# And Last explained — Treasure Island

> Chapter companion for Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

## What happens

The crew finishes transporting the treasure to the Hispaniola, abandons the three surviving mutineers on the island despite their pleas, and sets sail. After a stop in Spanish America where Long John Silver escapes with a sack of coins, the party returns to England. The chapter concludes with a brief epilogue detailing the fates of the survivors and Jim's lasting nightmares of the island.

## Themes in this chapter

### Greed and Morality

The treasure is divided among the survivors, but Silver's theft of a sack of coins and Ben Gunn's rapid squandering of his share highlight the corrupting influence of wealth.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Silver's escape after being trusted on board, and Ben Gunn's complicity, underscore the theme of shifting loyalties.

### Courage and Cowardice

The crew's decision to abandon the mutineers rather than risk another conflict reflects a pragmatic, if not cowardly, choice.

## Character check-ins

### Jim Hawkins

Narrates the final chapter, helps sort the treasure, and reflects on his nightmares of the island.

### Doctor Livesey

Leaves tobacco for the marooned pirates and argues with Silver about offering medical aid to the sick mutineers.

### Long John Silver

Remains on board during the treasure transport, escapes in a shore boat with a sack of coins, and is never heard from again.

### Ben Gunn

Gleeful at abandoning the pirates, later confesses to helping Silver escape, and ends up as a lodge keeper in England.

### Abraham Gray

Approves of leaving the mutineers, later becomes a mate and part owner of a ship, marries, and has a family.

### Captain Smollett

Lies on a mattress giving orders during the voyage home, and is now retired from the sea.

## Key lines

> We left a good stock of powder and shot, the bulk of the salt goat, a few medicines and some other necessaries, tools, clothing, a spare sail, a fathom or two of rope, and, by the particular desire of the doctor, a handsome present of tobacco.

They abandoned the pirates with ample supplies, including a special gift of tobacco requested by the doctor.

_Describes the provisions left for the marooned mutineers._

> The sea-cook had not gone empty-handed. He had cut through a bulkhead unobserved, and had removed one of the sacks of coin, worth, perhaps, three or four hundred guineas, to help him on his further wanderings.

Silver stole a sack of coins worth several hundred guineas before escaping in a boat.

_Reveals Silver's final act of theft before disappearing from Jim's life._

> Oxen and wain-ropes would not bring me back again to that accursed island, and the worst dreams that ever I have are when I hear the surf booming about its coasts, or start upright in bed, with the sharp voice of Captain Flint still ringing in my ears: 'Pieces of eight! pieces of eight!'

Jim declares that nothing could ever make him return to Treasure Island, and he is haunted by nightmares of the parrot's cry.

_Jim's final reflection on the lasting psychological impact of his adventure._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters/xxxiv-and-last
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/treasure_island_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/treasure_island_se/chapters