Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
Trelawney, and the embers smothered among sand. `
` `
` "Hawkins hasn't had his breakfast. Hawkins, help `
` yourself, and back to your post to eat it," continued `
` Captain Smollett. "Lively, now, my lad; you'll want it `
` before you've done. Hunter, serve out a round of `
` brandy to all hands." `
` `
` And while this was going on, the captain completed, in `
` his own mind, the plan of the defence. `
` `
` "Doctor, you will take the door," he resumed. "See, `
` and don't expose yourself; keep within, and fire `
` through the porch. Hunter, take the east side, there. `
` Joyce, you stand by the west, my man. Mr. Trelawney, `
` you are the best shot--you and Gray will take this long `
` north side, with the five loopholes; it's there the `
` danger is. If they can get up to it and fire in upon `
` us through our own ports, things would begin to look `
` dirty. Hawkins, neither you nor I are much account at `
` the shooting; we'll stand by to load and bear a hand." `
` `
` As the captain had said, the chill was past. As soon as `
` the sun had climbed above our girdle of trees, it fell `
` with all its force upon the clearing and drank up the `
` vapours at a draught. Soon the sand was baking and the `
` resin melting in the logs of the block house. Jackets `
` and coats were flung aside, shirts thrown open at the `
` neck and rolled up to the shoulders; and we stood there, `
` each at his post, in a fever of heat and anxiety. `
` `
` An hour passed away. `
` `
` "Hang them!" said the captain. "This is as dull as the `
` doldrums. Gray, whistle for a wind." `
` `
` And just at that moment came the first news of the attack. `
` `
` "If you please, sir," said Joyce, "if I see anyone, am `
` I to fire?" `
` `
` "I told you so!" cried the captain. `
` `
` "Thank you, sir," returned Joyce with the same quiet civility. `
` `
` Nothing followed for a time, but the remark had set us `
` all on the alert, straining ears and eyes--the `
` musketeers with their pieces balanced in their hands, `
` the captain out in the middle of the block house with `
` his mouth very tight and a frown on his face. `
` `
` So some seconds passed, till suddenly Joyce whipped up `
` his musket and fired. The report had scarcely died `
` away ere it was repeated and repeated from without in a `
` scattering volley, shot behind shot, like a string of `
` geese, from every side of the enclosure. Several `
` bullets struck the log-house, but not one entered; and `
` as the smoke cleared away and vanished, the stockade `
` and the woods around it looked as quiet and empty as `
` before. Not a bough waved, not the gleam of a musket- `
` barrel betrayed the presence of our foes. `
` `
` "Did you hit your man?" asked the captain. `
` `
` "No, sir," replied Joyce. "I believe not, sir." `
` `
` "Next best thing to tell the truth," muttered Captain `
` Smollett. "Load his gun, Hawkins. How many should say `
` there were on your side, doctor?" `
` `
` "I know precisely," said Dr. Livesey. "Three shots `
` were fired on this side. I saw the three flashes--two `
` close together--one farther to the west." `
` `
` "Three!" repeated the captain. "And how many on yours, `
` Mr. Trelawney?" `
` `
` But this was not so easily answered. There had come `
` many from the north--seven by the squire's computation, `
` eight or nine according to Gray. From the east and `
` west only a single shot had been fired. It was plain, `
` therefore, that the attack would be developed from the `
` north and that on the other three sides we were only to `
` be annoyed by a show of hostilities. But Captain `
` Smollett made no change in his arrangements. If the `
` mutineers succeeded in crossing the stockade, he argued, `
` they would take possession of any unprotected loophole `
` and shoot us down like rats in our own stronghold. `
` `
` Nor had we much time left to us for thought. Suddenly, `
` with a loud huzza, a little cloud of pirates leaped from `
` the woods on the north side and ran straight on the stockade. `
` At the same moment, the fire was once more opened from the `
` woods, and a rifle ball sang through the doorway and knocked `
` the doctor's musket into bits. `
` `
` The boarders swarmed over the fence like monkeys. `
` Squire and Gray fired again and yet again; three men `
` fell, one forwards into the enclosure, two back on the `
` outside. But of these, one was evidently more `
` frightened than hurt, for he was on his feet again in a `
` crack and instantly disappeared among the trees. `
` `
` Two had bit the dust, one had fled, four had made good `
` their footing inside our defences, while from the `
` shelter of the woods seven or eight men, each evidently `
` supplied with several muskets, kept up a hot though `
` useless fire on the log-house. `
` `
` The four who had boarded made straight before them for `
` the building, shouting as they ran, and the men among `
` the trees shouted back to encourage them. Several shots `
` were fired, but such was the hurry of the marksmen that `
` not one appears to have taken effect. In a moment, the `
` four pirates had swarmed up the mound and were upon us. `
` `
` The head of Job Anderson, the boatswain, appeared at `
` the middle loophole. `
` `
` "At 'em, all hands--all hands!" he roared in a voice `
` of thunder. `
` `
` At the same moment, another pirate grasped Hunter's `
` musket by the muzzle, wrenched it from his hands, `
` plucked it through the loophole, and with one stunning `
` blow, laid the poor fellow senseless on the floor. `
` Meanwhile a third, running unharmed all around the `
` house, appeared suddenly in the doorway and fell with `
` his cutlass on the doctor. `
` `
` Our position was utterly reversed. A moment since we `
` were firing, under cover, at an exposed enemy; now it `
` was we who lay uncovered and could not return a blow. `
` `
` The log-house was full of smoke, to which we owed our `
` comparative safety. Cries and confusion, the flashes `
` and reports of pistol-shots, and one loud groan rang `
` in my ears. `
` `
` "Out, lads, out, and fight 'em in the open! `
` Cutlasses!" cried the captain. `
` `
` I snatched a cutlass from the pile, and someone, at the `
` same time snatching another, gave me a cut across the `
` knuckles which I hardly felt. I dashed out of the door `
` into the clear sunlight. Someone was close behind, I `
` knew not whom. Right in front, the doctor was pursuing `
` his assailant down the hill, and just as my eyes fell `
` upon him, beat down his guard and sent him sprawling on `
` his back with a great slash across the face. `
` `
` "Round the house, lads! Round the house!" cried the `
` captain; and even in the hurly-burly, I perceived a `
` change in his voice. `
` `
` Mechanically, I obeyed, turned eastwards, and with my `
` cutlass raised, ran round the corner of the house. `
` Next moment I was face to face with Anderson. He `
` roared aloud, and his hanger went up above his head, `
` flashing in the sunlight. I had not time to be afraid, `
` but as the blow still hung impending, leaped in a trice `
` upon one side, and missing my foot in the soft sand, `
` rolled headlong down the slope. `
` `
` When I had first sallied from the door, the other `
` mutineers had been already swarming up the palisade to `
` make an end of us. One man, in a red night-cap, with `
` his cutlass in his mouth, had even got upon the top and `
` thrown a leg across. Well, so short had been the `
` interval that when I found my feet again all was in the `
` same posture, the fellow with the red night-cap still `
` half-way over, another still just showing his head `
` above the top of the stockade. And yet, in this breath `
` of time, the fight was over and the victory was ours. `
` `
` Gray, following close behind me, had cut down the big `
` boatswain ere he had time to recover from his last `
` blow. Another had been shot at a loophole in the very `
` act of firing into the house and now lay in agony, the `
` pistol still smoking in his hand. A third, as I had `
` seen, the doctor had disposed of at a blow. Of the `
` four who had scaled the palisade, one only remained `
` unaccounted for, and he, having left his cutlass on the `
` field, was now clambering out again with the fear of `
` death upon him. `
` `
` "Fire--fire from the house!" cried the doctor. "And `
` you, lads, back into cover." `
` `
` But his words were unheeded, no shot was fired, and the `
` last boarder made good his escape and disappeared with `
` the rest into the wood. In three seconds nothing `
` remained of the attacking party but the five who had `
` fallen, four on the inside and one on the outside of `
` the palisade. `
` `
` The doctor and Gray and I ran full speed for shelter. `
` The survivors would soon be back where they had left `
` their muskets, and at any moment the fire might recommence. `
` `
` The house was by this time somewhat cleared of smoke, `
`
` `
` "Hawkins hasn't had his breakfast. Hawkins, help `
` yourself, and back to your post to eat it," continued `
` Captain Smollett. "Lively, now, my lad; you'll want it `
` before you've done. Hunter, serve out a round of `
` brandy to all hands." `
` `
` And while this was going on, the captain completed, in `
` his own mind, the plan of the defence. `
` `
` "Doctor, you will take the door," he resumed. "See, `
` and don't expose yourself; keep within, and fire `
` through the porch. Hunter, take the east side, there. `
` Joyce, you stand by the west, my man. Mr. Trelawney, `
` you are the best shot--you and Gray will take this long `
` north side, with the five loopholes; it's there the `
` danger is. If they can get up to it and fire in upon `
` us through our own ports, things would begin to look `
` dirty. Hawkins, neither you nor I are much account at `
` the shooting; we'll stand by to load and bear a hand." `
` `
` As the captain had said, the chill was past. As soon as `
` the sun had climbed above our girdle of trees, it fell `
` with all its force upon the clearing and drank up the `
` vapours at a draught. Soon the sand was baking and the `
` resin melting in the logs of the block house. Jackets `
` and coats were flung aside, shirts thrown open at the `
` neck and rolled up to the shoulders; and we stood there, `
` each at his post, in a fever of heat and anxiety. `
` `
` An hour passed away. `
` `
` "Hang them!" said the captain. "This is as dull as the `
` doldrums. Gray, whistle for a wind." `
` `
` And just at that moment came the first news of the attack. `
` `
` "If you please, sir," said Joyce, "if I see anyone, am `
` I to fire?" `
` `
` "I told you so!" cried the captain. `
` `
` "Thank you, sir," returned Joyce with the same quiet civility. `
` `
` Nothing followed for a time, but the remark had set us `
` all on the alert, straining ears and eyes--the `
` musketeers with their pieces balanced in their hands, `
` the captain out in the middle of the block house with `
` his mouth very tight and a frown on his face. `
` `
` So some seconds passed, till suddenly Joyce whipped up `
` his musket and fired. The report had scarcely died `
` away ere it was repeated and repeated from without in a `
` scattering volley, shot behind shot, like a string of `
` geese, from every side of the enclosure. Several `
` bullets struck the log-house, but not one entered; and `
` as the smoke cleared away and vanished, the stockade `
` and the woods around it looked as quiet and empty as `
` before. Not a bough waved, not the gleam of a musket- `
` barrel betrayed the presence of our foes. `
` `
` "Did you hit your man?" asked the captain. `
` `
` "No, sir," replied Joyce. "I believe not, sir." `
` `
` "Next best thing to tell the truth," muttered Captain `
` Smollett. "Load his gun, Hawkins. How many should say `
` there were on your side, doctor?" `
` `
` "I know precisely," said Dr. Livesey. "Three shots `
` were fired on this side. I saw the three flashes--two `
` close together--one farther to the west." `
` `
` "Three!" repeated the captain. "And how many on yours, `
` Mr. Trelawney?" `
` `
` But this was not so easily answered. There had come `
` many from the north--seven by the squire's computation, `
` eight or nine according to Gray. From the east and `
` west only a single shot had been fired. It was plain, `
` therefore, that the attack would be developed from the `
` north and that on the other three sides we were only to `
` be annoyed by a show of hostilities. But Captain `
` Smollett made no change in his arrangements. If the `
` mutineers succeeded in crossing the stockade, he argued, `
` they would take possession of any unprotected loophole `
` and shoot us down like rats in our own stronghold. `
` `
` Nor had we much time left to us for thought. Suddenly, `
` with a loud huzza, a little cloud of pirates leaped from `
` the woods on the north side and ran straight on the stockade. `
` At the same moment, the fire was once more opened from the `
` woods, and a rifle ball sang through the doorway and knocked `
` the doctor's musket into bits. `
` `
` The boarders swarmed over the fence like monkeys. `
` Squire and Gray fired again and yet again; three men `
` fell, one forwards into the enclosure, two back on the `
` outside. But of these, one was evidently more `
` frightened than hurt, for he was on his feet again in a `
` crack and instantly disappeared among the trees. `
` `
` Two had bit the dust, one had fled, four had made good `
` their footing inside our defences, while from the `
` shelter of the woods seven or eight men, each evidently `
` supplied with several muskets, kept up a hot though `
` useless fire on the log-house. `
` `
` The four who had boarded made straight before them for `
` the building, shouting as they ran, and the men among `
` the trees shouted back to encourage them. Several shots `
` were fired, but such was the hurry of the marksmen that `
` not one appears to have taken effect. In a moment, the `
` four pirates had swarmed up the mound and were upon us. `
` `
` The head of Job Anderson, the boatswain, appeared at `
` the middle loophole. `
` `
` "At 'em, all hands--all hands!" he roared in a voice `
` of thunder. `
` `
` At the same moment, another pirate grasped Hunter's `
` musket by the muzzle, wrenched it from his hands, `
` plucked it through the loophole, and with one stunning `
` blow, laid the poor fellow senseless on the floor. `
` Meanwhile a third, running unharmed all around the `
` house, appeared suddenly in the doorway and fell with `
` his cutlass on the doctor. `
` `
` Our position was utterly reversed. A moment since we `
` were firing, under cover, at an exposed enemy; now it `
` was we who lay uncovered and could not return a blow. `
` `
` The log-house was full of smoke, to which we owed our `
` comparative safety. Cries and confusion, the flashes `
` and reports of pistol-shots, and one loud groan rang `
` in my ears. `
` `
` "Out, lads, out, and fight 'em in the open! `
` Cutlasses!" cried the captain. `
` `
` I snatched a cutlass from the pile, and someone, at the `
` same time snatching another, gave me a cut across the `
` knuckles which I hardly felt. I dashed out of the door `
` into the clear sunlight. Someone was close behind, I `
` knew not whom. Right in front, the doctor was pursuing `
` his assailant down the hill, and just as my eyes fell `
` upon him, beat down his guard and sent him sprawling on `
` his back with a great slash across the face. `
` `
` "Round the house, lads! Round the house!" cried the `
` captain; and even in the hurly-burly, I perceived a `
` change in his voice. `
` `
` Mechanically, I obeyed, turned eastwards, and with my `
` cutlass raised, ran round the corner of the house. `
` Next moment I was face to face with Anderson. He `
` roared aloud, and his hanger went up above his head, `
` flashing in the sunlight. I had not time to be afraid, `
` but as the blow still hung impending, leaped in a trice `
` upon one side, and missing my foot in the soft sand, `
` rolled headlong down the slope. `
` `
` When I had first sallied from the door, the other `
` mutineers had been already swarming up the palisade to `
` make an end of us. One man, in a red night-cap, with `
` his cutlass in his mouth, had even got upon the top and `
` thrown a leg across. Well, so short had been the `
` interval that when I found my feet again all was in the `
` same posture, the fellow with the red night-cap still `
` half-way over, another still just showing his head `
` above the top of the stockade. And yet, in this breath `
` of time, the fight was over and the victory was ours. `
` `
` Gray, following close behind me, had cut down the big `
` boatswain ere he had time to recover from his last `
` blow. Another had been shot at a loophole in the very `
` act of firing into the house and now lay in agony, the `
` pistol still smoking in his hand. A third, as I had `
` seen, the doctor had disposed of at a blow. Of the `
` four who had scaled the palisade, one only remained `
` unaccounted for, and he, having left his cutlass on the `
` field, was now clambering out again with the fear of `
` death upon him. `
` `
` "Fire--fire from the house!" cried the doctor. "And `
` you, lads, back into cover." `
` `
` But his words were unheeded, no shot was fired, and the `
` last boarder made good his escape and disappeared with `
` the rest into the wood. In three seconds nothing `
` remained of the attacking party but the five who had `
` fallen, four on the inside and one on the outside of `
` the palisade. `
` `
` The doctor and Gray and I ran full speed for shelter. `
` The survivors would soon be back where they had left `
` their muskets, and at any moment the fire might recommence. `
` `
` The house was by this time somewhat cleared of smoke, `
`