That day passed by slowly and monotonously. We were visited from time
to time by Jarette or one of his men, but always with a strong guard
outside, in which I noted Blane and Dumlow, but they were not allowed to
enter the cabin or hold any communication with us, for they had not
originally been of the mutineer party, and Jarette evidently mistrusted
them still.
I was anxious and excited for fear that orders should come for me to
occupy another cabin, but none came, and no more orders for Mr Frewen
to see the captain. Toward evening a strong wind arose, which kept
Jarette's men pretty well occupied in reducing sail.
"The scoundrel must be a good seaman," Mr Frewen said to me that night.
"The ship is well handled, you see, and it strikes me that we are going
to have a rough night."
His words proved true, for now as the ship rose and fell creaking and
groaning, and the wind swished through the rigging, I could begin to
realise how horrible it was to be shut below there in the darkness, for
if those now in command of the vessel proved wanting at some particular
crisis of the storm, our fate was sealed. They might try to save
themselves in the boats, but they would not stop for us.
"What are you thinking about?" said Mr Frewen, suddenly, some time
after dark.
I started, for we had been silent for some time, listening to the hiss
and roar of the waves, and the rough blows given from time to time as
some heavy sea struck us and then rushed by. And now that Mr Frewen
did speak it was quite aloud, for there was no need for whispering.
"I was thinking about what Captain Berriman and Mr Brymer must feel," I
said.
"About the management of the ship? Yes, poor fellows, and both
suffering too. You see that scoundrel has let the whole day pass by
without letting me go and attend the captain. You are right, Dale, they
must both be feeling horribly about the ship. Think you can sleep?"
"Sleep? No; nor you. It is far too rough for that. Think this is a
good seaworthy ship, Mr Frewen?"
"I think so. I hope so," he replied. "The owners stand high for their
character. I wish the crew were as good as the ship. Dale, do you
think we might break out to-night? We could do it without being heard;
I am sure that I could saw round the lock of the door."
"But Bob Hampton and the others would not be ready for us, and we should
not have their help," I protested.
"But this seems such a chance, my lad, with all that noise, and I want
to be clear in case of accidents."
"Hist!"
"What is it?"
"Something tapped at the cabin-window."
I ran to it, and began to unscrew the fastening, for it was closed
tightly to keep out the spray, since more than once a great wave had
struck against it with a heavy thud that evening, and we did not want a
wet cabin to add to our other miseries.
I swung open the round iron frame, and gazed at the furious sea, all
covered with its white foam, but there was nothing visible for a time.
Then all at once something swung by as the ship rose after careening
over and literally rolling in the hollow between two great waves.
It was momentary, and like a faint shadow, but directly after, with the
swing as of some great pendulum, it passed by again.
The next time I was ready for it, feeling as I did that it was some of
Bob Hampton's work, and reaching out as far as I could get my arm, I
gazed straight before me, trying vainly to make out what it was in the
darkness.
"See anything?"
"No," I said; but the next instant something struck my hand, swept by,
came back, and I had hold of it to draw into the cabin, cut the string
again, and then hastily closed the window--just in time too, for a wave
broke against it directly after with a heavy thud.