The Cruise of the Alerte · Chapter
IX: Treasure Island at Last explained
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.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
Danger and Risk
The narrator emphasizes the perilous nature of Southwest Bay, with sunken rocks, uncertain winds, and exposure to the pampero, as well as the constant threat to the yacht.
Seamanship and Preparation
The narrator's careful choice of anchorage, his plan to survey the bay by land, and his emphasis on being ready to slip anchor demonstrate expert seamanship and forethought.
Isolation and Environment
Trinidad is depicted as a desolate, volcanic island with inaccessible cliffs, strange metallic colors, and an uncanny atmosphere, reinforcing the theme of isolation.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Leads the expedition, describes the island's dangers, and plans the overland survey.
- The Doctor
Volunteers to accompany the narrator on the three-day reconnaissance across the island.
- The Alerte
The yacht anchored off the cascade; its safety and maneuverability are central to the chapter.
- Captain P⸺
Mentioned as the recipient of the dead pirate's directions for the channel into Southwest Bay.
Key passages
“right in the middle of it; its existence is ignored by all the charts. Surrounded as the bay is by lofty mountains, the winds are very uncertain within it, so that if one should have to weigh anchor it might be difficult to extricate the vessel from her dangerous position even by the exercise of the smartest seamanship.”
An uncharted island sits in the middle of Southwest Bay, and the surrounding mountains cause unpredictable winds, making it extremely difficult to escape if the anchor must be raised.
The narrator warns of hidden dangers and poor charting of Southwest Bay.
“According to the dead pirate’s statement, he and his comrades had surveyed Southwest Bay and discovered the best channel between the rocks. He gave the directions for finding this channel to Captain P⸺, and its existence had been verified by both the South Shields explorers; but as they had brought back an alarming account of its dangers, and boats had been lost in it, I considered that it would be a wise precaution for me to land at the pier in the first place, walk—or rather crawl and climb, for there is not much walking to be done on that journey—across the island and survey Southwest Bay from the hills above it, before attempting to beach a boat there.”
The pirate's directions for a channel into Southwest Bay had been confirmed by earlier explorers, but because boats had been lost there, the narrator decided to first cross the island on foot to survey the bay from above before risking a boat landing.
The narrator explains his cautious approach to reaching the treasure site.
“It would be impossible to convey in words a just idea of the mystery of Trinidad. The very colouring seems unearthly—in places dismal black, and in others the fire-consumed crags are of strange metallic hues, vermilion red and copper yellow. When one lands on its shores this uncanny impression is enhanced. It bears all the appearance of being an accursed spot, whereupon no creatures can live, save the hideous land-crabs and foul and cruel seabirds.”
Trinidad's strange, metallic colors and desolate appearance make it seem like a cursed place, inhabited only by ugly land-crabs and harsh seabirds.
The narrator conveys the eerie, otherworldly atmosphere of the island.