The Cruise of the Alerte · Chapters

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Chapter companions for The Cruise of the Alerte by E. F. Knight.

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Chapter 1
The History of the Treasure
This chapter recounts the history of treasure hunting on the island of Trinidad, beginning with a young man's perilous swim ashore and his discovery of a treasure site buried under a landslip. It details subsequent expeditions, including the ill-fated Aurea expedition and the American attempt, all of which faced extreme dangers, surf, and failure. The narrator learns of these stories and decides to organize his own expedition aboard the Alerte.
Chapter 2
II: The Alerte Is Fitted Out
The narrator details the preparations for the treasure-hunting expedition to Trinidad. He recounts his interview with Mr. A⸺, who provides crucial bearings and a copy of the pirate's plan, and explains the failures of previous expeditions due to impatient captains and difficult landings. The narrator then describes the acquisition and fitting out of the cutter-yacht Alerte, including its conversion to a yawl, installation of extra bunks and water tanks, a condensing apparatus, and a new lifeboat. He also mentions selecting a volunteer crew for the voyage.
Chapter 3
III: The Ship’s Company
The narrator describes the process of selecting the crew for the treasure expedition, emphasizing the importance of choosing trustworthy companions over provisioning. He decides to take a small number of paid hands and a larger group of gentleman-adventurers who will share in the venture's costs and potential rewards. The chapter details the agreement signed with volunteers, the challenges of interviewing over 150 applicants, and the eventual selection of a crew that included some unsuitable members. The first mate proves disloyal, attempting to foment mutiny and eventually deserting at Bahia, along with one other. Despite these setbacks, the narrator notes that after removing the troublemakers, the crew became harmonious and capable.
Chapter 4
IV: A Romance of the Salvages
The narrator receives a flood of correspondence after an article in the St. James's Gazette, including many improbable treasure schemes. A retired naval officer from Exeter shares a documented story of a treasure hidden on the Salvages, based on Admiralty records and Captain Hercules Robinson's 1813 expedition with the informant Christian Cruise. The narrator decides to deviate from the original plan to Trinidad and investigate the Great Piton, keeping the plan secret until two days at sea, when the crew unanimously agrees to visit the island.
Chapter 5
Our First Voyage
The narrator describes the hurried final preparations for the expedition in Southampton, including farewell dinners, last-minute crew changes, and the departure of the Alerte. After a false start and a brief stop at Cowes for repairs, the yacht finally sets sail. The chapter also recounts the voyage to the Salvages, where the crew encounters a mysterious schooner and a group of men landing heavy barrels on a desert island, sparking fantasies of pirates and hidden treasure.

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The History of the Treasure

II: The Alerte Is Fitted Out

III: The Ship’s Company

IV: A Romance of the Salvages

Our First Voyage