Treasure Island Page #4

- That's just between you and me, sir.

- Oh, aye.

I'm obliged.

What's the matter with him?

Lad's bonkers.

Aye.

The Hispaniola sailed swiftly

out of the stormy northern latitudes.

Nobody was much surprised...

... when one dark night,

Mr. Arrow disappeared entirely...

... and was seen no more.

It was presumed

he had been drinking again.

The captain put him down

in the log as overboard.

And said we were well rid of him.

We've ran down our easting

into the trade winds...

... to get the wind

of Treasure Island.

I soon got my sea legs under me.

I learned to reef, hand and steer,

and became a tolerable seaman.

It was about the last day

of our outward voyage...

... when the squire and I

had the dogwatch together.

We were running broad for the island

with a steady breeze and the quiet sea.

By the merest chance, the lives

of all the honest men aboard...

... would soon depend on me alone.

We must keep a sharp look out, Jim.

The captain says

we may raise the island at dawn.

If you can be a good lad

and go below and ask Mr. Silver...

...if he's got a mug of tea for me,

would you?

Oh, and Jim, see if you can find an apple.

I'm fearfully sharp-set.

Aye, aye, sir.

Visitor, eh?

Oh, not I. Flint was captain.

I were quartermaster

along with this timber leg.

Same broadside I lost my leg,

old Pew lost both his deadlights.

Off Trinidad, that's where we were.

So it were

aboard Flint's old ship Walrus...

...that I've seen amok with their red blood,

fit to sink with the gold in her hold.

Faith, Long John,

you've done a pair of sailing.

Flint was the flower of the flock,

so Israel Hands told me.

Israel should know.

He were Flint's gunner.

Best in the Spanish Main.

You must all be rich as lords.

I put my 900 pounds safe

after I sailed along Captain England.

Near 2000, after Flint.

Where is England's men now?

On Davy Jones mostly.

And where's Flint's?

Aboard here most of them

and glad to get the work.

But you, you're smart, young Dick.

Smart as paint. I seen that right off.

I'm 50, mark you.

But when this here voyage is finished,

I set up for gentleman in earnest.

You could do that if you're a-mind to.

Dick is square.

Oh, I know Dick was square.

He's no fool, is Dick.

Well, there's my hand on it, Mr. Silver.

What I wanna know

is how long we're gonna stand off and on...

...like a blessed bumboat?

I've had enough

of Captain Smollet's butt down there.

I wanna get into that cabin, I do.

- I want their pickles and wines.

- Pickles and wines?

Israel, you got no more brain

than a sea turtle.

Now, you hear me.

You'll berth forward,

you'll work hard, you'll keep sober...

...and you'll wait until I gives the word,

then cry havoc.

Well, all I ask is when, that's what.

Last bloody minute I can manage,

that's when.

We'll widdle the treasure aboard...

...the captain'll sail this ship

halfway home before we struck.

How many tall ships, think ye,

have I seen laid aboard?

And how many brisk lads

drying in the sun at execution dock?

All for the same hurry, hurry, hurry.

But what about the captain?

And Squire Trelawney?

- What are we to do about them, anyhow?

- We'll cut their throats for them.

Besides, there's someone

who needs killing.

Israel's right, lad.

Dead men tell no tales.

When I'm in parliament

riding in my coach...

...I don't want none of them sea lawyers

aft coming home unlooked for...

...like the devil at prayers.

Dick, there's a good lad. Jump up and

fetch me an apple from the barrel there.

I'm a mite sharp-set.

Hang your apples, Long John.

Let's have a go at the rum.

Yeah.

Well, then, won't hurt neither.

Dick, I trust you.

Here's the key to the rum store.

You fill a pannikin and bring it back.

- All right.

- But hand me an apple all the same.

Land ho! Land off the port bow.

Come up there, you lubbers. Look at this.

There's land down there.

- Land ho!

- Out of the way.

That the island, Barbecue?

Aye, by the powers, so it be.

- There she lies, the island.

- Treasure Island.

Oh, my God.

Well, there it is.

- Doctor...

- Jim, lad, where have you been?

You missed the landfall.

I brought her right down to it. Ha, ha.

What do you say to that, doctor?

Capital seamanship, squire, to be sure.

- Doctor, please, may I talk to you?

- Mr. Anderson.

Trim that down to gallant sail, man.

This is not one of your Dutchman's barges

with the sails all ahoo.

- Mr. Anderson.

- Right, captain.

Let him trim it himself, swab.

Trim that sail

or I'll make you wish you had.

- Get with it.

- Hey, you, lad. Get up there.

- Doctor, hear me.

- Yes, what is it, Jim?

I have to talk to you,

the squire and the captain.

- What?

- I've got some terrible news.

Mutiny. By God, I'll see them hang for it.

It's worse than mutiny, squire.

It's murder. If they're successful...

...you won't see anything at all

because you will be quite dead.

Captain, you were right and I was wrong.

I own myself an ass

and I await your orders.

No more an ass than I, sir.

This crew beats me.

It's that Silver,

he's a most remarkable man.

He looked remarkably well

from a yardarm.

Now, I see three or four points, if I may.

First, we must go on.

If I put the ship about,

they'd come down around us.

Secondly, we have time before us.

I would rather come to blows at once...

...but we must bide our time

until the moment is right.

And then we'll strike hard.

Jim here could be more use to us

than anyone. The men are used to him.

I've noticed that Silver trusts him.

Jim, you must infiltrate the enemy camp.

I put prodigious faith in you, boy.

- You must be our eyes and ears.

- I'll do my best.

By the mark, men, sail!

- Let go of the anchor!

- Let go!

Quarter less five, sir!

Well, I don't know about treasure...

...but I'll stake my wig

there's fever there.

Caught between the devil and the deep

blue sea as it were, eh, gentleman?

- Captain, I think it's...

- Mr. Anderson...

...those who wish to go ashore on liberty

may do so until the evening gun.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Silver, you may splash the main brace.

Aye, sir.

- I think we should go below, gentlemen.

- Certainly, captain.

Lower away the long boat.

Hoist now, the boat tackle.

Ah, Hawkins. This here island's

a sweet spot, to be sure.

It's a pleasant thing to be young,

have 10 toes.

Aye, sir.

If you wanna go ashore

and do a bit of exploring...

...old Long John will put up a

snack for you to take along.

Mr. Redruth,

do you know how to use this?

I have been the squire's gamekeeper

for 25 years.

I learned how to shoot straight

when I was a lad.

Very good.

You guard the companionway there.

Hunter, you take the aft hatchway.

I'm sure we can rely on you and Joyce.

- Aye, sir. That you can.

- I'll do my best, sir.

Joyce, you, um... You stay with Redruth.

Look here, captain. This is all very well,

but we're outnumbered three to one.

Silver will go ashore with his men

and calm them down.

I expect you'll keep them in check

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