Summary: Chapter XXXI
Silver thanks Jim for saving his life and for not running
away when Dr. Livesey encouraged him to do so. Jim and Silver sit
down to breakfast, and Jim is astonished by the fact that the band
has prepared three times as much food as is needed. Silver’s men
are happy, confident of seizing the treasure soon, but Jim is sad
in his certainty that Silver will betray him at the soonest practical
moment.
After breakfast the pirates set off on the treasure
hunt, with Silver leading Jim on a leash. They trudge through the
hills, periodically pausing to consult the map. Reaching the top
of a hill, the pirates are shocked to find a skeleton in seaman’s
garb, stretched out on the ground like a compass, pointing to the
treasure. The man’s knife is missing, suggesting that the pirates
are not the first to have come across the skeleton. The pirates
recognize the skeleton as a former mate, Allardyce, who served on
Flint’s crew, because of its long bones and yellow hair. Following
Allardyce’s clue, they head on toward the treasure.
Summary: Chapter XXXII
Taking a rest from the search, Silver expresses his confidence
that they are close to the treasure. One of the pirates feels uneasy
thinking about Flint, and Silver says they are lucky the old captain
is dead. The pirates suddenly hear a trembling, high voice singing
the same song the pirates frequently sing, “Fifteen men on the dead man’s
chest.” One of the pirates claims the voice is Flint’s, and the men
grow terrified, thinking they have awakened a ghost.
The pirates hear the voice again, and it wails what all
the men recognize as Flint’s last words. One of the men takes out
his Bible and starts praying. Silver, the only one who remains undaunted, scorns
the other men’s belief in spirits and keeps focused on the search
for the treasure. The pirates continue onward. As they approach
the treasure site, Silver’s nostrils quiver and he seems half mad.
Suddenly coming upon the site, the pirates are shocked to find it has
already been excavated, and only an empty hole lies before them.
Summary: Chapter XXXIII
Silver and his men are astonished that the treasure is
gone. Silver hands Jim his gun, realizing that he needs the boy
after all. Jim coldly accuses Silver of changing sides again. The
men dig in the pit and find a few coins. One of them accuses Silver
of having known all along that the treasure was gone. The angered
pirates suddenly seem united against Silver and begin to move upon
him. Suddenly a gun fires from somewhere in the surrounding thicket,
cutting down several of the pirates. Silver draws his pistol, killing
the pirate who had accused him. Dr. Livesey, Ben Gunn, and Abraham
Gray emerge from the trees, their muskets smoking.
Silver thanks Livesey for saving him from the uprising
and greets Ben Gunn affectionately. We learn that Ben, in his wanderings
about the island, had come across the skeleton, dug up the treasure,
and moved it to a cave. Livesey found out about Ben’s actions and
gave the map to Silver only after he knew it was useless. Learning
that Jim would be among the disappointed treasure-seekers, Livesey
sent Ben off to imitate Captain Flint’s voice, playing on the pirates’ superstitions
and slowing their progress.
