After Jim's capture, why does Silver protect Jim from the other pirates?

Silver insists that they need the boy as a hostage although I think Silver actually has a liking for the boy.

i think silver saves the boy because when they get back home, silver will most likely will be put on trial for his life for all of the things he has done and he needs a good character reference from jim saying that silver saved his life so he is not sent to the gallows.