with this old timber I hobble on? When I was an A B master mariner I'd have come up alongside of him, hand over hand, and broached him to in a brace of old shakes, I would; but now--'

And then, all of a sudden, he stopped, and his jaw drooped as though he had remembered something.

`The score!' he burst out. `Three goes o' rum! Why, shiver my timbers, if I hadn't forgotten my score!'

And, falling on a bench, he laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. I could not help joining; and we laughed together, peal after peal, until the tavern rang again.

`Why, what a precious old sea-calf I am!' he said, at last, wiping his cheeks. `You and me should get on well, Hawkins, for I'll take my davy I should be rated ship's boy. But, come, now, stand by to go about. This won't do. Dooty is dooty, messmates. I'll put on my old cocked hat, and step along of you to Cap'n Trelawney, and report this here affair. For, mind you, it's serious, young Hawkins; and neither you nor me's come out of it with what I should make so bold as to call credit. Nor you neither, says you; not smart - none of the pair of us smart. But dash my buttons! that was a good 'un about my score.'

And he began to laugh again, and that so heartily, that though I did not see the joke as he did, I was again obliged to join him in his mirth.

On our little walk along the quays, he made himself the most interesting companion, telling me about the differ ships that we passed by, their rig, tonnage, and nationality explaining the work that was going forward - how one was discharging, another taking in cargo, and a third making ready for sea; and every now and then telling me some lit anecdote of ships or seamen, or repeating a nautical phrase till I had learned it perfectly. I began to see that here was one of the best of possible shipmates.

When we got to the inn, the squire and Dr Livesey was seated together, finishing a quart of ale with a toast in it, before they should go aboard the schooner on a visit of inspection.

Long John told the story from first to last, with a great deal of spirit and the most perfect truth. `That was how it were now, weren't it, Hawkins?' he would say, now and again and I could always bear him entirely out.

The two gentlemen regretted that Black Dog had got away but we all agreed there was nothing to be done, and after I had been complimented, Long John took up his crutch and departed.

`All hands aboard by four this afternoon,' shouted the squire, after him.

`Ay, ay, sir,' cried the cook, in the passage.

`Well, squire,' said Dr Livesey, `I don't put much faith in your discoveries, as a general thing; but I will say this, John Silver suits me.'

`The man's a perfect trump,' declared the squire.

`And now,' added the doctor, `Jim may come on board with us, may he not?'

`To be sure he may,' says squire. `Take your hat, Hawkins, and we'll see the ship.'