Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
and I determined I should have one look through the `
` cabin window. `
` `
` I pulled in hand over hand on the cord, and when I `
` judged myself near enough, rose at infinite risk to `
` about half my height and thus commanded the roof and a `
` slice of the interior of the cabin. `
` `
` By this time the schooner and her little consort were `
` gliding pretty swiftly through the water; indeed, we had `
` already fetched up level with the camp-fire. The ship was `
` talking, as sailors say, loudly, treading the innumerable `
` ripples with an incessant weltering splash; and until I got `
` my eye above the window-sill I could not comprehend why the `
` watchmen had taken no alarm. One glance, however, was sufficient; `
` and it was only one glance that I durst take from that unsteady `
` skiff. It showed me Hands and his companion locked together in `
` deadly wrestle, each with a hand upon the other's throat. `
` `
` I dropped upon the thwart again, none too soon, for I `
` was near overboard. I could see nothing for the moment `
` but these two furious, encrimsoned faces swaying `
` together under the smoky lamp, and I shut my eyes to `
` let them grow once more familiar with the darkness. `
` `
` The endless ballad had come to an end at last, and the `
` whole diminished company about the camp-fire had broken `
` into the chorus I had heard so often: `
` `
` "Fifteen men on the dead man's chest-- `
` Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! `
` Drink and the devil had done for the rest-- `
` Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!" `
` `
` I was just thinking how busy drink and the devil were `
` at that very moment in the cabin of the HISPANIOLA, `
` when I was surprised by a sudden lurch of the coracle. `
` At the same moment, she yawed sharply and seemed to `
` change her course. The speed in the meantime had `
` strangely increased. `
` `
` I opened my eyes at once. All round me were little `
` ripples, combing over with a sharp, bristling sound and `
` slightly phosphorescent. The HISPANIOLA herself, a `
` few yards in whose wake I was still being whirled `
` along, seemed to stagger in her course, and I saw her `
` spars toss a little against the blackness of the night; `
` nay, as I looked longer, I made sure she also was `
` wheeling to the southward. `
` `
` I glanced over my shoulder, and my heart jumped against `
` my ribs. There, right behind me, was the glow of the `
` camp-fire. The current had turned at right angles, `
` sweeping round along with it the tall schooner and the `
` little dancing coracle; ever quickening, ever bubbling `
` higher, ever muttering louder, it went spinning through `
` the narrows for the open sea. `
` `
` Suddenly the schooner in front of me gave a violent `
` yaw, turning, perhaps, through twenty degrees; and `
` almost at the same moment one shout followed another `
` from on board; I could hear feet pounding on the `
` companion ladder and I knew that the two drunkards had `
` at last been interrupted in their quarrel and awakened `
` to a sense of their disaster. `
` `
` I lay down flat in the bottom of that wretched skiff and `
` devoutly recommended my spirit to its Maker. At the end `
` of the straits, I made sure we must fall into some bar `
` of raging breakers, where all my troubles would be ended `
` speedily; and though I could, perhaps, bear to die, I could `
` not bear to look upon my fate as it approached. `
` `
` So I must have lain for hours, continually beaten to `
` and fro upon the billows, now and again wetted with `
` flying sprays, and never ceasing to expect death at the `
` next plunge. Gradually weariness grew upon me; a `
` numbness, an occasional stupor, fell upon my mind even `
` in the midst of my terrors, until sleep at last `
` supervened and in my sea-tossed coracle I lay and `
` dreamed of home and the old Admiral Benbow. `
` `
` `
` `
` 24 `
` `
` The Cruise of the Coracle `
` `
` IT was broad day when I awoke and found myself tossing `
` at the south-west end of Treasure Island. The sun was `
` up but was still hid from me behind the great bulk of `
` the Spy-glass, which on this side descended almost to `
` the sea in formidable cliffs. `
` `
` Haulbowline Head and Mizzen-mast Hill were at my elbow, `
` the hill bare and dark, the head bound with cliffs forty `
` or fifty feet high and fringed with great masses of fallen `
` rock. I was scarce a quarter of a mile to seaward, and it `
` was my first thought to paddle in and land. `
` `
` That notion was soon given over. Among the fallen `
` rocks the breakers spouted and bellowed; loud `
` reverberations, heavy sprays flying and falling, `
` succeeded one another from second to second; and I saw `
` myself, if I ventured nearer, dashed to death upon the `
` rough shore or spending my strength in vain to scale `
` the beetling crags. `
` `
` Nor was that all, for crawling together on flat tables of `
` rock or letting themselves drop into the sea with loud `
` reports I beheld huge slimy monsters--soft snails, as it `
` were, of incredible bigness--two or three score of them `
` together, making the rocks to echo with their barkings. `
` `
` I have understood since that they were sea lions, and `
` entirely harmless. But the look of them, added to the `
` difficulty of the shore and the high running of the `
` surf, was more than enough to disgust me of that `
` landing-place. I felt willing rather to starve at sea `
` than to confront such perils. `
` `
` In the meantime I had a better chance, as I supposed, `
` before me. North of Haulbowline Head, the land runs in `
` a long way, leaving at low tide a long stretch of `
` yellow sand. To the north of that, again, there comes `
` another cape--Cape of the Woods, as it was marked upon `
` the chart--buried in tall green pines, which descended `
` to the margin of the sea. `
` `
` I remembered what Silver had said about the current that `
` sets northward along the whole west coast of Treasure `
` Island, and seeing from my position that I was already `
` under its influence, I preferred to leave Haulbowline `
` Head behind me and reserve my strength for an attempt to `
` land upon the kindlier-looking Cape of the Woods. `
` `
` There was a great, smooth swell upon the sea. The wind `
` blowing steady and gentle from the south, there was no `
` contrariety between that and the current, and the `
` billows rose and fell unbroken. `
` `
` Had it been otherwise, I must long ago have perished; `
` but as it was, it is surprising how easily and securely `
` my little and light boat could ride. Often, as I still `
` lay at the bottom and kept no more than an eye above `
` the gunwale, I would see a big blue summit heaving `
` close above me; yet the coracle would but bounce a `
` little, dance as if on springs, and subside on the `
` other side into the trough as lightly as a bird. `
` `
` I began after a little to grow very bold and sat up to `
` try my skill at paddling. But even a small change in `
` the disposition of the weight will produce violent changes `
` in the behaviour of a coracle. And I had hardly moved `
` before the boat, giving up at once her gentle dancing `
` movement, ran straight down a slope of water so steep `
` that it made me giddy, and struck her nose, with a spout `
` of spray, deep into the side of the next wave. `
` `
` I was drenched and terrified, and fell instantly back `
` into my old position, whereupon the coracle seemed to `
` find her head again and led me as softly as before `
` among the billows. It was plain she was not to be `
` interfered with, and at that rate, since I could in no `
` way influence her course, what hope had I left of `
` reaching land? `
` `
` I began to be horribly frightened, but I kept my head, for `
` all that. First, moving with all care, I gradually baled `
` out the coracle with my sea-cap; then, getting my eye once `
` more above the gunwale, I set myself to study how it was `
` she managed to slip so quietly through the rollers. `
` `
` I found each wave, instead of the big, smooth glossy `
` mountain it looks from shore or from a vessel's deck, `
` was for all the world like any range of hills on dry `
` land, full of peaks and smooth places and valleys. The `
` coracle, left to herself, turning from side to side, `
` threaded, so to speak, her way through these lower `
` parts and avoided the steep slopes and higher, toppling `
` summits of the wave. `
` `
` "Well, now," thought I to myself, "it is plain I must `
` lie where I am and not disturb the balance; but it is `
` plain also that I can put the paddle over the side and `
` from time to time, in smooth places, give her a shove `
` or two towards land." No sooner thought upon than `
` done. There I lay on my elbows in the most trying `
` attitude, and every now and again gave a weak stroke or `
` two to turn her head to shore. `
` `
` It was very tiring and slow work, yet I did visibly `
` gain ground; and as we drew near the Cape of the Woods, `
` though I saw I must infallibly miss that point, I had `
` still made some hundred yards of easting. I was, `
` indeed, close in. I could see the cool green tree-tops `
` swaying together in the breeze, and I felt sure I `
` should make the next promontory without fail. `
` `
` It was high time, for I now began to be tortured with `
` thirst. The glow of the sun from above, its `
`
` cabin window. `
` `
` I pulled in hand over hand on the cord, and when I `
` judged myself near enough, rose at infinite risk to `
` about half my height and thus commanded the roof and a `
` slice of the interior of the cabin. `
` `
` By this time the schooner and her little consort were `
` gliding pretty swiftly through the water; indeed, we had `
` already fetched up level with the camp-fire. The ship was `
` talking, as sailors say, loudly, treading the innumerable `
` ripples with an incessant weltering splash; and until I got `
` my eye above the window-sill I could not comprehend why the `
` watchmen had taken no alarm. One glance, however, was sufficient; `
` and it was only one glance that I durst take from that unsteady `
` skiff. It showed me Hands and his companion locked together in `
` deadly wrestle, each with a hand upon the other's throat. `
` `
` I dropped upon the thwart again, none too soon, for I `
` was near overboard. I could see nothing for the moment `
` but these two furious, encrimsoned faces swaying `
` together under the smoky lamp, and I shut my eyes to `
` let them grow once more familiar with the darkness. `
` `
` The endless ballad had come to an end at last, and the `
` whole diminished company about the camp-fire had broken `
` into the chorus I had heard so often: `
` `
` "Fifteen men on the dead man's chest-- `
` Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! `
` Drink and the devil had done for the rest-- `
` Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!" `
` `
` I was just thinking how busy drink and the devil were `
` at that very moment in the cabin of the HISPANIOLA, `
` when I was surprised by a sudden lurch of the coracle. `
` At the same moment, she yawed sharply and seemed to `
` change her course. The speed in the meantime had `
` strangely increased. `
` `
` I opened my eyes at once. All round me were little `
` ripples, combing over with a sharp, bristling sound and `
` slightly phosphorescent. The HISPANIOLA herself, a `
` few yards in whose wake I was still being whirled `
` along, seemed to stagger in her course, and I saw her `
` spars toss a little against the blackness of the night; `
` nay, as I looked longer, I made sure she also was `
` wheeling to the southward. `
` `
` I glanced over my shoulder, and my heart jumped against `
` my ribs. There, right behind me, was the glow of the `
` camp-fire. The current had turned at right angles, `
` sweeping round along with it the tall schooner and the `
` little dancing coracle; ever quickening, ever bubbling `
` higher, ever muttering louder, it went spinning through `
` the narrows for the open sea. `
` `
` Suddenly the schooner in front of me gave a violent `
` yaw, turning, perhaps, through twenty degrees; and `
` almost at the same moment one shout followed another `
` from on board; I could hear feet pounding on the `
` companion ladder and I knew that the two drunkards had `
` at last been interrupted in their quarrel and awakened `
` to a sense of their disaster. `
` `
` I lay down flat in the bottom of that wretched skiff and `
` devoutly recommended my spirit to its Maker. At the end `
` of the straits, I made sure we must fall into some bar `
` of raging breakers, where all my troubles would be ended `
` speedily; and though I could, perhaps, bear to die, I could `
` not bear to look upon my fate as it approached. `
` `
` So I must have lain for hours, continually beaten to `
` and fro upon the billows, now and again wetted with `
` flying sprays, and never ceasing to expect death at the `
` next plunge. Gradually weariness grew upon me; a `
` numbness, an occasional stupor, fell upon my mind even `
` in the midst of my terrors, until sleep at last `
` supervened and in my sea-tossed coracle I lay and `
` dreamed of home and the old Admiral Benbow. `
` `
` `
` `
` 24 `
` `
` The Cruise of the Coracle `
` `
` IT was broad day when I awoke and found myself tossing `
` at the south-west end of Treasure Island. The sun was `
` up but was still hid from me behind the great bulk of `
` the Spy-glass, which on this side descended almost to `
` the sea in formidable cliffs. `
` `
` Haulbowline Head and Mizzen-mast Hill were at my elbow, `
` the hill bare and dark, the head bound with cliffs forty `
` or fifty feet high and fringed with great masses of fallen `
` rock. I was scarce a quarter of a mile to seaward, and it `
` was my first thought to paddle in and land. `
` `
` That notion was soon given over. Among the fallen `
` rocks the breakers spouted and bellowed; loud `
` reverberations, heavy sprays flying and falling, `
` succeeded one another from second to second; and I saw `
` myself, if I ventured nearer, dashed to death upon the `
` rough shore or spending my strength in vain to scale `
` the beetling crags. `
` `
` Nor was that all, for crawling together on flat tables of `
` rock or letting themselves drop into the sea with loud `
` reports I beheld huge slimy monsters--soft snails, as it `
` were, of incredible bigness--two or three score of them `
` together, making the rocks to echo with their barkings. `
` `
` I have understood since that they were sea lions, and `
` entirely harmless. But the look of them, added to the `
` difficulty of the shore and the high running of the `
` surf, was more than enough to disgust me of that `
` landing-place. I felt willing rather to starve at sea `
` than to confront such perils. `
` `
` In the meantime I had a better chance, as I supposed, `
` before me. North of Haulbowline Head, the land runs in `
` a long way, leaving at low tide a long stretch of `
` yellow sand. To the north of that, again, there comes `
` another cape--Cape of the Woods, as it was marked upon `
` the chart--buried in tall green pines, which descended `
` to the margin of the sea. `
` `
` I remembered what Silver had said about the current that `
` sets northward along the whole west coast of Treasure `
` Island, and seeing from my position that I was already `
` under its influence, I preferred to leave Haulbowline `
` Head behind me and reserve my strength for an attempt to `
` land upon the kindlier-looking Cape of the Woods. `
` `
` There was a great, smooth swell upon the sea. The wind `
` blowing steady and gentle from the south, there was no `
` contrariety between that and the current, and the `
` billows rose and fell unbroken. `
` `
` Had it been otherwise, I must long ago have perished; `
` but as it was, it is surprising how easily and securely `
` my little and light boat could ride. Often, as I still `
` lay at the bottom and kept no more than an eye above `
` the gunwale, I would see a big blue summit heaving `
` close above me; yet the coracle would but bounce a `
` little, dance as if on springs, and subside on the `
` other side into the trough as lightly as a bird. `
` `
` I began after a little to grow very bold and sat up to `
` try my skill at paddling. But even a small change in `
` the disposition of the weight will produce violent changes `
` in the behaviour of a coracle. And I had hardly moved `
` before the boat, giving up at once her gentle dancing `
` movement, ran straight down a slope of water so steep `
` that it made me giddy, and struck her nose, with a spout `
` of spray, deep into the side of the next wave. `
` `
` I was drenched and terrified, and fell instantly back `
` into my old position, whereupon the coracle seemed to `
` find her head again and led me as softly as before `
` among the billows. It was plain she was not to be `
` interfered with, and at that rate, since I could in no `
` way influence her course, what hope had I left of `
` reaching land? `
` `
` I began to be horribly frightened, but I kept my head, for `
` all that. First, moving with all care, I gradually baled `
` out the coracle with my sea-cap; then, getting my eye once `
` more above the gunwale, I set myself to study how it was `
` she managed to slip so quietly through the rollers. `
` `
` I found each wave, instead of the big, smooth glossy `
` mountain it looks from shore or from a vessel's deck, `
` was for all the world like any range of hills on dry `
` land, full of peaks and smooth places and valleys. The `
` coracle, left to herself, turning from side to side, `
` threaded, so to speak, her way through these lower `
` parts and avoided the steep slopes and higher, toppling `
` summits of the wave. `
` `
` "Well, now," thought I to myself, "it is plain I must `
` lie where I am and not disturb the balance; but it is `
` plain also that I can put the paddle over the side and `
` from time to time, in smooth places, give her a shove `
` or two towards land." No sooner thought upon than `
` done. There I lay on my elbows in the most trying `
` attitude, and every now and again gave a weak stroke or `
` two to turn her head to shore. `
` `
` It was very tiring and slow work, yet I did visibly `
` gain ground; and as we drew near the Cape of the Woods, `
` though I saw I must infallibly miss that point, I had `
` still made some hundred yards of easting. I was, `
` indeed, close in. I could see the cool green tree-tops `
` swaying together in the breeze, and I felt sure I `
` should make the next promontory without fail. `
` `
` It was high time, for I now began to be tortured with `
` thirst. The glow of the sun from above, its `
`