Chapter 20

Treasure Island

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

What with the steepness of the incline, the thick tree stumps, and the soft sand, he and his crutch were as helpless as a ship in stays. But he stuck to it like a man in silence, and at last arrived before the captain, whom he saluted in the handsomest style. He was tricked out in his best; an immense blue coat, thick with brass buttons, hung as low as to his knees, and a fine laced hat was set on the back of his head.

The first sentence lists three obstacles, "the steepness of the incline, the thick tree stumps, and the soft sand", before it reaches its comparison, "as helpless as a ship in stays". Why does Jim give the three obstacles first? What does the sailor's picture show that the list alone does not?

Discussion

Narration Tell back the parley in order, from the white flag at the gate to Silver leaving the stockade.

1. The man waving the white cloth announces “Capn Silver, sir, to come on board and make terms.” Smollett answers, “Capn Silver! Don’t know him. Who’s he?” What is he doing with those words?Tone

2. When the man with the flag tries to hold him back, Silver laughs, slaps his back and climbs the fence. Is that courage, show, or both?Character

3. Silver raises his voice so that “all hands in this here block house” will hear his offer. Who is he really talking to?Inference

4. The captain offers to “clap you all in irons and take you home to a fair trial in England.” Is that a generous offer or a harsh one?Moral reasoning

5. Jim says watching the two men smoke in silence “was as good as the play.” Why might the author have Jim watch the parley like a show?Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you saw two people face each other calmly when both were angry.

Vocabulary

Crossword

1					2
					3
			4


5

		6
7
				8


	9

Across

Across 1. a slope
Across 3. irritated; stung
Across 5. getting over the top of
Across 7. calmly; without any sign of worry
Across 9. betraying trust; sneaking

Down

Down 1. huge
Down 2. a faint idea or suspicion
Down 4. greeted with a formal gesture of respect
Down 6. mist; a cloud of moisture in the air
Down 8. curses

The words in the chapter

incline What with the steepness of the incline, the thick tree stumps, and the soft sand,
saluted at last arrived before the captain, whom he saluted in the handsomest style.
immense an immense blue coat, thick with brass buttons, hung as low as to his knees
placidly the other, no less a person than Silver himself, standing placidly by.
vapour they waded knee-deep in a low white vapour

treacherous out of the way of a treacherous shot, should any be intended.
surmounting succeeded in surmounting the fence and dropping safely to the other side.
inkling As for me, I began to have an inkling.
nettled He had been growing nettled before, but now he pulled himself together.
imprecations Growling the foulest imprecations, he crawled along the sand

Critical thinking

1. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how far the captain trusts the flag of truce.

2. Using two pieces of evidence from Silver’s own words, explain why he has come to the stockade.

3. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Jim’s description of the cold morning adds to the scene.