Having crept into an almost empty apple barrel trying to find an apple, Jim Hawkins overhears Long John Silver telling one of the crew that he had been quartermaster on the ship of the pirate Flint.
I had no idea what a quartermaster's duties would have been on a sailing ship in those days.

quar[ter[mas[ter 7kwCrt4!r mas#t!r8
n.

1 Mil. an officer whose duty it is to provide troops with quarters, clothing, equipment, etc.
2 Naut. a petty officer or mate trained to steer a ship, perform navigational duties, etc.