After the battle, the doctor went to care for the wounded. Captain Smollett's wound was serious but not deadly. He would need to rest for many days. The afternoon was hot and quiet after the morning's violence. I sat in the shade, thinking about everything that had happened. Then a wild idea came into my head. I remembered Ben Gunn telling me about a small boat he had made. He had hidden it on the shore near a white rock. I decided to find this boat and use it. Without telling anyone, I slipped out of the stockade. I knew this was foolish and dangerous. But something pushed me forward anyway. I crept through the forest until I reached the shore. Finding the white rock was easy in the evening light. Hidden in a hollow beneath it was Ben Gunn's boat. It was a small, round thing made of goat skin and branches. It looked like a coracle, a type of boat used by ancient Britons. I waited until darkness fell completely. Then I carried the little boat to the water. My plan was to cut the Hispaniola's anchor rope. Without its anchor, the ship would drift away. This would cause great trouble for Silver and his men. Paddling the coracle was very difficult. It spun around and would not go straight. But slowly I made my way toward the Hispaniola. The ship lay at anchor, dark against the stars. I could hear voices aboard, arguing loudly. Two men were left to guard the ship, both drunk. I came alongside and grabbed the anchor rope. With my knife, I began to cut through the thick cable. It was hard work, and my arms grew tired. Finally, the last strand snapped. The ship began to drift with the current. I pushed away in my coracle, trying to escape. But the current was strong and unpredictable. My tiny boat was carried out toward the open sea. I paddled desperately but made little progress. Exhausted, I finally gave up and lay down in the boat. I fell asleep as the waves rocked the coracle. When I woke, the sun was rising. To my amazement, the Hispaniola was nearby. Both ships had drifted in the same direction overnight. The ship was spinning slowly with no one at the wheel. I saw two figures lying on the deck. One did not move at all; he was dead. The other was Israel Hands, Silver's trusted man. He was wounded and seemed barely conscious. A new idea formed in my mind. Perhaps I could capture the Hispaniola myself. With only one wounded man aboard, it might be possible. I paddled my coracle toward the drifting ship. The waves splashed against its wooden hull. After several attempts, I grabbed hold of a trailing rope. I climbed up the side and dropped onto the deck. Israel Hands looked up at me with surprise. 'You!' he gasped weakly. I drew my pistol and pointed it at him. 'This ship is mine now,' I declared. I walked to the mast and pulled down the pirate flag. In its place, I raised the British flag once more.
B1Chapter 8 / 12525 words60 sentences
Chapter 8: My Sea Adventure
Chapter 8 · 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 secretly leaves the stockade to find Ben Gunn's hidden boat. Using the small coracle, he paddles out to the Hispaniola and cuts the anchor rope. The ship drifts away, but Jim is carried out to sea. When morning comes, he finds the ship nearby with only two men aboard.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What was Jim's plan when he sneaked out of the stockade?
2
What kind of boat did Ben Gunn make?
3
What did Jim find when he woke up after drifting at sea?
4