Chapter 31 of Treasure Island brims with suspense and foreboding as Jim Hawkins finds himself entangled deeper in the pirates’ plans. Forced to eat breakfast with the mutineers, Jim observes their reckless disregard for the danger ahead.

“I never in my life saw men so careless of the morrow; hand to mouth is the only word that can describe their way of doing.”

Long John Silver, ever the slippery schemer, continues his dangerous balancing act. To the pirates, he presents himself as their steadfast leader, ready to betray the loyalists.

But Jim, tethered to Silver like a captive, can’t shake the notion that he will side with the mutineers if it means saving himself.

The treasure hunt begins in earnest, with Jim dragged along like a prisoner, his every move controlled by Silver.

“I had a line about my waist, and followed obediently after the sea-cook, who held the loose end of the rope, now in his free hand, now between his powerful teeth. For all the world, I was led like a dancing bear.”

Their journey takes a chilling turn when they discover the skeletal remains of an old sailor. The gruesome sight and the unsettling position of the bones—”‘Tain’t in natur’”—shake even the hardened pirates, casting a shadow of dread over the expedition.

With terror creeping into their spirits, the mutineers press on, each step bringing them closer to the treasure—and to the unknown dangers that may await.

Will Jim find a way to escape Silver’s clutches, or is he marching toward his doom alongside the desperate pirates?

Chapter 31 is a haunting march into uncertainty, where greed and fear battle for control of the crew’s fate.

MAKE A PIRATE COMPASS

“It was done. The body pointed straight in the direction of the island, and the compass read duly E. S. E. and by E.”

Making an actual compass is a simple but fascinating project that demonstrates the principles of magnetism and navigation. The magnetized needle interacts with Earth’s magnetic field, aligning itself to point north, functioning just like a traditional compass.

TERMS TO KNOW

Biscuit and fried junk – “junk” refers to poor-quality salted or dried meat. The meat was fried to make it more palatable.

“I’ll take him in a line” – putting a rope around him.

“The other men were variously burthened” – carrying different kinds of loads or burdens as they march toward the treasure. “Burthened” is an older spelling of “burdened.”

Short of eatables – “eatables” is an old-fashioned term for food.

Cliffy eminence – a steep, prominent hill or elevation, characterized by cliffs or sharp, rocky edges.

Heavy, miry ground – difficult terrain to traverse, being waterlogged, muddy, and soft underfoot.

A matted, marish vegetation – dense, tangled plant growth in a swampy, marsh-like area.

A heavy-scented broom and many flowering shrubs – likely refers to a type of shrub with bright yellow flowers and a strong, sweet fragrance.

The brow of the plateau – refers to the edge or highest point of a flat elevated area on the island.

“I’ve taken a notion in my old numskull” – an impulsive idea. “Numskull” is a self-deprecating term for one’s head, implying limited intellect, but used humorously here.

“This here is a p’inter” – a phonetic spelling of “pointer,” meaning a clue, a sign, or a direction.

“Right up there is our line for the Pole Star and the jolly dollars” – using the North Star as a navigational guide. “Jolly dollars” is pirate slang for the treasure they seek.

“Ay, that would be Allardyce” – Allardyce is one of the pirates Captain Flint killed to conceal the location of the treasure.

“Not a copper doit nor a baccy box” – a colorful expression for the complete absence of valuables. “Copper doit” is a small, almost worthless coin. “Baccy box” is short for “tobacco box.”

“There he laid, with penny-pieces on his eyes” – in Greek mythology, placing “penny-pieces” (small coins) on the eyes of the dead was believed to pay the ferryman, Charon, for passage across the River Styx in the afterlife. Practically, coins kept the eyelids closed, ensuring a dignified appearance.

“The death-haul on the man” – the physical toll of death on a person associated with bringing about someone’s death. This phrase might describe a moment when a body is being moved.