1. after a while
Definition: after some time has passed
Example: We talked for a while , and after a while we went home.
2. on purpose
Definition: intentionally; not by accident
Example: John broke his mobile phone on purpose so his parents would buy him a new one.
3. put out (a fire)
Definition: to stop a fire from burning
Example: There was a fire in our kitchen. Fortunately, the fire brigade arrived soon put out the fire quickly.
4. hurry up
Definition: to do something more quickly
Example: Hurry up , or we will miss the bus.
5. help yourself
Definition: take something for yourself if you want it
Example: There are some biscuits on the table. Help yourself to some.
6. lend a hand
Definition: to help someone with something
Example: Can you lend me a hand with these boxes?
7. knock something/somebody down
Definition: (a building) to destroy a building; (a person) to hit someone so they fall, often with a vehicle
Example: They knocked down the old factory and built a park there.
As soon as Silver disappeared, the captain turned around and looked inside the house. He found that none of us were watching for the enemy except Gray, who was in position. It was the first time we had ever seen the captain angrily lose control .
“Back to your positions!” he shouted.
We all moved back to our places. The captain looked at Gray. “Gray,” he said, “your behaviour today was brilliant . You did your duty like a real sailor. Mr. Trelawney, I am surprised at you, sir. Doctor, I thought you were a professional soldier in the past! If you fought like this before, you should have stayed in bed.”
Everyone had a red face. We went back to our positions at the fort wall.
After a while , the captain spoke again.
“Men,” he said, “I have given Silver a clear warning . I did it on purpose . Before the hour is over, the enemy will attack us. There are more of them, obviously , but we are safe inside this building. I have no doubt that we can beat them if you choose to fight bravely .”
Then he walked round the fort to check that everything was prepared.
On each side of the house, there were holes to shoot through. There were twenty guns for the seven of us. The firewood was arranged into four piles, like tables. On each table, there was some ammunition* and four loaded guns ready for the defenders. In the centre, the large knives lay in a row.
“ Put out the fire,” said the captain. “We mustn't have smoke in our eyes.”
“Hawkins hasn’t had his breakfast,” the captain continued. “Hawkins, help yourself to food and go back to your position to eat it. Hurry up , my lad; you will need your energy soon. Hunter, give out a drink to everybody.”
While this was going on , the captain completed his plan for the defence.
“Doctor, you will defend the door,” he said. “Hunter, take the east side. Joyce, stand by the west. Mr. Trelawney, you and Gray will take the north side. That is where the danger is. If they manage to get close and shoot inside the fort, we’ll have serious problems. Hawkins, you and I are not very good at shooting; we will load the guns and lend a hand .”
Soon, the sun rose above the trees. It was extremely hot, and the sand was baking. We took off our jackets and coats and pulled up our sleeves. We stood at our positions and waited anxiously .
An hour passed .
“Damn them!” said the captain. “Where are they?”
Nothing happened for quite a while , and we were all nervous. Suddenly, Joyce raised his gun and fired*. Immediately , more shots followed from outside, from every side of the fort. Several bullets hit the walls, but none came through the thick wood. Then it went quiet. As the smoke disappeared, the woods looked as empty as before. Not a branch moved.
“Did you hit your man?” asked the captain.
“No, sir,” replied Joyce. “I believe not, sir.”
“Next best thing is to tell the truth ,” said the captain. “Load his gun, Hawkins. Doctor, how many pirates were on your side?”
But the doctor had no time to answer. Suddenly, with a loud shout, a bunch of pirates jumped out of the woods and ran straight towards us. At the same moment, another gun fired from the trees, and a bullet broke the doctor’s gun into pieces.
The pirates climbed over the fence like monkeys. The squire and Gray fired again and again . Three men fell. However, one of them was obviously more frightened than hurt, because he got up right away and disappeared into the trees.
Two were dead, one had escaped, but now four had climbed the outside wall. From the woods, seven or eight pirates continued to shoot at the house. The four pirates ran straight for the building, shouting loudly. In a moment , they were on us.
The head of pirate, Job Anderson appeared at a hole in the wall. “Get them, men!” he shouted loudly.
At the same moment, another pirate grabbed Hunter’s gun and pulled it through the hole. Then he knocked down poor Hunter. Meanwhile , a third pirate ran round the house, appeared suddenly in the door, and attacked the doctor.
The situation had changed completely. Before, we were safe inside, now, pirates were inside the fort building. The room was full of smoke from the guns, which actually saved us because the enemy could not see clearly. Cries, confusion , and the shooting of pistols* filled the room.
“Out, lads, out, and fight them outside!” cried the captain.
I grabbed a gun from the pile and ran out of the door into the sunshine. Right in front of me, the doctor was running after a pirate down the hill. The doctor hit him hard and he fell.
“Round the house, lads! Round the house!” cried the captain.
I obeyed. I turned east and ran round the corner of the house. Next moment, I was face to face with Anderson. He screamed at me, and his sword went above his head. I did not have time to be afraid. I jumped to one side, and fell in the soft sand, got up and ran.
The fight was over very soon. Of the four who had climbed inside, only one was left, and he was now climbing out again, running for his life.
“Shoot from the house!” cried the doctor. “And you, boys, get back inside.”
But the last pirate managed to escape into the woods.
The doctor, Gray, and I ran for the fort. The house was now cleared of smoke, and we saw the terrible price we had paid in this battle. Hunter lay on the floor. Joyce was dead, shot through the head. In the centre of the room, the squire was holding the captain. Both looked very white.
“The captain is injured ,” said Mr. Trelawney.
“Have they run away ?” asked Captain Smollett.
“Those that could, for sure ,” replied the doctor. “But five of them will never run again.”
“Five!” cried the captain. “That leaves us four of us to nine of them. That is a better situation than we had at the start!”
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