On The Island (1)

Book:  On the Islands.   By Robert Louis Stevenson.  Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.  New York. 2007

Part 1  STOWAWAY

Jim Hawkins was just a small boy, but he had an important job.  He was a cabin boy on a big ship.  The ship had sailed for many days.  Now it had reached treasure island.  Jim and his friends hoped to find the treasure that was buried there. 

The ship captain came on deck with Jim’s two friends.  There was Squire Trelawney, who owned the ship, and David Livesey, the ship’s doctor.  All three men looked worried.  Pirates had hidden on the ship.  They wanted to steal the treasure.

“The pirates want to take over the ship,” said the captain.

‘But their leather, Long John silver, has told them to wait.  He wants us to find the treasure first.”

“What will we do?” asked Jim.

“We have to get them off the ship,” said the captain.

“And I know how.”

He called to the crew.

“No more work! You have the afternoon off.  Go and explore Treasure Island.” The men cheered.

The pirates got ready to leave.  Jim watched them.  What would they do on the island? What trouble would they cause? Jim didn’t stop to think.  He stepped into a boat.  He did under a sail.  He would go to Treasure Island.  He would spy on the pirates and report back to the captain.  But one thing worried him.  Was he being very brave or very foolish?