Roy that made him say that; it was
just that he thinks it is not right to kill or even hurt a man for
personal reasons, but only when the welfare of the ship is at stake.
And also, I think--well, he--likes me. He is willing to help me. That
is why, a week ago, he came to me and offered his help. He had
discovered what my--my husband really intended doing; I think he
overheard a conversation between my--between Angus and the mate. He
said we were both in danger, I as well as Roy, and that we must leave
the ship.

"Roy suggested the longboat, and he agreed. Roy can navigate, of
course, and there are islands not distant from our present position.
So we have been preparing the boat, and Mr. Lynch planned to launch it
some midwatch when the mate and--and Captain Swope were in their
berths. He hoped to get us away so quietly they would know nothing
about it until hours later."

"But surely Lynch didn't intend staying by the ship? Why, when the Old
Man found out he'd skin him alive!" I exclaimed.

"He said not, and I think not," she said. "He has sailed under my--my
husband for years. He is not like Mr. Fitzgibbon, and the others. He
does not fear my husband. I think Angus fears him. He knows things
that have happened in this ship that my--my husband dare not have told
on shore. He refused when we urged him to come with us; he declared he
would be in no danger, that he could guard himself. I think he can."

The lady clenched her hands, and her voice broke a little, as she
disclosed the anxiety that was wrenching her soul.

"But now--I don't know what he will do. If we can free Roy in time; if
we can stop trouble forward! Then I know Mr. Lynch will keep his
promise; he will lock up Angus and the mate, get them out of the way
somehow, until Roy and I have left the ship. But if the men rise
before we have gone--then he will think his duty is to the ship. He
will not think of us, and my--my husband will do what he wishes. Do
you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am. But we have until midnight, or after, and it's just a
little past two bells, now. Ten minutes more, ma'am, and I'll have
this hole open."

But it took a little longer than ten minutes. Three bells struck while
I was still whittling and digging at the caulking in the seams with my
sheath knife. But the echo of the big ship's bell forward had hardly
died away when I carefully, ever so carefully, lifted up and laid back
the cut-away section of the dec