Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
The house was by this time somewhat cleared of smoke, `
` and we saw at a glance the price we had paid for `
` victory. Hunter lay beside his loophole, stunned; `
` Joyce by his, shot through the head, never to move `
` again; while right in the centre, the squire was `
` supporting the captain, one as pale as the other. `
` `
` "The captain's wounded," said Mr. Trelawney. `
` `
` "Have they run?" asked Mr. Smollett. `
` `
` "All that could, you may be bound," returned the doctor; `
` "but there's five of them will never run again." `
` `
` "Five!" cried the captain. "Come, that's better. Five `
` against three leaves us four to nine. That's better `
` odds than we had at starting. We were seven to nineteen `
` then, or thought we were, and that's as bad to bear."* `
` `
` *The mutineers were soon only eight in number, for the `
` man shot by Mr. Trelawney on board the schooner died `
` that same evening of his wound. But this was, of `
` course, not known till after by the faithful party. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` PART FIVE `
` `
` My Sea Adventure `
` `
` `
` `
` 22 `
` `
` How My Sea Adventure Began `
` `
` THERE was no return of the mutineers--not so much as `
` another shot out of the woods. They had "got their `
` rations for that day," as the captain put it, and we `
` had the place to ourselves and a quiet time to overhaul `
` the wounded and get dinner. Squire and I cooked `
` outside in spite of the danger, and even outside we `
` could hardly tell what we were at, for horror of the `
` loud groans that reached us from the doctor's patients. `
` `
` Out of the eight men who had fallen in the action, only `
` three still breathed--that one of the pirates who had `
` been shot at the loophole, Hunter, and Captain `
` Smollett; and of these, the first two were as good as `
` dead; the mutineer indeed died under the doctor's `
` knife, and Hunter, do what we could, never recovered `
` consciousness in this world. He lingered all day, `
` breathing loudly like the old buccaneer at home in his `
` apoplectic fit, but the bones of his chest had been `
` crushed by the blow and his skull fractured in falling, `
` and some time in the following night, without sign or `
` sound, he went to his Maker. `
` `
` As for the captain, his wounds were grievous indeed, `
` but not dangerous. No organ was fatally injured. `
` Anderson's ball--for it was Job that shot him first-- `
` had broken his shoulder-blade and touched the lung, not `
` badly; the second had only torn and displaced some `
` muscles in the calf. He was sure to recover, the `
` doctor said, but in the meantime, and for weeks to `
` come, he must not walk nor move his arm, nor so much as `
` speak when he could help it. `
` `
` My own accidental cut across the knuckles was a flea- `
` bite. Doctor Livesey patched it up with plaster and `
` pulled my ears for me into the bargain. `
` `
` After dinner the squire and the doctor sat by the `
` captain's side awhile in consultation; and when they `
` had talked to their hearts' content, it being then a `
` little past noon, the doctor took up his hat and pistols, `
` girt on a cutlass, put the chart in his pocket, and with `
` a musket over his shoulder crossed the palisade on the `
` north side and set off briskly through the trees. `
` `
` Gray and I were sitting together at the far end of the `
` block house, to be out of earshot of our officers `
` consulting; and Gray took his pipe out of his mouth and `
` fairly forgot to put it back again, so thunder-struck `
` he was at this occurrence. `
` `
` "Why, in the name of Davy Jones," said he, "is Dr. `
` Livesey mad?" `
` `
` "Why no," says I. "He's about the last of this crew `
` for that, I take it." `
` `
` "Well, shipmate," said Gray, "mad he may not be; but if `
` HE'S not, you mark my words, I am." `
` `
` "I take it," replied I, "the doctor has his idea; and `
` if I am right, he's going now to see Ben Gunn." `
` `
` I was right, as appeared later; but in the meantime, `
` the house being stifling hot and the little patch of `
` sand inside the palisade ablaze with midday sun, I `
` began to get another thought into my head, which was `
` not by any means so right. What I began to do was to `
` envy the doctor walking in the cool shadow of the woods `
` with the birds about him and the pleasant smell of the `
` pines, while I sat grilling, with my clothes stuck to `
` the hot resin, and so much blood about me and so many `
` poor dead bodies lying all around that I took a disgust `
` of the place that was almost as strong as fear. `
` `
` All the time I was washing out the block house, and `
` then washing up the things from dinner, this disgust `
` and envy kept growing stronger and stronger, till at `
` last, being near a bread-bag, and no one then observing `
` me, I took the first step towards my escapade and `
` filled both pockets of my coat with biscuit. `
` `
` I was a fool, if you like, and certainly I was going to `
` do a foolish, over-bold act; but I was determined to do `
` it with all the precautions in my power. These `
` biscuits, should anything befall me, would keep me, at `
` least, from starving till far on in the next day. `
` `
` The next thing I laid hold of was a brace of pistols, `
` and as I already had a powder-horn and bullets, I felt `
` myself well supplied with arms. `
` `
` As for the scheme I had in my head, it was not a bad `
` one in itself. I was to go down the sandy spit that `
` divides the anchorage on the east from the open sea, `
` find the white rock I had observed last evening, and `
` ascertain whether it was there or not that Ben Gunn had `
` hidden his boat, a thing quite worth doing, as I still `
` believe. But as I was certain I should not be allowed `
` to leave the enclosure, my only plan was to take French `
` leave and slip out when nobody was watching, and that `
` was so bad a way of doing it as made the thing itself `
` wrong. But I was only a boy, and I had made my mind up. `
` `
` Well, as things at last fell out, I found an admirable `
` opportunity. The squire and Gray were busy helping the `
` captain with his bandages, the coast was clear, I made `
` a bolt for it over the stockade and into the thickest `
` of the trees, and before my absence was observed I was `
` out of cry of my companions. `
` `
` This was my second folly, far worse than the first, as `
` I left but two sound men to guard the house; but like `
` the first, it was a help towards saving all of us. `
` `
` I took my way straight for the east coast of the `
` island, for I was determined to go down the sea side of `
` the spit to avoid all chance of observation from the `
` anchorage. It was already late in the afternoon, `
` although still warm and sunny. As I continued to `
` thread the tall woods, I could hear from far before me `
` not only the continuous thunder of the surf, but a `
` certain tossing of foliage and grinding of boughs which `
` showed me the sea breeze had set in higher than usual. `
` Soon cool draughts of air began to reach me, and a few `
` steps farther I came forth into the open borders of the `
` grove, and saw the sea lying blue and sunny to the `
` horizon and the surf tumbling and tossing its foam `
` along the beach. `
` `
` I have never seen the sea quiet round Treasure Island. `
` The sun might blaze overhead, the air be without a `
` breath, the surface smooth and blue, but still these `
` great rollers would be running along all the external `
` coast, thundering and thundering by day and night; and `
` I scarce believe there is one spot in the island where `
` a man would be out of earshot of their noise. `
` `
` I walked along beside the surf with great enjoyment, `
` till, thinking I was now got far enough to the south, I `
` took the cover of some thick bushes and crept warily up `
` to the ridge of the spit. `
` `
` Behind me was the sea, in front the anchorage. The sea `
` breeze, as though it had the sooner blown itself out by `
` its unusual violence, was already at an end; it had `
` been succeeded by light, variable airs from the south and `
` south-east, carrying great banks of fog; and the anchorage, `
` under lee of Skeleton Island, lay still and leaden as when `
` first we entered it. The HISPANIOLA, in that unbroken `
` mirror, was exactly portrayed from the truck to the `
` waterline, the Jolly Roger hanging from her peak. `
` `
` Alongside lay one of the gigs, Silver in the stern- `
` sheets--him I could always recognize--while a couple of `
` men were leaning over the stern bulwarks, one of them `
` with a red cap--the very rogue that I had seen some `
` hours before stride-legs upon the palisade. Apparently `
` they were talking and laughing, though at that `
` distance--upwards of a mile--I could, of course, hear `
` no word of what was said. All at once there began the `
` most horrid, unearthly screaming, which at first `
` startled me badly, though I had soon remembered the `
` voice of Captain Flint and even thought I could make `
`
` and we saw at a glance the price we had paid for `
` victory. Hunter lay beside his loophole, stunned; `
` Joyce by his, shot through the head, never to move `
` again; while right in the centre, the squire was `
` supporting the captain, one as pale as the other. `
` `
` "The captain's wounded," said Mr. Trelawney. `
` `
` "Have they run?" asked Mr. Smollett. `
` `
` "All that could, you may be bound," returned the doctor; `
` "but there's five of them will never run again." `
` `
` "Five!" cried the captain. "Come, that's better. Five `
` against three leaves us four to nine. That's better `
` odds than we had at starting. We were seven to nineteen `
` then, or thought we were, and that's as bad to bear."* `
` `
` *The mutineers were soon only eight in number, for the `
` man shot by Mr. Trelawney on board the schooner died `
` that same evening of his wound. But this was, of `
` course, not known till after by the faithful party. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` PART FIVE `
` `
` My Sea Adventure `
` `
` `
` `
` 22 `
` `
` How My Sea Adventure Began `
` `
` THERE was no return of the mutineers--not so much as `
` another shot out of the woods. They had "got their `
` rations for that day," as the captain put it, and we `
` had the place to ourselves and a quiet time to overhaul `
` the wounded and get dinner. Squire and I cooked `
` outside in spite of the danger, and even outside we `
` could hardly tell what we were at, for horror of the `
` loud groans that reached us from the doctor's patients. `
` `
` Out of the eight men who had fallen in the action, only `
` three still breathed--that one of the pirates who had `
` been shot at the loophole, Hunter, and Captain `
` Smollett; and of these, the first two were as good as `
` dead; the mutineer indeed died under the doctor's `
` knife, and Hunter, do what we could, never recovered `
` consciousness in this world. He lingered all day, `
` breathing loudly like the old buccaneer at home in his `
` apoplectic fit, but the bones of his chest had been `
` crushed by the blow and his skull fractured in falling, `
` and some time in the following night, without sign or `
` sound, he went to his Maker. `
` `
` As for the captain, his wounds were grievous indeed, `
` but not dangerous. No organ was fatally injured. `
` Anderson's ball--for it was Job that shot him first-- `
` had broken his shoulder-blade and touched the lung, not `
` badly; the second had only torn and displaced some `
` muscles in the calf. He was sure to recover, the `
` doctor said, but in the meantime, and for weeks to `
` come, he must not walk nor move his arm, nor so much as `
` speak when he could help it. `
` `
` My own accidental cut across the knuckles was a flea- `
` bite. Doctor Livesey patched it up with plaster and `
` pulled my ears for me into the bargain. `
` `
` After dinner the squire and the doctor sat by the `
` captain's side awhile in consultation; and when they `
` had talked to their hearts' content, it being then a `
` little past noon, the doctor took up his hat and pistols, `
` girt on a cutlass, put the chart in his pocket, and with `
` a musket over his shoulder crossed the palisade on the `
` north side and set off briskly through the trees. `
` `
` Gray and I were sitting together at the far end of the `
` block house, to be out of earshot of our officers `
` consulting; and Gray took his pipe out of his mouth and `
` fairly forgot to put it back again, so thunder-struck `
` he was at this occurrence. `
` `
` "Why, in the name of Davy Jones," said he, "is Dr. `
` Livesey mad?" `
` `
` "Why no," says I. "He's about the last of this crew `
` for that, I take it." `
` `
` "Well, shipmate," said Gray, "mad he may not be; but if `
` HE'S not, you mark my words, I am." `
` `
` "I take it," replied I, "the doctor has his idea; and `
` if I am right, he's going now to see Ben Gunn." `
` `
` I was right, as appeared later; but in the meantime, `
` the house being stifling hot and the little patch of `
` sand inside the palisade ablaze with midday sun, I `
` began to get another thought into my head, which was `
` not by any means so right. What I began to do was to `
` envy the doctor walking in the cool shadow of the woods `
` with the birds about him and the pleasant smell of the `
` pines, while I sat grilling, with my clothes stuck to `
` the hot resin, and so much blood about me and so many `
` poor dead bodies lying all around that I took a disgust `
` of the place that was almost as strong as fear. `
` `
` All the time I was washing out the block house, and `
` then washing up the things from dinner, this disgust `
` and envy kept growing stronger and stronger, till at `
` last, being near a bread-bag, and no one then observing `
` me, I took the first step towards my escapade and `
` filled both pockets of my coat with biscuit. `
` `
` I was a fool, if you like, and certainly I was going to `
` do a foolish, over-bold act; but I was determined to do `
` it with all the precautions in my power. These `
` biscuits, should anything befall me, would keep me, at `
` least, from starving till far on in the next day. `
` `
` The next thing I laid hold of was a brace of pistols, `
` and as I already had a powder-horn and bullets, I felt `
` myself well supplied with arms. `
` `
` As for the scheme I had in my head, it was not a bad `
` one in itself. I was to go down the sandy spit that `
` divides the anchorage on the east from the open sea, `
` find the white rock I had observed last evening, and `
` ascertain whether it was there or not that Ben Gunn had `
` hidden his boat, a thing quite worth doing, as I still `
` believe. But as I was certain I should not be allowed `
` to leave the enclosure, my only plan was to take French `
` leave and slip out when nobody was watching, and that `
` was so bad a way of doing it as made the thing itself `
` wrong. But I was only a boy, and I had made my mind up. `
` `
` Well, as things at last fell out, I found an admirable `
` opportunity. The squire and Gray were busy helping the `
` captain with his bandages, the coast was clear, I made `
` a bolt for it over the stockade and into the thickest `
` of the trees, and before my absence was observed I was `
` out of cry of my companions. `
` `
` This was my second folly, far worse than the first, as `
` I left but two sound men to guard the house; but like `
` the first, it was a help towards saving all of us. `
` `
` I took my way straight for the east coast of the `
` island, for I was determined to go down the sea side of `
` the spit to avoid all chance of observation from the `
` anchorage. It was already late in the afternoon, `
` although still warm and sunny. As I continued to `
` thread the tall woods, I could hear from far before me `
` not only the continuous thunder of the surf, but a `
` certain tossing of foliage and grinding of boughs which `
` showed me the sea breeze had set in higher than usual. `
` Soon cool draughts of air began to reach me, and a few `
` steps farther I came forth into the open borders of the `
` grove, and saw the sea lying blue and sunny to the `
` horizon and the surf tumbling and tossing its foam `
` along the beach. `
` `
` I have never seen the sea quiet round Treasure Island. `
` The sun might blaze overhead, the air be without a `
` breath, the surface smooth and blue, but still these `
` great rollers would be running along all the external `
` coast, thundering and thundering by day and night; and `
` I scarce believe there is one spot in the island where `
` a man would be out of earshot of their noise. `
` `
` I walked along beside the surf with great enjoyment, `
` till, thinking I was now got far enough to the south, I `
` took the cover of some thick bushes and crept warily up `
` to the ridge of the spit. `
` `
` Behind me was the sea, in front the anchorage. The sea `
` breeze, as though it had the sooner blown itself out by `
` its unusual violence, was already at an end; it had `
` been succeeded by light, variable airs from the south and `
` south-east, carrying great banks of fog; and the anchorage, `
` under lee of Skeleton Island, lay still and leaden as when `
` first we entered it. The HISPANIOLA, in that unbroken `
` mirror, was exactly portrayed from the truck to the `
` waterline, the Jolly Roger hanging from her peak. `
` `
` Alongside lay one of the gigs, Silver in the stern- `
` sheets--him I could always recognize--while a couple of `
` men were leaning over the stern bulwarks, one of them `
` with a red cap--the very rogue that I had seen some `
` hours before stride-legs upon the palisade. Apparently `
` they were talking and laughing, though at that `
` distance--upwards of a mile--I could, of course, hear `
` no word of what was said. All at once there began the `
` most horrid, unearthly screaming, which at first `
` startled me badly, though I had soon remembered the `
` voice of Captain Flint and even thought I could make `
`