Treasure Island: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

Long John Silver is relating the tale of the night he lost his leg and Pew lost his sight, during a sea voyage with Flint as captain. The surgeon that amputated him, one of the pirate Roberts’ men, was hanged at Corso Castle. Now, Silver says, much of the good old men are scattered and weakened—before he died, Pew had become a beggar and robber and nearly starved. But Silver tells the youngest hand that he is smart and worth talking to frankly. Jim is appalled that Silver is flattering the boy in exactly the same way Silver had spoken to and flattered himself.

Silver says that “gentlemen of fortune” live roughly and dangerously, but it’s worth it when they leave a cruise with hundreds of pounds. He, though, is careful with his money, hiding it to be safe. Now he’s given it to his wife: soon she’ll sneak off to meet him—but where, he won’t tell. While gentlemen of fortune are wary of trusting people, he says, he has a certain way about him.

Jim has realized that “gentleman of fortune” means simply a pirate, and that he’s witnessing perhaps the last honest crewman aboard being corrupted by Silver’s flattery. Jim then hears the voice of Israel Hands, who asks how long they’ll to lie in wait—he’s sick of Captain Smollett. But Silver tells him not to act until he gives the word—they need someone to steer the course. Instead he’ll finish with “them” on the island: he’s seen too many plots failed because of hurry.

Another hand asks what they’ll do with the others once on the island—abandon them there or kill them—and Silver says he prefers death, if only to prevent the chance of them testifying at trial later. He claims Trelawney for himself. Then he asks the young sailor for an apple. Jim is terrified he’ll be discovered, but immediately Hands suggests they drink rum instead.

Jim also hears Hands whisper to Silver that a few crewmen still haven’t been brought over to their side. Suddenly the voice of the look-out cries, “Land ho!”