The First Blow

I was so pleased at having given the slip to Long John that I began to enjoy myself and look around me with some interest on the strange land that I was in.

I was so pleased to have slipped away from Long John that I began to enjoy myself. I looked around the strange land I was in with some interest.

I had crossed a marshy tract full of willows, bulrushes, and odd, outlandish, swampy trees; and I had now come out upon the skirts of an open piece of undulating, sandy country, about a mile long, dotted with a few pines and a great number of contorted trees, not unlike the oak in growth, but pale in the foliage, like willows. On the far side of the open stood one of the hills, with two quaint, craggy peaks shining vividly in the sun.

I had crossed a marshy stretch full of willows, bulrushes, and strange, exotic swamp trees. I had now reached the edge of an open stretch of rolling, sandy land, about a mile long. A few pines and many twisted trees dotted the landscape. The twisted trees grew much like oaks, but their leaves were pale, like willow leaves. On the far side of the open land stood a hill. Its two oddly shaped, rocky peaks shone brightly in the sun.

I now felt for the first time the joy of exploration. The isle was uninhabited; my shipmates I had left behind, and nothing lived in front of me but dumb brutes and fowls. I turned hither and thither among the trees. Here and there were flowering plants, unknown to me; here and there I saw snakes, and one raised his head from a ledge of rock and hissed at me with a noise not unlike the spinning of a top. Little did I suppose that he was a deadly enemy and that the noise was the famous rattle.

For the first time, I felt the joy of exploring. The island was uninhabited. I had left my shipmates behind, and nothing lived ahead of me but animals and birds. I wandered this way and that among the trees. Here and there, I saw flowering plants I did not recognize. I also saw snakes. One raised its head from a rocky ledge and hissed at me. The sound was much like a spinning top. I had no idea that the snake was a deadly enemy or that the sound was its famous rattle.

Then I came to a long thicket of these oaklike trees—live, or evergreen, oaks, I heard afterwards they should be called—which grew low along the sand like brambles, the boughs curiously twisted, the foliage compact, like thatch. The thicket stretched down from the top of one of the sandy knolls, spreading and growing taller as it went, until it reached the margin of the broad, reedy fen, through which the nearest of the little rivers soaked its way into the anchorage. The marsh was steaming in the strong sun, and the outline of the Spy-glass trembled through the haze.

Then I came to a long thicket of oaklike trees. I later learned that they were called live oaks, or evergreen oaks. They grew low along the sand like brambles, with oddly twisted branches and dense foliage like thatch. The thicket stretched down from the top of a sandy knoll, spreading and growing taller as it went. It reached the edge of a broad, reedy marsh. The nearest of the little rivers seeped through the marsh into the anchorage. The marsh steamed in the strong sun, and the outline of the Spy-glass shimmered through the haze.

All at once there began to go a sort of bustle among the bulrushes; a wild duck flew up with a quack, another followed, and soon over the whole surface of the marsh a great cloud of birds hung screaming and circling in the air. I judged at once that some of my shipmates must be drawing near along the borders of the fen. Nor was I deceived, for soon I heard the very distant and low tones of a human voice, which, as I continued to give ear, grew steadily louder and nearer.

Suddenly, there was a rustling among the bulrushes. A wild duck flew up with a quack, then another followed. Soon a great cloud of birds filled the air over the marsh, screaming and circling. I knew at once that some of my shipmates must be approaching along the edge of the marsh. I was right. Soon I heard the faint, distant sound of a human voice. As I listened, the voice grew steadily louder and closer.

This put me in a great fear, and I crawled under cover of the nearest live-oak and squatted there, hearkening, as silent as a mouse.

This frightened me badly, so I crawled under the nearest live oak for cover. I crouched there, listening, as silent as a mouse.

Another voice answered, and then the first voice, which I now recognized to be Silver’s, once more took up the story and ran on for a long while in a stream, only now and again interrupted by the other. By the sound they must have been talking earnestly, and almost fiercely; but no distinct word came to my hearing.

Another voice answered. Then the first voice, which I now recognized as Silver’s, went on with the story. He talked for a long time, interrupted only now and then by the other voice. From their tone, they must have been talking earnestly and almost fiercely. But I could not make out a single word.

At last the speakers seemed to have paused and perhaps to have sat down, for not only did they cease to draw any nearer, but the birds themselves began to grow more quiet and to settle again to their places in the swamp.

At last, the speakers seemed to stop, and perhaps they sat down. They were no longer coming closer, and the birds began to quiet down and settle back in their places in the swamp.

And now I began to feel that I was neglecting my business, that since I had been so foolhardy as to come ashore with these desperadoes, the least I could do was to overhear them at their councils, and that my plain and obvious duty was to draw as close as I could manage, under the favourable ambush of the crouching trees.

Now I began to feel that I was neglecting my duty. I had been foolish enough to come ashore with these dangerous men. The least I could do was listen in on their discussions. My clear duty was to get as close as I could, using the low-growing trees as cover.

I could tell the direction of the speakers pretty exactly, not only by the sound of their voices but by the behaviour of the few birds that still hung in alarm above the heads of the intruders.

I could tell pretty exactly which direction the speakers were in, not only from their voices but also from the birds. A few birds still hovered in alarm above the intruders’ heads.

Crawling on all fours, I made steadily but slowly towards them, till at last, raising my head to an aperture among the leaves, I could see clear down into a little green dell beside the marsh, and closely set about with trees, where Long John Silver and another of the crew stood face to face in conversation.

I crawled toward them on all fours, moving steadily but slowly. At last, I raised my head to a gap in the leaves. I could see clearly down into a small green hollow beside the marsh, surrounded by trees. Long John Silver and another crew member stood there, talking face to face.

The sun beat full upon them. Silver had thrown his hat beside him on the ground, and his great, smooth, blond face, all shining with heat, was lifted to the other man’s in a kind of appeal.

The sun beat down on them. Silver had thrown his hat on the ground beside him. He lifted his large, smooth, blond face toward the other man as if appealing to him. His face shone with heat.

“Mate,” he was saying, “it’s because I thinks gold dust of you—gold dust, and you may lay to that! If I hadn’t took to you like pitch, do you think I’d have been here a-warning of you? All’s up—you can’t make nor mend; it’s to save your neck that I’m a-speaking, and if one of the wild uns knew it, where’d I be, Tom—now, tell me, where’d I be?”

“Mate,” he was saying, “it’s because I think the world of you. You can count on that! If I hadn’t taken such a strong liking to you, do you think I’d be here warning you? It’s all over. There’s nothing you can do about it. I’m speaking to save your neck. And if one of the wild ones knew I was warning you, where would I be, Tom? Now, tell me, where would I be?”

“Silver,” said the other man—and I observed he was not only red in the face, but spoke as hoarse as a crow, and his voice shook too, like a taut rope—“Silver,” says he, “you’re old, and you’re honest, or has the name for it; and you’ve money too, which lots of poor sailors hasn’t; and you’re brave, or I’m mistook. And will you tell me you’ll let yourself be led away with that kind of a mess of swabs? Not you! As sure as God sees me, I’d sooner lose my hand. If I turn agin my dooty—”

“Silver,” said the other man. I noticed that his face was red and that he sounded as hoarse as a crow. His voice shook too, like a taut rope. “Silver,” he said, “you’re old, and you’re honest, or at least you have a reputation for it. You have money too, which a lot of poor sailors don’t. And you’re brave, or I’m mistaken. Are you telling me you’ll let yourself be led astray by that bunch of scoundrels? Not you! As sure as God sees me, I’d rather lose my hand. If I turn against my duty...”

And then all of a sudden he was interrupted by a noise. I had found one of the honest hands—well, here, at that same moment, came news of another. Far away out in the marsh there arose, all of a sudden, a sound like the cry of anger, then another on the back of it; and then one horrid, long-drawn scream. The rocks of the Spy-glass re-echoed it a score of times; the whole troop of marsh-birds rose again, darkening heaven, with a simultaneous whirr; and long after that death yell was still ringing in my brain, silence had re-established its empire, and only the rustle of the redescending birds and the boom of the distant surges disturbed the languor of the afternoon.

Then, all of a sudden, a noise interrupted him. I had found one of the honest sailors. Well, at that same moment, news came of another. Far out in the marsh, a sound suddenly rose like a cry of anger, followed by another. Then came one horrible, drawn-out scream. The rocks of the Spy-glass echoed it twenty times. All the marsh birds rose again, darkening the sky with the whir of their wings. Long afterward, the death scream was still ringing in my brain. Silence had returned, and only the rustle of the birds settling again and the boom of distant waves disturbed the stillness of the afternoon.

Tom had leaped at the sound, like a horse at the spur, but Silver had not winked an eye. He stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch, watching his companion like a snake about to spring.

Tom had jumped at the sound, like a horse jolted by a spur, but Silver had not even blinked. He stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch. He watched his companion like a snake about to strike.

“John!” said the sailor, stretching out his hand.

“John!” said the sailor, reaching out his hand.

“Hands off!” cried Silver, leaping back a yard, as it seemed to me, with the speed and security of a trained gymnast.

“Hands off!” cried Silver, jumping back about a yard. To me, he seemed as quick and sure-footed as a trained gymnast.

“Hands off, if you like, John Silver,” said the other. “It’s a black conscience that can make you feared of me. But in heaven’s name, tell me, what was that?”

“Keep your hands off, if you like, John Silver,” said the other. “You must have a guilty conscience to be afraid of me. But for heaven’s sake, tell me, what was that?”

“That?” returned Silver, smiling away, but warier than ever, his eye a mere pin-point in his big face, but gleaming like a crumb of glass. “That? Oh, I reckon that’ll be Alan.”

“That?” replied Silver, still smiling but more cautious than ever. His eye was a mere pinpoint in his big face, but it gleamed like a tiny piece of glass. “That? Oh, I think that’ll be Alan.”

And at this point Tom flashed out like a hero.

And at that moment, Tom suddenly acted like a hero.

“Alan!” he cried. “Then rest his soul for a true seaman! And as for you, John Silver, long you’ve been a mate of mine, but you’re mate of mine no more. If I die like a dog, I’ll die in my dooty. You’ve killed Alan, have you? Kill me too, if you can. But I defies you.”

“Alan!” he cried. “Then may his soul rest in peace, for he was a true sailor! And as for you, John Silver, you’ve been my mate for a long time. But you’re my mate no longer. If I die like a dog, I’ll die doing my duty. You’ve killed Alan, have you? Kill me too, if you can. But I defy you.”

And with that, this brave fellow turned his back directly on the cook and set off walking for the beach. But he was not destined to go far. With a cry John seized the branch of a tree, whipped the crutch out of his armpit, and sent that uncouth missile hurtling through the air. It struck poor Tom, point foremost, and with stunning violence, right between the shoulders in the middle of his back. His hands flew up, he gave a sort of gasp, and fell.

With that, the brave man turned his back on the cook and headed straight for the beach. But he was not destined to get far. With a cry, John grabbed a tree branch and pulled the crutch from under his arm. He sent the awkward weapon hurtling through the air. Its point struck poor Tom in the middle of his back, right between the shoulders, with stunning force. His hands flew up, he gave a sort of gasp, and fell.

Whether he were injured much or little, none could ever tell. Like enough, to judge from the sound, his back was broken on the spot. But he had no time given him to recover. Silver, agile as a monkey even without leg or crutch, was on the top of him next moment and had twice buried his knife up to the hilt in that defenceless body. From my place of ambush, I could hear him pant aloud as he struck the blows.

No one could ever tell how badly he was hurt. Judging by the sound, his back was probably broken on the spot. But he was given no time to recover. Silver, as agile as a monkey even without his leg or crutch, was on top of him the next moment. He plunged his knife twice to the hilt into the helpless man’s body. From my hiding place, I could hear Silver panting aloud as he struck.

I do not know what it rightly is to faint, but I do know that for the next little while the whole world swam away from before me in a whirling mist; Silver and the birds, and the tall Spy-glass hilltop, going round and round and topsy-turvy before my eyes, and all manner of bells ringing and distant voices shouting in my ear.

I don’t know exactly what it feels like to faint, but I know what happened over the next little while. The whole world swam away before me in a whirling mist. Silver, the birds, and the tall hilltop of Spy-glass spun round and round and turned upside down before my eyes. All kinds of bells rang, and distant voices shouted in my ears.

When I came again to myself the monster had pulled himself together, his crutch under his arm, his hat upon his head. Just before him Tom lay motionless upon the sward; but the murderer minded him not a whit, cleansing his blood-stained knife the while upon a wisp of grass. Everything else was unchanged, the sun still shining mercilessly on the steaming marsh and the tall pinnacle of the mountain, and I could scarce persuade myself that murder had been actually done and a human life cruelly cut short a moment since before my eyes.

When I came to again, the monster had pulled himself together. His crutch was under his arm, and his hat was on his head. Tom lay motionless on the grass just in front of him. But the murderer paid him no attention, wiping his bloodstained knife on a handful of grass. Everything else was unchanged. The sun still shone mercilessly on the steaming marsh and the tall peak of the mountain. I could hardly believe that a murder had actually been committed. Only a moment before, a human life had been cruelly cut short before my eyes.

But now John put his hand into his pocket, brought out a whistle, and blew upon it several modulated blasts that rang far across the heated air. I could not tell, of course, the meaning of the signal, but it instantly awoke my fears. More men would be coming. I might be discovered. They had already slain two of the honest people; after Tom and Alan, might not I come next?

But now John reached into his pocket and took out a whistle. He blew several notes on it, and they rang out across the hot air. Of course, I could not tell what the signal meant, but it instantly made me afraid. More men would be coming. I might be discovered. They had already killed two of the honest people. After Tom and Alan, might I be next?

Instantly I began to extricate myself and crawl back again, with what speed and silence I could manage, to the more open portion of the wood. As I did so, I could hear hails coming and going between the old buccaneer and his comrades, and this sound of danger lent me wings. As soon as I was clear of the thicket, I ran as I never ran before, scarce minding the direction of my flight, so long as it led me from the murderers; and as I ran, fear grew and grew upon me until it turned into a kind of frenzy.

At once, I began to free myself and crawl back toward the more open part of the woods. I moved as quickly and quietly as I could. As I crawled, I heard the old pirate and his comrades calling to one another. That sound of danger made me move faster. As soon as I was clear of the thicket, I ran as I had never run before. I hardly cared which way I went, as long as it took me away from the murderers. As I ran, my fear kept growing until it became a kind of frenzy.

Indeed, could anyone be more entirely lost than I? When the gun fired, how should I dare to go down to the boats among those fiends, still smoking from their crime? Would not the first of them who saw me wring my neck like a snipe’s? Would not my absence itself be an evidence to them of my alarm, and therefore of my fatal knowledge? It was all over, I thought. Good-bye to the Hispaniola; good-bye to the squire, the doctor, and the captain! There was nothing left for me but death by starvation or death by the hands of the mutineers.

Could anyone be more completely lost than I was? When the gun fired, how could I dare go down to the boats among those fiends, still smoking from their crime? Wouldn’t the first one to see me wring my neck like a snipe’s? Wouldn’t my absence itself show them that I was alarmed, and therefore that I knew their deadly secret? I thought it was all over. Good-bye to the Hispaniola. Good-bye to the squire, the doctor, and the captain! All that was left for me was to starve or die at the hands of the mutineers.

All this while, as I say, I was still running, and without taking any notice, I had drawn near to the foot of the little hill with the two peaks and had got into a part of the island where the live-oaks grew more widely apart and seemed more like forest trees in their bearing and dimensions. Mingled with these were a few scattered pines, some fifty, some nearer seventy, feet high. The air too smelt more freshly than down beside the marsh.

All this while, as I said, I was still running. Without noticing, I had drawn near the foot of the little hill with two peaks. I had reached a part of the island where the live oaks grew farther apart. In their shape and size, they looked more like forest trees. A few scattered pines grew among them, some fifty feet high and some closer to seventy. The air smelled fresher here than down by the marsh.

And here a fresh alarm brought me to a standstill with a thumping heart.

Then another fright made me stop in my tracks, my heart pounding.