I HAD scarce gained a position on the bowsprit when
the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack
with a report like a gun. The schooner trembled
to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the
other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again
and hung idle.

This had nearly tossed me off into the sea, and
now I lost no time, crawled back along the bowsprit
and tumbled head-foremost on the deck.

I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the
mainsail, which was still drawing, concealed from me
a certain portion of the after-deck. Not a soul was
to be seen. The planks, which had not been swabbed
since the mutiny, bore the print of many feet, and
an empty bottle, broken by the neck, tumbled to and
fro like a live thing in the scuppers.

Suddenly the Hispaniola came right into the wind.
The jibs behind me cracked aloud; the rudder
slammed to; the whole ship gave a sickening heave
and shudder; and at the same moment the main-boom
swung inboard, the sheet groaning in the blocks, and
showed me the lee after-deck.

-206-