Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
"Well, sir," said the captain, "better speak plain, I `
` believe, even at the risk of offence. I don't like `
` this cruise; I don't like the men; and I don't like my `
` officer. That's short and sweet." `
` `
` "Perhaps, sir, you don't like the ship?" inquired the `
` squire, very angry, as I could see. `
` `
` "I can't speak as to that, sir, not having seen her `
` tried," said the captain. "She seems a clever craft; `
` more I can't say." `
` `
` "Possibly, sir, you may not like your employer, `
` either?" says the squire. `
` `
` But here Dr. Livesey cut in. `
` `
` "Stay a bit," said he, "stay a bit. No use of such `
` questions as that but to produce ill feeling. The `
` captain has said too much or he has said too little, and `
` I'm bound to say that I require an explanation of his `
` words. You don't, you say, like this cruise. Now, why?" `
` `
` "I was engaged, sir, on what we call sealed orders, to `
` sail this ship for that gentleman where he should bid `
` me," said the captain. "So far so good. But now I `
` find that every man before the mast knows more than I `
` do. I don't call that fair, now, do you?" `
` `
` "No," said Dr. Livesey, "I don't." `
` `
` "Next," said the captain, "I learn we are going after `
` treasure--hear it from my own hands, mind you. Now, `
` treasure is ticklish work; I don't like treasure voyages `
` on any account, and I don't like them, above all, when `
` they are secret and when (begging your pardon, Mr. `
` Trelawney) the secret has been told to the parrot." `
` `
` "Silver's parrot?" asked the squire. `
` `
` "It's a way of speaking," said the captain. "Blabbed, `
` I mean. It's my belief neither of you gentlemen know `
` what you are about, but I'll tell you my way of it-- `
` life or death, and a close run." `
` `
` "That is all clear, and, I dare say, true enough," `
` replied Dr. Livesey. "We take the risk, but we are not `
` so ignorant as you believe us. Next, you say you don't `
` like the crew. Are they not good seamen?" `
` `
` "I don't like them, sir," returned Captain Smollett. `
` "And I think I should have had the choosing of my own `
` hands, if you go to that." `
` `
` "Perhaps you should," replied the doctor. "My friend `
` should, perhaps, have taken you along with him; but the `
` slight, if there be one, was unintentional. And you `
` don't like Mr. Arrow?" `
` `
` "I don't, sir. I believe he's a good seaman, but he's `
` too free with the crew to be a good officer. A mate `
` should keep himself to himself--shouldn't drink with `
` the men before the mast!" `
` `
` "Do you mean he drinks?" cried the squire. `
` `
` "No, sir," replied the captain, "only that he's too familiar." `
` `
` "Well, now, and the short and long of it, captain?" `
` asked the doctor. "Tell us what you want." `
` `
` "Well, gentlemen, are you determined to go on this cruise?" `
` `
` "Like iron," answered the squire. `
` `
` "Very good," said the captain. "Then, as you've heard `
` me very patiently, saying things that I could not `
` prove, hear me a few words more. They are putting the `
` powder and the arms in the fore hold. Now, you have a `
` good place under the cabin; why not put them there?-- `
` first point. Then, you are bringing four of your own `
` people with you, and they tell me some of them are to `
` be berthed forward. Why not give them the berths here `
` beside the cabin?--second point." `
` `
` "Any more?" asked Mr. Trelawney. `
` `
` "One more," said the captain. "There's been too much `
` blabbing already." `
` `
` "Far too much," agreed the doctor. `
` `
` "I'll tell you what I've heard myself," continued `
` Captain Smollett: "that you have a map of an island, `
` that there's crosses on the map to show where treasure `
` is, and that the island lies--" And then he named the `
` latitude and longitude exactly. `
` `
` "I never told that," cried the squire, "to a soul!" `
` `
` "The hands know it, sir," returned the captain. `
` `
` "Livesey, that must have been you or Hawkins," cried `
` the squire. `
` `
` "It doesn't much matter who it was," replied the `
` doctor. And I could see that neither he nor the `
` captain paid much regard to Mr. Trelawney's `
` protestations. Neither did I, to be sure, he was so `
` loose a talker; yet in this case I believe he was `
` really right and that nobody had told the situation of `
` the island. `
` `
` "Well, gentlemen," continued the captain, "I don't know `
` who has this map; but I make it a point, it shall be `
` kept secret even from me and Mr. Arrow. Otherwise I `
` would ask you to let me resign." `
` `
` "I see," said the doctor. "You wish us to keep this `
` matter dark and to make a garrison of the stern part of `
` the ship, manned with my friend's own people, and `
` provided with all the arms and powder on board. In `
` other words, you fear a mutiny." `
` `
` "Sir," said Captain Smollett, "with no intention to `
` take offence, I deny your right to put words into my `
` mouth. No captain, sir, would be justified in going to `
` sea at all if he had ground enough to say that. As for `
` Mr. Arrow, I believe him thoroughly honest; some of the `
` men are the same; all may be for what I know. But I am `
` responsible for the ship's safety and the life of every `
` man Jack aboard of her. I see things going, as I `
` think, not quite right. And I ask you to take certain `
` precautions or let me resign my berth. And that's all." `
` `
` "Captain Smollett," began the doctor with a smile, "did `
` ever you hear the fable of the mountain and the mouse? `
` You'll excuse me, I dare say, but you remind me of that `
` fable. When you came in here, I'll stake my wig, you `
` meant more than this." `
` `
` "Doctor," said the captain, "you are smart. When I `
` came in here I meant to get discharged. I had no `
` thought that Mr. Trelawney would hear a word." `
` `
` "No more I would," cried the squire. "Had Livesey not `
` been here I should have seen you to the deuce. As it `
` is, I have heard you. I will do as you desire, but I `
` think the worse of you." `
` `
` "That's as you please, sir," said the captain. "You'll `
` find I do my duty." `
` `
` And with that he took his leave. `
` `
` "Trelawney," said the doctor, "contrary to all my `
` notions, I believed you have managed to get two honest `
` men on board with you--that man and John Silver." `
` `
` "Silver, if you like," cried the squire; "but as for `
` that intolerable humbug, I declare I think his conduct `
` unmanly, unsailorly, and downright un-English." `
` `
` "Well," says the doctor, "we shall see." `
` `
` When we came on deck, the men had begun already to take `
` out the arms and powder, yo-ho-ing at their work, while `
` the captain and Mr. Arrow stood by superintending. `
` `
` The new arrangement was quite to my liking. The whole `
` schooner had been overhauled; six berths had been made `
` astern out of what had been the after-part of the main `
` hold; and this set of cabins was only joined to the `
` galley and forecastle by a sparred passage on the port `
` side. It had been originally meant that the captain, `
` Mr. Arrow, Hunter, Joyce, the doctor, and the squire `
` were to occupy these six berths. Now Redruth and I `
` were to get two of them and Mr. Arrow and the captain `
` were to sleep on deck in the companion, which had been `
` enlarged on each side till you might almost have called `
` it a round-house. Very low it was still, of course; `
` but there was room to swing two hammocks, and even the `
` mate seemed pleased with the arrangement. Even he, `
` perhaps, had been doubtful as to the crew, but that is `
` only guess, for as you shall hear, we had not long the `
` benefit of his opinion. `
` `
` We were all hard at work, changing the powder and the `
` berths, when the last man or two, and Long John along `
` with them, came off in a shore-boat. `
` `
` The cook came up the side like a monkey for cleverness, `
` and as soon as he saw what was doing, "So ho, mates!" `
` says he. "What's this?" `
` `
` "We're a-changing of the powder, Jack," answers one. `
` `
` "Why, by the powers," cried Long John, "if we do, we'll `
` miss the morning tide!" `
` `
` "My orders!" said the captain shortly. "You may go `
`
` believe, even at the risk of offence. I don't like `
` this cruise; I don't like the men; and I don't like my `
` officer. That's short and sweet." `
` `
` "Perhaps, sir, you don't like the ship?" inquired the `
` squire, very angry, as I could see. `
` `
` "I can't speak as to that, sir, not having seen her `
` tried," said the captain. "She seems a clever craft; `
` more I can't say." `
` `
` "Possibly, sir, you may not like your employer, `
` either?" says the squire. `
` `
` But here Dr. Livesey cut in. `
` `
` "Stay a bit," said he, "stay a bit. No use of such `
` questions as that but to produce ill feeling. The `
` captain has said too much or he has said too little, and `
` I'm bound to say that I require an explanation of his `
` words. You don't, you say, like this cruise. Now, why?" `
` `
` "I was engaged, sir, on what we call sealed orders, to `
` sail this ship for that gentleman where he should bid `
` me," said the captain. "So far so good. But now I `
` find that every man before the mast knows more than I `
` do. I don't call that fair, now, do you?" `
` `
` "No," said Dr. Livesey, "I don't." `
` `
` "Next," said the captain, "I learn we are going after `
` treasure--hear it from my own hands, mind you. Now, `
` treasure is ticklish work; I don't like treasure voyages `
` on any account, and I don't like them, above all, when `
` they are secret and when (begging your pardon, Mr. `
` Trelawney) the secret has been told to the parrot." `
` `
` "Silver's parrot?" asked the squire. `
` `
` "It's a way of speaking," said the captain. "Blabbed, `
` I mean. It's my belief neither of you gentlemen know `
` what you are about, but I'll tell you my way of it-- `
` life or death, and a close run." `
` `
` "That is all clear, and, I dare say, true enough," `
` replied Dr. Livesey. "We take the risk, but we are not `
` so ignorant as you believe us. Next, you say you don't `
` like the crew. Are they not good seamen?" `
` `
` "I don't like them, sir," returned Captain Smollett. `
` "And I think I should have had the choosing of my own `
` hands, if you go to that." `
` `
` "Perhaps you should," replied the doctor. "My friend `
` should, perhaps, have taken you along with him; but the `
` slight, if there be one, was unintentional. And you `
` don't like Mr. Arrow?" `
` `
` "I don't, sir. I believe he's a good seaman, but he's `
` too free with the crew to be a good officer. A mate `
` should keep himself to himself--shouldn't drink with `
` the men before the mast!" `
` `
` "Do you mean he drinks?" cried the squire. `
` `
` "No, sir," replied the captain, "only that he's too familiar." `
` `
` "Well, now, and the short and long of it, captain?" `
` asked the doctor. "Tell us what you want." `
` `
` "Well, gentlemen, are you determined to go on this cruise?" `
` `
` "Like iron," answered the squire. `
` `
` "Very good," said the captain. "Then, as you've heard `
` me very patiently, saying things that I could not `
` prove, hear me a few words more. They are putting the `
` powder and the arms in the fore hold. Now, you have a `
` good place under the cabin; why not put them there?-- `
` first point. Then, you are bringing four of your own `
` people with you, and they tell me some of them are to `
` be berthed forward. Why not give them the berths here `
` beside the cabin?--second point." `
` `
` "Any more?" asked Mr. Trelawney. `
` `
` "One more," said the captain. "There's been too much `
` blabbing already." `
` `
` "Far too much," agreed the doctor. `
` `
` "I'll tell you what I've heard myself," continued `
` Captain Smollett: "that you have a map of an island, `
` that there's crosses on the map to show where treasure `
` is, and that the island lies--" And then he named the `
` latitude and longitude exactly. `
` `
` "I never told that," cried the squire, "to a soul!" `
` `
` "The hands know it, sir," returned the captain. `
` `
` "Livesey, that must have been you or Hawkins," cried `
` the squire. `
` `
` "It doesn't much matter who it was," replied the `
` doctor. And I could see that neither he nor the `
` captain paid much regard to Mr. Trelawney's `
` protestations. Neither did I, to be sure, he was so `
` loose a talker; yet in this case I believe he was `
` really right and that nobody had told the situation of `
` the island. `
` `
` "Well, gentlemen," continued the captain, "I don't know `
` who has this map; but I make it a point, it shall be `
` kept secret even from me and Mr. Arrow. Otherwise I `
` would ask you to let me resign." `
` `
` "I see," said the doctor. "You wish us to keep this `
` matter dark and to make a garrison of the stern part of `
` the ship, manned with my friend's own people, and `
` provided with all the arms and powder on board. In `
` other words, you fear a mutiny." `
` `
` "Sir," said Captain Smollett, "with no intention to `
` take offence, I deny your right to put words into my `
` mouth. No captain, sir, would be justified in going to `
` sea at all if he had ground enough to say that. As for `
` Mr. Arrow, I believe him thoroughly honest; some of the `
` men are the same; all may be for what I know. But I am `
` responsible for the ship's safety and the life of every `
` man Jack aboard of her. I see things going, as I `
` think, not quite right. And I ask you to take certain `
` precautions or let me resign my berth. And that's all." `
` `
` "Captain Smollett," began the doctor with a smile, "did `
` ever you hear the fable of the mountain and the mouse? `
` You'll excuse me, I dare say, but you remind me of that `
` fable. When you came in here, I'll stake my wig, you `
` meant more than this." `
` `
` "Doctor," said the captain, "you are smart. When I `
` came in here I meant to get discharged. I had no `
` thought that Mr. Trelawney would hear a word." `
` `
` "No more I would," cried the squire. "Had Livesey not `
` been here I should have seen you to the deuce. As it `
` is, I have heard you. I will do as you desire, but I `
` think the worse of you." `
` `
` "That's as you please, sir," said the captain. "You'll `
` find I do my duty." `
` `
` And with that he took his leave. `
` `
` "Trelawney," said the doctor, "contrary to all my `
` notions, I believed you have managed to get two honest `
` men on board with you--that man and John Silver." `
` `
` "Silver, if you like," cried the squire; "but as for `
` that intolerable humbug, I declare I think his conduct `
` unmanly, unsailorly, and downright un-English." `
` `
` "Well," says the doctor, "we shall see." `
` `
` When we came on deck, the men had begun already to take `
` out the arms and powder, yo-ho-ing at their work, while `
` the captain and Mr. Arrow stood by superintending. `
` `
` The new arrangement was quite to my liking. The whole `
` schooner had been overhauled; six berths had been made `
` astern out of what had been the after-part of the main `
` hold; and this set of cabins was only joined to the `
` galley and forecastle by a sparred passage on the port `
` side. It had been originally meant that the captain, `
` Mr. Arrow, Hunter, Joyce, the doctor, and the squire `
` were to occupy these six berths. Now Redruth and I `
` were to get two of them and Mr. Arrow and the captain `
` were to sleep on deck in the companion, which had been `
` enlarged on each side till you might almost have called `
` it a round-house. Very low it was still, of course; `
` but there was room to swing two hammocks, and even the `
` mate seemed pleased with the arrangement. Even he, `
` perhaps, had been doubtful as to the crew, but that is `
` only guess, for as you shall hear, we had not long the `
` benefit of his opinion. `
` `
` We were all hard at work, changing the powder and the `
` berths, when the last man or two, and Long John along `
` with them, came off in a shore-boat. `
` `
` The cook came up the side like a monkey for cleverness, `
` and as soon as he saw what was doing, "So ho, mates!" `
` says he. "What's this?" `
` `
` "We're a-changing of the powder, Jack," answers one. `
` `
` "Why, by the powers," cried Long John, "if we do, we'll `
` miss the morning tide!" `
` `
` "My orders!" said the captain shortly. "You may go `
`