After that , we kept under cover of the bulwarks , and when next I looked out they had disappeared from the spit , and the spit itself had almost melted out of sight in the growing distance . That was , at least , the end of that ; and before noon , to my inexpressible joy , the highest rock of Treasure Island had sunk into the blue round of sea . We were so short of men that everyone on board had to bear a hand -- only the captain lying on a mattress in the stern and giving his orders , for though greatly recovered he was still in want of quiet . We laid her head for the nearest port in Spanish America , for we could not risk the voyage home without fresh hands ; and as it was , what with baffling winds and a couple of fresh gales , we were all worn out before we reached it . It was just at sundown when we cast anchor in a most beautiful land-locked gulf , and were immediately surrounded by shore boats full of Negroes and Mexican Indians and half-bloods selling fruits and vegetables and offering to dive for bits of money . The sight of so many good-humoured faces -LRB- especially the blacks -RRB- , the taste of the tropical fruits , and above all the lights that began to shine in the town made a most charming contrast to our dark and bloody sojourn on the island ; and the doctor and the squire , taking me along with them , went ashore to pass the early part of the night . Here they met the captain of an English man-of-war , fell in talk with him , went on board his ship , and , in short , had so agreeable a time that day was breaking when we came alongside the HISPANIOLA . Ben Gunn was on deck alone , and as soon as we came on board he began , with wonderful contortions , to make us a confession . Silver was gone . The maroon had connived at his escape in a shore boat some hours ago , and he now assured us he had only done so to preserve our lives , which would certainly have been forfeit if `` that man with the one leg had stayed aboard . '' But this was not all . The sea-cook had not gone empty-handed . He had cut through a bulkhead unobserved and had removed one of the sacks of coin , worth perhaps three or four hundred guineas , to help him on his further wanderings . I think we were all pleased to be so cheaply quit of him . Well , to make a long story short , we got a few hands on board , made a good cruise home , and the HISPANIOLA reached Bristol just as Mr. Blandly was beginning to think of fitting out her consort . Five men only of those who had sailed returned with her . `` Drink and the devil had done for the rest , '' with a vengeance , although , to be sure , we were not quite in so bad a case as that other ship they sang about : With one man of her crew alive , What put to sea with seventy-five . All of us had an ample share of the treasure and used it wisely or foolishly , according to our natures . Captain Smollett is now retired from the sea . Gray not only saved his money , but being suddenly smit with the desire to rise , also studied his profession , and he is now mate and part owner of a fine full-rigged ship , married besides , and the father of a family .
As for Ben XXXXX , he got a thousand pounds , which he spent or lost in three weeks , or to be more exact , in nineteen days , for he was back begging on the twentieth .
America Gunn Indians Smollett contortions escape gales guineas night sea-cook