Kitabı oku: «Остров сокровищ / Treasure Island. Уровень 1», sayfa 2

4. The Sea Chest

I told my mother all that I knew. “We’ll open that chest,” she said. “I want to have my money.” On the floor close to the captain’s hand, there was a little piece of paper. This was the black spot – a small round black piece of paper. There was a short message: “You have till ten tonight.⁹”

The news was good, for it was only six. “Now, Jim,” she said, “that key.”

I looked for the key in his pockets. Small coins, some thread and big needles, a pocket compass. I began to despair.

“Perhaps it’s round his neck,” suggested my mother.

Yes, it was there.

“Give me the key,” said my mother; and then she opened the chest.

We saw a quadrant, two pistols, a piece of silver, an old Spanish watch, a pair of compasses. There were many coins, too.

“I’m an honest woman,” said my mother. “I’ll have my money, and not a farthing ¹⁰over.” And she began to count. It was a long, difficult business, for the coins were of all countries and sizes.

Suddenly I heard a sound in the silent air. It was the noise of the blind man’s stick upon the road. It came nearer and nearer. Then it struck on the inn door.

“Mother,” I said, “take everything and let’s go away.”

“I’ll take what I have,” she said and jumped to her feet.

“Then I’ll take his papers,” I said.

Next moment we were running downstairs. The next we opened the door and ran to the village. The moon shone clear on us.

“My dear,” said my mother suddenly, “take the money and run on. I am too weak.”

This was certainly the end for both of us, I thought. I helped her walk further. We were near the little bridge when my mother fell on my shoulder. I hid under the bridge and tried to hide her body.

5. The Last of the Blind Man

My curiosity was stronger than my fear, and I could not stay where I was and hid behind a bush. Then I saw three men. They were running together. In the middle of this trio was the blind beggar.

“Down with the door!¹¹” he cried. “In, in, in!¹²”

They came in. There was a pause, then a cry of surprise. Then a voice shouting from the house, “Bill’s dead.”

The blind man cursed them for their delay.

“Search him,” he cried.

Promptly afterwards, fresh sounds of amazement arose.

“Pew¹³,” cried somebody, “The chest is open! Someone was here before us.”

“It’s these people of the inn – it’s that boy!” cried the blind man, Pew. “Find them!”

Suddenly the pirates heard a whistle. Almost at the same time, a pistol-shot came from the hedge side. That was the signal of danger. The men turned at once and ran in every direction. The blind one cried, “Johnny, Black Dog, Dirk, you won’t leave old Pew!”

Just then, four or five riders came in sight. Pew ran straight under the nearest of the horses. The rider tried to save him but couldn’t. The blind man was dead.

The riders were officers. I greeted them. We brought my mother to the village and went back to the ‘Admiral Benbow’. Inside, everything was ruined.

“Did they look for the money?” asked one of the officers.

“No, sir; not money, I think,” I replied. “In fact, sir, I have the thing in my breast pocket.”

“I’ll take it, if you like,” he said.

“I thought perhaps Dr. Livesey —” I began.

“Perfectly right,” he interrupted, “perfectly right – a gentleman and a magistrate.” I thanked him heartily for the help.

6. The Captain’s Papers

We came to Dr. Livesey. He was sitting with Squire Trelawney¹⁴.

“Good evening, friend Jim,” the doctor said with a nod. “What good wind brings you here?¹⁵”

We told them everything.

“And so, Jim,” the doctor said, “you have the thing that they were looking for, have you?”

“Here it is, sir,” I said, and gave him the packet.

The doctor put it quietly in the pocket of his coat.

A big pigeon pie was brought in and put on a side table. I was as hungry as a hawk.

“And now, squire,” said the doctor. “You heard of this Flint, I suppose?”

“Heard of him!” cried the squire. “Heard of him, you say! He was the most dangerous pirate of all!”

“Well, I heard of him myself, in England,” said the doctor. “But the point is, had he money?”

“Money!” cried the squire. “What do these villains care for but money?”

“Now, then, if Jim is agreeable,” replied the doctor, “we’ll open the packet.” Then he laid it before him on the table.

It contained two things – a book and a sealed paper. The paper was sealed in several places. The doctor opened the seals with great care. The map of an island fell out. There were latitude and longitude, names of hills and bays. The island was about nine miles long and five across. It had two harbours and a hill in the center part. The hill’s name was ‘The Spy-glass¹⁶’. There were three crosses of red ink – two on the north part of the island, one in the southwest. There were also words: “Bulk of treasure here¹⁷”.

Over on the back the same hand wrote this further information:

“Tall tree, Spy-glass shoulder, bearing a point to the N. of N.N.E.

Skeleton Island E.S.E. and by E¹⁸.

Ten feet.

J.F.”

That was all. I couldn’t understand anything, but it filled the squire and Dr. Livesey with delight.

“Livesey,” said the squire, “you will give up your practice at once. Tomorrow I start for Bristol. In three weeks’ time, we’ll have the best ship, sir, and the best crew in England. We’ll take my servants with us. Hawkins¹⁹ will come as cabin boy. You, Livesey, are ship’s doctor; I am admiral.”

“Trelawney,” said the doctor, “I’ll go with you; so will Jim. There’s only one man I’m afraid of.”

“And who’s that?” cried the squire.

“You!” replied the doctor. “For you cannot hold your tongue. We are not the only men who know of this paper.”

“Livesey,” said the squire, “I’ll be as silent as the grave.”