night was coming,and the wind might get stronger.John was finding it harder and harder and harder to hold the tiller straight,and he knew that he could not go on like this much longer.
'I've got to make the sail smaller,'he shouted to susan,'so that we go more slowly.you take the tiller while I go to the mast.'
'you can't go!'cried Susan.
'I've got to,'said John,and tied a rope around his waist.
'that'll keep me safe.it I fall overboard.I can climb back...it'll be all right.'
'no!John!No!' shouted Susan,but it was too late.he had already climbed out of the cockpit and was going carefully,very carefully,along the roof of the cabin to the bottom of the mast.
John had never felt so lonely in all his life.the Goblin seemed to want to throw him into the sea but he managed to reach the foot of the mast.then he had to stand up.'one hand for yourself and one for the ship,'his father had told him years ago.he held on to the mast with one hand and started to roll the sail down.as the sail became smaller,the Goblin began to go more slowly.john suddenly felt more confident.he began to turn to go back,and then his foot caught on a rope.
as he fell,he heard susan scream.
'John!John!'where was he?susan looked at the waves going past the cockpit and saw nothing.And then,when she thought he had gone for ever,she saw his hand over the top of the cabin.