Captain Blood · Chapter
The Honour of M. de Rivarol explained
Captain Blood confronts M.
What happens
Captain Blood confronts M. de Rivarol over the buccaneers' share of the spoils from Cartagena, but the Baron dismisses him. Rivarol then flees with the treasure, prompting Blood and his men to give chase. During the pursuit, they hear gunfire off Port Royal and discover a burning English ship, with Rivarol's Victorieuse among the receding squadron.
Themes in this chapter
Loyalty and Betrayal
Rivarol betrays the buccaneers by fleeing with the treasure, breaking the alliance and prompting Blood's pursuit.
Rebellion and Authority
Blood challenges Rivarol's authority over the distribution of spoils, and the buccaneers threaten mutiny against the French commander.
Class and Social Mobility
Blood, a former physician turned buccaneer, confronts the aristocratic Rivarol, highlighting tensions between social classes and the struggle for fair treatment.
Characters to notice
- Captain Peter Blood
Confronts M. de Rivarol about the buccaneers' grievances and the distribution of spoils; later leads the chase after Rivarol's betrayal.
- M. le Baron de Rivarol
The French General who dismisses Blood's complaints, cheats the buccaneers of their share, and flees with the treasure.
- Jeremy Pitt
Blood's friend and log-keeper; he identifies Rivarol's ship Victorieuse among the receding squadron after the battle.
- Wolverstone
One of the buccaneer captains who decides to remain in Cartagena rather than join the chase.
- Nathaniel Hagthorpe
Captain who sails with Blood in pursuit of Rivarol.
- Yberville
Buccaneer captain who, like Wolverstone, chooses to stay behind in Cartagena.
Key passages
“My men are on the point of mutiny.”
Blood warns Rivarol that the buccaneers are ready to rebel over the unfair distribution of treasure.
Blood confronts Rivarol about the men's dissatisfaction.
“If she knew! If she knew! O God! I had thought to have done with piracy; thought to have done with it forever.”
Blood laments to Pitt that his involvement in the Cartagena raid has dragged him back into piracy, and he fears how Arabella would judge him.
Blood expresses his inner turmoil and regret over the events.
“Guns! ... Ten miles away, perhaps fifteen—somewhere off Port Royal, I should judge.”
Pitt hears cannon fire and estimates it comes from the direction of Port Royal, about ten to fifteen miles distant.
The sound of battle draws Blood's attention toward Jamaica.