Chapter 23 · Treasure Island

Copywork

Why I should have done so I can hardly say. It was at first mere instinct, but once I had it in my hands and found it fast, curiosity began to get the upper hand, and I determined I should have one look through the cabin window. I pulled in hand over hand on the cord, and when I judged myself near enough, rose at infinite risk to about half my height and thus commanded the roof and a slice of the interior of the cabin.

Read the last sentence aloud. Before Jim sees anything he does four things: he "pulled in hand over hand", he "judged myself near enough", he "rose", and he "commanded the roof". What does each phrase tell you about where his body is and what he is trying to do? Which words tell you how much of the cabin he can see from there?

Discussion

Narration Tell back Jim's night on the water in order, from the coracle to the moment he falls asleep.

Jim waits, with the hawser half cut, for a puff of wind before the last strands. Why might a boy who is in such a hurry wait? Inference
Jim calls the pirates on the shore “as callous as the sea they sailed on.” What does he see that makes him say it? Character
Jim says he can hardly say why he grasped the cord, but then curiosity gets “the upper hand.” What does he seem to want to see through the cabin window? Inference
Jim cuts the ship adrift while the two watchmen are drunk and quarrelling below. Is that a clever trick or an unfair one? Moral reasoning
As the song ends, Jim thinks of “drink and the devil” at work in the cabin. Why might the author let the pirates' song comment on the scene? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you took a look at something you knew you should leave alone, in a story or in life.

Vocabulary

instinct: It was at first mere instinct, but once I had it in my hands and found it fast, a natural impulse, acted on without thinking
commanded: thus commanded the roof and a slice of the interior of the cabin. had a clear view over
leeway: Do as you pleased, she always made more leeway than anything else, sideways drift off course
taut: The hawser was as taut as a bowstring, and the current so strong she pulled upon her anchor. stretched tight
meditating: Just while I was meditating, a puff came, thinking something over deeply
sever: waiting to sever these last when the strain should be once more lightened cut through
divined: threw out something, which I divined to be an empty bottle. guessed; worked out without seeing
callous: all these buccaneers were as callous as the sea they sailed on. hard-hearted; unfeeling
encrimsoned: these two furious, encrimsoned faces swaying together under the smoky lamp, turned deep red
stupor: an occasional stupor, fell upon my mind even in the midst of my terrors, a dazed, half-conscious state

Critical thinking

Using two pieces of evidence, explain how well Jim handles the coracle at the start of the chapter.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Jim learns about the two men in the cabin.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain how the current changes the night for Jim and for the ship.