17th Dec 2024
"I’ll start by writing about the time when my father owned an inn called the Admiral Benbow, many years ago. I remember the day when a man walked into the inn. He was tall and strong, with an old blue coat and a scar on his face. He looked around him. 'This is a nice, quiet place. I’ll stay here. Please, take this up to my room,' he said, pointing to a large wooden box. 'You can call me Captain. And this is for you,' he continued, handing my father three or four gold coins. The Captain was usually a quiet man. He spent his days walking on the beach or on the cliffs. When he came back, he always asked, 'Did any sailors visit the inn today?' At first, we thought he wanted to find some other sailors, but later we realised that he didn’t want any sailors to find him. In the evenings, the Captain sometimes told stories about his time at sea, and we loved to listen. My father was worried that nobody would want to visit the inn because they would be frightened by the Captain's stories, but I think people liked them. The Captain stayed at the inn for months, but he did not give us any more money for his room, and my father did not dare to ask him for more."
"One morning, the Captain went for a walk along the beach. I was helping my mother to make breakfast when another man walked into the inn. He was thin and pale, with three fingers on his left hand. He sat down and asked, 'Is this table here for my friend Bill?' I told him that I did not know Bill and said that the table was for the Captain. 'Well, my friend Bill might say that he’s the Captain,' he insisted. 'He has a scar on his face and likes to tell a story. Is that him?' 'Yes,' I said. 'He’s gone for a walk.' 'Which way did he walk?' he asked, looking anxious. I pointed towards the beach, and the man stood up, looking eager and alert, and waited by the door for the Captain to return. When the Captain saw the man, he looked pale and ill. 'Black Dog!' the Captain called out, his voice shaking. 'That’s right,' replied the man. 'I’ve found my friend Bill! We've had a lot of adventures since I lost these fingers!' At that moment, there were loud shouts, and both men stood up and ran outside. The Captain had a sword, and I saw Black Dog running away, blood on his arm. The man continued running until we could not see him, and the Captain walked back into the inn, looking unwell and trembling. Suddenly, he fell over, and I ran to call for help."
I rushed to my father's side, and together we helped the Captain to his feet and moved him to a chair by the fire. 'I need some rum,' he whispered, his voice faint and shaky. My father hesitated, worried about the Captain's health, but eventually handed him a small glass. The Captain sat quietly, sipping his rum, while my father and I exchanged worried glances. After a long silence, he finally spoke. 'I must tell you something important,' he said, his eyes wide with concern.
The Captain leaned forward, lowering his voice. 'Inside that wooden box,' he began, 'there's a map—a map to the greatest treasure you'll ever hear of!' I listened in awe, my heart pounding with excitement. 'But beware,' he warned, 'there are many who would kill for it. Black Dog is just the first of many.' My father and I nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. With this secret shared, the Captain seemed to relax a little, though his face remained pale and weary.
By the next morning, news of Black Dog's visit had spread through the village, and the inn was buzzing with talk of the mysterious treasure. The Captain, still pale but determined, called me over. 'Jim, my boy,' he said, placing his hand on my shoulder, 'you must be careful. Keep your eyes open and trust no one.' I nodded solemnly, feeling a strange mix of fear and excitement. From that day on, I knew the quiet life at the Admiral Benbow was gone forever, and a new adventure had just begun.
