Chapter 30 of Treasure Island raises the stakes with an unexpected twist as Dr. Livesey arrives at the block-house—startling both Jim Hawkins and the mutineers.

Calm and collected, the doctor explains his mission: to tend to the pirates’ health, even if they’re bound for the gallows.

“Because, you see, since I am mutineers’ doctor, or prison doctor, as I prefer to call it, I make it a point of honour not to lose a man for King George… and the gallows.”

The pirates bristle when Dr. Livesey requests a private word with Jim, but Long John Silver, ever the master manipulator, convinces them otherwise, calling them fools for their objections.

“He called them all fools and dolts you can imagine, said it was necessary I should talk to the doctor…”

Once alone, Livesey’s demeanor changes, expressing both relief and astonishment as Jim recounts his daring move to secure the Hispaniola.

“The ship!” Livesey exclaims, recognizing the magnitude of Jim’s actions. With heartfelt admiration, he reassures the boy:

“And do you suppose by any chance that we are going to let you lose yours? That would be a poor return, my boy.”

Meanwhile, Silver, away from his men, reveals his growing fear of hanging and his desperation to navigate a way out of their predicament. His vulnerability is striking, a stark contrast to the commanding figure he presents to the pirates.

Before leaving, Dr. Livesey offers a cryptic piece of advice to Silver: “Don’t be in any great hurry after the treasure and keep Jim close by your side. And when you need help, halloo.”

With tensions brewing and alliances hanging by a thread, Chapter 30 sets up a perilous balancing act. Can Jim and Livesey’s bond survive the mutineers’ growing suspicion?

And will Silver’s self-preservation instincts align with the loyalists’ plans—or lead them all into ruin? The danger is palpable, and the treasure lies tantalizingly close.

BLACK-OUT WRITING

“Well, what is it, anyway? Ah! ‘Deposed’ - that’s it, is it? Very pretty wrote, to be sure; like print, I swear. your hand o’ write, George?”

Black-out writing is a creative exercise where you take an existing text, such as a magazine article, and “discover” a hidden message by blackening or covering unwanted words, leaving only selected ones to form a sentence or saying. Let’s make our own message.

TERMS TO KNOW

Admixture – the act of mixing different things together.

“Slep’ like a supercargo” – a person aboard a ship responsible for overseeing the cargo and its trade. Unlike sailors, a supercargo had a privileged and less labor-intensive position.

“Your liver, man, is upside down” – the liver was thought to be the seat of courage or emotional strength. “Upside down” suggests the lack of courage or composure.

“That comed of sp’iling Bibles” – something happened because of disrespecting the Bible.

“Not having sense enough to know honest air from poison, and the dry land from a vile, pestiferous slough” – the inability to tell healthy, clean air from toxic air, while “vile, pestiferous slough” is a foul, disease-ridden swamp.

“You’ll all have the deuce to pay” – a warning that trouble or consequences are imminent. “Deuce” is an old-fashioned expression for mischief or trouble.

“You don’t appear to me to have the rudiments of a notion of the rules of health” – ignorant about basic health practices or well-being. “Rudiments” are the bare essentials.

“Not to slip your cable” – not to die prematurely. “Slipping the cable” refers to a ship losing its anchor line, causing it to drift.

“You can yarn through the spars” – storytelling in a casual, leisurely manner. “Through the spars” evokes the ship’s horizontal poles, suggesting sharing stories while being on deck.

A huge preponderance on their minds – a greater weight, influence, or importance.

“I’ll gammon that doctor” – “gammon” is 18th-century slang for outsmarting someone through clever words or actions.

Silenced by his volubility – being rendered speechless from someone’s overwhelming talkativeness or fluency in speech.

Playing chuck-farthing – a simple coin-tossing game in which players attempt to throw coins into a designated area.

“I’ve the shakes upon me for the gallows” – an intense fear or anxiety about the prospect of being hanged.

“Look out for squalls when you find it” – advising caution about potential danger. “Squall” is a sudden, violent gust of wind or a localized storm, symbolizing unforeseen difficulties or conflicts.

Perjury – willfully lying or making false statements under oath.