Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
`
` One of the others who was nearest the door leaped up `
` and started in pursuit. `
` `
` "If he were Admiral Hawke he shall pay his score," `
` cried Silver; and then, relinquishing my hand, "Who did `
` you say he was?" he asked. "Black what?" `
` `
` "Dog, sir," said I. Has Mr. Trelawney not told you of `
` the buccaneers? He was one of them." `
` `
` "So?" cried Silver. "In my house! Ben, run and help `
` Harry. One of those swabs, was he? Was that you `
` drinking with him, Morgan? Step up here." `
` `
` The man whom he called Morgan--an old, grey-haired, `
` mahogany-faced sailor--came forward pretty sheepishly, `
` rolling his quid. `
` `
` "Now, Morgan," said Long John very sternly, "you never `
` clapped your eyes on that Black--Black Dog before, did `
` you, now?" `
` `
` "Not I, sir," said Morgan with a salute. `
` `
` "You didn't know his name, did you?" `
` `
` "No, sir." `
` `
` "By the powers, Tom Morgan, it's as good for you!" `
` exclaimed the landlord. "If you had been mixed up with `
` the like of that, you would never have put another foot `
` in my house, you may lay to that. And what was he `
` saying to you?" `
` `
` "I don't rightly know, sir," answered Morgan. `
` `
` "Do you call that a head on your shoulders, or a blessed `
` dead-eye?" cried Long John. "Don't rightly know, don't `
` you! Perhaps you don't happen to rightly know who you was `
` speaking to, perhaps? Come, now, what was he jawing--v'yages, `
` cap'ns, ships? Pipe up! What was it?" `
` `
` "We was a-talkin' of keel-hauling," answered Morgan. `
` `
` "Keel-hauling, was you? And a mighty suitable thing, `
` too, and you may lay to that. Get back to your place `
` for a lubber, Tom." `
` `
` And then, as Morgan rolled back to his seat, Silver added `
` to me in a confidential whisper that was very flattering, `
` as I thought, "He's quite an honest man, Tom Morgan, on'y `
` stupid. And now," he ran on again, aloud, "let's see--Black `
` Dog? No, I don't know the name, not I. Yet I kind of think `
` I've--yes, I've seen the swab. He used to come here with a `
` blind beggar, he used." `
` `
` "That he did, you may be sure," said I. "I knew that `
` blind man too. His name was Pew." `
` `
` "It was!" cried Silver, now quite excited. "Pew! That `
` were his name for certain. Ah, he looked a shark, he `
` did! If we run down this Black Dog, now, there'll be `
` news for Cap'n Trelawney! Ben's a good runner; few `
` seamen run better than Ben. He should run him down, `
` hand over hand, by the powers! He talked o' keel- `
` hauling, did he? I'LL keel-haul him!" `
` `
` All the time he was jerking out these phrases he was `
` stumping up and down the tavern on his crutch, slapping `
` tables with his hand, and giving such a show of `
` excitement as would have convinced an Old Bailey judge `
` or a Bow Street runner. My suspicions had been `
` thoroughly reawakened on finding Black Dog at the Spy- `
` glass, and I watched the cook narrowly. But he was too `
` deep, and too ready, and too clever for me, and by the `
` time the two men had come back out of breath and `
` confessed that they had lost the track in a crowd, and `
` been scolded like thieves, I would have gone bail for `
` the innocence of Long John Silver. `
` `
` "See here, now, Hawkins," said he, "here's a blessed `
` hard thing on a man like me, now, ain't it? There's `
` Cap'n Trelawney--what's he to think? Here I have this `
` confounded son of a Dutchman sitting in my own house `
` drinking of my own rum! Here you comes and tells me of `
` it plain; and here I let him give us all the slip `
` before my blessed deadlights! Now, Hawkins, you do me `
` justice with the cap'n. You're a lad, you are, but `
` you're as smart as paint. I see that when you first `
` come in. Now, here it is: What could I do, with this `
` old timber I hobble on? When I was an A B master `
` mariner I'd have come up alongside of him, hand over `
` hand, and broached him to in a brace of old shakes, I `
` would; but now--" `
` `
` And then, all of a sudden, he stopped, and his jaw `
` dropped as though he had remembered something. `
` `
` "The score!" he burst out. "Three goes o' rum! Why, `
` shiver my timbers, if I hadn't forgotten my score!" `
` `
` And falling on a bench, he laughed until the tears ran down `
` his cheeks. I could not help joining, and we laughed together, `
` peal after peal, until the tavern rang again. `
` `
` "Why, what a precious old sea-calf I am!" he said at `
` last, wiping his cheeks. "You and me should get on `
` well, Hawkins, for I'll take my davy I should be rated `
` ship's boy. But come now, stand by to go about. This `
` won't do. Dooty is dooty, messmates. I'll put on my `
` old cockerel hat, and step along of you to Cap'n `
` Trelawney, and report this here affair. For mind you, `
` it's serious, young Hawkins; and neither you nor me's `
` come out of it with what I should make so bold as to `
` call credit. Nor you neither, says you; not smart-- `
` none of the pair of us smart. But dash my buttons! `
` That was a good un about my score." `
` `
` And he began to laugh again, and that so heartily, that `
` though I did not see the joke as he did, I was again `
` obliged to join him in his mirth. `
` `
` On our little walk along the quays, he made himself the `
` most interesting companion, telling me about the `
` different ships that we passed by, their rig, tonnage, `
` and nationality, explaining the work that was going `
` forward--how one was discharging, another taking in `
` cargo, and a third making ready for sea--and every now `
` and then telling me some little anecdote of ships or `
` seamen or repeating a nautical phrase till I had `
` learned it perfectly. I began to see that here was one `
` of the best of possible shipmates. `
` `
` When we got to the inn, the squire and Dr. Livesey were `
` seated together, finishing a quart of ale with a toast `
` in it, before they should go aboard the schooner on a `
` visit of inspection. `
` `
` Long John told the story from first to last, with a `
` great deal of spirit and the most perfect truth. "That `
` was how it were, now, weren't it, Hawkins?" he would `
` say, now and again, and I could always bear him `
` entirely out. `
` `
` The two gentlemen regretted that Black Dog had got `
` away, but we all agreed there was nothing to be done, `
` and after he had been complimented, Long John took up `
` his crutch and departed. `
` `
` "All hands aboard by four this afternoon," shouted the `
` squire after him. `
` `
` "Aye, aye, sir," cried the cook, in the passage. `
` `
` "Well, squire," said Dr. Livesey, "I don't put much `
` faith in your discoveries, as a general thing; but I `
` will say this, John Silver suits me." `
` `
` "The man's a perfect trump," declared the squire. `
` `
` "And now," added the doctor, "Jim may come on board `
` with us, may he not?" `
` `
` "To be sure he may," says squire. "Take your hat, `
` Hawkins, and we'll see the ship." `
` `
` `
` `
` 9 `
` `
` Powder and Arms `
` `
` THE HISPANIOLA lay some way out, and we went under `
` the figureheads and round the sterns of many other `
` ships, and their cables sometimes grated underneath our `
` keel, and sometimes swung above us. At last, however, `
` we got alongside, and were met and saluted as we `
` stepped aboard by the mate, Mr. Arrow, a brown old `
` sailor with earrings in his ears and a squint. He and `
` the squire were very thick and friendly, but I soon `
` observed that things were not the same between Mr. `
` Trelawney and the captain. `
` `
` This last was a sharp-looking man who seemed angry with `
` everything on board and was soon to tell us why, for we `
` had hardly got down into the cabin when a sailor `
` followed us. `
` `
` "Captain Smollett, sir, axing to speak with you," said he. `
` `
` "I am always at the captain's orders. Show him in," `
` said the squire. `
` `
` The captain, who was close behind his messenger, `
` entered at once and shut the door behind him. `
` `
` "Well, Captain Smollett, what have you to say? All `
` well, I hope; all shipshape and seaworthy?" `
` `
` "Well, sir," said the captain, "better speak plain, I `
`
` One of the others who was nearest the door leaped up `
` and started in pursuit. `
` `
` "If he were Admiral Hawke he shall pay his score," `
` cried Silver; and then, relinquishing my hand, "Who did `
` you say he was?" he asked. "Black what?" `
` `
` "Dog, sir," said I. Has Mr. Trelawney not told you of `
` the buccaneers? He was one of them." `
` `
` "So?" cried Silver. "In my house! Ben, run and help `
` Harry. One of those swabs, was he? Was that you `
` drinking with him, Morgan? Step up here." `
` `
` The man whom he called Morgan--an old, grey-haired, `
` mahogany-faced sailor--came forward pretty sheepishly, `
` rolling his quid. `
` `
` "Now, Morgan," said Long John very sternly, "you never `
` clapped your eyes on that Black--Black Dog before, did `
` you, now?" `
` `
` "Not I, sir," said Morgan with a salute. `
` `
` "You didn't know his name, did you?" `
` `
` "No, sir." `
` `
` "By the powers, Tom Morgan, it's as good for you!" `
` exclaimed the landlord. "If you had been mixed up with `
` the like of that, you would never have put another foot `
` in my house, you may lay to that. And what was he `
` saying to you?" `
` `
` "I don't rightly know, sir," answered Morgan. `
` `
` "Do you call that a head on your shoulders, or a blessed `
` dead-eye?" cried Long John. "Don't rightly know, don't `
` you! Perhaps you don't happen to rightly know who you was `
` speaking to, perhaps? Come, now, what was he jawing--v'yages, `
` cap'ns, ships? Pipe up! What was it?" `
` `
` "We was a-talkin' of keel-hauling," answered Morgan. `
` `
` "Keel-hauling, was you? And a mighty suitable thing, `
` too, and you may lay to that. Get back to your place `
` for a lubber, Tom." `
` `
` And then, as Morgan rolled back to his seat, Silver added `
` to me in a confidential whisper that was very flattering, `
` as I thought, "He's quite an honest man, Tom Morgan, on'y `
` stupid. And now," he ran on again, aloud, "let's see--Black `
` Dog? No, I don't know the name, not I. Yet I kind of think `
` I've--yes, I've seen the swab. He used to come here with a `
` blind beggar, he used." `
` `
` "That he did, you may be sure," said I. "I knew that `
` blind man too. His name was Pew." `
` `
` "It was!" cried Silver, now quite excited. "Pew! That `
` were his name for certain. Ah, he looked a shark, he `
` did! If we run down this Black Dog, now, there'll be `
` news for Cap'n Trelawney! Ben's a good runner; few `
` seamen run better than Ben. He should run him down, `
` hand over hand, by the powers! He talked o' keel- `
` hauling, did he? I'LL keel-haul him!" `
` `
` All the time he was jerking out these phrases he was `
` stumping up and down the tavern on his crutch, slapping `
` tables with his hand, and giving such a show of `
` excitement as would have convinced an Old Bailey judge `
` or a Bow Street runner. My suspicions had been `
` thoroughly reawakened on finding Black Dog at the Spy- `
` glass, and I watched the cook narrowly. But he was too `
` deep, and too ready, and too clever for me, and by the `
` time the two men had come back out of breath and `
` confessed that they had lost the track in a crowd, and `
` been scolded like thieves, I would have gone bail for `
` the innocence of Long John Silver. `
` `
` "See here, now, Hawkins," said he, "here's a blessed `
` hard thing on a man like me, now, ain't it? There's `
` Cap'n Trelawney--what's he to think? Here I have this `
` confounded son of a Dutchman sitting in my own house `
` drinking of my own rum! Here you comes and tells me of `
` it plain; and here I let him give us all the slip `
` before my blessed deadlights! Now, Hawkins, you do me `
` justice with the cap'n. You're a lad, you are, but `
` you're as smart as paint. I see that when you first `
` come in. Now, here it is: What could I do, with this `
` old timber I hobble on? When I was an A B master `
` mariner I'd have come up alongside of him, hand over `
` hand, and broached him to in a brace of old shakes, I `
` would; but now--" `
` `
` And then, all of a sudden, he stopped, and his jaw `
` dropped as though he had remembered something. `
` `
` "The score!" he burst out. "Three goes o' rum! Why, `
` shiver my timbers, if I hadn't forgotten my score!" `
` `
` And falling on a bench, he laughed until the tears ran down `
` his cheeks. I could not help joining, and we laughed together, `
` peal after peal, until the tavern rang again. `
` `
` "Why, what a precious old sea-calf I am!" he said at `
` last, wiping his cheeks. "You and me should get on `
` well, Hawkins, for I'll take my davy I should be rated `
` ship's boy. But come now, stand by to go about. This `
` won't do. Dooty is dooty, messmates. I'll put on my `
` old cockerel hat, and step along of you to Cap'n `
` Trelawney, and report this here affair. For mind you, `
` it's serious, young Hawkins; and neither you nor me's `
` come out of it with what I should make so bold as to `
` call credit. Nor you neither, says you; not smart-- `
` none of the pair of us smart. But dash my buttons! `
` That was a good un about my score." `
` `
` And he began to laugh again, and that so heartily, that `
` though I did not see the joke as he did, I was again `
` obliged to join him in his mirth. `
` `
` On our little walk along the quays, he made himself the `
` most interesting companion, telling me about the `
` different ships that we passed by, their rig, tonnage, `
` and nationality, explaining the work that was going `
` forward--how one was discharging, another taking in `
` cargo, and a third making ready for sea--and every now `
` and then telling me some little anecdote of ships or `
` seamen or repeating a nautical phrase till I had `
` learned it perfectly. I began to see that here was one `
` of the best of possible shipmates. `
` `
` When we got to the inn, the squire and Dr. Livesey were `
` seated together, finishing a quart of ale with a toast `
` in it, before they should go aboard the schooner on a `
` visit of inspection. `
` `
` Long John told the story from first to last, with a `
` great deal of spirit and the most perfect truth. "That `
` was how it were, now, weren't it, Hawkins?" he would `
` say, now and again, and I could always bear him `
` entirely out. `
` `
` The two gentlemen regretted that Black Dog had got `
` away, but we all agreed there was nothing to be done, `
` and after he had been complimented, Long John took up `
` his crutch and departed. `
` `
` "All hands aboard by four this afternoon," shouted the `
` squire after him. `
` `
` "Aye, aye, sir," cried the cook, in the passage. `
` `
` "Well, squire," said Dr. Livesey, "I don't put much `
` faith in your discoveries, as a general thing; but I `
` will say this, John Silver suits me." `
` `
` "The man's a perfect trump," declared the squire. `
` `
` "And now," added the doctor, "Jim may come on board `
` with us, may he not?" `
` `
` "To be sure he may," says squire. "Take your hat, `
` Hawkins, and we'll see the ship." `
` `
` `
` `
` 9 `
` `
` Powder and Arms `
` `
` THE HISPANIOLA lay some way out, and we went under `
` the figureheads and round the sterns of many other `
` ships, and their cables sometimes grated underneath our `
` keel, and sometimes swung above us. At last, however, `
` we got alongside, and were met and saluted as we `
` stepped aboard by the mate, Mr. Arrow, a brown old `
` sailor with earrings in his ears and a squint. He and `
` the squire were very thick and friendly, but I soon `
` observed that things were not the same between Mr. `
` Trelawney and the captain. `
` `
` This last was a sharp-looking man who seemed angry with `
` everything on board and was soon to tell us why, for we `
` had hardly got down into the cabin when a sailor `
` followed us. `
` `
` "Captain Smollett, sir, axing to speak with you," said he. `
` `
` "I am always at the captain's orders. Show him in," `
` said the squire. `
` `
` The captain, who was close behind his messenger, `
` entered at once and shut the door behind him. `
` `
` "Well, Captain Smollett, what have you to say? All `
` well, I hope; all shipshape and seaworthy?" `
` `
` "Well, sir," said the captain, "better speak plain, I `
`