The Mutineers' Collapse

How the pirate crew loses men, discipline, and finally their ship, ending in starvation and desertion.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Drunken Camp in the Swamp

Drunken Camp in the Swamp Context The mutineers camp in the marshy ground near the swamp, making a great fire and drinking heavily. Their watch is careless. Development Ben Gunn sneaks into their camp while they are drunk and steals away, though no one knows it yet. The men's voices show their growing disorder. Significance The swamp camp exposes the mutineers to fever and carelessness. It gives the loyal party a long-term advantage that the doctor predicts.

Losses at the Stockade

Losses at the Stockade Context The mutineers storm the palisade and are beaten back with heavy losses. Five of their number fall, including the boatswain Job Anderson. Development The survivors retreat in disorder, carrying their wounded. Their already low morale sinks further. Significance The stockade defeat cuts their numbers nearly in half. It turns the mutiny into a losing campaign for all but Silver.

Desertion of the Hispaniola

Desertion of the Hispaniola Context Dr. Livesey comes to the mutineers' camp with a flag of truce and tells them the ship is gone. Jim Hawkins had cut it adrift the night before. Development The pirates look out and see only empty water. Silver bargains with the doctor for the stores and the block house, while the men feel despair close in. Significance Losing the ship seals the mutineers' fate. Even if they find the treasure, they have no way to carry it away.

Deposing Silver

Deposing Silver Context The mutineers hold a council outside the block house and return with a Black Spot cut from a Bible, deposing Long John Silver. Development Silver defends himself, blames George Merry for losing the ship, and produces the treasure chart to win them back. His oratory turns the vote in his favour. Significance The deposition reveals the fragile authority of Silver and the mutineers' superstition. It also introduces the black spot as an internal weapon.

Starving and Abandoned

Starving and Abandoned Context Three mutineers escape the ambush at the treasure pit and scatter into the woods. The loyal party sails away, leaving them on the island. Development The doctor tells them where to find stores, but they fire a last shot at the ship. They are never seen again. Significance The mutineers' end is a slow forgetting. Their greed and violence leave them alone on the island, the very fate they feared.

after the first shore landing and before the stockade battle

during and after the attack on the stockade

when the pirates discover the ship has vanished from the anchorage

at the block house after Jim Hawkins is captured

after the empty treasure pit and the flight of the survivors