The Hispaniola lay out in the harbor. On deck we met the mate, Mr. Arrow, a brown old sailor with rings in his ears. He and the squire were very friendly, but I soon saw that things were different between the squire and the captain.
The captain was a sharp-looking man who seemed angry with everything on board, and we soon learned why. We had hardly gone down into the cabin when he came in and shut the door behind him.
“Well, Captain Smollett,” said the squire, “all well, I hope?”
“Well, sir,” said the captain, “I had better speak plainly, even if it offends you. I don’t like this voyage; I don’t like the men; and I don’t like my officer. That’s short and sweet.”
The squire went red with anger, but Dr. Livesey spoke first. “Captain, you have said too much or too little. Why don’t you like this voyage?”
“I was hired to sail this ship wherever that gentleman told me,” said the captain. “But now I find that every sailor on board knows more than I do. I learn from my own men that we are going for treasure. I don’t like treasure voyages, and I like them least when the secret is known to everybody. I don’t like the men either. I should have chosen my own. And Mr. Arrow is a good seaman, but he is too friendly with the men to be a good officer.”
“Well, captain, what do you want?” asked the doctor.
“They are putting the powder and the guns at the front of the ship. You have a good place under this cabin. Put them there. And you are bringing four of your own people. Let them sleep here, beside the cabin. One more thing. I have heard that you have a map of an island, with crosses to show where the treasure is, and that the island lies—” And he named its exact position.
“I never told that to anyone!” cried the squire.
“I don’t know who has this map,” said the captain, “but it must be kept secret, even from me and Mr. Arrow. Otherwise, let me leave the ship.”
“I see,” said the doctor. “In other words, you are afraid of a mutiny.”
“Sir, I did not say that,” said the captain. “But I am responsible for the ship and for every man on her. Things don’t seem quite right to me, and I ask you to be careful.”
“I will do as you ask,” said the squire, “but I think less of you for it.”
“As you please, sir,” said the captain. “You’ll find I do my duty.” And he left.
“Trelawney,” said the doctor, “I think you have brought two honest men on board: that man and John Silver.”
“Silver, if you like,” cried the squire. “But that captain is not a gentleman, and not a true Englishman either!”
“Well,” said the doctor, “we shall see.”
On deck the men were already moving the powder and the guns. Now Redruth and I were to sleep at the back of the ship, near the gentlemen, with Hunter and Joyce.
Soon Long John came on board with the last men. He climbed up the side like a monkey and cried, “Hello, mates! What’s this?”
“We’re moving the powder, John,” said one of the men.
“Why, if we do that,” cried Long John, “we’ll miss the morning tide!”
“My orders!” said the captain shortly. “You may go below, my man. The men will want their supper.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” said the cook, and he touched his forehead and went off to his kitchen.
“That’s a good man, captain,” said the doctor.
“Very likely, sir,” said Captain Smollett. Then he saw me looking at the cannon. “Here, you, ship’s boy, get away from that! Go to the cook and help him.”
As I hurried off, I heard him say loudly to the doctor, “I’ll have no favorites on my ship.”
I agreed with the squire completely, and I hated the captain.