These was his words . `` Is that all ? '' I asked . `` Well , it 's all that you 're to hear , my son , '' returned Silver . `` And now I am to choose ? '' `` And now you are to choose , and you may lay to that , '' said Silver . `` Well , '' said I , `` I am not such a fool but I know pretty well what I have to look for . Let the worst come to the worst , it 's little I care . I 've seen too many die since I fell in with you . But there 's a thing or two I have to tell you , '' I said , and by this time I was quite excited ; `` and the first is this : here you are , in a bad way -- ship lost , treasure lost , men lost , your whole business gone to wreck ; and if you want to know who did it -- it was I ! I was in the apple barrel the night we sighted land , and I heard you , John , and you , Dick Johnson , and Hands , who is now at the bottom of the sea , and told every word you said before the hour was out . And as for the schooner , it was I who cut her cable , and it was I that killed the men you had aboard of her , and it was I who brought her where you 'll never see her more , not one of you . The laugh 's on my side ; I 've had the top of this business from the first ; I no more fear you than I fear a fly . Kill me , if you please , or spare me . But one thing I 'll say , and no more ; if you spare me , bygones are bygones , and when you fellows are in court for piracy , I 'll save you all I can . It is for you to choose . Kill another and do yourselves no good , or spare me and keep a witness to save you from the gallows . '' I stopped , for , I tell you , I was out of breath , and to my wonder , not a man of them moved , but all sat staring at me like as many sheep . And while they were still staring , I broke out again , `` And now , Mr. Silver , '' I said , `` I believe you 're the best man here , and if things go to the worst , I 'll take it kind of you to let the doctor know the way I took it . '' `` I 'll bear it in mind , '' said Silver with an accent so curious that I could not , for the life of me , decide whether he were laughing at my request or had been favourably affected by my courage .
`` I 'll put one to that , '' cried the old mahogany-faced seaman -- Morgan by name -- whom I had seen in Long XXXXX 's public-house upon the quays of Bristol .
John Johnson Mr. Silver bygones fear first night ship witness