On this occasion Pencroft and his companions, who were occupied with loosing themselves, received unexpected aid from the prisoner, who emerged from the hatchway as if his sailor's instinct had suddenly returned, broke a piece out of the bulwarks with a spar so as to let the water which filled the deck escape. Then the vessel being clear, he descended to his cabin without having uttered a word.
Dans cette occasion, Pencroff et ses compagnons, très occupés à se dégager, reçurent une aide inespérée du prisonnier, qui s'élança par l'écoutille, comme si son instinct de marin eût pris le dessus, et brisa les pavois d'un vigoureux coup d'espar, afin de faire écouler plus vite l'eau qui emplissait le pont; puis, l'embarcation dégagée, sans avoir prononcé une parole, il redescendit dans sa chambre.