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then he comes up, to see what I'm doing. But no matter; now that you're here we can make a break. You've still got your crowbar; they took mine away. I've only had my flash to work with." In spite of his awful experience and intolerable predicament, Ken was getting drowsy. He had been through much; he had been short on sleep when he had started out. Nevertheless, he forced himself to consider their situation. Since the blubber-men had kept Chan Beddoes a prisoner, they would no doubt keep him one likewise. It did not mean immediate death from suffocation, for there was air of a kind here; and food was brought. But--imprisonment! All around him was damp darkness; the rocks they lay on were jagged and slime coated all over and there were little pools of water here and there. Gloom; awful water beneath; slimy rocks to lie on; raw whale meat to eat; stench of rotting fish. Imprisonment! Weeks of this! Suddenly he felt deep admiration for Beddoes in having clung to sanity so long. "Yes," he said slowly, "we've got to get out. But with that guard on duty.... What's your plan?" The other coughed long, then began: "It all depends on whether they've moved my torpoon from the trap where it stuck. You didn't see it anywhere? Well, it's got to be still in the trap, and we've got to get to it. It'll carry both of us. The whale that led me into the trap is dead, and we can finish prying the torp loose with your crowbar." Ken nodded. "But the guard?" Chanley Beddoes said harshly: "I'm going to kill it!" Ken looked at him. His pale, drawn face was contorted; his hands clenched and unclenched. He repeated: "Yes, kill it! I've a score to settle with these devils, anyway. I'll take him unawares. One blow'll do it, if it's placed right. Then, down the corridor and to the trap. I think I remember the way." Ken thought it out, and shook his head. "What's the matter?" Beddoes asked. "We'd better not," he said "Not yet. And never, if we can help it." "Why not?" Beddoes cried in great surprise. "Don't you see? They haven't really harmed us. They're friendly. Yes, they've kept you prisoner and they'll keep me, too--but probably they don't think that's any terrible hardship for us. And they don't realize how much we want to get free." "What will we do then?" Beddoes broke in impatiently. "When I see the leader again I've got to get it over that we want to be released. It's a better risk than killing this guard,
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