Mr. Dance

Mr. Dance, the supervisor of the revenue service, is a minor but pivotal character in Treasure Island. He appears only in the early chapters, yet his actions—arriving with his men to disperse the pirates, inadvertently causing the death of Blind Pew, and escorting Jim Hawkins to Dr. Livesey—directly enable the discovery of the treasure map and the subsequent voyage. Dance embodies the forces of law and order that stand in contrast to the lawless world of the buccaneers, and his brief presence underscores the novel's theme of civilization versus piracy.

Identity and Role

Mr. Dance is introduced as the supervisor of the revenue service, a government official responsible for enforcing customs and preventing smuggling along the English coast. He is a man of action and duty, as evidenced by his decision to set out that night toward Kitt's Hole after receiving news of a lugger there. His authority is recognized by the local community, and he commands a small party of revenue officers on horseback. Dance's role is that of a law-enforcement officer, and his actions are guided by his commitment to his Majesty's service, as he himself notes when he decides to report to Dr. Livesey or the squire about the night's events.

The Rescue at the Admiral Benbow

On the night following the death of Billy Bones, Jim Hawkins and his mother return to the inn to retrieve the money owed to them. While they are there, the blind beggar Pew and his gang of pirates arrive, forcing the two to flee and hide under a bridge. As the pirates ransack the inn, Mr. Dance and his men, having been alerted by a lad from the hamlet who had ridden to Dr. Livesey's, arrive on horseback. The sound of their approach, along with a pistol shot from the hedge, sends the pirates fleeing in all directions, leaving Pew behind. In his blindness and panic, Pew runs directly under the hooves of the approaching horses and is trampled to death. Dance's arrival thus saves Jim and his mother from certain capture and death, and his presence marks the first decisive intervention of lawful authority in the story.

Aftermath and the Captain's Papers

After the pirates have scattered, Mr. Dance takes charge of the situation. He rides to Kitt's Hole in pursuit of the pirates' lugger, but it escapes, and he is forced to acknowledge that they have "got off clean." Returning to the inn, he finds the place ransacked, and Jim reveals that he has the oilskin packet that the pirates were after. Dance offers to take it, but Jim suggests Dr. Livesey, and Dance agrees, deciding to ride to the doctor's house himself. He takes Jim along, and together they deliver the packet to Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney. Dance's role in this is crucial: without his escort, Jim might not have reached the doctor safely, and the map might have been lost. His actions directly lead to the discovery of the treasure map and the organization of the expedition.

Character and Significance

Mr. Dance is portrayed as a competent, decisive, and honorable officer. He is praised by Squire Trelawney, who calls him "a very noble fellow" and compares his riding down of Pew to "stamping on a cockroach." Dance's sense of duty is evident in his concern about the legal implications of Pew's death, as he worries that "people will make it out against an officer of his Majesty's revenue." He is also pragmatic, as when he notes that the pirates have escaped and that sending a man to warn the cutter is "just about as good as nothing." Dance's brief appearance serves to highlight the contrast between the lawful world of the English authorities and the lawless world of the pirates. He is a representative of the order that the protagonists seek to restore, and his actions set the stage for the adventure that follows. Though he does not accompany the expedition, his role in the narrative is essential, as he is the catalyst that brings the treasure map into the hands of the gentlemen who will use it.