Остров сокровищ

           For—youwouldhavethoughtmenwouldhavebeenashamedofthemselves—nosoulwouldconsenttoreturnwithustotheAdmiralBenbow.Themorewetoldofourtroubles,themore—man,woman,andchild—theyclungtotheshelteroftheirhouses.ThenameofCaptainFlint,thoughitwasstrangetome,waswellenoughknowntosomethereandcarriedagreatweightofterror.Someofthemenwhohadbeentofield-workonthefarsideoftheAdmiralBenbowremembered,besides,tohaveseenseveralstrangersontheroad,andtakingthemtobesmugglers,tohaveboltedaway;andoneatleasthadseenalittleluggerinwhatwecalledKitt’sHole.Forthatmatter,anyonewhowasacomradeofthecaptain’swasenoughtofrightenthemtodeath.Andtheshortandthelongofthematterwas,thatwhilewecouldgetseveralwhowerewillingenoughtoridetoDr.Livesey’s,whichlayinanotherdirection,notonewouldhelpustodefendtheinn.

           Theysaycowardiceisinfectious;butthenargumentis,ontheotherhand,agreatemboldener;andsowheneachhadsaidhissay,mymothermadethemaspeech.Shewouldnot,shedeclared,losemoneythatbelongedtoherfatherlessboy;"Ifnoneoftherestofyoudare,"shesaid,"JimandIdare.Backwewillgo,thewaywecame,andsmallthankstoyoubig,hulking,chicken-heartedmen.We’llhavethatchestopen,ifwedieforit.AndI’llthankyouforthatbag,Mrs.Crossley,tobringbackourlawfulmoneyin."

           OfcourseIsaidIwouldgowithmymother,andofcoursetheyallcriedoutatourfoolhardiness,buteventhennotamanwouldgoalongwithus.Alltheywoulddowastogivemealoadedpistollestwewereattacked,andtopromisetohavehorsesreadysaddledincasewewerepursuedonourreturn,whileoneladwastorideforwardtothedoctor’sinsearchofarmedassistance.