s and examined them....

A single strand had yielded, loosing all the rest. And where it had
broken, Joel saw, it had been sliced all but through, with a keen blade.

Who? His thoughts raced back over the brief minutes of his bondage. Who?

No other but Aaron Burnham could have had the chance and the good will.
Old Aaron.... And Aaron's knives were always razor sharp. Drawn once
across the tight-stretched cord....

Aaron had freed him. Aaron....

He remembered something else. Aaron's words to Mark on deck. "I've set
the bolt on his cabin door...."

Aaron had set the new bolt that was the only bar between him and the
after cabin, where Varde stood watch. Aaron had set the bolt; and Aaron
had cut his bonds. Therefore--the bolt must be flimsy, easily forced
away. That would be Aaron's plan. A single thrust would open the way....

He turned toward the door; then caught himself, drew back, dropped on the
bunk and lay there, planning what he must do.

XV

The discovery of Aaron's loyalty had been immensely heartening to Joel.
If Aaron were loyal, there might be others.... Must be.... Not all men
are false....

He wondered who they would be; he went over the men, one by one, from
mate to humblest foremast hand. Finch and Varde were surely against him.
Old Hooper--he and Aaron were cronies, and the other mates had left
Hooper somewhat out of their movements thus far. Old Hooper might be,
give him his chance, on Joel's side....

Old Hooper, and Aaron. Two. Dick Morrell? A boy, hot with the wonder and
glamor of Mark's tale. Easily swung to either side. Joel thought he would
not swing too desperately to the lawless side. But--he could not be
counted on. What others were there?

Joel had brought his own harpooner from the _Martin Wilkes_. A big Island
black. A decent man.... A chance. Besides him, there were three men who
had served Asa Worthen long among the foremast hands. Uncertain
quantities. Chances everywhere....

But--he must strike quickly. There was no time to sound them out. When
his dinner was brought at noon, his broken bonds would be discovered.
They would be more careful thereafter. Three hours lay before him....

He set himself to listen with all his ears; to guess at what was going on
above decks, and so choose his moment. He must wait as long as it was
safe to wait; he must wait till men's bloods ran less hot after the
crisis of the morning. He must wait till sober second thought was upon
t