The Cruise of the Alerte · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Cruise of the Alerte by E. F. Knight.
Chapter 1
The History of the Treasure
This chapter recounts the history of treasure hunting on the island of Trinidad, beginning with a young man's perilous swim ashore and his discovery of a treasure site buried under a landslip. It details subsequent expeditions, including the ill-fated Aurea expedition and the American attempt, all of which faced extreme dangers, surf, and failure. The narrator learns of these stories and decides to organize his own expedition aboard the Alerte.
Chapter 2
II: The Alerte Is Fitted Out
The narrator details the preparations for the treasure-hunting expedition to Trinidad. He recounts his interview with Mr. A⸺, who provides crucial bearings and a copy of the pirate's plan, and explains the failures of previous expeditions due to impatient captains and difficult landings. The narrator then describes the acquisition and fitting out of the cutter-yacht Alerte, including its conversion to a yawl, installation of extra bunks and water tanks, a condensing apparatus, and a new lifeboat. He also mentions selecting a volunteer crew for the voyage.
Chapter 3
III: The Ship’s Company
The narrator describes the process of selecting the crew for the treasure expedition, emphasizing the importance of choosing trustworthy companions over provisioning. He decides to take a small number of paid hands and a larger group of gentleman-adventurers who will share in the venture's costs and potential rewards. The chapter details the agreement signed with volunteers, the challenges of interviewing over 150 applicants, and the eventual selection of a crew that included some unsuitable members. The first mate proves disloyal, attempting to foment mutiny and eventually deserting at Bahia, along with one other. Despite these setbacks, the narrator notes that after removing the troublemakers, the crew became harmonious and capable.
Chapter 4
IV: A Romance of the Salvages
The narrator receives a flood of correspondence after an article in the St. James's Gazette, including many improbable treasure schemes. A retired naval officer from Exeter shares a documented story of a treasure hidden on the Salvages, based on Admiralty records and Captain Hercules Robinson's 1813 expedition with the informant Christian Cruise. The narrator decides to deviate from the original plan to Trinidad and investigate the Great Piton, keeping the plan secret until two days at sea, when the crew unanimously agrees to visit the island.
Chapter 5
Our First Voyage
The narrator describes the hurried final preparations for the expedition in Southampton, including farewell dinners, last-minute crew changes, and the departure of the Alerte. After a false start and a brief stop at Cowes for repairs, the yacht finally sets sail. The chapter also recounts the voyage to the Salvages, where the crew encounters a mysterious schooner and a group of men landing heavy barrels on a desert island, sparking fantasies of pirates and hidden treasure.
Chapter 6
On the Salvages
The narrator and his crew explore the Salvage Islands, landing on the Great Piton and setting up camp. They search for treasure based on the Spaniard's description, digging trenches and surveying the island, but find no clear match. They also encounter Portuguese fishermen and learn of a previous English treasure-hunting yacht. After concluding that the Great Piton does not fit the description, they attempt to land on the Little Piton but fail due to rough conditions.
Chapter 7
Running Down the Trades
The chapter details the Alerte's voyage from St. Vincent to Bahia, including the recruitment of two West Indian sailors, the challenges of crossing the Atlantic with calms and squalls, and a stop at Teneriffe where the crew explores the island. The narrator reflects on the difficulties of the passage and the beauty of the Brazilian coast, culminating in their arrival at Bahia.
Chapter 8
VIII: Bahia
The narrator describes their stay in Bahia, Brazil, including the city's picturesque streets, colonial history, and the crew's shore leave. He reflects on the dangers of trusting treasure to Spanish or Portuguese authorities, the local customs and religious celebrations, and the challenges of dealing with corrupt administration and high duties. The chapter details the departure of the troublesome first and second mates, the reorganization of the crew under Dr. Cloete-Smith as mate, and the provisioning of the Alerte. A pampero gale delays their departure, and the narrator recounts past experiences with such storms.
Chapter 9
IX: Treasure Island at Last
The narrator describes the final approach to Trinidad, the treacherous anchorage off the cascade, and the decision to survey Southwest Bay by land before attempting to land boats there. He recounts the difficult pass across the island discovered during a previous voyage and plans a three-day reconnaissance with the doctor.
Chapter 10
The Summit of Trinidad
The narrator and the doctor land on Trinidad, discovering a red flag left by H.M.S. Ruby, then begin a perilous ascent through unstable volcanic terrain, encountering dangerous rockfalls, aggressive seabirds, and swarms of land-crabs. They reflect on the island's dead forest, citing descriptions from the Cruise of the Falcon and Captain Marryat's Frank Mildmay, and speculate on the cause of the forest's destruction.
Chapter 11
On the Road to Treasure Bay
The narrator leads the doctor across Trinidad's treacherous terrain, struggling to recognize the ravine he descended nine years earlier. After false starts, thirst, and perilous climbs, they finally identify the correct ravine—marked by black rocks, a stream, and nesting white birds—and descend to Treasure Bay.
Chapter 12
We Explore the Ravine
The narrator and his party explore the ravine in Southwest Bay, identifying the channel through the reef and the site where treasure is believed to be buried. They find traces of previous excavations by Mr. A⸺, including a trench, a broken water jar, and a wheelbarrow. After surveying the area, they discover a substantial stream on the weather shore, which proves a valuable water source. Exhausted by the heat and climbing, they decide to camp near the stream for the night.
Chapter 13
A Narrow Escape
The narrator and the doctor return to the summit of Trinidad, discover a beautiful hidden valley, and then find the Alerte has left its anchorage. They signal the yacht by setting fire to the island, but the crew's poor seamanship nearly wrecks the vessel. The narrator swims to a lifebuoy and the doctor is swept off the pier but rescued, leading to a narrow escape from disaster.
Chapter 14
XIV: We Land the Stores in the Bay
The crew endures five days of rough seas before attempting a dangerous landing on Trinidad. After preparing the yacht for storm conditions, they successfully land stores and tools on the beach, establish a camp, and discover limited fresh water. The doctor and Powell volunteer to stay ashore while the narrator returns to the yacht, though the boat springs a leak during the return.
Chapter 15
Our Camp
The narrator describes the establishment of the camp on Trinidad, the division of labor between shore and ship parties, and the daily routines and challenges faced. He praises the doctor's leadership and the hard work of the shore party, while criticizing a discontented volunteer. The chapter also details the natural environment, including bird life and fishing.
Chapter 16
Discoveries in Southwest Bay
The narrator decides to join the shore party on Trinidad, leaving Pollock in charge of the yacht. The shore party has been working hard, discovering fresh water sources and dealing with surf and currents. The narrator makes an expedition to the north end of the island, observes changes in the Ninepin rock, and eventually communicates with the camp via signals. The whaleboat brings news of progress and turtle catches.
Chapter 17
Pick and Shovel
The narrator describes the daily routine of digging for treasure in the ravine, the harsh working conditions under the tropical sun, and the camp's discipline. A Christmas dinner is held, and later the narrator and Pursell explore the weather side of the island, observing volcanic formations and wreckage.
Chapter 18
XVIII: A Voyage to Market
The narrator sails the yacht from Trinidad to Bahia to replenish oatmeal supplies, a 1,400-mile journey. The outward voyage is swift and favorable, but upon arrival they discover Brazil has become a republic. After obtaining stores, the return voyage is arduous with headwinds and a mutinous crew member, Arthur Cotton, whom the narrator decides to discharge by returning to Bahia.
Chapter 19
XIX: Hove To
The Alerte remains hove to off Trinidad for eighteen days, unable to anchor due to dangerous seas and squalls. For the first eight days, communication with the shore party is impossible; the crew makes repeated, often futile attempts to launch the whaleboat through heavy surf. When the boat finally succeeds on February 5, the shore party—gaunt but cheerful—comes aboard, revealing they have somehow learned of the Brazilian revolution and other news, mystifying the yacht crew.
Chapter 20
The Adventures of the Shore-Party
While the yacht sails to Bahia, the shore party endures storms, short rations, and dangerous landing attempts. They dig without finding treasure, take rest days, and face a near-drowning incident when a boat capsizes in the surf. A rocket rescue attempt fails, and the men struggle to re-establish communication with the ship.
Chapter 21
XXI: We Abandon the Search
After a thorough exploration of the ravine, the crew concludes that the treasure is not to be found. Despite initial plans to continue digging, worsening surf and the onset of the bad season force them to abandon the search. They retrieve all stores and tools from the island, break up their rotten dinghy for firewood, and set sail for Trinidad in the West Indies, leaving behind only broken relics and Powell's disabled armchair.
Chapter 22
Homeward Bound
The chapter describes the journey home from Trinidad after the treasure hunt, including the decision to lay up the yacht in Port of Spain, the slow voyage with calms and squalls, the rationing of water, and the eventual arrival back at Trinidad. The narrator reflects on the disappointment of not finding treasure and the philosophical acceptance of their fate.
