renewal of an
ascent through the cabin window and over the poop.

"Proof o' the puddin's in the eatin', sir," said the sailor. "Only way
is to try."

"Yes, by-and-by," said Mark, "when all is quiet. Some of them are sure
to go to sleep."

For there was a good deal of talking going on upon deck, and they could
smell tobacco, and once there came down the rattle of a bottle neck
against a glass.

So the prisoners waited patiently in the darkness, Mark discussing from
time to time the possibility of the second schooner having been
captured, but they had no means of knowing. One thing was, however,
certain--they were sailing very gently, evidently not in pursuit, and,
judging by the stars, they were going south, and thus farther away from
aid.

Making a guess at its being about midnight, and when all was wonderfully
still, Mark whispered his plans to the men. They were simple enough.

He told them that he should climb up over the poop, and do so without
exciting the attention of the hand at the helm, for it was possible,
though doubtful, that the man set as sentry over them would be asleep.
He had no reason to expect this, but it was probable, and he was going
to try it.

"Best let me go first, sir," said Tom Fillot. "You might be knocked
over at once, and dropped into the sea."

"If I am, you must haul me out again," said the lad, coolly. "There's a
coil of signal or fishing line there, strong enough to hold me--there,
in that locker. I shall make it fast round my waist, and if I get up in
safety, I shall secure it to a belaying-pin, so that it will be handy
for you who follow. Mind, as silently as cats. Get it out, and make it
fast. Two of you can hold the end."

There was a slight rustling sound as Tom obeyed; the line was declared
to be quite new, and kept there in store; and at last, amidst the deep
breathing of the excited men, Mark prepared to climb out, while his
followers in this forlorn hope were eager and waiting for their turn.

The recollection of the last attempt would trouble the lad, try as he
would to be calm and firm.

"I can do it in less than a minute," he said to himself; "but I wish
that my heart would not beat quite so hard."

But it would beat all the same, and at a tremendous rate, as he, in
imagination, saw the sentry ready to strike him down.

"Ready, sir?" whispered Tom.

"Yes. Got the line?"

"Right, sir; and we'll just keep touch of you, and pay it out. Moment
yo