[00:01.47] Chapter 25, The Jolly Roger.
[00:05.92] If I stayed where I was, I knew I'd be tossed into the sea.
[00:12.67] As soon as the wind dropped, I crawled along the bowsprit and fell forward onto the deck.
[00:21.28] There was not a soul on deck, only muddy footprints and a broken bottle rolling backwards and forwards with the rise and fall of the ship.
[00:33.24] Further on, I found the two watchmen.
[00:39.00] Israel Hans was propped against the side, chalk-faced, with his jaw hanging open.
[00:48.74] His companion was stone dead.
[00:52.44] Hans gave a low moan and I walked over to look at him.
[00:57.65] His eyes rolled towards me.
[01:00.73] Brandy, was the only word he could speak.
[01:08.17] I went below to look for a bottle and found the cabin in a terrible state.
[01:15.40] Empty bottles clinked in every corner of the rolling ship.
[01:22.62] The doctor's books lay open, and half the pages had been torn out to light the mutineous pipes.
[01:33.16] It was clear that since the mutiny had begun, not one of Silver's men had been sober.
[01:46.15] I found a bottle of brandy and some biscuits and cheese for myself.
[01:53.01] Then I went back to Hans.
[01:56.92] On the way I stopped to take a long deep drink from the water barrel.
[02:04.18] Hans took the brandy without a word and drank from it greedily.
[02:09.89] I, by thunder I needed that, he said.
[02:17.63] Are you badly hurt?
[02:20.65] I asked.
[02:22.79] He grunted.
[02:25.46] If that doctor was aboard, I'd be right in no time, but I don't have no luck, see?
[02:37.41] And where did you spring from?
[02:41.33] Well, I said, I've come aboard to take charge of the ship.
[02:48.94] From now on, you'll treat me as your captain, Mr. Hans, and to begin with, I can't have this flag on my ship.
[03:01.41] I ran to where the black Jolly Roger was flying from the top mast.
[03:09.08] Pulling it down, I threw it overboard.
[03:14.75] God save the king, I cried, and an end to Captain Silver.
[03:26.47] Hans watched me slyly all the time through narrow eyes.
[03:34.68] Well, Captain Hawkins, I reckon you'll be wanting to get ashore, he said.
[03:42.88] So, suppose we have a talk.
[03:49.59] Talk away, Mr. Hans, I said, and went back to my meal.
[03:57.76] Hans nodded at the dead pirate on the deck.
[04:01.98] This man, O'Brien and me, we got the sail up and meant to take the ship back.
[04:11.55] Well, he's dead now.
[04:15.59] So there's only you to sail her.
[04:19.43] Now, look here.
[04:22.99] You gives me food and drink and ties up my wound, and I'll tell you how to sail the ship.
[04:32.89] That's square all round, ain't it?
[04:38.56] Agreed, I said.
[04:42.76] But we're not going back to the anchorage where Silver is.
[04:48.59] I mean to bring her round the north inlet and we'll beach her there quietly.
[04:57.06] To be sure, said Hans.
[05:02.04] I haven't no choice, have I?
[05:08.92] I bandaged his wound, and after he drunk some more of the brandy, he seemed to look more himself.
[05:19.19] With his instructions, I soon had the ship heading for the island.
[05:24.86] We raced past the coast and headed north towards the inlet.
[05:34.59] I was in high spirits.
[05:39.69] Up to now, I'd blamed myself for deserting my post at the stockade, but now I'd rescued the ship and was going back to help my friends.
[05:54.12] The sun shone, and the ship skimmed before the breeze like a bird.
[06:04.49] Only Hans spoiled my happiness.
[06:10.10] I could feel his eyes following me as I went about my work, watching me with a crafty smile on his face.