Summaries

Synopsis

The story begins in the "Admiral Benbow Inn," Black Hill Cove, on the coast of England. Bill Bones, a mysterious seaman, puts up at this inn, which is run by Mrs. Hawkins, mother of Jim Hawkins. He has scarcely arrived when he is attacked by a number of other mysterious seamen who turn out to be pirates in search of a chart which Bill possesses. In the scuffle which follows Jim gets possession of the chart and flees with it to the home of Squire Trelawney, father of Louise Trelawney. While the squire and Dr. Livesey ponder over the strange map, which is known among the pirates as "Flint's Fist," Jim is sent upstairs to sleep and to dream. Jim and Louise go to Bristol. They charter the "Hispaniola," with a crew of what they consider carefully selected men. They start for the mysterious island outlined on "Flint's Fist," for a little red cross on the chart had beside it the luring words, "Bulk of treasure here." On the way the two children learn that most of the crew they have hired had formerly sailed with the notorious Flint, one of the boldest pirates who ever lived. He had given this map to Bill Bones, his first mate, on his deathbed in Savannah, Ga. Then begins a series of exciting adventures. After a Jong voyage, they reach the Treasure Island and Jim goes ashore with several pirates, headed by Long John Silver, while Louise stays aboard with Captain Smollett. Jim finds Ben Gunn, a marooned former shipmate of Flint's, and makes a friend of him. The captain and Louise, fearing an attack on board, make for the shore and take refuge in the stockade which had been built on the island by Flint. Jim joins them there only to find that he has left the coveted chart on shipboard, and he is forced to make the hazardous trip back. After many fights between the pirates and the honest members of the crew, Louise and Jim are finally reunited. They find the treasure safely piled away in Ben Gunn's cave. And they once more climb aboard the "Hispaniola," homeward bound.