ere enjoying themselves, Mr Frewen proposed that we should make our
first start at cutting the board.

Word was passed through the opening to Mr Preddle, who was all
eagerness to begin, and asked for one of the little saws, so that he
might work at the top of the board while we cut at the bottom; but Mr
Frewen promptly decided that one of the instruments would make quite
enough noise, and told him that he must understand that our task was one
probably of days, for everything must be done slowly and carefully, and
in a way that would leave no traces behind.

"Very well," said Mr Preddle, almost petulantly, "you know best; but I
am very, very anxious to get out of this wretched cabin."

"So are we," said Mr Frewen. "Help us, then, by keeping guard by your
door, and at the slightest sound outside giving us the alarm."

"Yes, yes; of course," he said eagerly; and directly after, in the
darkness, I heard Mr Frewen open the drawer and the instrument-case, to
take out the little saw which might open our prison, and cut a way into
another for the scoundrelly mutineers.

"How are you going to begin?" I whispered, after listening at the door.
"Shall I bore some holes first to make a way in for the saw?"

"They will not be necessary," he replied. "I can manage to cut a way
across the last board but one."

"Why not the last?" I asked.

"Not enough room to work. I shall try to cut in a sloping way to splay
the board if I can, so that it will fit better when we put it back--if
we get one out. Hush!--don't talk."

I stood close by him, ready to help in any way he required, and expected
that when he grew tired he would ask me to take his place, so that no
time might be lost.

We had one advantage that I have not mentioned, and it was this. We
were of course locked in, but there was a bolt on the door, so that we
could secure ourselves on the inside from any sudden interruption; and
by keeping the door fastened, there would be time to hide the saw and
brush away the dust before any one who came was admitted.

My position was facing the little round window of the cabin as Mr
Frewen made the first start toward obtaining our freedom; and as the saw
began to bite at the wood with a sound like that which would be made by
a gnawing mouse, I stood gazing out at the beauty of the grand tropic
night. It was very dark, but it was a transparent darkness, with the
sky within reach of my vision thickly spangled with stars, which