Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
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fathom or two of rope, and by the particular desire of the `
` doctor, a handsome present of tobacco. `
` `
` That was about our last doing on the island. Before `
` that, we had got the treasure stowed and had shipped `
` enough water and the remainder of the goat meat in case `
` of any distress; and at last, one fine morning, we weighed `
` anchor, which was about all that we could manage, and stood `
` out of North Inlet, the same colours flying that the captain `
` had flown and fought under at the palisade. `
` `
` The three fellows must have been watching us closer `
` than we thought for, as we soon had proved. For coming `
` through the narrows, we had to lie very near the `
` southern point, and there we saw all three of them `
` kneeling together on a spit of sand, with their arms `
` raised in supplication. It went to all our hearts, I `
` think, to leave them in that wretched state; but we `
` could not risk another mutiny; and to take them home `
` for the gibbet would have been a cruel sort of `
` kindness. The doctor hailed them and told them of the `
` stores we had left, and where they were to find them. `
` But they continued to call us by name and appeal to us, `
` for God's sake, to be merciful and not leave them to `
` die in such a place. `
` `
` At last, seeing the ship still bore on her course and `
` was now swiftly drawing out of earshot, one of them--I `
` know not which it was--leapt to his feet with a hoarse `
` cry, whipped his musket to his shoulder, and sent a shot `
` whistling over Silver's head and through the main-sail. `
` `
` After that, we kept under cover of the bulwarks, and `
` when next I looked out they had disappeared from the `
` spit, and the spit itself had almost melted out of `
` sight in the growing distance. That was, at least, the `
` end of that; and before noon, to my inexpressible joy, `
` the highest rock of Treasure Island had sunk into the `
` blue round of sea. `
` `
` We were so short of men that everyone on board had to `
` bear a hand--only the captain lying on a mattress in `
` the stern and giving his orders, for though greatly `
` recovered he was still in want of quiet. We laid her `
` head for the nearest port in Spanish America, for we `
` could not risk the voyage home without fresh hands; and `
` as it was, what with baffling winds and a couple of `
` fresh gales, we were all worn out before we reached it. `
` `
` It was just at sundown when we cast anchor in a most `
` beautiful land-locked gulf, and were immediately `
` surrounded by shore boats full of Negroes and Mexican `
` Indians and half-bloods selling fruits and vegetables `
` and offering to dive for bits of money. The sight of `
` so many good-humoured faces (especially the blacks), `
` the taste of the tropical fruits, and above all the `
` lights that began to shine in the town made a most `
` charming contrast to our dark and bloody sojourn on the `
` island; and the doctor and the squire, taking me along `
` with them, went ashore to pass the early part of the `
` night. Here they met the captain of an English man-of- `
` war, fell in talk with him, went on board his ship, `
` and, in short, had so agreeable a time that day was `
` breaking when we came alongside the HISPANIOLA. `
` `
` Ben Gunn was on deck alone, and as soon as we came on `
` board he began, with wonderful contortions, to make us `
` a confession. Silver was gone. The maroon had `
` connived at his escape in a shore boat some hours ago, `
` and he now assured us he had only done so to preserve `
` our lives, which would certainly have been forfeit if `
` "that man with the one leg had stayed aboard." But `
` this was not all. The sea-cook had not gone empty- `
` handed. He had cut through a bulkhead unobserved and `
` had removed one of the sacks of coin, worth perhaps `
` three or four hundred guineas, to help him on his `
` further wanderings. `
` `
` I think we were all pleased to be so cheaply quit of him. `
` `
` Well, to make a long story short, we got a few hands on `
` board, made a good cruise home, and the HISPANIOLA `
` reached Bristol just as Mr. Blandly was beginning to `
` think of fitting out her consort. Five men only of `
` those who had sailed returned with her. "Drink and the `
` devil had done for the rest," with a vengeance, `
` although, to be sure, we were not quite in so bad a `
` case as that other ship they sang about: `
` `
` With one man of her crew alive, `
` What put to sea with seventy-five. `
` `
` All of us had an ample share of the treasure and used `
` it wisely or foolishly, according to our natures. `
` Captain Smollett is now retired from the sea. Gray not `
` only saved his money, but being suddenly smit with the `
` desire to rise, also studied his profession, and he is `
` now mate and part owner of a fine full-rigged ship, `
` married besides, and the father of a family. As for `
` Ben Gunn, he got a thousand pounds, which he spent or `
` lost in three weeks, or to be more exact, in nineteen `
` days, for he was back begging on the twentieth. Then `
` he was given a lodge to keep, exactly as he had feared `
` upon the island; and he still lives, a great favourite, `
` though something of a butt, with the country boys, and `
` a notable singer in church on Sundays and saints' days. `
` `
` Of Silver we have heard no more. That formidable `
` seafaring man with one leg has at last gone clean out `
` of my life; but I dare say he met his old Negress, and `
` perhaps still lives in comfort with her and Captain `
` Flint. It is to be hoped so, I suppose, for his `
` chances of comfort in another world are very small. `
` `
` The bar silver and the arms still lie, for all that I `
` know, where Flint buried them; and certainly they shall `
` lie there for me. Oxen and wain-ropes would not bring `
` me back again to that accursed island; and the worst `
` dreams that ever I have are when I hear the surf `
` booming about its coasts or start upright in bed with `
` the sharp voice of Captain Flint still ringing in my `
` ears: "Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!" `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
`
` doctor, a handsome present of tobacco. `
` `
` That was about our last doing on the island. Before `
` that, we had got the treasure stowed and had shipped `
` enough water and the remainder of the goat meat in case `
` of any distress; and at last, one fine morning, we weighed `
` anchor, which was about all that we could manage, and stood `
` out of North Inlet, the same colours flying that the captain `
` had flown and fought under at the palisade. `
` `
` The three fellows must have been watching us closer `
` than we thought for, as we soon had proved. For coming `
` through the narrows, we had to lie very near the `
` southern point, and there we saw all three of them `
` kneeling together on a spit of sand, with their arms `
` raised in supplication. It went to all our hearts, I `
` think, to leave them in that wretched state; but we `
` could not risk another mutiny; and to take them home `
` for the gibbet would have been a cruel sort of `
` kindness. The doctor hailed them and told them of the `
` stores we had left, and where they were to find them. `
` But they continued to call us by name and appeal to us, `
` for God's sake, to be merciful and not leave them to `
` die in such a place. `
` `
` At last, seeing the ship still bore on her course and `
` was now swiftly drawing out of earshot, one of them--I `
` know not which it was--leapt to his feet with a hoarse `
` cry, whipped his musket to his shoulder, and sent a shot `
` whistling over Silver's head and through the main-sail. `
` `
` After that, we kept under cover of the bulwarks, and `
` when next I looked out they had disappeared from the `
` spit, and the spit itself had almost melted out of `
` sight in the growing distance. That was, at least, the `
` end of that; and before noon, to my inexpressible joy, `
` the highest rock of Treasure Island had sunk into the `
` blue round of sea. `
` `
` We were so short of men that everyone on board had to `
` bear a hand--only the captain lying on a mattress in `
` the stern and giving his orders, for though greatly `
` recovered he was still in want of quiet. We laid her `
` head for the nearest port in Spanish America, for we `
` could not risk the voyage home without fresh hands; and `
` as it was, what with baffling winds and a couple of `
` fresh gales, we were all worn out before we reached it. `
` `
` It was just at sundown when we cast anchor in a most `
` beautiful land-locked gulf, and were immediately `
` surrounded by shore boats full of Negroes and Mexican `
` Indians and half-bloods selling fruits and vegetables `
` and offering to dive for bits of money. The sight of `
` so many good-humoured faces (especially the blacks), `
` the taste of the tropical fruits, and above all the `
` lights that began to shine in the town made a most `
` charming contrast to our dark and bloody sojourn on the `
` island; and the doctor and the squire, taking me along `
` with them, went ashore to pass the early part of the `
` night. Here they met the captain of an English man-of- `
` war, fell in talk with him, went on board his ship, `
` and, in short, had so agreeable a time that day was `
` breaking when we came alongside the HISPANIOLA. `
` `
` Ben Gunn was on deck alone, and as soon as we came on `
` board he began, with wonderful contortions, to make us `
` a confession. Silver was gone. The maroon had `
` connived at his escape in a shore boat some hours ago, `
` and he now assured us he had only done so to preserve `
` our lives, which would certainly have been forfeit if `
` "that man with the one leg had stayed aboard." But `
` this was not all. The sea-cook had not gone empty- `
` handed. He had cut through a bulkhead unobserved and `
` had removed one of the sacks of coin, worth perhaps `
` three or four hundred guineas, to help him on his `
` further wanderings. `
` `
` I think we were all pleased to be so cheaply quit of him. `
` `
` Well, to make a long story short, we got a few hands on `
` board, made a good cruise home, and the HISPANIOLA `
` reached Bristol just as Mr. Blandly was beginning to `
` think of fitting out her consort. Five men only of `
` those who had sailed returned with her. "Drink and the `
` devil had done for the rest," with a vengeance, `
` although, to be sure, we were not quite in so bad a `
` case as that other ship they sang about: `
` `
` With one man of her crew alive, `
` What put to sea with seventy-five. `
` `
` All of us had an ample share of the treasure and used `
` it wisely or foolishly, according to our natures. `
` Captain Smollett is now retired from the sea. Gray not `
` only saved his money, but being suddenly smit with the `
` desire to rise, also studied his profession, and he is `
` now mate and part owner of a fine full-rigged ship, `
` married besides, and the father of a family. As for `
` Ben Gunn, he got a thousand pounds, which he spent or `
` lost in three weeks, or to be more exact, in nineteen `
` days, for he was back begging on the twentieth. Then `
` he was given a lodge to keep, exactly as he had feared `
` upon the island; and he still lives, a great favourite, `
` though something of a butt, with the country boys, and `
` a notable singer in church on Sundays and saints' days. `
` `
` Of Silver we have heard no more. That formidable `
` seafaring man with one leg has at last gone clean out `
` of my life; but I dare say he met his old Negress, and `
` perhaps still lives in comfort with her and Captain `
` Flint. It is to be hoped so, I suppose, for his `
` chances of comfort in another world are very small. `
` `
` The bar silver and the arms still lie, for all that I `
` know, where Flint buried them; and certainly they shall `
` lie there for me. Oxen and wain-ropes would not bring `
` me back again to that accursed island; and the worst `
` dreams that ever I have are when I hear the surf `
` booming about its coasts or start upright in bed with `
` the sharp voice of Captain Flint still ringing in my `
` ears: "Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!" `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
`