金银岛-第6部分

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　his　hat，his　pistols　and　a　sword，put　the　map　in　his　pocket，and　walked　off　quickly　through　the　trees．

I　guessed　he　was　going　to　see　Ben　Gunn，and　thought　the　doctor　was　lucky　to　be　walking　in　the　cool　shadows　of　the　wood．The　house　was　hot　and　smelt　of　blood，and　there　were　dead　bodies　lying　all　around．Suddenly，I　wanted　to　get　away　from　that　placeand　I　had　an　idea！I　would　go　and　look　for　Ben　Gunn's　boat！Perhaps　we　would　need　it　some　time．That　was　my　excuse　to　myself，although　I　knew　it　was　wrong　of　me　to　leave　only　two　unwounded　men　to　guard　the　stockade．It　was　also　wrong　of　me　to　leave　secretly，but　that　is　what　I　did．

I　filled　my　pockets　with　bread，then　took　two　pistols　and　the　powder　for　them．When　Gray　and　Mr　Trelawney　were　helping　the　captain，I　climbed　quickly　out　of　the　stockade　and　ran　into　the　trees．

I　made　my　way　towards　the　east　coast．It　was　late　in　the　afternoon，but　still　warm．Soon　cool　air　began　to　reach　me，and　suddenly　there　was　the　sea．I　walked　along　the　edge，then　up　to　a　small　sand…covered　hill．

Ben　Gunn　had　told　me　his　boat　was　hidden　near　the　white　rock，and　I　found　that　rock　farther　along　the　beach．The　little　boat　was　hidden　in　the　grassa　small，rough　thing，made　of　wood　and　goat…skins．

I　knew　I　should　go　back　to　the　stockade　now，but　an　idea　came　to　me　and　I　sat　down　to　wait　for　darkness．As　the　last　of　the　day　disappeared，there　were　two　lights　in　the　blackness．One　came　from　a　great　fire　on　the　shore　where　the　pirates　sat　singing　and　drinking；the　other　came　from　the　Hispaniola　out　at　sea．

I　put　the　small　boat　on　my　shoulders　and　carried　it　to　the　edge　of　the　water，then　I　put　it　in　the　sea．It　was　a　very　safe　boat，but　difficult　to　control．It　turned　every　way　except　the　one　I　wanted　to　go！

The　sea　carried　me　out　to　the　Hispaniola．I　knew　if　I　cut　the　anchor　rope　at　the　wrong　moment，the　Hispaniola　would　make　a　sudden　move　out　to　sea，and　my　boat　might　be　knocked　out　of　the　water．So　I　took　my　knife　and　cut　almost　through　the　rope，then　waited，listening　to　the　sound　of　two　loud　voices　coming　from　the　cabin．Both　men　sounded　drunk，and　both　were　angry．

At　last　the　wind　turned　the　ship　towards　me　and　now　I　cut　all　the　way　through　the　rope．As　fast　as　I　could，I　pushed　my　little　boat　along　the　side　of　the　ship，desperate　to　get　away　before　the　ship　crashed　into　me．Just　as　I　gave　the　final　push，my　hand　found　a　rope　over　the　end　of　the　ship．

I　don't　know　why　I　took　hold　of　the　rope，but　I　did．I　pulled　my　boat　near　to　the　ship，then　stood　up　to　see　through　the　cabin　window．I　had　wondered　why　the　two　men　weren't　on　deck，but　one　look　through　the　window　gave　me　my　answer．It　was　Israel　Hands　and　the　man　in　the　red　cap，now　locked　in　battle，each　with　a　hand　round　the　other's　neck．

I　dropped　down　in　the　boat　again，looking　over　my　shoulder　at　the　shore．And　there，right　behind　me，was　the　pirate's　fire　on　the　beach！Then　the　wind，with　sudden　violence，turned　the　Hispaniola，and　my　little　boat　with　it，and　we　were　both　sailing　fast　into　the　open　sea．

There　were　sudden　shouts　and　the　sound　of　hurrying　feet　as　the　two　men　ran　on　deck．I　lay　down　in　my　boat，sure　that　when　we　reached　the　rough，open　water，that　would　be　the　end　for　me．I　lay　there　for　many　hours，but　at　last　I　fell　asleep，and　in　my　small，helpless　boat，dreamed　of　home　and　the　Admiral　Benbow．

　　

It　was　daylight　when　I　woke　up．The　sun　was　still　hidden　be…hind　Spyglass　Hill，which　came　down　to　the　sea　in　dangerous　cliffs　on　this　side　of　the　island．It　was　no　place　to　row　ashore，or　I　would　be　killed　on　the　rocks．Also，the　boat　was　so　small　that　when　I　rowed，the　waves　came　over　the　sides　of　the　boat．I　decided　to　wait　until　the　sea　took　me　somewhere　safer　on　the　north　side　of　the　island．

‘I　must　keep　the　water　out　of　the　boat，’I　thought，‘but　I　can　row　a　little　in　the　smooth　places．’

It　was　very　tiring　work，and　it　kept　me　busy　so　that　I　did　not　look　up　and　see　the　Hispaniola　until　she　was　just　half　a　mile　away　from　me！But　something　strange　was　happening　to　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　ple