"Vince, there is a trap door here: I'm right on it."
"I know,--I touched it; but there's no candle. Ready?"
"Yes."
Vince took hold of the opening frame, which was only just big enough for
him to pass through, stepped lightly on to his companion as he stiffened
himself on all fours, and then began to creep out.
For a few moments he hesitated, for there was the black water beneath
him, full of sparks, gliding rapidly along, so brightly that he felt
that if any one were on deck looking over the bulwark he must be seen;
but the thought of freedom and those at home nerved him, and as soon as
he was in a sitting position, with his legs inside, he bent down and
whispered to his companion, who had risen,--
"Take tight hold of my legs till I give a jerk, which means let me
loose."
Mike seized the legs firmly; and, thus secured, Vince stretched out his
arms and began to feel about overhead, to find that the top of the light
was just below the projecting streak, which runs, iron-bound, round the
most prominent part of a vessel, from stem to stern, to protect the side
from injury when it glides up to wharf, pier, or pile. This stood out
about a foot, and Vince felt that if he could only climb on this, the
rest would be easy.
He passed his hands cautiously over it, and, reaching in, found to his
great delight a ring-bolt, through which it was possible to pass two or
three fingers. Jerking his leg, he felt himself free, and rose up,
getting first one foot and then the other on the sill of the opening.
There was no difficulty in standing like this, and as he did so he felt
Mike's arms tightly embracing his legs, an act which hindered further
progress if he had meant to climb higher.
But he was satisfied with what he had done; after peering about a
little, and listening for some minutes, he jerked one leg again, felt
them freed, and began to descend.
To an active boy, whose nerves were firm, this was easy enough; and
directly after he stood in the little cabin, breathing hard, but able to
find words, and whisper to his anxious fellow-prisoner.
"It's as easy as easy," he said: "nothing to getting up a bit of stiff
cliff;" and he then described what he had found, and how all seemed as
still as could be. "Couldn't you hear any watch on deck?"
"Not a sound of them. I believe every one's below; and I say, Mike, we
needn't get over on deck at all. There's plenty of room to take hold of
the top of the bulwarks and walk along. All we've got to do is to mind
the stays when we come to them, and step round carefully."
"Yes, I understand perfectly," said Mike. "Come on, and let's get it
over."
"Wait till I've put on my boots. I shall want them." The boy knelt
down and hurriedly drew them on, and laced them as well as he could in
the dark; then raising himself on to the window-sill without assistance,
he drew himself into his old position, and reaching up and over the
streak, found the ring-bolt, which rattled faintly, and, passing his
fingers through, stood up on the sill, and then drew himself on to the
projecting woodwork.
Here he crouched for a few moments listening, before rising erect, with
one hand upon the top of the bulwark, over which he looked; but all was
dark, and there was not a sound to be heard save the faint rustling
below him made by Mike.
This was the most nervous part of the business. A certain amount of
tremor had troubled the lad as he climbed out, and the thought of having
a slip did once bring the perspiration out upon his forehead; but the
effort needed dulled the fear, and he soon stood where he was in safety.
But to listen to a companion undergoing the same trial in the darkness
was another thing; and Vince felt ten times the dread as he listened and
shivered to hear the ring-bolt seized and his companion slowly drawing
himself upward so that he could stand.
Suppose he lost his nerve--suppose he slipped and tell with a splash
into that black, spangled water--what could he do? Poor Mike would be
swept away directly, and his only chance of life would be for him to
swim steadily till he reached the rocks, and then try to find one to
which he could cling, and draw himself up.
But Vince did better than think: he tightened his grasp of the bulwark
rail by crooking his hand, and softly extended one leg over the streak.
This had the effect he desired. The next moment it was struck by a hand
feeling about. Then the trouser was tugged at, and directly after the
bottom was turned over and over, so as to form a good roll to grip.
Then, with this for a second hand-hold, Mike was helped, and his climb
on to the shelf-like projection became easier for the aid afforded, and
he too rose to stand panting beside Vince.
They felt that everything depended upon their coolness, and hence they
stood there, facing inward, holding on to the bulwark and listening.
But all was still; and at last, satisfied that it was time to move,
Vince whispered "Now," and began to edge himself along to the right--
that is, towards the forward part of the boat.
Mike started at the same moment, taking step for step, their hands
touching at every movement. It was an easy enough task this, for there
was plenty of hold and standing room--the only danger being that they
might be heard by some one on the watch, while there was the chance that
they had been heard and this was a new trap to re-catch them.
But their hearts rose as they crept slowly and silently along in the
silence, and then went down deeply into a sense of despair, for a
thought suddenly struck Vince which made him stop and place his lips
close to his companion's ear, and whisper,--
"Suppose, as Joe is going to stop, they have hoisted the boat on deck?"
Mike replied promptly, and with a decision that was admirable under the
circumstances,--
"Don't make bugbears. Go on and try."
It was rude enough to have brought forth a sharp retort at any other
time; but then Vince felt its justice, and he went on again, and his
hand touched the shrouds which held the mainmast in place, and a little
care had to be exercised to pass round. But this was silently achieved
by both; and Vince was gliding his right-hand along the top of the
bulwarks once more, when it was as if an electric shock had passed
through him, for he had suddenly touched something unmistakably like a
man's elbow.
For a few moments he was ready to doubt this; but the doubt passed away
directly, for from close to him a heavy, snoring breath was drawn, and
as he gazed with starting eyes he made out dimly the head and shoulders
of a man who was evidently the watch, but who conducted his watching by
folding his arms upon the bulwarks, laying his head thereon, and going
off fast asleep.
Vince felt that all was over unless they went back some little distance,
climbed over and crossed the deck to the other side; and once more
placing his lips to Mike's ear, he told him of the obstacle in the way,
and suggested this plan.