And with an elaborate sea-salute, this fellow, a long, ill-looking, yellow-eyed man of five-and-thirty, stepped coolly towards the door and disappeared out of the house. One after another, the rest followed his example; each making a salute as he passed; each adding some apology. `According to rules,' said one. `Fo'c's'le council,' said Morgan. And so with one remark or another, all marched out, and left Silver and me alone with the torch.

The sea-cook instantly removed his pipe.

`Now, look you here, Jim Hawkins,' he said, in a steady whisper, that was no more than audible, `you're within half a plank of death, and, what's a long sight worse, of torture. They're going to throw me off. But, you mark, I stand by you through thick and thin. I didn't mean to; no, not till you spoke up. I was about desperate to lose that much blunt, and be hanged into the bargain. But I see you was the right sort. I says to myself: You stand by Hawkins, John, and Hawkins `Il stand by you. You're his last card, and, by the living thunder, John, he's yours! Back to back, says I. You save your witness, and he'll save your neck!'

I began dimly to understand.

`You mean all's lost?' I asked.

`Ay, by gum, I do!' he answered. `Ship gone, neck gone - that's the size of it. Once I looked into that bay, Jim Hawkins, and seen no schooner - well, I'm tough, but I gave out. As for that lot and their council, mark me, they're outright fools and cowards. I'll save your life - if so be as I can - from them. But, see here, Jim - tit for tat - you save Long John from swinging.'

I was bewildered; it seemed a thing so hopeless he was asking - he, the old buccaneer, the ringleader throughout.

`What I can do, that I'll do,' I said.

`It's a bargain!' cried Long John. `You speak up plucky, and, by thunder! I've a chance.'

He hobbled to the torch, where it stood propped among the firewood, and took a fresh light to his pipe.

`Understand me, Jim,' he said, returning. `I've a head on my shoulders, I have. I'm on squire's side now. I know you've got that ship safe somewheres. How you done it, I don't know, but safe it is. I guess Hands and O'Brien turned soft. I never much believed in neither of them. Now you mark me. I ask no questions, nor I won't let others. I know when a game's up, I do; and I know a lad that's staunch. Ah, you that's young - you and me might have done a power of good together!'

He drew some cognac from the cask into a tin cannikin.

`Will you taste, messmate?' he asked; and when I had refused: `Well, I'll take a drain myself, Jim,' said he. `I need a caulker, for there's trouble on hand. And, talking o' trouble, why did that doctor give me the chart, Jim?'

My face expressed a wonder so unaffected that he saw the needlessness of further questions.

`Ah, well, he did, though,' said he. `And there's something under that, no doubt - something, surely, under that, Jim - bad or good.'

And he took another swallow of the brandy, shaking his great fair head like a man who looks forward to the worst.