金银岛-第7节

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her．First　the　ship　turned　north，then　suddenly　to　the　west　a…gain．

‘She's　out　of　control！’I　thought．

Then　the　ship　turned　again，big　and　dangerous　as　she　came　closer　and　closer　to　Ben　Gunn's　little　boat．Suddenly，I　was　on　the　top　of　one　wave　as　she　came　thundering　over　the　next．And　there　she　was，almost　upon　me！

I　jumped　up，pushed　the　boat　under　the　water　with　my　feet，and　caught　one　of　the　ship's　ropes．Then　I　heard　the　Hispaniola　hit　the　little　boat，and　I　was　left　with　no　way　to　escape．

　　



　

12

Israel　Hands

　　

I　lost　no　time　and　climbed　up　the　rope　on　to　the　deck　of　the　ship．The　two　men　were　there，red…cap　on　his　back，Israel　Hands　against　the　side，his　face　white　There　was　dark　blood　around　them　on　the　deck，and　I　was　sure　each　had　killed　the　other　in　their　drunken　fight．

Then　Israel　Hands　turned　with　a　low　cry　of　pain．He　looked　across　at　me　and　whispered　one　word：‘Rum’．

I　went　below　to　the　cabin　where　there　were　empty　bottles　on　the　floor　and　tobacco　smoke　filled　the　air．I　found　a　bottle　with　some　rum　left　in　it，and　found　some　water　and　some　bread　and　cheese　for　myself．I　took　the　bottle　back　on　deck，where　Hands　drank　half　the　rum　before　taking　the　bottle　from　his　mouth．

‘By　thunder！’he　said．‘I　wanted　some　of　that．But　where　have　you　come　from？’

I've　come　to　take　control　of　this　ship，Mr　Hands，’I　said，‘so　please　remember　I'm　your　captain．’

He　watched　me　pull　down　the　Jolly　Roger　and　throw　it　overboard，then　he　said，‘I　expect　you'll　want　to　go　ashore　now．Suppose　we　talk　about　it．’There　was　some　colour　back　in　his　cheeks　but　he　looked　very　sick．‘Who's　going　to　sail　the　ship　now？You　can't　do　it；but　if　you　give　me　food　and　drink　and　a　handkerchief　to　tie　up　my　wound，I'll　tell　you　how　to　sail　her．’

‘All　right，’I　agreed．‘We'll　go　into　North　Inlet　and　quietly　put　her　on　the　beach　there．’

In　three　minutes　I　had　the　Hispaniola　sailing　easily　before　the　wind，along　the　coast　of　Treasure　Island．Then　I　went　be…low　and　got　a　handkerchief　and　helped．Hands　tie　up　the　great　bleeding　wound　in　his　leg．He　ate　a　little　and　drank　more　of　the　rum，then　he　began　to　look　a　little　better．

We　sailed　ahead　of　the　wind，the　island　moving　past　quickly．After　my　success，I　was　less　sorry　about　deserting　the　stockade．There　was　only　one　thing　that　worried　me．It　was　the　way　Israel　Hands　watched　me　at　my　work，a　cold　little　smile　on　his　face．

We　could　not　put　the　ship　on　the　beach　when　we　reached　North　Inlet　because　the　sea　was　too　high．We　had　to　wait，sit　ting　in　silence　over　another　meal．

‘Cap’n，’Hands　said　to　me，still　with　that　smile　on　his　face，‘my　old　mate，O’Brien，is　dead．Can　you　throw　him　overboard？’

‘I'm　not　strong　enough，’I　said．

There　was　a　pause，then　he　said，‘Well　now，would　you　be　very　kind　and　go　down　to　the　cabin　and　fetch　me　a　bottle　of　wine，Jim？This　rum's　too　strong　for　my　head．’

I　listened　to　his　words　but　didn't　believe　them．He　wanted　me　to　leave　the　deck，that　was　clear，but　why？

‘Wine？’I　said．‘Will　you　have　white　or　red？’

‘I　don't　mind，’he　said，‘as　long　as　it's　strong　and　there's　plenty　of　it．’

‘I'll　have　to　search　for　it，’I　told　him．

I　went　below，then　took　off　my　shoes　and　went　quietly　up　the　other　stairs　to　watch　him．He　was　on　his　hands　and　knees　and，although　his　leg　hurt　him，he　moved　quickly　across　the　deck　and　took　a　long　knife　from　among　some　ropes．I　could　see　the　blood　on　it．Then　he　hid　it　under　his　coat　and　went　back　to　his　place．

This　was　all　I　needed　to　know　Israel　Hands　could　move　about　and　now　had　a　weapon，and　he　was　going　to　try　to　kill　me．But　I　knew　that　he　wouldn't　use　the　knife　until　the　ship　was　safely　on　the　beach．I　went　back　to　the　cabin，put　my　shoes　on　again，and　picked　up　a　bottle　of　wine．Then　I　went　back　up　on　deck．

He　took　a　long　drink　from　the　bottle　of　wine，saying，Here's　luck！’

Afterwards，we　sailed　into　North　Inlet　and　I　forgot　to　watch　Hands　carefully．We　were　nearly　on　the　beach　and　I　was　looking　over　the　side　of　the　ship．Perhaps　I　heard　a　sound　or　saw　his　shadow　moving，I　don't　know．But　when　I　looked　round，there　he　was，half…way　towards　me　with　the　knife　in　his　right　hand！

He　threw　himself　at　me　and　I　jumped　to　one　side，leaving　him　to　fall　on　the　deck．Quickly，I　took　a　pistol　from　my　pocket　and　aimed　it　at　himhe　powder　was　wet　and　the　pistol　didn't　fire！He　got　up　and　came　at　me　with　surprising　speed，but　suddenly　the　Hispaniola　hit　the　sand　and　went　over　on　one　side．We　were．both　thrown　down　and　began　to　roll　across　the　deck，but　I　was　on　my　feet　first　and　climbed　up　into　the　sails，hand　over　hand．When　I　was　in　a　safe　place，I　loaded　my　pistols，this　time　with　dry　powder．

Hands　was　pulling　himself　up　among　the　sails　now，the　knife　between　his　teeth．

‘One　more　step，’I　said，‘and　I'll　kill　you！’

‘Jim，’he　said．He　took　the　knife　from　his　mouth　to　speak，and　looked　beaten．‘We'll　have　to　make　peace，you　and　I．You're　too　sharp　and　quick　for　an　old　sailor　like　me…’

But　then，with　a　sudden　movement，his　hand　went　back　and　something　went　speeding　through　the　air．I　felt　a　sharp　pain，and　I　was　pinned　to　the　mast　by　my　shoulder．In　the　terrible　pain　and　surprise　of　the　moment，both　my　pistols　went　off　and　fell　from　my　hands．

They　did　not　fall　alone．With　a　cry，Hands　fell　into　the　water．He　came　up，the　water　around　him　red　from　his　blood，then　he　went　down　again，for　ever．

I　felt　sick　and　frightened．The　blood　from　my　wound　ran　over　my　back　and　chest，and　the　knife　seemed　to　burn　like　hot　iron．But　I　was　trembling　so　badly　that　it　shook　the　knife　out　of　my　skin，and　I　could　move　again．I　climbed　down　through　the　sails，then　went　below　to　tie　up　my　wound．There　was　a　lot　of　blood　but　it　wasn't　deep．Next，I　went　up　on　deck．It　was　now　evening　and　a　light　wind　was　blowing，so　I　lowered　the　sails　before　climbing　down　a　rope　and　into　the　sea．

The　water　was　only　waist…deep　and　I　walked　ashore．The　sun　had　gone　now　and，once　on　dry　land，I　began　to　walk　to　the　stockade．Perhaps　the　others　would　blame　me　for　deserting，I　thought，but　Captain　Smollett　would　be　pleased　I　had　taken　the　Hispaniola，I　was　sure．

When　I　reached　the　stockade，the　house　lay　in　dark　shadow．But　on　the　other　side，a　large　fire　had　almost　burned　itself　out．This　seemed　strange，as　it　had　not　been　our　habit　to　build　lange　fires．

There　were　no　sounds，except　for　the　wind　in　the　trees，and　I　went　quietly　round　to　the　eastern　side，keeping　in　the　shadows．As　I　came　nearer　to　the　corner　of　the　house，I　heard　my　friends　breathing　loudly　as　they　slept，and　at　once　felt　happier　again．I　got　to　the　door　and　looked　in，but　all　was　dark　and　I　could　see　nothing．With　my　arms　out　in　front　of　me，I　walked　in．

Suddenly，there　was　a　high　voice　screaming　in　the　darkness：‘Pieces　of　eight！Pieces　of　eight！Pieces　of　eight！’It　was　Silver's　parrot，Captain　Flint！

Immediately，men　began　to　wake　up，and　I　heard　Silver's　voice　shout，‘Who's　there？’

I　turned　to　run，crashed　violently　against　one　person，then　ran　straight　into　the　arms　of　another．

　　



　
13

A　prisoner　of　the　enemy

　　

Somebody　brought　a　light　and　I　saw　the　inside　of　the　house．Five　pirates　were　on　their　feet，and　another　man　was　lying　down　with　a　head　wound．But　my　heart　became　filled　with　fear　when　I　saw　no　prisoners．Were　my　friends　all　dead？

‘Here's　Jim　Hawkins！’said　Silver．‘How　friendly　of　you　to　visit　us，Jim！’

‘Where　are　my　friends？’I　asked．

Silver　answered　in　a　smooth　voice．‘Yesterday．morning，Doctor　Livesey　came　down　with　a　white　flag．“Cap’n　Silver，”he　said，“you've　lost．The　ship's　gone．”We　looked　out　and，by　thunder，the　ship　had　gone！“Let's　bargain，”said　the　doctor．So　we　bargained，and　here　we　are，in　the　house．And　your　friends？They　walked　off　and　I　don't　know　where　they　are．And　now，are　you　going　to　join　us，Jim？’

‘You're　in　trouble，’I　said．‘Ship　lost，treasure　lost，men　lost．And　if　you　want　to　know　who　did　itit　was　me！I　was　in　the　apple　barrel　the　night　we　saw　the　island，and　I　heard　every　word　you　said．And　the　ship？It　was　me　who　cut　her　ropes　and　killed　the　men　aboard　her，and　it's　me　who　has　sailed　her　to　a　place　where　you'll　never　find　her．Kill　me　if　you　like，but　if　you　let　me　live，I'll　do　what　I　can　to　save　you　when　you're　arrested　and　brought　to　trial　for　piracy．

One　man　swore　and　jumped　forward　with　his　knife．

‘Get　back　there！’cried　Silver．‘Did　you　think　you　were　cap’n　here，Tom　Morgan？Well，there's　never　been　a　man　to　stand　against　me．and　see　another　day！’

Angry　whispers　came　from　the　other　men．

‘Did　any　of　you　gentlemen　want　to　argue　with　me？’shouted　Silver．‘Well，I'm　ready．Let　him　take　a　knife，and　I'll　see　the　colour　of　his　inside！’

Not　a　man　answered．I　listened　to　my　heart　beating．Silver　waited　calmly，his　pipe　in　his　mouth，as　he　watched　his　followers．Slowly，they　got　together　at　the　far　end　of　the　house　and　whispered　to　each　other．

‘You　seem　to　have　a　lot　to　say，’said　Silver．‘Let　me　hear　it，or　stop　talking．’

‘We'll　go　outside　and　talk，’replied　one　man．And　he　stepped　calmly　towards