The plunge of our anchor sent up clouds of birds wheeling and crying over the woods , but in less than a minute they were down again and all was once more silent . The place was entirely land-locked , buried in woods , the trees coming right down to high-water mark , the shores mostly flat , and the hilltops standing round at a distance in a sort of amphitheatre , one here , one there . Two little rivers , or rather two swamps , emptied out into this pond , as you might call it ; and the foliage round that part of the shore had a kind of poisonous brightness . From the ship we could see nothing of the house or stockade , for they were quite buried among trees ; and if it had not been for the chart on the companion , we might have been the first that had ever anchored there since the island arose out of the seas . There was not a breath of air moving , nor a sound but that of the surf booming half a mile away along the beaches and against the rocks outside . A peculiar stagnant smell hung over the anchorage -- a smell of sodden leaves and rotting tree trunks . I observed the doctor sniffing and sniffing , like someone tasting a bad egg . `` I do n't know about treasure , '' he said , `` but I 'll stake my wig there 's fever here . '' If the conduct of the men had been alarming in the boat , it became truly threatening when they had come aboard . They lay about the deck growling together in talk . The slightest order was received with a black look and grudgingly and carelessly obeyed . Even the honest hands must have caught the infection , for there was not one man aboard to mend another . Mutiny , it was plain , hung over us like a thunder-cloud . And it was not only we of the cabin party who perceived the danger . Long John was hard at work going from group to group , spending himself in good advice , and as for example no man could have shown a better . He fairly outstripped himself in willingness and civility ; he was all smiles to everyone . If an order were given , John would be on his crutch in an instant , with the cheeriest `` Aye , aye , sir ! '' in the world ; and when there was nothing else to do , he kept up one song after another , as if to conceal the discontent of the rest . Of all the gloomy features of that gloomy afternoon , this obvious anxiety on the part of Long John appeared the worst . We held a council in the cabin .
`` Sir , '' said the captain , `` if I risk another order , the whole ship 'll XXXXX about our ears by the run .
's call come coming going hung observed perceived shown sniffing