Chapter 29 of Treasure Island brims with tension and cunning as Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver anxiously await the pirates’ verdict. The air crackles with suspense as Jim spots the mutineers approaching. “Here they come,” he whispers.

The pirates deliver their judgment in the form of the dreaded black spot, scrawled on a torn page from a Bible with the word “deposed” scribbled on the back.

But Silver, ever the sharp-witted schemer, seizes the opportunity to take control of the situation: “Where might you have got the paper? Why, hillo! Look here now: this ain’t lucky! You’ve gone and cut this out of a Bible. What fool’s cut a Bible?”

Using his wit and charisma, Silver masterfully counters their grievances, turning their accusations against them. He boldly declares himself their captain until they properly air their complaints, rendering their black spot meaningless.

“I’m still your cap’n, mind—till you outs with your grievances, and I reply. In the meantime, your black spot ain’t worth a biscuit.”

The mutineers, caught off guard by Silver’s confidence, voice their frustrations, but Silver silences them with a triumphant revelation: he has the treasure map. The tide turns in his favor as his clever manipulation wins the men back over. The mutineers, dazzled by his leadership, refuse to let him step down.

“Barbecue for ever! Barbecue for cap’n!”

With Silver restored as leader and the chief accuser, George Merry, sent off to the night watch, the uneasy alliance remains intact—but for how long? Can Silver truly keep the pirates in line, and where does this leave Jim in their dangerous game of power and loyalty? Chapter 29 sets the stage for shifting loyalties and escalating peril, as every move brings Jim closer to the heart of the treasure—and the danger that surrounds it.

THE PIRATE CODE OF CONDUCT

“I thought you said you knowed the rules. Leastways, if you don’t, I do.” - Long John Silver | The Pirate Code of Conduct refers to a set of rules or agreements that governed the behavior, rights, and duties of pirate crews during the Golden Age of Piracy (1650–1730). While the “code” varies between pirate ships and captains, it was often formalized through a written or verbal agreement called the “articles of agreement” before a voyage began.

TERMS TO KNOW

Incongruous – something out of place, inconsistent, or not in harmony with its surroundings or expectations.

“I won’t hurt a depytation” – a colloquial version of “deputation,” – a group acting on behalf of others. A promise not to harm them.

Deposed – to remove someone from a position of power or authority, often forcefully or formally.

Contemptuously – speaking or acting in a way that shows disdain, scorn, or a lack of respect.

“I made a hash o’ this cruise” – to admit one’s mistakes.

Hornpipe – a lively folk dance and the music associated with it. The hornpipe was also a type of wind instrument made of wood with a horn at one end, used to play music for such dances.

Gibbet – a structure historically used for hanging criminals as a form of execution or public display.

“You hain’t got the invention of a cockroach” – you haven’t even got the ingenuity or intelligence of a lowly creature.

“It’ll do to kiss the book on still, won’t it?” – “kiss the book” is the act of swearing an oath on the Bible.

“It don’t know more ‘n a ballad-book” – it’s as uninformed as a “ballad-book,” a collections of songs or poems, often entertaining but not considered sources of knowledge or wisdom.

Sentinel – a guard who keeps watch to warn of danger.