Each time she fell off , her sails partly filled , and these brought her in a moment right to the wind again . I have said this was the worst thing possible for me , for helpless as she looked in this situation , with the canvas cracking like cannon and the blocks trundling and banging on the deck , she still continued to run away from me , not only with the speed of the current , but by the whole amount of her leeway , which was naturally great . But now , at last , I had my chance . The breeze fell for some seconds , very low , and the current gradually turning her , the HISPANIOLA revolved slowly round her centre and at last presented me her stern , with the cabin window still gaping open and the lamp over the table still burning on into the day . The main-sail hung drooped like a banner . She was stock-still but for the current . For the last little while I had even lost , but now redoubling my efforts , I began once more to overhaul the chase . I was not a hundred yards from her when the wind came again in a clap ; she filled on the port tack and was off again , stooping and skimming like a swallow . My first impulse was one of despair , but my second was towards joy . Round she came , till she was broadside on to me -- round still till she had covered a half and then two thirds and then three quarters of the distance that separated us . I could see the waves boiling white under her forefoot . Immensely tall she looked to me from my low station in the coracle . And then , of a sudden , I began to comprehend . I had scarce time to think -- scarce time to act and save myself . I was on the summit of one swell when the schooner came stooping over the next . The bowsprit was over my head . I sprang to my feet and leaped , stamping the coracle under water . With one hand I caught the jib-boom , while my foot was lodged between the stay and the brace ; and as I still clung there panting , a dull blow told me that the schooner had charged down upon and struck the coracle and that I was left without retreat on the HISPANIOLA . 25 I Strike the Jolly Roger 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 XXXXX , and tumbled head foremost on the deck .
HISPANIOLA bowsprit first forefoot jib left quarters right second seconds