Lanyard considered: "We can't keep them out . . . may as well let them
in."
"But you said you wouldn't give yourself up--"
"No more do I mean to."
The knuckles of authority drummed on for a moment. When they ceased
Lanyard was hailed right cheerily: "I say, Mr. Duchemin wake up, let me
in! It's I, Dr. Bright. Don't you hear me?"
"But Michael!" the whisper implored him--"you can't stand off the whole
ship!"
"Why did you bring me that pistol, then?"
"Not in anticipation of anything like this--"
"Don't worry: I shan't use it. I've a better plan. I count on you: stand
by to draw the bolt when I give the word."
Lanyard watched the dim shape of Liane fall back to the door. Bright was
yapping with a Judas tongue, bidding him open in the sacred name of
fellowship. With the thick enunciation of one just wakened from the deep
sweet sleep of an innocent Lanyard responded: "Half a minute! What's the
row?" Then more quietly--"Ready, Liane?"
"Yes, but--"
"Fall back behind the door when you open it."
No time-wasting preparations to make, only a dressing gown to shrug out
of: he stood in shirt and trousers, shoeless.
"Now!"
As the bolt grated, Lanyard set a foot upon the transom, a hand to the
sill of the window-port, and lifted himself nimbly through that narrow
outlet, dropping to the deck on feet as furtive as a cat's.
For an instant he stood glancing alertly forward, aft, and over the
rail. The deck was deserted, a solitary coast light abeam blinked
forlornly, a minute spark lost beyond a measureless waste of grim black
water. Dubiously Lanyard considered it: a pull to daunt the heart of the
boldest swimmer . . .
The dark port behind him turned into a square of staring amber. Through
it broke a din of voices blasphemous in anger and disappointment.
Lanyard darted aft.
The watch on the afterdeck witnessed the plunge of a dark body from the
rail of the promenade deck down over the side. A man who appeared at the
same rail an instant later lifted up a voice of authentic seafaring
whine:
"_Man oo-verboard!_"
The watch took up the cry.