My mother and I hid under a small bridge near the inn. From there, we could see the pirates break down the inn's door. We heard them searching through every room. 'Bill's dead!' one of them shouted. 'Search the chest! Find Flint's papers!' ordered the blind man. I clutched the oilcloth bundle tighter in my pocket. These must be the papers they wanted so badly. Suddenly, we heard the sound of horses approaching. 'Run! The customs officers are coming!' someone yelled. The pirates scattered into the darkness. The blind man was left alone on the road, screaming for help. The horses trampled him, and he was killed instantly. The customs officers helped my mother back to the ruined inn. The pirates had destroyed everything in their search. I decided to take the papers to Doctor Livesey. He would know what to do with them. I rode to the hall where the doctor was dining with Squire Trelawney. The squire was a tall, important man who owned most of the land nearby. I told them everything that had happened at the inn. They listened with great interest, especially about the papers. 'Let us see what Bill was so afraid of,' said the doctor. I gave him the oilcloth bundle. Inside, we found a small notebook and a sealed paper. The notebook contained a list of dates and money amounts. It recorded years of pirate raids and stolen treasure. 'This Bill was the first mate of the pirate Captain Flint!' exclaimed the squire. 'Flint was the most bloodthirsty pirate who ever sailed the seas.' The doctor carefully opened the sealed paper. It was a map of an island, with every detail carefully marked. There were hills, a harbor, and three crosses drawn in red ink. One large cross had written beside it: 'Bulk of treasure here.' 'Flint's treasure!' the squire shouted with excitement. 'Seven hundred thousand pounds buried on this island!' The doctor studied the map with careful eyes. 'We must keep this secret,' he warned. 'If the pirates learn we have the map, our lives are in danger.' But the squire was too excited to stay quiet. 'I shall buy a ship and hire a crew!' he declared. 'Doctor, you shall be the ship's surgeon.' 'And young Jim here shall be our cabin boy.' My heart leaped at these words. I had always dreamed of adventure on the high seas. 'In three weeks, we shall be sailing for Treasure Island!' said the squire. The doctor agreed to join the expedition. But he made the squire promise to keep everything secret. 'Not a word to anyone about the treasure,' he insisted. The squire promised, but I could see his eyes shining. He was not good at keeping secrets. The following weeks were filled with preparations. The squire traveled to Bristol to buy a ship. I stayed home and dreamed of gold and adventure. One day, a letter arrived from the squire. He had purchased a fine ship called the Hispaniola. He had also hired a crew and a ship's cook named Long John Silver. 'Silver is an amazing man,' the squire wrote. 'He lost his leg serving his country and is as brave as a lion.' When I read about the one-legged man, I felt a chill. Could this be the man the captain had feared? But the squire trusted him completely. Soon it was time to travel to Bristol and begin our great adventure.
B1Chapter 3 / 12573 words60 sentences
Chapter 3: The Treasure Map
Chapter 3 · Treasure Island · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
Jim takes the mysterious papers to Doctor Livesey and Squire Trelawney. They discover a treasure map belonging to the infamous Captain Flint. The excited squire decides to organize an expedition to find the buried treasure and hires a one-legged cook named Long John Silver.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What did Jim find inside the oilcloth bundle?
2
Who was Captain Flint according to the squire?
3
Why was Doctor Livesey worried about the squire?
4