Something dangerous about Ship-Trap Island.

Ship-Trap Island- The name itself alludes to the island's danger..... ships being trapped.

Reputation with the sailors..... sailking past the island makes them nervous and jumpy.

"The place has a reputation--a bad one."

"Cannibals?" suggested Rainsford.

"Hardly. Even cannibals wouldn't live in such a God-forsaken place. But it's gotten into sailor lore, somehow. Didn't you notice that the crew's nerves seemed a bit jumpy today?"

Gunshots;

An abrupt sound startled him. Off to the right he heard it, and his ears, expert in such matters, could not be mistaken. Again he heard the sound, and again. Somewhere, off in the blackness, someone had fired a gun three times.