"No," Long John said. "Flint was captain, and I was quartermaster—took care of all the ship's food and equipment, I did.
I lost my leg in the same attack that cost old Pew his eyesight, and the surgeon who amputated my leg was hung with the rest for piracy.
Flint's old ship was the Walrus, and the last time I saw it, the ship was covered with blood and looked like it would sink with all the gold."
"Ah!" a young man's voice cried, full of admiration. "Flint was a legend!"
"I first sailed with Captain England," Long John said, "then I sailed with Flint.
I put nine hundred dollars away safe after sailing with England and two thousand dollars after Flint.
Not bad for a seaman—all the money is safe in the bank.
Doesn't matter what you earn. It's what you save that counts.
Old Pew spent all of his money. Now he's dead, trampled like a dog in the road.
Where are Flint's men now? Well, most of them are aboard this ship."
"But Flint's men didn't save like you did," the young seaman said.
"You're young, Dick," Long John said, "but you're smart. I saw that right away, so I'll talk to you like a man."
Imagine how I felt hearing this old scoundrel repeating almost the very same words of flattery that he had used on me.
He continued to speak, never thinking he was being overheard.
"Pirates live rough, eating and drinking like there's no tomorrow.
When a voyage is done, they spend their money on rum and a good time.
Then they go back to sea again as poor as ever. Me? I save my money.
I'm fifty, mind you, and once back from this voyage, I'll be a real gentleman.
But I've lived easy, sleeping on a soft bed and eating good food every day I wasn't at sea.
And how did I begin? Why, I was just a sailor like you!"
"But all your money is gone now, isn't it?" Dick said.
"No, my wife has it," answered Long John.
"And by now, my tavern is sold too. When I come home from sea, she'll meet me and bring all the money."
"Can you trust your wife?" said Dick.
Long John laughed. "Pirates usually don't trust one another, and right they are not to.
But I can trust more people than most. You see, some men feared Pew, and some feared Flint, but Flint feared me.
Flint's pirates were the roughest crew afloat—the devil himself would have been afraid to go to sea with them.
But Flint's pirates did everything I told them to do.
They wouldn't have dared to cross me. You can trust people who fear you."
"I didn't think I wanted to be a pirate, Long John," said Dick, "but here's my hand now."
"You're a brave lad, and smart too," Long John replied, shaking hands so heartily the barrel shook.
I knew now that they were all pirates, and I'd just overheard the corruption of an honest sailor—perhaps the last one left aboard.
Long John gave a little whistle, and Israel strolled up and sat down.
"How long will we be on this ship? Captain Smollett's scolded me long enough, by thunder!"
"Speak soft," Long John said. "Keep quiet until I give the word."
"Aye," Israel growled. "But when will that be?"
"At the last possible minute, that's when," said Long John.
"Captain Smollett has to sail the ship for us, because I don't have the map, understand?
They need to find Flint's treasure for us and get it aboard.
If I was sure our men could handle the ship, I'd have the captain bring us halfway back home before we attacked."
"We're all seamen. We can handle the ship ourselves," Dick said.
"Sure," Long John snapped. "But who here knows how to set a course?
Can you do all the complicated calculations necessary to figure out the best route to take?
But I know how impatient you all are, so as soon as the treasure is on board, I'll deal with the others. You are bloodthirsty swabs, you are."
"Don't get angry," Israel said.
"How many hasty lads have I seen hanging at Execution Dock back in England?" Long John snarled.
"If you'd only plan your course well, you'd ride in carriages! Instead, you only care about rum, so you hang."
"You're a careful man," said Israel, "but most of us like a bit of fun."
"Pew and Flint were that sort," Long John replied. "Pew died a beggar and Flint died of rum."
"What do we do with the others once we take over?" Dick asked.
"Captain England would abandon them," Silver said. "Flint and Billy Bones would just cut their throats."
"Dead men don't bite," sneered Israel.
"Right you are," said Long John. "We'll wait, and when the time comes . . . we'll kill them!"
Then Long John broke off planning the ship's takeover and said gently, "Be a sweet lad, Dick, and get me an apple. My throat's dry."
Terror struck me as I heard Dick get up, and my heart and limbs froze.
Then Israel exclaimed, "Oh, forget that! Let's have some rum."
"Dick," Long John said, "here's the key to the keg. Go fill me a pint."
Terrified as I was, I finally knew how Mr. Arrow got the drink that destroyed him.
Then Israel spoke into Long John's ear. I didn't catch it all, but this phrase was audible: "Not another man will join."
So I knew there were still faithful men on board.
When Dick returned, the trio drank.
"Here's to luck," said Dick.
"Here's to old Flint," said Israel.
"And here's to ourselves," said Long John Silver.
Almost at the same time, the lookout shouted, "Land ho!"