I was standing on the dock , when , by the merest accident , I fell in talk with him . I found he was an old sailor , kept a public-house , knew all the seafaring men in Bristol , had lost his health ashore , and wanted a good berth as cook to get to sea again . He had hobbled down there that morning , he said , to get a smell of the salt . I was monstrously touched -- so would you have been -- and , out of pure pity , I engaged him on the spot to be ship 's cook . Long John Silver , he is called , and has lost a leg ; but that I regarded as a recommendation , since he lost it in his country 's service , under the immortal Hawke . He has no pension , Livesey . Imagine the abominable age we live in ! Well , sir , I thought I had only found a cook , but it was a crew I had discovered . Between Silver and myself we got together in a few days a company of the toughest old salts imaginable -- not pretty to look at , but fellows , by their faces , of the most indomitable spirit . I declare we could fight a frigate . Long John even got rid of two out of the six or seven I had already engaged . He showed me in a moment that they were just the sort of fresh-water swabs we had to fear in an adventure of importance . I am in the most magnificent health and spirits , eating like a bull , sleeping like a tree , yet I shall not enjoy a moment till I hear my old tarpaulins tramping round the capstan . Seaward , ho ! Hang the treasure ! It 's the glory of the sea that has turned my head . So now , Livesey , come post ; do not lose an hour , if you respect me . Let young Hawkins go at once to see his mother , with Redruth for a guard ; and then both come full speed to Bristol . John Trelawney Postscript -- I did not tell you that Blandly , who , by the way , is to send a consort after us if we do n't turn up by the end of August , had found an admirable fellow for sailing master -- a stiff man , which I regret , but in all other respects a treasure . Long John Silver unearthed a very competent man for a mate , a man named Arrow .
I have a boatswain who pipes , XXXXX ; so things shall go man-o ' - war fashion on board the good ship HISPANIOLA .
Bristol Hawkins John Livesey Redruth Seaward Silver frigate hour public-house