[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Ye might think from them goin s-on ashore as there was a mighty
treasure in Savannah, he observed; but bless ye, there ain t enough
worth the takin in that town to pay for the gunpowder to blow down
the stockade.
I assented, and Flint s voice came faintly through the twilight:
Fifteen men on the Dead Man s Chest
Yo-ho-ho, and a
Ho, Darby! Darby McGraw! Fetch aft the rum, Darby McGraw!
He s main bad, Flint is.
Silver thrust a thumb over his shoulder.
Won t hardly last till mornin , Bill says.
Oh, poor soul! exclaimed Moira. And him with so much wicked-
PORTO BELLO GOLD 281
ness to answer for! I am thinking he will have a great need of prayers,
so if you will be after taking me below, Bob
Bide a moment, mistress, interrupted Silver. Ha ye seen aught o
the map, Master Ormerod?
No, I answered briefly. And I ll not be involved in your quarrels
aboard this hell-ship.
Easy, easy, he admonished me. Rough words won t further ye, my
gentleman. Here s me as will be glad to stand your friend, and you
know best whether you need a friend. Figger it out for yourselves.
Flint s as good as dead. Who comes a ter him me or Bill Bones?
Which o us would ye plump for? Bill, he s a desp rate villain and
has his fish-eyes on the maid here.
Long John, he wants treasure and a clean path home. I m none o
your rum-swiggers and tavern-brawlers, gentlemen. I ha had eddica-
tion, and I aims to get more. Give me a million and a half pounds to
divvy, and I ll sack the old Walrus and ride to Parlyment in my coach,
I will.
What has that to do with us? I demanded.
He winked.
What has it to do with you, says you? Ah, what! Why, just this. I m
your friend.You stand by me and I ll stand by you.There ll be a lec-
tion of a cap n, and if I knows this crew, him as has the treasure-map
will come out on top. You get me the map, and I ll put you ashore.
Flint called out again suddenly in a frenzy of fear:
Bill! Where s Bill Bones? Stand afore me, Bill. There s them here I
can t face.
The guttural mutter of Bones voice answered the plea.Silver cocked
his head on one side, hand cupped to ear, listening eagerly. But the
words were impossible to distinguish.
No, no, not yet, Bill, wailed Flint. I ain t a-goin to die. Where s
Darby? Here, lad, you come and sit by me. You re my luck, Darby. I
can t die with you by me.
Bones spoke again, and with an oath Silver cuddled his crutch in
his armpit and hopped over the deck to the companionway.
We better go, said Peter. Ja, we take der little gal to her room,
Bob. I don t like this.
Silver reached the door of Flint s stateroom as we stepped inside
282 PORTO BELLO GOLD
the companionway. We could see him distinctly in the light of the
fading sunset glow which came through the stern-windows. Ben Gunn
was crouching by the door, with his back toward us, hugging his arms
about himself and evidently eavesdropping upon what went on in
the stateroom. As we watched, Silver swung his right arm and dealt
Gunn a blow which knocked him head over heels into the main
cabin.The steward emitted one agonized howl and scuttled under the
cabin table. Silver wrenched open the stateroom door and poked his
head inside.
Well, well, if this ain t a touchin picter! he remarked. Bill, I see
you re doin the kind and dootiful by our lamented skipper. But any-
body as knowed ye would expect it of ye. Is that the treasure-map?
What are ye goin to do about it? snarled Bones by way of answer.
Silver backed into the companionway, as if in mute obedience to
a leveled weapon.
Do? he repeated. That depends, Bill.We ll see what the crew has
to say.
Aye, that we will, retorted Bones, and his voice vibrated with
undisguised triumph. Who s to come a ter ye, cap n? he added.
I ain t goin to die, Bill, came Flint s mournful wail. Where s the
rum, Darby? I m a-burnin wi thirst.
Who s to come a ter ye, John? pressed Bones remorselessly.
Silver indulged in a mocking laugh.
Aye, he knows what to answer!
And Flint echoed him gaspingly:
Bill s mate. He has map.
Satisfied? jeered Bones.
I be, Bill, Silver assured him. But we ll put it to the crew first, all
fair and reg lar. And whatever they say, Bill, you remember I ll be
watchin ye. Don t try any tricks wi that map. I m ready for ye, and
if ye start tricks we ll put the Black Spot on ye.
To wi you and your Black Spot! roared Bones. Get out o
here afore I take my knife to ye.
Silver stumped toward us, his face distorted with rage.
He has it, he rasped. him for the shifty scoundrel he is!
Well, the next move is for ye to plot, Master Ormerod.
I see it not, I said coldly.
PORTO BELLO GOLD 283
Wait till he thinks o the maid here, replied the one-legged man
and hopped out on deck.
From Flint s stateroom Darby s voice rose in protest.
Take your hand off me, ye Ah, if he wants the rum do be lettin
him have it! Sure, what will it matther
Tain t no use wastin good rum on a dead man, said Bones, chuck-
ling thickly.
There was a gurgle of liquor, and Flint moaned:
Where s my rum? Fetch aft the rum, Darby McGraw!
Ah, ye black-hearted wretch! shrilled Darby. May the banshees
whistle for ye, and I ll not! Beware do ye touch me, I say, or I ll
The door of the stateroom crashed open again, and Darby was bun-
dled out into the companionway.
Tis bad luck, and not good, I ll wish on ye! he screamed.
Bones ugly face was projected from the doorway long enough to
squirt a stream of tobacco-juice at the boy.
Be off with ye, ye red-haired rat, he growled. You and your luck!
Aye, tis fine luck ye brought to John Flint, wi the rattles in his throat.
Darby McGraw! wailed Flint. Ho, Darby! Fetch aft the rum,
McGraw!
The stateroom door slammed shut on the dying man s plaint, and
Darby stood for an instant shaking his fist at its panels.
May the priest fall dead that would be sayin mass for your soul!
he cursed. May him that offers ye bite or sup put the bitter poison
in it! May ye never know sleep that will rest ye or kindness that
Ah, but what will be the use of it all? For there will be nothing but
just the fires of hell to punish one that s as bad as you.
He turned wearily and saw me, and the tears trickled down his
freckled cheeks.
Oh, Master Bob, I doubt me the cap n dead or close to it, and
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]