Flint and Silver: A Prequel to Treasure Island

Chapter 36

Billy Bones was happy. He was happy even in dank, dungeon darkness, with the flesh of his beam ends mortified by the ballast stones. He was happy because he was filled with wonder at Flint's wisdom, and his miraculous ability to foretell the future.

"Now then, Billy-my-chicken," Flint had said at their most recent parting, when Billy had been "searching" for his gold piece, giving them opportunity for a private word. "Billy-boy, did you bring that old box of yours?"

"Aye, Cap'n, according to orders." Billy Bones smiled a slow smile. "But I told them buggers — Silver and them — I told 'em I was hoping you'd let me stay on board of Walrus, which is why I fetched it with me."

"And no doubt they laughed — and more fool them," said Flint. "Now, here's a present for you. Something of my own creation, which you must cram into your old box, even if it means throwing out your Bible, your prayer book and your certificate of confirmation."

"What?" said Billy, immune to the subtleties of irony.

"What, sir," said Flint. "Will you never learn?"

"No, sir… Yes, sir!" said Billy, wrestling with the syntax.

"Here," said Flint, opening a locker and removing a bulky construction of netting and cork. "You must keep this ready at all times, Mr Bones."

"What's it for, Cap'n?" said Billy, trembling, for he'd already guessed.

"Rather ask who is it for," said Flint.

"Is it to make me float, Cap'n?" said Billy.

"Well done, Mr Bones! And here are two more presents. Each, as you will see, is quite small and is provided with a linen wrapper, for these items must be secreted about your person, Mr Bones. They must be kept within those sacred corners of yourself into which no sane man would intrude his hand, were you to be searched."

Billy Bones sweated with the effort of keeping up. Flint sweated with the effort of not laughing in his face.

"Begging your pardon, Cap'n," said Billy Bones, "but… where might that be?"

"In the safe haven of your drawers, Mr Bones, taped with sticking plaster between your most private and intimate parts. I seriously doubt that anyone will want to look there."

"Oh!" said Billy.

"Oh, sir."

"Oh, sir!"

"Good," said Flint. "And now you will appreciate the need for wrappers, since both these objects have nasty sharp corners. Let us look at this one first." He produced a length of flat, dark steel about the size of a man's finger.

"Why, it's a bit of a file, Cap'n," said Billy Bones.

"Very good, Mr Bones. Indeed it is. And can you guess its purpose?"

"No, Cap'n."

"It's purpose, Mr Bones, is to release you from your leg irons."

"Leg irons, Cap'n?" Billy's lower lip trembled.

By now, he'd been tried almost to his limits by Flint's teasing. He did so much want to understand. He did so much want to serve his master. Unfortunately, his master did so much want to torment him.

"Yes, Mr Bones: leg irons. Those that — sooner or later — will be clapped upon you by our friend Mr Silver."

Billy Bones blinked in relief. This was better. Flint had left the ocean of fantasy and was steering towards the firm shore of fact.

"Silver, the swab! But why, Cap'n?"

"Because, Mr Bones — for reasons which I shall shortly explain — he dares not harm you but dares not leave you free."

That was days ago, and all of Flint's predictions had come true. Silver had badgered Billy Bones to discover Flint's plans until Bones could stand it no more and had defied Silver on his own quarterdeck before all hands, refusing to go below when ordered. Hence the leg irons. Hence Billy Bones's present accommodation down here with the ship's rats for company.

And they'd searched him, just as Flint had said. They'd searched for weapons and for anything else worth stealing. They'd had the silver buckles off his breeches, the baccy and clasp knife out of his pockets, and his hat and coat were Devil-knows-where. But none of 'em had delved where Flint said they wouldn't. Billy Bones shook his head in religious awe at Flint's abilities. Billy Bones — no less than any other — could see that there was something uncanny about Flint, but Billy Bones worshipped the fact.

So he rummaged down below, took a firm grip, summoned all his courage and hauled. He yelped and shed tears as the sticking plaster came off, uprooting shoals of coarse black hairs.

"Oof!" said Billy Bones, and brought out the two packages, still warm from their recent lodgings. He opened one and took out the file. He felt the rough steel edge with his thumb, and he turned to his leg irons, squinting in the candlelit gloom. His orders were to begin working on them at once, and to leave them seemingly sound, yet ready to be broken open at the chosen moment. At that time, Flint's second little present would come into action.