Остров сокровищ

           Andifyouwanttoknowaboutnumberfour,andthatboy,why,shivermytimbers,isn’theahostage?Arewea-goingtowasteahostage?No,notus;hemightbeourlastchance,andIshouldn’twonder.Killthatboy?Notme,mates!Andnumberthree?Ah,well,there’sadealtosaytonumberthree.Maybeyoudon’tcountitnothingtohavearealcollegedoctortoseeyoueveryday—you,John,withyourheadbroke—oryou,GeorgeMerry,thathadtheagueshakesuponyounotsixhoursagone,andhasyoureyesthecolouroflemonpeeltothissamemomentontheclock?Andmaybe,perhaps,youdidn’tknowtherewasaconsortcomingeither?Butthereis,andnotsolongtillthen;andwe’llseewho’llbegladtohaveahostagewhenitcomestothat.Andasfornumbertwo,andwhyImadeabargain—well,youcamecrawlingonyourkneestometomakeit—onyourkneesyoucame,youwasthatdownhearted—andyou’dhavestarvedtooifIhadn’t—butthat’satrifle!Youlookthere—that’swhy!"

           AndhecastdownuponthefloorapaperthatIinstantlyrecognized—noneotherthanthechartonyellowpaper,withthethreeredcrosses,thatIhadfoundintheoilclothatthebottomofthecaptain’schest.WhythedoctorhadgivenittohimwasmorethanIcouldfancy.

           Butifitwereinexplicabletome,theappearanceofthechartwasincredibletothesurvivingmutineers.Theyleapeduponitlikecatsuponamouse.Itwentfromhandtohand,onetearingitfromanother;andbytheoathsandthecriesandthechildishlaughterwithwhichtheyaccompaniedtheirexamination,youwouldhavethought,notonlytheywerefingeringtheverygold,butwereatseawithit,besides,insafety.

           "Yes,"saidone,"that’sFlint,sureenough.J.F.,andascorebelow,withaclovehitchtoit;sohedoneever."