# XXVIII explained — The Coral Island

> Chapter companion for The Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne.

## What happens

Alone at sea after Bloody Bill's death, Ralph Rover navigates the schooner toward the Coral Island, learning seamanship through trial and error. He hoists topsails, keeps a dead reckoning, and reads Captain Cook's voyages. After two weeks, he spots the Coral Island at dawn.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Self-Reliance

Ralph must single-handedly manage the schooner, learning through trial and error to hoist sails and navigate.

### Adventure and Exploration

Ralph's solo voyage across the Pacific, using dead reckoning and a chart, embodies the spirit of exploration.

### Nature and the Sublime

The luminous sea of phosphorescent jellyfish and the majestic albatross evoke the awe-inspiring power of nature.

## Character check-ins

### Ralph Rover

Alone on the schooner after Bloody Bill's death, navigates and works the ship, reads Captain Cook's voyages, and spots the Coral Island.

### Bloody Bill

Deceased; Ralph consigns his body to the deep with a cannon ball.

## Key lines

> I tied a cannon ball to his feet and, with feelings of the deepest sorrow, consigned him to the deep.

Ralph weighted Bloody Bill's body with a cannonball and buried him at sea with great sadness.

_Ralph performs a burial at sea for his deceased companion._

> The whole sea appeared somewhat like milk and was remarkably luminous.

The ocean looked milky and glowed with an intense phosphorescent light.

_Ralph observes a spectacular display of bioluminescence._

> I now heard the roar of the waves distinctly, and as a single ray of the rising sun gleamed over the ocean I saw—what! could it be that I was dreaming?—that magnificent breaker with its ceaseless roar!—that mountain top!—yes, once more I beheld the Coral Island!

At dawn, Ralph hears the surf and sees the familiar breaker and mountain peak of the Coral Island, realizing he has returned.

_Ralph spots the Coral Island after two weeks at sea._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_coral_island_se/chapters/xxviii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_coral_island_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_coral_island_se/chapters