The Cruise of the Alerte · Character

The Alerte

A sixty-four-foot teak cutter built in 1864, sound as the day she left the stocks, carrying a crew of treasure-hunters toward Trinidad.

major

Also known as Alerte

First appearance: i the history of the treasure

As a major figure in The Cruise of the Alerte, The Alerte is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The cutter-yacht purchased and fitted out for the treasure expedition; converted to a yawl and equipped with new boats and a condensing apparatus.

In the storyII: The Alerte Is Fitted OutOpen this moment free

She is the expedition's home, its engine of survival, and its most reliable member — a seasoned old cutter converted to a yawl for the voyage. Her honest construction and comfortable, old-fashioned build stand in quiet contrast to the human schemes and uncertainties aboard her. Every mile of the cruise depends on her seaworthiness, making her the silent protagonist of the journey.

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Character Web

4 connections

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Relationship types

Psychological
Other

Character groups

Alerte crew and expedition members
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional peak occurs when the explorers, after enduring the oppressive heat and danger of the landslip, e…

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Relationships

Arthur Cotton
psychological · positive
Arthur Cotton shares the narrator's deep attachment to the ship Alerte, viewing it as… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

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See The Alerte in i the history of the treasure

In the story

The Alerte appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II: The Alerte Is Fitted Out
The cutter-yacht purchased and fitted out for the treasure expedition; converted to a yawl and equipped with new boats and a condensing apparatus.
III: The Ship’s Company
The vessel chosen for the expedition, described by the first mate as 'cranky' and 'too heavily sparred,' but ultimately proven seaworthy.
Our First Voyage
The yacht is fitted out and departs from Southampton, later anchoring at Calshot and Cowes before setting sail.
On the Salvages
The yacht that brought the party to the Salvages; anchors off the bay.
Running Down the Trades
The yacht making the voyage; modifications made to spinnaker and boom during the journey.
IX: Treasure Island at Last
The yacht anchored off the cascade; its safety and maneuverability are central to the chapter.
Homeward Bound
The yacht is laid up in Port of Spain after the voyage; its draught causes it to sink into the mud.

Chapter companion notes

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See The Alerte in i the history of the treasure

See The Alerte in II: The Alerte Is Fitted Out