treasure
to sail
crew
sailor
the docks
ship
telescope
crutch
pirate
the squire
All hands on board!
aye, aye, sir!
a schooner
It took longer than expected to get ready for the sea. None of our first plans worked out as we had hoped. Doctor Livesey had to go up to London to to take care of his patients. The squire was busy in Bristol, preparing the ship. I stayed at Squire Trelawney's huge house with old Redruth, the gamekeeper*. I felt almost like a prisoner , but my head was full of dreams about the sea and exciting adventures.
Every day I sat by the fire and looked at the treasure map. I knew everything about it in detail by heart . In my imagination, I set off for the island again and again. I climbed the high hill called the Spy-glass and looked out over the sea. Sometimes I imagined wild people on the island. Sometimes there were dangerous animals. But in my dreams, nothing was as strange or frightening as the real adventure that was waiting for us.
One day, a letter arrived for Doctor Livesey. On the envelope it said:
'To be opened by Tom Redruth or young Hawkins if the doctor is away.'
Redruth handed it to me. 'You read it, Jim,' he said. 'I'm not good with writing.'
I opened the letter. It was from Squire Trelawney in Bristol.
Dear Doctor Livesey,
The ship is bought and ready. She is called the Hispaniola . She is a fine schooner*—easy to sail and very strong.
Blandly helped me get the ship at a very good price. Some people in Bristol say nasty things about him, but the ship is excellent.
There was one problem: finding a crew . I wanted twenty men, but it was very hard to find good sailors . Then I met a most amazing man—Long John Silver.
He is an old sailor and runs an inn*. He lost one leg in the war, but he is strong and clever. I felt sorry for him and gave him a job as the ship's cook.
'Well,' I said, 'he sounds interesting.'
Redruth nodded slowly.
The letter continued :
John Silver has helped me pick the best sailors in Bristol. He even told me to send back two men I had chosen because they were not talented enough. He knows what he is doing.
We sail tomorrow. Come at once . Let young Hawkins visit his mother and then come to Bristol with Redruth.
Your friend,
John Trelawney
When I finished reading, my heart was beating fast.
'We're going to Bristol!' I cried.
Redruth only complained . 'Too much hurry ,' he said. 'Too much talk.'
But I was full of excitement .
The next morning we set off on foot for the Admiral Benbow Inn*. My mother was well and happy. The inn* had been repaired , and there was even a new armchair for her.
'Jim,' she said, smiling , 'you must take care of yourself .'
'I will, Mother,' I replied , though I suddenly felt very sad.
There was a new boy working at the inn* to help her. When I saw him, I realised that I really was leaving home. For the first time, I had tears in my eyes.
That night I said goodbye to my mother, to the sea, and to my old home. Early the next day, Redruth and I set out again.
(music)
We travelled by coach. I was tired and soon fell asleep . When I woke up, we were in a large city.
'Where are we?' I asked.
'Bristol,' said Redruth. 'Come on, get down.'
We walked toward the docks*, and I could hardly believe my eyes . There were ships everywhere— huge ships, small ships, medium-sized ships, ships from many countries. Sailors were singing as they worked.
I breathed in the smell of salt water. I had lived by the sea all my life, but this was different. This was the real sea—the sea of adventure.
'I'm going to sail on one of these ships,' I whispered to myself.
At that moment , Squire Trelawney came towards us. He was dressed like a sea captain.
'Jim!' he cried happily . 'You're here! The doctor arrived last night. The crew is ready. We sail tomorrow!'
'Tomorrow?' I said, hardly able to believe it.
'Yes! Tomorrow!'
After breakfast the next day, the squire* gave me a note.
'Take this to Long John Silver,' he said. 'He owns the Spy-glass Inn* down by the docks*.'
I was glad to go. I wanted to see more ships and sailors .
The docks were crowded with people and carts*. Finally, I found a small inn* with a large brass* telescope* on the sign.
Inside, it was clean and bright . Sailors were talking loudly and laughing.
I stood near the door, feeling shy .
Suddenly , a tall man with one leg came out of a side room. He moved quickly on a crutch*. His face was big and friendly, and he was smiling .
'That must be Long John Silver,' I thought.
I walked up to him.
'Mr. Silver, sir?' I asked, giving him the note.
'Yes, my boy,' he said warmly . 'That's my name. And who are you?'
'I'm Jim Hawkins,' I said.
His looked delighted . 'Ah! Our new cabin boy*! I'm very pleased to meet you!'
He shook my hand.
At that moment , a man at a table near the door suddenly jumped up and ran outside. I recognised him at once .
'It's Black Dog!' I shouted. 'The soldiers are looking for him!'
Silver turned quickly.
'Harry!' he cried . ' Run after him! He hasn't paid!'
One of the sailors ran out.
'Black Dog, you say?' Silver asked me seriously .
'Yes,' I said. 'He's a pirate .'
'A pirate ? In my house?' Silver said angrily. 'Morgan! Come here!'
An old sailor came forward nervously .
'I saw you talking to that man. Did you know him?' Silver asked.
'No, sir,' Morgan said.
'You didn't know his name?'
'No, sir.'
'Good!' Silver said. 'Because I won't have pirates here!'
Soon the sailor came back.
'He escaped ,' he said, breathing hard .
Silver hit his hand on the table.
'That's bad news,' he said. Then he turned to me. 'Jim, you must tell the squire everything. I don't want him to think I knew that man.'
'You acted quickly, sir,' I said.
'Come on,' he said. 'We should go back to the squire*.'
On the way, Silver talked about ships and sailors . He explained everything clearly .
'That ship there is preparing to sail ,' he said. 'And that one there is loading cargo*.'
He knew so much that I began to trust him completely .
When we reached the inn*, Squire Trelawney and Doctor Livesey were waiting.
Silver told them everything.
'That's how it happened, isn't it, Jim?' he asked.
'Yes, sir,' I said.
The squire looked serious .
'It's a pity Black Dog got away again,' he said.
'But there's nothing we can do,' said the doctor calmly .
'All hands* on board at four o'clock!' the squire called.
'Aye, aye*, sir!' answered Silver cheerfully .
After he left, Doctor Livesey said quietly,
'I must say, Squire, John Silver seems like a good man.'
'The best man in Bristol!' said the squire proudly .
Then the doctor smiled at me.
'Well, Jim,' he said, 'shall we go and see the ship?'
'Yes, sir!' I replied excitedly.
And together we went down to the docks* to see the Hispaniola , the ship that would take us towards treasure —and danger.
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