I sat for a long time meditating over my situation, but could make nothing out of it. As affairs had turned, I must make the best of whatever came.
I sat awake long after dark, but finally my eyes grew heavy and then I went to sleep on the bench until morning.
All the forenoon was passed in solitude. To one unaccustomed to this the experience is terrible. How I longed to have even a cat or dog to talk to! But neither one nor the other was on board.
When Lowell came at noon I asked him how long my confinement was to continue.
"Until you are ready to do your duty," he said; and not another word would he utter.
The day passed slowly, and the night was to me a restless one. What was going on in the cabin and on deck? Were Captain Hannock and Lowell getting ready to carry out their nefarious plan?
I regretted not having taken one of the other sailors into my confidence. But which of them could I trust?
By this time I had made up my mind that Dibble was not on board. Probably he had gone on a hunt for Mr. Ranson and been left behind.
I tried in vain to attract the attention of one of the men as he passed. Either he did not see me or else he did not dare to come near. If only some of them knew!
About four o'clock I fell asleep. I slept for some hours, and would have continued doing so had not a wild cry suddenly brought me to my feet.