required.

"We must wait till it gets dark now," Francis said. "I do not think
that we shall make much noise, for the nails will be likely to draw
quietly; but we had better choose the time between nightfall and the
hour for the crew to turn in, as there will be a trampling of feet on
deck, and talking and singing, which would prevent any slight noise we
might make, being heard."

"The difficulty will be to force the ends of the iron down, between the
beams and the planks, so as to give us a purchase," Matteo said.

"I think we shall be able to manage that," Francis replied. "The beams
are put in in the rough, and if we hunt carefully, I think we shall
find a plank where we can get the irons in far enough, between it and
the beam, to give us a hold."

After a careful examination, they fixed upon a plank to operate upon,
and, leaving one of the irons there, so that they could find it in the
dark, they lay down to sleep, or sat talking until it was dark. Before
this, a glance, through the peephole, showed them that the hatch had
been placed over the hatchway of the next hold, so that there was
little fear of anyone coming down, unless something special was
required.

"Now I think we can begin," Francis said, at last. "Do you, Paolo
Parucchi, take one of the irons, I will take another, Matteo a third.
We cannot possibly work more than three at the foot of a plank, though
perhaps, when we have fixed them and put on the strain, two or three
more hands may get at the irons; but first we will try with three, and,
unless the nails have got a wonderfully firm hold, we shall certainly
be able to draw them."

It took some time to fix the irons, to the best advantage, between the
planks and the beam.

"Are you both ready?" Francis asked at last. "Then pull."

As Francis had anticipated, the levers did their work, and the nails
yielded a little.

"It has sprung half an inch," Francis said, feeling. "Now you keep your
irons as they are, while I thrust mine down farther. I have got a fresh
hold. Do you shift yours."

Again the effort was made, and this time the nails drew fully two
inches. Another effort, and the plank was completely free at the lower
end.

"Now do you push against it as hard as you can," Francis said, "while I
get my iron in between it and the beam above."

The upper nails yielded even more easily than those below.

"No farther," Francis said, when they had fairly started them, "or the
plank will be