Остров сокровищ

           "Yes,sir,cheese,"Ianswered.

           "Well,Jim,"sayshe,"justseethegoodthatcomesofbeingdaintyinyourfood.You’veseenmysnuff-box,haven’tyou?Andyouneversawmetakesnuff,thereasonbeingthatinmysnuff-boxIcarryapieceofParmesancheese—acheesemadeinItaly,verynutritious.Well,that’sforBenGunn!"

           BeforesupperwaseatenweburiedoldTominthesandandstoodroundhimforawhilebare-headedinthebreeze.Agooddealoffirewoodhadbeengotin,butnotenoughforthecaptain’sfancy,andheshookhisheadoveritandtolduswe"mustgetbacktothistomorrowratherlivelier."Then,whenwehadeatenourporkandeachhadagoodstiffglassofbrandygrog,thethreechiefsgottogetherinacornertodiscussourprospects.

           Itappearstheywereattheirwits’endwhattodo,thestoresbeingsolowthatwemusthavebeenstarvedintosurrenderlongbeforehelpcame.Butourbesthope,itwasdecided,wastokilloffthebuccaneersuntiltheyeitherhauleddowntheirflagorranawaywiththeHispaniola.Fromnineteentheywerealreadyreducedtofifteen,twootherswerewounded,andoneatleast—themanshotbesidethegun—severelywounded,ifhewerenotdead.Everytimewehadacrackatthem,weweretotakeit,savingourownlives,withtheextremestcare.Andbesidesthat,wehadtwoableallies—rumandtheclimate.

           Asforthefirst,thoughwewereabouthalfamileaway,wecouldhearthemroaringandsinginglateintothenight;andasforthesecond,thedoctorstakedhiswigthat,campedwheretheywereinthemarshandunprovidedwithremedies,thehalfofthemwouldbeontheirbacksbeforeaweek.

           "So,"headded,"ifwearenotallshotdownfirstthey’llbegladtobepackingintheschooner.It’salwaysaship,andtheycangettobuccaneeringagain,Isuppose."