Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
with his finger. "And now, Master Billy Bones, if that `
` be your name, we'll have a look at the colour of your `
` blood. Jim," he said, "are you afraid of blood?" `
` `
` "No, sir," said I. `
` `
` "Well, then," said he, "you hold the basin"; and with `
` that he took his lancet and opened a vein. `
` `
` A great deal of blood was taken before the captain `
` opened his eyes and looked mistily about him. First he `
` recognized the doctor with an unmistakable frown; then `
` his glance fell upon me, and he looked relieved. But `
` suddenly his colour changed, and he tried to raise `
` himself, crying, "Where's Black Dog?" `
` `
` "There is no Black Dog here," said the doctor, "except `
` what you have on your own back. You have been drinking `
` rum; you have had a stroke, precisely as I told you; `
` and I have just, very much against my own will, dragged `
` you headforemost out of the grave. Now, Mr. Bones--" `
` `
` "That's not my name," he interrupted. `
` `
` "Much I care," returned the doctor. "It's the name of `
` a buccaneer of my acquaintance; and I call you by it `
` for the sake of shortness, and what I have to say to `
` you is this; one glass of rum won't kill you, but if `
` you take one you'll take another and another, and I `
` stake my wig if you don't break off short, you'll die-- `
` do you understand that?--die, and go to your own place, `
` like the man in the Bible. Come, now, make an effort. `
` I'll help you to your bed for once." `
` `
` Between us, with much trouble, we managed to hoist him `
` upstairs, and laid him on his bed, where his head fell `
` back on the pillow as if he were almost fainting. `
` `
` "Now, mind you," said the doctor, "I clear my `
` conscience--the name of rum for you is death." `
` `
` And with that he went off to see my father, taking me `
` with him by the arm. `
` `
` "This is nothing," he said as soon as he had closed the `
` door. "I have drawn blood enough to keep him quiet `
` awhile; he should lie for a week where he is--that is `
` the best thing for him and you; but another stroke `
` would settle him." `
` `
` `
` `
` 3 `
` `
` The Black Spot `
` `
` ABOUT noon I stopped at the captain's door with some `
` cooling drinks and medicines. He was lying very much `
` as we had left him, only a little higher, and he seemed `
` both weak and excited. `
` `
` "Jim," he said, "you're the only one here that's worth `
` anything, and you know I've been always good to you. `
` Never a month but I've given you a silver fourpenny for `
` yourself. And now you see, mate, I'm pretty low, and `
` deserted by all; and Jim, you'll bring me one noggin of `
` rum, now, won't you, matey?" `
` `
` "The doctor--" I began. `
` `
` But he broke in cursing the doctor, in a feeble voice `
` but heartily. "Doctors is all swabs," he said; "and `
` that doctor there, why, what do he know about seafaring `
` men? I been in places hot as pitch, and mates dropping `
` round with Yellow Jack, and the blessed land a-heaving `
` like the sea with earthquakes--what to the doctor know `
` of lands like that?--and I lived on rum, I tell you. `
` It's been meat and drink, and man and wife, to me; and `
` if I'm not to have my rum now I'm a poor old hulk on a `
` lee shore, my blood'll be on you, Jim, and that doctor `
` swab"; and he ran on again for a while with curses. `
` "Look, Jim, how my fingers fidges," he continued in the `
` pleading tone. "I can't keep 'em still, not I. I `
` haven't had a drop this blessed day. That doctor's a `
` fool, I tell you. If I don't have a drain o' rum, Jim, `
` I'll have the horrors; I seen some on 'em already. `
` I seen old Flint in the corner there, behind you; as `
` plain as print, I seen him; and if I get the horrors, `
` I'm a man that has lived rough, and I'll raise Cain. `
` Your doctor hisself said one glass wouldn't hurt me. `
` I'll give you a golden guinea for a noggin, Jim." `
` `
` He was growing more and more excited, and this alarmed me `
` for my father, who was very low that day and needed quiet; `
` besides, I was reassured by the doctor's words, now quoted `
` to me, and rather offended by the offer of a bribe. `
` `
` "I want none of your money," said I, "but what you owe `
` my father. I'll get you one glass, and no more." `
` `
` When I brought it to him, he seized it greedily and `
` drank it out. `
` `
` "Aye, aye," said he, "that's some better, sure enough. `
` And now, matey, did that doctor say how long I was to `
` lie here in this old berth?" `
` `
` "A week at least," said I. `
` `
` "Thunder!" he cried. "A week! I can't do that; they'd `
` have the black spot on me by then. The lubbers is `
` going about to get the wind of me this blessed moment; `
` lubbers as couldn't keep what they got, and want to `
` nail what is another's. Is that seamanly behaviour, `
` now, I want to know? But I'm a saving soul. I never `
` wasted good money of mine, nor lost it neither; and `
` I'll trick 'em again. I'm not afraid on 'em. I'll `
` shake out another reef, matey, and daddle 'em again." `
` `
` As he was thus speaking, he had risen from bed with `
` great difficulty, holding to my shoulder with a grip `
` that almost made me cry out, and moving his legs like `
` so much dead weight. His words, spirited as they were `
` in meaning, contrasted sadly with the weakness of the `
` voice in which they were uttered. He paused when he `
` had got into a sitting position on the edge. `
` `
` "That doctor's done me," he murmured. "My ears is `
` singing. Lay me back." `
` `
` Before I could do much to help him he had fallen back again `
` to his former place, where he lay for a while silent. `
` `
` "Jim," he said at length, "you saw that seafaring man today?" `
` `
` "Black Dog?" I asked. `
` `
` "Ah! Black Dog," says he. "HE'S a bad un; but there's `
` worse that put him on. Now, if I can't get away nohow, `
` and they tip me the black spot, mind you, it's my old `
` sea-chest they're after; you get on a horse--you can, `
` can't you? Well, then, you get on a horse, and go to-- `
` well, yes, I will!--to that eternal doctor swab, and `
` tell him to pipe all hands--magistrates and sich--and `
` he'll lay 'em aboard at the Admiral Benbow--all old `
` Flint's crew, man and boy, all on 'em that's left. I `
` was first mate, I was, old Flint's first mate, and I'm `
` the on'y one as knows the place. He gave it me at `
` Savannah, when he lay a-dying, like as if I was to now, `
` you see. But you won't peach unless they get the black `
` spot on me, or unless you see that Black Dog again or a `
` seafaring man with one leg, Jim--him above all." `
` `
` "But what is the black spot, captain?" I asked. `
` `
` "That's a summons, mate. I'll tell you if they get `
` that. But you keep your weather-eye open, Jim, and `
` I'll share with you equals, upon my honour." `
` `
` He wandered a little longer, his voice growing weaker; `
` but soon after I had given him his medicine, which he `
` took like a child, with the remark, "If ever a seaman `
` wanted drugs, it's me," he fell at last into a heavy, `
` swoon-like sleep, in which I left him. What I should `
` have done had all gone well I do not know. Probably I `
` should have told the whole story to the doctor, for I `
` was in mortal fear lest the captain should repent of `
` his confessions and make an end of me. But as things `
` fell out, my poor father died quite suddenly that `
` evening, which put all other matters on one side. Our `
` natural distress, the visits of the neighbours, the `
` arranging of the funeral, and all the work of the inn `
` to be carried on in the meanwhile kept me so busy that `
` I had scarcely time to think of the captain, far less `
` to be afraid of him. `
` `
` He got downstairs next morning, to be sure, and had his `
` meals as usual, though he ate little and had more, I am `
` afraid, than his usual supply of rum, for he helped `
` himself out of the bar, scowling and blowing through `
` his nose, and no one dared to cross him. On the night `
` before the funeral he was as drunk as ever; and it was `
` shocking, in that house of mourning, to hear him `
` singing away at his ugly old sea-song; but weak as he `
` was, we were all in the fear of death for him, and the `
` doctor was suddenly taken up with a case many miles `
` away and was never near the house after my father's `
` death. I have said the captain was weak, and indeed he `
` seemed rather to grow weaker than regain his strength. `
` He clambered up and down stairs, and went from the `
` parlour to the bar and back again, and sometimes put `
` his nose out of doors to smell the sea, holding on to `
` the walls as he went for support and breathing hard and `
` fast like a man on a steep mountain. He never `
` particularly addressed me, and it is my belief he had `
` as good as forgotten his confidences; but his temper `
` was more flighty, and allowing for his bodily weakness, `
` more violent than ever. He had an alarming way now `
` when he was drunk of drawing his cutlass and laying it `
` bare before him on the table. But with all that, he `
` minded people less and seemed shut up in his own `
`
` be your name, we'll have a look at the colour of your `
` blood. Jim," he said, "are you afraid of blood?" `
` `
` "No, sir," said I. `
` `
` "Well, then," said he, "you hold the basin"; and with `
` that he took his lancet and opened a vein. `
` `
` A great deal of blood was taken before the captain `
` opened his eyes and looked mistily about him. First he `
` recognized the doctor with an unmistakable frown; then `
` his glance fell upon me, and he looked relieved. But `
` suddenly his colour changed, and he tried to raise `
` himself, crying, "Where's Black Dog?" `
` `
` "There is no Black Dog here," said the doctor, "except `
` what you have on your own back. You have been drinking `
` rum; you have had a stroke, precisely as I told you; `
` and I have just, very much against my own will, dragged `
` you headforemost out of the grave. Now, Mr. Bones--" `
` `
` "That's not my name," he interrupted. `
` `
` "Much I care," returned the doctor. "It's the name of `
` a buccaneer of my acquaintance; and I call you by it `
` for the sake of shortness, and what I have to say to `
` you is this; one glass of rum won't kill you, but if `
` you take one you'll take another and another, and I `
` stake my wig if you don't break off short, you'll die-- `
` do you understand that?--die, and go to your own place, `
` like the man in the Bible. Come, now, make an effort. `
` I'll help you to your bed for once." `
` `
` Between us, with much trouble, we managed to hoist him `
` upstairs, and laid him on his bed, where his head fell `
` back on the pillow as if he were almost fainting. `
` `
` "Now, mind you," said the doctor, "I clear my `
` conscience--the name of rum for you is death." `
` `
` And with that he went off to see my father, taking me `
` with him by the arm. `
` `
` "This is nothing," he said as soon as he had closed the `
` door. "I have drawn blood enough to keep him quiet `
` awhile; he should lie for a week where he is--that is `
` the best thing for him and you; but another stroke `
` would settle him." `
` `
` `
` `
` 3 `
` `
` The Black Spot `
` `
` ABOUT noon I stopped at the captain's door with some `
` cooling drinks and medicines. He was lying very much `
` as we had left him, only a little higher, and he seemed `
` both weak and excited. `
` `
` "Jim," he said, "you're the only one here that's worth `
` anything, and you know I've been always good to you. `
` Never a month but I've given you a silver fourpenny for `
` yourself. And now you see, mate, I'm pretty low, and `
` deserted by all; and Jim, you'll bring me one noggin of `
` rum, now, won't you, matey?" `
` `
` "The doctor--" I began. `
` `
` But he broke in cursing the doctor, in a feeble voice `
` but heartily. "Doctors is all swabs," he said; "and `
` that doctor there, why, what do he know about seafaring `
` men? I been in places hot as pitch, and mates dropping `
` round with Yellow Jack, and the blessed land a-heaving `
` like the sea with earthquakes--what to the doctor know `
` of lands like that?--and I lived on rum, I tell you. `
` It's been meat and drink, and man and wife, to me; and `
` if I'm not to have my rum now I'm a poor old hulk on a `
` lee shore, my blood'll be on you, Jim, and that doctor `
` swab"; and he ran on again for a while with curses. `
` "Look, Jim, how my fingers fidges," he continued in the `
` pleading tone. "I can't keep 'em still, not I. I `
` haven't had a drop this blessed day. That doctor's a `
` fool, I tell you. If I don't have a drain o' rum, Jim, `
` I'll have the horrors; I seen some on 'em already. `
` I seen old Flint in the corner there, behind you; as `
` plain as print, I seen him; and if I get the horrors, `
` I'm a man that has lived rough, and I'll raise Cain. `
` Your doctor hisself said one glass wouldn't hurt me. `
` I'll give you a golden guinea for a noggin, Jim." `
` `
` He was growing more and more excited, and this alarmed me `
` for my father, who was very low that day and needed quiet; `
` besides, I was reassured by the doctor's words, now quoted `
` to me, and rather offended by the offer of a bribe. `
` `
` "I want none of your money," said I, "but what you owe `
` my father. I'll get you one glass, and no more." `
` `
` When I brought it to him, he seized it greedily and `
` drank it out. `
` `
` "Aye, aye," said he, "that's some better, sure enough. `
` And now, matey, did that doctor say how long I was to `
` lie here in this old berth?" `
` `
` "A week at least," said I. `
` `
` "Thunder!" he cried. "A week! I can't do that; they'd `
` have the black spot on me by then. The lubbers is `
` going about to get the wind of me this blessed moment; `
` lubbers as couldn't keep what they got, and want to `
` nail what is another's. Is that seamanly behaviour, `
` now, I want to know? But I'm a saving soul. I never `
` wasted good money of mine, nor lost it neither; and `
` I'll trick 'em again. I'm not afraid on 'em. I'll `
` shake out another reef, matey, and daddle 'em again." `
` `
` As he was thus speaking, he had risen from bed with `
` great difficulty, holding to my shoulder with a grip `
` that almost made me cry out, and moving his legs like `
` so much dead weight. His words, spirited as they were `
` in meaning, contrasted sadly with the weakness of the `
` voice in which they were uttered. He paused when he `
` had got into a sitting position on the edge. `
` `
` "That doctor's done me," he murmured. "My ears is `
` singing. Lay me back." `
` `
` Before I could do much to help him he had fallen back again `
` to his former place, where he lay for a while silent. `
` `
` "Jim," he said at length, "you saw that seafaring man today?" `
` `
` "Black Dog?" I asked. `
` `
` "Ah! Black Dog," says he. "HE'S a bad un; but there's `
` worse that put him on. Now, if I can't get away nohow, `
` and they tip me the black spot, mind you, it's my old `
` sea-chest they're after; you get on a horse--you can, `
` can't you? Well, then, you get on a horse, and go to-- `
` well, yes, I will!--to that eternal doctor swab, and `
` tell him to pipe all hands--magistrates and sich--and `
` he'll lay 'em aboard at the Admiral Benbow--all old `
` Flint's crew, man and boy, all on 'em that's left. I `
` was first mate, I was, old Flint's first mate, and I'm `
` the on'y one as knows the place. He gave it me at `
` Savannah, when he lay a-dying, like as if I was to now, `
` you see. But you won't peach unless they get the black `
` spot on me, or unless you see that Black Dog again or a `
` seafaring man with one leg, Jim--him above all." `
` `
` "But what is the black spot, captain?" I asked. `
` `
` "That's a summons, mate. I'll tell you if they get `
` that. But you keep your weather-eye open, Jim, and `
` I'll share with you equals, upon my honour." `
` `
` He wandered a little longer, his voice growing weaker; `
` but soon after I had given him his medicine, which he `
` took like a child, with the remark, "If ever a seaman `
` wanted drugs, it's me," he fell at last into a heavy, `
` swoon-like sleep, in which I left him. What I should `
` have done had all gone well I do not know. Probably I `
` should have told the whole story to the doctor, for I `
` was in mortal fear lest the captain should repent of `
` his confessions and make an end of me. But as things `
` fell out, my poor father died quite suddenly that `
` evening, which put all other matters on one side. Our `
` natural distress, the visits of the neighbours, the `
` arranging of the funeral, and all the work of the inn `
` to be carried on in the meanwhile kept me so busy that `
` I had scarcely time to think of the captain, far less `
` to be afraid of him. `
` `
` He got downstairs next morning, to be sure, and had his `
` meals as usual, though he ate little and had more, I am `
` afraid, than his usual supply of rum, for he helped `
` himself out of the bar, scowling and blowing through `
` his nose, and no one dared to cross him. On the night `
` before the funeral he was as drunk as ever; and it was `
` shocking, in that house of mourning, to hear him `
` singing away at his ugly old sea-song; but weak as he `
` was, we were all in the fear of death for him, and the `
` doctor was suddenly taken up with a case many miles `
` away and was never near the house after my father's `
` death. I have said the captain was weak, and indeed he `
` seemed rather to grow weaker than regain his strength. `
` He clambered up and down stairs, and went from the `
` parlour to the bar and back again, and sometimes put `
` his nose out of doors to smell the sea, holding on to `
` the walls as he went for support and breathing hard and `
` fast like a man on a steep mountain. He never `
` particularly addressed me, and it is my belief he had `
` as good as forgotten his confidences; but his temper `
` was more flighty, and allowing for his bodily weakness, `
` more violent than ever. He had an alarming way now `
` when he was drunk of drawing his cutlass and laying it `
` bare before him on the table. But with all that, he `
` minded people less and seemed shut up in his own `
`