Student Question

What new arrangement does the Hispaniola's captain make in Treasure Island?

Quick answer:

The new arrangement made by the Captain of the Hispaniola involves changing the sleeping berths so that the officers aren't all quartered together at one end of the ship. It also involves moving the store of gunpowder away from the crew. Both these measures are designed to minimize the chances of a mutiny aboard the ship.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Although the Hispaniola is Captain Smollett's ship, it seems that he's been kept in the dark concerning its forthcoming voyage. What little information he's managed to glean comes from his crew, who seem to know more than he does.

He's also none too happy that he wasn't able to hire his own crew for the treasure hunt that's about to take place. Believing that neither Squire Trelawney nor Dr. Livesey actually knows what they're doing, and unable to trust his first mate Mr. Arrow, the Captain feels decidedly uneasy about the situation.

His extreme discomfiture is all the greater given certain arrangements aboard ship, arrangements that he himself didn't make. For one thing, all the officers' sleeping berths are concentrated at one end of the ship, making it easier for any potential mutineers to take them prisoner and thus take control of the ship.

But what's most disturbing to Smollett is the fact that the members of Long John Silver's scurvy crew have been stockpiling supplies of gunpowder in a place that's much more convenient for them than for the Captain. Once again, Smollett is extremely worried that this will make a mutiny aboard ship much more likely.

The Captain expresses his concerns to Squire Trelawney and Dr. Livesey, and although Trelawney thinks that Smollett is a coward, he and the doctor nonetheless agree to the changes he demands. The sleeping arrangements will be changed and the gunpowder moved to a different location. This way, it is hoped, Long John Silver and his crew won't get any funny ideas about staging a mutiny.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial