Part 5 (1/2)
12
Council of War
THERE was a great rush of feet across the deck I could hear people tu in an instant outside my barrel, I dived behind the fore-sail, made a double towards the stern, and came out upon the open deck in time to join Hunter and Dr 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 south-west of us o low hills, about a couple of her hill, whose peak was still buried in the fog All three seeure
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 S orders The HISPANIOLA was laid a couple of points nearer the wind and now sailed a course that would just clear the island on the east
”And now, men,” said the captain, when all was sheeted home, ”has any one of you ever seen that land ahead?”
”I have, sir,” said Silver ”I've watered there with a trader I was cook in”
”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 nor'ard they calls the Fore- south'ard--fore,un, with the cloud on it--they usually calls the Spy-glass, by reason of a lookout they kept when they was in the anchorage cleaning, for it's there they cleaned their shi+ps, sir, asking your pardon”
”I have a chart here,” says Captain S John's eyes burned in his head as he took the chart, but by the fresh look of the paper I kneas doomed to disappointment This was not the map we found in Billy Bones's chest, but an accurate copy, cos--with the single exception of the red crosses and the written notes Sharp as th of mind to hide it
”Yes, sir,” said he, ”this is the spot, to be sure, and very prettily drawed out Who norant, I reckon Aye, here it is: 'Capt Kidd's Anchorage'--just the na current runs along the south, and then away nor'ard up the west coast Right you was, sir,” says he, ”to haul your wind and keep the weather of the island Leastways, if such was your intention as to enter and careen, and there ain't no better place for that in these waters”
”Thank you, ive us a help You o”
I was surprised at the coolness hich John avowed his knowledge of the island, and I oas half- frightened when I saw hi nearer to myself He did not know, to be sure, that I had overheard his council from the apple barrel, and yet I had by this time taken such a horror of his cruelty, duplicity, and power that I could scarce conceal a shudder when he laid his hand upon my arm
”Ah,” says he, ”this here is a sweet spot, this island-- a sweet spot for a lad to get ashore on You'll bathe, and you'll cliet aloft on theain I was going to forgetand have ten toes, and you , you just 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 forward and went below
Captain Sether on the quarter-deck, and anxious as I was to tell them my story, I durst not interrupt thehts to find some probable excuse, Dr Livesey calleda slave to tobacco, had h to speak and not to be overheard, I broke immediately, ”Doctor, let me speak Get the captain and squire down to the cabin, and then make some pretence to send for ed 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, or so h that Dr Livesey had co that I heard was the captain giving an order to Job Anderson, and all hands were piped on deck
”My lads,” said Captain Smollett, ”I've a word to say to you This land that we have sighted is the place we have been sailing 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 board had done his duty, alow and aloft, as I never ask 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 for you to drink OUR health and luck I'll tell you what I think of this: I think it handsoood sea-cheer for the gentleman that does it”
The cheer followed--that was aout so full and hearty that I confess I could hardly believe these sa for our blood
”OneJohn when the first had subsided
And this also was given with a will
On the top of that the three gentle after, as sent forward that Jim Hawkins anted in the cabin
I found them all three seated round the table, a bottle of Spanish wine and so aith his wig on his lap, and that, I kneas a sign that he was agitated The stern as open, for it was a war behind on the shi+p's wake
”Nokins,” said the squire, ”you have so to say Speak up”
I did as I was bid, and as 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 Dr Livesey, ”take a seat”
And they lass of wine, filled my hands with raisins, and all three, one after the other, and each with a bow, drank ood health, and their service to e
”Now, captain,” said the squire, ”you were right, and I rong I own 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 ns before, for any man that had an eye in his head to see theBut 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 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,” began Mr Save the word to go 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 ti is, and come to blows some fine day when they least expect it We can count, I take it, on your own home servants, Mr Trelawney?”
”As upon myself,” declared the squire
”Three,” reckoned the captain; ”ourselvesHawkins here Now, about the honest hands?”
”Most likely Trelawney's own men,” said the doctor; ”those he had 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 to think that they're all Englishmen!” broke out the squire ”Sir, I could find it in entlemen,” said the captain, ”the best that I can say is not ht 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 Thelad”
”Hawkins, I put prodigious faith in you,” added the squire