,
and peering straight ahead into the smother, the other striding back
and forth. The last appeared a huge shadow, his coat flapping in the
wind, and I knew he must be the German first mate, Herman.

Satisfied on these points, and with a glance below at the unoccupied
cabin, I stepped back and paced off the distance, until convinced that
I had safely located where the porthole of number "5" should be. I
leaned over, seeking to trace its outline by some reflection of light
from within, but the receding side of the vessel baffled me. Yet,
assured that I must be correct in my measurements, I marked the spot on
the rail, and began search for some means by which I could open
communication with the girl below.

CHAPTER XXV

THE FREEDOM OF THE DECK

The flag locker was astern, and standing on it I could feel inside the
boat swung to the davits. It was a small, light boat, fashioned like a
cutter, a good sea-going craft for its size. Two oars and a short mast
together with a roll of canvas were stowed on top the thwarts, and
secured by lashings. I cut one of these, and drew forth about three
fathoms of line, sufficiently pliable for my purpose. The severed end
of cord I thrust down out of sight, where it would escape any
superficial examination. Anxious as I was to carry out my plans
rapidly I could not refrain from passing my hands over the boat,
impressed by its lightness and sea-going qualities, and inspired by the
thought it might eventually aid in our escape. It hung ready for
launching, the falls easily unhooked, and two pair of hands would be
sufficient to lower it into the water. There was a locker forward I
was unable to reach, but two water kegs, filled, were strapped under
the stern sheets, leading me to believe the craft was fully equipped
for immediate service. My mind filled with a daring hope by this
discovery, I fastened the note to the end of the cord, weighted it with
a bunch of keys, and crept back to where I had marked the rail. Inch
by inch I payed out the line, leaning well over. At last my ears
detected the dangling of the metallic keys against glass, and, by
manipulating the rope, managed to make them sound with clear
insistence. I repeated the effort several times before there was any
response. Then the port seemed to be opened cautiously, although no
gleam of light shot forth. She had evidently extinguished her lamp
before venturing to answer the signal, but I felt her grasp