[00:00.49] Chapter 23.
[00:01.76] Under the ship.
[00:04.58] The coracle floated well upon the water, but it was an awkward boat to steer.
[00:11.96] Whatever I did, it always spun round and round in the water.
[00:18.92] If it hadn't been for the strong tide going out, I would never have reached the ship.
[00:26.73] Suddenly, there she was, towering above me like a great ink blot in the darkness.
[00:37.09] The rippling current bubbled and chattered around me.
[00:41.72] I took out my knife and began to cut the anchor rope, one strand at a time.
[00:49.94] Above me, I could hear the sound of voices from the cabin.
[00:55.68] Israel hands and another man were quarreling drunkenly.
[01:04.10] As I worked, a cabin window opened, and one of them threw something out.
[01:12.64] An empty rum bottle splashed into the sea not far away.
[01:18.13] On the shore, I could see the red glow of the campfire, and hear one of the pirates crooning the old sea song.
[01:28.14] Fifteen men on the dead man's chest.
[01:32.99] Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
[01:39.29] With a last effort, I cut through the rope.
[01:44.57] Once free, the ship began to twist and turn in the strong current.
[01:53.52] It was then I noticed the rope trailing down into the water.
[01:59.86] The opportunity to see into the cabin was too good to resist.
[02:06.47] Grabbing hold of the rope, I hauled myself up hand over hand.
[02:16.58] When my eyes were level with the window sill, I could see hands and the other man.
[02:25.87] They were locked together with their hands round each other's throats.
[02:32.69] Their two crimson faces swayed under the smoky lamp.
[02:39.59] Just then, the ship gave a sudden lurch and seemed to change her course.
[02:47.66] I lost my grasp on the rope and dropped down into the coracle.
[02:54.06] The current had changed.
[02:56.88] It was moving faster, bubbling and muttering.
[03:02.98] The Hispaniola was being swept out to sea.
[03:08.31] Worse still, I was being drawn with her.
[03:15.24] Above me, I could hear shouts and the pounding of feet.
[03:21.36] The two drunkards had at last woken up to the disaster.
[03:29.83] There was nothing I could do, but lie down in the bottom of my little boat and pray.
[03:38.05] Soon, we were carried out into rough water.
[03:43.92] The coracle was tossed about like a cork, rising and falling on huge waves.
[03:54.53] I lay there in the bottom of the boat for hours until weariness finally overcame my terror, and I fell asleep.