But good did come of the apple barrel , as you shall hear , for if it had not been for that , we should have had no note of warning and might all have perished by the hand of treachery . This was how it came about . We had run up the trades to get the wind of the island we were after -- I am not allowed to be more plain -- and now we were running down for it with a bright lookout day and night . It was about the last day of our outward voyage by the largest computation ; some time that night , or at latest before noon of the morrow , we should sight the Treasure Island . We were heading S.S.W. and had a steady breeze abeam and a quiet sea . The HISPANIOLA rolled steadily , dipping her bowsprit now and then with a whiff of spray . All was drawing alow and aloft ; everyone was in the bravest spirits because we were now so near an end of the first part of our adventure . Now , just after sundown , when all my work was over and I was on my way to my berth , it occurred to me that I should like an apple . I ran on deck . The watch was all forward looking out for the island . The man at the helm was watching the luff of the sail and whistling away gently to himself , and that was the only sound excepting the swish of the sea against the bows and around the sides of the ship . In I got bodily into the apple barrel , and found there was scarce an apple left ; but sitting down there in the dark , what with the sound of the waters and the rocking movement of the ship , I had either fallen asleep or was on the point of doing so when a heavy man sat down with rather a clash close by . The barrel shook as he leaned his shoulders against it , and I was just about to jump up when the man began to speak . It was Silver 's voice , and before I had heard a dozen words , I would not have shown myself for all the world , but lay there , trembling and listening , in the extreme of fear and curiosity , for from these dozen words I understood that the lives of all the honest men aboard depended upon me alone . 11 What I Heard in the Apple Barrel `` NO , not I , '' said Silver . `` Flint was cap'n ; I was quartermaster , along of my timber leg . The same broadside I lost my leg , old Pew lost his deadlights . It was a master surgeon , him that ampytated me -- out of college and all -- Latin by the bucket , and what not ; but he was hanged like a dog , and sun-dried like the rest , at Corso Castle . That was Roberts ' men , that was , and comed of changing names to their ships -- ROYAL FORTUNE and so on . Now , what a ship was christened , so let her stay , I says .
So it was with the CASSANDRA , as brought us all safe home from Malabar , after England took the viceroy of the Indies ; so it was with the old WALRUS , XXXXX 's old ship , as I 've seen amuck with the red blood and fit to sink with gold . ''
Flint HISPANIOLA alow bowsprit day deadlights first night noon swish