Council of War

Therewasagreatrushoffeetacrossthedeck.Icouldhearpeopletumblingupfromthecabinandtheforecastle,andslippinginaninstantoutsidemybarrel,Idivedbehindthefore-sail,madeadoubletowardsthestern,andcameoutupontheopendeckintimetojoinHunterandDr.Liveseyintherushfortheweatherbow.

Thereallhandswerealreadycongregated.Abeltoffoghadliftedalmostsimultaneouslywiththeappearanceofthemoon.Awaytothesouth-westofuswesawtwolowhills,aboutacoupleofmilesapart,andrisingbehindoneofthemathirdandhigherhill,whosepeakwasstillburiedinthefog.Allthreeseemedsharpandconicalinfigure.

SomuchIsaw,almostinadream,forIhadnotyetrecoveredfrommyhorridfearofaminuteortwobefore.AndthenIheardthevoiceofCaptainSmollettissuingorders.TheHispaniolawaslaidacoupleofpointsnearerthewindandnowsailedacoursethatwouldjustcleartheislandontheeast.

“Andnow,men,”saidthecaptain,whenallwassheetedhome,“hasanyoneofyoueverseenthatlandahead?”

“Ihave,sir,”saidSilver.“I’vewateredtherewithatraderIwascookin.”

“Theanchorageisonthesouth,behindanislet,Ifancy?”askedthecaptain.

“Yes,sir;SkeletonIslandtheycallsit.Itwereamainplaceforpiratesonce,andahandwehadonboardknowedalltheirnamesforit.Thathilltothenor’ardtheycallstheFore-mastHill;therearethreehillsinarowrunningsouth’ard—fore,main,andmizzen,sir.