`He's the cook; and the ringleader, too.'

He was still holding me by the wrist, and at that he gave it quite a wring.

`If you was sent by Long John,' he said, `I'm as good as pork, and I know it. But where was you, do you suppose?'

I had made my mind up in a moment, and by way of answer told him the whole story of our voyage, and the predicament in which we found ourselves. He heard me with the keenest interest, and when I had done he patted me on the head.

`You're a good lad, Jim,' he said; `and you're all in a clove hitch ain't you? Well, you just put your trust in Ben Gunn - Ben Gunn's the man to do it. Would you think it likely, now, that your squire would prove a liberal-minded one in case of help - him being in a clove hitch, as you remark?'

I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.

`Ay, but you see,' returned Ben Gunn, `I didn't mean giving me a gate to keep, and a shuit of livery clothes, and such; that's not my mark, Jim. What I mean is, would he be likely to come down to the toon of, say one thousand pounds out of money that's as good as a man's own already?'

`I am sure he would,' said I. `As it was, all hands were to share.'

`And a passage home?' he added, with a look of great shrewdness.

`Why,' I cried, `the squire's a gentleman. And, besides, if we got rid of the others, we should want you to help work the vessel home.'

`Ah,' said he, `so you would.' And he seemed very much relieved.

`Now, I'll tell you what,' he went on. `So much I'll tell you, and no more. I were in Flint's ship when he buried the treasure; he and six along - six strong seamen. They were ashore nigh on a week, and us standing off and on in the old Walrus. One fine day up went the signal, and here come Flint by himself in a little boat, and his head done up in a blue scarf. The sun was getting up, and mortal whit he looked about the cut-water. But, there he was, you mind, and the six all dead - dead and buried. How he done it, not a man aboard us could make out. It was battle murder, and sudden death, leastways - him against six Billy Bones was the mate; Long John, he was quartermaster and they asked him where the treasure was. ``Ah,'' say he, ``you can go ashore, if you like, and stay,'' he says ``but as for the ship, she'll beat up for more, by thunder!'' That's what he said.

`Well, I was in another ship three years back, and we sighted this island. ``Boys,'' said I, ``here's Flint's treasure let's land and find it.'' The cap'n was displeased at that; but my messmates were all of a mind, and landed. Twelve days they looked for it, and every day they had the worse word for me, until one fine morning all hands went aboard. ``As for you, Benjamin Gunn,'' says they, here's a musket,'' they says, ``and a spade, and pick-axe. You can stay here, and find Flint's money for yourself,'' they says.

`Well, Jim, three years have I been here, and not a bite of Christian diet from that day to this. But now, you look here; look at me. Do I look like a man before the mast? No, says you. Nor I weren't, neither, I says.'

And with that he winked and pinched me hard.

`Just you mention them words to your squire, Jim' - he went on: `Nor he weren't, neither - that's the words. Three years he were the man of this island, light and dark, fair and rain; and sometimes he would, maybe, think upon a prayer (says you), and sometimes he would, maybe, think of his old mother, so be as she's