Monday, March 26, 2012

Treasure Island Post 7: Chapters 16-18

Thus far, Treasure Island has been recorded first person by our protagonist Jim Hawkins. Chapters 16-18 are narrated by Dr. Livesey. 


Chapter 16


Stevenson takes us back in time a bit to where the crew reaches the island for the first time, and tells the same story from the Doctor's perspective. When they find out that Jim is in the hands of the conspirators, Dr. Livesey and Smollett worry for Jim's safety. They decide that the Doctor go with Hunter (Trelawney's servant) to the island. After hitting land, they find an old stockade of Flint's. When they return to the ship, the Doctor tells the crew what they found. They all then head for shore after loading two boatloads of necessities. Smollett gives Gray (one of the conspirators) one last chance to join them. He accepts.

Chapter 17


Smollett, Trelawney, Livesey, Redruth, and Gray are all on a tiny boat. Three of them would be too many for this boat, much less five. Not to mention all the other stuff they brought with them. Stevenson says that they're afraid to breath. A battle breaks out between the good guys and the bad. No one dies except a pirate that they shot, and the five wade to shore, but they had to leave half of all their stuff behind.

Chapter 18


They make their way to the stockade and take a moment to reload their guns. While rejoicing after approaching the corpse of the pirate they shot earlier, Redruth is shot. It's clear that there's no way he can survive, and the men carry help him lie down so he can die with dignity. Later that evening, the group of four are shot at continuously with cannon balls, but the ones shooting are aiming for the British flag that is hanging, so the group doesn't worry. Right when Livesey wonders about Jim, Jim appears.

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