Narrative Continued by the Doctor—How the Ship Was Abandoned explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Loyalty and Betrayal

  The captain's appeal to Abraham Gray highlights the tension between loyalty to the mutineers and allegiance to the rightful captain.

• Courage and Cowardice

  The loyal party's daring plan to abandon the ship and fortify the stockade contrasts with the mutineers' faintheartedness.

• Deception and Disguise

  The doctor uses the bend in the coast to hide their approach, and the party secretly loads supplies to avoid detection.

Characters to notice

• Doctor Livesey

  Narrator and key strategist; leads the provisioning of the stockade and the abandonment of the ship.

• Captain Smollett

  Commands the loyal party; orders Abraham Gray to join them and oversees the evacuation.

• Squire Trelawney

  Initially distressed by the danger, but recovers to assist in loading the boat and abandoning ship.

• Jim Hawkins

  Mentioned as having gone ashore with the mutineers, causing alarm for his safety.

• Abraham Gray

  Recruited by Captain Smollett; joins the loyal party after a scuffle with the mutineers.

• Israel Hands

  Addressed as coxswain; warned by Captain Smollett not to signal the mutineers.

• Tom Redruth

  Stationed in the gallery with muskets to guard against mutineers; later joins the boat.

• John Hunter

  Assists Doctor Livesey in rowing ashore and transporting supplies to the stockade.

Key passages

• “Had there been a breath of wind, we should have fallen on the six mutineers who were left aboard with us, slipped our cable, and away to sea. But the wind was wanting; and, to complete our helplessness, down came Hunter with the news that Jim Hawkins had slipped into a boat and was gone ashore with the rest.”

  If there had been any wind, we would have attacked the six mutineers still on the ship, cut the anchor rope, and sailed away. But there was no wind, and our situation worsened when Hunter reported that Jim Hawkins had taken a boat and gone ashore with the others.

  Sets the scene of helplessness and Jim's unexpected departure.

• “I told my plan to the captain, and between us we settled on the details of its accomplishment. We put old Redruth in the gallery between the cabin and the forecastle, with three or four loaded muskets and a mattress for protection.”

  I explained my idea to the captain, and we worked out the plan together. We stationed old Redruth in the passageway with several loaded muskets and a mattress for cover.

  Shows the strategic planning and Redruth's role in guarding against mutineers.

• “Gray, resumed Mr. Smollett, a little louder, I am leaving this ship, and I order you to follow your captain. I know you are a good man at bottom, and I dare say not one of the lot of you's as bad as he makes out.”

  Captain Smollett called out again, louder, saying he was abandoning the ship and ordering Gray to come with him, insisting that Gray was essentially a good man and not as bad as the others.

  Highlights the captain's attempt to sway Gray's loyalty.