Down in the Hold.
There was a quantity of straw next to the lid. I scraped it aside, and then took a look at what was below.
The packing-case was filled with nothing but common stones.
I had expected something of the kind, so I was not greatly astonished when I beheld the bogus crockery that filled the packing-case. I picked up several of the stones to make sure that I was not mistaken, and then restored them to their place, put the straw over the top, and nailed on the cover.
At first I thought to leave the place at once. But so far I had not been disturbed, and so I made up my mind to continue the investigation, since it was once begun.
I took up my candle, and was not long in hunting up another packing-case. This was marked Furniture. I took off some of the boards, and soon brought to light a quantity of pretty fair kindling wood!
As soon as I had made sure of what the packing-case contained, I restored the wood to its original place and then began to nail down the cover, as I had done on the crockery case. I had just driven one of the nails home when a slight noise disturbed me.
Without any hesitation I ceased my labors and blew out the light. I was none too soon, for an instant later I heard Lowell's voice.
"I was almost certain I heard some one down here!" he exclaimed, as he came forward.
"Maybe it was rats," suggested another voice, which it was easy to recognize as belonging to Captain Hannock.
"I don't think so. We have nothing to attract them this trip."
"If I find any of the men down here I'll flog them," was the captain's savage comment; and it was easy to see that he meant what he said.
"It would go rough with us if any of them should discover what we were carrying," went on Lowell. "Paving stones and kindling wood!"
"Hush! Some one might hear you!"
The two men came close to where I was crouching. Indeed Lowell's foot came within a few inches of my arm, and for an instant I did not see how I could avoid being discovered. Then they passed on.
"Must have been mistaken, Lowell," said the captain. "Guess you're getting nervous."
And he gave a low laugh.
"Better be too careful than not careful enough," returned the boatswain, slightly disturbed at the slur. "I don't want to get caught at this job."
"Neither do I."
"They can send us to prison for it."
"So they can—if they catch us. But I don't intend they shall."
The two men carried a lantern, and they swung it over their heads, casting the rays as far as possible about them.
I was in a direct line of light, and for a second the captain caught sight of the top of my head as I moved behind the case.
"Ha! what's that?" he cried. "There's something behind the box!"
"Where?" asked Lowell.
"There," and Captain Hannock pointed in my direction.
I gave myself up for lost, and wondered what I should do when discovered.
"What was it like?"
"I—I don't know."
"Let's look," said the boatswain, and he moved towards me.
In another moment they would be upon me. What was I to do?