Chapter 27 of Treasure Island plunges Jim Hawkins into a new wave of danger as his daring adventure aboard the Hispaniola takes a dark turn. After defending himself against Israel Hands, Jim, wounded but determined, frees himself from the mast and ensures both Hands and O’Brien’s bodies are cast into the sea.

“I took him by the waist as if he had been a sack of bran, and, with one good heave, tumbled him overboard.”

With the Hispaniola safely hidden in the North Inlet, Jim sets out to reunite with his allies, his mind racing with the dangers that await on the island. Spotting the glow of Ben Gunn’s campfire in the distance, he begins to question his safety:

“For if I could see this radiance, might it not reach the eyes of Silver himself?”

The trek to the stockade is fraught with tension, every shadow and sound a potential threat. When Jim finally arrives, relief washes over him at the sight of his supposed allies sleeping soundly. But unease creeps in: there’s no one on watch.

“If it had been Silver and his lads that were now creeping in on them, not a soul would have seen daybreak.”

In the pitch darkness, Jim enters the block-house, only to be met with a shocking betrayal of circumstance.

Silver’s parrot, with its shrill cry of “pieces of eight! pieces of eight!” awakens the mutineers. Before Jim can react, he’s taken captive by Long John Silver and his crew.

Now trapped in the hands of the enemy, Jim’s fate hangs by a thread. Will Silver spare him, or has Jim’s boldness led him straight into disaster? Chapter 27 leaves readers breathless, as Jim’s journey takes a perilous turn toward the unknown.

MAKE HARDTACK BISCUITS

“I routed out some biscuit, some pickled fruits, a great bunch of raisins, and a piece of cheese.” - Jim Hawkins

Hardtack biscuits are simple, long-lasting crackers made from flour, water, and salt. They were a staple for sailors due to their durability and shelf life, often lasting months or even years if kept dry. Hardtack is very hard, so to eat it, sailors would often soak it in water, coffee, or soup to soften it up before consuming.

TERMS TO KNOW

The cant of the vessel – the tilt or lean of the ship to one side.

The shudder tore away – the effects of the ship’s sudden impact.

A sounding plunge – a forceful, deep dive or drop, often accompanied by a loud or resonant splash.

“The jibs I speedily doused” – quickly lowering the jibs, which are the triangular sails located at the front (bow) of a sailing ship.

Cut the halyards – to sever the ropes, known as halyards, that are used to raise and lower the sails on a ship.

“I could not budge the downhall” – unable to loosen the rope used to pull down a sail or spar (such as a jib or staysail).

A glade of the wood – an open, grassy clearing within a forest or wooded area where sunlight reaches the ground, creating a break in the dense trees and providing a sense of openness.

Holding the cut hawser – gripping a hawser—a thick, heavy rope used for mooring or towing a ship—that has been cut.

“I walked more circumspectly” – to walk more carefully, cautiously, and with greater awareness of the surroundings.

“We were somewhat niggardly of firewood” – the word “niggardly” describes a reluctance to use resources freely, possibly due to scarcity or the need to conserve.