Chapter 9: Powder and Arms
Finally, Jim boards the Hispaniola with Trelawney and Livesey as it is being prepped for departure. He sees that Trelawney is getting along well with the first mate—a man named Mr. Arrow—but not so much with the captain, Smollett. In fact, Captain Smollett quickly requests an audience with the three of them.
In the privacy of the ship’s cabin, Smollett speaks his mind: he’s not happy with this expedition, the crew, or even his first mate. Trelawney starts to get offended by this, suggesting that perhaps the captain also has a problem with him, but Livesey has the cooler head and asks Smollett to elaborate.
First off, he doesn’t like the fact that they’re going out searching for treasure; he doesn’t vibe with those kinds of jobs. More than that, though, he really doesn’t like how he only knows this is a treasure hunt because he learned about it from the crew. Why the hell does the crew know, anyway? Wasn’t this supposed to be a secret?
Second, Smollett would prefer a crew he was actually familiar with, or at least had a say in hiring. Livesey admits that Trelawney wasn’t ill-intentioned on this point, just incompetent. As for the first mate, the captain agrees that Mr. Arrow seems like a perfectly fine sailor, but thinks he’s a bit too chummy with the crew to make an effective officer.
Livesey responds, all right, but we’re about to leave. What do you want us to do about it at this point? Smollett replies, well, I have a couple suggestions. Right now, you’re storing the guns and ammo at the front of the ship, but you could be storing them in back, under the cabin. Likewise, you’re bringing some of your own trusted guys on this voyage, but you have their bunks split up between the front and the back of the ship; wouldn’t it be better to keep them all together in the back? Lastly, I heard you have a map of the island that shows the precise location of the treasure… I’d be more comfortable if you didn’t share any details with anybody, not even me or Arrow.
After considering the captain’s words, Doctor Livesey says, so what you’re telling us is that we should barricade ourselves in the back of the ship with all the guns and not give anybody any hope of finding the treasure on their own. In other words... you’re worried about mutiny.
Captain Smollett goes, look, I’d be a damn fool to set sail if I was sure of that outcome. But I’m the one paying the insurance premiums here, so like... I’d appreciate if you’d at least do me the favor. In response to this, Dr. Livesey gives the captain a sly smile. He says, you know, that was a rather melodramatic display on your part for the sake of implementing some easy fixes. You didn’t come to this meeting just for that.
Smollett replies, no sir, I came to this meeting to get fired. I didn’t think Trelawney would actually take my recommendations so I didn’t want to stick around.
Trelawney bitterly says, I absolutely would have canned you if Livesey weren’t here. We’ll make the changes I guess, but just know I do not care for you.
After Smollett leaves, Livesey tells Trelawney, credit where it’s due. You managed to pull TWO worthwhile men onto this voyage. Trelawney certainly doesn’t think so though, calling the captain’s manner “unmanly, unsailorly, and downright un-English.”
The chapter ends with a brief scene detailing the crew moving the guns and powder to the back of the ship. John Silver comes on board asking what they’re doing, remarking “we’ll miss the morning tide!”, even though Trelawney said just two chapters ago that they’d be setting out today (I guess it’s safe to assume that Squire Trelawney has shit-for-brains but it’s still my job to call the book out on the discrepancy).
Then at one point, Smollett very understandably yells at a bored Jim for playing with a damn swivel cannon and tells him to go hang out with the cook, so Jim decides he’s going to take Trelawney’s side and be needlessly pissy with the captain. Fine, whatever. Let’s just get this damn adventure under way already.