Silver s Embassy
Sure enough, there were two men just outside the stockade, one of them
waving a white cloth, the other, no less a person than Silver himself,
standing placidly by.
It was still quite early, and the coldest morning that I think I ever
was abroad in--a chill that pierced into the marrow. The sky was bright
and cloudless overhead, and the tops of the trees shone rosily in
the sun. But where Silver stood with his lieutenant, all was still in
shadow, and they waded knee-deep in a low white vapour that had crawled
during the night out of the morass. The chill and the vapour taken
together told a poor tale of the island. It was plainly a damp,
feverish, unhealthy spot.
Keep indoors, men, said the captain. Ten to one this is a trick.
Then he hailed the buccaneer.
Who goes? Stand, or we fire.
Flag of truce, cried Silver.
The captain was in the porch, keeping himself carefully out of the way
of a treacherous shot, should any be intended. He turned and spoke to
us, Doctor s watch on the lookout. Dr. Livesey take the north side,
if you please; Jim, the east; Gray, west. The watch below, all hands to
load muskets. Lively, men, and careful.
And then he turned again to the mutineers.
And what do you want with your flag of truce? he cried.
This time it was the other man who replied.
Cap n Silver, sir, to come on board and make terms, he shouted.
Cap n Silver! Don t know him. Who s he? cried the captain. And we
could hear him adding to himself, Cap n, is it? My heart, and here s
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