A fancy struck Jim at this moment that he would pretend he was unconscious, though he had little hope of gaining anything by it.
As soon as the light filled the apartment, Hornblower looked over at the two forms stretched out in the hammocks, and asked in a whisper,--
"Are they asleep?"
The sailor leaned over each in turn, and carefully surveyed the features and listened to the breathing.
"Yes; they don't know any more than a couple of logs."
"I wouldn't have the boy overhear us for the world."
"There ain't any danger of that."
Thus believing, the two men talked business straight along.
"It won't do to stay here any longer," said Hornblower.
"Why not?"