by Blake Hoena
Trelawney raises his musket. He takes aim.
Bang!
The shot rings out, and the pirate nearest the cannon falls into the sea.
“Give me another musket, quick,” Trelawney shouts as another pirate steps up to the cannon.
The men at the oars continue to pull as hard as they can. The boat is only about twenty yards from shore.
Trelawney fires again. This time he misses.
Seconds later, there’s a loud boom from the cannon. A black dot screams toward your boat like an angry hornet. It explodes in the water less than ten feet away. The waves from the explosion tip over the boat. You, your friends, and all your supplies are tossed into the ocean.
Luckily, the water is only waist deep. Everyone grabs what they can salvage and runs to the shore.
When you make it to the beach, everything turns to chaos. The rest of your group is ahead of you and races off to the right, down the sandy beach. From the left, pirates burst out of the woods. With swords drawn, they give chase.
A cannonball explodes in front of you. You’re thrown backward, dazed. The sound of ringing fills your ears.
Men fire guns. Swords clash. Then one pirate turns in your direction. He smiles cruelly. Knife drawn, he stalks toward you.
Should you race after your friends toward the fort? Pirates are already chasing them. Or is it better to escape to the left, in the direction from which the pirates just came? There might be more pirates that way, too. What will you choose to do?
Chase after your friends.
Escape to your left.
You dash to the right, in the direction that your friends went. You find men battling each other along the beach. Your friends fire their weapons. Two pirates fall. The other pirates slash back.
You try to weave your way through the battle, but there are too many pirates between you and your friends. One of them reaches out and grabs you by the wrist. You struggle to escape as he raises his blade. Your arm is slick from seawater, and you slip from his grasp. You fall backward onto the sand as his sword cuts through the air just above your head.
Quickly, you roll to your feet. You try to run away, but the pirate with the cruel smile catches up with you. And this time there’s nowhere to go. You feel a sharp pain in your side, and then you feel nothing—not ever again.
Try again.
Even though your friends are racing to the fort, that may not be the safest direction. Most of the pirates are also moving in that direction.
Down the beach, you hear the sounds of guns firing and swords clashing. You dart left, away from the battle and into the woods.
You run through a marshy tract of willows and bulrushes. As you get even farther inland, the land rises and is drier, dense with trees. In the distance, the Spyglass Hill peeks above the forest top.
You let your pace slow, and you eventually stop. You need to explore the island, and it would be much easier with a compass.
If you have a compass, click here.
If you do not, click here.
You don’t want to run straight at the creature. You don’t know how dangerous it might be. So you dart left to avoid it.
“Wwraayyttt!” it growls, and it leaps at you.
You race past it. The hill begins to slant downward, allowing you to build up speed as you run. The footing gets rocky as the vegetation thins. You hear the creature chasing after you.
“Wwraayyttt!” it screams.
The ground before you suddenly disappears. You try to stop, but the hill is too slippery. You slide along its gravelly surface.
The hill drops away, and you tumble off a steep cliff. You flail and spin as you plummet toward the rocks and boulders below. For the briefest of moments, you have time to wonder what might have happened if you made a different choice. Then you crash against the rugged ground, and you know no more.
Try again.
You don’t want to run straight at the creature. You don’t know how dangerous it might be. So you dart right to avoid it.
“Wwraayyttt!” it growls, and it leaps at you.
You race past it. The side of the hill you’re on grows thick with trees. Branches slap at you with every step, and you can hear the creature chasing you.
“Wwraayyttt!” it shrieks again. The creature quickly flits between trees like a deer, only it’s running on two legs, not four.
That’s when you realize it’s not a bear or an ape. It’s a man. A filthy, dirty man with hair down to his waist.
“Wwaaaitt,” he calls in a voice rough from disuse.
You slow to a stop as you understand him. Then the man drops to his knees and clasps both of his hands in front of you as if he were about to beg for food.
Click here to continue.
You don’t know what might be to the left or to the right of this hill. Either direction could hide a deadly cliff. So you run straight at the creature. You hope to scare it, so you flail your arms and scream, “Raaahhh!”
You’re surprised to see the creature cower in fear.
“Wwraayyttt!” it growls.
It falls to its knees as you rush past. When you turn around to face it, the creature clasps both of its hands in front of you as if it were about to beg for food.
“Wwaaaitt,” it says in a voice rough from disuse.
It’s not a bear or an ape. It’s a man. A filthy, dirty man with hair down to his waist.
4. Battle for the Island
“Who are you?” you ask.
“Ben Gunn,” he answers in a rusty voice. “I’m Ben Gunn, I am! But I haven’t spoken with anyone these three years.”
His skin has been burned by the sun. He is clothed in the tatters of a ship’s sail. Around his waist he wears an old brass-buckled leather belt, which helps keep his clothing together.
“Three years!” you cry. “Were you shipwrecked?”
“Nay, mate,” he says, “marooned three years ago. I’ve lived on goats and berries since.” His eyes turn bright and pleading. “You mightn’t happen to have a piece of cheese about you, now?” he asks.
You shake your head. “No, but if I can get aboard the Hispaniola again, I can get you some.”
Ben looks disappointed for a moment, but then an odd twinkle lights up his eyes. He stands and leans in close to you, as if he’s about to whisper a secret, and then he pinches you.
“Ouch!” you shout.
“Just making sure you’re real,” he says with a giggle.
You find yourself chuckling as well.
Once the laughter quiets down, Ben turns to you and asks, “Now that ain’t Cap’n Flint’s ship anchored off the coast?”
“It’s not Flint’s ship. Flint is dead,” you reply. “But since you ask—some of Flint’s men sail with us.”
“Not a man with one leg?” he gasps.
“You mean, Long John Silver?” I ask.
“Ah, Silver! That were his name,” he says. “We used to be mates. Did he send you?”
“No, no, I’m not with Long John,” you say. For some reason, you trust Ben. He seems a little crazy—but who wouldn’t be after three years alone on an island? He also seems trustworthy.
You tell him about your adventures. Then he tells you his story—that he was once part of Flint’s crew, so he knew the pirate’s treasure was buried on this island. After leaving Flint’s ship, he crewed on another ship. He convinced its captain to stop here and look for Flint’s treasure. But after twelve days, they didn’t find anything. The captain was so angry at Ben for wasting his time that he left Ben here.
After he finishes his story, you hear a loud boom!
“A cannon,” Ben says. “There’s fighting.”
He grabs you by the wrist and leads you up a tall hill. From there, you can see the w
hole southern tip of the island. Just off its coast is the Hispaniola.
Ben draws your attention to the eastern coastline. “There’s a fort built some years back.” He points to a small shack with a wooden fence around it.
People are inside its walls, and smoke rises out of its chimney. But you cannot tell if they are the pirates or your friends.
If you have a telescope, click here.
If not, click here.
Luckily, you took the telescope from Captain’s sea chest. You pull it out of your pocket and look through it, toward the fort.
To your surprise, you see the Union Jack flag flying from a pole. Livesey, Trelawney, Smollett, and the trusted sailors are there! You see them aiming muskets toward the forest that surrounds them. They must be expecting an attack.
You look out toward the Hispaniola. From its topmast flies the Jolly Roger flag. The pirates now control the ship. Spying further, you see three men on board. They are drinking bottles of rum as they fire the cannon at the fort.
“If you want to get back to the ship, I have a small boat hidden down by the shore, under a fallen willow tree,” Ben says. “Or I can lead you to the fort.”
The fort is the safer option—if you can get there. It appears to be under attack, perhaps even surrounded by pirates. On the other hand, there are only three pirates aboard the ship. You will eventually need the Hispaniola to leave the island. It’s dangerous, but this may be your chance to recapture it. What will you choose to do?
Travel to the fort.
Find Ben’s boat.
Without a telescope, you’re unable to see who’s at the fort. You also can’t tell who controls the ship, but it looks like the ship’s cannon is firing at the fort. So far, the cannonballs are landing off target.
“If you want to get back to the ship, I have a small boat hidden down by the shore, under a fallen willow tree,” Ben says. “Or I can lead you to the fort.”
You don’t know where your friends are, so you don’t know which is the safer option. The fort appears to be under attack, but your friends could be the attackers. However, if they are in the fort, they might need your help against the pirates. What will you choose to do?
Travel to the fort.
Find Ben’s boat.
With the fort under attack, you aren’t sure it’s a safe place to be. Of course, neither is the ship, not if pirates are there.
“Take me to your boat,” you say.
Ben leads you down from the hill. He knows all the animal trails, so the trek is quick. Thankfully, you don’t run into any pirates along the way.
As you near the coast, the trees thin. You clearly see the Jolly Roger, a black flag with a skull and crossbones, defiantly waving from the topmast of the Hispaniola.
Ben stops when you’re at the edge of the forest. He points to a fallen willow tree. “There’s my boat, under there,” he says. “She may not be a sturdy craft, but she’ll get you out to your ship.”
“Aren’t you coming with me?” you ask.
“Nay, mate,” Ben replies. “Nothing would bring me out there, where you’re going—not with Flint’s men aboard that ship.” Then he pinches you. “You’re still real,” he says with a smile. “Next time you see your mates, tell them I have an offer to propose. Send one of them to find me if they want to deal.”
“But how will we find you?” you ask.
“When Ben Gunn is wanted,” he says, “go where you found him earlier today. And bring him some cheese.” With that, Ben disappears back into the forest.
You wait where you are until the sun sets. You don’t want the pirates to see you and start firing the cannon at you. Then finally, under the cover of darkness, you pull Ben’s boat out from underneath the willow.
Click here to continue.
“Take me to the fort,” you say. You hope to reunite with Livesey and Trelawney there.
Ben leads you down from the hill. He knows all the animal trails, so the trek is quick. And thankfully, you don’t run into any pirates along the way.
As you near the coast, the trees thin. You clearly see the flag flying from within the fort. It’s the Union Jack, England’s flag, proudly waving in the wind. Trelawney and Livesey must be inside.
Ben stops when you’re within shouting distance of the fort. “There’s your friends, sure enough,” he says.
“Aren’t you coming with me?” you ask.
“Nay, mate,” Ben replies. “Nothing would bring me in there—not till your friends give their word of honor that they won’t hurt poor Ben Gunn.” Then he pinches you. “You’re still real,” he says with a smile. “Now go tell your mates that I have an offer to propose. Send one of them to find me if they want to deal.”
“But how will we find you?” you ask.
“When Ben Gunn is wanted,” he says, “go where you found him earlier today. And bring him some cheese.” With that, Ben disappears back into the forest.
The area around the fort is sandy and has been cleared of trees. As you get nearer, you notice musket barrels poking over the fort’s wall.
“Hello!” you call out as you step into the clearing. “Doctor! Trelawney! Captain!”
The musket barrels swivel in your direction. Then one of the trusted sailors pokes his head over the wall.
“It’s Jim,” he yells. “Come on, hurry in!”
You dash for the entrance.
Livesey is there to greet you. “Jim, I thought you’d been lost,” he says as he gives you a hug.
From this vantage point, you clearly see the Jolly Roger, a black flag with a skull and crossbones, defiantly waving from the Hispaniola’s topmast. The pirates have control of the ship.
“They’ve been firing on us since we made it to the fort,” Livesey says. “But they’ve also broken into the ship’s supply of rum. Their aim has gotten worse as the day wears on.”
Within the fort is a small, wooden shelter. The doctor leads you inside. Captain Smollett and Trelawney are sitting at a table, loading muskets and pistols.
“Jim!” Trelawney shouts. “How did you find your way here?”
You tell them about your adventure, about running into Ben Gunn, and that he has an offer for them.
“Was it cheese you said he has a fancy for?” Livesey asks you.
“Yes, sir, cheese.”
“Well, Jim,” he says, “it just happens I carry a piece of Parmesan cheese—a cheese made in Italy and very nutritious—wrapped up in my pocket, should I need it for a patient. Now, that cheese is for Ben Gunn!”
You now count six in your group. One of the trusted sailors died on the beach.
You aren’t sure how many pirates are left. Captain Smollett guesses that maybe a dozen or so are still alive. Three of them are on the ship, while the rest lay hidden in the woods around the fort.
“Here, Jim,” Trelawney says. He holds out a powder horn of black powder and a bag of shot. “In case there’s a skirmish, you can help reload the muskets.”
Just after sunset, one of the trusted sailors yells, “Someone’s approaching.”
You hear Long John’s voice. “Flag of truce! Flag of truce!” he yells.
You peek through a crack in the wall. Just inside the clearing stands Long John, leaning on his crutch. He waves a white piece of cloth that flashes in the moonlight. The rest of your group also gathers around to see what’s happening.
“Keep behind the walls, men,” your captain says. “Ten to one this is a trick.”
“Stop or we fire!” Trelawney shouts.
“Flag of truce!” Long John cries out again.
“And what do you want with your flag of truce?” the captain asks him.
“I wish to talk terms,” Long Johns shouts, “involving that map of yours. The men with me are getting a littl
e restless about wanting to look for Flint’s treasure.”
Livesey looks to you. “What do you think, Jim? Should we trust him?”
What will you choose to do?
Accept the flag of truce.
Send Long John away.
You don’t say anything to the doctor. You don’t want Long John to hear you, so you simply shake your head no. You trusted Long John once; it wouldn’t be safe to do so again.
“If you take one step closer,” Trelawney warns Long John, “we’ll fire!”
“Well, then,” Long John says, “if we cannot discuss the treasure map in a friendly-like manner, then I ain’t responsible for what my mates do in return.”
From all around the fort, shouts of anger erupt. In the dark, it’s hard to distinguish between pirates and shadows. The members of your group fire blindly into the trees. Then, as they reload, the pirates charge from out of the forest and climb over the fort’s walls.
Swords are drawn. Steel clashes. Your side fights valiantly, but you’re outnumbered. The battle quickly sways in favor of the pirates. Trelawney fires his musket again. Then he is overwhelmed by two villains.
You see the captain fall. Livesey goes next. Before you can think of escaping, your friends all lie in the sand while four pirates surround you.
There is nothing you can do. There is no escape. The pirates descend on you with their cutlasses glinting in the moonlight. The end comes quickly.
Try again.
You don’t say anything to the doctor. You don’t want Long John to hear you, so you simply nod your head yes. You’re not sure you can trust Long John, but you and your friends are outnumbered. It might be helpful to hear what he has to say.