She would not , she declared , lose money that belonged to her fatherless boy ; `` If none of the rest of you dare , '' she said , `` Jim and I dare . Back we will go , the way we came , and small thanks to you big , hulking , chicken-hearted men . We 'll have that chest open , if we die for it . And I 'll thank you for that bag , Mrs. Crossley , to bring back our lawful money in . '' Of course I said I would go with my mother , and of course they all cried out at our foolhardiness , but even then not a man would go along with us . All they would do was to give me a loaded pistol lest we were attacked , and to promise to have horses ready saddled in case we were pursued on our return , while one lad was to ride forward to the doctor 's in search of armed assistance . My heart was beating finely when we two set forth in the cold night upon this dangerous venture . A full moon was beginning to rise and peered redly through the upper edges of the fog , and this increased our haste , for it was plain , before we came forth again , that all would be as bright as day , and our departure exposed to the eyes of any watchers . We slipped along the hedges , noiseless and swift , nor did we see or hear anything to increase our terrors , till , to our relief , the door of the Admiral Benbow had closed behind us . I slipped the bolt at once , and we stood and panted for a moment in the dark , alone in the house with the dead captain 's body . Then my mother got a candle in the bar , and holding each other 's hands , we advanced into the parlour . He lay as we had left him , on his back , with his eyes open and one arm stretched out . `` Draw down the blind , Jim , '' whispered my mother ; `` they might come and watch outside . And now , '' said she when I had done so , `` we have to get the key off THAT ; and who 's to touch it , I should like to know ! '' and she gave a kind of sob as she said the words . I went down on my knees at once . On the floor close to his hand there was a little round of paper , blackened on the one side . I could not doubt that this was the BLACK SPOT ; and taking it up , I found written on the other side , in a very good , clear hand , this short message : `` You have till ten tonight . '' `` He had till ten , Mother , '' said I ; and just as I said it , our old clock began striking . This sudden noise startled us shockingly ; but the news was good , for it was only six .
`` Now , XXXXX , '' she said , `` that key . ''
Benbow Crossley Jim Mother day foolhardiness left night parlour terrors