Chapter 24 · Treasure Island

Copywork

It was plain she was not to be interfered with, and at that rate, since I could in no way influence her course, what hope had I left of reaching land? I began to be horribly frightened, but I kept my head, for all that. First, moving with all care, I gradually baled out the coracle with my sea-cap; then, getting my eye once more above the gunwale, I set myself to study how it was she managed to slip so quietly through the rollers.

Read the three sentences aloud. Which words mark the order of what Jim does? What does the question at the start, "what hope had I left", do to the sentences that follow it?

Discussion

Narration Tell back Jim's morning at sea in order, from waking off the island to the leap onto the jib-boom.

Jim sits up “to try my skill at paddling” and the coracle buries her nose in a wave. Why does the boat punish him for being bold? Inference
Jim decides each wave is “for all the world like any range of hills.” Why might seeing the sea that way change what he does? Inference
Jim says the thought of the Hispaniola “had an air of adventure” and the water-breaker “doubled my growing courage.” What drives him to go after her? Inference
Jim thinks the men aboard must still be “drunk as owls” and later supposes the ship is “deserted.” Is he right to act on guesses like these? Moral reasoning
Jim says, “And then, of a sudden, I began to comprehend.” Why might the author let him understand so late and leave only a moment for action? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you had to go slowly and carefully to get somewhere, in a story or in life.

Vocabulary

influence: since I could in no way influence her course, what hope had I left of reaching land? have an effect on
baled: I gradually baled out the coracle with my sea-cap; scooped water out of a boat
gunwale: getting my eye once more above the gunwale, the upper edge of a boat's side
reverberations: loud reverberations, heavy sprays flying and falling, succeeded one another from second to second; echoing booms
contrariety: there was no contrariety between that and the current, opposition; being at odds
disposition: But even a small change in the disposition of the weight will produce violent changes in the behaviour of a coracle. arrangement; placement
infallibly: though I saw I must infallibly miss that point, certainly; without any chance of failing
promontory: I felt sure I should make the next promontory without fail. a high point of land jutting into the sea
presumed: I presumed the men on board were going round the island on their way back to the anchorage. supposed to be true without proof
comprehend: And then, of a sudden, I began to comprehend. understand

Critical thinking

Using two pieces of evidence, explain why Jim gives up on landing at Haulbowline Head.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Jim sees in the Hispaniola's sailing that makes him think nobody is steering.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain how the wind and current change Jim's chances in the chase.