Treasure Island (1909)

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Treasure Island (1909)
by Robert Louis Stevenson, edited by Franklin Thomas Baker

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Merrill's English Texts

TREASURE ISLAND
STEVENSON

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

Merrill's English Texts

TREASURE ISLAND

BY

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND
NOTES BY FRANKLIN T. BAKER, A.M.,
PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH IN TEACHERS
COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

NEW YORK
CHARLES E. MERRILL CO.
44–60 East Twenty-third Street

Copyright, 1909
BY
CHARLES E. MERRILL CO.

EDITOR'S PREFACE

This little classic of Stevenson's is now definitely placed in the category of school books. It has taken this rank because of its undoubted appeal to young readers, and because of the high order of its workmanship. If, however, its place among school books means that it is to be made, through mistaken editorial and pedagogical zeal, a task instead of a pleasure to the boy, the choice of it for such purposes is a grave mistake. The present editor has therefore sought only to furnish such notes as will save the reader from the inconvenience of going to the dictionary, and such comments as will enlighten him regarding the high place the book has won with readers of cultivated tastes.

F. T. B.

October 1, 1909.

PUBLISHERS' NOTE

Merrill's English Texts

This series of books will include in complete editions those masterpieces of English Literature that are best adapted for the use of schools and colleges. The editors of the several volumes will be chosen for their special qualifications in connection with the texts to be issued under their individual supervision, but familiarity with the practical needs of the classroom, no less than sound scholarship, will characterize the editing of every book in the series.

In connection with each text, a critical and historical introduction, including a sketch of the life of the author and his relation to the thought of his time, critical opinions of the work in question chosen from the great body of English criticism, and, where possible, a portrait of the author, will be given. Ample explanatory notes of such passages in the text as call for special attention will be supplied, but irrelevant annotation and explanations of the obvious will be rigidly excluded.

Charles E. Merrill Co.

CONTENTS

PAGE
Introduction
	Robert Louis Stevenson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7
	Critical Opinions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	18
Treasure Island
	PART I. THE OLD BUCCANEER
I.	The Old Sea-Dog at the Admiral Benbow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	29
II.	Black Dog Appears and Disappears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	38
III.	The Black Spot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	47
IV.	The Sea-Chest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	55
V.	The Last of the Blind Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	63
VI.	The Captain's Papers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	71
	PART II. THE SEA COAST
VII.	I go to Bristol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	79
VIII.	At the Sign of the Spy-Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	87
IX.	Powder and Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	94
X.	The Voyage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	101
XI.	What I Heard in the Apple Barrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	109
XII.	Council of War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	117
	PART III. MY SHORE ADVENTURE
XIII.	How I Began my Shore Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	124
XIV.	The First Blow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	131
XV.	The Man on the Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	138
	PART IV. THE STOCKADE
XVI.	Narrative Continued by the Doctor—How the Ship Was Abandoned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	147
XVII.	Narrative Continued by the Doctor—The Jolly-Boat's Last Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	154
XVIII.	Narrative Continued by the Doctor—End of the First Day's Fighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	160
XIX.	Narrative resumed by Jim Hawkins—The Garrison at the Stockade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	166
XX.	Silver's Embassy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	174
XXI.	The Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	182
	PART V. MY SEA ADVENTURE
XXII.	How I Began my Sea Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	190
XXIII.	The Ebb-Tide Runs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	198
XXIV.	The Cruise of the Coracle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	205
XXV.	I Strike the Jolly Roger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	213
XXVI.	Israel Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	220
XXVII.	"Pieces of Eight" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	231
	PART VI. CAPTAIN SILVER
XXVIII.	In the Enemy's Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	239
XXIX.	The Black Spot Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	250
XXX.	On Parole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	259
XXXI.	The Treasure Hunt—Flint's Pointer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	268
XXXII.	The Treasure Hunt—The Voice among the Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	277
XXXIII.	The Fall of a Chieftain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	285
XXXIV.	And Last . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	293
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		301

TOPICS AND QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

Under what circumstances was this book written? See Introduction, p. 14.

PART I

In what way is it made clear that the new guest of the
Admiral Benbow Inn was an unusual man? How is it suggested that he may have been a pirate? When do we know this defi-
nitely?
Why did he fear such a man as Dr. Livesey?
Does “the sea-faring man with one leg” set you won- dering?
4. What hint does the story of ‘Black Dog’s”’ meeting with the “Captain” give you?
What was the ‘“‘Captain’s”’ real name? Why was he in hiding?
By what means is the blind man made terrible? Why did Bones fear him?
What was “the black spot’’?
Which of the events that followed Bones’s death do you think most exciting?
Why were the country people afraid to come to the Inn?
What things did the dead seaman’s box contain? What article in it was of most importance?
Why did Jim carry the papers to Dr. Livesey? What did they contain?
What scheme did Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney hit upon?
From the reference to Bristol, in what part of England do you think these events took place
Retell the principal incidents of Part I orally or in writing.

PART II

Why was Jim so excited over the coming voyage?
What indiscreet thing had the Squire done at the outset?

What did he think of the crew he had got? What did Captain Smollett think of them? Who had really selected them?
What hint do you get from the fact that "Black Dog" appeared at Silver's Inn?
How did Silver allay Jim's suspicions? What did the Squire and the Doctor think of Silver?
What are the first hints of coming trouble that Captain Smollett sees? "Why does he say "Treasure is ticklish work"?
Note the song that the men sing as the ship sails. Where have you read it before?
What was Jim's "adventure of the apple barrel? Note how the whole situation comes out in Silver's talk.
What qualities does Jim show in this incident? What saved him from discovery?
What steps do the owners of the vessel take when they hear his story?
Retell in writing one of the incidents of the voyage which you think interesting.

PART III

What signs of coming trouble does Jim observe?
How does John Silver act?
Why were the men sent "on shore leave"?
What came of Jim's going ashore without leave?
What was the island ike?
Describe Silver's interview with Tom.
Who was "the man of the island"? How does he show that he has lived a long time alone?
What hint is there that he may be of use to the Squire and his friends?

PART IV

Why are these chapters (XVI-XVIII) told by the doctor
Why did his party decide to occupy the old stockade?
What adventures did they have in landing their supplies?
How many men are in the faithful party? .
How did Ben Gunn help them?
How did the men in the stockade prepare to resist attack?
Describe Silver's embassy.
What were the results of the fight at the stockade?

PART V

Why did Jim steal away from his friends? What results came of his escapade? What did he do with Ben Gunn’s boat? What did he see in the ship?
Describe his adventures with Israel Hands.
How did he finally get the ships into the harbor?
In what instances has Jim helped his friends? In which cases has he done it through luck or through love of adventure?
How have the buccaneers been defeating their own cause and destroying themselves?

PART VI

How many of the pirates were left alive at this point of the story? Who were they?
What quarrel arose among them?
Why did Silver decide to save Jim? How does he again show his capacity?
Describe the interview between Jim and the Doctor.
Why did the pirates detain Jim?
Tell how they found their way to the place where Flint had buried the treasure? Describe the scene there.
How did the Squire’s party manage to be in time to save Jim?
What had become of the treasure?
What finally became of Silver?
Which scenes in the whole story stand out most clearly in your memory?
Which characters seem most real? Which most interesting?
Who is the hero of the book: Jim Hawkins or John Silver?

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