9. Powder and Arms
The Hispaniola lay some way out. The captain seemed angry with everything on board.
“I don’t like this cruise,” said the captain. “I don’t like the men.”
“Possibly, sir, you may not like your employer, either?” said the squire.
“Stay a bit ,” said Dr. Livesey. “No use of such questions. I require an explanation. You don’t, you say, like this cruise, captain. Why?”
“I find that every man knows more than I do,” said the captain. “I learn we are going after treasure. I don’t like treasure voyages at all, and I don’t like them, when they are secret and when (begging your pardon, Mr. Trelawney) the secret has been told to the parrot.”
“Silver’s parrot?” asked the squire.
“It’s a way of speaking ,” said the captain.
“That is all clear, and true enough,” replied Dr. Livesey. “We take the risk, but we are not so ignorant as you think. Next, you say you don’t like the crew. Are they not good seamen?”
“I don’t like them, sir,” returned Captain Smollett.
“Well, now, tell us what you want, captain,” asked the doctor.
“They are putting the powder and the arms in the fore hold ,” said the captain. “Now, you have a good place under the cabin; why not put them there? I’ll tell you what I’ve heard myself,” continued Captain Smollett, “that you have a map of an island, that there’re crosses on the map to show where treasure is, and that the island lies —” And then he named the latitude and longitude exactly.
“I never told that,” cried the squire, “to a soul! Livesey, that must be you or Hawkins!”
“Well, gentlemen,” continued the captain, “I don’t know who has this map; but I think, it needs to be kept secret. I am responsible for the ship’s safety and the life of every man. And that’s all.”
10. The Voyage
The Hispaniola has begun its voyage to the Isle of Treasure. I am not going to relate that voyage in detail. It was prosperous. The ship proved to be a good ship, the crew were capable seamen, and the captain understood his business. As for Long John Silver, the men called him Barbecue .
“He’s no common man , Barbecue,” said the coxswain to me. “He can speak like a book; and brave – like a lion!”
All the crew respected and even obeyed him. To me he was very kind, and always glad to see me.
“Come away, Hawkins,” he would say. “Nobody is more welcome than yourself, my son. Sit down and hear the news. Here’s Captain Flint – I call my parrot Captain Flint, after the famous pirate – here’s Captain Flint predicting success to our voyage.”
And the parrot would say, with great rapidity, “Pieces of eight ! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!” till John threw his handkerchief over the cage.
“Now, that bird,” he would say, “is, maybe, two hundred years old, Hawkins – they live forever.”
Every man on board seemed content. Always a barrel of apples was standing on the deck. And you will see, it saved us.
Just after sundown, when all my work was over and I was on my way to my bed, I decided to eat an apple. I ran on deck and found that there was only one apple left. Suddenly I heard Silver’s voice. I decided not to show myself. And later I realized that the lives of all the honest men aboard the ship depended upon me alone.
11. What I Heard in the Apple Barrel
“No, not I,” said Silver. “Flint was a captain; I was a quartermaster . I’m fifty. Gentlemen of fortune usually trust little among themselves, and right they are. Now, here’s what I say: Captain Smollett is a first-class seaman; he sails the ship for us. Mr. Trelawney and the doctor have the map. I don’t know where it is. No more do you. Well then, I mean this squire and doctor will find the treasure, and help us to get it aboard. I’ll finish with them at the island.”
“What will you do with them?” asked a sailor.
“Dead men don’t bite. I’m an easy man – I’m quite the gentleman. I give my vote – death.”
“John,” cried the coxswain, “you’re a man!” And they went away.
You can imagine my horror! Almost at the same time the voice of the lookout shouted, “Land!”
12. Council of War
I quickly got out of the barrel to join Hunter and Dr. Livesey. And then I heard the voice of Captain Smollett issuing orders.
“And now, men,” said the captain, “has any one of you ever seen that land ahead?”
“I have, sir,” said Silver. “They call it Skeleton Island . That hill to the northward they call the Fore-mast Hill; there are three hills in a row running southward. But the main – with the cloud on it – they usually call the Spy-glass. It’s there they cleaned their ships, sir.”
“I have a chart here,” said Captain Smollett. “See if that’s the place.”
Long John’s eyes burned in his head as he took the chart, but he was disappointed. This was not the map we found in Billy Bones’s chest, but an accurate copy, complete in all things – names and heights – with the single exception of the red crosses and the written notes.
“Yes, sir,” said he, “this is the spot. Who has done that, I wonder? The pirates were too ignorant.”
“Ah,” said Silver to me, “this here is a sweet spot, this island – you’ll bathe, and you’ll climb trees, and you’ll hunt goats. It’s a pleasant thing to be young and have ten toes.”
Captain Smollett, the squire, and Dr. Livesey were talking together on the quarter-deck . I was very anxious to tell them my story. Dr. Livesey called me. I said immediately, “Doctor, I have terrible news.”
The three gentlemen went below. I found them all three seated round the table, a bottle of Spanish wine and some raisins before them.
“Now, Hawkins,” said the squire, “you have something to say. Speak up.”
I began. Nobody interrupted me, but they kept their eyes upon my face.
“First point,” began Mr. Smollett. “We must go on, because we can’t turn back.”
There were only seven out of the twenty-six on whom we knew we could rely; and out of these seven one was a boy.
Part Three
My Shore Adventure
13. How My Shore Adventure Began
There was no sign of any wind. Everybody was glad to get to land. The bottom was clean sand. We held a council in the cabin.
“Sir,” said the captain, “We’ve only one man to rely on.”
“And who is that?” asked the squire.
“Silver, sir,” returned the captain. “Let’s allow them to go ashore. If they all go, we’ll get the ship.”
I believe the silly sailors thought they would find the treasure as soon as they were landed. Silver was the captain. Six fellows were to stay on board, and the remaining thirteen, including Silver, began to embark. And at that moment it occurred to me to go ashore with the others. It was an idea that helped to save our lives.
When our boat reached the shore, I jumped out and ran away, while Silver and the rest were still a hundred yards behind.
“Jim, Jim!”
But I paid no attention, I ran straight till I could run no longer.
14. The First Blow
I now felt for the first time the joy of exploration. Here and there were flowering plants, unknown to me; here and there I saw snakes.
Soon I heard human voices, which grew louder and nearer. This put me in a great fear, and I crawled under cover of the nearest oak, as silent as a mouse.
Long John Silver and another of the crew stood face to face in conversation. Silver threw his hat beside him on the ground, and his great face was lifted to the other man’s.
“Tom,” he was saying, “I’m warning you that the men will kill you if you don’t help us.”
I realized that I found an honest man in Tom!
“John!” said the sailor, “Kill me, if you can. I’m not afraid.”
And with that, this brave fellow turned his back directly on the cook. But did not go far. With a cry John took his heavy crutch from under his arm and threw it at Tom. It struck poor Tom right between the shoulders, in the middle of his back, and he fell to the ground.
John put his hand into his pocket, brought out a whistle, and blew upon it. I could not tell, of course, the meaning of the signal, but it instantly awoke my fears. More men will come. I can be discovered. They can kill me. Instantly I began to crawl back again, with the speed and silence I could manage.
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 pirates. I ran as I never ran before.
