Chapter 22 · Treasure Island

Copywork

As for the scheme I had in my head, it was not a bad one in itself. I was to go down the sandy spit that divides the anchorage on the east from the open sea, find the white rock I had observed last evening, and ascertain whether it was there or not that Ben Gunn had hidden his boat, a thing quite worth doing, as I still believe.

Read the passage aloud. The first sentence is short and says the scheme "was not a bad one in itself"; the second runs long. What does the longer sentence give the reader that the short one only promises?

Discussion

Narration Tell back Jim's afternoon in order, from the quiet after the fight to the moment he sets the coracle on the water.

Gray asks, “Is Dr. Livesey mad?” Jim answers, “Why no.” Why do the two of them read the doctor's walk so differently? Character
Jim says he took “a disgust of the place that was almost as strong as fear.” What is he trying to get away from? Inference
Before he goes, Jim fills his coat pockets with biscuit and takes a brace of pistols. What does his packing tell us about him? Character
Jim sees the pirates' watchmen left “unprovided with a boat” and decides to cut the ship adrift. Is that a clever use of what he saw, or a risk too far? Moral reasoning
Before Jim launches the coracle, the author gives us the thundering surf, the thick fog and “absolute blackness.” What does that do to the mood of the scene? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you slipped away from a place you were supposed to stay, in a story or in life.

Vocabulary

scheme: As for the scheme I had in my head, it was not a bad one in itself. a plan
ascertain: and ascertain whether it was there or not that Ben Gunn had hidden his boat, find out for certain
anchorage: the sandy spit that divides the anchorage on the east from the open sea, a sheltered place where ships can lie at anchor
overhaul: a quiet time to overhaul the wounded and get dinner. examine and attend to thoroughly
grievous: As for the captain, his wounds were grievous indeed, but not dangerous. severe; causing great pain
occurrence: so thunder-struck he was at this occurrence. an event; something that happens
escapade: I took the first step towards my escapade a reckless adventure
truantry: you would have thought I had had enough of truantry for once, running off from one's duty
repulse: after their repulse of the morning, the driving back of an attack
carousing: the defeated pirates lay carousing in the swamp. drinking and making merry noisily

Critical thinking

Using two pieces of evidence, explain what the fight has cost the garrison by the time dinner is over.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Jim sees from the ridge of the spit that shows him how the pirates guard their ship.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Jim’s description of Ben Gunn’s coracle tells us about the man who made it.