Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
with the broken head, who should certainly have kept in `
` shadow--and straggled, one after another, to the beach, `
` where the two gigs awaited us. Even these bore trace `
` of the drunken folly of the pirates, one in a broken `
` thwart, and both in their muddy and unbailed condition. `
` Both were to be carried along with us for the sake of `
` safety; and so, with our numbers divided between them, `
` we set forth upon the bosom of the anchorage. `
` `
` As we pulled over, there was some discussion on the `
` chart. The red cross was, of course, far too large to `
` be a guide; and the terms of the note on the back, as `
` you will hear, admitted of some ambiguity. They ran, `
` the reader may remember, thus: `
` `
` Tall tree, Spy-glass shoulder, bearing a point to `
` the N. of N.N.E. `
` Skeleton Island E.S.E. and by E. `
` Ten feet. `
` `
` A tall tree was thus the principal mark. Now, right `
` before us the anchorage was bounded by a plateau from `
` two to three hundred feet high, adjoining on the north `
` the sloping southern shoulder of the Spy-glass and `
` rising again towards the south into the rough, cliffy `
` eminence called the Mizzen-mast Hill. The top of the `
` plateau was dotted thickly with pine-trees of varying `
` height. Every here and there, one of a different `
` species rose forty or fifty feet clear above its `
` neighbours, and which of these was the particular "tall `
` tree" of Captain Flint could only be decided on the `
` spot, and by the readings of the compass. `
` `
` Yet, although that was the case, every man on board the `
` boats had picked a favourite of his own ere we were `
` half-way over, Long John alone shrugging his shoulders `
` and bidding them wait till they were there. `
` `
` We pulled easily, by Silver's directions, not to weary `
` the hands prematurely, and after quite a long passage, `
` landed at the mouth of the second river--that which `
` runs down a woody cleft of the Spy-glass. Thence, `
` bending to our left, we began to ascend the slope `
` towards the plateau. `
` `
` At the first outset, heavy, miry ground and a matted, `
` marish vegetation greatly delayed our progress; but by `
` little and little the hill began to steepen and become `
` stony under foot, and the wood to change its character `
` and to grow in a more open order. It was, indeed, a `
` most pleasant portion of the island that we were now `
` approaching. A heavy-scented broom and many flowering `
` shrubs had almost taken the place of grass. Thickets `
` of green nutmeg-trees were dotted here and there with `
` the red columns and the broad shadow of the pines; and `
` the first mingled their spice with the aroma of the `
` others. The air, besides, was fresh and stirring, and `
` this, under the sheer sunbeams, was a wonderful `
` refreshment to our senses. `
` `
` The party spread itself abroad, in a fan shape, `
` shouting and leaping to and fro. About the centre, and `
` a good way behind the rest, Silver and I followed--I `
` tethered by my rope, he ploughing, with deep pants, `
` among the sliding gravel. From time to time, indeed, I `
` had to lend him a hand, or he must have missed his `
` footing and fallen backward down the hill. `
` `
` We had thus proceeded for about half a mile and were `
` approaching the brow of the plateau when the man upon `
` the farthest left began to cry aloud, as if in terror. `
` Shout after shout came from him, and the others began `
` to run in his direction. `
` `
` "He can't 'a found the treasure," said old Morgan, hurrying `
` past us from the right, "for that's clean a-top." `
` `
` Indeed, as we found when we also reached the spot, it `
` was something very different. At the foot of a pretty `
` big pine and involved in a green creeper, which had even `
` partly lifted some of the smaller bones, a human skeleton `
` lay, with a few shreds of clothing, on the ground. I `
` believe a chill struck for a moment to every heart. `
` `
` "He was a seaman," said George Merry, who, bolder than `
` the rest, had gone up close and was examining the rags `
` of clothing. "Leastways, this is good sea-cloth." `
` `
` "Aye, aye," said Silver; "like enough; you wouldn't `
` look to find a bishop here, I reckon. But what sort of `
` a way is that for bones to lie? 'Tain't in natur'." `
` `
` Indeed, on a second glance, it seemed impossible to `
` fancy that the body was in a natural position. But for `
` some disarray (the work, perhaps, of the birds that had `
` fed upon him or of the slow-growing creeper that had `
` gradually enveloped his remains) the man lay perfectly `
` straight--his feet pointing in one direction, his `
` hands, raised above his head like a diver's, pointing `
` directly in the opposite. `
` `
` "I've taken a notion into my old numbskull," observed `
` Silver. "Here's the compass; there's the tip-top p'int `
` o' Skeleton Island, stickin' out like a tooth. Just `
` take a bearing, will you, along the line of them bones." `
` `
` It was done. The body pointed straight in the `
` direction of the island, and the compass read duly `
` E.S.E. and by E. `
` `
` "I thought so," cried the cook; "this here is a `
` p'inter. Right up there is our line for the Pole Star `
` and the jolly dollars. But, by thunder! If it don't `
` make me cold inside to think of Flint. This is one of `
` HIS jokes, and no mistake. Him and these six was `
` alone here; he killed 'em, every man; and this one he `
` hauled here and laid down by compass, shiver my `
` timbers! They're long bones, and the hair's been `
` yellow. Aye, that would be Allardyce. You mind `
` Allardyce, Tom Morgan?" `
` `
` "Aye, aye," returned Morgan; "I mind him; he owed me `
` money, he did, and took my knife ashore with him." `
` `
` "Speaking of knives," said another, "why don't we find his'n `
` lying round? Flint warn't the man to pick a seaman's pocket; `
` and the birds, I guess, would leave it be." `
` `
` "By the powers, and that's true!" cried Silver. `
` `
` "There ain't a thing left here," said Merry, still `
` feeling round among the bones; "not a copper doit nor a `
` baccy box. It don't look nat'ral to me." `
` `
` "No, by gum, it don't," agreed Silver; "not nat'ral, `
` nor not nice, says you. Great guns! Messmates, but if `
` Flint was living, this would be a hot spot for you and `
` me. Six they were, and six are we; and bones is what `
` they are now." `
` `
` "I saw him dead with these here deadlights," said `
` Morgan. "Billy took me in. There he laid, with penny- `
` pieces on his eyes." `
` `
` "Dead--aye, sure enough he's dead and gone below," said `
` the fellow with the bandage; "but if ever sperrit `
` walked, it would be Flint's. Dear heart, but he died `
` bad, did Flint!" `
` `
` "Aye, that he did," observed another; "now he raged, `
` and now he hollered for the rum, and now he sang. `
` 'Fifteen Men' were his only song, mates; and I tell you `
` true, I never rightly liked to hear it since. It was `
` main hot, and the windy was open, and I hear that old `
` song comin' out as clear as clear--and the death-haul `
` on the man already." `
` `
` "Come, come," said Silver; "stow this talk. He's dead, `
` and he don't walk, that I know; leastways, he won't `
` walk by day, and you may lay to that. Care killed a `
` cat. Fetch ahead for the doubloons." `
` `
` We started, certainly; but in spite of the hot sun and `
` the staring daylight, the pirates no longer ran `
` separate and shouting through the wood, but kept side `
` by side and spoke with bated breath. The terror of the `
` dead buccaneer had fallen on their spirits. `
` `
` `
` `
` 32 `
` `
` The Treasure-hunt--The Voice Among the Trees `
` `
` PARTLY from the damping influence of this alarm, partly `
` to rest Silver and the sick folk, the whole party sat `
` down as soon as they had gained the brow of the ascent. `
` `
` The plateau being somewhat tilted towards the west, `
` this spot on which we had paused commanded a wide `
` prospect on either hand. Before us, over the tree- `
` tops, we beheld the Cape of the Woods fringed with `
` surf; behind, we not only looked down upon the `
` anchorage and Skeleton Island, but saw--clear across `
` the spit and the eastern lowlands--a great field of `
` open sea upon the east. Sheer above us rose the Spy- `
` glass, here dotted with single pines, there black with `
` precipices. There was no sound but that of the distant `
` breakers, mounting from all round, and the chirp of `
` countless insects in the brush. Not a man, not a sail, `
` upon the sea; the very largeness of the view increased `
` the sense of solitude. `
` `
` Silver, as he sat, took certain bearings with his compass. `
` `
` "There are three 'tall trees'" said he, "about in the right `
` line from Skeleton Island. 'Spy-glass shoulder,' I take it, `
` means that lower p'int there. It's child's play to find the `
` stuff now. I've half a mind to dine first." `
` `
` "I don't feel sharp," growled Morgan. "Thinkin' o' `
`
` shadow--and straggled, one after another, to the beach, `
` where the two gigs awaited us. Even these bore trace `
` of the drunken folly of the pirates, one in a broken `
` thwart, and both in their muddy and unbailed condition. `
` Both were to be carried along with us for the sake of `
` safety; and so, with our numbers divided between them, `
` we set forth upon the bosom of the anchorage. `
` `
` As we pulled over, there was some discussion on the `
` chart. The red cross was, of course, far too large to `
` be a guide; and the terms of the note on the back, as `
` you will hear, admitted of some ambiguity. They ran, `
` the reader may remember, thus: `
` `
` Tall tree, Spy-glass shoulder, bearing a point to `
` the N. of N.N.E. `
` Skeleton Island E.S.E. and by E. `
` Ten feet. `
` `
` A tall tree was thus the principal mark. Now, right `
` before us the anchorage was bounded by a plateau from `
` two to three hundred feet high, adjoining on the north `
` the sloping southern shoulder of the Spy-glass and `
` rising again towards the south into the rough, cliffy `
` eminence called the Mizzen-mast Hill. The top of the `
` plateau was dotted thickly with pine-trees of varying `
` height. Every here and there, one of a different `
` species rose forty or fifty feet clear above its `
` neighbours, and which of these was the particular "tall `
` tree" of Captain Flint could only be decided on the `
` spot, and by the readings of the compass. `
` `
` Yet, although that was the case, every man on board the `
` boats had picked a favourite of his own ere we were `
` half-way over, Long John alone shrugging his shoulders `
` and bidding them wait till they were there. `
` `
` We pulled easily, by Silver's directions, not to weary `
` the hands prematurely, and after quite a long passage, `
` landed at the mouth of the second river--that which `
` runs down a woody cleft of the Spy-glass. Thence, `
` bending to our left, we began to ascend the slope `
` towards the plateau. `
` `
` At the first outset, heavy, miry ground and a matted, `
` marish vegetation greatly delayed our progress; but by `
` little and little the hill began to steepen and become `
` stony under foot, and the wood to change its character `
` and to grow in a more open order. It was, indeed, a `
` most pleasant portion of the island that we were now `
` approaching. A heavy-scented broom and many flowering `
` shrubs had almost taken the place of grass. Thickets `
` of green nutmeg-trees were dotted here and there with `
` the red columns and the broad shadow of the pines; and `
` the first mingled their spice with the aroma of the `
` others. The air, besides, was fresh and stirring, and `
` this, under the sheer sunbeams, was a wonderful `
` refreshment to our senses. `
` `
` The party spread itself abroad, in a fan shape, `
` shouting and leaping to and fro. About the centre, and `
` a good way behind the rest, Silver and I followed--I `
` tethered by my rope, he ploughing, with deep pants, `
` among the sliding gravel. From time to time, indeed, I `
` had to lend him a hand, or he must have missed his `
` footing and fallen backward down the hill. `
` `
` We had thus proceeded for about half a mile and were `
` approaching the brow of the plateau when the man upon `
` the farthest left began to cry aloud, as if in terror. `
` Shout after shout came from him, and the others began `
` to run in his direction. `
` `
` "He can't 'a found the treasure," said old Morgan, hurrying `
` past us from the right, "for that's clean a-top." `
` `
` Indeed, as we found when we also reached the spot, it `
` was something very different. At the foot of a pretty `
` big pine and involved in a green creeper, which had even `
` partly lifted some of the smaller bones, a human skeleton `
` lay, with a few shreds of clothing, on the ground. I `
` believe a chill struck for a moment to every heart. `
` `
` "He was a seaman," said George Merry, who, bolder than `
` the rest, had gone up close and was examining the rags `
` of clothing. "Leastways, this is good sea-cloth." `
` `
` "Aye, aye," said Silver; "like enough; you wouldn't `
` look to find a bishop here, I reckon. But what sort of `
` a way is that for bones to lie? 'Tain't in natur'." `
` `
` Indeed, on a second glance, it seemed impossible to `
` fancy that the body was in a natural position. But for `
` some disarray (the work, perhaps, of the birds that had `
` fed upon him or of the slow-growing creeper that had `
` gradually enveloped his remains) the man lay perfectly `
` straight--his feet pointing in one direction, his `
` hands, raised above his head like a diver's, pointing `
` directly in the opposite. `
` `
` "I've taken a notion into my old numbskull," observed `
` Silver. "Here's the compass; there's the tip-top p'int `
` o' Skeleton Island, stickin' out like a tooth. Just `
` take a bearing, will you, along the line of them bones." `
` `
` It was done. The body pointed straight in the `
` direction of the island, and the compass read duly `
` E.S.E. and by E. `
` `
` "I thought so," cried the cook; "this here is a `
` p'inter. Right up there is our line for the Pole Star `
` and the jolly dollars. But, by thunder! If it don't `
` make me cold inside to think of Flint. This is one of `
` HIS jokes, and no mistake. Him and these six was `
` alone here; he killed 'em, every man; and this one he `
` hauled here and laid down by compass, shiver my `
` timbers! They're long bones, and the hair's been `
` yellow. Aye, that would be Allardyce. You mind `
` Allardyce, Tom Morgan?" `
` `
` "Aye, aye," returned Morgan; "I mind him; he owed me `
` money, he did, and took my knife ashore with him." `
` `
` "Speaking of knives," said another, "why don't we find his'n `
` lying round? Flint warn't the man to pick a seaman's pocket; `
` and the birds, I guess, would leave it be." `
` `
` "By the powers, and that's true!" cried Silver. `
` `
` "There ain't a thing left here," said Merry, still `
` feeling round among the bones; "not a copper doit nor a `
` baccy box. It don't look nat'ral to me." `
` `
` "No, by gum, it don't," agreed Silver; "not nat'ral, `
` nor not nice, says you. Great guns! Messmates, but if `
` Flint was living, this would be a hot spot for you and `
` me. Six they were, and six are we; and bones is what `
` they are now." `
` `
` "I saw him dead with these here deadlights," said `
` Morgan. "Billy took me in. There he laid, with penny- `
` pieces on his eyes." `
` `
` "Dead--aye, sure enough he's dead and gone below," said `
` the fellow with the bandage; "but if ever sperrit `
` walked, it would be Flint's. Dear heart, but he died `
` bad, did Flint!" `
` `
` "Aye, that he did," observed another; "now he raged, `
` and now he hollered for the rum, and now he sang. `
` 'Fifteen Men' were his only song, mates; and I tell you `
` true, I never rightly liked to hear it since. It was `
` main hot, and the windy was open, and I hear that old `
` song comin' out as clear as clear--and the death-haul `
` on the man already." `
` `
` "Come, come," said Silver; "stow this talk. He's dead, `
` and he don't walk, that I know; leastways, he won't `
` walk by day, and you may lay to that. Care killed a `
` cat. Fetch ahead for the doubloons." `
` `
` We started, certainly; but in spite of the hot sun and `
` the staring daylight, the pirates no longer ran `
` separate and shouting through the wood, but kept side `
` by side and spoke with bated breath. The terror of the `
` dead buccaneer had fallen on their spirits. `
` `
` `
` `
` 32 `
` `
` The Treasure-hunt--The Voice Among the Trees `
` `
` PARTLY from the damping influence of this alarm, partly `
` to rest Silver and the sick folk, the whole party sat `
` down as soon as they had gained the brow of the ascent. `
` `
` The plateau being somewhat tilted towards the west, `
` this spot on which we had paused commanded a wide `
` prospect on either hand. Before us, over the tree- `
` tops, we beheld the Cape of the Woods fringed with `
` surf; behind, we not only looked down upon the `
` anchorage and Skeleton Island, but saw--clear across `
` the spit and the eastern lowlands--a great field of `
` open sea upon the east. Sheer above us rose the Spy- `
` glass, here dotted with single pines, there black with `
` precipices. There was no sound but that of the distant `
` breakers, mounting from all round, and the chirp of `
` countless insects in the brush. Not a man, not a sail, `
` upon the sea; the very largeness of the view increased `
` the sense of solitude. `
` `
` Silver, as he sat, took certain bearings with his compass. `
` `
` "There are three 'tall trees'" said he, "about in the right `
` line from Skeleton Island. 'Spy-glass shoulder,' I take it, `
` means that lower p'int there. It's child's play to find the `
` stuff now. I've half a mind to dine first." `
` `
` "I don't feel sharp," growled Morgan. "Thinkin' o' `
`