er the long gray skirt of my monk's robe until it touched the
deck planks, loosening as I did so the hunting knife securely hidden
within my waist-belt, and to draw up the coarse, ample hood, thus
better to conceal my features, after the same manner I was pleased to
note Cassati wore his, were my first duties. The way of procedure had
been made clear; fate had seemingly solved that problem. My sole
prospect of attaining the guarded space between decks, of reaching the
cell of the man I sought, lay in careful impersonation of the drunken
French priest, now lying insensible at my feet. Nor in this imposture
did I anticipate serious difficulty. Everything thus far had developed
so favorably I became hopeful of the outcome--the inspiration of
success brought with it renewed courage and confidence. The exciting
incidents of the night had awakened me to the humor of the venture, and
I smiled grimly at the rare conceit of the contemplated masquerade.
Nor did it promise an especially difficult part to play. We were of
similar size, broad-shouldered, stocky men, with smoothly shaven faces,
the difference therein hardly likely to be observed by careless eyes,
beneath dimly burning lights. I knew enough regarding his
peculiarities of voice and manner to imitate both fairly well, so only
an accident, or some careless slip of the tongue, would be apt to
reveal the fraud. In short, I was armed with audacity, doubting little
that I should safely pass the guards. Anyway, there was nothing else
for it; 'twas a moment when one must cast timidity to the winds.

Yet I found it difficult to essay the first step in so desperate an
enterprise. For several moments I waited, hanging back within the
shadow of the mast, gathering my wits together for the chances of the
play, while endeavoring to pick out details of the situation along
those silent, gloomy decks. Owing to the mass of over-hanging cordage
and the high wooden bulwarks on either side, the night appeared even
darker than when I was above, perched on the dizzy yard. Occasionally
some deeper shadow, or the noise of voice or footfall, made apparent to
me the life on board. Toward the stern that steady tramping back and
forth of the officer on watch continued uninterrupted, as he paced
steadily from rail to rail. I could even distinguish the dim outlines
of his lower limbs as he passed and repassed before the single gleaming
point of light on board. I was also assured as to