[00:00.22]Chapter 27.
[00:02.63]Pieces of eight.
[00:06.04]Far below me, I could see Hans's body floating face down in the green sea.
[00:12.23]I began to feel sick and faint.
[00:14.98]There was blood running down my chest from my wounded shoulder.
[00:20.23]The pain was like the burning of a red-hot iron.
[00:24.62]I feared that if I passed out, I'd fall and join Hans in the green water below.
[00:32.42]Once I inspected my wound, I found it was less serious than I'd thought.
[00:39.11]The dagger only held me by a pinch of skin and the cloth of my jacket.
[00:45.40]With one painful jerk, I was able to pull myself free and climb slowly down to the deck.
[00:55.45]After I had bathed my wound, I lost no time in going ashore.
[01:00.77]The sun was setting, and I could hear the breeze singing in the tossing pine trees.
[01:08.12]I waded through the shallow water, leaving the Hispaniola leaning on her side.
[01:14.35]I was looking forward to reaching the stockade.
[01:18.21]Imagine my friend's faces when they heard that I'd brought back the ship single-handed.
[01:27.62]By the time I reached the stockade, the moon had climbed high.
[01:33.15]I could see a red glow in the sky.
[01:37.93]On the other side of the log house, a great fire had burned itself down to embers.
[01:46.43]I stopped in my tracks, puzzled.
[01:49.97]The captain had never let us build large fires within the stockade before.
[01:56.77]I began to fear that something was wrong.
[02:00.94]I climbed over the tall fence and crept up the hill on my hands and knees.
[02:07.21]As I drew nearer to the log house, I heard a sound that was music to my ears.
[02:14.73]It was the peaceful snores of my friends inside.
[02:19.81]Standing up, I entered the pitch dark room, walking with my arms out in front of me.
[02:27.58]My plan was to lie down in my place and give my friends a surprise in the morning.
[02:35.71]Suddenly, my foot struck a sleeping body.
[02:39.71]A shrill voice split the darkness.
[02:47.85]Pieces of eight, pieces of eight, pieces of eight.
[02:54.82]It was Silver's parrot, Captain Flint.
[02:59.62]I had no time to recover.
[03:02.25]Silver's voice cried, "Who goes there?"
[03:07.70]I turned to escape, but ran straight into someone who held me tight.
[03:13.84]Bring a torch, dick, said Silver.
[03:18.51]Let's see what we have here.