Остров сокровищ

           Thesunbeatfulluponthem.Silverhadthrownhishatbesidehimontheground,andhisgreat,smooth,blondface,allshiningwithheat,wasliftedtotheotherman’sinakindofappeal.

           "Mate,"hewassaying,"it’sbecauseIthinksgolddustofyou—golddust,andyoumaylaytothat!IfIhadn’ttooktoyoulikepitch,doyouthinkI’dhavebeenherea-warningofyou?All’sup—youcan’tmakenormend;it’stosaveyourneckthatI’ma-speaking,andifoneofthewildunsknewit,where’dIbe,Tom—now,tellme,where’dIbe?"

           "Silver,"saidtheotherman—andIobservedhewasnotonlyredintheface,butspokeashoarseasacrow,andhisvoiceshooktoo,likeatautrope—"Silver,"sayshe,"you’reold,andyou’rehonest,orhasthenameforit;andyou’vemoneytoo,whichlotsofpoorsailorshasn’t;andyou’rebrave,orI’mmistook.Andwillyoutellmeyou’llletyourselfbeledawaywiththatkindofamessofswabs?Notyou!AssureasGodseesme,I’dsoonerlosemyhand.IfIturnaginmydooty—"

           Andthenallofasuddenhewasinterruptedbyanoise.Ihadfoundoneofthehonesthands—well,here,atthatsamemoment,camenewsofanother.Farawayoutinthemarshtherearose,allofasudden,asoundlikethecryofanger,thenanotheronthebackofit;andthenonehorrid,long-drawnscream.TherocksoftheSpy-glassre-echoeditascoreoftimes;thewholetroopofmarsh-birdsroseagain,darkeningheaven,withasimultaneouswhirr;andlongafterthatdeathyellwasstillringinginmybrain,silencehadre-establisheditsempire,andonlytherustleoftheredescendingbirdsandtheboomofthedistantsurgesdisturbedthelanguoroftheafternoon.

           Tomhadleapedatthesound,likeahorseatthespur,butSilverhadnotwinkedaneye.Hestoodwherehewas,restinglightlyonhiscrutch,watchinghiscompanionlikeasnakeabouttospring.