These were alarming words, though the lad could not understand how harm to him was to benefit any one, unless it was that Hornblower and his confederates were afraid of the consequences of discovery, and prefered to act on the principle that dead boys can tell no tales.
The night was pleasant, with a faint moon, and the Simoon dropped anchor within a few hundred yards of shore.
The distance was one that Jim could swim with ease. All he asked was the opportunity.
The two sailors seemed to suspect some scheme of escape was in the boy's head, or else they must have noticed the chance was a very tempting one.
"Why should they think I want to run away," Jim asked himself, "when I've had a hundred chances before to-day?"
Why it was they were more than usually careful it was hard to understand; but that such was the fact could not be overlooked.
It might be they were watching for the arrival of some one else, or, knowing that something important was on hand for that night, they were on the alert.
Poor Sam was in a state of great agitation, and made an awkward attempt to assist his young friend.
He offered to act as watch through the night, but the offer was declined.
They intended to keep the decks themselves.