Остров сокровищ

           Hegotdownstairsnextmorning,tobesure,andhadhismealsasusual,thoughheatelittleandhadmore,Iamafraid,thanhisusualsupplyofrum,forhehelpedhimselfoutofthebar,scowlingandblowingthroughhisnose,andnoonedaredtocrosshim.Onthenightbeforethefuneralhewasasdrunkasever;anditwasshocking,inthathouseofmourning,tohearhimsingingawayathisuglyoldsea-song;butweakashewas,wewereallinthefearofdeathforhim,andthedoctorwassuddenlytakenupwithacasemanymilesawayandwasnevernearthehouseaftermyfather’sdeath.Ihavesaidthecaptainwasweak,andindeedheseemedrathertogrowweakerthanregainhisstrength.Heclamberedupanddownstairs,andwentfromtheparlourtothebarandbackagain,andsometimesputhisnoseoutofdoorstosmellthesea,holdingontothewallsashewentforsupportandbreathinghardandfastlikeamanonasteepmountain.Heneverparticularlyaddressedme,anditismybeliefhehadasgoodasforgottenhisconfidences;buthistemperwasmoreflighty,andallowingforhisbodilyweakness,moreviolentthanever.Hehadanalarmingwaynowwhenhewasdrunkofdrawinghiscutlassandlayingitbarebeforehimonthetable.Butwithallthat,hemindedpeoplelessandseemedshutupinhisownthoughtsandratherwandering.Once,forinstance,toourextremewonder,hepipeduptoadifferentair,akingofcountrylove-songthathemusthavelearnedinhisyouthbeforehehadbeguntofollowthesea.

           Sothingspasseduntil,thedayafterthefuneral,andaboutthreeo’clockofabitter,foggy,frostyafternoon,Iwasstandingatthedoorforamoment,fullofsadthoughtsaboutmyfather,whenIsawsomeonedrawingslowlynearalongtheroad.Hewasplainlyblind,forhetappedbeforehimwithastickandworeagreatgreenshadeoverhiseyesandnose;andhewashunched,asifwithageorweakness,andworeahugeoldtatteredsea-cloakwithahoodthatmadehimappearpositivelydeformed.Ineversawinmylifeamoredreadful-lookingfigure.