Jim Hawkins stood on the side of the steep hill. Some stones fell down from the rocks. Jim looked up and saw a shape. The shape jumped behind a pine tree. Jim did not know what it was. It looked dark and hairy. Jim was very afraid.
Jim felt trapped. Behind him were the murderers. In front of him was this strange creature. Jim decided to go back toward the boats. But the creature moved fast and blocked his way. It ran on two legs like a man. But the man stayed low to the ground like an animal.
Jim remembered his pistol (a small gun). He felt brave again because he had a weapon. He walked toward the man. The man came out from behind a tree. Then the man fell on his knees. He held his hands up because he wanted help.
"Who are you?" Jim Hawkins asked. "Ben Gunn," the man answered. His voice was very dry and strange. "I am poor Ben Gunn. I did not speak to another person for three years."
Ben Gunn was a white man. His skin was very dark from the sun. His lips were black and his eyes were bright. He wore very old and dirty clothes. His clothes were made of old ship sails and pieces of cloth. They were held together with buttons and sticks.
"Three years!" Jim Hawkins cried. "Did your ship sink?" "No," Ben Gunn said. "I was marooned (left alone on an island by other sailors as a punishment)." Ben Gunn lived on goats and berries. But he really wanted cheese. He dreamed about cheese every night.
Ben Gunn looked at Jim's clothes and boots. He was very happy to see another person. Then Ben Gunn became serious. "Why are you here, Jim?" he asked. Jim Hawkins told Ben Gunn the whole story about the ship.
Ben Gunn was afraid of the ship. He asked if the ship belonged to Captain Flint. Jim Hawkins said, "Captain Flint is dead. But some of his men are on the ship." Ben Gunn was very scared. He asked about a man with one leg.
"Do you mean Long John Silver?" Jim Hawkins asked. "Yes, Silver!" Ben Gunn said. Jim Hawkins told Ben Gunn that Long John Silver was the cook and the leader. Ben Gunn was worried. He told Jim Hawkins to trust him.
Ben Gunn said, "I am rich, Jim." Jim Hawkins thought the man was crazy. But Ben Gunn was serious. Ben Gunn said he would help Jim. He asked if the Squire was a kind man. Jim Hawkins said yes. Ben Gunn wanted money and a way home.
Ben Gunn told a story about Captain Flint. Many years ago, Ben Gunn was on Flint's ship. Flint buried the treasure on this island. Flint went on shore with six men. Flint killed all six men so they could not tell the secret.
Three years ago, Ben Gunn was on another ship. He told the sailors about the treasure. They looked for twelve days but found nothing. The sailors were angry. They left Ben Gunn on the island with a shovel and a gun.
Ben Gunn told Jim Hawkins to tell the Squire a secret message. He said, "Tell the Squire that Ben Gunn is a good man. He trusts a gentleman more than a pirate." Jim Hawkins did not understand the message. He wanted to go back to the ship.
Ben Gunn said he had a boat under a white rock. Suddenly, they heard a very loud noise. It was a cannon (a very large gun on a ship). The echoes moved across the island. "They began to fight!" Jim Hawkins cried.
Jim Hawkins began to run toward the shore. Ben Gunn ran next to him. Ben Gunn was very fast in his goatskin clothes. Ben Gunn told Jim to stay under the trees. Jim Hawkins was not afraid of Ben Gunn now.
They heard the sound of more guns. Then Jim Hawkins saw something in the woods. He saw the British flag flying above the trees. Jim Hawkins ran toward the flag.