Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
thirst. The glow of the sun from above, its `
` thousandfold reflection from the waves, the sea-water `
` that fell and dried upon me, caking my very lips with `
` salt, combined to make my throat burn and my brain `
` ache. The sight of the trees so near at hand had `
` almost made me sick with longing, but the current had `
` soon carried me past the point, and as the next reach `
` of sea opened out, I beheld a sight that changed the `
` nature of my thoughts. `
` `
` Right in front of me, not half a mile away, I beheld `
` the HISPANIOLA under sail. I made sure, of course, `
` that I should be taken; but I was so distressed for `
` want of water that I scarce knew whether to be glad or `
` sorry at the thought, and long before I had come to a `
` conclusion, surprise had taken entire possession of my `
` mind and I could do nothing but stare and wonder. `
` `
` The HISPANIOLA was under her main-sail and two `
` jibs, and the beautiful white canvas shone in the sun `
` like snow or silver. When I first sighted her, all her `
` sails were drawing; she was lying a course about north- `
` west, and I presumed the men on board were going round `
` the island on their way back to the anchorage. `
` Presently she began to fetch more and more to the `
` westward, so that I thought they had sighted me and `
` were going about in chase. At last, however, she fell `
` right into the wind's eye, was taken dead aback, and `
` stood there awhile helpless, with her sails shivering. `
` `
` "Clumsy fellows," said I; "they must still be drunk as `
` owls." And I thought how Captain Smollett would have `
` set them skipping. `
` `
` Meanwhile the schooner gradually fell off and filled `
` again upon another tack, sailed swiftly for a minute or `
` so, and brought up once more dead in the wind's eye. `
` Again and again was this repeated. To and fro, up and `
` down, north, south, east, and west, the HISPANIOLA `
` sailed by swoops and dashes, and at each repetition `
` ended as she had begun, with idly flapping canvas. It `
` became plain to me that nobody was steering. And if `
` so, where were the men? Either they were dead drunk or `
` had deserted her, I thought, and perhaps if I could get `
` on board I might return the vessel to her captain. `
` `
` The current was bearing coracle and schooner southward `
` at an equal rate. As for the latter's sailing, it was `
` so wild and intermittent, and she hung each time so `
` long in irons, that she certainly gained nothing, if `
` she did not even lose. If only I dared to sit up and `
` paddle, I made sure that I could overhaul her. The `
` scheme had an air of adventure that inspired me, and `
` the thought of the water breaker beside the fore `
` companion doubled my growing courage. `
` `
` Up I got, was welcomed almost instantly by another `
` cloud of spray, but this time stuck to my purpose and `
` set myself, with all my strength and caution, to paddle `
` after the unsteered HISPANIOLA. Once I shipped a `
` sea so heavy that I had to stop and bail, with my heart `
` fluttering like a bird, but gradually I got into the `
` way of the thing and guided my coracle among the waves, `
` with only now and then a blow upon her bows and a dash `
` of foam in my face. `
` `
` I was now gaining rapidly on the schooner; I could see `
` the brass glisten on the tiller as it banged about, and `
` still no soul appeared upon her decks. I could not `
` choose but suppose she was deserted. If not, the men `
` were lying drunk below, where I might batten them down, `
` perhaps, and do what I chose with the ship. `
` `
` For some time she had been doing the worse thing `
` possible for me--standing still. She headed nearly due `
` south, yawing, of course, all the time. Each time she `
` fell off, her sails partly filled, and these brought `
` her in a moment right to the wind again. I have said `
` this was the worst thing possible for me, for helpless `
` as she looked in this situation, with the canvas cracking `
` like cannon and the blocks trundling and banging on the `
` deck, she still continued to run away from me, not only `
` with the speed of the current, but by the whole amount `
` of her leeway, which was naturally great. `
` `
` But now, at last, I had my chance. The breeze fell for `
` some seconds, very low, and the current gradually `
` turning her, the HISPANIOLA revolved slowly round `
` her centre and at last presented me her stern, with the `
` cabin window still gaping open and the lamp over the `
` table still burning on into the day. The main-sail `
` hung drooped like a banner. She was stock-still but `
` for the current. `
` `
` For the last little while I had even lost, but now `
` redoubling my efforts, I began once more to overhaul `
` the chase. `
` `
` I was not a hundred yards from her when the wind came `
` again in a clap; she filled on the port tack and was `
` off again, stooping and skimming like a swallow. `
` `
` My first impulse was one of despair, but my second was `
` towards joy. Round she came, till she was broadside on `
` to me--round still till she had covered a half and then `
` two thirds and then three quarters of the distance that `
` separated us. I could see the waves boiling white `
` under her forefoot. Immensely tall she looked to me `
` from my low station in the coracle. `
` `
` And then, of a sudden, I began to comprehend. I had `
` scarce time to think--scarce time to act and save `
` myself. I was on the summit of one swell when the `
` schooner came stooping over the next. The bowsprit was `
` over my head. I sprang to my feet and leaped, stamping `
` the coracle under water. With one hand I caught the `
` jib-boom, while my foot was lodged between the stay and `
` the brace; and as I still clung there panting, a dull `
` blow told me that the schooner had charged down upon `
` and struck the coracle and that I was left without `
` retreat on the HISPANIOLA. `
` `
` `
` `
` 25 `
` `
` I Strike the Jolly Roger `
` `
` I HAD scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the `
` flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with `
` a report like a gun. The schooner trembled to her keel `
` under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still `
` drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle. `
` `
` This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I `
` lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and `
` tumbled head foremost on the deck. `
` `
` I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the main- `
` sail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a `
` certain portion of the after-deck. Not a soul was to `
` be seen. The planks, which had not been swabbed since `
` the mutiny, bore the print of many feet, and an empty `
` bottle, broken by the neck, tumbled to and fro like a `
` live thing in the scuppers. `
` `
` Suddenly the HISPANIOLA came right into the wind. The `
` jibs behind me cracked aloud, the rudder slammed to, the `
` whole ship gave a sickening heave and shudder, and at the `
` same moment the main-boom swung inboard, the sheet groaning `
` in the blocks, and showed me the lee after-deck. `
` `
` There were the two watchmen, sure enough: red-cap on `
` his back, as stiff as a handspike, with his arms `
` stretched out like those of a crucifix and his teeth `
` showing through his open lips; Israel Hands propped `
` against the bulwarks, his chin on his chest, his hands `
` lying open before him on the deck, his face as white, `
` under its tan, as a tallow candle. `
` `
` For a while the ship kept bucking and sidling like a `
` vicious horse, the sails filling, now on one tack, now `
` on another, and the boom swinging to and fro till the `
` mast groaned aloud under the strain. Now and again too `
` there would come a cloud of light sprays over the `
` bulwark and a heavy blow of the ship's bows against the `
` swell; so much heavier weather was made of it by this `
` great rigged ship than by my home-made, lop-sided `
` coracle, now gone to the bottom of the sea. `
` `
` At every jump of the schooner, red-cap slipped to and `
` fro, but--what was ghastly to behold--neither his `
` attitude nor his fixed teeth-disclosing grin was anyway `
` disturbed by this rough usage. At every jump too, `
` Hands appeared still more to sink into himself and `
` settle down upon the deck, his feet sliding ever the `
` farther out, and the whole body canting towards the `
` stern, so that his face became, little by little, hid `
` from me; and at last I could see nothing beyond his ear `
` and the frayed ringlet of one whisker. `
` `
` At the same time, I observed, around both of them, `
` splashes of dark blood upon the planks and began to `
` feel sure that they had killed each other in their `
` drunken wrath. `
` `
` While I was thus looking and wondering, in a calm `
` moment, when the ship was still, Israel Hands turned `
` partly round and with a low moan writhed himself back `
` to the position in which I had seen him first. The `
` moan, which told of pain and deadly weakness, and the `
` way in which his jaw hung open went right to my heart. `
` But when I remembered the talk I had overheard from the `
` apple barrel, all pity left me. `
` `
` I walked aft until I reached the main-mast. `
` `
` "Come aboard, Mr. Hands," I said ironically. `
` `
` He rolled his eyes round heavily, but he was too far `
` gone to express surprise. All he could do was to utter `
`
` thousandfold reflection from the waves, the sea-water `
` that fell and dried upon me, caking my very lips with `
` salt, combined to make my throat burn and my brain `
` ache. The sight of the trees so near at hand had `
` almost made me sick with longing, but the current had `
` soon carried me past the point, and as the next reach `
` of sea opened out, I beheld a sight that changed the `
` nature of my thoughts. `
` `
` Right in front of me, not half a mile away, I beheld `
` the HISPANIOLA under sail. I made sure, of course, `
` that I should be taken; but I was so distressed for `
` want of water that I scarce knew whether to be glad or `
` sorry at the thought, and long before I had come to a `
` conclusion, surprise had taken entire possession of my `
` mind and I could do nothing but stare and wonder. `
` `
` The HISPANIOLA was under her main-sail and two `
` jibs, and the beautiful white canvas shone in the sun `
` like snow or silver. When I first sighted her, all her `
` sails were drawing; she was lying a course about north- `
` west, and I presumed the men on board were going round `
` the island on their way back to the anchorage. `
` Presently she began to fetch more and more to the `
` westward, so that I thought they had sighted me and `
` were going about in chase. At last, however, she fell `
` right into the wind's eye, was taken dead aback, and `
` stood there awhile helpless, with her sails shivering. `
` `
` "Clumsy fellows," said I; "they must still be drunk as `
` owls." And I thought how Captain Smollett would have `
` set them skipping. `
` `
` Meanwhile the schooner gradually fell off and filled `
` again upon another tack, sailed swiftly for a minute or `
` so, and brought up once more dead in the wind's eye. `
` Again and again was this repeated. To and fro, up and `
` down, north, south, east, and west, the HISPANIOLA `
` sailed by swoops and dashes, and at each repetition `
` ended as she had begun, with idly flapping canvas. It `
` became plain to me that nobody was steering. And if `
` so, where were the men? Either they were dead drunk or `
` had deserted her, I thought, and perhaps if I could get `
` on board I might return the vessel to her captain. `
` `
` The current was bearing coracle and schooner southward `
` at an equal rate. As for the latter's sailing, it was `
` so wild and intermittent, and she hung each time so `
` long in irons, that she certainly gained nothing, if `
` she did not even lose. If only I dared to sit up and `
` paddle, I made sure that I could overhaul her. The `
` scheme had an air of adventure that inspired me, and `
` the thought of the water breaker beside the fore `
` companion doubled my growing courage. `
` `
` Up I got, was welcomed almost instantly by another `
` cloud of spray, but this time stuck to my purpose and `
` set myself, with all my strength and caution, to paddle `
` after the unsteered HISPANIOLA. Once I shipped a `
` sea so heavy that I had to stop and bail, with my heart `
` fluttering like a bird, but gradually I got into the `
` way of the thing and guided my coracle among the waves, `
` with only now and then a blow upon her bows and a dash `
` of foam in my face. `
` `
` I was now gaining rapidly on the schooner; I could see `
` the brass glisten on the tiller as it banged about, and `
` still no soul appeared upon her decks. I could not `
` choose but suppose she was deserted. If not, the men `
` were lying drunk below, where I might batten them down, `
` perhaps, and do what I chose with the ship. `
` `
` For some time she had been doing the worse thing `
` possible for me--standing still. She headed nearly due `
` south, yawing, of course, all the time. Each time she `
` fell off, her sails partly filled, and these brought `
` her in a moment right to the wind again. I have said `
` this was the worst thing possible for me, for helpless `
` as she looked in this situation, with the canvas cracking `
` like cannon and the blocks trundling and banging on the `
` deck, she still continued to run away from me, not only `
` with the speed of the current, but by the whole amount `
` of her leeway, which was naturally great. `
` `
` But now, at last, I had my chance. The breeze fell for `
` some seconds, very low, and the current gradually `
` turning her, the HISPANIOLA revolved slowly round `
` her centre and at last presented me her stern, with the `
` cabin window still gaping open and the lamp over the `
` table still burning on into the day. The main-sail `
` hung drooped like a banner. She was stock-still but `
` for the current. `
` `
` For the last little while I had even lost, but now `
` redoubling my efforts, I began once more to overhaul `
` the chase. `
` `
` I was not a hundred yards from her when the wind came `
` again in a clap; she filled on the port tack and was `
` off again, stooping and skimming like a swallow. `
` `
` My first impulse was one of despair, but my second was `
` towards joy. Round she came, till she was broadside on `
` to me--round still till she had covered a half and then `
` two thirds and then three quarters of the distance that `
` separated us. I could see the waves boiling white `
` under her forefoot. Immensely tall she looked to me `
` from my low station in the coracle. `
` `
` And then, of a sudden, I began to comprehend. I had `
` scarce time to think--scarce time to act and save `
` myself. I was on the summit of one swell when the `
` schooner came stooping over the next. The bowsprit was `
` over my head. I sprang to my feet and leaped, stamping `
` the coracle under water. With one hand I caught the `
` jib-boom, while my foot was lodged between the stay and `
` the brace; and as I still clung there panting, a dull `
` blow told me that the schooner had charged down upon `
` and struck the coracle and that I was left without `
` retreat on the HISPANIOLA. `
` `
` `
` `
` 25 `
` `
` I Strike the Jolly Roger `
` `
` I HAD scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when the `
` flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with `
` a report like a gun. The schooner trembled to her keel `
` under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still `
` drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle. `
` `
` This had nearly tossed me off into the sea; and now I `
` lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit, and `
` tumbled head foremost on the deck. `
` `
` I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the main- `
` sail, which was still drawing, concealed from me a `
` certain portion of the after-deck. Not a soul was to `
` be seen. The planks, which had not been swabbed since `
` the mutiny, bore the print of many feet, and an empty `
` bottle, broken by the neck, tumbled to and fro like a `
` live thing in the scuppers. `
` `
` Suddenly the HISPANIOLA came right into the wind. The `
` jibs behind me cracked aloud, the rudder slammed to, the `
` whole ship gave a sickening heave and shudder, and at the `
` same moment the main-boom swung inboard, the sheet groaning `
` in the blocks, and showed me the lee after-deck. `
` `
` There were the two watchmen, sure enough: red-cap on `
` his back, as stiff as a handspike, with his arms `
` stretched out like those of a crucifix and his teeth `
` showing through his open lips; Israel Hands propped `
` against the bulwarks, his chin on his chest, his hands `
` lying open before him on the deck, his face as white, `
` under its tan, as a tallow candle. `
` `
` For a while the ship kept bucking and sidling like a `
` vicious horse, the sails filling, now on one tack, now `
` on another, and the boom swinging to and fro till the `
` mast groaned aloud under the strain. Now and again too `
` there would come a cloud of light sprays over the `
` bulwark and a heavy blow of the ship's bows against the `
` swell; so much heavier weather was made of it by this `
` great rigged ship than by my home-made, lop-sided `
` coracle, now gone to the bottom of the sea. `
` `
` At every jump of the schooner, red-cap slipped to and `
` fro, but--what was ghastly to behold--neither his `
` attitude nor his fixed teeth-disclosing grin was anyway `
` disturbed by this rough usage. At every jump too, `
` Hands appeared still more to sink into himself and `
` settle down upon the deck, his feet sliding ever the `
` farther out, and the whole body canting towards the `
` stern, so that his face became, little by little, hid `
` from me; and at last I could see nothing beyond his ear `
` and the frayed ringlet of one whisker. `
` `
` At the same time, I observed, around both of them, `
` splashes of dark blood upon the planks and began to `
` feel sure that they had killed each other in their `
` drunken wrath. `
` `
` While I was thus looking and wondering, in a calm `
` moment, when the ship was still, Israel Hands turned `
` partly round and with a low moan writhed himself back `
` to the position in which I had seen him first. The `
` moan, which told of pain and deadly weakness, and the `
` way in which his jaw hung open went right to my heart. `
` But when I remembered the talk I had overheard from the `
` apple barrel, all pity left me. `
` `
` I walked aft until I reached the main-mast. `
` `
` "Come aboard, Mr. Hands," I said ironically. `
` `
` He rolled his eyes round heavily, but he was too far `
` gone to express surprise. All he could do was to utter `
`