I 'm on squire 's side now . I know you 've got that ship safe somewheres . How you done it , I do n't know , but safe it is . I guess Hands and O'Brien turned soft . I never much believed in neither of THEM . Now you mark me . I ask no questions , nor I wo n't let others . I know when a game 's up , I do ; and I know a lad that 's staunch . Ah , you that 's young -- you and me might have done a power of good together ! '' He drew some cognac from the cask into a tin cannikin . `` Will you taste , messmate ? '' he asked ; and when I had refused : `` Well , I 'll take a drain myself , Jim , '' said he . `` I need a caulker , for there 's trouble on hand . And talking o ' trouble , why did that doctor give me the chart , Jim ? '' My face expressed a wonder so unaffected that he saw the needlessness of further questions . `` Ah , well , he did , though , '' said he . `` And there 's something under that , no doubt -- something , surely , under that , Jim -- bad or good . '' And he took another swallow of the brandy , shaking his great fair head like a man who looks forward to the worst . 29 The Black Spot Again THE council of buccaneers had lasted some time , when one of them re-entered the house , and with a repetition of the same salute , which had in my eyes an ironical air , begged for a moment 's loan of the torch . Silver briefly agreed , and this emissary retired again , leaving us together in the dark .
`` There 's a breeze coming , XXXXX , '' said Silver , who had by this time adopted quite a friendly and familiar tone .
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