o cut through into it, without being perceived long before
a hole is made of a sufficient size to enable us to get out. Here we
may succeed better, for fortunately we know the exact plan of the
cabins above us, and can choose a spot where we should not be likely to
be noticed."

"That is so," Matteo agreed, "and as they will not have as many
officers as we had--that is, including the volunteers--some of the
cabins will not be occupied. Perhaps, by listening to the footsteps
above, we might find out which are vacant."

"I thought of that, Matteo, but I doubt whether it would be well to
rely upon that. Many on board ship wear soft shoes, which make but
little noise, and it would be fatal to us were we to make a mistake.
After thinking it over, I have decided that we had best try to cut a
way up into the captain's cabin."

"But that is sure to be occupied, Messer Hammond," Parucchi said.

"Yes, it will be certainly be occupied; but it affords a good
opportunity of success. As you know, Parucchi, Carlo Bottini had been a
long time at Constantinople and the Eastern ports, and had a somewhat
luxurious taste. Do you not remember that, against the stern windows,
he had caused to be erected a low wide seat running across the cabin?
This he called a divan, and spent no small proportion of his time
lolling upon it. If I am right, its height was from ten inches to a
foot above the deck, and it was fully four feet wide. It would
therefore be quite possible to cut through the two planks at the back,
without its being observed by anyone in the cabin."

There was a chorus of assent.

"Of course we must work most cautiously," Francis went on. "The wood
must be cut out with clean cuts with the daggers. There must be no
sawing or scraping. The beams are two feet apart, and we must cut
through two planks close to them. In that way there will be no nails to
remove. Of course, we shall not cut quite through until the time
arrives for us to make the attempt, but just leave enough to hold the
planks together. Half an hour's work will get through that, for if we
were to cut through it at once, not only would there be risk of the
hole being discovered by anyone sweeping the cabin, but we should be
obliged to remain absolutely silent, or we should be heard
immediately."

"We can begin at once, can we not?" Matteo asked. "Anything is better
than sitting quietly here."

"Certainly, Matteo, if you wish. Two can work at once, one on each
l