Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
dare say not one of the lot of you's as bad as he makes `
` out. I have my watch here in my hand; I give you `
` thirty seconds to join me in." `
` `
` There was a pause. `
` `
` "Come, my fine fellow," continued the captain; "don't `
` hang so long in stays. I'm risking my life and the `
` lives of these good gentlemen every second." `
` `
` There was a sudden scuffle, a sound of blows, and out burst `
` Abraham Gray with a knife cut on the side of the cheek, and `
` came running to the captain like a dog to the whistle. `
` `
` "I'm with you, sir," said he. `
` `
` And the next moment he and the captain had dropped `
` aboard of us, and we had shoved off and given way. `
` `
` We were clear out of the ship, but not yet ashore in `
` our stockade. `
` `
` `
` `
` 17 `
` `
` Narrative Continued by the Doctor: The Jolly-boat's `
` Last Trip `
` `
` THIS fifth trip was quite different from any of the `
` others. In the first place, the little gallipot of a `
` boat that we were in was gravely overloaded. Five `
` grown men, and three of them--Trelawney, Redruth, and `
` the captain--over six feet high, was already more than `
` she was meant to carry. Add to that the powder, pork, `
` and bread-bags. The gunwale was lipping astern. `
` Several times we shipped a little water, and my `
` breeches and the tails of my coat were all soaking wet `
` before we had gone a hundred yards. `
` `
` The captain made us trim the boat, and we got her `
` to lie a little more evenly. All the same, we were `
` afraid to breathe. `
` `
` In the second place, the ebb was now making--a strong `
` rippling current running westward through the basin, `
` and then south'ard and seaward down the straits by `
` which we had entered in the morning. Even the ripples `
` were a danger to our overloaded craft, but the worst of `
` it was that we were swept out of our true course and `
` away from our proper landing-place behind the point. `
` If we let the current have its way we should come `
` ashore beside the gigs, where the pirates might appear `
` at any moment. `
` `
` "I cannot keep her head for the stockade, sir," said I `
` to the captain. I was steering, while he and Redruth, `
` two fresh men, were at the oars. "The tide keeps `
` washing her down. Could you pull a little stronger?" `
` `
` "Not without swamping the boat," said he. "You must `
` bear up, sir, if you please--bear up until you see `
` you're gaining." `
` `
` I tried and found by experiment that the tide kept sweeping `
` us westward until I had laid her head due east, or just `
` about right angles to the way we ought to go. `
` `
` "We'll never get ashore at this rate," said I. `
` `
` "If it's the only course that we can lie, sir, we must `
` even lie it," returned the captain. "We must keep `
` upstream. You see, sir," he went on, "if once we dropped `
` to leeward of the landing-place, it's hard to say where we `
` should get ashore, besides the chance of being boarded by `
` the gigs; whereas, the way we go the current must slacken, `
` and then we can dodge back along the shore." `
` `
` "The current's less a'ready, sir," said the man Gray, `
` who was sitting in the fore-sheets; "you can ease her `
` off a bit." `
` `
` "Thank you, my man," said I, quite as if nothing had `
` happened, for we had all quietly made up our minds to `
` treat him like one of ourselves. `
` `
` Suddenly the captain spoke up again, and I thought his `
` voice was a little changed. `
` `
` "The gun!" said he. `
` `
` "I have thought of that," said I, for I made sure he `
` was thinking of a bombardment of the fort. "They could `
` never get the gun ashore, and if they did, they could `
` never haul it through the woods." `
` `
` "Look astern, doctor," replied the captain. `
` `
` We had entirely forgotten the long nine; and there, to `
` our horror, were the five rogues busy about her, `
` getting off her jacket, as they called the stout `
` tarpaulin cover under which she sailed. Not only that, `
` but it flashed into my mind at the same moment that the `
` round-shot and the powder for the gun had been left `
` behind, and a stroke with an axe would put it all into `
` the possession of the evil ones abroad. `
` `
` "Israel was Flint's gunner," said Gray hoarsely. `
` `
` At any risk, we put the boat's head direct for the `
` landing-place. By this time we had got so far out of `
` the run of the current that we kept steerage way even `
` at our necessarily gentle rate of rowing, and I could `
` keep her steady for the goal. But the worst of it was `
` that with the course I now held we turned our broadside `
` instead of our stern to the HISPANIOLA and offered `
` a target like a barn door. `
` `
` I could hear as well as see that brandy-faced rascal `
` Israel Hands plumping down a round-shot on the deck. `
` `
` "Who's the best shot?" asked the captain. `
` `
` "Mr. Trelawney, out and away," said I. `
` `
` "Mr. Trelawney, will you please pick me off one of `
` these men, sir? Hands, if possible," said the captain. `
` `
` Trelawney was as cool as steel. He looked to the `
` priming of his gun. `
` `
` "Now," cried the captain, "easy with that gun, sir, or `
` you'll swamp the boat. All hands stand by to trim her `
` when he aims." `
` `
` The squire raised his gun, the rowing ceased, and we leaned `
` over to the other side to keep the balance, and all was so `
` nicely contrived that we did not ship a drop. `
` `
` They had the gun, by this time, slewed round upon the `
` swivel, and Hands, who was at the muzzle with the `
` rammer, was in consequence the most exposed. However, `
` we had no luck, for just as Trelawney fired, down he `
` stooped, the ball whistled over him, and it was one of `
` the other four who fell. `
` `
` The cry he gave was echoed not only by his companions `
` on board but by a great number of voices from the `
` shore, and looking in that direction I saw the other `
` pirates trooping out from among the trees and tumbling `
` into their places in the boats. `
` `
` "Here come the gigs, sir," said I. `
` `
` "Give way, then," cried the captain. "We mustn't mind `
` if we swamp her now. If we can't get ashore, all's up." `
` `
` "Only one of the gigs is being manned, sir," I added; `
` "the crew of the other most likely going round by shore `
` to cut us off." `
` `
` "They'll have a hot run, sir," returned the captain. `
` "Jack ashore, you know. It's not them I mind; it's the `
` round-shot. Carpet bowls! My lady's maid couldn't `
` miss. Tell us, squire, when you see the match, and `
` we'll hold water." `
` `
` In the meanwhile we had been making headway at a good `
` pace for a boat so overloaded, and we had shipped but `
` little water in the process. We were now close in; `
` thirty or forty strokes and we should beach her, for `
` the ebb had already disclosed a narrow belt of sand `
` below the clustering trees. The gig was no longer to `
` be feared; the little point had already concealed it `
` from our eyes. The ebb-tide, which had so cruelly `
` delayed us, was now making reparation and delaying our `
` assailants. The one source of danger was the gun. `
` `
` "If I durst," said the captain, "I'd stop and pick `
` off another man." `
` `
` But it was plain that they meant nothing should delay `
` their shot. They had never so much as looked at their `
` fallen comrade, though he was not dead, and I could see `
` him trying to crawl away. `
` `
` "Ready!" cried the squire. `
` `
` "Hold!" cried the captain, quick as an echo. `
` `
` And he and Redruth backed with a great heave that sent `
` her stern bodily under water. The report fell in at the `
` same instant of time. This was the first that Jim heard, `
` the sound of the squire's shot not having reached him. `
` Where the ball passed, not one of us precisely knew, but `
` I fancy it must have been over our heads and that the wind `
` of it may have contributed to our disaster. `
` `
` At any rate, the boat sank by the stern, quite gently, in `
` three feet of water, leaving the captain and myself, facing `
` each other, on our feet. The other three took complete `
`
` out. I have my watch here in my hand; I give you `
` thirty seconds to join me in." `
` `
` There was a pause. `
` `
` "Come, my fine fellow," continued the captain; "don't `
` hang so long in stays. I'm risking my life and the `
` lives of these good gentlemen every second." `
` `
` There was a sudden scuffle, a sound of blows, and out burst `
` Abraham Gray with a knife cut on the side of the cheek, and `
` came running to the captain like a dog to the whistle. `
` `
` "I'm with you, sir," said he. `
` `
` And the next moment he and the captain had dropped `
` aboard of us, and we had shoved off and given way. `
` `
` We were clear out of the ship, but not yet ashore in `
` our stockade. `
` `
` `
` `
` 17 `
` `
` Narrative Continued by the Doctor: The Jolly-boat's `
` Last Trip `
` `
` THIS fifth trip was quite different from any of the `
` others. In the first place, the little gallipot of a `
` boat that we were in was gravely overloaded. Five `
` grown men, and three of them--Trelawney, Redruth, and `
` the captain--over six feet high, was already more than `
` she was meant to carry. Add to that the powder, pork, `
` and bread-bags. The gunwale was lipping astern. `
` Several times we shipped a little water, and my `
` breeches and the tails of my coat were all soaking wet `
` before we had gone a hundred yards. `
` `
` The captain made us trim the boat, and we got her `
` to lie a little more evenly. All the same, we were `
` afraid to breathe. `
` `
` In the second place, the ebb was now making--a strong `
` rippling current running westward through the basin, `
` and then south'ard and seaward down the straits by `
` which we had entered in the morning. Even the ripples `
` were a danger to our overloaded craft, but the worst of `
` it was that we were swept out of our true course and `
` away from our proper landing-place behind the point. `
` If we let the current have its way we should come `
` ashore beside the gigs, where the pirates might appear `
` at any moment. `
` `
` "I cannot keep her head for the stockade, sir," said I `
` to the captain. I was steering, while he and Redruth, `
` two fresh men, were at the oars. "The tide keeps `
` washing her down. Could you pull a little stronger?" `
` `
` "Not without swamping the boat," said he. "You must `
` bear up, sir, if you please--bear up until you see `
` you're gaining." `
` `
` I tried and found by experiment that the tide kept sweeping `
` us westward until I had laid her head due east, or just `
` about right angles to the way we ought to go. `
` `
` "We'll never get ashore at this rate," said I. `
` `
` "If it's the only course that we can lie, sir, we must `
` even lie it," returned the captain. "We must keep `
` upstream. You see, sir," he went on, "if once we dropped `
` to leeward of the landing-place, it's hard to say where we `
` should get ashore, besides the chance of being boarded by `
` the gigs; whereas, the way we go the current must slacken, `
` and then we can dodge back along the shore." `
` `
` "The current's less a'ready, sir," said the man Gray, `
` who was sitting in the fore-sheets; "you can ease her `
` off a bit." `
` `
` "Thank you, my man," said I, quite as if nothing had `
` happened, for we had all quietly made up our minds to `
` treat him like one of ourselves. `
` `
` Suddenly the captain spoke up again, and I thought his `
` voice was a little changed. `
` `
` "The gun!" said he. `
` `
` "I have thought of that," said I, for I made sure he `
` was thinking of a bombardment of the fort. "They could `
` never get the gun ashore, and if they did, they could `
` never haul it through the woods." `
` `
` "Look astern, doctor," replied the captain. `
` `
` We had entirely forgotten the long nine; and there, to `
` our horror, were the five rogues busy about her, `
` getting off her jacket, as they called the stout `
` tarpaulin cover under which she sailed. Not only that, `
` but it flashed into my mind at the same moment that the `
` round-shot and the powder for the gun had been left `
` behind, and a stroke with an axe would put it all into `
` the possession of the evil ones abroad. `
` `
` "Israel was Flint's gunner," said Gray hoarsely. `
` `
` At any risk, we put the boat's head direct for the `
` landing-place. By this time we had got so far out of `
` the run of the current that we kept steerage way even `
` at our necessarily gentle rate of rowing, and I could `
` keep her steady for the goal. But the worst of it was `
` that with the course I now held we turned our broadside `
` instead of our stern to the HISPANIOLA and offered `
` a target like a barn door. `
` `
` I could hear as well as see that brandy-faced rascal `
` Israel Hands plumping down a round-shot on the deck. `
` `
` "Who's the best shot?" asked the captain. `
` `
` "Mr. Trelawney, out and away," said I. `
` `
` "Mr. Trelawney, will you please pick me off one of `
` these men, sir? Hands, if possible," said the captain. `
` `
` Trelawney was as cool as steel. He looked to the `
` priming of his gun. `
` `
` "Now," cried the captain, "easy with that gun, sir, or `
` you'll swamp the boat. All hands stand by to trim her `
` when he aims." `
` `
` The squire raised his gun, the rowing ceased, and we leaned `
` over to the other side to keep the balance, and all was so `
` nicely contrived that we did not ship a drop. `
` `
` They had the gun, by this time, slewed round upon the `
` swivel, and Hands, who was at the muzzle with the `
` rammer, was in consequence the most exposed. However, `
` we had no luck, for just as Trelawney fired, down he `
` stooped, the ball whistled over him, and it was one of `
` the other four who fell. `
` `
` The cry he gave was echoed not only by his companions `
` on board but by a great number of voices from the `
` shore, and looking in that direction I saw the other `
` pirates trooping out from among the trees and tumbling `
` into their places in the boats. `
` `
` "Here come the gigs, sir," said I. `
` `
` "Give way, then," cried the captain. "We mustn't mind `
` if we swamp her now. If we can't get ashore, all's up." `
` `
` "Only one of the gigs is being manned, sir," I added; `
` "the crew of the other most likely going round by shore `
` to cut us off." `
` `
` "They'll have a hot run, sir," returned the captain. `
` "Jack ashore, you know. It's not them I mind; it's the `
` round-shot. Carpet bowls! My lady's maid couldn't `
` miss. Tell us, squire, when you see the match, and `
` we'll hold water." `
` `
` In the meanwhile we had been making headway at a good `
` pace for a boat so overloaded, and we had shipped but `
` little water in the process. We were now close in; `
` thirty or forty strokes and we should beach her, for `
` the ebb had already disclosed a narrow belt of sand `
` below the clustering trees. The gig was no longer to `
` be feared; the little point had already concealed it `
` from our eyes. The ebb-tide, which had so cruelly `
` delayed us, was now making reparation and delaying our `
` assailants. The one source of danger was the gun. `
` `
` "If I durst," said the captain, "I'd stop and pick `
` off another man." `
` `
` But it was plain that they meant nothing should delay `
` their shot. They had never so much as looked at their `
` fallen comrade, though he was not dead, and I could see `
` him trying to crawl away. `
` `
` "Ready!" cried the squire. `
` `
` "Hold!" cried the captain, quick as an echo. `
` `
` And he and Redruth backed with a great heave that sent `
` her stern bodily under water. The report fell in at the `
` same instant of time. This was the first that Jim heard, `
` the sound of the squire's shot not having reached him. `
` Where the ball passed, not one of us precisely knew, but `
` I fancy it must have been over our heads and that the wind `
` of it may have contributed to our disaster. `
` `
` At any rate, the boat sank by the stern, quite gently, in `
` three feet of water, leaving the captain and myself, facing `
` each other, on our feet. The other three took complete `
`