Chapter 27 · Treasure Island

Copywork

I had nothing nearer my fancy than to get home to the stockade and boast of my achievements. Possibly I might be blamed a bit for my truantry, but the recapture of the Hispaniola was a clenching answer, and I hoped that even Captain Smollett would confess I had not lost my time.

Read the two sentences aloud. The first is short and the second is long. What does the second sentence have room to say that the first does not, and which word tells you Jim is not sure he will be forgiven?

Discussion

Narration Tell back Jim's evening in order, from Hands in the water to the moment Silver calls for a torch.

Jim is more afraid of falling into the water beside Hands than of the dirk in his shoulder. Why might the dead man frighten him more than his wound? Inference
Earlier Jim clung in horror at the thought of falling beside Hands's body. Now he takes O'Brien “as if he had been a sack of bran” and tumbles him overboard. What has changed? Character
Jim says that “the recapture of the Hispaniola was a clenching answer” to any blame for leaving. How much should that answer count? Moral reasoning
Jim reaches the stockade after dark, sees a huge fire and hears snoring, and says the sleepers' noise is “like music.” What has he decided by then? Inference
Jim calls the parrot's noise “keeping better watch than any human being.” Why might the author give the warning to a parrot? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you came home sure of a welcome and found something different.

Vocabulary

achievements: I had nothing nearer my fancy than to get home to the stockade and boast of my achievements. things accomplished by effort or skill
clenching: the recapture of the Hispaniola was a clenching answer, settling an argument beyond dispute
lather: He rose once to the surface in a lather of foam and blood and then sank again for good. a froth
desisted: either it stuck too hard or my nerve failed me, and I desisted with a violent shudder. stopped; gave up the attempt
tremulous: both wavering with the tremulous movement of the water. trembling; quivering
doused: The jibs I speedily doused and brought tumbling to the deck, but the mainsail was a harder matter. lowered quickly; here, a sail
circumspectly: I walked more circumspectly, keeping an eye on every side. cautiously; looking all round
radiance: For if I could see this radiance, might it not reach the eyes of Silver himself a glow of light
chequered: still lay in a black shadow chequered with long silvery streaks of light. marked with patches of light and dark
refrain: who thus announced my arrival with her wearisome refrain. a line repeated again and again

Critical thinking

Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Jim gets himself out of the dirk and back on deck.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Jim does to try to keep the Hispaniola safe before he leaves her.
Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Jim describes the stockade clearing when he arrives.