金银岛-第3部分

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It　was　a　bright　little　place　where　the　customers　were　mostly　seamen。　As　I　entered　；a　man　came　out　of　a　side　room　and　I　knew　immediately　he　must　be　Long　John。　His　left　leg　was　cut　off　above　the　knee　and　he　walked　with　a　crutch　under　his　left　shoulder　。He　was　tall　and　strong　with　a　big　；smiling　face。

Now　；when　I　read　about　Long　John　in　Squire　Trelawney's　letter；　I　had　been　afraid　he　might　be　the　one…legged　seamanthat　old　Bill　had　talked　about　。But　one　look　at　the　man　in　front　of　me　was　enough。　I　knew　old　Bill；　and　Black　Dog；　and　the　blind　man　Pew　。I　thought　I　knew　what　a　pirate　looked　like…a　very　different　person　from　this　clean　and　smiling　man。

‘Mr　Silver　；sir？’I　asked；　holding　out　the　note。

‘Yes　；my　boy；’he　said。‘That's　my　name　。And　who　are　you？’And　then　he　saw　the　squire's　letter　and　looked　surprised。‘Oh！’he　said　loudly。　‘I　see　you're　our　new　cabin－boy。　I'm　pleased　to　meet　you。’

Just　then；　a　customer　got　up　suddenly　and　hurried　to　the　door。　I　recognized　him　as　the　man　with　only　three　fingers　on　his　left　hand—the　one　who　had　come　to　the　Admiral　Benbow！

‘Stop　him！’I　shouted。‘It's　Black　Dog！’

‘　I　don't　care　who　he　is；’said　Silver。‘He　hasn't　paid　for　his　drinks。　Run　and　catch　him；　Harry！’

A　man　jumped　up　and　ran　after　Black　Dog。

‘What　was　his　name？’asked　Silver。‘Black　what？’

‘Dog；　sir；’I　said。‘Hasn't　Mr　Trelawney　told　you　about　the　pirates？　He　was　one　of　them。’

‘A　pirate！　I　didn't　know　that；’said　Silver。‘I've　seen　him　before；　when　he　came　with　a　blind　man。’

‘That　was　blind　Pew；　another　pirate；’I　said。

‘That　was　his　name！’　said　Silver。

I　watched　the　sea　cook　carefully　。But　when　the　man　Harry　came　back　without　the　pirate；　Silver　seemed　angry　and　I　be…lieved　he　was。

‘I'll　come　with　you　to　tell　Mr　Trelawney　what's　happened；’he　said。　This　is　a　serious　matter。’

As　we　walked　back；　Silver　told　me　many　interesting　things　about　the　ships　that　we　passed。　I　began　to　think　he　was　going　to　be　a　good　companion　to　have　when　we　were　at　sea。

When　we　got　to　the　inn；　the　squire　and　Dr　Livesey　were　there　。Long　John　told　them　about　Black　Dog；　saying；‘That　was　how　it　was；　wasn't　it；　Hawkins？’And　I　had　to　agree。　We　were　all　sorry　about　Black　Dog　getting　away；　but　there　was　nothing　we　could　do。

‘All　the　crew　must　be　on　board　by　four　o’clock　this　after－　noon；　Trelawney　told　Long　John。

‘Right　；sir！’said　the　sea　cook；　and　he　left　us　to　return　to　his　inn。

‘Trelawney；’said　Dr　Livesey；‘I　don't　always　think　you　find　the　best　men；　but　I'll　say　this：　John　Silver　seems　a　good　man　。Now；　let's　go　and　see　the　ship！’

　　



　
6

The　ship　and　its　men

　　

We　went　out　to　the　His　paniola　in　a　small　boat。　Mr　Ar－row　met　us；　and　it　was　clear　that　he　and　the　squire　were　very　friendly　。But　things　were　not　the　same　between　Mr　Trelawney　and　the　captain。　Captain　Smollett　seemed　angry　with　everybody　on　board；　and　told　us　why。

‘I　don't　like　this　voyage；’he　told　us。‘I　don't　like　the　men；　and　I　don't　like　my　first　officer。’

‘Perhaps　；sir　；you　don't　like　the　ship？’said　the　squire　；an－grily。

‘I　can't　say　that　；sir　；as　I　haven't　yet　sailed　her；　replied　the　captain。‘She　seems　a　good　ship。’

‘Possibly；　sir；　you　don't　like　your　employer　either？　said　the　squire。

‘Now；　now；　let's　not　argue；’　said　Dr　Livesey。　He　turned　to　the　captain。‘You　say　you　don't　like　this　voyage；’　he　said。‘Please　explain。’

‘I　was　employed；　sir；’said　the　captain；‘on　secret　orders　；and　to　sail　this　ship　where　that　gentleman　ordered　me　to　sail　it。　Now　I　find　every　other　man　on　this　ship　knows　more　than　I　do　。I　don't　call　that　fair；　do　you？’

‘No；’said　Dr　Livesey；　‘I　don't。’

‘Next；’said　the　captain；　I　learn　we　are　going　to　look　for　treasure－hear　it　from　my　own　crew！　Now；　I　don't　like　trea－sure　voyages　at　the　best　of　times；　and　I　certainly　don't　like　them　when　they　are　secret。　Also；　a　captain　is　usually　allowed　to　choose　his　own　crew。’

‘That's　true；　’agreed　the　doctor。‘And　you　don't　like　Mr　Arrow？’

‘No；　sir；　’replied　Captain　Smollett。‘He's　too　friendly　with　the　crew。’

‘Tell　us　what　you　want；　’said　the　doctor。

‘First　of　all；　the　men　are　putting　the　powder　and　weapons　in　the　front　of　the　ship；’said　the　captain。‘Now；　you　have　a　good　place　under　the　cabin　。Why　not　put　them　there　？Second；　you　are　bringing　four　of　your　own　people。　Let　them　sleep　here　be－　side　the　cabin。’

‘What　else？’asked　Mr　Trelawney。

‘Only　one　thing；　sir；　’said　the　captain。‘There's　been　too　much　talking　already。　I'll　tell　you　what　I've　heard。　That　you　have　a　map　of　an　island；　that　there's　crosses　on　the　map　to　show　where　treasure　is；　and　that　the　island　is…’Then　he　told　us　the　exact　place。

‘I　never　told　that　to　anyone！’cried　the　squire。

‘The　crew　know　it；　sir；’replied　the　captain。‘I　don't　know　who　has　this　map；　but　I　want　it　to　be　kept　secret　；even　from　me　and　Mr　Arrow。　If　not　；I　will　ask　you　to　let　me　leave　the　ship。’

‘You　want　us　to　keep　all　this　a　secret；’said　the　doctor；‘and　you　want　all　the　weapons　and　powder　to　be　kept　near　us。　In　other　words　；you　fear　a　mutiny。’

‘I　did　not　say　that　；sir；’replied　Captain　Smoll　ett。‘No　cap－tain　could　go　to　sea　believing　that。’And　he　went　away。

‘　Trelawney；　said　the　doctor；　I　believe　you　have　managed　to　get　two　honest　men　on　board…that　man　；and　John　Silver。’

‘Silver；　yes；’　said　the　squire；　‘but　the　captain　acts　neither　like　a　man；　nor　a　good　seaman！’

‘Well；’　said　the　doctor；‘　we　shall　see。’

We　were　moving　the　weapons　and　powder　when　Long　John　came　aboard。　The　cook　came　up　the　side　as　quick　as　a　monkey　and　saw　what　we　were　doing。

‘What's　this？’he　wanted　to　know。

‘My　orders；’said　the　captain；　coldly。‘You　may　go　below；　my　man　。The　crew　will　want　supper。’

‘Yes　；sir；’said　the　cook；　and　disappeared　quickly。

‘That's　a　good　man；　captain；’said　the　doctor。

‘That　may　be　；sir　；replied　Captain　Smollett。

　　



　
7

The　apple　barrel

　　

We　sailed　at　the　first　light　of　day。　I　was　more　tired　than　ever　before；　but　everything　was　so　new　and　interest…ing　I　would　not　leave　the　deck。

‘let's　have　a　song！’cried　one　of　the　men。

Long　John　began　to　sing　that　song　I　knew　so　well：

Fifteen　men　on　the　dead　man's　chest—

And　the　whole　crew　joined　with　him：

Yo－ho－ho　and　a　bottle　of　rum！

Even　at　that　exciting　moment；　I　remembered　the　old　Admi－ral　Benbow　；and　I　seemed　to　hear　the　voice　of　old　Bill；　thr　sea－man；　singing　with　them。　But　soon　the　sails　began　to　fill　with　wind；　and　the　land　and　other　ships　moved　past　on　each　side。　The　Hispaniola　had　begun　her　voyage　to　Treasure　Island。

I　am　not　going　to　describe　the　voyage　in　detail。　The　ship　was　indeed　a　good　ship　；the　crew　were　good　seamen　；and　the　captain　knew　his　business　well。　But　Mr　Arrow　was　even　worse　than　the　captain　had　feared。　The　men　did　as　they　pleased　with　him　；and　after　a　day　or　two　at　sea；　he　began　to　drink　too　much。　Where　he　got　the　drink　was　a　mystery；　and　if　we　asked　him；　he　would　only　laugh。　Then　one　wild；　dark　night　with　a　rough　sea；　he　disappeared　and　was　seen　no　more。

‘Fallen　overboard！’said　the　captain。‘Gentlemen；　we'll　do　better　without　him。’

But　we　were　without　a　first　officer。　Mr　Trelawney　had　been　to　sea　before　and　knew　enough　to　be　useful；　and　one　of　the　men；　Israel　Hands；　was　a　careful　and　experienced　seaman　who　was　able　to　help　with　almost　anything。　He　was　a　great　friend　of　Long　John　Silver。

All　the　crew　liked　and　even　obeyed　Silver；　and　he　was　always　pleased　to　see　me　in　the　kitchen；　which　he　kept　as　clean　as　a　new　pin。　He　kept　his　parrot　in　cage　；in　the　corner。

‘　I　call　him　Captain　Flint；’he　told　me；‘after　the　famous　pi－rate。’

And　the　parrot　used　to　scream；‘Pieces　of　eight　！Pieces　of　eight！　Pieces　of　eight！’

The　captain　and　Mr　Trelawney　still　did　not　like　each　other；　and　the　squire　didn't　try　to　hide　it。　The　captain　spoke　few　words；　but　agreed　that　the　crew　were　better　than　he'd　hoprd　for　；and　that　the　ship　was　a　fine　one。

The　crew　seemed　happy；　which　was　not　really　surprising。　No　ship's　company　was　ever　so　well　looked　after　；with　plenty　to　eat　and　drink；　and　a　barrel　of　apples　open　for　any　man　to　take　one。

And　it　was　the　apple　barrel　that　saved　our　lives。

It　was　the　day　before　we　expected　to　see　Treasure　Island。　The　sun　had　gone　down　；all　my　work　was　done；　and　I　thought　I　should　like　an　apple。　The　barrel　was　nearly　empty　and　I　had　to　climb　right　inside　to　get　my　apple。　As　I　sat　there　in　the　dark；　the　ship　moving　gently　in　the　water；　I　almost　fell　asleep。

Suddenly　；the　barrel　shook　as　a　heavy　man　sat　down　and　rested　his　shoulders　against　it。　The　man　began　to　speak　and　it　was　Silver's　voice。　Before　I　had　heard　a　dozen　words；　I　was　trembling　with　fear　。I　understood　from　those　words　that　the　lives　of　all　honest　men　on　the　ship　depended　on　me　alone！

‘Flint　was　captain　ot　me；’said　Silver。‘In　the　same　battle　that　I　lost　my　leg；　old　Pew　lost　his　sight　。But　I　got　two　thou－sand　when　I　sailed　with　Flint——and　it's　all　safe　in　the　bank　at　home。’

‘But　what　if　you　don't　live　to　get　home　again？’asked　an－other；　doubtful　voice。　I　recognized　the　voice　of　the　youngest　seaman　aboard。

‘Pirates　live　rough；’agreed　Silver。‘They　live　dangerously　and　some　get　caught　and　die　by　the　law　。But　they　eat　and　drink　the　best；　and　when　the　voyage　is　done；　it's　hundreds　of　pounds　instead　of　hundreds　ofPence　in　their　pockets。　Once　I'm　back　from　this　trip　；I'll　live　like　a　gentleman　。But　I　began　life　like　you—a　clever　young　seaman　without　a　penny　in　my　pocket！’

‘I　didn't　like　this　job　until　this　talk　woth　you；　John；’said　the　young　seaman；‘but　I'm　with　you　now。’

They　shook　hands　so　hard　that　the　barrel　shook　as　well；　with　me　inside　it。By　this　time；　I　understood　that　Silver　had　just　turned　an　honest　seaman　into　a　pirate。Perhaps　every　man　in　the　crew　was　now　a　pirate！

Silver　gave　a　quiet　call　and　a　third　man　came　and　sat　down　with　them。‘Dick's　with　us；’said　Silver。

‘I　knew　Dick　was　all　right；’　replied　the　voice　of　Israel　Hands。‘But　how　long　are　we　going　to　wait？　I've　had　enoughof　Captain　Smollett。’

‘Until　the　last　moment！’cried　Silver。‘Captain　Smollett's　a　first－class　seaman；　and　the　squire　and　doctor　have　the　map。　Let