Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
to them of my alarm, and therefore of my fatal knowledge? `
` It was all over, I thought. Good-bye to the HISPANIOLA; `
` good-bye to the squire, the doctor, and the captain! `
` There was nothing left for me but death by starvation `
` or death by the hands of the mutineers. `
` `
` All this while, as I say, I was still running, and `
` without taking any notice, I had drawn near to the foot `
` of the little hill with the two peaks and had got into `
` a part of the island where the live-oaks grew more `
` widely apart and seemed more like forest trees in their `
` bearing and dimensions. Mingled with these were a few `
` scattered pines, some fifty, some nearer seventy, feet `
` high. The air too smelt more freshly than down beside `
` the marsh. `
` `
` And here a fresh alarm brought me to a standstill with `
` a thumping heart. `
` `
` `
` `
` 15 `
` `
` The Man of the Island `
` `
` FROM the side of the hill, which was here steep and `
` stony, a spout of gravel was dislodged and fell `
` rattling and bounding through the trees. My eyes `
` turned instinctively in that direction, and I saw a `
` figure leap with great rapidity behind the trunk of a `
` pine. What it was, whether bear or man or monkey, I `
` could in no wise tell. It seemed dark and shaggy; more `
` I knew not. But the terror of this new apparition `
` brought me to a stand. `
` `
` I was now, it seemed, cut off upon both sides; behind `
` me the murderers, before me this lurking nondescript. `
` And immediately I began to prefer the dangers that I `
` knew to those I knew not. Silver himself appeared less `
` terrible in contrast with this creature of the woods, `
` and I turned on my heel, and looking sharply behind me `
` over my shoulder, began to retrace my steps in the `
` direction of the boats. `
` `
` Instantly the figure reappeared, and making a wide `
` circuit, began to head me off. I was tired, at any `
` rate; but had I been as fresh as when I rose, I could `
` see it was in vain for me to contend in speed with such `
` an adversary. From trunk to trunk the creature flitted `
` like a deer, running manlike on two legs, but unlike `
` any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as `
` it ran. Yet a man it was, I could no longer be in `
` doubt about that. `
` `
` I began to recall what I had heard of cannibals. I was `
` within an ace of calling for help. But the mere fact `
` that he was a man, however wild, had somewhat reassured `
` me, and my fear of Silver began to revive in proportion. `
` I stood still, therefore, and cast about for some method `
` of escape; and as I was so thinking, the recollection of `
` my pistol flashed into my mind. As soon as I remembered `
` I was not defenceless, courage glowed again in my heart `
` and I set my face resolutely for this man of the island `
` and walked briskly towards him. `
` `
` He was concealed by this time behind another tree `
` trunk; but he must have been watching me closely, for `
` as soon as I began to move in his direction he `
` reappeared and took a step to meet me. Then he `
` hesitated, drew back, came forward again, and at last, `
` to my wonder and confusion, threw himself on his knees `
` and held out his clasped hands in supplication. `
` `
` At that I once more stopped. `
` `
` "Who are you?" I asked. `
` `
` "Ben Gunn," he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and `
` awkward, like a rusty lock. "I'm poor Ben Gunn, I am; and `
` I haven't spoke with a Christian these three years." `
` `
` I could now see that he was a white man like myself and `
` that his features were even pleasing. His skin, `
` wherever it was exposed, was burnt by the sun; even his `
` lips were black, and his fair eyes looked quite `
` startling in so dark a face. Of all the beggar-men `
` that I had seen or fancied, he was the chief for `
` raggedness. He was clothed with tatters of old ship's `
` canvas and old sea-cloth, and this extraordinary `
` patchwork was all held together by a system of the most `
` various and incongruous fastenings, brass buttons, bits `
` of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist `
` he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was `
` the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement. `
` `
` "Three years!" I cried. "Were you shipwrecked?" `
` `
` "Nay, mate," said he; "marooned." `
` `
` I had heard the word, and I knew it stood for a `
` horrible kind of punishment common enough among the `
` buccaneers, in which the offender is put ashore with a `
` little powder and shot and left behind on some desolate `
` and distant island. `
` `
` "Marooned three years agone," he continued, "and lived `
` on goats since then, and berries, and oysters. Wherever `
` a man is, says I, a man can do for himself. But, mate, `
` my heart is sore for Christian diet. You mightn't happen `
` to have a piece of cheese about you, now? No? Well, `
` many's the long night I've dreamed of cheese--toasted, `
` mostly--and woke up again, and here I were." `
` `
` "If ever I can get aboard again," said I, "you shall `
` have cheese by the stone." `
` `
` All this time he had been feeling the stuff of my `
` jacket, smoothing my hands, looking at my boots, and `
` generally, in the intervals of his speech, showing a `
` childish pleasure in the presence of a fellow creature. `
` But at my last words he perked up into a kind of `
` startled slyness. `
` `
` "If ever you can get aboard again, says you?" he `
` repeated. "Why, now, who's to hinder you?" `
` `
` "Not you, I know," was my reply. `
` `
` "And right you was," he cried. "Now you--what do you `
` call yourself, mate?" `
` `
` "Jim," I told him. `
` `
` "Jim, Jim," says he, quite pleased apparently. "Well, `
` now, Jim, I've lived that rough as you'd be ashamed to `
` hear of. Now, for instance, you wouldn't think I had `
` had a pious mother--to look at me?" he asked. `
` `
` "Why, no, not in particular," I answered. `
` `
` "Ah, well," said he, "but I had--remarkable pious. And `
` I was a civil, pious boy, and could rattle off my `
` catechism that fast, as you couldn't tell one word from `
` another. And here's what it come to, Jim, and it begun `
` with chuck-farthen on the blessed grave-stones! That's `
` what it begun with, but it went further'n that; and so `
` my mother told me, and predicked the whole, she did, the `
` pious woman! But it were Providence that put me here. `
` I've thought it all out in this here lonely island, and `
` I'm back on piety. You don't catch me tasting rum so `
` much, but just a thimbleful for luck, of course, the `
` first chance I have. I'm bound I'll be good, and I see `
` the way to. And, Jim"--looking all round him and lowering `
` his voice to a whisper--"I'm rich." `
` `
` I now felt sure that the poor fellow had gone crazy in `
` his solitude, and I suppose I must have shown the `
` feeling in my face, for he repeated the statement `
` hotly: "Rich! Rich! I says. And I'll tell you what: `
` I'll make a man of you, Jim. Ah, Jim, you'll bless `
` your stars, you will, you was the first that found me!" `
` `
` And at this there came suddenly a lowering shadow over `
` his face, and he tightened his grasp upon my hand and `
` raised a forefinger threateningly before my eyes. `
` `
` "Now, Jim, you tell me true: that ain't Flint's ship?" `
` he asked. `
` `
` At this I had a happy inspiration. I began to believe `
` that I had found an ally, and I answered him at once. `
` `
` "It's not Flint's ship, and Flint is dead; but I'll `
` tell you true, as you ask me--there are some of Flint's `
` hands aboard; worse luck for the rest of us." `
` `
` "Not a man--with one--leg?" he gasped. `
` `
` "Silver?" I asked. `
` `
` "Ah, Silver!" says he. "That were his name." `
` `
` "He's the cook, and the ringleader too." `
` `
` He was still holding me by the wrist, and at that he `
` give it quite a wring. `
` `
` "If you was sent by Long John," he said, "I'm as good as `
` pork, and I know it. But where was you, do you suppose?" `
` `
` I had made my mind up in a moment, and by way of answer `
` told him the whole story of our voyage and the `
` predicament in which we found ourselves. He heard me `
` with the keenest interest, and when I had done he `
` patted me on the head. `
` `
` "You're a good lad, Jim," he said; "and you're all in a `
` clove hitch, ain't you? Well, you just put your trust `
` in Ben Gunn--Ben Gunn's the man to do it. Would you `
` think it likely, now, that your squire would prove a `
` liberal-minded one in case of help--him being in a `
`
` It was all over, I thought. Good-bye to the HISPANIOLA; `
` good-bye to the squire, the doctor, and the captain! `
` There was nothing left for me but death by starvation `
` or death by the hands of the mutineers. `
` `
` All this while, as I say, I was still running, and `
` without taking any notice, I had drawn near to the foot `
` of the little hill with the two peaks and had got into `
` a part of the island where the live-oaks grew more `
` widely apart and seemed more like forest trees in their `
` bearing and dimensions. Mingled with these were a few `
` scattered pines, some fifty, some nearer seventy, feet `
` high. The air too smelt more freshly than down beside `
` the marsh. `
` `
` And here a fresh alarm brought me to a standstill with `
` a thumping heart. `
` `
` `
` `
` 15 `
` `
` The Man of the Island `
` `
` FROM the side of the hill, which was here steep and `
` stony, a spout of gravel was dislodged and fell `
` rattling and bounding through the trees. My eyes `
` turned instinctively in that direction, and I saw a `
` figure leap with great rapidity behind the trunk of a `
` pine. What it was, whether bear or man or monkey, I `
` could in no wise tell. It seemed dark and shaggy; more `
` I knew not. But the terror of this new apparition `
` brought me to a stand. `
` `
` I was now, it seemed, cut off upon both sides; behind `
` me the murderers, before me this lurking nondescript. `
` And immediately I began to prefer the dangers that I `
` knew to those I knew not. Silver himself appeared less `
` terrible in contrast with this creature of the woods, `
` and I turned on my heel, and looking sharply behind me `
` over my shoulder, began to retrace my steps in the `
` direction of the boats. `
` `
` Instantly the figure reappeared, and making a wide `
` circuit, began to head me off. I was tired, at any `
` rate; but had I been as fresh as when I rose, I could `
` see it was in vain for me to contend in speed with such `
` an adversary. From trunk to trunk the creature flitted `
` like a deer, running manlike on two legs, but unlike `
` any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as `
` it ran. Yet a man it was, I could no longer be in `
` doubt about that. `
` `
` I began to recall what I had heard of cannibals. I was `
` within an ace of calling for help. But the mere fact `
` that he was a man, however wild, had somewhat reassured `
` me, and my fear of Silver began to revive in proportion. `
` I stood still, therefore, and cast about for some method `
` of escape; and as I was so thinking, the recollection of `
` my pistol flashed into my mind. As soon as I remembered `
` I was not defenceless, courage glowed again in my heart `
` and I set my face resolutely for this man of the island `
` and walked briskly towards him. `
` `
` He was concealed by this time behind another tree `
` trunk; but he must have been watching me closely, for `
` as soon as I began to move in his direction he `
` reappeared and took a step to meet me. Then he `
` hesitated, drew back, came forward again, and at last, `
` to my wonder and confusion, threw himself on his knees `
` and held out his clasped hands in supplication. `
` `
` At that I once more stopped. `
` `
` "Who are you?" I asked. `
` `
` "Ben Gunn," he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and `
` awkward, like a rusty lock. "I'm poor Ben Gunn, I am; and `
` I haven't spoke with a Christian these three years." `
` `
` I could now see that he was a white man like myself and `
` that his features were even pleasing. His skin, `
` wherever it was exposed, was burnt by the sun; even his `
` lips were black, and his fair eyes looked quite `
` startling in so dark a face. Of all the beggar-men `
` that I had seen or fancied, he was the chief for `
` raggedness. He was clothed with tatters of old ship's `
` canvas and old sea-cloth, and this extraordinary `
` patchwork was all held together by a system of the most `
` various and incongruous fastenings, brass buttons, bits `
` of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist `
` he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was `
` the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement. `
` `
` "Three years!" I cried. "Were you shipwrecked?" `
` `
` "Nay, mate," said he; "marooned." `
` `
` I had heard the word, and I knew it stood for a `
` horrible kind of punishment common enough among the `
` buccaneers, in which the offender is put ashore with a `
` little powder and shot and left behind on some desolate `
` and distant island. `
` `
` "Marooned three years agone," he continued, "and lived `
` on goats since then, and berries, and oysters. Wherever `
` a man is, says I, a man can do for himself. But, mate, `
` my heart is sore for Christian diet. You mightn't happen `
` to have a piece of cheese about you, now? No? Well, `
` many's the long night I've dreamed of cheese--toasted, `
` mostly--and woke up again, and here I were." `
` `
` "If ever I can get aboard again," said I, "you shall `
` have cheese by the stone." `
` `
` All this time he had been feeling the stuff of my `
` jacket, smoothing my hands, looking at my boots, and `
` generally, in the intervals of his speech, showing a `
` childish pleasure in the presence of a fellow creature. `
` But at my last words he perked up into a kind of `
` startled slyness. `
` `
` "If ever you can get aboard again, says you?" he `
` repeated. "Why, now, who's to hinder you?" `
` `
` "Not you, I know," was my reply. `
` `
` "And right you was," he cried. "Now you--what do you `
` call yourself, mate?" `
` `
` "Jim," I told him. `
` `
` "Jim, Jim," says he, quite pleased apparently. "Well, `
` now, Jim, I've lived that rough as you'd be ashamed to `
` hear of. Now, for instance, you wouldn't think I had `
` had a pious mother--to look at me?" he asked. `
` `
` "Why, no, not in particular," I answered. `
` `
` "Ah, well," said he, "but I had--remarkable pious. And `
` I was a civil, pious boy, and could rattle off my `
` catechism that fast, as you couldn't tell one word from `
` another. And here's what it come to, Jim, and it begun `
` with chuck-farthen on the blessed grave-stones! That's `
` what it begun with, but it went further'n that; and so `
` my mother told me, and predicked the whole, she did, the `
` pious woman! But it were Providence that put me here. `
` I've thought it all out in this here lonely island, and `
` I'm back on piety. You don't catch me tasting rum so `
` much, but just a thimbleful for luck, of course, the `
` first chance I have. I'm bound I'll be good, and I see `
` the way to. And, Jim"--looking all round him and lowering `
` his voice to a whisper--"I'm rich." `
` `
` I now felt sure that the poor fellow had gone crazy in `
` his solitude, and I suppose I must have shown the `
` feeling in my face, for he repeated the statement `
` hotly: "Rich! Rich! I says. And I'll tell you what: `
` I'll make a man of you, Jim. Ah, Jim, you'll bless `
` your stars, you will, you was the first that found me!" `
` `
` And at this there came suddenly a lowering shadow over `
` his face, and he tightened his grasp upon my hand and `
` raised a forefinger threateningly before my eyes. `
` `
` "Now, Jim, you tell me true: that ain't Flint's ship?" `
` he asked. `
` `
` At this I had a happy inspiration. I began to believe `
` that I had found an ally, and I answered him at once. `
` `
` "It's not Flint's ship, and Flint is dead; but I'll `
` tell you true, as you ask me--there are some of Flint's `
` hands aboard; worse luck for the rest of us." `
` `
` "Not a man--with one--leg?" he gasped. `
` `
` "Silver?" I asked. `
` `
` "Ah, Silver!" says he. "That were his name." `
` `
` "He's the cook, and the ringleader too." `
` `
` He was still holding me by the wrist, and at that he `
` give it quite a wring. `
` `
` "If you was sent by Long John," he said, "I'm as good as `
` pork, and I know it. But where was you, do you suppose?" `
` `
` I had made my mind up in a moment, and by way of answer `
` told him the whole story of our voyage and the `
` predicament in which we found ourselves. He heard me `
` with the keenest interest, and when I had done he `
` patted me on the head. `
` `
` "You're a good lad, Jim," he said; "and you're all in a `
` clove hitch, ain't you? Well, you just put your trust `
` in Ben Gunn--Ben Gunn's the man to do it. Would you `
` think it likely, now, that your squire would prove a `
` liberal-minded one in case of help--him being in a `
`