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your last observation, I would remind you that every shot fired at my
ship will be as likely to strike Robert as another. Accept my advice,
and leave well enough alone.Within a year, possibly two, at most
the boy will be safe and advanced in fortune beyond your wildest
dreams.
Let me have him back as he is tis all I ask, groaned my father.
Murray took snuff.
A highly correct attitude, sir, he remarked. Have you more to say?
PORTO BELLO GOLD 47
Very well, John; you may affix the gag. No, not that gunnysacking.
Here is a silken kerchief will do. And now, friend Peter, we turn to
you and you,Nephew Robert.I would these precautions were unnec-
essary. Let us trust your inclinations will become more friendly toward
me upon closer acquaintance.
CHAPTER IV
An Inkling of the Plot
MY POOR father s face, with the tears standing in his eyes, was the
last object I saw in the wan light of the guttering candles. The next
moment my captors lugged me into the darkness of the garden and
pushed me upon a hand-cart such as was used to fetch up the frailer
kinds of merchandise from the docks. Peter s immense body already
occupied most of the cart s cramped space, and I was squeezed pre-
cariously between him and the near side, the which Silver perceiv-
ing he prodded Peter into a more restricted compass and then spread
a tarpaulin over both of us.
There ye are, my gentlemen, he said cheerfully. Safe as a round
of beef and a side o pork, says you and you says right. Ah, captain,
we re ready here whenever you are, sir.
Proceed then, John, answered my great-uncle s voice.
You remember the way? The Green Lane,1 tis called. Four men
should be sufficient to accompany you. I will go on by another street
with the rest of our party.
Don t ye worry yourself, captain, returned Silver.
Footsteps thudded away on the gravel, and I heard the scratching
of the one-legged man s crutch as he stumped in front of us and the
cart jolted forward. They evidently went out the back way into a lit-
tle alley, where their exit was least likely to be observed, and paused
while Silver reconnoitred the Green Lane from its cover.
1. Maiden Lane
48 PORTO BELLO GOLD
Not a sail in sight, he said presently. Dash my buttons what a
night! Precious dark it is, and I m main glad we didn t fetch Pew
along, with his bleared deadlights to hold us back. Come along, Black
Dog. Yarely, my hearties! If this breeze keeps up
We emerged into the Green Lane, heading toward the East River,
and a thrill tickled my spine as I heard the chanting tones of old
Diggory Leigh, our ward watchman.
Ten o clock of a clear, dark night, and the wind in the nor west.
And all s well!
Easy, all! whispered Silver s voice. Push on, ye swabs; push on!
But hold your gab. I ll do the talking.
The steel piece on the butt of his crutch tinkled on the cobbles
as he stumped ahead of the cart.
Ho there, shipmate, he hailed cordially. And does you do this the
whole, livelong night?
Diggory s lanthorn-stave jingled on the ground.
I do, he returned in pompous tones. What keeps you abroad so
late? Y are seafaring men, I judge.
Now I calls that clever, protested Silver with unconcealed admi-
ration. You sees us in the dark, and straight off you says, seafaring
men. I can see you re a vigilant watchman, shipmate. I d hate to be a
neefarious fellow in your town. Blow my scuttle-butt, I would!
Diggory s appreciation of this tribute was mirrored in his voice.
Tis essential that our citizens be protected, he answered. Yet
there are those who have accused me of sleeping on watch.
Skulkers, they be low-lived skulkers as ever was, Silver assured
him. I know how you feel. Here we ve been a-workin since sunup,
a-shiftin cargo and stowin it aboard, and I ll lay you a piece of eight
the captain never so much as sarves out a extry noggin o rum.
Diggory s stave jingled again as he sloped it over his shoulder.
The wisest men are not always those in authority, friend, he said.
Ye might think, from the way some of the Corporation talk, twas
they bar the night-walkers and wastrels from the city s streets! Bah!
And his wailing voice receded into Pearl Street.
What are you night-walkers and wastrels a-sniggerin about?
demanded Silver of his following. George Merry, I ll lay into you with
PORTO BELLO GOLD 49
my crutch. Put some heft behind this here blessed cart. Ain t ye
ashamed o yourselves, a-laughin at a brave, hard-workin watchman
as keeps wicked pirates from liftin your goods?
A few hundred feet farther on we rattled off the cobbles on to the
planked surface of a wharf.
That you, John? growled a voice.
Aye, aye, Bill. Where s the captain?
Gone off in the jollyboat.That ere Spanish Irisher is a-waitin him
aboard.
I heard Silver curse under his breath.
What was you sayin , John? asked the other man.
What I was sayin don t signify, but what I was thinkin was that
there s a deal o mystery in this business, answered Silver with an
edge to his tone. But there! Why should I consarn myself as am no
more n quartermaster o the old Walrus? You re Flint s mate, Bill, and
if it don t tickle your dignity to risk your neck without knowin what
the stake is, why should I complain?
The other man, whom I now identified as the very brown-faced
fellow who had been sitting with Darby in the Whale s Head, replied
with a string of oaths.
! he wound up. Flint hisself don t know much more n you
and me.
He ll take a lot for a sizzlin , gut-cuttin fire-eater, rejoined Silver.
I m if I d eat the humble-pie as is his reg lar diet. Look at what
we been through already! First off we leaves a safe hangout and a
rich cruisin -ground by Madagascar.Then we barges off from an ekally
safe lay on the Main. And his bloomin lordship, not trustin his own
crew, calls a fo c sle council aboard the Walrus and asks for volun-
teers to go with him into New York!
No, no, struck in Bones I could tell him by his voice, which was
of a peculiarly hectoring, rasping timbre. Twas Flint would have him
take Walrus men along, not trustin what he was up to. I heard what
was said, John, for Flint had me into the cabin at the end.
If you won t say no more, Murray, you won t, says he. I know
you well enough for that. And as for your political combina-
tions they mean nothin to me nless there s money in em for my [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
