Остров сокровищ / Treasure Island. Роберт Льюис Стивенсон

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СКАЧАТЬ on the back the same hand had written 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 E [24].

      Ten feet.

J.F.”

      That was all; and to me incomprehensible, 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. Hawkins [25] will come as cabin-boy [26]. 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.”

      Part Two

      The Sea-cook [27]

      7. I Go to Bristol

      So the weeks passed on, till 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:

      Dear Livesey,

      The ship is bought and fitted, and ready for sea. The name, Hispaniola [28]. I got it through my old friend, Blandly [29]. Everyone here in Bristol helped us when they heard where we wanted to go – for treasure, I mean.

      “Redruth,” said I, “Dr. Livesey will not like that. The squire was talking, after all.”

      I read straight on:

      Blandly himself found the Hispaniola. But some people say that the Hispaniola belonged to him, and that he sold it me absurdly high.

      I found an old sailor, he knew all the seamen in Bristol, and wanted to get to sea again. His name is Long John Silver [30], 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 and then come quickly to Bristol.

John Trelawney.

      PS: Blandly has found us an excellent man to be captain. His name is Smollett [31].

      The next day, after dinner, Redruth and I were afoot again and on the road. I said good-bye to Mother and the cove where I lived, and the dear old Admiral Benbow. Next moment we had turned the corner and my home was out of sight. Soon we found ourselves in Bristol.

      I was going to sea myself, to sea in a schooner, with real seamen, to sea, and to seek for buried treasure! While I was still in this delightful dream, we came suddenly in front of a large inn and met Squire Trelawney, all dressed out like a sea-officer, in stout blue cloth, coming 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-glass [32]

      The squire gave me a note addressed to John Silver, at the sign of the Spy-glass. The sign was newly painted; the windows had red curtains. The customers were mostly seamen, and they talked very loudly.

      As I was waiting, a man came out of a side room, and I was sure he must be Long John. His left leg was cut off close by the hip, and under the left shoulder he carried a crutch. He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham [33] – plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling.

      One look at the man before me was enough. I saw the captain, and Black Dog, and the blind man, Pew, and 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-boy; pleased I am to see you.”

      Just then one of the customers at the far side rose suddenly and made for the door [34]. 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 hasn’t paid his score. Harry, run and catch him.”

      One of the others who was nearest the door leaped up and started in pursuit [35].

      “Who did you say he was?” asked Silver. “Black what?”

      “Dog, sir,” said I. “Has Mr. Trelawney not told 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 and said that 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 has happened.”

      So he did. Long John told the story from first to last. The two gentlemen regretted that Black Dog got away, but what to do? Long John took his crutch and left us.

      “All the crew must be aboard by four this afternoon,” said Mr. Trelawney.

      9. Powder and Arms [36]

      The Hispaniola lay some way out. The captain seemed angry with 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 bit СКАЧАТЬ