"Yes, I did, mate."

"How d'yer know?"

"'Cause I brought back your knife as lay just where I reached."

Neb Dumlow grunted, and Bob drew a series of very long breaths.

"Rayther hot in there, sir, and Neb had swallowed up all the fresh air
there was."

"And precious little too. I could ha' swallowed bucketsful more if I'd
had it."

"Lor'! what a fuss you two chaps make," said Barney. "I knowed that's
how it would be. There, shut your eyes, both on you, and see yer father
do it."

"You're not going, Barney?" I whispered.

"Oh yes, I am, sir. I can do it."

"Yes, sir, let him go," said Bob. "He's a reg'lar conger-eely sort o'
fellow, as can wiggle hisself through a gas-pipe a'most. You let him
go, and see what he can do."

"Yes, sir, let me have a try," said Barney, and I reluctantly consented,
though I had very little hope of his getting through.

"Hadn't us better have a biscuit and a drink of water first, sir?" said
Bob Hampton. "I'm strange and hungry yet."

In my excitement I had forgotten all about the food, and giving the
word, we squatted down round the bucket of water to nibble our biscuits
and have a good drink from time to time; and in spite of the heat and
closeness of our prison, that was one of the most enjoyable meals I ever
ate.

We had just finished when we heard Jarette and his followers talking
above us, and the subject of their discourse, as far as I could make it
out, seemed to be something about a boat.

Then I heard Jarette say something that sounded like--

"Bah, my brave! He won't die. Well, let him. He'll be out of the
way."

Then there was a good deal of thumping and stamping about, and I fancied
that they were going to open the hatch again.

Under these circumstances I did not let Barney, who was thoroughly eager
to show his prowess, make the trial; but at last all was quiet on deck,
save that there was a good deal of talking and singing right aft, and as
it seemed to me in the saloon.

"They've got some good stuff forrard there, lads," said Barney,
suddenly.

"Why, o' course. I know," growled Bob Hampton, "and they might ha' left
one or two lots for us."

"What do you mean?" I said.

"Why, sir, here's where there was a whole lot o' cases o' champagne
stored, and they fished them out, and left this here hole as we're in.
I wouldn't mind a drop o' that now to cheer us up again. It's werry
good stuff, ain't it?"

"What, champagne, Bob? I don't know.