Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
I never learned to stand without a qualm or so, above `
` all in the morning, on an empty stomach. `
` `
` Perhaps it was this--perhaps it was the look of the `
` island, with its grey, melancholy woods, and wild stone `
` spires, and the surf that we could both see and hear `
` foaming and thundering on the steep beach--at least, `
` although the sun shone bright and hot, and the shore `
` birds were fishing and crying all around us, and you `
` would have thought anyone would have been glad to get `
` to land after being so long at sea, my heart sank, as `
` the saying is, into my boots; and from the first look `
` onward, I hated the very thought of Treasure Island. `
` `
` We had a dreary morning's work before us, for there was `
` no sign of any wind, and the boats had to be got out `
` and manned, and the ship warped three or four miles `
` round the corner of the island and up the narrow `
` passage to the haven behind Skeleton Island. I `
` volunteered for one of the boats, where I had, of `
` course, no business. The heat was sweltering, and the `
` men grumbled fiercely over their work. Anderson was in `
` command of my boat, and instead of keeping the crew in `
` order, he grumbled as loud as the worst. `
` `
` "Well," he said with an oath, "it's not forever." `
` `
` I thought this was a very bad sign, for up to that day `
` the men had gone briskly and willingly about their `
` business; but the very sight of the island had relaxed `
` the cords of discipline. `
` `
` All the way in, Long John stood by the steersman and `
` conned the ship. He knew the passage like the palm of `
` his hand, and though the man in the chains got `
` everywhere more water than was down in the chart, John `
` never hesitated once. `
` `
` "There's a strong scour with the ebb," he said, "and `
` this here passage has been dug out, in a manner of `
` speaking, with a spade." `
` `
` We brought up just where the anchor was in the chart, `
` about a third of a mile from each shore, the mainland `
` on one side and Skeleton Island on the other. The `
` bottom was clean sand. The plunge of our anchor sent `
` up clouds of birds wheeling and crying over the woods, `
` but in less than a minute they were down again and all `
` was once more silent. `
` `
` The place was entirely land-locked, buried in woods, `
` the trees coming right down to high-water mark, the `
` shores mostly flat, and the hilltops standing round at `
` a distance in a sort of amphitheatre, one here, one `
` there. Two little rivers, or rather two swamps, `
` emptied out into this pond, as you might call it; and `
` the foliage round that part of the shore had a kind of `
` poisonous brightness. From the ship we could see `
` nothing of the house or stockade, for they were quite `
` buried among trees; and if it had not been for the `
` chart on the companion, we might have been the first `
` that had ever anchored there since the island arose out `
` of the seas. `
` `
` There was not a breath of air moving, nor a sound but that `
` of the surf booming half a mile away along the beaches and `
` against the rocks outside. A peculiar stagnant smell hung `
` over the anchorage--a smell of sodden leaves and rotting `
` tree trunks. I observed the doctor sniffing and sniffing, `
` like someone tasting a bad egg. `
` `
` "I don't know about treasure," he said, "but I'll stake `
` my wig there's fever here." `
` `
` If the conduct of the men had been alarming in the `
` boat, it became truly threatening when they had come `
` aboard. They lay about the deck growling together in `
` talk. The slightest order was received with a black `
` look and grudgingly and carelessly obeyed. Even the `
` honest hands must have caught the infection, for there `
` was not one man aboard to mend another. Mutiny, it was `
` plain, hung over us like a thunder-cloud. `
` `
` And it was not only we of the cabin party who perceived `
` the danger. Long John was hard at work going from `
` group to group, spending himself in good advice, and as `
` for example no man could have shown a better. He `
` fairly outstripped himself in willingness and civility; `
` he was all smiles to everyone. If an order were given, `
` John would be on his crutch in an instant, with the `
` cheeriest "Aye, aye, sir!" in the world; and when there `
` was nothing else to do, he kept up one song after `
` another, as if to conceal the discontent of the rest. `
` `
` Of all the gloomy features of that gloomy afternoon, this `
` obvious anxiety on the part of Long John appeared the worst. `
` `
` We held a council in the cabin. `
` `
` "Sir," said the captain, "if I risk another order, the `
` whole ship'll come about our ears by the run. You see, `
` sir, here it is. I get a rough answer, do I not? Well, `
` if I speak back, pikes will be going in two shakes; if I `
` don't, Silver will see there's something under that, and `
` the game's up. Now, we've only one man to rely on." `
` `
` "And who is that?" asked the squire. `
` `
` "Silver, sir," returned the captain; "he's as anxious `
` as you and I to smother things up. This is a tiff; `
` he'd soon talk 'em out of it if he had the chance, and `
` what I propose to do is to give him the chance. Let's `
` allow the men an afternoon ashore. If they all go, why `
` we'll fight the ship. If they none of them go, well `
` then, we hold the cabin, and God defend the right. If `
` some go, you mark my words, sir, Silver'll bring 'em `
` aboard again as mild as lambs." `
` `
` It was so decided; loaded pistols were served out to all `
` the sure men; Hunter, Joyce, and Redruth were taken into `
` our confidence and received the news with less surprise `
` and a better spirit than we had looked for, and then the `
` captain went on deck and addressed the crew. `
` `
` "My lads," said he, "we've had a hot day and are all `
` tired and out of sorts. A turn ashore'll hurt nobody-- `
` the boats are still in the water; you can take the gigs, `
` and as many as please may go ashore for the afternoon. `
` I'll fire a gun half an hour before sundown." `
` `
` I believe the silly fellows must have thought they `
` would break their shins over treasure as soon as they `
` were landed, for they all came out of their sulks in a `
` moment and gave a cheer that started the echo in a far- `
` away hill and sent the birds once more flying and `
` squalling round the anchorage. `
` `
` The captain was too bright to be in the way. He `
` whipped out of sight in a moment, leaving Silver to `
` arrange the party, and I fancy it was as well he did `
` so. Had he been on deck, he could no longer so much as `
` have pretended not to understand the situation. It was `
` as plain as day. Silver was the captain, and a mighty `
` rebellious crew he had of it. The honest hands--and I `
` was soon to see it proved that there were such on `
` board--must have been very stupid fellows. Or rather, `
` I suppose the truth was this, that all hands were `
` disaffected by the example of the ringleaders--only `
` some more, some less; and a few, being good fellows in `
` the main, could neither be led nor driven any further. `
` It is one thing to be idle and skulk and quite another `
` to take a ship and murder a number of innocent men. `
` `
` At last, however, the party was made up. Six fellows `
` were to stay on board, and the remaining thirteen, `
` including Silver, began to embark. `
` `
` Then it was that there came into my head the first of `
` the mad notions that contributed so much to save our `
` lives. If six men were left by Silver, it was plain `
` our party could not take and fight the ship; and since `
` only six were left, it was equally plain that the cabin `
` party had no present need of my assistance. It occurred `
` to me at once to go ashore. In a jiffy I had slipped over `
` the side and curled up in the fore-sheets of the nearest `
` boat, and almost at the same moment she shoved off. `
` `
` No one took notice of me, only the bow oar saying, "Is `
` that you, Jim? Keep your head down." But Silver, from `
` the other boat, looked sharply over and called out to `
` know if that were me; and from that moment I began to `
` regret what I had done. `
` `
` The crews raced for the beach, but the boat I was in, `
` having some start and being at once the lighter and the `
` better manned, shot far ahead of her consort, and the `
` bow had struck among the shore-side trees and I had `
` caught a branch and swung myself out and plunged into `
` the nearest thicket while Silver and the rest were `
` still a hundred yards behind. `
` `
` "Jim, Jim!" I heard him shouting. `
` `
` But you may suppose I paid no heed; jumping, ducking, `
` and breaking through, I ran straight before my nose `
` till I could run no longer. `
` `
` `
` `
` 14 `
` `
` The First Blow `
` `
` I WAS so pleased at having given the slip to Long John `
` that I began to enjoy myself and look around me with `
` some interest on the strange land that I was in. `
` `
` I had crossed a marshy tract full of willows, `
` bulrushes, and odd, outlandish, swampy trees; and I had `
` now come out upon the skirts of an open piece of `
` undulating, sandy country, about a mile long, dotted `
`
` all in the morning, on an empty stomach. `
` `
` Perhaps it was this--perhaps it was the look of the `
` island, with its grey, melancholy woods, and wild stone `
` spires, and the surf that we could both see and hear `
` foaming and thundering on the steep beach--at least, `
` although the sun shone bright and hot, and the shore `
` birds were fishing and crying all around us, and you `
` would have thought anyone would have been glad to get `
` to land after being so long at sea, my heart sank, as `
` the saying is, into my boots; and from the first look `
` onward, I hated the very thought of Treasure Island. `
` `
` We had a dreary morning's work before us, for there was `
` no sign of any wind, and the boats had to be got out `
` and manned, and the ship warped three or four miles `
` round the corner of the island and up the narrow `
` passage to the haven behind Skeleton Island. I `
` volunteered for one of the boats, where I had, of `
` course, no business. The heat was sweltering, and the `
` men grumbled fiercely over their work. Anderson was in `
` command of my boat, and instead of keeping the crew in `
` order, he grumbled as loud as the worst. `
` `
` "Well," he said with an oath, "it's not forever." `
` `
` I thought this was a very bad sign, for up to that day `
` the men had gone briskly and willingly about their `
` business; but the very sight of the island had relaxed `
` the cords of discipline. `
` `
` All the way in, Long John stood by the steersman and `
` conned the ship. He knew the passage like the palm of `
` his hand, and though the man in the chains got `
` everywhere more water than was down in the chart, John `
` never hesitated once. `
` `
` "There's a strong scour with the ebb," he said, "and `
` this here passage has been dug out, in a manner of `
` speaking, with a spade." `
` `
` We brought up just where the anchor was in the chart, `
` about a third of a mile from each shore, the mainland `
` on one side and Skeleton Island on the other. The `
` bottom was clean sand. The plunge of our anchor sent `
` up clouds of birds wheeling and crying over the woods, `
` but in less than a minute they were down again and all `
` was once more silent. `
` `
` The place was entirely land-locked, buried in woods, `
` the trees coming right down to high-water mark, the `
` shores mostly flat, and the hilltops standing round at `
` a distance in a sort of amphitheatre, one here, one `
` there. Two little rivers, or rather two swamps, `
` emptied out into this pond, as you might call it; and `
` the foliage round that part of the shore had a kind of `
` poisonous brightness. From the ship we could see `
` nothing of the house or stockade, for they were quite `
` buried among trees; and if it had not been for the `
` chart on the companion, we might have been the first `
` that had ever anchored there since the island arose out `
` of the seas. `
` `
` There was not a breath of air moving, nor a sound but that `
` of the surf booming half a mile away along the beaches and `
` against the rocks outside. A peculiar stagnant smell hung `
` over the anchorage--a smell of sodden leaves and rotting `
` tree trunks. I observed the doctor sniffing and sniffing, `
` like someone tasting a bad egg. `
` `
` "I don't know about treasure," he said, "but I'll stake `
` my wig there's fever here." `
` `
` If the conduct of the men had been alarming in the `
` boat, it became truly threatening when they had come `
` aboard. They lay about the deck growling together in `
` talk. The slightest order was received with a black `
` look and grudgingly and carelessly obeyed. Even the `
` honest hands must have caught the infection, for there `
` was not one man aboard to mend another. Mutiny, it was `
` plain, hung over us like a thunder-cloud. `
` `
` And it was not only we of the cabin party who perceived `
` the danger. Long John was hard at work going from `
` group to group, spending himself in good advice, and as `
` for example no man could have shown a better. He `
` fairly outstripped himself in willingness and civility; `
` he was all smiles to everyone. If an order were given, `
` John would be on his crutch in an instant, with the `
` cheeriest "Aye, aye, sir!" in the world; and when there `
` was nothing else to do, he kept up one song after `
` another, as if to conceal the discontent of the rest. `
` `
` Of all the gloomy features of that gloomy afternoon, this `
` obvious anxiety on the part of Long John appeared the worst. `
` `
` We held a council in the cabin. `
` `
` "Sir," said the captain, "if I risk another order, the `
` whole ship'll come about our ears by the run. You see, `
` sir, here it is. I get a rough answer, do I not? Well, `
` if I speak back, pikes will be going in two shakes; if I `
` don't, Silver will see there's something under that, and `
` the game's up. Now, we've only one man to rely on." `
` `
` "And who is that?" asked the squire. `
` `
` "Silver, sir," returned the captain; "he's as anxious `
` as you and I to smother things up. This is a tiff; `
` he'd soon talk 'em out of it if he had the chance, and `
` what I propose to do is to give him the chance. Let's `
` allow the men an afternoon ashore. If they all go, why `
` we'll fight the ship. If they none of them go, well `
` then, we hold the cabin, and God defend the right. If `
` some go, you mark my words, sir, Silver'll bring 'em `
` aboard again as mild as lambs." `
` `
` It was so decided; loaded pistols were served out to all `
` the sure men; Hunter, Joyce, and Redruth were taken into `
` our confidence and received the news with less surprise `
` and a better spirit than we had looked for, and then the `
` captain went on deck and addressed the crew. `
` `
` "My lads," said he, "we've had a hot day and are all `
` tired and out of sorts. A turn ashore'll hurt nobody-- `
` the boats are still in the water; you can take the gigs, `
` and as many as please may go ashore for the afternoon. `
` I'll fire a gun half an hour before sundown." `
` `
` I believe the silly fellows must have thought they `
` would break their shins over treasure as soon as they `
` were landed, for they all came out of their sulks in a `
` moment and gave a cheer that started the echo in a far- `
` away hill and sent the birds once more flying and `
` squalling round the anchorage. `
` `
` The captain was too bright to be in the way. He `
` whipped out of sight in a moment, leaving Silver to `
` arrange the party, and I fancy it was as well he did `
` so. Had he been on deck, he could no longer so much as `
` have pretended not to understand the situation. It was `
` as plain as day. Silver was the captain, and a mighty `
` rebellious crew he had of it. The honest hands--and I `
` was soon to see it proved that there were such on `
` board--must have been very stupid fellows. Or rather, `
` I suppose the truth was this, that all hands were `
` disaffected by the example of the ringleaders--only `
` some more, some less; and a few, being good fellows in `
` the main, could neither be led nor driven any further. `
` It is one thing to be idle and skulk and quite another `
` to take a ship and murder a number of innocent men. `
` `
` At last, however, the party was made up. Six fellows `
` were to stay on board, and the remaining thirteen, `
` including Silver, began to embark. `
` `
` Then it was that there came into my head the first of `
` the mad notions that contributed so much to save our `
` lives. If six men were left by Silver, it was plain `
` our party could not take and fight the ship; and since `
` only six were left, it was equally plain that the cabin `
` party had no present need of my assistance. It occurred `
` to me at once to go ashore. In a jiffy I had slipped over `
` the side and curled up in the fore-sheets of the nearest `
` boat, and almost at the same moment she shoved off. `
` `
` No one took notice of me, only the bow oar saying, "Is `
` that you, Jim? Keep your head down." But Silver, from `
` the other boat, looked sharply over and called out to `
` know if that were me; and from that moment I began to `
` regret what I had done. `
` `
` The crews raced for the beach, but the boat I was in, `
` having some start and being at once the lighter and the `
` better manned, shot far ahead of her consort, and the `
` bow had struck among the shore-side trees and I had `
` caught a branch and swung myself out and plunged into `
` the nearest thicket while Silver and the rest were `
` still a hundred yards behind. `
` `
` "Jim, Jim!" I heard him shouting. `
` `
` But you may suppose I paid no heed; jumping, ducking, `
` and breaking through, I ran straight before my nose `
` till I could run no longer. `
` `
` `
` `
` 14 `
` `
` The First Blow `
` `
` I WAS so pleased at having given the slip to Long John `
` that I began to enjoy myself and look around me with `
` some interest on the strange land that I was in. `
` `
` I had crossed a marshy tract full of willows, `
` bulrushes, and odd, outlandish, swampy trees; and I had `
` now come out upon the skirts of an open piece of `
` undulating, sandy country, about a mile long, dotted `
`