# In the Vault explained — Moonfleet

> Chapter companion for Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner.

## What happens

John Trenchard hides in the Mohune vault and overhears the smugglers discussing their suspicions about him, but Ratsey defends him. After they leave, John discovers Blackbeard's coffin and, overcoming his fear, searches it for treasure.

## Themes in this chapter

### Smuggling and Lawlessness

The smugglers' meeting in the vault and their fear of the revenue men highlight the lawless contraband trade.

### Coming of Age

John overcomes his fear of the dark and the dead, showing his growth from a scared boy to a determined seeker of treasure.

### Greed and Its Consequences

John's desire for Blackbeard's treasure drives him to search the coffin, risking supernatural wrath.

## Character check-ins

### John Trenchard

Hides in the vault, overhears the smugglers, and later searches Blackbeard's coffin.

### Elzevir Block

Speaks kindly of John, calling him a brave lad, and later silences the smugglers.

### Ratsey

Defends John to the smugglers and tells how he misled John about Blackbeard.

### Grace Maskew

Mentioned as the object of John's boyish love; he watched her house hoping to see her.

### Blackbeard

His coffin and beard are discovered; the smugglers toast him as 'Father Blackbeard.'

### Mr. Maskew

Mentioned as the man the smugglers fear John might spy for.

## Key lines

> There is a boy of Trenchard’s that I mistrust; he is forever wandering in the graveyard, and I have seen him a score of times sitting on this tomb and looking out to sea.

Parmiter suspects John Trenchard of spying because he often sits on the tomb watching the sea.

_Reveals the smugglers' suspicion of John._

> The lad is a brave lad; I would he were my son. He is David’s age, and will make a good sailor later on.

Elzevir Block praises John's courage and compares him to his own dead son.

_Shows Elzevir's hidden warmth toward John._

> Here's to Blackbeard, to Father Blackbeard, who watches over our treasure better than he did over his own; for were it not the fear of him that keeps off idle feet and prying eyes, we should have the gaugers in, and our store ransacked twenty times.

Ratsey toasts Blackbeard, crediting the fear of his ghost with protecting the smugglers' hidden goods.

_Illustrates the smugglers' use of superstition to guard their contraband._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/moonfleet_se/chapters/iv-in-the-vault
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/moonfleet_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/moonfleet_se/chapters