[00:00.94] Chapter 14.
[00:02.26] The first blow is struck.
[00:05.64] For the first time, I felt the excitement of having an island to explore.
[00:11.81] I had given Long John and his crew the slip, and there was no one to give me orders.
[00:19.14] I walked among strange twisted trees like oaks.
[00:24.86] The marsh steamed in the sunshine, and Spyglass Hill loomed up ahead of me.
[00:32.91] All at once, a flock of wild ducks flew up, and I heard voices.
[00:38.94] Afraid, I crawled under one of the large trees.
[00:45.92] From my hiding place, I saw two men come into view.
[00:50.92] One was Silver, and the other was a seaman called Tom.
[00:57.30] Silver had pushed back his hat, and his big, smooth face glowed in the sun.
[01:05.92] Mate, he said, if I hadn't took such a liking to you, I wouldn't be giving you this warning.
[01:15.42] I'm only speaking to save your neck.
[01:18.90] If the others knew, they'd kill me.
[01:24.64] Tom's voice shook as he answered.
[01:28.66] Silver, you're old and you're honest.
[01:33.57] You wouldn't be led into mutiny by swabs like that.
[01:38.63] Not you, if I turn against my duty,
[01:45.95] All of a sudden, a noise came from far out in the Marsh, a cry of anger followed by another sound, a horrible, drawn out scream.
[02:00.45] The rocks echoed with the sound, and the Marsh birds rose, beating their wings in the air.
[02:08.27] Tom had heard it too.
[02:11.69] John, what was that? he said.
[02:15.61] That.
[02:18.66] Silver was smiling.
[02:20.49] Oh, I reckon that be Allen.
[02:26.98] Tom swung round on him.
[02:29.36] Allen, then God rest his soul.
[02:35.09] And as for you, John Silver, you're no mate of mine.
[02:39.93] I won't join your gang of cutthroats.
[02:44.99] You've killed Allen and you'll have to kill me too.
[02:51.46] With those brave words, Tom turned his back on Silver and walked away.
[02:59.90] That was a mistake.
[03:04.71] With a cry of rage, Silver grabbed a branch and whipped out his crutch.
[03:11.93] He sent it hurtling through the air like a missile.
[03:16.98] It struck Tom a stunning blow between the shoulders, and he fell forward with a gasp.
[03:26.31] Whether he was dead or not, I couldn't tell, but Silver didn't wait to see.
[03:33.95] In a second, he was on Tom with his knife and stabbed him in the back.
[03:44.26] Sick with fear, I began to crawl away from that place as quickly as I could.
[03:52.76] Behind me, I could hear Silver blow a blast on a whistle, and the answering shouts of his men.
[04:02.11] As soon as I was clear of the place, I ran as I'd never run before.
[04:09.49] I didn't care where I was going, as long as it was away from those murderers.
[04:19.57] As I ran, my fear grew stronger each minute.
[04:25.53] What was I to do now?
[04:29.72] At sundown, how could I go back to the boats and face those cold-blooded killers?
[04:39.09] Wouldn't the fact that I'd run away tell them I knew of their treachery?
[04:45.50] It was all over for me.
[04:49.28] I would never see my friends or my home again.
[04:56.34] I would either starve to death on the island, or the pirates would catch me and ring my neck like a chicken.
[05:06.51] At last, I came to a part of the island where there were tall pine trees.
[05:13.91] Here, a new danger brought me to a halt and set my heart racing.