Chapter 4 · Treasure Island

Copywork

But my mother, frightened as she was, would not consent to take a fraction more than was due to her and was obstinately unwilling to be content with less. It was not yet seven, she said, by a long way; she knew her rights and she would have them; and she was still arguing with me when a little low whistle sounded a good way off upon the hill. That was enough, and more than enough, for both of us.

Read the passage aloud and notice that the second sentence runs on with semicolons until a "little low whistle" stops it. What has the whistle cut short, and what does the short last sentence tell you about how the two of them took it?

Discussion

Narration Tell what happens from Jim and his mother running to the hamlet to their hiding under the little bridge.

No one in the hamlet will go back to the inn with Jim and his mother. Was that cowardice, or good sense? Moral reasoning
Everyone cries out at the foolhardiness of going back, yet Jim says “of course” he will go with his mother. Why might he? Character
Jim reads “You have till ten tonight,” and then the clock strikes six. How does the author use time to shape what comes next? Author's choice
Jim wonders why the captain carried five or six West Indian shells about with him. What does the chest as a whole suggest about the man? Inference
Crouched under the bridge, Jim curses the neighbours and blames his own mother. Is his anger fair? Theme

Make a Connection Tell about a time you had to do something frightening because no one else would.

Vocabulary

consent: my mother, frightened as she was, would not consent to take a fraction more than was due to her agree to something
obstinately: and was obstinately unwilling to be content with less. stubbornly; refusing to change one's mind
detestable: the thought of that detestable blind beggar hovering near at hand and ready to return, hateful; deserving to be loathed
hearken: we sometimes stopped to lay hold of each other and hearken. listen carefully
infectious: They say cowardice is infectious; spreading quickly from one person to another
foolhardiness: they all cried out at our foolhardiness, reckless boldness
venture: in the cold night upon this dangerous venture. a risky undertaking
repugnance: Overcoming a strong repugnance, I tore open his shirt at the neck, strong disgust
dispersing: The fog was rapidly dispersing, scattering; clearing away
tottering: I helped her, tottering as she was, to the edge of the bank, walking unsteadily, about to fall

Critical thinking

Jim and his mother search the house for the key and the gold. Using two pieces of evidence, explain who leads: Jim or his mother.
Jim slips the bolt when they return, and the blind man cannot get in. Using two pieces of evidence, did the bolt help them or put them in danger?
Fog, frost and moonlight change through the night. Using two pieces of evidence, does the night help Jim and his mother more than it hurts them?