Latest / Adventure Books Collection / 06 - Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
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- Chapter eleven. What I heard in the apple barrel, No not, I said, Silver Flint was cap'n. I was quite a master along of my timber leg the same side I lost my leg. Old Pew lost his daylights. It was a master surgeon him that amputated me out of college, and all Latin by their bucket and what not. But he was hanged like a dog and sun droid like the rest at Corso Castle. That was Robert's men, that was, and comed of changing names to their ships, Royal Fortune and so on. Now what a ship was christened? So let her stay? I says. So it was with the Cassandra as brought us all sat home from Malabar after England took the viceroy of the Indies. So it was with the old Walrus, Flint's old ship, as I've seen him, with the red blood and fit to sink with gold. Ah, cried another voice, that of the youngest hand on board, and evidently full of admiration. He was the flower of the flock, was Flint. Davis was a man too, by all accounts, said Silver. I never sailed alonger him, first with England, then with Flint. That's my story. And now here on my own account, in a manner o speaking, I laid by nine hundred safe from England in two thousand and a half to Flint. They ain't bad for a man before the mast, I'll safe in bank. Tain't earning now it's saving, does it? You made later that where's all England's men? Now? I dun'no, where's Flint's why most of them are board here and glad to get the duff being begging before that? Some of them, oh pure as has lust his sight and might have thought shame spelling twelve hundred pounds in a year like a lord in parliament whereas he now, well he's dead now and under hatches. But for two years before that, shiver my timbers, the man was starving. He begged, and he stole, and he cut throats and starved at that by the powers. Well it ain't much use after all, said the young seamen. Ta't much use for fools. You may lay to it that know, nothing, cried silver. But now you look here. You're young, you are, but you're smart as paint. I see that. When I set my eyes on you, and I'll talk to you like a man, you can imagine how I felt when I heard this abominable old rogue addressing another in the very same words of flattery he had used to myself. I think, if I had been able, that I would have killed him through the barrel. Meantime he ran on little, supposing he was overheard. Here it is about gentlemen of fortune. They lives rough, and they risk swinging, but they eat and drink like fighting cocks. And when a cruise is done, why it's hundreds of pounds instead of hundreds of fathings in their pockets. Now the most goals for rum and a good fling, and to see again in their shirts. But that's not the corse I lay. He puts it all away, some here, some there, and none too much anywhere, As by reason of suspicion, I'm fifty mark you once back from this cruise. I set up gentlemen in earnest time. Enough too, says you. Ah. But I've lived easy in the meantime, never denied myself and nothing the heart desires, and slept soft and ate daity all my days. But when at sea, and how did I begin before the mast? Like you well said the other. But all the other money's gone now, ain't it. You didn't show facing Bristol after this, Why where might you suppose it? Was, asked Silver derisively. Bristol in banks and places, answered his companion. It were, said the cook, it were when we weighed Anchor. But my old missus as it are by now, and the spyglasses sold leasts and goodwill and rigging, and the old girls off to meet me. I will tell you where, mate, for I trust you, but it'd make jealousy among the mates. And you can trust your missus, asked the other gentlemen of fortune, returned the cook usually trust little among themselves, And right they are. You may lay to it, but I have a way with me. I have when a mate brings a slip on his cable, one as knows me, I mean it won't be in the same world with old John. There were some that was feared of Pew, and some that was feared of Flint. But Flint his own self was feared of me. Feared he was, and proud they was. The roughest crew of float was Flint's. The devil himself would have been feared to go to sea with them. Well, now I tell you I'm not a boasting man, and you've seen yourself how easy I keep company. But when I was quite a master, Lambs wasn't the word for Flint's old buccaneers. Ah, you may be sure of yourself in old John's ship. Well I tell you now, replied the lad. I didn't half a quarter like a job till I had this talk with you John. But there's my hand on it now, And a brave large you were, and smart too, answered Silver, shaking hands so heartily that all the barrel shook, And a finer figurehead for a gentleman of fortune I never clapped the eyes on. By this time I had begun to understand the meaning of their terms. By a gentleman of fortune, they plainly meant neither more nor less than a common pirate. And the little scene that I had overheard was the last act in the corruption of one of the honest hands, perhaps of the last one left aboard. But on this point I was soon to be relieved. For Silver, giving a little whistle, a third man's rolled up and sat down by the party. Dick Square said Silver, Oh, I know Dick was Square, returned the voice of the cocksin Israel hands. He's no fool, is dick. He turned his quid and spat. But look here, he went on, here's what I want to know, barbecue. How long are we are going to stand off and on like a blessed bumboat. I've had almost enough, a Captain Smollett, He's hazed me long enough by thunder. I want to go into that cabin I do. I want their pickles and wines, and that he is. Rael said Silver. You ed ain't much a colt, nor never was, but you're able to hear. I reckon lest ways, your ears is big enough. Now he is what I say, your birth forehead, and you'll live hard, and you'll speak soft, and you'll keep sober till I give the word, and you may lead to that. My son. Well, I don't say no, do, I growled the Coxswain. What I say is when that's what I say when by the powers cried Silver. Well, Now, if you want to know, I'll tell you when the last moment I can manage. And that's when. Here's the first rate seaman, cap'n Smollett sails the blessed ship for us. Here's this squire and doctor. We are map and such. I don't know where it is, do I no more to you, says you. Well, then I mean this squire in doctor shall find the stuff and help us to get it aboard by the powers. Then we'll see. If I was sure of you, all sons a double dutchman, i'd have cap'n Smollett navigate us halfway back again before I struck. Why we're all seeming aboard here, I should think, said the lad dick. We're all folks'll hand you mean snapped silver. We can steer a course, but oo's to set one. That's what all you gentlemen spit on first and last. If I had my way, i'd have cap'n Smollett work us back into the trades. At least. Then we'd have no blessed miscalculations and a spoonful of water a day. But I know the sort you are. I'll finish with them at the island as soon as the blunt's on board. And a pity it is, but you're never happy till you're drunk. Split my sides. I've a sick heart to sail with the like, say you easy all, Old John cried Israel. Who's a crossing of you? Why how many tall ships think? Ye n her voice seen laid aboard, and how many brisk lads draw in the sewn execution, Duck cried Silver, and all for the same. Hurry and hurry and hurry you hear me. I've seen a thing or two at sea. I have. If you would only lay your cars and a point the windward, you would ride in carriages, you would, But not you. I know you. You'll have your milk full of rum tomorrow and go hang. Everybody know that you was a kind of a chaplain John. But there's others who could hand and steer as well as you, said, Israel. They liked a bit of fun. They did. They wasn't so high and dry, nohow, but took their fling like jolly companions. Everyone so said Silver. Well, and where are they? Nail Pew was that sort and he died a beggar man, Flint was and he died of rum at Savannah. They was a sweet crew. They was only where are they? But asked Dick, when we do lay them athwart? What are we going to do with him? Anyhow? There is the man for me, cried the cook admiringly. That's what I call business. Well, what would you think put them ashore, look maroons that would have been England's way, or cut him down like that much pork that would have been flints, or billy bones. Billy was the man for that, said Israel. Dead men don't buy it, says he. Well, he's dead now hisself. He knows the long and short on it now. And if ever a rough hen come to port, it was Billy right, you are, said Silver, rough and ready. But mark you here. I easy man, I'm quite the gentleman, says you. But this time it's serious. Duty is duty, mates, I give my vote death when I'm in Parliament and riding in my coach, I don't want none of these sea lawyers in the cabin are coming home and look for like the devil at prayers. Wait is what I say. And when the time comes, why little rip John, cried the coxswains. You're a man, your say, so Israel, when you see said silver. Only one thing I claim, I claim, Trelawney, I'll wring his calf's head off his buddy with these hands, dick, he added, breaking off. You must jump up like a sweet lad and get me an apple to wet my pipe like you may fancy the terror I was in. I should have leaped out and run for it if I had found the strength, But my limbs and heart alike misgave me. I heard Dick begin to rise, and then some one seemingly stopped him, and the voice of hands exclaimed, Oh, stow, that don't you get sucking of that bild John. Let's have a gar of the rum. Dick said, silver, I trust you, I've a gage on the keg. Mind, there's the key. You fill a panniken and bring it up. Terrified as I was, I could not help thinking to myself, then this must have been how mister Arrow got the strong waters that destroyed him. Dick was gone but a little while, and during his absence Israel spoke straight on in the cook's ear. It was but a word or two that I could catch, and yet I gathered some important news. For besides, are the scraps that tended to the same purpose. This whole clause was audible, not another man of them all, jine. Hence there were still faithful men on board. When Dick returned, one or another of the trio took the panickin and drank one to luck another with a ears to old flint and silver himself sang in a kind of song, ears to herself and old your loff, plenty of prizes and plenty of duff. Just then a sort of brightness fell upon me in the barrel, and looking up, I found the moon had risen and was slivering the mizzen top and shining white on the laugh of the forcail. And almost at the same time, the voice on the lookout shouted and oh end of Chapter eleven, Chapter twelve, Council of War. There was a great rush of feet across the deck. I could hear people tumble up from the cabin and the forecastle and slipping in an instant outside my barrel. I dived behind the foresail and made a double toward the stern, and came out upon the open deck in time to join Hunter and doctor Livesey in the rush for the weather bow. There all hands were already congregated. A belt of fog had lifted, almost simultaneously with the appearance of the moon. Away to the southwest of us we saw two low hills about a couple of miles apart, and rising behind one of them, a third and higher hill, whose peak was still buried in the fog. All three seemed sharp and conical in figure, so much I saw almost in a dream, for I had not yet recovered from my horrid fear of a minute or two before. And then I heard the voice of Captain Smollett issuing orders. The hispaniola was laid a couple of points nearer the wind, and now sailed a course that would just clear the island to the east. And now men, said the captain, when all was sheeted home. Has any one of you ever seen that land ahead? Oh? I ah, sir, said silver. I've watered there with the trader I was cooking. The anchorage is on the south behind an islet, I fancy asked the captain. Yes, sir, Skeleton Island they calls it. It were a main place for pirates once and a hand we had on board knowed all their names for it. That hill to the Norrid they caused Foremast Hill. There are three hills in a row running southward, four Main and Mizzen, Sir. But the Main that's the big un with the cloud on it. They usually cause the spyglass by re a look out they kept when they was in the anchorage cleaning, for it's there they cleaned their ships. Sir, ask in your pardon, 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 by the fresh look of the paper, I knew he was doomed to disappointment. This was not the map be found in billy Bone's chest, but an accurate copy, complete in all things, names and heights and soundings, with this single exception of the red crosses and the written notes. Sharp as must have been his annoyance, Silver had the strength of mind to hide it. Yes, sir, said he, this is the spot, to be sure, and very prettily drawed out. Who might have done that? I wonder the pirates were too ignorant. I reckon. Ah. Here it is cap'n Kid's anchorage, just the name my shipmate called it. There is a strong current roads along the south and then away up Nord up the west coast. Right you was, sir, said he, to haul your wind and keep the weather of the island leastways, if such was your intention as to enter and carene, there ain't no better place for that in these waters. Thank you, my men, said Captain Smollett. I'll ask you later on to give us a help. You may go. I was surprised at the coolness with which John avowed his knowledge of the island, and I own I was half frightened when I saw him drawing nearer to myself. He did not know, to be sure that I had overheard his counsel from the apple barrel. And yet I had by this time taken such a horror of his cruel, duplicity and power, that I could scarce conceal a shudder. When he laid his hand upon my arm, AH said he this here is a sweet spart, this island, a sweet spot for a lad to get a shore on. You'll bathe, and you'll cloimb trees, and you'll hunt goats. You will, and you'll get alaft on them hills. Let a goat yourself. Why it makes me young again? I was going to forget my timber leg. I was. It's a pleasant thing to be young. And I have ten tolls you made later that when you want to go a bit of exploring, you ask old John and he'll put up a snack for you to take along. And clapping me in the friendliest way upon the shoulder. He hobbled off forehead and went below. Captain Smollett, the Squire, and Doctor Livesey were talking together on the quarter deck, and anxious as I was to tell them my story, I durst not interrupt them openly. While I was still casting about in my thoughts to find some probable excuse, doctor Livesey called me to his side. He had left his pipe below, and being a slave to tobacco, had meant that I should fetch it. But as soon as I was near enough to speak and not be overheard, I broke out immediately. Doctor let me speak, get the Captain and Squire down to the cabin, and then make some pretense to send for me. I have terrible news. The doctor changed countenance a little, but next moment he was master of himself. Thank you, Jim, said he quite loudly. That was all I wanted to know, as if he had asked me a question. And with that he turned on his heel and rejoined the other two. They spoke together for a little and though none of them started or raised his voice oh so so much as whistled, it was plain enough that Doctor Livesey had communicated my request. For the next thing that I heard was the captain giving an order to Joe Anderson, and all hands were piped on deck. My lads, said Captain Smollett, I have a word to say to you. This land that we have cited is the place we have been sailing to. Mister Trelawney, being a very open handed gentleman, as we all know, has just asked me a word or two. And as I was able to tell him that every man on board had done his duty a low and aloft as I never asked to see it done better, why he and I and the doctor are going below to the cabin to drink your health and luck, and you'll have grog served out to you to drink our health and luck. I'll tell you what I think of this. I think it handsome, and if you think as I do, you'll give a good sea cheer for the gentleman that does it. The cheer followed, that was a matter of course, but it rang out so full and hearty that I confess I could hardly believe these same men were plotting for our blood. Word more cheer for come, Smollett, cried long John, when the first had subsided, and this was given with a will on the top of that. The three gentlemen went below, and not long after word was sent forward that Jim Hawkins was wanted in the cabin. I found them all three seated around the table, a bottle of Spanish wine and some raisins before them, and the doctor smoking away with his wig on his lap, and that I knew was a sign that he was agitated. The stern window was open, for it was a warm night, and you could see the moon shining behind on the ship's wake. Now, Hawkins said the Squire, you have something to say, Speak up. I did as I was bid, and short as I could make it, told the whole details of Silver's conversation. Nobody interrupted me till I was done, nor did any one of the three of them make so much as a movement. But they kept their eyes upon my face from first to last. Jim said, doctor livesey, take a seat, And they made me sit down at a table beside them, poured me out a glass of wine, filled my hands with raisins, and all three, one after the other, and each with a bough, drank my good health and their service to me for my luck and courage. Now Captain said the Squire, you were right and I was wrong. I owned myself an ass and I await your orders no more an ass than I, Sir, returned the Captain. I never heard of a crew that meant to mutiny, but that what signs before for any man that had an eye in his head to see the mischief and take steps accordingly. But this crew, he added, beats me, Captain, said the doctor. With your permission, that's silver a very remarkable man. He'd look remarkably well from a yard arm, Sir returned the captain. But this is talk. This don't lead to anything. I see three or four points, and with mister Trelawney's permission, i'll name them. You saw our the Captain, it is for you to speak, said mister Trelawney grandly. First point, began mister Smollett. We must go on because we can't turn back. If I gave the word to turn about, they would rise at once. Second point, we have time before us, at least until this treasure's found. Third point, there are faithful hands. Now, sir, it's got to come to blows sooner or later. And what I propose is to take time by the forelock as the saying is and to come to blows some fine day when they least expect it. We can count I take it on your own home servants, mister Trelawney, as upon myself, declared the squire, three reckoned the captain. Ourselves make seven counting hawkins there now about the honest hands. Most likely are Trelawny's own men, said the doctor. There's he picked up for himself before he lit on silver. Nay replied the squire hands was one of mine. I did think I could have trusted hands, added the captain, and that they're all Englishmen, broke out the squire. Sir, I could find it in my heart to blow the ship up. Well, gentlemen, said the captain. The best that I can say is not much. We must lay too, if you please, and keep a bright lookout. It's trying on a man. I know it would be pleasanter to come to blows, but there's no help for it till we know our men lay to and whistle for a wind. That's my view, Jim here said. The doctor can help us more than anyone. The men are not shy with here. Man. Jim is a noticing lad. Hawkins. I put prodigious faith in you, added the Squire. I began to feel pretty desperate at this, for I felt altogether helpless, and yet by an odd train of circumstances. It was indeed through me that safety came. In the meantime talk as we please eased. 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, so that the grown men on our side were six to their nineteen end of Chapter twelve,