The Final Confrontation at the Admiral Benbow

The narrative reaches a fever pitch as the protagonist, driven by a mixture of "curiosity" and the necessity of survival, observes the arrival of the antagonist crew. Led by the menacing figure of the blind man, Pew, the group descends upon the inn. The atmosphere is thick with tension as the protagonist witnesses the brutal efficiency of these men, who immediately demand to "down the door" and begin their search for the elusive prize—Flint’s fist.

The Failure of the Buccaneers and Pew's Tyranny

Upon discovering that Bill is dead, the pirates are thrown into a state of disarray. Pew, displaying a ruthless authority, commands his men to "stop their blubbering" and focus on the objective. The pirates, frustrated by finding the chest "torn apart" but the money still present, become increasingly desperate. Pew’s leadership is defined by his cruel ambition, as he berates his crew, calling them "cowards" and "fools." He screams, "Find it and we'll live like kings," revealing the desperate greed that fuels their violent pursuit. The tension escalates as the pirates begin "fighting like cats and dogs," highlighting the fractured and unstable nature of their criminal alliance.

The Intervention of the Law

The turning point occurs when the sound of a whistle from the hill signals imminent danger for the pirates. Despite the warning, Pew continues his erratic and violent assault, striking his own men with his cane. However, the chaos is abruptly silenced by the arrival of local authorities on horseback. The sound of "hooves and the ring of a pistol shot" sends the buccaneers into a panicked retreat. In the ensuing confusion, Pew, the once-fearsome leader, is left behind. His death is swift and pathetic; as he attempts to flee, he slips "beneath one of their horses" and is left "quite still" on the ground, "more dead than stone."

The Aftermath and the Pursuit of the Scroll

With the pirates scattered and the immediate threat neutralized, the officers assess the wreckage of the inn. The protagonist realizes the true significance of the items being hunted, noting that the officers now understand that it was "the scroll in my jacket they were after." The realization that the scoundrels had "escaped scot-free" by boat adds a layer of lingering danger, but for the moment, the protagonist finds safety. The chapter concludes with a sense of transition, as the protagonist is hoisted onto an officer's horse, setting off toward Dr. Livesey’s house. This journey symbolizes the shift from the chaotic violence of the inn to a new phase of the quest, where the protection of the scroll becomes the primary focus for the safety of all involved.