Kitabı oku: «Остров сокровищ / Treasure Island. Уровень 2», sayfa 13
“I never told that,” cried the squire, “to a soul! Livesey, that must be you or Hawkins!”
“Well, gentlemen,” continued the captain, “I don’t know who has this map; but I think, it needs to be kept secret. I am responsible for the ship’s safety and the life of every man. And that’s all.”
10. The Voyage
TheHispaniola has begun its voyage to the Isle of Treasure. I am not going to relate that voyage in detail. It was prosperous. The ship proved to be a good ship, the crew were capable seamen, and the captain understood his business. As for Long John Silver, the men called him Barbecue 40.
“He’s no common man41, Barbecue,” said the coxswain 42 to me. “He can speak like a book; and brave – like a lion!”
All the crew respected and even obeyed him. To me he was very kind, and always glad to see me.
“Come away, Hawkins,” he would say. “Nobody is more welcome than yourself, my son. Sit down and hear the news. Here’s Captain Flint43 – I call my parrot Captain Flint, after the famous pirate – here’s Captain Flint predicting success to our voyage.”
And the parrot would say, with great rapidity, “Pieces of eight44! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!” till John threw his handkerchief over the cage.
“Now, that bird,” he would say, “is, maybe, two hundred years old, Hawkins – they live forever.”
Every man on board seemed content. Always a barrel of apples was standing on the deck. And you will see, it saved us.
Just after sundown, when all my work was over and I was on my way to my bed, I decided to eat an apple. I ran on deck and found that there was only one apple left. Suddenly I heard Silver’s voice. I decided not to show myself. And later I realized that the lives of all the honest men aboard the ship depended upon me alone.
