A large Spanish galleon was coming directly toward the island, pursued by a vessel which from the first he surmised to be a pirate.

Even as he looked, he saw the flash of a gun and imagined he could hear the crash of the iron ball striking into the side of the fugitive ship.

He heard the cry of dread from the poor wretches on board, as the pirate drew nearer.

On the still evening air came wild shouts of the buccaneers as they fired shot after shot at the prize.
John Stevens was greatly excited.

Here was an opportunity to escape or be slain, either preferable to living on this terrible island alone.
The Spanish galleon was being driven directly through the only gap in the reefs to the island.