"You are right," he said sadly; "it would be too risky."
"I didn't mean that," I said hastily; "I was only thinking about how I
could get on board. I don't mind trying, because if he heard me and
tried to catch me, I could jump over the side, and you'd be there
waiting to pick me up."
"Of course," cried Mr Brymer. "I know it is a great deal to ask of
you, my lad, and I would say, do not expose yourself to much risk. We
should be, as you say, ready to pick you up."
"I don't see why he shouldn't go," drawled Mr Preddle. "One boy stole
the arms and ammunition away, so it only seems right that another boy
should go and steal--no, I don't mean steal--get them back."
"Will you go, Mr Preddle?" said the mate.
"If you like. I'll do anything; but I'm afraid I couldn't climb on
board, I'm so fat and heavy, and, oh dear! I'm afraid that all my poor
fish are dead."
At any other time I should have laughed, but our position was too grave
for even a smile to come upon my face. Instead of feeling that Mr
Preddle was an object to excite my mirth, I felt a sensation of pity for
the pleasant, amiable gentleman, and thought how helpless he must feel.
"You will have to go, Dale," said Mr Brymer.
"Yes," said Mr Frewen; "Dale will go for all our sakes."
"When shall he go?" said the mate; "to-morrow night, after we have
thrown Jarette off his guard by sailing right away?"
"It would not throw him off his guard," cried Mr Frewen, excitedly.
"The man is too cunning. He would know that it was only a ruse, and be
on the watch. Dale must go to-night--at once. Who knows what
twenty-four hours may produce?"
"Exactly," said Mr Preddle.
"I quite agree with you," replied the mate; "but I did not wish to urge
the lad to attempt so forlorn a hope without giving him a little time
for plan and preparation."
"I'm ready," I said, making an effort to feel brave as we sat there in
the darkness. "I don't think I could do better if I thought till
to-morrow night."
"How would you manage?" said the mate.
"I know," I said. "I'm not very strong, but if you made the boat drift
under the ship's bows, I could catch hold of and swarm up the bob-stay
easily enough. Nobody would see me, and if I got hold quickly, the boat
could go on round to the stern, and if anybody was on the watch he would
think you were trying to get to the Dennings' window."
"Some one would be on the watch," said the mate; "and that some one
would be Jarette."
"And he would think as Dale says," exclaimed Mr Frewen, "that is
certain."
"Oh yes, I must go to-night," I said, with a bit of a shiver. "It would
be so cruel to Miss Denning to keep her in suspense, and thinking we
were not trying to help her."
A hand touched my arm, glided down to my wrist, and then a warm palm
pressed mine hard.
"Then you shall go, Dale," said Mr Brymer, firmly. "Keep a good heart,
my lad, for the darkness will protect you from Jarette's pistol, and you
can recollect this, we shall be close at hand lying across the stern
ready to row along either side of the ship if we hear a splash. That
splash would of course be you leaping overboard, and you must remember
to swim astern to meet the boat."
"And what is he to do when he gets on board, sir?" said Mr Frewen.
"Make for the Dennings' cabin at once?"
"No," I said sharply. "That's just where I shouldn't go. Some one
would be sure to be watching it. I should try and find out which was
the cabin Jarette uses, for the arms would be there, and then I should
tie some guns--"
"And cartridges," whispered Mr Preddle, excitedly.
"Oh yes, I shouldn't forget them. I'd tie 'em together and lower them
down out of the window. He's sure to have the captain's cabin, and the
window will be open, ready."
"Bravo!" cried Mr Preddle. "Oh dear! I wish I was a boy again."
"And the best of the fun will be," I continued excitedly, "old Jarette
will never think anyone would go straight to his cabin, and be watching
everywhere else."
"Then you think you can do this?" said Mr Frewen, eagerly.
"Oh yes, I think so, sir."
"I'd better come with you, my lad," he continued.
"No; that would spoil all. A boy could do it, but I don't believe a man
could."
"He is right, Frewen," said the mate. "Then understand this, Dale, you
will have to act according to circumstances. Your object is to get
weapons, which you will hang out so that we can get hold of them;
perhaps you will be able to lower them into the boat and then slide down
the rope you use. But mind this, you are not to try and communicate
with the Dennings."
"What?" said Mr Frewen, angrily.
"It would be fatal to our success," said the mate, firmly. "Now, Dale,
you understand, guns or revolvers, whichever you can get."
"Yes, sir, I know."
"Then how soon will you be ready?"
"I'm ready now."
"Hah!" ejaculated Mr Frewen, and my heart began to go pat pat, pat pat,
so heavily that it seemed to jar against my ribs, while a curious series
of thoughts ran through my brain, all of which were leavened by the same
idea, that I had been playing the braggart, and offering to do things
which I did not dare.