I woke up suddenly. In fact, everyone woke up, because even the guard, who had fallen asleep against the doorway, was shaking himself awake.
A strong, familiar voice called from the edge of the woods.
“Block house, ahoy! It’s the doctor!”
It really was Dr. Livesey.
I was happy to hear him, but my happiness was mixed with shame. I remembered how I had secretly disobeyed orders and run away. Now, seeing where my foolish actions had brought me—surrounded by pirates and danger—I felt too embarrassed to face him.
He must have gotten up before sunrise, because the day was only beginning.
I hurried to a small opening in the wall and looked outside. There stood the doctor, just as Silver had once stood, with mist rising around his legs.
Silver instantly became cheerful and friendly.
“You, doctor! Good morning to you, sir!” Silver called.
“Up early, aren’t you? They say the early bird catches the worm. George, wake yourself up and help Dr. Livesey across the ship’s side.”
“Your patients are all doing fine. Everyone’s alive and cheerful.”
Silver stood there on the hill with his crutch under his arm and one hand resting on the log wall. He looked and sounded exactly like the old Silver again.
“We’ve got a surprise for you too, doctor,” he continued.
“We have a new guest here. A young fellow staying with us. He’s looking strong and healthy. Slept like a captain all night, right beside John Silver himself.”
By then, Dr. Livesey had entered the fort and was walking toward the kitchen area.
His voice suddenly changed.
“Not Jim?”
“The very same Jim,” Silver replied.
The doctor stopped completely.
For several moments, he could not move.
“Well, well,” he finally said. “Duty comes before pleasure, Silver. Let’s take care of your patients first.”
A moment later, he entered the block house.
He gave me a serious look, then immediately began treating the wounded men.
He showed no fear, although he must have known his life was in danger among these dishonest pirates. He acted as calmly as if he were visiting an ordinary family in England.
His confidence seemed to affect the pirates. They behaved as though nothing unusual had happened—as if he were still their ship’s doctor and they were still loyal sailors.
“You’re recovering well,” the doctor told the man with the bandaged head.
“You were lucky to survive. Your skull must be made of iron.”
“George, how are you feeling?”
“You don’t look very healthy. Your color is terrible. Your liver seems to be causing trouble. Did you take the medicine?”
“Did he take it, men?”
“Yes, sir,” Morgan answered. “He took it.”
“You see,” said the doctor, smiling, “since I am now the doctor of mutineers—or perhaps I should say their prison doctor—I consider it my duty not to let anyone die before facing King George’s justice.”
The pirates exchanged uneasy looks but said nothing.
“Dick isn’t feeling well, sir,” one of them said.
“Isn’t he?” the doctor replied.
“Come here, Dick. Let me see your tongue.”
He looked at it carefully.
“No wonder he feels bad. His tongue looks terrible. Another fever.”
“That happened because he ruined the Bibles,” Morgan said.
“No,” the doctor answered sharply.
“It happened because you are foolish enough not to know the difference between healthy air and poisonous air, or dry land and a disgusting swamp.”
“I think you will all suffer badly before you recover from this sickness. Who told you it was wise to camp in a swamp?”
“Silver, I am surprised at you. You are smarter than many of these men, but you clearly know nothing about staying healthy.”
After giving them their medicine, the pirates swallowed it with surprising obedience. They looked less like dangerous criminals and more like children in a school.
“Well,” the doctor said, “that is enough for today.”
“Now I would like to speak with that boy.”
He nodded toward me.
George Merry was standing near the door, coughing and complaining about the terrible medicine.
But when he heard the doctor wanted to talk with me, he turned around angrily.
“No!” he shouted.
Silver slammed his open hand onto a barrel.
“Silence!”
His voice was powerful, and he looked around like a lion.
“Doctor,” Silver said calmly, “I was thinking about this already. I know you care about the boy.”
“We are all grateful for your help, and as you can see, we trust you enough to take your medicine.”
“I believe I have found a way that works for everyone.”
“Hawkins, will you give me your word of honor, as a young gentleman, that you will not run away?”
I immediately promised.
“Then, doctor,” Silver said, “you step outside the stockade. Once you are there, I’ll bring the boy down inside the wall, and you can talk through the gaps.”
“Good day to you, sir. Give my respects to the squire and Captain Smollett.”
As soon as the doctor left, the pirates exploded with anger.
They accused Silver of betraying them, of making a private deal for himself, and of sacrificing everyone else.
They were right about one thing—Silver was clearly trying to protect himself.
I wondered how he could possibly calm them down.
But Silver was far stronger than the others. His victory the night before had given him great influence over them.
“You fools!” he shouted.
“It’s necessary for the boy to speak with the doctor.”
He waved the treasure map in their faces.
“Do you really want to break the agreement on the very day we are supposed to search for treasure?”
“No, by thunder!” Silver cried.
“We’ll break the agreement when the right time comes. Until then, I’ll fool that doctor even if I have to polish his boots with brandy!”
Then he ordered them to light the fire.
He walked away on his crutch with his hand resting on my shoulder, leaving the pirates confused and silent—not because they agreed, but because he talked over them until they had no answer.
“Slowly, lad,” Silver whispered.
“They could turn against us in a second if they think we’re rushing.”
So we walked slowly across the sand toward the doctor.
When we were close enough to speak, Silver stopped.
“Doctor,” he said, “remember this too. The boy will tell you how I saved his life, even though it caused trouble for me.”
“When a man is sailing this close to disaster, risking his last breath, you might spare him one kind word.”
“Remember, doctor, it isn’t only my life at stake now. The boy’s life is involved too.”
“Speak fairly about me, and give me a little hope.”
Silver had completely changed once he was away from the pirates.
His face looked tired and worried. His voice shook.
He had never seemed more sincere.
“John,” asked the doctor, “are you afraid?”
“Doctor, I’m no coward. No, not me!”
Silver snapped his fingers.
“If I were a coward, I wouldn’t admit it.”
“But I’ll tell you the truth—I’m afraid of the gallows.”
“You’re a good man, doctor. I’ve never met a better one.”
“You won’t forget the good things I’ve done, even though you won’t forget the bad things either.”
“I’ll step away and leave you and Jim alone.”
“Remember that too. That means something.”
Silver walked away until he was out of hearing distance.
He sat on a tree stump and began whistling, turning around from time to time so he could watch both me and the doctor, and also keep an eye on the pirates as they moved between the fire and the house preparing breakfast.
“So, Jim,” the doctor said sadly.
“Here you are.”
“As you have made your own choices, now you must face the results.”
“Heaven knows I do not want to blame you, but I must tell you the truth.”
“When Captain Smollett was healthy, you would never have dared run away.”
“And when he was sick and unable to stop you, leaving then was a very cowardly thing.”
I began to cry.
“Doctor,” I said, “please don’t be too hard on me.”
“I have blamed myself enough already.”
“My life is probably already lost. If Silver had not protected me, I would have been dead by now.”
“I know I may deserve death, but what frightens me is torture.”
“If they torture me, I might reveal where the ship is.”
“Jim,” the doctor interrupted.
His voice suddenly became gentle.
“I cannot listen to this.”
“Come over the wall. We’ll escape together.”
“Doctor,” I said, “I gave Silver my word.”
“I know,” he replied.
“But that does not matter now. I will take the blame.”
“Stay here? I cannot allow that.”
“One jump, Jim. You’re out. Then we run like wild animals.”
“No,” I answered.
“You know you would not do that yourself. Neither would the squire or the captain.”
“Silver trusted me. I gave my promise, and I must keep it.”
“But doctor, I haven’t finished.”
“If they torture me, I might accidentally reveal where the ship is.”
“I found the ship partly by luck and partly by risking my life.”
“She is hidden in North Inlet, on the southern beach, just below high water.”
“At half tide, she will probably be sitting on dry land.”
“The ship!” the doctor cried.
I quickly told him everything that had happened.
He listened silently until I finished.
“There is a strange kind of fate in this,” he said.
“Every step of the way, you are the one who saves our lives.”
“And now you think we would allow you to lose yours?”
“That would be a terrible reward for everything you have done.”
“You discovered the plan.”
“You found Ben Gunn—the greatest thing you have ever done.”
“Oh, by Jupiter! Speaking of Ben Gunn…”
“This is a very serious matter.”
“Silver!”
“Silver, I’ll give you some advice.”
“Do not be too eager to find that treasure.”
Silver walked closer.
“Doctor, I’m doing everything I can.”
“I can only save my own life and the boy’s by searching for that treasure.”
“You know that is true.”
“Well, Silver,” said the doctor, “if that is really the case, be careful when you find it.”
“Doctor,” Silver replied, “that answer is both too much and too little.”
“You know why you left the block house and why you gave me the map.”
“But I followed your instructions without question, and you never gave me any hope.”
“If you won’t tell me what you mean, just say so, and I’ll stop asking.”
“No,” said the doctor thoughtfully.
“I cannot tell you everything.”
“It is not my secret to share.”
“But I will go as far as I can.”
“And if I am wrong, Captain Smollett can correct me later.”
“First, I’ll give you some hope.”
“Silver, if we both survive this danger, I will do my best to save you—except I will not lie or break my duty.”
Silver’s face brightened.
“You couldn’t say anything better, sir, even if you were my own mother!”
“That is my first promise,” said the doctor.
“My second is this: keep the boy close to you.”
“When you need help, call for me.”
“I am leaving now to search for that help.”
“And that will prove whether my words mean anything.”
“Goodbye, Jim.”
Dr. Livesey shook my hand through the wall.
He nodded to Silver and walked quickly into the woods.