The glow of the sun from above , its thousandfold reflection from the waves , the sea-water that fell and dried upon me , caking my very lips with salt , combined to make my throat burn and my brain ache . The sight of the trees so near at hand had almost made me sick with longing , but the current had soon carried me past the point , and as the next reach of sea opened out , I beheld a sight that changed the nature of my thoughts . Right in front of me , not half a mile away , I beheld the HISPANIOLA under sail . I made sure , of course , that I should be taken ; but I was so distressed for want of water that I scarce knew whether to be glad or sorry at the thought , and long before I had come to a conclusion , surprise had taken entire possession of my mind and I could do nothing but stare and wonder . The HISPANIOLA was under her main-sail and two jibs , and the beautiful white canvas shone in the sun like snow or silver . When I first sighted her , all her sails were drawing ; she was lying a course about north-west , and I presumed the men on board were going round the island on their way back to the anchorage . Presently she began to fetch more and more to the westward , so that I thought they had sighted me and were going about in chase . At last , however , she fell right into the wind 's eye , was taken dead aback , and stood there awhile helpless , with her sails shivering . `` Clumsy fellows , '' said I ; `` they must still be drunk as owls . '' And I thought how Captain Smollett would have set them skipping . Meanwhile the schooner gradually fell off and filled again upon another tack , sailed swiftly for a minute or so , and brought up once more dead in the wind 's eye . Again and again was this repeated . To and fro , up and down , north , south , east , and west , the HISPANIOLA sailed by swoops and dashes , and at each repetition ended as she had begun , with idly flapping canvas . It became plain to me that nobody was steering . And if so , where were the men ? Either they were dead drunk or had deserted her , I thought , and perhaps if I could get on board I might return the vessel to her captain . The current was bearing coracle and schooner southward at an equal rate . As for the latter 's sailing , it was so wild and intermittent , and she hung each time so long in irons , that she certainly gained nothing , if she did not even lose . If only I dared to sit up and paddle , I made sure that I could overhaul her . The scheme had an air of adventure that inspired me , and the thought of the water breaker beside the fore companion doubled my growing courage .
Up I got , was welcomed almost instantly by another cloud of spray , but this time stuck to my purpose and set myself , with all my strength and caution , to paddle after the unsteered XXXXX .
HISPANIOLA Smollett burn coracle first fro jibs main-sail minute right