"Here's the hatches, sir, and they're all battened down and the 'paulins
is nailed over 'em. I'll soon have some fresh air in." And before I
could grasp what he was going to do, I heard a curious ripping sound,
which told me that he had passed the blade of his long Spanish
spring-knife through between two of the cross-hatches, and was cutting
through it.
"There!" he said, as a gleam of light struck through, so brilliant that
I knew it must be broad daylight; and even that ray sent a thrill of
hope through me, for it seemed to bring me nearer to the living world
after feeling as if I had been buried alive.
"Don't cut any more yet, Bob," I whispered.
"But that there hole won't give enough air for one man to sniff, sir.
You must have another to let out the steam."
"But listen first," I said. "Can you hear any one on deck?"