Chapter 15 of Treasure Island takes a thrilling turn as Jim Hawkins ventures deeper into the wild, untamed forest of the island.

Haunted by the murder he witnessed and desperate to evade the pirates, Jim’s every step is fraught with danger. Suddenly, a noise—gravel cascading through the trees—sends his heart racing.

A figure leaps from one tree trunk to another.

Is it a bear? A man? A ghost?

Caught between the pirates and this mysterious creature, Jim backs away, unsure of what—or who—is watching him.

The mystery deepens when Jim discovers the truth: it’s not a ghost, but Ben Gunn, a ragged, wild man who has been marooned on the island for three years. Once a member of Captain Flint’s crew, Ben reveals he has his own dark history with the fearsome Long John Silver, the man with one leg.

“You’re all in a clove hitch, ain’t you?” Ben says, his words as cryptic as his appearance. But there’s hope in his ragged smile:

“Well, you just put your trust in Ben Gunn.”

Ben Gunn offers Jim an extraordinary secret—he’s found the treasure. If they help him escape the island, he promises to make them all rich. Jim cautiously agrees, but their fragile alliance is thrown into chaos when the sound of cannon fire rips through the air. Startled, Jim and Ben race toward the ship, unsure of what fresh danger awaits.

What lies ahead for Jim and his new ally? Can Ben Gunn be trusted, or is this another trap in a world filled with treachery? With cannon fire echoing across the island and danger closing in, the stakes have never been higher. Treasure Island is no longer just a place of adventure—it’s a fight for survival.

TOASTED CHEESE (Welsh Rarebit)

“I’ve dreamed of cheese - toasted mostly.” - Ben Gunn

In England, a classic version of toasted cheese is known as Welsh Rarebit (or “Welsh Rabbit” in older texts). This dish is a bit more elaborate than your basic, open-faced toasted cheese sandwich, involving a flavorful cheese sauce instead of just melted cheese.

TERMS TO KNOW

Apparition – something ghostly or unreal that appears suddenly.

Lurking nondescript – a figure moving in a way that’s sneaky, vague, or hard to identify. Something unknown and possibly menacing, creating an atmosphere of suspense or unease.

Supplication – the act of asking or begging for something earnestly and humbly. It often implies a sense of desperation, humility, or reverence in the way the request is made.

Loops of tarry gaskin – ropes or cloth treated with tar, possibly used on the ship to secure objects or as part of sailors’ gear.

Marooned – to be stranded or abandoned in a remote or isolated place, especially without any means of escape. Someone being left on a deserted island as a form of punishment or betrayal.

“You shall have cheese by the stone” – an old British unit of weight, where one stone equals 14 pounds.

“It begun with chuck-farthen on the blessed grave-stones” – a traditional English children’s game where players tossed coins (called “farthings”) toward a target, aiming to get closest to it.

“You’re all in a clove hitch, ain’t you?” – a knot used to secure an object that can also slip under strain. Suggests a tricky situation.

Cutwater – the forward edge of a ship’s bow, where the hull cuts through the water as it moves.

“As for the ship, she’ll beat up for more, by thunder!” – sailing against the wind in a zigzag pattern, allowing the ship to make progress even in challenging conditions.

“They’re all mastheaded on them mountains” – the goats are high up on the mountains, looking down from elevated spots.

Union Jack – the national flag of the United Kingdom, combining elements from the flags of England, Scotland, and Ireland.