Chapter 13 of Treasure Island delivers a powerful mix of foreboding and action as the Hispaniola finally reaches its fateful destination: Treasure Island. On a stifling, muggy morning, the crew spots the island’s wild, untamed landscape.

But for Jim Hawkins, the sight is anything but thrilling.

“Its grey, melancholy woods, and wild stone spires, and the surf foaming and thundering on the steep beach…”

Jim’s heart sinks. From the very first glimpse, a sense of dread takes hold—a haunting feeling that Treasure Island is no paradise but a trap waiting to spring.

Tensions on the Hispaniola reach their breaking point.

The crew, restless and rebellious, teeters on the edge of mutiny, and Captain Smollett knows they’re running out of time.

In a calculated move to defuse the situation, he offers the entire crew the chance to go ashore and explore the island, arming only his loyal men with pistols for protection.

But as the crew prepares to disembark, Jim makes a rash, life-altering decision: he will go ashore with them. The moment his feet touch the sand, regret sets in.

His instincts scream danger as Long John Silver calls after him, the sound of the pirate’s voice sending shivers down his spine. Jim doesn’t wait to find out Silver’s intentions.

“I paid no heed; jumping, ducking, and breaking through, I ran straight before my nose, till I could run no longer.”

Jim is now alone on an island filled with dangers both seen and unseen. The mutiny looms closer, Silver’s true nature becomes harder to ignore, and the wilderness itself offers no comfort. What perils await Jim in the untamed depths of Treasure Island? The real adventure begins now, but survival will come at a steep price.

MAKE A TREASURE ISLAND DIORAMA

“The appearance of the island when I came on deck next morning was altogether changed… Grey-coloured woods covered a large part of the surface. This even tint was indeed broken up by streaks of yellow sandbreak in the lower lands…”

It’s hard to imagine Treasure Island in the mind’s eye of author Robert Louis Stevenson - but we’re going to try with a diorama.

TERMS TO KNOW

Yellow sandbreak – patches of yellow sandy ground that interrupt the otherwise uniform, gray-colored woods covering the island.

“The Hispanolia was rolling scuppers under” – the ship is rocking so much that water is rolling over the scuppers, the openings along the side of the deck used for drainage.

“The booms were tearing at the blocks” – “booms” are the long poles that hold the sails in place, while “blocks” are the pulleys attached to the ship that manage the ropes for the sails.

Manufactory – a factory where goods are manufactured.

The backstay – a supporting rope or cable that runs from the top of the mast to the stern (back) of the ship. Its primary function is to stabilize the mast and keep it upright, especially when under sail.

“Strong scour with the ebb” – a powerful, fast-moving current that occurs during the ebb tide, which is when the tide recedes or flows out to sea. “Scour” is the forceful movement of water.

Steersman – the person responsible for steering a ship, typically by managing the ship’s wheel or tiller.

“The man in the chains got everywhere more water than was down in the chart” – the crew member responsible for measuring the water’s depth (“man in the chains”) finds that the depth is deeper than expected, according to navigational charts.

The cabin party – the crew members who remain loyal to Captain Smollett and oppose the mutiny led by Long John Silver. This group includes Jim Hawkins, Doctor Livesey, Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollett, and a few trusted others.

“This is a tiff; he’d soon talk ‘em out of it if he had the chance” – Captain Smollett believes the crew is in conflict about starting a mutiny and that Long John Silver could change their minds.

“Take the gigs” – small, lightweight boats that travel between the ship and shore using a set of oars.

Consort – companion boats that intend to come for assistance.