The red light of the torch showed Jim Hawkins the truth. The pirates had the house and all the food. Jim Hawkins saw the cask (a large wooden barrel) of brandy. He saw the pork and the bread. He did not see his friends. Jim Hawkins was very afraid. He thought his friends were all dead. He felt very sad because he was not there to help them.
There were six pirates in the house. Five pirates stood up. They were red in the face because they were drunk. The sixth pirate stayed on the floor. He had a bandage (a piece of cloth used to cover a wound) around his head. Jim Hawkins remembered this man. He was wounded during the big fight in the woods.
The parrot, Captain Flint, sat on the shoulder of Long John Silver. Long John Silver looked tired and serious. His expensive clothes were now dirty and torn. He looked at Jim Hawkins and smiled. He sat down on the brandy cask. He told the other pirates to sit down too. He said that Jim Hawkins was a pleasant surprise.
Jim Hawkins stood against the wall. He did not say anything. He looked at Long John Silver. Jim Hawkins felt very hopeless, but he tried to look brave. Long John Silver smoked his pipe. He told Jim Hawkins that he always liked him. He said Jim Hawkins was a brave boy.
Long John Silver gave Jim Hawkins some bad news. He said Jim Hawkins could not go back to his friends. Long John Silver said the doctor was very angry. The doctor called Jim Hawkins a "bad boy." Long John Silver told Jim Hawkins to join the pirates. He said Jim Hawkins had no other choice.
Jim Hawkins was happy to hear one thing. His friends were still alive. Long John Silver said he did not like to use threats. He asked Jim Hawkins to join them. Jim Hawkins asked where his friends were. He asked why the pirates were in the house.
Long John Silver explained the story. He said the doctor came to see him with a flag of truce (a white flag that shows you want to talk, not fight). The doctor told Long John Silver that the ship was gone. The pirates looked at the sea and saw nothing. They felt like fools.
Long John Silver and the doctor made a bargain. The pirates got the house and the food. The doctor and his friends walked away into the woods. Silver did not know where they went. The doctor told Silver that he did not care about Jim Hawkins anymore. Jim Hawkins felt sad, but he did not believe everything Silver said.
Then Jim Hawkins spoke to the pirates. He told them that their plan was a failure. He said they lost the ship and the treasure. Jim Hawkins told them that he was the reason for their problems. He told them he was in the apple barrel and heard their secrets. He told them he cut the ship's rope and moved the ship.
Jim Hawkins told the pirates they could kill him or spare him. He said if they spared him, he would help them in court. He promised to help them avoid the gallows (a wooden frame used for killing criminals by hanging). The pirates sat very still. They looked at Jim Hawkins like quiet sheep.
One pirate named Tom Morgan stood up. He was very angry. He pulled out a knife to kill Jim Hawkins. Long John Silver shouted at him to stop. Silver said he was the captain. He told Morgan that many men died because they did not obey him. Silver said he would kill anyone who touched the boy.
The other pirates were not happy. They whispered to each other in the corner. They did not like Long John Silver's orders. One pirate told Silver that the crew had rights. He wanted to have a council (a meeting to make a decision). All the pirates walked outside to talk.
Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins were alone. Silver whispered to Jim Hawkins. He said the pirates wanted to kill both of them. Silver knew the plan was over because the ship was gone. He made a deal with Jim Hawkins. Silver promised to save Jim's life. Jim Hawkins promised to save Silver from the gallows later.
Jim Hawkins agreed to the bargain. Long John Silver told Jim Hawkins that he was on the squire’s side now. He knew Jim Hawkins had the ship in a safe place. Then Silver asked a strange question. He asked why the doctor gave him the treasure map (a drawing that shows where things are). Jim Hawkins was very surprised. He did not know the answer. Silver drank some brandy and looked very worried about the future.