Jim Hawkins finished his breakfast. Squire Trelawney gave Jim Hawkins a note. The note was for John Silver. The Squire told Jim Hawkins to find a small tavern (a building where people go to drink and eat). The tavern had a sign with a large brass telescope. Jim Hawkins was happy. He wanted to see more ships and sailors at the docks.
The tavern was a bright and clean place. There were neat red curtains on the windows. Someone put clean sand on the floor. The room was full of smoke from pipes. Many sailors sat at the tables. They talked very loudly. Jim Hawkins stood at the door. He was a little afraid to go inside.
A man came out of a side room. Jim Hawkins knew this was Long John Silver. He had no left leg. He used a crutch (a wooden stick that helps a person walk). He moved very quickly on the crutch. He was tall and strong. He had a big, pale face. He was smiling and whistling. He looked very happy and kind.
Jim Hawkins was afraid of one-legged sailors before. He remembered the warning from the captain at the old inn. But Long John Silver looked very different from a pirate. He looked like a clean and nice man. Jim Hawkins felt brave again. He walked to Long John Silver and gave him the note.
"Are you Mr. Silver, sir?" Jim Hawkins asked.
"Yes, that is my name," Long John Silver said. He saw the letter and looked surprised. "Oh! I see. You are our new cabin-boy. I am very happy to see you." Long John Silver shook the hand of Jim Hawkins.
Suddenly, a customer at a far table stood up. The man ran to the door and went into the street. Jim Hawkins saw the man's face. The man had a white face and only three fingers on one hand.
"Stop him!" Jim Hawkins shouted. "It is Black Dog!"
"I do not care about his name!" Long John Silver shouted. "But he did not pay for his drinks! Harry, run and catch him!"
One of the men in the tavern ran after Black Dog. Long John Silver asked Jim Hawkins about the man. Jim Hawkins explained that Black Dog was a pirate. Jim Hawkins told him about the buccaneers.
Long John Silver looked very angry. He called a sailor named Tom Morgan to come forward. Tom Morgan was an old sailor with a brown face. Tom Morgan was drinking with Black Dog.
"Tom Morgan," Long John Silver said. "Did you know that man before?"
"No, sir," Tom Morgan said.
"What did he say to you?" Long John Silver asked.
"He talked about the sea," Tom Morgan answered.
Long John Silver told Tom Morgan to go back to his seat. Then Long John Silver talked to Jim Hawkins. He said that Tom Morgan was an honest man but very stupid. Long John Silver said he saw Black Dog before. Black Dog usually came to the tavern with a blind beggar.
"I knew that blind man too!" Jim Hawkins said. "His name was Pew."
"Yes!" Long John Silver cried. "Pew was his name! He was a bad man. If we catch Black Dog, we can tell Squire Trelawney."
Long John Silver walked around the room on his crutch. He hit the tables and looked very excited. Jim Hawkins watched him. Jim Hawkins was suspicious at first. But Long John Silver seemed very honest. The two men came back to the tavern. They could not find Black Dog in the crowd. Long John Silver shouted at them because they were slow.
"This is very bad," Long John Silver said to Jim Hawkins. "Squire Trelawney will be angry. A pirate was in my house and he escaped! You are a smart boy, Jim Hawkins. You saw the man. But what could I do? I have only one leg."
Then Long John Silver stopped. He looked very surprised.
"I forgot the money!" Long John Silver shouted. "He did not pay for his three drinks!"
Long John Silver sat down and laughed. He laughed until he cried. Jim Hawkins laughed with him. They laughed together for a long time.
"I am a silly old sailor," Long John Silver said. "You and I will be good friends, Jim Hawkins. Now I must put on my hat. I will go with you to see Squire Trelawney. We must tell him about Black Dog."
They walked along the docks together. Long John Silver was very interesting. He told Jim Hawkins about the ships. He explained how the sailors worked. He told Jim Hawkins many stories about the sea. Jim Hawkins thought that Long John Silver was a great shipmate.
They went to the inn. Squire Trelawney and Dr. Livesey were there. Long John Silver told them the whole story. Jim Hawkins told the gentlemen that the story was true.
Squire Trelawney and Dr. Livesey were sad that Black Dog escaped. But they thanked Long John Silver. Long John Silver took his crutch and left the room.
"Everyone must be on the ship by four o'clock today!" the Squire shouted.
"Yes, sir!" Long John Silver answered.
"Squire," Dr. Livesey said. "I like John Silver. He is a good man."
"He is a perfect man," the Squire said. Then the Squire looked at Jim Hawkins. "Now, Jim Hawkins, you can come with us. We will go and see the ship."