Abort
The captain opened the ship’s sea valves so that he could sink the ship and destroy any incriminating evidence of his evil crime. Luckily Terry Jo was able to make it to the deck and untie a cork float.
Bravery
It was the captain who gave Terry the cork float that was attached to his dinghy, but when she untied it, he dove overboard. As a result, he left her behind on the sinking ship.