The captain sat down to his log, and here is the beginning of the entry: 

Alexander Smollett, master; David Livesey, ship’s doctor; Abraham Gray, carpenter’s mate; John Trelawney, owner; John Hunter and Richard Joyce, owner’s servants, landsmen—­being all that is left faithful of the ship’s company—­with stores for ten days at short rations, came ashore this day and flew British colours on the log-house in Treasure Island.  Thomas Redruth, owner’s servant, landsman, shot by the mutineers; James Hawkins, cabin-boy—­

And at the same time, I was wondering over poor Jim Hawkins’ fate.

A hail on the land side.

“Somebody hailing us,” said Hunter, who was on guard.

“Doctor!  Squire!  Captain!  Hullo, Hunter, is that you?” came the cries.

And I ran to the door in time to see Jim Hawkins, safe and sound, come climbing over the stockade.

19

Narrative Resumed by Jim Hawkins:  The Garrison in the Stockade

As soon as Ben Gunn saw the colours he came to a halt, stopped me by the arm, and sat down.

“Now,” said he, “there’s your friends, sure enough.”

“Far more likely it’s the mutineers,” I answered.

“That!” he cried.  “Why, in a place like this, where nobody puts in but gen’lemen of fortune, Silver would fly the Jolly Roger, you don’t make no doubt of that.  No, that’s your friends.  There’s been blows too, and I reckon your friends has had the best of it; and here they are ashore in the old stockade, as was made years and years ago by Flint.  Ah, he was the man to have a headpiece, was Flint!  Barring rum, his match were never seen.  He were afraid of none, not he; on’y Silver—­Silver was that genteel.”

“Well,” said I, “that may be so, and so be it; all the more reason that I should hurry on and join my friends.”

“Nay, mate,” returned Ben, “not you.  You’re a good boy, or I’m mistook; but you’re on’y a boy, all told.  Now, Ben Gunn is fly.  Rum wouldn’t bring me there, where you’re going—­not rum wouldn’t, till I see your born gen’leman and gets it on his word of honour.  And you won’t forget my words; ’A precious sight (that’s what you’ll say), a precious sight more confidence’—­and then nips him.”

And he pinched me the third time with the same air of cleverness.

“And when Ben Gunn is wanted, you know where to find him, Jim.  Just wheer you found him today.  And him that comes is to have a white thing in his hand, and he’s to come alone.  Oh!  And you’ll say this:  ’Ben Gunn,’ says you, ‘has reasons of his own.’”

“Well,” said I, “I believe I understand.  You have something to propose, and you wish to see the squire or the doctor, and you’re to be found where I found you.  Is that all?”

“And when? says you,” he added.  “Why, from about noon observation to about six bells.”

“Good,” said I, “and now may I go?”