Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
I am in the most magnificent health and `
` spirits, eating like a bull, sleeping like a tree, `
` yet I shall not enjoy a moment till I hear my old `
` tarpaulins tramping round the capstan. Seaward, `
` ho! Hang the treasure! It's the glory of the sea `
` that has turned my head. So now, Livesey, come `
` post; do not lose an hour, if you respect me. `
` Let young Hawkins go at once to see his `
` mother, with Redruth for a guard; and then both `
` come full speed to Bristol. `
` John Trelawney `
` `
` Postscript--I did not tell you that Blandly, `
` who, by the way, is to send a consort after us if `
` we don't turn up by the end of August, had found `
` an admirable fellow for sailing master--a stiff `
` man, which I regret, but in all other respects a `
` treasure. Long John Silver unearthed a very `
` competent man for a mate, a man named Arrow. I `
` have a boatswain who pipes, Livesey; so things `
` shall go man-o'-war fashion on board the good ship `
` HISPANIOLA. `
` I forgot to tell you that Silver is a man of `
` substance; I know of my own knowledge that he has `
` a banker's account, which has never been `
` overdrawn. He leaves his wife to manage the inn; `
` and as she is a woman of colour, a pair of old `
` bachelors like you and I may be excused for `
` guessing that it is the wife, quite as much as the `
` health, that sends him back to roving. `
` J. T. `
` `
` P.P.S.--Hawkins may stay one night with his `
` mother. `
` J. T. `
` `
` You can fancy the excitement into which that letter put `
` me. I was half beside myself with glee; and if ever I `
` despised a man, it was old Tom Redruth, who could do `
` nothing but grumble and lament. Any of the under- `
` gamekeepers would gladly have changed places with him; `
` but such was not the squire's pleasure, and the squire's `
` pleasure was like law among them all. Nobody but old `
` Redruth would have dared so much as even to grumble. `
` `
` The next morning he and I set out on foot for the `
` Admiral Benbow, and there I found my mother in good `
` health and spirits. The captain, who had so long been `
` a cause of so much discomfort, was gone where the `
` wicked cease from troubling. The squire had had `
` everything repaired, and the public rooms and the sign `
` repainted, and had added some furniture--above all a `
` beautiful armchair for mother in the bar. He had found `
` her a boy as an apprentice also so that she should not `
` want help while I was gone. `
` `
` It was on seeing that boy that I understood, for the `
` first time, my situation. I had thought up to that `
` moment of the adventures before me, not at all of the `
` home that I was leaving; and now, at sight of this clumsy `
` stranger, who was to stay here in my place beside my `
` mother, I had my first attack of tears. I am afraid I `
` led that boy a dog's life, for as he was new to the work, `
` I had a hundred opportunities of setting him right and `
` putting him down, and I was not slow to profit by them. `
` `
` The night passed, and the next day, after dinner, `
` Redruth and I were afoot again and on the road. I said `
` good-bye to Mother and the cove where I had lived since `
` I was born, and the dear old Admiral Benbow--since he `
` was repainted, no longer quite so dear. One of my last `
` thoughts was of the captain, who had so often strode `
` along the beach with his cocked hat, his sabre-cut `
` cheek, and his old brass telescope. Next moment we had `
` turned the corner and my home was out of sight. `
` `
` The mail picked us up about dusk at the Royal George on `
` the heath. I was wedged in between Redruth and a stout `
` old gentleman, and in spite of the swift motion and the `
` cold night air, I must have dozed a great deal from the `
` very first, and then slept like a log up hill and down `
` dale through stage after stage, for when I was awakened `
` at last it was by a punch in the ribs, and I opened my `
` eyes to find that we were standing still before a large `
` building in a city street and that the day had already `
` broken a long time. `
` `
` "Where are we?" I asked. `
` `
` "Bristol," said Tom. "Get down." `
` `
` Mr. Trelawney had taken up his residence at an inn far `
` down the docks to superintend the work upon the `
` schooner. Thither we had now to walk, and our way, to `
` my great delight, lay along the quays and beside the `
` great multitude of ships of all sizes and rigs and `
` nations. In one, sailors were singing at their work, `
` in another there were men aloft, high over my head, `
` hanging to threads that seemed no thicker than a `
` spider's. Though I had lived by the shore all my life, `
` I seemed never to have been near the sea till then. `
` The smell of tar and salt was something new. I saw the `
` most wonderful figureheads, that had all been far over `
` the ocean. I saw, besides, many old sailors, with `
` rings in their ears, and whiskers curled in ringlets, `
` and tarry pigtails, and their swaggering, clumsy sea- `
` walk; and if I had seen as many kings or archbishops I `
` could not have been more delighted. `
` `
` And I was going to sea myself, to sea in a schooner, with `
` a piping boatswain and pig-tailed singing seamen, to sea, `
` bound for an unknown island, and to seek for buried treasure! `
` `
` While I was still in this delightful dream, we came `
` suddenly in front of a large inn and met Squire `
` Trelawney, all dressed out like a sea-officer, in stout `
` blue cloth, coming out of the door with a smile on his `
` face and a capital imitation of a sailor's walk. `
` `
` "Here you are," he cried, "and the doctor came last night `
` from London. Bravo! The ship's company complete!" `
` `
` "Oh, sir," cried I, "when do we sail?" `
` `
` "Sail!" says he. "We sail tomorrow!" `
` `
` `
` `
` 8 `
` `
` At the Sign of the Spy-glass `
` `
` WHEN I had done breakfasting the squire gave me a note `
` addressed to John Silver, at the sign of the Spy-glass, `
` and told me I should easily find the place by following `
` the line of the docks and keeping a bright lookout for a `
` little tavern with a large brass telescope for sign. I set `
` off, overjoyed at this opportunity to see some more of the `
` ships and seamen, and picked my way among a great crowd of `
` people and carts and bales, for the dock was now at its `
` busiest, until I found the tavern in question. `
` `
` It was a bright enough little place of entertainment. `
` The sign was newly painted; the windows had neat red `
` curtains; the floor was cleanly sanded. There was a `
` street on each side and an open door on both, which `
` made the large, low room pretty clear to see in, in `
` spite of clouds of tobacco smoke. `
` `
` The customers were mostly seafaring men, and they talked `
` so loudly that I hung at the door, almost afraid to enter. `
` `
` As I was waiting, a man came out of a side room, and at `
` a glance I was sure he must be Long John. His left leg `
` was cut off close by the hip, and under the left `
` shoulder he carried a crutch, which he managed with `
` wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird. `
` He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a `
` ham--plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling. `
` Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, `
` whistling as he moved about among the tables, with a `
` merry word or a slap on the shoulder for the more `
` favoured of his guests. `
` `
` Now, to tell you the truth, from the very first mention `
` of Long John in Squire Trelawney's letter I had taken a `
` fear in my mind that he might prove to be the very one- `
` legged sailor whom I had watched for so long at the old `
` Benbow. But one look at the man before me was enough. `
` I had seen the captain, and Black Dog, and the blind `
` man, Pew, and I thought I knew what a buccaneer was `
` like--a very different creature, according to me, from `
` this clean and pleasant-tempered landlord. `
` `
` I plucked up courage at once, crossed the threshold, `
` and walked right up to the man where he stood, propped `
` on his crutch, talking to a customer. `
` `
` "Mr. Silver, sir?" I asked, holding out the note. `
` `
` "Yes, my lad," said he; "such is my name, to be sure. And `
` who may you be?" And then as he saw the squire's letter, `
` he seemed to me to give something almost like a start. `
` `
` "Oh!" said he, quite loud, and offering his hand. "I `
` see. You are our new cabin-boy; pleased I am to see you." `
` `
` And he took my hand in his large firm grasp. `
` `
` Just then one of the customers at the far side rose `
` suddenly and made for the door. It was close by him, `
` and he was out in the street in a moment. But his `
` hurry had attracted my notice, and I recognized him at `
` glance. It was the tallow-faced man, wanting two `
` fingers, who had come first to the Admiral Benbow. `
` `
` "Oh," I cried, "stop him! It's Black Dog!" `
` `
` "I don't care two coppers who he is," cried Silver. "But `
` he hasn't paid his score. Harry, run and catch him." `
` `
`
` spirits, eating like a bull, sleeping like a tree, `
` yet I shall not enjoy a moment till I hear my old `
` tarpaulins tramping round the capstan. Seaward, `
` ho! Hang the treasure! It's the glory of the sea `
` that has turned my head. So now, Livesey, come `
` post; do not lose an hour, if you respect me. `
` Let young Hawkins go at once to see his `
` mother, with Redruth for a guard; and then both `
` come full speed to Bristol. `
` John Trelawney `
` `
` Postscript--I did not tell you that Blandly, `
` who, by the way, is to send a consort after us if `
` we don't turn up by the end of August, had found `
` an admirable fellow for sailing master--a stiff `
` man, which I regret, but in all other respects a `
` treasure. Long John Silver unearthed a very `
` competent man for a mate, a man named Arrow. I `
` have a boatswain who pipes, Livesey; so things `
` shall go man-o'-war fashion on board the good ship `
` HISPANIOLA. `
` I forgot to tell you that Silver is a man of `
` substance; I know of my own knowledge that he has `
` a banker's account, which has never been `
` overdrawn. He leaves his wife to manage the inn; `
` and as she is a woman of colour, a pair of old `
` bachelors like you and I may be excused for `
` guessing that it is the wife, quite as much as the `
` health, that sends him back to roving. `
` J. T. `
` `
` P.P.S.--Hawkins may stay one night with his `
` mother. `
` J. T. `
` `
` You can fancy the excitement into which that letter put `
` me. I was half beside myself with glee; and if ever I `
` despised a man, it was old Tom Redruth, who could do `
` nothing but grumble and lament. Any of the under- `
` gamekeepers would gladly have changed places with him; `
` but such was not the squire's pleasure, and the squire's `
` pleasure was like law among them all. Nobody but old `
` Redruth would have dared so much as even to grumble. `
` `
` The next morning he and I set out on foot for the `
` Admiral Benbow, and there I found my mother in good `
` health and spirits. The captain, who had so long been `
` a cause of so much discomfort, was gone where the `
` wicked cease from troubling. The squire had had `
` everything repaired, and the public rooms and the sign `
` repainted, and had added some furniture--above all a `
` beautiful armchair for mother in the bar. He had found `
` her a boy as an apprentice also so that she should not `
` want help while I was gone. `
` `
` It was on seeing that boy that I understood, for the `
` first time, my situation. I had thought up to that `
` moment of the adventures before me, not at all of the `
` home that I was leaving; and now, at sight of this clumsy `
` stranger, who was to stay here in my place beside my `
` mother, I had my first attack of tears. I am afraid I `
` led that boy a dog's life, for as he was new to the work, `
` I had a hundred opportunities of setting him right and `
` putting him down, and I was not slow to profit by them. `
` `
` The night passed, and the next day, after dinner, `
` Redruth and I were afoot again and on the road. I said `
` good-bye to Mother and the cove where I had lived since `
` I was born, and the dear old Admiral Benbow--since he `
` was repainted, no longer quite so dear. One of my last `
` thoughts was of the captain, who had so often strode `
` along the beach with his cocked hat, his sabre-cut `
` cheek, and his old brass telescope. Next moment we had `
` turned the corner and my home was out of sight. `
` `
` The mail picked us up about dusk at the Royal George on `
` the heath. I was wedged in between Redruth and a stout `
` old gentleman, and in spite of the swift motion and the `
` cold night air, I must have dozed a great deal from the `
` very first, and then slept like a log up hill and down `
` dale through stage after stage, for when I was awakened `
` at last it was by a punch in the ribs, and I opened my `
` eyes to find that we were standing still before a large `
` building in a city street and that the day had already `
` broken a long time. `
` `
` "Where are we?" I asked. `
` `
` "Bristol," said Tom. "Get down." `
` `
` Mr. Trelawney had taken up his residence at an inn far `
` down the docks to superintend the work upon the `
` schooner. Thither we had now to walk, and our way, to `
` my great delight, lay along the quays and beside the `
` great multitude of ships of all sizes and rigs and `
` nations. In one, sailors were singing at their work, `
` in another there were men aloft, high over my head, `
` hanging to threads that seemed no thicker than a `
` spider's. Though I had lived by the shore all my life, `
` I seemed never to have been near the sea till then. `
` The smell of tar and salt was something new. I saw the `
` most wonderful figureheads, that had all been far over `
` the ocean. I saw, besides, many old sailors, with `
` rings in their ears, and whiskers curled in ringlets, `
` and tarry pigtails, and their swaggering, clumsy sea- `
` walk; and if I had seen as many kings or archbishops I `
` could not have been more delighted. `
` `
` And I was going to sea myself, to sea in a schooner, with `
` a piping boatswain and pig-tailed singing seamen, to sea, `
` bound for an unknown island, and to seek for buried treasure! `
` `
` While I was still in this delightful dream, we came `
` suddenly in front of a large inn and met Squire `
` Trelawney, all dressed out like a sea-officer, in stout `
` blue cloth, coming out of the door with a smile on his `
` face and a capital imitation of a sailor's walk. `
` `
` "Here you are," he cried, "and the doctor came last night `
` from London. Bravo! The ship's company complete!" `
` `
` "Oh, sir," cried I, "when do we sail?" `
` `
` "Sail!" says he. "We sail tomorrow!" `
` `
` `
` `
` 8 `
` `
` At the Sign of the Spy-glass `
` `
` WHEN I had done breakfasting the squire gave me a note `
` addressed to John Silver, at the sign of the Spy-glass, `
` and told me I should easily find the place by following `
` the line of the docks and keeping a bright lookout for a `
` little tavern with a large brass telescope for sign. I set `
` off, overjoyed at this opportunity to see some more of the `
` ships and seamen, and picked my way among a great crowd of `
` people and carts and bales, for the dock was now at its `
` busiest, until I found the tavern in question. `
` `
` It was a bright enough little place of entertainment. `
` The sign was newly painted; the windows had neat red `
` curtains; the floor was cleanly sanded. There was a `
` street on each side and an open door on both, which `
` made the large, low room pretty clear to see in, in `
` spite of clouds of tobacco smoke. `
` `
` The customers were mostly seafaring men, and they talked `
` so loudly that I hung at the door, almost afraid to enter. `
` `
` As I was waiting, a man came out of a side room, and at `
` a glance I was sure he must be Long John. His left leg `
` was cut off close by the hip, and under the left `
` shoulder he carried a crutch, which he managed with `
` wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird. `
` He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a `
` ham--plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling. `
` Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, `
` whistling as he moved about among the tables, with a `
` merry word or a slap on the shoulder for the more `
` favoured of his guests. `
` `
` Now, to tell you the truth, from the very first mention `
` of Long John in Squire Trelawney's letter I had taken a `
` fear in my mind that he might prove to be the very one- `
` legged sailor whom I had watched for so long at the old `
` Benbow. But one look at the man before me was enough. `
` I had seen the captain, and Black Dog, and the blind `
` man, Pew, and I thought I knew what a buccaneer was `
` like--a very different creature, according to me, from `
` this clean and pleasant-tempered landlord. `
` `
` I plucked up courage at once, crossed the threshold, `
` and walked right up to the man where he stood, propped `
` on his crutch, talking to a customer. `
` `
` "Mr. Silver, sir?" I asked, holding out the note. `
` `
` "Yes, my lad," said he; "such is my name, to be sure. And `
` who may you be?" And then as he saw the squire's letter, `
` he seemed to me to give something almost like a start. `
` `
` "Oh!" said he, quite loud, and offering his hand. "I `
` see. You are our new cabin-boy; pleased I am to see you." `
` `
` And he took my hand in his large firm grasp. `
` `
` Just then one of the customers at the far side rose `
` suddenly and made for the door. It was close by him, `
` and he was out in the street in a moment. But his `
` hurry had attracted my notice, and I recognized him at `
` glance. It was the tallow-faced man, wanting two `
` fingers, who had come first to the Admiral Benbow. `
` `
` "Oh," I cried, "stop him! It's Black Dog!" `
` `
` "I don't care two coppers who he is," cried Silver. "But `
` he hasn't paid his score. Harry, run and catch him." `
` `
`