Reading Help Treasure Island Ch.IV-VI
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`
` PART FOUR `
` `
` The Stockade `
` `
` `
` `
` 16 `
` `
` Narrative Continued by the Doctor: How the `
` Ship Was Abandoned `
` `
` IT was about half past one--three bells in the sea `
` phrase--that the two boats went ashore from the `
` HISPANIOLA. The captain, the squire, and I were `
` talking matters over in the cabin. Had there been a `
` breath of wind, we should have fallen on the six `
` mutineers who were left aboard with us, slipped our `
` cable, and away to sea. But the wind was wanting; and `
` to complete our helplessness, down came Hunter with the `
` news that Jim Hawkins had slipped into a boat and was `
` gone ashore with the rest. `
` `
` It never occurred to us to doubt Jim Hawkins, but we `
` were alarmed for his safety. With the men in the `
` temper they were in, it seemed an even chance if we `
` should see the lad again. We ran on deck. The pitch `
` was bubbling in the seams; the nasty stench of the `
` place turned me sick; if ever a man smelt fever and `
` dysentery, it was in that abominable anchorage. The `
` six scoundrels were sitting grumbling under a sail in `
` the forecastle; ashore we could see the gigs made fast `
` and a man sitting in each, hard by where the river runs `
` in. One of them was whistling "Lillibullero." `
` `
` Waiting was a strain, and it was decided that Hunter `
` and I should go ashore with the jolly-boat in quest `
` of information. `
` `
` The gigs had leaned to their right, but Hunter and I `
` pulled straight in, in the direction of the stockade `
` upon the chart. The two who were left guarding their `
` boats seemed in a bustle at our appearance; "Lillibullero" `
` stopped off, and I could see the pair discussing what `
` they ought to do. Had they gone and told Silver, all `
` might have turned out differently; but they had their `
` orders, I suppose, and decided to sit quietly where `
` they were and hark back again to "Lillibullero." `
` `
` There was a slight bend in the coast, and I steered so `
` as to put it between us; even before we landed we had `
` thus lost sight of the gigs. I jumped out and came as `
` near running as I durst, with a big silk handkerchief `
` under my hat for coolness' sake and a brace of pistols `
` ready primed for safety. `
` `
` I had not gone a hundred yards when I reached the stockade. `
` `
` This was how it was: a spring of clear water rose `
` almost at the top of a knoll. Well, on the knoll, and `
` enclosing the spring, they had clapped a stout log- `
` house fit to hold two score of people on a pinch and `
` loopholed for musketry on either side. All round this `
` they had cleared a wide space, and then the thing was `
` completed by a paling six feet high, without door or `
` opening, too strong to pull down without time and `
` labour and too open to shelter the besiegers. The `
` people in the log-house had them in every way; they `
` stood quiet in shelter and shot the others like `
` partridges. All they wanted was a good watch and food; `
` for, short of a complete surprise, they might have held `
` the place against a regiment. `
` `
` What particularly took my fancy was the spring. For `
` though we had a good enough place of it in the cabin of `
` the HISPANIOLA, with plenty of arms and ammunition, `
` and things to eat, and excellent wines, there had been `
` one thing overlooked--we had no water. I was thinking `
` this over when there came ringing over the island the `
` cry of a man at the point of death. I was not new to `
` violent death--I have served his Royal Highness the `
` Duke of Cumberland, and got a wound myself at Fontenoy-- `
` but I know my pulse went dot and carry one. "Jim `
` Hawkins is gone," was my first thought. `
` `
` It is something to have been an old soldier, but more `
` still to have been a doctor. There is no time to `
` dilly-dally in our work. And so now I made up my mind `
` instantly, and with no time lost returned to the shore `
` and jumped on board the jolly-boat. `
` `
` By good fortune Hunter pulled a good oar. We made the `
` water fly, and the boat was soon alongside and I aboard `
` the schooner. `
` `
` I found them all shaken, as was natural. The squire `
` was sitting down, as white as a sheet, thinking of the `
` harm he had led us to, the good soul! And one of the `
` six forecastle hands was little better. `
` `
` "There's a man," says Captain Smollett, nodding towards `
` him, "new to this work. He came nigh-hand fainting, `
` doctor, when he heard the cry. Another touch of the `
` rudder and that man would join us." `
` `
` I told my plan to the captain, and between us we `
` settled on the details of its accomplishment. `
` `
` We put old Redruth in the gallery between the cabin and `
` the forecastle, with three or four loaded muskets and a `
` mattress for protection. Hunter brought the boat round `
` under the stern-port, and Joyce and I set to work `
` loading her with powder tins, muskets, bags of `
` biscuits, kegs of pork, a cask of cognac, and my `
` invaluable medicine chest. `
` `
` In the meantime, the squire and the captain stayed on `
` deck, and the latter hailed the coxswain, who was the `
` principal man aboard. `
` `
` "Mr. Hands," he said, "here are two of us with a brace `
` of pistols each. If any one of you six make a signal `
` of any description, that man's dead." `
` `
` They were a good deal taken aback, and after a little `
` consultation one and all tumbled down the fore `
` companion, thinking no doubt to take us on the rear. `
` But when they saw Redruth waiting for them in the `
` sparred galley, they went about ship at once, and a `
` head popped out again on deck. `
` `
` "Down, dog!" cries the captain. `
` `
` And the head popped back again; and we heard no more, `
` for the time, of these six very faint-hearted seamen. `
` `
` By this time, tumbling things in as they came, we had `
` the jolly-boat loaded as much as we dared. Joyce and I `
` got out through the stern-port, and we made for shore `
` again as fast as oars could take us. `
` `
` This second trip fairly aroused the watchers along `
` shore. "Lillibullero" was dropped again; and just `
` before we lost sight of them behind the little point, `
` one of them whipped ashore and disappeared. I had half `
` a mind to change my plan and destroy their boats, but I `
` feared that Silver and the others might be close at hand, `
` and all might very well be lost by trying for too much. `
` `
` We had soon touched land in the same place as before and `
` set to provision the block house. All three made the `
` first journey, heavily laden, and tossed our stores over `
` the palisade. Then, leaving Joyce to guard them--one man, `
` to be sure, but with half a dozen muskets--Hunter and I `
` returned to the jolly-boat and loaded ourselves once more. `
` So we proceeded without pausing to take breath, till the `
` whole cargo was bestowed, when the two servants took up `
` their position in the block house, and I, with all my power, `
` sculled back to the HISPANIOLA. `
` `
` That we should have risked a second boat load seems `
` more daring than it really was. They had the advantage `
` of numbers, of course, but we had the advantage of `
` arms. Not one of the men ashore had a musket, and `
` before they could get within range for pistol shooting, `
` we flattered ourselves we should be able to give a good `
` account of a half-dozen at least. `
` `
` The squire was waiting for me at the stern window, all `
` his faintness gone from him. He caught the painter and `
` made it fast, and we fell to loading the boat for our `
` very lives. Pork, powder, and biscuit was the cargo, `
` with only a musket and a cutlass apiece for the squire `
` and me and Redruth and the captain. The rest of the `
` arms and powder we dropped overboard in two fathoms and a `
` half of water, so that we could see the bright steel shining `
` far below us in the sun, on the clean, sandy bottom. `
` `
` By this time the tide was beginning to ebb, and the `
` ship was swinging round to her anchor. Voices were `
` heard faintly halloaing in the direction of the two `
` gigs; and though this reassured us for Joyce and `
` Hunter, who were well to the eastward, it warned our `
` party to be off. `
` `
` Redruth retreated from his place in the gallery and `
` dropped into the boat, which we then brought round to `
` the ship's counter, to be handier for Captain Smollett. `
` `
` "Now, men," said he, "do you hear me?" `
` `
` There was no answer from the forecastle. `
` `
` "It's to you, Abraham Gray--it's to you I am speaking." `
` `
` Still no reply. `
` `
` "Gray," resumed Mr. Smollett, a little louder, "I am `
` leaving this ship, and I order you to follow your `
` captain. I know you are a good man at bottom, and I `
` dare say not one of the lot of you's as bad as he makes `
`
` PART FOUR `
` `
` The Stockade `
` `
` `
` `
` 16 `
` `
` Narrative Continued by the Doctor: How the `
` Ship Was Abandoned `
` `
` IT was about half past one--three bells in the sea `
` phrase--that the two boats went ashore from the `
` HISPANIOLA. The captain, the squire, and I were `
` talking matters over in the cabin. Had there been a `
` breath of wind, we should have fallen on the six `
` mutineers who were left aboard with us, slipped our `
` cable, and away to sea. But the wind was wanting; and `
` to complete our helplessness, down came Hunter with the `
` news that Jim Hawkins had slipped into a boat and was `
` gone ashore with the rest. `
` `
` It never occurred to us to doubt Jim Hawkins, but we `
` were alarmed for his safety. With the men in the `
` temper they were in, it seemed an even chance if we `
` should see the lad again. We ran on deck. The pitch `
` was bubbling in the seams; the nasty stench of the `
` place turned me sick; if ever a man smelt fever and `
` dysentery, it was in that abominable anchorage. The `
` six scoundrels were sitting grumbling under a sail in `
` the forecastle; ashore we could see the gigs made fast `
` and a man sitting in each, hard by where the river runs `
` in. One of them was whistling "Lillibullero." `
` `
` Waiting was a strain, and it was decided that Hunter `
` and I should go ashore with the jolly-boat in quest `
` of information. `
` `
` The gigs had leaned to their right, but Hunter and I `
` pulled straight in, in the direction of the stockade `
` upon the chart. The two who were left guarding their `
` boats seemed in a bustle at our appearance; "Lillibullero" `
` stopped off, and I could see the pair discussing what `
` they ought to do. Had they gone and told Silver, all `
` might have turned out differently; but they had their `
` orders, I suppose, and decided to sit quietly where `
` they were and hark back again to "Lillibullero." `
` `
` There was a slight bend in the coast, and I steered so `
` as to put it between us; even before we landed we had `
` thus lost sight of the gigs. I jumped out and came as `
` near running as I durst, with a big silk handkerchief `
` under my hat for coolness' sake and a brace of pistols `
` ready primed for safety. `
` `
` I had not gone a hundred yards when I reached the stockade. `
` `
` This was how it was: a spring of clear water rose `
` almost at the top of a knoll. Well, on the knoll, and `
` enclosing the spring, they had clapped a stout log- `
` house fit to hold two score of people on a pinch and `
` loopholed for musketry on either side. All round this `
` they had cleared a wide space, and then the thing was `
` completed by a paling six feet high, without door or `
` opening, too strong to pull down without time and `
` labour and too open to shelter the besiegers. The `
` people in the log-house had them in every way; they `
` stood quiet in shelter and shot the others like `
` partridges. All they wanted was a good watch and food; `
` for, short of a complete surprise, they might have held `
` the place against a regiment. `
` `
` What particularly took my fancy was the spring. For `
` though we had a good enough place of it in the cabin of `
` the HISPANIOLA, with plenty of arms and ammunition, `
` and things to eat, and excellent wines, there had been `
` one thing overlooked--we had no water. I was thinking `
` this over when there came ringing over the island the `
` cry of a man at the point of death. I was not new to `
` violent death--I have served his Royal Highness the `
` Duke of Cumberland, and got a wound myself at Fontenoy-- `
` but I know my pulse went dot and carry one. "Jim `
` Hawkins is gone," was my first thought. `
` `
` It is something to have been an old soldier, but more `
` still to have been a doctor. There is no time to `
` dilly-dally in our work. And so now I made up my mind `
` instantly, and with no time lost returned to the shore `
` and jumped on board the jolly-boat. `
` `
` By good fortune Hunter pulled a good oar. We made the `
` water fly, and the boat was soon alongside and I aboard `
` the schooner. `
` `
` I found them all shaken, as was natural. The squire `
` was sitting down, as white as a sheet, thinking of the `
` harm he had led us to, the good soul! And one of the `
` six forecastle hands was little better. `
` `
` "There's a man," says Captain Smollett, nodding towards `
` him, "new to this work. He came nigh-hand fainting, `
` doctor, when he heard the cry. Another touch of the `
` rudder and that man would join us." `
` `
` I told my plan to the captain, and between us we `
` settled on the details of its accomplishment. `
` `
` We put old Redruth in the gallery between the cabin and `
` the forecastle, with three or four loaded muskets and a `
` mattress for protection. Hunter brought the boat round `
` under the stern-port, and Joyce and I set to work `
` loading her with powder tins, muskets, bags of `
` biscuits, kegs of pork, a cask of cognac, and my `
` invaluable medicine chest. `
` `
` In the meantime, the squire and the captain stayed on `
` deck, and the latter hailed the coxswain, who was the `
` principal man aboard. `
` `
` "Mr. Hands," he said, "here are two of us with a brace `
` of pistols each. If any one of you six make a signal `
` of any description, that man's dead." `
` `
` They were a good deal taken aback, and after a little `
` consultation one and all tumbled down the fore `
` companion, thinking no doubt to take us on the rear. `
` But when they saw Redruth waiting for them in the `
` sparred galley, they went about ship at once, and a `
` head popped out again on deck. `
` `
` "Down, dog!" cries the captain. `
` `
` And the head popped back again; and we heard no more, `
` for the time, of these six very faint-hearted seamen. `
` `
` By this time, tumbling things in as they came, we had `
` the jolly-boat loaded as much as we dared. Joyce and I `
` got out through the stern-port, and we made for shore `
` again as fast as oars could take us. `
` `
` This second trip fairly aroused the watchers along `
` shore. "Lillibullero" was dropped again; and just `
` before we lost sight of them behind the little point, `
` one of them whipped ashore and disappeared. I had half `
` a mind to change my plan and destroy their boats, but I `
` feared that Silver and the others might be close at hand, `
` and all might very well be lost by trying for too much. `
` `
` We had soon touched land in the same place as before and `
` set to provision the block house. All three made the `
` first journey, heavily laden, and tossed our stores over `
` the palisade. Then, leaving Joyce to guard them--one man, `
` to be sure, but with half a dozen muskets--Hunter and I `
` returned to the jolly-boat and loaded ourselves once more. `
` So we proceeded without pausing to take breath, till the `
` whole cargo was bestowed, when the two servants took up `
` their position in the block house, and I, with all my power, `
` sculled back to the HISPANIOLA. `
` `
` That we should have risked a second boat load seems `
` more daring than it really was. They had the advantage `
` of numbers, of course, but we had the advantage of `
` arms. Not one of the men ashore had a musket, and `
` before they could get within range for pistol shooting, `
` we flattered ourselves we should be able to give a good `
` account of a half-dozen at least. `
` `
` The squire was waiting for me at the stern window, all `
` his faintness gone from him. He caught the painter and `
` made it fast, and we fell to loading the boat for our `
` very lives. Pork, powder, and biscuit was the cargo, `
` with only a musket and a cutlass apiece for the squire `
` and me and Redruth and the captain. The rest of the `
` arms and powder we dropped overboard in two fathoms and a `
` half of water, so that we could see the bright steel shining `
` far below us in the sun, on the clean, sandy bottom. `
` `
` By this time the tide was beginning to ebb, and the `
` ship was swinging round to her anchor. Voices were `
` heard faintly halloaing in the direction of the two `
` gigs; and though this reassured us for Joyce and `
` Hunter, who were well to the eastward, it warned our `
` party to be off. `
` `
` Redruth retreated from his place in the gallery and `
` dropped into the boat, which we then brought round to `
` the ship's counter, to be handier for Captain Smollett. `
` `
` "Now, men," said he, "do you hear me?" `
` `
` There was no answer from the forecastle. `
` `
` "It's to you, Abraham Gray--it's to you I am speaking." `
` `
` Still no reply. `
` `
` "Gray," resumed Mr. Smollett, a little louder, "I am `
` leaving this ship, and I order you to follow your `
` captain. I know you are a good man at bottom, and I `
` dare say not one of the lot of you's as bad as he makes `
`