Truncated Treasure Island

One day, the formidable buccaneer, Captain Billy Bones decided to stay at the Admiral Benbow, the lodge owned by Jim Hawkins and his family. After asking for a glass of rum, he found out that very few people stayed in the Admiral Benbow. This just strengthened his decision. "What mought you call me?" he said. "You mought call me 'captain'." All day, he would stay at the cove and stare at the ocean, on the lookout for ships. All night, he would drink rum. He would pay Jim every month to be on the lookout for a sailor with one leg. He would also invite the neighbors to listen to his scary stories about life at sea.

Once, when Jim's father was sick, Doctor Livesey came to treat him. While he was discussing a cure, the captain began to sing one of his wicked pirate songs. The doctor first looked up angrily and went on with his talk. Later, the captain said with a low, scary oath "Silence there, between decks!" The doctor - at this - replied that he had only one thing to say. That the pirate should stop drinking rum. Then, the captain threatened to pin the doctor to the wall with his cutlass. After that, the doctor warned that he was also a magistrate; and if he got a whiff of a complaint against the captain for incivility such as this, he would have him put in the gallows. This was the first and last time the captain was crossed. This calmed the captain a great deal.

One bitter winter, a seafaring man visited the Admiral Benbow, and tricked Jim Hawkins into leading him to the captain. When Jim was away, they began to throw chairs around, draw cutlasses, and attack each other in more ways. Black Dog - as was the stranger's name - was severely wounded and ran away. Meanwhile, the captain had a stroke.

That evening, Jim's father died, and with all the extra work, Jim had no time to share the captain's alarms. Before the day of the funeral, Jim noticed a blind beggar tapping away in front of the Admiral Benbow. Jim was again forced into leading the stranger to the captain. This time, the beggar passed something into the captain's hand and left. As soon as the captain saw it, he collapsed. In fact, he died of apoplexy. There was a piece of paper in his hand, blackened on one side. On the other was written, "You have until ten tonight." It must have been the 'black spot' which the captain dreaded so much. Jim decided to take the key (to captain's sea-chest) around his neck and find the money the latter owed the inn.

He and his mother went to the captain's room and opened the chest. There, they found money of currencies around the world! Since the guineas - which were the rarest - were the only ones Jim's mother could count, it took a long time. It was almost ten o'clock! Finally, Jim convinced his mother to take what she had and take an oilskin packet to square the count. They ran out and there wasn't space to go beyond the bridge, so they had to stay.

Pew - as was the beggar's name - and his acquaintances began to turn the inn inside out. Suddenly, a few bullets whizzed past them. Everyone except Pew sensed danger and began to run away. Just then, a few horses galloped down the hill and trampled Pew. The riders took Jim to Doctor Livesey and Squire Trelawney. There, they opened the oilskin packet and found two items of interest. One was a list of ships they (the Captain's acquaintances) attacked. And the other was a map - the map to the famous pirate, Captain Flint's hoard of treasure. It was a map to the lonely Skeleton Island! It was a treasure map!

Over the next few days, Jim was to stay with Redruth. One fine day, they received a letter from the squire about their ship, the Hispaniola and their crew. It was also about Long John Silver who lost his leg 'in his country's service' and was going to be ship's cook. At first, Jim was afraid this was the man Captain Bones feared; but, after he met Silver, he was sure this wasn't him. The man had such a sunny attitude, and could never be a cruel buccaneer. The ship's captain, Captain Smollett was pretty much a no-nonsense man.

Later on, they had finally started their journey. One day, Jim wanted to take an apple from the apple barrel. As soon as he went there, he heard voices approaching. He quickly hid in the apple barrel. He heard a voice - the voice of Long John Silver! They were planning a mutiny! Suddenly, someone yelled, "Land ahoy!"

Jim quickly asked the squire, the doctor, and Captain Smollett if they could discuss an urgent matter alone. In the cabin, Jim told them all he heard. They decided to give the hands a day off on the island to plan without any intervention. Jim - on the other hand - decided to follow Silver. On the isle, he found Silver talking to someone. Suddenly, a long, horrible scream echoed through the island. Tom - who was being spoken to - was astonished to hear one of his mates scream in pain. Jim had found two of the honest hands! Then, as soon as Tom began to object, Silver took out his knife and killed him.

Jim had seen Silver's other side! So he WAS the man Captain Billy Bones feared! Jim began to run away as fast as he could. He had to! Then, he stopped at the foot of one of the three hills of Skeleton Island. A voice floated up to him - a human voice! It was the man of the island - Ben Gunn - who had been deserted on the island three years ago and had lived on goats and berries ever since. He told Jim the location of his boat, the light and portable coracle.

Meanwhile, the honest hands on the Hispaniola - who were getting worried about Jim - decided to send the doctor and Hunter to the island on one of the jolly-boats. After a while, they found a strong loghouse, complete with a spring! That was everything they needed. They went back to the ship to report their discovery, and take the others. Gray - who had previously been a mutineer - also joined. As soon as everyone reached the loghouse, they were attacked by the mutineers. In the fight, Redruth was killed. Captain Smollett decided to honor him by raising the flag of England (their native country) over his body. Meanwhile, after Jim and Ben Gunn spotted it, they decided to follow it and reach the honest hands. Ben Gunn said he couldn't come, so Jim went alone. The others were relieved to see him safe and sound.

A few days later, Silver and two other mutineers came, waving a white flag. They sat down to talk, but the captain didn't agree to a truce. So, the mutineers had to leave. Suddenly, they heard a gunshot. They were being attacked! Jim and the captain were to stay inside and load the guns since neither of them could shoot well. The others set to guard the loopholes. Just then, Joyce aimed his musket and fired, but missed. There were three bogeys on the doctor's side and seven to nine facing the squire. Two were killed, one ran for it, two were nearing the loghouse. A pirate snatched Hunter's rifle and hit him hard. Another ran across and attacked Doctor Livesey. Three of the pirates remaining were slain. One fled. Victory was the honest hands'.

Hunter had died after the attack. Captain Smollett was wounded, but survived. Since all his work was done, Jim had nothing to do. So, he decided to equip himself with a pistol, bullets, and some biscuit. Then, he went to find Ben Gunn's coracle. He went to the big white rock where he was told it was. And then, he heaved away the rock and decided to try out the coracle. However, try as he might, he could not control it. So, he just let it go on its own path. Then, he beheld a sight he never thought he would see - the Hispaniola. He also noticed that it was tied to land by a cord. He cut it to send away all the pirates. He also tried to get the ship under his control by climbing up the cord. When he reached, he only saw two pirates - Israel Hands and O'Brien. O'Brien was dead. Israel Hands was severely wounded. They hurt each other in their drunken folly. Israel Hands struck a bargain with Jim. If Jim helped him, Israel Hands would tell Jim how to steer the ship. Jim went below to get something for Israel Hands, but noticed that he was cleaning his knife. Why would anyone clean their knives when they're severely wounded? Israel Hands was getting ready for a fight. Then, Jim realized he (Jim) wasn't defenseless. He had a pistol. With it, he shot Israel Hands dead and used what he found out from Israel Hands to steer the ship and anchor it at the North Inlet.

Jim finally got down and ran back to the loghouse. It was night then, and as soon as he got down to sleep; a sharp voice rang in his ear, "Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!" It was the voice of Silver's parrot. Everyone got up and tried to catch hold of Jim and kill him but, Silver made a bargain that if Jim was left alone, he would save them from the gallows (much to the objection of the pirates).

Apparently, the honest hands gave the mutineers the loghouse, the map, and their supplies in exchange for safety and peace. Later on, the pirates began to search for treasure. But it wasn’t where it was supposed to be! It was gone! While the pirates searched on and on, a few bullets whizzed past. Out of all the pirates, only three (excluding Silver) remained. Then, the doctor, Gray, and Ben Gunn emerged and revealed what happened. Ben Gunn had found the treasure and hid it in his cove. He also had a lot of goat meat there.

They had a hearty meal of goat meat and went back to the ship. Each one got his share. Ben Gunn lost or spent it in 19 days! He was still quite a popular singer.