Prepare to embark on a journey filled with danger, secrets, and high seas adventure in the opening chapter of Treasure Island.

At the quiet Admiral Benbow inn, where young Jim Hawkins lives with his parents, the arrival of a mysterious, grizzled old sailor changes everything. Known only as the “captain,” this enigmatic figure brings with him an aura of menace, his sea chest harboring secrets that could alter Jim’s life forever. From the moment he strides into the inn, the captain’s haunting sea shanties—

“Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!”
Drink and the devil had done for the rest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!”

—chill the hearts of those who hear them.

But who is this fearsome Billy Bones, and what is the dark past that follows him? The shadow of danger looms as the other patrons grow wary, and Jim finds himself drawn into a world far beyond the safe walls of the inn.

This is no ordinary tale of boyhood; it’s the first step in a journey that will test Jim’s courage, wit, and resolve. The stage is set, the characters are gathering, and the adventure of a lifetime is about to unfold. Will you dare to join them?

The stage is set for an epic pirate adventure.

HOW TO MAKE SEAWEED GROG

“He would sit and listen to the wind, day after day, and crack jokes, and then he would break out in that old sea-song that he sang so often, or else call for a glass of rum.” - of Billy Bones

Let’s crack our best pirate jokes, listen to the wind, and then sip some grog for our own enjoyment. Here’s a recipe for “seaweed grog” which we have tested and tasted for a dog’s age.

TERMS TO KNOW

Grog shop – used by the old sea dog to describe the Admiral Benbow Inn – a bar or tavern frequented by sailors, laborers, and the lower classes. Grog shops had a rough reputation, known for cheap, strong drinks and a rowdy atmosphere.

Hand-barrow – what the old sea dog uses to carry his sea chest – essentially a flat platform or frame with handles, used for carrying things. Unlike a wheelbarrow, which has a wheel, a hand-barrow is lifted entirely by hand and carried by one or more people.

Clasp-knife — a type of folding knife – or pocketknife – with a blade that folds into the handle, used by the old sea dog when threatening to pin Dr. Livesey to the wall.

Assizes – periodic courts held in England from medieval times until the late 20th century. These courts dealt primarily with serious criminal cases such as murder, robbery, and felonies.

Silver fourpenny piece – a small silver coin worth four pence in British currency – what the old sea dog paid Jim Hawkins on the first of every month to keep watch for strangers to the Inn.

Dry Tortugas – a group of small islands located about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico.

Spanish Main – the coastal region of the Spanish Empire in the Americas during the 16th to 18th centuries, particularly the northern coast of South America, a hotbed for piracy.

Dead man’s chest – refers to an island, possibly fictional, associated with pirates and their buried treasure, often interpreted as a desolate place where pirates were marooned.

Battle of looks – expressing feelings through facial expressions, gestures, or nonverbal cues rather than through spoken words.