here they cleaned their ships, sir, asking
your pardon."

"I have a chart here," says Captain Smollett. "See if that's the place."

Long John's eyes burned in his head as he took the chart; but, by the
fresh look of the paper, I knew he was doomed to disappointment. This was
not the map we found in Billy Bones's chest, but an accurate copy,
complete in all things--names and heights and soundings--with the single
exception of the red crosses and the written notes. Sharp as must have
been his annoyance, Silver had the strength of mind to hide it.

"Yes, sir," said he, "this is the spot, to be sure; and very prettily
drawed out. Who might have done that, I wonder? The pirates were too
ignorant, I reckon. Ay, here it is: 'Capt. Kidd's Anchorage'--just the
name my shipmate called it. There's a strong current runs along the
south, and then away nor'ard up the west coast. Right you was, sir," says
he, "to haul your wind and keep the weather of the island. Leastways, if
such was your intention as to enter and careen, and there ain't no better
place for that in these waters."

"Thank you, my man," says Captain Smollett. "I'll ask you, later on, to
give us a help. You may go."

I was surprised at the coolness with which John avowed his knowledge of
the island; and I own I was half-frightened when I saw him drawing nearer
to myself. He did not know, to be sure, that I had overheard his council
from the apple-barrel, and yet I had, by this time, taken such a horror
of his cruelty, duplicity, and power, that I could scarce conceal a
shudder when he laid his hand upon my arm.

"Ah," says he, "this here is a sweet spot, this island--a sweet spot
for a lad to get ashore on. You'll bathe, and you'll climb trees, and
you'll hunt goats, you will; and you'll get aloft on them hills like a
goat yourself. Why, it makes me young again. I was going to forget my
timber leg, I was. It's a pleasant thing to be young, and have ten toes,
and you may lay to that. When you want to go a bit of exploring, you just
ask old John, and he'll put up a snack for you to take along."

And clapping me in the friendliest way upon the shoulder, he hobbled off
forward, and went below.

Captain Smollett, the squire, and Dr. Livesey were talking together on
the quarter-deck, and, anxious as I was to tell them my story, I durst
not interrupt them openly. While I was still casting about in my thoughts
to find some probable excuse, Dr. Livesey called me to his