ve it--but what I fear is
torture. If they come to torture me--"

"Jim," the doctor interrupted, and his voice was quite changed, "Jim, I
can't have this. Whip over, and we'll run for it."

"Doctor," said I, "I passed my word."

"I know, I know," he cried. "We can't help that, Jim, now. I'll take it
on my shoulders, holus-bolus, blame and shame, my boy; but stay here, I
cannot let you. Jump! One jump and you're out, and we'll run for it like
antelopes."

"No," I replied, "you know right well you wouldn't do the thing
yourself; neither you, nor squire, nor captain, and no more will I.
Silver trusted me; I passed my word, and back I go. But, doctor, you did
not let me finish. If they come to torture me, I might let slip a word
of where the ship is; for I got the ship, part by luck and part by
risking, and she lies in North Inlet, on the southern beach, and just
below high water. At half-tide she must be high and dry."

"The ship!" exclaimed the doctor.

Rapidly I described to him my adventures, and he heard me out in
silence.

"There's a kind of fate in this," he observed, when I had done. "Every
step it's you that save our lives, and do you suppose by any chance that
we are going to let you lose yours? That would be a poor return, my boy.
You found out the plot; you found Ben Gunn--the best deed that ever you
did, or will do, though you live to ninety. Oh, by Jupiter! and talking
of Ben Gunn, why, this is the mischief in person. Silver!" he cried,
"Silver! I'll give you a piece of advice," he continued, as the cook
drew near again; "don't you be in any great hurry after that treasure."

"Why, sir, I do my possible, which that ain't," said Silver. "I can
only, asking your pardon, save my life and the boy's by seeking for that
treasure; and you may lay to that."

"Well, Silver," replied the doctor, "if that is so, I'll go one step
farther; look out for squalls when you find it!"

"Sir," said Silver, "as between man and man, that's too much and too
little. What you're after, why you left the blockhouse, why you've given
me that there chart, I don't know, now, do I? and yet I done your
bidding with my eyes shut and never a word of hope! But no, this here's
too much. If you won't tell me what you mean plain out, just say so, and
I'll leave the helm."

"No," said the doctor, musingly, "I've no right to say more; it's not my
secret, you see, Silver, or, I give you my word, I'd tell it you. But
I'll go as far with