暗黑小说

PART IV The Stockade（第4页）

pooroldfellow，hehadnotutteredonewordofsurprise，plaint，fear，orevenacquiescencefromtheverybeginningofourtroublestillnow，whenwehadlaidhimdowninthelog-housetodie。hehadlainlikeatrojanbehindhismattressinthegallery;hehadfollowedeveryordersilently，edly，andwell;hewastheoldestofourpartybyascoreofyears;andnow，sullen，old，serviceableservant，itwashethatwastodie。

thesquiredroppeddownbesidehinhiskneesandkissedhishand，cryinglikeachild。

"beigoing，doctor?"heasked。

"tom，myman，"saidi，"youregoinghome。"

"iwishihadhadalickatthemwiththegunfirst，"hereplied。

"tom，"saidthesquire，"sayyouforgiveme，wontyou?"

"wouldthatberespectfullike，frommetoyou，squire?"wastheanswer。"howsoever，sobeit，amen!"

afteralittlewhileofsilence，hesaidhethoughtsomebodymightreadaprayer。"itsthecustom，sir，"headdedapologetically。andnotlongafter，withoutanotherword，hepassedaway。

inthemeantimethecaptain，whomihadobservedtobewonderfullyswollenaboutthechestandpockets，hadturnedoutagreatmanyvariousstores—thebritishcolours，abible，acoilofstoutishrope，pen，ink，thelog-book，o。hehadfoundalongishfir-treelyingfelledandtrimmedintheenclosure，andwiththehelpofhunterhehadsetitupatthecornerofthelog-housewherethetrunkscrossedandmadeanangle。then，climbingontheroof，hehadwithhisownhandbentandrunupthecolours。

thisseemedmightilytorelievehihere-enteredthelog-houseandsetaboutcounupthestoresasifnothingelseexisted。buthehadaneyeontomspassageforallthat，andassoonasallwasover，cameforwardwithanotherflagandreverentlyspreaditonthebody。

"dontyoutakeon，sir，"hesaid，shakingthesquireshand。"allswellwithhim;nofearforahandthatsbeenshotdowninhisdutytocaptainandowner。itmayntbegooddivinity，butitsafact。"

thenhepulledmeaside。

"dr。livesey，"hesaid，"inhowmanyweeksdoyouandsquireexpecttheconsort?"

itoldhimitwasaquestionnotofweeksbutofnths，thatifwewerenotbackbytheendofaugustblandlywastosendtofindus，butneithersoonernorlater。"youcancalculateforyourself，"isaid。

"why，yes，"returnedthecaptain，scratchinghishead;"andmakingalargeallowance，sir，forallthegiftsofprovidence，ishouldsaywewereprettyclosehauled。"

"howdoyoumean?"iasked。

"itsapity，sir，welostthatsecondload。thatswhatimean，"repliedthecaptain。"asforpowderandshot，welldo。buttherationsareshort，veryshort—soshort，dr。livesey，thatwereperhapsaswellwithoutthatextrauth。"

andhepointedtothedeadbod玉ndertheflag。

justthen，witharoarandawhistle，around-shotpassedhighabovetheroofofthelog-houseandp露mpedfarbeyondusinthewood。

"oho!"saidthecaptain。"blazeaway!youvelittleenoughpowderalready，mylads。"

atthesecondtrial，theaimwasbetter，andtheballdescendedinsidethestockade，scatteringacloudofsandbutdoingnofurtherdamage。

"captain，"saidthesquire，"thehouseisquiteinvisiblefromtheship。itmustbetheflagtheyareaimingat。woulditnotbewisertotakeitin?"

"strikemycolours!"criedthecaptain。"no，sir，noti";andassoonashehadsaidthewords，ithinkweallagreedwithhiforitwasnotonlyapieceofstout，seamanly，goodfeeling;itwasgoodpolicybesidesandshowedourenemiesthatwedespisedtheircannonade。

allthroughtheeveningtheykeptt混deringaway。ballafterballflewoverorfellshortorkickedupthesandintheenclosure，buttheyhadtofiresohighthattheshotfelldeadandburieditselfinthesoftsand。wehadnoricochettofear，andthoughonepoppedinthroughtheroofofthelog-houseandoutagainthroughthefloor，wesoongotusedtothatsortofhorse-playandmindeditnorethancricket。

"thereisonegoodthingaboutallthis，"observedthecaptain;"thewoodinfrontofusislikelyclear。theebbhasmadeagoodwhile;ourstoresshouldbeuncovered。vo露nteerstogoandbringinpork。"

grayandhunterwerethefirsttoeforward。wellarmed，theystoleoutofthestockade，butitprovedauselessmission。themutineerswerebolderthanwefanciedortheyputretrustinisraelsgunnery。forfourorfiveofthemwerebusycarryingoffourstoresandwadingoutwiththemtooneofthegigsthatlaycloseby，pullinganoarorsotoholdhersteadyagainstthecurrent。silverwasinthesternsheetsinmand;andeverymanofthemwasnowprovidedwithamusketfromsomesecretmagazineoftheirown。

thecaptainsatdowntohislog，andhereisthebeginningoftheentry:

alexandersllett，master;davidlivesey，shipsdoctor;abrahamgray，carpentersmate;johntrelawney，owner;johnhunterandrichardjoyce，ownersservants，landsmen—beingallthatisleftfaithfuloftheshipspany—withstoresfortendaysatshortrations，cameashorethisdayandflewbritishcoloursonthelog-houseintreasureisland。thomasredruth，ownersservant，landsman，shotbythemutineers;jameshawkins，cabin-boy—

andatthesametime，iwaswonderingoverpoor激mhawkinsfate。

ahailonthelandside。