Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
the parlour door opened and a man stepped in on whom I `
` had never set my eyes before. He was a pale, tallowy `
` creature, wanting two fingers of the left hand, and `
` though he wore a cutlass, he did not look much like a `
` fighter. I had always my eye open for seafaring men, `
` with one leg or two, and I remember this one puzzled `
` me. He was not sailorly, and yet he had a smack of the `
` sea about him too. `
` `
` I asked him what was for his service, and he said he would `
` take rum; but as I was going out of the room to fetch it, `
` he sat down upon a table and motioned me to draw near. I `
` paused where I was, with my napkin in my hand. `
` `
` "Come here, sonny," says he. "Come nearer here." `
` `
` I took a step nearer. `
` `
` "Is this here table for my mate Bill?" he asked with a `
` kind of leer. `
` `
` I told him I did not know his mate Bill, and this was for `
` a person who stayed in our house whom we called the captain. `
` `
` "Well," said he, "my mate Bill would be called the `
` captain, as like as not. He has a cut on one cheek and `
` a mighty pleasant way with him, particularly in drink, `
` has my mate Bill. We'll put it, for argument like, that `
` your captain has a cut on one cheek--and we'll put it, if `
` you like, that that cheek's the right one. Ah, well! I `
` told you. Now, is my mate Bill in this here house?" `
` `
` I told him he was out walking. `
` `
` "Which way, sonny? Which way is he gone?" `
` `
` And when I had pointed out the rock and told him how `
` the captain was likely to return, and how soon, and `
` answered a few other questions, "Ah," said he, "this'll `
` be as good as drink to my mate Bill." `
` `
` The expression of his face as he said these words was `
` not at all pleasant, and I had my own reasons for `
` thinking that the stranger was mistaken, even supposing `
` he meant what he said. But it was no affair of mine, I `
` thought; and besides, it was difficult to know what to `
` do. The stranger kept hanging about just inside the `
` inn door, peering round the corner like a cat waiting `
` for a mouse. Once I stepped out myself into the road, `
` but he immediately called me back, and as I did not `
` obey quick enough for his fancy, a most horrible change `
` came over his tallowy face, and he ordered me in with `
` an oath that made me jump. As soon as I was back again `
` he returned to his former manner, half fawning, half `
` sneering, patted me on the shoulder, told me I was a `
` good boy and he had taken quite a fancy to me. "I have `
` a son of my own," said he, "as like you as two blocks, `
` and he's all the pride of my 'art. But the great thing `
` for boys is discipline, sonny--discipline. Now, if you `
` had sailed along of Bill, you wouldn't have stood there `
` to be spoke to twice--not you. That was never Bill's `
` way, nor the way of sich as sailed with him. And here, `
` sure enough, is my mate Bill, with a spy-glass under `
` his arm, bless his old 'art, to be sure. You and me'll `
` just go back into the parlour, sonny, and get behind `
` the door, and we'll give Bill a little surprise--bless `
` his 'art, I say again." `
` `
` So saying, the stranger backed along with me into the `
` parlour and put me behind him in the corner so that we `
` were both hidden by the open door. I was very uneasy `
` and alarmed, as you may fancy, and it rather added to `
` my fears to observe that the stranger was certainly `
` frightened himself. He cleared the hilt of his cutlass `
` and loosened the blade in the sheath; and all the time `
` we were waiting there he kept swallowing as if he felt `
` what we used to call a lump in the throat. `
` `
` At last in strode the captain, slammed the door behind him, `
` without looking to the right or left, and marched straight `
` across the room to where his breakfast awaited him. `
` `
` "Bill," said the stranger in a voice that I thought he `
` had tried to make bold and big. `
` `
` The captain spun round on his heel and fronted us; all `
` the brown had gone out of his face, and even his nose `
` was blue; he had the look of a man who sees a ghost, or `
` the evil one, or something worse, if anything can be; `
` and upon my word, I felt sorry to see him all in a `
` moment turn so old and sick. `
` `
` "Come, Bill, you know me; you know an old shipmate, `
` Bill, surely," said the stranger. `
` `
` The captain made a sort of gasp. `
` `
` "Black Dog!" said he. `
` `
` "And who else?" returned the other, getting more at his `
` ease. "Black Dog as ever was, come for to see his old `
` shipmate Billy, at the Admiral Benbow inn. Ah, Bill, `
` Bill, we have seen a sight of times, us two, since I `
` lost them two talons," holding up his mutilated hand. `
` `
` "Now, look here," said the captain; "you've run me `
` down; here I am; well, then, speak up; what is it?" `
` `
` "That's you, Bill," returned Black Dog, "you're in the `
` right of it, Billy. I'll have a glass of rum from this `
` dear child here, as I've took such a liking to; and `
` we'll sit down, if you please, and talk square, like `
` old shipmates." `
` `
` When I returned with the rum, they were already seated `
` on either side of the captain's breakfast-table--Black `
` Dog next to the door and sitting sideways so as to have `
` one eye on his old shipmate and one, as I thought, on `
` his retreat. `
` `
` He bade me go and leave the door wide open. "None of `
` your keyholes for me, sonny," he said; and I left them `
` together and retired into the bar. `
` `
` "For a long time, though I certainly did my best to `
` listen, I could hear nothing but a low gattling; but at `
` last the voices began to grow higher, and I could pick `
` up a word or two, mostly oaths, from the captain. `
` `
` "No, no, no, no; and an end of it!" he cried once. And `
` again, "If it comes to swinging, swing all, say I." `
` `
` Then all of a sudden there was a tremendous explosion of `
` oaths and other noises--the chair and table went over in `
` a lump, a clash of steel followed, and then a cry of pain, `
` and the next instant I saw Black Dog in full flight, and `
` the captain hotly pursuing, both with drawn cutlasses, and `
` the former streaming blood from the left shoulder. Just `
` at the door the captain aimed at the fugitive one last `
` tremendous cut, which would certainly have split him to `
` the chine had it not been intercepted by our big signboard `
` of Admiral Benbow. You may see the notch on the lower side `
` of the frame to this day. `
` `
` That blow was the last of the battle. Once out upon `
` the road, Black Dog, in spite of his wound, showed a `
` wonderful clean pair of heels and disappeared over the `
` edge of the hill in half a minute. The captain, for `
` his part, stood staring at the signboard like a `
` bewildered man. Then he passed his hand over his eyes `
` several times and at last turned back into the house. `
` `
` "Jim," says he, "rum"; and as he spoke, he reeled a little, `
` and caught himself with one hand against the wall. `
` `
` "Are you hurt?" cried I. `
` `
` "Rum," he repeated. "I must get away from here. Rum! Rum!" `
` `
` I ran to fetch it, but I was quite unsteadied by all `
` that had fallen out, and I broke one glass and fouled `
` the tap, and while I was still getting in my own way, I `
` heard a loud fall in the parlour, and running in, beheld `
` the captain lying full length upon the floor. At the same `
` instant my mother, alarmed by the cries and fighting, came `
` running downstairs to help me. Between us we raised his `
` head. He was breathing very loud and hard, but his eyes `
` were closed and his face a horrible colour. `
` `
` "Dear, deary me," cried my mother, "what a disgrace `
` upon the house! And your poor father sick!" `
` `
` In the meantime, we had no idea what to do to help the `
` captain, nor any other thought but that he had got his `
` death-hurt in the scuffle with the stranger. I got the `
` rum, to be sure, and tried to put it down his throat, but `
` his teeth were tightly shut and his jaws as strong as iron. `
` It was a happy relief for us when the door opened and Doctor `
` Livesey came in, on his visit to my father. `
` `
` "Oh, doctor," we cried, "what shall we do? Where is he wounded?" `
` `
` "Wounded? A fiddle-stick's end!" said the doctor. "No `
` more wounded than you or I. The man has had a stroke, `
` as I warned him. Now, Mrs. Hawkins, just you run `
` upstairs to your husband and tell him, if possible, `
` nothing about it. For my part, I must do my best to `
` save this fellow's trebly worthless life; Jim, you get `
` me a basin." `
` `
` When I got back with the basin, the doctor had already `
` ripped up the captain's sleeve and exposed his great `
` sinewy arm. It was tattooed in several places. `
` "Here's luck," "A fair wind," and "Billy Bones his `
` fancy," were very neatly and clearly executed on the `
` forearm; and up near the shoulder there was a sketch of `
` a gallows and a man hanging from it--done, as I `
` thought, with great spirit. `
` `
` "Prophetic," said the doctor, touching this picture `
` with his finger. "And now, Master Billy Bones, if that `
`
` had never set my eyes before. He was a pale, tallowy `
` creature, wanting two fingers of the left hand, and `
` though he wore a cutlass, he did not look much like a `
` fighter. I had always my eye open for seafaring men, `
` with one leg or two, and I remember this one puzzled `
` me. He was not sailorly, and yet he had a smack of the `
` sea about him too. `
` `
` I asked him what was for his service, and he said he would `
` take rum; but as I was going out of the room to fetch it, `
` he sat down upon a table and motioned me to draw near. I `
` paused where I was, with my napkin in my hand. `
` `
` "Come here, sonny," says he. "Come nearer here." `
` `
` I took a step nearer. `
` `
` "Is this here table for my mate Bill?" he asked with a `
` kind of leer. `
` `
` I told him I did not know his mate Bill, and this was for `
` a person who stayed in our house whom we called the captain. `
` `
` "Well," said he, "my mate Bill would be called the `
` captain, as like as not. He has a cut on one cheek and `
` a mighty pleasant way with him, particularly in drink, `
` has my mate Bill. We'll put it, for argument like, that `
` your captain has a cut on one cheek--and we'll put it, if `
` you like, that that cheek's the right one. Ah, well! I `
` told you. Now, is my mate Bill in this here house?" `
` `
` I told him he was out walking. `
` `
` "Which way, sonny? Which way is he gone?" `
` `
` And when I had pointed out the rock and told him how `
` the captain was likely to return, and how soon, and `
` answered a few other questions, "Ah," said he, "this'll `
` be as good as drink to my mate Bill." `
` `
` The expression of his face as he said these words was `
` not at all pleasant, and I had my own reasons for `
` thinking that the stranger was mistaken, even supposing `
` he meant what he said. But it was no affair of mine, I `
` thought; and besides, it was difficult to know what to `
` do. The stranger kept hanging about just inside the `
` inn door, peering round the corner like a cat waiting `
` for a mouse. Once I stepped out myself into the road, `
` but he immediately called me back, and as I did not `
` obey quick enough for his fancy, a most horrible change `
` came over his tallowy face, and he ordered me in with `
` an oath that made me jump. As soon as I was back again `
` he returned to his former manner, half fawning, half `
` sneering, patted me on the shoulder, told me I was a `
` good boy and he had taken quite a fancy to me. "I have `
` a son of my own," said he, "as like you as two blocks, `
` and he's all the pride of my 'art. But the great thing `
` for boys is discipline, sonny--discipline. Now, if you `
` had sailed along of Bill, you wouldn't have stood there `
` to be spoke to twice--not you. That was never Bill's `
` way, nor the way of sich as sailed with him. And here, `
` sure enough, is my mate Bill, with a spy-glass under `
` his arm, bless his old 'art, to be sure. You and me'll `
` just go back into the parlour, sonny, and get behind `
` the door, and we'll give Bill a little surprise--bless `
` his 'art, I say again." `
` `
` So saying, the stranger backed along with me into the `
` parlour and put me behind him in the corner so that we `
` were both hidden by the open door. I was very uneasy `
` and alarmed, as you may fancy, and it rather added to `
` my fears to observe that the stranger was certainly `
` frightened himself. He cleared the hilt of his cutlass `
` and loosened the blade in the sheath; and all the time `
` we were waiting there he kept swallowing as if he felt `
` what we used to call a lump in the throat. `
` `
` At last in strode the captain, slammed the door behind him, `
` without looking to the right or left, and marched straight `
` across the room to where his breakfast awaited him. `
` `
` "Bill," said the stranger in a voice that I thought he `
` had tried to make bold and big. `
` `
` The captain spun round on his heel and fronted us; all `
` the brown had gone out of his face, and even his nose `
` was blue; he had the look of a man who sees a ghost, or `
` the evil one, or something worse, if anything can be; `
` and upon my word, I felt sorry to see him all in a `
` moment turn so old and sick. `
` `
` "Come, Bill, you know me; you know an old shipmate, `
` Bill, surely," said the stranger. `
` `
` The captain made a sort of gasp. `
` `
` "Black Dog!" said he. `
` `
` "And who else?" returned the other, getting more at his `
` ease. "Black Dog as ever was, come for to see his old `
` shipmate Billy, at the Admiral Benbow inn. Ah, Bill, `
` Bill, we have seen a sight of times, us two, since I `
` lost them two talons," holding up his mutilated hand. `
` `
` "Now, look here," said the captain; "you've run me `
` down; here I am; well, then, speak up; what is it?" `
` `
` "That's you, Bill," returned Black Dog, "you're in the `
` right of it, Billy. I'll have a glass of rum from this `
` dear child here, as I've took such a liking to; and `
` we'll sit down, if you please, and talk square, like `
` old shipmates." `
` `
` When I returned with the rum, they were already seated `
` on either side of the captain's breakfast-table--Black `
` Dog next to the door and sitting sideways so as to have `
` one eye on his old shipmate and one, as I thought, on `
` his retreat. `
` `
` He bade me go and leave the door wide open. "None of `
` your keyholes for me, sonny," he said; and I left them `
` together and retired into the bar. `
` `
` "For a long time, though I certainly did my best to `
` listen, I could hear nothing but a low gattling; but at `
` last the voices began to grow higher, and I could pick `
` up a word or two, mostly oaths, from the captain. `
` `
` "No, no, no, no; and an end of it!" he cried once. And `
` again, "If it comes to swinging, swing all, say I." `
` `
` Then all of a sudden there was a tremendous explosion of `
` oaths and other noises--the chair and table went over in `
` a lump, a clash of steel followed, and then a cry of pain, `
` and the next instant I saw Black Dog in full flight, and `
` the captain hotly pursuing, both with drawn cutlasses, and `
` the former streaming blood from the left shoulder. Just `
` at the door the captain aimed at the fugitive one last `
` tremendous cut, which would certainly have split him to `
` the chine had it not been intercepted by our big signboard `
` of Admiral Benbow. You may see the notch on the lower side `
` of the frame to this day. `
` `
` That blow was the last of the battle. Once out upon `
` the road, Black Dog, in spite of his wound, showed a `
` wonderful clean pair of heels and disappeared over the `
` edge of the hill in half a minute. The captain, for `
` his part, stood staring at the signboard like a `
` bewildered man. Then he passed his hand over his eyes `
` several times and at last turned back into the house. `
` `
` "Jim," says he, "rum"; and as he spoke, he reeled a little, `
` and caught himself with one hand against the wall. `
` `
` "Are you hurt?" cried I. `
` `
` "Rum," he repeated. "I must get away from here. Rum! Rum!" `
` `
` I ran to fetch it, but I was quite unsteadied by all `
` that had fallen out, and I broke one glass and fouled `
` the tap, and while I was still getting in my own way, I `
` heard a loud fall in the parlour, and running in, beheld `
` the captain lying full length upon the floor. At the same `
` instant my mother, alarmed by the cries and fighting, came `
` running downstairs to help me. Between us we raised his `
` head. He was breathing very loud and hard, but his eyes `
` were closed and his face a horrible colour. `
` `
` "Dear, deary me," cried my mother, "what a disgrace `
` upon the house! And your poor father sick!" `
` `
` In the meantime, we had no idea what to do to help the `
` captain, nor any other thought but that he had got his `
` death-hurt in the scuffle with the stranger. I got the `
` rum, to be sure, and tried to put it down his throat, but `
` his teeth were tightly shut and his jaws as strong as iron. `
` It was a happy relief for us when the door opened and Doctor `
` Livesey came in, on his visit to my father. `
` `
` "Oh, doctor," we cried, "what shall we do? Where is he wounded?" `
` `
` "Wounded? A fiddle-stick's end!" said the doctor. "No `
` more wounded than you or I. The man has had a stroke, `
` as I warned him. Now, Mrs. Hawkins, just you run `
` upstairs to your husband and tell him, if possible, `
` nothing about it. For my part, I must do my best to `
` save this fellow's trebly worthless life; Jim, you get `
` me a basin." `
` `
` When I got back with the basin, the doctor had already `
` ripped up the captain's sleeve and exposed his great `
` sinewy arm. It was tattooed in several places. `
` "Here's luck," "A fair wind," and "Billy Bones his `
` fancy," were very neatly and clearly executed on the `
` forearm; and up near the shoulder there was a sketch of `
` a gallows and a man hanging from it--done, as I `
` thought, with great spirit. `
` `
` "Prophetic," said the doctor, touching this picture `
` with his finger. "And now, Master Billy Bones, if that `
`