side, but that will be all. Now then,
my lad, that we have repaired damages, the next thing is to see what we
can do for other people."

"Yes, and about re-taking the ship," I said excitedly, though I could
not then see the slightest chance of success.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

Mr Frewen and I were both too weak and faint from the terrible shock we
had had, to do anything that day but lie back and rest, my place being
chosen close to the hole I had bored, so that I could be ready to answer
Mr Preddle's questions, which were constantly coming, and to listen to
his lamentations about his fish--about the trouble he had taken, the
water which must be drying--till, as I lay back there with my ear close
to a second hole which I had bored lower down, every now and then from
pain, heat, and the consequent faintness, I kept on dropping into a
curious half-dreamy state, in which I seemed to be watching Mr
Preddle's fish swimming about with their fat little mouths gasping at
the surface of the water, and all looking as if they were so many
hundreds of tiny Preddles asking me to get them out of prison.

Oh, what a wretched time that was, and how I wished that I could go
right off to sleep--a sleep without any dreams--and keep asleep till my
side had left off aching. But it was no use to wish, for though Mr
Frewen was sleeping, so sure as I nearly dropped off, Mr Preddle would
put his lips to the hole I had made for my own torture, and whisper
something.

"Dale, I've been thinking that if Mr Frewen could seize the man who
opens your door and attends upon you, and hold him while you ran out and
opened mine, you and I could then go and open two more cabins, and so
on, and then we could seize the ship."

"Yes," I said heavily, and there was a pause. Then just as I was
dropping off to sleep again--"Dale!"

"Yes, sir."

"We ought to do it when it is dark. I'm quite strong, and not hurt a
bit. Do you think Mr Frewen is well enough?"

"Oh yes!" I said drowsily, though all the time I knew he was not, but I
couldn't help it.

"Then I think we ought to try to-night. But what is your opinion of Mr
John Denning?"

"Haven't any opinion of him," I said, almost talking in my sleep.

"Oh, but that's not fair. He certainly is very irritable, but he might
be useful, and I think he is brave. A man who is in bad health is
frequently irritable, and if we have to fight, as I suppose we very
likely shall have to, his irritability wo