A spasm of real fear shook Van Oosterhout and he looked out into the night, and resolved to give up these dangerous, solitary wanderings and get back to the main camp as soon as it was light. Then at least there'd be other eyes to see what Flint might do, and he'd not be alone and vulnerable as he slept.
Finally, as on each night of his life, he closed his eyes and asked the Good Lord to forgive him his sins, and so found a moment of peace before falling asleep.
Chapter 34
Silver looked out over the ramparts on the southward, sea-facing side. There wasn't such need to watch out for Indian marksmen here, since the ground was completely cleared to give a view of the anchorage and any ships that might come in — as now they had. There were four of them: a fine plump squadron with a big frigate, and three sloops identically rigged and fitted. An array of smartness that John Silver had never seen the like of, not in all his years! He shook his head at the thought of the cost.
"This'll be on account of Flint," he said.
"Why's that, Cap'n?" said Israel Hands.
"It's 'cos of him and his bloody mutiny!" Silver looked at the activity in the bay: six boats in the water, fussing round the ships, bosun's mates yelling, capstans clanking, guns run out, and lordly officers in blue and gold peering every way at once with their telescopes. "You don't think all this is for you and me, do you?" he said.
"Don't rightly know, Cap'n."
"No! We're just gentlemen o' fortune, Israeclass="underline" worth aguarda costa or a revenue cutter. But not this. Look at 'em! They's even got copper sheathing!"
"Stap me!" said Israel Hands. "You're right — all four of 'em!"
"Aye, you mark my words: Flint's gone and stirred up someone powerful. Someone with seats in Parliament and ten thousand acres."
"Who'd that be?"
"Buggered if I know. Buggered if I care… but we're finished here, matey."
"Aye," said Israel Hands, "it's the navy we've to beware of now. And they'll not just pop away with muskets. They'll haul up guns and blow this fort to pieces." He looked at Silver. He swallowed. He fiddled with his collar. He bit his lip. "John…" he said.
"What?"
"What we goin' to do?" He nodded at the ships in the darkening anchorage where long shadows stretched from tall masts. "Them sods'll hang us. Them other sods — " he jerked a thumb towards the forest trees "- they'll do bugger-knows- what to us. So what we goin' to do?"
"Huh!" said Silver, and laughed. He clapped a hand on Israel Hands's shoulder. "First we count our blessings, 'cos a hanging ain't such a big thing, and a sight better than hoping you'd have time to blow out your brains before the savages could play with you!"
Israel Hands grinned feebly, wondering if Long John were joking or not — as indeed Long John was wondering himself. But after thinking for a bit, and stroking the parrot that sat on his shoulder, Silver spoke softly to her:
"Ah, my old bird," he said, "shall I leave you without Long John… and himself washed by three tides at execution dock?"
"No!" said the bird. "No! No! No!"
"Hear that?" said Silver. "Marvellous creature. Understands every word!"
"John?" said Israel Hands. "What we goin' to do?"
"Get the men together, Mr Gunner," said Silver. "There might be something we can do — if we're quick about it. It all depends on what them blasted Indians do, now King George's men are here!"
That night when it was properly dark, and the men of the naval squadron were noisily at dinner, Silver led the twenty- seven survivors of his crew — the last of the Lions — over the southward walls of the fort. But he did something else first. He led the men to where Billy Bones was made fast in his barrel-hoop leg irons, to a post driven deep into the ground inside the fort's central redoubt.
Clunk! Israel Hands struck off the irons, while Billy Bones looked on in fear and wonderment, not daring to face Silver and shaking with fright.
"Now then, Billy-boy," said Silver, "on your feet!" Billy Bones rubbed his ankles, and struggled up, swaying and wobbling on unsteady legs, for he'd been anchored in his present berth a long time. He looked around, and saw that all hands were gathered in the darkness behind John Silver, and in that moment he knew his time was come. Billy Bones heaved a sigh and tried to be brave. He was no coward. He'd led boarding parties across blood-soaked decks and faced the wrath of the sea.
But he'd been too long sitting on his backside waiting for this moment. And he didn't share Long John's views on hanging, for he'd spent many an hour imagining what it was like to have a noose under your chin, and what it might feel like when they hoist you up and you began to choke. He'd wondered what was best: should you take a deep breath… or should you breathe out hard, just before the rope crushed your windpipe? Which one would end it quickest? For he'd seen men kick when they was hanged, and some of them had lasted a hard, long time.
So his knees shook and his voice quavered as he spoke, which had never happened before. Not to Billy Bones. Not in all his life.
"Cap'n Silver;" he said, "I askes a favour."
"What favour?" said Silver, who'd not yet said a word.
"Shoot me! Do it quick. Don't let it be the rope."
"Stow it, Billy!" said Silver. "There's no hanging for you tonight."
"No?"
"No!"
Billy Bones trembled all the more. He snivelled and slobbered and shook. The relief was almost worse than the fright.
"Brace up, Mr Bones," said Silver, "I'm come to give you your orders…" But Bones just gazed at the ground, not knowing what to say or to do. So Silver continued. "Listen!" he said, "I can't trust you, Mr Bones, for we've tried that and it failed."
"Aye!" said the men.
"I'm off on my travels, Mr Bones. I'll be gone directly and I shan't tell you where I'm going, except to say that these lads here — the which are my jolly companions — why, they're coming with me… and you ain't!"
Again, Billy Bones jumped in fright.
"But I'll not leave you for the savages," said Silver, "nor for the king's men neither. I'll grant you that for good times past and kind old memories. So, you'll find your sea-chest in the big tent there — " he pointed. "And some arms, and powder and shot. D'you understand me, Mr Bones?"
"Aye," said Billy Bones feebly.
"Good," said Silver. "'Cos I have a thing to give you, Mr Bones. And here it is — "
Silver stretched out his left hand, and took Billy Bone's right hand and brought it up, and dropped something into the palm, from his own right hand.
Billy Bones gasped.
"The black spot!" he said.
"That it is," said Silver. "Read it, Mr Bones, for you're a scholar."
Billy Bones looked at the small paper disc. He raised it up for what little light there was from the moon and stars. He turned the blackened side over and read the single word written on the other side.
"Expelled," he said.
"Aye," said Silver. "For myself, I don't never want to see you again, Mr Bones, but I puts it to all hands — " he turned to them "- I puts it, according to articles, that Brother Bones be expelled from our company on pain of death. What say you, brothers?"
"All show for expelling Brother Bones!" said Israel Hands.
"Aye!" they said in a single growl, and every hand was raised.
"All show for keepin' Brother Bones!" said Israel Hands.
Silence. No man moved.
"Then Mr William Bones is no longer a brother," said Israel Hands. "He is cast out, and shall suffer death at our hands, if ever our paths shall cross, from this day onward!"