Narrative Continued by the Doctor—How the Ship Was Abandoned
It was about half-past one—three bells in the sea phrase—that the two boats went ashore from the Hispaniola . The captain, the squire, and I were talking matters over in the cabin. Had there been a breath of wind, we should have fallen on the six mutineers who were left aboard with us, slipped our cable, and away to sea. But the wind was wanting; and, to complete our helplessness, down came Hunter with the news that Jim Hawkins had slipped into a boat and was gone ashore with the rest.