There was a sudden growl from the pirates. One of them drew a knife and i thought my last hour had come. Silver, however, held the others off, though they stood up to him till he shouted them down.
‘ If any of you want to fight with me,’ he cried,’ you know the way. Let him that dares take a cutlass, and I’ll see the colour of this inside! I like that boy. He’s more of a man than any two of you rolled into one.’ The next thing was that the men went outside to discuss it among themselves. The moment they were gone, Silver came close and whispered to me. ‘ They’re going to depose me, jim, but I’ll stand by you through thick and thin. You’re a hair’s breadth from death, but we’ll stand together, says I. I’ll save your life, If I can-and you save Long John Silver from hanging if you gets the chance.’
In another minute the men returned, and one of them slipped somethig into Silver’s hand. ‘ The Black Spot,’ said Silver. though so. You’ve finished with me, have you? well, I’m still your captain till you speak your complaints and I reply.’ ‘ You’ve ruined everything on this voyage,’ said a man named George,’ and now there’s this boy.’
‘So I’ ve ruined everything, have I?’ cried Silver. ‘ You all know what I wanted, and if that had been done, we’d have been aboard the ” Hispaniola” this night- and with the treasure too, by thunder! As for the boy, ain’t he a hostage? Kill him? Not me, mates. And didn’t I make a bargain for you? Ain’t the doctor coming to see you every day, and didn’t I get this from him?’
And as he spoke he threw down the chat-the real chart that I had got from Billy Bones!- at their feet. They leaped upon it like cats upon a mouse.
‘ Now,’ said Silver, ‘ You lost the ship; I’ ve found the treasure. Who’s the better man? And now I resign, by thunder! Choose what captain you like? ‘ Silver!” they cried. ‘ Silver for captain!’ That was the end of the night’s argument.
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