to the lazaret
was in the saloon floor, well aft, on the starboard side. Wong was
more familiar than any man with the lazaret's interior, and he had
decided the deck should be cut through from this room, rather than at
any other point. This, said the lady, was because farther aft, on this
side of the ship, a strong room occupied the lazaret space (aye, the
same strong room which so tickled the fancy of some of my shipmates!).
The Chinaman had planned with foresight; he had even disposed stores
below to convenience and shield the man who played rescuer. When I
dropped through the hole, the lady told me, I would find myself in a
narrow alleyway, walled with tiers of beef casks and other stores; if I
followed this alleyway I would come to the lazaret hatch, near where
Newman was secured.

She thought I should wait until I heard the captain leave the lazaret.
But to this I demurred. The success of the scheme might well depend
upon the leeway of a moment's time. The ship's noises, always present
in a ship's hold, would cover any slight noise I might make. Truth to
tell, that sound of Newman in pain had thrown me into a fever of
impatience to get to his side; and I suspect it rendered the lady less
cautious, too.

"God bless you, Boy--and, oh, be careful," she whispered.

I drew back the blanket, and lowered my body into the opening. I hung
by my hands an instant, and felt her draw the blanket over my head as
she covered the hole again. Then I let go, and dropped.

CHAPTER XXI

I crouched behind a row of flour barrels, which stood on end handy to
the hatch, and peered through the chinks. The captain had hung his
lantern on a beam overhead, and its rays limned like a stage-setting an
open space some six feet square. Aye, a stage-setting, and the scene a
torture chamber. I bit my lips to restrain a cry of horror and rage
when I looked through the chinks between the barrels, and it was with
difficulty I kept myself from rushing forth and falling upon the fiend
who had contrived and was enjoying the scene.

Captain Swope was seated upon an upturned keg. He had placed the
lantern so its light fell full upon Newman (it illumined himself, for
my eyes, as well) and he was talking to the prisoner, mocking him.

And Newman! It was the sight of him that made me choke, that made me
finger my knife hilt. Newman--my friend!

He was at the far end of that open space, trussed up to the starboard
limbers. Trusse