金银岛-第8节

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‘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　the　door　and　disappeared　out　of　the　house．One　after　another，the　rest　of　the　men　did　the　same．

‘They're　going　to　kill　you，Jim，’said　Silver　when　the　two　of　us　were　alone，‘and　they're　going　to　stop　me　being　their　captain．When　I　looked　into　that　bay　and　saw　the　ship　was　gone，I　knew　it　was　all　over．Now，I'll　save　your　life，if　I　can，but　it　must　be　a　bargainyou　must　save　Long　John　from　dying　under　the　law．’

‘I'll　do　what　I　can，’I　told　him．

‘There's　trouble　coming，Jim，’he　said．‘And　talking　of　trouble，why　did　the　doctor　give　me　the　map？’

I　stared　at　him　in　great　surprise．Why　indeed？

‘Well，he　did，’Silver　went　on．‘And　that's　strange．’

The　door　opened　and　the　five　pirates　came　in．They　pushed　one　man　forward　and　he　gave　something　to　Silver．

The　sea　cook　looked　at　what　the　man　had　given　him．‘The　black　spot！’he　said．He　turned　the　paper　over．‘What's　this？No　longer　captain．You're　becoming　quite　a　leading　man　in　this　crew，George　Merry．You'll　be　cap’n　next，I　suppose．But　tell　me　what's　wrong．’

‘I'll　tell　you　what's　wrong！’said　George．‘First，you　made　too　many　mistakes　on　this　trip．Second，you　let　the　enemy　out　of　this　trap　for　nothing．And　then　there's　this　boy．’

‘Is　that　all？’asked　Silver　quietly．

‘It's　enough，’replied　George．

‘Well，I'll　answer　you，’said　Silver．‘You　all　know　what　I　wanted　but　you　wouldn't　listen，would　you？In　my　plan，we'd　be　on　the　Hispaniola　now，every　dead　man　alive　and　the　treasure　on　ship，by　thunder！Next，this　boy．Well，we'll　use　him　to　bargain　with．He　might　be　our　last　chance．And　the　doctor？You've　been　glad　enough　to　have　a　doctor　coming　to　see　you　every　dayyou，John，with　your　head　broken…or　you，George，sick　and　shaking　with　fever　only　a　few　hours　ago．I　made　a　bargain，that's　why　I　let’em　go！’He　threw　a　piece　of　paper　on　to　the　floor．It　was　the　map　with　the　three　crosses．

The　pirates　jumped　on　it　like　cats　upon　a　mouse．

‘Very　pretty，’said　George，‘but　how　are　we　going　to　get　away　with　the　treasure，when　we　have　no　ship？’

‘You　tell　me，George！’shouted　Silver．‘You　and　the　others　lost　the　ship；I　found　the　treasure．But　I'll　not　be　your　captain　any　longer！’

‘Silver　for　cap’n！’shouted　the　pirates．

After　a　moment，the　sea　cook　smiled．‘George，’he　said．‘I　think　you'll　have　to　wait　a　while　before　you　get　another　chance　to　be　captain．’

　　

Early　in　the　morning　Dr　Livesey　came　to　the　stockade．

‘We've　a　surprise　for　you，doctor，’Silver　called　out．‘We've　a　little　stranger　here．’

The　doctor　was　now　inside　the　stockade．‘Not　Jim？’

‘The　very　same　Jim，’said　Silver．

The　doctor　stopped．‘Well，well，’he　said．Then　he　went　on，Let's　see　these　sick　men　of　yours，Silver．’

A　moment　afterwards，he　entered　the　house．With　one　look　at　me，he　went　to　his　work　among　the　sick．

‘Well，that's　done，’he　said，after　visiting　each　man．‘And　now　I'd　like　to　talk　to　that　boy，please．’

‘No！’cried　George　Merry．

‘Silence！’shouted　Silver．‘Hawkins，’he　went　on　in　his　usual　voice，‘will　you　promise　not　to　escape？’I　gave　the　promise．‘Then，doctor，’said　Silver，‘you　just　step　outside　that　stockade，and　when　you're　there，I'll　bring　the　boy　down　on　the　inside．You　can　talk　through　the　fence．’

The　men's　anger　exploded　after　the　doctor　left　the　house，and　they　accused　Silver　of　trying　to　make　a　separate　peace　for　himself．Silver　waved　the　map　in　front　of　them　and　told　them　they　were　stupid．

‘By　thunder！’he　cried．‘We'll　break　the　peace　when　the　right　time　comesand　that's　not　now！’And　then　he　walked　out　on　his　crutch，his　hand　on　my　shoulder．‘Slowly，boy，’he　whispered　to　me．‘We　don't　want　to　worry　them．’

Dr　Livesey　was　waiting　outside　the　stockade．‘The　boy　will　tell　you　how　I　saved　his　life，’Silver　said　through　the　fence．‘Will　you　say　a　good　word　for　me？’

‘You're　not　afraid，John，are　you？’asked　Dr　Livesey．

‘I　don't　like　the　idea　of　dying　by　the　law，’said　Silver．‘And　now　I'll　leave　you　and　Jim　alone．’

‘So，Jim，’said　the　doctor，‘here　you　are．I'm　disappointed　in　you．You　went　away　when　Captain　Smollett　was　wounded，which　wasn't　a　brave　thing　to　do．’

‘Doctor，’I　cried，‘I've　blamed　myself　enough．’

‘Jim，’said　the　doctor，his　voice　changed．‘Jim，I　can't　have　this．Jump　over　and　we'll　run！’

‘No，’I　said．‘I　promised　Silver　I　wouldn't　escape，and　I　must　go　back．But　listen，I　took　the　ship　and　she's　in　North　Inlet，on　the　beach．’

‘The　ship！’cried　the　doctor．

I　told　him　my　story　and　he　listened　in　silence　Then　he　said，‘It's　you　that　saves　our　lives，Jim，and　now　we'll　save　yours．Silver！’he　called，then　as　the　cook　came　nearer，said，‘Some　Advicedon't　hurry　to　find　that　treasure．If　you　do，watch　out　for　storms．’

‘What's　the　game，doctor？’said　Silver．‘Why　did　you　give　me　the　map？’

‘I　can't　say　more，’said　the　doctor．‘It's　not　my　secret　to　tell．But　if　we　both　get　out　of　this　alive，Silver，I'll　do　my　best　to　save　you．Now，keep　the　boy　close　beside　you，and　when　you　need　help，shout　for　it．’

Then　Dr　Livesey　hurried　off　into　the　wood．

　　



　
14

Looking　for　the　treasure

　　

We　went　back　to　eat　our　breakfast．

‘They　have　the　ship，’Silver　told　the　men，‘and　I　don't　know　where　it　is．But　once　we　have　the　treasure，we'll　find　it　soon　enough．I'll　keep　the　boy　close　by　me　when　we　look　for　the　treasure；then，when　we　have　both　ship　and　treasure，we'll　persuade　Jim　to　join　us，and　give　him　some　of　the　treasure　for　all　his　help．’

The　men　were　happy，but　I　was　afraid．If　Silver's　plan　came　true，he　would　forget　Dr　Livesey　and　the　others，I　was　sure　And　if　things　went　wrong，how　could　a　boy　and　a　one…legged　man　fight　five　strong　men？

When　we　left　the　stockade，everyone　had　weapons　except　me．Silver　had　two　guns；and　the　parrot，Captain　Flint，sat　on　his　shoulder．There　was　a　rope　around　me　and　I　followed　after　Silver，who　held　the　other　end．

Some　of　the　men　carried　spades，others　food　and　rum，and　we　made　our　way　to　the　beach　where　the　two　boats　were　waiting．The　men　talked　about　the　map．The　cross　was　too　large　to　be　of　much　help，and　the　words　on　the　back　of　the　map　were　no　better．

Tall　tree．Spyglass　shoulder，to　the　North　of　North…

North…East．

Skeleton　Island　East…South…East　and　by　East．

We　landed　the　boats　at　the　mouth　of　the　second　river，then　began　to　climb　Spyglass　Hill．Silver　and　I　followed　a　long　way　behind　the　rest，and　I　had　to　help　him．We　were　near　the　top　when　a　man　on　the　left　cried　aloud．The　others　started　to　run　towards　him．

‘He　can't　have　found　the　treasure，’said　Morgan．

And　indeed　it　was　something　very　different—the　bones　of　a　human　skeleton，a　few　pieces　of　clothing　still　on　it．Cold　fear　filled　every　heart．

‘He　was　a　seaman，’said　George　Merry．

‘Yes，’agreed　Silver　But　look　at　the　way　those　bones　are　lying—it　isn't　natural．’The　man　lay　perfectly　straight—his　feet　pointing　one　way，his　hands，over　his　head，pointing　the　opposite　way．‘I've　got　an　idea，’said　Silver．‘Look！We　can　see　the　top　of　Skeleton　Island　from　here．These　bones　are　a　pointer，telling　us　which　way　to　go！’

He　was　right．Our　compass　showed　that　the　body　pointed　straight　towards　Skeleton　Island，and　in　a　line　East…South…East　and　by　East．

We　left　the　skeleton　behind，but　now　the　pirates　kept　together　and　talked　in　frightened　whispers．At　the　top　of　the　hill，Silver　took　out　his　compass　again．

‘There　are　three　tall　trees，’he　said，‘in　about　the　right　place．Spyglass　shoulder　must　be　that　lower　place，there．A　child　could　find　the　treasure　now！’

Suddenly，out　of　the　middle　of　the　trees　in　front　of　us，a　high　shaking　voice　began　to　sing：

Fifteen　men　on　the　dead　man's　chest

Yo…ho…ho，and　a　bottle　of　rum！

The　effect　on　the　pirates　was　terrible　to　see．The　colour　went　from　their　six　faces，and　they　caught　hold　of　each　other　like　frightened　children．Morgan　fell　to　the　ground，trembling　with　fear．

‘It's　Flint！’cried　George　Merry．

‘No！’said　Silver，fighting　to　get　the　word　out．‘It's　someone　playing　gamesit's　no　ghost！’

Then　the　voice　came　again：‘Darby　M’Graw！’it　screamed．‘Darby　M’Graw！Fetch　the　rum！’

The　pirates　were　fixed　to　the　ground　after　the　voice　died　away，their　staring　eyes　full　of　horror．

‘That　does　it！’said　one．‘Let's　go！’

‘Those　were　Flint's　last　words　before　he　died，’cried　Morgan．

‘I'm　here　to　get　that　treasure，’shouted　Silver，‘and　I'll　not　be　beaten　by　man　or　ghost！I　was　never　afraid　of　Flint　in　his　life　and，by　thunder，I'll　face　him　dead！There's　seven　hundred　thousand　pounds　not　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　here．I'll　not　leave　that　much　money　for　a　drunken　old　seamanhim　dead，too！And　there's　something　strange．There　was　an　echo，and　no　man　ever　saw　a　ghost　with　a　shadow，so　why　should　a　ghost's　voice　have　an　echo？It's　not　natural．’

The　words　calmed　George　Merry．‘Yes，that's　right，’he　said．‘