Остров сокровищ / Treasure Island

“Wounded?” said the doctor. “No more wounded than you or I. He is drunk.”

We laid the captain on his bed.

3. The Black Spot [13 - The Black Spot – Чёрная метка]

“Jim,” said the captain next morning, “did that doctor say how long to lie here in this old bed?”

“A week at least,” said I.

“A week!” he cried. “I can’t do that; they will send me the black spot! Jim, have you seen that seaman today?”

“Black Dog?” I asked.

“Ah! Black Dog,” said he. “He’s a bad guy; but his friends are even worse. They want my old sea-chest. I was Old Flint’s best friend and I’m the only one who knows the place. If I get the black spot, get on a horse, and go to that doctor.”

“But what is the black spot, captain?” I asked.

“That’s a sign. But be careful!”

My poor father died quite suddenly that evening. Our distress, the visits of the neighbours, kept me very busy.

About three o’clock in the afternoon, I was standing at the door, full of sad thoughts about my father, when I saw someone near the road. He was blind.

“Will anybody inform a poor blind man, what part of this country it is?”

“You are at the Admiral Benbow,” said I.

“I hear a voice,” said he, “a young voice. Will you give me your hand, my young friend?”

I gave him my hand. He took it.

“Now, boy,” he said, “take me in to the captain, and cry out ‘Here’s a friend for you, Bill.’ If you don’t, I’ll do this.” And he gave me such a pull that I nearly fainted.

I was so terrified of the blind beggar that I forgot my terror of the captain. When I opened the inn door, I cried out the words he ordered.

The poor captain raised his eyes. He made a movement to rise.

“Now, Bill, sit where you are,” said the beggar. “Give me your left hand.”

The blind man gave something to the captain. Then he went out of the inn.

The captain opened his palm.

“Ten o’clock!” he cried. “Six hours.”

He jumped to his feet. But then he made a strange sound and fell down on the floor. The captain was dead.

4. The Sea-chest

I told my mother all that I knew. “We’ll open that chest,” said she. “I want to have my money.” On the floor close to the captain’s hand there was a little piece of paper. This was the black spot—a small round black piece of paper; and there was a short message: “You have till ten tonight [14 - You have till ten tonight – Даём тебе срок до десяти вечера.].”

The news was good, for it was only six.

“Now, Jim,” she said, “that key.”

I felt in his pockets. Small coins, a thimble, and some thread and big needles, a pocket compass. I began to despair.

“Perhaps it’s round his neck,” suggested my mother.

Yes, it was there.

“Give me the key,” said my mother; and then she opened the chest.

We saw a quadrant, two pistols, a piece of silver, an old Spanish watch, a pair of compasses. There were many coins, too.

“I’m an honest woman,” said my mother. “I’ll have my money, and not a farthing [15 - farthing – английская монета в 1/4 пенни] over.” And she began to count. It was a long, difficult business, for the coins were of all countries and sizes.

I suddenly heard in the silent air a sound – the noise of the blind man’s stick upon the road. It came nearer and nearer. Then it struck on the inn door.

“Mother,” said I, “take the whole and let’s go away.”

“I’ll take what I have,” she said, jumping to her feet.

“And I’ll take his papers,” I said.

Next moment we were running downstairs; and the next we opened the door. The moon shone clear on. “My dear,” said my mother suddenly, “take the money and run on.”

This was certainly the end for both of us, I thought. We were near the little bridge. We went down the bridge, where my mother fell on my shoulder.

5. The Last of the Blind Man

My curiosity was stronger than my fear, for I could not remain where I was. I saw three men, they were running together. In the middle of this trio was the blind beggar.

“Down with the door! [16 - Down with the door! – Ломайте дверь!]” he cried. “In, in, in! [17 - In, in, in! – В дом! В дом! В дом!]”

They came in. There was a pause, then a cry of surprise, and then a voice shouting from the house, “Bill’s dead.”

But the blind man cursed them again for their delay.

“Search him,” he cried.

Promptly afterwards, fresh sounds of astonishment arose.

“Pew [18 - Pew – Пью],” cried somebody, “someone has been before us. Someone has opened the chest!”

“It’s these people of the inn – it’s that boy!” cried the blind man, Pew. “Find them!”

Suddenly the pirates heard a whistle. Almost at the same time a pistol-shot came from the hedge side. That was the signal of danger, for the men turned at once and ran, separating in every direction. The blind one cried, “Johnny, Black Dog, Dirk, you won’t leave old Pew!”