"I'll do which you like, Cinder."
"Then I think I'll try first. If I can't manage it you can."
"But stop a moment: suppose there's any one on deck?"
"It will be very dark."
"But there'll be lanthorns burning and a watch kept."
"I feel sure there'll be no lights, because they might be seen from the
cliffs; and as they know they're so safe here, I don't believe there'll
be any watch kept."
"I wish I'd got a head like yours, Cinder."
"Do you? Well, we can't change. That's it. My! how tight my boots
were! It's getting them wet and letting them dry on one's feet.--Pst!
Slip into your berth."
Their needs and experience were beginning to make them obey a sharp
order without question; and as Vince lowered down the shutter Mike
crawled into the lower bunk silently enough, while, almost without a
sound, Vince crept into the one above, stretched himself upon his back,
and placed his hands together under his head.
The reason for this sudden action was that he had seen a gleam of light
play for a moment beneath the rough door; and they were hardly in their
places when there was the sound of descending steps on the ladder, the
shape of the door marked out plainly by the light all round. Then came
the rattling of a key in the padlock, which was drawn out of the staple,
the door was flung open, and the hutch of a place was filled with the
dull, soft light of a lanthorn, as a man stepped in.
It was hard work to lie there with the lanthorn held close up to them,
but the boys both stood the ordeal. Mike was lying with his face close
to the bulkhead, and of course with his back to their visitor and his
features in the shade; but Vince's was the harder task, for he had
assumed his attitude as being the most sleep-like, and to give better
effect to his piece of acting, he had opened his mouth, and went on
breathing rather heavily, while the fact of his having his boots off,
and one foot sticking out over the bunk side, helped materially over the
bit of deception.
"I wonder who it is," thought Vince; and, as if in answer, a familiar
voice said, in a low tone,--
"Aha! _Vous etes_ not too much frighten to go fast asleep?"
Vince did not need to open his eyes, for he could see mentally vividly
enough the swarthy, brown, deeply-lined face, with the keen dark eyes,
and the crafty look about the mouth, drawn into an unpleasant smile,
while the big earrings seemed to glisten in the soft light.
"You are fast asleep--_hein_?" said the man, rather sharply; but no one
stirred, though Vince could feel the perspiration standing in a fine dew
upon his forehead and by the sides of his nose.
"I came to see if you are good boys, and sall put out your light quite
safe; for all ze powder is down underneas you, and you muss not blow
yourselfs up and spoil my sheep. You hear, big, stupede boy?"
Vince gave vent to a low, gurgling sound, and made up his mind to babble
a few words about the caverns; but his throat was dry, and his tongue
refused to act.
Perhaps it was as well, for in doing so he might have overdone his part,
which was perfect.
Then the light was withdrawn, the captain went out, and the door was
carefully fastened, the light fading from round the door while something
shook loudly as he ascended the ladder and dropped the trap down with a
snap, which was followed by the crash of iron, as if another loop were
passed on a staple.
"Hasn't dropped any sparks, has he, Vince?" whispered Mike, turning
softly in his bunk.
"Can't see any," was the reply. "Oh, I say, Ladle, and I blew out our
candle and saw them fly!"
"But do you think it's true? Is the powder here, or did he only say it
to frighten us?"
"I don't know," whispered Vince. "There must be a powder magazine, for
he has cannon on deck. But I didn't see any trap door: did you?"
"Yes--just as you put out the light. You knelt on it when you took off
your boots."
"Oh dear!" sighed Vince. "I'm all dripping wet. Isn't this place
horribly hot?"
"Hot? I feel as if my things were all soaked."
"Don't talk. We must lie still now, and wait. I don't think he'll come
again."
"I do," said Mike. "He'll never be such a noodle as to believe we two
will stop here without trying to escape."
"I don't know," sighed Vince. "I'm afraid we're quite safe?"
"What, to escape?"
"No--to stop in prison; for I expect we shan't be able to get on deck."
"But we're going to try?"
"Yes," said Vince through his closely set teeth; "we're going to try."