A few strokes sufficed to bring me to where a small hatch communicated with the main deck, for the water was here so high that by raising my arm I could grasp the coaming of the hatchway.
Though my sodden clothing seemed like lead as my body drew clear of the surface, I managed to drag myself through the opening and gain the deck, where, without a moment's hesitation, I rushed on to the poop, and sprang over the taffrail into the sea.
I must have dived to a depth of from two to three fathoms, for I could see the rocky bottom of the sea a few feet below me; and just as I was on the point of ascending to the surface, I heard the roar of the explosion.
It seemed as if the drums of my ears were broken by the concussion, while the water was agitated by a sudden current, or eddy, that swept me along the bottom. I remained underneath till I could contain my breath no longer, then with a few strokes I rose to the surface.
All around a heavy, pungent cloud, or rather haze, of smoke enveloped everything, though towering above me I could discern the outlines of the ship's poop. That, at all events, had withstood the shock and had proved my salvation, for the pieces of shattered timber were still falling, many of them being shot skywards to a terrific height.
I trod water for a space till all danger from the falling debris was over, then, swimming round the scorched and shattered side of the ship, I found a place where the timbers had been torn away right to the water's edge.
Half-suffocated by the fumes, for many of the planks still smouldered, I made my way aft to where the poop deck remained practically intact; and utterly done up, I threw myself down, too dazed to realize that I had been miraculously preserved.
How long I remained in that position I cannot tell, but at length I staggered to my feet and looked around.
The ships of the escaping buccaneers were still visible, though nearly hull down. They had hauled to the wind and were standing on a northerly course parallel with the eastern shore of the island.
Looking round the harbour, I could see the Golden Hope and the Neptune, their sides crowded with men, while within a few hundred yards of them was the long-boat, rowing slowly, with her gunwale barely showing. So she had not escaped unhurt, I reasoned.