Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
guilty, embarrassed manner, so that a child could have `
` told that he was bent on some deception. I was prompt `
` with my answer, however, for I saw where my advantage `
` lay and that with a fellow so densely stupid I could `
` easily conceal my suspicions to the end. `
` `
` "Some wine?" I said. "Far better. Will you have `
` white or red?" `
` `
` "Well, I reckon it's about the blessed same to me, `
` shipmate," he replied; "so it's strong, and plenty of `
` it, what's the odds?" `
` `
` "All right," I answered. "I'll bring you port, Mr. `
` Hands. But I'll have to dig for it." `
` `
` With that I scuttled down the companion with all the `
` noise I could, slipped off my shoes, ran quietly along `
` the sparred gallery, mounted the forecastle ladder, and `
` popped my head out of the fore companion. I knew he `
` would not expect to see me there, yet I took every `
` precaution possible, and certainly the worst of my `
` suspicions proved too true. `
` `
` He had risen from his position to his hands and knees, `
` and though his leg obviously hurt him pretty sharply `
` when he moved--for I could hear him stifle a groan--yet `
` it was at a good, rattling rate that he trailed himself `
` across the deck. In half a minute he had reached the `
` port scuppers and picked, out of a coil of rope, a long `
` knife, or rather a short dirk, discoloured to the hilt `
` with blood. He looked upon it for a moment, thrusting `
` forth his under jaw, tried the point upon his hand, and `
` then, hastily concealing it in the bosom of his jacket, `
` trundled back again into his old place against the bulwark. `
` `
` This was all that I required to know. Israel could `
` move about, he was now armed, and if he had been at so `
` much trouble to get rid of me, it was plain that I was `
` meant to be the victim. What he would do afterwards-- `
` whether he would try to crawl right across the island `
` from North Inlet to the camp among the swamps or `
` whether he would fire Long Tom, trusting that his own `
` comrades might come first to help him--was, of course, `
` more than I could say. `
` `
` Yet I felt sure that I could trust him in one point, `
` since in that our interests jumped together, and that `
` was in the disposition of the schooner. We both `
` desired to have her stranded safe enough, in a `
` sheltered place, and so that, when the time came, she `
` could be got off again with as little labour and danger `
` as might be; and until that was done I considered that `
` my life would certainly be spared. `
` `
` While I was thus turning the business over in my mind, `
` I had not been idle with my body. I had stolen back to `
` the cabin, slipped once more into my shoes, and laid my `
` hand at random on a bottle of wine, and now, with this `
` for an excuse, I made my reappearance on the deck. `
` `
` Hands lay as I had left him, all fallen together in a `
` bundle and with his eyelids lowered as though he were `
` too weak to bear the light. He looked up, however, at `
` my coming, knocked the neck off the bottle like a man `
` who had done the same thing often, and took a good `
` swig, with his favourite toast of "Here's luck!" Then `
` he lay quiet for a little, and then, pulling out a `
` stick of tobacco, begged me to cut him a quid. `
` `
` "Cut me a junk o' that," says he, "for I haven't no `
` knife and hardly strength enough, so be as I had. Ah, `
` Jim, Jim, I reckon I've missed stays! Cut me a quid, `
` as'll likely be the last, lad, for I'm for my long `
` home, and no mistake." `
` `
` "Well," said I, "I'll cut you some tobacco, but if I `
` was you and thought myself so badly, I would go to my `
` prayers like a Christian man." `
` `
` "Why?" said he. "Now, you tell me why." `
` `
` "Why?" I cried. "You were asking me just now about the `
` dead. You've broken your trust; you've lived in sin `
` and lies and blood; there's a man you killed lying at `
` your feet this moment, and you ask me why! For God's `
` mercy, Mr. Hands, that's why." `
` `
` I spoke with a little heat, thinking of the bloody dirk `
` he had hidden in his pocket and designed, in his ill `
` thoughts, to end me with. He, for his part, took a `
` great draught of the wine and spoke with the most `
` unusual solemnity. `
` `
` "For thirty years," he said, "I've sailed the seas and `
` seen good and bad, better and worse, fair weather and `
` foul, provisions running out, knives going, and what `
` not. Well, now I tell you, I never seen good come o' `
` goodness yet. Him as strikes first is my fancy; dead `
` men don't bite; them's my views--amen, so be it. And `
` now, you look here," he added, suddenly changing his `
` tone, "we've had about enough of this foolery. The `
` tide's made good enough by now. You just take my orders, `
` Cap'n Hawkins, and we'll sail slap in and be done with it." `
` `
` All told, we had scarce two miles to run; but the `
` navigation was delicate, the entrance to this northern `
` anchorage was not only narrow and shoal, but lay east `
` and west, so that the schooner must be nicely handled `
` to be got in. I think I was a good, prompt subaltern, `
` and I am very sure that Hands was an excellent pilot, `
` for we went about and about and dodged in, shaving the `
` banks, with a certainty and a neatness that were a `
` pleasure to behold. `
` `
` Scarcely had we passed the heads before the land closed `
` around us. The shores of North Inlet were as thickly `
` wooded as those of the southern anchorage, but the `
` space was longer and narrower and more like, what in `
` truth it was, the estuary of a river. Right before us, `
` at the southern end, we saw the wreck of a ship in the `
` last stages of dilapidation. It had been a great `
` vessel of three masts but had lain so long exposed to `
` the injuries of the weather that it was hung about with `
` great webs of dripping seaweed, and on the deck of it `
` shore bushes had taken root and now flourished thick `
` with flowers. It was a sad sight, but it showed us `
` that the anchorage was calm. `
` `
` "Now," said Hands, "look there; there's a pet bit for `
` to beach a ship in. Fine flat sand, never a cat's paw, `
` trees all around of it, and flowers a-blowing like a `
` garding on that old ship." `
` `
` "And once beached," I inquired, "how shall we get her `
` off again?" `
` `
` "Why, so," he replied: "you take a line ashore there on `
` the other side at low water, take a turn about one of `
` them big pines; bring it back, take a turn around the `
` capstan, and lie to for the tide. Come high water, all `
` hands take a pull upon the line, and off she comes as `
` sweet as natur'. And now, boy, you stand by. We're `
` near the bit now, and she's too much way on her. `
` Starboard a little--so--steady--starboard--larboard a `
` little--steady--steady!" `
` `
` So he issued his commands, which I breathlessly obeyed, `
` till, all of a sudden, he cried, "Now, my hearty, `
` luff!" And I put the helm hard up, and the `
` HISPANIOLA swung round rapidly and ran stem on for the `
` low, wooded shore. `
` `
` The excitement of these last manoeuvres had somewhat `
` interfered with the watch I had kept hitherto, sharply `
` enough, upon the coxswain. Even then I was still so `
` much interested, waiting for the ship to touch, that I `
` had quite forgot the peril that hung over my head and `
` stood craning over the starboard bulwarks and watching `
` the ripples spreading wide before the bows. I might `
` have fallen without a struggle for my life had not a `
` sudden disquietude seized upon me and made me turn my `
` head. Perhaps I had heard a creak or seen his shadow `
` moving with the tail of my eye; perhaps it was an `
` instinct like a cat's; but, sure enough, when I looked `
` round, there was Hands, already half-way towards me, `
` with the dirk in his right hand. `
` `
` We must both have cried out aloud when our eyes met, `
` but while mine was the shrill cry of terror, his was a `
` roar of fury like a charging bully's. At the same `
` instant, he threw himself forward and I leapt sideways `
` towards the bows. As I did so, I let go of the tiller, `
` which sprang sharp to leeward, and I think this saved `
` my life, for it struck Hands across the chest and `
` stopped him, for the moment, dead. `
` `
` Before he could recover, I was safe out of the corner `
` where he had me trapped, with all the deck to dodge `
` about. Just forward of the main-mast I stopped, drew a `
` pistol from my pocket, took a cool aim, though he had `
` already turned and was once more coming directly after `
` me, and drew the trigger. The hammer fell, but there `
` followed neither flash nor sound; the priming was `
` useless with sea-water. I cursed myself for my `
` neglect. Why had not I, long before, reprimed and `
` reloaded my only weapons? Then I should not have been `
` as now, a mere fleeing sheep before this butcher. `
` `
` Wounded as he was, it was wonderful how fast he could `
` move, his grizzled hair tumbling over his face, and his `
` face itself as red as a red ensign with his haste and `
` fury. I had no time to try my other pistol, nor indeed `
` much inclination, for I was sure it would be useless. `
` One thing I saw plainly: I must not simply retreat `
` before him, or he would speedily hold me boxed into the `
` bows, as a moment since he had so nearly boxed me in `
` the stern. Once so caught, and nine or ten inches of `
` the blood-stained dirk would be my last experience on `
` this side of eternity. I placed my palms against the `
` main-mast, which was of a goodish bigness, and waited, `
`
` told that he was bent on some deception. I was prompt `
` with my answer, however, for I saw where my advantage `
` lay and that with a fellow so densely stupid I could `
` easily conceal my suspicions to the end. `
` `
` "Some wine?" I said. "Far better. Will you have `
` white or red?" `
` `
` "Well, I reckon it's about the blessed same to me, `
` shipmate," he replied; "so it's strong, and plenty of `
` it, what's the odds?" `
` `
` "All right," I answered. "I'll bring you port, Mr. `
` Hands. But I'll have to dig for it." `
` `
` With that I scuttled down the companion with all the `
` noise I could, slipped off my shoes, ran quietly along `
` the sparred gallery, mounted the forecastle ladder, and `
` popped my head out of the fore companion. I knew he `
` would not expect to see me there, yet I took every `
` precaution possible, and certainly the worst of my `
` suspicions proved too true. `
` `
` He had risen from his position to his hands and knees, `
` and though his leg obviously hurt him pretty sharply `
` when he moved--for I could hear him stifle a groan--yet `
` it was at a good, rattling rate that he trailed himself `
` across the deck. In half a minute he had reached the `
` port scuppers and picked, out of a coil of rope, a long `
` knife, or rather a short dirk, discoloured to the hilt `
` with blood. He looked upon it for a moment, thrusting `
` forth his under jaw, tried the point upon his hand, and `
` then, hastily concealing it in the bosom of his jacket, `
` trundled back again into his old place against the bulwark. `
` `
` This was all that I required to know. Israel could `
` move about, he was now armed, and if he had been at so `
` much trouble to get rid of me, it was plain that I was `
` meant to be the victim. What he would do afterwards-- `
` whether he would try to crawl right across the island `
` from North Inlet to the camp among the swamps or `
` whether he would fire Long Tom, trusting that his own `
` comrades might come first to help him--was, of course, `
` more than I could say. `
` `
` Yet I felt sure that I could trust him in one point, `
` since in that our interests jumped together, and that `
` was in the disposition of the schooner. We both `
` desired to have her stranded safe enough, in a `
` sheltered place, and so that, when the time came, she `
` could be got off again with as little labour and danger `
` as might be; and until that was done I considered that `
` my life would certainly be spared. `
` `
` While I was thus turning the business over in my mind, `
` I had not been idle with my body. I had stolen back to `
` the cabin, slipped once more into my shoes, and laid my `
` hand at random on a bottle of wine, and now, with this `
` for an excuse, I made my reappearance on the deck. `
` `
` Hands lay as I had left him, all fallen together in a `
` bundle and with his eyelids lowered as though he were `
` too weak to bear the light. He looked up, however, at `
` my coming, knocked the neck off the bottle like a man `
` who had done the same thing often, and took a good `
` swig, with his favourite toast of "Here's luck!" Then `
` he lay quiet for a little, and then, pulling out a `
` stick of tobacco, begged me to cut him a quid. `
` `
` "Cut me a junk o' that," says he, "for I haven't no `
` knife and hardly strength enough, so be as I had. Ah, `
` Jim, Jim, I reckon I've missed stays! Cut me a quid, `
` as'll likely be the last, lad, for I'm for my long `
` home, and no mistake." `
` `
` "Well," said I, "I'll cut you some tobacco, but if I `
` was you and thought myself so badly, I would go to my `
` prayers like a Christian man." `
` `
` "Why?" said he. "Now, you tell me why." `
` `
` "Why?" I cried. "You were asking me just now about the `
` dead. You've broken your trust; you've lived in sin `
` and lies and blood; there's a man you killed lying at `
` your feet this moment, and you ask me why! For God's `
` mercy, Mr. Hands, that's why." `
` `
` I spoke with a little heat, thinking of the bloody dirk `
` he had hidden in his pocket and designed, in his ill `
` thoughts, to end me with. He, for his part, took a `
` great draught of the wine and spoke with the most `
` unusual solemnity. `
` `
` "For thirty years," he said, "I've sailed the seas and `
` seen good and bad, better and worse, fair weather and `
` foul, provisions running out, knives going, and what `
` not. Well, now I tell you, I never seen good come o' `
` goodness yet. Him as strikes first is my fancy; dead `
` men don't bite; them's my views--amen, so be it. And `
` now, you look here," he added, suddenly changing his `
` tone, "we've had about enough of this foolery. The `
` tide's made good enough by now. You just take my orders, `
` Cap'n Hawkins, and we'll sail slap in and be done with it." `
` `
` All told, we had scarce two miles to run; but the `
` navigation was delicate, the entrance to this northern `
` anchorage was not only narrow and shoal, but lay east `
` and west, so that the schooner must be nicely handled `
` to be got in. I think I was a good, prompt subaltern, `
` and I am very sure that Hands was an excellent pilot, `
` for we went about and about and dodged in, shaving the `
` banks, with a certainty and a neatness that were a `
` pleasure to behold. `
` `
` Scarcely had we passed the heads before the land closed `
` around us. The shores of North Inlet were as thickly `
` wooded as those of the southern anchorage, but the `
` space was longer and narrower and more like, what in `
` truth it was, the estuary of a river. Right before us, `
` at the southern end, we saw the wreck of a ship in the `
` last stages of dilapidation. It had been a great `
` vessel of three masts but had lain so long exposed to `
` the injuries of the weather that it was hung about with `
` great webs of dripping seaweed, and on the deck of it `
` shore bushes had taken root and now flourished thick `
` with flowers. It was a sad sight, but it showed us `
` that the anchorage was calm. `
` `
` "Now," said Hands, "look there; there's a pet bit for `
` to beach a ship in. Fine flat sand, never a cat's paw, `
` trees all around of it, and flowers a-blowing like a `
` garding on that old ship." `
` `
` "And once beached," I inquired, "how shall we get her `
` off again?" `
` `
` "Why, so," he replied: "you take a line ashore there on `
` the other side at low water, take a turn about one of `
` them big pines; bring it back, take a turn around the `
` capstan, and lie to for the tide. Come high water, all `
` hands take a pull upon the line, and off she comes as `
` sweet as natur'. And now, boy, you stand by. We're `
` near the bit now, and she's too much way on her. `
` Starboard a little--so--steady--starboard--larboard a `
` little--steady--steady!" `
` `
` So he issued his commands, which I breathlessly obeyed, `
` till, all of a sudden, he cried, "Now, my hearty, `
` luff!" And I put the helm hard up, and the `
` HISPANIOLA swung round rapidly and ran stem on for the `
` low, wooded shore. `
` `
` The excitement of these last manoeuvres had somewhat `
` interfered with the watch I had kept hitherto, sharply `
` enough, upon the coxswain. Even then I was still so `
` much interested, waiting for the ship to touch, that I `
` had quite forgot the peril that hung over my head and `
` stood craning over the starboard bulwarks and watching `
` the ripples spreading wide before the bows. I might `
` have fallen without a struggle for my life had not a `
` sudden disquietude seized upon me and made me turn my `
` head. Perhaps I had heard a creak or seen his shadow `
` moving with the tail of my eye; perhaps it was an `
` instinct like a cat's; but, sure enough, when I looked `
` round, there was Hands, already half-way towards me, `
` with the dirk in his right hand. `
` `
` We must both have cried out aloud when our eyes met, `
` but while mine was the shrill cry of terror, his was a `
` roar of fury like a charging bully's. At the same `
` instant, he threw himself forward and I leapt sideways `
` towards the bows. As I did so, I let go of the tiller, `
` which sprang sharp to leeward, and I think this saved `
` my life, for it struck Hands across the chest and `
` stopped him, for the moment, dead. `
` `
` Before he could recover, I was safe out of the corner `
` where he had me trapped, with all the deck to dodge `
` about. Just forward of the main-mast I stopped, drew a `
` pistol from my pocket, took a cool aim, though he had `
` already turned and was once more coming directly after `
` me, and drew the trigger. The hammer fell, but there `
` followed neither flash nor sound; the priming was `
` useless with sea-water. I cursed myself for my `
` neglect. Why had not I, long before, reprimed and `
` reloaded my only weapons? Then I should not have been `
` as now, a mere fleeing sheep before this butcher. `
` `
` Wounded as he was, it was wonderful how fast he could `
` move, his grizzled hair tumbling over his face, and his `
` face itself as red as a red ensign with his haste and `
` fury. I had no time to try my other pistol, nor indeed `
` much inclination, for I was sure it would be useless. `
` One thing I saw plainly: I must not simply retreat `
` before him, or he would speedily hold me boxed into the `
` bows, as a moment since he had so nearly boxed me in `
` the stern. Once so caught, and nine or ten inches of `
` the blood-stained dirk would be my last experience on `
` this side of eternity. I placed my palms against the `
` main-mast, which was of a goodish bigness, and waited, `
`