Diez negritos

El joven Anthony Marston, el matrimonio de criados Rogers, la señora Emily Brent, el general MacArthur, el juez Lawrence Wargrave, el doctor Armstrong, el detective William Blore, el aventureroPhillip Lombard y la joven Vera Claythorne son invitados a La isla del Negro, una isla privada llamada así porque, de perfil, parece la cabeza de un Negro. Una vez allí, y después de una cena en la que elanfitrión no ha aparecido todavía, una cinta les acusa a todos de un crimen. Lo que parece broma macabra acaba por convertirse en una espantosa realidad cuando uno de ellos muere. Entonces, uno a unoempiezan a ser asesinados siguiendo las ingeniosas instrucciones de una canción de cuna:
[editar]Canción original en Inglés

Ten Little Soldier (Esta es una de las versiones. Originalmente en vezde la palabra "soldier" iban las palabras "niggers" o "indian" modificadas por el evidente racismo.)
Ten little Soldier boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.Nine little Soldier boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Soldier boys traveling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.
Sevenlittle Soldier boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Soldier boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Fivelittle Soldier boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Soldier boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three littleSoldier boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two Little Soldier boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was one.
One little Soldier boy left allalone;
He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.

"Diez negritos salieron a cenar; Uno se asfixió y entonces quedaron Nueve.
Nueve negritos estuvieron despiertos hasta muy tarde;...