The History: The Treasure Island-Chapter 5

Treasure Island

CHAPTER

5

The Map

Por: Shamir Galvá

I

  told Mr. Dance about the package that I had taken from the captain’s chest, and that it was the same package that the blind man had been after. We agreed to ride to Dr. Livesey’s to ask his advice. When we arrived, his maid told us that he was dining at the home of his friend, Squire Trelawney. We followed him there. We were shown into the dining room where they sat eating. Mr. Dance told them his report. The doctor asked to see the package, which once belonged to Captain Flint. “Have you heard of this Flint?” asked the doctor.

“Heard of him!” said the squire. “He was the most bloodthirsty pirate who ever sailed!”

“Supposing that I had some clue as to where Flint buried his treasure. Will that treasure amount to much?” asked the doctor.

“Amount, sir!” cried the squire. “It will amount to this: If that package gives us a clue as to where the treasure is, I will fit out a ship at Bristol. I’ll take you as the ship’s doctor and Jim Hawkins as cabin boy. I’ll have that treasure if I must search for a year!”

The doctor opened the package and found a book and a map inside. The book was marked with crosses and numbers. The crosses stood for the names of the ships that had sunk. The numbers told of the captain’s own share of the treasures that were stolen from the ships. The map showed an island marked with latitude and longitude. It was so clearly drawn that nothing more would be needed to bring a ship safely into harbor. The plan was set. We would find Flint’s treasure.

I spent several weeks at the squire’s house with Redruth, the gamekeeper. I would sit by the fire and spend hours looking over the map, dreaming of strange islands and adventures. Sometimes the island was full of savages with whom we fought. Sometimes it was filled with dangerous animals that hunted us.

The squire’s letter finally arrived. He said that he had found a ship, the Hispaniola, and a sea cook named Long John Silver, who had lost a leg. With Silver’s help, the squire had also hired a crew. The letter ended by telling me that I might spend a last night with my mother before Redruth and I set out for Bristol.

The next morning I went to the Admiral Benbow Inn. My mother was in good health and good spirits. And, thanks to the squire had also found a boy to help my mother while I was away.

The next day Redruth met me outside the Royal George Inn where we took a coach to Bristol. I slept the whole journey. When I opened my eyes, we were in front of a large bustling dock.

We walked along the docks to the inn where Squire Trelawney was staying. He came out to meet us, looking like a sea officer in his blue coat. There we saw a great many ships of all sizes, rigs, and nations. In some, sailors were singing as they worked. In others, there were men hanging on to ropes high above my head. The ropes seemed no thicker to me than a spider’s web.

Though I had lived by the shore all of my life, I seemed never to have been near the sea until then. The smell of tar and salt was something new. I could not have been more delighted. My heart beat faster. Soon I would be on a ship bound for an unknown island—to seek buried treasure!   

From: Treasury of Illustrated Classics Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Adapted by Barbara Green 1996-2004. 

The History: the Treasure Island-Chapter 4

Treasure Island

CHAPTER

4

Storming the Inn

Por: Shamir Galvá

The sound drew nearer and nearer. We sat there holding our breath. Then the stick struck sharply upon the inn door. We could hear the handle being turned. The bolt rattled as that awful man tried to enter the inn. Then there was a long silence. The tapping began once again. But to our joy, it slowly died away.

“Mother,” I said, “takes the whole of it and let’s be going.”

That the door was bolted must have seemed unusual to the blind man, but I was glad I had locked it. Still, my mother, frightened as she was, would not agree to take a bit more of the money than what was owed her. She also would not take less. So she continued her count until a low whistle sounded. That was enough—more than enough—for both of us.

“I’ll take what I have,” she said quickly.

“I’ll take this to even our account,” said I, picking up the package from the chest.

  

We raced down the stairs, opened the door, and made our escape. We had not started a moment too soon. The fog that had hidden the inn from view was disappearing. The moon was shining clearly around us. It was only just around the tavern door that a bit of fog still hung about to cover the first few steps of our escape. We saw that beyond the bottom of the hill, we would come forth into the moonlight. I grasped my mother’s hand tightly.

This was not all. We heard the sound of running footsteps coming toward us.

We had just made it to the little bridge near the inn when my mother and run on. I am going to faint.” This was certainly the end for both of us, I thought.

I helped her to the edge of the bank where, sure enough, she gave a sigh and fell on my shoulder. I do not know how I found the strength to do it, and I am afraid I did it roughly—but I managed to drag her a little way under the bridge. There we were partly hidden; and it was there that we had to stay—within earshot of the inn.

I crept back to the bank again and lay down behind a bush. From where I was, I could see the inn.  I had hardly been there a moment when some men arrived.

There were seven or eight of them.

Their feet were beating out of time along the road. A man with a lantern was leading them.

 Three men ran together. Through the mist I could see that the one in the middle was the blind beggar. At the next moment his voice showed me I was right.

“Down with the door!” he cried.

“Aye, aye sir!” answered two or three of the others. Then a rush was made upon the inn.

I saw them wait. They spoke in low whispers, as if they were surprised to find that the door had already been opened, but the wait was brief. The blind man again gave his orders. His voice sounded louder and higher, as if he were filled with rage.

“In, in, in!” the blind man shouted.

I heard a voice shout from inside—“Bill’s dead!” But the blind man swore at them. “Search him, you shirking lubbers, and get the chest,” he cried.

I could hear their feet rattling up our stairs. The window of the captain’s room opened with a shatter of broken glass. A man called, “Pew, they’ve been here before us. I can’t find the map!”

“it’s that boy,” said Pew. “I wish I had put his eyes out. They were here—they had the door bolted when I tried it. Scatter, lads, and find them!”

Just then we again heard that same low whistle that had frightened us when my mother was counting the dead captain’s money. I understood now that it was a warning signal telling of some danger.

“There’s that whistle again,” said one man. “Let’s go.”

“Scatter and look for them,” cried Pew. “If only I had eyes!”

The men began to run. As they did so, the noise of horses could be heard. Almost at the same time came a pistol shot. The men ran in every direction and, in no time, not a sign of them remained—except for Pew.

Pew was tapping up and down the road calling in vain for his friends. Some riders came at a gallop down the hill. Pew turned and, with a cry, rolled into a ditch. He was on his feet in a second, but being very confused, he fell right under the nearest of the oncoming horses. The rider tried to save him but the blind man fell onto his side and moved no more.

I soon saw that they were officers. I leaped up and called loudly to them. They said that they had heard of a strange ship moored at Kitt’s Hole and were going to see whose it was. As for Pew, he was dead—stone dead.

My mother was brought back to the village and with a little cold water and smelling salts; she was soon back to good health. I went back to the inn. Everything was smashed, and I could see at once that we were ruined.

Mr. Dance and a few of the other officers rode as fast as they could to Kitt’s Hole, but when they got there, the ship was already under sail. He called for them to come back. A voice called back to him saying that he had better keep out of the moonlight or he would get some “lead in him.” Then a bullet whizzed by his arm.

Soon after that, the ship was gone.

“And that,” said Mr. Dance, “is just about as good as nothing. They’ve gotten off clean. Only I’m glad I stomped upon Master Pew.”

From: Treasury of Illustrated Classics Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Adapted by Barbara Green 1996-2004.