Think
of the ruin--the murder--all the trouble it has caused."

"Aye, Sails," responded Little Billy. "Poor Sails. And who else? For
God's sake, who else, Martin? And the ship--Ruth--everything! I know
nothing."

"Lend a hand while I truss him up, so he won't lead us another chase,"
said Martin.

They had regained the window, and a glance had assured Martin the ship
had remained peaceful during their brief absence. And now he took the
strap belt he had salvaged from the dead sailor and with it tightly
bound Ichi's ankles. It rendered him quite helpless. Martin deposited
him with his back to the wall, a few feet from the window.

"Sit there awhile and think over your sins," he told him, when Ichi
tried to speak. "When I'm ready, I'll talk with you."

CHAPTER XXI

DECOY

"If we could only get on board to help," complained Little Billy. "If
it were only dark. That whaleboat down there."

"But we can't," was Martin's prompt rejoinder. "You said yourself we
dare not venture on the beach. They would only knock us over with
their rifles--and besides, Carew would learn that something had
happened to his landing party."

They were sitting on either side of the opening, watchfully regarding
the ship. Martin, in response to the hunchback's importuning, had just
briefly related the details of the previous night's misfortune, and he
now summarized the situation on board as he knew or guessed it.

"The foc'sle crowd is locked in the hold--you see the guards, one at
the fore hatch, and two amidships," said Martin. "The bosun has
undoubtedly broken through from the lazaret and joined the boys by this
time. Captain Dabney is laid up in his room, suffering from the blow
Carew gave him, and Ruth is nursing him. But her note said he has
regained his sight--what does that mean, Billy?"

"I don't know," said Little Billy. "It was a shock that blinded him;
perhaps another shock has cured him. But the Chink's plan, Martin!
What is it? 'The noon meal.' What does that mean?"

Martin shook his head. "I wish I knew. I shouldn't think eight bells
would be a good time for the boys in the hold to attempt to break out.
Now, would be a good time. There are only three of the gang on
guard--or four, if you count the mate, there on the poop. Another one
is in the cabin with Carew. The rest must be asleep in the foc'sle.
There are only nine of them left, Billy. We have accounted for six,
you and I--and that