Jim Hawkins was hiding inside the apple barrel. He heard Long John Silver talking to a young sailor named Dick. Long John Silver told Dick about his past life. "Captain Flint was the leader of the ship," Silver said. "I was the quartermaster (the person in charge of the food and supplies on a ship)."
Long John Silver said he lost his leg in a big battle. On that same day, the old blind man named Pew lost his eyes. Long John Silver said he was a very rich man now. He had money in many different banks. He told Dick that a smart sailor saves his money.
Long John Silver said that most pirates spend all their money quickly. Then they become poor and hungry. He talked about old Pew. Pew was a beggar before he died. Long John Silver did not want to be like Pew. He wanted to be a rich gentleman.
"You are a smart young man," Long John Silver said to Dick. Jim Hawkins felt very angry. Long John Silver used the same kind words with Jim Hawkins before. Jim Hawkins realized that Long John Silver was a pirate (a person who robs ships at sea).
Long John Silver explained his plan. He called himself and his friends "gentlemen of fortune." This was just another name for pirates. He said they lived a dangerous life. But if they were successful, they would have a lot of gold.
Dick asked about the money Long John Silver already had. Long John Silver said his wife had all the money now. She sold their inn, the Spy-glass. She was waiting for him in a secret place. Long John Silver said he trusted his wife.
Long John Silver told Dick that many men were afraid of Captain Flint. He said even Captain Flint was afraid of Long John Silver. Silver was proud of his power. Dick listened to Silver and decided to join the pirates. Dick shook hands with Long John Silver.
Jim Hawkins understood everything now. Long John Silver was the leader of the pirates on the ship. Almost all the sailors were part of his group. Then a third man named Israel Hands came and sat down near the barrel.
Israel Hands was tired of waiting. He wanted to start a mutiny (when sailors fight their captain to take control of the ship). He wanted to kill Captain Smollett and the others immediately. He wanted to eat the good food and drink the wine in the cabin.
But Long John Silver told Israel Hands to be patient. Silver said Captain Smollett was a great sailor. They needed the captain to sail the ship to the island. They also needed Squire Trelawney and Dr. Livesey to find the treasure first.
Long John Silver wanted to wait until the gold was on the ship. Then he wanted to kill the honest men. Dick asked if they should leave the honest men on an island. Long John Silver said no. He wanted to kill them all.
"Dead men cannot talk," Long John Silver said. He was a very cruel man. He told the others that he wanted to kill Squire Trelawney with his own hands. Jim Hawkins trembled with fear inside the barrel.
Suddenly, Long John Silver asked Dick to get him an apple from the barrel. Jim Hawkins was terrified. He thought Dick would find him. But Israel Hands told Dick to get some rum instead. Dick went to get the alcohol.
While Dick was away, Israel Hands spoke to Long John Silver. Jim Hawkins heard that a few sailors were still honest. This was good news. Dick came back with the rum. The three pirates drank together to their future success.
Suddenly, the light changed inside the barrel. Jim Hawkins looked up and saw the moon. At the same moment, a sailor on the deck shouted, "Land ho!" (a shout that means a sailor sees land). Everyone ran to see the island. Jim Hawkins was safe for now.