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 Gunn , 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 . Then he was given a lodge to keep , exactly as he had feared upon the island ; and he still lives , a great favourite , though something of a butt , with the country boys , and a notable singer in church on Sundays and saints ' days . Of Silver we have heard no more . That formidable seafaring man with one leg has at last gone clean out of my life ; but I dare say he met his old Negress , and perhaps still lives in comfort with her and Captain Flint . It is to be hoped so , I suppose , for his chances of comfort in another world are very small . The bar silver and the arms still lie , for all that I know , where Flint buried them ; and certainly they shall lie there for me . Oxen and wain-ropes would not bring me back again to that accursed island ; and the worst dreams that ever I have are when I hear the surf booming about its coasts or start upright in bed with the sharp voice of Captain Flint still ringing in my ears : `` Pieces of eight ! HOW THE WHALE GOT HIS THROAT IN the sea , once upon a time , O my Best Beloved , there was a Whale , and he ate fishes . He ate the starfish and the garfish , and the crab and the dab , and the plaice and the dace , and the skate and his mate , and the mackereel and the pickereel , and the really truly twirly-whirly eel . All the fishes he could find in all the sea he ate with his mouth -- so ! Till at last there was only one small fish left in all the sea , and he was a small ` Stute Fish , and he swam a little behind the Whale 's right ear , so as to be out of harm 's way .
Then the XXXXX stood up on his tail and said , ` I 'm hungry . '
Bristol Captain Flint Gunn Negress Smollett Whale dab wain-ropes weeks