The Black Spot Again

THE council of buccaneers had lasted some

time, when one of them re-entered the

house, and with a repetition of the same

salute, which had in my eyes an ironical

air, begged for a moment's loan of the

torch.

Silver briefly agreed, and this emissary

retired again, leaving us together in the

dark.

"There's a breeze coming, Jim," said

Silver, who had by this time adopted quite

a friendly and familiar tone.

I turned to the loophole nearest me and

looked out.

The embers of the great fire had so far

burned themselves out and now glowed so low

and duskily that I understood why these

conspirators desired a torch.

About half-way down the slope to the

stockade, they were collected in a group;

one held the light, another was on his

knees in their midst, and I saw the blade

of an open knife shine in his hand with

varying colours in the moon and torchlight.

The rest were all somewhat stooping, as

though watching the manoeuvres of this

last.

I could just make out that he had a book as

well as a knife in his hand, and was still

wondering how anything so incongruous had

come in their possession when the kneeling

figure rose once more to his feet and the

whole party began to move together towards

the house.

"Here they come," said I; and I returned to

my former position, for it seemed beneath

my dignity that they should find me

watching them.

"Well, let 'em come, lad--let 'em come,"

said Silver cheerily.

"I've still a shot in my locker."

The door opened, and the five men, standing

huddled together just inside, pushed one of

their number forward.

In any other circumstances it would have

been comical to see his slow advance,

hesitating as he set down each foot, but

holding his closed right hand in front of

him.

"Step up, lad," cried Silver.

"I won't eat you.

Hand it over, lubber.

I know the rules, I do; I won't hurt a

depytation."

Thus encouraged, the buccaneer stepped

forth more briskly, and having passed

something to Silver, from hand to hand,

slipped yet more smartly back again to his

companions.

The sea-cook looked at what had been given

him.

"The black spot!

I thought so," he observed.

"Where might you have got the paper?

Why, hillo!

Look here, now; this ain't lucky!

You've gone and cut this out of a Bible.

What fool's cut a Bible?"

"Ah, there!" said Morgan.

"There!

Wot did I say?

No good'll come o' that, I said."

"Well, you've about fixed it now, among

you," continued Silver.

"You'll all swing now, I reckon.

What soft-headed lubber had a Bible?"

"It was Dick," said one.

"Dick, was it?

Then Dick can get to prayers," said Silver.

"He's seen his slice of luck, has Dick, and

you may lay to that."

But here the long man with the yellow eyes

struck in.

"Belay that talk, John Silver," he said.

"This crew has tipped you the black spot in

full council, as in dooty bound; just you

turn it over, as in dooty bound, and see

what's wrote there.

Then you can talk."

"Thanky, George," replied the sea-cook.

"You always was brisk for business, and has

the rules by heart, George, as I'm pleased

to see.

Well, what is it, anyway?

Ah! 'Deposed'--that's it, is it?

Very pretty wrote, to be sure; like print,

I swear.

Your hand o' write, George?

Why, you was gettin' quite a leadin' man in

this here crew.

You'll be cap'n next, I shouldn't wonder.

Just oblige me with that torch again, will

you?

This pipe don't draw."

"Come, now," said George, "you don't fool

this crew no more.

You're a funny man, by your account; but

you're over now, and you'll maybe step down

off that barrel and help vote."

"I thought you said you knowed the rules,"

returned Silver contemptuously.

"Leastways, if you don't, I do; and I wait

here--and I'm still your cap'n, mind--till

you outs with your grievances and I reply;

in the meantime, your black spot ain't

worth a biscuit.

After that, we'll see."

"Oh," replied George, "you don't be under

no kind of apprehension; WE'RE all square,

we are.

First, you've made a hash of this cruise--

you'll be a bold man to say no to that.

Second, you let the enemy out o' this here

trap for nothing.

Why did they want out?

I dunno, but it's pretty plain they wanted

it.

Third, you wouldn't let us go at them upon

the march.

Oh, we see through you, John Silver; you

want to play booty, that's what's wrong

with you.

And then, fourth, there's this here boy."

"Is that all?" asked Silver quietly.

"Enough, too," retorted George.

"We'll all swing and sun-dry for your

bungling."

"Well now, look here, I'll answer these

four p'ints; one after another I'll answer

'em.

I made a hash o' this cruise, did I?

Well now, you all know what I wanted, and

you all know if that had been done that

we'd 'a been aboard the HISPANIOLA this

night as ever was, every man of us alive,

and fit, and full of good plum-duff, and

the treasure in the hold of her, by

thunder!

Well, who crossed me?

Who forced my hand, as was the lawful

cap'n?

Who tipped me the black spot the day we

landed and began this dance?

Ah, it's a fine dance--I'm with you there--

and looks mighty like a hornpipe in a

rope's end at Execution Dock by London

town, it does.

But who done it?

Why, it was Anderson, and Hands, and you,

George Merry!

And you're the last above board of that

same meddling crew; and you have the Davy

Jones's insolence to up and stand for cap'n

over me--you, that sank the lot of us!

By the powers!

But this tops the stiffest yarn to

nothing."

Silver paused, and I could see by the faces

of George and his late comrades that these

words had not been said in vain.

"That's for number one," cried the accused,

wiping the sweat from his brow, for he had

been talking with a vehemence that shook

the house.

"Why, I give you my word, I'm sick to speak

to you.