CABIN BOY:
Three days and nights have past since first I sought
The witch's aid, and still I pause to act.
And waste my days in pining, when I might
By one small act, receive that which I seek
Beshrew my fearful heart. I'll do't now
The CABIN BOY unties the knot. Immediately, a violent tempest arises.
FIRST PIRATE Ho! Look to the sails!
SECOND PIRATE This is no natural storm.
CABIN BOY Aside
Alas! What have I done?
A large CROCODILE rises from the waves, and crawls on deck.
SECOND PIRATE:
What fearful monster from the deeps is this?
HOOK
Leviathan, my hideous nemesis.
Once more we meet. Once more, we fight. En garde!
HOOK draws his sword. HOOK and the CROCODILE fight.
HOOK stabs the CROCODILE but as he does so, the CROCODILE bites HOOK in the abdomen. HOOK falls. The CABIN BOY rushes to HOOK's side. The CROCODILE, injured but still alive, crawls back into the sea.
The storm abates.
FIRST PIRATE How fares the Captain?
CABIN BOY
Alive, but sorely injured. What fell beast
Was that which valiantly he fought, knowst thou?
FIRST PIRATE
It has pursued him now for many years.
In times long past it ate his hand. They say
It longs to taste our Captain's flesh once more.
CABIN BOY
Aside I summoned it - oh wretched, wicked, deed!
Aloud He swoons! - help me to bring him to his bed.