“What do we do?” asked Edgar. “Can we smash a hole in the ship’s bottom with the axe?”
“Not a chance,” said Tom. “The sides are too thick.”
“So how can we kill a ship?” Mary asked.
“The only way to stop the ship is to sail her onto the rocks and leave her there to sink,” said Tom. “I can do that.”
“Look out!” shouted Mary.
A heavy metal hook on a rope was swinging down from the rigging. It hit Tom’s leg.
He cried out and fell to the deck, holding his knee. He tried to stand, and fell down again.
“My leg is broken,” he cried. “You’ll have to try and steer the ship to the rocks. I’ll tell you what to do…”
Old Tom shouted out orders. Mr Blood stood at the wheel and steered the ship.
Edgar and Mary ran around the deck, pulling on the ropes that set the sails.
The ship was pointing towards the mouth of the harbour and out to sea. Outside the harbour mouth they could see a line of jagged rocks.
All the time, the ship kept trying to hurt them.
Edgar ducked as another hook skimmed over his head. As he crouched down, he saw the axe lying on the deck.
Of course! he thought. I can just cut the sails loose and then the ship won’t be able to move.
He ran over to the mast and started hacking at the ropes that held the sails up.
The ship lurched to one side. The wheel spun.
The wheel hit one of Mr Blood’s hands with a cracking sound. He gasped in pain and stepped back.
Edgar turned just in time to see one of the huge booms swinging across the deck towards him. He had no time to get out of the way.
The boom pushed Edgar across the deck.
As he reached the edge of the ship, one of the ropes on the floor coiled itself around his leg.
He tripped over and fell against the ship’s rail. The rail gave way and Edgar plunged into the water.
Edgar hated boats, but he was a very good swimmer.
He swam away from the boat and then trod water. When he looked up, the boat was sailing away from him.
“Swim for the rocks!” yelled Mr Blood. His voice already sounded a long way off.
Edgar could see that Mary was at the wheel and was trying to turn it.
But it was too strong for Mr Blood, thought Edgar. What chance does Mary have?
