Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
gone to express surprise. All he could do was to utter `
` one word, "Brandy." `
` `
` It occurred to me there was no time to lose, and dodging `
` the boom as it once more lurched across the deck, I `
` slipped aft and down the companion stairs into the cabin. `
` `
` It was such a scene of confusion as you can hardly `
` fancy. All the lockfast places had been broken open in `
` quest of the chart. The floor was thick with mud where `
` ruffians had sat down to drink or consult after wading `
` in the marshes round their camp. The bulkheads, all `
` painted in clear white and beaded round with gilt, bore `
` a pattern of dirty hands. Dozens of empty bottles `
` clinked together in corners to the rolling of the ship. `
` One of the doctor's medical books lay open on the `
` table, half of the leaves gutted out, I suppose, for `
` pipelights. In the midst of all this the lamp still `
` cast a smoky glow, obscure and brown as umber. `
` `
` I went into the cellar; all the barrels were gone, and `
` of the bottles a most surprising number had been drunk `
` out and thrown away. Certainly, since the mutiny `
` began, not a man of them could ever have been sober. `
` `
` Foraging about, I found a bottle with some brandy left, `
` for Hands; and for myself I routed out some biscuit, `
` some pickled fruits, a great bunch of raisins, and a `
` piece of cheese. With these I came on deck, put down `
` my own stock behind the rudder head and well out of the `
` coxswain's reach, went forward to the water-breaker, `
` and had a good deep drink of water, and then, and not `
` till then, gave Hands the brandy. `
` `
` He must have drunk a gill before he took the bottle `
` from his mouth. `
` `
` "Aye," said he, "by thunder, but I wanted some o' that!" `
` `
` I had sat down already in my own corner and begun to eat. `
` `
` "Much hurt?" I asked him. `
` `
` He grunted, or rather, I might say, he barked. `
` `
` "If that doctor was aboard," he said, "I'd be right `
` enough in a couple of turns, but I don't have no manner `
` of luck, you see, and that's what's the matter with me. `
` As for that swab, he's good and dead, he is," he added, `
` indicating the man with the red cap. "He warn't no `
` seaman anyhow. And where mought you have come from?" `
` `
` "Well," said I, "I've come aboard to take possession of `
` this ship, Mr. Hands; and you'll please regard me as `
` your captain until further notice." `
` `
` He looked at me sourly enough but said nothing. Some `
` of the colour had come back into his cheeks, though he `
` still looked very sick and still continued to slip out `
` and settle down as the ship banged about. `
` `
` "By the by," I continued, "I can't have these colours, `
` Mr. Hands; and by your leave, I'll strike 'em. Better `
` none than these." `
` `
` And again dodging the boom, I ran to the colour lines, handed `
` down their cursed black flag, and chucked it overboard. `
` `
` "God save the king!" said I, waving my cap. "And `
` there's an end to Captain Silver!" `
` `
` He watched me keenly and slyly, his chin all the while `
` on his breast. `
` `
` "I reckon," he said at last, "I reckon, Cap'n Hawkins, `
` you'll kind of want to get ashore now. S'pose we talks." `
` `
` "Why, yes," says I, "with all my heart, Mr. Hands. Say `
` on." And I went back to my meal with a good appetite. `
` `
` "This man," he began, nodding feebly at the corpse "-- `
` O'Brien were his name, a rank Irelander--this man and `
` me got the canvas on her, meaning for to sail her back. `
` Well, HE'S dead now, he is--as dead as bilge; and `
` who's to sail this ship, I don't see. Without I gives `
` you a hint, you ain't that man, as far's I can tell. `
` Now, look here, you gives me food and drink and a old `
` scarf or ankecher to tie my wound up, you do, and I'll `
` tell you how to sail her, and that's about square all `
` round, I take it." `
` `
` "I'll tell you one thing," says I: "I'm not going back `
` to Captain Kidd's anchorage. I mean to get into North `
` Inlet and beach her quietly there." `
` `
` "To be sure you did," he cried. "Why, I ain't sich an `
` infernal lubber after all. I can see, can't I? I've `
` tried my fling, I have, and I've lost, and it's you has `
` the wind of me. North Inlet? Why, I haven't no `
` ch'ice, not I! I'd help you sail her up to Execution `
` Dock, by thunder! So I would." `
` `
` Well, as it seemed to me, there was some sense in this. `
` We struck our bargain on the spot. In three minutes I `
` had the HISPANIOLA sailing easily before the wind `
` along the coast of Treasure Island, with good hopes of `
` turning the northern point ere noon and beating down `
` again as far as North Inlet before high water, when we `
` might beach her safely and wait till the subsiding tide `
` permitted us to land. `
` `
` Then I lashed the tiller and went below to my own `
` chest, where I got a soft silk handkerchief of my `
` mother's. With this, and with my aid, Hands bound up `
` the great bleeding stab he had received in the thigh, `
` and after he had eaten a little and had a swallow or `
` two more of the brandy, he began to pick up visibly, `
` sat straighter up, spoke louder and clearer, and looked `
` in every way another man. `
` `
` The breeze served us admirably. We skimmed before it `
` like a bird, the coast of the island flashing by and `
` the view changing every minute. Soon we were past the `
` high lands and bowling beside low, sandy country, `
` sparsely dotted with dwarf pines, and soon we were `
` beyond that again and had turned the corner of the `
` rocky hill that ends the island on the north. `
` `
` I was greatly elated with my new command, and pleased `
` with the bright, sunshiny weather and these different `
` prospects of the coast. I had now plenty of water and `
` good things to eat, and my conscience, which had `
` smitten me hard for my desertion, was quieted by the `
` great conquest I had made. I should, I think, have had `
` nothing left me to desire but for the eyes of the `
` coxswain as they followed me derisively about the deck `
` and the odd smile that appeared continually on his `
` face. It was a smile that had in it something both of `
` pain and weakness--a haggard old man's smile; but there `
` was, besides that, a grain of derision, a shadow of `
` treachery, in his expression as he craftily watched, `
` and watched, and watched me at my work. `
` `
` `
` `
` 26 `
` `
` Israel Hands `
` `
` THE wind, serving us to a desire, now hauled into the west. `
` We could run so much the easier from the north-east corner `
` of the island to the mouth of the North Inlet. Only, as `
` we had no power to anchor and dared not beach her till the `
` tide had flowed a good deal farther, time hung on our hands. `
` The coxswain told me how to lay the ship to; after a good `
` many trials I succeeded, and we both sat in silence over `
` another meal. `
` `
` "Cap'n," said he at length with that same uncomfortable `
` smile, "here's my old shipmate, O'Brien; s'pose you was `
` to heave him overboard. I ain't partic'lar as a rule, `
` and I don't take no blame for settling his hash, but I `
` don't reckon him ornamental now, do you?" `
` `
` "I'm not strong enough, and I don't like the job; and `
` there he lies, for me," said I. `
` `
` "This here's an unlucky ship, this HISPANIOLA, `
` Jim," he went on, blinking. "There's a power of men `
` been killed in this HISPANIOLA--a sight o' poor `
` seamen dead and gone since you and me took ship to `
` Bristol. I never seen sich dirty luck, not I. There `
` was this here O'Brien now--he's dead, ain't he? Well `
` now, I'm no scholar, and you're a lad as can read and `
` figure, and to put it straight, do you take it as a `
` dead man is dead for good, or do he come alive again?" `
` `
` "You can kill the body, Mr. Hands, but not the spirit; `
` you must know that already," I replied. "O'Brien there `
` is in another world, and may be watching us." `
` `
` "Ah!" says he. "Well, that's unfort'nate--appears as `
` if killing parties was a waste of time. Howsomever, `
` sperrits don't reckon for much, by what I've seen. `
` I'll chance it with the sperrits, Jim. And now, you've `
` spoke up free, and I'll take it kind if you'd step down `
` into that there cabin and get me a--well, a--shiver my `
` timbers! I can't hit the name on 't; well, you get me `
` a bottle of wine, Jim--this here brandy's too strong `
` for my head." `
` `
` Now, the coxswain's hesitation seemed to be unnatural, `
` and as for the notion of his preferring wine to brandy, `
` I entirely disbelieved it. The whole story was a `
` pretext. He wanted me to leave the deck--so much was `
` plain; but with what purpose I could in no way imagine. `
` His eyes never met mine; they kept wandering to and `
` fro, up and down, now with a look to the sky, now with `
` a flitting glance upon the dead O'Brien. All the time `
` he kept smiling and putting his tongue out in the most `
` guilty, embarrassed manner, so that a child could have `
`
` one word, "Brandy." `
` `
` It occurred to me there was no time to lose, and dodging `
` the boom as it once more lurched across the deck, I `
` slipped aft and down the companion stairs into the cabin. `
` `
` It was such a scene of confusion as you can hardly `
` fancy. All the lockfast places had been broken open in `
` quest of the chart. The floor was thick with mud where `
` ruffians had sat down to drink or consult after wading `
` in the marshes round their camp. The bulkheads, all `
` painted in clear white and beaded round with gilt, bore `
` a pattern of dirty hands. Dozens of empty bottles `
` clinked together in corners to the rolling of the ship. `
` One of the doctor's medical books lay open on the `
` table, half of the leaves gutted out, I suppose, for `
` pipelights. In the midst of all this the lamp still `
` cast a smoky glow, obscure and brown as umber. `
` `
` I went into the cellar; all the barrels were gone, and `
` of the bottles a most surprising number had been drunk `
` out and thrown away. Certainly, since the mutiny `
` began, not a man of them could ever have been sober. `
` `
` Foraging about, I found a bottle with some brandy left, `
` for Hands; and for myself I routed out some biscuit, `
` some pickled fruits, a great bunch of raisins, and a `
` piece of cheese. With these I came on deck, put down `
` my own stock behind the rudder head and well out of the `
` coxswain's reach, went forward to the water-breaker, `
` and had a good deep drink of water, and then, and not `
` till then, gave Hands the brandy. `
` `
` He must have drunk a gill before he took the bottle `
` from his mouth. `
` `
` "Aye," said he, "by thunder, but I wanted some o' that!" `
` `
` I had sat down already in my own corner and begun to eat. `
` `
` "Much hurt?" I asked him. `
` `
` He grunted, or rather, I might say, he barked. `
` `
` "If that doctor was aboard," he said, "I'd be right `
` enough in a couple of turns, but I don't have no manner `
` of luck, you see, and that's what's the matter with me. `
` As for that swab, he's good and dead, he is," he added, `
` indicating the man with the red cap. "He warn't no `
` seaman anyhow. And where mought you have come from?" `
` `
` "Well," said I, "I've come aboard to take possession of `
` this ship, Mr. Hands; and you'll please regard me as `
` your captain until further notice." `
` `
` He looked at me sourly enough but said nothing. Some `
` of the colour had come back into his cheeks, though he `
` still looked very sick and still continued to slip out `
` and settle down as the ship banged about. `
` `
` "By the by," I continued, "I can't have these colours, `
` Mr. Hands; and by your leave, I'll strike 'em. Better `
` none than these." `
` `
` And again dodging the boom, I ran to the colour lines, handed `
` down their cursed black flag, and chucked it overboard. `
` `
` "God save the king!" said I, waving my cap. "And `
` there's an end to Captain Silver!" `
` `
` He watched me keenly and slyly, his chin all the while `
` on his breast. `
` `
` "I reckon," he said at last, "I reckon, Cap'n Hawkins, `
` you'll kind of want to get ashore now. S'pose we talks." `
` `
` "Why, yes," says I, "with all my heart, Mr. Hands. Say `
` on." And I went back to my meal with a good appetite. `
` `
` "This man," he began, nodding feebly at the corpse "-- `
` O'Brien were his name, a rank Irelander--this man and `
` me got the canvas on her, meaning for to sail her back. `
` Well, HE'S dead now, he is--as dead as bilge; and `
` who's to sail this ship, I don't see. Without I gives `
` you a hint, you ain't that man, as far's I can tell. `
` Now, look here, you gives me food and drink and a old `
` scarf or ankecher to tie my wound up, you do, and I'll `
` tell you how to sail her, and that's about square all `
` round, I take it." `
` `
` "I'll tell you one thing," says I: "I'm not going back `
` to Captain Kidd's anchorage. I mean to get into North `
` Inlet and beach her quietly there." `
` `
` "To be sure you did," he cried. "Why, I ain't sich an `
` infernal lubber after all. I can see, can't I? I've `
` tried my fling, I have, and I've lost, and it's you has `
` the wind of me. North Inlet? Why, I haven't no `
` ch'ice, not I! I'd help you sail her up to Execution `
` Dock, by thunder! So I would." `
` `
` Well, as it seemed to me, there was some sense in this. `
` We struck our bargain on the spot. In three minutes I `
` had the HISPANIOLA sailing easily before the wind `
` along the coast of Treasure Island, with good hopes of `
` turning the northern point ere noon and beating down `
` again as far as North Inlet before high water, when we `
` might beach her safely and wait till the subsiding tide `
` permitted us to land. `
` `
` Then I lashed the tiller and went below to my own `
` chest, where I got a soft silk handkerchief of my `
` mother's. With this, and with my aid, Hands bound up `
` the great bleeding stab he had received in the thigh, `
` and after he had eaten a little and had a swallow or `
` two more of the brandy, he began to pick up visibly, `
` sat straighter up, spoke louder and clearer, and looked `
` in every way another man. `
` `
` The breeze served us admirably. We skimmed before it `
` like a bird, the coast of the island flashing by and `
` the view changing every minute. Soon we were past the `
` high lands and bowling beside low, sandy country, `
` sparsely dotted with dwarf pines, and soon we were `
` beyond that again and had turned the corner of the `
` rocky hill that ends the island on the north. `
` `
` I was greatly elated with my new command, and pleased `
` with the bright, sunshiny weather and these different `
` prospects of the coast. I had now plenty of water and `
` good things to eat, and my conscience, which had `
` smitten me hard for my desertion, was quieted by the `
` great conquest I had made. I should, I think, have had `
` nothing left me to desire but for the eyes of the `
` coxswain as they followed me derisively about the deck `
` and the odd smile that appeared continually on his `
` face. It was a smile that had in it something both of `
` pain and weakness--a haggard old man's smile; but there `
` was, besides that, a grain of derision, a shadow of `
` treachery, in his expression as he craftily watched, `
` and watched, and watched me at my work. `
` `
` `
` `
` 26 `
` `
` Israel Hands `
` `
` THE wind, serving us to a desire, now hauled into the west. `
` We could run so much the easier from the north-east corner `
` of the island to the mouth of the North Inlet. Only, as `
` we had no power to anchor and dared not beach her till the `
` tide had flowed a good deal farther, time hung on our hands. `
` The coxswain told me how to lay the ship to; after a good `
` many trials I succeeded, and we both sat in silence over `
` another meal. `
` `
` "Cap'n," said he at length with that same uncomfortable `
` smile, "here's my old shipmate, O'Brien; s'pose you was `
` to heave him overboard. I ain't partic'lar as a rule, `
` and I don't take no blame for settling his hash, but I `
` don't reckon him ornamental now, do you?" `
` `
` "I'm not strong enough, and I don't like the job; and `
` there he lies, for me," said I. `
` `
` "This here's an unlucky ship, this HISPANIOLA, `
` Jim," he went on, blinking. "There's a power of men `
` been killed in this HISPANIOLA--a sight o' poor `
` seamen dead and gone since you and me took ship to `
` Bristol. I never seen sich dirty luck, not I. There `
` was this here O'Brien now--he's dead, ain't he? Well `
` now, I'm no scholar, and you're a lad as can read and `
` figure, and to put it straight, do you take it as a `
` dead man is dead for good, or do he come alive again?" `
` `
` "You can kill the body, Mr. Hands, but not the spirit; `
` you must know that already," I replied. "O'Brien there `
` is in another world, and may be watching us." `
` `
` "Ah!" says he. "Well, that's unfort'nate--appears as `
` if killing parties was a waste of time. Howsomever, `
` sperrits don't reckon for much, by what I've seen. `
` I'll chance it with the sperrits, Jim. And now, you've `
` spoke up free, and I'll take it kind if you'd step down `
` into that there cabin and get me a--well, a--shiver my `
` timbers! I can't hit the name on 't; well, you get me `
` a bottle of wine, Jim--this here brandy's too strong `
` for my head." `
` `
` Now, the coxswain's hesitation seemed to be unnatural, `
` and as for the notion of his preferring wine to brandy, `
` I entirely disbelieved it. The whole story was a `
` pretext. He wanted me to leave the deck--so much was `
` plain; but with what purpose I could in no way imagine. `
` His eyes never met mine; they kept wandering to and `
` fro, up and down, now with a look to the sky, now with `
` a flitting glance upon the dead O'Brien. All the time `
` he kept smiling and putting his tongue out in the most `
` guilty, embarrassed manner, so that a child could have `
`