Treasure Island
Council of War
THERE was a great of across the deck. I people up from the and the forecastle, and in an my barrel, I the fore-sail, a the stern, and came out upon the open in time to join Hunter and Dr. Livesey in the for the weather bow.
There all hands were already congregated. A of had almost with the of the moon. Away to the south-west of us we saw two low hills, about a of miles apart, and one of them a third and higher hill, was still in the fog. All three and in figure.
So much I saw, almost in a dream, for I had not yet from my of a minute or two before. And then I the voice of Captain Smollett orders. The Hispaniola was a of points nearer the wind and now a that would just clear the on the east.
“And now, men,” said the captain, when all was home, “has any one of you that land ahead?”
“I have, sir,” said Silver. “I’ve there with a I was cook in.”
“The is on the south, an islet, I fancy?” asked the captain.
“Yes, sir; Skeleton Island they calls it. It were a main place for once, and a hand we had on all their names for it. That hill to the nor’ard they calls the Fore-mast Hill; there are three in a south’ard—fore, main, and mizzen, sir. But the main—that’s the big un, with the cloud on it—they calls the Spy-glass, by of a they when they was in the cleaning, for it’s there they their ships, sir, your pardon.”
“I have a here,” says Captain Smollett. “See if that’s the place.”
Long John’s in his as he took the chart, but by the fresh look of the paper I he was to disappointment. This was not the map we in Billy Bones’s chest, but an copy, complete in all things—names and and soundings—with the single of the red and the notes. Sharp as must have been his annoyance, Silver had the of mind to it.
“Yes, sir,” said he, “this is the spot, to be sure, and very out. Who might have done that, I wonder? The were too ignorant, I reckon. Aye, here it is: ‘Capt. Kidd’s Anchorage’—just the name my called it. There’s a along the south, and then away nor’ard up the west coast. Right you was, sir,” says he, “to your wind and keep the weather of the island. Leastways, if such was your as to enter and careen, and there ain’t no place for that in these waters.”
“Thank you, my man,” says Captain Smollett. “I’ll ask you later on to give us a help. You may go.”
I was at the with which John his knowledge of the island, and I own I was half-frightened when I saw him nearer to myself. He did not know, to be sure, that I had his from the apple barrel, and yet I had by this time taken such a of his cruelty, duplicity, and power that I a when he his hand upon my arm.
“Ah,” says he, “this here is a sweet spot, this island—a sweet spot for a to on. You’ll bathe, and you’ll climb trees, and you’ll goats, you will; and you’ll on them like a yourself. Why, it makes me again. I was going to my leg, I was. It’s a thing to be and have ten toes, and you may to that. When you want to go a of exploring, you just ask old John, and he’ll put up a for you to take along.”
And me in the way upon the shoulder, he off and below.
Captain Smollett, the squire, and Dr. Livesey were talking together on the quarter-deck, and as I was to tell them my story, I not them openly. While I was still about in my to some excuse, Dr. Livesey called me to his side. He had left his pipe below, and being a to tobacco, had meant that I should it; but as soon as I was near to speak and not to be overheard, I immediately, “Doctor, let me speak. Get the captain and to the cabin, and then make some to send for me. I have terrible news.”
The doctor a little, but next moment he was master of himself.
“Thank you, Jim,” said he loudly, “that was all I wanted to know,” as if he had asked me a question.
And with that he on his and the other two. They spoke together for a little, and though none of them started, or his voice, or so much as whistled, it was plain that Dr. Livesey had my request, for the next thing that I was the captain an order to Job Anderson, and all hands were on deck.
“My lads,” said Captain Smollett, “I’ve a word to say to you. This land that we have is the place we have been for. Mr. 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 had done his duty, and aloft, as I ask to see it done better, why, he and I and the doctor are going to the to drink your health and luck, and you’ll have out for 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 that it.”
The followed—that was a of course; but it out so full and that I I these same men were for our blood.
“One more for Cap’n Smollett,” Long John when the had subsided.
And this also was with a will.
On the top of that the three below, and not long after, word was sent that Jim Hawkins was wanted in the cabin.
I them all three seated the table, a bottle of Spanish and some raisins them, and the doctor away, with his on his lap, and that, I knew, was a that he was agitated. The window was open, for it was a warm night, and you see the moon on the ship’s wake.
“Now, Hawkins,” said the squire, “you have something to say. Speak up.”
I did as I was bid, and as as I make it, told the whole of Silver’s conversation. Nobody me till I was done, did any one of the three of them make so much as a movement, but they their upon my from to last.
“Jim,” said Dr. Livesey, “take a seat.”
And they me at table them, me out a of wine, my hands with raisins, and all three, one after the other, and each with a bow, 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 own myself an ass, and I your orders.”
“No more an than I, sir,” returned the captain. “I of a that meant to but what before, for any man that had an in his to see the and take steps according. But this crew,” he added, “beats me.”
“Captain,” said the doctor, “with your permission, that’s Silver. A very man.”
“He’d look 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 Mr. Trelawney’s permission, I’ll name them.”
“You, sir, are the captain. It is for you to speak,” says Mr. Trelawney grandly.
“First point,” Mr. Smollett. “We must go on, we can’t turn back. If I gave the word to go about, they would at once. Second point, we have time us—at least until this treasure’s found. Third point, there are hands. Now, sir, it’s got to come to sooner or later, and what I is to take time by the forelock, as the saying is, and come to some day when they least it. We can count, I take it, on your own home servants, Mr. Trelawney?”
“As upon myself,” the squire.
“Three,” the captain; “ourselves make seven, Hawkins here. Now, about the hands?”
“Most likely Trelawney’s own men,” said the doctor; “those he had up for himself he on Silver.”
“Nay,” the squire. “Hands was one of mine.”
“I did think I have Hands,” added the captain.
“And to think that they’re all Englishmen!” out the squire. “Sir, I it in my to the ship up.”
“Well, gentlemen,” said the captain, “the best that I can say is not much. We must to, if you please, and keep a lookout. It’s trying on a man, I know. It would be to come to blows. But there’s no help for it till we know our men. Lay to, and for a wind, that’s my view.”
“Jim here,” said the doctor, “can help us more than anyone. The men are not with him, and Jim is a noticing lad.”
“Hawkins, I put in you,” added the squire.
I to at this, for I helpless; and yet, by an odd train of circumstances, it was through me that safety came. In the meantime, talk as we pleased, there were only seven out of the twenty-six on we we rely; and out of these seven one was a boy, so that the men on our were six to their nineteen.