The Hispaniola was anchored some distance away, so we had to pass beneath the bowsprits and around the sterns of many other ships.
Their ropes sometimes scraped beneath our boat, and sometimes hung above our heads as we moved through the crowded harbor.
At last, we reached the schooner and climbed aboard.
The first person to greet us was the mate, Mr. Arrow.
He was an old, weather-beaten sailor with earrings in his ears and a strange squint in his eyes.
The squire and Mr. Arrow seemed very close and friendly with each other.
But I quickly noticed that things were not so friendly between the squire and the captain.
Captain Smollett was a sharp-looking man, but he appeared unhappy with almost everything on the ship.
We soon discovered the reason.
We had barely entered the cabin when a sailor followed us down.
“Captain Smollett wishes to speak with you, sir,” the sailor said.
“I am always ready to hear the captain,” said the squire. “Let him come in.”
Captain Smollett was already right behind the sailor.
He entered the cabin and closed the door.
“Well, Captain Smollett,” said the squire, “what do you have to say? I hope everything is going well. Is the ship ready for the voyage?”
“Sir,” said the captain, “I believe it is better to speak honestly, even if my words are unpleasant.”
“I do not like this voyage.”
“I do not like the crew.”
“And I do not like my officer.”
“That is the whole truth.”
“Perhaps you do not like the ship either?” asked the squire angrily.
“I cannot say that yet,” replied Captain Smollett. “I have not tested her at sea. She seems like a fine vessel, but that is all I can say.”
“Then perhaps you do not like your employer either?” the squire asked.
Before things became worse, Dr. Livesey interrupted.
“Wait a moment,” he said.
“There is no point asking questions that will only create anger.”
“Captain Smollett has either said too much or too little, and I want to understand what he means.”
“You say you do not like this voyage. Why?”
“I was hired under sealed orders,” said the captain.
“I was told only to sail this ship wherever that gentleman ordered me to go.”
“That part was perfectly clear.”
“But now I discover that every sailor before the mast knows more about this voyage than I do.”
“I do not think that is fair. Do you?”
“No,” said Dr. Livesey. “I agree with you.”
“Next,” continued the captain, “I discover that we are searching for treasure.”
“Please remember, gentlemen, I heard this from others, not from you.”
“Treasure voyages are dangerous business.”
“I dislike them at any time, but I dislike them even more when everything is supposed to be secret.”
“And yet, begging your pardon, Mr. Trelawney, the secret has already been told to the parrot.”
“Silver’s parrot?” asked the squire.
“It is only a saying,” said the captain.
“I mean that the secret has been spread around.”
“My belief is that neither of you gentlemen fully understand what you are getting into.”
“But I will tell you how I see it.”
“This voyage may become a matter of life and death.”
“And it may be a very close struggle.”
“That much is clear, and perhaps true,” said Dr. Livesey.
“We understand there are dangers, but we are not as foolish as you think.”
“Now tell us why you dislike the crew.”
“Are they not skilled sailors?”
“I simply do not like them,” answered Captain Smollett.
“And if I had been allowed to choose my own men, I would have done so.”
“Perhaps you should have,” said the doctor.
“My friend should probably have taken your advice.”
“But if there was any mistake, it was not intentional.”
“And what about Mr. Arrow?”
“Do you dislike him too?”
“I do,” said the captain.
“I believe he is a good sailor, but he is too friendly with the crew.”
“A mate should keep some distance from ordinary sailors.”
“He should not drink and socialize with them.”
“Do you mean he drinks with them?” cried the squire.
“No,” replied Captain Smollett.
“I mean he is too familiar with them.”
“Now, captain,” said Dr. Livesey, “tell us the important part.”
“What exactly do you want us to do?”
“Gentlemen,” said the captain, “are you determined to continue this voyage?”
“Absolutely,” answered the squire.
“Very well,” said Captain Smollett.
“Since you have listened patiently to my concerns, hear my advice.”
“First, the powder and weapons are being stored in the front hold.”
“Why not move them under the cabin, where they will be safer?”
“Second, you are bringing four of your own men.”
“I hear some of them will sleep near the front of the ship.”
“Why not place them here beside the cabin instead?”
“Anything else?” asked the squire.
“One more thing,” said the captain.
“There has already been too much talking.”
“Far too much,” agreed Dr. Livesey.
“I will tell you what I have heard,” continued Captain Smollett.
“I have heard that you possess a map of an island.”
“I have heard there are crosses on this map marking the location of treasure.”
“And I have heard the exact position of this island.”
He then spoke the latitude and longitude clearly.
“I never told that to anyone!” shouted the squire.
“The sailors know it, sir,” replied the captain.
“Livesey, it must have been you or Hawkins!” cried the squire.
“It does not matter who revealed it,” said the doctor.
I noticed that neither the doctor nor the captain paid much attention to the squire’s complaints.
Neither did I.
The squire often spoke too freely.
However, in this case, I believed he was telling the truth.
I did not think anyone had actually revealed the island’s location.
“Gentlemen,” said Captain Smollett, “I do not know who has the map.”
“But I insist that it must remain secret.”
“Even Mr. Arrow and I should not know.”
“Otherwise, I would ask to leave this ship.”
“I understand,” said the doctor.
“You want us to keep the matter hidden.”
“You want the rear part of the ship turned into a protected area.”
“You want my friend’s own men there, along with all the weapons and powder.”
“In other words, you fear a mutiny.”
“Sir,” replied Captain Smollett, “I do not wish to offend you, but I cannot accept words being put into my mouth.”
“No captain would willingly sail if he believed there was enough reason to accuse his crew.”
“As for Mr. Arrow, I believe he is honest.”
“Some of the sailors may also be honest.”
“Perhaps all of them are.”
“I do not know.”
“But I am responsible for this ship and every man aboard.”
“I see certain things happening that worry me.”
“I ask you either to follow my precautions or allow me to resign.”
“That is all.”
“Captain Smollett,” said the doctor with a smile, “have you ever heard the story of the mountain and the mouse?”
“Forgive me, but you remind me of that story.”
“When you came here, I believe you intended to say much more.”
“Doctor,” said the captain, “you are a clever man.”
“When I entered this cabin, I intended to ask for my dismissal.”
“I never expected Mr. Trelawney to hear any of this.”
“Neither did I,” shouted the squire.
“If Dr. Livesey had not been here, I would have sent you away immediately.”
“But I have heard you now.”
“I will follow your requests.”
“However, I think less of you because of this.”
“As you wish, sir,” said the captain.
“You will find that I always do my duty.”
With that, he left the cabin.
“Trelawney,” said Dr. Livesey, “strange as it may seem, I believe you have managed to bring two honest men onto this ship.”
“That man and John Silver.”
“Silver, perhaps,” said the squire.
“But that unbearable fellow Captain Smollett has behaved in a way that is completely unacceptable.”
“I consider him rude, unprofessional, and not at all like an English gentleman.”
“Well,” said the doctor, “we shall see.”
When we returned to the deck, the sailors had already started moving the weapons and powder.
They worked while singing their sea songs.
Captain Smollett and Mr. Arrow supervised the work.
The new arrangement pleased me.
The entire schooner had been reorganized.
Six sleeping places were created at the back of the ship from the former rear part of the main hold.
This area was connected to the kitchen and the sailors’ quarters only by a narrow passage on the left side.
Originally, these six berths were meant for Captain Smollett, Mr. Arrow, Hunter, Joyce, the doctor, and the squire.
Now Redruth and I were given two of them.
Captain Smollett and Mr. Arrow would sleep on deck in the enlarged companionway.
The space was still low, but there was enough room for two hammocks.
Even Mr. Arrow seemed pleased with the change.
Perhaps he also had doubts about the crew.
But that was only my guess, because soon we would have little chance to hear his opinion.
We were still busy moving the powder and changing the sleeping arrangements when the last few sailors arrived by boat.
Long John Silver came with them.
The cook climbed aboard quickly, moving as skillfully as a monkey.
When he saw what we were doing, he called out:
“Hello, mates! What’s happening here?”
“We’re moving the powder, Jack,” one sailor answered.
“Good heavens!” cried Long John.
“If we do that now, we’ll miss the morning tide!”
“My orders,” said the captain coldly.
“You may go below. The men will need supper.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” answered the cook.
He touched his forehead respectfully and quickly disappeared toward the kitchen.
“That is a good man, captain,” said Dr. Livesey.
“Perhaps,” replied Captain Smollett.
“Careful there, men. Move slowly.”
He turned to the sailors carrying the powder.
Then he suddenly noticed me examining the swivel gun in the middle of the ship, a long brass cannon.
“Hey, ship’s boy!” he shouted.
“Get away from there!”
“Go help the cook and find some work.”
As I hurried away, I heard him say loudly to Dr. Livesey:
“I will have no favorites on my ship.”
I must admit, I felt exactly the same as the squire.
I disliked Captain Smollett very much.