"Didn't you see anything to suggest that any one was killed and--and
thrown overboard?"
"No, Mr Frewen."
"Go out then and make inquiries, my good lad," he said piteously; "this
suspense is worse than the injury."
"You forget," I said quietly.
"Forget? What?"
"That we are prisoners. I couldn't get out."
"Yes, yes," he moaned. "I forgot. My head is all confused and strange.
What's that?"
"Some one knocking gently at the bulk-head," I whispered, for there were
three gentle taps on the wooden partition just opposite to where I was
kneeling.
"Then there is some one else a prisoner," he cried. "Quick, speak to
him."
"Better not speak," I said; "we may bring in some of Jarette's gang;"
and rising softly, I took out my pocket-knife, and gave three gentle
taps with the haft just about the spot where we had heard the sounds.
The moment I had done, two knocks came in answer, and when I had
responded in the same way, there was one single one given which I also
answered.
"That only stands for some one being there," said Mr Frewen, with a
sigh; "we have no code arranged by which we could communicate."
"Oh yes, we have," I said, with a laugh, and, after breaking my
thumb-nail, I managed to open out a gimlet fitted in the back of my
knife, in company with a button-hook, a lancet, another to bleed horses,
a tooth-pick, pair of tweezers, and a corkscrew, all of which had been
very satisfactory to look at when I received the knife as a present; but
I often had come to the conclusion that the knife would have been better
with two more blades instead. But now its time had come, and with a
feeling of being able to triumph over a difficulty, I stepped to the
bulk-head, feeling rather giddy and strange in the head, but this passed
off in the excitement, as I rapidly stuck in the point of the gimlet and
began to bore.
The bulk-head was composed of three-quarter inch board, but I kept on
boring and boring without apparently getting through, and I drew out the
gimlet at last, after boring in as far as I could, and stood looking at
the position in dismay.
Just then came a fresh tapping, to which I responded, and then as I
listened to the hollow sound I knew what had been wrong. I had been
boring through the board just where it was backed by one of the uprights
which gave strength to the bulk-head.
The next minute I had bored a hole right through, and on withdrawing the
gimlet I could see daylight.
"Who's that?" I whispered, with my lips to the tiny hole, and placing
my ear to the orifice I heard for answer--
"Me, Mr Preddle. Who are you?"
"Dale and Mr Frewen," I answered.
"What does he say?" asked Mr Frewen.
"Says he is so glad, sir."
"Thank him, and ask him about the passengers, whether any one is hurt."