[00:00.13] Chapter 26, Israel Hans.
[00:04.97] We had to wait for the tide to turn before we could sail into the inlet.
[00:09.95] We both sat in silence over another meal.
[00:14.79] This here is an unlucky ship, Jim, said Hans at last.
[00:20.17] There's been too many poor seamen died since we took her out of Bristol.
[00:25.73] O'Brian, he's dead, ain't he?
[00:29.57] Well, do you think a dead man is dead for good, or do we come back as a ghost?
[00:38.17] You can kill the body, but not the spirit, I replied.
[00:43.63] Maybe O'Brian is watching us now from another world.
[00:48.89] Ah, well, spirits don't count for much in my book, said Hans.
[00:55.11] I'll chance it with the spirits, Jim.
[00:58.43] And now, I thank you to go down below and get me a bottle of wine.
[01:03.97] This brand is too strong for my head.
[01:09.49] I'd never known Hans prefer wine to brandy before.
[01:14.59] I suspected he had some reason for wanting me off the deck.
[01:19.31] He had a way of smiling and licking his lips that would have told a child he was up to something.
[01:28.04] I went below, making plenty of noise.
[01:32.67] Then, I slipped off my shoes and doubled back to the galley.
[01:38.33] There I popped my head above the ladder, where I could keep an eye on Hans.
[01:45.36] Just as I suspected, he was now dragging himself across the deck.
[01:52.64] From under a coil of rope, he picked up a dagger, red with blood, and hid it under his jacket.
[02:02.83] Then, he crawled back to his old position to be ready for me.
[02:11.32] Israel was armed and planning to kill me.
[02:16.08] That much was obvious.
[02:20.68] Yet, I was certain he would wait until I had beached us safely on the island.
[02:27.68] The coxson couldn't manage the ship without me.
[02:34.60] I came back on deck with a bottle of wine.
[02:39.49] Hans smashed the neck off the bottle and took a good swig.
[02:45.70] Here's luck, he said.
[02:49.85] Ah, Jim, Jim, I'm not long for this world.
[02:58.21] Then you'd better say your prayers like a Christian, I replied.
[03:04.87] Why? said he.
[03:08.70] Why? I cried.
[03:12.18] You've joined a mutiny.
[03:15.35] You've lived by lies and blood.
[03:19.89] There's a man lying over there that you murdered.
[03:26.77] God's mercy.
[03:29.61] That's why, Mr. Hans.
[03:35.46] I'd spoken angrily, but Israel didn't lose his temper.
[03:41.97] Instead, he replied almost thoughtfully, I've been at sea for 30 years, and I never seen any good come out of goodness yet.
[03:55.55] Him who strikes first lives longest.
[04:01.71] Dead men don't bite.
[04:05.61] Them's my views.
[04:10.34] When the tide had changed, we sailed into the inlet.
[04:16.64] It was a narrow passage, but with Hans as pilot and me at the tiller, we made a neat job of it.
[04:25.89] Look, there's a fine flat bit of sand, he called.
[04:31.20] Stand by to beach her.
[04:34.93] Steady.
[04:37.84] Steady.
[04:42.65] I was so busy with the ship that I forgot to keep a watchful eye on the coxson.
[04:50.05] Suddenly, I felt uneasy.
[04:54.89] Whirling round, I saw Hans creeping up behind me with the dagger in his hand.
[05:04.09] He gave a roar like a charging bull and threw himself at me.
[05:10.14] I lept aside and let go of the tiller.
[05:14.89] This probably saved my life, as it swung round and struck him in the chest.
[05:22.61] I backed away and drew a pistol from my pocket.
[05:28.17] As Hans came towards me, I pulled the trigger.
[05:33.80] There was no flash or sound.
[05:37.87] The powder was wet with seawater.
[05:44.74] I was defenseless, and Hans knew it.
[05:49.76] He came on, his greasy hair tumbling across his red face.
[05:59.38] At that moment, the Hispaniola struck the beach.
[06:04.83] The ship tipped over to one side, and we both rolled down the deck.
[06:14.20] I was on my feet first, and I sprang into the rigging.
[06:19.92] Quick as a monkey, I climbed up, not pausing until I was sitting on the cross trees.
[06:28.27] I lost no time in starting to reload my pistols with dry powder.
[06:35.42] Hans saw the danger and began to climb after me.
[06:42.81] He held his dagger in his teeth, but made slow progress, hauling his wounded leg after him.
[06:53.53] Before he was halfway up, I had both my pistols ready.
[07:02.88] I called out, one more step, Mr. Hans, and I'll blow your brains out.
[07:11.02] Dead men don't bite, you know, I added with a laugh.
[07:18.30] He took his dagger from his mouth.
[07:22.30] Jim, as you see, I don't have no luck.
[07:29.84] I reckon we'll have to strike a bargain, you and me.
[07:37.38] I sat there as smug as a cock on a rooftop.
[07:45.00] All of a sudden, his right hand went back, and his dagger sang through the air like an arrow.
[07:55.48] I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder as it pinned me to the mast.
[08:03.69] In the shock, both my pistols went off without me taking aim.
[08:11.91] With a cry, Israel Hans plunged from the rigging into the sea below.