I went back to the place where I had met Ben Gunn. He had pointed to the shore and said I have a boat." Now 1 wanted to find that boat. The moon was shining brightly. I quickly went down to the shore. The Hispaniola was anchored out in the bay. I was not afraid of the pirates. I could see and hear them. They had made a big fire on the beach. They were drinking rum and laughing. They were sitting by the fire I found the place where Ben Gunn had hidden his boat. But Ben Gunn's boat was small. It was only big enough for one man. Inside the boat was a paddle. I carried the boat down to the beach and put it in the water. I paddled the boat out into the bay. I paddled to wards the Hispaniola. Quietly I stopped beside the Hispaniola. I could hear voices. Men were laughing and joking. Were they drunk? Where were they l took out my sharp knife and started to cut the ship's anchor rope. This was my plan. I wanted to cut through the anchor rope. Then the sea would carry the ship away. The ship would drift onto the shore at another part of the island. Then the pirates would not know where the ship was. They would not be able to leave the island. If I could cut the rope, the ship would drift But the rope was very thick. I worked slowly. It took a long time. Slowly the rope came apart. A gentle wind was blowing and the ship moved. The rope broke. The ship was free of its anchor. The ship began