pike or
crowbar?"

"Yes, I know where there are two."

"Then come with me: we must unship the ladder, and pull it up on deck,
and then put on the grating; after that we must take our chance: we may
succeed, and we may not--all depends upon their not waking too soon."

We went to the hatchway, cut the cleat-lashings, hauled the ladder on
deck, and then put on the grating.

"That will do, Tom, for the present. Now do you take the helm, with a
crowbar all ready by your side. I will go forward and cut the cable: if
those fellows rouse up while I am forward, you must do your best. I
leave you, Tom, because you are more powerful than I am."

"I'll manage them both, never fear," whispered I.

"When she swings, mind you put the helm a-starboard, Tom," said Bramble
in my ear.

This was the most nervous part of the whole transaction: the men abaft
might wake, and I should have to master them how I could--and even if I
did, the scuffle might awake those below, who were not yet secured;
although, for a time, it would be difficult for them to get on deck. But
fortune favored us: the cable was severed, the ship swung round, and
Bramble returned aft and took the helm.

"Now is the time to see if I'm a pilot or not, Tom," said he. "I think I
can steer her through by compass, now that it's nearly high
water--luck's all. It was fortunate that we got the staysail hoisted for
us, or we could have made nothing of it."

"It's clearing up fast," said I, as I kept my eyes upon where the men
were lying abaft; "and there'll be plenty of wind."

"Yes, and we'll have daylight soon. Tom, I don't want you. I should like
you to step aft, and stand over those two chaps; if they wake, knock
them senseless--don't kill them, as you can easily bind them while they
are stupefied. And, Tom, look about you for some seizings all ready. I
wish they would wake, for we are not safe while they are not secure. Put
a handspike by me, and, if necessary, I will leave the helm for a
minute, and help you: it's better that she should go on shore than they
should master us. We're pretty safe now, at all events. I see the
land--all's right."

It was now daylight. After this whispering with Bramble, I went aft with
a handspike in my hand; and I had not been there more than two minutes
when one of the privateer's men turned the canvas on one side, and
looked up. The handspike came down upon his head, and he dropped
senseless; but the noise roused up the other,