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XII . Israel Hands “ This brandy is too strong for my head , ” said Hands after a while . “ Go down and bring me some wine . ” I did not believe him , but I went . Then I quickly came back another way and looked up through a hatch , a small door in the deck . Hands was crawling across the deck . He picked up a long knife , looked at it and hid it under his jacket . Then he crawled back to his place . Now I knew that he wanted to kill me . But he needed my help until the ship was safe in the North Inlet . So I brought the wine and said nothing . We sailed into the North Inlet in the afternoon . Hands gave me good orders , because he was an excellent sailor . “ Now , lad , ” he said at last , “ turn her in . ” The ship slid gently onto the soft sand near the beach . I was so busy that I forgot about Hands . Then something made me turn round . He was already halfway towards me with the knife in his hand . I cried out , and he roared like a bull . I let go of the tiller , the long wooden handle that steers the ship . It swung round and hit him in the chest , and he stopped for a moment . I pulled out my pistol and fired , but nothing happened . The powder was wet with seawater . I ran round the mast , and he followed me . At that moment the ship fell over onto her side in the sand . We both fell , and I got up first . I jumped at the ropes and climbed up the mast as fast as I could . I sat at the top of the mast , far above the deck . Quickly I put fresh powder into both my pistols . Hands began to climb after me , slowly and painfully , with the knife between his teeth . “ One more step , Mr Hands , ” I said , “ and I’ll blow your brains out ! Dead men don’t bite , you know . ” He stopped . He took the knife out of his mouth . “ Jim , ” he said , “ I think we’ll have to make peace , you and I . I’m an old sailor , and I have no luck . ” I was smiling at his words when his arm moved . Something flew through the air like an arrow . There was a sharp pain , and the knife pinned my shoulder to the mast . In that moment of pain and surprise , both my pistols went off . Hands cried out and fell down into the water . He did not come up again . I was shaking . But the knife was holding only a little skin , and I pulled myself free . I climbed down and tied up my shoulder . The wound was not deep . The tide was low now , so I walked through the shallow water to the beach . The ship was safe , and I wanted to tell my friends everything . It was a long walk across the island in the moonlight . When I came near the stockade , I saw a big fire . That was strange , because the captain never allowed big fires . Everything was quiet . I climbed over the fence and crept into the dark log house . Everybody was asleep . I went to my own place on the floor , but my foot touched somebody’s leg . Suddenly a sharp voice cried out in the dark : “ Pieces of eight ! Pieces of eight ! Pieces of eight ! ” It was Captain Flint , Silver’s parrot ! I turned to run , but a strong arm held me . “ Bring a light , Dick , ” said Silver’s voice .
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