The air was hot and close, with a strong flavor of bilge water, and Bobby knew that if he did not soon get out of the stifling sack he would suffocate. He worked desperately at his bonds, straining every muscle in an effort to win freedom. For an hour he struggled sturdily, until he could feel a little looseness in the rope that bound his hands together. Little by little he wormed his hand out, bruising and lacerating it in the process, but caring nothing for that if he could only succeed.
At last with a desperate effort Bobby got his right hand clear, and then the rest was comparatively easy. He tore away the gag that was slowly stifling the life out of him, and then tore at the sack until he had made a rent in it. He got his feet free, and at last wriggled out of the sack, exhausted by his strenuous efforts, but with the will to live strong within him.
Then he had time to wonder what had become of his companions. Had they by any chance been brought to this same place? As the thought struck him he shouted their names. He thought he heard a muffled answer at the other side of the hold. He groped his way along toward the sound, stumbling over innumerable articles that encumbered the place, but getting steadily nearer the muffled voice that he was sure must belong to one of his friends. He would have given anything he possessed for a light, but the darkness was absolute. At length, however, he located the sound, and after feeling around discovered a sack that moved and gave forth sounds of protest when he stumbled over it. In a twinkling he had ripped it open, and with a joyful heart found good old Ginger within. It did not take long to free Fred of his bonds, and the two slapped each other joyously on the back in the relief at finding each other still alive, even though they were in desperate straits.
“There’s Mouser and Billy still to be accounted for, though,” said Bobby. “They’re probably in this place somewhere, but I haven’t heard anybody but you since I’ve been here.”
“You wouldn’t have heard me either, if I hadn’t managed to get that gag out of my mouth,” said Fred. “I only hope I get hold of the bunch that’s responsible for putting it there,” he added, and there was a grim determination in his voice that boded ill for Hen Lemming and his friends.
The two friends set about hunting for the others, but in that black hold it seemed an almost hopeless undertaking. But as it turned out, their aid was not needed, for before they had been hunting very long both Billy and Mouser succeeded in freeing themselves, and, guided by each other’s voices, the four friends came together.
“We’re in a fine pickle still, but just the same we’re all alive and no bones broken, and that’s half the battle,” said Bobby. “I’m not just sure where we are, but I think I have a pretty good idea.”
“That’s more than I have,” said Billy.
“I think we’re on board a ship,” went on Bobby. “If we are, it’s up to us to get off again as soon as possible. It may be bound for China for all we know, and I don’t hanker after taking any voyage like that without our folks knowing anything about it. They’ll think we’ve been killed when we don’t show up.”
“That’s right,” agreed Fred, gravely. “I agree with you that we ought to get ashore, Bobby. But have you any idea how we’re going to do it?”