The Attack

As soon as Silver disappeared, the captain, who had been closely watching him, turned towards the interior of the house and found not a man of us at his post but Gray. It was the first time we had ever seen him angry.

As soon as Silver disappeared, the captain turned to look inside the house. He had been watching Silver closely. He found that Gray was the only one of us at his post. It was the first time we had ever seen the captain angry.

“Quarters!” he roared. And then, as we all slunk back to our places, “Gray,” he said, “I’ll put your name in the log; you’ve stood by your duty like a seaman. Mr. Trelawney, I’m surprised at you, sir. Doctor, I thought you had worn the king’s coat! If that was how you served at Fontenoy, sir, you’d have been better in your berth.”

“Back to your posts!” he roared. As we all slunk back to our places, he said, “Gray, I’ll put your name in the log. You’ve done your duty like a sailor. Mr. Trelawney, I’m surprised at you, sir. Doctor, I thought you had served in the king’s army! If that was how you served at Fontenoy, sir, you’d have been better off in bed.”

The doctor’s watch were all back at their loopholes, the rest were busy loading the spare muskets, and everyone with a red face, you may be certain, and a flea in his ear, as the saying is.

All the men on the doctor’s watch were back at their firing holes. The rest were busy loading the spare muskets. Everyone was red-faced, you can be sure, and had been sharply told off, as the saying goes.

The captain looked on for a while in silence. Then he spoke.

The captain watched in silence for a while. Then he spoke.

“My lads,” said he, “I’ve given Silver a broadside. I pitched it in red-hot on purpose; and before the hour’s out, as he said, we shall be boarded. We’re outnumbered, I needn’t tell you that, but we fight in shelter; and a minute ago I should have said we fought with discipline. I’ve no manner of doubt that we can drub them, if you choose.”

“My lads,” he said, “I’ve given Silver a broadside. I made it especially fierce on purpose. Before the hour is out, as he said, they’ll board us. I don’t need to tell you we’re outnumbered, but we’re fighting from shelter. And a minute ago, I would have said we were fighting with discipline. I have no doubt we can beat them, if you choose to fight.”

Then he went the rounds and saw, as he said, that all was clear.

Then he made his rounds and saw that everything was clear, as he said.

On the two short sides of the house, east and west, there were only two loopholes; on the south side where the porch was, two again; and on the north side, five. There was a round score of muskets for the seven of us; the firewood had been built into four piles—tables, you might say—one about the middle of each side, and on each of these tables some ammunition and four loaded muskets were laid ready to the hand of the defenders. In the middle, the cutlasses lay ranged.

On each of the two short sides of the house, east and west, there were only two loopholes. There were two more on the south side, where the porch was, and five on the north side. There were twenty muskets for the seven of us. The firewood had been stacked into four piles, one near the middle of each side. You might have called them tables. On each of these tables lay some ammunition and four loaded muskets, ready for the defenders to use. The cutlasses were laid out in the middle.

“Toss out the fire,” said the captain; “the chill is past, and we mustn’t have smoke in our eyes.”

“Put out the fire,” said the captain. “The chill has passed, and we don’t want smoke in our eyes.”

The iron fire-basket was carried bodily out by Mr. Trelawney, and the embers smothered among sand.

Mr. Trelawney carried the whole iron fire basket outside, and the embers were smothered in sand.

“Hawkins hasn’t had his breakfast. Hawkins, help yourself, and back to your post to eat it,” continued Captain Smollett. “Lively, now, my lad; you’ll want it before you’ve done. Hunter, serve out a round of brandy to all hands.”

“Hawkins hasn’t had breakfast. Hawkins, help yourself, then go back to your post to eat,” Captain Smollett continued. “Hurry up, lad. You’ll need it before you’re finished. Hunter, give everyone a round of brandy.”

And while this was going on, the captain completed, in his own mind, the plan of the defence.

And while this was going on, the captain finished working out his plan for the defense.

“Doctor, you will take the door,” he resumed. “See, and don’t expose yourself; keep within, and fire through the porch. Hunter, take the east side, there. Joyce, you stand by the west, my man. Mr. Trelawney, you are the best shot—you and Gray will take this long north side, with the five loopholes; it’s there the danger is. If they can get up to it and fire in upon us through our own ports, things would begin to look dirty. Hawkins, neither you nor I are much account at the shooting; we’ll stand by to load and bear a hand.”

“Doctor, you take the door,” he continued. “Be careful not to expose yourself. Stay inside and fire through the porch. Hunter, take the east side, over there. Joyce, you take the west side, my man. Mr. Trelawney, you’re the best shot. You and Gray will take the long north side, with its five loopholes. That’s where the danger is. If they can reach that side and shoot at us through our own loopholes, things will start to look bad. Hawkins, neither you nor I are much good at shooting. We’ll stand by to load the guns and help out.”

As the captain had said, the chill was past. As soon as the sun had climbed above our girdle of trees, it fell with all its force upon the clearing and drank up the vapours at a draught. Soon the sand was baking and the resin melting in the logs of the block house. Jackets and coats were flung aside, shirts thrown open at the neck and rolled up to the shoulders; and we stood there, each at his post, in a fever of heat and anxiety.

As the captain had said, the chill was gone. As soon as the sun rose above the ring of trees, it beat down on the clearing with all its force. It quickly drank up the mist. Soon the sand was baking and the resin was melting in the logs of the blockhouse. We threw aside our jackets and coats, opened our shirts at the neck, and rolled the sleeves up to our shoulders. Each of us stood at his post, burning with heat and anxiety.

An hour passed away.

An hour passed.

“Hang them!” said the captain. “This is as dull as the doldrums. Gray, whistle for a wind.”

“Damn them!” said the captain. “This is as dull as the doldrums. Gray, whistle for a wind.”

And just at that moment came the first news of the attack.

And just then, the first news of the attack arrived.

“If you please, sir,” said Joyce, “if I see anyone, am I to fire?”

“Excuse me, sir,” said Joyce, “if I see anyone, should I shoot?”

“I told you so!” cried the captain.

“I told you so!” shouted the captain.

“Thank you, sir,” returned Joyce with the same quiet civility.

“Thank you, sir,” Joyce replied with the same quiet politeness.

Nothing followed for a time, but the remark had set us all on the alert, straining ears and eyes—the musketeers with their pieces balanced in their hands, the captain out in the middle of the block house with his mouth very tight and a frown on his face.

Nothing happened for a while, but the remark had put us all on alert, watching and listening closely. The musketeers held their muskets ready in their hands. The captain stood in the middle of the blockhouse, his mouth tightly set and a frown on his face.

So some seconds passed, till suddenly Joyce whipped up his musket and fired. The report had scarcely died away ere it was repeated and repeated from without in a scattering volley, shot behind shot, like a string of geese, from every side of the enclosure. Several bullets struck the log-house, but not one entered; and as the smoke cleared away and vanished, the stockade and the woods around it looked as quiet and empty as before. Not a bough waved, not the gleam of a musket-barrel betrayed the presence of our foes.

Several seconds passed before Joyce suddenly raised his musket and fired. The sound had barely faded when shots rang out from every side of the enclosure. They came in a scattered volley, one after another, like a string of geese. Several bullets struck the log-house, but none entered. As the smoke cleared and vanished, the stockade and the woods around it looked as quiet and empty as before. Not a branch moved, and no gleam from a musket barrel betrayed the presence of our enemies.

“Did you hit your man?” asked the captain.

“Did you hit your man?” asked the captain.

“No, sir,” replied Joyce. “I believe not, sir.”

“No, sir,” Joyce replied. “I don’t think so, sir.”

“Next best thing to tell the truth,” muttered Captain Smollett. “Load his gun, Hawkins. How many should say there were on your side, doctor?”

“The next best thing is to tell the truth,” muttered Captain Smollett. “Load his gun, Hawkins. How many would you say were on your side, doctor?”

“I know precisely,” said Dr. Livesey. “Three shots were fired on this side. I saw the three flashes—two close together—one farther to the west.”

“I know exactly,” said Dr. Livesey. “Three shots were fired on this side. I saw all three flashes. Two were close together, and one was farther west.”

“Three!” repeated the captain. “And how many on yours, Mr. Trelawney?”

“Three!” the captain repeated. “And how many on yours, Mr. Trelawney?”

But this was not so easily answered. There had come many from the north—seven by the squire’s computation, eight or nine according to Gray. From the east and west only a single shot had been fired. It was plain, therefore, that the attack would be developed from the north and that on the other three sides we were only to be annoyed by a show of hostilities. But Captain Smollett made no change in his arrangements. If the mutineers succeeded in crossing the stockade, he argued, they would take possession of any unprotected loophole and shoot us down like rats in our own stronghold.

But this was not so easy to answer. Many shots had come from the north, seven by the squire’s count, eight or nine according to Gray. Only one shot had been fired from the east and west. Clearly, then, the main attack would come from the north. On the other three sides, the enemy would only harass us with a show of force. But Captain Smollett made no change to his arrangements. He argued that if the mutineers crossed the stockade, they would take over any unprotected loophole. Then they would shoot us down like rats in our own stronghold.

Nor had we much time left to us for thought. Suddenly, with a loud huzza, a little cloud of pirates leaped from the woods on the north side and ran straight on the stockade. At the same moment, the fire was once more opened from the woods, and a rifle ball sang through the doorway and knocked the doctor’s musket into bits.

We had little time left to think. Suddenly, a small group of pirates leaped from the woods on the north side with a loud cheer. They ran straight at the stockade. At the same moment, gunfire broke out again from the woods. A rifle bullet sang through the doorway and smashed the doctor’s musket to pieces.

The boarders swarmed over the fence like monkeys. Squire and Gray fired again and yet again; three men fell, one forwards into the enclosure, two back on the outside. But of these, one was evidently more frightened than hurt, for he was on his feet again in a crack and instantly disappeared among the trees.

The attackers swarmed over the fence like monkeys. Squire and Gray fired again and again. Three men fell, one forward into the enclosure and two backward outside it. But one of them was clearly more frightened than hurt. He was back on his feet in an instant and disappeared among the trees.

Two had bit the dust, one had fled, four had made good their footing inside our defences, while from the shelter of the woods seven or eight men, each evidently supplied with several muskets, kept up a hot though useless fire on the log-house.

Two had fallen, one had fled, and four had gained a foothold inside our defenses. Meanwhile, seven or eight men kept firing heavily at the log house from the shelter of the woods, though their fire was useless. Each man was evidently supplied with several muskets.

The four who had boarded made straight before them for the building, shouting as they ran, and the men among the trees shouted back to encourage them. Several shots were fired, but such was the hurry of the marksmen that not one appears to have taken effect. In a moment, the four pirates had swarmed up the mound and were upon us.

The four who had boarded ran straight toward the building, shouting as they went. The men among the trees shouted back to encourage them. Several shots were fired, but the shooters were in such a hurry that none appeared to hit anyone. A moment later, the four pirates swarmed up the mound and were upon us.

The head of Job Anderson, the boatswain, appeared at the middle loophole.

Job Anderson, the boatswain, appeared at the middle loophole, showing his head.

“At ’em, all hands—all hands!” he roared in a voice of thunder.

“Attack them, everyone, everyone!” he roared in a thunderous voice.

At the same moment, another pirate grasped Hunter’s musket by the muzzle, wrenched it from his hands, plucked it through the loophole, and with one stunning blow, laid the poor fellow senseless on the floor. Meanwhile a third, running unharmed all around the house, appeared suddenly in the doorway and fell with his cutlass on the doctor.

At the same moment, another pirate grabbed Hunter’s musket by the muzzle and wrenched it from his hands. He pulled the musket through the loophole and struck the poor fellow with it. The blow knocked Hunter senseless onto the floor. Meanwhile, a third pirate ran all the way around the house unharmed. He suddenly appeared in the doorway and attacked the doctor with his cutlass.

Our position was utterly reversed. A moment since we were firing, under cover, at an exposed enemy; now it was we who lay uncovered and could not return a blow.

Our positions were completely reversed. A moment ago, we had been firing from cover at an exposed enemy. Now we were exposed and could not fire back.

The log-house was full of smoke, to which we owed our comparative safety. Cries and confusion, the flashes and reports of pistol-shots, and one loud groan rang in my ears.

The log-house was full of smoke, which kept us relatively safe. Cries and confusion, flashes and bangs from pistols, and one loud groan filled my ears.

“Out, lads, out, and fight ’em in the open! Cutlasses!” cried the captain.

“Out, boys, out! Fight them in the open! Cutlasses!” shouted the captain.

I snatched a cutlass from the pile, and someone, at the same time snatching another, gave me a cut across the knuckles which I hardly felt. I dashed out of the door into the clear sunlight. Someone was close behind, I knew not whom. Right in front, the doctor was pursuing his assailant down the hill, and just as my eyes fell upon him, beat down his guard and sent him sprawling on his back with a great slash across the face.

I grabbed a cutlass from the pile. At the same time, someone grabbed another and cut me across the knuckles. I hardly felt it. I rushed out of the door into the bright sunlight. Someone was close behind me, but I did not know who. Right in front of me, the doctor was chasing his attacker down the hill. Just as I saw him, the doctor knocked aside the attacker's guard and slashed him across the face. The attacker fell flat on his back.

“Round the house, lads! Round the house!” cried the captain; and even in the hurly-burly, I perceived a change in his voice.

“Around the house, boys! Around the house!” the captain shouted. Even amid the commotion, I noticed a change in his voice.

Mechanically, I obeyed, turned eastwards, and with my cutlass raised, ran round the corner of the house. Next moment I was face to face with Anderson. He roared aloud, and his hanger went up above his head, flashing in the sunlight. I had not time to be afraid, but as the blow still hung impending, leaped in a trice upon one side, and missing my foot in the soft sand, rolled headlong down the slope.

I obeyed without thinking, turned east, and ran around the corner of the house with my cutlass raised. The next moment, I was face to face with Anderson. He roared and raised his hanger above his head, its blade flashing in the sunlight. I had no time to be afraid. But before the blow fell, I leaped quickly to one side. I lost my footing in the soft sand and rolled headfirst down the slope.

When I had first sallied from the door, the other mutineers had been already swarming up the palisade to make an end of us. One man, in a red night-cap, with his cutlass in his mouth, had even got upon the top and thrown a leg across. Well, so short had been the interval that when I found my feet again all was in the same posture, the fellow with the red night-cap still half-way over, another still just showing his head above the top of the stockade. And yet, in this breath of time, the fight was over and the victory was ours.

When I first rushed out the door, the other mutineers were already swarming up the stockade to finish us off. One man in a red nightcap had even reached the top and thrown a leg over it. He had his cutlass in his mouth. So little time had passed that, when I got back on my feet, everything was in the same position. The man in the red nightcap was still halfway over. Another was still just showing his head above the stockade. And yet, in that brief moment, the fight was over and the victory was ours.

Gray, following close behind me, had cut down the big boatswain ere he had time to recover from his last blow. Another had been shot at a loophole in the very act of firing into the house and now lay in agony, the pistol still smoking in his hand. A third, as I had seen, the doctor had disposed of at a blow. Of the four who had scaled the palisade, one only remained unaccounted for, and he, having left his cutlass on the field, was now clambering out again with the fear of death upon him.

Gray, close behind me, had struck down the big boatswain before he could recover from his last blow. Another man had been shot at a loophole just as he was firing into the house. He now lay in agony, the pistol still smoking in his hand. As I had seen, the doctor had struck down a third man with a single blow. Of the four who had climbed over the palisade, only one remained unaccounted for. He had left his cutlass on the ground and was now scrambling back over the palisade, terrified of death.

“Fire—fire from the house!” cried the doctor. “And you, lads, back into cover.”

“Fire from the house!” shouted the doctor. “And you, boys, get back into cover.”

But his words were unheeded, no shot was fired, and the last boarder made good his escape and disappeared with the rest into the wood. In three seconds nothing remained of the attacking party but the five who had fallen, four on the inside and one on the outside of the palisade.

But no one heeded his words, and no shot was fired. The last attacker escaped and disappeared into the woods with the rest. Within three seconds, only five of the attackers remained, all fallen. Four lay inside the palisade and one lay outside it.

The doctor and Gray and I ran full speed for shelter. The survivors would soon be back where they had left their muskets, and at any moment the fire might recommence.

The doctor, Gray, and I ran as fast as we could toward shelter. The survivors would soon reach the place where they had left their muskets, and they might open fire again at any moment.

The house was by this time somewhat cleared of smoke, and we saw at a glance the price we had paid for victory. Hunter lay beside his loophole, stunned; Joyce by his, shot through the head, never to move again; while right in the centre, the squire was supporting the captain, one as pale as the other.

By now, some of the smoke had cleared from the house. We could see at a glance what victory had cost us. Hunter lay stunned beside his loophole. Joyce lay beside his, shot through the head, never to move again. In the very center, the squire was supporting the captain. Both were equally pale.

“The captain’s wounded,” said Mr. Trelawney.

“The captain’s wounded,” said Mr. Trelawney.

“Have they run?” asked Mr. Smollett.

“Have they run?” asked Mr. Smollett.

“All that could, you may be bound,” returned the doctor; “but there’s five of them will never run again.”

“All who could, you can be sure,” replied the doctor. “But five of them will never run again.”

“Five!” cried the captain. “Come, that’s better. Five against three leaves us four to nine. That’s better odds than we had at starting. We were seven to nineteen then, or thought we were, and that’s as bad to bear.” *

“Five!” cried the captain. “Well, that’s better. Five against three leaves us four against nine. Those are better odds than we had at the start. We were seven against nineteen then, or so we thought, and those odds were just as hard to bear.” *

*The mutineers were soon only eight in number, for the man shot by Mr. Trelawney on board the schooner died that same evening of his wound. But this was, of course, not known till after by the faithful party.

*The mutineers soon numbered only eight. The man Mr. Trelawney had shot on board the schooner died of his wound that same evening. But, of course, the loyal party did not learn of his death until later.