Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
be an honest man, you might have been sitting in your `
` galley. It's your own doing. You're either my ship's `
` cook--and then you were treated handsome--or Cap'n Silver, `
` a common mutineer and pirate, and then you can go hang!" `
` `
` "Well, well, cap'n," returned the sea-cook, sitting `
` down as he was bidden on the sand, "you'll have to give `
` me a hand up again, that's all. A sweet pretty place `
` you have of it here. Ah, there's Jim! The top of the `
` morning to you, Jim. Doctor, here's my service. Why, `
` there you all are together like a happy family, in a `
` manner of speaking." `
` `
` "If you have anything to say, my man, better say it," `
` said the captain. `
` `
` "Right you were, Cap'n Smollett," replied Silver. `
` "Dooty is dooty, to be sure. Well now, you look here, `
` that was a good lay of yours last night. I don't deny `
` it was a good lay. Some of you pretty handy with a `
` handspike-end. And I'll not deny neither but what some `
` of my people was shook--maybe all was shook; maybe I `
` was shook myself; maybe that's why I'm here for terms. `
` But you mark me, cap'n, it won't do twice, by thunder! `
` We'll have to do sentry-go and ease off a point or so `
` on the rum. Maybe you think we were all a sheet in the `
` wind's eye. But I'll tell you I was sober; I was on'y `
` dog tired; and if I'd awoke a second sooner, I'd 'a `
` caught you at the act, I would. He wasn't dead when I `
` got round to him, not he." `
` `
` "Well?" says Captain Smollett as cool as can be. `
` `
` All that Silver said was a riddle to him, but you would `
` never have guessed it from his tone. As for me, I `
` began to have an inkling. Ben Gunn's last words came `
` back to my mind. I began to suppose that he had paid `
` the buccaneers a visit while they all lay drunk `
` together round their fire, and I reckoned up with glee `
` that we had only fourteen enemies to deal with. `
` `
` "Well, here it is," said Silver. "We want that `
` treasure, and we'll have it--that's our point! You `
` would just as soon save your lives, I reckon; and `
` that's yours. You have a chart, haven't you?" `
` `
` "That's as may be," replied the captain. `
` `
` "Oh, well, you have, I know that," returned Long John. `
` "You needn't be so husky with a man; there ain't a `
` particle of service in that, and you may lay to it. `
` What I mean is, we want your chart. Now, I never meant `
` you no harm, myself." `
` `
` "That won't do with me, my man," interrupted the `
` captain. "We know exactly what you meant to do, and we `
` don't care, for now, you see, you can't do it." `
` `
` And the captain looked at him calmly and proceeded `
` to fill a pipe. `
` `
` "If Abe Gray--" Silver broke out. `
` `
` "Avast there!" cried Mr. Smollett. "Gray told me `
` nothing, and I asked him nothing; and what's more, I `
` would see you and him and this whole island blown clean `
` out of the water into blazes first. So there's my mind `
` for you, my man, on that." `
` `
` This little whiff of temper seemed to cool Silver down. `
` He had been growing nettled before, but now he pulled `
` himself together. `
` `
` "Like enough," said he. "I would set no limits to what `
` gentlemen might consider shipshape, or might not, as `
` the case were. And seein' as how you are about to take `
` a pipe, cap'n, I'll make so free as do likewise." `
` `
` And he filled a pipe and lighted it; and the two men sat `
` silently smoking for quite a while, now looking each other `
` in the face, now stopping their tobacco, now leaning forward `
` to spit. It was as good as the play to see them. `
` `
` "Now," resumed Silver, "here it is. You give us the `
` chart to get the treasure by, and drop shooting poor `
` seamen and stoving of their heads in while asleep. You `
` do that, and we'll offer you a choice. Either you come `
` aboard along of us, once the treasure shipped, and then `
` I'll give you my affy-davy, upon my word of honour, to `
` clap you somewhere safe ashore. Or if that ain't to `
` your fancy, some of my hands being rough and having old `
` scores on account of hazing, then you can stay here, `
` you can. We'll divide stores with you, man for man; `
` and I'll give my affy-davy, as before to speak the `
` first ship I sight, and send 'em here to pick you up. `
` Now, you'll own that's talking. Handsomer you couldn't `
` look to get, now you. And I hope"--raising his voice-- `
` "that all hands in this here block house will overhaul `
` my words, for what is spoke to one is spoke to all." `
` `
` Captain Smollett rose from his seat and knocked out the `
` ashes of his pipe in the palm of his left hand. `
` `
` "Is that all?" he asked. `
` `
` "Every last word, by thunder!" answered John. "Refuse `
` that, and you've seen the last of me but musket-balls." `
` `
` "Very good," said the captain. "Now you'll hear me. `
` If you'll come up one by one, unarmed, I'll engage to `
` clap you all in irons and take you home to a fair trial `
` in England. If you won't, my name is Alexander `
` Smollett, I've flown my sovereign's colours, and I'll `
` see you all to Davy Jones. You can't find the `
` treasure. You can't sail the ship--there's not a man `
` among you fit to sail the ship. You can't fight us-- `
` Gray, there, got away from five of you. Your ship's in `
` irons, Master Silver; you're on a lee shore, and so `
` you'll find. I stand here and tell you so; and they're `
` the last good words you'll get from me, for in the name `
` of heaven, I'll put a bullet in your back when next I `
` meet you. Tramp, my lad. Bundle out of this, please, `
` hand over hand, and double quick." `
` `
` Silver's face was a picture; his eyes started in his `
` head with wrath. He shook the fire out of his pipe. `
` `
` "Give me a hand up!" he cried. `
` `
` "Not I," returned the captain. `
` `
` "Who'll give me a hand up?" he roared. `
` `
` Not a man among us moved. Growling the foulest `
` imprecations, he crawled along the sand till he got `
` hold of the porch and could hoist himself again upon `
` his crutch. Then he spat into the spring. `
` `
` "There!" he cried. "That's what I think of ye. Before `
` an hour's out, I'll stove in your old block house like `
` a rum puncheon. Laugh, by thunder, laugh! Before an `
` hour's out, ye'll laugh upon the other side. Them that `
` die'll be the lucky ones." `
` `
` And with a dreadful oath he stumbled off, ploughed down `
` the sand, was helped across the stockade, after four or `
` five failures, by the man with the flag of truce, and `
` disappeared in an instant afterwards among the trees. `
` `
` `
` `
` 21 `
` `
` The Attack `
` `
` AS soon as Silver disappeared, the captain, who had `
` been closely watching him, turned towards the interior `
` of the house and found not a man of us at his post but `
` Gray. It was the first time we had ever seen him angry. `
` `
` "Quarters!" he roared. And then, as we all slunk back `
` to our places, "Gray," he said, "I'll put your name in `
` the log; you've stood by your duty like a seaman. Mr. `
` Trelawney, I'm surprised at you, sir. Doctor, I thought `
` you had worn the king's coat! If that was how you served `
` at Fontenoy, sir, you'd have been better in your berth." `
` `
` The doctor's watch were all back at their loopholes, `
` the rest were busy loading the spare muskets, and `
` everyone with a red face, you may be certain, and a `
` flea in his ear, as the saying is. `
` `
` The captain looked on for a while in silence. Then `
` he spoke. `
` `
` "My lads," said he, "I've given Silver a broadside. I `
` pitched it in red-hot on purpose; and before the hour's `
` out, as he said, we shall be boarded. We're `
` outnumbered, I needn't tell you that, but we fight in `
` shelter; and a minute ago I should have said we fought `
` with discipline. I've no manner of doubt that we can `
` drub them, if you choose." `
` `
` Then he went the rounds and saw, as he said, that all `
` was clear. `
` `
` On the two short sides of the house, east and west, `
` there were only two loopholes; on the south side where `
` the porch was, two again; and on the north side, five. `
` There was a round score of muskets for the seven of us; `
` the firewood had been built into four piles--tables, `
` you might say--one about the middle of each side, and `
` on each of these tables some ammunition and four loaded `
` muskets were laid ready to the hand of the defenders. `
` In the middle, the cutlasses lay ranged. `
` `
` "Toss out the fire," said the captain; "the chill is `
` past, and we mustn't have smoke in our eyes." `
` `
` The iron fire-basket was carried bodily out by Mr. `
` Trelawney, and the embers smothered among sand. `
`
` galley. It's your own doing. You're either my ship's `
` cook--and then you were treated handsome--or Cap'n Silver, `
` a common mutineer and pirate, and then you can go hang!" `
` `
` "Well, well, cap'n," returned the sea-cook, sitting `
` down as he was bidden on the sand, "you'll have to give `
` me a hand up again, that's all. A sweet pretty place `
` you have of it here. Ah, there's Jim! The top of the `
` morning to you, Jim. Doctor, here's my service. Why, `
` there you all are together like a happy family, in a `
` manner of speaking." `
` `
` "If you have anything to say, my man, better say it," `
` said the captain. `
` `
` "Right you were, Cap'n Smollett," replied Silver. `
` "Dooty is dooty, to be sure. Well now, you look here, `
` that was a good lay of yours last night. I don't deny `
` it was a good lay. Some of you pretty handy with a `
` handspike-end. And I'll not deny neither but what some `
` of my people was shook--maybe all was shook; maybe I `
` was shook myself; maybe that's why I'm here for terms. `
` But you mark me, cap'n, it won't do twice, by thunder! `
` We'll have to do sentry-go and ease off a point or so `
` on the rum. Maybe you think we were all a sheet in the `
` wind's eye. But I'll tell you I was sober; I was on'y `
` dog tired; and if I'd awoke a second sooner, I'd 'a `
` caught you at the act, I would. He wasn't dead when I `
` got round to him, not he." `
` `
` "Well?" says Captain Smollett as cool as can be. `
` `
` All that Silver said was a riddle to him, but you would `
` never have guessed it from his tone. As for me, I `
` began to have an inkling. Ben Gunn's last words came `
` back to my mind. I began to suppose that he had paid `
` the buccaneers a visit while they all lay drunk `
` together round their fire, and I reckoned up with glee `
` that we had only fourteen enemies to deal with. `
` `
` "Well, here it is," said Silver. "We want that `
` treasure, and we'll have it--that's our point! You `
` would just as soon save your lives, I reckon; and `
` that's yours. You have a chart, haven't you?" `
` `
` "That's as may be," replied the captain. `
` `
` "Oh, well, you have, I know that," returned Long John. `
` "You needn't be so husky with a man; there ain't a `
` particle of service in that, and you may lay to it. `
` What I mean is, we want your chart. Now, I never meant `
` you no harm, myself." `
` `
` "That won't do with me, my man," interrupted the `
` captain. "We know exactly what you meant to do, and we `
` don't care, for now, you see, you can't do it." `
` `
` And the captain looked at him calmly and proceeded `
` to fill a pipe. `
` `
` "If Abe Gray--" Silver broke out. `
` `
` "Avast there!" cried Mr. Smollett. "Gray told me `
` nothing, and I asked him nothing; and what's more, I `
` would see you and him and this whole island blown clean `
` out of the water into blazes first. So there's my mind `
` for you, my man, on that." `
` `
` This little whiff of temper seemed to cool Silver down. `
` He had been growing nettled before, but now he pulled `
` himself together. `
` `
` "Like enough," said he. "I would set no limits to what `
` gentlemen might consider shipshape, or might not, as `
` the case were. And seein' as how you are about to take `
` a pipe, cap'n, I'll make so free as do likewise." `
` `
` And he filled a pipe and lighted it; and the two men sat `
` silently smoking for quite a while, now looking each other `
` in the face, now stopping their tobacco, now leaning forward `
` to spit. It was as good as the play to see them. `
` `
` "Now," resumed Silver, "here it is. You give us the `
` chart to get the treasure by, and drop shooting poor `
` seamen and stoving of their heads in while asleep. You `
` do that, and we'll offer you a choice. Either you come `
` aboard along of us, once the treasure shipped, and then `
` I'll give you my affy-davy, upon my word of honour, to `
` clap you somewhere safe ashore. Or if that ain't to `
` your fancy, some of my hands being rough and having old `
` scores on account of hazing, then you can stay here, `
` you can. We'll divide stores with you, man for man; `
` and I'll give my affy-davy, as before to speak the `
` first ship I sight, and send 'em here to pick you up. `
` Now, you'll own that's talking. Handsomer you couldn't `
` look to get, now you. And I hope"--raising his voice-- `
` "that all hands in this here block house will overhaul `
` my words, for what is spoke to one is spoke to all." `
` `
` Captain Smollett rose from his seat and knocked out the `
` ashes of his pipe in the palm of his left hand. `
` `
` "Is that all?" he asked. `
` `
` "Every last word, by thunder!" answered John. "Refuse `
` that, and you've seen the last of me but musket-balls." `
` `
` "Very good," said the captain. "Now you'll hear me. `
` If you'll come up one by one, unarmed, I'll engage to `
` clap you all in irons and take you home to a fair trial `
` in England. If you won't, my name is Alexander `
` Smollett, I've flown my sovereign's colours, and I'll `
` see you all to Davy Jones. You can't find the `
` treasure. You can't sail the ship--there's not a man `
` among you fit to sail the ship. You can't fight us-- `
` Gray, there, got away from five of you. Your ship's in `
` irons, Master Silver; you're on a lee shore, and so `
` you'll find. I stand here and tell you so; and they're `
` the last good words you'll get from me, for in the name `
` of heaven, I'll put a bullet in your back when next I `
` meet you. Tramp, my lad. Bundle out of this, please, `
` hand over hand, and double quick." `
` `
` Silver's face was a picture; his eyes started in his `
` head with wrath. He shook the fire out of his pipe. `
` `
` "Give me a hand up!" he cried. `
` `
` "Not I," returned the captain. `
` `
` "Who'll give me a hand up?" he roared. `
` `
` Not a man among us moved. Growling the foulest `
` imprecations, he crawled along the sand till he got `
` hold of the porch and could hoist himself again upon `
` his crutch. Then he spat into the spring. `
` `
` "There!" he cried. "That's what I think of ye. Before `
` an hour's out, I'll stove in your old block house like `
` a rum puncheon. Laugh, by thunder, laugh! Before an `
` hour's out, ye'll laugh upon the other side. Them that `
` die'll be the lucky ones." `
` `
` And with a dreadful oath he stumbled off, ploughed down `
` the sand, was helped across the stockade, after four or `
` five failures, by the man with the flag of truce, and `
` disappeared in an instant afterwards among the trees. `
` `
` `
` `
` 21 `
` `
` The Attack `
` `
` AS soon as Silver disappeared, the captain, who had `
` been closely watching him, turned towards the interior `
` of the house and found not a man of us at his post but `
` Gray. It was the first time we had ever seen him angry. `
` `
` "Quarters!" he roared. And then, as we all slunk back `
` to our places, "Gray," he said, "I'll put your name in `
` the log; you've stood by your duty like a seaman. Mr. `
` Trelawney, I'm surprised at you, sir. Doctor, I thought `
` you had worn the king's coat! If that was how you served `
` at Fontenoy, sir, you'd have been better in your berth." `
` `
` The doctor's watch were all back at their loopholes, `
` the rest were busy loading the spare muskets, and `
` everyone with a red face, you may be certain, and a `
` flea in his ear, as the saying is. `
` `
` The captain looked on for a while in silence. Then `
` he spoke. `
` `
` "My lads," said he, "I've given Silver a broadside. I `
` pitched it in red-hot on purpose; and before the hour's `
` out, as he said, we shall be boarded. We're `
` outnumbered, I needn't tell you that, but we fight in `
` shelter; and a minute ago I should have said we fought `
` with discipline. I've no manner of doubt that we can `
` drub them, if you choose." `
` `
` Then he went the rounds and saw, as he said, that all `
` was clear. `
` `
` On the two short sides of the house, east and west, `
` there were only two loopholes; on the south side where `
` the porch was, two again; and on the north side, five. `
` There was a round score of muskets for the seven of us; `
` the firewood had been built into four piles--tables, `
` you might say--one about the middle of each side, and `
` on each of these tables some ammunition and four loaded `
` muskets were laid ready to the hand of the defenders. `
` In the middle, the cutlasses lay ranged. `
` `
` "Toss out the fire," said the captain; "the chill is `
` past, and we mustn't have smoke in our eyes." `
` `
` The iron fire-basket was carried bodily out by Mr. `
` Trelawney, and the embers smothered among sand. `
`