The wind changed. Now it came from the west. Jim Hawkins and Israel Hands sailed to the North Inlet. They did not have an anchor (a heavy metal object to stop a ship). They had to wait for the tide (the movement of the sea up and down). Israel Hands told Jim Hawkins how to move the ship. Jim Hawkins succeeded after many tries. Then they both ate a meal in silence.
Israel Hands looked at Jim Hawkins. He had a strange smile on his face. He pointed to the dead body of O’Brien. Israel Hands asked Jim Hawkins to throw the body into the sea. Jim Hawkins said no. Jim Hawkins was not strong enough. He did not like that job. The dead body stayed on the deck.
Israel Hands said the Hispaniola was an unlucky ship. Many men died on this ship. Israel Hands asked a question about the dead. He asked if dead men come back to life. Jim Hawkins said the body dies, but the spirit lives. Jim Hawkins said O’Brien was in another world. Israel Hands did not believe in spirits.
Israel Hands asked Jim Hawkins for a bottle of wine. He said the brandy (a very strong alcoholic drink) was too strong for his head. Jim Hawkins did not believe Israel Hands. He knew Israel Hands liked strong drinks. Jim Hawkins thought Israel Hands wanted him to leave the deck. Israel Hands did not look at Jim Hawkins. His eyes moved around the ship. He looked guilty.
Jim Hawkins decided to be careful. He asked Israel Hands if he wanted red wine or white wine. Israel Hands said he did not care. He just wanted a lot of wine. Jim Hawkins said he would go and get some. Jim Hawkins went down the stairs with a lot of noise. Then he took off his shoes.
Jim Hawkins ran quietly to another part of the ship. He looked out from a secret place to watch Israel Hands. Israel Hands moved on his hands and knees. His leg hurt him very much. Jim Hawkins heard him cry in pain. Israel Hands moved across the deck to the scuppers (holes in the side of a ship to let water out).
Israel Hands took a long dirk (a type of long, sharp knife) from some rope. The knife had blood on it. Israel Hands looked at the knife. He touched the sharp point with his hand. Then he put the knife inside his jacket. He moved back to his old place against the wall.
Jim Hawkins now knew the truth. Israel Hands had a weapon. Israel Hands wanted to kill Jim Hawkins. Jim Hawkins felt safe for now. He knew Israel Hands needed him to sail the ship. Jim Hawkins went back to the cabin. He put on his shoes and took a bottle of wine. He went back up to the deck.
Israel Hands looked very weak. He took the bottle and broke the top off. He drank a lot of wine. Then he asked Jim Hawkins for some tobacco. He said he did not have a knife to cut it. Jim Hawkins cut the tobacco for him. Jim Hawkins was very angry. He knew about the hidden knife.
Jim Hawkins told Israel Hands to pray. He told Israel Hands that he was a bad man. He said Israel Hands lived a life of lies and blood. Israel Hands laughed. He said that he never saw good things happen to good people. He said that the person who hits first wins. He said that dead men do not bite.
They were near the land now. The water was not deep. Jim Hawkins followed the orders of Israel Hands. Israel Hands was a very good pilot (a person who shows the way for a ship). They saw an old, broken ship on the beach. It was covered in sea plants and flowers. It was a very calm place.
Israel Hands told Jim Hawkins where to go. He said the sand was flat and good. Jim Hawkins moved the tiller (a handle used to turn a ship). He obeyed every command. Suddenly, the ship hit the sand. The ship moved to one side very quickly. One side of the deck was now under water.
Jim Hawkins and Israel Hands both fell down. The dead body of O’Brien fell near them. Jim Hawkins stood up quickly. Israel Hands was slow because of the dead body. Jim Hawkins had to escape. Israel Hands was almost touching him. Jim Hawkins ran to the shrouds (the ropes that go up the mast).
Jim Hawkins climbed the ropes very fast. He did not stop until he reached the cross-trees (the wooden bars high up on the mast). He sat there and looked down. He was safe for a moment. The knife had missed him by only a few inches. Israel Hands looked up at Jim Hawkins. He looked very surprised and angry.
Jim Hawkins had time now. He checked his pistols. The gunpowder was wet with sea-water. He had to clean and reload his guns. Israel Hands watched Jim Hawkins. Israel Hands saw the pistols. He put the knife in his teeth. He began to climb the ropes slowly. His wounded leg made him groan in pain.
Jim Hawkins finished his work. He had a pistol in each hand. He spoke to Israel Hands. Jim Hawkins told him to stop. He said he would shoot him if he moved. Jim Hawkins laughed. He told Israel Hands that dead men do not bite. Israel Hands stopped climbing. He looked very confused.
Israel Hands took the knife out of his mouth. He said he was unlucky. He said he wanted to surrender. Jim Hawkins smiled. He felt very proud of himself. But then Israel Hands moved his hand quickly. He threw the knife through the air. The knife hit Jim Hawkins in the shoulder.
The knife pinned Jim Hawkins to the mast. Jim Hawkins felt a sharp, terrible pain. He was very surprised. Both of his pistols went off at the same time. The pistols fell out of his hands. Israel Hands cried out. He let go of the ropes. Israel Hands fell head first into the water.