I had been so pleased with my plan to surprise my friends by going to sleep and find them bewildered in the morning. Of course, I was aware that I was probably in for deep trouble, but I would be no matter how I returned. They were certain to understand why I had to go eventually. After all, I was able to get the ship into my possession. No one could leave the island without my knowledge.

My victory had been short lived, however. I had stumbled over someone's leg in the dark and quickly learned by the squak of a parrot that I had stumbled into the enemies hands. Thankfully, Silver explained to me that my friends were still very much alive and he promised me that no harm should come to me.

Even after I explained all the things I had done to ruin their hunt for the treasure and the journey, he had defended me from Morgan and the others. Most had wanted me dead or wanted to disclaim Silver as their leader. But the moment they turned on the him was the moment he was willing to use them to desert them and help my friends and I find the treasure.

The next morning, Dr. Livesey came by to give the patients a check up. John allowed him to pull me to the side where we discussed in a low voice what had happened. He was relieved to see me well, and had started to lecture me, but I was spent. Through tears, I explained where the ship was and he begged me to come with him. I would have had I not gave my word to Silver that I would stay. I owed him my life from the night before and I was not someone who went back on their word and I was not about to change that.

Silver and the pirate then planned to hunt down the treasure. With my waist tied to a rope that Long John held, I was pulled along. I could have easily untied the knot if I wanted, but I feared that the men behind me would be willing to lay me harm the moment I made a move to do so. Though I was half certain that none of the men were willing to actually kill me while Silver had his word of protection over me.

The sun was high when Silver had called for a short break. He motioned for me to sit on a rock and I obeyed silently. Long John Silver then explained that he was going to track ahead shortly to make it easier to warn them of hard traveling. The men were either sick, wounded and/or carrying heavy equipment, so I wondered why hadn't tried it earlier.

I began to grow restless. With Silver gone, I felt like I was much vulnerable and very easy prey. But if Silver trusted that they would not harm me while he was away, I suppose that I would have nothing to fear. But I did fear.

The man's bandage was loosening on his head. I didn't move from my spot as the pirates argued over who would be better at doing it right. One mentioned that Dick would, but he was scouting with Silver. So Morgan yanked my up by my arm. "See to 'im."

I was shocked that they wanted me to do it. After all, they had wished my death merely a couple nights before. But I didn't take the time to think it over and did as I was told.

"There," I said.

"You act like you're proud," he scoffed.

I shrugged. "Neither of you had faith in your abilities to do it, so I suppose it is something." I had spoken allowed words I had meant to keep in my head, but they slid off my tongue faster than my brain could even register the full thought. Immediately, I knew that I was fucked.

Morgan walked passed me, and I wondered what it was about. I heard him snap a branch and I stared after him in confusion. My unspoken questions were quickly answered as the man shoved me front first over the rock that I had been sitting on. The snap of the branch whipping across my back side made me want to scream out, but my pride willed me to clamp my jaw shut.

The second lick made me let out a squeak from my throat. My lower lip began to quiver as I yepled from the third strike. I felt so ashamed that I couldn't manage to bear it silently and felt embarrassed by the tears that threatened to spill.

"Wait, stop," I pleaded, breaking against my pride after the seventh lick. Anymore and I was sure to start wailing like a child. Given, I still was, but I was old enough to not cry. At least, that was how I saw it.

I squeaked out another cry, too frightened to pull away from the pirate les he decided to do worse than give me a whipping. But Silver's voice quickly came to my rescue as he and Dick came walking through the trees.

"Aye! What is this?" Silver's voice came out so loud and furious, my tears stopped as did the whipping. My whole body froze with tension. I didn't move until Silver shoved Morgan away and helped me balance on my feet.

I looked at the ground, trying to compose myself, but my body was still trembling and my lip was still quivering. There was a lot of shouting from Silver at others. I didn't pay attention to what went down. By the time it was over I had dried my tears and was standing awkwardly but the rock. My marked back side was keeping me from sitting down because I did not want to test what it felt like to put my weight on it yet.

Silver turned to me and he looked ne up or down. I made myself look him in the eyes in spite of my embarrassment and discomfort of the situation. My pride had already been hurt so I wasn't about to hurt it more by averting my gaze.

I should have felt angry or frightened, but I felt more ashamed in myself than anything else. Perhaps it was because maybe I had felt like I deserved a whipping for being a coward and leaving my friends behind, or maybe I had seen and been through so much that a child's punishment was more embarrassing than anything else. I would never know.

"My mistake to leave ya alone," Silver mumbled. "You can walk fine, Jim boy?"

"Yes, sir."

The man nodded. There wasn't anything he could do now, but I could see the Fury in his eyes, which seemed to ease some of the shame off my shoulders. He had my back. Even if I could never forgive Silver forget some of the horrific things that he had done, I could not deny that I was severely grateful to him.