Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
the eyes of any watchers. We slipped along the hedges, `
` noiseless and swift, nor did we see or hear anything to `
` increase our terrors, till, to our relief, the door of `
` the Admiral Benbow had closed behind us. `
` `
` I slipped the bolt at once, and we stood and panted for `
` a moment in the dark, alone in the house with the dead `
` captain's body. Then my mother got a candle in the `
` bar, and holding each other's hands, we advanced into `
` the parlour. He lay as we had left him, on his back, `
` with his eyes open and one arm stretched out. `
` `
` "Draw down the blind, Jim," whispered my mother; "they `
` might come and watch outside. And now," said she when `
` I had done so, "we have to get the key off THAT; and `
` who's to touch it, I should like to know!" and she gave `
` a kind of sob as she said the words. `
` `
` I went down on my knees at once. On the floor close to `
` his hand there was a little round of paper, blackened `
` on the one side. I could not doubt that this was the `
` BLACK SPOT; and taking it up, I found written on `
` the other side, in a very good, clear hand, this short `
` message: "You have till ten tonight." `
` `
` "He had till ten, Mother," said I; and just as I said `
` it, our old clock began striking. This sudden noise `
` startled us shockingly; but the news was good, for it `
` was only six. `
` `
` "Now, Jim," she said, "that key." `
` `
` I felt in his pockets, one after another. A few small coins, `
` a thimble, and some thread and big needles, a piece of pigtail `
` tobacco bitten away at the end, his gully with the crooked `
` handle, a pocket compass, and a tinder box were all that they `
` contained, and I began to despair. `
` `
` "Perhaps it's round his neck," suggested my mother. `
` `
` Overcoming a strong repugnance, I tore open his shirt `
` at the neck, and there, sure enough, hanging to a bit `
` of tarry string, which I cut with his own gully, we `
` found the key. At this triumph we were filled with `
` hope and hurried upstairs without delay to the little `
` room where he had slept so long and where his box had `
` stood since the day of his arrival. `
` `
` It was like any other seaman's chest on the outside, `
` the initial "B" burned on the top of it with a hot `
` iron, and the corners somewhat smashed and broken as by `
` long, rough usage. `
` `
` "Give me the key," said my mother; and though the lock `
` was very stiff, she had turned it and thrown back the `
` lid in a twinkling. `
` `
` A strong smell of tobacco and tar rose from the `
` interior, but nothing was to be seen on the top except `
` a suit of very good clothes, carefully brushed and `
` folded. They had never been worn, my mother said. `
` Under that, the miscellany began--a quadrant, a tin `
` canikin, several sticks of tobacco, two brace of very `
` handsome pistols, a piece of bar silver, an old Spanish `
` watch and some other trinkets of little value and `
` mostly of foreign make, a pair of compasses mounted `
` with brass, and five or six curious West Indian shells. `
` I have often wondered since why he should have carried `
` about these shells with him in his wandering, guilty, `
` and hunted life. `
` `
` In the meantime, we had found nothing of any value but `
` the silver and the trinkets, and neither of these were `
` in our way. Underneath there was an old boat-cloak, `
` whitened with sea-salt on many a harbour-bar. My `
` mother pulled it up with impatience, and there lay `
` before us, the last things in the chest, a bundle tied `
` up in oilcloth, and looking like papers, and a canvas `
` bag that gave forth, at a touch, the jingle of gold. `
` `
` "I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman," said `
` my mother. "I'll have my dues, and not a farthing `
` over. Hold Mrs. Crossley's bag." And she began to `
` count over the amount of the captain's score from the `
` sailor's bag into the one that I was holding. `
` `
` It was a long, difficult business, for the coins were `
` of all countries and sizes--doubloons, and louis d'ors, `
` and guineas, and pieces of eight, and I know not what `
` besides, all shaken together at random. The guineas, `
` too, were about the scarcest, and it was with these `
` only that my mother knew how to make her count. `
` `
` When we were about half-way through, I suddenly put my `
` hand upon her arm, for I had heard in the silent frosty `
` air a sound that brought my heart into my mouth--the `
` tap-tapping of the blind man's stick upon the frozen `
` road. It drew nearer and nearer, while we sat holding `
` our breath. Then it struck sharp on the inn door, and `
` then we could hear the handle being turned and the bolt `
` rattling as the wretched being tried to enter; and then `
` there was a long time of silence both within and `
` without. At last the tapping recommenced, and, to our `
` indescribable joy and gratitude, died slowly away again `
` until it ceased to be heard. `
` `
` "Mother," said I, "take the whole and let's be going," `
` for I was sure the bolted door must have seemed `
` suspicious and would bring the whole hornet's nest `
` about our ears, though how thankful I was that I had `
` bolted it, none could tell who had never met that `
` terrible blind man. `
` `
` But my mother, frightened as she was, would not consent `
` to take a fraction more than was due to her and was `
` obstinately unwilling to be content with less. It was `
` not yet seven, she said, by a long way; she knew her `
` rights and she would have them; and she was still `
` arguing with me when a little low whistle sounded a `
` good way off upon the hill. That was enough, and more `
` than enough, for both of us. `
` `
` "I'll take what I have," she said, jumping to her feet. `
` `
` "And I'll take this to square the count," said I, `
` picking up the oilskin packet. `
` `
` Next moment we were both groping downstairs, leaving `
` the candle by the empty chest; and the next we had `
` opened the door and were in full retreat. We had not `
` started a moment too soon. The fog was rapidly `
` dispersing; already the moon shone quite clear on the `
` high ground on either side; and it was only in the `
` exact bottom of the dell and round the tavern door that `
` a thin veil still hung unbroken to conceal the first `
` steps of our escape. Far less than half-way to the `
` hamlet, very little beyond the bottom of the hill, we `
` must come forth into the moonlight. Nor was this all, `
` for the sound of several footsteps running came already `
` to our ears, and as we looked back in their direction, `
` a light tossing to and fro and still rapidly advancing `
` showed that one of the newcomers carried a lantern. `
` `
` "My dear," said my mother suddenly, "take the money and `
` run on. I am going to faint." `
` `
` This was certainly the end for both of us, I thought. `
` How I cursed the cowardice of the neighbours; how I `
` blamed my poor mother for her honesty and her greed, `
` for her past foolhardiness and present weakness! We `
` were just at the little bridge, by good fortune; and I `
` helped her, tottering as she was, to the edge of the `
` bank, where, sure enough, she gave a sigh and fell on `
` my shoulder. I do not know how I found the strength to `
` do it at all, and I am afraid it was roughly done, but `
` I managed to drag her down the bank and a little way `
` under the arch. Farther I could not move her, for the `
` bridge was too low to let me do more than crawl below `
` it. So there we had to stay--my mother almost entirely `
` exposed and both of us within earshot of the inn. `
` `
` `
` `
` 5 `
` `
` The Last of the Blind Man `
` `
` MY curiosity, in a sense, was stronger than my fear, `
` for I could not remain where I was, but crept back to `
` the bank again, whence, sheltering my head behind a `
` bush of broom, I might command the road before our `
` door. I was scarcely in position ere my enemies began `
` to arrive, seven or eight of them, running hard, their `
` feet beating out of time along the road and the man `
` with the lantern some paces in front. Three men ran `
` together, hand in hand; and I made out, even through `
` the mist, that the middle man of this trio was the `
` blind beggar. The next moment his voice showed me that `
` I was right. `
` `
` "Down with the door!" he cried. `
` `
` "Aye, aye, sir!" answered two or three; and a rush was `
` made upon the Admiral Benbow, the lantern-bearer `
` following; and then I could see them pause, and hear `
` speeches passed in a lower key, as if they were `
` surprised to find the door open. But the pause was `
` brief, for the blind man again issued his commands. `
` His voice sounded louder and higher, as if he were `
` afire with eagerness and rage. `
` `
` "In, in, in!" he shouted, and cursed them for their delay. `
` `
` Four or five of them obeyed at once, two remaining on `
` the road with the formidable beggar. There was a `
` pause, then a cry of surprise, and then a voice `
` shouting from the house, "Bill's dead." `
` `
` But the blind man swore at them again for their delay. `
` `
` "Search him, some of you shirking lubbers, and the rest `
`
` noiseless and swift, nor did we see or hear anything to `
` increase our terrors, till, to our relief, the door of `
` the Admiral Benbow had closed behind us. `
` `
` I slipped the bolt at once, and we stood and panted for `
` a moment in the dark, alone in the house with the dead `
` captain's body. Then my mother got a candle in the `
` bar, and holding each other's hands, we advanced into `
` the parlour. He lay as we had left him, on his back, `
` with his eyes open and one arm stretched out. `
` `
` "Draw down the blind, Jim," whispered my mother; "they `
` might come and watch outside. And now," said she when `
` I had done so, "we have to get the key off THAT; and `
` who's to touch it, I should like to know!" and she gave `
` a kind of sob as she said the words. `
` `
` I went down on my knees at once. On the floor close to `
` his hand there was a little round of paper, blackened `
` on the one side. I could not doubt that this was the `
` BLACK SPOT; and taking it up, I found written on `
` the other side, in a very good, clear hand, this short `
` message: "You have till ten tonight." `
` `
` "He had till ten, Mother," said I; and just as I said `
` it, our old clock began striking. This sudden noise `
` startled us shockingly; but the news was good, for it `
` was only six. `
` `
` "Now, Jim," she said, "that key." `
` `
` I felt in his pockets, one after another. A few small coins, `
` a thimble, and some thread and big needles, a piece of pigtail `
` tobacco bitten away at the end, his gully with the crooked `
` handle, a pocket compass, and a tinder box were all that they `
` contained, and I began to despair. `
` `
` "Perhaps it's round his neck," suggested my mother. `
` `
` Overcoming a strong repugnance, I tore open his shirt `
` at the neck, and there, sure enough, hanging to a bit `
` of tarry string, which I cut with his own gully, we `
` found the key. At this triumph we were filled with `
` hope and hurried upstairs without delay to the little `
` room where he had slept so long and where his box had `
` stood since the day of his arrival. `
` `
` It was like any other seaman's chest on the outside, `
` the initial "B" burned on the top of it with a hot `
` iron, and the corners somewhat smashed and broken as by `
` long, rough usage. `
` `
` "Give me the key," said my mother; and though the lock `
` was very stiff, she had turned it and thrown back the `
` lid in a twinkling. `
` `
` A strong smell of tobacco and tar rose from the `
` interior, but nothing was to be seen on the top except `
` a suit of very good clothes, carefully brushed and `
` folded. They had never been worn, my mother said. `
` Under that, the miscellany began--a quadrant, a tin `
` canikin, several sticks of tobacco, two brace of very `
` handsome pistols, a piece of bar silver, an old Spanish `
` watch and some other trinkets of little value and `
` mostly of foreign make, a pair of compasses mounted `
` with brass, and five or six curious West Indian shells. `
` I have often wondered since why he should have carried `
` about these shells with him in his wandering, guilty, `
` and hunted life. `
` `
` In the meantime, we had found nothing of any value but `
` the silver and the trinkets, and neither of these were `
` in our way. Underneath there was an old boat-cloak, `
` whitened with sea-salt on many a harbour-bar. My `
` mother pulled it up with impatience, and there lay `
` before us, the last things in the chest, a bundle tied `
` up in oilcloth, and looking like papers, and a canvas `
` bag that gave forth, at a touch, the jingle of gold. `
` `
` "I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman," said `
` my mother. "I'll have my dues, and not a farthing `
` over. Hold Mrs. Crossley's bag." And she began to `
` count over the amount of the captain's score from the `
` sailor's bag into the one that I was holding. `
` `
` It was a long, difficult business, for the coins were `
` of all countries and sizes--doubloons, and louis d'ors, `
` and guineas, and pieces of eight, and I know not what `
` besides, all shaken together at random. The guineas, `
` too, were about the scarcest, and it was with these `
` only that my mother knew how to make her count. `
` `
` When we were about half-way through, I suddenly put my `
` hand upon her arm, for I had heard in the silent frosty `
` air a sound that brought my heart into my mouth--the `
` tap-tapping of the blind man's stick upon the frozen `
` road. It drew nearer and nearer, while we sat holding `
` our breath. Then it struck sharp on the inn door, and `
` then we could hear the handle being turned and the bolt `
` rattling as the wretched being tried to enter; and then `
` there was a long time of silence both within and `
` without. At last the tapping recommenced, and, to our `
` indescribable joy and gratitude, died slowly away again `
` until it ceased to be heard. `
` `
` "Mother," said I, "take the whole and let's be going," `
` for I was sure the bolted door must have seemed `
` suspicious and would bring the whole hornet's nest `
` about our ears, though how thankful I was that I had `
` bolted it, none could tell who had never met that `
` terrible blind man. `
` `
` But my mother, frightened as she was, would not consent `
` to take a fraction more than was due to her and was `
` obstinately unwilling to be content with less. It was `
` not yet seven, she said, by a long way; she knew her `
` rights and she would have them; and she was still `
` arguing with me when a little low whistle sounded a `
` good way off upon the hill. That was enough, and more `
` than enough, for both of us. `
` `
` "I'll take what I have," she said, jumping to her feet. `
` `
` "And I'll take this to square the count," said I, `
` picking up the oilskin packet. `
` `
` Next moment we were both groping downstairs, leaving `
` the candle by the empty chest; and the next we had `
` opened the door and were in full retreat. We had not `
` started a moment too soon. The fog was rapidly `
` dispersing; already the moon shone quite clear on the `
` high ground on either side; and it was only in the `
` exact bottom of the dell and round the tavern door that `
` a thin veil still hung unbroken to conceal the first `
` steps of our escape. Far less than half-way to the `
` hamlet, very little beyond the bottom of the hill, we `
` must come forth into the moonlight. Nor was this all, `
` for the sound of several footsteps running came already `
` to our ears, and as we looked back in their direction, `
` a light tossing to and fro and still rapidly advancing `
` showed that one of the newcomers carried a lantern. `
` `
` "My dear," said my mother suddenly, "take the money and `
` run on. I am going to faint." `
` `
` This was certainly the end for both of us, I thought. `
` How I cursed the cowardice of the neighbours; how I `
` blamed my poor mother for her honesty and her greed, `
` for her past foolhardiness and present weakness! We `
` were just at the little bridge, by good fortune; and I `
` helped her, tottering as she was, to the edge of the `
` bank, where, sure enough, she gave a sigh and fell on `
` my shoulder. I do not know how I found the strength to `
` do it at all, and I am afraid it was roughly done, but `
` I managed to drag her down the bank and a little way `
` under the arch. Farther I could not move her, for the `
` bridge was too low to let me do more than crawl below `
` it. So there we had to stay--my mother almost entirely `
` exposed and both of us within earshot of the inn. `
` `
` `
` `
` 5 `
` `
` The Last of the Blind Man `
` `
` MY curiosity, in a sense, was stronger than my fear, `
` for I could not remain where I was, but crept back to `
` the bank again, whence, sheltering my head behind a `
` bush of broom, I might command the road before our `
` door. I was scarcely in position ere my enemies began `
` to arrive, seven or eight of them, running hard, their `
` feet beating out of time along the road and the man `
` with the lantern some paces in front. Three men ran `
` together, hand in hand; and I made out, even through `
` the mist, that the middle man of this trio was the `
` blind beggar. The next moment his voice showed me that `
` I was right. `
` `
` "Down with the door!" he cried. `
` `
` "Aye, aye, sir!" answered two or three; and a rush was `
` made upon the Admiral Benbow, the lantern-bearer `
` following; and then I could see them pause, and hear `
` speeches passed in a lower key, as if they were `
` surprised to find the door open. But the pause was `
` brief, for the blind man again issued his commands. `
` His voice sounded louder and higher, as if he were `
` afire with eagerness and rage. `
` `
` "In, in, in!" he shouted, and cursed them for their delay. `
` `
` Four or five of them obeyed at once, two remaining on `
` the road with the formidable beggar. There was a `
` pause, then a cry of surprise, and then a voice `
` shouting from the house, "Bill's dead." `
` `
` But the blind man swore at them again for their delay. `
` `
` "Search him, some of you shirking lubbers, and the rest `
`