Level 7
Copyright c 2009 by Little Fox Co., Ltd.
easterlyAll rights rerved.大叫
How I Began My Shore Adventure
arni
across the Hispaniola ’s deck from the rough waves,and as the rudder banged to and fro, the whole ship creaked and groaned like some kind of factory.Though I was a decent sailor when we were moving forward, being rolled about on deck like a bottle in the muggy heat made me asick. From t
he first look, I hated the very thought of Treasure Island.“We’ll have a mirable morning’s work,” Job told me. “We have to tow the ship with ropes for three miles to the haven behind Skeleton Island.”“I’ll help,” I volunteered.
英文对话
Job commanded my boat. Instead of keeping the
W
hen I came on deck the next morning, the island looked entirely different, a bit
学英语有什么用>odm是什么意思colorless and sad. The trees, which covered most of the surface, looked gray, with only streaks of yellow beach sand breaking up the dreariness. The three hills were oddly shaped spires of naked rock above the tall, dark pines and low trees. The Spyglass towered about four hundred feet above everything el, with sheer stone sides and a top that emed flat enough to be a statue’s pedestal.
There was no wind, so we were stopped in the ocean, about half a mile from the coast. Water rolled
希望英语mile from each shore—the main island on one side and Skeleton Island on the other. The stagnant smell of sodden leaves and rotting tree trunks hung over everything.
“I don’t know about treasure,” the doctor said to the squire and the captain as he sniffed the air, “but I’ll bet there’s fever here.”
“Coil the ropes,” the captain ordered as the men scrambled back on deck.
The men gave him hostile looks and angrily obeyed.
“Rentment is spreading to the honest men too,”
crew calm, he grumbled the loudest. “Well, this miry won’t last forever,” he said, then spat.I thought his behavior was a very bad sign. Up until now, the men had worked willingly, but once we sighted the island, they lost all discipline. While we towed the ship, Long John gave directions to the steersman, becau he knew the area well. “Move quickly through here with the tide,” he said. “The a bottom is deep enough here to let a ship pass through easily.”
We dropped anchor at the spot where someone had drawn an anchor on the chart, about a third of a
day,” the doctor said.
We met in the cabin together with Trelawney’s men—Redruth, Hunter, and Joyce—who now knew about the pirate’s plans.
Smollett told us, “If I give the men another order,the whole ship will revolt. We’ve only one man to rely on now.”
“Who?” the squire asked.
“Silver,” the captain said. “He’s as anxious as we are to keep this situation from exploding, becau the time isn’t right. Let’s allow the men an afternoon ashore, and if they all go, we’ll control the ship. If
the doctor obrved. “The entire crew is surly.” “Mutiny hangs over us like a thundercloud,” the squire whispered back.名著小说
forward是什么意思Long John, aware of the discontent, forced a smile onto his face and kept it there. He went about the ship tting a good example for the men,encouraging them to behave like real sailors. When the captain gave an order, Long John quickly got up with the cheeriest “Aye, aye, sir!” Later, when there was nothing el to do, he sang one song after another, as if to conceal the discontent of the men.“Silver’s nervousness is the worst omen of the
“The silly fellows must think they’ll trip over treasure as soon as they land,” the squire muttered.Then Smollett quickly went below, leaving Long John to arrange who would go ashore. If the captain had remained on deck, he could no longer have pretended not to understand the situation, becau it was plain that Long John was their real captain. At last, Long John decided six fellows would stay on board; he and the rest would leave the ship.Right then, a crazy notion, perhaps the one that saved us, came into my head. If six pirates were left,I knew our party could not take over the ship. But
none go, we’ll hold the cabin. If some go, you mark my words, sir, Silver will bring them aboard again as mild as lambs.”
Captain Smollett gave all the loyal men pistols,and then went on deck to address the crew. “My lads,” he said, “it’s hot, and we’re all tired.Some time ashore will hurt nobody, and since the boats are still in the water, take them and go ashore for the afternoon. I’ll fire a gun half an hour before sundown as a signal to return.”they
“Hooray!” they cheered, their bad mood vanishing.
