And he took another swallow of the brandy, shaking his great fair head
like a man who looks forward to the worst.
XXIX
The Black Spot Again
The council of buccaneers had lasted some time, when one of them
re-entered the house, and with a repetition of the same salute, which
had in my eyes an ironical air, begged for a moment s loan of the torch.
Silver briefly agreed, and this emissary retired again, leaving us
together in the dark.
There s a breeze coming, Jim, said Silver, who had by this time
adopted quite a friendly and familiar tone.
I turned to the loophole nearest me and looked out. The embers of the
great fire had so far burned themselves out and now glowed so low and
duskily that I understood why these conspirators desired a torch. About
half-way down the slope to the stockade, they were collected in a group;
one held the light, another was on his knees in their midst, and I saw
the blade of an open knife shine in his hand with varying colours in
the moon and torchlight. The rest were all somewhat stooping, as though
watching the manoeuvres of this last. I could just make out that he
had a book as well as a knife in his hand, and was still wondering how
anything so incongruous had come in their possession when the kneeling
figure rose once more to his feet and the whole party began to move
together towards the house.
Here they come, said I; and I returned to my former position, for it
seemed beneath my dignity that they should find me watching them.
Well, let em come, lad--let em come, said Silver cheerily. I ve
still a shot in my locker.
The door opened, and the five men, standing huddled together just
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