The Canary Cook

I have recently been asked to write about my adventure at Treasure Island by Dr Livesey. The only thing I will keep secret is the location of the treasure, for the entirety of it has not been collected yet by authorities. I hope my account will be as accurate as possible, for my memory is not that good.


I was born on June 9 of 1651. Ever since I was a young boy I can remember my father telling me “watch out for the pirates, son. They are cruel, malicious and they won’t hesitate to cut your throat!” It scared me. What my father told me, it freaked me out.


My mother would then calm me down. “Those pirates your father is telling you about, do not worry. They will not find us, my boy.” This calmed me down a little. I would then proceed to drink some milk and then go lie down in my bed and sleep until the next morning.


After I lost my father, it was difficult for me. All the work had to be done by me and my mother.


This may also be a good time to introduce myself. I am Jim Hawkins and i am a pig. And I currently run my inn in London, Britain.


Anyways. So I was sitting there when a mysterious figure entered the inn. He was a tall figure. Species: Gorilla. He sat down and ordered rum. He had a large scar in his hand, and was missing a couple of fingers. He introduced himself as “Dog.” “Black Dog.”


When my good, old friend, the budgie Billy Bones came down from the cellar and saw him, he freaked out and pulled out his sword, but seemingly not to attack. Black Dog also pulled out his sword and they got into a sword fight. But before Black Dog could run his sword through his chest, my friend started hurting, and Black Dog escaped.


Billy Bones had suffered a stroke, seemingly from drinking too much rum. Before he died, however, he gave me a piece of paper.


-”Here take this”


I was crying.


-”But Billy… you’re gonna be alright”


-”No boy. I’ve reached the end of the horizon”


-”Don’t say that Billy”


-”Come on! Take it! It will prove helpful.”


These were his last words, as he died seconds after.


Apparently, my mom heard the sword fight from the back room. She escaped through a window and called for help.


Soon, the soldiers of the Royal Navy arrived, headed by Captain Trelawney.


They discovered the body of Billy. I told him what had happened and that I was ready to suffer consequences if it was somehow my fault. But he reassured me:


-”Don’t worry Jim, it’s not your fault”


-”Are you sure Captain? Maybe i could have helped poor old man Billy”


-”Do not worry Jim. This isn’t, by any stretch of the imagination, your fault”


I felt relieved at the Captain’s reassurance and gave him the piece of paper. Once he unfolded it and took a look at it, he was shocked.


-”Jim, has anybody else seen this?”


-”No sir. Only you and me”


-”Make sure it stays that way! I am gonna get Doctor Livesey. We are rich boy! Rich!”


I was confused. How could a piece of paper make us rich? I couldn’t understand yet, for I was still foolish and oblivious. I went to the cellar and brought Captain Trelawney a bottle of rum. I walked up the stairs, picked up the bottle, and then brought it to him.


When Dr Livesey arrived, he asked me for a bottle of rum. I brought it to him and they began discussing with Trelawney. I still remember the Captain’s excitement:


-”We are rich doctor! Rich! Rich!!!!”


-”Are you out of your mind Squire? Why are we rich?”


-”Because of this!!” Trelawney said this and showed Livesey the piece of paper.


It was then that I realized that it wasn’t a simple piece of paper, but a treasure map.


-”Jim. Come here!”


I walked up to the Captain and asked what he wanted.


-”What would you think, my boy, of coming with us on a voyage which will make us rich?”


-”I’d be honored sir.”


-”Great! I’ll gather a crew, and we’ll set sail!”


And so that’s what happened. He gathered a crew, arranged for a ship to take us there. And we began our voyage.


The ship’s name was the Hispaniola. It was a sloop and it was captained by Captain Alexander Smollete, with Trelawney serving as first mate and me as cabin boy. Dr Livesey was the ship’s doctor.


However, there was one from the crew who stood out: Barbecue. He was a canary. He wore a cook’s outfit, as he was the ship’s cook. He cooked delicious meals! His secret ingredient? Seeds! And his meals were amazing.


I still remember him fondly… He would teach me how to cook. He would tell me all sorts of fantastical and likely fake tales. One time, I remember, he taught me how to handle a sword and how to fire a pistol, using apples and bottles of rum as targets.


One night however, when I was getting an apple for Captain Smollete, I accidentally slipped inside the barrel! Then, I heard Barbecue and the rest of the crew discussing.


-”I say, we take out our swords, and stab them to death!”


This was what one of the crewmembers said.


And then I heard Barbecue walking.


-”And I say, there will be no mutiny, till we reach the island and I gives the signal!”


I was shocked.


Thankfully they didn’t see me. And they went back to their positions before they could. And so I managed to escape and inform the others.


While Dr Livesey and Trelawney were just as shocked as I were, Captain Smollete seemed weirdly calm.


Apparently, he had been suspicious of the crew from the start.


-”Jim, can you do what we instruct you?”


-”Yes captain!”


-”We need you to continue being friends with Barbecue, until we can find a way to stop them”


-”Aye sir!”


And so that’s what I did. For 4 days I told Barbecue nothing.


However, then, the day of the mutiny came earlier than we believed. We still hadn’t reached the island when the mutiny happened and it caught us unprepared…


I still remember it.


I was at the helm. Captain Smollete was teaching me how to steer a ship when the bells were heard and a battle suddenly broke out between the few crew that were loyal to us and the pirate crew led by Barbecue.


The pirates greatly outnumbered us and came out victorious.


-”WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!” Captain Smollete asked Barbecue.


-”The name’s Lelos. Lelos the canary. Captain Lelos the canary”


-”Captain?!”


-”Aye! Now here’s our demands. We take over the voyage from here! Savvy?”


-”I will never hand my ship over to pirates!”


-”We greatly outnumber you! You have no other choice! Also that coat looks cool, give it to me!”


And so ex-captain Smollete was left with no ship to captain, and with no coat!


When we finally reached the island, Trelawney and the others were left in the ship, while Lelos took me with him. Either as a hostage, or he wanted me as company, not really sure.


When we reached the location of the treasure. Lelos and the crew began digging up.


But…


They ultimately found nothing!


-”Where’s the treasure, Lelos?”


-”I don’t know… It was supposed to be here!”


-”You lied to us, Lelos! Now time to pay the price”


Lelos took out his sword as well. This was a moment where I can honestly say I admired him, for he took on four angry people on his own!


However, one of them pushed him and he hit the floor.


-”Prepare to die, Lelos!”


However, just as they were about to stab him, the Royal Navy showed up and arrested them!


Turns out, Captain Smollete was so suspicious of the crew that he had ordered for the Hispaniola to be secretly followed by a royal navy ship, so that in case the crew turns out to be traitorous, they would have back up!


The soldiers dag next to the spot the pirates had dag and they were the ones that found the treasure!


Lelos and the pirates were arrested, had their weapons taken, and were put on longboats to be taken back to the Hispaniola, where they would be taken to London to be trialed and imprisoned. Some of the chests with the treasure were also put on longboats and were taken back to the Hispaniola.


However, when the longboats were being sailed towards the Hispaniola, Lelos took out a pistol he had managed to hide from the soldiers and aimed it towards Smollete, forcing him and his soldiers to jump from the longboat.


I was about to jump off the longboat when Lelos told me to stay. We reached the Hispaniola, and he gave me one chest containing some treasure so I would remember the adventure we had together. He also gave me a feather from his wing. He then managed to commandeer the sloop on his own and set sailed, escaping the hangman’s noose he would meet at London.


The Royal Navy gave chase, but the Hispaniola outrunned them. While sailing off into the sunset, he waved me goodbye. I waved back.


I still have the chest and the feather. Not sure what I should waste the treasure on.


As for Lelos, I hope he’s alright. Maybe he retired, maybe he continues the pirate’s life. Who knows?