Summary
Jim finally receives the call to adventure when Squire Trelawney's letter arrives from Bristol. The squire has bought a ship called the Hispaniola and assembled a crew, led by a one-legged cook named Long John Silver who seems like a godsend. But there's already trouble brewing - Trelawney has been talking openly about their treasure hunt, which worries Jim and will likely worry Dr. Livesey. Jim's departure from home proves more emotional than expected. Seeing a replacement boy at the Admiral Benbow makes him realize what he's leaving behind, and he experiences his first real homesickness. The journey to Bristol opens Jim's eyes to a wider world - the bustling port city fills him with wonder at the ships, sailors, and maritime life he's never truly experienced despite living by the sea. When he finally meets Trelawney in Bristol, dressed like a sea captain and brimming with enthusiasm, Jim learns they sail tomorrow. This chapter captures that pivotal moment when dreams become reality, but also hints at the complications that arise when people can't keep secrets. Trelawney's loose tongue about the treasure and his glowing praise of Long John Silver suggest that not everything will go as smoothly as planned. Jim's mixed emotions about leaving home remind us that every adventure requires sacrifice, and that growing up means accepting both excitement and loss.
Coming Up in Chapter 8
Jim is about to meet the famous Long John Silver face-to-face at his tavern, the Spy-glass. But what Jim discovers there will shake his confidence in the entire expedition before they even set sail.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Go to Bristol It was longer than the squire imagined ere we were ready for the sea, and none of our first plans--not even Dr. Livesey’s, of keeping me beside him--could be carried out as we intended. The doctor had to go to London for a physician to take charge of his practice; the squire was hard at work at Bristol; and I lived on at the hall under the charge of old Redruth, the gamekeeper, almost a prisoner, but full of sea-dreams and the most charming anticipations of strange islands and adventures. I brooded by the hour together over the map, all the details of which I well remembered. Sitting by the fire in the housekeeper’s room, I approached that island in my fancy from every possible direction; I explored every acre of its surface; I climbed a thousand times to that tall hill they call the Spy-glass, and from the top enjoyed the most wonderful and changing prospects. Sometimes the isle was thick with savages, with whom we fought, sometimes full of dangerous animals that hunted us, but in all my fancies nothing occurred to me so strange and tragic as our actual adventures. So the weeks passed on, till one fine day there came a letter addressed to Dr. Livesey, with this addition, “To be opened, in the case of his absence, by Tom Redruth or young Hawkins.” Obeying this order, we found, or rather I found--for the gamekeeper was a poor hand at reading anything but print--the following important news: _Old Anchor Inn, Bristol, March 1, 17--._ Dear Livesey--As I do not know whether you are at the hall or still in London, I send this in double to both places. The ship is bought and fitted. She lies at anchor, ready for sea. You never imagined a sweeter schooner--a child might sail her--two hundred tons; name, HISPANIOLA. I got her through my old friend, Blandly, who has proved himself throughout the most surprising trump. The admirable fellow literally slaved in my interest, and so, I may say, did everyone in Bristol, as soon as they got wind of the port we sailed for--treasure, I mean. “Redruth,” said I, interrupting the letter, “Dr. Livesey will not like that. The squire has been talking, after all.” “Well, who’s a better right?” growled the gamekeeper. “A pretty rum go if squire ain’t to talk for Dr. Livesey, I should think.” At that I gave up all attempts at commentary and read straight on: Blandly himself found the HISPANIOLA, and by the most admirable management got her for the merest trifle. There is a class of men in Bristol monstrously prejudiced against Blandly. They go the length of declaring that this honest creature would do anything for money, that the HISPANIOLA belonged to him, and that he sold it me absurdly high--the most transparent calumnies. None of them dare, however, to deny the merits of the ship. So far there was not a hitch. The workpeople, to be sure--riggers...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Loose Lips - When Excitement Becomes Vulnerability
When enthusiasm about opportunities makes us talk too much, turning our advantages into vulnerabilities.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between genuine confidence and reckless excitement that puts everyone at risk.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone shares information they probably shouldn't - watch how their need to feel important overrides their judgment, and protect yourself accordingly.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Gamekeeper
A person employed to protect and manage wildlife on a large estate, often serving as security and groundskeeper. In Stevenson's time, gamekeepers were trusted servants who lived on the property and knew all its secrets.
Modern Usage:
Today we see this role in security guards, property managers, or trusted employees who 'hold down the fort' when the boss is away.
Squire
A country gentleman who owns land and has local authority, ranking below a knight but above common folk. The squire was typically the most important person in a rural area.
Modern Usage:
Think of the wealthy business owner or local politician who has influence in a small town - someone with money and connections who can make things happen.
Bristol
A major English port city and center of maritime trade in the 1700s-1800s. Ships departed from Bristol for adventures and commerce around the world, making it the perfect place to outfit a treasure-hunting expedition.
Modern Usage:
Bristol was like today's major airports or shipping hubs - the gateway to everywhere else, bustling with travelers and cargo.
Sea-dreams
Jim's romantic fantasies about ocean adventures, pirates, and exotic islands. These dreams represent the pull of adventure versus the safety of home.
Modern Usage:
We all have our version of 'sea-dreams' - fantasizing about travel, career changes, or adventures that seem exciting but scary to actually pursue.
Loose tongue
The dangerous habit of talking too freely about private matters, especially secrets that could put people at risk. In adventure stories, someone always talks too much at the wrong time.
Modern Usage:
Today we call this 'oversharing' or being unable to keep confidential information private - the coworker who gossips or posts too much on social media.
Call to adventure
The moment when an ordinary person receives an invitation or summons to leave their normal life and begin a great journey. This is a classic storytelling pattern found in most hero tales.
Modern Usage:
We experience this when we get a job offer in another city, decide to go back to school, or take any big risk that changes our life direction.
Characters in This Chapter
Jim Hawkins
Protagonist
Jim experiences the bittersweet reality of getting what you wished for. His excitement about the adventure is tempered by unexpected homesickness when he sees his replacement at the inn.
Modern Equivalent:
The young person leaving home for college or their first real job - excited but scared about what they're leaving behind
Squire Trelawney
Wealthy benefactor
Trelawney has successfully organized the expedition but shows poor judgment by talking openly about their treasure hunt. His enthusiasm and resources make the adventure possible, but his loose tongue creates danger.
Modern Equivalent:
The well-meaning boss or relative with money who helps you out but can't keep their mouth shut about your business
Long John Silver
Ship's cook
Though not yet met in person, Silver is praised by Trelawney as the perfect crew member who helped recruit other sailors. This glowing recommendation will prove ironically dangerous.
Modern Equivalent:
The charming new hire who interviews perfectly and has great references - but something feels too good to be true
Tom Redruth
Trusted guardian
The gamekeeper who watches over Jim during the waiting period. He represents the stable, protective world Jim is about to leave behind.
Modern Equivalent:
The family friend or relative who looks after you when your parents are away - steady, reliable, but not equipped for big adventures
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Sometimes the isle was thick with savages, with whom we fought, sometimes full of dangerous animals that hunted us, but in all my fancies nothing occurred to me so strange and tragic as our actual adventures."
Context: Jim describes his daydreams while waiting to depart for the treasure hunt
This quote shows how our imagination often falls short of reality's complexity. Jim's fantasies are simple good-versus-evil scenarios, but real life will prove far more morally complicated.
In Today's Words:
I thought I knew what I was getting into, but reality turned out to be way more complicated than anything I'd imagined.
"I lived on at the hall under the charge of old Redruth, the gamekeeper, almost a prisoner, but full of sea-dreams and the most charming anticipations of strange islands and adventures."
Context: Jim describes the waiting period before the voyage begins
This captures the restless energy of anticipation - being physically confined while mentally soaring. The word 'prisoner' shows how safety can feel like captivity when adventure calls.
In Today's Words:
I was stuck at home waiting, but my mind was already somewhere else, dreaming about all the amazing things that were going to happen.
"The squire was hard at work at Bristol."
Context: Explaining why the departure was delayed while everyone prepared
This simple phrase shows Trelawney taking charge and making things happen. It establishes him as a man of action, though we'll soon learn his actions aren't always wise.
In Today's Words:
The squire was busy in Bristol getting everything ready for our trip.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Trelawney's wealth makes him feel untouchable, so he doesn't consider the dangers of loose talk that working people instinctively understand
Development
Building from earlier chapters where class differences created blind spots
In Your Life:
You might notice how people with more privilege often share information carelessly because they've never faced real consequences for it
Identity
In This Chapter
Jim struggles with homesickness as he realizes leaving means becoming someone new, no longer the innkeeper's son
Development
Deepening from his earlier identity crisis about his father's death and his role
In Your Life:
You might recognize this feeling when starting a new job or relationship, where growth requires letting go of who you used to be
Trust
In This Chapter
Everyone trusts Long John Silver immediately based on his charm and Trelawney's recommendation, ignoring red flags
Development
Introduced here as a major theme that will drive the story
In Your Life:
You might see this when everyone loves the new manager or coworker who seems too good to be true
Preparation
In This Chapter
Trelawney's hasty crew selection and loose talk show how poor preparation creates future problems
Development
Building from earlier rushed decisions after the inn attack
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you're so excited about a plan that you skip the careful groundwork needed for success
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What mistake does Squire Trelawney make that worries Jim, and why is this problematic for their treasure hunt?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do you think Trelawney can't keep quiet about the treasure hunt, even though secrecy would be smarter?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen people sabotage themselves by talking too much about something important before it was secure?
application • medium - 4
If you were Jim's age and noticed an adult making Trelawney's mistake, how would you handle the situation without being disrespectful?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about the relationship between excitement and good judgment?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Create Your Own 24-Hour Rule
Think about a recent situation where you shared exciting news too quickly or broadly, or where you wanted to but held back. Write down what happened and what the consequences were (or could have been). Then design your own personal 24-hour rule: what types of information will you always sleep on before sharing, and who are the 2-3 people you trust enough to be your sounding board?
Consider:
- •Consider both professional and personal situations where loose talk could backfire
- •Think about the difference between sharing for advice versus sharing for attention
- •Remember that some people in your life might not have your best interests at heart
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone else's loose talk affected you negatively. How did it change your relationship with that person, and what did it teach you about trust?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 8: First Impressions Can Deceive
What lies ahead teaches us charming people can mask dangerous intentions, and shows us gut instincts matter even when logic says otherwise. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.