Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson Jim Hawkins was a young boy who, after his father’s death, helped his mother run their inn, the Admiral Benbow. His life was dull and he dreamt of adventure. A mysterious sailor called Billy Bones arrived, seeking lodgings. One morning they found him dead in his room. Among his possessions they discovered a rolled up parchment. Hearing the ‘tap, tap tap’ of a stick outside, they fled before Billy’s pursuers burst in and ransacked the inn. Jim realised that the contents of the sea chest must be valuable, so he took them to Squire Trelawney who recognised a map drawn by the infamous pirate Captain Flint. It showed the location on a distant island of his buried treasure. Trelawney and his friend Dr Livesey immediately began planning an expedition. They set off to Bristol where they met a one-legged bar keeper by the name of Long John Silver. He suggested a crew and persuaded them to take him along as cook. Once everything was shipshape, the anchor was raised and The Hispaniola set sail. Jim had never been to sea but Long John Silver took him under his wing and they became friends. One day he happened to be sitting behind a barrel out of sight when he overheard Long John Silver plotting a mutiny. They intended to seize the ship and take the treasure for themselves. Suddenly, he heard a cry from the crow’s nest, “Land Ahoy!” It was too late to raise the alarm! The pirates had possession of the ship and the Union Jack was replaced with the Jolly Roger. Jim sneaked into the pirates’ boat and after they abandoned it on the beach he slipped away. He was exploring the island when he came across a very hairy man dressed in worn, tattered clothes. Ben Gunn had been part of Captain Flint’s crew and had been marooned on the island. Ben promised to help defeat the pirates. Meanwhile, Squire Trawlaney, Dr Livesey, Captain Smollet and a handful of trustworthy sailors had gone ashore too. The pirates launched an attack. The scream of cannon balls and crack of musket balls was deafening, the pirates retreating only when their ammunition ran out. John Silver approached carrying a white flag. “We outnumber you but if you give us the map we will spare your lives.” “I’ll see you hang first!” retorted Captain Smollett. The pirates turned on their heels, shouting, “We’ll be back!” Night fell. Once again Jim decided to take things into his own hands. He went in search of the rowing boat Ben Gunn had told him about. A skeleton crew had been left in charge of The Hispaniola. Israel Hands spotted Jim as soon as he pulled himself on deck. Pulling out a knife, he lunged at the boy but Jim was too quick for him. He chased Jim round the deck, knife in hand, but – full of rum – he lost his balance and toppled overboard. Single handed, Jim steered the ship into a cove on the other side of the island. The pirates accused Silver of bungling the whole quest. In a desperate attempt to regain control of his crew, Silver waved the treasure map triumphantly. Squire Trawlawney, seeing their ship gone, had had no alternative but to give up the treasure map. Long John Silver and the pirates collected picks and shovels and went in search of the treasure. “Tall tree, ten paces North- North East,” Silver called. The pirates raced to the spot and started to dig furiously – but all they found was a pile of bones. They stopped dead in their tracks. An eerie voice rang out: “Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest. Yo, ho ho and a bottle of rum!” The spirit of Captain Flint! Silver wasn’t fooled. He knew it was Benn Gunn. The pirates were furious and turned on Silver and Jim intent on killing them both. Silver stood in front of the boy protecting him when suddenly shots rang out. Dr Livesey and Ben Gunn come out of the undergrowth, pistols blazing. The pirates scattered! Ben Gunn took them to his cave where long ago he had hidden the treasure. It was useless to him on the island, so he was willing to give up most of it in return for his passage home. Jim stared in wonder as he lifted the heavy lid of the chest. Inside were diamonds, rubies, pearls, emeralds and silver. “Pieces of eight, pieces of eight!” squawked Silver’s parrot. Despite their pleas, Long John Silver was the only pirate allowed to return with them. During the voyage home, Jim was left in charge of the ship while the others went ashore for supplies. Knowing that Silver would almost certainly be hung on his return, Jim let him make his escape. He was never heard from again. As for Jim Hawkins, he vowed never to go to sea again! .