Narrative Continued by the Doctor: The Jolly-boat’s Last Trip

           Thisfifthtripwasquitedifferentfromanyoftheothers.Inthefirstplace,thelittlegallipotofaboatthatwewereinwasgravelyoverloaded.Fivegrownmen,andthreeofthem—Trelawney,Redruth,andthecaptain—oversixfeethigh,wasalreadymorethanshewasmeanttocarry.Addtothatthepowder,pork,andbread-bags.Thegunwalewaslippingastern.Severaltimesweshippedalittlewater,andmybreechesandthetailsofmycoatwereallsoakingwetbeforewehadgoneahundredyards.

           Thecaptainmadeustrimtheboat,andwegothertoliealittlemoreevenly.Allthesame,wewereafraidtobreathe.

           Inthesecondplace,theebbwasnowmaking—astrongripplingcurrentrunningwestwardthroughthebasin,andthensouth’ardandseawarddownthestraitsbywhichwehadenteredinthemorning.Eventherippleswereadangertoouroverloadedcraft,buttheworstofitwasthatweweresweptoutofourtruecourseandawayfromourproperlanding-placebehindthepoint.Ifweletthecurrenthaveitswayweshouldcomeashorebesidethegigs,wherethepiratesmightappearatanymoment.

           "Icannotkeepherheadforthestockade,sir,"saidItothecaptain.Iwassteering,whileheandRedruth,twofreshmen,wereattheoars."Thetidekeepswashingherdown.Couldyoupullalittlestronger?"

           "Notwithoutswampingtheboat,"saidhe."Youmustbearup,sir,ifyouplease—bearupuntilyouseeyou’regaining."

           ItriedandfoundbyexperimentthatthetidekeptsweepinguswestwarduntilIhadlaidherheaddueeast,orjustaboutrightanglestothewayweoughttogo.

           "We’llnevergetashoreatthisrate,"saidI.