Chapter 12: Council of War
At the very moment that Jim is going to be discovered hiding in the apple barrel and eavesdropping on Silver’s plan to take over the ship and ride off with the treasure, the sentry shouts, “Land ho!”
While Captain Smollett plans their landing with Silver, Jim informs Dr. Livesey that they kind of have a major problem on their hands, and they need to talk in private. Livesey plays it cool, quietly passing the news to Smollett, who distracts the crew by allowing them to pour out some grog as thanks for their efforts thus far, and the crew gives a hearty cheer for the man they are actively plotting to overthrow.
(yes, I’m committing to this bit)
In short order, Jim meets with Smollett, Livesey, and Trelawney below deck and tells them everything he overheard, about Silver’s scheme and how many men are in on the plot. Trelawney owns up to being an ass, though even Smollett admits that if there are plans to mutiny, there’s usually some indication that it’s a possibility; but not so with this otherwise agreeable crew.
But Smollett isn’t a man to waste words, so he lays out everything they know for certain:
- They have to keep going for the treasure, because calling the whole thing off now would be way too suspicious.
- The pirates won’t make a move until the treasure is found, and maybe not even until they disembark again, so they have some time left.
- Silver had mentioned that some of the crew weren’t in on the plot.
Smollett’s best course of action—as desperate as it is—is to wait until an opportune moment, then launch a preemptive stike on the pirates to take them by surprise. This isn’t a particularly encouraging plan, given that the number people they can trust is incredibly low: themselves, and the handful of men Trelawney brought along as his entourage… meaning they are more or less outnumbered 3-to-1.
“I’d be willing to blow the ship up,” Trelawney adds helpfully.