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