[00:01.00]Chapter 28, in the enemy's camp.
[00:05.94]The red glare of the torch showed me my worst fears.
[00:11.28]The pirates had taken the log house and its stores.
[00:16.51]Worse still, there was no sign of any prisoners.
[00:21.86]All my friends must have died in the fight.
[00:26.95]There were six pirates left, although one of them had a blood stained bandage round his head.
[00:35.56]Silver himself looked paler than when I last saw him.
[00:40.46]His fine blue coat was dirty and torn.
[00:46.71]So here's Jim Hawkins dropped in on us, eh?
[00:51.51]Well, I call that friendly, he said.
[00:56.92]Sitting down on a barrel, he lit his pipe.
[01:00.84]Now, Jim, that's you here, I'll give you a piece of my mind.
[01:06.62]I've always said you're a brave lad.
[01:10.87]I wanted you to join up with us from the first, and now you've got to, mate.
[01:17.44]Your friends have turned dead against you.
[01:22.98]Ungrateful scamp, the doctor called you.
[01:27.68]You can't go back to them for they won't have you, so you'll have to join with old Captain Silver.
[01:36.11]So far, so good.
[01:38.08]My friends were still alive even if they blamed me for deserting them.
[01:43.84]Now, I ain't one for threats, Jim, Silver went on.
[01:48.68]If you like the offer join, and if you don't, you're free to say no.
[01:56.27]I wasn't fooled by this sneering talk.
[02:00.00]I knew the threat of death hung in the air.
[02:04.16]Well, if I'm to choose, I said, I think I have a right to know why you're here, and where my friends are.
[02:14.45]Silver nodded.
[02:16.77]Yesterday morning, Mr. Hawkins, he began, Dr.
[02:23.32]Livesey came out with a flag of truce.
[02:27.61]Captain Silver, says he, you're finished.
[02:32.98]The ship's gone.
[02:35.30]We looked out and by thunder, it was true.
[02:38.45]I've never seen men look such a pack of fools as we did then.
[02:43.62]Well, the doctor he wanted to bargain.
[02:48.62]So bargain we did and here we are with the stores and the log house.
[02:55.54]As for your mates, they've run off, and where?
[02:59.96]I can't tell you.
[03:03.71]Is that all?
[03:05.52]And now am I meant to choose? I asked.
[03:09.73]I, Jim, said Silver.
[03:13.99]Well, I said, I know what you've got in mind for me.
[03:20.63]I've seen enough men die since I met you.
[03:26.47]But I've a thing or two to tell you first.
[03:33.81]Here you are in a bad way, ship lost, treasure lost, men lost.
[03:45.56]And if you want to know who did it, it was me.
[03:51.07]It was me overheard what you were plotting the night we cited land.
[03:57.68]It was me who cut the ship loose and killed the men you'd left on board.
[04:03.34]And it was me who brought her to a place where you'll never find her.
[04:10.55]I was speaking excitedly, and as no one answered, I carried on.
[04:17.47]You don't scare me more than a fly, Silver.
[04:21.82]Kill me or spare me as you please.
[04:28.13]But consider one thing.
[04:31.42]If you do spare me, I give you my word, I'll do what I can to save your neck when you stand before a court of law.
[04:45.47]I stopped, finally out of breath.
[04:49.91]The pirates were all staring at me like sheep.
[04:54.35]Silver, however, was looking at me in a new way.
[05:01.35]Suddenly a man called Morgan jumped up and drew his knife.
[05:11.52]I say we've heard enough from Jim Hawkins.
[05:19.96]Silver turned on him.
[05:22.91]And who are you, Tom Morgan?
[05:25.99]Maybe you think you are captain here.
[05:29.56]By heaven, I'll teach you.
[05:32.74]If any man crosses me, he'll end up feeding the fishes like all the others.
[05:39.87]Morgan paused, but the others started grumbling.
[05:44.40]Tom's right, said one.
[05:47.94]I'll be hanged if I'll be ordered about by you, John Silver, added another.
[05:57.25]Silver leaned forward.
[06:00.76]Any of you gentlemen want to cross swords with me, he roared.
[06:07.41]Well, I'm ready.
[06:10.45]Take a cutlass, him who dares.
[06:15.15]That boy is more man than any one of you rats in this house.
[06:23.65]And if you lay a hand on him, you'll have me to deal with.
[06:31.62]There was a long pause.
[06:34.40]My heart was pounding away like a sledge hammer.
[06:38.90]The pirates drew back and muttered in a corner.
[06:42.97]Then, one by one, they troop out of the log house.
[06:51.46]One gave Silver a mock salute.
[06:55.22]Asking your pardon, sir, he said, we're stepping outside to talk.
[07:04.91]I was left alone with Silver.
[07:09.08]Now look here, Jim, said Silver in a whisper.
[07:14.59]You're a breath away from dying, or worse, torture.
[07:22.87]They're set on getting rid of me, but I'll stand by you, Jim.
[07:32.80]When you spoke up, I see you're an honest sort.
[07:38.31]I'll stand by you, and you stand by me, lad.
[07:43.41]I'll save you from them cowards if I can.
[07:49.76]But, fair's fair.
[07:52.57]When the time comes, you speak up for me.
[07:57.76]You save Long John from swinging at the end of a rope.
[08:05.95]What Silver was asking seemed hopeless to me.
[08:10.18]He was a pirate and the ring leader of the mutiny.
[08:15.51]Still, I answered, what I can do, I will.
[08:21.96]It's a bargain, cried Silver.
[08:26.41]Now, understand me, Jim, I've got a brain in my head.
[08:33.34]I'm on the squire side now.
[08:36.69]I know you've got that ship hidden somewhere safe, but I don't ask no questions.
[08:47.62]He took a swig of brandy.
[08:50.77]There's trouble brewing.
[08:54.80]And talking of trouble, why did the squire give me that treasure map, I wonder, Jim?
[09:06.38]I was so surprised, I had no answer.
[09:10.25]Ah, well, said Silver.
[09:14.86]There's some reason to it, bad or good.
[09:22.54]And he took another deep swallow of brandy, like a man preparing for the worst.