Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
Silver leant back against the wall, his arms crossed, his `
` pipe in the corner of his mouth, as calm as though he had `
` been in church; yet his eye kept wandering furtively, and `
` he kept the tail of it on his unruly followers. They, on `
` their part, drew gradually together towards the far end of `
` the block house, and the low hiss of their whispering sounded `
` in my ear continuously, like a stream. One after another, `
` they would look up, and the red light of the torch would `
` fall for a second on their nervous faces; but it was not `
` towards me, it was towards Silver that they turned their eyes. `
` `
` "You seem to have a lot to say," remarked Silver, `
` spitting far into the air. "Pipe up and let me hear `
` it, or lay to." `
` `
` "Ax your pardon, sir," returned one of the men; "you're `
` pretty free with some of the rules; maybe you'll kindly `
` keep an eye upon the rest. This crew's dissatisfied; `
` this crew don't vally bullying a marlin-spike; this `
` crew has its rights like other crews, I'll make so free `
` as that; and by your own rules, I take it we can talk `
` together. I ax your pardon, sir, acknowledging you for `
` to be captaing at this present; but I claim my right, `
` and steps outside for a council." `
` `
` And with an elaborate sea-salute, this fellow, a long, `
` ill-looking, yellow-eyed man of five and thirty, `
` stepped coolly towards the door and disappeared out of `
` the house. One after another the rest followed his `
` example, each making a salute as he passed, each adding `
` some apology. "According to rules," said one. `
` "Forecastle council," said Morgan. And so with one `
` remark or another all marched out and left Silver and `
` me alone with the torch. `
` `
` The sea-cook instantly removed his pipe. `
` `
` "Now, look you here, Jim Hawkins," he said in a steady `
` whisper that was no more than audible, "you're within `
` half a plank of death, and what's a long sight worse, `
` of torture. They're going to throw me off. But, you `
` mark, I stand by you through thick and thin. I didn't `
` mean to; no, not till you spoke up. I was about `
` desperate to lose that much blunt, and be hanged into `
` the bargain. But I see you was the right sort. I says `
` to myself, you stand by Hawkins, John, and Hawkins'll `
` stand by you. You're his last card, and by the living `
` thunder, John, he's yours! Back to back, says I. You `
` save your witness, and he'll save your neck!" `
` `
` I began dimly to understand. `
` `
` "You mean all's lost?" I asked. `
` `
` "Aye, by gum, I do!" he answered. "Ship gone, neck gone `
` --that's the size of it. Once I looked into that bay, Jim `
` Hawkins, and seen no schooner--well, I'm tough, but I gave `
` out. As for that lot and their council, mark me, they're `
` outright fools and cowards. I'll save your life--if so be `
` as I can--from them. But, see here, Jim--tit for tat--you `
` save Long John from swinging." `
` `
` I was bewildered; it seemed a thing so hopeless he was `
` asking--he, the old buccaneer, the ringleader throughout. `
` `
` "What I can do, that I'll do," I said. `
` `
` "It's a bargain!" cried Long John. "You speak up `
` plucky, and by thunder, I've a chance!" `
` `
` He hobbled to the torch, where it stood propped among `
` the firewood, and took a fresh light to his pipe. `
` `
` "Understand me, Jim," he said, returning. "I've a head `
` on my shoulders, I have. I'm on squire's side now. I `
` know you've got that ship safe somewheres. How you `
` done it, I don't know, but safe it is. I guess Hands `
` and O'Brien turned soft. I never much believed in `
` neither of THEM. Now you mark me. I ask no questions, `
` nor I won't let others. I know when a game's up, I do; `
` and I know a lad that's staunch. Ah, you that's young-- `
` you and me might have done a power of good together!" `
` `
` He drew some cognac from the cask into a tin cannikin. `
` `
` "Will you taste, messmate?" he asked; and when I had `
` refused: "Well, I'll take a drain myself, Jim," said `
` he. "I need a caulker, for there's trouble on hand. `
` And talking o' trouble, why did that doctor give me the `
` chart, Jim?" `
` `
` My face expressed a wonder so unaffected that he saw `
` the needlessness of further questions. `
` `
` "Ah, well, he did, though," said he. "And there's `
` something under that, no doubt--something, surely, `
` under that, Jim--bad or good." `
` `
` And he took another swallow of the brandy, shaking his `
` great fair head like a man who looks forward to the worst. `
` `
` `
` `
` 29 `
` `
` The Black Spot Again `
` `
` THE council of buccaneers had lasted some time, when `
` one of them re-entered the house, and with a repetition `
` of the same salute, which had in my eyes an ironical `
` air, begged for a moment's loan of the torch. Silver `
` briefly agreed, and this emissary retired again, `
` leaving us together in the dark. `
` `
` "There's a breeze coming, Jim," said Silver, who had by `
` this time adopted quite a friendly and familiar tone. `
` `
` I turned to the loophole nearest me and looked out. `
` The embers of the great fire had so far burned `
` themselves out and now glowed so low and duskily that I `
` understood why these conspirators desired a torch. `
` About half-way down the slope to the stockade, they `
` were collected in a group; one held the light, another `
` was on his knees in their midst, and I saw the blade of `
` an open knife shine in his hand with varying colours in `
` the moon and torchlight. The rest were all somewhat `
` stooping, as though watching the manoeuvres of this last. `
` I could just make out that he had a book as well as a `
` knife in his hand, and was still wondering how anything `
` so incongruous had come in their possession when the `
` kneeling figure rose once more to his feet and the whole `
` party began to move together towards the house. `
` `
` "Here they come," said I; and I returned to my former `
` position, for it seemed beneath my dignity that they `
` should find me watching them. `
` `
` "Well, let 'em come, lad--let 'em come," said Silver `
` cheerily. "I've still a shot in my locker." `
` `
` The door opened, and the five men, standing huddled `
` together just inside, pushed one of their number `
` forward. In any other circumstances it would have been `
` comical to see his slow advance, hesitating as he set `
` down each foot, but holding his closed right hand in `
` front of him. `
` `
` "Step up, lad," cried Silver. "I won't eat you. Hand `
` it over, lubber. I know the rules, I do; I won't hurt `
` a depytation." `
` `
` Thus encouraged, the buccaneer stepped forth more `
` briskly, and having passed something to Silver, from `
` hand to hand, slipped yet more smartly back again to `
` his companions. `
` `
` The sea-cook looked at what had been given him. `
` `
` "The black spot! I thought so," he observed. "Where `
` might you have got the paper? Why, hillo! Look here, `
` now; this ain't lucky! You've gone and cut this out of `
` a Bible. What fool's cut a Bible?" `
` `
` "Ah, there!" said Morgan. "There! Wot did I say? No `
` good'll come o' that, I said." `
` `
` "Well, you've about fixed it now, among you," continued `
` Silver. "You'll all swing now, I reckon. What soft- `
` headed lubber had a Bible?" `
` `
` "It was Dick," said one. `
` `
` "Dick, was it? Then Dick can get to prayers," said `
` Silver. "He's seen his slice of luck, has Dick, and `
` you may lay to that." `
` `
` But here the long man with the yellow eyes struck in. `
` `
` "Belay that talk, John Silver," he said. "This crew `
` has tipped you the black spot in full council, as in `
` dooty bound; just you turn it over, as in dooty bound, `
` and see what's wrote there. Then you can talk." `
` `
` "Thanky, George," replied the sea-cook. "You always `
` was brisk for business, and has the rules by heart, `
` George, as I'm pleased to see. Well, what is it, `
` anyway? Ah! 'Deposed'--that's it, is it? Very pretty `
` wrote, to be sure; like print, I swear. Your hand o' `
` write, George? Why, you was gettin' quite a leadin' `
` man in this here crew. You'll be cap'n next, I `
` shouldn't wonder. Just oblige me with that torch `
` again, will you? This pipe don't draw." `
` `
` "Come, now," said George, "you don't fool this crew no `
` more. You're a funny man, by your account; but you're `
` over now, and you'll maybe step down off that barrel `
` and help vote." `
` `
` "I thought you said you knowed the rules," returned `
` Silver contemptuously. "Leastways, if you don't, I do; `
` and I wait here--and I'm still your cap'n, mind--till `
`
` pipe in the corner of his mouth, as calm as though he had `
` been in church; yet his eye kept wandering furtively, and `
` he kept the tail of it on his unruly followers. They, on `
` their part, drew gradually together towards the far end of `
` the block house, and the low hiss of their whispering sounded `
` in my ear continuously, like a stream. One after another, `
` they would look up, and the red light of the torch would `
` fall for a second on their nervous faces; but it was not `
` towards me, it was towards Silver that they turned their eyes. `
` `
` "You seem to have a lot to say," remarked Silver, `
` spitting far into the air. "Pipe up and let me hear `
` it, or lay to." `
` `
` "Ax your pardon, sir," returned one of the men; "you're `
` pretty free with some of the rules; maybe you'll kindly `
` keep an eye upon the rest. This crew's dissatisfied; `
` this crew don't vally bullying a marlin-spike; this `
` crew has its rights like other crews, I'll make so free `
` as that; and by your own rules, I take it we can talk `
` together. I ax your pardon, sir, acknowledging you for `
` to be captaing at this present; but I claim my right, `
` and steps outside for a council." `
` `
` And with an elaborate sea-salute, this fellow, a long, `
` ill-looking, yellow-eyed man of five and thirty, `
` stepped coolly towards the door and disappeared out of `
` the house. One after another the rest followed his `
` example, each making a salute as he passed, each adding `
` some apology. "According to rules," said one. `
` "Forecastle council," said Morgan. And so with one `
` remark or another all marched out and left Silver and `
` me alone with the torch. `
` `
` The sea-cook instantly removed his pipe. `
` `
` "Now, look you here, Jim Hawkins," he said in a steady `
` whisper that was no more than audible, "you're within `
` half a plank of death, and what's a long sight worse, `
` of torture. They're going to throw me off. But, you `
` mark, I stand by you through thick and thin. I didn't `
` mean to; no, not till you spoke up. I was about `
` desperate to lose that much blunt, and be hanged into `
` the bargain. But I see you was the right sort. I says `
` to myself, you stand by Hawkins, John, and Hawkins'll `
` stand by you. You're his last card, and by the living `
` thunder, John, he's yours! Back to back, says I. You `
` save your witness, and he'll save your neck!" `
` `
` I began dimly to understand. `
` `
` "You mean all's lost?" I asked. `
` `
` "Aye, by gum, I do!" he answered. "Ship gone, neck gone `
` --that's the size of it. Once I looked into that bay, Jim `
` Hawkins, and seen no schooner--well, I'm tough, but I gave `
` out. As for that lot and their council, mark me, they're `
` outright fools and cowards. I'll save your life--if so be `
` as I can--from them. But, see here, Jim--tit for tat--you `
` save Long John from swinging." `
` `
` I was bewildered; it seemed a thing so hopeless he was `
` asking--he, the old buccaneer, the ringleader throughout. `
` `
` "What I can do, that I'll do," I said. `
` `
` "It's a bargain!" cried Long John. "You speak up `
` plucky, and by thunder, I've a chance!" `
` `
` He hobbled to the torch, where it stood propped among `
` the firewood, and took a fresh light to his pipe. `
` `
` "Understand me, Jim," he said, returning. "I've a head `
` on my shoulders, I have. I'm on squire's side now. I `
` know you've got that ship safe somewheres. How you `
` done it, I don't know, but safe it is. I guess Hands `
` and O'Brien turned soft. I never much believed in `
` neither of THEM. Now you mark me. I ask no questions, `
` nor I won't let others. I know when a game's up, I do; `
` and I know a lad that's staunch. Ah, you that's young-- `
` you and me might have done a power of good together!" `
` `
` He drew some cognac from the cask into a tin cannikin. `
` `
` "Will you taste, messmate?" he asked; and when I had `
` refused: "Well, I'll take a drain myself, Jim," said `
` he. "I need a caulker, for there's trouble on hand. `
` And talking o' trouble, why did that doctor give me the `
` chart, Jim?" `
` `
` My face expressed a wonder so unaffected that he saw `
` the needlessness of further questions. `
` `
` "Ah, well, he did, though," said he. "And there's `
` something under that, no doubt--something, surely, `
` under that, Jim--bad or good." `
` `
` And he took another swallow of the brandy, shaking his `
` great fair head like a man who looks forward to the worst. `
` `
` `
` `
` 29 `
` `
` The Black Spot Again `
` `
` THE council of buccaneers had lasted some time, when `
` one of them re-entered the house, and with a repetition `
` of the same salute, which had in my eyes an ironical `
` air, begged for a moment's loan of the torch. Silver `
` briefly agreed, and this emissary retired again, `
` leaving us together in the dark. `
` `
` "There's a breeze coming, Jim," said Silver, who had by `
` this time adopted quite a friendly and familiar tone. `
` `
` I turned to the loophole nearest me and looked out. `
` The embers of the great fire had so far burned `
` themselves out and now glowed so low and duskily that I `
` understood why these conspirators desired a torch. `
` About half-way down the slope to the stockade, they `
` were collected in a group; one held the light, another `
` was on his knees in their midst, and I saw the blade of `
` an open knife shine in his hand with varying colours in `
` the moon and torchlight. The rest were all somewhat `
` stooping, as though watching the manoeuvres of this last. `
` I could just make out that he had a book as well as a `
` knife in his hand, and was still wondering how anything `
` so incongruous had come in their possession when the `
` kneeling figure rose once more to his feet and the whole `
` party began to move together towards the house. `
` `
` "Here they come," said I; and I returned to my former `
` position, for it seemed beneath my dignity that they `
` should find me watching them. `
` `
` "Well, let 'em come, lad--let 'em come," said Silver `
` cheerily. "I've still a shot in my locker." `
` `
` The door opened, and the five men, standing huddled `
` together just inside, pushed one of their number `
` forward. In any other circumstances it would have been `
` comical to see his slow advance, hesitating as he set `
` down each foot, but holding his closed right hand in `
` front of him. `
` `
` "Step up, lad," cried Silver. "I won't eat you. Hand `
` it over, lubber. I know the rules, I do; I won't hurt `
` a depytation." `
` `
` Thus encouraged, the buccaneer stepped forth more `
` briskly, and having passed something to Silver, from `
` hand to hand, slipped yet more smartly back again to `
` his companions. `
` `
` The sea-cook looked at what had been given him. `
` `
` "The black spot! I thought so," he observed. "Where `
` might you have got the paper? Why, hillo! Look here, `
` now; this ain't lucky! You've gone and cut this out of `
` a Bible. What fool's cut a Bible?" `
` `
` "Ah, there!" said Morgan. "There! Wot did I say? No `
` good'll come o' that, I said." `
` `
` "Well, you've about fixed it now, among you," continued `
` Silver. "You'll all swing now, I reckon. What soft- `
` headed lubber had a Bible?" `
` `
` "It was Dick," said one. `
` `
` "Dick, was it? Then Dick can get to prayers," said `
` Silver. "He's seen his slice of luck, has Dick, and `
` you may lay to that." `
` `
` But here the long man with the yellow eyes struck in. `
` `
` "Belay that talk, John Silver," he said. "This crew `
` has tipped you the black spot in full council, as in `
` dooty bound; just you turn it over, as in dooty bound, `
` and see what's wrote there. Then you can talk." `
` `
` "Thanky, George," replied the sea-cook. "You always `
` was brisk for business, and has the rules by heart, `
` George, as I'm pleased to see. Well, what is it, `
` anyway? Ah! 'Deposed'--that's it, is it? Very pretty `
` wrote, to be sure; like print, I swear. Your hand o' `
` write, George? Why, you was gettin' quite a leadin' `
` man in this here crew. You'll be cap'n next, I `
` shouldn't wonder. Just oblige me with that torch `
` again, will you? This pipe don't draw." `
` `
` "Come, now," said George, "you don't fool this crew no `
` more. You're a funny man, by your account; but you're `
` over now, and you'll maybe step down off that barrel `
` and help vote." `
` `
` "I thought you said you knowed the rules," returned `
` Silver contemptuously. "Leastways, if you don't, I do; `
` and I wait here--and I'm still your cap'n, mind--till `
`