Kitabı oku: «Остров сокровищ / Treasure Island. Уровень 1», sayfa 3
Part Two
The Sea-cook
7. I Go to Bristol
Dr. Livesey went to London to look for a doctor who could replace him. The weeks passed on. One fine day there came a letter addressed to Dr. Livesey, with the addition “To be opened in the case of his absence, by Tom Redruth or young Hawkins”. I found the following important news:
“Redruth,” said I, “Dr. Livesey will not like that. The squire talked too much, after all.”
I read straight on:
Blandly found the Hispaniola himself. But some people say that the Hispaniola belonged to him. They say he sold it to me absurdly high.
I found an old sailor. He knew all the seamen in Bristol. He wanted to get to sea again. His name is Long John Silver22, and he has lost a leg. With the help of Silver I gathered a company of real sea dogs.
So now, Livesey, there’s no time to lose. Let young Hawkins go at once to see his mother. Then come quickly to Bristol.
John Trelawney.
PS: Blandly got us an excellent man to be captain. His name is Smollett23.
The next day, after dinner, Redruth and I were alreadyon the road. I said good-bye to my mother and the cove where I lived, and the dear old ‘Admiral Benbow’. Next moment we turned the corner and could no longer see my home. Soon we found ourselves in Bristol.
I was going to sea myself, to sea in a schooner, with real seamen and to seek for hidden treasure! I was still in this delightful dream when suddenly we came in front of a large inn. We met Squire Trelawney. He was all dressed out like a sea-officer, in stout blue cloth. He came out of the door with a smile on his face.
“Here you are,” he cried, “and the doctor came last night from London. Bravo! The ship’s company complete!”
“Oh, sir,” cried I, “when do we sail?”
“Sail!” said he. “We sail tomorrow!”
8. At the Sign of the Spy-glass24
The squire gave me a note and told me to bring it to John Silver who was then in a tavern at the sign of the Spy-glass. The sign was newly painted; the windows had red curtains. The customers were mostly seamen. They talked very loudly.
As I was waiting, a man came out of a side room. I was sure he must be Long John. His left leg was cut off close by the hip. Under the left shoulder, he carried a crutch. He was very tall and strong. His face as big as a ham25 was plain and pale. However, he looked intelligent and smiling.
One look at the man before me was enough. I saw the captain, and Black Dog, and the blind man, Pew. I thought I knew what a pirate was like – a very different creature, according to me.
“Mr. Silver, sir?” I asked.
“Yes, my lad,” said he, “such is my name, to be sure. And you are our new cabin-boy26; pleased I am to see you.”
Just then, one of the customers at the far side rose suddenly and made for the door27. I recognized him! It was the tallow-faced man, who came first to the ‘Admiral Benbow’.
“Oh,” I cried, “stop him! It’s Black Dog!”
“I don’t care who he is,” cried Silver. “But he didn’t pay his for his drink. Harry, run and catch him.”
One of the others who was nearest the door leaped up and started in pursuit28.
“Who did you say he was?” asked Silver. “Black what?”
“Dog, sir,” said I. “Didn’t Mr. Trelawney tell you of the pirates? He was one of them.”
“So?” cried Silver. “In my house! Ben, run and help Harry. Black Dog? No, I don’t know the name, not I. He used to come here with a blind beggar.”
“I knew that blind man too,” said I. “His name was Pew.”
By the time, the two men came back. They said they lost Black Dog in a crowd.
“I hate these pirates,” said Long John. “It’s very serious. I’ll go with you to tell Mr. Trelawney what happened.”
So he did. Long John told the story from first to last. The two gentlemen regretted that Black Dog got away, but there was nothing we could do. Long John took his crutch and left us.
“All the crew must be on the ship and ready by four this afternoon,” said Mr. Trelawney.
9. Powder and Arms29
We walked past many ships and finally got to the Hispaniola. The captain seemed angry about everything on board.
“I don’t like this cruise,” said the captain. “I don’t like the men.”
“Possibly, sir, you may not like your employer, either?” said the squire.
“Stay a bit30,” said Dr. Livesey. “No use of such questions. I ask for an explanation. You say you don’t like this cruise, captain. Why?”
“I find that every man knows more than I do,” said the captain. “I learn we are going after treasure. I don’t like treasure voyages at all. I especially don’t like them, when they are secret and when (begging your pardon, Mr. Trelawney) the parrot knows about it.”
“Silver’s parrot?” asked the squire.
“It’s a way of speaking31,” said the captain.
“That is all clear, and true enough,” replied Dr. Livesey. “We take the risk, but we are not as ignorant as you think. Next, you say you don’t like the crew. Are they not good seamen?”
“I don’t like them, sir,” repeated Captain Smollett.
“Well, now, tell us what you want, captain,” asked the doctor.
“They put the powder and the arms in the fore hold32,” said the captain. “Now, you have a good place under the cabin; why not put them there? I’ll tell you what I heard myself,” continued Captain Smollett, “you have a map of an island, there are crosses on the map to show where the treasure is, and the island lies —” And then he named the latitude and longitude exactly.
“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 in secret. I am responsible for the ship’s safety and the life of every man. And that’s all.”
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