treasure island chapter 18 B1 story

Podcast 329 - Treasure Island (B1 story) Chapter 18

1. Refuse

Definition: To say that you will not do or accept something.

Examples:

Some people refuse to recycle because they think it takes too much time.

If we refuse to change our bad habits, there will be more plastic in the sea.
 

2. Throw away

Definition: To put something in the rubbish bin because you do not need it any more.

Examples:

My neighbour throws away all his paper with the normal rubbish instead of recycling it.

We should not throw away glass bottles when we can easily use them again.
 

3. Waste

Definition: To use too much of something, or to use it in a bad way.

Examples:

It is a terrible waste when people buy too much food and then put it in the bin.

We waste a lot of energy when we make new plastic instead of recycling old plastic.
 

4. Blame

Definition: To say that someone or something is responsible for a bad situation.

Examples:

We cannot only blame big companies for the rubbish problem; we must also recycle at home.

People often blame the government when the streets are dirty, but everyone needs to help.
 

5. Encouraged

Definition: Given hope, confidence, or support to do something good.

Examples:

I felt encouraged when I saw children learning how to recycle at school.

More people recycle when they are encouraged by their friends and family.
 

6. Apart from

Definition: Except for, or not including.

Examples:

Apart from plastic, it is also very important to recycle metal and paper.

Everyone in my family recycles, apart from my little brother who always forgets.
 

7. Reminds me of

Definition: Makes me remember someone or something.

Examples:

Seeing rubbish on the beautiful beach reminds me of how important it is to recycle.

The smell of the dirty streets reminds me of the damage we are doing to nature.


The Story

“Jim,” Long John Silver said to me when we were on our own, “if I saved your life, you saved mine too. I will not forget it. I saw the doctor tell you to escape, but I saw you refuse . Jim, you were very brave. This is my first real hope since the attack failed. Now we must go treasure-hunting together. You and I must stay close and help one another .”

Just then, a pirate shouted to us for breakfast. We sat down on the sand to eat biscuits and salty meat. The men had lit a huge fire. It was so hot that nobody could approach it. They had also cooked far too much food. One pirate laughed stupidly and threw away the extra food into the fire. I thought these men were very silly. They wasted their food and did not think about the future.

Even Silver ate his food in silence with his parrot, Captain Flint, on his shoulder. He did not blame the men for wasting food.

“Well, my mates,” Silver said to the crew with his mouth full of meat, “you are lucky to have me to think for you. We don't know where the ship is yet, but once we find the treasure, we will find the ship. And the men who are in charge of the ship will control everything.”

He smiled at the men and encouraged them again.

“As for the boy,” Silver announced , pointing at me, “he stays with us. We will keep him safe like gold just in case we need him later. When we have the ship and the treasure, we will make up our mind what to do with young Jim Hawkins.”

The pirates were satisfied with this plan, but I felt very anxious. I knew Silver was dangerous. He could easily trick me again if it helped him get the gold.

After breakfast, we prepared to leave. Silver had two guns, a large sword, and two pistols in his pockets. His parrot sat on his shoulder. He fastened a rope around me and held the other end. I had to follow him like an animal. The other men carried things for digging, and food.

We walked down to the beach and got in two small wooden boats. We rowed across the water and reached a river at the bottom of the high hill called the Spy-glass. Then we carried on up the hill.

The path was steep and covered with plants and tall pine trees. The air smelled cool and fresh . The pirates walked in a broad line so as not to miss anything on the ground, shouting to one another. Silver and I walked behind them. Due to his wooden leg, he moved slowly, and I had to help him so he did not fall over on the loose stones.

Suddenly, a pirate on the left screamed in fear. The other men ran towards him.

“He cannot have discovered the treasure!” shouted old Morgan. “The treasure is on the peak of the hill!”

We reached the spot and stopped. At the bottom of a large pine tree lay a human skeleton*. The bones were lying in a straight line. The arms were pointing above the head like a swimmer’s.

“He was a sailor,” said George Merry, checking the old clothes. “Yes,” Silver agreed. “He was a seaman. But why are his bones lying like that? That is not natural.” Silver took out his compass* and looked at the direction of the body. “Look! The skeleton* is pointing straight towards Skeleton Island. This body is a signpost! Captain Flint put this man here to show the direction to the gold.”

The pirates looked at the skeleton*, feeling nervous. “Flint murdered six men here,” Silver said. “He brought this man here to point the way. But Flint is no longer alive now, mates! Do not be scared. Let’s go and get the gold!”

We continued walking, but the pirates were quiet now. They stayed close together because they were terrified of Captain Flint’s ghost.

We sat down on top of the hill to take a rest . The view of the ocean was wide and spectacular , but it made the island feel very frightening . Silver checked his compass* again.

“There are three tall trees in a row ,” Silver said. “It should be very simple to find the treasure now.”

Suddenly, a strange, high voice sang from the trees in front of us: “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest— Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!” The pirates stopped at once . Their faces turned white with fear.

“It is Flint!” Merry cried.

“Stop it!” Silver shouted, though his own lips were shaking. “It is just someone playing a joke . It is a real person, not a ghost ! I’m sure of it.”

Then the voice spoke again from far away: “Darby M’Graw! Darby M’Graw! Bring the rum, Darby!” The pirates stood completely frozen.

“Those were Flint's last words before he died!” cried Morgan. One young pirate named Dick took out a small Bible and began to pray.

Silver tried to remain calm. “Nobody on this island knows the name Darby apart from us!” he shouted. “I came here for the treasure, and the treasure I intend to get! There are seven hundred thousand pounds nearby !”

The men were still afraid, but Silver concentrated carefully. “Wait,” Silver said. “Did you hear the echo*? Ghosts do not have shadows, so why would a ghost have an echo*?”

George Merry looked up. “You are right, John! That is a clever thought. And now that I think about it, the voice reminded me of someone else... It reminded me of Ben Gunn!”

“Yes! It was Ben Gunn!” Silver shouted. “Nobody is afraid of Ben Gunn,” Merry laughed. “Dead or alive, Ben Gunn cannot hurt us!”

Straight away , the pirates felt cheerful again. They set off quickly through the trees towards the tall pine trees. The thought of seven hundred thousand pounds of gold made them forget all their fear. Their eyes were bright, and they walked faster and faster.

Silver moved as fast as he could on his crutch*. He pulled on my rope and gave me dark, angry looks. I realised that as soon as he found the treasure, he intended to kill me and my friends, take the gold, and sail away.

In the end , we reached the giant pine tree. The gold was buried somewhere under its dark shadow . “Hurrah, mates! All together!” Merry shouted, and the pirates ran forward.

Suddenly, they all stopped. A low cry came from the men. Silver and I hurried forward to look.

In front of us was a huge hole in the ground. It was not new, because grass was already growing inside it. On the ground lay a broken pickaxe* and pieces of wooden boxes. On one board, the name Walrus—Captain Flint’s ship—was burned into the wood.

Someone had already found the hole. The seven hundred thousand pounds of gold had disappeared!

 

 

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