Chapter 29: How does Silver respond to the men's accusations?

This is a rather long answer. Check out chapter 29 at the GradeSaver link below:

The men are angry because Silver tries to stop them from killing Jim and he says that since he was elected Captain he will protect the boy.

Silver responds quite calmy and first of all says them fools who had cut a piece from the bible.Furiously, Silver retorts that if his wishes had been followed, the men would already be in possession of the treasure. He claims the failure is the fault of the men, because they forced his hand as captain. Silver also tells the men that they are all very close to being hanged. He insists on the usefulness of having Jim as hostage and reminds the men that it was he, Silver, who arranged for Dr. Livesey to tend to them every day.
As a final gesture Silver flings down the treasure map Livesey has given him, and the men gather around his side again.