1
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I lost no time in telling my mother everything I knew.

2
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"I'm sorry," I said. "I should have told you what was happening a long time ago. Now we're in danger."

3
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My mother sighed and, as always, was worried only about our financial situation.

4
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"Well, the captain owes us quite a bit of money.

5
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But I don't think any of his seedy, old shipmates will pay his debts."

6
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"The captain wanted me to go tell Dr. Livesey in the event of his death, but I can't leave you here alone and unprotected," I said.

7
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Mother shivered. "I don't think either of us can stay here," she said.

8
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"From the crackling of the fire to the ticking of the clock, every creak and rattle in this old house is making me nervous."

9
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"With that dead body on the floor and the thought that the blind man's friends might show up, I'm really jumpy too," I said.

10
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"We must get out of here," said Mother.

11
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I agreed. "We'll ask for help in the village."

12
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We rushed out into the frosty, foggy evening, and by the time we reached the village, it was dark.

13
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The windows of the general store shone with cheerful candlelight, so we went in.

14
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Soon a crowd of men were listening to our story with great concern, but no one wanted to go to the Admiral Benbow.

15
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"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hawkins," said Mrs. Crossley, the shopkeeper.

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"Captain Flint's men are too dangerous."

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"We might find someone to ride in the opposite direction to Dr. Livesey's," one man said, "but no one in his right mind would dare help you defend the inn!"

18
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"I will not," Mother declared, "lose money that belongs to my fatherless boy.

19
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If none of you cowards want to help, then Jim and I will go back alone.

20
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We'll open that sea chest, even if we have to die doing it.

21
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Mrs. Crossley, could I at least have a bag to put our money in?"

22
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"I'll ride to the doctor's for help," one lad volunteered.

23
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Another villager handed me a loaded pistol.

24
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"In case you're attacked," he said.

25
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So my mother and I went back to the inn, slipping along the hedges, noiseless and swift.

26
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Finally the door closed behind us; I bolted the lock, and my mother got a candle.

27
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Holding hands, we went over to where the captain lay on his back; his eyes were open and one arm was extended.

28
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"We must get the key to the sea chest off that body!" she said.

29
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"Oh, I don't even want to touch it." She let out a sob.

30
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I knelt down next to the captain, and close to his hand was a paper that was blackened on one side.

31
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"This must be the black spot," I said.

32
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On the other side of the paper, in clear handwriting, was a message.

33
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"'You have until ten tonight,'" I read.

34
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Just then, our old clock began to strike, and my mother and I jumped at the sound.

35
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We calmed down when we looked at the clock, and I sighed.

36
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"It's only six o'clock. They won't be here for four hours yet."

37
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"Now, Jim," Mother said, "find the key."

38
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I searched all the captain's pockets but couldn't find it.

39
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"Perhaps it's around his neck," she suggested.

40
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Overcoming a strong disgust, I tore open his shirt.

41
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There, on a black string, was the key.

42
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I pulled the string over his head, and we hurried up to the captain's room.

43
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We found his sea chest against the wall, where it had stood from the day he had first arrived.

44
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"Give me the key," said Mother, and after a few tries, she turned the stiff lock and opened the lid.

45
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On top was a suit of clothes, carefully brushed and folded.

46
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"This suit has never been worn," Mother said, astonished.

47
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Under that were some worthless trinkets, a tobacco pouch, two brass compasses, a quadrant, and six curious sea shells.

48
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Impatiently, Mother pulled out an old sea cloak, and underneath was a small bundle of papers and a canvas bag of coins that jingled like gold.

49
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"I'm an honest woman," Mother said. "I'll take what he owes me and no more.

50
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Hold open Mrs. Crossley's bag, Jim."

51
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She pulled out a handful of coins and began to count them into the bag.

52
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Suddenly I heard a familiar sound—the tap-tap-tapping of the blind man's stick on the frozen road outside—and I put my hand on Mother's arm.

53
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"Listen!" I whispered.

54
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The sound drew nearer and nearer, and we held our breath as the bolt rattled on the door.

55
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"That horrible man is trying to get in!" I whispered again.

56
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Then there was a long silence.

57
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At last, the tapping began anew, and to our indescribable joy, slowly died away.

58
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"Mother," I said, "take the whole thing and let's go!"

59
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"I won't take more than I'm owed," she said, "but I won't be content with less. Besides, it's not even seven yet."

60
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Then we heard a low whistle a way off, as if a signal was being sent.

61
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That was enough for both of us.

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"I'll take what I have," she said, jumping to her feet.

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I grabbed the bundle of papers too.

64
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Then we opened the door and ran out into the moonlight.

65
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The fog was rapidly dispersing and wouldn't hide us for long.

66
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Behind us, we heard several running footsteps and saw a lantern coming toward us.

67
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"My dear," Mother gasped breathlessly, "take the money and run. I think I'm going to faint."

68
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She sighed and collapsed with her head on my shoulder.

69
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We were by a little bridge, so I dragged her under it.

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I couldn't move her any farther, so there we stayed—within earshot of the inn.