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I was spying on the pirates' meeting through a musket hole.
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"They have a knife and a book," I said.
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The group started walking back to the house. "Here they come."
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"Let them come, lad," Long John Silver said cheerily.
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The five men came in and pushed one man forward.
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"Hand it over, lad," Long John cried. "I know the rules."
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The pirate passed something into Long John's hand.
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"The black spot! I thought so," he said, looking down.
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"Where did you get the paper? Don't tell me you've cut this piece out of a Bible. What fool would cut up a Bible?"
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"I told you swabs," yelled Tom Morgan, "we shouldn't use a Bible! Nothing good will come of doing that!"
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"You'll all hang now, I reckon," remarked Long John. "What stupid swab had a Bible?"
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"It was Dick," someone mumbled.
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"Well, Dick's luck is cursed now," said Long John.
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The tall pirate stepped forward. "This crew has given you the black spot," he said. "Read it. Then you can talk."
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"Ah, George Merry," Long John replied. "Let me see.
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It says 'Deposed'—very well written. Is it your handwriting, George?
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Why, you'll be captain next, I guess."
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"Don't try to be funny," George growled.
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"You're done being captain. Stand up and vote."
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"I thought you knew the rules!" shouted Long John. "But if you don't, I do!
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Your black spot isn't worth anything unless you state your complaints and I reply. After that, we'll see."
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"First, you've ruined this voyage," said George.
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"Second, you let the enemy escape. Third, you wouldn't let us chase them. And then, fourth, there's this boy."
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"Is that all?" Long John asked quietly.
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"That's enough," George retorted. "We'll all swing and dry in the sun because of your blunders."
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"I ruined this voyage, did I?" bellowed Long John.
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"Well, if things had been done my way, we'd be aboard the Hispaniola tonight, every man alive and well, with the treasure in the hold, by thunder!
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But who crossed me? It was Job Anderson, Israel Hands, and now you, George Merry!
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And you have the nerve to complain? You sank all of us!"
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Long John Silver paused, and I could see by the men's faces that they were listening intently.
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"That's number one," Long John yelled, wiping the sweat from his brow.
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"I'm sick of you. You've neither sense nor memory.
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You aren't pirates—you're a bunch of ladies at a dance!"
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"Watch your tongue, Long John," said Tom Morgan.
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"You say this voyage is ruined," Long John continued.
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"It is! And we're so near the gallows, my neck is stiff just thinking about it.
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And it's thanks to Merry, Hands, Anderson, and the other fools."
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"Go on," said Tom Morgan. "What about the other points?"
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"Number two? You all came crawling to me to make peace with the others—and you'd have starved too if I hadn't.
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Number three? There's a great deal to say about number three.
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Maybe you don't want a real doctor treating you every day—
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you, with your head broke—or you, George Merry, who was ill just six hours ago, your eyes the color of a lemon.
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And number four! That boy! Shiver my timbers, he's a hostage!
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Do you want to waste a hostage who might be our last chance? Kill that boy? Not me, mates!
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And perhaps you don't know, but there's another ship on the way!
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Won't we be glad to have a hostage when it comes?
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But that's a minor reason. Look there—that's why!"
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And he threw down a paper I instantly recognized—the map I'd found in the captain's chest.
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"Why had the doctor given it to Long John Silver?" I wondered.
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"That's the map!" someone yelled.
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"Let me see it!" another shouted.
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They jumped on it like cats on a mouse, passing it back and forth.
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"It's beautiful," Dick cried.
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They acted as if they were counting the gold coins already.
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"That's Flint's writing," observed Tom Morgan.
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"Mighty pretty," said George. "But how do we get away with the treasure if we have no ship?"
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Long John Silver sprang up. "Oh, so now, you want my opinion?
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Well, I don't want to hear another word from any of you!
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You, George Merry, and the rest who stupidly lost the ship, can go hang!
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None of you has the brain of a cockroach, so you can just keep your mouths shut."
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"Now, Long John—," said Tom Morgan.
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"You lost the ship, I found the treasure," Long John roared.
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"Who's the better man? And now, I resign, by thunder! Elect whom you please. I'm done."
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"Long John Silver!" they cried. "Silver for captain!"
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"So now you want me?" Long John bellowed.
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"What about this black spot? It's not much good now. Dick spoiled his luck for absolutely nothing."
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"Can I kiss the Bible to take away the curse?" asked Dick hopefully.
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"A Bible with a page cut out," Silver said scornfully, "is no better than a songbook, lad."
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Long John turned and handed me the piece of paper. "Here, Jim—keep this as a souvenir."
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The paper was round. One side was blackened with wood ash and had a Bible verse that contained these words:
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"Outside are dogs and murderers." The other side was blank, except for the word "Deposed," written on it.
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I still have that souvenir as I write this tale.
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"George," Long John said, "guard the house—and do a good job or we'll kill you."
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Soon after, we lay down, but I couldn't sleep.
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Tossing and turning, I could see the remarkable game Long John was playing—
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keeping the pirates together with one hand, and trying to save his miserable life with the other.
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But Long John peacefully snored, and as danger loomed all around us, all I could see was the gallows awaiting him.