Summary
Jim finds himself alone on the ship with Israel Hands, the wounded coxswain who's been pretending to be more injured than he actually is. When Hands asks Jim to fetch wine from below deck, Jim immediately senses something's wrong—the request doesn't add up, and Hands won't meet his eyes. Instead of confronting him directly, Jim plays along while secretly investigating. He discovers Hands retrieving a bloody knife, confirming his suspicions that he's being set up for murder. The two maintain a tense charade as they navigate the ship toward North Inlet, with Jim knowing Hands plans to kill him once they reach shore, but also knowing Hands needs him alive until then to help beach the ship safely. When they finally reach the inlet, Hands makes his move, attacking Jim with the dirk. What follows is a deadly game of cat and mouse around the ship's deck, with Jim using his agility and quick thinking to stay ahead of the older, stronger, but wounded sailor. The chapter climaxes when the ship suddenly runs aground, throwing both combatants off balance. Jim escapes up the ship's rigging and manages to reload his pistols while Hands pursues him. Just when it seems Jim has gained the upper hand, Hands throws his knife, pinning Jim to the mast—but Jim's reflexive gunfire sends the coxswain plunging into the water. This chapter showcases how intelligence and alertness can triumph over brute force, and how quickly situations can shift from apparent safety to mortal danger.
Coming Up in Chapter 27
With Hands apparently dealt with, Jim must now assess his situation—wounded and alone on a beached ship. But his adventures on Treasure Island are far from over, and new challenges await as he tries to rejoin his companions.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Srael Hands The wind, serving us to a desire, now hauled into the west. We could run so much the easier from the north-east corner of the island to the mouth of the North Inlet. Only, as we had no power to anchor and dared not beach her till the tide had flowed a good deal farther, time hung on our hands. The coxswain told me how to lay the ship to; after a good many trials I succeeded, and we both sat in silence over another meal. “Cap’n,” said he at length with that same uncomfortable smile, “here’s my old shipmate, O’Brien; s’pose you was to heave him overboard. I ain’t partic’lar as a rule, and I don’t take no blame for settling his hash, but I don’t reckon him ornamental now, do you?” “I’m not strong enough, and I don’t like the job; and there he lies, for me,” said I. “This here’s an unlucky ship, this HISPANIOLA, Jim,” he went on, blinking. “There’s a power of men been killed in this HISPANIOLA--a sight o’ poor seamen dead and gone since you and me took ship to Bristol. I never seen sich dirty luck, not I. There was this here O’Brien now--he’s dead, ain’t he? Well now, I’m no scholar, and you’re a lad as can read and figure, and to put it straight, do you take it as a dead man is dead for good, or do he come alive again?” “You can kill the body, Mr. Hands, but not the spirit; you must know that already,” I replied. “O’Brien there is in another world, and may be watching us.” “Ah!” says he. “Well, that’s unfort’nate--appears as if killing parties was a waste of time. Howsomever, sperrits don’t reckon for much, by what I’ve seen. I’ll chance it with the sperrits, Jim. And now, you’ve spoke up free, and I’ll take it kind if you’d step down into that there cabin and get me a--well, a--shiver my timbers! I can’t hit the name on ’t; well, you get me a bottle of wine, Jim--this here brandy’s too strong for my head.” Now, the coxswain’s hesitation seemed to be unnatural, and as for the notion of his preferring wine to brandy, I entirely disbelieved it. The whole story was a pretext. He wanted me to leave the deck--so much was plain; but with what purpose I could in no way imagine. His eyes never met mine; they kept wandering to and fro, up and down, now with a look to the sky, now with a flitting glance upon the dead O’Brien. All the time he kept smiling and putting his tongue out in the most guilty, embarrassed manner, so that a child could have told that he was bent on some deception. I was prompt with my answer, however, for I saw where my advantage lay and that with a fellow so densely stupid I could easily conceal my suspicions to the end. “Some wine?” I said. “Far...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Dangerous Courtesy - When Politeness Becomes a Weapon
When excessive politeness masks hostile intentions, creating a trap that exploits social conditioning.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when someone uses social courtesy as a weapon to lower your defenses.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone is being unusually polite while their actions or requests don't quite add up—trust that feeling over social pressure to be accommodating.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Coxswain
The sailor who steers the ship's boat and commands the crew. In Stevenson's time, this was a position of authority and skill on naval vessels. The coxswain was responsible for navigation and often served as second-in-command.
Modern Usage:
Today we see this in team leaders who have technical skills and authority over specific operations, like a shift supervisor who knows the equipment best.
Laying a ship to
A sailing technique where you position the ship to ride safely in place without anchoring, using the wind and sails to maintain position. This requires skill and knowledge of wind patterns and sail management.
Modern Usage:
Like putting your car in neutral and coasting - finding a way to maintain your position without using full power or commitment.
Dirk
A long, straight-bladed dagger used by sailors and pirates as both a tool and weapon. Unlike a sword, it was designed for close combat and could be easily concealed or thrown.
Modern Usage:
The equivalent of someone pulling a knife in a fight - a weapon that's meant to be quick, deadly, and personal.
Beaching
Deliberately running a ship onto shore, usually in shallow water or sand. This was sometimes done for repairs, unloading cargo, or in emergencies when anchoring wasn't possible.
Modern Usage:
Like pulling over to the side of the road when your car is having problems - finding the safest place to stop when you can't keep going.
Ship's rigging
The complex system of ropes, pulleys, and supports that control the sails and masts. Sailors had to climb these rope networks to adjust sails, and they provided escape routes during fights.
Modern Usage:
Like the scaffolding on a construction site - it's there to do the work, but in an emergency, it becomes your escape route.
Cat and mouse game
A situation where one person pursues another who keeps escaping, with the pursuer having more power but the pursued being more agile or clever. The tension comes from knowing the chase will eventually end.
Modern Usage:
We see this in workplace politics, abusive relationships, or any situation where someone with more power is hunting someone who has to stay one step ahead.
Characters in This Chapter
Jim Hawkins
Protagonist under threat
Jim must use his intelligence and quick thinking to survive Israel Hands' murder plot. He recognizes the danger, plays along to buy time, then uses agility and firearms to defend himself when cornered.
Modern Equivalent:
The smart kid who realizes their 'friend' is setting them up and has to think fast to get out alive
Israel Hands
Antagonist/false ally
Hands pretends to be more injured than he is while plotting to kill Jim once Jim helps him beach the ship. He represents the experienced predator who underestimates his young victim's awareness and resourcefulness.
Modern Equivalent:
The coworker who acts friendly while planning to throw you under the bus once you've served their purpose
O'Brien
Dead crew member/ominous presence
O'Brien's corpse on deck serves as a reminder of the ship's violent history and foreshadows the danger Jim faces. Hands' casual discussion of disposing of the body reveals his callousness toward human life.
Modern Equivalent:
The previous employee who got fired or quit under mysterious circumstances - a warning sign everyone ignores
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I ain't partic'lar as a rule, and I don't take no blame for settling his hash, but I don't reckon him ornamental now, do you?"
Context: Hands casually suggests throwing O'Brien's body overboard while testing Jim's reactions
This quote reveals Hands' callous attitude toward murder and his attempt to normalize violence to Jim. He's gauging whether Jim will be horrified or compliant, which tells him how to proceed with his own murderous plans.
In Today's Words:
I don't usually care about these things, and I'm not sorry I killed him, but he's kind of an eyesore now, don't you think?
"There's a power of men been killed in this HISPANIOLA--a sight o' poor seamen dead and gone since you and me took ship to Bristol."
Context: Hands reflects on all the deaths aboard the ship while subtly threatening Jim
Hands is both philosophizing about death and implicitly threatening Jim by emphasizing how many people have died on this voyage. He's preparing Jim psychologically for his own death while seeming to make casual conversation.
In Today's Words:
A lot of people have died on this job since we started - way too many good people are already gone.
"Do you take it as a dead man is dead for good, or do he come alive again?"
Context: Hands asks Jim about death and resurrection while staring at O'Brien's corpse
This seemingly philosophical question is actually Hands probing Jim's beliefs about death and the afterlife. He's either genuinely worried about supernatural consequences or testing whether Jim believes in justice beyond death.
In Today's Words:
Do you think when someone dies, that's really the end, or do they somehow come back to haunt you?
Thematic Threads
Trust
In This Chapter
Jim must navigate the deadly gap between what Hands says and what he means, learning to trust his instincts over social expectations
Development
Evolved from Jim's earlier naive trust in adults to sophisticated threat assessment
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when someone's words feel too smooth while their actions feel wrong.
Power
In This Chapter
Hands believes his age, experience, and physical strength give him control, but Jim's awareness and agility prove more powerful
Development
Continues the theme of traditional power structures being challenged by intelligence and adaptability
In Your Life:
You might see this when someone assumes their position or experience automatically makes them superior.
Survival
In This Chapter
Jim must use every advantage—youth, agility, intelligence—while appearing compliant until he can act
Development
Built from earlier chapters where Jim learned to observe and adapt rather than confront directly
In Your Life:
You might apply this when you're in a vulnerable position but need to protect yourself strategically.
Deception
In This Chapter
Both characters deceive each other—Hands pretends to be helpless, Jim pretends to be naive—creating a deadly game
Development
Deepens from earlier themes about appearance versus reality into active mutual manipulation
In Your Life:
You might encounter this when you realize someone is playing dumb while you're also hiding your awareness.
Growth
In This Chapter
Jim demonstrates how much he's learned, reading situations accurately and responding with calculated courage rather than reckless bravery
Development
Shows the culmination of Jim's transformation from impulsive boy to strategic thinker
In Your Life:
You might recognize this in moments when you handle a crisis with skills you didn't know you had developed.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific behaviors made Jim suspicious of Israel Hands, even though Hands was being polite?
analysis • surface - 2
Why did Hands maintain his courteous act instead of just attacking Jim immediately?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen someone use excessive politeness to hide their real intentions in your workplace or personal life?
application • medium - 4
How would you handle a situation where someone's words sound friendly but their actions feel threatening?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about why we sometimes ignore our gut feelings when someone is being 'nice' to us?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Trust Your Gut Audit
Think of three people in your life right now - coworkers, family members, neighbors, or acquaintances. For each person, write down what they say to you versus what they actually do. Look for mismatches between their words and actions, especially if they're overly polite or friendly while their behavior doesn't support their words.
Consider:
- •Pay attention to your physical reactions when interacting with each person - does your body tense up even when they're being nice?
- •Notice if they ask for favors or information while offering vague promises in return
- •Consider whether their 'helpfulness' always seems to benefit them more than you
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you ignored your instincts about someone because they were polite or charming. What happened? What would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 27: Pieces of Eight
The coming pages reveal to push through fear and shock to complete essential tasks, and teach us celebrating victories too early can lead to dangerous overconfidence. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.