Muttering an oath at his companion's cowardice, the "doctor" stooped down and, first pushing me roughly to one side out of his way, began to crawl head first into the forecastle.
"Curse the darkness," he murmured.
But my eyes had grown accustomed to it; and it helped me although it hindered him. I could watch him easily. The litter in the place hampered him also, and he stumbled and fell on his knees, and swore again volubly.
Taking advantage of the noise he made, I slipped back a yard or two and gripped my weapon in readiness.
"Where the devil is he?" he muttered, and began to feel about for me.
I was crouching in a corner waiting for a favourable chance to strike, and he could not see me.
The chance came an instant later, as he was stooping down in his hunt for me. Raising my hand I struck him two blows on the head with all my strength and at the same instant slammed the hatch to.
"What's the matter?" shouted Marlen, hearing the noise of the blows and coming forward quickly.
The "doctor" lay as still as a log. I had stunned him or killed him, and at the moment I did not much care which. I kept my hands on him, and if there had been the slightest movement I should have struck him again. I was fighting for my life.
When I was satisfied that he would give me no more trouble, I ran my hands quickly over him in the hope that he would have a revolver; but I could feel nothing of the sort; and as Marlen was fingering the hatch to get it open, I drew back into my corner again.