Robert Louis Stevenson’s Classic Treasure Island recap

Jim Hawkins finds a map in a dead pirate's sea chest and joins Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey, and Captain Smollett on an expedition to Treasure Island. Their cook, Long John Silver, is secretly leading much of the crew in a mutiny. Jim discovers the plot, slips ashore, and meets the marooned Ben Gunn. The loyal party occupies an old stockade while fighting the pirates, and Jim later recaptures their ship after a deadly struggle with Israel Hands. Returning to the stockade, Jim falls into Silver's hands, but Silver protects him as his own authority weakens. The pirates follow the map and find the treasure gone: Ben Gunn discovered it years earlier and moved it to his cave. Livesey and his allies rescue Jim and Silver, load the recovered hoard, and sail away, leaving three mutineers behind. Silver escapes during the homeward voyage with a modest share, while Jim returns wealthy but troubled by his memories.

Jim Hawkins lives with his parents at the Admiral Benbow inn when an intimidating old sailor called Bill takes a room. Bill fears former shipmates and pays Jim to watch for a one-legged man. A visitor named Black Dog confronts him and escapes after a fight, and the blind pirate Pew later delivers a marked summons. Bill dies after receiving it. Jim and his mother open his sea chest to collect the inn's unpaid bill, taking a sealed packet before pirates raid the building. Revenue officers scatter the gang, and Pew is killed in the confusion. Jim brings the packet to Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney. It contains the journal and map of the pirate Captain Flint, including the location of buried treasure. Trelawney resolves to buy and crew a ship for an expedition, with Livesey and Jim joining him.

Squire Trelawney obtains the Hispaniola in Bristol and recruits a crew with the help of the cheerful one-legged cook Long John Silver. Captain Smollett objects that the voyage's secret is already common knowledge and insists on precautions, but the ship sails. During the passage Jim climbs into an apple barrel and overhears Silver persuading a reluctant sailor to join a mutiny. Silver was Captain Flint's quartermaster and has placed his allies throughout the crew, including Israel Hands. The conspirators plan to let Trelawney's party locate and load the treasure before killing them and taking the ship. Jim warns Livesey, Trelawney, and Smollett. Counting only a handful of dependable men, they decide to hide their knowledge and wait. The next morning Treasure Island comes into view, and Silver restores discipline among the restless crew without revealing that his plot has been discovered.

Captain Smollett allows the crew ashore to ease tensions. Jim impulsively goes with them, then runs into the woods after seeing Silver murder a sailor who refuses to join the mutiny. He meets Ben Gunn, an eccentric former member of Flint's crew who was marooned on the island three years earlier. Ben claims to have useful knowledge and shows particular interest in returning under a gentleman's protection. Meanwhile, Livesey's group abandons the Hispaniola for a fenced stockade with fresh water. Under fire, they ferry supplies ashore and bring the loyal sailor Abraham Gray with them, though Tom Redruth is killed. The ship, now held by the mutineers, fires its cannon at the stockade. Jim reaches the fort and reunites with his friends, while Ben remains hidden outside. Smollett raises the British flag and organizes the small group for defense.

Silver approaches the stockade under a flag of truce and offers safety in exchange for Flint's map. Captain Smollett refuses. The pirates attack, and the defenders repel them, but several men die and Smollett is wounded. Jim slips away without permission, finds Ben Gunn's small homemade boat, and cuts the Hispaniola loose from her anchorage so the pirates cannot easily use her. The coracle carries him out to sea, where he boards the drifting ship. One pirate is dead and Israel Hands is badly injured. Jim takes control and orders Hands to help beach the vessel in a concealed northern inlet. After guiding the ship in, Hands attacks Jim. Jim climbs into the rigging and shoots him when the sailor throws a knife. Wounded but alive, Jim secures the Hispaniola where the remaining pirates cannot easily find her.

After guiding the Hispaniola into the inlet, Israel Hands attacks Jim. Jim climbs into the rigging and shoots Hands when the sailor hurls a knife, leaving Jim wounded but in possession of the hidden ship. He returns to the stockade after dark and discovers that the pirates now occupy it. Silver prevents the others from killing him, partly because Jim may serve as a hostage and partly because Silver's leadership is failing. Jim boldly admits what he has done and refuses an offer to join the pirates. The mutineers depose Silver and then restore him when he produces the treasure map, which Dr. Livesey has unexpectedly given him. Livesey visits to treat the sick and wounded pirates. He speaks privately with Jim, who promises not to escape after giving Silver his word, and warns Silver to be cautious when the treasure is found. Silver takes Jim with the party as they set out to follow the map.

The pirates follow Flint's directions through the island, unnerved by a skeleton used as a marker and by a hidden voice that Ben Gunn uses to imitate their dead captain. At the marked site they find only an empty excavation: Ben discovered the treasure during his years alone and moved it to his cave. The pirates turn on Silver and Jim, but Livesey, Gray, and Ben fire from concealment and scatter them. Silver openly rejoins the loyal party. At Ben's cave Jim finds the treasure and the surviving members of his group. They carry the hoard to the Hispaniola, leave three mutineers supplied but marooned, and sail for home. At a port on the way, Silver escapes with a small bag of coins. Back in England the treasure is divided; Smollett retires, Gray uses his share to advance himself, and Ben soon spends his. Jim has no wish to return for the silver left on the island, whose dangers continue to disturb his dreams.

Jim, Silver, and the remaining pirates reach the place marked on the map, only to find that Flint's treasure has already been removed. The disappointed mutineers turn on Silver and Jim, but Dr. Livesey, Gray, and Ben Gunn drive them off. Ben had found the hoard long before and carried it to his cave, which is why Livesey could safely surrender the map. The loyal party moves the treasure aboard the Hispaniola and leaves three surviving mutineers on the island. Silver helps manage the voyage but slips away at a port with a small bag of coins. The others return to England and divide their wealth: Smollett retires, Gray improves his position, and Ben quickly spends his share. Jim remains haunted by the island and wants no part of recovering the silver still left there.