فصل 80

CHAPTER 80

ANOTHER BOAT

THE Jolly Roger WAS making good speed, considering her battered condition. Since the joyful moment when the island had been sighted, the crew had been busy rigging every possible square inch of pink sail. The men were giddy at the prospect of food—fresh food—and the pure, sweet island water. Even Hook was in a decent mood; with the improvement in the ship’s fortunes, the crew had forgotten the recent unpleasantness, and he was captain again.

It was Tink, in the rigging with the still-weak Peter, who had spotted the island. And as they drew close, it was Tink who now spotted the steamship. She pointed it out to Peter, who pointed it out to the lookout, who pointed it out to Hook, who ordered Smee to fetch his spyglass. That had been two hours ago; now, as they drew close, Hook was still studying the ship, trying to make sense of its actions.

“It’s going back and forth outside the reef,” he muttered. “Why d’you suppose that is?”

“One thing I never understood,” said Smee, “is why it’s back and forth, and not forth and back. It seems to me it would go forth first, and then it would go …”

“Smee!” said Hook.

“Aye, Cap’n?”

“Shut up.”

“Aye, Cap’n.”

“There’s another boat,” Peter called down.

“What is he talking about?” Hook shouted to the lookout. Hook, refusing to acknowledge that the hated boy was a passenger aboard his ship, refused to address Peter directly.

“He’s right,” replied the lookout. “There’s a launch coming through the reef, making for the steamer.”

In a flash Hook had the spyglass to his eye. He found the launch. It was being buffeted by the surf around the reef, so it took him a few seconds to get a clear look. But then he saw it, between the bodies of two of the men rowing.

A chest.

A chest with gold fittings.

Hook knew instantly what was in the chest. He’d been aboard the flying ship that had brought it to the island in the first place. And he knew it took a special chest to hold it. It was a treasure more valuable than all the gold on earth.

And Captain Hook—Pirate Captain Hook—meant to have it.

With fire in his eye, he grabbed the wheel and began shouting orders.

Peter and Tink also knew what was in the trunk.

They knew they had to get it away from the men taking it off the island.

They also knew they had to keep it from falling into the hands of Captain Hook.

Peter had not recovered from his long flight over the sea; he wasn’t he sure how far he could fly, if he could fly at all. He and Tink conferred briefly in the rigging. Then, unseen by the busy pirates below, Tink took off, streaking toward the island.