Chapter 3: Disaster
As Gilligan joined the group, the Professor asked, "OK, is everyone ready?" Everyone made it clear that they were ready. "OK, then, let's get on the boat!" Everyone cheered and walked up the gangway made out of bamboo sticks. They got on the deck, and they waited for the Professor's instructions. "Now, in order for this boat to move, we must burn some logs to keep the water boiling. The logs collected are very heavy, so we'll need the Skipper and Mr. Howell to pick them up and dump them on the fire."
"Do I really have to do that?" Mr. Howell asked. "I'm wearing a $200 3-piece suit for goodness sakes!"
"Yes, you must help out. We need the strongest people to lift the logs. I'd suggest you take your suit off while doing so," the Professor said.
Mr. Howell began to shed his many articles of expensive clothing. "This is the last time I get stranded on an uncharted island," he grumbled.
"But Professor, who's going to steer the ship?" the Skipper wondered.
"Gilligan, of course," the Professor said. "Next to you, he's got the most experience with ships. Since you are needed for lifting logs, there's nobody else available as qualified as Gilligan."
"Yeah, whatever," grumbled the Skipper. "But be careful, Gilligan! Don't screw anything up!"
"Aye aye, Skipper!" Gilligan replied.
When Mr. Howell had shed his jacket, vest, shirt, and tie, he began to help the Skipper move logs to the fire. They dumped one on the fire, and the fire crackled and boiled the water. Steam rushed out from the water container, and the paddle started to propel the ship. Everyone cheered as they saw the island disappearing from view.
About an hour later, Gilligan and the castaways were still at sea. The island was long gone, but they still had a long way to go before reaching Hawaii. Gilligan was satisfied now that he'd been driving the ship for about an hour now. Gilligan turned away from the wheel for a second to talk to the Skipper. "Aren't I doing great, Skipper?" he asked proudly. But the Skipper didn't look very happy. A scared, nervous, horrified expression was growing on his face.
"GILLIGAN, LOOK OUT!" he shouted in panic.
Gilligan jerked back and saw that a large rock was right in the boat's path. It was too late to turn back now. Gilligan tried steering away from it, anyway, but the passengers all heard the terrible sound of the rock tearing the hull of the ship. The deck collapsed, and everyone screamed as they fell down. Much of the boat had sunk underwater. Luckily, the deck was still intact, and it floated on the surface of the water. Everyone looked at the Professor for advice.
"Let's head back to the island," he said flatly. He glared at Gilligan. "It looks as though someone ruined another chance of getting off the island." Everyone gave Gilligan a hard stare as they were paddling back to the island.