Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
"Search him, some of you shirking lubbers, and the rest `
` of you aloft and get the chest," he cried. `
` `
` I could hear their feet rattling up our old stairs, so `
` that the house must have shook with it. Promptly `
` afterwards, fresh sounds of astonishment arose; the `
` window of the captain's room was thrown open with a `
` slam and a jingle of broken glass, and a man leaned out `
` into the moonlight, head and shoulders, and addressed `
` the blind beggar on the road below him. `
` `
` "Pew," he cried, "they've been before us. Someone's `
` turned the chest out alow and aloft." `
` `
` "Is it there?" roared Pew. `
` `
` "The money's there." `
` `
` The blind man cursed the money. `
` `
` "Flint's fist, I mean," he cried. `
` `
` "We don't see it here nohow," returned the man. `
` `
` "Here, you below there, is it on Bill?" cried the blind `
` man again. `
` `
` At that another fellow, probably him who had remained `
` below to search the captain's body, came to the door of `
` the inn. "Bill's been overhauled a'ready," said he; `
` "nothin' left." `
` `
` "It's these people of the inn--it's that boy. I wish I `
` had put his eyes out!" cried the blind man, Pew. `
` "There were no time ago--they had the door bolted when `
` I tried it. Scatter, lads, and find 'em." `
` `
` "Sure enough, they left their glim here," said the `
` fellow from the window. `
` `
` "Scatter and find 'em! Rout the house out!" reiterated `
` Pew, striking with his stick upon the road. `
` `
` Then there followed a great to-do through all our old `
` inn, heavy feet pounding to and fro, furniture thrown `
` over, doors kicked in, until the very rocks re-echoed `
` and the men came out again, one after another, on the `
` road and declared that we were nowhere to be found. `
` And just the same whistle that had alarmed my mother `
` and myself over the dead captain's money was once more `
` clearly audible through the night, but this time twice `
` repeated. I had thought it to be the blind man's trumpet, `
` so to speak, summoning his crew to the assault, but I now `
` found that it was a signal from the hillside towards the `
` hamlet, and from its effect upon the buccaneers, a signal `
` to warn them of approaching danger. `
` `
` "There's Dirk again," said one. "Twice! We'll have to `
` budge, mates." `
` `
` "Budge, you skulk!" cried Pew. "Dirk was a fool and a `
` coward from the first--you wouldn't mind him. They `
` must be close by; they can't be far; you have your `
` hands on it. Scatter and look for them, dogs! Oh, `
` shiver my soul," he cried, "if I had eyes!" `
` `
` This appeal seemed to produce some effect, for two of `
` the fellows began to look here and there among the `
` lumber, but half-heartedly, I thought, and with half an `
` eye to their own danger all the time, while the rest `
` stood irresolute on the road. `
` `
` "You have your hands on thousands, you fools, and you `
` hang a leg! You'd be as rich as kings if you could `
` find it, and you know it's here, and you stand there `
` skulking. There wasn't one of you dared face Bill, and `
` I did it--a blind man! And I'm to lose my chance for you! `
` I'm to be a poor, crawling beggar, sponging for rum, when `
` I might be rolling in a coach! If you had the pluck of a `
` weevil in a biscuit you would catch them still." `
` `
` "Hang it, Pew, we've got the doubloons!" grumbled one. `
` `
` "They might have hid the blessed thing," said another. `
` "Take the Georges, Pew, and don't stand here squalling." `
` `
` Squalling was the word for it; Pew's anger rose so high `
` at these objections till at last, his passion `
` completely taking the upper hand, he struck at them `
` right and left in his blindness and his stick sounded `
` heavily on more than one. `
` `
` These, in their turn, cursed back at the blind `
` miscreant, threatened him in horrid terms, and tried in `
` vain to catch the stick and wrest it from his grasp. `
` `
` This quarrel was the saving of us, for while it was `
` still raging, another sound came from the top of the `
` hill on the side of the hamlet--the tramp of horses `
` galloping. Almost at the same time a pistol-shot, `
` flash and report, came from the hedge side. And that `
` was plainly the last signal of danger, for the `
` buccaneers turned at once and ran, separating in every `
` direction, one seaward along the cove, one slant across `
` the hill, and so on, so that in half a minute not a `
` sign of them remained but Pew. Him they had deserted, `
` whether in sheer panic or out of revenge for his ill `
` words and blows I know not; but there he remained `
` behind, tapping up and down the road in a frenzy, and `
` groping and calling for his comrades. Finally he took `
` a wrong turn and ran a few steps past me, towards the `
` hamlet, crying, "Johnny, Black Dog, Dirk," and other `
` names, "you won't leave old Pew, mates--not old Pew!" `
` `
` Just then the noise of horses topped the rise, and four `
` or five riders came in sight in the moonlight and swept `
` at full gallop down the slope. `
` `
` At this Pew saw his error, turned with a scream, and `
` ran straight for the ditch, into which he rolled. But `
` he was on his feet again in a second and made another `
` dash, now utterly bewildered, right under the nearest `
` of the coming horses. `
` `
` The rider tried to save him, but in vain. Down went `
` Pew with a cry that rang high into the night; and the `
` four hoofs trampled and spurned him and passed by. He `
` fell on his side, then gently collapsed upon his face `
` and moved no more. `
` `
` I leaped to my feet and hailed the riders. They were `
` pulling up, at any rate, horrified at the accident; and `
` I soon saw what they were. One, tailing out behind the `
` rest, was a lad that had gone from the hamlet to Dr. `
` Livesey's; the rest were revenue officers, whom he had `
` met by the way, and with whom he had had the `
` intelligence to return at once. Some news of the `
` lugger in Kitt's Hole had found its way to Supervisor `
` Dance and set him forth that night in our direction, `
` and to that circumstance my mother and I owed our `
` preservation from death. `
` `
` Pew was dead, stone dead. As for my mother, when we `
` had carried her up to the hamlet, a little cold water `
` and salts and that soon brought her back again, and she `
` was none the worse for her terror, though she still `
` continued to deplore the balance of the money. In the `
` meantime the supervisor rode on, as fast as he could, `
` to Kitt's Hole; but his men had to dismount and grope `
` down the dingle, leading, and sometimes supporting, `
` their horses, and in continual fear of ambushes; so it `
` was no great matter for surprise that when they got `
` down to the Hole the lugger was already under way, `
` though still close in. He hailed her. A voice `
` replied, telling him to keep out of the moonlight or he `
` would get some lead in him, and at the same time a `
` bullet whistled close by his arm. Soon after, the `
` lugger doubled the point and disappeared. Mr. Dance `
` stood there, as he said, "like a fish out of water," `
` and all he could do was to dispatch a man to B---- to `
` warn the cutter. "And that," said he, "is just about `
` as good as nothing. They've got off clean, and there's `
` an end. Only," he added, "I'm glad I trod on Master `
` Pew's corns," for by this time he had heard my story. `
` `
` I went back with him to the Admiral Benbow, and you `
` cannot imagine a house in such a state of smash; the `
` very clock had been thrown down by these fellows in `
` their furious hunt after my mother and myself; and `
` though nothing had actually been taken away except the `
` captain's money-bag and a little silver from the till, `
` I could see at once that we were ruined. Mr. Dance `
` could make nothing of the scene. `
` `
` "They got the money, you say? Well, then, Hawkins, what `
` in fortune were they after? More money, I suppose?" `
` `
` "No, sir; not money, I think," replied I. "In fact, `
` sir, I believe I have the thing in my breast pocket; `
` and to tell you the truth, I should like to get it put `
` in safety." `
` `
` "To be sure, boy; quite right," said he. "I'll take `
` it, if you like." `
` `
` "I thought perhaps Dr. Livesey--" I began. `
` `
` "Perfectly right," he interrupted very cheerily, `
` "perfectly right--a gentleman and a magistrate. And, `
` now I come to think of it, I might as well ride round `
` there myself and report to him or squire. Master Pew's `
` dead, when all's done; not that I regret it, but he's `
` dead, you see, and people will make it out against an `
` officer of his Majesty's revenue, if make it out they `
` can. Now, I'll tell you, Hawkins, if you like, I'll `
` take you along." `
` `
` I thanked him heartily for the offer, and we walked back `
` to the hamlet where the horses were. By the time I had `
` told mother of my purpose they were all in the saddle. `
` `
`
` of you aloft and get the chest," he cried. `
` `
` I could hear their feet rattling up our old stairs, so `
` that the house must have shook with it. Promptly `
` afterwards, fresh sounds of astonishment arose; the `
` window of the captain's room was thrown open with a `
` slam and a jingle of broken glass, and a man leaned out `
` into the moonlight, head and shoulders, and addressed `
` the blind beggar on the road below him. `
` `
` "Pew," he cried, "they've been before us. Someone's `
` turned the chest out alow and aloft." `
` `
` "Is it there?" roared Pew. `
` `
` "The money's there." `
` `
` The blind man cursed the money. `
` `
` "Flint's fist, I mean," he cried. `
` `
` "We don't see it here nohow," returned the man. `
` `
` "Here, you below there, is it on Bill?" cried the blind `
` man again. `
` `
` At that another fellow, probably him who had remained `
` below to search the captain's body, came to the door of `
` the inn. "Bill's been overhauled a'ready," said he; `
` "nothin' left." `
` `
` "It's these people of the inn--it's that boy. I wish I `
` had put his eyes out!" cried the blind man, Pew. `
` "There were no time ago--they had the door bolted when `
` I tried it. Scatter, lads, and find 'em." `
` `
` "Sure enough, they left their glim here," said the `
` fellow from the window. `
` `
` "Scatter and find 'em! Rout the house out!" reiterated `
` Pew, striking with his stick upon the road. `
` `
` Then there followed a great to-do through all our old `
` inn, heavy feet pounding to and fro, furniture thrown `
` over, doors kicked in, until the very rocks re-echoed `
` and the men came out again, one after another, on the `
` road and declared that we were nowhere to be found. `
` And just the same whistle that had alarmed my mother `
` and myself over the dead captain's money was once more `
` clearly audible through the night, but this time twice `
` repeated. I had thought it to be the blind man's trumpet, `
` so to speak, summoning his crew to the assault, but I now `
` found that it was a signal from the hillside towards the `
` hamlet, and from its effect upon the buccaneers, a signal `
` to warn them of approaching danger. `
` `
` "There's Dirk again," said one. "Twice! We'll have to `
` budge, mates." `
` `
` "Budge, you skulk!" cried Pew. "Dirk was a fool and a `
` coward from the first--you wouldn't mind him. They `
` must be close by; they can't be far; you have your `
` hands on it. Scatter and look for them, dogs! Oh, `
` shiver my soul," he cried, "if I had eyes!" `
` `
` This appeal seemed to produce some effect, for two of `
` the fellows began to look here and there among the `
` lumber, but half-heartedly, I thought, and with half an `
` eye to their own danger all the time, while the rest `
` stood irresolute on the road. `
` `
` "You have your hands on thousands, you fools, and you `
` hang a leg! You'd be as rich as kings if you could `
` find it, and you know it's here, and you stand there `
` skulking. There wasn't one of you dared face Bill, and `
` I did it--a blind man! And I'm to lose my chance for you! `
` I'm to be a poor, crawling beggar, sponging for rum, when `
` I might be rolling in a coach! If you had the pluck of a `
` weevil in a biscuit you would catch them still." `
` `
` "Hang it, Pew, we've got the doubloons!" grumbled one. `
` `
` "They might have hid the blessed thing," said another. `
` "Take the Georges, Pew, and don't stand here squalling." `
` `
` Squalling was the word for it; Pew's anger rose so high `
` at these objections till at last, his passion `
` completely taking the upper hand, he struck at them `
` right and left in his blindness and his stick sounded `
` heavily on more than one. `
` `
` These, in their turn, cursed back at the blind `
` miscreant, threatened him in horrid terms, and tried in `
` vain to catch the stick and wrest it from his grasp. `
` `
` This quarrel was the saving of us, for while it was `
` still raging, another sound came from the top of the `
` hill on the side of the hamlet--the tramp of horses `
` galloping. Almost at the same time a pistol-shot, `
` flash and report, came from the hedge side. And that `
` was plainly the last signal of danger, for the `
` buccaneers turned at once and ran, separating in every `
` direction, one seaward along the cove, one slant across `
` the hill, and so on, so that in half a minute not a `
` sign of them remained but Pew. Him they had deserted, `
` whether in sheer panic or out of revenge for his ill `
` words and blows I know not; but there he remained `
` behind, tapping up and down the road in a frenzy, and `
` groping and calling for his comrades. Finally he took `
` a wrong turn and ran a few steps past me, towards the `
` hamlet, crying, "Johnny, Black Dog, Dirk," and other `
` names, "you won't leave old Pew, mates--not old Pew!" `
` `
` Just then the noise of horses topped the rise, and four `
` or five riders came in sight in the moonlight and swept `
` at full gallop down the slope. `
` `
` At this Pew saw his error, turned with a scream, and `
` ran straight for the ditch, into which he rolled. But `
` he was on his feet again in a second and made another `
` dash, now utterly bewildered, right under the nearest `
` of the coming horses. `
` `
` The rider tried to save him, but in vain. Down went `
` Pew with a cry that rang high into the night; and the `
` four hoofs trampled and spurned him and passed by. He `
` fell on his side, then gently collapsed upon his face `
` and moved no more. `
` `
` I leaped to my feet and hailed the riders. They were `
` pulling up, at any rate, horrified at the accident; and `
` I soon saw what they were. One, tailing out behind the `
` rest, was a lad that had gone from the hamlet to Dr. `
` Livesey's; the rest were revenue officers, whom he had `
` met by the way, and with whom he had had the `
` intelligence to return at once. Some news of the `
` lugger in Kitt's Hole had found its way to Supervisor `
` Dance and set him forth that night in our direction, `
` and to that circumstance my mother and I owed our `
` preservation from death. `
` `
` Pew was dead, stone dead. As for my mother, when we `
` had carried her up to the hamlet, a little cold water `
` and salts and that soon brought her back again, and she `
` was none the worse for her terror, though she still `
` continued to deplore the balance of the money. In the `
` meantime the supervisor rode on, as fast as he could, `
` to Kitt's Hole; but his men had to dismount and grope `
` down the dingle, leading, and sometimes supporting, `
` their horses, and in continual fear of ambushes; so it `
` was no great matter for surprise that when they got `
` down to the Hole the lugger was already under way, `
` though still close in. He hailed her. A voice `
` replied, telling him to keep out of the moonlight or he `
` would get some lead in him, and at the same time a `
` bullet whistled close by his arm. Soon after, the `
` lugger doubled the point and disappeared. Mr. Dance `
` stood there, as he said, "like a fish out of water," `
` and all he could do was to dispatch a man to B---- to `
` warn the cutter. "And that," said he, "is just about `
` as good as nothing. They've got off clean, and there's `
` an end. Only," he added, "I'm glad I trod on Master `
` Pew's corns," for by this time he had heard my story. `
` `
` I went back with him to the Admiral Benbow, and you `
` cannot imagine a house in such a state of smash; the `
` very clock had been thrown down by these fellows in `
` their furious hunt after my mother and myself; and `
` though nothing had actually been taken away except the `
` captain's money-bag and a little silver from the till, `
` I could see at once that we were ruined. Mr. Dance `
` could make nothing of the scene. `
` `
` "They got the money, you say? Well, then, Hawkins, what `
` in fortune were they after? More money, I suppose?" `
` `
` "No, sir; not money, I think," replied I. "In fact, `
` sir, I believe I have the thing in my breast pocket; `
` and to tell you the truth, I should like to get it put `
` in safety." `
` `
` "To be sure, boy; quite right," said he. "I'll take `
` it, if you like." `
` `
` "I thought perhaps Dr. Livesey--" I began. `
` `
` "Perfectly right," he interrupted very cheerily, `
` "perfectly right--a gentleman and a magistrate. And, `
` now I come to think of it, I might as well ride round `
` there myself and report to him or squire. Master Pew's `
` dead, when all's done; not that I regret it, but he's `
` dead, you see, and people will make it out against an `
` officer of his Majesty's revenue, if make it out they `
` can. Now, I'll tell you, Hawkins, if you like, I'll `
` take you along." `
` `
` I thanked him heartily for the offer, and we walked back `
` to the hamlet where the horses were. By the time I had `
` told mother of my purpose they were all in the saddle. `
` `
`