Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
the arrival of the treasure-hunters. `
` `
` "Ah," said Silver, "it were fortunate for me that I had `
` Hawkins here. You would have let old John be cut to `
` bits, and never given it a thought, doctor." `
` `
` "Not a thought," replied Dr. Livesey cheerily. `
` `
` And by this time we had reached the gigs. The doctor, `
` with the pick-axe, demolished one of them, and then we `
` all got aboard the other and set out to go round by sea `
` for North Inlet. `
` `
` This was a run of eight or nine miles. Silver, though he `
` was almost killed already with fatigue, was set to an oar, `
` like the rest of us, and we were soon skimming swiftly over `
` a smooth sea. Soon we passed out of the straits and doubled `
` the south-east corner of the island, round which, four days `
` ago, we had towed the HISPANIOLA. `
` `
` As we passed the two-pointed hill, we could see the `
` black mouth of Ben Gunn's cave and a figure standing by `
` it, leaning on a musket. It was the squire, and we `
` waved a handkerchief and gave him three cheers, in `
` which the voice of Silver joined as heartily as any. `
` `
` Three miles farther, just inside the mouth of North `
` Inlet, what should we meet but the HISPANIOLA, `
` cruising by herself? The last flood had lifted her, `
` and had there been much wind or a strong tide current, `
` as in the southern anchorage, we should never have `
` found her more, or found her stranded beyond help. As `
` it was, there was little amiss beyond the wreck of the `
` main-sail. Another anchor was got ready and dropped in `
` a fathom and a half of water. We all pulled round `
` again to Rum Cove, the nearest point for Ben Gunn's `
` treasure-house; and then Gray, single-handed, returned `
` with the gig to the HISPANIOLA, where he was to `
` pass the night on guard. `
` `
` A gentle slope ran up from the beach to the entrance of `
` the cave. At the top, the squire met us. To me he was `
` cordial and kind, saying nothing of my escapade either `
` in the way of blame or praise. At Silver's polite `
` salute he somewhat flushed. `
` `
` "John Silver," he said, "you're a prodigious villain `
` and imposter--a monstrous imposter, sir. I am told I `
` am not to prosecute you. Well, then, I will not. But `
` the dead men, sir, hang about your neck like mill-stones." `
` `
` "Thank you kindly, sir," replied Long John, again saluting. `
` `
` "I dare you to thank me!" cried the squire. "It is a `
` gross dereliction of my duty. Stand back." `
` `
` And thereupon we all entered the cave. It was a large, `
` airy place, with a little spring and a pool of clear `
` water, overhung with ferns. The floor was sand. `
` Before a big fire lay Captain Smollett; and in a far `
` corner, only duskily flickered over by the blaze, I `
` beheld great heaps of coin and quadrilaterals built of `
` bars of gold. That was Flint's treasure that we had `
` come so far to seek and that had cost already the lives `
` of seventeen men from the HISPANIOLA. How many it `
` had cost in the amassing, what blood and sorrow, what `
` good ships scuttled on the deep, what brave men walking `
` the plank blindfold, what shot of cannon, what shame `
` and lies and cruelty, perhaps no man alive could tell. `
` Yet there were still three upon that island--Silver, `
` and old Morgan, and Ben Gunn--who had each taken his `
` share in these crimes, as each had hoped in vain to `
` share in the reward. `
` `
` "Come in, Jim," said the captain. "You're a good boy in `
` your line, Jim, but I don't think you and me'll go to sea `
` again. You're too much of the born favourite for me. Is `
` that you, John Silver? What brings you here, man?" `
` `
` "Come back to my dooty, sir," returned Silver. `
` `
` "Ah!" said the captain, and that was all he said. `
` `
` What a supper I had of it that night, with all my `
` friends around me; and what a meal it was, with Ben `
` Gunn's salted goat and some delicacies and a bottle of `
` old wine from the HISPANIOLA. Never, I am sure, `
` were people gayer or happier. And there was Silver, `
` sitting back almost out of the firelight, but eating `
` heartily, prompt to spring forward when anything was `
` wanted, even joining quietly in our laughter--the same `
` bland, polite, obsequious seaman of the voyage out. `
` `
` `
` `
` 34 `
` `
` And Last `
` `
` THE next morning we fell early to work, for the `
` transportation of this great mass of gold near a mile `
` by land to the beach, and thence three miles by boat to `
` the HISPANIOLA, was a considerable task for so small a `
` number of workmen. The three fellows still abroad upon `
` the island did not greatly trouble us; a single sentry on `
` the shoulder of the hill was sufficient to ensure us against `
` any sudden onslaught, and we thought, besides, they had had `
` more than enough of fighting. `
` `
` Therefore the work was pushed on briskly. Gray and Ben `
` Gunn came and went with the boat, while the rest during `
` their absences piled treasure on the beach. Two of the `
` bars, slung in a rope's end, made a good load for a `
` grown man--one that he was glad to walk slowly with. `
` For my part, as I was not much use at carrying, I was `
` kept busy all day in the cave packing the minted money `
` into bread-bags. `
` `
` It was a strange collection, like Billy Bones's hoard `
` for the diversity of coinage, but so much larger and so `
` much more varied that I think I never had more pleasure `
` than in sorting them. English, French, Spanish, `
` Portuguese, Georges, and Louises, doubloons and double `
` guineas and moidores and sequins, the pictures of all `
` the kings of Europe for the last hundred years, strange `
` Oriental pieces stamped with what looked like wisps of `
` string or bits of spider's web, round pieces and square `
` pieces, and pieces bored through the middle, as if to `
` wear them round your neck--nearly every variety of `
` money in the world must, I think, have found a place in `
` that collection; and for number, I am sure they were `
` like autumn leaves, so that my back ached with stooping `
` and my fingers with sorting them out. `
` `
` Day after day this work went on; by every evening a `
` fortune had been stowed aboard, but there was another `
` fortune waiting for the morrow; and all this time we `
` heard nothing of the three surviving mutineers. `
` `
` At last--I think it was on the third night--the doctor `
` and I were strolling on the shoulder of the hill where `
` it overlooks the lowlands of the isle, when, from out `
` the thick darkness below, the wind brought us a noise `
` between shrieking and singing. It was only a snatch `
` that reached our ears, followed by the former silence. `
` `
` "Heaven forgive them," said the doctor; "'tis `
` the mutineers!" `
` `
` "All drunk, sir," struck in the voice of Silver `
` from behind us. `
` `
` Silver, I should say, was allowed his entire liberty, `
` and in spite of daily rebuffs, seemed to regard himself `
` once more as quite a privileged and friendly dependent. `
` Indeed, it was remarkable how well he bore these `
` slights and with what unwearying politeness he kept on `
` trying to ingratiate himself with all. Yet, I think, `
` none treated him better than a dog, unless it was Ben `
` Gunn, who was still terribly afraid of his old `
` quartermaster, or myself, who had really something to `
` thank him for; although for that matter, I suppose, I `
` had reason to think even worse of him than anybody `
` else, for I had seen him meditating a fresh treachery `
` upon the plateau. Accordingly, it was pretty gruffly `
` that the doctor answered him. `
` `
` "Drunk or raving," said he. `
` `
` "Right you were, sir," replied Silver; "and precious `
` little odds which, to you and me." `
` `
` "I suppose you would hardly ask me to call you a humane `
` man," returned the doctor with a sneer, "and so my `
` feelings may surprise you, Master Silver. But if I `
` were sure they were raving--as I am morally certain `
` one, at least, of them is down with fever--I should `
` leave this camp, and at whatever risk to my own `
` carcass, take them the assistance of my skill." `
` `
` "Ask your pardon, sir, you would be very wrong," quoth `
` Silver. "You would lose your precious life, and you `
` may lay to that. I'm on your side now, hand and glove; `
` and I shouldn't wish for to see the party weakened, let `
` alone yourself, seeing as I know what I owes you. But `
` these men down there, they couldn't keep their word-- `
` no, not supposing they wished to; and what's more, they `
` couldn't believe as you could." `
` `
` "No," said the doctor. "You're the man to keep your `
` word, we know that." `
` `
` Well, that was about the last news we had of the three `
` pirates. Only once we heard a gunshot a great way off `
` and supposed them to be hunting. A council was held, `
` and it was decided that we must desert them on the island `
` --to the huge glee, I must say, of Ben Gunn, and with the `
` strong approval of Gray. We left a good stock of powder `
` and shot, the bulk of the salt goat, a few medicines, and `
` some other necessaries, tools, clothing, a spare sail, a `
` fathom or two of rope, and by the particular desire of the `
`
` `
` "Ah," said Silver, "it were fortunate for me that I had `
` Hawkins here. You would have let old John be cut to `
` bits, and never given it a thought, doctor." `
` `
` "Not a thought," replied Dr. Livesey cheerily. `
` `
` And by this time we had reached the gigs. The doctor, `
` with the pick-axe, demolished one of them, and then we `
` all got aboard the other and set out to go round by sea `
` for North Inlet. `
` `
` This was a run of eight or nine miles. Silver, though he `
` was almost killed already with fatigue, was set to an oar, `
` like the rest of us, and we were soon skimming swiftly over `
` a smooth sea. Soon we passed out of the straits and doubled `
` the south-east corner of the island, round which, four days `
` ago, we had towed the HISPANIOLA. `
` `
` As we passed the two-pointed hill, we could see the `
` black mouth of Ben Gunn's cave and a figure standing by `
` it, leaning on a musket. It was the squire, and we `
` waved a handkerchief and gave him three cheers, in `
` which the voice of Silver joined as heartily as any. `
` `
` Three miles farther, just inside the mouth of North `
` Inlet, what should we meet but the HISPANIOLA, `
` cruising by herself? The last flood had lifted her, `
` and had there been much wind or a strong tide current, `
` as in the southern anchorage, we should never have `
` found her more, or found her stranded beyond help. As `
` it was, there was little amiss beyond the wreck of the `
` main-sail. Another anchor was got ready and dropped in `
` a fathom and a half of water. We all pulled round `
` again to Rum Cove, the nearest point for Ben Gunn's `
` treasure-house; and then Gray, single-handed, returned `
` with the gig to the HISPANIOLA, where he was to `
` pass the night on guard. `
` `
` A gentle slope ran up from the beach to the entrance of `
` the cave. At the top, the squire met us. To me he was `
` cordial and kind, saying nothing of my escapade either `
` in the way of blame or praise. At Silver's polite `
` salute he somewhat flushed. `
` `
` "John Silver," he said, "you're a prodigious villain `
` and imposter--a monstrous imposter, sir. I am told I `
` am not to prosecute you. Well, then, I will not. But `
` the dead men, sir, hang about your neck like mill-stones." `
` `
` "Thank you kindly, sir," replied Long John, again saluting. `
` `
` "I dare you to thank me!" cried the squire. "It is a `
` gross dereliction of my duty. Stand back." `
` `
` And thereupon we all entered the cave. It was a large, `
` airy place, with a little spring and a pool of clear `
` water, overhung with ferns. The floor was sand. `
` Before a big fire lay Captain Smollett; and in a far `
` corner, only duskily flickered over by the blaze, I `
` beheld great heaps of coin and quadrilaterals built of `
` bars of gold. That was Flint's treasure that we had `
` come so far to seek and that had cost already the lives `
` of seventeen men from the HISPANIOLA. How many it `
` had cost in the amassing, what blood and sorrow, what `
` good ships scuttled on the deep, what brave men walking `
` the plank blindfold, what shot of cannon, what shame `
` and lies and cruelty, perhaps no man alive could tell. `
` Yet there were still three upon that island--Silver, `
` and old Morgan, and Ben Gunn--who had each taken his `
` share in these crimes, as each had hoped in vain to `
` share in the reward. `
` `
` "Come in, Jim," said the captain. "You're a good boy in `
` your line, Jim, but I don't think you and me'll go to sea `
` again. You're too much of the born favourite for me. Is `
` that you, John Silver? What brings you here, man?" `
` `
` "Come back to my dooty, sir," returned Silver. `
` `
` "Ah!" said the captain, and that was all he said. `
` `
` What a supper I had of it that night, with all my `
` friends around me; and what a meal it was, with Ben `
` Gunn's salted goat and some delicacies and a bottle of `
` old wine from the HISPANIOLA. Never, I am sure, `
` were people gayer or happier. And there was Silver, `
` sitting back almost out of the firelight, but eating `
` heartily, prompt to spring forward when anything was `
` wanted, even joining quietly in our laughter--the same `
` bland, polite, obsequious seaman of the voyage out. `
` `
` `
` `
` 34 `
` `
` And Last `
` `
` THE next morning we fell early to work, for the `
` transportation of this great mass of gold near a mile `
` by land to the beach, and thence three miles by boat to `
` the HISPANIOLA, was a considerable task for so small a `
` number of workmen. The three fellows still abroad upon `
` the island did not greatly trouble us; a single sentry on `
` the shoulder of the hill was sufficient to ensure us against `
` any sudden onslaught, and we thought, besides, they had had `
` more than enough of fighting. `
` `
` Therefore the work was pushed on briskly. Gray and Ben `
` Gunn came and went with the boat, while the rest during `
` their absences piled treasure on the beach. Two of the `
` bars, slung in a rope's end, made a good load for a `
` grown man--one that he was glad to walk slowly with. `
` For my part, as I was not much use at carrying, I was `
` kept busy all day in the cave packing the minted money `
` into bread-bags. `
` `
` It was a strange collection, like Billy Bones's hoard `
` for the diversity of coinage, but so much larger and so `
` much more varied that I think I never had more pleasure `
` than in sorting them. English, French, Spanish, `
` Portuguese, Georges, and Louises, doubloons and double `
` guineas and moidores and sequins, the pictures of all `
` the kings of Europe for the last hundred years, strange `
` Oriental pieces stamped with what looked like wisps of `
` string or bits of spider's web, round pieces and square `
` pieces, and pieces bored through the middle, as if to `
` wear them round your neck--nearly every variety of `
` money in the world must, I think, have found a place in `
` that collection; and for number, I am sure they were `
` like autumn leaves, so that my back ached with stooping `
` and my fingers with sorting them out. `
` `
` Day after day this work went on; by every evening a `
` fortune had been stowed aboard, but there was another `
` fortune waiting for the morrow; and all this time we `
` heard nothing of the three surviving mutineers. `
` `
` At last--I think it was on the third night--the doctor `
` and I were strolling on the shoulder of the hill where `
` it overlooks the lowlands of the isle, when, from out `
` the thick darkness below, the wind brought us a noise `
` between shrieking and singing. It was only a snatch `
` that reached our ears, followed by the former silence. `
` `
` "Heaven forgive them," said the doctor; "'tis `
` the mutineers!" `
` `
` "All drunk, sir," struck in the voice of Silver `
` from behind us. `
` `
` Silver, I should say, was allowed his entire liberty, `
` and in spite of daily rebuffs, seemed to regard himself `
` once more as quite a privileged and friendly dependent. `
` Indeed, it was remarkable how well he bore these `
` slights and with what unwearying politeness he kept on `
` trying to ingratiate himself with all. Yet, I think, `
` none treated him better than a dog, unless it was Ben `
` Gunn, who was still terribly afraid of his old `
` quartermaster, or myself, who had really something to `
` thank him for; although for that matter, I suppose, I `
` had reason to think even worse of him than anybody `
` else, for I had seen him meditating a fresh treachery `
` upon the plateau. Accordingly, it was pretty gruffly `
` that the doctor answered him. `
` `
` "Drunk or raving," said he. `
` `
` "Right you were, sir," replied Silver; "and precious `
` little odds which, to you and me." `
` `
` "I suppose you would hardly ask me to call you a humane `
` man," returned the doctor with a sneer, "and so my `
` feelings may surprise you, Master Silver. But if I `
` were sure they were raving--as I am morally certain `
` one, at least, of them is down with fever--I should `
` leave this camp, and at whatever risk to my own `
` carcass, take them the assistance of my skill." `
` `
` "Ask your pardon, sir, you would be very wrong," quoth `
` Silver. "You would lose your precious life, and you `
` may lay to that. I'm on your side now, hand and glove; `
` and I shouldn't wish for to see the party weakened, let `
` alone yourself, seeing as I know what I owes you. But `
` these men down there, they couldn't keep their word-- `
` no, not supposing they wished to; and what's more, they `
` couldn't believe as you could." `
` `
` "No," said the doctor. "You're the man to keep your `
` word, we know that." `
` `
` Well, that was about the last news we had of the three `
` pirates. Only once we heard a gunshot a great way off `
` and supposed them to be hunting. A council was held, `
` and it was decided that we must desert them on the island `
` --to the huge glee, I must say, of Ben Gunn, and with the `
` strong approval of Gray. We left a good stock of powder `
` and shot, the bulk of the salt goat, a few medicines, and `
` some other necessaries, tools, clothing, a spare sail, a `
` fathom or two of rope, and by the particular desire of the `
`