Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
last security, I let myself drop softly overboard. The `
` water scarcely reached my waist; the sand was firm and `
` covered with ripple marks, and I waded ashore in great `
` spirits, leaving the HISPANIOLA on her side, with her `
` main-sail trailing wide upon the surface of the bay. `
` About the same time, the sun went fairly down and the `
` breeze whistled low in the dusk among the tossing pines. `
` `
` At least, and at last, I was off the sea, nor had I `
` returned thence empty-handed. There lay the schooner, `
` clear at last from buccaneers and ready for our own men `
` to board and get to sea again. I had nothing nearer my `
` fancy than to get home to the stockade and boast of my `
` achievements. Possibly I might be blamed a bit for my `
` truantry, but the recapture of the HISPANIOLA was a `
` clenching answer, and I hoped that even Captain `
` Smollett would confess I had not lost my time. `
` `
` So thinking, and in famous spirits, I began to set `
` my face homeward for the block house and my companions. `
` I remembered that the most easterly of the rivers which `
` drain into Captain Kidd's anchorage ran from the two-peaked `
` hill upon my left, and I bent my course in that direction `
` that I might pass the stream while it was small. The wood `
` was pretty open, and keeping along the lower spurs, I had `
` soon turned the corner of that hill, and not long after `
` waded to the mid-calf across the watercourse. `
` `
` This brought me near to where I had encountered Ben `
` Gunn, the maroon; and I walked more circumspectly, `
` keeping an eye on every side. The dusk had come nigh `
` hand completely, and as I opened out the cleft between `
` the two peaks, I became aware of a wavering glow `
` against the sky, where, as I judged, the man of the `
` island was cooking his supper before a roaring fire. `
` And yet I wondered, in my heart, that he should show `
` himself so careless. For if I could see this radiance, `
` might it not reach the eyes of Silver himself where he `
` camped upon the shore among the marshes? `
` `
` Gradually the night fell blacker; it was all I could do `
` to guide myself even roughly towards my destination; `
` the double hill behind me and the Spy-glass on my right `
` hand loomed faint and fainter; the stars were few and `
` pale; and in the low ground where I wandered I kept `
` tripping among bushes and rolling into sandy pits. `
` `
` Suddenly a kind of brightness fell about me. I looked `
` up; a pale glimmer of moonbeams had alighted on the `
` summit of the Spy-glass, and soon after I saw something `
` broad and silvery moving low down behind the trees, and `
` knew the moon had risen. `
` `
` With this to help me, I passed rapidly over what `
` remained to me of my journey, and sometimes walking, `
` sometimes running, impatiently drew near to the `
` stockade. Yet, as I began to thread the grove that `
` lies before it, I was not so thoughtless but that I `
` slacked my pace and went a trifle warily. It would `
` have been a poor end of my adventures to get shot down `
` by my own party in mistake. `
` `
` The moon was climbing higher and higher, its light `
` began to fall here and there in masses through the more `
` open districts of the wood, and right in front of me a `
` glow of a different colour appeared among the trees. `
` It was red and hot, and now and again it was a little `
` darkened--as it were, the embers of a bonfire smouldering. `
` `
` For the life of me I could not think what it might be. `
` `
` At last I came right down upon the borders of the `
` clearing. The western end was already steeped in moon- `
` shine; the rest, and the block house itself, still lay `
` in a black shadow chequered with long silvery streaks `
` of light. On the other side of the house an immense `
` fire had burned itself into clear embers and shed a `
` steady, red reverberation, contrasted strongly with the `
` mellow paleness of the moon. There was not a soul `
` stirring nor a sound beside the noises of the breeze. `
` `
` I stopped, with much wonder in my heart, and perhaps a `
` little terror also. It had not been our way to build `
` great fires; we were, indeed, by the captain's orders, `
` somewhat niggardly of firewood, and I began to fear `
` that something had gone wrong while I was absent. `
` `
` I stole round by the eastern end, keeping close in `
` shadow, and at a convenient place, where the darkness `
` was thickest, crossed the palisade. `
` `
` To make assurance surer, I got upon my hands and knees `
` and crawled, without a sound, towards the corner of the `
` house. As I drew nearer, my heart was suddenly and `
` greatly lightened. It is not a pleasant noise in `
` itself, and I have often complained of it at other `
` times, but just then it was like music to hear my `
` friends snoring together so loud and peaceful in their `
` sleep. The sea-cry of the watch, that beautiful "All's `
` well," never fell more reassuringly on my ear. `
` `
` In the meantime, there was no doubt of one thing; they `
` kept an infamous bad watch. If it had been Silver and `
` his lads that were now creeping in on them, not a soul `
` would have seen daybreak. That was what it was, `
` thought I, to have the captain wounded; and again I `
` blamed myself sharply for leaving them in that danger `
` with so few to mount guard. `
` `
` By this time I had got to the door and stood up. All `
` was dark within, so that I could distinguish nothing by `
` the eye. As for sounds, there was the steady drone of `
` the snorers and a small occasional noise, a flickering `
` or pecking that I could in no way account for. `
` `
` With my arms before me I walked steadily in. I should `
` lie down in my own place (I thought with a silent chuckle) `
` and enjoy their faces when they found me in the morning. `
` `
` My foot struck something yielding--it was a sleeper's `
` leg; and he turned and groaned, but without awaking. `
` `
` And then, all of a sudden, a shrill voice broke forth `
` out of the darkness: `
` `
` "Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! `
` Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!" and so forth, without `
` pause or change, like the clacking of a tiny mill. `
` `
` Silver's green parrot, Captain Flint! It was she whom `
` I had heard pecking at a piece of bark; it was she, `
` keeping better watch than any human being, who thus `
` announced my arrival with her wearisome refrain. `
` `
` I had no time left me to recover. At the sharp, `
` clipping tone of the parrot, the sleepers awoke and `
` sprang up; and with a mighty oath, the voice of Silver `
` cried, "Who goes?" `
` `
` I turned to run, struck violently against one person, `
` recoiled, and ran full into the arms of a second, who `
` for his part closed upon and held me tight. `
` `
` "Bring a torch, Dick," said Silver when my capture was `
` thus assured. `
` `
` And one of the men left the log-house and presently `
` returned with a lighted brand. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` PART SIX `
` `
` Captain Silver `
` `
` `
` `
` 28 `
` `
` In the Enemy's Camp `
` `
` THE red glare of the torch, lighting up the interior of `
` the block house, showed me the worst of my `
` apprehensions realized. The pirates were in possession `
` of the house and stores: there was the cask of cognac, `
` there were the pork and bread, as before, and what `
` tenfold increased my horror, not a sign of any `
` prisoner. I could only judge that all had perished, `
` and my heart smote me sorely that I had not been there `
` to perish with them. `
` `
` There were six of the buccaneers, all told; not another `
` man was left alive. Five of them were on their feet, `
` flushed and swollen, suddenly called out of the first `
` sleep of drunkenness. The sixth had only risen upon `
` his elbow; he was deadly pale, and the blood-stained `
` bandage round his head told that he had recently been `
` wounded, and still more recently dressed. I remembered `
` the man who had been shot and had run back among the woods `
` in the great attack, and doubted not that this was he. `
` `
` The parrot sat, preening her plumage, on Long John's `
` shoulder. He himself, I thought, looked somewhat paler `
` and more stern than I was used to. He still wore the `
` fine broadcloth suit in which he had fulfilled his `
` mission, but it was bitterly the worse for wear, daubed `
` with clay and torn with the sharp briers of the wood. `
` `
` "So," said he, "here's Jim Hawkins, shiver my timbers! `
` Dropped in, like, eh? Well, come, I take that friendly." `
` `
` And thereupon he sat down across the brandy cask and `
` began to fill a pipe. `
` `
` "Give me a loan of the link, Dick," said he; and then, `
` when he had a good light, "That'll do, lad," he added; `
` "stick the glim in the wood heap; and you, gentlemen, `
` bring yourselves to! You needn't stand up for Mr. `
` Hawkins; HE'LL excuse you, you may lay to that. `
`
` water scarcely reached my waist; the sand was firm and `
` covered with ripple marks, and I waded ashore in great `
` spirits, leaving the HISPANIOLA on her side, with her `
` main-sail trailing wide upon the surface of the bay. `
` About the same time, the sun went fairly down and the `
` breeze whistled low in the dusk among the tossing pines. `
` `
` At least, and at last, I was off the sea, nor had I `
` returned thence empty-handed. There lay the schooner, `
` clear at last from buccaneers and ready for our own men `
` to board and get to sea again. I had nothing nearer my `
` fancy than to get home to the stockade and boast of my `
` achievements. Possibly I might be blamed a bit for my `
` truantry, but the recapture of the HISPANIOLA was a `
` clenching answer, and I hoped that even Captain `
` Smollett would confess I had not lost my time. `
` `
` So thinking, and in famous spirits, I began to set `
` my face homeward for the block house and my companions. `
` I remembered that the most easterly of the rivers which `
` drain into Captain Kidd's anchorage ran from the two-peaked `
` hill upon my left, and I bent my course in that direction `
` that I might pass the stream while it was small. The wood `
` was pretty open, and keeping along the lower spurs, I had `
` soon turned the corner of that hill, and not long after `
` waded to the mid-calf across the watercourse. `
` `
` This brought me near to where I had encountered Ben `
` Gunn, the maroon; and I walked more circumspectly, `
` keeping an eye on every side. The dusk had come nigh `
` hand completely, and as I opened out the cleft between `
` the two peaks, I became aware of a wavering glow `
` against the sky, where, as I judged, the man of the `
` island was cooking his supper before a roaring fire. `
` And yet I wondered, in my heart, that he should show `
` himself so careless. For if I could see this radiance, `
` might it not reach the eyes of Silver himself where he `
` camped upon the shore among the marshes? `
` `
` Gradually the night fell blacker; it was all I could do `
` to guide myself even roughly towards my destination; `
` the double hill behind me and the Spy-glass on my right `
` hand loomed faint and fainter; the stars were few and `
` pale; and in the low ground where I wandered I kept `
` tripping among bushes and rolling into sandy pits. `
` `
` Suddenly a kind of brightness fell about me. I looked `
` up; a pale glimmer of moonbeams had alighted on the `
` summit of the Spy-glass, and soon after I saw something `
` broad and silvery moving low down behind the trees, and `
` knew the moon had risen. `
` `
` With this to help me, I passed rapidly over what `
` remained to me of my journey, and sometimes walking, `
` sometimes running, impatiently drew near to the `
` stockade. Yet, as I began to thread the grove that `
` lies before it, I was not so thoughtless but that I `
` slacked my pace and went a trifle warily. It would `
` have been a poor end of my adventures to get shot down `
` by my own party in mistake. `
` `
` The moon was climbing higher and higher, its light `
` began to fall here and there in masses through the more `
` open districts of the wood, and right in front of me a `
` glow of a different colour appeared among the trees. `
` It was red and hot, and now and again it was a little `
` darkened--as it were, the embers of a bonfire smouldering. `
` `
` For the life of me I could not think what it might be. `
` `
` At last I came right down upon the borders of the `
` clearing. The western end was already steeped in moon- `
` shine; the rest, and the block house itself, still lay `
` in a black shadow chequered with long silvery streaks `
` of light. On the other side of the house an immense `
` fire had burned itself into clear embers and shed a `
` steady, red reverberation, contrasted strongly with the `
` mellow paleness of the moon. There was not a soul `
` stirring nor a sound beside the noises of the breeze. `
` `
` I stopped, with much wonder in my heart, and perhaps a `
` little terror also. It had not been our way to build `
` great fires; we were, indeed, by the captain's orders, `
` somewhat niggardly of firewood, and I began to fear `
` that something had gone wrong while I was absent. `
` `
` I stole round by the eastern end, keeping close in `
` shadow, and at a convenient place, where the darkness `
` was thickest, crossed the palisade. `
` `
` To make assurance surer, I got upon my hands and knees `
` and crawled, without a sound, towards the corner of the `
` house. As I drew nearer, my heart was suddenly and `
` greatly lightened. It is not a pleasant noise in `
` itself, and I have often complained of it at other `
` times, but just then it was like music to hear my `
` friends snoring together so loud and peaceful in their `
` sleep. The sea-cry of the watch, that beautiful "All's `
` well," never fell more reassuringly on my ear. `
` `
` In the meantime, there was no doubt of one thing; they `
` kept an infamous bad watch. If it had been Silver and `
` his lads that were now creeping in on them, not a soul `
` would have seen daybreak. That was what it was, `
` thought I, to have the captain wounded; and again I `
` blamed myself sharply for leaving them in that danger `
` with so few to mount guard. `
` `
` By this time I had got to the door and stood up. All `
` was dark within, so that I could distinguish nothing by `
` the eye. As for sounds, there was the steady drone of `
` the snorers and a small occasional noise, a flickering `
` or pecking that I could in no way account for. `
` `
` With my arms before me I walked steadily in. I should `
` lie down in my own place (I thought with a silent chuckle) `
` and enjoy their faces when they found me in the morning. `
` `
` My foot struck something yielding--it was a sleeper's `
` leg; and he turned and groaned, but without awaking. `
` `
` And then, all of a sudden, a shrill voice broke forth `
` out of the darkness: `
` `
` "Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! `
` Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!" and so forth, without `
` pause or change, like the clacking of a tiny mill. `
` `
` Silver's green parrot, Captain Flint! It was she whom `
` I had heard pecking at a piece of bark; it was she, `
` keeping better watch than any human being, who thus `
` announced my arrival with her wearisome refrain. `
` `
` I had no time left me to recover. At the sharp, `
` clipping tone of the parrot, the sleepers awoke and `
` sprang up; and with a mighty oath, the voice of Silver `
` cried, "Who goes?" `
` `
` I turned to run, struck violently against one person, `
` recoiled, and ran full into the arms of a second, who `
` for his part closed upon and held me tight. `
` `
` "Bring a torch, Dick," said Silver when my capture was `
` thus assured. `
` `
` And one of the men left the log-house and presently `
` returned with a lighted brand. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` PART SIX `
` `
` Captain Silver `
` `
` `
` `
` 28 `
` `
` In the Enemy's Camp `
` `
` THE red glare of the torch, lighting up the interior of `
` the block house, showed me the worst of my `
` apprehensions realized. The pirates were in possession `
` of the house and stores: there was the cask of cognac, `
` there were the pork and bread, as before, and what `
` tenfold increased my horror, not a sign of any `
` prisoner. I could only judge that all had perished, `
` and my heart smote me sorely that I had not been there `
` to perish with them. `
` `
` There were six of the buccaneers, all told; not another `
` man was left alive. Five of them were on their feet, `
` flushed and swollen, suddenly called out of the first `
` sleep of drunkenness. The sixth had only risen upon `
` his elbow; he was deadly pale, and the blood-stained `
` bandage round his head told that he had recently been `
` wounded, and still more recently dressed. I remembered `
` the man who had been shot and had run back among the woods `
` in the great attack, and doubted not that this was he. `
` `
` The parrot sat, preening her plumage, on Long John's `
` shoulder. He himself, I thought, looked somewhat paler `
` and more stern than I was used to. He still wore the `
` fine broadcloth suit in which he had fulfilled his `
` mission, but it was bitterly the worse for wear, daubed `
` with clay and torn with the sharp briers of the wood. `
` `
` "So," said he, "here's Jim Hawkins, shiver my timbers! `
` Dropped in, like, eh? Well, come, I take that friendly." `
` `
` And thereupon he sat down across the brandy cask and `
` began to fill a pipe. `
` `
` "Give me a loan of the link, Dick," said he; and then, `
` when he had a good light, "That'll do, lad," he added; `
` "stick the glim in the wood heap; and you, gentlemen, `
` bring yourselves to! You needn't stand up for Mr. `
` Hawkins; HE'LL excuse you, you may lay to that. `
`