair.“Pipeupandletmehearit,orlayto.”
“Axyourpardon,sir,”returnedoneofthemen;“you’reprettyfreewithsomeoftherules;maybeyou’llkindlykeepaneyeupontherest.
Thiscrew’sdissatisfied;thiscrewdon’tvallybullyingamarlin-spike;thiscrewhasitsrightslikeothercrews,I’llmakesofreeasthat;andbyyourownrules,Itakeitwecantalktogether.
Iaxyourpardon,sir,acknowledgingyoufortobecaptaingatthispresent;butIclaimmyright,andstepsoutsideforacouncil.”
Andwithanelaboratesea-salute,thisfellow,along,ill-looking,yellow-eyedmanoffiveandthirty,steppedcoollytowardsthedooranddisappearedoutofthehouse.
Oneafteranothertherestfollowedhisexample,eachmakingasaluteashepassed,eachaddingsomeapology.“Accordingtorules,”saidone.“Forecastlecouncil,”saidMorgan.
AndsowithoneremarkoranotherallmarchedoutandleftSilverandmealonewiththetorch.
Thesea-cookinstantlyremovedhispipe.
“Now,lookyouhere,JimHawkins,”hesaidinasteadywhisperthatwasnomorethanaudible,“you’rewithinhalfaplankofdeath,andwhat’salongsightworse,oftorture.They’regoingtothrowmeoff.
But,youmark,Istandbyyouthroughthickandthin.
Ididn’tmeanto;no,nottillyouspokeup.
Iwasaboutdesperatetolosethatmuchblunt,andbehangedintothebargain.ButIseeyouwastherightsort.
Isaystomyself,youstandbyHawkins,John,andHawkins’llstandbyyou.
You’rehislastcard,andbythelivingthunder,John,he’syours!Backtoback,saysI.
Yousaveyourwitness,andhe’llsaveyourneck!”
Ibegandimlytounderstand.
“Youmeanall’slost?”Iasked.
“Aye,bygum,Ido!”heanswered.
“Shipgone,neckgone—that’sthesizeofit.
OnceIlookedintothatbay,JimHawkins,andseennoschooner—well,I’mtough,butIgaveout.
Asforthatlotandtheircouncil,markme,they’reoutrightfoolsandcowards.
I’llsaveyourlife—ifsobeasIcan—fromthem.
But,seehere,Jim—titfortat—yousaveLongJohnfromswinging.”
Iwasbewildered;itseemedathingsohopelesshewasasking—he,theoldbuccaneer,theringleaderthroughout.
“WhatIcando,thatI’lldo,”Isaid.
“It’sabargain!”criedLongJohn.“Youspeakupplucky,andbythunder,I’veachance!”
Hehobbledtothetorch,whereitstoodproppedamongthefirewood,andtookafreshlighttohispipe.
“Understandme,Jim,”hesaid,returning.“I’veaheadonmyshoulders,Ihave.I’monsquire’ssidenow.
Iknowyou’vegotthatshipsafesomewheres.
Howyoudoneit,Idon’tknow,butsafeitis.IguessHandsandO’Brienturnedsoft.
Inevermuchbelievedinneitherofthem.Nowyoumarkme.
Iasknoquestions,norIwon’tletothers.
Iknowwhenagame’sup,Ido;andIknowaladthat’sstaunch.
Ah,youthat’syoung—youandmemighthavedoneapowerofgoodtogether!”
Hedrewsomecognacfromthecaskintoatincannikin.
“Willyoutaste,messmate?”heasked;andwhenIhadrefused:“Well,I’lltakeadrainmyself,Jim,”saidhe.
“Ineedacaulker,forthere’stroubleonhand.
Andtalkingo’trouble,whydidthatdoctorgivemethechart,Jim?”
Myfaceexpressedawondersounaffectedthathesawtheneedlessnessoffurtherquestions.
“Ah,well,hedid,though,”saidhe.“Andthere’ssomethingunderthat,nodoubt—something,surely,underthat,Jim—badorgood.”
Andhetookanotherswallowofthebrandy,shakinghisgreatfairheadlikeamanwholooksforwardtotheworst.
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