Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
"Well, I don't say no, do I?" growled the coxswain. `
` "What I say is, when? That's what I say." `
` `
` "When! By the powers!" cried Silver. "Well now, if `
` you want to know, I'll tell you when. The last moment `
` I can manage, and that's when. Here's a first-rate `
` seaman, Cap'n Smollett, sails the blessed ship for us. `
` Here's this squire and doctor with a map and such--I `
` don't know where it is, do I? No more do you, says `
` you. Well then, I mean this squire and doctor shall `
` find the stuff, and help us to get it aboard, by the `
` powers. Then we'll see. If I was sure of you all, `
` sons of double Dutchmen, I'd have Cap'n Smollett `
` navigate us half-way back again before I struck." `
` `
` "Why, we're all seamen aboard here, I should think," `
` said the lad Dick. `
` `
` "We're all forecastle hands, you mean," snapped Silver. "We `
` can steer a course, but who's to set one? That's what all you `
` gentlemen split on, first and last. If I had my way, I'd have `
` Cap'n Smollett work us back into the trades at least; then we'd `
` have no blessed miscalculations and a spoonful of water a day. `
` But I know the sort you are. I'll finish with 'em at the `
` island, as soon's the blunt's on board, and a pity it is. But `
` you're never happy till you're drunk. Split my sides, I've a `
` sick heart to sail with the likes of you!" `
` `
` "Easy all, Long John," cried Israel. "Who's a-crossin' `
` of you?" `
` `
` "Why, how many tall ships, think ye, now, have I seen `
` laid aboard? And how many brisk lads drying in the sun `
` at Execution Dock?" cried Silver. "And all for this `
` same hurry and hurry and hurry. You hear me? I seen a `
` thing or two at sea, I have. If you would on'y lay `
` your course, and a p'int to windward, you would ride in `
` carriages, you would. But not you! I know you. You'll `
` have your mouthful of rum tomorrow, and go hang." `
` `
` "Everybody knowed you was a kind of a chapling, John; `
` but there's others as could hand and steer as well as `
` you," said Israel. "They liked a bit o' fun, they did. `
` They wasn't so high and dry, nohow, but took their `
` fling, like jolly companions every one." `
` `
` "So?" says Silver. "Well, and where are they now? Pew `
` was that sort, and he died a beggar-man. Flint was, `
` and he died of rum at Savannah. Ah, they was a sweet `
` crew, they was! On'y, where are they?" `
` `
` "But," asked Dick, "when we do lay 'em athwart, what `
` are we to do with 'em, anyhow?" `
` `
` "There's the man for me!" cried the cook admiringly. `
` "That's what I call business. Well, what would you `
` think? Put 'em ashore like maroons? That would have `
` been England's way. Or cut 'em down like that much `
` pork? That would have been Flint's, or Billy Bones's." `
` `
` "Billy was the man for that," said Israel. "'Dead men `
` don't bite,' says he. Well, he's dead now hisself; he `
` knows the long and short on it now; and if ever a rough `
` hand come to port, it was Billy." `
` `
` "Right you are," said Silver; "rough and ready. But `
` mark you here, I'm an easy man--I'm quite the `
` gentleman, says you; but this time it's serious. Dooty `
` is dooty, mates. I give my vote--death. When I'm in `
` Parlyment and riding in my coach, I don't want none of `
` these sea-lawyers in the cabin a-coming home, unlooked `
` for, like the devil at prayers. Wait is what I say; `
` but when the time comes, why, let her rip!" `
` `
` "John," cries the coxswain, "you're a man!" `
` `
` "You'll say so, Israel when you see," said Silver. `
` "Only one thing I claim--I claim Trelawney. I'll wring `
` his calf's head off his body with these hands, Dick!" `
` he added, breaking off. "You just jump up, like a `
` sweet lad, and get me an apple, to wet my pipe like." `
` `
` You may fancy the terror I was in! I should have `
` leaped out and run for it if I had found the strength, `
` but my limbs and heart alike misgave me. I heard Dick `
` begin to rise, and then someone seemingly stopped him, `
` and the voice of Hands exclaimed, "Oh, stow that! `
` Don't you get sucking of that bilge, John. Let's have `
` a go of the rum." `
` `
` "Dick," said Silver, "I trust you. I've a gauge on the `
` keg, mind. There's the key; you fill a pannikin and `
` bring it up." `
` `
` Terrified as I was, I could not help thinking to myself `
` that this must have been how Mr. Arrow got the strong `
` waters that destroyed him. `
` `
` Dick was gone but a little while, and during his `
` absence Israel spoke straight on in the cook's ear. It `
` was but a word or two that I could catch, and yet I `
` gathered some important news, for besides other scraps `
` that tended to the same purpose, this whole clause was `
` audible: "Not another man of them'll jine." Hence `
` there were still faithful men on board. `
` `
` When Dick returned, one after another of the trio took `
` the pannikin and drank--one "To luck," another with a `
` "Here's to old Flint," and Silver himself saying, in a `
` kind of song, "Here's to ourselves, and hold your luff, `
` plenty of prizes and plenty of duff." `
` `
` Just then a sort of brightness fell upon me in the `
` barrel, and looking up, I found the moon had risen and `
` was silvering the mizzen-top and shining white on the `
` luff of the fore-sail; and almost at the same time the `
` voice of the lookout shouted, "Land ho!" `
` `
` `
` `
` 12 `
` `
` Council of War `
` `
` THERE was a great rush of feet across the deck. I `
` could hear people tumbling up from the cabin and the `
` forecastle, and slipping in an instant outside my `
` barrel, I dived behind the fore-sail, made a double `
` towards the stern, and came out upon the open deck in `
` time to join Hunter and Dr. Livesey in the rush for the `
` weather bow. `
` `
` There all hands were already congregated. A belt of `
` fog had lifted almost simultaneously with the `
` appearance of the moon. Away to the south-west of us `
` we saw two low hills, about a couple of miles apart, `
` and rising behind one of them a third and higher hill, `
` whose peak was still buried in the fog. All three `
` seemed sharp and conical in figure. `
` `
` So much I saw, almost in a dream, for I had not yet `
` recovered from my horrid fear of a minute or two `
` before. And then I heard the voice of Captain Smollett `
` issuing orders. The HISPANIOLA was laid a couple `
` of points nearer the wind and now sailed a course that `
` would just clear the island on the east. `
` `
` "And now, men," said the captain, when all was sheeted `
` home, "has any one of you ever seen that land ahead?" `
` `
` "I have, sir," said Silver. "I've watered there with a `
` trader I was cook in." `
` `
` "The anchorage is on the south, behind an islet, I `
` fancy?" asked the captain. `
` `
` "Yes, sir; Skeleton Island they calls it. It were a `
` main place for pirates once, and a hand we had on board `
` knowed all their names for it. That hill to the `
` nor'ard they calls the Fore-mast Hill; there are three `
` hills in a row running south'ard--fore, main, and `
` mizzen, sir. But the main--that's the big un, with the `
` cloud on it--they usually calls the Spy-glass, by `
` reason of a lookout they kept when they was in the `
` anchorage cleaning, for it's there they cleaned their `
` ships, sir, asking your pardon." `
` `
` "I have a chart here," says Captain Smollett. "See if `
` that's the place." `
` `
` Long John's eyes burned in his head as he took the `
` chart, but by the fresh look of the paper I knew he was `
` doomed to disappointment. This was not the map we `
` found in Billy Bones's chest, but an accurate copy, `
` complete in all things--names and heights and `
` soundings--with the single exception of the red crosses `
` and the written notes. Sharp as must have been his `
` annoyance, Silver had the strength of mind to hide it. `
` `
` "Yes, sir," said he, "this is the spot, to be sure, and `
` very prettily drawed out. Who might have done that, I `
` wonder? The pirates were too ignorant, I reckon. Aye, `
` here it is: 'Capt. Kidd's Anchorage'--just the name my `
` shipmate called it. There's a strong current runs `
` along the south, and then away nor'ard up the west `
` coast. Right you was, sir," says he, "to haul your `
` wind and keep the weather of the island. Leastways, if `
` such was your intention as to enter and careen, and `
` there ain't no better place for that in these waters." `
` `
` "Thank you, my man," says Captain Smollett. "I'll ask `
` you later on to give us a help. You may go." `
` `
` I was surprised at the coolness with which John avowed `
` his knowledge of the island, and I own I was half- `
` frightened when I saw him drawing nearer to myself. He `
` did not know, to be sure, that I had overheard his `
` council from the apple barrel, and yet I had by this `
` time taken such a horror of his cruelty, duplicity, and `
` power that I could scarce conceal a shudder when he `
` laid his hand upon my arm. `
`
` "What I say is, when? That's what I say." `
` `
` "When! By the powers!" cried Silver. "Well now, if `
` you want to know, I'll tell you when. The last moment `
` I can manage, and that's when. Here's a first-rate `
` seaman, Cap'n Smollett, sails the blessed ship for us. `
` Here's this squire and doctor with a map and such--I `
` don't know where it is, do I? No more do you, says `
` you. Well then, I mean this squire and doctor shall `
` find the stuff, and help us to get it aboard, by the `
` powers. Then we'll see. If I was sure of you all, `
` sons of double Dutchmen, I'd have Cap'n Smollett `
` navigate us half-way back again before I struck." `
` `
` "Why, we're all seamen aboard here, I should think," `
` said the lad Dick. `
` `
` "We're all forecastle hands, you mean," snapped Silver. "We `
` can steer a course, but who's to set one? That's what all you `
` gentlemen split on, first and last. If I had my way, I'd have `
` Cap'n Smollett work us back into the trades at least; then we'd `
` have no blessed miscalculations and a spoonful of water a day. `
` But I know the sort you are. I'll finish with 'em at the `
` island, as soon's the blunt's on board, and a pity it is. But `
` you're never happy till you're drunk. Split my sides, I've a `
` sick heart to sail with the likes of you!" `
` `
` "Easy all, Long John," cried Israel. "Who's a-crossin' `
` of you?" `
` `
` "Why, how many tall ships, think ye, now, have I seen `
` laid aboard? And how many brisk lads drying in the sun `
` at Execution Dock?" cried Silver. "And all for this `
` same hurry and hurry and hurry. You hear me? I seen a `
` thing or two at sea, I have. If you would on'y lay `
` your course, and a p'int to windward, you would ride in `
` carriages, you would. But not you! I know you. You'll `
` have your mouthful of rum tomorrow, and go hang." `
` `
` "Everybody knowed you was a kind of a chapling, John; `
` but there's others as could hand and steer as well as `
` you," said Israel. "They liked a bit o' fun, they did. `
` They wasn't so high and dry, nohow, but took their `
` fling, like jolly companions every one." `
` `
` "So?" says Silver. "Well, and where are they now? Pew `
` was that sort, and he died a beggar-man. Flint was, `
` and he died of rum at Savannah. Ah, they was a sweet `
` crew, they was! On'y, where are they?" `
` `
` "But," asked Dick, "when we do lay 'em athwart, what `
` are we to do with 'em, anyhow?" `
` `
` "There's the man for me!" cried the cook admiringly. `
` "That's what I call business. Well, what would you `
` think? Put 'em ashore like maroons? That would have `
` been England's way. Or cut 'em down like that much `
` pork? That would have been Flint's, or Billy Bones's." `
` `
` "Billy was the man for that," said Israel. "'Dead men `
` don't bite,' says he. Well, he's dead now hisself; he `
` knows the long and short on it now; and if ever a rough `
` hand come to port, it was Billy." `
` `
` "Right you are," said Silver; "rough and ready. But `
` mark you here, I'm an easy man--I'm quite the `
` gentleman, says you; but this time it's serious. Dooty `
` is dooty, mates. I give my vote--death. When I'm in `
` Parlyment and riding in my coach, I don't want none of `
` these sea-lawyers in the cabin a-coming home, unlooked `
` for, like the devil at prayers. Wait is what I say; `
` but when the time comes, why, let her rip!" `
` `
` "John," cries the coxswain, "you're a man!" `
` `
` "You'll say so, Israel when you see," said Silver. `
` "Only one thing I claim--I claim Trelawney. I'll wring `
` his calf's head off his body with these hands, Dick!" `
` he added, breaking off. "You just jump up, like a `
` sweet lad, and get me an apple, to wet my pipe like." `
` `
` You may fancy the terror I was in! I should have `
` leaped out and run for it if I had found the strength, `
` but my limbs and heart alike misgave me. I heard Dick `
` begin to rise, and then someone seemingly stopped him, `
` and the voice of Hands exclaimed, "Oh, stow that! `
` Don't you get sucking of that bilge, John. Let's have `
` a go of the rum." `
` `
` "Dick," said Silver, "I trust you. I've a gauge on the `
` keg, mind. There's the key; you fill a pannikin and `
` bring it up." `
` `
` Terrified as I was, I could not help thinking to myself `
` that this must have been how Mr. Arrow got the strong `
` waters that destroyed him. `
` `
` Dick was gone but a little while, and during his `
` absence Israel spoke straight on in the cook's ear. It `
` was but a word or two that I could catch, and yet I `
` gathered some important news, for besides other scraps `
` that tended to the same purpose, this whole clause was `
` audible: "Not another man of them'll jine." Hence `
` there were still faithful men on board. `
` `
` When Dick returned, one after another of the trio took `
` the pannikin and drank--one "To luck," another with a `
` "Here's to old Flint," and Silver himself saying, in a `
` kind of song, "Here's to ourselves, and hold your luff, `
` plenty of prizes and plenty of duff." `
` `
` Just then a sort of brightness fell upon me in the `
` barrel, and looking up, I found the moon had risen and `
` was silvering the mizzen-top and shining white on the `
` luff of the fore-sail; and almost at the same time the `
` voice of the lookout shouted, "Land ho!" `
` `
` `
` `
` 12 `
` `
` Council of War `
` `
` THERE was a great rush of feet across the deck. I `
` could hear people tumbling up from the cabin and the `
` forecastle, and slipping in an instant outside my `
` barrel, I dived behind the fore-sail, made a double `
` towards the stern, and came out upon the open deck in `
` time to join Hunter and Dr. Livesey in the rush for the `
` weather bow. `
` `
` There all hands were already congregated. A belt of `
` fog had lifted almost simultaneously with the `
` appearance of the moon. Away to the south-west of us `
` we saw two low hills, about a couple of miles apart, `
` and rising behind one of them a third and higher hill, `
` whose peak was still buried in the fog. All three `
` seemed sharp and conical in figure. `
` `
` So much I saw, almost in a dream, for I had not yet `
` recovered from my horrid fear of a minute or two `
` before. And then I heard the voice of Captain Smollett `
` issuing orders. The HISPANIOLA was laid a couple `
` of points nearer the wind and now sailed a course that `
` would just clear the island on the east. `
` `
` "And now, men," said the captain, when all was sheeted `
` home, "has any one of you ever seen that land ahead?" `
` `
` "I have, sir," said Silver. "I've watered there with a `
` trader I was cook in." `
` `
` "The anchorage is on the south, behind an islet, I `
` fancy?" asked the captain. `
` `
` "Yes, sir; Skeleton Island they calls it. It were a `
` main place for pirates once, and a hand we had on board `
` knowed all their names for it. That hill to the `
` nor'ard they calls the Fore-mast Hill; there are three `
` hills in a row running south'ard--fore, main, and `
` mizzen, sir. But the main--that's the big un, with the `
` cloud on it--they usually calls the Spy-glass, by `
` reason of a lookout they kept when they was in the `
` anchorage cleaning, for it's there they cleaned their `
` ships, sir, asking your pardon." `
` `
` "I have a chart here," says Captain Smollett. "See if `
` that's the place." `
` `
` Long John's eyes burned in his head as he took the `
` chart, but by the fresh look of the paper I knew he was `
` doomed to disappointment. This was not the map we `
` found in Billy Bones's chest, but an accurate copy, `
` complete in all things--names and heights and `
` soundings--with the single exception of the red crosses `
` and the written notes. Sharp as must have been his `
` annoyance, Silver had the strength of mind to hide it. `
` `
` "Yes, sir," said he, "this is the spot, to be sure, and `
` very prettily drawed out. Who might have done that, I `
` wonder? The pirates were too ignorant, I reckon. Aye, `
` here it is: 'Capt. Kidd's Anchorage'--just the name my `
` shipmate called it. There's a strong current runs `
` along the south, and then away nor'ard up the west `
` coast. Right you was, sir," says he, "to haul your `
` wind and keep the weather of the island. Leastways, if `
` such was your intention as to enter and careen, and `
` there ain't no better place for that in these waters." `
` `
` "Thank you, my man," says Captain Smollett. "I'll ask `
` you later on to give us a help. You may go." `
` `
` I was surprised at the coolness with which John avowed `
` his knowledge of the island, and I own I was half- `
` frightened when I saw him drawing nearer to myself. He `
` did not know, to be sure, that I had overheard his `
` council from the apple barrel, and yet I had by this `
` time taken such a horror of his cruelty, duplicity, and `
` power that I could scarce conceal a shudder when he `
` laid his hand upon my arm. `
`