Every here and there , one of a different species rose forty or fifty feet clear above its neighbours , and which of these was the particular `` tall tree '' of Captain Flint could only be decided on the spot , and by the readings of the compass . Yet , although that was the case , every man on board the boats had picked a favourite of his own ere we were half-way over , Long John alone shrugging his shoulders and bidding them wait till they were there . We pulled easily , by Silver 's directions , not to weary the hands prematurely , and after quite a long passage , landed at the mouth of the second river -- that which runs down a woody cleft of the Spy-glass . Thence , bending to our left , we began to ascend the slope towards the plateau . At the first outset , heavy , miry ground and a matted , marish vegetation greatly delayed our progress ; but by little and little the hill began to steepen and become stony under foot , and the wood to change its character and to grow in a more open order . It was , indeed , a most pleasant portion of the island that we were now approaching . A heavy-scented broom and many flowering shrubs had almost taken the place of grass . Thickets of green nutmeg-trees were dotted here and there with the red columns and the broad shadow of the pines ; and the first mingled their spice with the aroma of the others . The air , besides , was fresh and stirring , and this , under the sheer sunbeams , was a wonderful refreshment to our senses . The party spread itself abroad , in a fan shape , shouting and leaping to and fro . About the centre , and a good way behind the rest , Silver and I followed -- I tethered by my rope , he ploughing , with deep pants , among the sliding gravel . From time to time , indeed , I had to lend him a hand , or he must have missed his footing and fallen backward down the hill . We had thus proceeded for about half a mile and were approaching the brow of the plateau when the man upon the farthest left began to cry aloud , as if in terror . Shout after shout came from him , and the others began to run in his direction . `` He ca n't ' a found the treasure , '' said old Morgan , hurrying past us from the right , `` for that 's clean a-top . '' Indeed , as we found when we also reached the spot , it was something very different . At the foot of a pretty big pine and involved in a green creeper , which had even partly lifted some of the smaller bones , a human skeleton lay , with a few shreds of clothing , on the ground . I believe a chill struck for a moment to every heart . `` He was a seaman , '' said George Merry , who , bolder than the rest , had gone up close and was examining the rags of clothing . `` Leastways , this is good sea-cloth . ''
`` Aye , aye , '' said XXXXX ; `` like enough ; you would n't look to find a bishop here , I reckon .
Flint John Leastways Morgan Silver a-top centre first nutmeg-trees right