Сердца трех / Hearts of Three

’

�So’m I,’ said Francis, extending his hand. �But to hell with sharing.’

�The old blood talks in you,’ Henry smiled approbation. �For him to have who finds. I’ve turned most of this island upside down in the last six months, and all I’ve found are these old duds. I’m with you to beat you if I can, but to put my back against the mainmast with you any time the needed call goes out.’

�That song’s a wonder,’ Francis urged. �I want to learn it. Lift the stave again.’

And together, clanking their mugs, they sang:

�Back to back against the mainmast,

Held at bay the entire crew…’

Chapter III

But a splitting headache put a stop to Francis’ singing and made him glad to be swung’ in a cool hammock by Henry, who rowed off to the Angelique with orders from his visitor to the skipper to stay at anchor but not to permit any of his sailors to land on the Calf.

Not until late in the morning of the following day, after hours of heavy sleep, did Francis get on his feet and announce that his head was clear again.

�I know what it is got bucked off a horse once,’ his strange relative sympathized, as he poured him a huge cup of fragrant black coffee. �Drink that down. It will make a new man of you. Can’t offer you much for breakfast except bacon, sea biscuit, and some scrambled turtle eggs. They’re fresh. I guarantee that, for I dug them out this morning while you slept.’

�That coffee is a meal in itself,’ Francis praised, meanwhile studying his kinsman and ever and anon glancing at the portrait of their relative.

�You’re just like him, and in more than mere looks,’ Henry laughed, catching him in his scrutiny. �When you refused to share yesterday, it was old Sir Henry to the fife. He had a deep-seated antipathy against sharing, even with his own crews. It’s what caused most of his troubles. And he’s certainly never shared a penny of his treasure with any of his descendants. Now I’m different.

Not only will I share the Calf with you; but I’ll present you with my half as well, lock, stock, and barrel,[17 - Lock, stock, and barrel – выражение из обихода торговцев, означает «целиком, без остатка».] this grass hut, all these nice furnishings, tenements, hereditaments, and everything, and what’s left of the turtle eggs. When do you want to move in?’

�You mean…?’ Francis asked.

�Just that.