::Regarding Silver's "timber leg," Silver specifically says that he learned his craft as a sailor while in the navy. In fact, he specifically mentions that he was a "master mariner," which indicates he was an officer on a warship (yes, the pirate could have been lying regarding his former rank) and that he lost his leg in battle, which would doubtlessly lead to his retirement from active naval service. However, with the skills of a former naval officer (incidentally, who would have been trained in navigation) he would have had an easy time joining up with a pirate crew. (He was likely lying about serving under Captain England given the dates.) Also, Silver was Flint's quartermaster, which in the Royal Navy is the helmsman's position. Given that his one-legged status does not seem to make him any less lethal a pirate  he takes down a man by nailing him in the spine with his crutch!  there is no reason to suppose that he retired from the life of a gentleman of fortune because he had one leg. He retired because Flint died.