“You seemed to me to deserve the title,” answered Havens.
No more was said for some moments, then the old woman arose and went to the window, through which the red light still shone from the vessel’s mast, and looked out. She shook her head vigorously as she turned back.
“Can you swim?” she said.
“I certainly can,” answered Havens.
“And climb up the side of a vessel on a rope?”
“That is an old trick of mine.”
“And you can strike a hard blow?” she then asked.
“I am noted among my friends as having the punch,” answered Havens with a slight smile.
“Then,” said the old woman, “I want you to saw the cords from your wrists over a nail in the wall until they come apart. Then I want you to strike me a knock-out blow on the head, cut the cords on your ankles, make your way through this window, and cross the street to the pier. Then you must drop into the water, softly so as not to attract the attention of the police, and climb a rope leading to the deck of the vessel showing the red light. Do you understand all this?”
“Perfectly!” replied Havens.