Part Two: The Sea-cook - Chapter 12: Council of War

by Robert Louis Stevenson

　　There was a great rush of feet across the deck. Icould hear people tumbling up from the cabin and theforecastle, and slipping in an instant outside mybarrel, I dived behind the fore-sail, made a doubletowards the stern, and came out upon the open deck intime to join Hunter and Dr. Livesey in the rush for theweather bow.

　　There all hands were already congregated. A belt offog had lifted almost simultaneously with theappearance of the moon. Away to the south-west of uswe saw two low hills, about a couple of miles apart,and rising behind one of them a third and higher hill,whose peak was still buried in the fog. All threeseemed sharp and conical in figure.

　　So much I saw, almost in a dream, for I had not yetrecovered from my horrid fear of a minute or twobefore. And then I heard the voice of Captain Smollettissuing orders. The Hispaniola was laid a coupleof points nearer the wind and now sailed a course thatwould just clear the island on the east.

　　"And now, men," said the captain, when all was sheetedhome, "has any one of you ever seen that land ahead?"

　　"I have, sir," said Silver. "I've watered there with atrader I was cook in."

　　"The anchorage is on the south, behind an islet, Ifancy?" asked the captain.

　　"Yes, sir; Skeleton Island they calls it. It were amain place for pirates once, and a hand we had on boardknowed all their names for it. That hill to thenor'ard they calls the Fore-mast Hill; there are threehills in a row running south'ard--fore, main, andmizzen, sir. But the main--that's the big un, with thecloud on it--they usually calls the Spy-glass, byreason of a lookout they kept when they was in theanchorage cleaning, for it's there they cleaned theirships, sir, asking your pardon."

　　"I have a chart here," says Captain Smollett. "See ifthat's the place."

　　Long John's eyes burned in his head as he took thechart, but by the fresh look of the paper I knew he wasdoomed to disappointment. This was not the map wefound in Billy Bones's chest, but an accurate copy,complete in all things--names and heights andsoundings--with the single exception of the red crossesand the written notes. Sharp as must have been hisannoyance, Silver had the strength of mind to hide it.

　　"Yes, sir," said he, "this is the spot, to be sure, andvery prettily drawed out. Who might have done that, Iwonder? The pirates were too ignorant, I reckon. Aye,here it is: 'Capt. Kidd's Anchorage'--just the name myshipmate called it. There's a strong current runsalong the south, and then away nor'ard up the westcoast. Right you was, sir," says he, "to haul yourwind and keep the weather of the island. Leastways, ifsuch was your intention as to enter and careen, andthere ain't no better place for that in these waters."

　　"Thank you, my man," says Captain Smollett. "I'll askyou later on to give us a help. You may go."

　　I was surprised at the coolness with which John avowedhis knowledge of the island, and I own I was half-frightened when I saw him drawing nearer to myself. Hedid not know, to be sure, that I had overheard hiscouncil from the apple barrel, and yet I had by thistime taken such a horror of his cruelty, duplicity, andpower that I could scarce conceal a shudder when helaid 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 climb trees, and you'll hunt goats, you will;and you'll get aloft on them hills like a goat yourself.Why, it makes me young again. I was going to forget mytimber leg, I was. It's a pleasant thing to be young andhave ten toes, and you may lay to that. When you want togo a bit of exploring, you just ask old John, and he'llput up a snack for you to take along."

　　And clapping me in the friendliest way upon theshoulder, he hobbled off forward and went below.

　　Captain Smollett, the squire, and Dr. Livesey weretalking together on the quarter-deck, and anxious as Iwas to tell them my story, I durst not interrupt themopenly. While I was still casting about in my thoughtsto find some probable excuse, Dr. Livesey called me tohis side. He had left his pipe below, and being a slaveto tobacco, had meant that I should fetch it; but as soonas I was near enough to speak and not to be overheard, Ibroke immediately, "Doctor, let me speak. Get the captainand squire down to the cabin, and then make some pretenceto send for me. I have terrible news."

　　The doctor changed countenance a little, but nextmoment he was master of himself.

　　"Thank you, Jim," said he quite loudly, "that was all Iwanted to know," as if he had asked me a question.

　　And with that he turned on his heel and rejoined theother two. They spoke together for a little, andthough none of them started, or raised his voice, or somuch as whistled, it was plain enough that Dr. Liveseyhad communicated my request, for the next thing that Iheard 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 sayto you. This land that we have sighted is the place wehave been sailing for. Mr. Trelawney, being a veryopen-handed gentleman, as we all know, has just askedme a word or two, and as I was able to tell him thatevery man on board had done his duty, alow and aloft,as I never ask to see it done better, why, he and I andthe doctor are going below to the cabin to drink yourhealth and luck, and you'll have grog served outfor you to drink our health and luck. I'll tellyou what I think of this: I think it handsome. And ifyou think as I do, you'll give a good sea-cheer for thegentleman that does it."

　　The cheer followed--that was a matter of course; but itrang out so full and hearty that I confess I could hardlybelieve these same men were plotting for our blood.

　　"One more cheer for Cap'n Smollett," cried Long Johnwhen the first had subsided.

　　And this also was given with a will.

　　On the top of that the three gentlemen went below, andnot long after, word was sent forward that Jim Hawkinswas wanted in the cabin.

　　I found them all three seated round the table, a bottleof Spanish wine and some raisins before them, and thedoctor smoking away, with his wig on his lap, and that,I knew, was a sign that he was agitated. The sternwindow was open, for it was a warm night, and you couldsee the moon shining behind on the ship's wake.

　　"Now, Hawkins," said the squire, "you have something tosay. 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 oneof the three of them make so much as a movement, butthey kept their eyes upon my face from first to last.

　　"Jim," said Dr. Livesey, "take a seat."

　　And they made me sit down at table beside them, pouredme out a glass of wine, filled my hands with raisins,and all three, one after the other, and each with abow, drank my good health, and their service to me, formy luck and courage.

　　"Now, captain," said the squire, "you were right, and Iwas wrong. I own myself an ass, and I await your orders."

　　"No more an ass than I, sir," returned the captain. "Inever heard of a crew that meant to mutiny but whatshowed signs before, for any man that had an eye in hishead to see the mischief and take steps according. Butthis 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'tlead to anything. I see three or four points, and withMr. 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. Smollett. "We must go on,because we can't turn back. If I gave the word to goabout, they would rise at once. Second point, we havetime before us--at least until this treasure's found.Third point, there are faithful hands. Now, sir, it'sgot to come to blows sooner or later, and what Ipropose is to take time by the forelock, as the sayingis, and come to blows some fine day when they leastexpect it. We can count, I take it, on your own homeservants, Mr. Trelawney?"

　　"As upon myself," declared the squire.

　　"Three," reckoned the captain; "ourselves make seven,counting Hawkins here. Now, about the honest hands?"

　　"Most likely Trelawney's own men," said the doctor; "thosehe 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 outthe squire. "Sir, I could find it in my heart to blowthe ship up."

　　"Well, gentlemen," said the captain, "the best that Ican say is not much. We must lay to, if you please,and keep a bright lookout. It's trying on a man, Iknow. It would be pleasanter to come to blows. Butthere'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 thananyone. The men are not shy with him, and Jim is anoticing lad."

　　"Hawkins, I put prodigious faith in you," added the squire.

　　I began to feel pretty desperate at this, for I feltaltogether helpless; and yet, by an odd train ofcircumstances, it was indeed through me that safety came.In the meantime, talk as we pleased, there were onlyseven out of the twenty-six on whom we knew we couldrely; and out of these seven one was a boy, so that thegrown men on our side were six to their nineteen.