That night, the Captain tells Leggatt that he will steer the ship near Koh-ring, an island that seems inhabited, maneuvering it to within half a mile of the shore so that Leggatt will not have to swim far to reach land. Leggatt warns him to be careful, lest a mishap cost the Captain his first command. The Captain returns to the deck and orders the Second Mate to open the quarter-deck ports. He then returns to his cabin and tells Leggatt to escape out of the quarter-deck ports while the rest of the crew is occupied. He also tells him to lower himself to the sea with a rope to avoid a splash. Leggatt grabs the Captain's arm as a silent gesture of thanks.