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 [48]. That hill to the northward they call the Fore-mast [49] 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 [50]. 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 [51]
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 [52]
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.
15. The Man of the Island [53]
Suddenly I saw a figure. What was it – a bear or a man or a monkey? Silver himself appeared less terrible in contrast with this creature of the woods. No doubt: it’s a cannibal! I began to recall what I heard of cannibals. I stood still, this man of the island advanced towards me.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Ben Gunn [54],” he answered, and his voice sounded awkward. “I’m poor Ben Gunn; and I haven’t spoken to a man for three years.”
I could now see that he was a white man like myself. His skin was burnt by the sun; even his lips were black. He was clothed with tatters of old ship’s canvas and old sea-cloth [55].
“Three years!” I cried. “Were you shipwrecked?”
“No,” said he, “marooned [56]. Marooned three years ago, and lived on goats since then, and berries, and oysters. But do you have a piece of cheese, now? No? Well, I’ve dreamed of cheese!”
“If ever I can get aboard again,” said I, “you will have cheese.”
“What do you call yourself?”
“Jim,” I told him.
“Jim, Jim,” said he, quite pleased apparently. “Well, Jim, I’m rich. Rich! Rich! And I’ll make you rich, too, Jim. Now tell me the truth: is that the Flint’s ship?” he asked.
I began to believe that I found an ally, and I answered him at once.
“It’s not Flint’s ship, and Flint is dead; but there are some of Flint’s men aboard.”
“Not a man with one leg?”
“Silver?” I asked.
“Ah, Silver!” said he. “That was his name.”
“He’s the cook, and the leader too.”
“You’re a good lad, Jim,” he said. “Well, just believe Ben Gunn. I was in Flint’s ship when he buried the treasure; he and six strong seamen. He killed them all. I was in another ship three years ago, and we got to this island. ‘Boys,’ said I, ‘here’s Flint’s treasure; let’s land and find it.’ Twelve days we looked for it. Finally they said, ‘You can stay here and find Flint’s money for yourself.’”
“Well,” I said, “but how am I to get on board?”
“Ah,” said he, “I have a boat that I made with my two hands. I keep it under the white rock. But what’s that?”
We heard shots.
“They have begun to fight!” I cried. “Follow me.”
Part Four
The Stockade [57]
16. Narrative Continued by the Doctor [58]: How the Ship Was Abandoned
The captain, the squire, and I were sitting in the cabin. Jim Hawkins slipped into a boat and went ashore with the pirates. It was decided that Hunter and I would go ashore, too. Suddenly we heard a terrible cry and my first thought was, ‘Jim Hawkins is dead’.
The squire was sitting down, as white as a sheet. I told my plan to the captain, and between us we settled on the details of its accomplishment. We put guns, food, powder, and my medicine chest in the boat. The loaded boat made its first trip to the stockade. We hid it in the island, in a log-house, behind the stockade. The boat came back and we put the rest of the arms, powder, pork, and bread-bags in it. The boat made four trips.