Treasure Island · Chapter
XI: What I Heard in the Apple Barrel explained
Jim Hawkins hides in an apple barrel on the Hispaniola and overhears Long John Silver revealing his true nature as a pirate leader.
What happens
Jim Hawkins hides in an apple barrel on the Hispaniola and overhears Long John Silver revealing his true nature as a pirate leader. Silver discusses his past with Captain Flint and Pew, and corrupts a young sailor named Dick into joining the mutiny. Israel Hands joins the conversation, and they plot to take over the ship after the treasure is found. Jim learns that some crew members remain loyal, but the mutineers plan to kill the captain, squire, and doctor. The chapter ends with the lookout sighting land.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Disguise
Silver's charming and flattering manner conceals his true murderous intentions, as Jim realizes he used the same words on him as on Dick.
Loyalty and Betrayal
The mutiny plot reveals the betrayal of the crew against Captain Smollett, Squire Trelawney, and Doctor Livesey, while Jim learns that some men remain faithful.
Greed and Morality
Silver's calculated plan to let the squire and doctor find the treasure before killing them shows how greed drives the pirates' actions.
Characters to notice
- Jim Hawkins
Hides in the apple barrel and overhears Silver's mutiny plot, learning the true danger of the voyage.
- Long John Silver
Reveals his pirate past and leadership of the mutiny, corrupting Dick and planning to kill the loyal party after the treasure is found.
- Israel Hands
Joins Silver in the conversation, expressing impatience to take over the ship and agreeing to the plan of murder.
- Dick Johnson
The young sailor who is corrupted by Silver and agrees to join the pirates.
Key passages
“No, not I. Flint was cap'n; I was quartermaster, along of my timber leg.”
Silver denies being captain under Flint, stating he served as quartermaster.
Silver establishes his pirate credentials and history with Flint.
“Here it is about gentlemen of fortune. They lives rough, and they risk swinging, but they eat and drink like fighting-cocks...”
Silver explains the pirate life to Dick, highlighting the risks and rewards.
Silver uses flattery and temptation to recruit Dick to the mutiny.
“Dead men don't bite, says he. Well, he's dead now, hisself; he knows the long and short on it now; and if ever a rough hand come to port, it was Billy.”
Israel Hands quotes Billy Bones' philosophy that dead men tell no tales, noting Billy's own death.
The pirates discuss their brutal methods, referencing Billy Bones.
“I give my vote—death. When I'm in Parlyment, and riding in my coach, I don't want none of these sea-lawyers in the cabin a-coming home, unlooked for, like the devil at prayers.”
Silver votes to kill the loyal party to prevent them from returning to England and testifying against the pirates.
Silver's cold-blooded plan to murder the captain, squire, and doctor after the treasure is secured.
“Not another man of them'll jine.”
Israel Hands tells Silver that no more crew members will join the mutiny.
Jim learns that some men remain loyal to the captain.