Chapter 25 · Treasure Island

Copywork

I was greatly elated with my new command, and pleased with the bright, sunshiny weather and these different prospects of the coast. I had now plenty of water and good things to eat, and my conscience, which had smitten me hard for my desertion, was quieted by the great conquest I had made.

Read the second sentence aloud. It lists what Jim now has and then says what was "quieted". Which phrase carries the most weight for Jim, and what does the verb "smitten" add?

Discussion

Narration Tell back what Jim does on board, from tumbling onto the deck to the smile he cannot stop watching.

Jim greets the wounded Hands with “Come aboard, Mr. Hands,” said ironically. What is Jim doing with that joke? Tone
Jim drinks his water first and “not till then” gives Hands the brandy, and he sits with his food “well out of the coxswain’s reach.” What do these small choices show? Character
Hands offers to show Jim how to sail the ship for food, drink and a bandage. Who gets the better of that bargain? Inference
Jim says his conscience, which “had smitten me hard for my desertion,” was “quieted by the great conquest.” Is that a good reason for a conscience to go quiet? Moral reasoning
The chapter ends with Hands’s face and the words “watched, and watched, and watched me.” Why might the author end on that repetition? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you helped someone you did not quite trust, in a story or in life.

Vocabulary

elated: I was greatly elated with my new command, joyful; in high spirits
conscience: my conscience, which had smitten me hard the inner sense of right and wrong
reverse: trembled to her keel under the reverse, a sudden change to the opposite direction
scuppers: like a live thing in the scuppers. openings at deck level that let water run off
canting: the whole body canting towards the stern, tilting; leaning to one side
lockfast: All the lockfast places had been broken fastened with a lock
foraging: Foraging about, I found a bottle searching about for food and supplies
subsiding: the subsiding tide permitted us to land. going down; sinking back

Critical thinking

Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Jim sees on the deck that makes him think the watchmen have killed each other.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Hands looks and acts once he has had brandy, food and a bandage.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain what the state of the cabin shows about life aboard since the mutiny.