My name is Jim Hawkins, and I want to tell you my story. I lived with my mother at the Admiral Benbow inn near the sea. One day, an old sailor arrived at our inn. He had a scar on his face and called himself Captain Billy Bones. The captain paid me to watch for a one-legged man. He seemed afraid of this mysterious person. One night, the captain died suddenly. In his sea chest, I found an old map. The map showed the location of buried treasure on a distant island. I showed the map to Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney. They decided to buy a ship and search for the treasure. They invited me to join them on the voyage. I was so excited that I could barely sleep. We found a ship called the Hispaniola. Squire Trelawney hired a crew of sailors to help us. The ship's cook was a man called Long John Silver. He had only one leg and walked with a wooden crutch. Silver was friendly and told many exciting stories about the sea. I liked him very much and thought he was a good man. Finally, the day came to set sail. The Hispaniola left the harbor with the wind in her sails. I watched the land disappear behind us. One night, I was hiding in an apple barrel on the deck. I heard Silver talking to some of the sailors. They were planning to steal the treasure and kill us all. Silver was actually a pirate and the leader of the mutiny. My heart was beating so fast that I thought they would hear it. When it was safe, I ran to tell the captain. Captain Smollett, Dr. Livesey, and the squire were shocked by the news. We made a plan to defend ourselves against the pirates. After many days at sea, we finally saw the island. It was covered with green trees and surrounded by blue water. The pirates wanted to go ashore immediately. Silver let some of them leave the ship in a small boat. I decided to follow them and see what they would do. I jumped into another boat and rowed to the shore alone. On the island, I hid behind some rocks and watched the pirates. I saw Silver kill a sailor who refused to join the mutiny. I ran into the forest as fast as I could. There I met a strange man named Ben Gunn. He had been left alone on the island three years ago. Ben knew where the treasure was hidden. He had already found it and moved it to a cave. Ben promised to help us if we would take him back to England. Meanwhile, the captain and the others had left the ship. They found an old fort on the island and made it their base. I joined them at the fort the next morning. The pirates attacked the fort, but we fought them off. Several people on both sides were wounded in the battle. That night, I made a dangerous decision. I went back to the ship alone to cut the anchor rope. Without an anchor, the ship would drift away from the pirates. I climbed aboard and found a pirate named Israel Hands. He was badly wounded and could barely move. We made a deal to sail the ship together. But he tried to kill me as soon as we reached a small cove. I climbed up the mast to escape his knife. In the end, I had to defend myself. I was very frightened but also proud that I had saved the ship. I hid the ship near the shore and went back to the fort. But when I arrived, the pirates were inside. Silver captured me and said his men wanted to kill me. However, Silver protected me because he knew I could be useful. The next day, we all went to find the treasure. Silver took me with him as a hostage. We followed the map through the forest and up a hill. When we arrived at the spot, there was only an empty hole. The treasure was gone. The pirates were furious and turned against Silver. At that moment, shots rang out from the trees. Dr. Livesey, Ben Gunn, and the captain came to rescue us. The pirates ran away into the forest. Ben took us to his cave where he had hidden the treasure. The sight of so much gold took my breath away. There were gold coins, bars, and precious jewels everywhere. We spent three days loading the treasure onto the ship. Silver helped us carry the heavy chests. We left the remaining pirates on the island with some supplies. The Hispaniola set sail for home with the treasure in her hold. During the voyage, Silver escaped when we stopped at a port. He took a bag of gold coins with him and disappeared. None of us were sorry to see him go. We finally arrived back in England with our treasure. The treasure was divided equally among all of us. Dr. Livesey continued his practice as a doctor. Ben Gunn spent all his money in just three weeks. My mother used our share to improve the inn. Sometimes at night, I still dream about Treasure Island. I hear the waves crashing on the shore and the parrots screaming in the trees. I would never want to return to that terrible place. But I am grateful for the adventure that changed my life forever.
English Story (B1)Treasure Island
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Young Jim Hawkins discovers a treasure map in a dead sailor's chest and embarks on a dangerous voyage aboard the Hispaniola. He uncovers a mutiny plot led by the charming but treacherous Long John Silver. After battles, escapes, and the discovery of the hidden treasure, Jim returns home a changed boy, forever marked by his adventure on Treasure Island.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
How did Jim discover that Long John Silver was a pirate?
2
What happened to the treasure when the pirates arrived at the marked spot on the map?
3
What brave action did Jim take to stop the pirates from using the ship?
4
What happened to Long John Silver at the end of the story?
Vocabulary
50 words from this story
