[00:01.59] Chapter 8.
[00:04.70] At the sign of the spyglass.
[00:10.45] After breakfast, the squire gave me a note to take to Long John Silver at the Spyglass Inn.
[00:17.98] I soon found the place under a newly painted sign of a large brass telescope.
[00:25.65] Inside, the room was full of seamen, who talked so loudly that I hung outside the door, scared to enter.
[00:39.56] Just then, a man came out of a side room.
[00:45.80] I guessed he was Long John Silver.
[00:49.70] He had only one good leg, but he got around at surprising speed on a crutch.
[00:57.84] Hopping about on it like a bird.
[01:01.70] He was tall and strong with a face as big as a ham.
[01:08.17] It was an intelligent face, and he always seemed to be cheerful.
[01:15.81] As he moved among the tables, he whistled and stopped to share a joke with his customers.
[01:24.89] I'd been worrying that Silver might be the one-legged man I'd been warned of at the Admiral Benbo.
[01:33.63] But one look at this clean and smiling landlord told me he was no pirate like Blind Pew or Black Dog.
[01:46.62] I plucked up courage and went inside the inn.
[01:52.02] Mr. Silver, sir?" I asked, holding out my note.
[02:00.76] Yes, my lad.
[02:03.84] And who may you be?" he said.
[02:09.92] Then, as he saw the squire's letter, his expression changed.
[02:15.69] Oh, he said, quite loudly.
[02:19.68] So, you are our new cabin boy.
[02:24.28] Very pleased I am to meet you.
[02:28.97] Just then, one of the customers rose suddenly and darted out of the door.
[02:36.84] His haste caught my attention, and I recognized him at once.
[02:42.18] Stop him!" I cried. "It's Black Dog.
[02:48.98] I don't care two pennies who he is," answered Silver.
[02:53.95] But he hasn't paid for his drink.
[02:57.25] Harry, run and catch him.
[03:02.86] One of the others, who was near the door, went off in pursuit.
[03:09.67] Who did you say he was?" asked Silver. "Black what?"
[03:15.66] Dog, sir," I said.
[03:18.32] Hasn't Mr. Trelani told you about the pirates?
[03:22.38] He was one of them.
[03:25.91] So," cried Silver.
[03:29.60] One of those swabs, was he?
[03:33.08] In my house?
[03:37.29] Was you drinking with him, Morgan?
[03:40.85] Step over here.
[03:43.95] The man called Morgan, an old gray-haired sailor, came forward obediently.
[03:50.50] Now, Morgan," said Long John sternly.
[03:56.76] You never clapped eyes on that black dog before, did you now?"
[04:01.66] Not I, sir," said Morgan with a salute.
[04:06.05] You didn't know his name, did you?"
[04:08.59] No, sir.
[04:10.89] It's just as well for you, Tom Morgan.
[04:14.75] If I thought you was mixed up with that kind of fellow, you'd never set foot in my house again.
[04:24.07] As Morgan rolled back to his seat, Silver whispered to me,
[04:29.48] He's an honest man, Morgan, only stupid.
[04:36.15] Now, this black dog.
[04:40.31] Come to think of it, I've seen the swab before.
[04:46.36] He used to come in here with a blind beggar.
[04:50.88] That's him, the blind man," I said.
[04:55.52] His name was Pew.
[04:57.99] It was," cried Silver, now quite excited.
[05:02.88] Well, I hope we catch this black dog.
[05:06.59] That will be good news for Captain Trelani.
[05:15.43] But just then, the man called Harry came back out of breath, and admitted he had lost Black Dog in the crowd.
[05:26.16] Silver scolded him badly, and then took me on one side.
[05:33.20] See here now, Hawkins.
[05:37.56] This looks bad for me.
[05:41.43] What's Captain Trelani to think?
[05:45.81] Here I find this dog sitting in my own house, drinking my own rum, and then he runs off and gets clean away.
[05:58.80] You'll stand up for me with the captain, won't you?
[06:02.95] You're only a lad, but you're a smart as paint.
[06:07.94] I see that when you first came in.
[06:14.88] Since finding Black Dog at the inn, I'd watched the cook closely.
[06:21.27] But by now, I would have sworn to the innocence of Long John Silver.
[06:30.13] We went straight to the squire to report what had happened.
[06:34.96] Long John told the story, missing out nothing from first to last.
[06:46.11] That was how it were.
[06:48.31] Now weren't it, Hawkins?"
[06:51.91] He would say to me, and I was always able to back him up.
[06:58.62] The squire and the doctor regretted that Black Dog had got away, but told Silver that he couldn't be blamed.
[07:09.06] When he had gone, Dr. Livesy said, well, I don't put much faith in your choices, Trelani, but that Silver is a good man.
[07:25.84] He turned to me.
[07:28.60] And now, Jim, it's time you came aboard the Hispaniola.