The Plot

            Set in the days of sail ships and pirates Treasure Island tells of the adventures of Jim Hawkins and his search for the buried treasure of the notorious pirate Captain Flint.

            The story is narrated by Jim himself and begins at his parent's inn 'The Admiral Benbow'. A mysterious stranger called Billy Bones rents a room at the inn. Billy lives in fear of a 'one legged man' and continually warns Jim to keep a look out for him. One day he is visited by a fearful blind beggar called 'Blind Pew' who gives him the 'black spot' - the mark of imminent death among pirate crews. After Blind Pew leaves Billy collapses and dies of 'thundering apoplexy'.

            Jim finds a map in Billy's sea chest just before Blind Pew returns with a band of evil pirates. Jim and his mother only just have time to hide before the pirates start to ransack the Inn looking for the map. Suddenly soldiers arrive and the pirates escape except for Blind Pew who is accidently trampled to death by the soldiers' horses.

            Jim takes the map to Squire Trelawney and Doctor Livesey who realize that it is a treasure map showing where Captain Flint - an evil and infamous dead pirate - buried his ill gotten gains. The Squire and the Doctor decide to go and find the treasure and invite Jim to come along. In a few weeks the Squire has bought a ship called the 'Hispaniola' and has hired a good crew headed by the admirable Captain Smollet. The cook is a one legged man called Long John Silver whom everyone
admires.

            The ship sets sail and Captain Smollet immediately begins to have doubts about the trustworthiness of this crew - but no trouble develops. However, the night before they reach Treasure Island Jim over hears Silver and other members of the crew plotting to kill them all. He realises that Silver and most of the crew are actually pirates and were once members of Captain Flint's crew.

            Jim warns the Doctor, Squire and the Captain about the evil plans that are afoot. The Captain sends most of the pirates ashore as a reward for arriving at the Island. Jim decides at the last moment to go ashore with them and once ashore hides in the woods that cover the Island.

            Whilst hiding he comes across Ben Gunn - an ex-pirate who was marooned on the island three years ago by his crew mates. Ben has renounced piracy and promises to help Jim and his friends. Meanwhile the Captain and the others have abandoned the Hispaniola and taken refuge in an old stockade on the Island.

            The pirates quickly realise that their plans have been discovered and attack the Captain and the others in an attempt to get the treasure map - however, for the time being the Captain and co. are safe in the stockade.

            Jim splits manages to sneak into the stockade and is reunited with his friends. They spend an uneasy night in the stockade and the next morning Silver approaches waving a flag of truce. Silver offers them their lives in exchange for the treasure map, the Captain refuses and soon another gunfight starts. The stockade is attacked by the pirates but are fought off, though there are men killed on both sides. Captain Smollett is also injured.

            Jim decides to escape from the stockade and sneaks off without telling the others. He finds a boat that Ben Gunn had told him he had hidden and then sails out to the Hispaniola and cuts its mooring ropes. He falls asleep in the boat exhausted.

            In the morning he only just manages to escape from drowning as the sea has become very rough. Luckily he spots the drifting Hispaniola and manages to board her. There are only two pirates on board and one of whom has been killed in a drunken brawl by the other. After a terrifying fight Jim kills the last pirate and manages to steer the ship in a small cove. He then heads back to the stockade to rejoin his friends.

            The stockade is now in the hands of Silver and his mates. Jim is captured and is given the choice to join them. When he refuses the pirates want to kill him but Silver talks them out of it. Silver tells Jim that the Doctor has given him and map and also abandoned the stockade in exchange for being allowed to go free.

            Silver tells Jim that he is now on the side of the Doctor. At this point the pirates attempt to give Silver the black spot but withdraw it when he reveals that he has the map. They agree to go and find the treasure the next day.

            The treasure hunt begins and Jim is dragged along. The weather is hot and sweaty and the pirates are edgy. When they finally reach the spot where the treasure should be hidden they discover only an empty chest - the treasure has gone!

            Silver immediately realises that there will be trouble and gives Jim a pistol with which to defend himself. The pirates turn angrily on Silver and are just about to attack him when there is a shot from the woods which kills one of them. The Doctor and Ben Gunn then appear from among the trees and the remaining pirates run off, heading for the remaining long boat left from the Hispaniola.

            Jim and his friends easily get there before them and demolish the boat. At this point Ben Gunn reveals that he dug up the treasure several years ago and it is now in his cave.

            Jim now takes everyone to the Hispaniola and they transport the treasure from Ben's cave to her hold. Silver still claims to be on the Doctor's side and helps them at every opportunity. Finally they set sail and leave Treasure Island and the last couple of pirates behind. They first sail the Hispaniola to America to get more crewman and moor there for one night.

            In the morning they discover that Silver and some of the treasure has disappeared. Finally they return home, the Captain makes a full recovery, Ben Gunn becomes a respectable citizen and Jim swears never to go chasing treasure again. No one ever hears of Long John Silver again.
 

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